More Elisop Oneshots

In Darkness There's Light

Noir x Trickster | Mafia AU

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Shrouded by forests and a huge wall shielding it from outside hazards, Oletus was a quiet, peaceful little corner of the world. However, behind its seemingly upbeat façade, the town's inhabitants knew better than anyone how, once night had fallen, one should never set foot further than their neighbourhood. It goes without saying that someone had to rule the place, but in this instance it wasn't one, but rather two people, or groups.

For years, the two gangs had engaged in bloody, pointless battles every evening, fighting to claim the other's territory, although after all this time, neither had yet emerged victorious.

The most famous of the two, if it could be qualified as such, was led by a pragmatic man who went by the moniker of Trickster, and who didn't hesitate to make a spectacle of his firepower for all to marvel at. The other, in contrast, preferred stealth, specialising in a variety of hand-to-hand assassination techniques or concealment, to the extent that only a handful had ever had the chance to lay eyes on their leader. Those still alive were among the underlings he trusted most, while the others... They didn't last long enough to tell the story of what they had seen, reinforcing the terrible reputation of the man they called Noir.

These exchanges between the two sides were so frequent that they were comparable to simple greetings. It was almost a routine for participants and spectators alike: during the day, everyone got on well together and wore an invisible mask hiding their true identities; then came the evening, the few night owls went to the bars or other places of entertainment and gambling which were the few neutral locations, but no one hung around in the streets because who knows if you might stumble across an argument between Noir's men and Trickster's. Finally, after a few gunshots here and there, things calmed down as if nothing had ever happened and a new day began.

In addition to these two factions, there were also very strict rules to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, such as setting schedules for their fights and banning outsiders from entering. In short, the town was no different from any other, except for the occasional bloodshed.

However, something happened that shook up this regulated lifestyle, in the form of flames shooting out like spikes from Hell, ripping through the ground and ravaging everything in their way. It happened in broad daylight, without anyone noticing. Despite various reinforcements coming to put out the fire, the task was much harder than expected due to its sheer size and when the last crackles died down, Trickster was the only one standing on the remnants of the house where the members of his clan lived.

There was nothing left, no-one. His subordinates had persuaded him to go for a walk around town while they were busy preparing a big party in honour of their syndicate's anniversary. Everyone was there, except Trickster.

His mind was blank as he was confronted with the ruins of his home and his dead friends. He collapsed to the ground and threw away the rubble that fell into his hands, digging and searching desperately for any sign of a survivor. His gloves became stained with red from lifting the sharp, rough stones.

Night finally fell and he began to tire, his movements slower and his vision blurred by the shock weighing down on him. He didn't stop until he felt a hand on his shoulder. His body froze as he realised the situation, and he was a little angry at himself for maintaining his reflexes even though he had lost everything, but there was no longer any reason to fight either.

"You've come to finish me off...?" he muttered, a sarcastic laugh escaping from between his lips.

The person behind him didn't answer, but at the same time, Trickster felt his strength leave him, and then everything went dark.