Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Chapter 2:
"That kid is timid, but yet, he's quick on his feet...but...he also a bit of a problem when it comes to keeping his nose out of other peoples business," the man looked back at the bar as he wiped it down and then proceeding to clean a cup, "Especially business regarding the Mob."
The blonde wasted no time in dumping the dirty dishes into the wash as he saw the other Kitchen Hands cleaning and some cooking up the food that made the patrons return. It may have been the food that brought them back, but those who worked at the Jazz Club knew it wasn't the food; it was the music, the music that floated from the Hall and onto the streets of the town of Brooklyn.
The music continued to kick up and then it slowed down slightly to a small pace to allow the band to catch up from the last moment of wild fun that had been started by Jazz Master Demyx.
"Oh boy, the Musician tonight sure struck up storm, didn't he, he sure knows how to bring them, huh?" the teen asked no one in particular as he washed the dishes while a young woman with long jet black hair rushed about trying to fill orders.
"Huh…what did you say, I'm sorry kid; this place is so crazy tonight. Yeah, Jazz Master Demyx sure knows how to bring in the crowds, but you've got to wonder why the Boss hired him," the young woman brushed a stray strand of black hair from tan complex skinned face, "When that kid first came here; he wasn't all that good, but out of the blue, he gets good...I've got a theory."
"What's your theory?" the teen put the wet dishes aside after drying them.
"It's nothing...just grown up talk," the young woman seemed rational and calm until she slammed a hand onto the kitchen counter, "I ORDERED A NEW YORK STEAK WITH A LOADED POTATO OVER AN HOUR AGO! WHAT IS TAKING YOU SCREW HEADS SO LONG TO GET MY ORDER?!"
The sound of a bell ringing and the dish sliding through the muttering and mumbled complaining of the Chef was heard, "Thank You, Cid!"
"That woman has one sharp tongue, and people ask me why I still work here when I get the same, almost the same, attitude from my wife back home, I swear," Chef Cid remakred through a cigarette clenched in his teeth as he went back to muttering and mumbling about the Waitress who had just been in the kitchen.
"Ms. Lockhart does have a sharp tongue, but maybe that's why she's paid more then you," the teen scoffed, but he would learn to regret those words the moment he heard the sound of kitchen tools dropped and the heavy stomping of the Chef stomping up behind him.
His hands were wrenched out of the soapy water as he was spun around by his wrists so that he was staring into the fiery, red glare of the angered chef; grease was splattered on the man's face, "You know what kid, you just earned yourself a visit to the Boss' Office, come on, let's go," Cid said as he grabbed the teen by the lobe of his ear and gruffly dragged him to the Manager's office.
All the teen could do was silently curse under his breath, as he seethed from the fiery pain shooting through his ear.
"OKAY! OKAY! OW! I'M COMING WITH YOU! YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOLD ON TO MY EAR!" the teen bellowed through the loud hall as the music was in full swing again as Cid lead the kid through the backside of the Club.
"So, is this place he said we are to enter through?" a man with striped hair asked their lead man as he leaned against the wall while watching his watch.
"Yes, but it's not time yet," another man, with sideburns, remarked as he kept his eyes peeled on the alleyway.
"Just chill, Xigbar, you are too tense...just listen to the Jazz flowing out...once the kid is done for the night, then we can go in," a fiery red haired man remarked as he blew off a plume of smoke from the small cigarette clenched in his teeth, "Besides, we don't need the outside World knowing our dirty work, Hmph, idiot."
"Will both of you just SHUT UP!" the side burned man shouted as kicked over a trash can.
The sound of a door opening beside them changed the situation, "Are you idiots trying to attract attention? Come on, my Boss is waiting," Squall leered at the men.
Cid was making his way to the Boss' office when he heard the sound of Squall and the men walking to the office, "I'll let you off this time, but just this once! You hear me?" Cid brushed the kid off.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, geez, take it easy, Old Man," the teen scoffed sarcastically, but he felt something more then ear yanking from before.
His head stung with pain from Cid slugging him in the head.
"Watch your mouth you little punk, now, get your butt back to work," Cid shoved the teen back to the kitchen as Cid stayed back for a moment, "This 'Deal' better go down the right way, Squall, or else there will be Hell to pay and I don't mean in money..."
The teen made his way back to the kitchen, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of his head that was telling him to go back.
Or maybe it was because the MC was behind him, "Hey kid, what are you doing here at the Club still?" the platinum blonde haired man dipped his hat low as did his eyes.
"I work here...and was on my way back to work," the teen lied through his teeth.
"Oh really, why don't we go have a little chat with the Boss, shall we?" the man tipped the hat up with his hand and cradled the teens shoulders as if ushering a sheep to the slaughter.
The teen gulped hard as he was lead down the dark hall back to the office; he could hear men talking, and it grew louder with each faithful step until the sound of a struggle could be heard and guns drawn.
"PUT THOSE THINGS AWAY YOU IDIOTS!" a gruff voice shouted as the sound of hand slamming on the table was heard.
"I WOULD RATHER DIE IN PLACE OF GIVING UP MY BUSINESS TO YOU THUGS!" the all too familiar voice of Mr. Wise shouted; his voice was angered and defensive.
"That could be arranged," the gruff voiced man responded; as the sound of the hammer cocking back on his pistol could be heard and the slight gasp of the older gentlemen, Mr. Wise, as he gasped at the thought that his life was about to end in this office.
"Xaldin! If you do this, the Boss will find out and he'll have OUR heads," the fiery red head shouted as he holstered his pistol and tried to knock some sense into the muscle headed man.
The MC knocked lightly on the door as he did the coded knock as Mr. Wise called out, "Come in, Luxord," he straightened his shirt and tie as the others moved to the walls to hide in the shadows of the room.
"You should know, I'm not alone...it seems one of your little mice was still scurrying about after business hours," Luxord's muffled voice came through the door.
"Great, now we have a witness," Xigbar whispered as he leaned next to the fiery red head who had removed his pistol, but waited as the hand of Xaldin told him other wise.
"Come in, it's not like there isn't anything to hide," Mr. Wise played along with the mood of the room.
Luxord led the young teen in as he shoved him forward towards the desk; it was too much at once as the young teen tried to get his locked one thing and only one thing. "Well, well, Roxas, what do I owe the pleasure of this?" Mr. Wise leaned forward onto his desk, never once removing his eyes from the other men around the room.
"Damn it!" Cid cursed softly under his breath as tried not to slam a hand against the wall from where he and Squall were watching.
"Chill, Cid, chill," Squall reprimanded through gritted teeth as he lightly elbowed him.
The men on the walls began to make their moves as the clicking of guns; one of them was aimed at the back of Roxas' head and in the same spot as where Cid had slugged him.
"Little mice are meant to be seen and not heard, or; is it the other way around or not at all?" Xigbar sarcastically smirked as he cocked the pistol.
"WAIT!" Mr. Wise's voice rang out as he reached out a hand across the desk, but it was too late.
The sound of a shot firing off was heard as it resonated through the room; Squall and Cid cursed softly behind the wall. They knew the deal was going to go sour the moment they saw how Roxas had been reacting and the fact that these men decided to show up unannounced and before they were expected to even be at the Club.
"I guess that answers that question," Xigbar blew at the smoke coming off the pistol.
The body of the once lively Mr. Wise was now lying sprawled across the oak furniture desk; the blood was seeping into the woodwork. Roxas sat on the floor stunned as his eyes went wide with fear as the voices around him became garbled and combined as they swirled around him. His head screamed over and over to get up and run from the building. His legs felt like he had been placed in cold cement to be tossed into the Hudson River. His mouth was dry with fear as all he could do was faint to floor which caused the men to stop their fighting as they glanced over to the young boy.
"Oh man...now, we've got a dead body, a busted deal, and NOW, a fainted kid on the floor," Xigbar remarked angrily as he softly cursed.
The red headed member walked over and picked the kid up bridal style as he looked around for what to do next, "Just shut up! Let's go out of here before..." he would've finished his sentence had it not been for the sound of Cops swarming the building.
"It's the Fuzz, let's get out of here, Luxord, met us at the 'Usual Place'," Xaldin remarked quickly as the other two made their escape.
"Right," Luxord snuck out through a secret door in the room.