Jumping way ahead to between SR2 and 3 again!

"Urrgh." V buried her face in the pillow, and squeezed her eyes shut.

She felt like crap due to a combination of late hours and one beer too many, and just wanted to cocoon herself in the covers until the rest of the day had passed. Once her eyes were open, however, it was usually impossible for her to go back to sleep.

She turned her head and stared blankly at the wall as her eyes adjusted, dimly registering something different.

This wasn't her room. Her eyes widened as she recognized the sparsely decorated surroundings, then narrowed as she went over last night's events.

There was the usual public relations crap, Pierce's new set of prototypes, an extended argument about backstory details for the Saints movie, and...

"You awake over there?"

V rolled onto her back and yawned, glancing over at Johnny. "Mostly. You seriously let me sleep in here?"

He rubbed his eyes and V noticed he seemed about as wiped as she was. "You weren't snoring like a fucking chainsaw so I didn't move you. Should've kicked you out halfway through the roundhouse kick demo, though."

Bad martial arts movie night. Riiiight. "I know kung fu, man. Can't let myself get rusty."

It was strange seeing him without his glasses. When he grinned it went right to his eyes and she had to stare. He chuckled. "See something you like?"

He also didn't appear to be wearing much of anything at all either. She waited for the awkward feeling to kick in, but it didn't. "Maybe. There are benefits to working with a bunch of ridiculously attractive people."

"Well don't let me stop you then," Johnny replied, getting up out of bed. "Don't you have that photo shoot or whatever to get ready for?"

"Ah, shit," she muttered, tearing her attention away from him to check the clock. Any minute now and Pierce was going to be busting her door down to get her ready to go. "Pierce is going to have a fit. He might already be."

She sat up and put her feet on the floor, blinking a few more times to jumpstart something in her brain. Untwisting her shirt, she stood up and grabbed her boots just as Gat disappeared into his bathroom. The door wasn't closed all the way, and she briefly considered peeking before he opened it again.

Yeah, she could only see part of him, but he definitely wasn't wearing much at all. "See you downstairs in ten?"

V nodded stiffly. "Yeah. Ten. Okay." He gave her a half-smile and closed the door this time. "Bastard."

Sure enough, Pierce was pounding on her bedroom door when she showed up, going on and on about deadlines and sponsors. Oh, and the damn energy drink. That was one pet project of his that he never failed to push.

"Boss? I know you're in there! The shoot's in a little over an hour. How else are we going to market Saints Flow without photos of actual Saints promoting it? Seriously! Open up!"

"It's open, man. Relax," she said, nudging him to the side to get in. "You are way too awake right now."

"Got to be if you want be at the top, boss. Where were you?"

She started stripping off her clothes and Pierce turned his back as he usually did. "Doesn't matter. Just please tell me I won't have to empty a can of the stuff onto me during the shoot again. That got old the first time around we tried that. I think Shaundi also threatened to shank the photographer."

"New guy and new direction. Should be a lot less messy all around this time."

"Hallelujah! I still have no idea what you cram in there. It's some pretty potent shit."

She went into the bathroom and Pierce continued to talk through the door as she started the shower. Small things like noise and doors rarely stopped him once he was on a roll. "Secret formula, boss! Still trying to see if we can get it unbanned in Australia!"

"Good luck with that! I'm wondering how you managed to get it approved here. Slide some money under the table?"

He was quiet for a moment while she ran shampoo through her hair. "No, you just have to talk to the right people."

"Right. You'd better keep Lee on speed-dial."

By the time she was done Shaundi was waiting in her room too, and she watched the two shove a coat back and forth between them as she smoothed her bangs down. As much as she liked the vintage updo, it was difficult as hell to mess with.

"What's up with you two?"

"Pierce wants us to wear matching jackets. To show 'solidarity'." It had a sparkle to it and V tried not to cringe.

"Hey, it'd help band people together for the product! Give it that extra dose of-"

"Nope. Not happening."

Pierce's face fell, and V finished dragging on the rest of her clothes while Shaundi yanked the sequined coat away from him and wadded it into a ball. "See? Told you so."

"It'd only be for one shoot!"

"Still one shoot too many," V said, tieing up her boots. "Let's stick to what we have, Pierce. Some hint of purple and fleur-de-lis everywhere. We're not fucking pop stars."

"Could've been if you'd signed the contract."

She sighed and zipped up her leather jacket. "Just give it up, man. Let it go. Work on that demo tape you keep on bringing up."

"I am," he said proudly as the three made their way downstairs. "Only need two more songs and then I can start throwing it out there. Don't know if the world's ready yet, but I sure as hell am."

"Oh, yeah," Shaundi said, rolling her eyes. "Don't know if the it's ready yet either."

"Well, the world might have to wait, but I know what we're listening to on the way over there."

Shaundi groaned and V tried not to grin. "Need a back up singer?"

"Always looking for volunteers, boss." Pierce replied with a wink. "Just let me know which part you want to carry, because I'm never putting you on a bass bit ever again."

"Way to kill the fun, Pierce."

Gat was waiting for them at the bottom and stopped tossing his knife long enough to greet them. "Yo. You're all as slow as fucking molasses. Done doing each other's hair?"

"Tough talk for a guy who just has to worry about slicking his hair back every morning," V said, walking right on by to the elevator. "I call shotgun."

Johnny caught up without much of an issue. "Whoa, you aren't driving? The hell's up with that?"

"Still hungover, and still waking up. I'm feeling generous."

"Not it," Shaundi said, shaking her head.

Pierce's hand was about to go up, but Gat spoke up first. "Eh, I've got it."

"You sure?" V asked, raising an eyebrow. "You were putting back twice as much stuff as me last night."

"I'm offering, aren't I? Not my fault you're a fucking lightweight."

Shaundi and Pierce exchanged a look and V made sure to glare at all of them. "Just get your ass behind the wheel. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can call this done."

Forty minutes into make up, V knew this was not going to be an easy process. Each one of them had their own mini setup to get photos done for, so once Pierce and Shaundi had been given the go ahead, the torch had been passed to her.

Something dark had been smeared on her lips, and she was sure that the amount of smoky eyeshadow on her lids would make a goth kid happy, but it was at least in a shade she favored. The purple and red dress wasn't so bad either, but she did miss her boots.

The cigarette in her hand made it all worthwhile, however. It was supposed to be a prop for her to pose with as she lounged on the small leather couch, but she kept on sneaking drags of it when the camera wasn't flashing. It was the first one she'd had in weeks, and it was glorious. Glorious and completely against the ban she was supposed to be on.

Johnny waited just to the left of the photographer, his arms crossed. The minute that the pictures stopped he'd be on it, throwing it away like he'd done all the others. V acknowledged this, but still let each moment with the cigarette last a bit longer and longer. They had to replace it twice during the first roll of film and Gat frowned a little more with each time.

When the photographer paused to change out the roll, he came over as predicted. She gave him a coy look as he eyed the offending object. "Something wrong?"

"I think you know what's wrong."

She wanted him to take it. She knew he would eventually. "Just playing my part. It's not like they handed me a can of Saints Flow to mess around with."

"Oh? I could just head on back and make a suggestion. Leave a little tip."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Just try me, boss," he taunted, lowering his voice. "You know I would."

"Mr. Gat?" The director was talking to the photographer, and both appeared to be in agreement. "Could you join your boss for a few photos?"

V snickered as Johnny swore under his breath. The distraction had worked. "Looks like someone got a little too close."

"Bite me." He turned to the two by the camera, pissed. "If I do this shit, that's it. Nothing else."

They nodded fast and V suspected it was because they weren't up to visiting the hospital today. Satisfied, but not pleased at all, Johnny took a seat on the couch as V scooted over to give him room.

"So, what'll it be?" she asked. "Awkward as hell, or awkward as fuck?"

"Just get over here," he said, jerking his head to the side.

Following his prompting, she half-sat on his lap and draped her arm around his neck. He adjusted her weight, and she tried not to chew on her lip when she felt his hand on her thigh. "Comfortable?"

"Almost." Her cigarette left her mouth and she swore loudly when he held it out of reach. "You made the deal, V."

"Doesn't mean I'm not going to regret it. Some days I hate you."

He took a longer drag than any of hers and grinned, squeezing her thigh while he was at it. "Love you too, boss."