He stood on the corner, beneath a street lamp. His trench coat and fedora hiding most of his body and face; combined with the dark shadows of the setting twilight, he was nearly invisible. The lamp he stood under was flickering, a possible sign of the city's further delve into bankruptcy. He thanked his lucky stars that he wasn't staying the dilapidated town any longer than he had to, once he could make the drop, he could jump on a plane and make his way to France as soon as possible. The object of interest was currently chained to his wrist by a pair of handcuffs, that only his contact had the key to. The suitcase in his firm grip was a bit old-fashioned, he thought. Wasn't everything sent by E-mail now? What about USB drives? Who's idea was it to hand off a briefcase to him, of all people, full of valuable information? Then again, it was clever of his beneficiary to hide the cargo in an average suitcase, less suspicion for him as he carried it. Anyone who'd see him with it, would most likely assume he was going on vacation.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTohv9fcSI
The sound of a pair of worn loafers gently slapping against the pavement reached his ears through the darkness, prompting him to glance around, looking around for the approaching figure. A man about a head shorter than him stepped into the light of the streetlamp, glancing around nervously. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtpXyHZvIb
"Are you...are you the one they call...'Gunner'?" he asked, swallowing thickly.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZzcENSi4M
He nodded, then showed the man the wrist that the suitcase was attached to, the cuffs flashing silver in the low light of the streetlamp. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4heNV8lak4
"Oh...okay..."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KmdUt3gLQ
He seemed to steel himself, his coat rustled as he tensed, hiding the suitcase behind himself as the man seemed desperate to search for something in his jacket. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFIXnKO6Kt
The cold metal of a .9mm pistol pressed itself against his temple. He could feel the vibrations of the man's hand as he shook. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTi36M4E6j
"J-J-Just hand it over, and-and I w-w-won't have to sh-shoot." he stammered, as if unsure as to whom was the victim.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gofjDuVPo
He just chuckled, unnerving the man even further.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9oKIfVKf1
"You think holding me at gunpoint is going to do anything for you?" he stated flatly.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb0ikxOXs0
"Y-Yeah..."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixzpCcRQFW
His tone proved that even he didn't believe his own words, if so, he had very little conviction. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6Rpdb6GGO
"There's a reason why I'm the one stuck out here with the intel, pal." he said, suddenly smiling, despite the immediate danger he was in.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11g4wiDpmd
"O-Oh? A-And why would th-that be?" he asked.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxlJPQLoQd
He shrugged off his trench coat, falling around the suitcase. The man with the pistol adorned a shocked expression when he saw that the carrier wasn't wearing anything more than a white tank top, a pair of jeans, a pair of plain, worn, brown leather shoes. The exposed parts of his chest were mostly brass and bolts; he took particular notice of the plates of metal (he hoped they were only plates), running from his elbow to his shoulder.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgrTqwyZdv
"Now, what is it you were saying?" he asked, his grin growing wider, effectively scaring the man.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwe1RRyM6I
Plates of brass sprung open over his right arm; long clips of bullets slid down his arm like silk as a curious six-holed device grew from his arm in front of the clips. 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkBBxHbqPf
"Say cheese, pally."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ryFupInE
"Here ya go." he grumbled, slamming the suitcase down on the desk of his superior, after marching through the office of crowded people, the air thick with noise.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tAile9r0O
"You owe me a trip to Paris, you know that?" he went on, looking the man in the suit dead in the eye "And the money I spent on a ticket to get here."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAYrwZYeyg
"Our contact was a bum steer?" he questioned, a brow raising.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AKNtDPmek
"Yeah, had to wait all damn night, too- no one else was at the drop." he stated, his voice almost at a growl.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdODUVOqDPH
The man behind the desk thought for a moment, then nodded, placing some forms in a box in a corner of his desk.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pU7jUoWBq
"Very well, you'll be reimbursed for everything, in addition to your pay," he said, then after a moment "I understand that this was your last mission with us; would you care to have a drink?" 942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kV2A8rlmi
"No, thank you," he said "I've got a plane to catch."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28UOKBEokG
With that, he turned, and walked out of the office.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsWCNpoP5c
