The next date, he decided he needed to up his looks. He couldn't keep meeting up with her in his old vest, he needed something new, modern, more casual. The black blouse? Why not? The leather jacket? Cliched, but a classic none the less. The ace card here, polished boots there…
And of course, the sunglasses. That would never miss. The day they're gone I'd probably be dead or somethin'.
Cologne, combed hair, and always a little bit of stubble. It was his mark. He could never grow a beard the likes of Billy's, but with the shadow of a moustache and a goatee was enough.
So once he kissed goodbye to his cracked reflection in the mirror, he went to wait again; outside of Tom's, until a figure clad in sky blue called to him. The girl came running down the street to meet him, surprising Ace with her speed in heels.
But before he could ask, she jumped him and smothered him in a hug of morning sweetness and feather boas.
"Here's my shiny man…!" She entwirled him in a hug. "So, where are you planning to take me today?"
"On the ride of your dreams."
"Ooh, now that's a high promise. You better keep to it or otherwise I'll tell."
"No problem, toots. You ever ridden a bike?"
"Oh my, we've got a bad boy over here."
"The baddest of the bad." He grinned, showing his fangs.
He led her to the end of the street, where Vera was parked. Once he showed the black beauty to the girl, he felt his pride swell as she oohedover his baby.
"Is it fast?" She asked once she properly sat behind him. He responded by grinning as he revved up the bike.
"It wouldn't be mine if it wasn't."
"Good. I like fast." She held on warmly to his chest, as the speed took them away. Her hair blowing in the wind, her laugh leaving footprints behind.
He found he liked finding common ground with her. Would erase many awkward chatters in their dates.
And by god was she fast. Fast drinking, fast dancing, fast driving…He almost lost her smirk amidst the heated, wild crowd of the discos. He liked going to parties, amidst the wild lights and the darkness his skin could pass off unaware. And she didn't mind, she never minded after that, as she tugged him and urge him to drown in the crowd alongside her…Her drunk eyes undressing him in the dancefloor as they jumped…
And then even their dates widened, to the beach, to the tattoo parlor, to the old rundown vinyl shop…And they would rest near the seashore, letting their fingers dip into the water, slowly, and then, plastered, would tell the stories of old heroes who fought bravely in the Age of Dawn, and where remembered by the stars…Stupid stories, all of them dumb tales kids were told, but when drunk, they were adequate fodder for poetry…And he liked it, anyhow. That's all that mattered to Ace at some points.
Yeah, he decided one night after coming home from the bar. His head was too far tanked to properly make out the path to the shack, he probably slept that night in Biff's rundown box. Who knew? But what he did know that it was about time she met the boys. She's gonna fit in, I'm sure of it.And if not, well, she could always get a green tattoo up her abdomen. Surely that'd lead her clients talking…
Of course, initially she was invested. Initially.He would talk of his brothers and her eyes would lighten up amidst the cigarrette's smoke and the sunglasses.
"Oh, now this is getting personal."
"You want it personal?"
"You know that this is just payment right?"
"And I haven't delayed on my payments till now, right?"
"…Okay, you got me there." She frowned. "Well, okay, I guess I can get fancy every once in a while."
"You'll like the boys, you'll see."
"They like drinking?"
"That, and videogames, soda, horror movies, and pizza…"
"Oh, they sound fun." She paused, diverting her gaze to a speck floating by. "Hey, this isn't some gangbang fetish fantasy thing, is it? Because If so I might charge double."
He might have spit his drink if he had at hand a drink. Instead he almost drowned in his own coughs and laughter.
"You sick bitch…"
"Don't judge, you hear worse stuff from other clients…"
"Nonononoono, no, they're like my brothers. I wouldn't think." Well, except for one, but he wasn't at this point willing to share, or to bring up dead history. That's a mystery for another day.
"Actual brothers?"
He gave her a small smile.
"Arturo is my brother, yeah."
"Arturo?" She looked at him quizzically. "But, that name…"
"Yeah, yeah, south of the border." If she wanted to start something…
"Hey, I'm from the downer south. No reason to attack." She winked. "Somos compadres en esto, ¿no?"
Well, theory confirmed. That Spanish was too fluent for her to be ambiguously American, or a basic white girl who fell into hard times (can that happen?).
"I'm also Italian, from my mother's side." That was what the stereotypes told, Italians were masters of the bedroom. At least, if the movies were right…He hoped that would woo her.
"Your little brother, too?"
"No, Arturo and I just share a dad." Bah, stupid, now he was just oversharing. Oversharing stuff that had been long buried. What did she care? He could be the emir of an Arab State for all she knew and she'd be satisfied as long as he paid his due. Then again, if she genuinely shared his mother tongue with him…
"Hmm, as the americans say you're double spicy."
"Hahahahahahhaha…Yeah, no."
Once they neared the dumps, she hesitated, pressing his arm.
"Hey, this is the city dump!"
"Well, yeah, this ain't the Ritz, sugar."
"…Am I being punked?"
"Come on, did you ever think I was that loaded? Daddy Morbucks I ain't exactly."
"Who the hell is that."
He paused. He couldn't believe there would somebody in Townsville who didn't know who King Morbucks, of all people, was. Hey, maybe despite raising a terrible brat, he was actually utterly loyal to his wife? Could then explain his possible lack of appearance in the Red Light District.
Still, Jordan didn't seem impressed.
"Are we really going there? The waste's gonna ruin my clothes."
"It's this or nothing, babe. The boys are waiting."
One boy in particular, as he jumped them both. Ace, too lost in his own thoughts, didn't notice the pitbull running towards them; and only turned once the girl pitched a high scream.
"Ah! Biff!"
But the dog didn't seem to recognize him, as it growled and barked; marking a prominent distance between him and the pair. Ace had to be careful, one wrong move and the dog could unleash his fury upon the stranger.
"Hey hey, Biff, it's me buddy, you're not gonna bite me are ya?"
The Pitbull lowered its head, but still sniffed around wary nearby Jordan's feet. The girl clutched her purse, but Ace just gestured at her to follow him.
"He's like that with new people. Really, only Billy can tame him."
She cursed under her breath, but he pretended to not hear that. They were getting closer; he could hear the boys' voices nearby.
"Hey, boys!"
At once, the voices silenced, and the team came out, one by one. Perks of being the leader: your men followed your word immediately.
He noticed her presence was lacking. He turned to see her, a few feet away from the threshold, visibly shaking and eyes widening.
"…You're the Gangreen Gang!"
He raised an eyebrow. Why such a reaction? You didn't know who I was all this time?
"You just noticed?"
""Five guys, dirt for skin, very dangerous."It's one of our guild's mottos." She shuddered. "Even the Powerpuff Girls have it out for you."
"Well they started it." She didn't seem convinced at his words tho. To be fair, neither did he.
He hummed, wondering what to say. For one, he felt slightly disappointed that she initially seemed unaware of him, but on the other hand, it was nice to go out and be noticed by someone without the person running in fear away from him…Maybe she just finds top dogs sexy, that's all. In which case, bravo Ace, she could just sense your dominant energy.
But he had to be careful, now. She was shivering too much for her own good. A wrong move, and she could rush to the exit, never to return. He approached her and laid an arm casually over her shoulders.
"Come on, have I treated you in a way that makes you think I would hurt you?"
"…Well, you did pay…" She seemed to be weighing her options. "…And so far you haven't tried to eat me…"
"Not in that way." He chortled. At that her smiled returned, as peppy as a schoolgirl's.
"I guess I can trust you."
She eased, releasing her tense shoulders and even loosening the grip on her purse. He grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward, where the others looked on expectantly. Even Biff seemed to calm down as the dog ventured again into his carboard box to rest.
But something still ate the back of Ace's mind.
"Really, you didn't know? Who the heck did you think I was?"
"…There are so many green guys in town…You could've been anyone…A victim of STDs…"
"What." His eyebrows were raised so high at this point that they could be seen over his sunglasses.
"STDs fuck you up hard, maybe they also give you bad skin…Oh, what If…Oh my gosh, you probably did infect me! I'm gonna piss green for a month, auuu…"
"Uuuh, gangrene doesn't work that way."
They were at the point where the boys could hear their entire conversation, and even interfere if they wish.
"Was it avocado?"
"What?"
"You ate too much avocado and that's why your skin is green."
"Uuuuh…"
"Sadly, no." He had a hunch that Snake would be the first to speak of the gang. He just knew it. And based on his furrowed brow, Ace could guess what were his intentions with his words.
"I think it's a valid idea."
"…"
"Ah, I know, you were injected with some crazy stuff!" She then shrugged at his widened eyes. "That happens all the time in superhero movies. Didn't the Krunk go through it?"
"Krunk? You've seen the Justice Friends?"
"Who hasn't?" She sighed. "I cried so much at Finale.When all the people returned but Major Glory had to leave…And that idea that you can't get things for free, that everything must be exchanged or sacrificed...Joy comes with a price..."
Her voice seemed faint and frail at her last words, but he couldn't tell properly why. But there was a familiar tone in her voice then...
Okay okay, he needed to get back on track. The boys still observed her with caution in their eyes. They would need to feel comfortable in the first place if they were to share their meals with the lady.
"Guys, guys, gather round, cause I got something important to say."
He cleared his throat, but the boys were already laying his attention on him. From furrowed brows, to curious stares, all of them were focusing on him at the moment. Good, as it should be
"This is Jordan, our new…friend. Make her feel at home, boys."
Well, not her home exactly.
He placed a hand behind her back, to push her forward and make her feel more welcomed. The boys knew exactly what he intended with that.
"…Hi…" She seemed oddly demure at the moment, with her small hand and downturned shoulders. It wasn't like her…
Grubber rasped something small, something only Ace could hear
She thinks we'll shank her, but she's the one with a knife up her purse.
Shit. Grubber was smart, too smart at times, too smart for his own good. Really, the raspberries were his one salvation. If the rest of the world knew more about his whipping tongue, he'd get in more undeserving trouble than he should.
But he shouldn't think ill. The others seemed more curious than wary at the moment. If he could get Arturo's blessing at least…
"I met her out dancing, I think we'll get along fine." He winked. "She likes food, parties, Vera, and horror movies."
"Ooh, I'm liking her already." Fortunately, Arturo came forward and took ahold one of her hands. "Welcome, señorita."
"¡Mucho gusto!"
He grinned at Ace, a "now I like her even more" grin, at which the leader sighed relieved.
And that's the only opinion that matters here, after mine.
"Ah, una comadre. You're in good hands then."
"Billy likes your hair!"
"I like yours too." She winked at Billy. "Redheads are so special…"
But somebody else besides Grubber was unamused. Snake seemed to resist her charms, as he looked back at his boss with an arched eyebrow and pursed lips.
Ace decided to nip that in the bud as soon as possible. She left Jordan with Arturo and Billy as he approached his "best friend".
"Don't make that face." He whispered, only the two of them witness to his words. "Make it easier for her, for me."
"So what, she's gonna sleep with all of us too now?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"No, she has standards." Yeah, that'd be good enough, to leave him with his words dead on his thin mouth. But Grubber had to have the last word, didn't he?
"Besides, you have to pay her first."Damn it, Grubber! He really had to talk, didn't he? But of course, for a reason he was often considered the "brains" of the team. He realized it'd be hard to hide Jordan's secret from his detective skills.
Snake's eyes lit up at that, and followed Ace with a triumphant expression.
"Well well-"
"Not a word." He raised a finger. He didn't need to raise his whole fist to shut him up, but Snake understood that well. No, he got what he meant, but it was too soon. He wanted it enjoy it, pretend, a little bit more. Just a little…
"Hey, Ace, what we're gonna do for today?" Arturo's voice called out amidst his thoughts, and he turned back at the group and their guest.
"Well, we can't offer you much, but….We got videogames. And pizza."
Her eyes narrowed at his words, and next her lips pursed; but a second afterwards they stretched into a flirty smile.
"Pizza will be great."