then the sky turns grey, and the water from the rain,
washes progress away. it's like moving mountains...

--

"Um…Butch?" A voice said above the clatter of the garage. It was hesitant and familiar and I looked up to see Bubbles standing about a foot from where I was kneeling.

She was in her diner uniform and her pale blonde hair was down around her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed lightly and her white teeth were chewing her bottom lip with a vengeance. From my spot on the floor I could see slightly up her skirt and catch a small stretch of her pale thigh.

"Hey," I said roughly as I tossed the wrench onto the tool rack and stood up. "What're you doing here?"

She shifted, her blue eyes looking around the shop with interest. The very sight of her was so out of place amongst the grease stained floors, scrap metal, and posters of pin up girls that all the other men stood still and stared at her. Their attention was understandable, but hardly welcome.

"I…" She looked down at her feet and took a deep breath. Her courage once again gathered, she looked steadily back into my eyes. "I needed to talk to you about something and I have the rest of the day off so…"

She trailed off and looked at something behind my shoulder. I frowned and turned to see what had caught her attention and saw Harper standing just beyond my shoulder. His bushy eyebrows were raised and his arms were crossed.

"This a business call?" He nodded towards the blonde girl while watching me closely.

"Aw, come on Harper!" A man, George I think, called from the back of the shop. "Let her stay!"

"Yeah, she ain't hurting nothin'," Another agreed.

I just rolled my eyes as Bubbles blushed a deep red. God, could she be any more transparent? Did she want the whole world to know just how out of place she was?

"Should I leave?" She asked me, her eyes flicking briefly to Harper.

"No," I replied, sending Harper a cold glare over my shoulder. "Stay."

"You have work to do today," Harper told me. I ignored him.

"Betty," I said, reaching out and grabbing her arm around the elbow. My fingers practically encircled the whole width and I realized then just how small she was. I loosened my grip a bit. "Wait over here, okay?"

She didn't resist as I pulled her over to a rusty old chair against the wall. She sat down and crossed her legs, her hands twisting awkwardly in her lap. Her eyes were trained on the pale material of her skirt and I frowned down at her.

With a sigh I turned back to face Harper, but a small tug on my shirt halted me. I glanced back to see Bubbles watching me, her eyes slightly amused and a weak smile tugging against her lips. Her hand was fisted in my black t-shirt.

"I guess I should've called before dropping by, huh?" She asked dryly. Her blue eyes held mine.

I swallowed, not quite sure what to say. I could feel all the other men watching us and I hated being on display. I fought to find something harsh to say, something that would make them less curious.

But instead I found myself reaching down and gently untangling her hand from my apparel. She let it drop back into her lap.

"Just wait here," I mumbled, mad at myself for acting so weak.

I should scold her. Reprimand her.

After all, girlfriends weren't supposed to visit at work. And she didn't belong here.

…but she didn't know that rule. And she wasn't my girlfriend.

And so I turned away from her and crossed the distance to where Harper stood waiting with a scowl. And where all the other men stood watching intently. No one expected such an obviously innocent girl to come in here. Especially for her to be looking for me. And absolutely no one expected me to be anything but cold to her.

Because although I've never had trouble getting girls, the thought of me spending more then one night with them or showing them the least bit of gentleness was absurd. They were obviously wondering why this one was so special.

I wasn't quite sure of that answer.

"I'm taking a lunch break," I told Harper when I reached him. My voice was cold and unquestionable.

"Fine," He conceded, gritting his teeth. "But you better watch yourself with that girl."

I frowned and resisted the urge to turn and glance back at her. I could feel her watching me.

"Why the sudden interest in my life?" I asked.

"You know I've always tried to look out for you," Harper looked a bit stung. "I'm just making sure you know what you're doing. That girl may look pretty but she's trouble. Don't get yourself hurt over a quick screw. She's not worth it."

I felt an angry rush of heat all over and my jaw tensed tightly. My fists, clenched at my sides, wanted very badly to pound Harper into the ground. I swallowed thickly to keep from following through with the violent urge.

"I think," I bit out as emotionless as possible. "That you should keep your opinions to yourself."

"Now, listen," Harper tried to back-track, realizing at once his obvious blunder. He watched me warily. "I'm just saying she has a big ring on her finger. I'm sure you think you know what you're doing, but have you really thought this through? Do you think a man that can afford a ring like that will take kindly to a punk like you rubbing up against his girl?"

I should have set him straight. I should've told him that there was nothing going on between Bubbles and me. I should've told him that I'd met her fiancée and he was no threat. I should have told him there was no rubbing up against anyone. And I should've told him, honestly, that I had absolutely no fucking idea what I was doing.

But the truth was, although there was nothing going on between me and the blonde behind me, I hated to admit it. Damn pride. And although I knew Andy was no threat, I did know that men with money always had ways of keeping punks like me far away from their property. And although I hadn't made the slightest move on the blonde, I'd be damned if I said I didn't want to. And although I had no idea what I was doing when it came to Bubbles, I knew exactly what I wanted to be doing to her.

Damn hormones.

So I just kept my mouth shut. And stuck to my guns.

And glared at the older man as I called for Bubbled to follow after me. She hopped up quickly and was at my side in an instant. Her blue eyes looked Harper over and she smiled softly at him.

"I'm really sorry for interrupting your work day," She said with more sincerity than Harper was expecting. He faltered a bit. "I promise I'll bring him back as soon as possible. He's not much of a talker so I figure I'll bore of him soon enough."

Harper smiled. Actually smiled. And the rest of the men laughed openly at the off-hand insult she'd thrown at me.

"You make sure he's good to you. If he's too much of an ass I'll just fire him," Harper's eyes crinkled. I glared at him in disbelief.

What the hell?

Wasn't he practically kicking her out ten seconds ago?

"Whatever," I scowled. I gripped her elbow and pulled her out of the shop, much to the amusement of our audience.

--

We walked in silence down the busy sidewalk. Bubbles was smiling softly to herself about god know what as I glared at anyone who thought to look twice. I wasn't in the best of moods and I was tired of being stared at.

A cool breeze went through the streets, catching my attention. And as we walked I could see Bubbles' uniform lift slowly in the wind. Her knees were revealed first and then a hint of more skin.

The bruise is finally fading.

I noticed this with an odd sort of relief. Relief in the form of a loosening in my muscles. Muscles that I hadn't even realized were tensed.

I guess it made sense. For the past couple of days I'd catch sight of that bruise on her knee—the one in the perfect shape of a tennis ball—and I'd get a foul taste in my mouth and I'd feel the urge to punch something. Hard. So it made sense that the sight of it fading would relieve me.

But the discerning part was why I was so upset to see it in the first place. Each time the hem of her hideous diner uniform would inch up to show the discolored and darkened mark I remembered vividly the way the rich doctor had pelted her repeatedly. I remembered the restraint it took to not jump the small net and knock the bastard flat on his back. I remembered the way she'd wince and the way her eyes widened when I finally retaliated.

She'd seemed so shocked. It was as if she hadn't thought I'd hit the man who was hurting her. As if she'd expected me to just continue to stand there and watch her get hurt.

It was amusing but also a little unnerving. After all, why should I care? Why would she expect me to defend her? Why should I?

But for the sake of ignorance and sanity I decided not to evaluate my actions. Why should I? I wanted to punish that insufferable idiot for hurting her and so I did. What was there to question? I always did what I wanted.

And at any rate, the bruise was fading and I was glad. Her legs were much better to look at without the mark. And I was happy to see it go.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I finally asked. My voice startled her out of her reverie and she looked over at me in shock.

"Oh…I don't know…" She frowned slightly and her face turned serious. "It's probably nothing…"

I sighed, trying to ignore a pang of worry that edged my senses. When girls said that, it always meant there was something.

"Something happen at work?" I pressed, feeling very much like I was pulling teeth. I would never understand why women didn't just say what they were thinking. It'd be a hell of a lot simpler and it'd keep me from guessing.

"Not exactly…" She mumbled.

I sighed again. This wasn't my area of expertise. Didn't she have a best friend or a mother or a fiancée to go talk to?

"Betty," I tried to approach it reasonably. "Just tell me what's wrong and I'll fix it, okay?"

She stopped walking and looked at me oddly. I stopped as well and met her gaze evenly. Her blue eyes were dark and dilated and her lips parted slightly as she gazed up at me. Strands of blonde hair fell across her face as the wind blew and made her cheeks flush from the cold.

I felt something stir in me at the sight of her. Something deep and dark and primitive. A shady voice whispered in my head. It told me to take her. It told me she was mine. It told me to ignore the ring, damn the man who gave it to her, and make her see what a real man was like. Make her see all I could do and offer her.

I swallowed and ignored the voice. I ignored the stirring in my body and the twist in my stomach.

I had to get away from her before I did something stupid and got hurt just as Harper had warned.

'But wouldn't she be worth it?' The voice whispered. 'Look at her, Butch. She'd be worth it. Imagine the way she'd melt into you. Imagine her eyes as you-'

"What?" I asked, snapping myself from my dire thoughts and tensing muscles. I realized she'd been talking.

"Nothing…I just…um….I was just saying that it's not me that's in trouble. I think it might be you," She repeated, watching me closely.

I looked away. If she saw the look in my eyes she'd be terrified.

I fought for calm. I fought for control of the pumping in my veins.

"I'm not in trouble," I tried to assure her. The very fact that I was standing in the middle of the street comforting a girl told me that I was very much in trouble.

I really needed to get away from her.

Feeling anything for a girl, especially a girl like her, would only end with me either six feet under or behind bars.

"But I think you are!" She said with vehemence. Her eyes were determined. "I think you're in trouble Butch, and I'm worried!"

I rubbed my temples, trying to calm down. My logic told me to shoo her away and go back to work. But everything else inside me violently protested the idea of just walking away. I had no reason to not hear her out.

"Why do you think I'm in trouble?" I asked calmly.

"These men came into the diner today and I think they were part of that gang. The Audley Boys or whatever," She said in a rush, waving her hands around. "They didn't know I was listening but they were talking pretty loudly. They said…"

She faltered and I grew tense.

Fuck. The Audley Boys. What had they said to her? An edge of urgency seeped into my mind and I reached out and grabbed her upper arm.

"What did they say Betty?" I asked reasonably, my grip tight.

"They said…that they were going to get you back for stealing their car," She was watching me closely again. Her brow was knitted in worry. "They said that your brothers, that man named Ace, and you were going to get it really hurt."

"Did they say when?"

"No," She thought hard. "They just said it'd be soon."

I let out a low sigh and released her arm. This wasn't good but it wasn't a surprise. I had stolen their car. It wasn't as if they were just going to sit back and let me. They were just brash enough to try and challenge all of us too.

Figures.

"Did they say anything else?" I asked, my mind mulling over everything I'd have to do. Ace would need to know—unless of course he already knew which wasn't unlikely. He knew everything. Boomer would have to be warned too. He wouldn't be expecting an ambush seeing as he didn't know I'd stolen the car.

"No," She shrugged. "I left just after that. I went to two other auto shops before I finally found the one you worked at."

I felt myself frown at that. She'd been wandering around looking for me? What if something had happened to her? It wasn't safe to just be walking around.

"Did they recognize you?" I finally questioned. I felt like demanding her to never walk around alone again. But the urge passed and the more sensible side took back over.

"No," She smiled wryly at that. "I recognized some of them from the alley but none of the recognized me or even mentioned a girl in the car."

Good. That was one less worry.

"Okay," I nodded. "That's good to know."

I turned to go back into work. I could use the phone on Harper's desk and call Boomer and Ace up. They needed to be on their toes if the Audley Boys were pissed. We could take them, but not if we were hit with an unseen fight.

"Wait!" Bubbles called and I turned back and watched her warily.

I needed to find a way to keep her away from me. She was being pulled too far into my world as it was. Partially due to me. And it wasn't the place for her. She needed class and money and wealth.

Hopefully she'd realize that soon enough and quit this little game she was playing. She needed to go back to daddy before I ignored my voice of reason and decided to keep her around.

"Be careful," She was telling me, completely unaware of the mental battle I was waging with myself.

Be careful…

Yeah, it was a little late for that sweetheart. I sighed at my own since of misfortune. I may run this city but I'm still a man. And I've never hesitated to let myself be selfish or get what I wanted.

"Let me walk you back to your apartment," I bit out finally.

She smiled at me and rolled her eyes. But she didn't hesitate to trail after me. And I didn't allow myself to think about exactly how much of a pussy I was being. I wanted to walk her home so I did. There was nothing wrong with that.

Besides…I have always had a thing for blondes…

--

I walked towards Ace's house, my hands shoved deep into my pockets. He lived in the housing district in a small, rundown house with one bedroom and not much else. The Gang Greene Gang's set-up was a bit nicer but not by much. I'd already gone by there but they'd told me that Ace had called it a night early.

"Butch!" Someone shouted after me as I walked down the dark city street. The hostility in the voice made me stop short.

I tensed and turned slowly. Walking towards me was about six Audley Boys. You could always tell an Audley Boy because they wore all black and each had a faint blue skull tattooed on their left temple. Most of them were relatively young but there were a few older ones in their early thirties that had potential to start trouble.

The ones approaching me now were mostly the young ones, but the one on the far right was older and the look in his eyes spoke of experience causing pain. They were walking in a straight line, their posture stiff and the glint of pocket knives was unmistakable.

I wasn't too surprised to see them. In fact I'd been anticipating their arrival since I'd watched Bubbles walk into the apartment building. I knew they'd make a move soon. They weren't smart enough to let me sit and anticipate anything.

I looked coldly at them, showing no emotion and no hesitation. My hands, shoved in my pockets, lightly gripped the hilt of my gun as the other grasped the worn blade. They approached without deterring.

"We want to have a word with you," Said a young one, his face harsh and hand gripping a shining blade.

"I imagine you do," I said dryly.

"You took something that belongs to us," The same boy continued as they all drew to a stop about ten feet from me.

I sent him a condescending sneer before turning my gaze to the older one. He was watching me with an eerie look that he undoubtedly thought would intimidate me. I merely smirked at him.

"You can find your car by the docks," I told him.

"We looked for it at the docks," The boy from before said and I turned my attention back to him. He looked a bit put out by my obvious disinterest. "We didn't see the car and we want it."

"I said it's by the docks," I smirked still, my blood pumping faster and every muscle in me was tensed and ready for a fight. Six against one wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't impossible.

It actually sounded…fun.

"And I said we looked there," The young boy was obviously used to threatening little kids for their lunch money. His lack of experience was obvious by the way his patience was wearing thin quickly. He clearly didn't understand that I was baiting him.

"It's in the water," The older one finally spoke, his voice cracked from years of smoking and a faint Spanish accent tinting it.

The five younger punks looked at him in shock before recovering and sending me slightly unnerved looks. Good. They better get nervous. They better get fucking terrified.

"You drove it into the bay?" The young one asked.

"I didn't need it anymore," I shrugged.

"Well…we'll get you back for that now," The younger one tried to reign his confidence back in. "We don't take kindly to little shits like you taking our stuff."

Little shit? I was at least three years older than him and clearly I had been around longer then him. He was a pawn. He was a newbie thrown out into the line of fire to do dirty work.

And he thought he could talk to me that way?

Did he even know who I was?

Did he know what I could do to him?

I felt myself bristle at the insult and my body screamed for a fight. I'd show him exactly who I was. I'd show him why people cleared my path and feared me.

"Now!" The younger one shouted the moment he saw my hand surface from my pocket, the blade drawn and ready.

The five younger Audley boys all rushed for me, the oldest hanging back. I ignored him and steeled myself for the onslaught. The first two that reached me were easy. I dodged a swipe of a blade and dug my fist into one's stomach, all the while cuffing the other with my left hand.

"Shit," I heard one mutter as I slit his arm open. He fell to his knees, clutching his arm and I kicked him soundly in the face. He fell back, his head hitting the concrete with a thud.

The third one tackled me from the side but I'd barely hit the ground before I rolled onto my feet and elbowed him in the back of his head. He slumped easily enough and I kicked his stomach for good measure.

I spun as I heard the last one come at me. He was the talker, the pawn. I punched him in the jaw and my blood pumped faster as I heard it crack. He stumbled but didn't fall and his blade ripped my sleeve as he tried to lash at me.

In seconds we were back at each others throats. I was stronger and I was a more experienced fighter.

He had no chance.

"You," I bit out as I caught him around the collar and drew him up off the ground. He kicked at me as his feet suspended in the air. "You disrespectful bastard. Who do you think you are?"

He struggled but didn't answer. I shook him roughly.

"I asked you a question!" I whispered fiercely as I dropped him to the ground. He landed heavily on his knees and glared pensively up at me.

"I-I'm not afraid of you." His stutter betrayed his words.

I smirked down at him, my form looming and I saw fear begin to grow in his eyes. I crouched, yanking his head roughly to an angle and pressed my switch blade against his neck.

"I should slit your throat and drop you into the bay," I said in a bored tone. "That way you can get your precious car."

"I-I don't want-t it anymore," He blubbered and I raised an eyebrow.

"You sure?" I pressed mockingly. Blood trickled down his neck from a thin line the edge of my blade was making. I pressed a bit harder.

"Enough," The older Audley, whom I'd momentarily forgotten about, said evenly. I looked over at him with a scowl, refusing to step back from the sniveling young punk. I wasn't done teaching him a lesson.

"Back off," I warned him as he stepped closer but he wasn't watching me. Instead he was fixing his last conscious comrade with a disgusted look. His eyes shown with disdain.

"Finish him," The older one said to me. "Audley Boys don't cry. He doesn't deserve the title."

The boy at my hands whimpered slightly and I flicked my gaze from one man to the other.

"You'd sell out your teammate that easily? You'd just let me kill him?" I asked finally, my voice tight with agitation. What kind of gang was that? My grip on my knife loosened.

"Just finish him," The man repeated, still not looking at me as he turned his back on us both and began to walk away.

I watched him go, the younger boy still waiting for his punishment before me. I clenched my jaw at the situation. This was annoying.

"So you're just walking away?" I called after the man. "You aren't going to fight? You coward! What kind of man leaves his friend behind?"

"He's not my friend," He called evenly back. "He's just a pawn." He echoed my previous thoughts. "His purpose here was to let you know we aren't happy with your previous actions. Now you know and his use is gone."

I scowled. "Coward."

The man turned back and watched me, sizing me up.

"Your days at the top of the food chain are numbered, Butch," He said. "You, your brothers, and the Gang Greene Gang would do best to watch your backs. The Audley Boys won't be shoved to the side."

And then he was gone.

"Shit," I scowled.

"P-please," The young boy begged, drawing my attention back to him. "Just kill me quick."

I pulled away, standing up and looking away from him. The blood lust had ebbed and now I just felt tired. I flicked the switch blade and crimson liquid dripped off of it and onto my shoe. I sighed and closed it before shoving it into my pocket.

"Get your friends and leave," I muttered, looking away from his confused expression as he brought a hand up to clutch his bleeding neck.

And then I walked away. I made sure to take and alternate route to Ace's house so as not to be followed. I frowned as I walked.

My days on the top were numbered?

Heh, yeah right. My days on top were just starting. No gang of low-life cowards would stop that.

--

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The thin wood of the door rattled under my fist and I heard footsteps walking quickly towards me.

"Oh!" Bubbles said in a surprised tone as she cracked her door open. "Butch, it's two in the morning! What's up?"

I looked at her coldly, Ace's words from earlier echoing through my mind.

'I think we've underestimated the Audley Boys,' He had told me. 'They're more brash then we'd expected. They're going to put up a fight.'

I scowled at that thought. I knew the fact that I beat those five younger ones up earlier wouldn't help to ease tensions either. And so I found myself at her door at an ungodly hour like a fool. She probably thought I was drunk.

"I wanted to tell you to lock your door," I said simply, as if her shock wasn't at all applicable.

Instead of questioning me like I'd assumed she do, her eyes merely got serious and a small worry line creased her forehead.

"Did they hurt you?" She asked, to my shock.

She caught on quick.

"No," I said briskly, trying to maintain an air of indifference. It was better for her not to get involved. It was better for her to stay as far away from everything as possible. "Everything's fine. Just lock your door and look through the hole before answering it."

"Let me guess," She said with a grin. "I shouldn't open it to anyone I don't know or take candy from strangers either."

"Ha ha," I said dryly, but she merely giggled at my cold look.

"I'm kidding," She rubbed her eyes tiredly and I refused to feel bad for waking her up, no matter how worn out she seemed. "I'll lock my door, I promise. Okay? Now thank you for your concern, but I really need to get some sleep."

"I'm not concerned," I said stiffly.

"Sure…" She watched me closely before smiling again. "Goodnight Butch. I'll see you tomorrow."

No…not tomorrow. Not ever. She needed to leave. Soon. I felt as if the walls were closing in around me. Because…well…

She was so damn vulnerable. And innocent. And she was such an easy target. And someone was going to hurt her, I could feel it. And, damn it all, I cared!

I don't know why, but for some reason I cared. She was in danger, and that made me feel edgy. And I couldn't figure out why.

"Goodnight Betty," I said tiredly.

It would have been better if I'd never met her. She was one of those problem causers. And I didn't need anything else to worry about or take care of.

I heard her door lock just after it closed and I sighed.

The walls still seemed closer to me and I felt trapped. I realized, with a morbid since of relief, that it was already too late. She was a problem causer and would be nothing but trouble …but for some reason I'd already taken responsibility for her.

I don't know when it happened. But it did.

She was trouble, just as Harper had said. But she was mine to look after now.

And I'd make sure nothing happened to her.

And God, did I even want to know why I cared?

It didn't matter. All that mattered was that I did care. And nothing was going to happen to her.

Not on my watch.

And like I said…I've always had a thing for blondes…and trouble…

--

The hot summer days were almost just a faint memory as the cool brisk autumn set in. My apartment windows stayed shut and soon I'd have to put on my heat in order to sleep comfortably through the chilled nights.

"I nearly froze my balls off out there," Boomer said snidely as he threw himself back onto my couch. His dark blonde hair stuck out scrappily from underneath his beanie and his clothes were rumpled.

"Buy a jacket," I said distractedly as I looked through my fridge. No food. At least, none worth eating.

"Nah, man," Boomer laughed. "I don't wanna' waist the money."

"What happened to all the money we got from the warehouse," I straightened and looked over at him. He merely gave me a sheepish grin and a shrug. "You spent it all?"

"Well…you hadn't come asking for it yet," He mumbled. "So I figured I'd put it to use."

"You…" I took a deep breath and glared at my slightly younger brother. His goofy persona only made my blood pressure rise more and my hands fisted themselves at my sides. "You spent it all?"

"I spent it wisely!" He defended with an awkward laugh. He leaned forward and nervously flicked on the television I'd brought out and set in front of the couch.

"What did you spend it on?" I asked, gritting my teeth. My idiot brother was about to get his ass kicked for wasting all that money.

"My bail," Came a familiar voice behind me. "And my lawyer's fee."

I looked over my shoulder to see Brick standing in my now open doorway with a harsh smile. He looked like hell. His red hair was too long and he had a rough beard forming along his jaw.

"Good to see you out, man," I nodded at him to conceal my surprise. I hadn't even heard him break in. "What's the damage?"

"Seventy-two hours of community service and I can't leave town for a while," Brick was still grinning. "Which is good, considering they usually pin you with worse for grand theft, disturbing the peace, breaking and entering, and resisting arrest."

"What?" Boomer laughed. "No drunk in public charge? I'm disappointed Brick, I thought more of you."

"Shut-up," I scowled at Boomer who merely went back to watching some loud, annoying daytime show.

"What's with you two pansies?" Brick laughed as he shut my door and moved to sit on the armrest of my couch. "Can't get along for ten minutes while I'm in jail, can you?"

"Butch is mad I spent his money," Boomer said, sending me a mocking glance. I punched him soundly on his arm and smirked when he clutched at it with a hiss. "Ow, damn it!"

"Go get me a beer Boomer," Brick instructed before glancing over at me. "Now, is this the money you used to get me out?"

"Yeah," Boomer confirmed as he got up and grabbed three beers from the fridge. "We lifted it off some guys and Butch let me keep an eye on his portion."

"Bad mistake," I glared at him and snatched a beer from his hand.

"What, you didn't want me out?" Brick asked, testing me with a look. His red eyes bore into me and I flicked him off before snapping the cap off the beer and downing a portion of it.

"So," Boomer continued as the three of us began to drink and watch the fuzzy screen distractedly. "What're you guys doing tonight?"

"Don't you have work?" I asked.

"No," He said quickly.

"Fired?" I guessed.

"Yep." He confirmed.

"God my brothers are losers," Brick said as he stood up off the couch. "It's my first night out of jail in over a month and you two just want to sit here and watch television all night. God that's lame. I'm out of here."

"Dude," Boomer said in defense. "I just go fired today, sorry if I'm not in the partying mood. I mean, my boss really let me have it."

"You've been stealing from him since the day you started," I muttered. "You're the worst store clerk ever."

"I never stole from him while I was working!" Boomer corrected in mock defense. "I waited until my break…"

I rolled my eyes again and continued nursing my beer. The fuzzy screen flickered before me and I watched dully as the show played across the television set.

"Well I'm going to find Hannah," Brick interrupted, making his way towards the door. "She probably slept around while I was in the pin but I'm not about to turn down a sure thing. I'll catch you two girls later…once you decide to act like the brothers I've raised you to be."

"Hannah will be at the bar," Boomer said and Brick looked back at him. "And Ace will be too…and so will a lot of beers…and a lot of hot chicks…and…why aren't we there?"

"I thought you didn't want to go out," I reminded him snidely. "You know, bad day getting fired and all."

"Well, what better way to celebrate my brother's freedom, my unemployment, and your victory than to get smashed?" Boomer hopped off the couch and jogged towards the door where Brick was standing.

"Victory?" Brick repeated, looked over at me.

I sighed and stood up to join them. "I beat up a few Audley Boys."

"A few?"

"Five," I corrected.

"Nice," He smirked. "I'll have Ace fill me in on any lifts or heists he has planned while we're there. I haven't talked to him since I've been out."

"You've only been out a few hours," Boomer reminded him as we stepped out into the hallway.

"Yeah," Brick laughed. "And I'm already itching to rob something."

I smirked as I locked my door. "Count me in."

"Me too," Boomer shrugged. "I'll need the cash if I can't get another job."

--

"Brick!" Hannah laughed as she threw her arms around my brother's neck. Her shirt was barely there and on a later date I'd appreciate the view, only now I had more pressing matters.

Like an annoying younger brother who didn't know when to quit.

"How is it that we've only been here for ten seconds and you've already downed two drinks?" I asked as I slid into a barstool one down from him. I liked to keep a stool between us when he was drinking like that. I hated to get thrown up on.

"Skills, man, I got skills," He said while raising his hand to catch the bartender's attention.

I got myself my own drink and looked around. The Gang Greene Gang was gathered around the pool tables in the back but Ace was no where in sight. Brick, it seemed, had taken advantage of the ever-willing Hannah and had disappeared into one of the back rooms.

"Great, now I'm stuck with you," I smirked when Boomer merely threw me a lazy grin. He sucked back another long gulp of the amber liquid and I laughed a bit. "Jesus, Boomer, take it easy."

"I like to pace myself," He explained. His words weren't yet slurred but they were getting there. "At a very fast pace."

I rolled my eyes and looked around the bar again.

"Butchy-boy!" Ace's boisterous voice called from behind me. I twisted on my stool to see the slightly older man walking towards me, his grin devious. "I heard your brother is out."

"Yeah," I nodded. "He's enjoying his freedoms as we speak."

Ace merely grinned wider. "When he's done tell him to come find me. We have to talk business."

"Anything I should hear?" I pressed, taking another sip of my beer.

"Yeah," He said in a slightly lower tone. "I want you in on this too, but I'll fill you in later."

"Later?" I asked, a bit miffed.

"Yeah, you'll have your hands tied tonight," I couldn't see his eyes through the thick shades but I could practically feel the evil glint of them.

"My hands tied-" I began but was cut off when Ace turned behind him and reached for someone who had been previously hidden from my view. He gripped her arm and pulled her out in front of him, smiling all the while.

"Look who I found!" He said, his tone sly.

"Betty," I said, more then a little shocked but doing my best to cover it. "What're you doing here?"

She threw Ace a sharp glance and tugged her arm from his grip.

"You're friend saw me walking home and decided to drag me along," She said, her voice revealing her temper. By the nail marks on Ace's arm I'd guess that she didn't come without a fight.

"I thought you got off later," I said, frowning. I'd planned to leave early to make sure she got home alright, I wasn't expecting her to have been out on the street by herself. Nor had I wanted her to.

"The grill broke so we had to close up early," She said, shrugging.

"And then I saw her walking all by herself and decided to invite her along," Ace said. He was still grinning, watching me and waiting for my reaction. I swallowed a sour taste in my mouth and ignored my anger.

Just because I'd decided to look after the girl didn't mean I was the only one who was allowed to. I knew I should be thanking Ace for getting her off the street but still I found myself loathing him. He had an ulterior motive. He always did.

"You dragged me," Bubbles corrected as I hopped down off the stool. "And I didn't want to come."

"Well you're here now," Ace laughed. "So sit down and enjoy the company."

He sent me another look but I ignored it. And then he was walking away to go find the rest of his gang. I glared after him.

"He's odd," I heard Bubbles comment.

I secretly agreed but I didn't reply. Instead I merely turned to face her. I reached out and grabbed her around the waist, my thumbs against her hipbones and my fingers against the rough fabric covering her back. I lifted her up without much effort, slightly amazed by how light she was, and sat her on top of the barstool I'd previously occupied.

"Thanks," She said and her voice sounded…shaky?

"Whatever," I mumbled before climbing back onto the stool next to my blonde brother. I motioned for the bartender to come over and from the corner of my eye I saw Bubbles shift nervously. "Not used to places like this?"

She looked over at me and frowned.

"No," She sighed. "It's not that. It's just…I feel gross from work and I need to change."

"There's no one here to impress," I shrugged.

She looked away, her cheeks tinted red, and watched the bartender approach us. I frowned but did the same as the round man drew to a stop before us. His eyes scanned over Bubbles briefly, noting that she wasn't twenty-one. He scowled at this.

"She can't get a drink," He said gruffly.

"I'm not twenty-one either," I reminded him. "And yet you've always served me drinks."

He shifted anxiously. "That's different."

"How?" Boomer's voice came from my right and I looked over to where he sat. About four rounds of beer had him slumping a bit on his stool and his words were getting a little fuzzy.

"It just is," The bartender mumbled.

"I don't need a drink," Bubbles said, trying to appease the situation.

"Nonsense," Boomer said, leaning forward so that he could see her. "You need a drink pretty lady. Loosen…up."

Well…he's had more then four beers.

"God, how much have you drank Boomer?" I asked, not sure if I should be proud of his record breaking consumption time or scold him for getting wasted so fast.

"Only about ten," He said with a wave of his left hand, his right hand held tightly to the edge of the bar as if for balance. "But the last two don't count 'cause I don't really remember drinking them."

"Wow," I heard Bubbles mutter from behind me.

"And who might you be?" Boomer asked her, his voice a bit too loud.

"I'm Bubbles," She smiled a little unsurely at him. "And you are?"

"I'm his brother," He pointed at me with a grin. I groaned and hung my head, annoyed with this situation already. "He's the second biggest bad-ass in the city."

Bubbles giggled, watching me from the corner of her eye as I continued to drink and ignore the two people on both my sides.

"Who's the biggest badass?" She asked with amusement.

Boomer's eyes widened comically as if with indignation. "Me, of course!"

"Oh, of course," Bubbles was laughing lightly now. "And who exactly gave you this title?"

"No one gave it to us," Boomer sighed. He was on his eleventh beer now and I'm pretty sure he thought this was a serious conversation. "We had to take it for ourselves. You can't…you can't let people walk over you. You have to kick as much ass as you can…and hope people learn to fear you."

"Fear?" She repeated and then her eyes met mine. "Are people afraid of you, Butch?"

I sat my beer down and faced her. "I don't know, are you afraid of me?"

"Should I be?" She threw back, a small smile tugging her lips but her eyes were midnight and somber.

"Yes," I answered honestly.

"Hm," She tilted her head with a teasing smile. "And yet I'm not afraid."

"Maybe you're too dumb to be afraid," I said harshly but her smile didn't falter.

"Or maybe you're not as scary as you think."

"I'm terrifying." I objected.

She shook her head and smiled oddly. I frowned, getting the feeling that she knew something that I didn't. I hated that feeling.

"I'm terrifying too!" Boomer's voice grated my nerves and I sent him an exasperated look over my shoulder. "I'm the scariest person I know."

Bubbles giggled a bit and I just rolled my eyes.

"Get the girl a beer," I called to the bartender as he walked by. "And for the love of God, stop giving them to my brother."

--

"I like you," Boomer's voice slurred loudly.

"I know," Bubbles said soothingly. Her arm was wrapped around his waist as he hung from her shoulders. They stumbled raggedly down the sidewalk in front of me as Butch and I hung back and watched with amusement.

"You smell pretty," He declared, his nose practically buried in her neck.

"I know," She said again, trying to help him walk.

"Well it seems Boomer made a friend," Brick said with amusement. "We should probably help her…"

I shrugged. "She's doing a fine job."

"You just don't want to have to drag him along," Brick laughed.

"You're right," I smirked. "I don't want to have to carry his drunken weight across the city just because he didn't know his limit."

"You're hair's prettier than mine," Boomer was telling Bubbles. He tried to reach up to grab a strand of it but his balance was nonexistent and they both stumbled a bit before regaining their previous pace.

"I know," Bubbles repeated.

"We should just leave him in a gutter," I muttered to Brick who only laughed.

"You're doing a good job," Brick called up to Bubbles. She glared back at us as she tightened her grip on the drunken leech at her side.

"The only reason I'm doing this is because you two would've just left him if I hadn't," She snapped, still struggling to keep the two walking. "But just know, if he throws up on me I'm kicking all of your butts and I don't car if you're drunk, or just got out of jail, or are supposedly scary. It's going to go down."

Brick laughed and I smirked at her.

"They're my brothers," Boomer whispered loudly into her face.

"I know," She told him with a weak smile.

"Only a few more blocks," Brick told her but she just sighed and didn't reply. "Hey, you're doing pretty good for a chick! You've barely complained."

"Bite me," I heard her mutter under her breath. A dry chuckle threatened to escape but I held it in.

"She's helping me walk!" Boomer yelled back to us, throwing them both off cue and sending them faltering dangerously close to the curb.

"We know," Brick and I called back, both amused.

"I think I like her!" Boomer said to us.

"I think she's taken," Brick called back.

I frowned, thinking of the ring on her finger. Thinking of that immaculate country club with the dark wood and ready workers. Thinking of the pitiful excuse for a man she'd called her fiancée.

I found I didn't like to think of such things.

But Brick…wasn't talking about the ring. In fact he was watching me. It was the same look I'd felt Ace give me, and, to a certain degree, Harper as well. It was a cautious, considering look. One that measured every move I made and weighed my every choice.

"Yeah, she's taken," I said evenly back. Which she was. She had a fiancée. And…well, I was just there to watch after her right? Because I wanted to and all. Because she was my issue now. Because I didn't really want to bother with her getting hurt at the moment.

Yeah. She'd be gone off and married soon. Until then I'd keep an eye on her. That's all. That's it.

I looked up to see her walk under a streetlight. Her blonde hair seemed white in the fluorescent light and her small body seemed dwarfed by my brother's large form. Her walk was slow and strained and her mood was wearing thin.

I sighed.

"Give him over," I grumbled, jogging up to the two of them.

She didn't hesitate and soon Boomer's arm was draped over my shoulder and I tried to support him as we moved a bit faster down the street. I took on more of his weight and his feet dragged a bit.

"Thanks," Bubbles smiled at me, rolling her stiff shoulders with relief.

"Whatever," I muttered darkly but I didn't object as she came up beside me fell into step with each footfall. She yawned pitifully and blinked a lot. "You shouldn't have stayed out so late."

"I know," She grinned. "But I didn't really have much of a choice."

"Next time you come out with us we'll let you rest before hand," Brick said as he drew up along her other side. I was surprised he'd invite her anywhere, but the protective way he stood near her spoke plenty.

He understood.

He got it.

And I was slightly relieved he wasn't going to bitch about it either. Brick never really saw the need to keep a girl around steadily (and honestly, neither did I) but he was never one to deny his brothers what they wanted. And it seemed he understood exactly what I wanted. So if I wanted her to stay safe, safe she would remain.

I'd make sure of that. Brick's help wasn't needed. But I wasn't going to turn it down either.

"So," Brick said into the dark night air. "A lot has happened since I've bin in the pin."

I sent him a wry look. "Yeah," I muttered. "I know."

--

She, she don't touch me, I don't touch her
We rarely even ever say a word.
I really want to give her everything she deserves
But, the bad took away the good

--

Sorry it took so long. I hope everyone is enjoying their weeks. It's Saturday!

Okay, so, update: There are better pictures of Bubbles/Butch/Buttercup on my profile if anyone want to see what the characters in my stories are supposed to look like. Look at all of Butch and Bubbles' pics, they're so cute!

Anyway! Read and review please. Oh, and sorry if this is moving too slowly. I'm thinking….it'll get a bit heated next chapter. You know, who doesn't like a bit of pure attraction?