As a foreword this chapter has drug references (As if that was unexpected from Saints Row). However if you are not ok with this please be warned as I will not change a universe to suit others.
"Hey puff puff pass bitch."
Jessie rolled her eyes as she listened to the other Saints cussing each other out as they smoked in the bar of the hideout, her own fingers wrapped around a beer and holding a cig. The arguing over blunts didn't bother her though. It was actually reassuring, in a weird sort of way. Only weeks ago the Saints had been obliterated and now they were growing in numbers again. Some new members were from the areas they had recently taken over, mostly Ronin that decided to join before they got capped. It felt like her secondary family was back, and this time she didn't have to bind her tits to get respect. They all knew she had led the Saints in those days leading up to the explosion, they knew what she was made of and knew she was supposed to be here at the top. A small indulgent smile crossed her lips as she watched Shaundi try to get more people into the random hackie sack game she and a couple others were having, her mind on the sensation of being home.
"Boss you keep smiling and some of those kids are gonna think you like them." came a masculine voice she couldn't confuse for anyone else. Her free hand rose with her middle finger saluting her best friend as she let a chuckle slip between her lips. "I was not giving those kind of smiles so shut it. Thought you'd be with Eesh?"
"Nah. She and I are arguing again." Came his response as he reached around her and took her beer from her hand. Jessie gave him a death glare that was ignored as he lifted the bottle to his lips. "Hey that's... fuck it... And how the hell did you manage to get in trouble after being out for like two weeks?"
"Talent."
"Not funny Johnny. What did you do?"
Johnny let out a sigh and lowered the bottle, watching the others along side his best friend and boss. "She is acting all aggro for no fuckin reason. Keeps saying I come out too much or whatever. Not like I ain't trying to help run a gang or nothing right? Anyways I told her I wanted to check on a few things for the Ronin shit for when we clean the money and suddenly she blows up on me for nothing."
"Ya know she could just be pissed that you took that money from Poisiden's there without asking her opinion on it." Jess said softly, her leather clad legs crossing at the ankles as her hand lifted her cig to her lips. Johnny glanced at her and shrugged, his own body leaning against the wall that had been holding her up. "I dunno Je... Boss. You are probably right. She did tell me to make sure I bring you by soon by the way. Just... I dunno... Sometimes I wonder how she stands me. We ain't a thing a like ya know?"
"Beats me. You being a diva and all." Jessie quipped, choosing to ignore the fact he almost slipped with her real name. She was more worried with how her best friend was acting than with him slipping with her name in front of people. While most thought Johnny to be all hard assed and psychotic, which he was, Jessie knew better. She knew the nicer side he showed only a very small handful of people. Him coming to her with an issue though was normally out of the question, especially if he wasn't asking her to help but just venting. "You know she loves you right? You just put yourself on the line too much and it worries her."
"I put my ass on the line far less than you do. I mean between the strongholds, running everything, doing shit to get Saint rep raised, and taking on the gangs and their leaders yourself... Yeah I practically got nothing to do half the time. Same for Shaundi, Peirce and Carlos."
Jessie shrugged her shoulders, knowing better than to look into his eyes when she was gonna give up some emotional things in her head. "Just don't wanna lose anymore people. I mean I am still fucked up over Lin ya know? She was like a role model for me. She didn't give a fuck if people knew she was a chick. She owned being a bad ass chick while I hid behind baggy clothes and hoodies. And I look at these guys and see a family. I don't wanna lose my family again, ya know?"
"I get that... But seriously you need to take some time for yourself. Otherwise you are gonna burn out... or get killed."Johnny replied softly, his concern easy for her to pick up in his voice. He groaned and gently punched her in the arm as he stands straight, his bum knee taking the longest to straighten out. "Come on. Let's head up to the house. Maybe you can get me out of trouble."
"Grab Pierce then. I think the hit on the casino is gonna be in the news tonight." Jessie tells him, her body stretching as she stands up straight. "I'll meet you guys there. Wanna take a ride and stop by my brother's place to check on him."