I took my own car for once. 

This time I didn't want to be seen with a driver. After all not many mortals required this kind of employment if they had one to hand... I never did get around to telling Quinn what this job entailed. But not even I fully knew.

A much more important conversation had taken place.

I watched the beginnings of rain obliterate themselves against the windshield. She needed a clearer head and some time to think through what she said. In the moment was one thing. Once emotions had settled it was another–but Quinn was never one to act purely on impulse. She considered. She always thought actively.

I drummed my fingers against the wheel as I turned under the tunnel that would lead me into the heights of Canary Wharf. It always felt so out of place in this city of low lying architecture. One moment you were in London, then it felt like New York was towering over you.

I was early.

I was nothing if not prompt and I was here to test this organisation as much as they were scoping my potential. I glanced at my laptop that sat in the passenger seat. Dreadnaught Security Solutions... quite the headline. 

The tunnel spat me out suddenly on the clean, modern network of Canary Wharf's roadways. Skyscrapers towered above the car in every direction. I was after one in particular. It was taller than the rest. For all purposes it looked like many of the surrounding financial buildings. Deliberate of course.

I pulled up outside the outlandish ground floor lobby. Floor to ceiling glass rose thirty feet high. The reception desk was made out of solid stone and swept out making the two receptionists look laughably small. The security detail however, were much larger.

A suited man with white gloves appeared outside my four-dour. A formal enough car for this environment but not going into excessive expense to avoid notice. Nothing like the cars I had blasted through the streets of Japan. 

I dropped the keys into his waiting hand and pulled up the collar of my winter trench. My suit was a different colour underneath but Quinn had taken the time to pick out my tie. Those burning green eyes alight as she very deliberately tied it at my neck. I smirked as I passed through the rotating doors.

A receptionist with a quick eye watched my approach with a measured smile and tucked her hands before her. God, they were as well rehearsed as Quinn's staff.

"May I help you, ma'am?"

"Please. I'm here for a meeting with Dreadnaught Security." I answered, not bothering with the full name. No other company would share it.

A face lit up in recognition and she pressed a number on one of many phones and smiled.

"Give me just a moment."

I used the seconds to scan how many cameras this lobby contained. I stretched my neck after I counted more than twelve in this room alone. Perhaps this was not a good idea. They were exclusive which meant they documented their people well. But this was not the first time I had encountered mortal private security...

"They're ready for you on floor 45." She nodded once and pulled a card before a scanner. It beeped. "Please look into the camera here." She instructed, as a green light appeared on a small camera from the desk.

I kept my expression neutral. I'd have it gone by sun down.

"Brilliant, here's your visitor's pass and have a good morning." She smiled, offering my pass. 

I mirrored the smile and heard her heart increase. I took it from her and glanced at my snapshot. Not too many footprints Fletcher...

The security teams tried not to watch me too closely for comfort but I know they did. The footfall was not heavy at this hour so there was nothing else to do but scan for threats. Oh, how I fit that bill.

I scanned the pass and the waist height barriers opened to me.

I scanned it against the elevator again and the chrome doors opened, revealing many, many possible levels. I hit 45 and awaited my fate. Details became important now. Every mortal in that floor would give me information about what sort of organisation this was. For all purposes I expected a regular cooperate setting. Nothing to lead you to believe the firm killed people for a high enough price in whatever corner of hell they found themselves.

The doors opened and revealed something similar to the sleek interior of Quinn's law firm. Lots of glass and stone. I flexed my fingers before striding out and meeting the next receptionist. 

She beamed at me in a schooled script and rose from her seat.

"Ms Fletcher, is it?"

"It is." I answered with a warm smile and a quick handshake.

"Oooh, I hope you haven't been caught out in the cold too long." She asked lightly in reference to my deathly cold. I played the game and chuckled.

"Too long on this morning's coffee run."

She nodded and smiled before glancing down at her paperwork.

"You're a little earlier than we expected, but that's not an issue. Can I get you any refreshments before you go in?" Her eyes were taking me in subtly between her work and smiles. So, they put an intelligent mortal before the door. Smart. A first test.

"No thank you, would you mind if I got started right away?"

"Oh, absolutely." She nodded. "I can take your jacket if you'd like?"

I shrugged it from my shoulders and wrapped it over my arm with a warm smile that made her eyes avoid contact. So it was still that easy. Beauty was a weapon after all...

"Thank you." She got out, without needing the courtesy at all. 

I smirked at her back as she hung my jacket on a rack and returned, fidgeting slightly with her skirt. Oh, mortal don't lose your head now...

"If you'll follow me." She said quickly, with a another smile.

I fell into step behind the brunette that kept her hair held high. We passed a few clouded glass walls and more desks. I took in details. New desktop models. New software. Some unfamiliar. Mounted screens on most of the solid walls. Stock shifts, financial news, headlines–nothing stood out. A dozen or so mortals worked at desks, while others were behind meeting room walls. I could hear their heartbeats. 

We finally reached a tall door and she paused, before turning back to me. 

"They're waiting for you in here. If you need anything else, just let me know." She added, wrapping her arms around her clipboard with a nervous look.

I gave her a grin and could smell perspiration in the air.

"I'll be sure to."

She quickly fled from my line of sight. But it didn't hide the scuff her heels made as she missed her footing behind me.

Enough amusement. Now was the time for the mortals to prove themselves.

I opened the door without more hesitation and wore a textbook smile.

"Good morning all."

* * * * *

Now I knew why they wanted the firearm experience.

I blew out a sigh and lounged against the seats of the underground with my arms over the back. I had Jameson pick up the car. I felt like mindless commuting. The howl of the rushing wind and screech of steel on steel flooded my senses. The mortals around me kept to themselves and it suited me just fine. Their blood was nothing to me now.

The pros were this.

I would have a purpose again if I took the job. I would protect mortals to an extent. They were morally on each side of the coin but mostly on the right side. Political figures never bothered me much but what they stood for in their communities could be enough to sway me.

The cons.

As ever. I would be travelling again. That much Quinn would promptly argue with. I would be in situations mortals would call dangerous–but these were not Paragon levels of danger so practically negligible.

But there were opportunities to negotiate my movements strictly to Europe. That would placate her somewhat.

I already knew they would call me tomorrow morning.

My experience was incomparable and all of the references I ever needed went with me. My education was so unbelievable I had to leave most of it out, along with many languages. But even two or three were enough to impress them.

My phone had vibrated a few times throughout the day but I had been focused. I needed details on them. I already had several personal phone numbers memorised and some information left carelessly on screens. For the most part they were simply an effective private security firm.

They dealt with close protection and extraction. Depending on the part of the world, this made them costly.

I would work in a small team or occasionally alone. I made sure to highlight my preference which they nodded to. But I knew how this would work. Mortals wouldn't trust a stranger to walk into that polished building and state that they would solo-act their clients. No matter how impressive I was. I'd need to be tested to earn the right to independent work.

It reminded me of police work.

A child dropped a toy and my gaze snapped to the movement on instinct. The train shuddered and the lights flickered off momentarily. I then caught the sleeve of a thief within the bag of two chatting women. Oblivious. I sighed through my nose and glanced up at the station we would arrive at.

The train began to slow and I stretched my neck before slowly standing and finding my way to the double doors. My thief was stood before them checking for more victims. The jolt of the brakes set him off balance and he set a hand out against the frame. The gap in his jacket and the speed of my hand was more practiced than this common nobody would ever master. 

Sleight of hand was one of Cordius' lessons.

He rushed out of the double doors as soon as they opened. I leant against the doorway with his prize in my hands. The women moved to the new free seats and I slipped her purse back into its rightful place without even breaking my stride.

The rest of the ride home thankfully did not require any vigilante work. 

I did however, have something waiting for me on arrival.

"Ms Adams left this for you, ma'am." I raised my eyebrows at the gift wrapped package on the front desk of my apartment building.

"Thank you." I murmured, eyeing her personal script on the label.

"Fletcher. Come by my place, and get changed."

I frowned openly at the soft package now and groaned. That could mean anything. And anything could mean terrible.

I was already suitably dressed for anything.

I tore open the package and groaned louder when I was inside the lift.

Goddamn gym wear. Again with this nightmare.

The tasks I must endure for the love of my life ever increased. I was an immortal damn it, not a sweating, music blaring–I didn't finish the thought. I merely stared at the deliberately short shorts and dark tank top.

If you want to see my body Quinn, you could just ask...

I threw the gift I knew she was already smirking about onto my counter as I entered and pulled up my phone immediately.

She answered on the third ring.

"You and I have a problem, Adams."

"I can fix problems, Fletcher."

"You–I'm not–this isn't funny!"

Her giggle melted some of my indignity. Then she put a damn pout in her voice. "Come with me?"

"No."

"Great, I'll pick you up in twenty minutes."

"Quinn! That was not a, please try harder."

"It'll be more fun with you there." She answered.

"You've survived long without me there before."

"What do you want?" She tried instead, cooling my blood.

"A peaceful evening." I deadpanned.

"I can arrange that... just come with me."

I sighed loudly through my nose and glanced at her outfit.

"I can dress myself." I finished.

"Yes you can..." She agreed.

I waited and she left the silence hang between us.

"Fine."

"I love you." She said with a grin in her more excited voice.

"It's no longer mutual."

"I like it when you play hard to get–"

I hung up the phone on her. She was impossible. She tested me every chance she got. Knew exactly how to test an immortal's patience... yet I still found myself pulling out my phone for an old picture. A picture that was almost the beginning of us. We stood in that dreadful sweatbox together in front of the mirror and I liked how we looked. I was suddenly a part of Quinn Adams' world and I liked it.

It stirred something warm inside me.

Which is why I grabbed the damn shorts and tank and headed for the closet.