Disclaimer: I do not own them. I never will. (At least that's what my therapist has me repeat to myself.)
Warnings: yaoi, shonen-ai, all that good stuff, language, OOCness, if I think of anything else, I will add it. None of the pairings are set in stone, but for right now, they're 1x2, 3x4 and 5x13, though I have been toying with the idea of writing a 5x2 for awhile, and can guarantee nothing.
The Driver
Chapter One – Death Drives a Big Yellow Taxi
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"Peacecraft Circle. With haste, please."
The voice is cultured, speaking lightly and taking me by surprise, a hard task to accomplish. I look in my rearview mirror and look over the two men who are now sitting in the back of my cab, looking back at me. I put down my manga, the only reason I wasn't my usual vigilant self, and turn the key, my eyes still on the pair in the back seat. It isn't often that we get anyone of Asian descent on L2, let alone like these two. The one who spoke is the one on the passenger side, all dark eyes and dark hair, and a body that was made for hand to hand combat (among other things…) My other passenger is sitting behind me, his face partially obscured by my seat. I can see one piercing blue eye and a shock of messy brown hair, with an unpleasant look on his more than pleasant face. Both look to be in their early to mid-twenties, though there is a very no-nonsense air about them both, from their clothes to their expressions. I decide that the somber air is bad for my complexion and put on a bright smile as I pull into heavier traffic.
"Name's Duo." I give them both a big smile. "I'd shake your hands but, you know, hands at ten and two and all that good stuff."
The blue eyed one doesn't even look my way, choosing instead to stare out the window silently. His friend gives me an odd look. "Hi… Duo…"
Twenty bucks says he already doesn't remember my name. "So, what brings you gentleman to this part of town?" I hit my blinker and merge across three lanes, still watching the pair in the back.
Blue Eyes doesn't even acknowledge my question, though Man Who Can Speak contemplates it before answering, "Business."
Right. Just because he can speak doesn't mean he likes to.
The blue-eyed one appears to be some sort of hitman, though I would also put money on bodyguard. The other man, the one with the aristocratic voice, he had to be some line of royalty, possibly from the L5 clan, though I don't know for sure.
At this point, I'm glad that Peacecraft Circle isn't that far from where they got in. I am thoroughly convinced there is something off about these two, and cannot wait until they just become a story I tell to Solo. Growing up on L2 has left me with an uncanny ability to read people. I think that I am right about their professions, and I don't need to tempt trouble to know when it gets into my cab. It is with great relief that I turn off onto the final street and say in a cheerful voice, "We're here."
"Park in front of the low, white building off to the right." I maneuver the car through the gates, into a courtyard and pull up in front of the building. A couple hundred dollar bills are thrown over the seat, and the man continues, "Wait for us. We'll be out in three minutes."
As they exit I curse my shoulder angel, who is telling me that I absolutely cannot leave now that I've been paid. I sit there, the longest three minutes of my life and as they come out and slide back into the car, I note with mild interest that it has been exactly three minutes since they left.
Again, it is the soft, cultured voice that directs me ("Airport"), and I pull out of the compound and merge back into the light traffic. We're not even half way there when my inner street rat taps me on the shoulder. I double check my mirrors, confirming that it is indeed the same black car that has been staying two cars behind me.
"Hey guys…" They both look up and give me impatient looks. "Do either of you know someone who owns a black sports car." I motion behind us. "One's been sort of stalking us for the last couple of blocks."
They exchange angry glares and Man Who Speaks mutters, "Even the fucking cab driver noticed…" Blue Eyes gives him a mean look and crosses his arms, almost looking like a sulking child. Man Who Speaks leans forward, giving me a polite tap on the shoulder. "Listen…" His eyes flick to my cabbie's license, clipped to my visor… "Duo… Hi, Duo…I'm Wufei. Nice to meet you. I suggest you step on it."
I glare at my rear view mirror, though whether I'm glaring at him or the car following us, I'm not sure. "Oh, now you want to play getting to know you. I will have you know that as my temporary employer, it is still against the law for you to order me to break laws for you. My handbook says that I should pull over and politely ask you to exit my cab. I'm not even supposed to make you pay."
There is a very loud click and Blue Eyes looks at his gun lovingly then holds it to the back of my head. "I suggest you do what he says."
I roll my eyes and look at Wufei. "Is he serious? I will have you know this is not the first time I've had a gun pulled on me."
Wufei looks from Blue Eyes to me and purses his lips. "Name your price…"
I manage to turn and shoot him an incredulous look before Gun Toting Crazy Man grabs my braid and pulls my head back to focus on the road. From somewhere to my right I hear Wufei ask, "How much do you want for this?"
"Am I seriously supposed to put a price on being a getaway driver?"
"Yes."
I pause, feeling a small surge of adrenaline work its way through my veins. "A thousand bucks, you fix any damage to my cab and/or bail me out of jail and pay any legal fees and tickets that I incur."
"That's all?" Wufei sounds mildly surprised before he clears his throat and continues. "Deal. Heero, let him go. He needs to drive."
The grip on my braid tightens for a millisecond then releases and I shoot him a glare in my mirror. As I look, I see the black car once again pass a car in between me and him, slowly moving closer.
"Gentlemen, if you would please fasten your seatbelts, we can begin our departure."
They both comply, though Blue Eyes… Heero is rolling his eyes. I merge into the right lane, and watch as the black car following us does the same. I brake, turning on my right blinker and edging even further to the right. The car behind me accelerates, suddenly much closer than he had been. At the last possible moment, I tap the gas, scooting ahead of the car to my left and shooting in front of him, left across seven lanes of traffic. I slam the gas and pull straight, leaving behind a clusterfuck of honking cars, and no shadow in sight. Wufei looks mildly impressed, while Heero is still looking behind us. I make a sharp right, ducking in front of a large truck and accelerating down the small side road before pulling out onto the major street and flooring it once more. Weaving in and out of the early afternoon traffic isn't that hard, but I'm starting to lose the streetlights.
Everything in L2 is automated, including the streetlights. They're set so that if everyone goes the correct speed limit, it will usher the cars through smoothly, in groups. I know how to work this system, and it has been a long time since I've truly tried to speed through town. It is taking skill, brains, and a good amount of cutting people off to make it so we never go below fifty miles per hour, and my customers look satisfied.
I come to a screeching halt in front of the departures area of the airport, and, ignoring the odd looks I'm getting from the people still on the sidewalk, I get out and open the cab door, tipping my hat to both men as they exit.
"Have a good flight gentlemen." As Wufei walks by, he slips a rolled up wad of bills in my hand and I give him a bright smile. "It was a pleasure doing business with you." The two men disappear into the building and as I pull away from the curb and blend in with the other taxis coming and going, I see a black sports car circling through the parking lot.
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This story is inspired by the taxi driver from Rush Hour 3, who was arguably the best character in that movie. It obviously expands quite a bit but yeah, I hope you like it. I hope at least some of you will drop me a line and let me know what you think. This is just supposed to be a little sample, to see if people like it. If you do, I promise the chapters will get longer etc…
