Once I was done with Party, I dragged Jet and Kobra out to see my new car. Ghoul had stayed behind to talk to Party, just like he'd promised. We neared the end of the warehouse to see the Mustang, dusty, but still beautiful, where I’d parked her the day before.
“Wo-ow, haven’t seen one of these in literally a lifetime.” Jet looked at her appreciatively. “How, exactly, did you get this car again?” He asked bemusedly, one eyebrow raised.
“Well, I uh...” I stammered, at a loss for words.
“All right, I’ve got an idea.” Jet rolled his eyes and walked around the car, checking out the interior.
“Nice, ain’t she?” I grinned at Kobra. He nodded, smiling shyly.
“I’ve got to paint over that soon, though...” I examined the smiling logo chuckling with Kobra before turning around and leaning on the car door. “You wouldn’t believe where the keys were.”
“In the visor?! Seriously?!” Kobra burst out laughing, as did I.
“One of the many things I’ve learned from Terminator 2.” I nodded, calming myself down.
“Oh man, I remember watching that with you! How old were you, 11 maybe?” Kobra grinned at me, seeming much more comfortable than before.
“So, how have y’all been, anyway?” I threw a glance over my shoulder to Jet, who was looking under the hood.
“It’s been pretty bad lately, especially around the inner Zones.” Jet stood, shutting the hood and walking over to where we were standing. "We think it's because of that, ahem, thing we were telling you about. They're turning up the heat to throw us off."
"Well, be careful, alright?" I chewed my lip, concerned. "You wouldn't believe who's been getting ghosted these days.”
"Who?" Jet's eyebrows knitted.
"You remember the Kung Fu Krew? It was that doofus Bird Song's Clan." Jet and Kobra nodded.
"Not my favorite clan, but whatever." Jet shrugged.
"They all got dusted out in the same battle somewhere out in Zone 4. His girlfriend, what's her name, Solar Crash, I think, she's just about lost her mind. He'd made he stay behind with her real clan. I heard he had something on the side with some girl in his clan, and that's why." I shrugged. "Either way, they're all dusted out. Nobody even knows where they're buried."
"Damnit, the oldest wasn't more than 19." Jet paced, angry, before spinning and facing us. "How can they just kill kids like that? KIDS!" He sat on the hood of the car and smoothed the lines in his forehead.
"Hey man, watch the paint." I made a face at him, to which he responded with a prominently raised middle finger.
"Oh shove it, Jet." I rolled his eyes. "Always so dramatic."
"Um, guys? Get over here!" Party called from the kitchen doorway.
"Well, duty calls." Kobra slapped his hands on Jet's shoulders. "See ya later, Terror."
"Bye Kobe." I nodded. "And just turn that frown upside down, Jet!" I called after them, chuckling. I stood up off the car and wiped my hands, seeing just how gross they were. My baby needed a bath, and she needed it bad.
In the spirit of boredom, I went on a makeshift scavenger hunt, finding water too acidic to drink, some ancient soap and an old rag before proceeding to clean her off. Before I started, I stripped off my jacket, shoes and t-shirt, wanting to keep them dry and not really caring, considering mos others were out Drac hunting and this part of the warehouse was rarely visited anyway. I was just finishing cleaning off the last of the soap when I heard a voice behind me.
"Having fun, Terror?" I jumped about a mile in the air, turning to see Pathogen Pollution, a lone Zone runner we'd picked up about a week ago. His whole clan had been dusted out three days before, and all he could do was wander, dehydrated and out of his mind wih grief. He couldn't even tell us his name when we found him. Luckily, he'd made a recovery and was getting more stable, although Ma still would't let him go Drac hunting.
"Dude, don't sneak up on me like that." I turned around, leaning against the car.
"Sorry, I just heard someone down here and wondered what was up." I was suddenly painfully aware of my partially naked form, considering I was standing there in merely my bra and jeans, and I was wet from washing the car. Po's eye's roamed my body, causing me to quickly cross my arms over my chest.
"Y'know, Terror, you're really beautiful." Po said quietly. "Like most girls just don't have the same hair, or the same body." Po stepped towards me, a strange look in his eyes. "You were the only one who visited me when I was sick. You're not like them."
"Po, what are you doing?" My eyes widened as he put his hands on my hips. I shoved them off. "Look man, you're not feeling okay..."
He replaced his hands, making me nervous. I tried to shove him off, but he pressed me up against the car. "I love you." His mouth collided with mine, his tongue going straight into my mouth. I beat his chest and tried to scream, but he held me down, giving me nowhere to go. He pulled back to let his hands travel upwards towards my bra clasp, giving me oppourtunity to bring my knee up where the sun don't shine, screaming all the while. Po doubled over, letting me bring an elbow down on the back of his neck. I heard noise as he fell and felt myself being pulled backwards into Party's protective hug, the guys having run out when they heard the ruckus.
"Did this fucker hurt you?! Huh?!" Jet and Kobra were having a hard time holding Ghoul back as he lunged towards the injured Po. I burrowed into Party's hug as he shielded me from the escalating scene.
"What happened, sweetheart?" Party asked me as I stood there, quivering and wet.
"I was washing down the car and he just came out of nowhere." I stammered, shocked. "He pressed me up against the car and kissed me-"
"I'm gonna kill you!!" Ghoul lunged with renewed vigor.
"Okay, let's all just calm the fuck down, alright?!" Party demanded, causing Ghoul to relax some. "Somebody toss me her shirt." Jet snatched it off the nearby picnic table I'd left it on and tossed it to me. I shakily put it on, still nervous and shaken.
"What happened, you scumbag?" Party glared at Po.
"She loves me and she knows it!" Po yelled, pointing at me. "She nursed me when I was sick, every day she visited me. Every day she looks at me and sends me messages with her eyes." He stared longingly at me.
"What, my knee in your groin wasn't enough of a 'fuck off' signal?" I glared at him, horrified but coming out of the shock.
"You just didn't want them to see us together." Po answered promptly. Jet and Kobra let go of Ghoul and walked forward, picking Po up by his arms and leading him away.
"Come on, creep, let's go see what Ma want's to do with you." Jet said, hauling Po to his feet.
"No! You love me, Terror! We're meant to be!" He screamed as Jet and Kobra dragged him out of sight.
"Are you okay? Did he touch you anywhere else? Did he hurt you?" Ghoul took my shoulders, his eyes a mix if rage and concern. "I swear, if that little creep so much as breathes on you the wrong way again-"
"Ghoul!" I stopped him. "I'm fine, okay?" I said softly, still a little freaked out.
"Are you sure?" He looked at me, concerned.
"Yeah." I nodded, my eyes narrowing. "I never saw it coming, y'know?"
"What a fucking creep. I swear to God, I'll kill him-"
"Please don't." I hugged him. "Just let this go. I can take care of myself." Ghoul didn't reply, merely hugged me back.
"I don't want her here with that bastard." Ghoul shifted me to his side, keeping one arm around me protectively. "She wants to come with us anyway. Let's take her with on this next run."
"Can we talk about this later, Ghoul?" Party tried to say before Ghoul cut him off.
"There's nothing to talk about. Either she comes or I stay back. Take your pick." Ghoul raised his chin defiantly. They stared at each other for a few moments in a silent standoff, eyes locked, before Party sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"She's your fault, that I'm-not-taking-orders streak." Party pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index fingers. "Do either of you realize what we're risking here? She's one of our biggest assets."
"That's the problem, I don't want him touching her assets and he's fucking crazy." I snorted at Ghoul's overbearing instincts.
"Here, I'll make you a deal;" Party looked at me. "you can ride with us IF you take a team in with you to do the job."
"Oh come on, you already said I could go in by myself!" I whined, but Party merely held up a hand.
"That's the deal, take it or leave it." He nodded. "Are you coming or what?"
I looked from Ghoul to Party carefully, trying to find a way out of this. "But-"
"No 'buts.'" Party cut me off. "That's the deal."
"You know I can't turn that down." I glared at him. "Fine." Ghoul's face broke into a grin as he and Party looked at each other mischievously.
"You guys suck. Way to jeopardize the mission." I shook Ghoul off me, irritated.
"Come on, whiny, we got some details on the tower we need to go over." Ghoul propelled me by the shoulders to the kitchen.
"Kiss my ass." I chuckled as I followed Party into the kitchen, just happy to be with the guys again.
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