Fantasy Shorts

Cleaning Duty

Mr. Reed was a janitor. Every day was unique- every month was the same. Clean one thing, mop another, hand wash this, dump water on that.

His mind wandered to such wonderful things, mostly other professions. He was past his prime, an older demon-kin, stuck in a city of Nephilim- a truly unfortunate situation. Even he dreamt of being a hero and slaying a huge beast, like he was a kid again.... there was nothing else to do as he worked.

Despite his own thoughts, others thought well of him despite the racial differences, he was a hardy man who always did his job without complaint. Neither side speaking to the other about anything really- 

And before he knew it, it was growing dark, evening hitting and he still went away, wandering the dimly lit streets and cleaning any big messes he came across. a glint in his eye as he hoped every day- he could be important to something, not a general "Oh, cleaners are important", he wanted to be cool looking for once. His feet ached, but he kept an ear out...... and shockingly there was nothing... the god over this area likely wasn't keen on granting this fools type of wish.

Yet- he heard a noise, a rustling of trash and a few things, likely nothing so he continued on..... no, he couldn't let it go, he went to every noise every night, not expecting different..... and as he turned the corner he found.....

He found it, despite how gruesome that might sound

A younger fellow was being jumped by two others, his belongings scattered, and clothing being torn as they tossed him around. He straightened himself up as he stepped to them, quickly getting greeted.

Exchanging a few loud words, one of the walked forward and was quickly knocked aside with the wooden pole of a mop. He kept it detached, his delusions doing him favor as they turned reality. They both left the poor sod, who took his chance to hunker down and run off, the smaller than average man now directly facing some quite worthy opponents.

To their shock, the demon wasn't hesitant in his striking, promptly showing what happens when you do as he thwacked the fool again and again, the thunk of the wood on his skull echoing repeatedly in the alleyway. But as he focused on this, he felt a warm burning spot down low, the glint of metal being shoved deep inside his back, the breath leaving him as he swung a panicking hit, pushing him away. As the creep stumbled, he was swept off his feet, and promptly had his nose smashed in along with multiple teeth. 

Reed grunted, not feeling very heroic at the moment, pouring some disinfectant on his wound, wrapping it up crudely and continuing on. Most may consider that type of injury an emergency- but he didn't care too much. Live or let die, he had no care what happened, but next on his stop was the temple.... not a job, but charity.

This place was filled with sick and injured, he had no issue, and felt good actually, cleaning the pace up for them and the hard-working maidens of it. Entering the door with a slam of not wood, but the scent of incense hitting him, nearly forgetting they had the place fully enveloped with it. Dragging his supplies behind, he began to clean, getting used to the pain over time, a few hours or so- wiping the place down, blood and such beside and under the beds. There was also many..... less fun things to clean, but he did them without worry. Standing up after properly cleaning under the last bed, he instinctively stretched up and flinched in pain.

but wait.... there was no actual pain, it didnt hurt anymore. With no one around, he raised his shirt and unwrapped the wound, finding nothing there anymore aside from dried blood.

Perhaps the god wasn't ignoring him