The Bird and the Tarantula
Author's Notes: I can't give a big enough thanks to the reviews. I enjoy reading every one of them :) Thank you!
Warnings: Strong language (just this once for a side character).
-6-…Target...-6-
Robin had to clamp down on his tongue to stifle a groan. The restraints around his torso had tightened, aggravating his tender sides. The same binding that immobilized him had him glued against the wall of a building. He was farthest from the battle but had a wide view of it surging on.
"Gah, let…go…!" Robin tugged again on his arms, feeling the tickle from the spider-like gadgets (the restraints) touching his skin. They wouldn't budge, too stubborn to let go of the wall. Robin huffed in frustration and let his head clunk back, starting to feel spent. "This is what you mean by putting the bird in a nest?"
Only moments earlier had he been ducking and rolling out of harm's way. He had put up a decent struggle, taking part in the fight for just a moment before the swarm of spiders had been released on him. They had all but scooped him up and stole him from his friends. Robin could visibly remember how his team had panicked, thinking he would be snatched up right then and there, taken far away. They had cried out and wove through the cloaked enemies, only to be struck down before they could make progress.
Now, watching over the battle and keeping Robin company, the masked man looked back at the struggling acrobat. The cloaked teen that had been previously carrying his unconscious friend had wrapped the masked one's wounded shoulder before having left. Despite that, the man didn't favor the injured arm.
"Yes. You'll become worse again if you fight," the accented voice said.
"If they get too tired, they won't be 'up to par' tomorrow though," Robin countered, taking in the details the close range gave him. The man was probably not a man at all. What hint of muscle rested under any armor and clothing seemed leaner as if he were young or had the body of a runner.
"You will be fine though."
Robin snorted, frowning as the engraved marks looked away from him. He tried wiggling his finger to unleash a hidden gadget but the moment he twitched, one of the spiders crawled up and clamped around his hand entirely.
He scowled at the creepy crawlers. He could still hear faint sounds, possible the thoughts of his teammates; Robin wondered if Miss Martian started dropping the telepathic link unwillingly or if it was Robin's own exhaustion reeling its beastly head again.
Guys? Robin tried again. He heard distant echoes at best and nothing he could identify well. Maybe I'm too far…
He could see Red Arrow leaping onto higher ground, pushing as far away as possible from the center of the battle. His movements disregarded Robin's teammates as the archer focused on taking out unsuspecting foes on his own. More than once he had let loose arrows at Robin to free him but another cluster of cloaked teens had intercepted them.
Superboy struggled the most if his bellowing served as a sign. Robin lost sight of him and could only hope his latest training and Aqualad's leadership would help end this fight sooner than later.
Or at least until Robin could wiggle out. Until then, there was no harm in trying to learn more information while he was stuck there. Maybe.
"Hey," Robin started, "Neuro-technology…"
"Yes. We have access to the technology though it's not perfected."
Robin gaped. He collected his thoughts before he spoke again. "Why do you want me?" he asked.
Robin only looked past the figure when he heard a pained cry from below. His team had organized itself and took out four cloaked opponents in one strategy but the cloaked ones recovered quickly and put on the pressure. Robin could see KF's body whizzing through the maze of crates and Aqualad controlling the edge of the dock where he had unlimited access to water.
The masked man pulled Robin's attention back. "Look at them, Robin. Watch them fight. Can't you see it on your own?"
Reluctant, Robin turned to the battle again, studying their tactics. They were as before, swift, some far better than others. They relied on speed and agility rather than brute force. Their bodies leapt and bent in manners that could only be born from rigorous training. What weapons were used were done in a familiar way, one that Robin couldn't pinpoint exactly. It didn't help that his eyelids felt heavy and his very nerves were aching.
They look like weirdos, what does he want me to say?
"Do you see how they fight?" the man pressed.
Robin scoffed, irritated at himself and the masked man. He stared harder, overcoming any threatening dizziness. They were fast, aware of their bodies—or rather, their bodies were as much as a weapon as a distraction to lure his teammates into traps. The weapons were used sparsely, not intending to strike a killing blow…
"They want to be just like somebody, just as skilled as the one we are after…"
Struck with a disturbing realization, Robin lost license to his voice for the briefest moment. He looked at the man and dared to ask, "Me?"
The masked nodded.
Robin laughed. "Me? They…They're trying to be like me?" he couldn't help cackle around the words.
"Yes. You're unique to us. Imagine what an army of Robins could do. These challenges are tests to see if they've proven themselves to be on the level I am. Even at my level though, I still have much to learn to be like you."
"You're…I…You really need a CAT Scan," Robin teased, wiggling again.
"Akim."
"What?" Robin snapped, wincing as he lost some feeling in his right leg.
"What you can call me."
Robin stopped moving again. "You're telling me your name? The name's kinda foreign. Does it have something to do with your mask?"
Akim didn't look at him but still answered, "It is the blood that runs through me."
Israeli? Robin pressed his lips together. He instantly flung thoughts around in his head, wondering why a mask would blatantly carry a clue to the wearer's origins, let alone why Akim revealed his name.
Ah! Robin gasped internally. Just like why superheroes wear their insignia like a target.
He hoped his team could hear his thoughts but doubted it. Regardless, Robin smirked at his achievement. "You're not scared to let people know who you are."
"Soon, everyone will know who he is. I can't say much more. He wants you to meet him."
Robin thrashed and raised his voice, "Why would you work for someone who wants to bring destruction to this world? You're part of it, aren't you?"
"Not destruction for the sake of destruction."
With another frustrated sound, Robin deflated against the restraints. He managed to mule over the reality of his circumstances despite the disorder unfolding below him. Still bothered by one particular fact, Robin then asked, "What's with the neuro-technology? What do you plan to do with it exactly?"
This time, he didn't receive an answer. Akim moved toward the ledge and peered down. At the same time, Robin's eyes widened as he saw KF's body soar through the sky and crash into Red Arrow.
"Guys!" Robin called to them, yanking hard at his restraints again. He didn't stop, continuously thrashing and snapping his jaws at anything close enough to his face.
"They're better," Akim said, walking to a corner, "Your team has improved. It'll prove interesting."
Robin's heart leapt when he felt his right leg and two fingers on his right hand earn just enough wiggle room. He took the opportunity instantly and kicked forward, using the momentum to haul up his other leg. His half-flip won him just the angle he needed to tug out a small sphere.
Akim looked at him at the same time the restraints grew angry. They crawled along Robin's leg but the acrobat acted faster, crushing whatever he had in his palm against one machine. A surge of electricity cracked through it and Robin groaned as it racked his body as well. With each machine rubbing against the next, a wave of electricity broke into each of them and sent them into a falling mess.
Disregarding his pain, Robin snatched the opening to fling some of them off, using his free hand to make a grab for the collapsible staff he hadn't yet lost in the earlier fight. His vision danced for a moment but he didn't let it deter him. He could hear the machines clattering and hissing as they started coming back to their senses.
But before his hand closed around the length of his staff, a strong hand grabbed his wrist and twisted it.
"Good," Akim said from behind, "No less from Batman's protégé. I'm flaterred to see you in action."
Robin resisted folding his back despite the crippling sensation burning inside his wrist. He glanced back, feigning that he wasn't as discombobulated as he felt. With a grin, Robin shot back, "Sorry, but I'm not really into dating-Ah…!" The comment drowned in a repressed moan when his wrist was yanked on.
Akim released the crude hold on Robin's wrist and hopped back before Robin could twist free. Robin steadied himself and tried to take chase. He stopped short before he jumped off the edge of the platform where Akim and the machines dove off from.
"You can't run away." Robin narrowed his eyes after him and utilized his grappling hook. He swung after Akim but the man scraped the skies in an odd pattern that Robin had difficulty predicting. The Boy Wonder pitched a few batarangs in midflight. Akim absorbed the blow of one of them and yanked it out in mid-run. He then let out a shrill whistle.
"We'll see you soon," Akim called back to Robin.
Robin rolled to a landing and bolted right after him. He called out to Akim but the demand turned into a grunt as Robin felt a swarm of cloaked figures bump and rush past him before he could even grab at one of them. "Hey…!"
In the blur of cloaks, Robin's wooziness ballooned. He pressed a palm to his temple and took a couple breaths. No, they're getting away…!
Rob…!
He winced and shook his head. KF's voice split his head and he knew it would be less than a minute before the world would roll and twirl.
Come on, focus…!
"Rob!"
The voice came from Robin's side and thankfully, not from within his mind. Robin looked up and saw KF beside him, sporting a nasty albeit healing bruise to his face. The speedster's chest swelled with each deep breath and his bright eyes softened.
Robin didn't need to survey the area to know their foes had retreated. He shared a stare with KF, reading everything KF wanted to blurt out in his friend's expression.
In the end, Robin laughed weakly. "They put holes in your suit."
KF glanced down, counting at least three rips in his outfit. He flashed a more relaxed grin and said, "Least I wasn't put in a play pen."
Robin returned the expression just as his body became fed up. His legs buckled and KF grabbed his arm before he could turn into puddy.
"Easy, there," KF laughed tiredly, lowering Robin cautiously to the ground. He flopped beside him, leaning back against a broken crate as their teammates hurried over. "I'm not so surprised they got away. I'm pooped, man. That was…"
"Fun?" Robin tried, shutting his eyes just to steady his mind. Luckily, it seemed that the telepathic link had been fully dropped.
"You would say that. Easy to say when you weren't even stuck down here," KF panted, cracking his neck. He didn't look at Robin, eyes fixated at the high point where he and the others had seen Robin tied up like a trophy.
Robin sighed and slowly opened his eyes in time to see Red Arrow looming over. He thought about greeting the archer or diving into the questions; did Red Arrow run into these guys before? Had he been following Robin and the team? Did he want to come over sometime to play video games?
Red Arrow ending up speaking first. "You look like crap."
-6-6-6-
"You're the one they're after?" Roy didn't sound impressed.
"Thanks, Roy, I know I'm not special," Robin snorted back at him, but kept smiling at the stiff-faced archer.
Roy crossed his arms and studied the files on the monitor closely. He ignored Robin's comment. "I heard about the fires on the news. Explosions are easy ways to get noticed," he said. "There was another fire out of state not too long ago either."
Rolling onto his back, Robin stared through his glasses at the ceiling. He could practically feel Megan's concern from where she was in the kitchen, making noise as she ruffled through cabinets. After the rest of the team had reunited at the docks, Robin admitted what had been told to him, not skipping out on the smallest detail. Her expression had been the most readable, followed by Superboy's, who looked uncertain with how to conceal whatever emotions he wanted to hide.
Kaldur hadn't looked surprised even though there was still a lingering look in his face. Wally hadn't said anything to suggest he was overly worried but Robin could feel the boy beside him (also on the couch) wanted to talk. Later, though, Robin told himself.
Roy looked the same even after coming to HQ to discuss the situation. The team had settled back and reported to Red Tornado (who stood like a statue beside the monitor, listening to the team). All but Roy had changed into something that was less torn and applied any ointment and gauze to needy wounds; and allowed Robin the smallest break to collect himself again. Kaldur's original injury from days prior had healed but now he bore a new injury on the same arm. Superboy, brooding, had no apparent damage. Whatever injuries Wally and Megan had sustained had vanished.
"You're all pathetic," Roy said as he took in the sight. He walked closer to where Robin stretched out on the couch, in his civvies and combating nausea. Though gauze hugged the archer's left thigh, Roy didn't move as if it caused him any discomfort.
"Red Arrow," Kaldur started gently.
Interrupting, Roy gestured to them all. "You're sitting around like children being babysat. It's not surprising they're getting the upper hand. You're thinking of yourselves in terms of the League's rules."
Robin titled his head up to see Wally upside down. "Well, it's not like we can just barge in to a place we don't know exists."
Wally glanced down at Robin. "It kind of ruins the purpose too if they're out to take Robin and, um, make models out of him."
"Why Robin?" Roy asked.
"I don't know," Robin replied, gradually sitting up, "I don't have anything special about me. I'm pretty sure I have no hidden powers or am some ancient prince with amnesia." The joke didn't earn him any chuckles.
Red Tornado tilted his head at the boy, staying silent. Kaldur frowned at the motion and looked at Robin, scrutinizing him as if he were buying a horse. "Actually, what you just said makes you unique indeed."
"Oh." Robin considered it. "I guess I'm just that awesome."
Wally shoved him lightly, getting a subtle wince from Robin only he could catch. "Isn't Roy human, no powers, too? Why just Robin?"
Robin kicked at Wally's leg and leaned back into the couch. In truth, he didn't have a valid reason for why him over Roy. "Maybe they think I'm cuter."
"Children," Roy scoffed and turned on his heels. He analyzed the keyboard before he typed something in and brought out digital replicas of a few cloaked figures, standing side by side.
"Robin's smaller?" Megan suddenly said from the back, almost blushing at the stares she got.
Superboy stood up and moved to the screen. "Smaller? Really?"
"Or younger," Kaldur pointed out. His team ogled him and he went on, "It's just a thought but Robin is not only the youngest on our team, with the technicality of Superboy's age aside, but he also has been the most experienced, no?"
Robin scratched his head, taken back to the first time Bruce scooped him up into a firm embrace, allowing Robin to cry for the first time since the accident—a memorable event that had led him to becoming Robin. "…Yeah. That's true," he said, shrugging a shoulder.
As quick and keen as he was, Wally saw the way Robin's shoulders sagged. He understood what must have flashed through Robin's mind, remembering the events that served as the catalyst to Dick Grayson taking the role of Robin. Wally recalled the instant, down to the seconds, when he had learned about Robin, not only his identity but the history of Dick Grayson. Wally periodically put himself in check for ever whining about his own parents when around Robin. Even though the acrobat had lost his own, Robin never let tragedy dampen his personality and genuine joy for life.
In his own thoughts, Wally almost missed Roy saying, "I heard it."
Robin stopped staring off and focused on Roy. "Heard…?"
"The sound you talked about. The hum. I heard it that night. I wasn't that far away from the spot you found that chip," Roy said, uncrossing his arms, "It went away after a moment though, before the time you claim it had detonated."
The team looked at one another.
"Fascinating," Red Tornado chimed in, "It is probable that they had intended to target males of a particular age group. If it is advanced enough, perhaps they could even distinguish patterns in more stimulated brain activity, which would be conducive to such becoming heroes like Robin and Red Arrow."
Robin would have allowed his lips to curl into a smirk at the look Roy shot Red Tornado were it not for his interest in Roy's comment. "You're sure you heard it?"
"I'm not repeating myself."
Lowering his head, Robin reflected on Batman's words. His enthusiasm for the case pumped his tired body with a few doses of adrenaline. Though the big picture was unfocused, Robin felt a step closer and knew his teammates and Roy must have felt similarly.
"What else do you know?" Robin asked Roy, watching him again.
"Confronted one without a mask snooping around yesterday. Ran off before anything useful came from it," Roy said, "They weren't getting away the second time. I followed one to you and listened until I couldn't put up with that guy's nonsense."
"Roy," Megan said, her voice restraining insistence, "You helped us back there. Maybe you cou-"
"I'm not interested in holding anyone's hand," Roy interjected, granting the team a view of his strong back.
"Wait," Kaldur said, stepping after him.
Roy did and threw him a glance over his shoulder. "I'm not joining."
"No. This is our mission and we'd welcome your skills to help. However," Kaldur tightened his face, "If you don't intend to help as a group, I still advise you not to do it alone."
"…Thanks." Roy drenched the reply in sarcasm before he picked up his pace again. Before the mountain's computer granted him access to leave, he told them, "Make him swallow a tracking device or something for crying out loud."
With his departing words, Kaldur smiled faintly and faced his team again. "Perhaps we should take a short rest and collect our thoughts. We had a long night," he said, taking in how worn down his teammates were. He didn't see much evidence of it but knew it was a side effect of being tough; they hid their exhaustion well.
"It would be wise to do so. Artemis shall be back any time now," Red Tornado added, "I will supply her with the information she missed during her absence."
Superboy walked past the other first. "Fine by me," he grumbled and all but stomped toward the training area.
Robin caught the look Superboy gave him as he left but didn't say anything about it. He would rather focus on the case since his body wasn't deteriorating anymore. Achy, a bit dizzy, and craving for some food, but he could have been far worse. Robin stood up and looked at Wally, knowing the speedster would be waiting for his cue.
"Alright," Robin agreed, "We'll meet back after Artemis gets in."
Wally nodded. "I'll meet you in a few."
-6-6-6-
In his room, Robin wilted in his bed. He rubbed his eyes under the sunglasses and looked at the thermos on his nightstand; it was empty. A minute part of him yearned to be back to the home he was familiar with, surrounded by familiar smells—from the clean sheets to Alfred's cooking. He wanted it more now because he knew even if he went back, Bruce wouldn't be there.
Bruce had left him a message, detailing his unavailability until further notice. At best, Robin figured he could catch him during the day tomorrow. As promised though, Robin replied with what had happened that night, toning down just a few parts though.
As he rested on the bed, having just sent his message, Wally knocked at the door. Robin debated whether to roll out of bed to unlock the door; in the end, he huffed and did so and was greeted with his second bowl of ice cream.
"Ice cream again?" Robin laughed, taking it before plopping back on his bed. Rocky road waited for him.
Wally sighed. "It's a curse, I tell you. Every time we settle down for ice cream, something happens so you better eat it fast," he said, sitting across from Robin.
Having no means to resist, Robin dug in and smiled around the first spoonful, mind drifting away from what was to come tomorrow. "You just don't want to owe me ice cream."
"Maybe." Wally chuckled and worked on his own bowl. "You look less, um, gross."
"You're a real charmer," Robin stuck his tongue out, "I'm alright. Seriously. I'm not a baby."
Wally crinkled his nose at him. "I know that. I know you can take care of yourself. It's just…"
He trailed off but the silence burdened all of Wally's thought. Robin felt them suffocating him until he said, "I know it's…weird but…"
"You seriously don't sound worried." Wally arched both brows. "Tetch's technology, Roy hearing it," he sighed, "Least we know it's all their fault."
Robin laughed quietly. "Maybe I'm just not really thinking about it. It's kind of surreal, I guess?" He shrugged.
"What, that you have so many adoring fans who want to be just like you," Wally teased, his expression lacking the mirth his voice held.
"Mm. I don't know. It's hard to think about. Why not try to copycat someone with super powers?"
Wally frowned around the ninth spoonful. "Actually, it kind of makes sense to me," he held one hand in defense, "Hear me out. I mean, it's not exactly easy to replicate powers. Even Amazo got his butt kicked. He had the powers but that doesn't really mean you're on the same level as the big heroes. But you…"
At the pause, Robin tapped his spoon against his bowl. "My wonder has left you speechless."
"Shut up," Wally snarled—which turned into a short laugh. "Come on. Your Batman's protégé. You started younger though and you're fighting against super powered guys and kicking their butts. Not as good as me, but close enough. And Batman's pretty well known so of course his Boy Wonder would be known too. I wouldn't want to think what a bunch of bad-guy-Robins could do."
Robin's lips twitched at the admiration. He knew he was good. He could always be better, and he would become better, but no doubt he had impressive qualities and got a kick from bringing down the foes who laughed at his tiny stature.
"Well, gosh, you're just as wonderful, Wally," Robin said when he realized the redhead was studying his silence.
Both boys grinned and broke into laughter. Wally kicked at Robin's leg and the smaller boy retaliated by stealing the last spoonful in Wally's bigger bowl.
"Hey, what the heck?"
Robin hummed as the assorted flavors wiggled down his throat. He saw Wally sulk into the empty bowl and almost pout. "Wally…"
"What, thief?"
"Thanks."
Wally's face slackened, losing the sad smile. "Yeah, well, for taking my last bite." He whipped out his hand and snatched off Robin's glasses.
Out of instinct, Robin slapped his hand over his eyes. "Hey!"
"Oh, come on. No one is going to be able to get past your security," Wally flicked the shades onto the table, never breaking eye contact from Robin's face.
Gradually, Robin lowered his hand in a huff. His bright eyes stabbed into Wally though it didn't affect the redhead's mood. Wally grinned proudly, content at seeing Dick Grayson in front of him—not a prodigy masking his identity, not a teammate, just bright-eyed Dick.
"Good to see you," Wally greeted, soaking up as much of Robin's face as he could. It had been a while since he had the luxury of lazing around with a maskless Robin, behaving like any other teenager might. Now Wally could see the weariness in Robin's eyes. It was subtle, hidden even, but still there.
"Low blow." Robin lowered his eyes, adjusting to the light.
"Whine all you want. So," Wally said, putting aside his bowl while Robin finished up his own, "Tomorrow."
"We need to go to a remote location. We don't want to be in a civilian area."
Wally nodded. "Guess we can give them the blessing of being whooped in private."
Robin smirked. "Yeah. But, I'm not sure Batman will be around. It looks like he got busy…"
"Hey, I know it's weird that he's pretty busy but-"
"It doesn't bother me."
Wally closed his mouth and watched how Robin poked at the last few clumps of ice cream. "Rob, don't even try to pull that kind of stuff with me. I can tell."
"Oh yeah? Tell what?"
"I can tell you're bothered when he gets really busy and I can tell you're bothered by those guys—Akim, and the…weirdos who love you."
The silly attempt to pull a smile back on Robin's face worked. The edges of his mouth curled up a bit. Robin glanced at Wally, grateful at how laidback his demeanor was. They both had a casual air about them, something playful tagging along with everything they did. It drew Robin to Wally and vice versa. Playful competition had initiated their first conversation and they had in fact bickered a good while before they had struck up a friendship (but bicker they still did sometimes).
Robin didn't want to come up with a witty retort this time. "Shut up," he decided on.
Satisfied by the way Robin smiled, Wally stretched onto his side, taking half of the bed. "For being so mean, I'm going to crash here a bit until Queen Medusa gets here."
Robin sighed. He didn't protest, couldn't even, when Wally's eyes shut and his breathing regulated through sleep. Quietly, Robin put the bowl on the stand beside him and reclined onto his back, mindful not to kick Wally's face as he positioned himself into something cozier.
He felt just a bit better in many aspects at feeling Wally's presence beside him, feeling like he was having a semi-slumber party. His mind wandered from Wally, to his other teammates and how they coped, to Roy, to Bruce and what kept him busy, to Akim and what would come tomorrow. In a rare moment, he debated if going head on with the new threat would really be the best plan. His musing stopped short when Wally shifted so he curled more into himself.
"Idiot," Robin said to the sleeping form, wondering just how tired Wally must have been by that point but had hid it fast enough to had left Robin with little to no suspicion of it.
Before Robin dozed off, he pulled out his mask from his jacket and put it on.
-6-6-6-
States away, a masked figure chucked a bound man to the ground.
"He was preparing to return to the casino when we intercepted," a masked one said, tilting his head down at their prisoner.
The portly captive spat out curses while he used his shoulders to heave off the marble ground, yanking at the restraints on his wrists all the while. His head lifted, one eye swollen and disturbing a trail of blood that oozed from a head injury. With his good eye, he made out the dark desk and man sitting behind it.
"Who the fuck are you?" he snapped.
The man at the desk had another masked figure at his side, silent. The man's flaxen, smoothed hair and the white tie popping off his navy suit contrasted the darkness of the two masked figures littering the large space of the office.
"I burned the casino you still had the gall to operate," the blonde said. He pressed into the leather seat, gray eyes absorbing every detail of the balding man on his floor. He ignored the ranting that came from the pudgy mobster and instead, glanced outside of the one-way windows. Darkness had hidden most of the ocean from his view but the moon bounced off the ripples as the tide came in and out.
"…listening to me, you piece of-"
"Your fat body," the blonde interrupted the mad rambling, looking back at the mobster, "I have decided to put to work."
The mobster's face reddened more. "Do you know who the fuck I am?"
"I do," the blonde stood and circled the desk, "And you are going to lure him out tomorrow."
Before the mobster could spit in the blonde's face, the masked subordinate who had brought him shoved the large man's face into the cold ground again with the heel of his boot. The mobster thrashed and growled from below, the sounds mixing with the click of the blonde's footsteps.
"You've heard of Batman," the blonde said.
The mobster stopped struggling, stayed silent a moment, and then let out a hoarse sound that should have been a cackle. "Batman? Is that who you're trying to get? With me? Batman ain't got a soft spot for criminals, you moron," he laughed and then groaned when the foot on his head applied more pressure.
"As…fascinating as The Batman may be," the blonde started, crouching as a small smile touched his face, "It's Robin that you're going to serve as bait for."
Snorting in disbelief, the mobster tried to look at the stranger's face above. "Yeah? And who the hell do you think you are to pull something stupid like that?"
"I'm not important."
"No shit," the mobster laughed again, part wheezed, "You're dead. Just some nobody who had the balls to snatch me up, huh?"
There was silence from the blonde for a moment. "You could say that."
"And what's in it for me, huh? You get this guy off me and spare me my life? Don't bother. I'd rather die than help a piece of scum like you."
Reaching out, the blonde's fingers danced over the man's stubby fingers until they found what they wanted. The mobster stilled his breathing, feeling the way the blonde's long fingers stroked the wedding ring before it was plucked off the mobster's finger.
"Then, I guess I'll find someone else to fill your shoes," the blonde said, murmuring the words directly at the ring. It was luxurious and inside, the wife's name had been engraved. "Stephanie, is it?" he read to the mobster.
The mobster's demeanor said enough; the fury building in one eye, the tense body, and the tightly pressed lips. The blonde smiled faintly, almost pitifully, at the ring before he dropped it in front of the mobster. The loud clang it made on impact with the ground reverberated in the otherwise silent room.
"We have a jet to catch."
-6-…TBC…-6-
Thank you for reading. Sorry it takes so long to leak information about what's going on. I don't want to rush the character's talk and boy, do some of them like to talk.
And just in case it wasn't clear enough, the blonde man is the same man from the first scene in Chapter 4. Anyway, thanks again for reading!