Chapter 5
One shot- everything rides on tonight.
Even if I have three strikes.
'Imma go for it
This moment- we own it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. And the song, by the way, is the theme song of Fast Six. It's called 'We Own It' by Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz.
There were times when Owen Shaw made no sense at all. It was during these times that it cost Brian a lot to trust him. Sure, they were partners and all, but that meant absolutely nothing in a job. It was while they were planning on how to tackle these jobs that one could see where both Owen and he differed.
While he preferred a logical approach- one that was stealthy and wouldn't catch attention and the media's attention, Owen went for the opposite. To Owen, the more the people knew about their actions, the better because there was more fear.
And like many times, Brian found himself questioning Owen again. Why would Shaw call him? Brian was already done with his part- his side of the job was completed! What was Owen playing?
'Trust him. Just this once...trust him.' Brian always had some sort of conflict whenever Owen did this. And just like always, he chose to trust Owen. It wasn't that trusting Owen was bad in itself, as in almost-gets-you-killed- type of way, but more like one were you know you will be used like a common tool.
"Brian."
"Just behind you, Shaw."
The connection crackled a bit but then, "There are two after me. Toretto and that Hobbs. Get rid of Toretto."
"Ten- Four. On my way."
The customized engine growled as he swerved besides Toretto's car just as Owen pulled into the highway and through some posts in the middle of the street. Toretto and Hobbs kept up and Brian found himself impressed again by this team.
And not just that, but the seemingly implicit trust a criminal had on a pig was astounding in itself. To do that sort of thing was just impossible in his eyes. No one had the balls to work with a high-up cop; bribe, yes, but not work like comrades.
Brian accelerated until he was running up ahead of Toretto and then spun the vehicle around to face the other driver. He didn't blink as he met the other man's gaze, intent in winning a battle of wills. And somehow- he didn't how- but it felt familiar, like he had done this before and countless times.
But that was impossible because he didn't know Toretto. 'But Owen does know them. Somehow...'
At that moment, he stopped the car and watched gleefully as a look of utter surprise, shock and utter bewilderment came over Toretto's face as Toretto's car drove into the ramp on his flip-car and flipped in the air once-twice, then skid wonderfully on the street's pavement.
But Toretto survived; he could see the big man struggle to get out of the confines of his car before it became a bomb. 'That was okay though,' Brian thought calmly, 'I think Owen wants them alive...for now.'
Owen, always resembling a spoiled child, was playing a game. Brian was sure of it.
"Brian?"Owen's voice came through the com, eliciting a few blinks from Brian before the blonde responded, "Hmm?"
"How is Toretto?"
'I knew it! He's playing another one of his games.' Brian thought darkly, "Alive but dealt with."
"Good. Head back to base. We have lots to do."
'Owen...something tells me you were expecting them to join us here in London, and Hobbs has nothing to do with this. What are you hiding?'He'd have to talk to Kumiko about this, she would have an idea about what to do.
For now, he had to content himself with following Owen's lead- however dangerous it might prove.
Dominic Toretto couldn't believe his eyes.
'The Buster finally managed to drive a car!' And on top of that, Brian had managed to best him- and Dom lost badly with a dislocated arm and a totally trashed car. Whatever had happened to the former cop had managed to get out of him an experienced driver with enough balls to take him on.
Mia would take a kick out of that one. And not just that but he managed to see that Brian truly was alive like he'd been told.
The team had made their way back to base with bruised pride but ready to take Owen Shaw and Brian head on now that they knew how they operated. This job would take more careful planning than others because this time, it wasn't just a sleazy drug lord but a pair of perfectly knowledgeable former-cop/operatives.
"So he's alive huh?" Roman asked a bit put down after today's events.
"He said that already, man!" Tej called, "Keep up!"
Dom was more concerned with Mia's response, however when he looked around for his baby sister, she was nowhere to be seen. As was Letty. He found the pair in front of Mia's destroyed car.
How's it going, girl?" Letty approached Mia.
Mia had sat on the hood of her car since they had arrived from the last disastrous drive. The woman had paced constantly before sitting again- then continuing the process again. It had been a mind-blowing experience, something that had left them all shocked and speechless, to see him alive.
"He's alive, Letty."
Letty tilted her head, furrowing a brow, "And somehow you're not happy." It was a statement. Everybody was upset. Every single guilty feeling had been dug up again and she herself admitted it that seeing the Buster alive was more than she could handle in a day. Then coupled with the fact that they were against impossible odds- well...it tended to dishearten people.
"He's not there. Our Brian isn't there, Letty. That's a new Brian in there. I know I'm selfish…but I want him- our Brian-here."
Letty understood. She really did. But at this rate- after all the damage had been done, what could she do? After all the mess had been sorted, there was still something running underneath and they had missed it. She wasn't a superhero. She was a fugitive; a title she shared with everyone of her friends, she couldn't change anything even if she wanted to.
Brian was one of those things she had no control of. She had been perfectly content in doing that last run alone, but he had insisted. She had(back then) underestimated how much Brian actually cared about the team. She hadn't thought him willing enough to sacrifice everything he had known for something whose concept he was barely grasping.
But of one thing she was certain. She knew that the team; especially Dom, Mia and her, would go against hell to get their own back. No matter the odds. And they were going to fix the mess they had dug themselves in and come to terms with their own demons. She couldn't fix whatever damage this new Brian had done, but they would all work from there and see where it took them.
"We'll get him back, Mia. Don't worry. We'll get him back." A pause before she smiled sweetly, "At least he learned to drive, no? What he did back there took out Dom; and that's almost impossible, sweetie."
Mia shot her the most poisonous of glares before her face softened and she let out a chuckle.
Letty laughed, 'Oh yes, always defending her man. That jerk better take good care of her when this is all over.'
"Okay, listen up!" Owen Shaw was more than a bit concerned, Kumiko could tell, "That was a different breed than the usual of Hobbs' wanna be warriors. We need to know who they are, what they're made of...Vegh."
Vegh stood up and within her grasp, a bunch of files that were immediately thrown on the table as she listed them off, "Ortiz, Parker, Pierce, Toretto, and the rest of them."
Ivory picked up a file then looked up, disbelief coloring his features, "These are ordinary, common criminals."
Kumiko would have said something degradatory to Ivory just because she was feeling annoyed, but it was Owen who spoke first, "These common criminals were one step away from taking us down- show them the respect they deserve, or it weakens us."
'Well said, Owen.' Kumiko thought as she rifled through the files with nonchalant interest. She had seen the way the Toretto crew had done its job. It was professional and coordinated, something like theirs, but she wasn't too hot of the fact that they were working with a cop.
Yet, Kumiko wouldn't judge someone just because of their company. That was the most foolish thing she could do here, and it would not pay to make a mistake in the company of most surprising thing was that Owen expressed no sense of unsettlement because of their new foes. Kumiko however, discovered a further shocking thing that night.
Jah looked up from a file, "Shaw? You might 'wanna see this." Jah gave Owen a certain paper attached to another. The curiosity she felt at seeing the flash of recognition in Owen's face would not be satisfied until she saw the paper with her own two hands. But no; Owen gave the paper first to Brian, who took it into his hands with hesitance and a look of careful curiosity. Everyone waited with baited breaths as Brian studied the picture with the professional overlook he gave at the picture further showing he had been more than just a criminal before he became amnesiac.
"Do you remember?" Owen asked emotionlessly.
Brian clearly took care in how he responded, as clearly just a 'No' would not suffice. "That's the woman I saw...back there when I helped Jake and Adolfson."
Owen crosses his arms over his chest as Klaus, who is peeking over Brian's shoulder comments offhandedly, "You look happy."
"Hmm, I guess..." Brian murmurs as he tosses the picture back to the table, "I wouldn't know."
The picture shows a man and a woman looking at each other as they sit in a booth at some restaurant. The man- Brian- has curly locks, to Kumiko's endearment, and there is clear love in both him and the delicate brown-haired then Kumiko shakes her head inwardly, 'She ain't delicate if she managed to drive a car and give those dumbasses trouble.' What confuses her most if the nonchalance Brian exhibits about his past, 'Is he really not curious? I would be...but is he?'
She imagined that if something like memory-loss affected her, she would do everything in her power to get her memories back. It was slightly disheartening and confusing when Brian refused to do more than throw away a picture that clearly showed he used to have what she wanted right forgive her for turning into a love-sick romantic, but she wanted to Brian had. She wanted a sense of normalcy- a sign that she wasn't a criminal with no heart. Brian had that, 'So why isn't he doing anything about it? Not even asking if he can keep it or something!'
"That's bullshit! You should remember." Denlinger accused making Kumiko sigh tiredly. Ever since Brian had met Denlinger, they had been at each other's throats. If Denlinger had any chance in making Brian fall, he would take it.
"Well then, I guess I'm going to have to disappoint you huh?" Brian mocked before Owen decided he had enough amusement.
"He doesn't remember." Owen said, motioning to Brian, "Names and records aren't enough. I want personal information- dealing with their lives, their minds...find their weaknesses and we will exploit them." He explained, brushing past Brian as he headed who knows where.
The rest of his team followed Owen, and only Brian's team stayed behind; observing the blonde as he went through each and every file.
'Mia. Mia Toretto.'
Another chapter for you guys! Thanks to those who have taken the time to review.
Solari Crystal
