ββ¦ sure.β
He decided to make things easier for her by removing his jacket.
After tossing it aside, he motioned toward the box with his head.
βOpen it. It's for you.β
She opened the door , holding a wet towel in her own hands as her eye make up seemed to be cleaned for once . Sunken eyes remained , but her facials were there .
β . . I β wonβt . β
Bad timing .
β . . Not even to help you ? β
Jacket stumbled into the apartment, blood pouring through his jacket from a nasty cut he had gotten from a Russian mobster. He picked up a box from beside the door and sat on the couch, deciding to rest up until he decided to treat his wounds.
+++
βIβm not that bad at cooking.β
He stood up and walked over to the kitchen, beginning to rummage through the cabinets to make a list in his head of the supplies they had.
βWe could make a cake if you want.β
Her head bumped the other , in a gentle sway , she nodded her head with a fond smile .
β Yeah .
Iβll see what we have , I donβt want you to start a fire . β
She let him settle the arm .
He moved a bit closer before his arm tentatively wrapped around her, but it did not fully settle down in case she rejected him.
βDo you want to stop watching it and see what we can cook? Iβm not a chef, but I manage.β
β Huh . β
β her head sulked , her cheek leaning into the othersβ hand . Feeling that soft warmth before it was moved away . Almost wanting it to linger .
β Donβt apologize for it .
Please , donβt . β
βNo. It's always like this. Same stories, same names.β
His eyes slowly trailed away from the TV and down to her hand, then to her cheek, before focusing back on the TV, seemingly nervous.
βIβm sorry for the mess. I don't usually have people over... or at all, I mean.β
β Thanks . β
She spoke , her head heavy from all the crying . Her hand came up to smear the mascara more against her cheek , she didnβt seem to care .
β . . These channels are all the same , they never change huh . β
βNo. Iβm used to it.β
He sat down beside her and eyed the phone, tempted to order a pizza before resisting. He opted to watch TV instead and grabbed the remote to switch to a different channel.
βI restocked the kitchenβ¦ help yourself.β
β A little . β
She responded , watching him leave before coming back . Her startled expression seemed to calm down once the blood had washed away . Sheβs still not used to this style of life .
β Are you tired ? β
He stared, then nodded.
Jacket stepped back and retreated into his room to change before he stepped out again and looked over at her.
β. . . are you hungry?β
mascara smeared , sheβd been crying so much . A light sniffle , before her head turned upward and noticing the looming shadow .
Her body moved , grabbing the back of the couch as her soiled eyes stared .
β . . Welcome home . β
A gentle tone in her strained voice .
Jacket grabbed the shotgun and aimed, firing a shell into a bigger man and switching his sights onto Don.
It's a standoff now, but at least he evened the odds, even if slightly outnumbered.
He quickly dashed out of the way, sticking close to the wall before he was close enough to grab one of his men and use them as a shield.
Jacket snatched the SMG out of the deceased thugβs grasp and used its shoulder as a mount before returning fire.
+++
He downed two or three of Donβs men before his magazine ran dry. Jacket dropped the corpse and rushed forward as the men reloaded, using the buttstock of the firearm to decommission a henchman with a shotgun.
+++
The veteran stepped into the room, rubber panther mask stained with blood, as he held a one-eyed optic in one hand and a butterfly knife in the other.
Just standing there⦠staring at Don and his men.
@MIAMISXCIXPATH ,
He tapped at the gun strapped to his side , humming a soft tune under the moonlight waltz . His men had already cleared out the room , yet the suspect wasnβt here .
β Go search for em . Canβ be too far . β
He said in a deep tone .
He busted open another crate and grabbed the chainsaw inside, pulled the cord, and got the engine roaring to life.
Gaze locked onto hers, as if waiting for her also to get back on her feet.
He bit his tongue to avoid making any noise, but damn, did the stab hurt like hell. Luckily, nothing important was hit.
Jacket reached to his side for something to use, and found a wooden piece that was burned halfway.
+++
Helping in a blossoming fire that swelled .
Another swing of her sword forward to lodge it to the others β arm . Focusing to swiftly injure at least one to dampen the coming blows .
Grabbing it, he threw it her way and dislodged the sword from his arm, kicking her in the shin to throw her down.
He muttered something, but the mask made it inaudible to the other.
Jacket jumped to his feet and quickly switched masks again to a rubber swan one.
+++
β¦ that was easy. He wonders if he can break it anymore.
He side-stepped and aimed again, showing no signs of wavering despite the crate beside him being set ablaze.
Jacket pulled the trigger and didn't bother to wait to see if his plan worked.
+++
good arm and slashing it forward to aim toward the gun .
β Yer payinβ fo that ! β
She lashed out , like a caged animal . The sparks of the sword lighting the crate next to them aflame .