In his time Mihai has been guilty of many a named sins. Murder, bribing, even theft. A crime a day, he used to say when he was younger and not the brokenhearted old man he contents himself to be. Today s misdeed is eavesdropping. The three young criminals sit at their usual table all stories and jokes and friendly insults. He can t help but smile to himself as sharp witted Mimi and Haine gang up on a befuddled Badou who squawks back at them, trying to regain his verbal footing. In the end the ginger man gives up all creditability and swears and swears and swears until it all runs into one big FUCK . Then again, when they re this loud it s hard NOT to pick up the conversation.

As the table erupts into more yelling and laughing Kiri slides up in the way she always has all these long, tiring years. In her hands she cleans and wipes at an already spotless glass. Sometimes Mihai wonders if she does that just so she looks busy. With a knowing smile she watches her customers. Through their silent communication Kiri tells Mihai to stop looking like such an old fart, that it s depressing. Over his glasses (bent slightly at the nose piece) Mihai gives her the look of an innocent dog. The type of innocent dog caught with his muzzle in the fridge.

The seasoned bartender chuckles wistfully back at him and serves the ex-hit man his habitual coffee. (Habitual because he no longer needs the caffeine to keep him awake, the yelling from across the room is enough to wake the dead.)

As the din dies down Mihai has to turn his head slightly to hear the young unlawfuls and he wishes he was like that again. Young and careless and whole and he had a twisted family just like that. First Melina then Ian Will Kiri be next ? His large hand moves towards the sugar container (and he swears he can see the gun in it in his weakened peripheral vision), grabbing it and dumping a large amount into his otherwise black coffee. Weary gray-blue eyes watch exaggerated movement and sharp grinning mouths and deadly, sparking eyes. Mihai watches them not with the spite of the bitter old, but with the fondness of a potential teacher, but these children of alleyways, empty apartments and stark rooftops have already been directed by the cruel hand on experience.

Mulling in these thoughts he brings his steaming cup of coffee to his lips, sips and promptly spits it back out over the bar top. The three voices cut off and five eyes turn to their unknown watcher. Mihai is vaguely aware that the look on his face must be quite entertaining but he s to busy glaring at the container of salt he mistook for sugar. Warily, Badou the loudmouth speaks up.

Hey, geezer. You okay over there ?

Cool eyes look back up at the amused faces. A stray grin creeps its way up to rest contentedly on his face, smile lines standing out.

Just karma coming by to remind me not to brood.