Chapter Text
“Hey, if everything is permitted, then does that mean that you can help me pick up some hot chicks? Preferably for a long-term relationship.”
It was raining in Berlint.
Twilight was sitting close to a wall, far away from the rain storm raging on nearby, while Franky was behind the counter of his cigarette stand. It was just the two of them based on Twilight’s senses both normal and supernatural, and any prying ears would either be deafened by the thundering of the raindrops on the pavement and the roofs or would have to be so close they would instantly give themselves away.
Twilight does not answer Franky’s question immediately. Instead, he first takes a long drag of the cigarette in his mouth and exhales the smoke with a slow, measured breath. Then, he turned to Franky and said, "Franky, the skills and the connections of the Brotherhood are never to be used for personal gain or to harm innocents."
“What do you mean, ‘harming innocents’?” Franky asked, frowning.
“A broken heart has killed and ruined some of the greatest of men throughout history,” Loid replied. “It can and will easily destroy a lesser woman who happens to be easily manipulated by a handsome, charming stranger, especially once she realizes that there was no truth to his words, he did not approach her as he truly was, nor could he ever expose who he really is without putting her and her loved ones in danger.
“I am good, Franky. A legend, even. But, I am not even close to the likes of Mr. Auditore, who loved his wife with all his heart and would have given his all to her in a heartbeat. Not to mention, she willingly became a part of his work and he did not need to hide that aspect of his life and all its dangers from her.
“How can I be expected to do right by a woman I don’t even feel anything close to that intensity and genuineness of love for?” Twilight said
Then, he took another long drag of his cigarette. He exhaled once more, the cloud lingered in the air until a stray stormy wind blew in under the awning and dispersed it. Soon, it was like the gray wisps of smoke never existed at all.
“I can’t help but notice that after all that monologue, you didn’t even mention me once,” Franky said, his tone calm but his appearance upset.
“I was trying to be subtle in telling you how against my creed and how dangerous of an idea it would be for me to help get you some ‘hot chicks’ for a long-term relationship,” Twilight said, his expression and tone as neutral as before. “Perhaps if you would only have their company for a night, we could negotiate something without breaking rules or causing unnecessary harm, but after that, there’s no way I can help you keep a woman's romantic interest any longer.”
Franky blinked, taking a moment to process it. "Hey, were you being 'subtle' just now and implying I can’t keep a girlfriend even if I got one?!”
“A successful romantic relationship is two people deciding they both want to stay together, not just one of them,” Twilight replied.
“Okay, now that was definitely just a direct insult now!” Franky yelled as he slammed his palms on the counter. “The nerve of you! After I offered you the last cigarette from my carton, too! Is this any way for you to treat a friend and the guy who makes sure you can do your job properly?!”
Twilight did not reply.
Franky leaned out of his stand to glare at him. “Hey!” he snapped. “Are you even listening to me?!” he snapped, reaching out to grab Twilight.
Before Franky’s fingers so much as grazed Twilight’s coat, a hand darted out and grabbed Franky by the wrist.
“For such a trusted information broker, you’re certainly fond of worthless drivel,” a woman said.
Twilight didn’t even need to turn to look to see who it was or what had happened—Franky’s yelp, the crash as his back hit the rack of cigarettes behind him, and then the loud “thud” and the soft “thumps” as Franky and his products fell to the floor told Twilight enough.
Instead, he looked at the woman that had just come in from the rain, her hood still up and her coat dripping water onto the floor.
“Good day, or rather, good evening," Twilight said, nodding. "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon. How did you find that book I recommended to you?"
“Unfortunately, I found Dr. Neubert a much more fascinating and overall cohesive author," Nightfall said as she pulled her hood down, reached inside her coat, then handed Twilight a book. "Still, I appreciated your letting me borrow from your collection and have come up with my own recommendation."
“A shame, but you’re welcome still,” Twilight replied, quickly scanning the cover before returning to Nightfall. “I’ll start reading this right away. Please, don’t let me keep you. There’s no telling how much worse this storm can get and what might just jump out at you through the rain, so stay safe.”
“I will, thank you for your concern,” Nightfall said before she pulled her hood back up and began to leave.
Franky groaned as he pulled himself back up above the counter, then he held out a crumpled pack of cigarettes to Nightfall. “Can I interest you in a free pack of cigarettes? The box is a little damaged, but they’re still good!”
“No,” Nightfall said without even looking back.
Then, she disappeared back into the storm, her footsteps masked immediately and her silhouette soon disappearing into Berlint’s gloomy streets. With the powerful scent of cigarette smoke lingering over this place, even the faint scent of her perfume disappeared, the little puddles of water and the damp footprints she made were the only evidence she had ever been here.
Franky sighed, deflated and miserable. “And they say the ‘worst she can say is ‘No’...”
Twilight left Franky to his misery as he opened the book, to a page that was very subtly marked. He scanned the passages, looking for anything that would match the cipher he had just been given until he found it:
“Ostanian Templars have been abuzz with excitement over a new weapon they have crafted for the information war between Ostania and Westalia, allegedly based on a Piece of Eden. Rumors suggest that it’s near completion and almost ready for field testing. The laboratory that created it is a known factor, as are the head Templar scientists involved in its creation, Doctors Lutz Lutzky and Hugo Hölderlin.
“Exact details on its appearance, mechanisms, or location in the said laboratory have been kept extremely well. Field agents and Templars have both died in attempting to unveil its secrets or trying to keep them. Your mission, Twilight, is to infiltrate this facility, confirm the existence of the Templar weapon, and then either secure it for the Brotherhood or deny it from the Templars.
“The execution of this operation is entirely under your discretion.”
Twilight almost wanted to slam the book shut. It was about the politest and nicest way of saying this problem was entirely Twilight’s and any poor soul he could convince to help him, especially since so many resources and people had already been thrown at it to no avail.
However, Twilight was a professional. He closed the book calmly, put it back inside his coat, and then turned around to Franky.
“Franky, I’m going to need a special order,” Twilight said as he pulled out a notepad and wrote something in code.
“Sure, sure,” Franky said, sighing as he took the piece from Twilight. He scanned it without much emotion up until he deciphered the codex and realized what exactly Twilight was asking for.
Franky sighed and shook his head as he reached over to a lighter he kept nearby. “They’re really trying to get their money’s worth out of you, aren’t they?”
“It isn’t always about money, Franky,” Twilight said as he reached into his coat's other side with inner pockets.
“I hope that doesn’t extend to what you’re going to offer me to make this worth my while," Franky said as he lit one corner of the paper and then held it over an ashtray on top of a nearby trash can. “I’m going to be needing a lot to look for even just one item off this list. They’re really rare, hardly any in circulation, and I can’t just ask the publisher to do a reprint for you.”
“You’ll get your price, Franky,” Twilight said as he pulled out an envelope and offered it to him.
Franky dropped the paper as the flames began to near his fingertips, opened the envelope, and peered inside. With a smile growing on his lips, he carefully reached in and ran a finger over the wad of high-denomination bills, all laundered and randomized so no one from the Secret Police or the banks would notice a pattern unless Franky got stupid.
And Twilight trusted him not to be stupid. Franky was just greedy, after all.
“Yeah, this should do it as an initial deposit,” Franky said as he closed the envelope again and slid it into the safe he had underneath the counter.
“An initial deposit?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It hasn’t been that long since your last special order, right?” Franky said, frowning. “Competitors are likely to notice the renewed interest and demand, start hoarding, and jack up the price because they know a buyer will pay whatever they ask."
Twilight did not bother to comment on that, subtly or not. Instead, he reached out to the crumpled pack of cigarettes on the counter and reached into his regular, everyday needs wallet. “Throw in this, too,” Twilight said.
“Sure, it’ll be at the usual price,” Franky said.
“No discount for damage?” Twilight asked.
“The product itself is still good, isn’t it?” Franky snapped quietly.
Twilight did not argue and just paid Franky his usual price—though he made sure not to forget his change nor ask Franky to keep it this time.