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It's Friday morning and River has been at Chibs' house for three days. She's in the kitchen making breakfast. The matter of her getting to use knives had been settled the previous morning when she'd refused to eat another plate of runny eggs courtesy of the Scot. The Scot, that part still feels weird. She had seen others have the word on their lips when referring to Chibs but she'd assumed it was just another nickname.
Chibs' accent wasn't the only revelation Gemma brought along with her shopping bags two days before. River can still see Gemma's wide eyes watching her when she'd pulled her shirt over her head to try on the new tops. River knows she's too thin. It's not like the Cartel feeds well and while she refuses to look at herself in the mirror, sure she'll hate what she sees, she hadn't been ready for the pity in Gemma's eyes. The older woman had stayed long enough to make sure everything was okay and the clothes fit before she dipped out post a back-turned conversation with Chibs. River hadn't been able to pick up anything but she'd gotten the impression the woman was worried about her.
She glances through the kitchen passthrough to look at Chibs. He's sprawled out on the couch watching TV, some weird documentary with the captions on, tugging on his beard with an even rhythm. He looks bored. He's been stuck here with her, only the occasional visitor to pass the time for days. River appreciates his desire to learn a few signs and the gentle considerate way he seems to handle her. Kindness has been in short supply for her recently.
Spending the time in the quiet house has been almost nice. They'd spent the time mostly watching bad movies and passing the occasional note. Bobby stopped by the day before with more groceries and stayed for a cigarette and a quick conversation. A few other men in leather had come and gone over the days and every time she'd gone off to the bedroom to give them time to talk. Mostly River spent the bulk of her stay watching Chibs as he went about his business. It had been boring but informative and she is starting to learn his moods. Usually the man is quick with a laugh but he's been tense all morning and River isn't sure what to make of it.
She knows people. Being deaf makes people watching a way of life and even after three and a half days she can read Chibs pretty well. He's honestly a bit of an easy mark with those soft brown eyes and a number of tells. She knows his shoulders come up when he's anxious, she knows he chews on his cheek when he's tongue tied, she knows he tugs at his beard when he's thinking, she knows he's loud and open when he's amused, and he pinches the bridge of his nose when he's mad.
She can tell he's tense she just doesn't know why yet. Context is important with body language and she's been floating along without it for a long time, 84 days to be exact. Eighty-four days since she was taken and now she's on captor number 3. At this point trying to work through the series of events that got her to this kitchen making scrambled eggs would be like playing a very long game of telephone. She knows how this all started but there were pieces lost in translation along the way and River has no idea why she is currently being held by a group of bikers. She has a feeling Chibs doesn't know why she's here either, not really.
She whisks the eggs bringing them to a froth before pouring the yellow liquid into a preheated frying pan. Her mind drifts back to the night at the warehouse as she pushes the eggs around making little ridges in the bottom of the pan. She'd been at the Lobos Sonora warehouse in Lodi for two days when the Galindo soldiers stormed the building and made a bloodbath out of the distribution floor. Luis had found her in the office and he'd shot the Lobos Sonora underboss who'd been watching her. Luis lied to the Sons that night though.
She'd managed to catch just enough of what he said via the mirror as he talked to them in the bathroom to know that they'd been asked to keep an eye on her, keep her safe while he figured out her value. He hadn't tortured her though, that had been the Lobos Sonora guards the night before when they'd caught her trying to use a phone. The fingernails had been an asinine attempt to prevent texting.
If anything, Luis had been almost gentle. She'd already been tied to the chair and he'd carried her on it into the bathroom. He'd given her water and tried to talk to her but she'd ignored him, not able to sign with bound hands and not willing to waste her energy on someone wouldn't know what she was saying anyways. Then he'd looked her right in the face and said the words that had sent a chill down her spine, "Don't worry Sofia, two more weeks."
The fear inspired by the use of her real name had been enough to keep her wide eyed and terrified until he'd returned an hour later with the two bikers. She'd pulled herself together but it was still enough to send a chill down her spine standing in the sun filled kitchen cooking eggs. Two more weeks, that's fourteen days and it's day 4 since she joined the bikers. Eleven days to figure out what is coming and either find a way out or find a way home. Home, the idea of going home makes her eyes water and she uses skill developed over the last 84 days to push the thoughts down and away. There's not room for doubt or fear here, she's played it calm this far. She just has to keep it up.
The eggs are done and she splits them between the two plates with toast and bacon before carrying the breakfast into the living room. Chibs doesn't have a dining room table, she'd actually been amused to find out the sizable dining room off the kitchen was currently storage for a de-constructed bike he was working on.
He sits up when she puts the plates on the coffee table and smiles at her. She smiles back quickly and turns to focus on eating. God, she loves how much he feeds her. Chibs was by the far the nicest jail-keeper she's had and she wonders if this is just the beginnings of Stockholm Syndrome finally setting in. Seems unlikely though. While Chibs has kept her in his house and away from the only burner phone available he hasn't exactly done it by force. In fact, she'd found two guns loaded and ready to go the night before. One in the nightstand the other taped behind the painting next to the bedroom door. If she wanted to leave she probably could have. She shoves a piece of toast in her mouth, too hungry for manners.
It's the fear that's kept her stuck. The type of fear that is so deep and ingrained it feels like it's become a part of her. River learned young to fake it until you make it though and she's pulled on strength she didn't know she had to keep herself upright for this long. She has no idea what waits her outside her current situation and the idea of escaping comfortable captivity only to find her life forfeit from another enemy has her paralyzed. She chews as she thinks and cuts her eyes over to Chibs. He's watching her eat with the same morbid fascination she's caught every time they sit down to a meal. She reaches for the pad and pen.
What?
He smiles and takes the pen, writing back. His bacon covered fingers leaving a grease stain on the paper.
You eat like a shopvac. Have no idea where it all goes.
She laughs, really laughs and she can tell the sound has surprised him because it takes a moment before he joins in. Her emotions are on a fucking roller coaster. She grabs the pen.
I feel like I've had more food in the last 3 days than in the last 2 months combined.
The words give away a details of her story she hadn't planned to share but it's done now. She watches him read and he looks up at her with a question in his eyes breakfast forgotten. He grabs the pen.
Lobos Sonora doesn't take care of its people?
She knows what he's really asking and she eats her second slice of toast while she figures out how she wants to answer. She picks up the pen and uses his own sentence.
Lobos Sonora doesn't take care of its people prisoners
"Aye" He's watching her carefully but after a moment he turns back to his food and pops another slice of bacon in his mouth. She likes the way he lets this piece of news click into place without any drama but she can practically see the wheels turning through his skull. She's a mystery to him and if his book selection is anything go to by, Chibs likes a mystery. No wonder the man is tense.
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