Notes: WARNING! Slashy yaoi homosexual content stuffs here! That and demon
+ woman things. If it offends you, go away. It's not my fault if you read
it and get grossed out. That and strong language. This has words only for
the people who are not offended by mere sounds.
Sorry about any big words: I just took a vocabulary test in English.
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"Don't look at me like that! Now get going or you'll be late to school." Jackie said, tired of Jade's arguments. "But Jackie! Viper's my friend! If she's in trouble I want to help!" the girl was lobbying to adventure with Jackie yet again. Unfortunately for her, it was a Wednesday: a school day.
"Jade, every time you help things get worse."
"Nuh uh!! That is SO not true!"
"Never the less, it is time for you to go to school. Do I have to drag you there my self?"
Jade was poised to resist once again, but a stern look warned her off it. "No." She said, pouty. "Good girl." Jackie handed her her backpack and scooted her towards the door. "Have a nice day, Jade.
Jackie frowned as he watched her walk out the door and down the street, face full of dejection. She WAS a good girl; she never skipped school unless she was accidentally thrown into a portal that led to the seventies. And that didn't happen too often. She would have a good day at school: forget all about what was going on. Everything would be fine when she came home. Hopefully. If Viper had not already suffered the bruit force of Shendu's violent nature. And if he himself could avoid it.
And his daily schedule? Him? Why, he had a job to do. Play rescue hero. He'd have no help from Section 13; Black's hands were tied. Using the resources of Section 13 to pursue a case they were taken off of could have Black fired on the spot. And the police? How many police would show up to save a damsel in distress from a dragon? They'd think he was mad. The Paris police already thought that, of course, but at least he had some credibility in San Francisco. No, no, he'd have to ameliorate THIS problem himself.
Jackie glanced about the room, looking for something to idelly waste his time with. Uncle went to buy more chi spell ingredients, so he could delay himself some time if he wanted. A knock came at the door: It was locked. When he opened it, Captain Black stood there.
"Oh, hello Captain Black."
"Hi, Jackie. Thought I might find you here. I was, er, just in the neighborhood. "
"In China Town, Gus?"
"Ah, right. I….. had a craving for lo mien."
Jackie raised an eyebrow. Something was up. Black was acting weird. The awkward speech, the unease in his eyes, the early morning Chinese food cravings: what was going on?
"So, um, how's it going?"
"Okay." Jackie lied. He thought it'd be better not to bother his friend with worries. "You?"
"Ah, super. Super. Yes."
There was an awkward silence.
"Want to come in?"
"Oh yeah, sure. Thanks."
The Asian man regarded the bald one with excessive suspicion. He had known Agustus Black for many years, and he had never seen Agustus Black uneasy like this. He was playful and energetic. When he had work to do, he was responsible and got down to business. He always kept his cool. Who was this man who had come to the door.
"Uh, tea?" Jackie offered, unsure of what else to do.
"Yes, that'd be nice."
Jackie prepared tea and the two small talked a little…..
"Yes, but once she quit the scouts the cookie crumbs were at a minimum."
"Heh heh. This is good, what kind of tea is it?"
"Oolong."
"Jackie I know I sound like a teenage girl here but I have a major crush on you."
Jackie almost choked on his tea and did a spit take. He coughed a couple times. Black was right: he did sound like a teenage girl.
"Jackie, are you okay??" Black asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm sorry."
Jackie cleared his throat. "Uhhh, Gus….. I kinda already knew."
"You KNEW?"
He nodded, "Yeah….. all of Section 13 knows by now."
Black put his head in his hands, "Ah, gahd. So, uh. What do you think?"
Jackie paused. What DID he think? A week ago he may have actually taken Black up on any offer, having lost hope on Valmont. But he didn't want anyone other than the white haired man. Not Viper, not Black, not anyone. And now he had some hope of seeing the man again. Had the hope of being with him once more. He couldn't just toss Valmont out the window for whoever else came along. He could never be happy with that.
Captain Black was his best friend. He would never be any more.
"Gus. You're a great guy 'n all….."
"Hoooooo boy! I've made an idiot of myself. No need to say anything, I'll just get out of here."
"Gus, don't! Let me explain!"
"Thank you for the tea, Jackie."
Jackie watched helplessly as Agustus Black closed the door behind him.
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"What happened to you?!?" Ratso said, astonished to see Finn return with a fresh shiner. "You should see the other guy." Finn replied, handing off a takeout bag to the other enforcer. Chow followed him in, "Finn kicked some serious ass!" "What?" "Some asshole in the restaurant. Mopped the floor with the punk." Finn laughed. "What about you? That one dude's nose is in about a million pieces! He'll be too scared to take a crap for a week!" The two slapped eachother a high five.
"A fist-fight in Moose-Burger??" Ratso said, looking at the happy moose on the side of his bag. "Err, kinda. Not like we beat up any kids." Finn said. "Oh yeah, there's one thing: we're not allowed in Moose-Burger anymore." Ratso laughed.
"Hey, anyone volunteer to take this to Shendu?" Chow said, holding up another white and blue bag. The other two backed off, "Whoa ho, not me." Finn said, waving his hands in front of him. Chow offered the bag to Ratso who immediately began shaking his head vigorously. "No no no! I handed Shendu a burger LAST time and nearly got my butt burnt off when there wasn't 'adequate pickles!'" "So what? Give him the pickle's off yours."
Finn grabbed the bag, "God. I'll take it to his Royal Highness." He picked up the last one for Valmont. They got him something, although the man said he wanted nothing. It was just in case he changed his mind.
Chow waited until Finn left to turn to Ratso. "So." He said, thoughtfully sipping on what was left of his drink, "How's it going with you-know-who?"
"Who?"
"Y'know, what we were talking about the other day."
"Oh, that."
Ratso paused. He couldn't say anything. Could he? It couldn't hurt just to….. no, absolutely not! He'd have to come up with SOMETHING to say.
"Hmm? C'mon, spill it."
"Oh, ah. Nothing TO spill. Really."
"Nothing?"
"We haven't talked that much in two days, okay?"
"That bad?"
"I uh, oh nevermind."
Ratso, frustrated, got up and left the room, leaving his food behind. Chow thought about calling after him, but decided against it.
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Jackie looked across the street at the old abandoned building built by the bay. 'Heln's Fish Cannery' it said on the old, dilapidated sign. So that's what it was called. He hadn't the chance to see the night before, if the dark would have permitted him anyway. He shuffled uneasily and looked across the reflecting waters. In the distance he could se the famous red bridge. With a sigh, he willed himself forward. It was now or never.
He wasn't armed with any sort of gun or other weapon. He didn't believe in such violent tools. What he did carry with him was his own two fists, two powerful legs, fast reflexes and what little nervous wits and courage he could muster. They didn't seem like much, but he trusted them. They had gotten him out of hard scrapes before. It was time they were tested once again.
The immediate area around the old cannery was covered in large wooden crates. They didn't look too old, but must have been just as abandoned as the building was before it's new residents moved in. He used them to block himself from view, incase anyone was standing on guard. He searched for any hidden attackers, but found none. Cautiously, he made for the nearest door: a janitor's entrance next to where the trash must have been so many years ago.
He came through the door quickly and hid behind the first thing he found. It was a large wooden desk, ancient, antique. A survey of the room revealed no one, so he crept out and closed the door behind him. It closed quicker and harder than he expected, and a bang resonated through the building. Jackie gritted his teeth. Hopefully it had gone unnoticed.
He left the small room and entered a hallway. It was small and had a few offices built in, as well as men and women's bathrooms. The walls were dirty and wallpaper peeling. It was one of the few places in the cannery that had wallpaper at all.
Jackie jumped at the sound of a car outside. He looked out a window facing west and saw the white car drive up and hide itself in one of the supply garages. Quickly and stealthily he went down the hall to see who would come in. A useful sign on the wall pointed the way and also warned him of the risks of mercury poisons and told him how to do a proper heimlich maneuver.
Around the corner he heard voices. Happy, celebratory voices. He couldn't quite tell but they sounded like the red head, Finn was it, and Chow, the short one who always wore the shades. Sure enough, a peek revealed to him the two suspected enforcers. They were carrying some sort of bags and laughing. One had a nasty black eye coming in though he didn't seem to care. They were talking about beating someone up in a restaurant. The hooligans.
Jackie followed them down the hall, hiding in doorways and niches whenever he could. They ended up somewhere on the second floor, where a third voice showed up. They laughed and talked a minute before one of them left again. Jackie slid behind an open door and peered out. Finn. "Hope Shendude's in a good mood….." the man muttered to himself.
Shendu. Finn was going to Shendu. And where you find Shendu, you find the dragon's unwilling prisoners. Instilled with this impeccable logic, he left the doorway and tailed the red head once again. His hand rest on a corner for a second and when he pulled it back, it had a sticky red substance on it. He sniffed it. Lipstick.
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Viper yawned and groaned, her waking baleful in nature. She had slept all night leaning against the unattractive and anomalous dresser, and her back had an awful crick in it. She rolled over and opened her eyes. Through the blurry appurtenances she could make out that she was still in the study. A golden form was standing at a high window, gazing out blankly.
"Murmrrmff?" She said, incoherently. The person across the room turned around. "Ah, you are awakened. It was starting to become quiet around here." Shendu came over to her, and to Viper's surprise, undid the rope about her wrists. She rubbed the afflicted area and stared up at him. "I assume you must require a bathroom most fervently by now." He said. Viper could do nothing with her sleep-foggy brain but nod and get up.
The bathroom was very small, and quite obviously wasn't originally built with its shower. Yet, it was a bathroom. Viper didn't realize how much she missed it. She had to go terribly bad, and it was a relief to have the toilet. She looked at her image in the mirror. Her hair was all about the place and her face was still covered in sleep. She was in serious need for a shower.
A test revealed that the shower was working, even if the pressure was atrociously off-and-on. Viper tugged off her clothes and was surprised to find the stick of lipstick in a front pocket of her jeans. She also found a dollar, but was more thankful for the makeup.
The water was cold, but she didn't mind. It helped wake her up. She ran her hair under the stream and wished for shampoo. In the cabinet she found towels, and used one to dry her soaked hair to just moist. After using her fingers like a makeshift brush, she put on the lipstick. Standing back to look at herself, she realized she wasn't exactly at her best, but who could expect that?
When Viper emerged from the bathroom and returned to the study, Finn was just leaving. He nodded and winked at her. 'Creep.' She thought. She noticed a black eye. 'Looks like he'd been in a fight recently.' Shendu was there waiting for her with food. "Something from a restaurant. I personally don't enjoy the stuff." He said dismissivly, then tossed a bag in her direction. In large red letters, the words 'Moose Burger' were written on the side, along with a picture of a smiling cartoon moose. Inside she found a double moose burger, a large fries and lots of packs of ketchup. She didn't notice the gnawing pain in her stomach until just then.
She devoured the whole bag of food ravenously, completing her reparation to her body. All the while Shendu watched her with interest and concern. Once he commented on her eating, "You're going to choke on that. Food does no good to the dead." Of course, it didn't slow her down, and the bag was soon emptied. Her hunger eased, Viper collapsed onto the nearest chair. "Thaaats better."
Shendu eyed her. "I still don't trust this little caprice of yours. SUPPOSED caprice." He said. Viper laughed. "I know you don't. You'll have to get over that bit, babe." The dragon snorted smoke at being referred to as 'Babe,' but spared her his inflammable breath. "Watch yourself, little one," He said, trying to be calm about it, "You tread on the thinnest of ice." "Sure."
They sat in silence, Viper digesting peacefully and Shendu quietly watching her. When he said he didn't enjoy the fast food, he wasn't lying. He despised all the foods the humans offered to him. The disgusting dismembered vegetables and cooked meats repelled his demonic pallet. If he could only have his favorite….. thoughts of green slimy things went though his head and his eyes glazed over in delight.
Shendu snapped back to reality when Viper ran her hands through her hair, lifting and letting it all fall back down. His abnegative nature towards the woman subsided in his mind momentarily while he admired her still wet locks falling over her shoulders in cascades. He was starting to take a liking to hair. It really could be just as lovely as scales could be, especially the deep black color Viper wore so well. Black was easily Shendu's favorite color. Red was good too. Blood red. Like her lips. Shendu thoughtfully cocked his head, making himself look like a very pointy puppy.
"Shendu, you're staring at me again." Shendu blinked. Had he? "Apologies." "Apologies?" Viper sat up and looked at him. "YOU? YOU'RE apologetic? When did you come down off your high and mighty chair enough to say 'apologies' to anyone?" Shendu's mouth moved to say something, but nothing came out. His wit and charisma seemed to have just walked out the door and done a head dive of the dock.
Viper smiled. "That's okay. Go ahead and stare."
Suddenly, the door burst open and a handsome Asian man came plowing though. Both woman and demon jumped up and looked at the door, surprised royally. In the hallway, what was left of Finn lay unconscious and bruised. "Chan!!" Shendu roared. Anger was rising at the presence of his nemesis. A growl grew in his throat.
"Viper!" Jackie said. Then, "Viper?" He looked confused at the woman. She wasn't restrained in anyway. She had been just sitting there across from the demon! Conflicting information played with Jackie's mind. "I've come to take her back!" He announced: the only thing he was sure of at the moment. Viper, wide eyed, shook her head, "Jackie, I-" She was cut off by the dragonic form's second roar. "I will not allow that! And, Chan, I will enjoy crushing you!"
The enraged dragon charged Chan, who was caught off guard. He swiped at the smaller creature's throat, but missed as Jackie regained his senses. The two exchanged blows, Shendu on the offence. Viper looked back and forth between the two, horrified. She didn't know who to root for. Her newest object of affection was intent on killing a friend of hers while her friend was intent on the destruction of her newest object of affection. Most certainly, if they were not stopped, one would kill the other. And Jackie seemed to be loosing.
Chan cried out as sharp talons dragged across his skin, leaving three long, bloody lacerations on his chest. Shendu took the opportunity to laugh before whipping his tail around to trip the man's legs out from under him. "Stop!!" Viper begged of them, distraught with the violent battle, unable to halt the impetus force that kept the two locked, tooth and claw. Unable to think of anything else, she threw herself in between the two dueling bodies.
Both Chan and Shendu, surprised by the action, tried to stop short their attacks on eachother, finding someone whom they both cared for in harm's way. Jackie jerked back, knocked off balance, and stumbled. Shendu did not deflect his claws in time to prevent one from raking her shoulder. The injury shot pain up her arm, at which she yelled.
"Ahh!" The two males cried in unison. "You hurt her!" "Damn it, Chan, I can SEE that!" "Both of you SHUT UP!" Viper said, her voice something to be reckoned with. The others fell silent. The woman stood, glaring at them like they were rivaling children, and she, the athoritive mother. She turned to Chan. "Jackie, I'm not going with you." Then to Shendu. She was quiet for a second before slapping him.
Jackie's eyes were wide when he was taken aback at what she said, but became considerably wider just then. She SLAPPED Shendu!!! Was there no clearer nor more effective death wish?!?! And, yet, the demon hadn't attacked her. He stood as dumbfounded as Jackie, but made no move towards her untimely death. Instead, he put a great, taloned hand on his cheek as if he wasn't sure it had happened at all.
Viper was still glaring at the dragon, "Don't you think it's SLIGHTLY ungentlemanly to murder a lady's friend in her presence??" She said, slightly sardonic and very patronizing. She then turned back to Jackie and pointed at the door. "Baby face, if you don't want your liver to be ten feet from your intestines, I suggest you stop trying to fight a seven foot dragon and get the hell out of here!!!" He quickly reflected on the choice of fighting the demon. Now that she said it, it did sound insanely stupid.
A confused Jackie tried to protest, "But you-" "I'm not going. You are! NOW!" Finally, he obeyed her and ran, leaving the woman behind. "CHAN!" Shendu roared, his voice cracking. He turned to make hasty pursuit, but paused to look back at Viper. Weighing his options, he opted to follow Chan. Viper growled to herself and went after.
Jackie twisted down the corridors with ease, while the bulk of Shendu, devoted to the thought of his death, took pursuit far behind. Deciding now was the time for evasive maneuvers, Jackie rounded a corner and dived into the nearest room. Fumbling, he found a lock on the knob and secured it. Breathing heavily, he heard the demon outside, running right past the room. Jackie breathed a sigh of relief.
A dragged foot behind him caught his attention and he froze. He was not in the room alone. "J-Jackie?" The Asian man turned quickly. Valmont stood on the other end of the room. "CHRIS! Oh, God, it's you!!!" Jackie launched himself into the taller man's arms, grabbing him hard. Valmont smiled, remembering something similar from the dreamscape.
Slowly, Jackie released his grip. He looked at his lover in speech pleasure. Valmont seized the moment and grabbed Jackie up into a passionate kiss, alleviating himself of the hunger that gripped at him for so long. They tested eachother's endurance, both refusing to let go of the beautiful pleasure of the reunion. Valmont was the one who finally had to break the kiss, doing so brusquely. He then leaned forward to whisper into Jackie's ear. "I missed you." Jackie squeezed him slightly. "I missed you too." Valmont grinned. "You know I love you."
Jackie grinned back in a playful sort of way. "You know, I love you back." He said, kissing Valmont lightly on the cheek. "But, now is a kind of bad time to get reacquainted." "Shendu?" "Yes." Valmont smiled. "Then, by all means, lets leave this accursed place."
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Notes: Sure, he has credibility with the San Fran police NOW. This story is set before the Mecutchen episode! "Uncle, I think this bathtub has spiders in it!" Oh, but he did get arrested in New York that time! For a good guy, Jackie has been in jail a lot. He relies on Cappy B's string pulling abilities too much. Poor Cappy B :( Haha, I love calling him that!
Ah gahd, I was just thinking about how much I like Valmont! That's all. I updated my page again, minorly. There's a picture of ME on it now! In my JCA sweater, no less! I tried to translate the Chinese on it and it turns out one of the characters is 'dragon.' What the hell's that got to do with JCA? Sure, there's a dragon antagonist, but he's not in every episode and therefore cannot be referred to in the title. I wonder what the other one is.
I'm sorry about all my big words. They just worked so well and made me look smart. This may be helpful incase you ran across anything you didn't know:
Ameliorate---- fix, solve, rectify
Baleful---- unpleasant, regretfully done
Anomalous---- straying from the average
Appurtenances---- appendage, accessory, part of the whole, a tool
Reparation---- rectification, fixing
Abnegation---- Self-denial
Caprice---- sudden, impulsive or unpredictable change of mind
Sorry about any big words: I just took a vocabulary test in English.
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"Don't look at me like that! Now get going or you'll be late to school." Jackie said, tired of Jade's arguments. "But Jackie! Viper's my friend! If she's in trouble I want to help!" the girl was lobbying to adventure with Jackie yet again. Unfortunately for her, it was a Wednesday: a school day.
"Jade, every time you help things get worse."
"Nuh uh!! That is SO not true!"
"Never the less, it is time for you to go to school. Do I have to drag you there my self?"
Jade was poised to resist once again, but a stern look warned her off it. "No." She said, pouty. "Good girl." Jackie handed her her backpack and scooted her towards the door. "Have a nice day, Jade.
Jackie frowned as he watched her walk out the door and down the street, face full of dejection. She WAS a good girl; she never skipped school unless she was accidentally thrown into a portal that led to the seventies. And that didn't happen too often. She would have a good day at school: forget all about what was going on. Everything would be fine when she came home. Hopefully. If Viper had not already suffered the bruit force of Shendu's violent nature. And if he himself could avoid it.
And his daily schedule? Him? Why, he had a job to do. Play rescue hero. He'd have no help from Section 13; Black's hands were tied. Using the resources of Section 13 to pursue a case they were taken off of could have Black fired on the spot. And the police? How many police would show up to save a damsel in distress from a dragon? They'd think he was mad. The Paris police already thought that, of course, but at least he had some credibility in San Francisco. No, no, he'd have to ameliorate THIS problem himself.
Jackie glanced about the room, looking for something to idelly waste his time with. Uncle went to buy more chi spell ingredients, so he could delay himself some time if he wanted. A knock came at the door: It was locked. When he opened it, Captain Black stood there.
"Oh, hello Captain Black."
"Hi, Jackie. Thought I might find you here. I was, er, just in the neighborhood. "
"In China Town, Gus?"
"Ah, right. I….. had a craving for lo mien."
Jackie raised an eyebrow. Something was up. Black was acting weird. The awkward speech, the unease in his eyes, the early morning Chinese food cravings: what was going on?
"So, um, how's it going?"
"Okay." Jackie lied. He thought it'd be better not to bother his friend with worries. "You?"
"Ah, super. Super. Yes."
There was an awkward silence.
"Want to come in?"
"Oh yeah, sure. Thanks."
The Asian man regarded the bald one with excessive suspicion. He had known Agustus Black for many years, and he had never seen Agustus Black uneasy like this. He was playful and energetic. When he had work to do, he was responsible and got down to business. He always kept his cool. Who was this man who had come to the door.
"Uh, tea?" Jackie offered, unsure of what else to do.
"Yes, that'd be nice."
Jackie prepared tea and the two small talked a little…..
"Yes, but once she quit the scouts the cookie crumbs were at a minimum."
"Heh heh. This is good, what kind of tea is it?"
"Oolong."
"Jackie I know I sound like a teenage girl here but I have a major crush on you."
Jackie almost choked on his tea and did a spit take. He coughed a couple times. Black was right: he did sound like a teenage girl.
"Jackie, are you okay??" Black asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm sorry."
Jackie cleared his throat. "Uhhh, Gus….. I kinda already knew."
"You KNEW?"
He nodded, "Yeah….. all of Section 13 knows by now."
Black put his head in his hands, "Ah, gahd. So, uh. What do you think?"
Jackie paused. What DID he think? A week ago he may have actually taken Black up on any offer, having lost hope on Valmont. But he didn't want anyone other than the white haired man. Not Viper, not Black, not anyone. And now he had some hope of seeing the man again. Had the hope of being with him once more. He couldn't just toss Valmont out the window for whoever else came along. He could never be happy with that.
Captain Black was his best friend. He would never be any more.
"Gus. You're a great guy 'n all….."
"Hoooooo boy! I've made an idiot of myself. No need to say anything, I'll just get out of here."
"Gus, don't! Let me explain!"
"Thank you for the tea, Jackie."
Jackie watched helplessly as Agustus Black closed the door behind him.
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"What happened to you?!?" Ratso said, astonished to see Finn return with a fresh shiner. "You should see the other guy." Finn replied, handing off a takeout bag to the other enforcer. Chow followed him in, "Finn kicked some serious ass!" "What?" "Some asshole in the restaurant. Mopped the floor with the punk." Finn laughed. "What about you? That one dude's nose is in about a million pieces! He'll be too scared to take a crap for a week!" The two slapped eachother a high five.
"A fist-fight in Moose-Burger??" Ratso said, looking at the happy moose on the side of his bag. "Err, kinda. Not like we beat up any kids." Finn said. "Oh yeah, there's one thing: we're not allowed in Moose-Burger anymore." Ratso laughed.
"Hey, anyone volunteer to take this to Shendu?" Chow said, holding up another white and blue bag. The other two backed off, "Whoa ho, not me." Finn said, waving his hands in front of him. Chow offered the bag to Ratso who immediately began shaking his head vigorously. "No no no! I handed Shendu a burger LAST time and nearly got my butt burnt off when there wasn't 'adequate pickles!'" "So what? Give him the pickle's off yours."
Finn grabbed the bag, "God. I'll take it to his Royal Highness." He picked up the last one for Valmont. They got him something, although the man said he wanted nothing. It was just in case he changed his mind.
Chow waited until Finn left to turn to Ratso. "So." He said, thoughtfully sipping on what was left of his drink, "How's it going with you-know-who?"
"Who?"
"Y'know, what we were talking about the other day."
"Oh, that."
Ratso paused. He couldn't say anything. Could he? It couldn't hurt just to….. no, absolutely not! He'd have to come up with SOMETHING to say.
"Hmm? C'mon, spill it."
"Oh, ah. Nothing TO spill. Really."
"Nothing?"
"We haven't talked that much in two days, okay?"
"That bad?"
"I uh, oh nevermind."
Ratso, frustrated, got up and left the room, leaving his food behind. Chow thought about calling after him, but decided against it.
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Jackie looked across the street at the old abandoned building built by the bay. 'Heln's Fish Cannery' it said on the old, dilapidated sign. So that's what it was called. He hadn't the chance to see the night before, if the dark would have permitted him anyway. He shuffled uneasily and looked across the reflecting waters. In the distance he could se the famous red bridge. With a sigh, he willed himself forward. It was now or never.
He wasn't armed with any sort of gun or other weapon. He didn't believe in such violent tools. What he did carry with him was his own two fists, two powerful legs, fast reflexes and what little nervous wits and courage he could muster. They didn't seem like much, but he trusted them. They had gotten him out of hard scrapes before. It was time they were tested once again.
The immediate area around the old cannery was covered in large wooden crates. They didn't look too old, but must have been just as abandoned as the building was before it's new residents moved in. He used them to block himself from view, incase anyone was standing on guard. He searched for any hidden attackers, but found none. Cautiously, he made for the nearest door: a janitor's entrance next to where the trash must have been so many years ago.
He came through the door quickly and hid behind the first thing he found. It was a large wooden desk, ancient, antique. A survey of the room revealed no one, so he crept out and closed the door behind him. It closed quicker and harder than he expected, and a bang resonated through the building. Jackie gritted his teeth. Hopefully it had gone unnoticed.
He left the small room and entered a hallway. It was small and had a few offices built in, as well as men and women's bathrooms. The walls were dirty and wallpaper peeling. It was one of the few places in the cannery that had wallpaper at all.
Jackie jumped at the sound of a car outside. He looked out a window facing west and saw the white car drive up and hide itself in one of the supply garages. Quickly and stealthily he went down the hall to see who would come in. A useful sign on the wall pointed the way and also warned him of the risks of mercury poisons and told him how to do a proper heimlich maneuver.
Around the corner he heard voices. Happy, celebratory voices. He couldn't quite tell but they sounded like the red head, Finn was it, and Chow, the short one who always wore the shades. Sure enough, a peek revealed to him the two suspected enforcers. They were carrying some sort of bags and laughing. One had a nasty black eye coming in though he didn't seem to care. They were talking about beating someone up in a restaurant. The hooligans.
Jackie followed them down the hall, hiding in doorways and niches whenever he could. They ended up somewhere on the second floor, where a third voice showed up. They laughed and talked a minute before one of them left again. Jackie slid behind an open door and peered out. Finn. "Hope Shendude's in a good mood….." the man muttered to himself.
Shendu. Finn was going to Shendu. And where you find Shendu, you find the dragon's unwilling prisoners. Instilled with this impeccable logic, he left the doorway and tailed the red head once again. His hand rest on a corner for a second and when he pulled it back, it had a sticky red substance on it. He sniffed it. Lipstick.
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Viper yawned and groaned, her waking baleful in nature. She had slept all night leaning against the unattractive and anomalous dresser, and her back had an awful crick in it. She rolled over and opened her eyes. Through the blurry appurtenances she could make out that she was still in the study. A golden form was standing at a high window, gazing out blankly.
"Murmrrmff?" She said, incoherently. The person across the room turned around. "Ah, you are awakened. It was starting to become quiet around here." Shendu came over to her, and to Viper's surprise, undid the rope about her wrists. She rubbed the afflicted area and stared up at him. "I assume you must require a bathroom most fervently by now." He said. Viper could do nothing with her sleep-foggy brain but nod and get up.
The bathroom was very small, and quite obviously wasn't originally built with its shower. Yet, it was a bathroom. Viper didn't realize how much she missed it. She had to go terribly bad, and it was a relief to have the toilet. She looked at her image in the mirror. Her hair was all about the place and her face was still covered in sleep. She was in serious need for a shower.
A test revealed that the shower was working, even if the pressure was atrociously off-and-on. Viper tugged off her clothes and was surprised to find the stick of lipstick in a front pocket of her jeans. She also found a dollar, but was more thankful for the makeup.
The water was cold, but she didn't mind. It helped wake her up. She ran her hair under the stream and wished for shampoo. In the cabinet she found towels, and used one to dry her soaked hair to just moist. After using her fingers like a makeshift brush, she put on the lipstick. Standing back to look at herself, she realized she wasn't exactly at her best, but who could expect that?
When Viper emerged from the bathroom and returned to the study, Finn was just leaving. He nodded and winked at her. 'Creep.' She thought. She noticed a black eye. 'Looks like he'd been in a fight recently.' Shendu was there waiting for her with food. "Something from a restaurant. I personally don't enjoy the stuff." He said dismissivly, then tossed a bag in her direction. In large red letters, the words 'Moose Burger' were written on the side, along with a picture of a smiling cartoon moose. Inside she found a double moose burger, a large fries and lots of packs of ketchup. She didn't notice the gnawing pain in her stomach until just then.
She devoured the whole bag of food ravenously, completing her reparation to her body. All the while Shendu watched her with interest and concern. Once he commented on her eating, "You're going to choke on that. Food does no good to the dead." Of course, it didn't slow her down, and the bag was soon emptied. Her hunger eased, Viper collapsed onto the nearest chair. "Thaaats better."
Shendu eyed her. "I still don't trust this little caprice of yours. SUPPOSED caprice." He said. Viper laughed. "I know you don't. You'll have to get over that bit, babe." The dragon snorted smoke at being referred to as 'Babe,' but spared her his inflammable breath. "Watch yourself, little one," He said, trying to be calm about it, "You tread on the thinnest of ice." "Sure."
They sat in silence, Viper digesting peacefully and Shendu quietly watching her. When he said he didn't enjoy the fast food, he wasn't lying. He despised all the foods the humans offered to him. The disgusting dismembered vegetables and cooked meats repelled his demonic pallet. If he could only have his favorite….. thoughts of green slimy things went though his head and his eyes glazed over in delight.
Shendu snapped back to reality when Viper ran her hands through her hair, lifting and letting it all fall back down. His abnegative nature towards the woman subsided in his mind momentarily while he admired her still wet locks falling over her shoulders in cascades. He was starting to take a liking to hair. It really could be just as lovely as scales could be, especially the deep black color Viper wore so well. Black was easily Shendu's favorite color. Red was good too. Blood red. Like her lips. Shendu thoughtfully cocked his head, making himself look like a very pointy puppy.
"Shendu, you're staring at me again." Shendu blinked. Had he? "Apologies." "Apologies?" Viper sat up and looked at him. "YOU? YOU'RE apologetic? When did you come down off your high and mighty chair enough to say 'apologies' to anyone?" Shendu's mouth moved to say something, but nothing came out. His wit and charisma seemed to have just walked out the door and done a head dive of the dock.
Viper smiled. "That's okay. Go ahead and stare."
Suddenly, the door burst open and a handsome Asian man came plowing though. Both woman and demon jumped up and looked at the door, surprised royally. In the hallway, what was left of Finn lay unconscious and bruised. "Chan!!" Shendu roared. Anger was rising at the presence of his nemesis. A growl grew in his throat.
"Viper!" Jackie said. Then, "Viper?" He looked confused at the woman. She wasn't restrained in anyway. She had been just sitting there across from the demon! Conflicting information played with Jackie's mind. "I've come to take her back!" He announced: the only thing he was sure of at the moment. Viper, wide eyed, shook her head, "Jackie, I-" She was cut off by the dragonic form's second roar. "I will not allow that! And, Chan, I will enjoy crushing you!"
The enraged dragon charged Chan, who was caught off guard. He swiped at the smaller creature's throat, but missed as Jackie regained his senses. The two exchanged blows, Shendu on the offence. Viper looked back and forth between the two, horrified. She didn't know who to root for. Her newest object of affection was intent on killing a friend of hers while her friend was intent on the destruction of her newest object of affection. Most certainly, if they were not stopped, one would kill the other. And Jackie seemed to be loosing.
Chan cried out as sharp talons dragged across his skin, leaving three long, bloody lacerations on his chest. Shendu took the opportunity to laugh before whipping his tail around to trip the man's legs out from under him. "Stop!!" Viper begged of them, distraught with the violent battle, unable to halt the impetus force that kept the two locked, tooth and claw. Unable to think of anything else, she threw herself in between the two dueling bodies.
Both Chan and Shendu, surprised by the action, tried to stop short their attacks on eachother, finding someone whom they both cared for in harm's way. Jackie jerked back, knocked off balance, and stumbled. Shendu did not deflect his claws in time to prevent one from raking her shoulder. The injury shot pain up her arm, at which she yelled.
"Ahh!" The two males cried in unison. "You hurt her!" "Damn it, Chan, I can SEE that!" "Both of you SHUT UP!" Viper said, her voice something to be reckoned with. The others fell silent. The woman stood, glaring at them like they were rivaling children, and she, the athoritive mother. She turned to Chan. "Jackie, I'm not going with you." Then to Shendu. She was quiet for a second before slapping him.
Jackie's eyes were wide when he was taken aback at what she said, but became considerably wider just then. She SLAPPED Shendu!!! Was there no clearer nor more effective death wish?!?! And, yet, the demon hadn't attacked her. He stood as dumbfounded as Jackie, but made no move towards her untimely death. Instead, he put a great, taloned hand on his cheek as if he wasn't sure it had happened at all.
Viper was still glaring at the dragon, "Don't you think it's SLIGHTLY ungentlemanly to murder a lady's friend in her presence??" She said, slightly sardonic and very patronizing. She then turned back to Jackie and pointed at the door. "Baby face, if you don't want your liver to be ten feet from your intestines, I suggest you stop trying to fight a seven foot dragon and get the hell out of here!!!" He quickly reflected on the choice of fighting the demon. Now that she said it, it did sound insanely stupid.
A confused Jackie tried to protest, "But you-" "I'm not going. You are! NOW!" Finally, he obeyed her and ran, leaving the woman behind. "CHAN!" Shendu roared, his voice cracking. He turned to make hasty pursuit, but paused to look back at Viper. Weighing his options, he opted to follow Chan. Viper growled to herself and went after.
Jackie twisted down the corridors with ease, while the bulk of Shendu, devoted to the thought of his death, took pursuit far behind. Deciding now was the time for evasive maneuvers, Jackie rounded a corner and dived into the nearest room. Fumbling, he found a lock on the knob and secured it. Breathing heavily, he heard the demon outside, running right past the room. Jackie breathed a sigh of relief.
A dragged foot behind him caught his attention and he froze. He was not in the room alone. "J-Jackie?" The Asian man turned quickly. Valmont stood on the other end of the room. "CHRIS! Oh, God, it's you!!!" Jackie launched himself into the taller man's arms, grabbing him hard. Valmont smiled, remembering something similar from the dreamscape.
Slowly, Jackie released his grip. He looked at his lover in speech pleasure. Valmont seized the moment and grabbed Jackie up into a passionate kiss, alleviating himself of the hunger that gripped at him for so long. They tested eachother's endurance, both refusing to let go of the beautiful pleasure of the reunion. Valmont was the one who finally had to break the kiss, doing so brusquely. He then leaned forward to whisper into Jackie's ear. "I missed you." Jackie squeezed him slightly. "I missed you too." Valmont grinned. "You know I love you."
Jackie grinned back in a playful sort of way. "You know, I love you back." He said, kissing Valmont lightly on the cheek. "But, now is a kind of bad time to get reacquainted." "Shendu?" "Yes." Valmont smiled. "Then, by all means, lets leave this accursed place."
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Notes: Sure, he has credibility with the San Fran police NOW. This story is set before the Mecutchen episode! "Uncle, I think this bathtub has spiders in it!" Oh, but he did get arrested in New York that time! For a good guy, Jackie has been in jail a lot. He relies on Cappy B's string pulling abilities too much. Poor Cappy B :( Haha, I love calling him that!
Ah gahd, I was just thinking about how much I like Valmont! That's all. I updated my page again, minorly. There's a picture of ME on it now! In my JCA sweater, no less! I tried to translate the Chinese on it and it turns out one of the characters is 'dragon.' What the hell's that got to do with JCA? Sure, there's a dragon antagonist, but he's not in every episode and therefore cannot be referred to in the title. I wonder what the other one is.
I'm sorry about all my big words. They just worked so well and made me look smart. This may be helpful incase you ran across anything you didn't know:
Ameliorate---- fix, solve, rectify
Baleful---- unpleasant, regretfully done
Anomalous---- straying from the average
Appurtenances---- appendage, accessory, part of the whole, a tool
Reparation---- rectification, fixing
Abnegation---- Self-denial
Caprice---- sudden, impulsive or unpredictable change of mind