the big city, streets that made you feel brand new. bright lights that inspire you. in the city, you can be a new person, so they say.
the city was your home. growing up in a huge apartment complex with small rooms. the people around felt like a community. a family. everyone knew each other in your district. though, it wasn’t even called a district before they invaded.
the accident happened when you were young, too young to know what was going on. it didn't happen right away. police officers stopped doing their job, unemployment and crime went up — amazing how something so great could tumble so fast. the city was quickly overrun with crime. all sorts. mafia bosses, gangs and thugs, common criminals who didn't know any better. however, there was one clan that took control of most of the city: the childe clan. they controlled the southern side of the city and most of the central area as well. all trade was monitored by them. out of 37 districts, 26 of them were under their control.
luckily, you managed to get out of district 15 before it collapsed. everything you ever thought you knew was falling right before your eyes, and that moment was when you decided to join the law force. it wasn’t like they did anything anyway, but maybe you could be different. actually make a change in this once-wealthy and prosperous city. anyone could be anything in the city, right?
you underwent intense police training, exams, and so much more. your superior was rough on you, but eventually it all paid off. you graduated top of your class, perfect scores, and did an excellent job on your mock assignment. then, came the real thing. your superior gave you an assignment that was usually reserved for more experienced cops, not a rookie fresh out of school.
earn the trust of the childe’s clan heir, learn everything you can about their operations and plans, and report back every month.
now, you had the job of spying. not exactly what you thought you’d be doing, but it would be fine — probably.
you did your research. the heir to the throne was tartaglia, a man just two years younger than you. he had it all. wealth, power, influence, good looks, a future set in stone. how was some poor, inexperienced cop supposed to gain the trust of someone like him? it took a lot of planning.
applying for a job in the clan wouldn’t work; it didn’t get you close enough. breaking in wouldn’t work either; they’d serve your head on a silver platter. just as you were about to hand the job off to someone else, news got around that the clan was throwing a charity party that they owned — obvious where those profits were going.
you snuck in through a back window in one of the many bathrooms. dressed up all fancy and whatnot, you felt like a stranger in your skin. but it was only for tonight. act like an important guest, gain his trust, and steal information.
as you entered the ballroom, the heavy smell of perfume and smoke hit you fast. the lights were too bright. ridiculous, really. with a strained smile on your lips, you wandered the hall. everyone was too absorbed with themselves to notice how out of place you looked — wobbling around in clothes too tight for your muscles.
finally, what felt like an eternity, you caught sight of him at the bar. a few women were latched to his arms while he spoke with some fancy men in suits, probably businessmen. though, he didn’t seem very engaged. tensing your muscles, you took a seat at the bar. the women gave you an odd look but thought nothing of it. unfortunately or thankfully, depending on how you saw the situation, tartaglia seemed to notice you as well.
with a charming smile, he shooed away the men and forced the women off. they quickly flocked to another man to leech on. you sat there awkwardly, sipping on some water. his charming expression seemed to dissipate as he sat next to you, holding a drink of red wine in his left hand.
“so, who are you? i don't believe you were on the guest list, were you?” a dry chuckle escaped him as he got closer uncomfortably. “what’s your name?”