Chapter Text
It had been a long day. A long week. A lot of long weeks. Finally, Martin Mauser was in the back of his friend's taxi, but he wasn't alone. Around his arms was his new lover Rachel, with their baby Howie in her arms being breastfed. She had a shawl wrapped around him, and was holding him tight.
"I was so worried," Marty said, stroking Rachel's long, curly hair. "When I saw you'd been shot, I thought that would be the end."
"The great Marty Supreme, worried about losing?" Rachel asked with a wink.
"He wouldn't have saved you,' Marty said. 'But I'm so glad I did. Even if the money did turn out to be porn.'
Rachel laughed, 'Yeah, I was shocked when you told me that.'
'I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier,' Marty said, burying his head into her hair. 'I just didn't want to stress you out more.'
'I'll admit, I was pretty annoyed,' said Rachel. 'But I forgive you now.'
Marty looked out the window. He thought back to that night. All the horrific bloodshed, the ear-piercing noise of the guns... Rachel screaming in the car... Moses barking to no end...
'I wish I'd saved that dog,' Marty said.
'The black German Shepherd?' Rachel asked. 'He'll be fine. The cops probably took him to a pound when they found a bunch of people shot.'
'I could've saved him,' Marty said, hanging his head.
Rachel stroked his hair lovingly, 'A lot was happening that night. You were focused on getting me to the hospital and getting to the match. Having a smelly old dog to deal with would have got in the way of everything.'
'But I went to get the money,' Marty said. 'Why did I not save the dog too? I got him into that mess, it was my duty to save him.'
'Because someone would've stolen the money,' Rachel said. 'Well, if it was money.'
Howard gurgled.
'Money,' Rachel said in a baby talk. 'Do you like money, little one? Don't be gambling like your daddy now.'
Marty teasingly nudged Rachel, 'Hey, don't make him miss out on an excellent lifestyle.'
Rachel shot Marty a look that both playfully and seriously said "shut up". So he did.
Wally parked the taxi outside Marty's block of flats and helped lift the baby's pram out.
'Did the landlord get the bathtub fixed?' Rachel asked as they walked into the rotting building.
'Thankfully,' said Marty. 'I feel like the only reason he told me not to go into the bath wasn't so it wouldn't fall on a dog's head, but so he wouldn't have to pay to get it fixed. Bastard.'
Rachel put her fingers on her lips and tilted her head towards the landlord, who was standing behind the counter.
'Ah, bath breaker,' said the landlord. 'Fallen through any rooftops lately?'
Marty didn't know what to say. He wanted to be rude to the landlord, but also didn't want to be evicted. So he just accepted the loss.
'Hi,' said Marty.
'What's hi? Can I spend it?' the landlord asked. 'Who's the lovely lady?'
'This is my siste-' Marty stopped himself. 'I mean, my, er...' Marty looked at the baby in her arms. '...mum?'
Rachel looked shocked. 'How old do you think I am, you blighter?'
'Ah, I know who she is,' said the landlord. 'The infamous Rachel?'
He made funny faces to baby Howard, who just gurgled in response. He tried to reach for the landlord's necklace with a black gem on.
'Careful, he might steal your necklace,' said Marty.
'It's all right, it's not real black opal,' said the landlord with a wink.
'How did you know my name?' Rachel asked.
'Some guy came in here looking for you,' the landlord said. 'Man with crutches and a black dog. Looked like that smelly thing that old guy, Mr. Mishkin bought in. He died recently, unfortunately.' The landlord looked apathetic as he said that last part.
'Wait, was he bald?' Rachel asked.
'Looked like it.'
'Oh shit,' Rachel said.
'Just told him I had no idea who you were and that Martin was on holiday,' the landlord said.
'Okay, good,' said Rachel.
'Who are you talking about?' Marty asked.
'I'll explain when we get up,' Rachel said.
They went up together in the rickety lift and opened the stiff door in Marty's little apartment.
'Home sweet home,' Marty said, sarcastically.