Hello lovelies, I'm done with midterms so I have a bit more time to work on stories. It also helps that I'm over my initial angst of a terrible friend and terrible boyfriend who made plans without considering my feelings, but that's an unrelated story that doesn't matter now. On another non-related note, I have fallen in love with Free! it's one of the best anime I've watched in years. Rei is my favorite and I totally ship RinRei, but I do love Reigisa as well.

Anyway, about this fic, I'm going to try to make it so that it leads into In the Line of Duty, because I can't help connect the two. So just hang in with me while Skipper behaves like a total ass, it'll all become clear soon enough.

A Deal with the Devil

Chapter Two: Trick-Shot

"And in the wake of his mistake
So many lives are broken
Gone forever from a loaded bullet"

- Nickelback 'Side of a Bullet'

"Well what do you have to say for yourself Private?" Three sets of eyes stared at him and after a moment of silence, Private began to speak.

"As you know before I transferred to CENTRAAL, I was MI6, of course the records of my service during that time are classified and for a good reason. I had a very specific skill set and top marksmanship; you can see where I'm going with this." It was like a completely different person sitting with them, Private's warm nature replaced with a cold and bitter disposition. Rico shifted closer to Kowalski recognizing the tone in the younger man's voice. He had heard a tone many times before in not just his own voice, but in the voices of men who were about to confess their deepest sins.

"You weren't just any MI6; you were part of Group 13." Kowalski had chosen the words carefully an untested theory as he tried to connect the dots. While the corners of Private's mouth twitched upwards in to a small knowing file. Group 13 didn't exist according to records, but records were nothing more than paper or strings of codes that could easily be destroyed and altered.

"I was young and bitter, just learning the truth of my parents' death and my Uncle Nigel saw it as a perfect opportunity to put my rage to good use. I created a new identity, Mr. Tux who left nothing but a trail of broken hearts and bodies. And that's just the tip of the iceberg on all the things I've done under that God-forsaken name." The laugh was harsh, escaping Private's lips, for a moment it seemed like he was about to go in to hysterics.

Skipper watched doubtful even if Kowalski and Rico seemed to be hanging on to every word and taking it as nothing but the truth, "Assuming this is all true and not just some wild tale, how does the Amarillo Kid fit in?" It was hard for him to see his men as anything more than what was made on their first impression.

"It became a game to me, a game that I was good at, too good. I started to catch the attention of miscellaneous hired guns. One of which was the Amarillo Kid, so we decided to play a game of our own. It was just little things at first, trick shots, and potted plants maybe a bird or two. Friendly target practice you could say.

Until he started coming after my targets and then it became a game of who could get the first shot. I was ahead for the longest time and then he started to close in, leaving us at a tie. We decided that the next target would declare the winner. When that day came, I was stuck at an impossible angle, my target blocked and no time to find a better one, while Amarillo was seconds away from a clear shot and I was afraid I was going to lose. So I did the worst thing imaginable, I took the shot first, regardless of who was blocking my target."

"One bullet and two bodies, the impossible shot." The math was clear to everyone, even before Kowalski spoke. How could this be their Private? An elite sniper who thought of killing his targets as a game just didn't fit the young kid they knew.

"I didn't stick around long enough to see if I had actually made the shot, I got out of there the second after I pulled the trigger. The Kid caught me in an alley and told me, he actually congratulated me. Said that I could do the one thing he couldn't and I vowed then and there that I would never play the game again. The minute I returned to MI6 I requested a transfer, but I guess the Kid followed me anyway." Tears were falling silently down Private's cheeks and seeing him like this was heartbreaking for all of them, except Skipper who seemed to be almost gleeful.

"This is fantastic!"

"What?" Kowalski nearly choked, spraying not only the table with lukewarm coffee, but Rico as well. Who only cast an irritated look at his partner, more caught up in Skipper standing proudly and making his way over to Private.

"Don't you see Private this is exactly what we need! No more namby-pamby attitude just cut throat tactics."

"We're you even listening me? I can't let myself become that monster again! People used to say that to make a deal with Mr. Tux was to make a deal with the devil himself! That's not who I am."

"But it is part of you and it's the part we need, especially since Rico's been getting soft over the years."

"What?" It was Rico's turn to be surprised, what exactly had Skipper meant by that. Even Kowalski and Private seemed to be taken back by Skipper's statement.

"Come on Rico, you and Marlene are always going to art shows, and I can't remember the last time you tried to blow up the block. Now Private, is a time bomb that just waiting to go off." Sapphire eyes locked on the man in question causing him to flinch. "Next time Kid comes around, you take him out."

"I can't, I won't, and you can't make me." Private snapped slamming his hand on the table as he stood. "You might be able to live with being a cold heartless bastard, but I can't."

"What did you just say to me?"

"You heard me, Skippa. I came here so that I wouldn't have to put up with hot-headed commanders who cared more about the mission than their own men."

"You don't think I care about my men? What would-"

"Enough!" Silence fell over the group, everyone looking at Kowalski in shock, except for Rico who looked like he was on the edge of killing someone. "Skipper, with all respect, you are clearly not fit to handle the team at his time. I'm taking over as commander and my first act is to grant Private a temporary leave from duty."

"You can't do this Kowalski!"

"I can and I will, HQ will have a full report by tomorrow morning and the odds of them overriding my decision are slim."

"I can't believe it, never thought I would see the day where you grew a pair Kowalski. Fine, I'll step down, but this is far from over." Skipper held his hands up in surrender and make is way to the stairs leaving the rest of the team alone.

"Thanks, K'walski." Private folded in on himself, returning to his chair and making himself as small as possible. He felt so raw and broken, a hand quickly squeezed his shoulder and then he was alone at the table.