Chapter 3: Steelport Here I Am
Three hours later, me and Pierce returned to the apartment.
Pierce opened his mouth but I put a hand out, "They're probably asleep," I say.
"No such luck," Boss calls out from the cramped kitchen, Pierce shrugs as he walks past me, but I drop onto the couch before he can, earning a whine as I stretch out.
"How'd it go?" Boss asks, her eyes roving over our bodies, taking in the new bullet holes in mine and Pierce's clothes.
"Caught them with their trousers down, Literally," I smirked, Pierce smiled too, "we found their spot then looked for a back alley. As we went over the fence, we caught one of their Specialists giving head to a grunt, both had headphones on pounding bass, so the dumb bitch didn't notice us until his dick went limp and looked up to a bullet hole between his eyes, Pierce completed the set with a second headshot.
We then slipped round the corner and hit them from behind, that Peacekeeper is a right beast point blank," I finished.
"And we even got you a little present," Pierce added and threw a Ib bag at her holding at least two different kinds of drugs.
"Not bad, nice work," Boss congratulated.
"I take it the crew found somewhere else?" I ask.
"Yeah, and there's a spare bed if you want it, Pierce," Boss replied.
"Sweet, no offence, but I was not looking forward to sleeping here," Pierce said.
"Not my place," I said, shrugging.
"None taken, here's the address," Boss held out a slip of paper which Pierce took excitedly and hurried out, slamming the door on the way.
When I heard the street level door slam, I then fixed Boss with a shrewd look, "It's just a frame and mattress, isn't it?"
Boss looked away sheepishly and giggled, that's right giggled, "God, he'll never stop bitching now!" I groan.
Boss shrugged, then fixed me with a worried look, "How's Gat?"
"Pretty good, considering he swallowed a scrapyard, Doc's want to keep him in for a fortnight after he recovers, so expect a Jailbreak in a few days, a week at most," I reply, I watch as I feel a tug on my heart as she sighs openly in relief, "He means a lot to you."
Boss nodded as she walked over and sat next to me, "he's like a big brother to me, when I first joined the Saints, more often than not, it was me and Gat paired up and shortly after killing Tanya Winters we became inseparable… well, nearly. Johnny had a girlfriend named Aisha who he'd move the world for, I admit I was jealous at first, but like Gat, she became my sister too."
"Aisha? The singer?" I already know but I have to ask, though truthfully it is quite unbelievable to hear it yourself.
"Yeah, I know," Boss said, tears suddenly spilling down her cheeks, "I miss her," she whispered.
"Hey," I say softly, putting my arm around her slender waist and pulling her close, wiping away a few tears with my other hand, "It's ok, wherever she is, I bet she's missing you guys too. I doubt she'd want you to cry, I think she'd want you to live for her. Although, I think she'd want Gatsby to behave too."
Boss gave a wet chuckle and kissed me on the cheek, "Thanks."
"Want me to stay with you?" I ask, trying hard to ignore the burning in my cheeks.
"No, it's ok. Thanks though," she replies, squeezes my hand in thanks and gets up.
"Hey, sweet dreams," I call out as she reaches the door, she smiles at me and heads into the bedroom, where Shaundi is snoring very softly.
After an hour of watching TV, I laid back using my torn blazer as a blanket and went to sleep.
"…I don't love Them…"
"You think I care?!"
"If you started acting like a Father, you would!"
I winced at that, God knows I love the girl more than life, but she lacks subtlety, if this doesn't end quick she'll blow our secret wide open, with her punished and me lost to the void twixt heaven and hell.
"I'm looking out for your best interests, Jezebel…" Satan tried to explain.
"You Don't care about my happiness, this is about you" I felt my heart stop as my body froze, 'Dear God, Jez Don't!'
"If you just stopped…"
"YOU WILL MARRY THAT SAINT AND I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD!" for the first time in my immortal life I was thanking God for my boss' temper, I flattened my body against the wall as the big man stomped past, I was invisible, not intangible.
"I won't do it!" Jezebel said quietly, her father turned around, surprised at her defiance, looking inside I could see the defiance burning in her eyes as our eyes met, she was the only person who could see through my invisibility.
'Not Good!'
"You think… just because you're my daughter… you're above it all?" he demanded.
"Schemes are in motion. Your choice, become a wife or a thrall…"
My body turned to ice… 'No, prince of bastards or no, he couldn't… not his own daughter?'
"Celestial Light does not shine here," he said coldly, "there are no happy endings."
He took a step towards the door, towards me, "your blood will not save, you belong to me and I'm giving you away. Disobey, and my hand will be cruel."
I felt the flash flame through the wall as he left, as I stepped off the wall I heard Jez mutter, "Never!"
"We'll find a way, Jez," I told her as I walked over, she glared at the floor as I sat next to her and slid my arms around her, "even if I have to call in that favour from Peter."
Her head spun to me, her beautiful violet eyes wide in disbelief, "you'd do that? For me?"
I kissed her softly then rested my forehead on hers, "I love you more than life itself, you might be his daughter but you have no sins to your name, Peter knows most mortal governments don't punish children for the sins of their fathers, he'll never live it down if I call him on his hypocrisy in front of the Old Man."
"But that would leave you here with father," she said fearfully.
"And every second will be bearable knowing you are safe," I told her firmly…
Clang! Crash!
I was jerked awake by several pans crashing in the kitchen, jerking me from my dream… was it a dream?
I grabbed my Eos and flipped off the safety, only to spin around and find a half asleep Shaundi, who blinks twice and throws her hands up.
"Hey, put that down!"
"Don't scare the daylights out o' me then," I retort, I set the safety and put it back, as I look back I realise Shaundi's in a sport's bra and very tiny shorts like knickers.
"Well, you're no gentleman," Shaundi taunted as she saw me staring as she bent over to reach the pans.
"Gentlemen are born north of the Thames, I was born south of it," I retort, earning a small smile from the brunette, "besides, you'd probably be more upset with me if I didn't pay such a beautiful form as yours its due attention."
Shaundi actually blushed and looked away from me as Boss stepped out, also in very little which highlighted her wider hips and high bust that had to be at least two cup sizes bigger than Shaundi, surprisingly both were the same height in bare feet, "Morning."
"You alright?" I ask, our eyes lock as Shaundi looks on suspiciously.
"Yeah, thanks for last night," Boss replied, then turning to Shaundi, "What's for breakfast?"
Shaundi shook her head, "Oh no, what happened last night?" she demanded.
"Boss needed a hug after reminiscing a lost friend and you were asleep," I snark.
"Oh, you aren't blaming me!" Shaundi snaps back.
"Then stay awake next time," I retort, Shaundi huffs in annoyance as Boss holds up her hands.
"Alright, enough. Now, what's for breakfast?" Boss says, ending the argument.
"A bit of everything, surprisingly," I raise an eyebrow at that, when I was at Uni variety was a bit of a luxury.
"I'll just have some toast and bacon," Boss says.
"I'll have toast, hash browns and pork sausages if there are any," I call out as I pull my shirt on.
"What do I look like, the damn maid?" Shaundi demands, hands on her hips.
"You'd look cute in the outfit," Boss and I chorus, I look over at Boss and our eyes meet, I give her a smile and turn back to Shaundi who is looking very annoyed, missing Boss' blush.
"You deal with the toast and hash browns, I'll do the bacon and sausages," I suggest, walking over to the fryer.
"Ok," she says, then walks over to the cupboard, "Thank God Pierce wasn't here to hear that," I hear her mutter, I glance over at Boss who grins mischievously back, guess I wasn't the only one who heard.
Forty minutes later, the three of us huddled around the table eating when Boss' phone rang.
"Pierce, how was your evening?" Boss asked, grinning into the mouthpiece.
"Terrible, and you knew didn't you?" Pierce whined accusingly.
"Want some cheese to go with that whine?" I call out, earning a grin from the girls.
"I heard that Black!" was the quick retort.
"Anyway, we need to get a new place, that studio shit, ain't working at all."
"Spend too much time in posh hotels?" Boss teases.
"I can't help it if the rest of the world treats the Saints right," Pierce responds.
"Doesn't mean we should get soft," Boss argues.
"I here you, listen, I was thinking that, after breakfast, we go out and see what Steelport has to offer?" Pierce suggests.
"Sounds good, I'll meet you in the park about eleven with Orion," Boss agrees.
"Do you really need to bring that Brit? I mean, he's a good shot an' all but he ain't me or Shaundi," Pierce comments.
"And this Brit knows how to hold a grudge," I mutter threateningly, just loud enough for Pierce to hear.
There's an audible gulp as Boss chuckles, "I remember a similar amount of blood the day you joined Pierce, you didn't seem like much then either but look at you now."
"Point, alright I'll see you two at eleven. Park in Sunset Park, right?" Pierce concedes.
"Alright, see you there," Boss says, ending the call.
"Another day, another Dollar," I mutter, throwing my plate and cutlery into the sink, "Shall we take my car?" I ask Boss as I walk over to collect my blazer and boots.
"You have a car? Already?" Boss asked incredulously.
"Yeah, a dark blue Phoenix," Shaundi answers for me.
"Won't sit three," I point out.
"Fine, we'll jack something on the way," Boss says, backing down and heading into the bedroom.
Twenty minutes later I'm leaning against a lamp post eyeing the parked cars as I wait for Boss, my eyes fall onto a recently vacated Eiswolf.
"Ready?" I glance over my shoulder to see Boss stop behind me wearing tight, Lycra-like Saint's Purple pants (that she probably borrowed from Shaundi given the way the seams look ready to burst), black leather heeled boots that reached the top of her shin with the pant legs tucked in and a black leather coat over a tight purple tank top (again like Shaundi's).
"Waiting on you," I reply truthfully, "some poor sods just left their Eiswolf lying around, think we should relieve them of it?"
"Of course," Boss replied, smiling at me, I wait for the back flip feeling to die before following her, but I keep an eye on the way she breaks into and hotwires the car, taking notes.
The ride to the park was refreshingly calm, Boss tuning in to Classic 102.4 as we rolled onto the bridge.
"So, what's your story?" I was slightly taken aback by the question.
"Pardon?"
"Where'd you come from? When'd you come to Steelport?" Boss shot me a curious look, but there was something in her eyes.
"I was born in Mayday Hospital in Croydon, London, twenty three years ago. My parents moved to Chicago eight years ago, four years ago I moved to Stillwater.
I avoided most of the gang fighting, arriving after you were nicked but before the break out, had a few run ins with the Brotherhood where I learned my way around the common guns used, rarely held onto any due to lack of ammunition and the fact they were dirty.
I left town after a… a fight with a Masako chasing Shaundi," I can't keep myself from hesitating as I mention that fight or from rubbing the scar, both of which Boss takes note of, "Spent the rest of my time here, running errands before I was hired by Loren two months later, mostly standing around doing nothing until I was assigned to that plane, the rest is History."
Boss glanced at me then turned back to the road, driving in silence until we reached the Park, parking on the pavement opposite a car park.
"You know, if I didn't feel like I was being watched I could just kick back on a bench and relax here for a few hours," I comment after we get out.
"I know what you mean," Boss says, giving me a look I miss as I gaze around the park, we both look around as a car pulls up behind us.
"Hey Boss," Pierce calls as he gets out.
"Hey," Boss greets him, "Jump in."
As I get in, I catch a whine from Pierce as we have a better car.
"This car could use a little tunin'. Let's find a Rim Jobs and get it cleaned up," Pierce says as we pull away.
"There's one North of here, on the river bank in the Steel Mills," I call out.
"Nice work, thanks Orion," Boss replies.
As we get a block from the park, Pierce looks to Boss, "Shaundi's taking this thing with Gat pretty hard."
"I'm not exactly happy either!" Boss retorted sharply.
"I know, but you're always pissed off. Our girl's not as crazy as you," Pierce argues.
"She'll be fine. I have faith in her," Boss says reassuringly.
"How long you been rolling with Gat anyway?" Pierce asks.
"Since I first joined the Saints. Been a while now," Boss replies.
"Shit, what was he like back then?"
"He took a 12 gauge buck round to the knee at point blank and kept going… Then Aisha died… he hasn't been the same since," Boss answered after a moment.
"Shit," Pierce mutters.
After twenty minutes of silent driving, we arrive at Rim Jobs, I get out and barely keep an ear open as Boss chats with the mechanic over what she wants done and whether she can afford it.
The mods take a little over two hours, most of which is spent playing cards.
Pierce looked pretty smug as they got back in, Boss too looked pretty pleased with the result. "Car's got some style, now it's our turn, head for Planet Saints."
"Narcissistic much," Boss commented.
"Yeah, that's like wearing the band shirt to the concert, Pierce," I add as the car rolls onto the bridge.
"Nothing wrong with wantin' to look good," Pierce replies defensively.
"I don't need any help there," Boss sarcastically retorts.
I chuckle lightly at the look on Pierce's face, before he turns his attention to the Radio, "we need some drivin' music."
"So long as it's good," Pierce looks at us in surprise as Boss and I exchange a look in the rear view mirror, 'that is really odd,' I thought.
Pierce went through a few stations before settling on a familiar song.
"Shit you remember this?" Pierce asked.
"This was like, my highschool," Boss replied.
I couldn't help but join in as they sang along, "Early in the Morning…"
Boss had just walked out of the changing room, I'd decided on a black jacket over a Saints purple V-neck t-shirt, jeans and black boots, when Pierce spoke up.
"Time to g… what the hell is that thing?"
I looked round just in time to see one of Oleg's test tube brothers launch a car in the air, fortunately not ours, "Ambush!"
Boss pulled her Shepard as Pierce pulled a Kobra out of his pocket, I snatched the Ultimax from under the counter and turned around, ducking instinctively as someone outside fired.
"We need to get outside," I said, firing a buck round into a Morningstar that got too close.
"But that thing can't get us here," Pierce whined, downing another Morningstar.
"But the other bastards have us lit up like a whorehouse on payday!" I shouted, I made my mind up and charged out, putting a round into the Brute's knee, putting it down for a second, racking the pump and blowing the head off a Morningstar's shoulders as I jumped over the bonnet of his car and took cover behind it.
I fired and dropped the second Morningstar behind the car, having caught the bitch by surprise, and started reloading when both Pierce and Boss dropped in beside me.
"Welcome to the party," I greeted, blind firing over the bonnet as Boss grabbed the Tek Z-10 dropped by the first Morningstar and Pierce grabbed the K-8 from the second.
"I say again, what the hell is that thing?" Pierce asked, his voice an octave higher.
"Something very, very angry," Boss replied, emptying a clip into it and not showing much for it.
"You know that super soldier thing I mentioned Loren trying," I said as the Brute finally got up and started hobbling its way over, "and Shaundi said we'd never find out? Well, I think we just did."
"Run!"
We all ran as the Brute built up to a slow jog and bulldozed the car, Pierce and I took the opportunity to waste the last Morningstar grunts.
"He just tossed a Fucking car!" Boss yelled, making us turn around, the Justice barrel rolled three times before stopping on its roof.
"That dude on steroids or something?" Pierce asked incredulously.
"Or something sounds about right," I said, watching the brute limp to face us I screwed up my courage.
"What are you…" I missed her shout as I ran at the thing, I barely ducked the punch as I reached it, I fired once into its leg, making it roar, I had just enough time to rack the pump and fire point blank into its eye before the second swing sent me thirty feet into a wall.
My head's ringing, I can't hear anything and I'm seeing double, I barely respond as Boss and Pierce lift me up and drag me to the car.
We're on the freeway by the time my hearing comes back.
"…but the way he was shrugging off bullets?" Pierce said incredulously.
"Probably what everyone thinks when Gatsby does the same thing," I mutter.
"Orion?"
"You ok, man?" Pierce asked, giving me a quick look over.
"Someone get the number of that train," I reply, then remember what I just did to get in this shape, "it's dead, right?" I ask hopefully.
"You blew the top of its head off, so I hope so," Pierce said nervously.
"We need to carry bigger guns from now on," I say aloud.
"I hear that," Pierce says as Boss turns into the garage.