Black*Star sighed and sat against the wall. "It's been three hours Jared. I really doubt that Pops is going to come all the way over here to pick us up." he growled, looking down at a passed out Soul.
Jared only grunted, and went to stand next to him, looking down at the passed out guys in front of them.
"Plus, we're in the middle of an alley. I highly doubt that he would-" Black*Star whined but was cut off by a horn honking. His head snapped up to see a black, modern looking Sudan. The engine being cut as Pops glared at his son and nephew through the now open window of the driver's seat. "Get in." he said through clenched teeth.
"You are in so much trouble." Black*Star smirked at Jared.
"And you Black*Star. I need to have a serious talk with you." Pops growled.
"What? Me!" Black*Star exclaimed.
"You are in so much trouble." Jared mimicked as he walked over to the bodies on the ground.
Black*Star glared at him and made his way towards the open window of the Sudan. "What's up Pops?"
Pops glared at him. "When you called me, you didn't tell me we would have to carry dead bodies, I didn't bring the shovel." He growled at him, looking past him and at Jared as he tried to lift both of the bodies but was failing miserably.
"They aren't dead Pops, they know too much." Black*Star said.
Pops sighed. "Black*Star, that's why they die." Pops explained with a small sigh. "Look, Black*Star about your mission… are you sure you want to go through with it?" Pops asked him.
Black*Star glared at him. "Of course I want to go through with the mission." he growled at Pops.
"Watch your tone with me Black*Star, you may be White*Star's son, but you will respect me." Pops growled at him.
Black*Star flinched and sighed. "Yes sir." He mumbled, scratching the back of his neck and looking down at the ground.
"Black*Star, help me out here will ya?" Jared called out managing to pick up Dagger and walking over to the door.
Black*Star opened the door for him and went to pick Soul up. "Sorry Soul." He mumbled as he gently picked him up and lightly placing him on his shoulder, walking over to Jared and handing Soul to him. "Be careful with him will ya?" Black*Star said once Jared took a good hold of Soul.
Jared looked down at Black*Star and smiled. "Anything for you Cuz." He mumbled and gently set Soul down on the seat and strapping the seat belt in.
"This is what I mean Black*Star… I'm afraid that you might have grown too attached to the enemy… maybe it is better if you come and stay with us." Pops told him.
"I'm sorry Pops… but I'm going to go through with the mission, I have to avenge my family." Black*Star said firmly.
Pops looked at him. "I don't want you to become traumatized Black*Star." Pops told him. "Sometimes I might not show it, but I love you like a son." Pops said, reaching out the open window and patted Black*Stars head.
"I know… I guess I need a break from all this drama… This time when I visit, may I bring my weapon?" Black*Star asked Pops.
Pops smiled at him. "Sure Black*Star, we'll treat her like family." He said and then looked back. "You done over there Jared?" he called out.
"Done." Jared said, seating himself between the two bodies and strapping himself in.
"Alright." Pops said, turning the engine on and turning to look at Black*Star. "Black*Star, quick, go get your weapon, pack and meet us at the airport, we'll wait for you there for no more than an hour."
Black*Star nodded at him and ran in the direction of his apartment instead of the bus station. He felt all giddy inside, a small smile forming on his lips as he ran. Tsubaki will finally meet his family. Just the thought made him push himself to run faster.
It took him five minutes to reach his apartment and run up the stairs that led to it. Forgetting the fact that he had a key in his pocket, he pounded on the door non-stop as he panted.
Tsubaki yanked open the door with wide eyes. "What's wrong? What happened?" she asked him, worry dripping from her voice.
"Tsubaki… you wanted to know who Pops was right." Black*Star managed to say between gasps of air.
"Yeah…" she said cautiously.
"Well, today's your lucky day. Pops is Maka's grandpa. Kami remarried again and Pops is the dad of Maka's step-dad. I've been keeping tabs on Maka through him. Do you want to go visit her?" Black*Star asked her.
Tsubaki blinked taking in the information and a smile crossed her face. "No way…" she murmured. "Yes, Black*Star! Of course! Let's go!" Tsubaki said but the pause. "But what about school?" she asked him.
"Screw school, this is Maka we're talking about. I bet she would love to see us!" Black*Star said running grab the suit case that he didn't have the chance to unpack and ran back out putting it next to the door. "We have to be at the airport in fifty minutes, pack up already while I call a cab." Black*Star said grabbing his cell-phone that was still in his pocket.
When Tsubaki finished packing they only had about thirty minutes left. Quickly they put their suitcases in the back of the Cab and hopped inside, telling the cab driver to go to the airport.
Black*Star pulled his cellphone out again and dialed Pop's number.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hey, it's Black*Star, we're on our way." He said a smile on his face.
"That's great Black*Star, we can't wait to meet your girlfriend." Pops said.
Black*Star stayed quiet, his smile disappearing as a blush creeped up into his cheeks. "Pops, I think you got this all wrong, she's my weapon." Black*Star whispered into the phone.
Tsubaki shot him a glance, but shrugged and stared out the window. She was going to go see Maka.
"Sure, whatever." Jared called out and started to laugh.
"Tell him to shut up." Black*Star growled.
"Jared, show some respect." Pops said, but he was having trouble fighting off a few chuckles too.
"Yes Pops." Jared said as his laughs died down.
Black*Star hung up and sighed, waiting for his cheeks to cool down before he could speak to Tsubaki. He took in a deep breath a snuck a peak at her. "Hey." He mumbled.
Tsubaki looked at him, waiting for him to tell her what he needed.
"Just so you know… Pops is rich thanks to the family business so he owns a private jet… I don't want you to be all surprised because of this so I'm telling you now." He said, the word girlfriend popping into his head again. He groaned and let his forehead fall against the cool glass of the window.
"Black*Star? Are you okay?" she asked him.
"Peachy." He grumbled.
"I'm your weapon Black*Star you could trust me." Tsubaki said.
Black*Star looked at her and let his head hit the window again. "They think you're my girlfriend." He mumbled.
Tsubaki went still, a blush forming in her own cheeks. "Oh…" she mumbled. "So… Maka has a step-father? I didn't know that, did Spirit know?" she asked him.
"If he did, he would be more of a player than he is now don't you think?" Black*Star mumbled, looking out the window.
Black*Star took in a deep breath and sat up straight when the Cab came to a stop. "We're here." He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty and handing it to the cab driver. Tsubaki and Black*Star got out and got their suitcases, dragging them inside of the airport.
-Page Break-
"Black*Star is taking forever." Jared complained as he sat back in his seat, bored.
"You're still not off the hook Jared. What the hell were you thinking, going off without backup?" Pops asked him.
"It was a cat I was after; I figured that I wasn't going to need backup." Jared groaned in annoyance.
"But from what you told me on the way here, you got your ass handed to ya. What happened to what I taught you? Remember when I kept telling you to never let your guard down? This is the kind of shit that happens when you do!" Pops growled, pocking the scar that was on Jared's neck.
"I know dad." Jared mumbled letting his head down.
"Keep your head up boy; never let anyone see you with your head down. It's a sign of weakness." Pops spat at him.
Jared sat up straighter and stared up ahead. "My apologies Pops." Jared said with a firm voice.
"That's better. I don't want you to go off and get yourself into more trouble, you got that?" Pops asked.
Jared took in a deep breath. "Pops… I'm not a sixteen year old kid anymore. Stop treating me like one." He growled.
"You will get treated like a sixteen year old because you act like one. When you start to act your own age that is when I will stop treating you like a child Jared." Pops responded, sitting back in his seat.
Jared stood up and walked towards the front of the jet.
"Where are you going Jared?" Pops called out, not moving from his seat.
"To check on the boys." He called out, not looking back at them as he ducked behind the curtain that led to the first class part of the Jet where they had tied down the two unconscious boys.
Pops sighed and sank into his chair, closing his eyes. "You were always a handful Jared." He mumbled to himself as he let himself relax.
"Pops, we're here!" Black*Star called out as was guided into the jet by one of the flight attendants, a tall girl right behind him.
Pops sat up straight, plastering a warm smile on his face as he stood up.
"Black*Star, you made it!" Pops said, standing up and bringing Black*Star in for a hug, crushing him to him as the flight attendant closed the door.
Once Pops let go of Black*Star he turned his attention to the girl behind them. "And is this your girlfriend? Huh, she is way out of your league though." Pops taunted but hugged Tsubaki anyways.
Tsubaki flushed red. "I'm sorry sir. I'm his weapon." She said shyly hugging him back.
"I see, I knew it was too good to be true!" Pops exclaimed with a laugh as he let her go.
"Hey!" Black*Star huffed.
"It's the truth boy." Pops said reaching out to pat Black*Stars hair like he did before.
Black*Star huffed again but then sighed. "Pops, this is Tsubaki, my weapon." Black*Star said, officially introducing them.
"It's nice to meet you Tsubaki." Pops said, sending a smile her way. "Where are my manners? Have a seat, we're about to take off." He said, pushing them towards the seats, letting them choose where they want to sit. ""While you guys do that, I'm going to go tell the pilot that we are ready for takeoff." Pops said walking to where Jared had gone to.
"Sir, I could do that for you." the flight attendant told him.
"No, it's fine; just make sure my guests are comfortable." Pops said with a nod and ducked under the curtain, walking passed Jared and the two boys and told the pilot to start the engine.
When he made his way back, instead of going to sit down next to Black*Star and the girl he brought along he sat next to Jared.
"Are you going to yell at me again?" Jared asked, not looking him in the eyes.
"A word of advice… always look people in the eyes, no matter if they are the enemy or a friend." Pops told him patting his back.
Surprised, Jared sat up straighter and looked him in the eyes, only to see warmth and kindness. "Thanks Pops." He murmured.
"It's dad to you." Pops said and looked across the aisle to where the unconscious boys were sitting. "I guess they could stay at my house until we figure out what to do with them." He murmured. "I'm getting way too old for this. Jared, don't ever scare me the way you did today. You were so close to leaving your old man and a wife and kids behind… family doesn't abandon family Jared." Pops told him.
Jared smiled down at Pops. "I know… that's why I'm here."