(TezDay) LB7 Duo Week Day 5: "AU: John Wick"“Here’s your pen and paper to put your name on, as we have agreed on.”

Slender, bony fingers pushed the Marker badge and a knife made of obsidian toward Daybit. The owner of those fingers was clad in a red made-to-order suit, black coat made of the same expensive fabric as the suit was draped on his shoulders in a manner resembling a cape. Daybit was no stranger to crime lords dressing up in an extravagant style. The man before him was no exception, what’s with the necklace with the large, golden sphere pendant with a hole in the middle that hung on his neck. Everything else about him, however, gave the impression that he took his dressing-up to a high degree that it still appeared pleasant to the other party. His long, flaxen hair was tied in a low ponytail style and rested gently on his right shoulder; a contrast to the snake-like features of his face.

This man was Yayauhqui, the owner of Hotel Mictlanpa and the head of the biggest crime organization in Mexico. He was also Daybit’s main priority to get him on his side.

“Getting him on his side” was a rather simplified description. It took Daybit about three months in preparation and an elaborate plan of holding the crime lord’s high commander hostage in exchange of an audience with him. The young man had prepared a Plan B should his target lied, but to his surprise Yayauhqui actually came to him.

Then, he shot Daybit in the stomach. He commented that he targeted Daybit’s leg to test his resolution, but his aim apparently worked in the opposite direction. Daybit tried to not wince as pain shot through the right side of his belly, knowing that this was a trial, and proposed a joint force with the crime lord in exchange of something he would be interested in. This being Yayauhqui, the negotiation went rough, yet somehow Daybit was able to bring him to a stalemate until the other man decided to have a second, more formal meeting with him.

That was how Daybit ended up in this room, in a building with a highly confidential location. Once he signed the Marker, there was no going back, but the man regarded this as another step taken for the next plan. He just needed more reason to convince Yayauhqui.

The purple-eyed man observed the badge and the knife, but he didn’t pick up the knife just yet. He looked at Yayauhqui right on the older man’s blue eyes. Two Ocelomeh guards stood on Yayauhqui’s left and right sides. Their faces were hidden under their distinguishable jaguar masks, but Daybit could still feel their watchful gaze on him.

“Seems like you still keep the High Table tradition,” said Daybit.

“I don’t dislike their clandestine formality even though I’ve no longer played by their rules,” replied Yayauhqui as he gestured toward the knife. “The blade, however, is my own touch. My warriors know the sacredness of obsidian; a blood spilled by an obsidian dagger is considered honourable. When you draw your blood from your finger with that knife and leave your mark on the badge, the weight of your contract might even bind you in the afterlife too.”

“Aside from the less-practical reason, I don’t have any problem with it.”

Yayauhqui crossed his legs. Daybit sensed that the other’s mannerism slightly changed into a more casual gesture, but his blue eyes still gave out a predator-like gaze. As if he indirectly pried open Daybit’s skull to take a look inside his mind; something that Daybit was already familiar with.

“Ah, but you missed out one thing about blood oath. The oath is done only when the contractor is about to give a mission that will define life from death. Ordinary goons would have turn away, but you’ve proven me otherwise in just a few days,” said the crime lord.

“How dangerous is it” asked Daybit.

“Let’s say, you’re about to go toe-to-toe with another crime lord with similar power and reputation as me.”

Daybit fixed his purple eyes on Yayauhqui, seeking more confirmation and assurance behind those pale blue orbs. The older man gave him a big game to hunt right away, which sounded too good to be true. He wondered if the other party had already scoured any info regarding his ‘past reputation’, hence giving him this kind of mission.

“You want me to kill him”

Yayauhqui shook his head. “No, no. I don’t want you to kill him. We had this little transaction. It went smooth as butter and I was done paying my due. Little did I know that be turned to be a bit of a snitch. I was supposed to receive the goods I purchased from him yesterday, but my informant said the goods were re-routed to another party.” He leaned forward, emphasizing important words as he spoke, “This is where you come in. I want you to intercept his convoy and take back my goods.”

“A sabotage mission, then. There’ll be a chance that the third party has their own men to guard the convoy,” added Daybit.

“Precisely. I’ve arranged a backup team and additional logistics with Colibrí. They’ll follow behind you once you make your move, but you’ll be on your own when you infiltrate the convoy.”

“I appreciate your help, but I’m fine going in on my own.”

The crime lord rose his eyebrow at Daybit. “Mistaking arrogance with confidence is a sure-fire way to get yourself killed. I’d hate to see that before you prove your worth,” he warned him.

Daybit continued, unfazed by the older man’s words, “I’m used to planning everything as I go, and so far I’m still walking and breathing just fine. You can still order your team to be my backup, but I’d prefer them not to interfere with my work.”

Yayauhqui went silent. It was obvious that he wasn’t used to hearing bold statements from a stranger like Daybit. Still, Daybit didn’t detect any anger or other troubling mood from the older man. In fact, he just covered his lips and chuckled. In a joyful tune, he replied, “You really got the nerves, Boy. I’m starting to like you.”

Daybit nodded at the acknowledgment, but he didn’t stop there. With his back straight, he moved on to the next thing in his mind.

“Can I ask you something in return if I succeed”

Now Yayauhqui’s expression turned into a puzzling look. He waved his hand lightly like he was calming down an over-excited youth. “Whoa, whoa, slow down with the request there. Finish this mission first, then ask me later.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have much time. I have to tell you, else I don’t know when this chance will come up again.”

The young man clasped his hands in front of him. Inside his shirt, his wing-shaped pendant felt hot against his skin as he uttered his true intention. “I want you to help me...bring down the High Table for good.”

Yayauhqui’s eyes widen in a mix of disbelief and curiosity, but Daybit kept his straight face. It was a risky thing to propose, even to a crime lord who dared to cut ties with the organization. He could reject the proposal right away. That would be an ideal outcome for Daybit; he would be left alone, but he’d have less obligation and more freedom. But the younger man didn’t dismiss the chance that his men would hunt him down just so the High Table wouldn’t found out about his contact with Yayauhqui.

Minutes passed in silence. Daybit’s palms started to feel sweaty from the creeping nervousness; something that he had never experienced before.

Then, he heard cackles.

Yayauhqui’s shoulders were shaking as he laughed and laughed. Even the Ocelomeh guards looked as puzzled as Daybit at the crime lord’s reaction.

“You’re more interesting that I first judged you,” said Yayauhqui as he calmed down. “I’ll definitely keep your proposal in mind. For now, let’s get on with the contract.”

Daybit exhaled softly at the green light from the older man. He took the knife and made a small cut on his thumb with no hesitation, watching a tiny drop of ruby red formed from the cut. He pressed his bleeding thumb on the badge’s cavity, sealing his fate on the arduous path he was about to take. As he was about to pull out his hand, though, Yayauhqui caught his wrist. The older man locked eyes with Daybit, giving him a smile that Daybit couldn’t understood, and slowly brought the other’s hand to his lips and licked the still-dripping blood.

Daybit jolted a bit when the man’s tongue graced his wound. It felt hot, and wet.

Still smiling, Yayauhqui let Daybit go and leaned back to his chair. “We have a deal.”

Daybit quickly gathered up his composure after the sudden intimacy and asked, “When can I start”

“We’ll start early tomorrow, so meet me before breakfast. And this.” Yayauhqui took out a golden coin and put it in front of Daybit. “Give this to Colibrí. She’ll prepare a suite for you at the hotel.”

“This is...”

“My treat for this night only. Next time, I won’t be so kind.”

Yayauhqui took the Marker and the knife, stood up and left the room. His guards followed closely behind him.

Finally alone, Daybit picked up the coin and toyed with it. The crime lord’s eagerness on his plan, and his kindness, wasn’t what he expected at all. Even more puzzling was the last...action he did after Daybit signed the contract. Still, this was the progress that he had hoped for, enough to ensure the path toward his next plan. Take one step, then another. Calculated and steady, with minimum gaps for mistake.

Only through this path, he would be able to avenge his father.

The purple-eyed young man tossed the coin to the air. The golden trinket spun a few times before Daybit caught it with his right hand and slammed it on the back of his left hand. He got the front side of the coin, adorned with a skull and a heart inside of its mouth. A bad omen for commoners, but a symbol of luck for people of the underworld like him.

He slid the coin inside his coat’s pocket and stood up.

Hotel Mictlanpa has been expecting him.