Archive of Our Own

It had officially been settled; Killbane was now in charge of the Syndicate, and they’d be damned if they spoke against it. Now, though, he’d left to go… God, who cares? Probably to kill someone for looking at him wrong. Or, realistically, to get the Morningstar’s funds transferred through to the Luchadores.

Kiki got up first, the metal chair she had been on scraping against the concrete floor with a harsh squeak as she stood, walked a few steps, and crouched at Matt’s side. 
Viola stayed seated but kept her eyes on her sister. Honestly, she needed a moment to process what had happened moments before. She had to process that neither her, nor Kiki, were getting what they deserved in the situation. They should be in charge, not forced to sit and watch as some maniac drives the business into the ground. But alas, there’s nothing they can do about it for now. 

While the two women had gotten by physically unscathed, Matt remained the resident punching bag, having had a chair to the face take him out completely and throw him to the floor. It knocked him out for a few seconds, he came to again from the amount of- Not yelling , but… Irate talking. His head was killing him. His entire upper-half was killing him. It was the sort of pain that would bring one’s body to numbness, he just felt tingly and sore and beaten. 

“You alright, Matt?” Kiki said with a slight tilt of her head, her ponytail lightly brushing her cheek with the movement. She also had positioned her hands to protect her dignity and not have her skirt be revealing, just so you know. But anyways, Kiki had opted to not touch Matt for two reasons; One: she’s not sure just how injured he is. He was certainly given quite the battering, but… The boy had survived worse. Two: Matt doesn’t like being touched, plain and simple. He doesn’t let any of the Deckers touch him, and they’re who he considers friends. He and the DeWynters are close, but they hardly consider eachother friends. They get along because they have to. 

Anyways, she’s asking him if he’s okay.

Matt let out a pained, shaky breath, still laying flat on his back against the floor as to not irritate any damage from, you know, being hit and thrown like a toy. “Mmn,” he grumbled, suddenly feeling nauseous. Who could blame him? 

“Honestly,” Viola piped up from the table ahead of them, “I’m surprised he took it like he did.” She gave a soft smile, trying to come off proud. Of course, this was a façade to try and make the boy feel better. “I’ve seen Killbane actually kill our guys with chairs. And Matt took it like nothing.”

“You’re serious?” Viola’s gentleness was just getting at Kiki like she was making fun of Matt. “Have you seen him? Look at the poor kid!” She huffed, scowling at her sister. She then looked down towards Matt again, “She’s got a point though. At least you’re alive.”

“Mmhm,” Matt’s raspy little voice attempted a volume louder than it could go, which wasn’t very loud at all. “There’s always that...” He, too, tried to smile, his blue-painted lip quivering as if he’d cry. H e would cry if given the right, or wrong, attention. He’s got to be treated gently is what I’m saying. 

The three of them went quiet for a moment, all three not really knowing what to say. They all wanted to let the situation pass on its own, but Matt genuinely needs to recover somewhere that isn’t the floor. 

Eventually, Viola’s natural ‘I’ve got to look after them, I guess’ instinct kicked in and she spoke up again. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Huh?” Kiki turned slightly.

“No, not you.” Viola scowled, then looked towards Matt. “Miller. Have you eaten?” 

Matt kept his eyes closed, knowing the harsh lights in the room would just hurt his head worse. He grumbled again, “Mmn,,” then actually opened his eyes and tried pushing himself up by his elbows, “Agh, no. Or- N-no, I don’t- I don’t know…” Matt stuttered through his words. Kiki put her hand on Matt’s upper back to support him, though he flinched at the touch. It was comforting, he just had to get used to the feeling. 

Viola sighed a frustrated, almost parental sigh, finally getting up from her chair. She stretched her arms forward, then up a little, then back down again. “I haven’t either. Besides,” she walked over to the other two, “We’d better get out of here anyways. Wouldn’t want to,” she put on a mocking tone, “ upset the “new boss. ” 

Kiki snickered as she, too, stood up, “Yeah, right. What a joke.” She stretched an arm down towards Matt, who was still keeping himself up by leaning against his elbows. “You want help up, or are you good?”

Matt swallowed, then straightened his arms to help himself stand. “No, no, I’m alr-” He couldn’t finish his sentence before his arms gave out and he fell on his back again. “AGH, SHITE-”

Just as Matt fell, Kiki leant down further to catch him, but missed and stood up straight again, crossing her arms and shrugging. “Suit yourself.” She rolled her eyes before walking back over to Matt’s side and helping him up by holding his upper, right arm as he brought himself to stand. “ There .” She added, sounding frustrated. 

Right this minute, Kiki and Viola felt like they’d inadvertently adopted a child together, as… Odd as that sounds. Suddenly they’re responsible for an injured kid. Great. 

The three of them eventually made their way down the building to the parking lot underneath it, Kiki keeping her arm around Matt the entire time to keep him at their pace. Viola opened the back door to one of the spare Morningstar cars, allowing Kiki to help Matt in.

“I can seat myself, thank you very much.” Matt complained. He hated being babied like this. He’s a god , for Christ’s sakes. He doesn’t need this special princess treatment. He doesn’t need anyone ’s help.

“Shut up, Matt.” Viola snapped back, “You’re hurt. Let us help you, stupid.” She gave the slightest smirk, unlocking the front and sitting herself down in the car. The insides of it were genuine leather, dyed black. The leather itself was cold to the touch, or would be if the seats weren’t heated. Loren really went all out with the gang’s vehicles, mostly for his own sake. He prioritized comfort over almost all else. He wasn’t going to be doing this gang malarkey if he was uncomfortable, and didn’t want those working for him to do so either.

Once they were settled, (Kiki sat in the front beside her sister,) Viola started the car and it warmly purred, the red lights lining the insides of the doors softly starting to glow. She took a quick glance in the rearview mirror to check on Matt in the back seat, seemingly sulking with his arms crossed. “Seatbelt.” She sternly instructed, noticing he hadn’t buckled in his own. The twins didn’t care much for theirs; they were much more likely to get shot than to get into an accident, and a seatbelt won’t protect you from a bullet to the head. That being said, Matt’s only a kid. Neither of them would be able to forgive themselves if anything worse happened to him under their supervision.

Matt scoffed. Again, he’s sick of being babied. Even if he was just beaten unconscious and was still recovering from it… He’s fine. Still, he did as he was told. There was no point bickering. 

The first half of the drive was rather quiet, the twins not really knowing what to say, and Matt wanting to be left alone. Plus, Viola made the conscious choice to keep the radio off. It would have drowned out the awkward quiet between the three of them, but … She knew Matt’s head hurt, and any constant noise would worsen the nausea. He looked pale, more than usual, and she didn’t want to push it and have to pull over to let him throw up or something.

“God, this is boring.” Kiki complained, gazing out the window. “This fucking city, man.”
After Loren’s death, the twins had been considering leaving the Syndicate, and Steelport, altogether. There’s no point in staying when respect is off the table. But, again, they couldn’t just leave Matt on his own. Especially not after today. Especially not with the possibility of things worsening for him and his outspoken nature. 
Kiki sighed, “What sort of food are you in the mood for, Matt?” She asked, turning a little to look at him in the back seat.

Matt shrugged with crossed arms. Honestly, he wasn’t in the mood for any food. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep it down. 

She sighed again, it being more of an irritated groan at Matt’s… Teenager-ness. “Whatever. I want breakfast.” 

“At five?? In the evening ??” Viola finally joined their conversation and teased with an amused grin on her face.

“Do you have a problem with that?” Kiki glared towards her sister playfully, returning the smile, then looked back towards Matt. “How about you? Are you alright with breakfast foods?” 

Again, Matt shrugged. He then nodded once Kiki’s expression changed from playful to a more ‘get on with it’ irritated expression. “Yes. Or- Um- I’m. Alright with anything.” He gave a shaky smile with his words. 

“Good, ‘cause we’re not gonna stop twice.” Kiki leant back in her chair again, back to daydreaming out the window with the light of the end of the day warming her cheeks.

Viola rolled her eyes, “Don’t listen to her, Matt. She’s full of shit.” Her way of caring was, well, she wasn’t very open about it. Viola would never give an ‘I love you’ to anybody. Perhaps to her sister on the off chance, but that wasn’t often nor likely. Being mindful to keep the radio off, and to let Matt choose where he ate even if the twins themselves didn’t want anything from there, that was her caring. She showed it in little reminders of care.

After about half an hour, they were out of Morningstar territory and closer to some unnamed all-day breakfast restaurant. Viola was set on finding a place with a drive-thru. All three of them weren’t in the mood for other people. Plus, she didn’t want them getting recognized by Luchadores or Saints. They’d either get shit for being off their jobs while being paid, or they’d end up in some public spat with a Saint. Not worth it. Not after the day they’d had. 

She stopped in the parking lot outside for a moment. “What do you two want?” Viola turned in her seat to pay better attention to the other two. 

It took Kiki a second to snap out of the daydream she’d found herself in, but she answered fast enough. “Hm,, a breakfast sandwich, or something.” She gave herself another minute to think, “See if they have fruit bags like McDonald’s does.” 

Viola nodded, then looked back to Matt. “And you?”

He, too, had to think for a little bit. Kiki wanted to hurry him up and Viola did a ‘cool off’ motion with her hand when she noticed, so she listened and backed off. “Just, uhm, some hashbrowns if that’s okay.” 

“Yeah,” Viola softly smiled again, “And as for drinks? Coffee?” She didn’t bother asking Kiki, she already sort of knew what drink she’d want. She always ordered the same from these sorts of places.

He seemed to lighten up a little, “God, I’d kill for a coffee,” Matt sighed out before describing how he usually had it. “Black. With, uhm, the tiniest bit of sugar.”

“Really?” She responded, almost surprised. “I half expected you to love sugary coffees.” Viola sat properly in her seat again, “Guess you’re too scary and evil for that.” 

Kiki snickered and Matt scoffed. “Shut up!!!” He whined. “I am scary.” He, too, leant back in his chair, slumped and sulking. 

“Uh huh. Whatever you say, Matt.” Viola shrugged and started driving again, up to the side of the restaurant. She ordered and they got their food fast enough, no complaints towards the workers or anything. ‘Working minimum wage in Steelport must suck ass ,’ she found herself thinking on it. They were in Deckers’ territory, a lot of the Deckers worked minimum wage alongside working for Matt. Despite the circumstances, the three of them were rather lucky. They could buy whatever they want, whenever they wanted. Most people don’t get that luxury, not that it really mattered. It wasn’t in her priorities to worry about people lesser than them, it was just a train of thought she went down from time to time.

They didn’t talk much while they ate; Why should they? Though, Viola did start up talking again eventually. “You feeling any better?” She said, directed at Matt. (Who had finished his hashbrowns and was now crumpling the paper they came in in his hands.)  

He nodded, being mindful to not worsen his headache. Matt then started talking, his voice sounding strained despite the confidence it was attempting, “Yes. Or- Uhm- I never really felt bad in the first place. Haha,” He awkwardly tried laughing off his own discomfort. He wasn’t convincing anyone, though. Viola knew better than to argue, but she also knew Matt was just putting up a front to avoid vulnerability. Again, though, she won’t pry. Not on her own accord.

Kiki, on the other hand, “Uh, reminder that you got?? Your head bashed in???” She was practically yelling , calling on Matt’s bullshit.

“You’re,” Viola turned to her sister, “exaggerating. But, yeah, you can’t possibly just be fine .” Back to looking at Matt, who’s still pouting in his chair. 

He scowled, “Why is it your business how I feel? I said I’m fine, so I am.” He growled.

Really, he was feeling better, and he was appreciative of the twins taking care of him for a little while, if that’s what you could call this. Obviously, though, he’d never thank them. He would have when they were above him in the hierarchy of the Syndicate, but they weren’t anymore, and he has no reason to thank someone equal to or below him… Or whatever his fucked up way of thinking was.

Luckily, the twins didn’t care all that much for thanks. Well, they’d appreciate it, but it wasn’t a requirement. The three of them have a sort of unspoken ‘ thanks for not actively trying to murder me ’ between them anyway. Anything beyond that was unnecessary. 

Now that Matt’s back at his usual cocky, holier-than-thou persona, he wasn’t fully their responsibility anymore. Viola dropped him off at the Burns Hill Reactor, and that was that.

Kiki was quiet for a bit of the drive back, until she spoke up again. “Do you think he’s gonna be okay?” She asked her sister, not really looking at her while she did. 

“Probably,” Viola’s answer was quick after her sister stopped speaking, almost like she didn’t really think on it. She gave it another go, “Actually? I don’t know. Why?” 

Kiki shrugged, “Just a weird feeling, I guess. The Syndicate’s fucked . What’s he gonna do if we ditch it?” 

“He’s not our priority to worry about.” Viola was sort of lying through her teeth. She felt the same amount of protectiveness over Matt as she did over Kiki, she just wanted to ignore it in case something happened to him. Like she said, he’s not their priority. “He’ll figure himself out when things get worse. We’ve just got to wait on it, I think.”

“Right.” Kiki wasn’t too satisfied with the answer she got. 
Compared to her sister, she gave a lot less of a shit about Matt, really. It was just- Well- The three of them are oddly bonded to one another. Gang situations will do that, for better or worse. Especially when you’re just below the higher-ups. The sibling dynamic forced upon the twins with Matt was what made the women care for him, even if he so constantly pissed them off. They really did worry about what he’d do if he ended up on his own. But, still. He’s ‘ not their priority .’