Thane woke slowly, the pain on his shoulder lessening, but realized he was in an unfamiliar room. His back told him that he was lying on the floor, on a make shift bed, and as he placed his hand on his shoulder, he found that his wound was bandaged and that someone had taken off his leather jacket. He turned his head to the left to find his jacket and guns folded neatly beside what looked like a plate that held a thin burning stick. The thin smoke curled above, spreading the scent of flowers.

"It's called incense."

Thane turned his head to the right, and there he found the woman in a white cloak, sitting cross-legged on the floor, her back to him, her face raised towards the sunlit window. She still had her hood on, and a datapad lay beside her.

"Where am I?" Thane said as he sat up slowly.

"In an abandoned apartment near the Kenzo District." She said, remaining seated, "I attended to your wounds. You will be fine, it did not hit anything major."

Thane nodded, "Thank you. I am in your debt." He remained seated, raising his leg so that his elbow rested on it, and he rubbed his face. "But still, you owe me an explanation as to why you killed my target. What am I to explain to my agent if he learns that someone else had taken that turian's life?"

"You are an assassin like me. You can always lie." She said, "One of the things we must learn to do is how to make a lie believable. Tell your agent that we killed him together. It really shouldn't matter who killed him first. The point is that he is dead. And that you've fulfilled your contract, and mine as well."

Thane blinked. Perhaps in his pride as a well-sought assassin, he had forgotten that what she said is right. "Of course. I was not thinking." He looked up at her, "Who are you?"

"Should that matter?" The woman said, "We are both assassins, trained in different ways. Our identity is our greatest secret. I do not know your name, but I do know of your existence. Your philosophy. Your methods. And… your illness."

Thane scowled, "How can I trust someone who knows of me, but not of them?"

"You were trusting enough to kiss me." The woman said, shaking a little in silent laughter.

"That was different." Thane replied, "I was doing so to save myself and not get caught."

"Perhaps." The woman said, "Then maybe the only thing you should know about me is why I killed your target."

The woman turned to face him, her eyes hidden under her hood. "Your target was a turian who was inducted to the Order of the Templars. They have been enemies of my order since the dawn of time." She removed the necklace she got from the turian and laid it in front of him. "Templars are usually humans, but they have spread to other species as well. They are power-hungry, corrupt beings, wishing to create a 'perfect galaxy', but to do that they must use force to take control everything and everyone with their idealisms."

Thane raised an eyebrow, "A perfect galaxy? That is a foolish notion. It is our imperfections that make us unique. And nobody should forcefully shove their ideals to other people's minds."

She nodded, "My Order has a creed… 'Nothing is true. Everything is permitted'. It means that the foundations of our society is fragile, that we must be the ones to guide ourselves to our own path, and because of that, we must be responsible of our actions, and live with the consequences."

"That… is a good creed." Thane said.

"But the Templars do not believe that. They believe that in order to attain a perfect galaxy, everyone should adhere and follow their Templar rules, and those who do not deserve death." She shook her head, "Templars are less now than in our past, but still, many are fooled to follow them. Some Templars end up being evil men who would do anything for power, even at the price of killing innocents. My Order makes sure that these Templars do not acquire the power they need. I have killed many to prevent them from rising."

"And these people include?"

"Those who wish to become Citadel Councilors, or a leader of a certain species. Your Council is a very powerful position, but I am happy to say that our Order made sure that the people standing there are men of free will and thinking."

Thane smiled, "That is a wonderful accomplishment."

She smiled in return, "Thank you. Our turian target was a Templar, and he was using red sand to fund his goal of becoming a turian Councilor. Templars would do anything in their ability to attain power. He had to be stopped."

"My agent told me that he got somebody arrested, while tasked to be his courier."

She nodded again, "Another turian with an interest in politics, who had great ideas that would benefit his race and the other species. He was on his way to becoming a soldier, and he was such a brilliant soldier that had he continued, he would have been an Admiral in no time. But he was set up by our naughty friend."

"Then I am happy you were able to kill him. The galaxy is already a dark place full of dread. To add another creature who will try to control us all would be terrible."

She nodded again, and she inclined her head and looked at him. "And you? For one who is sick, you are still pretty active. I would prefer people like you to spend their lives in peace in a hospital or at home."

Thane scoffed, "I do not wish to be confined to a bed. I was not raised to be so. I keep my body moving to prevent my lungs from being inactive, and the Kepral's Syndrome from spreading." He looked up at the sunlit window, "I wish to make the galaxy a better place before I die. I make sure that my targets are the kind of people that would change our galaxy for the worse. And while I still draw breath, that is what I shall do."

The girl smiled, "That is a good way to end a life. I know that you pray for your soul once you've taken your victims." She shrugged, "I do not know if drell heaven is the same as humans, but if you really are lessening evil creatures in this galaxy, that I would believe that you are well on your way to redemption."

Thane smiled at her, "Thank you, I…" But suddenly, both their OmniTools sounded.

The woman nodded, "You can take the call here, I shall take mine outside." And she stood up, and headed to the door.

Thane pressed his OmniTool. "Yes?"

"Your target is dead. We have received the news." The deep voice said again, "But it would seem that somebody else did it."

Than frowned, "I met with the other assassin hired to kill him. We killed him together. I held him down while the other stabbed him. It should not matter who killed him. He is dead."

There was a silence at the end of the line, "Of course. Then I shall send you your payment for the assassination. In the meantime, you have a new assignment."

"What is it?"

"The warehouse where that turian was killed, it must be destroyed, and all occupants killed." The voice said, "That warehouse is being used as a hiding place for red sand. And all its occupants are users of the substance."

"I see." Thane said.

"Some occupants are innocent, but they are mainly there during the day time. You shall attack at midnight. Only the night shift guards and the red sand users are present at that time. I've been told that they had done something unforgivable to many female species during night fall. Your payment shall be sent to you once news is sighted."

"I understand."

The voice continued, "You will also be working with another assassin, Codenamed: Shiro. Do not try and find her. She will find you. Her agents are already contacting her as we speak."

Shiro? Thane thought, is that the woman with me?

"Very well. I shall await this Shiro." And he ended the transmission.

"Thane Krios."

The hooded woman was back, after speaking to her agent. She smiled at him as she sat down in front of him again. "I finally know your name, drell assassin."

He laughed a little, "Shiro. It's a pleasure to finally know you in person."

She shook her head, "Shiro is the name I've adapted when I entered the Order. It means white. It is not my real name. But you may use it to call me if you wish."

He nodded, "I've been told that we have a contract together."

She nodded, "The warehouse we came from. But we have to attack at evening."

Thane nodded again and he slowly started to get up and he went to gather his jacket. He looked at it and realized that one sleeve was torn, while the one where the bullet hit was sewn. He frowned.

Shiro noticed his look and chuckled, "Sorry, I must've forgotten to sew that one. Give it to me."

Thane handed her his jacket, and Shiro stood up and opened a box on one corner of the room, taking out a book before getting a sewing kit. He reached down and took the book. "What is this?"

"It is a book I've had since I was a teenager." She said, removing a needle and a black sewing thread from her kit. "It's a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda."

Thane flipped through the pages, and raised an eyebrow. "This is… romance poetry?"

Shiro's cheeks flushed under her hood, but she preoccupied herself by shooting the thread through the needle, "I am quite fond of the genre."

Thane chuckled as he sat down in front of her, opening the book as she sewed. It was really quiet and peaceful, and Thane opened up the first chapter of the book. Shiro smiled and started sewing. Thane's jacket was made of leather, and she knew that she must stitch it well to prevent the tear being noticeable.

They sat quietly for an hour, with Thane reading and Shiro sewing, facing each other. The peace and tranquility made them relax, and soon Thane felt the pain on his shoulder disappearing.

He heard a small sound as Shiro finished sewing and was about to cut the thread. A small silver dagger emerged from a gauntlet on her left wrist, which she used to cut it. She flipped her wrist, and the dagger disappeared.

Thane took her arm and looked at the gauntlet, "That is an interesting weapon."

"It is called a Hidden Blade. My Order made it for me when I was inducted." She raised it up, her wrist facing Thane's gaze, and pulled a string that was connected to a ring on her finger. The dagger shot out, gleaming silver in the sunlight. She flicked her wrist again, and the dagger disappeared to an inner mechanism on her gauntlet. "My OmniTool has an Omni-blade, but I still prefer my dagger."

Thane smiled, "It is magnificent. I wish I had one."

Shiro laughed, "If you want one, I can induct you to the Order." She gave his jacket back and stored her needle and thread away. "Have you finished with my book?"

Thane nodded, "I skipped some parts, but it is a most interesting read. I did not know you were such a romantic." He chuckled, but his voice dropped, "Such beautiful verses. Are you interested in these?"

Shiro looked up at him and blinked, before smiling. "Yes. I love them."

Thane was silent, before turning to a page, " 'I love you as certain dark things are loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.' Such beauty in words. It is no wonder you love them."

Shiro nodded, "Yes. I've always loved poetry. Sometimes, words are enough to make you feel emotion."

Thane watched her, before smiling and leaning toward her, "I do remember one poem I've read…

Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,

And like enough thou know'st thy estimate,

The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;

My bonds in thee are all determinate.

For how do I hold thee but by thy granting?

And for that riches where is my deserving?

The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,

And so my patent back again is swerving.

Thy self thou gavest, thy own worth then not knowing,

Or me to whom thou gav'st it else mistaking;

So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,

Comes home again, on better judgement making.

Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter,

In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.

Shiro stared at Thane, her mouth open in shock. And suddenly, she came forward, and kissed his lips. After a few seconds, she stopped and realized what she must've done, and she pulled back. "I'm sorry." She said shyly, her fingers to her lips, "I've… I have a weakness for men who recite poetry. And with your voice, I just…"

But Thane merely smiled and laid a hand on her face. She looked up at him as he pulled her hood away, revealing her almond shaped green eyes. Slowly, he lowered his lips to her before pulling back, "I must admit… that little stunt we pulled at the alley. It… made me…"

But Shiro raised a hand to his lips, and kissed him again. "I do not want to call it love yet." She said, "But that… stunt… made me yearn for you."

Thane chuckled, "As it did with me. You made me ache for you." He raised a hand and pulled her close, "You know my illness. And you know that I am dying."

Shiro looked sadly at Thane, before nodding.

"And I do not want any regrets." Thane continued, "After feeling you, kissing you… wanting you… I feel like I would regret it if I did not have you… just for a night."

Shiro nodded, "I feel the same way." And she closed the gap between them and melded their bodies together.