anothercontinuity | Red vs Blue pt 2

"Labor." It was an easy and time honored solution in the family. "Useful, exhausting, generally not what they want to be doing in the first place and effective enough to dissuade acting out without violence or whatever the hell you were pulling with Locus."

All that warmth and easy camaraderie offered to another guy from the gutter? Gone.

"So you call it discipline, I call it bullshit." Discipline? Discipline. It was impossible to take that at face value, not when he could remember so clearly that quiet sense of loss, that driving need to prove that he was worth something. That he wouldn't fail. Locus was his, was content, was loved but he could still look over any hour of the day and remember his profile. The soft murmur of his voice, so damn small.

I don't know what I did wrong.

"You owned him. You don't play headgames with your hawks- and you don't let something like that get you all the way to an actual auction, let alone put them on the block. You know what happens to the ones that don't get sold because they've been labeled unstable."

Felix watches the warmth seep out of York, how cold he turns. Alright. So there's something here, he thinks. Roots already laid, something like loyalty or affection or whatever the fuck York thinks he's gotten himself with Locus.

"Yeah. Yeah I do," he replies softly, head cocking slightly. "...which makes me wonder why you picked him up regardless of that fact. Mercy? That's a lot of coin for someone who's just working on keeping things running."

The burnt hawk, meanwhile, had shifted his attention to Maine, silently gauging something behind that blown black eye.

"I needed an eagle." They didn't come up on the block all that often; an eagle trained and hooded was worth double their weight in gold; especially in good armor. The mews had been thin for years and one more body wasn't going to make that much of a difference-

Except in all the ways that it had.

Maine rumbled quietly- helmet golden, gleaming, and impenetrable

"Unstable is used to mark insubordinate hawks more often than actual violent tendencies. If he was insubordinate, I could train it out of him. If he was violent, eh." He shrugged, let his hands splay over the desk. He was mafia. "We have ways of handling that."

"But it's not an issue with numbers, or you'd have already agreed to give him back."

Felix sighed and shrugged, striding back across the room towards the desk York was now propped over. As if on cue, the scarred hawk took a few steps closer. Slow, almost casual-like. "I get it, I do. On a good day, he's a damn good Eagle."

"And on a bad day?" The likes of which he hasn't seen, honestly. In the Mews he was given space if he wanted it, included where he wished; had a space in York's bed, had a purpose guarding him. There had been no sign of 'getting squirrely' as Felix described. Not yet.

"On a bad day 'unstable' is a very, very kind term."

"You haven't noticed? I mean, anyone who takes the hood is some kind of fucked up or broken, you know that. But I took him as my Eagle to keep him from going rogue. On bad days, he forgets where he is. He goes back to where he was before, back during the war. Needs a mission, a bullet and a head to put it in. He doesn't get one?"

He lets the words trail off into silence, shaking his head and glancing back towards Sharkface, who for his part? Didn't so much as blink in his staredown of Maine. "While I appreciate you looking out for him like you have...there's a reason I took him. Me and him, we've seen shit together. Now, maybe threatening him with the block was a bad call. I can accept that."

Felix's hands pressed to his own chest, before one finger lifted towards York.

"But you've got no idea what you're in for on one of his bad days. It's not gonna be his fault, not really, but whatever you paid? It's not gonna be worth the Hell he brings you. So it's really gonna be best for you, me, and him if you let me take him back home, where he belongs."

"Everyone that went through the war has a little PTSD. Everyone in our business has some kind of PTSD." Half the time it was what kept them alive long enough to do well. The other half was luck; still. This all sounded very kind and well meaning and reasonable while smelling very much like bullshit.

"Maine- have Florida bring Locus in." See how Locus reacted to his old owner, see if there was anything resembling relief in his posture. Odds were that wasn't the case but- Who the fuck knew? It wasn't a call he was ready to make without consulting Locus. Which. Wasn't how this shit was done normally, but he was always a little odd.

Maine inclined his head and the growling cut out as he used the internal mike to contact Florida. Call them both in, just to be sure.

Small victory. He'd take it for what it was, turning slightly on his heel, as to be able to face the door without fully turning his back to York and Maine. Sharkface shifted accordingly, lining himself up at Felix's side, though it was the Eagle he kept his focus on.

Just in case.

Locus wasn't sure what to expect when he came in the door.

It wasn't Felix, that was for damn sure. No relief in his posture, no, but behind his helmet something stunned and somewhat pained seized his features. He was glad, more than a little, that no one could see that raw unguarded look.

All they would see is a slight hesitation in his step, his eyes shifting from York to Felix and remaining there. Felix just smiled, surprisingly soft.

"Hey partner."

Florida remained carefully still, poised at Locus' side. Under the helmet his eyes flicked from Locus to Maine to York, trying to puzzle out what the game was here- the hand he'd put on Locus' shoulder firms for the moment. Solidarity.

They all saw how Locus had been uncertain upon his arrival. Knew how glad he was to be here with York. They took care of their own.

"Felix wants to buy you back." York opened easily enough, eyes on Locus' helmet. No command to take it off and the lock? Was in place. Felix lost the right to see what was underneath the second he thought taking Locus to the auction block was acceptable.

Of course if they knew each other as long, as well as Felix said? Posture could read well under the armor. Didn't matter. The set of his shoulders were tense, but York's smile flitted over his face, much as it always did when he saw Locus. "I have my reservations."

"All completely understandable. He wants to protect an important investment he made, and I want you back. It's made things a little awkward, as you can see." Smiling broadly once more, teeth glinting, Felix opens his arms in a hapless little shrug. "I'm sure he'll make the right call. What do you think, Loc?"

Locus said nothing. Seeing Felix standing there, something tightened in his chest to the point of losing command over his words. Felix wanted to purchase him back. Felix wanted him back. Felix...

Florida's hand on his shoulder kept him grounded. Look at the situation. Look at the facts. Don't allow emotion to overtake you.

York was considering it. Had reservations. Wanted to keep him, but the decision hadn't been made yet. And here he stood, dangling between the two of them, and ownership of him yet to be properly determined. Swallowing thickly, he gave a very faint nod. He'd been asked a question, surely he expected an answer. "...I'm sure," he echoed softly.

"I know it's an old fashioned notion; loyalty and fealty, taking pride in one's Hawks and wanting them to live well under you; so it is less the investment and more wanting what is best for Locus." Which was no longer his own choice, as per the litigation that made the entire system possible. Whoever signed the contract owned him.

And right now? The name was still York's. And unless Locus made a compelling argument to the contrary-

It would remain York's.

Florida's hand slipped from Locus' shoulder to join Maine in flanking york, taking his usual position. Guarded on both sides, so, there really was only one place left for Locus if he wanted to come around to the other side of the desk.

His usual spot, next to York, kneeling at his side.

"So call me an old fashioned guy." It was an unspoken request, the way his hand fell off the wood to the chair he sat in, waiting. For a shoulder, for a hand, for whatever Locus chose to give him- if he chose to walk to him.

It was easier to mask the war of emotions with no visual cues to give away. He turned towards York, making his way towards him to take his usual position beside him, on his knees. Felix watched with what could almost register as fascination, before letting his eyes flicker back to York.

Clearly a show of ownership on his part.

"If that's what you want, then we want the same thing, pal. And I'd rather we were working together than...well. Not. But it's not like I don't understand your reservations."

He licks his lips. "Tell you what. Don't make the call now. Take some time, think it over. In fact, why don't you come by the compound yourself. I'm having a party thrown for some fucking contract or another, because hey. That's what we're expected to do for new partnerships." His hands slipped loosely into his pockets as he shrugged, looking briefly to Sharkface.

"Stop by, have a few drinks, bring your hawks. I could probably introduce you to a few folks, and you can see how well my hawks are kept. Then, by the end of the evening, you can let me know what you wanna do. Fair?"

York's hand slid to the nape of his neck by rote, massaging the joint of the armor. Easier without the helmet but- he wasn't displeased, he wasn't frustrated. None of this was on Locus. They'd talk it out after Felix left-

And he was offering them an out. Excellent.

"Talk to Delta about scheduling, he'll let me know if I'm free. If I'm not, I'll move some appointments around to make it." Delta who was slim and quiet and loyal, waiting just outside the door. Delta who was probably fucking ecstatic that someone wanted to take Locus back, remove this disturbance in the household that wasn't, in fact, a disturbance. Who would absolutely make certain this was a trip they could make.

It'd been awhile since he'd wandered out to socialize. He was due an appearance.

Also an opportunity for an Ambush but- he'd have Maine and Locus. "Will that be all?"

"For now. We'll be in touch."

He let his gaze shift to Locus, holding it there for one second, then two, before turning and making his way out of the door. Far from relaxing, Locus was still holding himself taut under York's hand. Focus. Just focus.

Felix, meanwhile, let his gaze fall towards Delta as they made their way out of the office. "We're supposed to get together, you and I," he breezes out, without prelude.

"Easy." York murmured, thumb swiping against his armor. "Want to lose the helmet or keep it on?"

The option would always be Locus' in this room. Always.

In the hall- Delta startled somewhat, head snapping up from where it'd been buried in a tablet, flicking through forms, appointments- the meeting took less time than anticipated and freed up a block later in the day unless York spent undue time reassuring Locus of his place in the household and he'd have to move things around again-

The flirtatious opening had him knocked off center, pale skin flushing. "I- of course. We are scheduling a secondary meeting, a business luncheon, time with a contract lawyer and notary- or a social call?"

"On."

Let him hide. Let him keep that barrier there a while longer.

Outside, Felix grinned sharply, his eyes flicking over Delta with an approving sort of look. "Wouldn't say no if you wanted to drop by," he replied with a sly sort of look. "But we're putting down an invitation to a party, in particular. A week out, my place. Your boss, his hawks...and you, I hope."

Oh. Oh, he thought he'd caught a whiff of something like insecurity. This? This could be useful. Damn useful, if he played his cards right.

"Of course." Maine settled back, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall and Florida mirrored his posture.

Maine and Florida weren't leaving the room- Delta took note in an idle way (the fucking would happen later, it seemed, and would indeed warrant shuffling around appointments.) even as he took in the once over and- he wasn't. No one looked at him that way. He was York's right hand, he ran the business, he was respected and feared but never...

He shoved those thoughts away, flicking through York's schedule. "If it involves business even tangentially I will be present. What time in the evening would this be, and do you have a guest list? It is not often that there are conflicts of interests in attending social functions, however-"

Heads of families held grudges on occasion. Keeping track of who liked them and loathed them on any given day? Fell to Delta.

"Party starts at seven. I'll have my tech guy send over the invitations. You just let me know how many. Don't want anyone left off."

A moment more and he glanced back towards the closed door, squinting faintly, before looking back at Delta with an expression that was almost incredulously. "Surprised he doesn't keep you in there...probably doesn't need the distraction, huh?" With a snicker and a wink, he started through towards the main hall.

"Looking forward to hearing from you."

"I beg your pardon?" Business was business and that- that he handled without batting an eye, making the appropriate arrangements for the evening to come, fingers flying along the tablet until that. Wink.

People did not wink at Delta. They did not flirt with him as a rule. It wasn't done.

"I- he. Likely has other matters to attend to and I have to escort you out." Which he did, falling into step with Felix, just ahead of the burned Hawk. Having one without their helmet on just wandering about wasn't taboo but it was...unusual.

There was a reason, of course. Things could be done that weren't normally done to make a point, and Sharkface was an intimidating feature. Proof of how dedicated and tough his hawks were. You saw that guy once without his helmet? You silently wondered what lay under the armor of the others.

Half of staying in power was the show. Something Felix knew how to twist to his advantage.

"Well, I'm not saying no." An eyebrow quirked at Delta. "How long have you been working for the kid?"

"A man of thirty seven is hardly a kid." Delta sniffed, tucking his tablet under his arm. "I worked for the family long before York came into it."

Brought up with his brothers assisting the previous boss. Finances, security, managing their reputation, training their men- their family was as deeply entwined in the bloodline as the boss- until he passed and left it to York. "But York, specifically? Ten years."

"Ten years, and he still has you doing his appointments?"

Felix clucked his tongue softly. Alright, so he's got a soft spot for York. Resentful of the newcomer, maybe? He can roll with that.

"Not that I don't think you're more than capable, don't get me wrong. In fact, I think I'd applaud his restraint."

"He manages the business, I manage him." It was less secretarial than most assumed but- it was an awful lot of calling, arranging, deskwork. He could handle it and be quiet and capable and silently annoyed more often than not but-

He wanted more. And was not granted that much.

"Restraint?" He blinked, looking over to Felix. "I do not understand."

"Just me talking. I do that," he replied with a wave of his hand. "Sort of say whatever comes to mind. Isn't that right?"

The hawk grunted, and said nothing.

"But I know most guys that keep mews prefer the pretty ones to take the hood. So, color me surprised."

"It is not as though I haven't offered." He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Until the shooting that prompted our trip to the auction, he was loathe to bring anyone into the mews. And now-"

Now he had Locus. "He still sees no need to expand the mews."

Only then did it sink in that Felix had called him pretty. The tips of his ears went pink.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject