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"Are you sure you don't mind babysitting?" Jolyne asked, as she shrugged her jacket on over her cocktail dress. Weather stood before her, Emporio in his arms.
"I don't mind," Weather all but whispered, breath tickling Emporio's ear. The boy giggled, pulling away from him.
"He says it's okay!"
"You're going to have to watch Foo, too. Last time she got stuck in the dishwasher and we had to have it replaced."
"It shouldn't be too hard," Hermes said, stopping by the mirror beside the door to adjust her hair. "You'll have Anasui to help you. Just keep an eye on things for a few hours, and then we'll be back."
Jolyne nodded. "If you need anything from us, you can call us. We'll have our cell phones with us. And the number for the restaurant is on the fridge."
"Emporio's bedtime is ten, but he can stay up to watch TV until ten thirty, as long as it's not inappropriate," Hermes added, taking her coat from Jolyne and pulling it on.
"Dinner's in the oven, and there are snacks in the cupboards-"
"And Emporio's blanket is in the dryer, don't forget to take it out."
"Are we forgetting anything?"
"I don't know," Hermes murmured, thinking hard. "I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Just remember that he needs to take a bath before bed," Jolyne said, standing there with her hands in her coat pockets.
"I've got it covered," Weather murmured. Emporio gave his moms a thumbs up.
Jolyne and Hermes stood in the doorway, gazing fondly at Weather and their son. "Okay," Jolyne said finally, tugging at Hermes' arm, "we've gotta get going. You guys be good. Don't get into any trouble while we're gone."
"We won't!" Emporio assured them, as Weather put the boy over his shoulder.
The moms waved goodbye as they stepped out the door, which swung shut behind them. Weather held Emporio out at arm’s length, holding him by his armpits and letting his legs dangle.
“What do you want to do, then?”
“TV!” Emporio declared. Weather nodded, tucking the boy under his arm (much to his entertainment) and heading over to the living room.
They settled in on the couch with a bowl of chips. Emporio took up the remote, clicking through the channels to Cartoon Network. He leaned against Weather, snuggling up to his big, quiet friend, and shoveled chips into his mouth as he watched.
He was asleep within two episodes of Adventure Time. Weather turned the volume down and dragged a blanket over Emporio, taking his hat off to pet his hair.
“Is he asleep?” Foo Fighters asked, coming up behind the couch and leaning against the back of it.
“Out like a light,” Weather murmured in response.
“Poor li’l guy. He was so excited to have you over tonight.” Foo climbed over the back of the couch, sitting on Weather’s other side and grabbing the bowl of chips from the table. “What else is on?”
Weather handed her the remote, and Foo held down the Channel button. Programs whirled by on the screen, snippets of noise and color before she settled on a 24 hour Breaking Bad marathon.
“He’s a deep sleeper,” she assured Weather before he could voice his concerns. “He’s not gonna see anything bad.”
They watched in semi-silence for a while, Foo crunching on potato chips. Jesse and Walt were up to their usual shenanigans (trying to melt a body in acid) and Weather kept glancing down at Emporio to make sure the kid was really sleeping, and not secretly watching.
“Weather!” Anasui yelled, entering the room. Foo and Weather turned around to shush him, fingers to their lips. “Oh, what, is he asleep? Whatever. I need you to drive me.”
“Where,” Weather asked. “Why.”
“To the convenience store! I need to get smokes.”
Foo wrinkled her nose. Weather shook his head.
“Please, Weather! I’m almost out, and I need more. I’ll buy you something if you take me.” Anasui winked at him. Weather wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean.
“I’m babysitting.”
“So bring the kid with! It’s not like they’ll care.”
“He is a really deep sleeper,” Foo repeated, softly.
Weather sighed and turned around to look at Emporio again. The boy was still snuggled up to his side, fast asleep.
“Just to the convenience store,” Weather confirmed. Anasui nodded.
“Just there and back,” he promised.
“Alright,” Weather sighed, standing and scooping up Emporio into his arms. “You should really get a car, you know.”
“Can’t. I’d just dismantle it.”
They walked out into the hallway, and Anasui made for the door. “Wait,” Weather said, turning the other way.
“For what?”
“Emporio’s wearing shorts. It’s cold out.”
“So?!”
“I’ll put him in his pajamas,” Foo said, taking the boy from Weather. She headed up the stairs, Emporio’s head on her shoulder. Anasui scowled and tapped his foot, arms crossed over his chest.
“Why can’t Foo just watch him? We could be gone by now.”
“Foo Fighters isn’t responsible.”
“Ugh.”
Foo Figthters came back down the stairs a few minutes later. Emporio was wearing footie pajamas, covered in dinosaurs.
“What the fuck is he wearing that for,” Anasui continued to complain.
“They’re his pj’s!”
“They’re fucking stupid. Grow up,” Anasui said, addressing the back of Emporio’s curly-haired head.
Weather took the boy back into his arms and led the way out to his van. It had been a gift from the Speedwagon Foundation after his release, though it had taken him a few months of tutoring from Jolyne and Hermes to learn how to drive. Anasui, as he understood it, could drive well, but couldn’t be trusted with cars. Foo couldn’t drive at all.
He buckled Emporio into the back seat and closed the door gently, careful not to squish any part of him with the door. Foo climbed in the back with him, buckling up, and Anasui took shotgun. Weather climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the car on, letting it warm up a minute. Anasui sighed loudly, tapping his feet impatiently.
“The convenience store on Broadway?” Weather asked once they were on the road. Anasui pulled a face.
“Fuck no. I’m not going to pay 8 bucks for a pack of cigarettes. Take me to the one on 4th.”
“That’s across town.”
“So?! You got plans? Just drive, Weather.”
Weather drove.
Anasui turned on the radio after a few blocks, and Katy Perry’s Firework played in the otherwise silent car. Anasui half hummed, half mumbled along, looking out the window. “Mmmaby you’re a firew’rmm, c’mon show ‘em wha’ you’re hrrm… Make’m go OH! OH! OH! As you shoot across the SKA-A-AI!”
“Anasui!” Foo hissed, leaning over to check on Emporio. “You’re gonna wake him up.”
“So? He’s not my responsibility,” Anasui sneered, turning around in his seat. “Hey, Emporio. Wake up.”
“Stop it!”
“Stop fighting,” Weather mumbled, merging into the other lane to turn left.
“Wake up!”
“Anasui! Knock it off!”
“Don’t make me turn this car around,” Weather threatened. Anasui huffed and fell back in his seat. Foo sighed a sigh of annoyance and sat up, looking out her window.
The station, U FM 105.9, continued through its list of songs, each one poppier than the next. Weather tried to turn the radio off, only for Anasui to knock his hand away. “This is a good song.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Are you kidding me? This is Lady Gaga!”
“I don’t like her.”
“She’s the mother of all monsters! You fucking killjoy.” Anasui turned the radio up, blasting Born This Way into the car.
“Turn it down!” Foo snapped.
“Turn if off, ” Weather said.
“‘M on the right track baby I was BORN THIS WAY,” Anasui sang, drumming his hands on the dashboard. Foo screamed in the back seat.
It was a miracle that they made it to the convenience store alive. Weather parked, and Anasui climbed out of the car, headed for the front door. Foo started to follow him.
“You’re going with?”
“I want some snacks too.”
Weather sighed, but let her go. Foo jogged off after Anasui, caught up to him at the door, and disappeared inside the store.
“Just you and me,” Weather murmured, glancing at Emporio in the rearview mirror, still fast asleep.
Anasui and Foo returned some ten minutes later with two bags full of snacks. They climbed back into the car, chattering excitedly with each other about something that had happened inside, passing shrink wrapped cakes and bags of chips back and forth, sorting out their munchies.
“Are we done now,” Weather asked, turning the radio down to be heard over it and their inane chatter.
“I got my smokes,” Anasui said smugly, tearing open the pack and putting the end of one between his lips.
“You can’t smoke in here.”
“I’ll roll the window down, don’t worry.”
“Turn it up, I like this song!” Foo cried, mouth full of sponge cake and cream.
Anasui reached over and cranked up the radio, Adele’s soulful voice blasting into the car.
We coulda had it AAAAAAAAAAAAALL, rolling in the DEEEEEEEEHEEEEHEEEP…
Weather, distracted by Anasui’s lit cigarette and trying to get him to put it out, failed to turn the radio back down in time, and Emporio groaned softly as he awoke, blinking around the car at them.
“Where am I?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Aw, you’re so sleepy!” Foo cooed, leaning over to hug his head and noogie his hair.
“We’re going home now,” Weather said, making eye contact with the boy in the rearview mirror.
Emporio sat up, looking around as they pulled out of the parking lot and back onto 4th street. The four of them were quiet a moment, except for Adele, as Weather drove towards home.
“I’m hungry,” Emporio said suddenly. “Can we get Five Guys?”
“Ooooh, Five Guys!” Foo cheered, excited.
“I could eat,” Anasui mused.
“You have food,” Weather murmured.
“Aw, c’mon Weather, we’re already out here!” Foo pleaded, grabbing the back of his seat and leaning forward into his personal space. “Anasui will pay!”
“Like hell I will!”
“Pleeeeeease Weather? Pleeeeease let us get Five Guys? Emporio really wants some!”
“We don’t have to,” Emporio said meekly.
“Come on, get the kid a burger,” Anasui said, relighting his cigarette. Weather sighed loudly, rolling down Anasui’s window with the controls on his side.
“I’m not paying,” Weather said, giving in.
“I’ll pay!” Foo announced.
“And we’re getting it to-go.”
“Yay,” Emporio cheered softly, while Foo shook his shoulders in excitement.
Weather sighed very quietly to himself, putting his blinker on to make a U-turn. Seconds later, they were headed back the other direction, past the convenience store, towards Five Guys. Party Rock Anthem started playing on the radio. Anasui lunged to cover the controls before Weather could turn it off.
It took some ten minutes to get to Five Guys from there. Weather pulled up into the busy parking lot, and parked. Everyone climbed out, Emporio shuffling in his footie pajamas across the parking lot until Weather scooped him up.
“Figure out what you want,” Weather ordered as they stepped into line. Anasui and Foo nodded, staring seriously at the menu above the counter. Emporio yawned and rested his head against Weather’s.
“I want a hot dog,” the boy said, closing his eyes.
“Gross,” Anasui hissed. Foo giggled.
They reached the front of the line after several too-loud rock songs of anticipation. Weather put in their order, with too much help from the other three, (“and four regular fries!” Foo added,) and then the group moved along to find a table and wait for their number to be called.
Anasui dashed to the counter to get their food when it was time, stopped the worker at the counter, and grabbed an extra bag to fill with peanuts. Then they were back on the road, Foo carrying all three bags, Weather carrying Emporio, Anasui with a drink carrier in hand.
“No more pit stops,” Weather warned as they climbed into the car.
“No more,” Anasui agreed.
“Nope!” Foo said, saluting him in the mirror.
Emporio nodded, resting his face against the window.
Tonight Tonight was playing on the radio. Anasui was playing with his cigarettes, twirling one between his fingers, but not actually smoking. Emporio seemed to have gone back to sleep, and Foo was stuffing her face with fries and unshelled peanuts.
“Don’t eat them all,” Anasui complained, glancing back at her.
“‘M not!”
“Yes you a- what’s wrong with your face?”
“What’re you talking abou’?”
“Your- your face! What the fuck! Weather, look at her!”
Weather glanced at Foo in the rearview mirror, looked away, and then did a double take. “It’s all swollen,” he said.
“I don’t feel nuffin.”
“You’re turning red!” Anasui exclaimed. “I think you’re going into anaphylactic shock!”
“Into what?” Weather and Foo asked simultaneously.
“You’re- you’re having an allergic reaction! You’re allergic to peanuts! How could you not know that?!”
“It’sh not my body,” Foo said with a shrug.
“What do we do?” Weather asked, starting to sweat. He brought a hand up to wipe his brow, eyes on Foo in the mirror.
“We need to get her to a doctor, or an Epi-pen- and she needs to stop eating!”
“But it’sh sho good!”
“Emporio!” Anasui snapped. The boy lifted his head, blinking sleepily at him. “Take the bags away from Foo.”
“Okay,” Emporio yawned, turning and reaching for the food bags. He froze halfway, mid-yawn, staring at her. “What happened to Foo? Weather?”
“Don’t worry,” Weather said, “we’ll take her to a doctor.”
“The hospital is half an hour away!” Anasui cried, “she’ll fucking die!”
“Sh-she’s gonna DIE?” Emporio gasped.
“No I won’t!” Foo whined.
“Weather, find a pharmacy!”
Weather nodded, slamming on the gas. The car rocketed forward, changing lanes to cut off another car and turning right at the next street. Horns honked in the near distance behind them as Weather sped away, scanning the sidewalks for what he knew had to be there: nail salon, thrift shop, pharmacy!
He pulled up to the curb and slammed on the brakes. Anasui tumbled out of the car before he was fully parked, and Weather climbed out too, glancing at Foo and Emporio in the back seat.
“Watch her,” he told Emporio. The little boy nodded, clutching at the Five Guys bags.
“How do we get in?” Weather asked, jogging around the car to the pharmacy, eyeing the door. Anasui turned away, grabbed a parking sign with Diver Down, and smashed it into the big front window, shattering the glass.
“Like that,” he said, climbing through the gaping hole. Weather sighed and followed.
The alarm started to go off almost immediately, blaring in the dark store. The two of them covered their ears, feet crunching over broken glass as they made their way to the back of the pharmacy. “Look for an Epi-pen!” Anasui yelled over the din as he busted the door down.
The guns were in their faces the second they stepped through the doorway. Weather put his hands up, while Anasui stared blankly at the two gunmen, clad in all black with ski-masks on. “What the fuck,” Anasui said.
“Get on the fucking ground!” one of the men yelled, grabbing Anasui by the arm to throw him down. Anasui grabbed the man’s wrist with Diver Down, yanking it to the side, and promptly kicked him in the balls.
“Weather, find the Epi-pen!”
Weather dove past him, darting between the shelves, looking for the medicine. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was looking for, honestly. With any luck, everything would be labeled and alphabetized- and sure enough, in the E’s, there were the Epi-pens. Weather grabbed the whole box of them, running back past Anasui towards the door.
“Fucker!” one of the men yelled, firing at Anasui and missing, perhaps due to the hefty box in his arms. Anasui kicked him in the nuts too, for good measure, grabbed the box from him, and took off after Weather, jumping back out through the broken front window and clambering into the van with the box of Oxycontin. Gunshots followed them, shattering the back window where Emporio sat and ricocheting off the car.
“DRIVE!” Anasui yelled, and Weather put his foot to the pedal, peeling away from the curb. Behind them, a sleek black range rover skidded out from around the corner, quickly catching up to them. “Weather, GOOO, NOW!”
“Guys?” Emporio squeaked, hands over his ears, “Foo’s not moving.”
“Weather, the Epi-pen!” Weather grabbed the box off his lap and silently handed it back to Emporio, making a sharp turn onto the next street, going around the block back towards 4th.
“Wh-what do I do with this?”
“Stab her with it!” Anasui yelled, leaning out the window and looking behind them. The range rover was gaining on them, and the man in the passenger’s seat leaned out to fire at them again. “What the fuck happened back there?!”
“Drug deal,” Weather murmured. “Gang activity.”
“What the fuck!”
“I- I can’t do this!” Emporio cried, “Weather!”
“Just stab her!” Anasui yelled, ducking down as a bullet shattered his side’s mirror. “Weather, lose them!”
“Trying,” Weather said through gritted teeth, turning back onto 4th street. Why did Anasui have to steal the Oxycontin? They could have just taken the Epi-pens!
The car skidded out into the third lane before Weather was able to fully turn, and begin speeding away. The range rover followed on the wider street, accelerating quickly to pull up beside them.
“I can’t do it!”
“Jesus Christ, kid!” Anasui yelled, leaning over into the back seat and snatching the Epi-pen from him. He yanked Foo’s shirt down, slammed the pen into her chest, and depressed the plunger. The needle sunk into her skin and Foo gasped, eyes flying open.
“What happened?” she asked, sitting up. More gunshots rang out, bullets flying over their heads and exiting out the car roof.
“Not much,” Anasui grunted as he started to sit back up in his seat. He sat up and leaned out the window, summoning Diver Down to imprint a heavy strike on the hood of the range rover. The rover screeched and flipped over, but not before another shot was fired, straight into his arm. Anasui howled in pain, falling back in his seat. Emporio and Foo screamed.
“Holy shit! Holy fuck! They fucking shot me!”
“Anasui! Are you alright?” Foo asked.
“No I’m not fucking alright you dumb shit! I got shot!” Anasui covered the bullet wound with his palm, then pulled his hand away to look at all the blood on his fingers. “Holy shit! Oh my god!”
“Calm down,” Weather said, calmly putting his turn signal on to merge into the left lane. “We’ll be there in a minute.”
“Are we going to the hospital?” Emporio asked timidly.
“No. We’re going to get Jolyne.”
“NO!” Anasui roared.
“WHAT?!” Foo yelled, distraught.
“She’ll know what to do about this.”
“You can’t! Oh my god, Weather, you can’t, she can’t know I got shot.”
“She can’t know I had an allergic reaction!”
“Emporio isn't supposed to be out this late, you know! You’ll get in trouble!”
“I don’t care,” Weather said firmly, making the left turn. “We’re getting Jolyne.”
--
Piano played gently over the soft din of silver on china at the Restaurant de la Lune . Quiet, polite chatter floated through the room, soft laughter, friendly banter. Jolyne and Hermes sat across from one another at a table set for two, laughing and smiling at each other.
“I’m so glad we decided to come out tonight,” Hermes said, watching her wife sip her wine- a white, chosen to be paired with shrimp.
“Me too,” Jolyne said. “You think they’re doing okay though? They haven’t called at all.”
“No news is good news, Jol.”
“I know, but… usually by now something’s gone wrong. Do you think I should call them?”
“What time does your phone have?” Hermes asked, sipping her red wine.
“Uhh… eight fifteen.”
“They’re probably watching TV right now. I bet Emporio’s already asleep.” Jolyne nodded, putting her phone away. “You still wanna go to the movie?”
“Yeah! I wanna see you cry like a baby at the scary parts.”
“Don’t count on it, okay? I’m not that easily scared.”
“Babe, I’ve seen you during The Grudge.”
“The Grudge doesn’t count!”
“Uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh…” Jolyne gurgled, and the two of them laughed and snorted, kicking at each other under the table.
“Quit it, they’re gonna kick us out!”
Jolyne grinned at her, looking up as the waiter approached with the main course. He set their plates in front of them and left them to their antics again, the women giggling as he walked away.
“I’m glad we’re here,” Jolyne said after a moment, gazing into her wife’s eyes.
“Me too, baby,” Hermes said, reaching across the table for her hand.
--
“Sir, we do have a strict dress code,” the host reminded Weather, holding him back from entering the dining room. Weather stared past him at Jolyne and Hermes and sighed. He knew he couldn’t interrupt them now.
“Let’s go,” he said to Anasui, turning around- except Anasui wasn’t there. Weather looked around, confused, then scooped up Emporio and headed back out to the car.
“Stay here with Foo,” he told Emporio, “and don’t touch the drugs.” Emporio nodded. Foo was oddly silent, staring out the window.
Weather headed out towards the road, where Anasui stood, smoking and staring at the traffic. “Let’s get going,” he said, “we need to get to the emergency room.”
“I got the bullet out,” Anasui said, “it’s fine.”
“They need to stitch you up. And Foo is-”
“Foo is fine. We’re both fine.”
“You don’t seem fine,” Weather said, stepping around in front of Anasui, forcing the other man to look at him. Anasui scowled and looked down at his boots.
“Fuck off, Weather.”
“Is this about Jolyne?”
“Fuck OFF!”
“She’s not your girlfriend, Narciso.”
“Fuck. I know that. That doesn’t make it hurt any less. I’m allowed to have feelings, you know.”
“Your feelings are holding her back.”
“How the fuck-”
“Why do you live with them, Narciso?”
“What the fuck! Why does FOO live with them?”
“Because they like Foo? Because Foo needs them?”
“I need her!”
“I told you you could live with me-”
“I don’t want to be with you, Weather! I want Jolyne!”
“Well you can’t have her!”
“WEATHER-!” Anasui grabbed him by the front of his shirt, fists curled tight around the fabric. He snarled at the older man. Weather snarled right back, shoving him back.
“You’re never going to have Jolyne. She doesn’t want you. She loves Hermes.”
“She could change her mind!”
They stood in a somewhat shocked silence, aside from the noise from the road. “You think she’s just going to stop loving Hermes for you?” Weather asked, incredulous.
“She could. Maybe.”
“You’re not that great of a guy.”
“Shut up.”
“Anasui.”
“Shut up! I know! I know it’s bullshit, okay? Stop- just stop it, alright? Fuck.” He spat the butt of his cigarette on the ground and stomped it under his boot. “I know I have no chance. I know it’s fucked up. Just leave me alone.”
“They’re raising a kid together, Narciso-”
“Stop calling me that. Just let me be miserable.”
Weather sighed, rubbing his face, and stepped back around him. “Get back to the car,” he said, heading there himself. Anasui didn’t respond, lighting up another cigarette.
Weather climbed into the driver’s seat, glanced in the rearview mirror, and then turned around to face the backseat. “Where is Foo?”
“She went on a walk,” Emporio said. “She went that way.”
“Jesus Christ,” Weather groaned. “Stay here. Don’t talk to strangers. Or do drugs.”
He jogged away from the bullet-riddled car in the opposite direction, towards the back of the restaurant. Foo sat amongst the dumpsters, knees drawn to her chest, arms around her legs.
“What’re you doing back here?” Weather asked, crouching beside her.
“Y’know. Just throwing myself away.”
“Foo.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just…” She lifted her head, already crying. “Why does everyone think I’m so helpless? Why do you all treat me like I am?”
“No one thinks you’re helpless, Foo.”
“Yes you do. I’m stupid and I had an allergic reaction and last time they went out, I got stuck in the dishwasher.”
“Those were accidents, Foo. No one thinks badly of you for that.”
“Why won’t they let me babysit then? Why did they call you?” Foo sniffled, staring wide-eyed up at him. “I could have watched him. And we wouldn’t have got shot at.”
“I know you could’ve.”
“Don’t try to cheer me up. I’m sad.” She put her head back down, rubbing her face on her knees.
“Foo, I know you could’ve done it. You just… need help. You get in trouble sometimes, and you need help. That’s okay.”
“No it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. Do you think none of us ever get in trouble?” Foo was silent. “Foo. We were all in prison. That’s just about the highest level of fucking up.”
“Yeah, ‘n’ I was there too.”
“You were just plankton. You didn’t commit any crime.” He reached a hand out and rubbed her back; Foo whined and leaned against him.
“We all needed help. We all needed the Speedwagon guys to help us. Remember?”
“Yeah, I remember…”
“And sometimes we still need help.” She looked up at him questioningly, waiting for examples. “I still have flashbacks, and nightmares. I need help with those.”
“You never say anything about it…”
“It’s hard for me to say much. This is hard right now.”
“I’m sorry,” Foo mumbled, wiping her eyes.
“Don’t be. You’re worth talking to.”
“Can we just sit a minute?”
“Sure.”
They stayed there amongst the trash for a while, Weather rubbing Foo’s back while she sniffled and tried to collect herself. Finally she stood and grinned at him, eyes still a bit red and puffy, and he stood to lead her back towards the car.
“Let’s get Emporio home,” he said, opening the back door for Foo. “...Where’s Emporio.”
“Don’t worry, he left a note,” Foo said, reaching past him to pick it up. ““If you want to see the boy alive again, come to the… the 8th street overpass at midnight.” W-Weather?”
“What’s going on,” Anasui asked, strolling over to them. “Where’s the kid?”
“Someone… someone took him! Who would take Emporio?!”
“Those guys from the pharmacy,” Weather murmured. “They must have caught up to us.”
“What the- what are we gonna do?” Anasui asked, face pale. “If Jolyne and Hermes find out their kid is gone-”
“They can’t find out! Weather!”
“They want their drugs back,” Weather mused. “But why didn’t they just take them?” He walked around to the front of the car, looking in through the side window. “Anasui. Where’s the Oxy.”
“I… kinda… threw it away.”
“Why.”
“It was too tempting! I’m trying to clean up!”
“Where?!” Foo demanded, grabbing him by his fishnets and shaking him.
“I left it on the sidewalk!”
“Well let’s go get it!” Foo shouted, running past the car towards the street. Weather and Anasui followed. As they neared the busy stretch of road, Weather’s heart sank. There was no box on the sidewalk. Someone had already picked it up.
“Where- where is it?” Foo asked, looking around frantically.
“It was right here....” Anasui whispered.
“It’s gone,” Weather sighed.
“What the hell are we going to do, then?!”
“They’ll kill Emporio!”
“They won’t kill Emporio. We just have to go meet them at midnight and explain what happened.”
“They’re GANGSTERS, Weather! They’re not going to give a shit about our excuses!” Anasui yelled, waving his arms in the air. “They’ll shoot that kid! In his face! ”
Foo wailed, tears starting to roll down her face again. “Th-they’re gonna shoot Emporio in his faaaaaaace! ”
“Pull it together,” Weather said, wrapping his arms around the both of them and herding them back towards the car. “We’ll figure it out.”
“So what’re we gonna do?” Anasui asked, once they were all back in the car. Foo sat in the center of the backseat, watching Weather nervously.
“I don’t know.”
“Weather!”
“Just let me think.”
They sat in silence, Weather gripping the steering wheel and staring out into the dark night. “We need to get more Oxy,” he said finally, turning the key in the ignition. He felt so numb, like he was moving through a layer of ice. “We can trade it for Emporio.”
“Where are we gonna get more?” Foo asked nervously.
Weather counted to ten, steadied his eyes on her in the rearview mirror.
“Weather?” Anasui asked, leaning over to look at him. Weather shook his head, put the car in reverse, and pulled out of his parking space.
“Hospital,” he said quietly, pulling back out onto the street. Foo and Anasui nodded resolutely.
--
“So is it like, really scary?” Hermes asked, pulling on her jacket as they left the restaurant. Jolyne laughed.
“You’re already scared!”
“I’m not scared. I just wanna be prepared, that’s all.”
“It’s really scary,” Jolyne said, wiggling her fingers at her wife as they approached the car.
“You’re such a butt,” Hermes laughed, checking her phone before climbing into the car. “Kinda weird that they still haven’t called.”
“Like you said, they’re probably all asleep on the couch.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know!” Hermes turned the key in the ignition and the engine sputtered to life. “I’m just saying, it’s unusual for nothing to go wrong, y’know?”
Jolyne nodded slowly. “You wanna call them now?”
“Kinda. I wanna say goodnight to Emporio.”
“Me too.” Jolyne dug her phone out of her clutch, dialing Weather’s number. It rang and rang and rang, and finally clicked, going to voicemail. “Huh. Must have his phone turned off. I’m sure they’re alright. We just worry too much.”
“They make it hard not to,” Hermes said, pulling out of the parking spot and heading towards the theatre.
--
“Act natural,” Anasui murmured as they walked through the sliding doors of the emergency room. Foo Fighters nodded, gnawing on her bottom lip. Weather looked around, silent, eyes scanning the hospital directory. Pharmacy. Down the hall on their right.
“Let’s go,” Weather murmured, turning off into the hallway. The other two followed, trying their best not to look suspicious. Anasui had his hands stuffed in his fishnets, chin tucked in, slightly hunched over to make himself look smaller. Foo whistled casually, tunelessly as they approached the pharmacy.
“Can I help you?” The pharmacist asked, as the three stood looming over her counter. Anasui coughed and kicked Weather in the back of his shin.
“I have to pick up a prescription,” Weather said quietly. Very quietly. The pharmacist leaned in, confusion on her face, straining to hear him. “For Oxy.”
“Okay. Can I see your prescription?”
The other two froze, faces twisted in horror. “He, uh, lost it-”
“Don’t have one-”
“I’m his doctor!” Foo declared. The others turned around to look at her in disbelief. She grinned.
“Right. Well, I can’t give you any medications without a prescription,” the pharmacist said, looking away from them back to her computer. It was clear they were being dismissed.
“That was a fucking bust,” Anasui spat, folding his arms and kicking at the shiny hospital floor. Foo sighed.
“I’m sorry guys. Maybe if I had one of those white coats…”
“I know what we’re going to do,” Weather said, eyes on the floor. The two of them followed his gaze to a puddle of mop water on the shining linoleum. Anasui gulped. Foo rubbed her hands together in glee.
A loud thud and a sickening crack echoed down the hospital corridor. Anasui started screaming immediately, clutching at his broken leg. The bone bulged out under the skin in a huge unsightly lump that made him choke back vomit. The pharmacist leapt to her feet behind the glass, leaning over her desk to look at him.
“Are you alright?”
“NO! I’M NOT ALRIGHT!”
“His leg is broken,” Weather said helpfully, standing over Anasui with his hands in his pockets, not helping at all.
“DO SOMETHING! I’LL SUE YOU!”
“Don’t move,” the pharmacist said, walking around to the door and hurrying out. “There’ll be a doctor here any minute.” She crouched beside Anasui, helping him to adjust his pose on the floor, as several thousand plankton slipped under the door behind her.
Foo paused on the other side of the glass to give Weather a thumbs up. He nodded at her in response.
“AAH! FUCK, DON’T TOUCH IT!” Anasui screamed. Weather glanced at him in disinterest, then back at the pharmacy window. Foo had disappeared again, no doubt searching the shelves for what they’d come here for. He only hoped the water would last her; if she dried up in there, they’d all be dead.
A doctor and two nurses stepped in, kneeling next to Anasui to gauge the damage and treat him. The pharmacist moved to leave, and Anasui grabbed at her hands, holding her in place.
“A-ah, wait! Uh, comfort me. Put my head in your lap?” The pharmacist jerked away in disgust, looking around for someone to defend her. One of the nurses snorted softly in amusement.
“Right, let’s get him to the E.R.,” the doctor said, as a couple more nurses with a stretcher pulled up beside them. Anasui glanced, panicked, at Weather Report, who in turn looked at the pharmacy door. Just a few more seconds…
“I have to get back,” the pharmacist said, moving to stand. Anasui jolted upright, knocking a nurse back, and sprung to his feet, leg springing back into shape. Everyone gasped and stumbled away; the pharmacist screamed, falling back on her butt. In the commotion, the pharmacy door clicked open, and a box of oxycontin slipped out on a wave of plankton.
“Actually, I’m feeling better,” Anasui said, hurrying off after Weather and Foo, who were already headed towards the exit.
They paused in the parking lot to catch their respective breaths. Foo, in the backseat again, chugged the remainder of her water, looking incredibly pale after her little adventure in the pharmacy. Anasui kept up a running list of complaints, examining his leg- “I’m never using Diver Down like that again, do you know how fucking gross that was? I feel like I need a shower-” Weather sat in the driver’s seat, eyes forward, hands on the wheel.
“We need to get Emporio back,” he said firmly.
“Yeah, we know,” Anasui replied. “We’ll get him.”
“Before Jolyne and Hermes get home and find out he’s missing.”
“They won’t find out!” Foo Fighters said.
“Can you guarantee that?” Weather asked, staring at her in the rearview mirror. Foo bit her lip and looked down at her big gulp cup.
“Hey, don’t be hard on Foo,”
“I’m not trying to be.”
“And quit being hard on yourself, while you’re at it! It’s not your fault the kid is in trouble.”
“I shouldn’t have brought him out tonight.”
“It’s gonna be okay, Weather,” Foo Fighters said softly, leaning forward in her seat. “We’ll get him home safe and sound, before Jolyne and Hermes ever realize we’re gone.”
“If we don’t…”
“Dude, what the hell are you worried about? That they’re gonna take your custody or whatever away?” Anasui turned to face Weather, grinning at him. The smile slowly slipped from his cheeks. “Oh… you’re really scared of that, aren’t you?”
“I don’t want to lose anyone,” Weather whispered.
“Okay. It’s okay, big guy. You’re not going to lose any of us. Right Foo?”
“Right!” Foo threw herself against the back of Weather’s seat, wrapping her arms around the headrest and Weather’s head. “We’ve got your back.”
Weather lifted a hand and patted Foo’s arm. “Thanks,” he murmured, as Foo Fighters retracted her limbs and sat back in her seat.
“Let’s go get Emporio,” Anasui said, patting Weather’s leg. The older man nodded, adjusting his grip on the wheel, and turned the key in the ignition.
As they drove, Pumped Up Kicks came on the radio. The three of them sat in silence through the first half of the song, eyes forward, watching the road as it flew past them. The whistle verse started and Anasui was the first to begin whistling along, then Foo, then Weather. The three of them whistled, tilting their heads side to side in unison, hyping themselves up for what was to come.
--
The 8th street overpass, 11:45 pm. “Are we supposed to be this early?” Foo asked nervously, glancing around the dark street as they walked towards the bridge.
“Furthermore, did they mean to meet us up there, or down here?” Anasui asked, carrying the box of Oxy under one arm.
A bright light came on under the bridge, blinding them. The three of them put their hands up to shield their eyes, squinting in the light. “Emporio!” Foo cried, being the first to adjust to the brightness.
“Holy shit,” Anasui breathed. There sure were a lot of men with guns.
Three men stepped forward: a man in a suit who could only be assumed their leader, a man with a rifle, and another man shoving Emporio along with a gun to his head. The boy appeared shaken, but not hurt.
“Is that it?” the leader asked. He was a white man, probably under thirty, with short hair and shaved sides. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his tie was loose around his neck.
“Uh, yup,” Anasui said, holding out the box, “here’s your drugs, sir.”
The second man, the one with the rifle, stepped forward and wrenched the box out of Anasui’s hands, taking it to show the leader. Anasui leaned over to hiss at Weather- “we’re stand users, why the hell are we doing things their way?!”- and straightened up when the gun was pointed at him.
“You think this is funny?” the leader asked, holding up his hand with his fingers pressed together. “Are you telling jokes right now?”
“He doesn’t think it’s funny,” Weather said, before Anasui could answer. “He’s just scared.”
“I’m not scared, Weather, I’ve been to prison for-”
“Enough talk,” the man said. The henchman with the rifle cocked it, still trained on Anasui.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Weather said, hands up defensively in front of him. “Just give us back Emporio.”
“You think this is enough Oxy to cover the damage you’ve done? I’ve got two men injured, one wrecked car, and now my order is late. You think this box is anywhere near enough to pay for the kid?”
“It’s the same amount that was in the last box,” Weather said, “the rest of that isn’t our fault.”
A loud, collective click as dozens of guns were trained on Weather, now. “Not your fault, huh?” the drug lord asked. “Whose fault was it, then? The girl? The kid? Huh? This guy? By all means, tell me who I can blame this on, so I can have them taken care of.”
Weather was silent. Foo and Anasui looked to him, concerned and unsure what to do.
“Speak up, big guy,” the drug lord called. “I wanna hear what you have to say.”
“It… It was just a coincidence,” Weather said. “We didn’t mean to steal your drugs. This is all a big misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? I will shoot this kid in his face, do you understand that?” Foo whimpered, hiding her mouth behind her hands. “What? You got something to say, bitch?” She shook her head hard. “Keep quiet, then!”
“This is unnecessary,” Weather warned, eyes narrowing, face darkening. “You got your drugs back.”
“And I say, you still owe me! What about my men, and my car? Huh? What about the deal I missed because of you stupid punks? Where’s my repayment for that?”
“You’re not getting it,” Anasui said coolly. “You’re a loser today. Better luck next time.”
“The fuck was that?” the man asked, grabbing a gun from his waist and stalking up to Anasui with it. He pointed it in the effeminate man’s face, pulling the hammer back, finger on the trigger. “You wanna say that again, punk?”
“I said you’re a loser,” Anasui said, calm as could be. “You’re not getting your money back. Better. Luck. Next time.”
There would have been a big, gaping hole in Anasui’s head if it weren’t for Diver Down; as soon as the drug lord pulled the trigger, DD slammed it back the way it came, knocking the gun out of his hand and breaking at least one of his fingers. The henchmen, confused and eager to defend their boss, began firing immediately. Emporio bit down on the hand of the henchman holding onto him and ran towards Foo, who scooped him up and took off for the van. Bullets flew everywhere, shots echoing off of the bridge above, as Weather summoned up great storms of lightning to strike down his opponents and Anasui ran into the fray, imprinting heavy strikes on everyone he met.
The drug lord stood, clutching his broken hand, switched his gun to his left, and fired after Foo. She screamed but kept running, hand covering the back of Emporio’s head. Weather turned, switching his attention to the injured man, and clocked him in the back of the head with a large chunk of ice. The sound of gunshots slowly died out as the drug lord pushed himself upright, bleeding from his head wound.
“You… what the fuck are you? X-men?” He pointed his gun at Weather, hand shaking. Weather stared coolly down at him.
“I’m just a dad,” Weather said finally, stepping toward. “You fucked with my kid.”
He kicked the man in the teeth and ended it.
--
No one said anything on the drive home. They sat in silence, staring out their respective windows, reflecting on what had taken place that night. The van reeked of gunpowder and blood. Emporio was covered in a thick layer of grime that hadn’t been there when he was kidnapped. Everyone needed a bath and a nap.
Weather reached over and turned the radio back on, turning the volume up. He couldn’t handle the thoughts going through his mind right now; he needed something besides silence to listen to. Coming Home was playing through the second verse, and the four of them listened, not wanting to sing along.
“Are we gonna tell my moms what happened?” Emporio asked as Weather turned back onto 4th street. Foo lifted her head and Anasui looked over at Weather.
“We’re going to think about it,” Weather said slowly, as the next chorus started. “We… I might be in trouble with them for it. But I think they should know.”
“You don’t have to do that, Weather,” Anasui said. “It was my fault we came out tonight.”
“It’s my fault we got involved with that gang,” Foo said.
“It’s my fault we went to Five Guys,” Emporio said softly.
“It’s no one’s fault,” Weather said firmly. “But it was my responsibility to keep you all safe tonight. I failed.”
“Who cares!” Anasui cried, “the kid’s alive, you didn’t burn the house down- what’s the problem! Why do you have to be punished for something that ended up okay?”
“What if you don’t get to come over anymore?” Foo asked softly. Emporio looked horrified at the thought.
“W-weather?”
“It’ll be okay,” Weather said, eyes on the road. “Don’t worry about it.” The final chorus started up and the four of them were silent.
--
The TV was off when Hermes and Jolyne entered the house, and the whole lower level was dark. “Guys?” Hermes called, hanging up her jacket and setting the keys on the table by the door. “Anyone home?”
Jolyne started up the stairs and Hermes followed. A light was on down the hall, Emporio’s room. The women approached, and Jolyne pushed the door open slowly to peek inside.
The four of them were asleep on Emporio’s twin bed- or, partially atop it. Weather lay stretched out beside the kid, a picture book fallen against his stomach like he’d passed out reading it. Emporio, squeaky clean from his bath, snuggled close to him- which was good, because there wasn’t much room. Foo knelt on the floor beside them, resting her arms and head on the edge of the bed, snoring softly, and Anasui leaned against the foot of the bed, head fallen onto his shoulder.
“They’re all tuckered out,” Hermes cooed, hand over her heart. Jolyne leaned against her, putting her head on her wife’s shoulder, watching the scene. They should never have worried; of course Weather would keep their family safe and secure.
“I bet they didn’t even make it past nine,” Jolyne giggled, as she and Hermes turned, walking down the hall to their bedroom together. Behind them, Emporio stirred, and called out.
“Jolyne?”
“He’s awake,” Jolyne whispered, hurrying back. “Yeah?”
“Weather tried really hard. He did a good job… please never make him go away.”
His moms blinked at each other, a little lost. “We’d never make Weather go away,” Hermes said, “he’s a part of our family.”
“Even if he got us in trouble?”
“Even then. Family means nobody gets left behind,” Jolyne said, leaning over the bed to kiss Emporio’s forehead.
Emporio nodded in understanding, eyes falling closed again. Jolyne stroked his hair until he was out, then kissed him again and walked back over to Hermes, waiting in the doorway.
“So when are we gonna tell ‘em we saw the van?” Hermes asked as they climbed into bed together. The bullet holes and busted up windows and bloodstains were a little hard to miss.
Jolyne sighed, smiling and shaking her head. “Let them think they got away with it. It’s okay.” She laid down with her wife, and wrapped her arms around her. “Mmm… I’m glad we went out.”
“Me too,” Hermes murmured.
“You okay, babe?”
“I can’t stop thinking about that movie.”
Jolyne laughed. “You big baby. You’re afraid of demons now, aren’t you?”
“Paranormal Activity was fucking scary, okay? They didn’t need to make three of them!”
“It’s okay. I’ll protect you.” Jolyne pulled Hermes closer, kissing her cheek. “I’ll protect my big squishy scaredy cat.” Hermes huffed, scooting up closer to Jolyne and rolling over to hug her, hiding her face in her wife’s chest. “I love you,” Jolyne cooed.
“I love you too,” Hermes said, muffled. “Don’t fall asleep.”
“I won’t,” Jolyne promised, kissing the top of her wife’s head. She held onto Hermes until she felt her drift off to sleep, then slowly pulled away to turn out the light and go to bed.
Their night out had been fun. And whatever had happened with Weather and the rest of their family, she’d find out later. For now, things were good, she had her wife, her loved ones were in the next room, and all was well.