Gangster
Author's Note: Ello Everybody! So far, I've made a few edits, nothing noticeable of course, but still important (at least for me), by the way, a reason why I portray Loki as a womanizer, is more because women go after him, instead of the other way around…well, its obvious why…teehee
Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Into the Abyss!
Chapter I
"Please, I beg your forgiveness!" One of the captives from the rival gang, grovelled on the ground for mercy. He was sweating profusely, eyes wide in fear of the man who sat behind the black desk and dark leather chair. Everything in the room was painted black; even the walls and curtains were all in the color of night. The only thing that blazed in contrast to the darkness of the room was the bright vermillion red hair of Boss of the Dragon Knight Gang, sitting quietly amused in his chair before him.
He had spiky red hair, and wore a black robe with the insignia of his gang at the back, golden eyes gleamed in the darkness of the room, and his smile was more that of a boy playing an interesting game than that of a triad boss.
"Well, what do you think Loki?" Chaos asked his best friend and partner in crime, "Should we forgive him…" he said, toying with the captive's fear, "Or should we just finish him,"
"It would be my pleasure," Loki answered, walking towards the cringing man, who let out a scream of pain as Loki twisted his arm.
"I have information!" The captive said in complete panic for his life.
Chaos smiled, and signalled for Loki to stop his torture. "Well what have you got?"
The man took the opportunity to grasp his swollen arm and cradle it to his chest, "Our Big Boss, Lady Freya, sent Boss Himmelmez to attack your territory at Prontera tomorrow Night, Gang Leader Bijou is in charge of the operation"
Chaos' smile faded, and it was replaced with grim thoughtfulness that only added to the captive's fear. Loki inched closer to the man, taking out his knife and touching it to the man's throat.
"Loki, it's alright, let him live" Chaos admonished, all the while noting the sudden change in his friend's expression,
"He's disappointed, he hasn't been sent to make assassinations for an entire month, no wonder he's aching for practice" Chaos thought, "No bother, we're both going to have our hands full"
"Are you sure of this Chaos?" Loki asked pensively, his eyes holding no glint of emotion, still not letting go of the knife near the man's throat.
Chaos nodded, and Loki sheathed his knife.
"I'll make you a proposition," Chaos said, "I'll be sparing your life, and in exchange, you will serve under me in the Dragon Knight Gang"
The captive's face lit up, and nodded, bowing to the floor in gratitude. "Yes, I'll serve you…Boss Chaos"
"Greet your Boss Loki, too" Chaos told him, shifting his head to point in the direction of his friend.
The man's face marked with apprehension, and shuffling himself to face Loki, bowed down and greeted him as his 'boss', after which he was sent away to report to Matthew, Chaos's Head of Bodyguards.
"Are you sure of that man?" Loki asked him, taking out a cigarette from his leather jacket. He was Loki's best friend, and head of the Assassin's Guild under the Dragon Knight Gang. He and Chaos were only second in power to Odin, the big boss of the triad, Father of Chaos, and Loki's adopted God-Father. "He was quick to betray Freya's Organization, how sure are you he'd stay loyal to ours?"
"Loki, Loki, Loki" Chaos smiled, lighting the cigarette Loki held out to him, " I had no intention of killing him…you've scared the man out of his wits, he'd think twice before betraying us…and besides, you don't have to spend your talents on killing someone who's already obviously in fear of you…it would be too much,"
"He'll be killed by Freya's gang sooner or later, so why didn't you just let me do it instead, I haven't been doing any assassinations for an entire month," Loki answered, vexation edging his voice.
"We're letting the man live a little longer, Freya will get him sooner or later for the information he gave us, but at least he'll be safer with us"
"So you were just prolonging his life," Loki mused, "I could never understand you…"
"That's why we're partners," Chaos said with a smirk on his lips, "Anyway, you've been itching for a nice assassination practice, how 'bout going with me to Prontera tomorrow night? Freya's Organization is planning to make a takeover there,"
Loki's face etched with slight surprise despite being known for his lack of emotion. "You're going to be handling this in person?"
"Why not? All I've been doing for the past year is sit around and do nothing in this damn chair! I'm getting tired, besides there have been some rumours around Rune-Midgard that I'm going rusty with my sword"
"I see…I'm guessing there'll be about a hundred fifty men there," Loki calculated, "That'll be enough for you to show off, I'll take out about forty, and you take the rest of the seventy-five, while some of the lackeys could take out the remaining …"
"Let's make it even, sixty men each, I don't want you to lose your reputation as well…there have been rumours circulating about you too…." Chaos smiled his eyes peeping through the cover of his vermillion hair, "They tell me you've been flirting too much with the ladies during this past month, that you've become slow in your reaction time"
"I was bored" Loki answered in defense, his eyes taking a darker shade of contemplation.
"Well, Loki, tonight's going to be our comeback, so better get ready and get fifty of your weakest men…"
"Weakest?" Loki asked, still smoking his cigarette and puffing gray clouds of smoke in the dark room.
"They're usually the ones with the bigger mouths…they could brag all over town of our skills, our comeback is going to be an Urban Legend"
"I see…" Loki muttered, a touch of anticipation lining his tone.
A phone rang in the stillness of the room, Loki picked it up and answered it for Chaos.
"Loki honey, it's Lydia!" she said in high pitched squeals through the phone, "Guess what? I'm outside the building, and I'm planning to surprise Chaos…how 'bout giving me a hand?"
Loki's face showed no sign of his thoughts, but he gave an answer.
"Who was it, Loki?" Chaos asked, waiting for a reply.
"It was God-Pa Odin," Loki lied, "He reminded us about the meeting we're having tonight…it's about next week's inauguration,"
Loki observed his friend…watching him closely for any sign of anxiety, but there was none. The Dragon Knight Gang was the greatest Triad Society in Rune Midgard, and next week, Chaos's Father, Odin, was going to pass his seat of Rule to his son.
"Mom is going to be there, I'm sure we'll be able to finish the takeover attempt before heading back home to Asgard" Chaos supposed.
"She'll be coming all the way from Niflheim," Loki said, "Don't disappoint her by being late"
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud squeal bursting from the door. "Brother Chaos!" Nuri shouted, taking out a gun, pointing it in the direction of Chaos's head, making a shot.
Chaos drew his sword and blocked the paint ball from hitting him on head, but a smudge of stray paint lined his cheek. He grinned, "Nice try! You've got the lousiest aim in the history of the Triad!"
"Shut up! Just because you're going to be the big boss after next week, doesn't mean you get to act all cocky!" Nuri answered, and smiling, he added, "Besides, if you get assassinated …I'll be taking your place!"
Chaos grabbed his nephew by the neck, and gave him a noogie. "So young and already planning on taking my place are you? Let's just see about that!"
"Nuri! How could you? Do you want me to become a widow at this young age? Chaos is going to be my husband!" Seri said, pushing her brother aside. "He'll be your brother-in-law soon, and I'll be Lady Seri, wife of the Dragon Knight's Boss"
"Oh Boy!" Chaos muttered under his breath,
Loki's mouth twitched at the corner, "So this is one of the most powerful men in Rune Midgard, huh?" he mused, not bothering to interrupt the two youngsters from trying to catch Chaos' attention.
Matthew, head of bodyguards came in with several black-suited men. He was a huge muscular man with a high ponytail, "Chaos, we found five armouries of hidden guns at the party's venue and we're still scouting for more…we only have one week to de-arm the place of possible attacks…"
"Five hidden armouries?" Chaos mused, "Lot's of people must really want to kill me…"
"Don't take it too lightly, you make it sound amusing to have your life under threat twenty-four hours a day," Matthew scolded, pressured from the stress his work was giving. It was his responsibility to make sure any threats and attempts on the lives of the Gang Bosses would never come to effect.
"It's part of the job, Matthew" Loki said, putting out his cigarette. "And your job is going to get even more stressful when Chaos becomes the big boss…"
"You couldn't have said it any better" Matthew agreed. "Anyway, I came here to inform you that you're late for a fitting Miss Iris scheduled for this afternoon…"
"I didn't want to have that fitting…she scheduled it herself, and I want nothing to do with it," Chaos answered, still preoccupied with handling the two youngsters, Nuri and Seri.
"Chaos, it's a formal dinner we're having next week, your mother would be very pleased if you would at least come in a nice suit, you too Loki," Matthew lectured.
Matthew observed his superiors, Chaos and Loki, both young, handsome and powerful, he knew that these two were the most sought after bachelors in Rune Midgard despite being Gangsters. One of these days, they'll rule all of Rune Midgard…and I'll stay by their side no matter what happens…
"If you don't want Iris to help you pick out a suit, I'll be glad to help you find one, Chaos darling, we'll be the best-looking couple at the party" Seri blushed, grasping Chaos by the arm.
"Seri, Brother Chaos isn't going to be wearing a suit…he'll go just the way he is…it's his style" Nuri admonished, looking up to Chaos with expectant eyes.
"Well, I'm still deciding on that…How bout you Loki? You up to wearing a suit?" Chaos said, turning his attention to Loki.
"There's no problem in it for me…besides we've hardly seen God-Pa Odin and Frigg for almost a month," Loki said, "I asked Lydia to pick me a suit before she went to Vegas,"
"Speaking of Lydia, when did she say she was coming back?" Chaos inquired. Thoughts of his friend left him slightly preoccupied. Lydia had gone to Vegas for a month…enjoying a tour of it before coming back to continue her job under the organization.
Suddenly the door burst open and Lydia came in jumping on Chaos, giving him a tight hug, "Chaos! I'm back! Did you miss me?!" she said, giving him a quick peck of a kiss on the lips.
"Lydia! You're smothering me!" he shouted, Lydia laughing at him.
"Why Chaos, you're blushing! How flattering…" she smiled, the bodyguards watching them had also turned red from embarrassment at watching such a moment between the two, "I didn't know that you could still turn red after being kissed by me so many times…."
Chaos turned as red as his hair from blushing. "You on the other hand," Lydia said, turning to Loki, "are too much of a womanizer…so I'd rather not greet you today, it's punishment for not missing me during this past month" Loki ignored her remark, Lydia didn't like it…I'd love to have that guy show some emotion once in a while…"Oh, what the heck…I missed you anyway," she said to him, walking toward Loki and giving him the same quick kiss.
"Welcome Back" Loki said, looking at Lydia's smiling face.
Matthew was completely mortified by the threesome's display of affection while Seri burned in anger at Lydia's kiss to Chaos. "Lydia, it's not lady-like for a woman to kiss a guy just like that!" Seri said, "Especially when the man is engaged to me!"
"I see you're still caught up with your illusions, kid" Lydia laughed, ruffling Seri's salon-styled hair. Lydia grew up in France, a quick kiss only signified a greeting. But only Loki and Chaos knew that.
"Just you wait Lydia, when Chaos and I are married, I'll have power of my own to have you kicked out of the gang…I'll be Lady Seri of the Dragon Knights!"
"Ha-ha!" Lydia mocked, and turned to face her friend Chaos. "How's life as the next big boss…I'm expecting Boss Odin's already planning an engagement of some sort to one of the blushing debutante daughters of the other gangs…you know you should have a bride to make bonds within the triad a lot stronger"
Chaos's face was wrenched in annoyance, "Lydia, I'm not up to marrying yet…"
"That's right, I'm only fourteen, we have to wait 'till I'm of age…" Seri interrupted.
"And I'm not yet ready to become Chaos's right hand man when they get married…" Neri interjected, "No offense to Loki, but if Seri nabs Brother Chaos then I'll have to take his place"
Lydia only had to laugh at Loki's expression of vague amusement. "You're not one bit involved in this," Lydia told both of them, "Come on Matthew, get these kids out of here for a while, the guys and I still need to have a little chat"
Despite the twin's protests they were ushered out of the room, leaving the three to their own conversation, but instead of starting back on the subject of marriage, Lydia stood on her toes and gave both guys a hug…"Boy, I did miss you guys! Vegas men aren't half as hot as both of you!"
Chaos chuckled, "No wonder you came back home so fast! You're dying to nab a good-looking guy!"
Lydia only had to laugh at Chaos's quip, "For your information, I went out looking for some rich guy to marry me…but for some reason there's been a shortage of men under rich and good-looking! You wouldn't believe the horror I had to go through…the rich good-looking ones always turned out gay!" with her remark, she glanced at Loki,
"In fact, why doesn't Loki make a pass at me?" she thought, "We go on a lot of dates with regards to the triad, but isn't there anything more to that? He's hot, rich and powerful…what's his problem? I just wish he'd be more serious with the ladies, but he plays around too much,"
Loki was wearing a tight blue shirt that clung to the muscles of his chest, a dark black leather jacket over it and jeans; he looked boyish in his attire despite being known as a professional assassin. "What are you looking at?" He asked, noticing Lydia eyeing him.
"Just wondering…" she answered, breaking the trail of thoughts in her head.
"Stop staring at each other and let's chat…" Chaos said, breaking the silent staring game between the two. "Lydia, how was Vegas?"
"It was fine, I won a lot!" she answered, switching her gaze from Loki to Chaos, "But anyway, I'm back in town and ready for business! Have you watched the news lately? The bank robbery staged just a few hours ago was masterfully enacted by yours truly…"
"Yeah, I did, but I didn't think you pulled it off…I'd assumed you were still having fun at the Casinos" Chaos remarked, a slow smile lingered on his face as he followed his words with a little scolding, "Lydia, you did a great job, but did you have to pass by the Museum and rob the place too?"
"Cool it Chaos, I'm only doing bank jobs so I could have funding for my expedition to Carthage next year" Lydia said, her eyes bright with mischief. "After all, I'm an archaeologist; part time thief…just like you, handsome business tycoon, part-time triad boss, and Loki on the other hand, is a hot disco club owner, and part-time assassin"
"You have a point," Chaos regarded. Lydia was right, they all had jobs as cover up, but the real work was within the triad. "Anyway Lydia, Loki and I need dates for the dinner engagement next week at my parents place…"
"Sorry pal, I already have one…" Loki interrupted,
"Loki honey, how could you go with another when I'm still around?" Lydia said in a purposely exaggerated tone of disappointment, clasping her arm around Loki's and looking up at him jokingly,
"Since you're going with someone else," Chaos remarked, vaguely distracted by Lydia's little quips to Loki, "I guess we don't have to ask who gets to have Lydia for a date next week…I'll take her"
"Aren't you going to pick a lovely debutante for a date?" Lydia teased, "You're supposed to choose a wife and marry her after a month of being the Gang's big boss…isn't that part of the custom?"
"Lydia, I told you…I'm not planning on making myself a wedding prize," Chaos insisted, ruffling the red hair at the back of his neck. And looking both his friends in the eye, he added, "Besides…I already have a fiancé…"
Both Loki and Lydia stayed silent, not wanting to have to remind Chaos of the truth…but Loki knew better than to keep his friend in illusion. "Chaos, she's not your fiancé anymore…you broke up six years ago"
Lydia looked away, reminded more of a friend she lost than a broken engagement. Chaos was a good friend, but she had a best friend, the person she had trusted most and loved as much as a sister. A fire burned in her heart, an anger she had thought had dissipated years ago, "You shouldn't have broken up with her…" she said to Chaos, her voice shaking with carefully bound self-controlled anger.
Chaos looked away, moving to the windows and opening the black draperies; Sunlight flooded the dark room which left both Loki and Lydia squinting to see Chaos's silhouette against the light. They couldn't see his expression, but his voice was filled with broken regret, "I know…I'm scum for doing that"
The moment was suddenly shattered by a screech from outside the corridors, followed by the clattering of heels on the marble floor, moving closer and closer. Without warning the doors flew open…a brunette of eighteen, wearing pigtails walked in, her face marked with annoyance and her mouth turned downward in a pout.
"Chaos, why didn't you join me for the fitting! I'm supposed to be your date for next week!" Iris wailed in her tantrums, she pouted even more when she saw Lydia beside Loki, "Well Chaos, I guess you were too busy trying to be a mediator between these two," she said, a slow smile of mockery on her lips, "Still trying to get to Loki, aren't you Lydia?" she whispered,
"I see you still enjoy unannounced entrances, Iris" Lydia said in contempt, "and you're still the same little brat I left a month ago, "
"Shut up, just wait, I'll tell my Dad to assassinate you" Iris answered,
"Ooohhh, I'm so scared!" Lydia mocked, which only added to Iris's scowl.
"Leave her alone, Iris, we were having a meeting…" Chaos admonished, his face tight in disapproval.
"How can he stand the brat?" Lydia thought, while Loki stayed aloof, observing Chaos trying to act as a wall between the two women before they got into an even heated argument.
"But Chaos, we were supposed to prepare for your big night, together" Iris said sweetly, batting her eyelashes. "After all, my father has agreed to our engagement…once we're married, he's going to retire and leave you in charge of our gang at Fayon,"
Lydia's eyes flew wide open in surprise, "Chaos! You're engaged to her?!"
Chaos looked away, "Yeah, I am…"
"Yes, Chaos and I are engaged…all of Rune Midgard already knows about it," Iris boasted.
Loki grabbed Lydia by the wrist, urging her to stay calm. He didn't approve of the union, one bit. But his God-Father Odin had decided…it was time for Chaos to stop waiting for his old fiancé to come back and get a new one. Iris Irine had been the best choice, her father was head of one of the biggest gangs in Rune Midgard at Fayon, and it would be best for the gang as an opportunity to increase their territory.
He dragged Lydia to a corner of the room, leaving Chaos to excuse himself for missing the fitting appointment with Iris. "That jerk! He just said he wasn't planning on getting married yet…" Lydia said between clenched teeth, and in softer voice she added her regret, "I'd thought he hadn't gotten over breaking up with his old flame yet…I hoped they'd get back together, maybe they could have made up…I want my best friend back"
"Chaos isn't planning on getting married with her…" Loki whispered, tilting his head in the direction of Iris.
"What do you mean by that?" Lydia asked, perplexed, trying to search Loki's eyes for an answer.
Loki opened his mouth to speak…then a loud CRASH was heard, hails of bullets fired through the windows, breaking glass and shredding the black draperies. Loki grabbed hold of Lydia by the waist and kicked the door open, lunging through it and hiding behind the walls.
"Chaos!" Lydia shouted, trying to push herself back to the room when the hail of bullets had ceased. Loki held her back, tightening his grip on her waist. They took a peek into the room, Chaos had been able to duck at the last minute, covering Iris from the shards of glass that had showered the both of them, his right cheek was lightly cut, but aside from that, he looked uninjured. An unspoken dialogue crossed between the three partners.
Loki unsheathed his knife, and quickly walked in the direction of an English portrait, he slashed it open and found a series of hidden buttons in the frame. He punched in the code and a hidden armoury appeared through the wall. Lydia got up and followed, they armed themselves with weapons.
Loki unsheathed two swords, taking one in each hand while Lydia picked two loaded rifles tucking each under her arm.
Chaos joined them behind the wall and unsheathed the sword he had at his hip. Bodyguards stormed through the hallways.
"Boss Chaos!" Matthew shouted, seeing blood tainting the side of a cheek on Chaos's face.
"Stay Back Matthew! We'll handle this…" Chaos shouted, he signalled for them to take Iris to a safe place, "You ready for this? Loki? Lydia?"
Both his partners nodded. They readied themselves to counter attack, just as they prepared, there was a rattling sound…Lydia looked through the damaged door, "It's a bomb! Get away!" she said in alarm
An explosion blasted the walls and they scattered, but all three went through the clouds of smoke and met at the crumbled wall to attack. Loki took advantage of the momentum of surprise, and jumped through the smoke at the attackers on the ground, despite landing on the ground from exiting the second floor, he landed blithely, and slashed the attackers using both swords…Lydia rained hails of bullets upon the rest of the enemies with rifles, careful to avoid hitting Loki.
With the commotion Lydia and Loki were causing, Chaos decided to go through with the second part of their strategy…"They're attacking a known gangster base…they wouldn't be dumb enough to come armed with only fifty men when we have more…" he reasoned, "A second regiment is around here…"
He searched and found the back-up attackers at a construction sight behind their building…"So this is what they've been doing...the true carpenters had been sent home for the day and they had disguised themselves to make the attack"
The second regiment saw him arriving, and they all drew their swords….Chaos smirked in amusement, his eyes gleaming golden, and his red-hair, a warning of coming bloodshed as it glistened under the hot afternoon sun, "Come and get me…" he goaded, seeing them slowly back up a few steps with each step he took forward, "You'll be gambling with your life…"