5

Slick dropped the phone onto the coffee table haphazardly with a sigh. Now what? Droog would be over and who knew what he'd say to him about this? He'd probably try to give him some lame advice that wouldn't help at all. Of course he'd claim it was good advice and really Slick, if you know what's good for you you'll listen to me and stop being such a stubborn jackass for once.

He massaged his temple in annoyance, shiny black fingers clicking slightly on his carapace, and wondered if Droog was actually aware of how often his advice was disregarded. He probably just liked hearing the sound of his own voice, Spades concluded.

A familiar feeling of soul blackening anger suddenly clawed at his throat as he realised how badly Droog would chew him out for what had happened, let alone the teasing Boxcars would relentlessly rain down upon him for 'going soft' on the she-witch. God, this was a mess.

He hauled himself to his feet and began to clean up the knives. No sense in letting Droog ream him out for making a mess like that; the man always made his schadenfreude of making Spades look foolish clear, even if it was under the guise of "helping."

I don't need any help, he fumed.

So then why did he tell him he could come over? Maybe he really did want some advice on what to do about Snowman and Lord English. It wouldn't hurt. No doubt when the gossip reached the other two, Boxcars and Deuce would be offended that they'd been left out of the feelings jam but, hey – he could deal with them being primadonnas later.

Spades finished up putting his vast collection of knives into his closet, also full of knives, so he could start planning on how to dominate the conversation when Droog finally arrived; something he found himself doing most of the time before they spoke. The two Dersites were stuck in a permanent cycle of trying to one up each other verbally, with neither particularly winning.

Despite this, he knew they'd both be talking about Snowman and what happened to her and her fate in the future. What was going to happen to her once she fully healed form what happened? Would she go back or would she do something else...?

He'd find out eventually, but found himself dreading the thought of her going back. If it happened to her again it just proved she deserved it.

No, she doesn't deserve it, no one does.

He flopped back onto the sofa, swearing softly under his breath. What he really needed right now was a nice cold class of liquour, or a new knife... or to check up on Snowma- DAMNIT.

Blasted woman! Why couldn't she stay out of his life? Why was it she would dramatically throw herself back into his life at the most inconvenient moments?

If she didn't she wouldn't be Snowman. It was basically programmed into her to go after him and do what she could to make him miserable. This time, however, she'd come for help, not to throw various items she'd found on the street through his apartment windows. For Slick, that was the most confusing aspect of her unannounced visit.

For what had to be the third or fourth time that evening, he wondered what malevolent being allowed her to exist in such a state.

As usual, and as expected; he got no answer. Not even Snowman's explanations made sense to him. She seemed to be hiding the real truth from him and he didn't know how to get it out of her.

Slick looked toward the door to his apartment. Where was Droog? He should have been there by now, unless he felt the need to stop by at the bar and set up a one night stand for later on.

He needs to learn to keep it in his pants, he thought. This is not the time for that kind of garbage.

"Wouldn't put it past him to do such a stupid thing right now," he grumbled to himself.

"What wouldn't you put past me?" a voice spoke up, startling him.

Slick spotted Diamonads Droog coming into view in the doorway. "It's about time you got here," he snapped, getting to his feet and facing him. "What took you so long?"

"You called my only a half hour ago," he informed him flatly. "I had to walk here since Boxcars borrowed my car."

Slick didn't respond to that, though he didn't believe him anyway (and couldn't help wondering how Hearts even fit in the thing.)

Droog seemed to sense this and didn't push it. Instead he walked toward him, taking off his coat and carefully hanging it on the rack beside the door. "So where is she?"

Spades pointed to the bedroom without a word.

The taller Dersite walked past him and went to the room, looked inside and saw Snowman laying on the bed, apparently sleeping. "Looks like you were right after all," he commented.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Slick demanded. "Are you implying that I was lying?!"

"Of course not." he turned away and went over to him. "So what happened to cause her to come here and ask you for help?"

Slick told him all he knew. Droog listened without much of a comment, though he did light a cigarette and smoked it thoughtfully. Once Slick finished he raised an eyebrow before asking "Did she actually say that was what happened?"

"What else could it be?" Spades demanded in return.

Droog shook his head and leaned against the wall. "I don't know but unless she actually said it you can assume such a thing happened to her, although I'd be wary, you know she's prone to lying," he took another drag and blew it out. "How are you so sure she didn't just get beaten up by him?"

Slick glared at him. How could he think such a thing? "You're implying she's lying."

"No, I'm implying you might have gotten the wrong idea from her explanation."

Slick took a step toward him, looking fairly pugnacious and trying to be threatening, despite his tiny stature compared to the other Dersite. Droog put up a hand. "Now now, let's not get violent, Slick," he stated. "I'm not in the mood for your childish tantrums right now. Maybe if the situation were different I'd engage in a brawl with you, though I'd probably win, seeing as I carry a gun around and all you have are knives."

The mob boss bit back a response. Now wasn't the time for fighting plus he'd been shot by Droog before and he didn't want to deal with his gloating again. The man might look apathetic but when he was riled he was worse than Slick was. It was best not to get into a brawl with him.

"Explain what you meant then." he growled.

"As I said," he replied, leaning back on the sofa. "You could be overeating and assuming it ended far worse than it did."

"I am not." he folded his arms. "It's the only answer that makes sense."

"Does it?"

"Why do you keep saying that?" he demanded angrily. She told me herself that's what happened!"

"Did she?" he questioned. "Or did you just project your own thoughts and concerns into her words?"

"I did not." he responded. "I have no reason to do such a thing. It's what she said and that's that."

"Mind if I talk to her?"

"I don't care what you do," he snapped. "Don't wake her up if she's sleeping, though. No doubt both of us regret it." he winced when he said this, remembering how she'd reacted when he'd come into the room. His neither regions were still a little sore from that encounter.

Droog got up off the sofa without another word. He turned and walked into the bedroom. Slick watched him do so then looked out the window, glaring coldly at the darkening sky. She'd probably be glad to see him anyway since he'd probably offer her a cigarette and a shoulder to cry on. He was always better at that, him and his stupid fake gentleman act.

Why hadn't she just gone to him to begin with? As much as his charade was total bullshit, it probably would've pandered to her much more than he could.

He sighed and waited for Droog to come back out of the room. The taller Dersite ended up staying in there for a long time so obviously she hadn't been sleeping at all. He was in there so long Slick got impatient and got up, walking toward the room and peeking inside to see what they were doing.

They were sharing a smoke and talking.

"I see so you insulted him somehow and he got angry," Droog was saying. "You didn't try to fight him off?"

"I did," she responded. "I didn't just sit there and let him do whatever he wanted with me. He's got a few new scars on his ugly face that won't fade any time soon."

He nodded. "What exactly did he do anyway?" Snowman responded by looking away from him awkwardly, making it clear she didn't want to discuss it again. "Of course you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, it doesn't bother me," he told her coolly.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said coldly.

"Very well then." He felt the need to add one more thing before he left, "But I do believe Slick might have misinterpreted your words."

"What?"

"He thinks you were molested."

Snowman didn't say anything to that.

He frowned. "Is that what happened?"

"I don't think that's your concern." she responded evasively.

"You're lying about that then."

"No!"

"You're not?"

"I didn't say that."

"Snowman, why can't you just admit-"

"There's nothing to admit," she retorted. "You're putting words in my mouth." she took another cigarette and lit it, looking away from him. "Leave me. I'm tired and don't want to talk about it anymore."

He didn't look ready to leave her alone but he didn't push her, deciding it was better to give her space and time, and that it was prudent not to anger someone of her strength. "Fine." He turned away from her.

"But if you're lying I'm going to have to deal with that. I don't think it's wise to lie to him about this just so he'll fight your battles for you. If that isn't what happened I think it would be better if you corrected him as soon as possible. Using him to get revenge on Lord English for humiliating you in a fight is rather petty, don't you think?"

Before she could answer he stepped out of the bedroom and back into the main part of the apartment. "You can stop hiding, Slick," Droog sighed.

Slick frowned at him."I'm not hiding."

"But you were listening."

"So?" he snapped. "It's my house. There's no law that says I can't listen to conversations in my own residence!"

Droog glared at him. "I'm sure you heard out conversation," he said, changing the subject. "I'm pretty sure you have something to say for that so why don't you just do it?"

"You were badgering her, trying to get her to say what you wanted, Slick informed him."I think you just want to prove me wrong."

"I don't think you were right in the first place." he told him. "And her reaction tells me you overreacted and jumped to conclusions."

"How so?"

"She never said she was raped."

thanks to my beta reader