Author Notes: We now depart into the dark world of Rontu once more. Though we will be starting with Raph and Kira at first.

I'll be introducing some new OCs again. They won't have a huge role exactly. While there are plenty other TMNT characters to choose from … they don't quite fulfill the roles these guys do for Rontu in the same way. There still will be plenty of other familiar names and faces.

Featuring a Rontu theme song that I feels captures him and this chapter well. The song will be linked in my profile page.

They say it's over and I'm fine again, yeah.
Try to stay sober, feels like I'm dying here.

And I am aware now of how everything's gonna be fine one day.
Too late, I'm in hell.
I am prepared now.
Seems everyone's gonna be fine.
One day too late; just as well.

~ Fine Again, by Seether.

Chapter Fourteen:
Dragon Circle

Walking with Kira wasn't as bad as Raph thought it was going to be. At first, he was still annoyed. He left because he wanted to be alone. It was kind of impossible to really feel alone in that tiny cramped apartment, where he shared a room with Mikey. The only way to truly escape was to leave.

But he found that Kira was very skilled at knowing when to talk and when to shut up. She didn't say anything as they walked, and she would fall back and window shop sometimes. It was almost like she was doing her own thing. This helped because Raph didn't need someone whining and pestering him about what was wrong or to talk it out. He just needed to be with himself.

So it was almost like he was alone. Raphael kept his fast paced walk without any thought to if Kira was keeping up. She would or she wouldn't. He didn't care. Mikey's words were still ringing through his skull, as if on repeat.

Closed off because of Spike. Well, no shit.

Besides, it was more like Raph had learned from his mistakes. That people weren't always what you thought they were. Sometimes, Raphael couldn't believe how Mikey could keep being so damn naïve after … everything with Spike. He would have thought Mikey of all would have come out more jaded about the world after that. Raph wasn't sure if he admired the fact Mikey seemed to maintain his sense of innocence despite all odds or if he was more worried about it. After all, this is why Raph wanted Mikey to tell him about shit like the locker deal. Sure, Mikey had training like they did, but if he couldn't sense danger or be cautious then that would negate some of that training. It would put him at risk again.

And on and on, his thoughts spun like this. Back and forth, the reasons why Mikey needed to tell them things even if it doesn't seem like it was a big deal.

Raphael knew his steam had begun to wane when his pace finally started slowing down to a normal walk. He still didn't exactly feel any better. He just felt heavier and tired. That stupid Spike shit not only pissed him off, but it just reminded him of his failings as an older brother. He had been such a stupid little shit back then.

It had been his fault Mikey got … Everything was his fault then. And that's what tore him up inside. He still remembered what Donnie said in the van on Thursday, about him calling someone else incompetent and careless …

It made him feel sick with himself whenever it got brought up. Sure, Spike had been the fucked up one, but Raph had let Spike get him involved in all that stupid shit. Because he thought it was cool. But he wasn't ever going to let something like that happen again. Not to Mikey or any of his brothers. It was always going to be them first. Nothing and no one else. Now more than ever, because Dad wasn't here. It had been Dad who cleaned up his mess with Spike and Hob.

Raph finally emerged from his stormy thoughts to find Kira was still following close by but still mostly doing her own thing while she did so.

Walking with Kira like this really wasn't so bad, mostly because Kira didn't know anything about Spike. She didn't really know why he was pissed off. Leo, Donnie, and Mikey knew. Kira didn't even ask and that was comforting. It was a relief to be away from that. It felt more distant that way. Even if his brothers always told him it wasn't his fault, Raph still could feel it when they looked at him. Their gazes just reminded him. But all Kira saw was a pissed off asshat that he usually was.

They had met only about a week ago, and yet now it seemed like they were stuck with each other. He didn't even know why she bothered to check up on him. They really had only just started to get along with each other. Even though his apology to her had lacked the defining word necessary to really be considered an apology. He had never actually uttered the word "sorry" to her. He had only admitted to being an asshat.

So he didn't know why she was doing this for the asshat that had a grudge against her friend. He didn't even know why she had accepted his shitty little apology to her. He found what Kira had said about not holding grudges to be very true for her. Her anger at him had barely even lasted a whole day before she got over it and acted like nothing had happened. She didn't even mention his "apology" before when Leo asked about them.

But maybe that's why … because she was such a forgiving person. She put up with Rontu and his drinking.

Well, Raphael had proven he was not a forgiving person. No. He was opposite her in that. Raph made holding a grudge a fucking art form.

He sighed and stopped. He should head back if only because having Kira follow him around outside at this time of night would put her at risk. He turned and started heading back the way he had come. "Come on, let's head back … It's fucking cold out here."

Kira perked and fell in line to walk next to him silently.

Raphael kept glaring sullenly forward. He didn't exactly feel better, but he was a little more calm at least. It was quiet though, and now it was starting to bug him.

"What? No words of profound wisdom now?" He heard the bitter sarcasm escape in his tone before he could stop it. But whatever. She was the one who decided to follow him. Maybe she would learn it was better to just leave him alone. Raph glanced over at her to see Kira arch a calm disbelieving brow at him.

"Please, Raph, one of the things that makes me 'wise' is knowing when my breath would be wasted … I mean, you didn't even like me giving you advice about labeling plugs in shop." She smiled softly. "I already know what kind of response I would get if I tried to give you advice on your own family."

Well, she did have that right. And for some reason that bothered him too. Though pretty much anything was likely to do that right now. "Oh, so you pretty much know everything, don't you? You know what I don't get? I don't get why someone so wise wastes there time with an alcoholic. What's that called … enabling?"

Raph knew he did it again. Kira had said explicitly before that she didn't like him ragging on Rontu like that. So he was expecting more heat. But like always, she didn't always fulfill his expectations. She looked him in the eyes briefly and then just shrugged.

"And I don't know the specifics about why you're so damn over-protective. So I guess I don't know everything …" She sighed, her breath appearing as vapor in the air as she stared forward as they walked, but she wasn't really looking at anything. Her face was calm and soft, her blue eyes in thought.

"So you're not even going to deny it?" asked Raphael.

"What? That I know Rontu drinks and that he probably won't stop," said Kira. Her face grew heavier in a pensive way. The way she looked earlier when Raph and Casey had seen her talking to Rontu. "… No, I won't deny that."

Raphael stopped walking. Kira got a few steps ahead before noticing. She stopped as well and looked back at him. Raph felt his face hardened as he stared at her.

"So that's it? You don't deny it? You know it, but you don't do anything about it? Why the fuck do you stay with him?" He knew it was none of his business, but the anger he felt at her confession had the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

Her face was still soft, calm, and yet heavy with a burden, but not with anger. She just stared at him for a long and quiet moment on that street. A couple people walked past them, their chatter filling the air around them and then fading away.

"I don't expect you to understand," she said softly but audibly. She looked him in the eyes. "You … and your brothers … You've never been in the system. You don't know your parents, but that doesn't mean you've never had any."

Raphael felt his hackles starting raise and his fists clenched in his coat as anger shot like a quick dose of lightning through him. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Actually, I do," said Kira calmly but firmly, still looking him directly in the eyes. "I can tell. I'm so 'wise' because you have to be when you're in the foster system. You learn how to … read people. When I first met you, I knew you spent time on the streets somehow, but that doesn't mean you went without parents exactly. There's plenty of street kids who have parents. You and your brothers were only in the foster system long enough to be adopted by the same parent or parents. But whoever they were, they're gone now, and that's why Leo dropped out of high school. So he could take care of you legally, so that you wouldn't go back into the system and get separated. That happens more easily with siblings when they're older, even if they try to keep siblings together. My guess, whoever your adoptive parents were, one of them taught you all how to fight—"

"Shut up," snapped Raphael sharply. His fists were at his sides now, outside of his jacket. "You just heard that from Terrin."

"I'm sorry," Kira sighed softly, her eyes tensing briefly with her sincerity. "I didn't mean to make you upset, but I didn't hear it from Terrin … My point was meant to be that …" She looked away and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear only for it to fall back. "When you're in the system, Raph … you learn not to get attached to people, to expect much from them. You learn that no one is really going to stay long enough to really have your back in life. There's a lot of well-meaning people, but a lot of the time they can't stay because it's not in their power to."

"… And?" growled Raph. "What does that mean or have to do with anything?"

"It means that family is everything, and unlike some other unlucky foster kids, I have my brothers," said Kira with a slow shrug, and then she looked back to his eyes. "Rontu is a lot of things. He has flaws, I know that. I also know that he's intensely loyal, nurturing, and protective in ways you don't know anything about … If it was Leo, would you really just turn your back on him so easily?"

"That's different," said Raphael impatiently.

"… Your adoptive father, did you feel he was less your father just because you weren't related by blood?" asked Kira.

Raphael held her steady gaze as his narrowed and pierced back into hers. That was really starting to bother him. She was a little too good at "reading" people for his comfort. It was like she knew exactly what to say to make his inside twists with the familiar and uncomfortable way they did before. He also didn't like how much she was able to guess about him and his family. Mostly because he felt like he didn't have the same advantage. His instincts were good, but other than knowing Rontu had a drinking problem, Raph had nothing.

"That's still different. I knew him my whole life. He was my father from the beginning. How long have you known Rontu?"

"Seven years," Kira answered confidently. "But the thing is, when you know someone is really there for you, like … in your bones, it doesn't really matter how long you've known them. Rontu would do anything for us." Yet, her face seemed to grow heavier when she said that. "He's also never hurt me or Terrin, and I know he never will."

Raphael just snorted. Kira probably truly believed that, but she was too … forgiving.

It was quiet for a moment again between them until Kira asked, "What is it about us that gets under your skin?"

"Eh?" Raphael looked up to find Kira staring at him with calm confusion.

"Well … when I first met you … you barely spoke at dinner. You didn't really ask us a lot of questions like Mikey and Donnie. You didn't strike me as someone who gets into other people's business." Kira shrugged. "So … I find it weird that you dig in when it comes to Rontu and us."

Raphael stared at her, opening his mouth but then closing it. He knew why. But realizing that now, he didn't want to say it. He didn't want to talk about it. She had enough on him anyway. He liked that she didn't know anything about it. He was in no hurry to change that. Raphael sighed out of his nose and looked away.

"… You're right. It's none of my business. Just bein' an asshat again." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and then looked back to her. "I'll try to stop doin' that."

Kira smiled, which was a relief in a way. Her face had been too calm and heavy for too long. Raph did like it better when they weren't fighting. Though he really only had himself to blame for that. He started it because of his shitty mood. And like usual, Kira was too forgiving and understanding.

"Well, come on, Asshat," said Kira. "It's cold. Let's go home."

So they started walking again. It was quiet for a moment longer until Raphael asked, "So, if you learned not to get attached to people, why did you bother following me?"

Kira smiled and shrugged. "We don't have parents. We have to look after each other. That's the other thing I learned."

Rontu got back to the apartment after four. He was glad Terrin was busy and distracted at their neighbor's. Then Terrin wouldn't have to know that he was going out. And not his typical going out. It was noticeably different, because Rontu didn't take his gun when he would go to Tilly's. It wasn't as if Rontu really hid his gun. Terrin was old enough and smart enough not to mess with it. So Rontu came home, showered, changed, and pulled on his holster that he wore under his jacket when he went out.

Then he rode his bike to the Lair. He texted Angel and the guys to let them know where he was so they could pick him up later. But the circle wouldn't be happening for several hours. That was fine by Rontu. He needed to prepare for when he'd see Shawn again. That meant getting as shit-faced as possible without passing out. Slate would be driving at least.

Rontu was smart enough to pace himself though. He had hours. He would really only need to drink the most an hour or so before they arrived to pick him up.

So when Angel got to the bar, Rontu had stacked two pyramids of shot glasses on the counter after emptying each one. He looked up at her when she approached. She raised a brow at the glasses.

Then she lifted her gaze to her father behind the bar and raised an almost sardonically accusing pierced brow. "Gee, ya think you gave him enough, pop? You know he ain't of age."

"He got a license, girly. Whatchu gonna do about it anyhow? Call the cops?" snorted her father before he walked off.

Angel rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest before looking back to Rontu. "Can you even stand?"

"You know I'm steadier on my feet after a few drinks than when I'm dry," replied Rontu, raising from his seat like he had slammed back shots of water rather than whiskey.

"I'm still not sure that's a good thing," said Angel as she walked with him out into the now cold and dark night. "Why do you have to go drinkin' at my dad's place of all places?"

Music was blaring out of Slate's car, with Slate still sitting in the front seat. Hyde was perched on the trunk of the car, and Dito was leaning against the side.

Dito was fairly tall, about an inch or two shorter than Rontu. His hair was shortish. It was hard to tell since Dito always had it back in tight cornrows. He wasn't as thick as Rontu in muscle or even as broad in the shoulders. But he had enough muscle to brag, which he always did. He was just on the leaner side when compared to Rontu.

He grinned in that annoying wide way that Rontu knew, making his teeth look especially white next to his dark skin tone.

"Pre-gaming already, fucker?" asked Dito as he slid away from the car toward Rontu. "Where the fuck you been? Slash has been talkin' shit, you know. He's thinkin' you've gone all rat."

Rontu shrugged. "Moved to a new place. Been busy … Let Slash think and talk what he wants. I don't give a shit. Get in the car."

Rontu opened up the front seat and slid in next to Slate who was in the driver's.

Slate glanced over at him with his light brown eye. Just one eye. Slate always wore a black patch over his other eye. Most people thought it was just part of his weird mix of gothic and punk style clothing. But Rontu knew better. Slate really didn't have that eye. He had lost it the night his father's entire mob was slaughtered. His father had been an Italian mob boss in the area. There was some nasty scuffle with another gang that resulted in their deaths. Slate was lucky to be alive. His real name was Neil Sazgo, but they all called him Slate before Rontu ever met him. He was just another foster kid among many.

Slate fixed his more perceptive gaze on him. "You could have just said you were busy."

Slate was sharp, not an idiot like Dito was. Rontu was always more careful with him. While in a way Rontu appreciated it since listening to Dito talk was annoying as hell sometimes, he never had bought into any illusion that meant Slate was to be trusted. Slate wasn't a coward exactly, but he wasn't stupid either. Rontu didn't peg him as the kind of guy who would stick his neck out for just anyone. They had been "friends" since the beginning, but Rontu knew that Slate really was only loyal to Shawn and no one else.

"Shawn said to lay off," said Angel as she got into the car after Hyde and Dito. "So don't make a big deal of it. He's back now. Slash just wanted a reason to talk shit."

Hyde motioned with his hands something in sign language to Dito who started laughing.

Hyde was a small Korean kid. His real name was Kevin Hyde, but everyone called him Hyde, sometimes even Mr. Hyde. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, due to the fact he could do some freaky shit to people just for kicks and at the drop of a hat.

He was barely over five feet tall. Aside from his shortness, Hyde's face was scarred all down the left side. It made him look like a wax person who got a little too close to the heater one day. He probably would have been a pretty boy if it hadn't been for the scars. Hyde was taken out of his parent's custody by Child Protection Services. Rontu assumed that's where Hyde's scars came from.

Scarring aside, Hyde was mute. Probably from whatever happened his parents did that just made his head stop working the right way. He used sign language to speak. Hyde was often stoic or seen smiling at inappropriate moments or just when there didn't seem to be anything to smile about. Hyde was either completely emotionless or wearing that eerie half-smile on his face.

Oddly enough, Dito knew sign language. Rontu had no idea where an idiot like Dito picked up a skill like sign language. But that was part of the reason Hyde stuck to Dito like glue. Hyde seemed to try to please him. Anything Dito thought was hilarious, Hyde would smile at. Even if it was stupid as hell. When Dito flew off like the loose cannon he was, Hyde followed right after. If Dito jumped off a cliff, so would Hyde.

Slate pulled out and started driving them down the street. Dito loaded a bowl in a glass pipe, which eventually got passed to Rontu. He accepted it, since it would help with his self-medicating. He pressed his lips to the glass piece, flicked his lighter, and inhaled, sucking the heady smoke in. He could already feel it blanketing his mind with a warm haze. He exhaled slowly as Dito called from the back seat.

"Slate, turn this song up, man. The beginning is the best part."

It was Rob Zombie, More Human Than Human. A lot of them favored Rob Zombie. This song started with a woman moaning, clearly from having sex. Dito made gestures with his hips and moaned on cue until Angel glared over at him.

"Dito, knock that shit off before I cut off your dick and shove it down your throat."

Dito grinned over at her. "Hear that guys, Angel wants to play with my dick. You know you don't have to make excuses for that, Angel-face."

Slate rolled his one eye.

Being a woman on the streets was never easy. Reputation was everything, and Angel generally had to come off as twice the hard ass Rontu was to get the same amount of respect, and sometimes even that was never enough. But Angel never needed any of them to fight her battles for her. She had a rock solid reputation for a reason. Dito was just stupid enough to try to piss her off.

"Hear that guys? Dito likes having dicks in his throat," said Angel. "Fuckin' faggot probably wants my boot up his dick-loving ass too. Say another word, Dito, and I'll do you a solid and shove my gun up your ass and let lose my load."

"Hot damn, Angel, you know I'm just pullin' your sexy little wings."

Rontu heard Angel's gun click and his eyes went to the rear-view mirror to see her gun pressed against Dito's temple.

"What did I say about talkin', faggot?"

Dito grinned wide, like she was flirting with him, his eyes peering at Angel and her gun from the corners. "Okay, okay, I'll be quiet."

She lowered her gun, and Dito just chuckled to himself.

They drove to the Technodrome, a rave club, and practically their base of operations. The inside seemed to pulse and wave. Hands waving, pumping, flying in the air with bodies that jerked and swayed to the rhythmic beat of the techno and often a mix of rock and heavy metal. Glow sticks and other glow-things twinkled through the crowd in colors of red-pink, bright blue, neon green, and neon yellow.

Rontu hated clubs on principle. It was always too loud and too crowded. When he got wasted or high, he generally preferred to do so in more quiet settings. Tilly, of course, would sometimes be able to drag him to clubs, even if it wasn't the Technodrome. Another reason he didn't like clubs was because he was usually then expected to dance. Rontu didn't dance. He didn't really know how. It's not something that came naturally to him in any case. He liked clubs even less than he did before now. The base pulsing through the air and floor reminded him of the edge. Now this place made him feel trapped. Even if he kept his eye on the exits. It was suffocating.

But this was where the circles were held. So there was no avoiding it.

Without fail, the music playing now was yet again Rob Zombie. "I feel so good, I feel so numb, yeah!" deafened Rontu as they waded through the sea of people. He and Angel parted ways with Slate, Dito, and Hyde. They would wait for them after the circle was over.

"Come on come on come on, you feel it.
Come on come on come on, you see it.
Come on come on come on, you wanna make it all right."

Rontu and Angel finally made it to the back, where there were metal stair cases leading up to the rooms that looked over the club. Black, reflective mirrors lined the walls. Rontu knew from memory that these were windows in the other side. Rontu could hear his heart beat with the drumming of Rob Zombie in his ears as he and Angel approached the door. Knowing Shawn would be on the other side.

"Blacken the sun.
What have I done?
I feel so bad, I feel so numb, yeah!
Blacken the sun.
What have I done?
I feel so good, I feel so numb, yeah!
Where do I run?"

Angel went first, opening the door, and Rontu felt himself float in after her. Once the door closed behind him, the music and noises was immediately drowned out. It was quiet and dark inside this back room. It was clean and comfortable inside, with dark lounge sofas and chairs and coffee tables.

In these sat towards the back, first and foremost, Hun, Shawn, and Hob. The three older men were their OGs, their gang's "original gangsters." Also known as the three crowns of the Purple Dragons, the shot-callers.

Hob sat on a sofa off to the right with his usual comfortable and greasy smirk on his face. Hob's position as one of their three leaders was primarily the business end of things. He managed their dealings in the drug trades, their merchandise, pricing, etc. This earned Hob the title of "CEO", though back in the day his street name was Alley Cat. Most just called him Old Man Hob now.

In the middle sat Hun. He was a bit shorter than Hob and Shawn, but he was a well-built Chinese martial artists. He sat with a confident smile and sunglasses on his handsome face. Many in the gang often made Bruce Lee references about Hun, since he did look similar and was a pretty damn good fighter. Those Hun favored, he would actually take under his wing and maybe train them. Angel was Hun's personal favorite. When Angel wasn't shoving a gun in your face, she could also beat the living hell out of you with her eskrima sticks. Hun's position was a little less defined, but he was definitely a shot caller. He was often referred to as the "Dragon's Head." If you couldn't get a hold of Shawn or Hob, Hun was almost always available. He would call the shots then, even areas of Shawn's and Hob's expertise. Rontu would say, Hun had the biggest "following." There were plenty who were more specifically loyal to either Shawn or Hob for various reasons, but Hun instilled the greatest loyalty in those they recruited. In fact, if Rontu had to say Hun had a specific position or expertise, it would be in recruitment and "outreach".

Rontu's eyes went to where he knew Shawn would be. To the left of Hun.

It felt as if his insides were becoming still. Everything felt muffled.

Shawn stood with one hand in his pockets, and his other held a gun. It was held point blanket at Tilly's head as she sobbed, mascara making her tears black, kneeling on the grounded and shuddering.

"You have until the count of 10, Rontu."

Rontu swallowed, trying not to be sick and refocusing his gaze on him, pushing those thoughts and memories back to the edge, where they belonged.

Before him sat Shawn, another tall, Native American. Apache specifically, like Rontu, only full. Rontu himself was half Apache, half Spanish. It had partly been that shared heritage that had drawn him to Shawn. He was tall, well-built, and with long dark hair that reached past his shoulders. He wore dark slacks, a blazer, and a gray undershirt with no buttons. He was older like Hun and Hob, probably his 40's. In the gang, his position was as the warlord. He was called Death Touch Shawn. As obvious by his titles, he handled the more violent operations of the Purple Dragons. Like Rontu himself, Shawn's expression was usually calm and smooth like ice. Maybe he had learned that from him.

Shawn's dark eyes met Rontu's but nothing changed. Shawn looked as him without even blinking. It was like it had never happened.

Sitting in the other seats in the circle were other gang members. Everyone here were "lieutenants" or otherwise known as the "Dread Fangs" of the Purple Dragons. They controlled different parts of the gang all over the city. The Purple Dragons had so many members, it became better to delegate. Lieutenants made sure the "street soldiers" stayed in line. There were about fifteen other Fangs in the room with Rontu and Angel. Usually only Fangs were allowed in. Mostly just because it was impractical to have all members of the Purple Dragons present. Fangs gathered here for their orders and to report to the three crowns. Angel had been a Fang before Rontu, but not for too long. She had brought him to circles before that, because even if she was the official Fang of their group, they still practically ran it together.

Seating nearby, Rontu caught the eye of the largest guy in the room. Spike, or otherwise known as Slash by his group. Slash was an inch or two taller than Rontu himself, and he was bigger too with more muscle. He had short, dark hair, a very strong jaw-line, and spike piercings in his lip, nose, and eyebrow. He had studded spikes in his leather jacket as well. The way he looked, you'd think "Spike" would have been a better fit for his name anyway. But "Slash" indicated his ability with a blade.

A slow and hard smirk curved Slash's lips when their eyes met. Slash was one of those guys that could smell the weakness on others. So Rontu made sure to keep his edge in check, though he wondered if Slash had noticed his muted reaction to Shawn earlier. That would be a problem if he did. Slash was not one of those Rontu ever wanted to show his weaknesses around. Slash was brutal but also clever when it suited him. That was probably why Hob favored him. And Slash favored Hob, but Rontu was sure it was only for the drugs.

It was Hun who began the meeting, raising his voice slightly at the start to indicate this. However, his posture remained relaxed with his arms slung over the back of the sofa and his leg crossed over his knee.

"Alright, as many of you have already heard, we've made a new alliance with some new friends from Japan. But our new friends are shy. Their leader will not be meeting with us in person tonight, nor unnecessarily in the future. Point is, our pockets are going to get bigger. But there will be some tasks some of you will need to do to … aid our partnership. You'll receive your missions individually. No talking to other groups about your missions. It's better to keep these things … compartmentalized. Got it?"

Hun paused to look around the room, checking expressions as if to make sure everyone understood. The silence was enough of an answer for him, so he continued. "Okay, so everyone outside until we call you back in for your mission details. Dismissed."

Rontu turned with Angel, matching her timing so that he wouldn't seem too eager to leave. But then he heard Shawn's low monotone call out to them. "Rontu. Angel. You two stay. You'll be the first."

Both he and Angel stopped at the summons and turned back toward the room as everyone else filed through the door pass them. Angel moved toward the center and took a seat opposite the OGs, and Rontu followed suit. He had to make himself look up at them, at Shawn, with his usual unchanging expression. It felt surreal, but maybe it was just that he had enough booze and pot to help dull it. He could feel the edge, but he kept it pushed back at the edge of his mind where those things belonged. So long as it stayed as just an edge of his thoughts, it couldn't swallow him whole. He could pretend.

They waited for everyone to leave. Though it still remained quiet a moment longer until the door to the room opened again. In stepped a man Rontu didn't recognize. He had dark skin and an afro, and angular smirking sort of face. He had his street clothes right, but Rontu knew he wasn't a Purple Dragon. He had a folder pinned under his arm as he walked over and took a seat between Angel and Rontu and the OGs.

Shawn spoke again. "This is Xever. You could say he's our liaison to our new allies, as they are rather cautious not to be seen interacting with us too obviously."

Xever looked over at Rontu and Angel critically. "These are the ones you want to handle this?"

Shawn merely nodded and tipped his head towards them, his eyes on Xever.

Xever took the cue and tossed the folder onto the circular coffee table toward Rontu and Angel. Rontu reached forward and pulled the file into his lap. He opened it. There was a moment's pause as he assessed the implied task handed to him. Rontu looked up at Shawn specifically.

"I'm your cleaner, not a cop killer."

Shawn's dark eyes didn't look away, and Rontu had to reach for the haze of drugs and drink fogging his mind to hold it as well.

"Certainly, yours and Angel's group's task is usually as our cleaners, but it's not as if you haven't done outside hits for us before, Rontu. Besides, we don't need you to kill him. You just need to scare him … Establish leverage on him. We need inside informants now more than ever. Willing informants are difficult to come by without some measure of leverage."

Angel reached over and snagged the file from Rontu's lap. "Sounds easy. Consider it done. Rontu will take point with this one."

"Good," said Xever with his snide sort of smirk on his face. "Everything you need to do that should be in that file."

Angel stood up, closing it and tucking it under her arm. "Is that everything then?"

Shawn nodded. "Send Ray in after you leave."

Rontu stood up with Angel and they opened the door to have the wave of thrumming techno music wash over them. Angel grabbed Ray and let him know to go in. Then she grabbed Rontu by the collar of his jacket and pulled him roughly as far away from the other Fangs as possible. She looked around quickly before glaring up at him.

"Fuck, Rontu, what is your problem?" she had to shout over the music. "'I'm your cleaner, not a cop killer'? They're fuckin' cops."

"You know shit gets messy when you shoot a cop," Rontu called back over the music.

"Doesn't fucking stop cops from shootin' us neither," retorted Angel angrily. "It's just how it is, Rontu. You know that. What is with you lately? We should be glad no one else heard that, or they'd have even more reason to think you're a fuckin' rat or somethin'. We're the cleaners. We shouldn't be lookin' like the ones who need to be cleaned from the books."

"I know."

Angel glared up at him. "That's why you're gonna be the one takin' point. Show Shawn and everyone else you still got what it takes to be a fuckin' Purple Dragon and a Fang."

Rontu nodded. "I will. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Angel. I can do leverage just fine."

He would have to. He had no exits.

Author Notes: So yeah. Rontu and Angel are Purple Dragons. I'm sure there are plenty of you who were able to figure that out even before now. It's not really a surprise with Angel for obvious canon reasons. But there's been plenty of hints of Rontu being in the gang for a while. But if you were surprised that Rontu turned out to be a Purple Dragon, I suggest going back and rereading the past chapters, particularly Chapter Five: No Exit. You'll find the little hints of it here and there. It might be fun to go back and find them anyway. It definitely makes Casey and Rontu's interaction in Chapter 12: Livin' the Dream more interesting. And I dunno, sometimes I think, it's so obvious! But maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought it was.

This is my little spin on the Purple Dragons. For some reason I just feel Rob Zombie suits them, so I snuck in some songs I felt fit in certain situations (I'll add them to my profile should you want to hear them). I added Hob just because it seemed right. Hob was always a bit of a gangster of his own kind in my mind anyway. Merging him into the Purple Dragon also serves plot things for the future. And having the Purple Dragons run by three guys was just right. Mostly because I didn't see any of them taking orders from anyone, but I could see them as collaborative equals. Buddies and OGs back from the old days on the street. Shawn is obviously my OC, and I need him in the mix for, yet again, important plot reasons. There were no canon characters that could replace him in the role that he plays in Rontu's development.

And good old Spike, I put him in with Hob. Though a little forewarning, Spike/Slash is always going to be a villain in this story. The 2k12 Spike turning "good" after what he did just never felt realistic to me. It happened too quickly and not with a lot of development to back it up, and sometimes I just like some bad boys to stay bad. For plot reasons, Spike will be staying bad.

Also, apologies for all the "faggot" talk. None of it reflects my personal views. Just writing the characters, peeps.

See you all again when I can!