A.N
This will be the last multichapter fic I post here as I have moved to Ao3 under the user Mihaelgayhl
The sun had been up for too long. So long in fact it stopped being a small glimpse of light under the blind and was now a bright yellow circle boring into the beige that blocked its full view into the sleepy flat. Wilted plants cooked more in the dry soil outside as matt finally lifted the blind, squinting in the light. It had been a tough raid having been side tracked part way through by another guild promising more bounty if they assisted, only to be cut down in an ambush. Matt didn't mind too much as he had managed to survive, the same however could not be said for his own guild mates.
The late morning air seeped happily into the flat as Matt opened the window, leaning out a little to the light the cigarette that he slipped into his mouth. The traffic had quietened as the small town had reached the morning lull between going to work and lunch, only the night shift workers returning home and the unemployed scattered the streets in a muddle of what to do next.
A perfect do nothing morning.
Except for – "Jeevas open this door now!"
Matt narrowed his eyes at the door thudding in its frame, the brass lock however was holding firm as the banging grew far more intense.
"I know you're in there Jeevas I could hear your stupid machines whirling all night! Open up! You better have my rent or you're out of here I can promise you that!"
Matt opened the door a crack, the latch sliding into place as he faced a bright blue angry stare. "No need to shout Mr Keehl."
"Shout?! Shout! You're two months overdue Jeevas, pay up or get out!"
Mello Keehl, also known as the landlord from hell was well known amongst the tenants of the complex. From the angry East Germans who ruled the fifth floor to the skinhead Englishman who kept himself to himself on the ground floor all tried to avoid his fist pounding on your door at all hours of the day. Whether he was demanding rent or demanding you 'turn down that techno junk for the last fucking time Jeevas!' he tended to get what he wanted. Mello thrust his hand at Matt who shoved a large wad of cash into it only to be scowled at as Mello began counting.
It wasn't the first or the last time he had counted it in front of Matt.
Especially since Matt had 'accidentally' left out a third of the rent periodically just to see if he could save himself a little more money. Mello let out a small huff of air as he jammed the cash into his pocket seemingly satisfied. "One more time Jeevas. One more time you're overdue and you're gone I swear."
Matt could feel his eyes roll internally. He had been told that every single month since he had moved into the complex a year and a half ago and yet, as he shut the door in Mello's face, he knew there was no way in hell he would be thrown out of the complex, even if he stopped paying rent altogether.
After all if Mello really wanted him gone he would already be flat out on his ass.
And yet he had a roof over his head.
Matt stuck a cigarette between his lips in annoyance. Mello was hard to read, he couldn't tell why he was letting Matt stay, but Matt didn't collect and sell information for nothing. He would find out.
