Chương 31: Chapter 30 - Another Chance

Atzi was escorted back out by Terra, and immediately headed back to the inn to rest. After, she ate up, then went to the Arena for her guaranteed gamble. Never know when some more money might be useful. Again the fights went ever so slightly differently, but with the same results. She still found that odd, but didn't think overly much about it. Then, as night fell, she arrived at V's manor.

- Atzi let the meeting play out as she remembered it; Cory stole her money, they discussed the bank's layout, Paulina glared at her, there were a few arguments, Atzi sided with Cory, some questions, and then the meeting was over. She decided to put the small differences out of mind - it wasn't like she could solve any of the weird time stuff. The big difference was that Fence glared at her the whole time. I wonder if they want something? But they didn't approach her, like they did last time. Weird.

Atzi and Cory left together. Again through the shadowed streets they walked. Even with everything that had happened, Atzi couldn't help but think how beautiful Cory was. Maybe if I befriend the sage she'll be so impressed she goes out with me.

"It's good to see you again," Atzi said.

"Yeah," Cory replied. Crap, what do I say again? Atzi hummed.

"It'll be great to have all that money." Cory shrugged.

"I don't care."

"Why not?" Atzi asked.

"... Do you trust me, Atzi?" Cory grabbed Atzi's claw.

"O-of course," Atzi said, looking away. Cory studied Atzi's face for a second.

"What's wrong?" Oh crap. Atzi quickly thought of an excuse.

"Um... aha, well, it's just... everyone else looks at me like they want me dead, you're just... more forgiving than I expected?"

"Atzi, I was never mad at you in the first place."

"You weren't?" Atzi's tail lifted.

"Of course not! It was V's fault for that stupid plan. If I was in charge, it never would have happened."

"But it's V's plan again this time... you don't think it'll work?"

"Not just that, I think they'll try to betray us." Cory said.

"I don't know how, but it's obvious, isn't it?"

"I guess it is. I bet V has all kinds of tricks up their sleeve." Atzi said, a private joke with herself.

"Right. So I'll ask you again. Do you trust me? Enough to do something dangerous with me?" She squeezed Atzi's claw lightly. Atzi was silent. I need that book. It's probably that evil dancer's fault and you wouldn't try to kill me normally. Definitely.

"I'll help!" Cory smiled.

"I want to betray V before they betray us." They discussed the details. Atzi already knew them, so she just asked questions as Cory went over stealing the blood first, then getting V to bring out the book.

"I'll do it. Um, Cory, afterwards, what's your plan? V will kill us if we stay in the city after all." Cory nodded.

"I'm leaving the city. Too dangerous to stay."

"Alone? Just, um... you'd be getting your book, but I'd have nothing, you know?"

"I'll pay you five gold."

"I could leave the city with that... would we not see each other again?" Atzi noticed, for the briefest moment, the twitch of a grimace on Cory's face.

"Do you want to come with me, Atzi?"

"I do." Atzi nodded rapidly.

"Um, would that be alright?" Cory grinned.

"Of course! We could be partners in crime!"

"W-we could?"

"Assuming everything else works out."

"Would it be just you and me?" I need to know if she mentions that murderous freak. Cory raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you ask?"

"W-well, it's been a few years, maybe you... you know, found other people...?" Atzi looked down.

"I've worked with some people, and maybe I will again." Cory got closer to her.

"But don't worry Atzi. Nobody could replace you." Then she walked away. Atzi's head swam as she swooned. Even if she knew it was bullshit, she was enraptured by the way Cory said it. But the fact she's not mentioning her girlfriend… yeah, I have to go with the original plan. I have to hand the book to the sage. I'll have to build up some real tricks across these repeated times to convince her to leave that psychopath and go with me instead.

As Atzi dreamed of their life together afterwards, she heard the clacking of claws. She turned her head, wondering who was out so late at night. Walking down the street was Fence. They tried to make it look like a casual stroll, but Atzi knew they wanted something. That's different, though.

"Uh, hey Fence?" Were they following us? Hopefully they weren't listening in. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Fence stopped before her. They glared up at her.

"Who are you?"

"... Huh?" Atzi tilted her head.

"You've been my fence for years, what are you on about?"

"What color underwear do I wear?" Atzi's jaw opened. Then she yelled, "I don't know that!" Fence hummed.

"It's weird. You were in a room full of people I know you'd be shitting yourself over, but you were calm. Like you expected it."

"V told me in advance they'd be there." Atzi folded her arms.

"Not gonna let them just start killing me. Maybe after the heist, but right now? What are they gonna do, really?" Fence considered something.

"If you got a game going on, I want in." The statement told Atzi that, at least, Fence wasn't listening.

"What kinda game do you think I have that's better money than robbing that vault? I didn't even get to eat half the time before."

"I don't know!" Fence looked upset.

"You're an open book, Atzi! I know everything going through your head just by looking at you! But tonight, I can't!"

"That's why?" Fence crossed their arms, too.

"Yeah. So tell me what's up." Atzi thought about it for a second.

"Okay, sure. In five days time the city gets blown up like Novae was. A god showed me a vision. You believe that?" Fence was silent. -and then doubled over laughing.

"Okay, but seriously?" Atzi tried to not let her annoyance show.

"... Serious answer is I wanted to look cool in front of Cory. You happy now? I liked things better when we followed her plans."

"Oh, that makes sense. You know she's probably lying to you though, right?" Atzi shrugged.

"Maybe, I dunno." Fence pointed at her.

"Don't trust her just because she's beautiful."

"Yeah yeah..." Atzi thought about something.

"Hey, what colour underwear are you wearing then if you think that's such a good question?"

"Well, if you answered it, that's how I'd know you weren't Atzi." Fence stuck out their tongue.

"So like hells I'm telling you!"

"If I wasn't Atzi, why would I even answer that anyway? Get a better test!"

"Bah, no appreciation for the classics..." Fence wandered off. Damn. I might have to deal with that in future. Fence... knows me well enough to know something's up? If they tried this normally I'd call bullshit. But because time is repeating I know it's because of how I'm acting. Atzi headed back to the inn to sleep. === She rolled over and grumbled when the chanting of the Crow's procession passed by, heading back to sleep. Finally, she woke up in the afternoon. Atzi smelled food.

She rolled out of bed, threw her clothes on, and went down to eat. Marco was cooking chicken. Did he cook this last time? I can't remember. Atzi sat down for some food, and decided to try something out.

"Guess what?" Marco was focused so intently on his food that he didn't respond.

"I broke into the guardhouse a few days back." Atzi said, grinning.

"W-what?!" Marco yelped. He flipped the chicken and it landed on the floor.

"H-hey, calm down a little!" Atzi held up her claws.

"N-no, why would you- why would you break into the guard house?!"

"I got paid to? Keep your voice down, sheesh."

"S-sorry. Oh, um..." Marco picked up the chicken off the floor.

"How do you think I can afford to stay here instead of that shitty shack in the slums?" Atzi bragged.

"Best decision I ever made..."

"Why are you telling me?" He threw the chicken away.

"Oh, well... camaraderie? I mean you can't just run to the guards and tell them, right? They'll lock you up too."

"... I don't like breaking the law," Marco said, looking down.

"Ahh. Those other two kinda pushed you into it, right?"

"... Yeah." Atzi pointed a clawed finger at him.

"The law's not worth the paper it's printed on. You just gotta have standards." Before Marco could respond, the door of the inn opened.

"... Oh right, this happens around now," Atzi said to herself, turning around. Paulina scowled at her. She walked up to the counter and sat next to Atzi..

"Uh, hey Paulina..." Atzi waved.

"Fuck you." Paulina turned to Marco.

"Hey, innkeeper, get me a drink. Her tab." Paulina jabbed a thumb at Atzi. This is different. Atzi decided to see where it would go. She nodded to Marco. Paulina glared at her when she did so.

"What, you think you're better than me?" she spat. Atzi whined.

"I'm trying to be nice so you don't get madder at me..."

"I couldn't get fucking madder at you, I'm already mad as I can be!" Paulina hit her fist against the table.

"You should quit the job. You don't belong on it."

"V would be pissed. It's not us running it, is it?" Atzi shrugged.

"They wanna prove they can do it right, I got dragged in too."

"I don't fucking care. I don't want to fucking work with you. You'd just set us back. I'd be better off without you."

"What, last few years went well for you?" Atzi replied.

"Fuck you!" Paulina stood up- -and threw a punch at Atzi. Atzi leaned backwards in surprise. A fight hadn't happened before, so she only barely avoided the strike. In doing so she tumbled out of her chair to the floor. She groaned. Paulina stomped over to her and leaned over. She yelled down into her face, "You think you know anything?!" Atzi stood up. Paulina let her, but her hands were still coiled back, ready for another strike. Atzi tried to reason with her.

"Can't have been living worse than me, can't that be enough? I didn't get to eat half the time since then. Doing the shittiest jobs for a couple bronze at a time..."

"I'm so fucking sad for you!" Paulina screamed. Atzi had the feeling she very much was not.

"I'm sorry I panicked and threw it the wrong way, fine. Didn't have much time to think, it was that or get blown up!"

"Then you should have got blown up!" Paulina shouted.

"Why do I have to pay for your mistake! You see this?!" She pointed to her scar.

"This is your fault! It throbs every fucking night!"

"Okay, how about I give you part of my share to get it fixed then? There's places you can, I bet."

"Fuck you!" Paulina launched herself at Atzi. They collided, Paulina grasping at Atzi's arms. They fell to the floor together. Atzi tried to struggle, but Paulina was stronger, pinning her to the floor. Atzi's tail was stuck under her own back, useless. Paulina let go to strike Atzi, but it gave Atzi a free arm to block the punch to her head. Then Atzi swiped out with her claw, causing Paulina to let go of her other arm.

Atzi used the moment to twist, but then Paulina's knees came down on her chest, knocking the wind out of her. Marco shouted, "Don't wreck the inn!" Atzi wheezed. She covered her head as several more of Paulina's blows came down.

"I'm gonna spit poison in your scar!" she threatened, hoping to get Paulina off of her.

"You know I can land the shot!" Paulina hurriedly stood up. The second Atzi tried to get up too, Paulina shoved her back down. The scarred thief reeled back a leg. Then she kicked Atzi. Atzi took her boot to the gut.

"Guh!" Paulina kicked towards her again. Atzi rolled out of the way.

"Stay still!" Paulina shouted, stomping over. Atzi scarpered to her feet, putting a table between them.

"I've got a better idea." Then she ran out the door. Paulina shouted and ran after her. She wasn't this angry last time! And I was being nicer! Atzi decided to lose Paulina in the market crowds. It wasn't difficult with how busy it was this afternoon. She ran through, pushing people out of her way until she was well ahead. She couldn't even hear Paulina's shouts anymore. Atzi didn't bother buying a rope this time. She decided she needed a break before the blood job, anyway.

She was still sore from the fight, but her scales had taken most of the impact, so she was fine. She hung around some food stalls, spending her money from gambling on delicious treats as she whittled the time away to the meeting. She was looking forward to tonight.