#5

Things went fairly well these past days. He meant things with Francis McReary went fairly well. He got some threats dead and Niko got over ten grand in total. What a lovely day. A day needed celebration.

To celebrate, he decided to take a time off other people and focus everything on himself. Kind of like some 'me-time' so to speak. Niko took some cash for a little bit of shopping. New shoes would be nice. And a jacket. The weather was started to get very windy in the city.

Niko did something he rarely did. Going to STAR, a fancy shopping mall at Burlesque. Sheesh, buildings too clean, lights too bright, people too many; it wasn't one of Niko's favorite place ideas to be. But hey, first try for anything. Baby steps to get away from the dark. Much to his surprise, he went along just fine, already carrying a couple of paper bags of shoes and a jacket. Two jackets. He bought Roman one, being the nice cousin and whatnot. He also bought a pair of rose earrings for Michelle, he hoped she liked them.

After finally getting tired of the foreign atmosphere, Niko decided to go home by another means of transport he never seized to try. The closest subway station was Easton, only two blocks away from the mall. This was a perfect opportunity to learn better about the city, the people in the city, as they said: people who want to understand society and democracy should spend less time in the library and more time in the subway. The real society. Variety of people all gathered around for the sole purpose of going. There were business persons, always ramming into people while walking because they focused too much on their important calls. Some mediocre guys, who Niko couldn't seem to predict. A couple of homeless guys and beggars. And…

And her.

What a chance to spot her first and not the other way around. She looked like in a hurry and running away. That could mean she was on a gig while he was just standing by. A small greet in the middle of a gig wouldn't hurt, right? She'd done that to him, a couple of times now. He was sure she would understand.

"You walk fast. Are on a marathon or something?" Niko butted in, pacing up the same speed as she was. "Hey, dude."

"Holy Mother Mercy, you scared the crap out of me. Shit. I have to go." Without ever skipping the beat, Sidney had already shoved him away.

Sidney only groaned when she realized the Slavic man was already following her. "Can you stop follow me? Don't you have other things to do?"

"I do. I'm following you." This earned a glare from the woman. Niko only snort a laugh. "It's a free country. I can do whatever I want."

"Hm. Touche–fine. My risk is your risk too."

"Hey, hey where are you going? I've bought ticket to the train."

"We can't stay in there. Come on." With a blink, Sidney already tugging him to the exit and out on the open, occasionally looking around the area.

Niko casually asked. "So, what is our plan to escape whatever it is you are running from?"

"Just get away from the district—shit. See our two o'clock, across the avenue. You see two grouchy looking Arab dudes, with the brown combat jacket? I can't be seen by them. Turn this way." Walking side by side, they went through some alleyway to the other side of the street.

At this rate Sidney had thrown away her blue coat revealing a new sweater underneath. And a new beanie to hide her obvious red hair. She then linked her arms to Niko's, like all couples did, much to his dismay of being touched. Well, this had become his escape too by the looks it.

"What's this all about? A gig went wrong?" Niko asked.

"Them dude back there, agents, man. They've been looking for me. Guess they see me now and make a move."

"Cops. Even better."

"Actually no. They just some private security agency and whatnot. Sumbitch think they can get a hold of me. Here, we enter the passage here – wait fuck, since when they fenced it?! Uh shit, let's go back around."

"We can't." Niko said, scanning around the streets. "They coming this way. From both sides. Very fast."

"Hm lemme think. Lemme think."

With their limited window, Niko had made his way cornering over her body just so to cover her with his own, if ever the agents made their way pass them. Suddenly his body was being pushed into a wall, followed by heaving breath and a sloppy kiss to the mouth. Instinctively he placed a hand around her hips as hers had already made her way up around his shoulder, clinging over him. He parted her lips from his to catch breath, when she pulled him towards her again, closer and closer as they moved.

If this was in another scenario, he would definitely push her away. He understood what she was doing, though, as people got uneasy with PDAs and often looked away. Whatever it was, it worked as the agents seemed to never mind a couple hooking up. Whatever it was, leaning against the wall at the corner of a building, next to a hot dog stand, in the middle of passerby, they made out.

Sidney pulled away first. And chuckled when she saw his red face. "Boy, you look tensed."

"Yes. A cat got in my tongue."

She laughed and elbowed him on the ribs "Ehhee, I know you secretly want more, Bellic."

When the coast was clear they made a move out of the area. She offered to take a bus at the nearby stop to get away from the street and to the other side of the town

"So, what was that all about?" Niko asked. "Why would some bodyguards be looking for you?"

"A while ago, I did a gig, yeah. I took down potential snitch in the black-market game. Apparently, this dude had a connection with the agency. In-laws or something. The next thing I know they wanted me dead."

"How fun."

"Yeah, been running around town chasing after me. I thought with me out of Liberty for good weeks, they'd stop looking. Not so much now." Sidney said, glancing over at his bags. "So, I see you've been shopping. STAR Mall. Must have got some money there, dude."

"McReary paid good. Playboy paid good." Niko just shrugged. "Hey, what do you know of Playboy and Dwayne?"

"What's up with them to you?"

"I work with them long enough to know there are tension between the two. I want to know where they at on each other. Never heard full story."

Sidney thought of an explanation. "Hmm. Dwayne was at top of his game many years ago. Literally he ruled the streets, dude. Him and his goons were ones you didn't want to mess with back in the day. He met Trey, Playboy, and saw potential. He got the young playa some deals and tricks. They became good partners. Things went fairly well for them. I guess until he was arrested. Playboy's taking over, expanding business and all, taking all the credits."

Sidney went on. "They are like two sides of the same coin, y'know. One want this, the other one wants that but eventually it's for the same thing."

"And now they want the same thing for each other. Dead." Niko sighed and leaned back, resting his head on the walls of the bus. "Playboy wasn't so happy about what happened at Triangle Club. You were right about that."

"Dead? Like out dead? Shit. Them boys is cold. But I guess thing's changed. Thing's changed them… now, where are you in the middle of this?"

"I dunno, you tell me." Niko sneered. "Actually, yes, you tell me. You know them better than I do. I just don't want to make the bad move."

"Like all move is good enough? Shit dude. Don't put that on me." Sidney furrowed her eyebrows, frowning. "I guess this depends. I assume Playboy's paying for quite the amount. I mean if you are up for the money then you gotta keep Playboy by your side."

"But if?"

"But if? There's no but if. That's all there is to it. Money. Or you can take the easiest route."

"Which is?"

"Kill them both, tell em you own them now."

"Their men will come after me. I don't want that. Shit." Niko groaned. "Hey where's Elizabeta during all this? I want to get away from this drama, I can use a bit of extra work for her."

"No offense, but I don't think she needs you more now."

He pursed his lips "She is still doesn't trust me huh?"

"Obvi." Sidney's mouth twitched into a wide grin if he ever seen one. "Also because she has me now. She doesn't need yo ass."

Niko just rolled his eyes.

…

By the time they reached the next bus stop, he received a call from Brucie.

To which Sidney immediately took his phone and answered it instead. "Whaddup you dickhead?"

"What! The fuck is this? Where's Niko?"

"Mr. Bellic has been held on rehab after he got one of his balls bitten by a house rat. He is resting now so leave a message after the beep. Beeeeep—wait… owh."

Niko just glared at her as he snatched his phone back.

"He Sidney, do you need a ride?" Niko suddenly askes out loud, pausing his own call.

"A ride? What do you mean a ride? We're in a fucking bus."

Instead of directly answering her, he went on on the phone. "Anyway Brucie, actually I'm in the mood for some races. You got one for me? – what can I say? I like winning – oh great, text me the location. Thanks man."

Sidney rose an eyebrow at the phone call. "I didn't know you're into street race like that steroid sumbitch of yours."

"Hm, I dunno. I do it whenever I get nothing else to do. It slowly grows on me. And winning prize is not bad."

Sidney thought about it for a bit, before finally agreed. Since she had nothing to do besides sulking back at her house. That was not healthy nor fun. And suddenly a race sounded so much better.

A moment of car stealing later, they had drove out to the racing spot. To her surprise there were already a lot of people gathered around the street in South Slope. And a lot of cars too, parked on the side of the road.

Looking around the set she frowned a little. "Dude, you realize we are in Intruder, right?"

"Sure."

"And our opponents are muscle cars."

"I can see that."

She turned to him. "Are you fucking yourself? There's no way we'll win."

"I have techniques." Was all he said before drove his car to the starting line.

Sidney didn't know what to expect from a street race. She only been to two of it, one was when she met Bruce, the other one was with Elizabeta, who happened to have a bid with one of the drivers. Meh, even both times she came rather late and missed the whole thing. She did watched Mad Max movies growing up, the closest she understood how car race works. Other than that, she had a little to no expectations whatsoever.

So when Niko started speeding up along the road, drifting through the corners, she couldn't help but shredded in fear.

"Holy shit, Niko! Slow down!"

"What do you mean slow down? We're in a fucking race."

"I know. I-I mean, fuck! This is—look out!" Just then Niko drove passed a turning car, barely hitting them. "Shit. This is intense."

"Hey you're not gonna puke in my car, are you?"

"Don't take me like Brucie, dude." She huffed. "I might die, though."

"I thought you are supposed to be a fierce bitch. Fast car scares you, huh?"

"Not fast cars. Just cars too fast—just shut up and keep your eyes on the road!"

It was the third and final lap. Sidney thought out loud, it was a miracle that they held first place. Even with this, he didn't ease up with the pedal. Instead, he sped up more. Intentionally, to scare the crap out of Sidney. Niko found it very funny, actually. For a woman who was supposedly strong and fearless, she was gripping the seatbelt and the door handle ever so tightly, screaming and yelling at him for going too fast.

"Hey are we winning? I don't see another car catching up." Sidney asked, looking at the rear end.

"I don't know. I never worry the other cars." He simply pointed out. "I only worry about the fron—"

"Nope! I jinxed it. Sorry!" just then an opponent car drove exactly by their right, trying so hard to overtake the car speed on a straight street. "Dude he coming very fast."

Sidney tried to see the driver, she opened the window. Funny, the driver seemed to acknowledge her as he too had pulled down his window, eyeing the first place. Suddenly though the driver gasped and pushed the break, causing him to over steered and crashed into a lamp post or something. Sidney who had just pulled her pistol out laughed at her own doing.

"You know we could get disqualified for that?" Niko said, chuckling.

"What do you mean?"

"Rule of street race; no guns, just cars."

"Aye whatever. I ain't shooting anything anyway." Sidney waved it off. "Whatever it takes to win."

"But we are already in first place."

"We haven't cross the finish line yet. We ain't winning—fat ass crossing! Look out! Fucking Shit, Niko! Shit!"

"Relax! Could you stop cursing at me at all?!"

"Not when you almost hit some men on the street, I won't!" She exclaimed.

"But I didn't so relax!"

Sidney once again squinted her eyes. "Perhaps this is a best time to say that I've been ran over before."

"Ah, trauma? Now it make sense. When was it?"

"I was very young then, age of eleven or twelve I think. Crossing the road and got hit by this drunkard on wheels. I lost my little toe because of it, dude."

"That was so random, I dunno why I laughed." Niko said, chuckling. "Right foot or left foot?"

"Too much details, I'm not giving you—now shut up and get to the finish line. And take me back home, shit."

"Yes ma'am."

#5

"Elizabeta? What is it? Haven't heard from you in a really long time."

"Yeayeayea, whatever." Elizabeta said from the other side on the phone call. "Cut the crap. I'm in a hurry. I need you to do something for me."

"What do you need?"

"Same drill like before. Fetch me some sweets and deliver it to the lock up."

"Easy. Where to now?"

"Get to Sidney's place. Talk to her for details and shit."

Well, that was rather a cold and abrupt call.

He had been to Sidney's house by now. The first was taking her home after a screwed deal with Playboy and later after her own deal at the bar just few days ago. And just yesterday after the race. Only that this would be his first time he actually came for a visit. She did live only few blocks away from The Triangle Club. And the fact that her little townhouse was located very closely to the police station was pretty baffling. Perhaps it was a smart move on her part as sometimes the closest things were the ones easily missed out. Perhaps it was true, this was her turf. Come to think about it, Northern Gardens was a small neighborhood after all.

In the middle of the day, once he was at the front door, he knocked. No answer. He knocked again, harder this time. A yell of 'coming' was faintly heard from inside.

The small screen on the door opened, revealing only part of her face. "Niko? What are you doing here?"

"Good to see you too." He blurted. "Elizabeta sent me. She said to go see you for some delivery."

Lazily she scratched her hair and yawned. "A moment."

If Niko didn't pay no attention to her before, he was glancing now. Instead of the usual jeans tee shirt and denim jacket she often wear outside, she stood there only in tank top and shorts with little to no imagination at all. Her bare lean legs were shown to the world, wanting to be seen. He didn't realize she had multiple tattoos on her arm. Heck, he could clearly see her nips through the fabric.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "So you do lost a toe."

"Shit. Whatevaahh." She cursed, yawning.

"Did you just wake up or something?" He asked, coming inside the house. Her third yawn and ruffled hair was an obvious answer.

"Ahm sowry," she said between her third yawn. "I don't follow. Why Lizzy sent you to me?"

"Lizzy said I need to take some drugs for her, said to go to you. You tell me."

"O-oh shit, right-right. Lemme check my phone about that—right, come in, dude! I'mma making drinks. You want some? Coffee?"

"Sure."

"Alright. Make yourself at home. Be right back."

As she went to the kitchen, he couldn't help but look around the house. It was after all a small townhouse but with a little flare of decorations spread through the house. Some image collages and racks filled with stuff. One thing for certain, she seemed to have a thing or two for indoor plants. It matched her personality though, earthly and out-going, and also sharp around the edges, judging by how many cactuses she had on the rack. His eyes moved to some little objects on a wooden TV shelf. She collected some books and magazines. She stored some small merchandises and table ornaments too.

She also placed several nostalgias along the way. Some portraits of herself, her childhood and what he could assume were families and friends. Pictures of her teenage year and high school prom and whatnot. A group of girls with cheerleader outfits in the middle of a field, spotting her in the middle of them with the тассел—what was it called in English? The furry ruffly thing? Pom-pom? He thought randomly.

"Anything interesting you found?" Sidney came back carrying a tray of feast, already wearing a hoodie to cover her body. "Here's your coffee. I heated up some donut too if you want."

"Uh, thanks." Awkwardly he sat down. "Why Elizabeta called me? I thought she doesn't trust me anymore."

"She still doesn't. But uhm, I dunno... Let's just say we got less options to work with."

"So I am like the last kid no one wants to pick for the team?"

"Nah, I'll definitely pick you first."

"Sure you would," he muttered. "So, what's the plan? Where's this packet?"

Sidney made a face. "Does everything about you is always about work? I barely say anything yet you already asking about what to do, where to go."

"I don't want to waste my time." He casually shrugged.

"It's like you have anything else to do?" she snickered.

"Actually, I do."

Sidney pursed her lips sightly. "Fine. We are suspecting another fink within our reach. Yesterday, our trade got hijacked, again. Stolen goodies and whatnot. That's our job. We have info that they're held on a dumping ground in North of Algonquin. We're going to take it back. That's all."

"And what I should do now?"

"Right now, nothing. We wait. Relax. Our move is not until three hours or so."

"So, it's not now? If that's the case then I'll be leaving. Call when you need me."

"Gosh, you're such a stick in the mud."

"I don't know what that means."

"Stick in the mud means you're a boring bastard with no sense of life. Now stick up the ass means you are being too serious and too hard on yourself, which is also you. What I'm trying to say is: chill out!" she laughed when she heard him groaning. "Fine. Finish your coffee and go, whatever. Go to the club all you want. Just come back on time."

The idea was already built up on his mind; before the call, Brucie had already request another set of vehicles to steal and later to trade. A dealer's red Calvacade somewhere in Schottler. Three hours sounded enough. However… his body was already glued to the couch, slouching in comfort. And the coffee smelled nice and the donut was so soft. Man, he hadn't had some donuts this good actually. Three hours break sounded so lovely all of the sudden.

Eventually Niko grabbed a small pillow and rest his head on it, along with his long legs on the table. "Hey Sid, do you have a computer I can use?"

"Hm what for? Lovemeet?" she grinned. "Sheesh, can you even crack a smile on a silly joke? Whatever. I have a laptop on the dining table there. Go for it."

"Sure."

Watching him now already settled back on the couch now with a laptop on the lap, Sidney's lips curved into a half-smile and tossed the TV remote next to him. "Yell out if you need anything else. I'm upstairs."

…

I hope this mail is sent to you. Petra allow me to use her computer so I can write to you again. Niko, my son, I miss you very much. Always. How is you and Roman? How is living the dreams there? I hope everything is good for both you. Life here is the same as always is. Planting farm day and night. You remember Bogdan, the old farmer across our house. He slipped into a water while working. And it made a hole on his new farming boots. It was very funny when he tried swimming back to the farm because he cannot swim. He was angry that the young men were no more here to help. Oh, how I miss you helping me in the farm. But I know you cannot return. I know life is not always easy to you, Niko. I know you had many trouble and I know you have done a lot of things to correct it. I want you to be careful always, dragi moj. Please write to me, Niko. I love you.

It was the first time her mother sent picture attachment on the mail. The color faded and the image was blurred slightly but he knew it was a picture of the town folks all gathered around their farm. His mother was with them, sitting calmly by a bench, looking as stunning as she always be. For a moment, Niko just stared at her and the picture. The place he grew up, people he dearly knew.

Looking back to his childhood, it was never a convenient life; a poor life many years struggling with resources, too much hard labors, no electricity. But it was a good life. The old life he missed. There was one occasion he remembered dearly. It was the first time ever they had heard about technology. Niko's neighbor bought a brand new but second-hand television. It was a small one, no much bigger than a shoebox. Niko, and his brother Milorad, Roman, and other twelve-year-old kids on the village were invited to watch a TV show together for the first time.

He still remembered what it was: Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, Episode 6, School for Cats. A little of talk and a lot of action, the episode highlighted Tom's journey into some mouse-catching training by Spike, with of course Jerry tailing behind to torment him. That day none of them know what Spike was saying all along, yet they shared the same laugh when Tom stepped into some mouse traps while catching Jerry or when being thrown away into the sky and landed awfully on a huge pie. Poor cat had to endure the horrible and rigorous training facility.

About two years after that, Niko was captured and locked up into a military facility just like Tom. He had to endure the horrible and rigorous—and added—merciless training, just like Tom. Not to catch some mice, but to kill enemies.

Ironic, wasn't it?

What once a twelve-year-old innocent boy watching Tom and Jerry Show had transformed into fourteen years old infantry man raising guns, throwing grenade. And now many years later, many bloods spilled by his hands later… was he still considered human?

Boom.

The rings of tank shots still echoed on his head.

Boom.

The screams of the people crushed by fallen ruins still lingered close by.

Boom.

Niko woke up. Startled and confused.

Boom.

The noise came from above, though it was not another of those artillery strikes. Looking around, he was still at Sidney's living room, laptop was toppled over his lap. So he assumed he had fallen asleep while reading through the mails. After checking all over the screen again, he decided to have a quick reply to mother and took off to investigate what happened upstairs.

The noise was fainting, but he could still hear a song from a certain room across the stairs, or rather lazy singing of a woman.

"Sidney? You in there?"

When no answer came from inside, he simply turned the knob and let himself in.

Two things, he made a mental note.

First, the reason why she didn't answer to him was because she was standing on top of a stool, wearing Walkman set and too occupied with some work she was doing, which was hammering some nails and hook to the wall—thus, the repeating noise. Second, there were some hanging shelfs on the wall next to her with another interesting decorative already on display. An antique revolver possibly the cowboy era, a redesigned Colt M4, and her precious sniper rifle.

By the time Niko took a moment to really stare at the gun display, Sidney had already noticed a shadow from behind. Casually she took of her headset and turned around. "Like what you see?"

"Actually, very much." He said, taking a closer look. "All of this are real?"

"Yes, but I don't use them much so I hang them up instead." Sidney told him and then gesture her hand for him to the wall. Setting aside her stuff, she watched as he took out the assault rifle, checking it all together.

"How do you get this? How do you get all of these?"

"I had an antique store, family business from generations. This gun," she spoke as she grabbed the revolver from the wall. "Someone pawned it to my great-grandpa decades ago and has been passed down since then."

"This still works too?"

"Mybe, I dunno. Never had some rounds with that old junk."

"And what about these guns? I know this M4 and your sniper there is a standard military guns… we're not talking about black market anymore, right?" Niko pointed out. "So, did you steal it from the police?"

"Of course not. They're clean. Well, kinda clean."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh you know what I mean."

She knew he was waiting for more answer but oddly enough he decided not to press. She watched as his attention went back to the M4. Smiling slightly when she realized his eyes lit up like a kid getting new toy for Christmas. She watched the way he examined the gun. Checking it first to see it was unloaded. Checking the barrel; the way he held it on his hands onto his cheek, his posture and everything. There was something she noted about how he inspected the rifle. Very amusing.

Very familiar.