Mexican Standoff

by Heavens to Bikini Kill (who is shamelessly "jocking" Reservoir Dogs)

Five

The room was deathly silent. Jupiter's cigarette fell out of his mouth and to the unfinished wooden floor. Venus's toe crushed it for him.

The polite one gazed at me through his bangs. "A... rat?"

"Unbe-fucking-lievable," Jupiter growled as he tapped out another stick. "A rat. A fucking rat."

Kaiba looked up from his bullet wound. "Where's Uranus?"

"Dead." Jupiter nodded at the injured former CEO. "What happened to Mars?"

"Shot. By a cop."

Jupiter murmured something incomprehensible, and walked off to the kitchen to snort a line of whatever makes him feel good when he's in danger of going back to prison.

Venus clucked softly and turned back to me. "Where's Bellagio-san?"

I shrugged. "He wouldn't say. All he said was that he'd get here."

Venus clucked once more as he looked over Kaiba. "Uranus... for all we know, he could have been a really good man."

"For all we know?" I had a problem with his wording.

'We don't really know him. They say you know a man by his name, and we don't have a clue about each other's."

He looked pointedly at me, and I turned my head to Kaiba. There was no way I was going to tell him my name. For all I knew, he was the rat. "What are we gonna do about Mars?"

"I don't know, but I know that we are not going to a hospital."

My jaw dropped to the filthy floor. "Are you kidding? How long do you think he's gonna live with that bullet in him?"

Venus shook his head. "I'm sorry about that, but there is no way I'm going to jail for him." His face turned pale. "Oh my fucking god, he's dead."

I turned to see Kaiba out cold. I knelt my head to his lips, and heard slow, separated gasps. "No. He just passed out." I got back to my feet and faced Venus. "And what do you mean you're 'not going to jail' for him?"

"I mean exactly what I said, Mr. Neptune. I have no interest in going to jail."

"And what about Mars? You're fine with letting him die like this?"

Venus paused for a moment, reached into his blazer's breast pocket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He tapped a stick out and lit up. Inhale. Exhale. I stared. "Do you really think that I want him to die?"

"That's not the -- "

He cut me off. "Answer the question, please."

My eyes fell to the floor. "No. I don't think you want him to die."

"Then you understand that what I am saying is very difficult for me, yes?"

"Yes."

"My first interest, naturally, is self-preservation. I am sorry if we do not share that interest, but I am not going to prison for anyone. Especially for somebody I don't even know. Understand?"

I couldn't bear to look at the coward. "Yeah, yeah, nan de mo ii desu." (Whatever.)

I could feel Venus's smile at my back. "You act as if you're in love with the guy... you do know him personally..."

"Mars and I go back," I snapped, "Not in a good way."

"Rivals?"

"Enemies. Bitter enemies."

"Ah so. Just looking out for a business partner, ne?"

"Yeah. That's it."

I looked at Kaiba once more. He was still down for the count.

Damn it.

I don't feel too good.

(A/N: Guess who's back. Back again? Yeah, it's short. Get over it.)