Chapter Text
“Man, I’m telling you that had to be the easiest job we’ve- “
Adrien smiled fondly at his best friend’s ramblings, only listening half-heartedly, clearly, he’d drank too much and while Adrien wasn’t much of a drinker himself, he couldn’t blame him, it was a time to celebrate. They’d been doing legally ambiguous contracts for a while now ever since they met on a job and had only a small amount of success, but their most recent job had been their most successful yet and they had earned enough to last them a few months.
Adrien had first arrived in Japan when he was seven and willing to do anything to get away from his abusive family, that being sneaking onto the first cargo ship he found and hiding between a few packages. He was found by a few thugs who were impressed by his skills that had been hammered into him since birth. Committing petty crimes for a group of idiots was less than ideal but it was more fun than being locked in his stupid father’s mansion all day being yelled at for getting something slightly wrong. Through the years he had developed some more skills and was able to make a decent name for himself in the underground of Tokyo.
Despite him knowing Nino for years he had no clue how the guy had gotten to where he was and whenever he tried to bring it up Nino always tried to move away from the subject, so he left it alone.
One of the bartenders walked up to them clearing his throat to get their attention. He looked at Nino who was doing the same and they both nodded. Leaning into the man he whispered in their ears:
“Someone’s got a job for you.”
Adrien raised an eyebrow and whispered, “Can you ask someone else; we’ve just got off a job?”
The man shook his head “No they asked specifically for you.”
Now this had his attention, Nino looked at him and shrugged so Adrien sighed “Okay.”
The man moved his eyes to point toward the back of the bar, Adrien turned his head to see a police officer at the back surveying the crowd. He turned to the bartender who had a glass full of beer in his hands, the man made a slight tipping motion to indicate his plan, Adrien picked up on it and nodded slightly. Suddenly the man ‘tripped’ and poured the liquid all over him and Nino.
The man apologized profusely and offered to clean him and Nino up which they both accepted, Adrien turned his head to the officer whose attention was on the women severing drinks on the other side of the bar, he grimaced. Got wet for nothing. The bartender led them to the back opening up one of the wine cabinets to reveal a door. The man signaled them to go through, so they made their way to the underground.
--
The underground was possibly the worst part of his lifestyle and when he was in it was the only time he questioned his life choices. Being based in the sewage system and having a crowd of people who smelled like they hadn’t showered in years made the place reek. He used his hoodie to cover his nose as they went through the maze that was the underground.
Eventually they made it to an opening in the wall which led to an open area with lots of small round tables with seats around them. Him and Nino made their way to a vacant one and sat waiting. A few minutes later a small, hooded figure entered the room making his way to the table. Adrien couldn’t see much on his person except for a grey beard on his chin.
The man sat down placed a briefcase onto the table.
“Let’s get to business, shall we?” the man opened his brief case and placed a piece of paper which held a symbol of a black cat and a dragon, it seemed to be a family crest of sorts. “I assume you have heard of the Tsurugi family, yes?”
Yes, he had heard of them, they were famous in Japan for being a family of merciless tyrants who crushed anyone in their way. Supposedly being the descendants of a powerful shogun, they held a high honor and were feared even among the underground.
Nino had spat out his drink and was staring at the man as if to say: are you serious. Adrien turned to the man and said “Yes I’ve heard of them, I’ve also heard they’re not to be messed with, I’m sorry but I’ll have to decli- “
“Ah ah ah, let me finish.” The man interrupted “I don’t want you to attack any of their members in fact if you do your job well you shouldn’t be seen at all.” The man pulled another few pieces of paper out of his bag placing them on a table, one piece seemed to be an area plan for the Tsurugi land and the other showed an image of a silver ring. “This is the item I want you to obtain it is a silver ring that the Tsurugi’s plan to hand over to their eldest son in two weeks. During this event, the ring will be kept in a box away from sight. All you must do is take it while no one is looking and leave.”
Nino leaned down on the table a smirk on his face “And what are we going to about the bodyguard they are going to have all around the property hmm?”
The man waved his hand dismissively “Bah, they have their heads so far up their rear they don’t think they need bodyguards.”
Adrien sighed “It’s great that you have this plan and all but- “Adrien stopped as the man placed a slip of paper on the table, written on the paper was an absurdly large number Adrien didn’t even think he could count to. “This is your pay.” the man said before leaning back eyeing the duo curiously.
“Dude.” Nino said, voice aghast turning to Adrien slowly “We have to take this.”
Adrien looked at the number thinking to himself. That amount of money would be enough for them to live like kings for the rest of their lives. It was risky but if the Tsurugi’s were as careless as the man said they were it seemed like a no-brainer. Adrien sighed and looked up to the man holding his hand out “We’ll do it.”
Adrien could see the hint of a grin on the man’s shadowed face “Glad to hear it.”