I don't own the CW show The Flash or any DC characters found in this story. I only own my OCs.
Central City
May 4, 2014
Mike flung the door open with gusto, taking a deep breath and preparing to shout at the top of his lungs.
"If the next words out of your mouth are 'May the fourth be with you,' beloved little brother or not, I will blast you through the wall." Melody growled from her bed, eyes clamped tightly shut and arms wrapped around her pillow.
Mike deflated like a balloon letting out air, shoulders slumping. Giving an awkward little nod he shuffled from the room, gently closing the door behind him. Sliding down the stairs to the club he flung open the employee only doors and locked eyes with the first person he saw.
"Jenna, May the Fourth be with you!" He shouted at the woman. Jenna grinned and shouted back, "Just for today boy, but beware, for tomorrow comes the Revenge of the Fifth!"
Laughing, Mike headed for the bar where Jenna was, hopping onto a stool and propping his chin on his hands, watching her wipe the sleek wooden counter.
"You didn't try that on your sister, did you?" Jenna checked. Mike sighed, looking up at her forlornly. "I did. She cut me off before I could even get the words out."
"Aw, poor baby." Jenna crooned, patting him on the head.
"I resent that." Mike pouted, "you're no longer my favorite."
"How will I ever survive." Jenna sighed wistfully, disappearing to the back room to stock the bar.
Spinning around on the stool, Mike surveyed the room picking out those who were there for business and those who were there for pleasure. For once in the last few hectic months, the ones for pleasure out numbered the ones for business. Making eye contact with those few, he nodded to let them know they had been seen and would be brought to audience soon. Just as soon as Melody could drag herself out of bed.
Melody rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. 'Captain's log,' she dryly thought. 'It's been five months since the mysterious disappearance of a one Leonard Snart. Local authorities have paid no mind to the man, and the locals seem unaware that the man is even gone. Today is the fourth of May, and I...' She sighed, pulling the covers up over her head.
"I miss you" She whispered into her pillow, terrified that someone might overhear her. There were very few times that she could admit to herself that she missed him. Mike knew, from the very way that she moved that she missed him. She would lean to her right in her office, expecting him to be there so she could whisper something in his ear. When a patron got too aggressive, Melody would hesitate before calling the bouncers to escort them out, because she knows if he were there he would deal with it before they could. The stream of criminals that made their way into her office were sharper, less respectful, more free with their remarks then they would be if Leonard Snart were lounging on a nearby couch, gun held loosely in his hand.
She missed his biting remarks, his cool demeanor, his god awful puns, the low soothing drawl of his voice. Him and Mike were the only constants in her life for the past six years and losing him felt like losing her right arm.
'Another day, another chance.' She reminded herself, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. Yawning, she reached across the bed, snagging her shades from the bedside table. Putting them on, she slipped out of bed and picked out her outfit for the day, plucking her wig from the boudoir on her way to the bathroom.
Emerging from the private staircase that led to the upstairs rooms, Melody cast a quick look around the floor, veiled eyes easily picking out the days petitioners. Catching sight of one in particular, she gestured the woman forward, frowning as she flinched while getting up.
"You wanted me, Miss Piper?" Sarah smoothed her skirt nervously, again flinching as her hand bumped her side.
Melody narrowed her eyes, ice filling her veins. Reaching out, she gently caught the other woman's arm, drawing it away from her body and turning it wrist up. Dark, finger shaped bruises covered by a thin layer of makeup met her eyes and Melody's face tightened.
"Michael." She called. Immediately he left his conversation across the room to stand at her side, her tone causing a thread of worry to sweep through the floor, all other conversations ceasing as everyone turned to watch. Sarah fidgeted, uncomfortable under the attention of the other patrons and the laser focus of Melody and Michael Piper.
"Sarah," Melody began, soft and quiet. "Who did this?"
"It was an accident, he doesn't know his strength-" Sarah started, but Mike cut her off.
"That's a bullshit excuse and you know it. We'll find out either way, Sarah, you know that too."
A chair scraped against the floor and Melody's head snapped to the side. "Sit back down, Mr Rend." She ordered the man whose face had gone white. "Please." She added when he hesitated.
For a moment the man looked like he was about to make a break for the door before Jace ever so casually rapped his knuckles on the bar top, drawing attention to his mammoth form and Janet's deadly expression. Choosing the only slightly safer option, the shaking man slowly sat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, if you all wouldn't mind clearing the floor for just a moment." Despite the phrasing, it wasn't a request, and within seconds the room was cleared as the other patrons fled to the other side of the building. Now only Janet, Jace, Melody, Michael, and Benjamin Rend remained.
Melody allowed the silence to stretch long enough for a slight sheen of sweat to shine on Rend's forehead before speaking.
"So, how long has this been going on? And keep in mind, Mr Rend," She added when he opened his mouth, "that if you lie to me, and I will know if you do, then you will find what's left of your life to be very unpleasant."
Rend's mouth snapped shut and he swallowed thickly.
"Sarah?" Melody gently prompted.
Sarah licked her lips, glancing over at Rend nervously.
"You're not telling him, you're telling me. He can't hurt you, Sarah." Melody gently chided.
Taking a deep breath, Sarah met the other woman's eyes. "About three months. He started beating on some of the girls until I distracted him. Then he only hit me."
Janet growled and Rend looked moments from fainting at the sound.
Melody took a long breath, eyes closing as she thought. All eyes were on her and she almost smirked as Rend's heart beat faster. Opening her eyes, she pinned the man under a brutal glare, eyes flaring gold for the briefest second.
"Thank you, Sarah, for your honesty. Please extend my apologies to your girls for not putting a stop to it sooner. In fact, Janet, why don't you go with Sarah and let the girls know that they have the next week off, paid vacation."
"Sure thing, boss." Janet agreed, walking to the shorter woman's side and drawing her away with a gentle arm around her shoulders.
Now, just the siblings, Rend, and Jace remained. Melody sighed and walked over to her 'throne' at the corner of the room, crossing her legs and propping her chin on her hand, regarding Rend through narrowed eyes.
"Now, what shall we do about you, hm?" She posed, a single manicured eyebrow raising.
Rend hit the floor on his knees, tears falling down his face. "Please, please, Miss Piper, don't kill me. I'll never do it again, I promise."
In unison the siblings sighed and Jace rumbled disapprovingly.
"Always with the begging." Mike tutted, leaning against the 'throne' and smirking down at his sister.
Melody smiled grimly, started to lean to her right, then caught herself before it was obvious.
"Yes," She murmured, expression tightening. "Rather irritating really."
"Please," Rend continued blubbering, "I have a-"
"Wife and kids?" Melody sharply cut him off. "Perhaps you should have thought of that before you raised a hand to the dancers. You know the rules, Mr Rend, they're posted in big red letters all over the place. Or are you suggesting you can't read?"
A hint of indignation flashed in the man's eyes. It promptly vanished when Mel's lips pulled back in a sneer.
"Every customer must obey the rules. Otherwise it would be a brothel, not a strip club." Leaning forward, she asked him, "Do I look like I run a brothel to you?"
"Bitch!" He spat, lunging forward. He didn't make it a foot as Jace moved faster than the wind, wrapping a single hand around Rend's throat.
"I'll take that as a no." Mel commented, nonplussed.
"So, I guess I should be thanking you?"
Melody grinned outright at the man. "If you like. I hold no expectations on the matter."
With a tired sigh, Joe ran a hand over his scruff, watching as two officers led Rend past in handcuffs.
"Did you have to rough him up so much?" He pointed out, giving Melody a look.
Melody's eyes went wide and she placed a hand on her chest. "I would never, detective. Jace simply got a bit carried away, that's all. In his defense, Rend did try to attack me. What was Jace to do but his job?"
Joe scoffed, but let the matter go. No one ever won in a verbal debate with the Pipers, he doubted he was going to now.
"Thank you, Miss Piper."
"Just holding up my end of the bargain, Detective West."
A clasp of hands and the detective was gone. The second the squad car turned the corner Melody's smile flattened and she glanced down at her hands.
"No, detective, thank you." She muttered, studying the ID card she had swiped from his belt.
About to turn around to go back inside, she paused as her phone dinged. Pulling the device out, she frowned at the number before scanning the text.
"Damn it, Leslie."
Sorry for the longer then expected update. Went to a family reunion to a place without Wi-Fi, then had to work the next week, so it's been a bit hectic. A special thanks to UzuRunner for being the first review. I almost cried, not gonna lie. Definitely encouraged me to get this chapter out.
See you all next time!