"Is she OK?" Marko asked, stuffing a wad of fifties tightly into an envelope.
"Fine, sleeping" Dwayne replied tersely, eyes flicking to David and Paul, both of them sat on the sofa and rifling through wallets with a bored carelessness. He sat down on the fountain and observed the curly haired blonde, "thank you"
He said his thanks with a little clip in his voice, wanting to convey his thanks and his apology but not able to, not with his unwelcome audience.
"This one's shit" Paul said, throwing the wallet to Marko who caught it was ease, "it's a versace, totally empty too"
He pronounced the designer brand incorrectly, reflecting the fact that it was a knock off and by the disgust in his tone, it wasn't even a good knockoff.
"Gotta get a higher quality chick" Marko advised, dropping the wallet among a small cluster of others, all emptied. They would dump them far out into the ocean, all identifying information removed. Sometimes they burned them. It had been a month or so since they had taken stock of their collection and so they had started slowly tonight, using it as a way to pass the time. The atmosphere in the cave was tight and charged, uncomfortable. Emptying wallets had given them something else to try and focus on. He looked up at Dwayne, "s'all good, she's a nice girl. I like her. She feeling better?"
"I think so" Dwayne replied with a nod, thankful for Marko's easy nature, "slept well enough"
"That's a good thing" Marko said with seriousness, "you don't sleep well if you're shit scared or desperately unhappy-"
"-you're a regular hero, bro" Paul said with a humorless laugh, "look at you! Saving the damsel, helping the hero-"
He was silenced by Marko's rude and long lasting gesture, "I'm putting out your fire, Paul"
"What's he talking about?" Dwayne asked.
"I got you dinner-"
"-he's mine?"
"Sure" Marko shrugged and stashed another wad of notes - this time a bunch of tens - into a different but incredibly thick envelope, "I figured you wouldn't be up for hunt-"
Paul kicked the gagged, bound figure by his feet. The man grunted and wriggled furiously in response, his neck bulging and straining in his struggles, "-Marko's such a good guy-"
"-and you're a pouty little bitch" Marko replied, lobbing a small baggie filled with tablets and a few pre-rolled joints towards the sofa, dumping the chunky wallet they came in, "get over it already, you fucked up"
Paul inspected the bag with an appreciative nod before frowning a little. It was obvious his carefree act was just that: an act. He slid the baggie into his tux and sighed a little, eyes flicking to Dwayne.
"Are you going to ignore us all night?" David asked, passing a credit card to Paul, "there's only an hour left until sunrise, will it be the same again tomorrow?"
Paul snapped the card in half, then half again, crushing the broken pieces into a strange dust. He deposited the remains, largely smooth but with a few plastic chunks visible, into a conical pile on the arm of the sofa, "we said we were sorry..we meant it, man.."
"You terrified her" Dwayne snapped.
"I didn't!" Paul protested before barking a terse, "oh shut the fuck up already" he kicked the man again, a hard and blunt kick to the ribs, annoyed by his sudden burst of throaty, muffled shouts.
"Am I the hugging type?"
"David, fuck you-"
"Then what would you have had me do? Seriously" David asked coldly, "run to her? Embrace her? Hold her cold, naked body close to mine and whisper comforting nothings in her ear-"
He was cut off as Dwayne launched himself at the icy blonde, the brunette's words lost in a flurry of rage filled expletives.
"-oh fuck, man-" Marko groaned through a panicked yelp, moving with speed of his own. He intercepted Dwayne, wrapping a strong arm around his furious friend's neck, another around his chest. He groaned again, trying and straining to tug him backwards, away from his target.
Dwayne was strong.
He had always been strong, his size and height giving him an advantage in his immortality and while everyone had seen him use his strength, none of them had had it used against them.
"Christ" Paul shook his head, panic dancing across his face, too, scrabbling gracefully to help Marko.
"Don't-fucking-" Dwayne tried to launch himself at David again and this time it took both Paul and Marko's joint effort to keep the brunette still.
"I'm still waiting, Dwayne" David all but hissed, his anger a frustrating blend of indignant iciness, "what should I have done?"
"Stayed the fuck away from her!"
"I didn't-"
"-not gone into her mother fucking head like that-"
"-she was-"
"-you made it worse!"
"I-"
"-you patronizing piece of shit you fucking made it worse!"
David met Dwayne's fierce gaze.
"Come on, man, don't do this" Marko said, tugging at Dwayne a little harder.
Paul wisely said nothing, his hand pressed tightly against Dwayne's chest, his body acting as a blockade, though he had absolutely no doubt that Dwayne would flatten him without hesitation if he thought he could get at David.
"I know I made a mistake, Dwayne" David said, finally showing a scrap of humility, "I said I was sorry and I meant it"
"You didn't say you were sorry, you arrogant-"
"-yes, I did"
"This clown did. You didn't"
Paul, once again acting with wisdom, made no reply. Truthfully, clown was one of the nicer words he had been called as of late. He pushed harder as Dwayne made another attempt at a lunge, Marko's low curse prompting him to brace his body more.
"We don't do this, come on, man" Marko said lowly.
David's words had been bait and Dwayne had fallen for it. Marko knew that David would prefer a fight over Dwayne's detached coldness but it made him uncomfortable. They were all strong. They had never before come to blows and the truth was that none of them knew how it would actually end. They all had enough force and strength to defend themselves, enough power to do a lot of damage. Neither blonde wanted to see what the outcome of a fight between David and Dwayne would look like.
Marko silently agreed that Dwayne needed to air his anger, to vent his rage but, as he strained again, trying hard to keep them from pummeling each other, he wished both men could use their words in a reasonable way.
"Dwayne" David stepped forward and the brunettes eyes widened, shocked at the sheer audacity David was showing, "I am genuinely sorry. I made a mistake and I realize that now. I did what I knew to do-"
"-she's-"
"-and it was too much for her" David spoke harder.
Both Paul and Marko kept their bodies locked around Dwayne's but their eyes flickered towards and then between the two men. It was the first time anyone had heard David utter an admission of fallibility.
"In all our time together, have I hurt you?"
Dwayne said nothing, his temples pulsating as he clenched his jaw relentlessly.
"Dwayne?"
"No" Dwayne all but spat, as if the admission burned him.
"I'm not trying to hurt you now and I didn't want to hurt her then" David took another step forward and both Marko and Paul eyed Dwayne uneasily. If David continued his approach, Dwayne would be within punching range unless they hauled him back again and neither of them knew if they had the strength for that. They'd never had to restrain him like this and it was hard work, "I want her to join our pack. Kind has never been my style, you know that-"
Dwayne scoffed.
"-but I am trying, here, OK? I am sorry"
David punctuated the words slowly and took another step forward, a big one this time.
"I won't defend myself" he offered, opening his arms wide. He looked almost like he was offering himself up for crucifixion, a martyr sacrificing himself for the good of his fellow man but the coldness of his face, his eyes and the danger pulsating from his body took away from the gesture, "go for it. If it will help"
Dwayne shook his head, "I have never before met such a patronizing asshole"
David nodded, the gesture doing nothing to quell Dwayne's rage.
"I swear to fucking God-"
Marko slowly, tentatively released his hold on Dwayne, frowning in concentration and readiness as he did. Paul, too, lowered his arms though he kept his body between the two men.
"If it will help" David repeated, his arms still extended.
Dwayne shook his head again and pushed himself away from Marko and Paul. Their legs were locked but they took the force a little, both of them jerking backwards a step.
"I'm not going to fight you, either" David said, taking Dwayne's movement for one of withdrawal.
"No?"
"No. I'm sorry, Dwayne"
"Me too, man" Paul added, looking down, "I just got carried away and then..I dunno.."
"Don't talk anymore" Dwayne told Paul, his voice straining a little.
"We really are sorry" Paul said, not heeding the brunette's order.
"You shouldn't-" Dwayne clenched his fists, frustration pouring from him, "you shouldn't be apologizing to me that's the fucking point!"
"You owe her the apology" Marko said with a shrug, looking pointedly between David and Paul.
Dwayne's anger was simmering and all three men frowned as they saw what had been lying underneath it. He was hurting. Bad.
"You're my pack. I want to fucking-" Dwayne took a breath, "-I want to fucking punch the both of you, I swear to God but you're my pack, I can't fucking do that to you. I can't. When have I ever?" he clenched his jaw again and it was clear that he still wanted to lash out at them both on some level and that it was adding to his turmoil, "it's her. It's about her. How can you ever think she would want to be with me if this is what you do?"
The three men shifted, taking in Dwayne's honest and hurt words.
He had been silent and stoic, detached and cold the previous night and they all knew it couldn't last. Even though Dwayne was the epitome of tall, dark and silent, the embodiment of still waters run deep, they knew his feelings wouldn't stay down for long. They knew his feelings couldn't stay down for long. David had hit him where it hurt with his comment about comforting Elizabeth, knowing it would work and spur the needed reaction. Now, now that Dwayne's rage had largely passed, they were left dealing with his pain.
"You think she's going to want in?" he looked at David, hard and hurt, "huh? That was your move? That was your fucking play? She's going to reject it..reject me-"
"-let us see her" David replied intently.
Dwayne shook his head firmly, "no"
"Let us make it up to her-"
"-we have a really good idea" Paul added.
"-we can make it right, Dwayne"
Dwayne said nothing.
"...it's a good plan" Marko said with a shrug, not sure if Dwayne would listen at this point.
"What?"
"I think she'll like their apology. It's a good one, that's all"
"No way"
Dwayne shook his head.
"If she doesn't want to meet us, she doesn't have to" Paul said.
"She makes the choice" David confirmed.
"...what? You're going to send Marko? Make him messenger or...?"
"No, no. That's pressure, see? She won't wanna say no to him, right? It's her choice, so we-" Paul seemed desperate to make amends.
"-we won't approach her unless you say it's OK, Dwayne but we would like the chance. We want to make things right again" David's voice was controlled.
"...I think it's a good plan" Marko repeated.
Dwayne slumped a little, shaking his head as he settled down onto the sofa with a hard plop, the fight rushing out of him.
"I hate you guys" he said weakly, shaking his head once more.
They knew he didn't mean it, they knew he didn't hate them at all and so they let his words go. They knew he was hurt, he was disappointed and stung by David's sheer stupidity, he was worried about the damage both men had done to the chances of Elizabeth wanting to join their pack. The silence of the cave was incredibly clear now that they had stopped fighting and, as all four men were processing their thoughts, an angry and breathless shout rang out.
"Fucking fags!"
All four men turned slowly to the source of the crude insult, their thoughts, their pain, their anger seemingly made to pause by the sudden interruption.
"Fucking little cunts, fucking little pansy ass-"
"-that's rude" Paul said dangerously.
"Very" Marko agreed, eyebrow raised.
The man - the lumbering oaf that Marko had hunted and brought back - was breathing heavily, exhausted from his efforts, from his journey from the sofa to the fountain. There was blood seeping through the tie-dye fabric of his torn t-shirt, his elbows scraped deeply from his movements. The gag that had been wrapped around and in his mouth was caught around his chin now instead, stretching his mouth downwards in a disgusting and uncomfortable way. The fabric was thick and stained dark with his saliva. He had made a valiant effort. He was dripping with sweat, he reeked of fear and body odor but he had managed to drag himself a fair distance, likely flopping his bound legs like a fish out of water to propel his upper body. His elbows must have hurt something spectacular but there was a fighting spirit in his eyes.
Neither of the four men had paid him any mind. They had been too focused on each other.
"I'll show you cunts rude-" he spat, "untie me, come on, make it fair you fa-"
"-I hate that word" Marko warned, his words almost as cold as David's were usually.
"Pansy ass bitch!" the man wailed.
He was breathing heavily, eyes wild.
"He probably could have made it to the steps" Paul said aloud, watching the man with narrowed eyes.
"If he'd kept his mouth shut" Marko agreed again.
"Dwayne" David said, coming to stand before the frozen man, "You're my brother" and, while his words were still slow and icy, for the first - and what he also knew would be the last - time in his undead life, David asked for permission, "please?"
"Your girlfriend's a whore!" the man shouted, interrupting what was a serious and poignant moment between Dwayne and David. This time all four men turned to look at him, giving him their complete and undivided attention, "she takes it up the fucking ass!"
The temperature in the cave dropped.
If the man had been hoping to bait them into releasing him, into untying him and giving him a 'fair fight', he had chosen the wrong thing to say. Marko would have done it in a heartbeat before, he loved the sport of a good hunt but the man had committed a grave, grave mistake.
He had insulted Elizabeth.
Frankly, he couldn't have made a worse mistake but he was ignorant, unknowing.
"She's gonna snort my cum you brunette barbie bitch! You fuckers! You fuckers! You-"
"-tell me your plan" Dwayne said, his voice colder and icier than David's had ever been.
He stood slowly, his eyes trained without waver on the panicking man.
"Un-unti-untie me you-"
"-brunette barbie bitch?" Dwayne offered, approaching the man.
"you-you-" the man screamed, spittle flying from his mouth.
"OK. So, it was David's idea, really..." Paul said, settling down onto the sofa once more and watching the scene before him, "..I inspired it-"
Marko moved to sit beside Paul, narrow eyes trained on the scene before him. He smirked as the man cried out in a mixture of fear and relief as his bonds were slackened, then screeched in pain as the first of his fingers was snapped. He replayed the idiot man's words silently in his head, 'your girlfriend's a whore' as his last five fingers were crushed, satisfaction dancing across his face as the man's stubby little pinky was torn clean off in the final round of Dwayne's first act.
"-how did you inspire it?" Marko queried in mild disbelief.
The smell of blood and urine flooded their noses as the burly victim began to fight, using his damaged arms as battering rams.
"LSD" David intoned with a quirk of his eyebrow, also watching the scene.
"She enjoyed the weed, I was like, 'let's level up', she'll love it. Mad fun, right?"
"I don't think she would care to try LSD" Marko said.
"Well, yeah, but that was the jumping off point, inspiration, like I said-"
"-what?" Dwayne asked, turning away from fallen and now crawling man for a moment, crushing his foot into his lower back to still him.
Paul and David both grinned, "what's the best thing you ever saw when you took LSD?"
"...the most magical thing?" David added with a smirk.
Marko and Dwayne shared a look.
"...go on"