Road Trip : Chapter 4

Moving through the streets of New Orleans, I found I had to reevaluate my original thoughts on Danny a bit. Despite my joking with him earlier, he actually would have made a good henchman.

He didn't complain about the hours it took to move through the organization. He didn't say anything when I was meeting with various contacts, informants, or specialized underlings. He stood there; quiet in a way that meant he was all business calmly looking around. Those who met his eyes didn't look twice.

One of my younger contacts whom I used as a courier for some of our more legal operations asked me where I found the new guy. When I asked why he only said, 'Man looks like a stiff breeze would knock him over, but I wouldn't want to be the one to push him. Something about him makes me think it would be a bad idea, you know?'

I didn't disagree, but mostly because it amused me and I had to admit, somehow Danny did project a presence that made one wonder if there wasn't something more about him. That some of the ground floor guys thought so too lent him an air of legitimacy that I didn't want to break.

Though it did make me wonder if I would find some rumors on the Parahuman's Online about my new 'enforcer'.

Which was a fairly high possibly based on the things I was learning. Two Mauls breaking out of jail had caused all kinds of ripples that I was still thinking on as we headed to our last destination. Law enforcement was nervous and worse they seemed to be expecting something to go down. That meant there were eyes everywhere which was very inconvenient. Not to mention troubling.

Even if half of what I heard was wrong, and I doubted it was, that still meant local PD was out in force. Two Ward's teams had been seen several times moving through areas they usually avoided, and the Protectorate was moving deeper into gang territories. We didn't hold territory ourselves, but we had safe houses, storage, and other such places scattered through the city. It was only a matter of time before someone stumbled across any of them even if it was only by sheer chance.

With that unfortunate bit of business on my mind, we parked across from one of those safe houses. Well, it was more of a crash house. Or rather, it was originally supposed to be. Some of the guys had taken to living here so it was more accurate to say it was their place now.

Getting out with Danny not far behind me, I walked up to the house. Like the others in this part of the city, there wasn't much effort made to keep it up. The residences in this area were just happy to have a roof over their heads that didn't leak. Most of the time.

Inside was about what I expected to find after talking with a few people. Beer bottles were randomly strewn about, empty pizza boxes and other evidence of take out, and the piles of bodies in various states of unconsciousness.

The party I was told, which crawled through several pubs, bars, and streets, had been epic.

Shaking my head fondly at the mess, I turned to the only vaguely aware person in the room. Sam sat up awkwardly; his girlfriend whom I barely recognized lay across him drooling on his legs. Sam's normal dusky skin tone looked a little paler than usual as he rubbed his eyes looking around blurrily.

"When I heard," I said loudly making him wince and a few others to groan. Beside me Danny chuckled sympathetically for their reactions. "My first thought was wondering how much bail money I was going to need to acquire. Or if I would."

Sam blinked; trying to focus on me. Or, maybe it was my general direction. I couldn't decide which as I continued, "Judging from what people are saying and what I'm seeing; I take it that last night was suitably…historic?"

"Oh yeah," Sam replied; a goofy smile on his face as his glazed eyes finally seemed to find me. A few weak chuckles around the room and the girl in his lap drunkenly swatting at him for talking.

I rolled my eyes, "I don't suppose it's too much to ask if you know where Marcus is?"

"Yeah, he's back there," Sam said pointing his thumb over his shoulder. Further irritating the girl in his lap, he reached to the floor picking up someone's shoe and half tossed it over the back of the couch.

"Yo, get up."

My smile widened seeing Marcus's tousled head and squinting eyes as he looked around trying to figure out what was going on. My smile equally vanished when I noticed the a hand that wasn't his touching his chest through his open shirt.

"Marcus, a word?" I asked flatly. Something in my voice must have caught Danny's attention as he narrowed his own eyes. He wasn't the only one either.

Around the room a couple of others had started waking up. Two of them looked at me when I spoke. Sam looked between Marcus and me with a look of confusion bleeding into an understanding that he obviously didn't like.

Oblivious to all of this, Marcus nodded standing up and fixing his pants. I turned to Danny ignoring it. "I need to talk to Marcus for a moment. Alone."

Jaw clenched, Danny nodded, "Of course."

Lowing my voice so only he would hear me I said, "It's not your concern."

Frowning, Danny started to reply when I beat him to it still keeping my expression bland. My voice practically a barely audible hiss. "Let. It. Go."

I could tell he didn't want to, but Danny nodded anyway. Seeing it, I nodded back heading over to the large bay window facing the street to wait for Marcus keeping my back to everyone in the room.

"Renée," he greeted once he joined me.

Sidestepping his attempt to touch me, I asked, "Why didn't you pick up the package I left for Sister Mary?"

"Ma chère?"

"I left a package at my apartment," I re explained while forcing my voice even. "It was for Sister Mary's orphanage. I told you this before I left. Why didn't you pick it up?"

"We had the Lucy Job," Marcus slowly said.

"We weren't supposed to do that until next week."

"An opportunity came up. We used it."

"I see."

People were starting to get mobile. Shuffling of bodies or clothes as they righted themselves. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Danny watching us before Sam walked up to him and started talking.

"Renée…"

I cut him off, keeping my eyes on the street. "I take it by the party last night, the job went well? There were no complications?"

"It went very well," Marcus said clearly not liking ignoring the elephant in the room. "Everything went exactly as planned."

A gaggle of giggles turned my attention to a side door that lead into the living room. The lead girl took one look at me and turned around heading back where she came from, whispering something I couldn't hear to those behind her.

I nodded, at least we had that. "You know Two Mauls is out?"

"Yeah. Got out a couple of days ago."

"It's going to be a problem."

"What do you suggest?"

"Cut and shuffle," I answered. "Send everyone to ground."

"That...will inconvenience a lot of people," Marcus hedged.

"That is what the rainy day fund is for," I returned evenly.

Clinking of glasses broke the silence between us. Turning showed Danny standing at the kitchen island, six cups of...something in front of him as he explained to Sam something that had him nodding along. After a moment Danny started mixing things, still explaining while Sam watched with a look of disgusted fascination.

"Maybe. How long did you expect for us to be inactive?" Marcus asked bringing me back to business.

"Two weeks, maybe a month," I replied looking back outside. "Give the Protectorate a chance to catch him before he gets rolling. If they don't he should have calmed down by then or at least the balance in the city will even out. The others aren't going to be any happier he's back than we are."

Marcus sighed, "That's a long time for us to support people. It will be expensive."

"Going to jail is more cost intensive."

"True," Marcus said, but I could tell he didn't like my idea. His following words supported that. "I'll look into it. Talk to the others. We might be able to mitigate the risk without having to completely collapse everything for a month."

I bit my tongue to keep arguing. It wouldn't do any good. A barely stifled squeak behind me came from Marcus'...friend.

I turned just as she did and our eyes met. When they did hers widened. Where before she was frozen from whatever it was the Sam's girl said to her, right now she was shaking badly. Like a hare staring into the eyes of a wolf. Terrified to move, but desperate to be anywhere but right there.

The room quieted. I could feel Marcus's eyes were steadily on me. Others darted between us confused at what was going on. Sam and Danny's shown with concern and not a small bit of worry.

As casually as I could, I slowly turned back to the window. Before I could think on it too much, I noticed Marcus about to put his hand on my shoulder.

"You really don't want to touch me right now, Marcus," I whispered flatly since there was far too much attention on us at the moment. "More importantly, I don't want you to touch me."

Or ever again, I thought but didn't voice.

"Alright," He said folding his arms across his chest. "But we should talk, no?"

Turning from the window, I faced him. "Don't worry Marcus, I'm not going to hurt your little strumpet."

"That's a little uncalled for, isn't it chérie?"

I nodded slowly. "You're probably right. She didn't know better."

"I thought we agreed no personal attachments?"

"Do not get personally involved," I corrected flatly. "And we also agreed this wouldn't interfere in our work. But like I told you then, Marcus. I do not share and I most definitely will not accept second place. To anyone."

"So...that's it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Were you expecting something else?"

"Yes," He said seriously.

"Then I guess you really didn't know me as well as you thought you did."

"I supposed I didn't," Marcus muttered. "I should take care of that drop off then?"

"I already took care of it," I said. "But if you're looking for something to do, you might want to check on your friend. I think Sam's girl told her something she didn't like hearing. She looks a little...shook up."

"Mindy took her to the bathroom or something," Marcus said uncaringly. "So, who's the new face?"

"Talent from up north," I lied.

"Oh? What does he do?"

"Whatever I tell him to," I said.

"Ah," Marcus nodded slowly obviously understanding exactly what I meant.

"Well, I guess…"

"Goodbye, Marcus."

He blinked at my tone but nodded and left. Walking deeper into the house or something, I didn't turn around to check.

Dry swallowing, I kept my gaze on the street. I needed to get out of here.

"Hey," Sam whispered as he got next to me. "Renée, if I'd known…"

"You weren't supposed to, mon cher," I whispered back. "It would have caused...issues if it was known."

"If you say so. Still…"

"Let it go, Sam," I whispered back putting a bit of steel into my voice. "I really do not want to talk about this. Especially right now."

"Alright. Is there anything I can do?" He asked. "Anything. I'd do it, just say so."

I knew what he was really asking me. He wanted to know if I wanted either of them punished, or worse. But that was exactly the thing I didn't want. The divide in the ranks, this was the kind of thing that could ruin everything if not dealt with just right. And no matter how much I wanted differently, the Guild was more than just me. Others depended on us to keep to business.

Not that something like that would have stopped him from doing anything if I'd asked. Sam was a good friend like that and was always watching out for me. Had been since our shared time in the Street Rats.

I shook my head, "Nothing like that, but I do what you to keep an eye on Danny."

"New Guy?" Sam asked. "Where did you even find him?"

"Up north, why?" I asked turning to Sam.

"Just wondering," He answered. "He's not saying much, but wherever you found him they like to drink there. Man makes a foul hangover cure, but it works better than anything else I've ever had."

"Do we even stock things for that here?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Made it from shit lying around," Sam chuckled. "I asked him the same thing when he offered to make it. He said that every party house carried the same shit. Made a joke about how us kids think we invented everything. Then started mixing his brew."

Looking over to the man in question, I could see him handing out a couple of glasses. The people accepting them looked dubiously at the contents and it wasn't hard to tell who had already tired Danny's brew. They were smirking and waiting for the next sucker to ante up.

"Take care of him," I said. "And make sure he gets back to my apartment before it gets too late. We're supposed to have dinner with Penny tonight."

"Where you going?" At my look, Sam held up his hands. "Hey, I'm just asking ma chère."

"Out," I answered as I headed for the door.

Stepping outside, I took a deep breath ruthlessly clenching my gut.

I wasn't going to cry.

Walking alone down the quiet city street I repeated it over and over in my head. Like a mantra to focus on. Thinking maybe, if I thought it enough times, I might actually start to believe it.

It didn't work, but then again, I really didn't expect it too. I was able to hold it in until I was around the corner and far out of sight before I felt the first tears spill. Quickly finding a place to hide was easy, and there I stayed for a long time.

I shook my head wiping my face. I knew what I was getting into with Marcus. I knew what kind of guy he was. I thought maybe...for me, he would have been different. We'd known each other for a long time. He'd always been a bit...well, free with his affections but… And then when I was around he was different.

Sighing I leaned against the wall of the half broken house I'd taken refuge in. Should have known better. I did know better but was it so wrong to have something like that of my own? Why was it every guy I might even be slightly interested in was either too freaked out or an asshole?

Then again, I didn't exactly have a good circle of acquaintances either. The pool of potentials was kinda slim, even without other issues that surrounded me.

The street lights outside lighting up told me it was getting late. I needed to get a grip on myself. If anyone saw me like this…

I shook my head. No, I wasn't that little girl anymore. Huddled in a corner of some powerless building. Cold, alone, hungry, weak. No, I beat the odds. I survived. I was better now. Things were better. I was Gambit now not the little orphan Renée. And Gambit didn't get her...

Shattering glass and tearing metal forced my attention down the street. Whatever it was, wasn't visible yet but I could hear distant shouting, curses, and other familiar noises that could only be one thing.

Cape fight.

"Why not?" I chuckled humorlessly, getting up I took to the street, heading toward all the noise. "It's not like anything else has gone right today."