AU/AR- both cases
Instead of Eloise its BabyMiles who was a friend of Marie's and got dumped by Debra but still went to the wedding.
Baby still works for Doc, but of his own choice.
Still dropped off foster father to Home and now lives alone.
Has all cassettes
Darling/Buddy still alive
Bats still alive
Baby sat on his bed in his new apartment, looking at the invitation of Marie's wedding.
Debra's sister.
Debra had introduced them one day, they had gotten along well, and became good friends.
Just friends.
Maybe he had hung out with her too much? Either way Debra had dumped him, he guessed it was even more distressing because he'd just come off a job which had him accidentally, he kept reminding himself it was an accident, run over a cop, killing the man outright.
Baby eyes the RSVP in his hand.
He bit his lip, music blaring in his ears as he crossed the 'yes' box, then circling the 'no', before going back and turning the first cross into a tick.
He considered setting the damn thing on fire, better yet maybe running over it on the next job Doc had him on.
Before he could stop and think Baby had his gun in his hand, a 'gift' from Doc since he'd become a permanent driver of his and would need some firepower. Not to drive the cops back, whoever he was running with could take care of them, but to take down wayward people in the group. A driver as good as he was worth more than a thug, at least that's what Doc said.
He threw the RSVP onto the table and shot it.
"Shit" he groaned as he waited for someone to start shouting at the noise.
A few minutes passed and no one came to investigate, so he grudgingly picked up the piece of paper, now sporting a sizeable hole, and grabbed his coat.
He turned his music up loud as he drove to the post office, trying to ignore the envelope nestled in the cup holder that seemed to be taunting him.
By the time he got home he was twitchy and uncomfortable. So much so that when the untraceable phone Doc called him on rang he was eager to answer.
"Got a job for you, you in?"
"Fuck yes" Baby said immediately, needing anything to distract him from the nerves knotting in his belly as he thought of the RVSP he'd sent. Doc seemed slightly baffled by Baby's eagerness, but quickly hid it beneath cold professionalism.
"I'll pick you up in the morning" the call ended and Baby went to make himself some dinner, also known as reheated pizza.
Baby distracted himself with the he heist, it was a simple thing and clockwork. A little more gunfire than usual, but the score was the same and on the bright side the goons he was 'chauffeuring' around, as Debra and Marie liked to refer to it, knew their way around the area, and thus didn't question where he was going.
As usual he kept his face blank, earbuds in and glasses on.
After receiving his pay, which was a great deal more now that he had paid off the theft and the gun, Docs gifts always had strings attached, he notified him that he would be absent for a few days, he didn't tell him it was for a wedding because knowing Doc he already had found out, and if not he'd be better off in the dark.
"Away or not you better be ready in case I need you" Doc stated, before climbing into his car and driving off. Baby nodded to himself, switched songs, then started to make his way home.
Baby could probably count this as his most uncomfortable experience. Wearing a suit he'd bought a week ago with part of his earnings, which he slowly leaked into his bank account to avoid suspicion, along with his sunglasses, earphones and burner phone in pocket he was beginning to regret showing up.
He searched the name cards until he found his, he looked up for a second into the room and froze.
Debra was dancing with another man.
He grimaced, but didn't have the strength to turn away as he watched, the man was blond with a short beard, he was muscled, thought not as much as some of the Hit Men Baby had met. He seemed average, he probably was average and had a regular job and house.
Maybe that's what had driven Debra away, maybe she couldn't stand being near a criminal. He'd spilt blood, purposely on some occasions though he hated it, who knows how many more he'd killed indirectly.
She'd said she didn't mind, that she knew he was a good person inside.
Perhaps she'd been secretly hoping he'd stop.
Baby felt a tap on his shoulder and turned, he struggled to retain a neutral expression,
"Fancy seeing you here Baby" Darling drawled with a grin, she was wearing a stylish cream dress that hugged her curves. That in itself was not unusual, Baby had seen her go through with a heist in a mini skirt, what was worrying was the fact she was here.
"So you here for business or pleasure?" He asked,
"Those lines are always blurred Baby" she spoke, "now why don't you tell me what's got you staring into the void?"
He didn't answer.
She took a glance in the direction he'd been looking with.
"Oh poor Baby's going through heartbreak" Darling said, pulling a mocking sad face,
"I don't know what you mean, I see her and feel nothing" he said, gritting his teeth while hoping she didn't notice.
"You're a poor liar Baby, good luck" she grinned sauntering off, he huffed, picked up his name card, and headed inside.
He slowly made his way to the back, of course she'd moved him to the back.
He sat down at Table 19, offering a brief nod of acknowledgment to the others seated. There was a high schooler, who seemed to be Indian in ethnicity and was wearing a...fur tie. Now that was a new one. Next to him was a tall lanky man who was trying to grin too hard, he definitely was hiding...something. then there was an old lady with bright orange hair and a gentle face, who seemed to have dolled her self up for the occasion. Finally, on the remaining two seats there was a couple, the man having dark skin and the woman being fair. He kept his face neutral, something he was proud of having perfected, despite the fact that the fair skinned woman's jacket was exactly the same as those serving them.
The old lady seemed like she wanted to say something, so he removed an ear bud.
"I'm Renzo" the high schooler introduced himself, "I'm in a band, still working on a name though".
"I'm Jerry Kepp, and this is my wife Bina" the couple said, "we run a diner that the family apparently loves" the man grumbled while his wife sighed.
"I'm Walter Thimple" the tall man said, "I'm a successful businessman" he added on uncertainly, this man was even worse a liar than Baby himself was, but the table didn't question it. Baby thought for a second, wondering if he'd heard the name at all before.
"I'm Jo, I used to be the bride and her sisters nanny" the old lady smiled, "what's you're relation to the bride?"
"My names Ba-Miles" he quickly corrected "I was dating the brides sister, Debra, but she ended it a few weeks ago" he shrugged, he could already hear the comforting words they were about to say.
"It's okay, I mean I've already hit the very bottom" he said,
"At least you're at this table" Nanny Jo, as Baby had taken to referring to her as, comforted cheerfully,
"Table 19, the table that could disappear in the middle of a wedding and no one would notice" Baby drawled, he remained expressionless at the scowls and continued "the brides mothers words, not mine"
Nanny Jo seemed to be about to dispute him, though Jerry seemed to be in agreement with him, or more accurately, Marie's mother.
Baby had never been as grateful as that moment when Doc decided to call.
"Sorry, excuse me for a second" he said to the table, walking a few feet away before answering.
Constructive criticism appreciated