-- Okay so it's been a REALLY long time since I updated this poor story. I am guilty of all charges, including forgetfullness, laziness, writer's block and... Well... Life lol There will be one more chapter coming up soon after this one, since it's already written, but after that I actually have to get my writing fling back up. There will also be other stories and songfics popping up along the way, so watch out for those as well. Thank you so much to all my faithful readers who have stuck with me through all these months that I haven't updated and I hope the story hasn't failed you ^_^ --

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Chapter 14: Contemplations

*Riiiiiiiiiinnnnggg.... Riiiiiiiiinnnnggg.....*

The piercing sound of a cell phone rang out through the hideout, seeming way too loud in the quiet stillness of the night. Crimson answered it half asleep, thinking it was most likely one of his gang members in trouble... again.

"Mmn?" He mumbled into the phone, only opening his eyes when a stern voice came from the other end.

"Is this Crimson?" The voice sounded slightly familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he'd heard it before.

"Who the hell is this and why are you calling me at..." He paused and glanced at his phone, grumbling. "...Three in the fucking morning?"

The stranger ignored his question, however, and answered instead with one of his own.

"Why haven't you killed Berkley Rose yet?"

"Well that explains who you are..." Crimson muttered, rubbing his eyes with his free hand as his mind slowly woke up.

"I asked you a question, young man." The other reprimanded and Crimson scoffed with laughter.

"I see you found your balls sometime since we last spoke." Silence came from the other end, so he continued. "And besides, I'm getting around to killing him off, I just ran into some... Difficulties..." He smiled slightly at the 'difficulties' he'd run into but the smile slid quickly into a scowl as the other began speaking again.

"You know, I was told you were the best around but now I'm not so sure. Am I going to have to hire someone else, Crimson?" The tone and solid annunciation of his name made Crimson growl softly, but he managed to keep his voice calm, resorting to the tone he usually saved for prey or rebelling gang members... The tone that had made his stature of being coldblooded so infamous.

"I suppose you could, but then what's there to stop me from killing you instead? As far as I'm concerned, your life is only worth as much as you're paying me for this assassination. Now am I going to have to come down to your pretty little window office and splatter your precious balding head all over your pristine papers or are you gonna shut the hell up and let me do my job?"

The other line fell silent for a moment before the man quickly muttered something about getting the job done and hung up with a sharp click. Crimson exhaled sharply in humor as he set down his phone and sat up to stretch out his shoulder, which had begun to cramp up from leaning on his arm during the conversation.

"Someone bothering you, boss?"

Crimson looked up towards the door where Blade now stood, an -I'll kill the bastard- look on his face.

"Nah, just that idiot who hired me. He's a lot more gutsy when he's not talking to my face... Maybe I should go pay him a visit instead and see how macho he is then." He grinned slightly at the idea and Blade rolled his eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to be after Berkley, not the guy who hired you?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well wouldn't it ruin the concept to kill off the guy who's gonna be payin' you?"

Crimson fell silent as he stared at him and Blade tilted his head to the side. "Boss?" He called quietly and Crimson jumped a bit.

"Huh? Oh, sorry."

He muttered then glanced away, the grin on his face slowly growing as his mind reeled and Blade started chuckling.

"Oh I know that look. You're contemplatin' something evil, ain'tcha?" He paused as Crimson turned to him, his grin now a small vindictive smile. "Yeah, I knew it."

Crimson laughed shortly and waved his hand in dismissal. "Go on back to bed, Blade. You'll find out about it later."

"What, when it's all over the front page news again?" Blade asked sarcastically, pulling another laugh out of his leader.

"Maybe..." He said, drawing out the word playfully as he stretched again. Blade rolled his eyes again then headed out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Crimson laid back down, staring out his window for some time, thoughts and plans now spinning wildly in his mind. "Oh you'll see alright... You'll see." He muttered, laughing softly as he fell asleep to dreams of blood, murder and horribly wonderful irony.

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--- Yep so it's kinda like a filler chapter but it has a small amount of importance, or at least will later. Please R&R and lemme know that I haven't lost you all!! I still love you!! *Puppy eyes* ---