The Law of Malthus

He thanked me profusely. He couldn't put any of the clothes on, yet, but it was comforting for him to know that if he wanted or needed to run away, he wouldn't have to do it in the rough. He put the collar on immediately, though. He relaxed almost immediately. He was sitting when I came into the room, and nearly pounced on me in his search for the little piece of leather. When he found it his eyes brightened, and he looked up at me like a little kid that had gotten his favorite toy for Christmas. He instantly reached up and strapped it on in milliseconds. It had taken me half an hour to figure how to do that, much less, without looking at it behind my head. He had lots of experience.

After that I convinced him to take it easy, finally getting him to take a nap on the couch. That was when I got a knock on my door. An envelope slipped through the crack underneath. I had fixed up the door earlier. I hadn't done too much damage when I brought Kane in.

I uttered a curse. His eyes fluttered open. I went over and picked up the envelope. I ripped off the top and pulled out the contents. I flicked through it and growled. I humpfed and threw it on the table. Kane was trying to get up, to see what it was.

"Don't. Just go back to sleep. I've just got a job tonight. I'll leave two hours or so after dark. I should be back by dawn. I'm going to catch some shuteye." I flopped onto my bed and tried to empty my mind, trying not to think, most of all about the woman I was supposed to kill tonight. I felt my bed depress gingerly. I opened my eyes and looked at Kane. He had curled up at my side, like a puppy snuggling against a sickly master.

"You really don't like killing, do you." He murmured. His head was resting on my chest and I gingerly wrapped an arm around him.

"I don't like that there is a part of me that likes killing." I felt his eyebrows wrinkle in confusion. "I don't like killing, but at some point, during the chase, the animal in me takes over and I relish when I see that look in my victim's eyes. That look that says that they know they are about to die. That beast that takes my body craves the spilling of their blood. The moment the deed is done, however I feel afraid and ashamed. I feel dirty and small. I feel like I should go drown myself to help save the world. But I always take the next job; because that animal in me is getting restless and needs to see a human, or Hybrid, suffer. I hate it." I felt a drop of liquid land on my chest and gently stroked Kane's head. "But it's all right. There's always a part of me that knows that what I'm doing is wrong, and that is enough. It's a bitter victory, but a victory none the less." I smiled at the child cuddled around me.

"You are Good." He whispered. With that we both drifted off.

The next morning, I came into my apartment covered with blood and little pieces of people. The job had been harder than I had expected. I had to get through fifteen bodyguards reach my target. Kane was up. He was sitting on my couch, still naked. He stood as I came in. A look of concern covered his face when he saw the state I was in. I didn't say a word. I just went to the bathroom and washed off all the blood. I burnt the clothes and put on a pair of comfortable flannel pants. I pulled a cotton tee over my head and fell onto my bed.

A comforting weight was lowered next to me and I felt a hand on my back. I turned over and looked up into those deep watery blue eyes. I reached up and stroked his cheek. He closed his eyes and pressed his face into my hand.

"I'm almost healed, Charlie." He whispered.

"I noticed." I stroked the pink line on his flesh where the worst cut had been.

"That means that I can leave." He wouldn't meet my gaze.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." He looked at me, a full, honest gaze.

"I don't want to." He whispered. I smiled and pulled him to me. He lay on my chest, his breath slowly evening to the steady beat of sleep. I petted his head, savoring the silky feel of his fur. He would stay with me. I had someone. I had Kane.

I woke around noon. Kane was making little sleepy noises into my chest. I gently stroked his ears and they perked up slightly.

"Wake up, little one. Time for lunch." Kane sat up and shook his head wearily. "Steak sound good to you?" I slid out of bed and padded over to the kitchen. The steak soon hit the pan and filled the room with the savory aroma of searing meat. Kane came in and poured us both some milk.

"Charlie? What are we?" I stopped fiddling with the steak for a moment, and just stared at the wall behind the stove. That was when I heard the knock. Then the little shush of paper against floor. I groaned and hurried over to the door. Sure enough, there was a little brown envelope there.

"Oh, shit. When it rains it pours." This had been the sixth job in five days. I opened the package and looked inside. "Oh, shit! When it rains it rains anvils!" I threw the packet onto the kitchen table and stalked back over to my steak.

"What is it?" Kane looked worried.

"My job, tonight. I've got to kill The Shifter." I threw my knife at the wall.

"Holy crap. Isn't he the big good guy? The supernatural being that goes around doing good deeds and crap? Holy hell. Are you going to do it?" he looked at me, sympathetically.

"I have no choice. The guy that wants me to do it, he is the biggest crime boss in the city. He could have me killed. I may be the best assassin out there, but I can still be taken down. Shit." I collapsed in my chair. I let my head fall into my hands and closed my eyes. I felt two warm hands on my shoulders.

"It's all right, Charlie. It'll be all right." Kane wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I rested in the sanctuary of his warmth for as long as I could, then pulled away.

"I have to go. I know where he'll be, but not quite when. I'll need to stake it out." I got up to get dressed.

"At least take the steak, you need your energy." I smiled down at the boyish looking man.

"Yes ma." I grabbed the steak, ripped it in half, and started chewing on my half as I dressed.

Five hours later, I found myself, lying on a rooftop, freezing my tail off, and waiting for The Shifter. I was over an alley; in the side of the opposite building there was a door. The Shifter would enter that door some time. He lived inside.

A tall slim figure turned the corner into the alleyway. I recognized him immediately from the photo I was given; this was my target. I stepped to the edge of the roof and jumped. I landed just in front of him, and threw out a slash of my claws.

He blocked.

I lunged.

He blocked.

I kicked.

He blocked.

I stepped back.

"You're good." I commented.

"So are you." He said in an easy, relaxed tone. "You're here to kill me."

"Unfortunately." I jumped and landed just behind him, catching him off guard. I wrapped my fist around his neck and was about to squeeze his head off when he raised his arm in a signal.

"Wait!" I spun around at the sound of Kane's voice.

"Kane!" Two men were holding him. One had an arm around his neck, and the other had a gun trained on his head. I loosened my grip a little. Enough to not strangulate The Shifter, but not enough to let him go.

"So, he is with you. He wouldn't tell us when we caught him. Is he your boyfriend? Partner? Sidekick? It doesn't matter. If you don't let me go, he dies." I instantly released the man. "Good. Now, why don't we talk." My eyes never left Kane as the man led the way to the door.

The entry led to a well-furnished apartment. The Shifter showed us through the house to what looked like an office. He sat in a large leather chair behind an oak desk. He motioned towards a sofa, but I just stared at Kane. Kane was looking at the floor, ashamed.

"So, his name is Kane. What's yours?" The Shifter questioned.

"Charlie." I growled. I didn't matter if he knew. He had Kane captive.

"Ah, only the finest are sent to kill me. How thoughtful. Tell me, do you enjoy your job." I just looked at Kane.

"No, he hates it." Kane rasped.

"Ah, so the little one speaks. Tell me. Why do you hate it?" I looked at The Shifter then.

"Because it is unjust, and wrong. I murder for money. There is no worse crime."

"That last point could be argued, but I will not. Tell me, if you are so opposed to your job, why do you do it?" He steepled his fingers and leaned forward. He looked genuinely interested, not like he was just playing games.

"Everyone needs money, and I'm good at killing, besides, this animal that calls itself by my name enjoys it." He closed his eyes and nodded in appreciation.

"The thrill of the hunt. The creature inside you has instincts, and it is hard to ignore them." He nodded.

"He really is a good person. He didn't want to kill you. They would have killed him if he didn't, and me, probably. I'm less than dirt to them. Please, let him go?" Kane pleaded. Both The Shifter and I looked at him.

"Is this true? You didn't want to kill me?" The Shifter looked at me with searing eyes.

"No, I didn't. You're one of the only sources of justice in these years. I would I could be like you, but my instincts forbade it." The Shifter looked puzzled for a moment.

"How?" A simple question with so many permeations.

"I can not do justice when a part of myself wants nothing but carnage." I shook my head.

"Yes you can. As long as a part of you knows what is right and is able to act upon it, you can do so." The Shifter stood and walked around the desk. "My name is Varian. It is nice to meet you, Charlie. I would like to help you. I would like you to join me." I was dumbstruck. The men let go of Kane. He swayed for a moment, and I was instantly at his side, catching him as he fell.

"You want me to work with you? You do realize I was sent here tonight to kill you?" He nodded. Kane just smiled. I looked from one honestly happy face to the other.

"Well, sure!" I shrugged and it was done. My life of crime was over and my life of justice begun.