Life had its routines, its little patterns, and Ivan and Alfred had quickly learned how to work within the system. They knew life held little for them, but when they met….they decided to make the most of it. Alfred worked a day job as a busboy, pulling in minimum wage as he carted people's luggage to and fro within the posh interior of an inner-city hotel. Ivan, on the other hand, scraped by working when he felt like it at a local pharmacy, which dealt in the reasonable merchandise out front while handing out certain 'specials' to regulars at the back. Together, they managed to pay rent, live off of the barest essentials (together with whatever leftovers Alfred could wrangle from the kitchens) and focused their energies into their joined passion. The hunt, the kill, the study-they called it many things over their time together, but in the end it was the same for both of them. Alfred would hack and chop and beat the bodies black and blue, watching the blood run into the sewers, while Ivan would carefully crouch beside the corpses, toying with the strings of muscle and bone with his musings.
Granted some amount of protection by the quarters they chose to occupy, they made little effort to hide their equipment, stowing it in a closet more for convenience than out of necessity. However, when Alfred returned one night with a crumpled newspaper in his hand, Ivan paused, looking up from where he sat. "You are…troubled."
"Damn right I am. I saw…something. Here." Unrolling the paper, Alfred shoved the newprint under Ivan's nose, pointing to an article. "Three bodies found. Dismembered, two with the brains removed-sound familiar?"
Ivan paused momentarily, reading the article, then shrugged and sat back. "That was three months ago. We wore gloves. They will find nothing."
"But it brings their attention to this neighborhood! They know where to start looking!"
"Alfred, we have certain liberties in your country. They will not search here unless they have reasonable suspicion. And we will not give them reasonable suspicion. Will we?" Eyeing Alfred cautiously, Ivan slowly stood, setting his own magazine aside. Alfred shrugged, unexpectedly ashamed.
"Nah, 'course we won't…I was-"
"You were being ridiculous."
"I was being cautious. But you have a point. I just-"
"You leapt to conclusions. It is what you do. You are rather…spontaneous that way." Nodding, Ivan ruffled the blond's already messy hair, moving into the bathroom. "Put it from your mind. Everything will go on as it always does. Relax."
Ivan's words mollified Alfred for some time, and life did indeed return to normal, but a knock on the door one afternoon brought Alfred's fears into a more distinct light. As he was the only one in the apartment, Alfred was the one to answer the door, squinting into the sunlight. "What do you want?"
"I simply want to speak with you, Mr. Jones, is it? Yes, Jones, I-well, I'm simply asking a few questions here and there around the neighborhood, seeing how everything is, if you're worried at all-" Clad in a trim suit, the shorter man held up a pad of paper and a pen, smiling minutely at the scruffy blond. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine, but-"
"You're….asking questions? Hasn't anyone told you to keep your nose out of other people's business?"
"Yes, well, I'm from the city, and you must understand-" Pulling out his wallet, the man flashed a shimmering badge, blinding Alfred further. "Your business is our business, quote unquote. Now-have you seen any suspicious characters lately?"
"Only you." Grunting, Alfred moved to close the door, but a movement from the other man made him tense.
"I see your lodging is rather, well, unkempt. Do you live here alone?"
"Nope. Got a roommate. Bigger than I am and easier to piss off. Now get out."
"Just a moment, Mr. Jones, I'm only asking. Now, I can only assume you've heard about the bodies found-"
"I don't fucking care. Get out."
"But aren't you worried, even slightly concerned that-"
"Shut up!" Whirling to face him, Alfred moved to punch his unwanted companion in the stomach, but hesitated just in time to see the man whiten in fear. Alfred suddenly realized his position, and carefully lowered his fist, hurriedly hiding his hand in his pocket. He turned back inside, slamming the door behind him, and heard a faint "Thank you for your time!" from outside. Pathetic low-life. Ever the city's servant, it seemed.
However, the intrusion set Alfred on edge, a change not unnoticed by Ivan when he returned. Although he never asked, Alfred slowly told the story over their fold-out table, shrugging as he dumped his plate into the sink. "It weirded me out. Sorry. But they're getting closer."
Ivan shrugged, sipping at his coffee. "It is of no matter. We are no one. They do not care about us. We will be lost in the masses of people, and they will move on. Calm yourself."
"But-" Alfred began to protest, finally giving up. "Fine. But if we end up in jail…"
"We won't. Go to bed." With a firm nod, Ivan stood, putting his cup in the sink as well before moving to follow Alfred. "I promise-nothing will happen to us. Nothing at all."