Jack sighed as he showed up for work. Bunny was there and they were just waiting on Sandy to show up. It seems that some of Pitch's gang had been seen in the area. And no one stepped in on Manny's turf without some repercussions. They had to bust some heads. Thankfully, Jack's neighbor Aerith had been available to watch his siblings. She was a nice woman who owned a flower shop. Occasionally, she would give them flowers.

"So... about that bet?" Bunny asked.

Jack scowled. He forgot he had a bet about sleeping with Aqua. He enjoyed being around her and after the night they spent dancing, he was starting to hope she felt that way too. She had said so herself, that she at least wanted to try being together, which was enough to give him hope. He had thought about letting her go entirely because of her disinterest in him. Though, he hadn't given her a good reason to trust him.

Despite the heated dances and the kiss, the rest of their night passed in chaste conversation. Aqua let him walk her up to her apartment. Another kiss was shared outside of the door. He knew that he was a bit dizzy after the kisses. By the look on her face, he knew she was too, but he had let her go so that they didn't let themselves get carried away. Especially since they had giggle water in their system.

"Shut up Rabbit."

Bunny raised a brow. It wasn't like Jack to tell him off. The two of them might argue but they were as thick as thieves. Bunny, though he would never say it aloud, considered Jack to be like his best friend. So to see him annoyed and frustrated because of some dame, upset him. Though, he knew better than to intervene. He didn't have the best of luck with fickle dames like this nurse appeared to be.

"Listen, Jackie, ya like the doll, right? Ever hear o' tha expression 'more flies with honey'?"

"More flies with honey than vinegar. Yeah, yeah, everybody across the river's heard that."

Bunny raised an eyebrow. Jack wasn't fighting back against anything. If anything, he seemed distracted. Clearly, he wanted to be anywhere else but work. Bunny had to wonder if that was with Aqua. Jack had been spending an awful lot of time with her. But he was right, Jack had Aqua on his mind. Her shy smile when she had been kissed. The way she had swayed a little when they walked off the dance floor. He hoped it wasn't just a promise induced by the drink and that she truly wanted to be around him.

"If this is 'bout more than just tha bet, then be kind ta her. If not, sleep with 'er and be done with it."

"I think things might be gettin' serious, Bunny,'' Jack confessed, "But I'm just making this up as I go. I don't know what I'm doin'."

Jack looked at Bunny. Though he would never say it, he trusted his opinions on such matters. Bunny was the older of the two of them. He had been around longer and had certainly seen more than Jack. Despite his facade of immaturity, Jack had a lot on his shoulders with the raising of his younger siblings and managing an illegal business. All the same, he too should be able to enjoy happiness, no matter how fleeting.

"Small things, Jack. Flowers? Chocolates? A note? Ain't ya ever courted a dame?"

"Courtin' is different than seducin', Bunny, so no."

The thought of getting Aqua into bed simply didn't compute. That wasn't something she would give up to just anyone. Most of their conversations thus far had been on how evil and wicked she thought him, but she had started to smile a little more. The information she did give him about herself was as if she were testing the waters with what she could or could not trust him with. Certainly, she had made him earn every little iota of gleamings about her.

"Seducin' is easy. Enough giggle water an' she's easy pickin'."

"She's a dame with brains. She won't stand for it."

There would be no faster way of chasing her out of his life than to try to get her drunk and take advantage of her. Jack himself would never allow himself to do such a thing. He knew for a fact Bunny hadn't either. Plenty of dames had said yes to Bunny's advances because he was handsome. And Jack was no stranger to bedmates, but they were just that. Aqua made Jack want more than just one night.

Bunny couldn't help but snort. Something had to be wrong with the chick if she thought sticking around Jack was a good idea. Yes, he was charming and all around a goodhearted guy, though Bunny would never say so, but it didn't change the fact he was a criminal. Jack was in far too deep to pull out of the game now. Especially with Manny calling the shots the way he did.

"So ya say. But she can't be that smart if she keeps hanging around ya."

Bunny held up his hands in mock surrender when a particularly scathing look was shot his way. He wasn't exactly shaking in his boots. He worked with Jack. He had seen what he was and was not capable of. He might have had a last name for ice, but when it came to those that he liked, he was like one of those soft serve ice creams.

"I promised no mob talk. Can't havin' her lookin' every which way for who has a gun and who don't."

Bunny couldn't help but laugh. What was there for Jack to talk about if not for work? He had no hobbies. He had no friends. He had money, but it was 'dirty' money that was obtained through corrupt ways. Some girls dug that sort of 'danger' in a partner but didn't keep their attention long. Sure, Jack had his siblings, but what dame wanted to talk to a fellow saddled with children even if they weren't his own? No one wanted to deal that that sort of drama.

"Yer kiddin' right? This dame has ya twisted 'round her finger!"

"Have to make up for scarin' her."

Bunny shook his head. The girl had a bigger effect on Jack than he realized. Especially if he was trying to clean up his act. Jack had never cared if the girls he slept with were afraid of him. Most of them only did it out of the thrill of defying their fathers. Or taking a 'walk on the wild side' without actually doing anything remotely dangerous. Sleeping with a guy like Jack or Bunny was a novelty thing.

"Yer goin' soft, Frost."

"Just call me soft serve then."

"Whipped more like. Ya aren't even sleepin' with 'er!"

Once again, Bunny was left snickering. Even Jack admitted that the girl was making him a lot less sharp than he used to be. Heat spread across Jack's face. With his fair complexion, it was easy to see he was getting flustered. Bunny immediately knew that he was right. Jack hadn't slept with her and this was a lot more serious than a 'venture' into something new and different.

"What? I can't respect a woman?"

The laugh that left Bunny was nothing short of spiteful. They were criminals. Respect wasn't something they asked for. It was something they demanded. People either respected them, or they met untimely ends in dark alleys. The nurse, from Bunny's experience, hadn't exactly been very respectful towards her betters. Jack included in that count. It took Manny going to the hospital himself to make her remember just how powerful the Guardians were. And just where she sat on the food chain.

"Respect and our line o' work don't go hand in hand."

"Doesn't mean I can't try.""

"Good luck."

Though Bunny's response was sarcastic, he really did want Jack to be happy. If that was with a goodie-goodie nurse, then so be it. The kid was like a younger brother to him, after all. He certainly didn't understand Jack's infatuation with the nurse. He wasn't about to question it. He had a feeling he would need to drink afterwards if he did ask.

"What's North and Sandy gotta say 'bout this?"

"North is the one who started this whole mess," Jack replied.

Bunny raised a brow. And apparently things were a lot more than he thought. He reached for the drink he knew he would need. Normally, he wanted to be sober for the jobs they pulled but Bunny didn't do emotional stuff. Everyone of the Guardians knew it, and yet, they came to him to vent. There was about to be a lot of talk of feelings. He would need some liquid assistance to help him through it.

"So she's a 'mess'?" Bunny inquired with a smirk.

"Not like that!"

Bunny shook his head. Jack must have lost some marbles the day he got shot because he was talking all sorts of nonsense. Then again, Bunny didn't do long term relationships. He knew that in his line of work, he was likely to die young. The last thing he wanted was to leave someone behind to deal with the fallout of his poor life choices. Besides, pinning himself down to one person was boring!

"I'd have cut my losses. No dame is worth that."

Only Jack didn't look at him. He gave a wistful glance to the hideout door, as if his dame would walk in at any minute. Naturally, she wouldn't because she didn't know where their hideout was. Nor would she if Manny had his way. He liked to keep the hideouts air tight to prevent any spies from making their way inside. Though, if she kept patching up the Guardians, then perhaps with time, she would learn. If only she hadn't complained so much about it.

"She said she wants to try… us," Jack said.

"Ya just met tha broad!"

If that wasn't confirmation that Jack was head over heels hopeless for her, Bunny didn't know what was. Jack was ready to commit to the long game! Sure, no ring had been mentioned, but for one of the Guardians to settle down with one person for any extended period of time was a huge step. The Guardians tended to either have lots of one night stands or no partners at all.

"We're taking things slowly!" Jack protested.

"So ya keep sayin'!"

"I want to do right on her terms."

"Ya can't have yer cake and eat it too."