Chapter Text
Shorter parks at his usual spot and stops the engine. Remains sat for a few seconds, dragging out the moment. His head’s dizzy, and that coffee he had near the airport feels almost surreal — he is too drowsy. And if he still hopes to have a nice sleep this night, he can forget about healthy sleep from tomorrow on.
Ash and Eiji, who sit behind him in the passenger seats, aren’t very keen on leaving the car as well. As if it was a point of no return.
Shorter switches off a radio which has been playing old hits in the background all the way long, takes his backpack and leaves the car, at last, sighing nearly inaudibly. Ash and Eiji get out as soon as he does.
Shorter had an easy mood while waiting for them in the airport. They have been repeatedly looking at every detail of their plan, checking their circle and discussing who can be trusted, and calculating the best route for the last two weeks — that kept Shorter inspired, he believed — nothing can get in the way of this plan and its further execution.
Shorter and Ash have already sent Ibe, Max, Jessica and Michael to Japan and the latter have landed in Tokyo airport hassle-free to get to Izumo later. Now Shorter and Ash could drive to Mexico two separate ways, and neither Dino nor his accomplices like the Lee Clan can interfere with them leaving off to Japan with the first flight. Ash and Eiji are hitting the road right next morning, and Shorter has one more task to complete before leaving — to disband the gangs completely. Nadia with her volunteer organization and Charlie with his support from the police have settled everything so no one gets left stray. He just has to officially terminate the New York Chinese gang along with any other Ash or Shorter had an affiliation to.
Shorter considered the plan as nice and reliable and was confident in it, but he had to put much effort into staying calm on the outside as a wave of restlessness hit him too much. Especially considering he’s going to take one little gamble, which isn’t a part of their plan. And it just seems “little”.
The three of them go up to the flat and Shorter finds something to be happy about — he will see his sister. For the first time in a few weeks. Nadia always was a beam of sunlight scaring away the most terrible shadows in Shorter’s soul.
The flat smells like green tea, and this scent is so strongly associated with home that Shorter calms down pretty soon. Their little restaurant and the flat which is not much bigger — are the only places, where he feels relaxed. Most of the time.
Nadia comes out of the kitchen to welcome them and Shorter feels like they haven’t seen each other just for a day. She smiles friendly and emits a supportive and domestic aura just the same.
“Hi,” Shorter greets and hugs Nadia affectionately, confident that he gets a hug just as firm as his.
“Take them off at least at home,” says Nadia and removes Shorter’s glasses.
“Fiiiiine,” Shorter laughs briefly and puts them on his head, closing his eyes drowsily.
He puts his backpack on a chair and takes his shoes off, while Nadia welcomes Ash and Eiji.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
“Yes,” Ash nods. “You?”
Nadia takes out of the bookcase a travel guide and two folders with documents from it. As soon as they knew the plan requires getting false IDs, Nadia decided she — or, more precisely, she and Charlie — would do it.
“Here’s everything you need, along with new passports. This should be enough. Charlie wishes you luck.”
While they get used to their “new” names and documents, Shorter just watches this scene with mixed feelings and a shy smile carved on his face. Are they really doing it? Do they finally get a chance?
Nadia invites them to the kitchen and Shorter decides to take her place near the stove. He hardly cooked anything at home or in “Chang Dai” for such a long time that he started seriously missing the process. This aroma of spices, which cause his eyes to shed tears sometimes, these various kitchen utensils, this special flavour when you are the first to taste the nearly-done dish.
Shorter puts on an apron and starts cooking some omelet in another pan . It seems they have much more diverse stuff for cooking than their small kitchen can actually fit. All of these food scents make Shorter remember he’s hungry. The last time he ate some hot dog with an overly fried sausage from some street café while talking to Sing on the phone when they only were getting ready to go to the airport.
Shorter turns off the heat and puts the stew onto the dishes placing them on the table.
“Sing will be here with a car by tomorrow morning,” he says to Ash and Eiji and passes the cutlery to them.
“I just hope he gets something operating,” Ash nods and takes probably the only fork in this house out of his hands. He also is the only one of them to actually prefer forks to sticks.
“I know that he will at least try,” Shorter smiles briefly and takes his place at the table as well.
“How about you all? You said you have something special up your sleeve.”
Shorter smiles again and looks at Nadia.
“Nadia has, not me. Charlie got her one hell of an SUV for such an occasion.”
“Wow,” Eiji breaks his silence. “Now I’m worried about you slightly less.”
But Shorter still feels uneasy. And to be honest with himself, he knows the reason. He has a meeting neither Ash , nor Eiji, nor even Nadia know about tomorrow. His little gamble started to concern him more and more every minute, but he isn’t planning on giving up. He has considered everything and made his decision, won’t take even a step back. N ot even to mention that they have already passed the “checkpoint”.
After dinner Shorter makes some kind of a bed out of three old futons, and gets a sheet for Eiji — he doesn’t find covering up with a regular warm blanket in August the best idea. Ash refuses the blanket and Shorter himself doesn’t need it either.
After taking a shower and letting Ash do so, Shorter heads to his room but notices a light in the kitchen and turns towards it. Nadia sits at the table reading a book and the pot is boiling on the stove. If he wants to get some sleep deadly, she, on the contrary, probably doesn’t.
“You said to head to bed early but still sit here,” he says with a smile to reveal his presence.
Nadia looks up at him and shrugs.
“We get Eiji and Ash on the road and then can have some more sleep. And the book is interesting.”
“Just don’t stay up too late. Soon we won’t have time to rest.”
Nadia looks at him seriously without a bit of a smile on her face and asks:
“Does Ash know about your extra plan?”
Shorter remains silent and raises his brows a bit confused, having no clue what she’s talking about.
“I know you have something in mind,” Nadia adds with less seriousness and turns the page of her book. “And I know that you didn’t tell Ash about it.”
“How?”
“You’re very worried, I can see that. But I will back you up anyway.”
“Even if I do something irrational and bizarre?”
“Even then,” Nadia smiles softly and Shorter’s heart finds its place. “Moreover, I can see you’ve made up your mind. Is it that risky?”
Shorter takes a few seconds to think and crosses his hands in front of his chest unconfidently.
“There’s a risk. A solid one. But I have a plan.”
“You’re capable of different things, Shorter,” Nadia becomes serious again, but this time it’s not scary at all. “You can pull people out of trouble, you can make others listen to you. I believe in you.”
Shorter smiles, rubs his sleepy eyes and reaches for her.
“When you say it like that I feel the need to hug.”
Nadia smiles back at him and puts away her book to get up. They hug tightly and Shorter is one more time delighted that Nadia goes with them. He couldn’t leave her here even if it was guaranteed that she was safe. Where would he go without his sister and where would she without him?
“Now get to bed,” says Nadia when they part. “Sweet dreams.”
“You too,” Shorter nods. “Good night.”
Eiji has already turned off the lights in the bedroom so Shorter blindly searches for his long pillow and lays down. A talk with his sister improved his mood to much extent. Now he needs a night of good sleep for an important mission awaits him in the morning and there’s more.
***
Shorter sees Yue Lung from afar and immediately gets the impression he wouldn’t if it wasn’t for the goodwill of the latter. Shorter is amazed and freezes for one long moment, because, to be fair, he expected his invitation to be ignored. He asked Yue to come alone and there isn’t anyone beside him, although he couldn’t be entirely sure there weren’t any of his bodyguards somewhere in a lane.
Yue’s long hair is done into a tight low ponytail, bound with a wide vibrant green hairband, and is shining in a subtle beam of sunlight. It’s coming through a semi-destroyed marquee of an abandoned house, where Yue froze like a shadow. Dressed in one of his hanfus, probably the most inconspicuous one — dark grey with a tiny, yet elegant pattern. Radiating sterile flawlessness as usual.
Shorter comes near, perfectly aware of the fact that Yue as well noticed him far before the time he came within sight.
“Lee Yue Lung,” Shorter makes himself known in a calm friendly tone. “Hello. Thank you for coming.”
Yue glances at him idly like he’s considering something in his mind and states:
“Never add the ‘Lee’ part to my name.”
Shorter is astonished but only for a bit of a second. Since he gathered as much information about the Lee Clan and Yue Lung as he could, he understands the cause of a wish like that. He knows how much Yue hates his clan and his surname.
“I’ll remember that,” Shorter nods.
He doesn’t have the chance to say something else as Yue makes a sharp move all of a sudden having in mind to hit Shorter straight in his stomach. Shorter jumps away swiftly and immediately notices a gleam of the dagger in his opponent’s hand.
“What are you?..”
Yue tries again so Shorter ducks under his hand and hits a place the shoulder blade is supposed to be in half of his strength with an intent to push him as far away as it’s possible. But Yue is too fast and dodges quite easily. It’s not like they’re going to have a simple chat.
They start to wallow in a narrow lane, Shorter can’t get to the cunning and nimble Yue, and the latter, on the other hand, doesn’t do a single successful strike but continues to aim places only he knows the reason to do so. It takes Shorter about two minutes to figure out that these attacks are somehow too easy to parry.
He finally has the luck to stop Yue’s hand and the dagger in an inch away from his ribs. Now he understands completely that Yue would wound him if he wanted. Not vastly, Shorter definitely could’ve dodged it, but he would. He’s just brazenly playful.
And Shorter gets sick of this game just after a few more strikes. He recoils yet another attack and sharply grabs Yue by his wrists. Wrings tightly so the other hisses briefly in pain and lets go of the dagger. Shorter pushes Yue against the wall and presses him against it with his strong hands, aiming a knife at his neck.
“Are you really that bored?” asks Shorter with an unwillingly angry tone. “You responded to my invitation just to have a fistfight?”
“And if I did?” Yue responds with a weak cold smirk. “You won, what do you want?”
“C’mon it’s not like you can’t escape in just a few seconds,” Shorter sincerely doesn’t depreciate Yue’s abilities and rolls his eyes. “So are you going to listen to me or not?”
Yue looks him right in the eyes angrily with his horrific black glance. It seems he could’ve bitten Shorter’s ear off if became a bit angrier, but in a moment he sighs briefly and relaxes.
“Yes.”
Shorter lets him go. Yue makes a step back, turns away, and starts rubbing his hurt wrist. His eyes beam with clear hostility. Is it really the same Yue Lung who once pulled Shorter from Death’s grip?
“It hurts,” he shoots offendedly from across his shoulder with an expression as if they have just squabbled about something stupidly unimportant, not dueled with knives.
Shorter raises his brows in amazement, not being capable to find any words, and hides his knife in the inner pocket of a waistcoat. The hostility of Yue Lung disappeared as abruptly as it appeared.
“Tell what you want!” he hisses when the pause extends its proper duration. “I came here because I was bored, so don’t waste my time.”
Lies. He wasn’t bored. He became interested.
The tension of this meeting slowly leaves Shorter’s heart, he can see that Yue is truly implicated, so he unwinds and sits back on a fractured brick ledge near the wall. It may have been a balcony, an entrance to the basement, or something else back in the day.
“Ash is leaving New York,” he starts calmly. “For good.”
“Dino won’t let it happen,” Yue shakes his head. “Ash is of way too much importance to him. And he knows too much to escape this place alive.”
“We have a plan,” Shorter contradicts. “The reliable one. I’m leaving too. We disband the gangs and will never come back.”
Yue remains silent for some time and turns to Shorter with a confused expression.
“So what? Why’d you tell me this?”
“Come with us.”
“What?” Yue frowns and it seems that his tone indicates Shorter’s complete and utter insanity.
“Come with us,” Shorter reiterates distinctly. “I know your position and why you hate the Lee Clan so much. I know what you did to Hua Lung and what you plan to do next. Roughly, but I know it’s ‘use it or lose it’. But you can free yourself of this and come with us.”
Yue gives him the eye as if he was a lunatic, narrows his eyes with suspicion, and then asks again:
“Wait, you suggest I run off the Lee Clan and leave New York? Along with you? Is it some kind of a sick joke?”
“Yes, you’ve exposed me. I invited you here just to take a laugh,” Shorter says in a sarcastically-annoyed voice. “I’m serious, Yue. Trust me.”
Yue gives him a sharp cold stare of the dark eyes which causes chilling shivers to pass down his back and Shorter regrets saying the latter words out loud.
“No, thank you,” says Yue on the verge of hysterical laughter. “I have to finish what I have started. I don’t know how you know about it, but I’m already doing what I have to.”
Shorter sighs uneasily. He expected to get such an answer.
“The only thing I can’t comprehend…” Shorter drawls pensively, studying Yue’s reaction attentively. “How? How are you going to make all of that happen? You can’t poison everyone like that, you need powerful allies.”
Yue’s sight turns to be as sharp as a blade, he hides his eyes, in which something raging arises for a second. Something horrible and risky, something crooked. Shorter gasps at the clue and it makes him shiver.
“Don’t say you’re going to make a deal with those bastards. They’re the same as your brothers. The same as Dino,” he can see Yue’s face get astonished as if he can’t decide whether to stay here and listen or just run away, shooting a sharp word instead of a goodbye. This makes Shorter more than surprised. It appears, his random guess was true. “My god, Yue, not him. This vengeance won’t make a difference. It won’t change what happened to you, you’ll just grow into something like them. You want to destroy the Lee Clan, don’t you? But you know that it’s a difficult one-way path stained with blood. That’s what you want to spend the rest of your life on? Want to become their karma and die treading on their heels?”
“You guessed right, congratulations!” Yue Lung reacts quietly but shockingly sharply. Shorter’s sure he would spit out venom if he knew how to do so. “And just for how long have you rummaged my…”
“Yue!” Shorter rudely interrupts him, loud and serious, so he plucks from surprise and looks at Shorter with confusion. “You. Can. Come. With us,” he intones every word prominently. “Our plan is already in operation, Ash and Eiji should be far out of the city by now. By the time Dino begins to suspect something we will have been far away from here. Me and the others are leaving tomorrow. And I suggest you come along. ”
All these talks about revenge and its methods lead to nowhere, no matter how long they discuss them, Shorter can understand that. He requested a meeting with Yue not for this. He came here to tell the things he has just told, only to state he has a choice now. No need for a long discourse.
And if at first, Yue looked at Shorter like he didn’t believe a single word, now his glance shifted. There was little to no anger and distrust, but uncertainty, so not typical of him, appeared instead. That kind of look was nearly for no one to see.
Yue Lung remains silent for a few long seconds and then speaks again.
“I’m stigmatized,” he mutters almost inaudibly, looking into the void of space in front of him. “You know that.”
“Maybe your body is,” Shorter nods, unwillingly glancing at the dragon tattoo on Yue Lung’s neck. “But not your mind and your soul.”
“I don’t have a soul!” Yue exclaims, spitting these words out. “You said it yourself.”
Shorter shivers again at this sudden tantrum and pain in Yue’s voice. He says he doesn’t have a soul but the words have twisted meanings.
It was taken away from him.
Yes, maybe Shorter did consider Yue soulless. Hated him. But it was long before… before everything. Before the day Yue saved him from death. Before the day Shorter discovered the horrific part of his story and his plans for the Lee Clan. Before the day he’d seen not an insidious and perilous enemy, but a scared and offended child, who doesn’t want to live because he hates his life and believes he’s executing righteous vengeance. The light was taken away from him, so he’s going to make the world drown in darkness.
“You have a choice,” says Shorter exhaustedly. “A real choice. And it’s only for you to make it. I’m just giving another option to you. I don’t have any insidious plans, believe it or not.”
Yue’s expression changes and he glances at Wong mistrustingly for the last time. Then he sighs somehow abruptly and wraps his arms around his own shoulders.
“It’s only that I don’t have a choice. They won’t let me, Shorter,” he calls him by his name for the first time today. “I belong to the Lee Clan — it’s a verdict. This can’t be forgotten. I can only change it to my own profit.”
“It’s not a verdict,” Shorter disagrees and continues fervently, seeing a green light in Yue’s despairing tone. “We’ll help you. There’s nothing we can’t figure out. Besides, all that energy you put into your revenge could be put into your liberation,” he can see Yue in doubt but at least he will consider his suggestion. “I’ve said everything I had to say, Yue. It’s up to you now.”
“What would you do if I agreed? You don’t trust me. Let alone your people.”
“I don’t,” Shorter answers sincerely and shrugs. “But I have a solution to this problem as well. Think about it, Yue Lung. You have time till today evening. Then I’m disbanding gangs in Chinatown. Come if you decide to join us and leave this damn city.”
Shorter wants to stand up and leave the lane behind, telling the meeting place at the last minute, but Yue won’t let him go so easily.
“Why’d you do that?” he asks. “I… I don’t understand. Is it because I saved you from the Banana Fish? If so, forget about it, I don’t need to keep anyone in debt. You should know that for me it’s all just…”
“A game,” Shorter finishes for him, smiling sadly. “I do know. It was a game, but now you don’t have time for that, right?” he stares right into Yue Lung’s eyes, but the latter just looks away. “You don’t want it to happen again. I just… All right, I’ll say it honestly. I look at you and Ash and get the similarity. Maybe you thought about it yourself. Both of you were ripped off the chance to choose. But Ash always knows what he wants and looks for the ways to get it.”
“And you think I don’t know?” asks Yue and his words are defiant.
“No, you don’t,” Shorter doesn’t stop himself from looking at Yue and even offers a soft kind smile. “Don’t fool yourself. You’re similar, but not the same, that’s why you went different ways. But Ash always had someone to rely on and then Eiji appeared. And you have no one.”
“Why did you say that?” Yue hisses indignantly and his voice has anger in it once again. “Trying to hurt me?”
“Not at all,” Shorter shakes his head. “Why else would I persuade you? I want to give you a chance.”
“I don’t need any help.”
“But I’m offering it to you. Me and Ash are trying our best to find a better life and I’m sure you want that too,” Shorter sighs. “We’re just doing another round, I have nothing more to tell you. 9 pm, Yue. And know I’ll be waiting for you.”
Shorter finally gets up and, glancing at Yue who has abandoned all composure and presence of mind, turns around and leaves.
“Does Ash know about this?” he hears a question behind his back. “Does he know you are revealing your plan to someone able to endanger it?”
“You wouldn’t do that,” says Shorter confidently without turning back to him. “We are meeting at the abandoned market.”
Shorter leaves the street behind along with Yue, the suggestion, and his thoughts on it. And he can’t at all be sure about what the latter will decide on. It’ll be completely his choice.
But Shorter can’t hide from himself that he wanted Yue to hear him, forget about the revenge on the Clan and join their intricate mission. He deserves a chance. They all do.