Chapter Text
Scott leant back against the wall, checking his nails. Owen stalked up and down the alley nearby.
“Calm down, darling.” Scott muttered, fixing his cuffs.
“We’ve been over this. I am not your ‘darling’, save the pet names for your husband and the girls.” Owen snapped.
“But pet names are much more fun than codenames, hun.” Scott drawled, crossing his arms.
Owen growled, but slumped against the wall beside Scott. He stuck out a hand.
“Come on.” He muttered.
“You know the rules, hun. No smoking on runs.” Scott chided sweetly. Owen sighed, but didn’t say anything else.
A car swung around into the alley, rolling to a stop in front of the man. Scott swaggered over to the car, leaning against the rolled down window.
“Morning there, doll.” He drawled.
“Morning, Goldie.” The man in the passenger seat chuckled.
“Got something for me there?” Scott asked, leaning closer.
“You know he does, get outta the man’s face.” The driver snapped. The man in the passenger seat put a hand on their arm. Scott leant farther forward.
“Your boss knows the rules, dear, just play along.” He whispered. The driver shifted, but the other man shot him a look. He sat back, and Scott saw Owen retreat back to the wall out of the corner of his eye.
“I got your stuff. Got my money?” The man asked.
“Course I do, doll.” Scott breathed, hefting the briefcase by his feet.
He felt a cold pressure at the back of his neck.
“Hand over the cash.” The driver snarled. Scott chuckled.
“That,” He sighed, “Was a very stupid thing to do.” He spun fast, shoving the gun down and tackling the driver to the ground.
“Owen.” He sang. The other man grunted.
“I’m doing it.” He snapped, and Scott heard car door opening and screaming. Scott turned back to leer at the man under his hands.
He pressed their faces very close so that the man could see his fangs glint.
“You are a very stupid person.” He snarled. The man writhed in his hold, trying to free himself.
“Let me go, you freak.” The man wheezed. Scott grabbed his face with one hand, keeping his other braced against the man’s chest.
He grinned wider when beads of blood built under his claws on the man’s skin.
“I’m going to teach you what happens to people who fuck me around.” He hissed, tightening his grip. The man twitched uselessly.
Scott crashed down, fangs ripping into skin, blood coating his tongue. The man screamed but Scott pressed his hand tighter against his mouth. When he finally finished writhing, Scott sat back, straddling the dead man’s chest. He pulled the handkerchief out of his pocket and delicately wiped the corners of his mouth.
Owen appeared by his side, offering him a hand. Scott took it, rising gracefully.
“Save some for me why don’t you.” Owen grumbled.
“Jealous?” Scott teased. Owen snorted.
“Let’s see if they even have the stuff.” He muttered, stalking around to the boot of the car.
He clicked it open, pulling it open. He snorted.
“Just a holdup.” He scoffed. Scott rolled his eyes.
“Alright. We’re done here.” He said, waving towards the end of the alley they came from. He scooped up the briefcase as they walked.
They slipped around the corner and up to a car idling on the corner. Scott knocked sharply on the window, and the man inside leant over and unlocked the door. Scott slid into the seat, leaning over to kiss Abolish.
“Take it that it was a holdup then?” He asked as they pulled away. Owen scoffed from the backseat.
“Bitches tried to shoot Scott.” He laughed darkly. Abolish shook his head, he kicked the car into gear, preparing to pull out.
There was a polite knock on Scott’s window. A face peered into the tinted windows. Scott smiled,
“Give us a minute love?” He said, rolling down the window.
“Lovely to see you dear.” He greeted the woman outside.
“I’m on duty, we’re not doing this right now.” Cleo hissed. “Why are there two dead guys in that alley?”
“Why do you think?” Scott drawled. She sighed.
“Don’t make this difficult.”
“I would never. That’s your job.” He chuckled. She rolled her eyes.
“I swear, we’ve got nothing on us, we got held up.” Scott said sweetly.
“What’s taking so long?” Another voice snapped. Scott sighed.
“I thought we were having a private conversation, dear.” He muttered. She lifted an eyebrow at him.
“Nothing, officer.” Scott laughed, leaning back in his seat. The blonde man who stopped beside Cleo looked unimpressed.
“Know anything about the two dead guys over there?” He said, jerking his chin at the alley. Scott shrugged. He glared him down, but Scott stared back innocently.
Gunshots echo from somewhere down the road. Scott cocked his head at the blond man.
“Gonna go get that? Officer.” Scott smiled sarcastically. The man glared at him but jogged away. Scott smiled at Cleo sweetly.
“Back to privacy. Right, dear?” Scott laughed. Cleo sighed.
Another man limped over, taller but younger, and clutching a hand to his side.
“Pyro-“ Cleo snarled. The young man whimpered, letting his hand fall away enough for them to see the blood soaking his jacket. Her face twisted. She looked over to Scott very briefly.
“Oh dear, dear. I think we both know what needs to happen.” Scott laughed, leaning against the car door. Cleo growled, and Pyro looked terrified.
“What’s-“
“Get in the car Pyro.” She hissed. He stammered, looking around wildly.
“Come on then, angel. Get in the car.” Scott purred. Owen muttered something under his breath but didn’t say anything as he opened the door.
“Cleo…” Pyro whimpered, looking between her and the open door.
She shoved him between the shoulder blades.
“Look, I’m sorry. If you wanna get out of this alive, you get in the car right now.” She whispered, close to his ear. He trembled. He sank awkwardly into the back seat and Cleo slammed the door.
“Get the fuck out.” She snapped.
“Lovely seeing you, dear.” Scott sang as Abolish floored the car, and they sped away.
“What’s going on?” Pyro murmured from the back seat. Scott twisted to look at him.
“Welcome to the Goldsmiths, angel.”
———————————————————————
Shelby bounded over eagerly as Scott stepped out of the car.
“Hey Scott!” She chirped, throwing her arms around his waist. He embraced her for half a second before he reluctantly released her.
“Hey, little bat. Can you grab Drifty for me?” He asked gently. She nodded, darting back into the building.
He turned back to open the back door. Pyro was draped over Owen’s lap, with Owen’s hands pressed firmly over the wound.
“Can I get out now?” He snapped.
“Yes. Come on angel, we’ve got work to do.” He sang, pulling Pyro up. Pyro groaned, but managed to peel his eyes open.
“The notorious Goldsmith crime family is you, a grumpy cat, a driver and a girl?” He wheezed. Scott barked a laugh, steering the man down the halls.
“Give us a bit more credit, angel,” He chuckled, “It’s a powerful and charismatic crime lord, a violent psychopath, my glorious hitman of a husband, an incredibly talented young woman,” He paused as he set Pyro down on a bed, “And her detective girlfriend.” Pyro gaped a little.
“Pearl?”
“Oh please. She’s Cleo’s.” Scott snorted.
“Drift?” He managed weakly.
“Bingo!” Scott cheered, dropping onto the corner of the bed.
Drift and Shelby came into the room a few moments after that. They made matching noises of horror at the police officer bleeding out on their spare bed.
“Scott!” Shelby gasped.
“Pyro!” Drift yelped.
“Scott! What the heck! No shooting recruits.” She snapped, sweeping forwards to check on her colleague.
“I didn’t shoot him, doll. Someone else did. I’m just incredibly opportunistic.” He laughed.
“So why haven’t you done it yet?” Shelby asked, crossing her arms at the foot of the bed.
“Done what?” Pyro squeaked. Drift shushed him.
“I just wanted to introduce our new friend.” He threw a grin to the man lying nearby.
“Say hi, angel.” He sang. Pyro waved weakly.
“And,” He paused, gaze turning sharp, “We need to be clear. I do this, you are mine, you do whatever I tell you and stay loyal. You do, you live in comfort and luxury for eternity. You don’t, you die. Very simple.” He smiled sweetly at Pyro.
“Eternity?”
“Yes or no, angel?” Pyro squeezed his eyes shut.
“Yes.” He whispered.
Scott moved closer, leaning down and sinking his fangs into soft flesh. A few moments later and Pyro gasped as Scott pulled back, wiping the corner of his mouth.
“There. Lovely doing business with you, angel.” He said, standing up and sweeping out of the room.
“Come on girls, Owen can deal with him.” Scott called over his shoulder.
———————————————————————
Abolish waited patiently at the corners of, precisely where he was supposed to be. He checked the watch in his pocket. One minute. A man slowed his walk, leaning against the wall nearby. He flicked his newspaper. Three weeks old.
Abolish leant against the wall later.
“Your paper’s old.” He noted.
“I like it aged.” The man replied without looking up. “Could say it’s the goldilocks zone.” He muttered. Abolish nodded.
“What do you want to speak about?”
“I want to speak with the leader, not some getaway driver.” The man sniffed.
Abolish shifted. Scott would rip this guy’s head off for that.
“Alright. He can talk. Come on.” Abolish pushed away from the wall, walking away without looking back. He just needed the guy to follow him far enough. This guy thought he was just the driver, that could work for Abolish here.
He stopped in a secluded spot away from anyone else, closed in on all sides but one, by bricks.
“Alright, where is he?” The man snarled.
“Sorry about that, seems like he’s actually in a meeting right now.” Abolish drawled, pulling a pistol, “But he had a message for you.”
The man fell heavily, halfway trying to run or duck. He fell all the same. Abolish didn’t miss. He tucked the gun back into the holster under his jacket.
“Always hated that guy.” He muttered. Abolish rounded the corner, starting the walk back to his car.
A familiar face stopped him a few steps out of the alley.
“Cleo.” He greeted, dipping his head but continuing on. She stuck out an arm, catching his shoulder and pulling him back.
“First, what am I going to find in there?” She jerked her chin at the alley, “And second, how’s-“ She cut herself off with a grimace, “How’s ‘angel’?” She muttered.
“Bad business partner in the alley, and ‘angel’ is fine. Owen’s with him.” Abolish informed her crisply. Cleo sighed.
“Right. You are aware he’s the most twitchy person I’ve ever met?” She hissed.
“I’m sure Scott can find something for him.” Abolish sighed. “Can I go now?”She waved him away.
———————————————————————
“Welcome to the family business, angel.” Scott said, pouring the brown liquor into a thick glass. Pyro looked down at it, swallowing roughly.
“Alcohol is illegal.” He squeaked. Scott leant down, dragging his nail under Pyro’s chin, forcing him to look before it cut.
“So are we, angel.” He whispered. The younger man’s eyes widen.
“Come on Pyro! It’s a rite of passage! Just do it.” Shelby egged on from across the table, waving her own empty glass.
“The faster you get on with it the faster the rest of us get a drink.” Owen grumbled off to the side.
“Come on, angel.” Scott coaxed gently.
Pyro hesitantly lifted the glass to his lips, draining it one. He slammed it back down, grimacing. Scott clapped him on the shoulder.
“There we go!” He laughed.
Owen impatiently stuck his own glass under Scott’s face. Scott sighed fondly and filled it for the grumpy man. He leaned across the table and filled Drift and Shelby’s glasses, and then filled his own and Abolish’s at the head of the table.
Abolish sat on the arm of Scott’s chair with his drink as Scott sat down. He leant down, cupping the side of Scott’s face.
“Good day?” He whispered. Scott took a long sip.
“Yeah. Got held up, got a snack, got a new friend,” Scott drawled, waving his hand. He traced a hand down the side of Abolish’s face.
“You?”
“Not bad.” He breathed. They leant closer, pressing together. Abolish pulled back, taking a sip of his drink.
“Plans for tomorrow?” He asked.
“We’ve got a run downtown, then not much else.” Scott sighed.
“Right.” Abolish breathed.
“You wanna drive? I’m sure Shelby would love to.” Scott suggested.
“Yeah! Actually, I’ve already put dibs on driving tomorrow!” Shelby laughed, waving her drink at them.
“There you go.” Abolish said, waving at her.
“Alright, well I’m sure you’d love to come help sell then?” Scott suggested. Abolish sighed heavily, leaning back.
“If you insist.” He whispered.
“Oh, I do, love.”