Title: Troubled Finances

Author: Eeevee

Rating: T for… no reason at all really

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Baccano! All characters are property of their respective creators.

Author's note: Written for Jen Konoha with the added bonus of tormenting my friend and sister :) Sweet. Also, if I didn't respond to your review, I am really sorry! FF . net wasn't letting me reply to some of the reviews for some reason. I appreciate the comments. And I'm not trying to make Luck the series bicycle either…

I stared down at the messy piles of papers scattered around in despair. Although I hadn't been foolish enough to think everything was easy I just wanted to cry. Sob into my arms like the little girl I was. It was a behavior that would be very unfitting for the mistress of the household, so I merely scrubbed my eyes and touched the tiny gold cross at my chest.

"Mistress Eve?" I hastily tucked the cross away, a sure sign to those who knew me that I was distressed, and shuffled the papers. It was no use hiding because it was probably plain as day I was exhausted and frustrated. "Mistress Eve, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you the accountant would take care of this? Come away child. This is no task for a good little girl like you."

Obediently I pushed the chair back but said, "But when we find Dallas I want everything to be in order."

I half expected to be laughed at. These last few months weren't kind to me. Of course, Dallas was no where to be found, typical of my brother, and the responsibility of the house and my blood weighed down heavily on me. If only Jeffery or Father were here!

"Mistress Eve, you need to go to bed. Here, let me help you get ready for bed."

Again, I obediently followed down the hall. I barely paid attention as I was bathed and dressed then tucked under the covers. I vaguely remember bidding good-night and turning out the lamp. And then, it happened. That is to say, nothing happened. I stared into the dark, thinking and considering my options. And like the nights and weeks before, I had no easy solution.

So I did the only thing I could do. The only thing I could think of to do. I crawled out from under the covers, shivering against the chill, and kneeled on the hard floor. Clasping my hands in front of me and propping my elbows on the mattress, I prayed.

When I woke panting and soaked with sweat, I wasn't surprised to be on the chilly floor. Slowly I picked myself up, shaking off the night terror coursing through my veins.

I simply had to go.

Which meant sneaking out and making my caretakers worry. But I knew the way well enough, despite having only been there once. I wasn't sure what sort of reception I would receive. At least not from the ones that could actually help me but I had to try.

Slipping silently to my wardrobe I chose the darkest cloth I could find. It certainly wouldn't do to wear white and make a target out of myself. I wasn't that naïve.

The midnight trek wasn't hardly as scary as I had imagined it was going to be, although it was probably just as dangerous. But luck seemed to be with me as I stole across the silent streets clutching my cross and navigating away from dark, narrow alleys.

I sighed with relief as I reached the clean, quiet neighborhood. Picking my way across the cobblestone street, I squinted, trying to remember which house I was seeking. It was bad enough that I was making an unannounced visit in the dead of night, but it would be mortifying if I roused the wrong house. Still, my heart was banging wildly and I could hear it thrumming in my ears too.

Suddenly the silence was broken by two voices arguing quietly. The deeper one was insistent and accusatory, while the other was smooth and mocking. I didn't have time to hide before the two figures appeared. They spotted me instantly, who wouldn't? Some random girl standing in the middle of the street at two in the morning. Of course, my mind instantly considered what two men would be doing in the middle of the street at two in the morning and I shrank back.

"Miss Geonard?"

The two stood facing each other in a long, drawn silence. Eve thought she was prepared but the flood of emotions that washed over her was staggering. The last time she had seen this man, he had saved her; he had saved her from herself and empowered her to make her own decisions. He had bled for her and given more than her brother deserved for her. She could see similar emotions rolling in his eyes before he schooled his expression into a slight sardonic façade.

The older brother looked between the two in confusion.

"This is certainly no place for a girl." He finally offered, not knowing the circumstances but knowing he was brought up that a lady shouldn't be on the streets in the dead of night.

"Right brother Berga."

The two brothers stared at each other for another long moment and I almost laughed at the helplessness they were projecting. It was hard to think that these men were killers when they were unnerved by one lone girl.

"Is Mrs. Katie home?" I queried politely feeling the need to save them. "I know this is hardly the time for a social visit but…"

Luck glanced at his brother again and shrugged, "She's probably asleep. The doctor has suggested she get more rest."

"Is she ill?" I asked in alarm. Mrs. Katie had been so kind to me.

A genuine smile crossed Luck's face softening the sharp edges, "In a manner of speaking she is. But it is a welcome illness and one she'll have to endure for several more months."

"More like the rest of her life." The brother added with good cheer, "It better be a boy."

Another silence fell except it was warm and the awkwardness had been dispelled. I shivered slightly. The chill hadn't been too bad when I was moving but now that I had paused it was creeping up on me. I tugged the coat tighter and tried concentrating on the bizarre conversation I was in. It was good that the only ones who could see me now wouldn't care whether or not I acted like a lady of good breeding! The Gandors probably didn't care a whit about my manners or conversation skills.

"Did you need to see Mrs. Kate?" Luck finally asked, "You can come back tomorrow. I will escort you home. This is not a time for girls to be out alone. You should be home asleep."

I straightened my spine and forced myself to look up. It wasn't easy to peer into those eyes. Although he was a stranger for all intents and purposes, I felt as though I knew him intimately because I recognized the soul underneath all the bravado. I didn't have much experience with men in general, but I did have some understanding of men with demons. And I could see the demons lurking just as surely as I saw them in my big brother Dallas. And some sick, pitying part of me responded.

"No, I need to speak with you, Mr. Gandor." I said, proud that I didn't bite my lip. It was a bad habit I had when I was nervous, and I had been told several times that it was unbecoming, so I tried to stop, but sometimes I just did it instinctively.

His brother looked perplexed, but Luck immediately lost his smile and scrutinized me closer. He nodded, suddenly business-like and told his brother he would be escorting me home and we would discuss matters on the way. The bigger man just shrugged, giving in to confusion and trusting his little brother to take care of one little girl. He simply thumped Luck on the shoulder and bid us good-night.

"You're shivering." Luck noted gravely and asked in a stiff voice, "Would it be too forward of me to invite you to my apartment to warm up?"

I smiled, "No worries Mr. Gandor, there is no one to beat you up on behalf of my virtue."

I meant it as a joke, shaky as it was, but he frowned harder. His forehead pinched into a V and he draped his coat over my shoulders. I followed him a few blocks away into a slightly more crowded and dirty part of the area. It certainly wasn't as nice as Kate and Keith's place and I tried to avoid any suspicious substances on the pavement. These shoes would most certainly have to be burned and replaced; I was not going to wear them again.

He didn't speak again until he had led me to a small, sparse apartment. He gestured towards the living room and asked me what I would like to drink. I was embarrassed to ask, since I was sure that the liquid in his home was not what I would prefer. When I didn't give an answer he asked me to wait.

I stared around the room. There was a large, lone bookcase that sat hulking in the corner, a random wooden clock, a small lamp, and a rather shabby couch. Everything was neat and clean but I could tell this was not a place where Luck spent a lot of time. I wondered what it was like to be so closely tied to family. My brother Dallas was sweet in his own way when it came to me but our relationship was nothing like what I had observed about Luck and his brothers.

"Do you take honey?"

I jumped as Luck placed a steaming tea cup on the table and bade me to sit on the couch. Gingerly, I sat down and shook my head at the question.

"Sugar?"

Again, I shook my head and cupped my fingers around the fragile porcelain letting the warm seep into me.

"Ah, you're surprised that a man such as myself has fine china and honey." He smirked, reading my thoughts and clearly enjoying my surprise. "I certainly wasn't going to offer you bourbon."

"I am no such thing Mr. Gandor." I stuttered slightly, "Although hot water would have sufficed. I am terribly sorry for my intrusion but I needed to come at a time when I had no chaperone…" And then it occurred to me exactly what kind of position I was in for an unchaperoned young lady in a young man's house. I felt my face turn crimson and stared at the ripples in my tea.

Peering through my lashes, I could see that he was looking at me incredulously. Then he started chuckling.

"I am hardly what you should be worrying about." He said, sounding sure with the knowledge that he was harmless and a gentleman. I tried not to dwell on the self-mocking I heard in that laugh and blushed harder. Abruptly he stopped laughing and looked down seriously, "But something made you come all the way here just to speak to me. Is it about your brother?"

I took a deep breath, "Yes and no."

"Then they have not found him yet?" I tried not to notice how pleased he seemed to be at that thought. It seemed that just my big brother's name brought out ire in this man. But it was understandable; brother Dallas did some horrible things.

"No, although I have been financially backing a local river renovation in hopes of discovering big brother." I said calmly, taking a sip of tea. My hands only shook a little, betraying me ever so slightly. I simply prayed he wouldn't notice. "However, I am concerned about the financial affairs of my family money. I do not know enough to manage them."

"And the slimeball accountants are taking care of them for you?"

"Yes, I believe they are." It hurt me to admit that. If my father or brother were alive, this would not be a problem. Both of them were skilled in managing money and businesses. All I was skilled in was faith and belief. While my skill was appropriate for a girl of my standing, it did not do me much good in my current situation. I didn't know who to trust for guidance and advice other than God, and the only earthly man I could think of was the one standing before me.

"And you came to me?"

"Yes."

He chuckled softly and I blushed again. Seeming to notice my discomfort he stopped and reassured, "I'm just enjoying the irony." I stiffened; I didn't need him to point out how absurd this whole thing was.

"How do you know I can run accounts? There are certainly enough loyal and capable members of my family to that for me." He pressed and walked closer. I followed him out of the corner of my eye wonder just what I had gotten into. It was foolish to think that he would help me. He had no obligation to help me; in fact, it was quite the opposite. But some naïve little part of me did what it did best: had faith and hope.

"I did my research, Mr. Gandor." I answered primly, crossing my wrists across my lap and looking up, "You run all the accounts for all of your businesses, complete with double entry booking to catch clerical errors. It seems to be working well for you."

"So you want to hire me?"

I stood up so that I was facing him. I felt small and frail beside his taller, lean form but I also felt powerful.

"No, Mr. Gandor, I want you to teach me."

He just stared at me.

"I assure you, I am perfectly capable of basic arithmetic."

"I don't doubt that. If you're capable of nearly blowing a man's face off, I am sure a little book keeping is no challenge."

I repressed a shiver at the images that sentence conjured up. I could feel the cold gun pressing into my palms and the trigger nestled up against my soft finger. And I felt the blackness, the hurt, and the rage. Tears started prickling behind my eyes. I really was awful for asking so much.

Sensing my impending tears Luck frowned. Clearly he thought he had given me a compliment. And I suppose he had, but it did not make me feel any better that he was treating me so well.

"I accept. I'm not a nice teacher, Miss Geonard."

"I was not asking for a nice teacher, Mr. Gandor." I replied, "I want a good one."

"Well, as your teacher, my first request is that you stop calling me Mr. Gandor. It would be very uncomfortable for me if you called me that for the time that I taught you."

"That is highly improper." I giggled trying not to cry. Sometimes I wondered how men so easily kept their sadness and loneliness locked up, only showing what they felt through their eyes. "But you may call me Miss Eve in return. We should discuss payment."

"Tomorrow." He said. "You need to go home. You look dead on your feet and soon enough the police will be searching for you. I certain would not like to explain what you are doing in my apartment unsupervised."

"Oh dear, could we not mention that? I was going to say that I met you at Mrs. Katie's." I stammered, suddenly realizing my position now that the business was over.

He looked amused, although there was no sardonic tinge to his smile, and he nodded. "I won't breath a word Miss Eve."