Reimbursement

Front Summary; Nick Hume knows a lot more about the Boston underground than he lets on. Instead of killing Joe he wants compensation. Can Billy afford to pay the price to save Joe's life or will he fail? Warnings and full summary inside.

Full Summary; Nick Hume knows a lot more about the Boston underground than he lets on. It takes him a while to remember the deep green eyes of Joe Darley, but when he does, he makes up his mind; Instead of killing him, he wants compensation. Can Billy afford to pay the price to save Joe's life, or will he fail leaving the youngest Darley's life in the hands of a man as deadly as himself? Nick/Billy slash m/m mentioned/possible mpreg, non/dub-con

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Chapter 1

Nick Hume was seething rage as he speeded down the familiar roads of Stokley Hall. He hadn't set foot in this neighbourhood since Brendan was born. As it seemed, the man that had been born when he came to the world, disappeared as he left it as well.

Darley. He recognised the name from his youth. Wasted youth according to his wife. Bones Darley had been a close 'friend' of his. Friend would be overstatement of the century, the man had been a….colleague – at best. A hated colleague. No, he hadn't hated Bones, he disliked him simply because the man had no self-respect. That is in concern of his looks or personal hygiene. Maybe the years had changed him. Nick snorted as he tore around the bend. The man had guns. Nick had needed a shit-load of guns in his line of money-making.

His family car, that useless Ford, - crap breaks, minimal mobility, too high on the road - was stationed in the garage at work, where his wife thought he was spending his day. His beloved Mustang, which his wife thought he had sold to pay for the house, was finally taken back out on the road where it belonged. The MOD – Mercenaries of Death – had copied off his tribal trademark. Billy had been…nine when he and his little band of bandits gave themselves that fancy name. The electric green smoke-like tribal patterns looked like they were moving when the car was in fast motion.

Oh no. Nick had let Joe Darley off the hook for a reason. The little punk thought he had scared him into not giving a statement. How wrong he was. It had taken Nick a good look at the boy to remember where he had seen him before. Little Joe Darley had barely been a year old and still in his diapers the last time Nick had laid eyes on him. It was hard to be intimidated by someone you had seen in diapers with a pacifier. Though, what launched the memory was that Joe was the splitting image of Billy when he was younger, only that he had dark hair, nearly black, and dark green eyes.

The black and green mustang came to a screeching halt outside the Four Roses. His old haunt. God, how many hours had he spent getting plastered in that bar? Nick was wearing his favourite pair of boots, his leather jacket, which he had given to Brendan, but now was his to wear again, a simple black sweater, much more close fitting than what his wife approved of. As much as he loved Hannah, she was a prude.

He took a deep breath as he entered the bar, breathing in every ounce of nicotine and scent of liquor he could. How he adored that smell. He had seen Bones' car outside the bar, along with the copy-cat mustangs. The gang was sitting by his old table, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The little punk was sitting on the far side of the table, on the back of the bench, and therefore situated higher than the rest of the crew. Billy was sitting next to Joe, and Heco was closest to Bones, who was standing at the head of the table, gesturing wildly in jabbed motions. Seemed like Darley Sr. wasn't exactly in a good mood.

He almost laughed out loud at the expression on the punks face when he spotted him. Bones noticed Joey's change in attitude and made to turn around, but with two quick steps Nick had his hands clamped down on the flobby shoulders, holding him in place.

"Long time no see, Bradley." He hissed, a hint of the Boston Irish brogue seeping through.

Bones stiffened.

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Billy 's eyes flickered from his father's frozen face, to the one standing just behind him. The man had changed in twenty years, but Billy could recognise him. Nicholai Hume. A…friend….of his fathers.

"Nicholai – what a surprise." Bones said, his voice shaking slightly.

"I'll bet." Nick replied darkly, flexing his fingers. "I think you know why I'm here."

"I have a hunch."

"Do you really?"

"Your boy – Brendan, was it?"

"Yes." Nick hissed, "Brendan." He looked into Joey's eyes, seeing the dark green eyed youth pale in unease. Billy straightened his back, leaning onto the table, cutting off Nick's view of Joey. Nick smirked at Billy 's protectiveness of the boy. "I hope you understand, that your…fuck-up needs some reimbursement."

"Of course – I cannot imagine what amount of money –" Bones started to say.

Nick ignored him, "I was thinking of something a bit more close to home." He cocked his head, "Son for a son, I was thinking." The entire gang stiffened, all of them reaching for their various weapons but halted as they saw Billy's warning glare, "How you chose to cash that dept, is your choice." Nick let his eyes rest on Billy who he knew was smart enough to understand him momentarily.

Bones noticed the look unchanged between them and frowned, also understanding, but not liking it, "Now there must be something else –"

"Either Joey settles his dept…" Nick let it hang.

"Or I do it for him." Billy said firmly. Nick could tell that the younger man was not as confident as he looked.

"Billy –" Bones objected. As much as he ragged down on his boy, there were some things he didn't wish upon him. What Nick wanted wasn't easy to acquire, impossible for most, but within Billy 's grasp.

"No dad." Billy said, "I can do this."

"Someone going to let us in on the deal?" Heco asked, not liking that a deal was being made above their heads.

"No." Billy said firmly, "This one is on me." There was no way he would let Joe settle his dept. Even with the tiny chance that he could, Billy still wouldn't let him.

"Billy – Just tell me what the fuck is going on." Joe pleaded.

"Take the car home." Billy said, ignoring his question, "I'll see you tomorrow kid." He said and kissed Joey's forehead as he placed the keys in the youngers smaller hand and closed his hand around them.

"Billy -" Joey said quietly. Billy just winked at him, giving the kid a bit of confidence.

Nick watched the display of affection with cold eyes, "Let's go." Billy nodded, grabbed his coat and followed Nick out of the bar.

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