Sequel to Northern Crimes.
Lukas was aware that his only real advantage in a fight was that he was fast. He wasn't big like Mathias or Berwald, and he wasn't small enough, like Tino, to be hard to get a hold of. However, he was fast. He had stamina and speed, but little muscle compared to the men now in front of him. He was fast, but fast did very little against six. One to six. Not to mention that these six looked like those big beef cattle that lumbered around in random fields outside of town. This was so unfair. It wasn't like he was a superhuman or something.
He had propped himself up against the wall to avoid swaying and looked at the six placidly. Every part of him hurt. His breath came fast and in rasps. Weren't they bored yet? Wouldn't they go away? Didn't doing this to him a few times a week get dull?
Suddenly, one swooped him, Lukas darted back, but another lunged forward and grabbed his shirt. The man jerked Lukas toward him then threw Lukas like a doll against the wall. Lukas hit the wall and stumbled to his knees, his breath had been knocked out of him, but they didn't give him another break. A well aimed kick to the ribs sent Lukas sprawling. He pulled himself into a ball as they began kicking him mercilessly.
He didn't even hear their voices anymore. It was the same thing every time.
"Little snitch!"
"Dirty mercenary, selling out to the highest bidder!"
"Cop lover!"
"Where are your precious police now?"
Did they realize how stupid they sounded? If he were a friend of a cop, he wouldn't be here, would he? The police put him here. He hated them as much as these gentlemen did. Their idiocy never seceded to amaze him.
Suddenly. the pounding stopped. Lukas pulled his knees tighter into his chest, waiting for the next assault.
"What on earth are you doing here, Norway?" The voice was passionless and didn't seem to come from one of his assailants.
Lukas didn't move. He heard steps draw closer to him and braced himself for another kick.
"Norway. You didn't really rat everything out to the police, did you?" The person had apparently crouched down next to him. Lukas didn't move.
"It's useless, Pops! The guy's said all of five words since he got here!"
"What were those five words?" The voice remained emotionless and almost bored.
There was some mumbling among the six thugs, but none spoke up.
A big hand grasped Lukas's hair and yanked him up. Lukas squeezed his eyes shut. The person dragged Lukas up into a half-sitting position then released him. Lukas nearly collapsed again at the sudden release of pressure and finally opened his eyes.
Lukas just stared at the man. It was a man he knew, but it seemed from another life. He had known this man even before Mathias had recruited Berwald to help them break into houses. Back from when Mathias and Lukas were just starting out in the crime business.
"Jan?" Lukas's voice was soft, so only the man could hear him, "How are you here?"
The big man frowned ever so slightly, "Same as you, I suppose, I got caught."
"I didn't get caught, I turned myself in." Lukas said slowly, still studying the face before him. Mathias had kept in contact with Jan, but Lukas wasn't that social and was never interested in all of Mathias's friends. Seeing the man seemed almost surreal.
"Right." Jan clearly didn't believe him, "Right after you threatened a detective and stole a kid."
"I didn't threaten him. Tino did." Lukas corrected again, "I was playing cards to keep him alive."
Jan just looked at Lukas for a moment, it was no longer clear if the big man believed him or not, "So you are a snitch."
"Yes."
Jan looked like he wanted to hit Lukas. Instead, he stood and nodded to the six men who now stood in a loose circle around them, "Pardon my intuition."
Jan started to walk away, the men where all grinning again. It took all of Lukas's self control to not shrink back. He forced himself to remain propped up and kept his eyes glued on Jan's retreating form.
Lukas cleared his throat and spoke as loudly as he could, "You want to make some money?"
Jan froze, as did the six men preparing to descend on Lukas again.
Jan didn't turn, "You clearly aren't as good a talker as everyone seems to think you are if you ended up in here."
Jan wasn't the idiot that the other were. Clearly, Jan didn't trust Lukas as far as he could spit, but Lukas knew he was talking Jan's langues, "Let's play a game of chess."
"How much money?"
"Chess Jan." Lukas said again, "How many people here can play chess?"
"Most."
"Do they think themselves any good?"
Jan turned and looked at Lukas with dark eyes, "When one had nothing else to do, one gets pretty good."
Lukas held Jan's gaze, "You want to make some money? Well then, lets play a game of chess."
For a moment, Lukas thought Jan would turn away again, but the man walked back slowly and crouched down in front of Lukas again, "You're walking a tight wire here, you understand that?"
Lukas said nothing, just matched the man's gaze.
"If you turn out to be the con everyone thinks you are, you won't have the time to regret it."
"I have yet to do something I have regretted."
"You admitted you were a snitch." Jan's face darkened, "You were a snitch. You told the police everything you knew, which was apparently a considerable amount."
"Yes." Lukas felt the smallest of smiles tug at his lips, he knew that Jan didn't understand and probably never would, "I regret nothing."
2:30 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Yo, what r u doing 2night?
2:03 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Busy.
2:03 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
When u say 'busy' I think u r avoiding me
2:05 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
I'm not
2:06 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
What are u doing?
2:07 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
My people are having a party because East was convicted today. When the North were caught, Norway spilled a bunch of info about him and West.
2:07 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Don't hate on the North. A party sounds like fun! Can I come?
2:08 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
No
2:09 PM -Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Why not? :/
2:10 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
It is like a funeral over here
2:10 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
?
2: 10 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Everyone is really unhappy
2:11 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
I thought East competed with your people for business
2:12 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
He did
2:12 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
?
2:14 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
It is complected and I don't really get it either.
2:15 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
So why can't I come over?
2:23 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Art?
2:30 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Answer me! Let me come over!
2:40 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Fine, b that way!
2:52 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
U r a jerk
3:04 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Don't ignore me!
4:10 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Sorry, got busy.
4:12 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Liar. That is the 'Sorry not Sorry' thing
4:13 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Or I really got busy.
4:15 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Prove it
4:18 PM - Picture message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
art/Picture-Message-from-Art-to-RuleroftheWeb-583149778
4:19 PM - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
What is that?
4:19 - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Art.
4:19 - Personal Message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Is not.
4:20 - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Is. I was inspired.
4:20 - Personal Message fro RuleroftheWeb to Art:
Having sudden inspiration is not busy! U where ignoring me!
4:20 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
It is busy and important, but I was ignoring you too.
4:23 PM - Personal message from RuleroftheWeb to Art:
I hate you sometimes
4:23 PM - Personal Message from Art to RuleroftheWeb:
Ok
4:23 - RuleroftheWeb has left the chat
Vladimir shifted his weight and glared out the window. A small, pale, long haired boy stood in the driveway.
"Um, Vlad?"
Vlad turned and looked at his little brother, dreading the question he knew was coming next, "Yes, Aurel?"
The boy squirmed under Vlad's gaze and glanced out the window as well, "H-how long are you going to let Leo stand out there?"
Vlad's eyes snapped back to the boy in the driveway, he sighed and shrugged, turning back inside, "As long as he wants to. If he don't want to come knock on the door, that's his business."
Aurel looked out the window doubtfully, "Are you sure we shouldn't go ask what he wants?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because that is what he wants us to do."
Aurel nodded and fell silent. Vlad flopped down in front of the small television set again. He knew all about mental warfare. Standing in front of someone's house until they approached was such a nice mix between offensive and defensive. It was something Vlad had done often to get what he wanted and he wasn't about to give that little pipsqueak the satisfaction of knowing he was bothering Vlad. Oh no. Rodrich sent Leopold instead of coming to talk to Vladimir himself? Then Vlad would ignore the messenger until the king came.
A knock rang through the small house and Vlad froze. Leo knocked? He sprang up and was at the door before Aurel could move and opened it with a smile, "Leo! It's been too long!"
The white haired boy looked up at Vlad with the mild expression of boredom, "I suppose it has been." he said docilely, "Rodrich sent me."
Vlad grinned darkly, "I know."
"He wants to talk to you about the North."
Vlad forced himself to keep smiling, "Well, tell the boss I'm sorry, and no."
The boy's expression didn't change, "I'd rather not tell him that."
Vlad shrugged carelessly, "That's my answer."
"He's throwing a party tonight because East was convicted."
Vlad stopped and looked at the boy sharply, "East? Convicted? Because of Norway?"
The kid nodded and looked passed Vladimir at Aurel, "Hi Aurel, want to come to a party?"
Vlad didn't have to turn around to know Aurel's answer. That was low. Of course Aurel wanted to go to a party. Vlad shot Leopold a glare and sighed again, "Fine. We'll be there."
Leo nodded as if it was only natural, "Elizabeta will be attending. Rodrich said you had to behave."
Vlad couldn't help but grow tense. The boss knew Vlad was going to come? Of course he did. Rodrich was like that, he planned everything out meticulously.
"Is that all?" Vlad growled, eyeing the boy warily, "Please say that's all."
"He has a job for you."
Vlad felt his heart sink, but that happy anticipation filled him. He wasn't sure he wanted another job. Who was he kidding? Money didn't grow on trees. But, the last job had turned out so badly. But the last job had been months ago. He shook his head, "No."
"Yes."
Vlad slammed the door shut.
Aurel looked up at him with concern, "You okay?"
Vlad smiled at his little brother, "No." and locked the door, "Don't let him in, you hear?"
Aurel nodded and Vlad flopped back on the couch. Leopold knocked again. Vlad turned up the television's sound and Aurel sat down with him.
Yay! First chapter! This story will make much more sense if you have read Northern Crimes, but I want to try to make it it's own story as well. If this start was interesting enough and you don't want to Read Crimes, that's fine.
I was/am having issues with the link, so anyone who wants to see the picture Art sent to RuleroftheWeb, go to my DA, it's in the Fan fiction folder
To everyone who has read Crimes, what do you think?
As always Conventional Criticism is appreciated.