AN: Role-reversal AU, in which Misaki became a contractor through a method similar to Hei, whereas Hei joined the police.
The black-shrouded figure approached. There was something familiar about that step, about that line of the neck and long sweep of hair; but with the bone-white mask covering her face there was no way to tell for sure. Li raised his gun and aimed at the center of MK-911's chest. Behind him, the waitress gave a tiny frightened gasp. There was no sound from Saitou, who was still collapsed on the floor; Li hoped desperately that a concussion was the worst of his partner's injuries.
MK-911 halted, but didn't back down.
"You don't want to do this," Li tried, tightening his grip on his gun. "I don't care who you're working for or why they want to hurt this girl. It's not her fault that her father got into business with the wrong people; she's just doing her best to help him. And it's my job to protect her."
The contractor listened, seemingly impassive; Li wished that she would take off that mask.
"You were human once," he continued. "Didn't you have a father? Or someone you would do anything to protect?"
He couldn't be sure, but hope kindled in his heart as something in MK-911's posture changed.
~~~~o~~~~
Misaki regarded the police detective disinterestedly. Humans would persist in talking when there was work to be done. Yes, she'd had a father once. Now he was gone. Nothing mattered except the job.
This guy knew how to hold a gun; but she doubted that he'd ever fired at a living person before. His eyes were far too soft.
She lunged forward. The detective stood his ground and fired, those soft eyes wide; the bullet deflected from her trenchcoat and before the man could react, Misaki had grabbed his throat and released her power. He collapsed in a lifeless heap.
It was really too bad, she thought as she pulled out her knife and caught hold of the crying girl's hair. He had been rather good-looking.
