"Amusing how even after years and years of this stuff the copper taste always shocks you. Come on old friend just a few more feet to the door and you can lay down in the middle of the floor and be as safe as anywhere. We just have to get you out of the public eye before someone sees you." His voice is surprisingly calm even in spite of everything that has happened. I guess that is what makes us so inseperable.

Time seems to have congealed into some thick viscous form that is keeping me from moving faster than a crawl towards the door to my apartment. He is right, just a matter of feet if i can manage to get down the rest of the hallway. The stairs were the worst part, luckily i can't remember anything about them. I guess trauma and shock do have thier advantages. My hand looks pale even to my own eyes as i observe with clinical detachment the red smear it leaves on the wall near the doorframe as I reach out for the handle. The cool metal brings a grin to my lips, if not formy normal night time comings nad goings I would likely have raised a few eyebrows from the noise of me getting home. Guess that working nocturnally does have some advantages.

"We are here old friend, shut and lock it and we are home free for now. If she puts two and two together she has the key. Don't expect thanks though, you are a problem solver even if they dont recognize it as a problem." His laugh comes as a painful wheeze behind me as I turn the knob to lock in the deadbolt on my dark living room.

Safe at last, and to say the least its been one hell of a night. My strength floods out of me as i reach about halfway to the bathroom and the medicine cabinet within. Sinking down the wall I realize that likely the damage is a bit more severe than first I thought. Medical attention is needed. Guess those are the ways the dice are falling this time. On a long enough timeline everyones survival rate is zero. That thought comforts me somewhat as my eyes drift up and notice the long streak of blood that my slipping against the wall left. My back leaning tightly to it, I can still feel the trickle of warmth down my skin and can scent the hot metallic smell coming off of me from numerous wounds left with just tbe barest tending. A peice of gauze is enough to hold you over but not exactly the most enduring of bandages.

"Its been a long road hasnt it?" His grin though unseen is none the less noted. Tired but still just as malicious as always. My own is only slightly less so.

"You are right, i guess the cards will fall this way eventually. We knew it was going to happen. It was, after all, only a matter of time. And can you honestly think of a better way?" My hand pushing over a gouge in my upper arm throbs with the beat of my heart, the blood thrumming out from between my fingers despite the pressure applied.

"I can definately think of worse ways to go. And honest did you ever think we would end up old and toothless in bed? Shit that we lasted this long is a miracle. Not like we are gonna be really missed. We were good, but people like us are always replaced. Infinitely expendable. Her tears wont be for us when they fall. Does it bring you satisfaction? To know that even after sacrificing so much you still get nothing in return?" That arc of the eyebrow I have seen so many thousands of times. Always with that half smirk creasing his lips, and as always the best return is to throw his own words back at him.

"I live only to serve. And she asked, her life goes on and its better now. Better still without us cluttering it up with unnecessary feelings. A loose end to be wrapped up and we are taking care of that ourselves arent we? I can';t help but wish things were different. But i knew from the beginning that it just wasnt in the cards. She was kind to us though. Does that deserve something?" The last statement came out as a bare whisper, my vision starting to collapse around the edges as i gazed up into the dark corner of the ceiling.

"I guess you are right. Like i said, none of this is coming as a surprised. We arent needed anymore. We were too good at what we did and our purpose is expended. Sticking around would only be a constant reminder of the past and even I am not that cruel." I can hear that trailing note is his voice, the hiss at the end of each word as loss of blood takes its toll.

Barely able to form the words, my lips manage to utter before the weight is just too much and I slip under those dark waters that are lapping against my mind.

"....one hell of a run old friend..."

He nods once before my chin comes to rest against my chest, his whispered words seeming thunderous in the vast silence that grips me.

"Definately one hell of a run..."