Story 2 : Killer for hire

Paring: SaboxCrocodile

Genre: Romance/Mystery

AU: Mafia

Rating: T - language

We don't have to be friends,

Pay and I'll play for you.

"Shit" cursed blonde haired eighteen year old boy. "Just great." He got nowhere to run, his right arm was useless and his vision was starting to get blurry courtesy of blood loss. "Just fucking great." he added hearing distanced voices of his pursuers.

Not even once in three years of his assassination career he failed, and here he was on verge of loosing consciousness tracked by members of one of most powerful mafia families in town, with no bullets. He still could use martial arts but he doubted it would be of any help. He was officially fucked. Really.

"Well, shit..." he mumbled just before loosing it and falling down with everything turning into swirl of colours.

By that time person he was supposed to kill walked by alley in which he collapsed. "You alive, brat?" tall black hared man asked poking him with umbrella. "You sure won't for long" he added looking closer. "What a shame you still have long life ahead of you, kid." For some reason he couldn't bring himself to finishing that kid. He heard about him. Well known killer for hire, Sabo or something like this. It would be bad if someone like this died like this. Sighing man picked unconscious body up and directed his steps towards luxurious hotel he owned.

...

When Sabo regained his consciousness he got no idea whats going on, only thing he knew was that he wasn't this comfortable in his whole live. Like he died and went to... well from what he remembers he could be in heaven. He opened his eyes. He was in dark room, more accurately on bed bigger than hole he was living in. Not that he needed something this big on daily basis, but still it was nice change. Pain he felt when he tried to move ensures him that hes still alive which was good. Bad thing was that no one he knew had bed this big and those few people he kept regular contact with weren't smoking cigars.

"What the...?" blonde teen started when his eyes got used to darkness shrouding room.

"Slept well, kid?" he heard cold voice. He didn't know that voice.

"Yeah." This may sound stupid but once in his whole live he was feeling safe. Like owner of that voice was someone he for once could trust. "You won't try to kill me right?" blonde asked regaining bit of his senses.

"If i wanted you dead I wouldn't help you" voice said and Sabo heard sound of movement followed closely by sound of steps on wooden floor.

Just few seconds later sun filled room. Now he could see his 'saviour'. He was tall man in elegant and expensive black suit. He immediately recognized him. Sir Crocodile owner of Rain Dinners Hotel. He also knew that in this hotels basement theres going to be meeting hosted by his target, boss of Baroque Family. Sabo tried to sit but his arm and well everything hurt like hell. He couldn't help but groan a bit.

"You've been shoot" he got informed. He sure wasn't okay. He hadn't notice when Crocodile sat down. For some reason he couldn't bring himself to being cautious near that man. I reminded him...

"Sabo"

"Huh?"

"My name" blonde explained.

"Crocodile" dark haired man introduced himself lighting cigar.

"I knew I was shoot. I've got to be stupid to not remember" Sabo returned to previous topic after moment of awkward silence.

Crocodile just laughed, for some unknown reason it made shiver go down Sabos spine. It wasn't fear it was something else he never felt before. 'I wonder how he got that scar on his face...' assassin wondered in his thoughts to get his mind from that unknown feeling.

"Bathroom is that way. I've got some thing to do. Do whatever you want. But I wouldn't recommend leaving some people are still looking for you Mr. Assassin" with those words Crocodile left confused Sabo alone with his thoughts. Shower sure sounded nice.

Bathroom was huge like bedroom. Black and white tiles were shining. Little wow escaped blondes lips at sight of enormous bathtub.

While taking off his shirt Sabo wondered how Crocodile bandaged his arm without taking it off. Another look at tub lowered importance of that question lower on list. Boys whole body was cowered with all kinds of scars. Him being pale hid a bit them a bit but many were still pretty much visible.

Warm long bath was nice change from barely warm showers he was used to. He couldn't help but moan when water came touched his aching body. He wasn't planing using any fancy stuff for his bath just simple soap, buy there was none here. Yeah just fancy soaps smelling like flowers from long distance. Wincing he chose less smelly thing. Of course hot water made his arm sting so he was doing his best keeping it out of water. Being awake was getting hard so he got to cut this nice experience short. Well he shouldn't get to used to this stuff anyway.

After bath there was another problem: Sabo got no clothes for change. Clothes he got were damaged and covered in blood stains. While drying himself with fluffiest towel he'd seen in his life he was looking around for something to wear – for now. Only thing was black, silky bathrobe most likely belonging to Crocodile, but Sabo ignored that weird feeling which was coming back whenever he was thinking about older man. "He's like ten years older than me." he whispered to himself exiting bathroom. He got to roll up sleeves to use hands, and part of robe was dragged behind him since it was too big for skinny, short blonde.

First thing he noticed were fresh clothes just his size. It could be only his saviours doing. Now he probably should just leave but that thing Crocodile said, about people looking for him was rather worrisome. Just like clothes. How Crocodile knew his size? He just bandaged him. 'Maybe it was wild guess?' That thought somehow calmed him down. Style was similar to his old outfit Black jeans and black shirt with skull on front.

Sabo decided to look for his pursuers thorough window. He took few steps back seeing how high he was. Not that he was afraid of heights, it just surprised him, thought it probably shouldn't. His host was owner of five star hotel. "Tsy, from here I won't know when it'll stop." Sabo preferred to not go around unarmed. "I'll just sleep a little" he decided lying on couch Crocodile occupied earlier. "If I was sleeping on bed... he sure wasn't" he mumbled blushing a bit. "He probably just slept on couch or in different room." he tried to calm himself down.

When he woke up he was again on bed which could only mean Crocodile is back. For some reason Sabo blushed on sole thought of being carried by other men. "The hell is wrong with me?" he whispered out of habit.

"Don't ask me, it was you who decided to sleep on couch." He heard Crocodiles voice, said person was sprawled on couch Sabo fell asleep on. "Clothes fit from what I see" he continued ignoring confusion on teens face.

"How you knew?" blonde asked sitting up with little wince of pain shadowing his face for second.

"I just did" was answer.

It was getting awkward, too awkward for young assassins liking. It was probably time to say good byes and leave. Fuck wounds and that feeling being here was damaging him, making him weak like he ever was...

"I guess its time I go" he started "Thanks for everything... just... I'll pay it off someday when my wound will heal" blonde said and quickly left leaving hotels owner confused. Just as door opened Crocodiles phone rung. "Yeah... yes I'm alive... just let him go... I don'... JUST LEAVE IT".

It was one of his subordinates. To think that this brat was assassin send after him, he should feel good that he's gone but he's not. "Damn" he cursed and decided to take bath.

Sight of tattered, blood stained clothes made him realize that Sabo was most likely using his bathtub. For some reason Crocodiles mind came with genius idea of imagining it. "Shit" he cursed and took long, cold shower instead.

As Crocodile was taking care of his subordinates call Sabo noted that his predictions were true and he was in Rain Dinners. While looking for way out – this place was damn labyrinth, he was trying to forge way into his memory for possible future use. "I forget to ask how he knows my profession. I really should pay this debt off as soon as possible, he's bad for my mind..." he was whispering.

It took only ten minutes for him to find elevator. First thing he noticed: no buttons to ride underground. "Casino must be rather exclusive place, getting there won't be easy." Sabo noted to himself happy that his instincts were coming back.

Walking through lobby to exit surprisingly wasn't too much of a challenge. Receptionist – young, blonde haired girl, was talking with other receptionist, Sabo could hear only part of their talk while passing by them: "...said to let him go, just ignore him... ". Assassin got no idea what they meant but he noticed fancy looking door behind them. He could bet it was entrance to casino. He barely hold smirk, it was to obvious, just what kind of idiot this 'Mr. Zero' was. Now how to go past reception... Like especially for answering him receptionists said something about pianist thats going to play at 'special' party. 'Bingo' blonde thought, finding that person won't be trouble.

In front of hotel, on other side of road theres nice cafe. Smirking Sabo ran to his little 'home' to get some stuff and then back to cafe. There will be no second chance.

Slowly sipping his warm coffee blonde teen was observing entrance, he checked it million times – there was no different way to casino aside from that in reception. Then he spotted him, around his age, also blonde, shaking. Smirking blonde paid for coffee and quickly walked to boy. In just minute he was looking completely like that kid and got his stuff. "Let's roll" he whispered.

Receptionists already changed which was reasonable it was near seven PM. Now there was raven haired woman and man with hair so short he looked bald from distance

"So you're pianist for special party?" woman asked smiling at him. Sabo knew how he looked in suits so he ignored her and just nodded. "Great my friend will take you there" she said pointing other receptionist. Assassin got no other way but to just follow him.

He wasn't surprised to see Crocodile there, it was his hotel after all. "Pianist arrived" receptionist informed his boss.

"Great show him to stage" places owner only said not even looking at him. Sabo was grateful for this. No matter how he would dress he was sure that man would recognize him.

At stage there was single black piano without hesitation Sabo walked to it to test how it sounded. Even if he wasn't playing in years he still remembered that feeling it gave. He couldn't not smile at sight of such beautiful instrument.

During party he played everything that kid he was 'replacing' got but there was still time for one more piece so without thinking he played Antonin Dvoraks ninth symphony: From the new world, without one mistake. He simply loved that piece and couldn't help but not to play it. When he ended everyone was impressed and congratulated Crocodile choice of pianist. He didn't wait for applause to end he juts walked off stage and hid behind it waiting for everyone to leave.

Listening to that piece gave Crocodile chills. He was sure he told his subordinates to not tell pianist how long party will take. It wasn't that shaking brat he hired for task. But he got no time to think. Once guests left there was only one person left besides him. Leader of mafia family he was always rivalling with.

"That was something Mr. Zero, or should I say Mr. Crocodile?" asked that irritating person.

"None for you. What do you want?" Crocodile asked facing tall, tanned blonde.

"Your head" was answer and other snapping his fingers. "Huh?" nothing happened and Crocodile was sure it wasn't plan. Just when he wanted to say something stages curtain opened revealing 'pianist' that played at party. Now Crocodile recognized him without jacked he earlier wore, and white shirt covered with blood, with two guns in his hands, there stood assassin Sabo with pile of corpses behind him. Without word he shoot blonde mafioso.

"I guess it settles our debt" teen said coming closer to him and taking of his shirt, "There, my number if you need pianist call me, the one you originally invited won't do much" he added and left. Crocodile couldn't help but to smirk at thought of meeting that kid again. Only bad thing was mess. "I'll just leave it to Mr. Three" Crocodile thought out loud and went to his room. That day was full of bad thing, worst he couldn't tell that brat how he feel, well they'll meet again for sure...

While leaving Sabo didn't cross receptionists smirking he fixed few wrinkles on shirt he got earlier from Crocodile, theres no way he'll ever dirt this. He already couldn't wait for call from hotels owner. "It wasn't because of debt" he whispered to himself walking straight to his little house. He knew he'll never fell comfortable or safe there but he preferred that from being hearth broken...

Thanks to everyone who read this chapter. I wonder how many people thought Sabo got nothing under his shirt.

Next up will be most probably Law.