Author's Note: Ok, so I'm bored today and I can't be bothered writing any of my other work. So, you get an update :) Haha, I know, it's not the nicest thing in the world but, as I said, I'm really not into fanfiction anymore. Enjoy :)

Oh, and, reviews are really appreciated right now because, well, I'm finding this hard to finish. So speak up if you're usually silent – all feedback is much appreciated :)

"My family in the Mafia, have a agreed to take care of Alex as best they can and protect him from the other families until all of this is sorted out. But, as you've probably guessed, we're not doing this for nothing." Said Robin, her manner businesslike.

"Name your terms." Mr Blunt stared back at her, his fingers drumming lightly on his desk.

"Agree to ignore certain criminal activities that my family commit. Turn a blind eye, pretend you don't know. Not for everything of course, within reason."

"No."

"Please-" said Robin, her face falling.

"I said no. Don't you understand? To think I'd let one of my best agents go off with a murderer-"

"I didn't do that." Said Robin, her voice dangerously quiet "we closed the case. You know I didn't do it."

Mr Blunt shrugged, an almost imperceptible smile playing upon his lips "there's always a possibility. Your file was never cleared...but we didn't investigate further. Perhaps we should..."

"Investigate all you like I'm innocent on that one. I may do bad things, Mr Blunt, but I am not a killer."

"Anyway, you have no more business here. Leave now before I lose my temper." I glanced over at Robin, who was chewing her lip and then looked back to Mr Blunt.

"I'm not coming back, you know." I said, breaking the silence.

"What makes you think you have a choice?" Mr Blunt sat back in his chair and raised his eye brows.

"Even if you don't agree to...to help me. I'm not coming back."

"You've got no choice, Alex. Either let us protect you, or get taken by the Mafia."

"You could always come back with me." Said Robin. The statement was directed at me but she didn't take her eyes off Mr Blunt. "I think you'd be safer."

"Nonsense. And, anyway, how can you protect anyone without the help of your family? Because you can forget me agreeing to your terms."

Robin shrugged but I saw a glint in her eye "I'll manage. It's not ideal but..."

"The last thing I'm going to do is let Alex go off with a murderer. I don't care how many times you deny it but you were a part of what happened that day. You took a child's life-"

"But I didn't do that!" Her voice cracked. I looked over. Robin's fists were clenched and her eyes sparkled. She blinked, hard. And the tears that were forming were gone. But I'd noticed.

"She didn't." I said, "I know she didn't." Both Robin and Mr Blunt stared at me for a moment then and I shuffled awkwardly under their gaze.

"You don't know anything about her-"

"I know enough." I said, cutting him off "I know enough. I know that someone who saves a complete stranger's life, can't be a bad person. I know that someone who helps me, who is supposed to be my enemy, can't be a bad person. And, you know, even if Robin did something bad. Even if she has done things in the past, haven't we all? I doubt your conscience is clean, Mr Blunt."

"You don't understand-"

"I understand enough. So, either way, I'm going back with Robin. Because, so far, she's been the nicest to me. If you decide to help make my situation any better or not, is up to you. But I know where my interests lie. I'm not going to be used again." My mind was set firmly. I wasn't going on any more missions. Not for them.

"How do you know the girl isn't using you? How-?"

"I'll just have to take my chances, won't I? But if she wanted to use me she would have already done it, at least, that's the way I see it. So, I'm sorry, but I've made up my mind."

Mr Blunt folded his arms and stared at the ceiling. The silence dragged on and the only thing I could hear was the sound of my pulse in my ears. Would he agree? Would he really agree?

"Robin," sighed Mr Blunt "who exactly am I making this agreement with?"

"My father." She said "I can arrange-"

"Give me contact number, for you." Robin walked across the room and placed a piece of paper on the table. "And I'll get back to you. In the meantime..." Mr Blunt looked across at me.

"I'm not staying with you, if that's what you think."

"How about going home? Jack must be missing you..." I felt a pang of guilt. Homesickness. I'd called Jack once but...

"It's too dangerous." Said Robin, shaking her head "I'd let you go if I could, Alex. But by going home, you'd endanger Jack as well. "

"Alright." I grudgingly agreed.

"Be in touch, Mr Blunt. My father doesn't like to be kept waiting."

We walked back to Robin's place because it was a nice afternoon and, well, I could do with getting out a bit. I looked at the people, rushing past. Oblivious to what was going on inside my mind. Oblivious to Mr Blunt and his secret service, hiding behind the mask of Royal and General Banking. I looked over at Robin beside me, a frown on her face as she thought. I thought what we must look like to a passerby. A boy and a girl. Perhaps friends, perhaps relatives. Walking along together, just killing time, going home or to the park. We looked normal. Average. If only that knew.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I said, pulling Robin out of her reverie.

"Sorry," she smiled at me "I spaced out on you."

"It's fine. But I don't have a penny to give you." She laughed then and, just looking at her, she could have been a normal girl. I wondered what she'd be like, as a normal person. With no Mafia in her life. Perhaps she'd smile more often. "You should smile more," I said "don't think about things too much. Forget Blunt, he'll get back to you when he's ready. If ever."

"You didn't have to stick up for me, you know. You don't know what I've done..."

"I did. I really did. Because ,well, I know you didn't do it."

"Oh, you do, do you?" Said Robin, smiling.

"Well, did you?"

"No." The smile fell off her face.

"Exactly. I was right." She didn't say anything then, just looked gloomily at her feet. "Hey, cheer up." I punched her shoulder lightly "you didn't do anything."

"Exactly." Her voice was quiet "I didn't do anything. I didn't stop them." Her eyes glistened then, wet with unformed tears. Bright in the sunlight. Then she blinked and you'd never have guessed they ever were. She smiled at me again "but it's done. It's the past."

I held on to that image of her smile. Tried to think if she looked like any other girl. She might have. But I couldn't see her like that. A few fading scars, a serious look behind her eyes. The place where she hid a gun, a knife. It wasn't fair.

But, then again, life isn't fair.