TRP: Finch and Larkin (Wounded Bird)

**JEN**

[Setting] Day: 265. Skyport.

Fuck, how it hurt. Larkin rounded the corner, having to hold
herself up on the wall to not topple over, leaving bloody hand prints. It was
only a couple turns more, her luck that she'd gotten herself stabbed near the
bunker. Hah, the look on that asshole's face, though, when Larkin had set her
on fire. Almost worth it. Almost.

It should've been easy. Catch the woman alone and convince
her the Redbirds were the new chiefs in the district. Only after that'd
happened, she hadn't gotten the hint and went after Larkin with a blade. Fuck
her. They'd killed them all, but Larkin's guys got their share as well, and now
it was just her dragging herself through the city. Fuck, it hurt, though. And
Larkin had lost good people for little gain. Finch would be salty as fuck.

Larkin reached the little dead-end and leaned against the
door, banging on it with a slippery hand. "It's me," she shouted.
"Something, something, codeword. Let me the fuck in."

**IZZY**

Finch grumbled in his sleep and shoved his face more firmly
into his drooly pillow. The bunker was pretty soundproof. Jonn was already
awake, though -- he glanced at Finch and realized that there was no fucking way
it was loud enough to wake him up. Ears fine-tuned enough to crack locks, but
if he was asleep, nah. Not fuckin' happening.

But Jonn was pretty sure that was Larkin's voice outside. He
should probably ... let her in, right?

So he slipped out of bed, fumbling in the dim light of the
low lamp on the desk and finding a shirt to drag on -- definitely too big,
definitely Finch's, but eh, it was clothes. And this way there was no real need
to put on trousers, 'cause it was long enough. Great.

He shambled over to the door, scrubbing the grit out of his
eyes and half trying to comb back his mussed hair, but giving up on it and just
feeling to undo the locks. That sound made Finch grunt behind him, and sit up
blinking groggily just as Jonn opened the door to squint out, stepping aside
automatically, 'cause it was Larkin. It'd be fine.

Oh, shit, blood, though. "Fuck," he commented,
startled.

"Fuck," Finch said behind him, more emphatically.

**JEN**

"What the fuck," Larkin said.

She'd not expected a warm welcome but she definitely not
expected to see fucking Jonn in Finch's shirt without any fucking pants. What
the actual fuck.

She wavered in the door for a moment, blinking at Jonn.
"You know what... actually, I'm..."

 The fine didn't make
it out before she collapsed to the floor.

**IZZY**

"Oh, fuck." Jonn tried to catch her, but kind of
just went down with her. Kept her from cracking her head on anything, though.
He looked back to Finch helplessly.

Finch, meanwhile, flailed his way out of bed and struggled
to put on pants before realizing they weren't his pants. Fuck them. Fuck's
sake. Larkin was bleeding out and he was pretty certain she'd seen him in his
boxers before, anyway -- granted, she might've blocked the memory out -- so
fuck it.

He turned the lamp up higher and snapped his fingers to
summon up little light, stumbling over to drop down next to them. Jonn was
essentially pinned under her and had automatically pressed his hand against the
wound, but not enough to stop the bleeding that much. Fuckin' idiot. Probably
didn't want to hurt her, because the kind of pressure it'd need sure as fuck
would hurt, but it was necessary.

Finch patted Larkin's cheek roughly, first, reaching out
with a spectral hand (he was out of practice on making them invisible, but
still -- damn useful) to grab a healing potion from the shelves. It wouldn't do
the trick by itself, but he could stitch her up the rest of the way.

"Hey. Rise and shine, fucker. What the fuck happened?
Didn't I send you to do some simple shit?" He tried to not sound worried,
just annoyed. The potion slipped into his flesh-and-blood hand, and he uncorked
it with his teeth, ready to press it to her lips once she responded.

**JEN**

The world went black and everything spun, then there was a
short while of blissful nothingness. Next, something slapped her in the face
but that was nothing against the tearing pain in her side, as if someone had
stuck a knife there and twisted... oh, right. That'd happened.

Larkin fought to open her eyes instead of sliding back into
the pleasant darkness. Finch's face hovered over her and next to him, Jonn.
They were on the floor and Finch was shoving something into her face. A bottle,
she realized the moment she breathed in the liquid, and rolled over coughing.
Pain lanced through her side and she gasped for air but it didn't feel like she
was getting any. There was barely any sensation except the pain.

**IZZY**

"Fuck, shit shit shit." All right, acting
unconcerned wasn't lasting. "Okay, come here, come here."

Finch pushed Jonn out of the way to grab her, not sure what
the fuck good he thought that was going to do except get blood all over himself.
Real fucking convenient how healing magic had to be given by a god or nature or
some shit, and by convenient he obviously meant it was fucking awful.

"Larkin." He was more gentle this time, hiding her
steady and trying to get her to focus in on him. "Lark, Lark, I have a
healing potion, all right? Get it down, come on, here."

He tried putting the bottle to her lips, again. It was one
of those homemade ones Jonn had -- smelled like lavender and mint, or
something.

**JEN**

This time, Larkin was prepared for the bottle. She clutched
at Finch's hand weakly and sucked in a few gulps before something got into her
airway again and she had to cough it up. Not that bad this time. The potion was
working fast, a numbness spreading where the aching in her chest and the
burning in her side was.

She found her breath and drank more of the potion, holding
onto Finch with one hand but it probably wasn't doing anything. He was holding
her up and Larkin was really fucking thankful for it. Could always rely on him
in a pinch.

**IZZY**

He relaxed a little. That was a start.

Finch hadn't paid attention to what Jonn had done when he'd
been shoved away, but he reappeared beside them with Finch's med kit, popping
it open and holding it out. They didn't have any more potions -- had to stop
being a fucking cheapskate and buy some instead of mooching off Jonn's dad, he
guessed, disgruntled about it -- but he had good old-fashioned needle and
thread and bandages.

She was okay just for now, though. He let out a breath he'd
been unaware he was keeping in and held her a bit tighter, maybe. Just because
she was injured and shit. Okay, fine, he'd been fucking scared for a second
there, but only a second.

"The fuck happened?" he asked again, peeling away
the blood-slick cloth and grimacing at her injuries.

Jonn set the kit down and darted away again, coming back
with vodka.

**JEN**

"Fuckin' asshole," Larkin said and hissed when
Finch touched the wound. "Told her we were boss now. Wouldn't take our
word for it. She's a crisp now, but fuck!"

Jonn poured the alcohol over the wound and Larkin squeezed
her eyes shut, teeth grit against the burning. Her head went d**IZZY** again, for a moment, but she
didn't go down. Potion was doing its work.

**IZZY**

"Fucker," he growled. The booze had cleaned it off
so that he could see what he was working with, at least. He rolled Larkin's
shirt up so that he wouldn't have to fuck with picking around it, then reached
for the needle, and Jonn put it into his hand already threaded. Oh. Well, then.

As he got to work, beckoning his mage lights closer and
squinting, he asked, "Any of them fucking left?"

Jonn offered the bottle to Larkin, immediately saying,
"I'll take care of it. Fucking Fisher gang, right, in the east port? I'll
take care of it."

**JEN**

"Yeah, that's 'em," Larkin brought out between
clenched teeth. She tried to relax under the needle, to not make it any fucking
harder by twitching around, but it sure wasn't any fucking easy.

"Last one ran off when I burnt their boss. Dunno where.
Their shitty hiding hole maybe. God, fuck."

**IZZY**

Jonn started to stand up, and Finch hastily grabbed for him.
"Hey, for fuck's sake -- I might need an extra hand. Calm down." He
scowled, and Jonn settled. Still focused on what he was doing, he commented,
"If you fried the boss, that last little shit will come to us if they're
smart. Or we get them later."

**JEN**

"Don't fucking care. Might've stabbed on of ours,
though."

**IZZY**

"Yeah, fucker, you." Finch kept scowling.
"They stabbed you. So they come to us looking for fucking mercy, and we
stab them right the fuck back. Send a message. Basha style."

He pulled the last stitch tight, and Jonn darted a hand in
to cut the thread with his magic knife. Finch hadn't seen him grab that, either
-- surely he hadn't been fucking sleeping with it, somehow. Mask. He shook his
head and levered Larkin upright, so he could start winding a bandage around
her.

**JEN**

"Basha style," Larkin muttered. Fuck, she was
feeling light-headed, and the motion of being sat up made her head spin. She
grabbed for Finch's arm to steady herself, other hand waving in the air to find
support somewhere else.

**IZZY**

"That's fucking right," Finch grumbled. Fuckers
had to learn that the Redbirds didn't screw around. Especially not when you
fucking stabbed one of the Cardinals. That kind of shit didn't fly.

He kind of wished Larkin would step back, but she'd go
stir-crazy, and besides, she was fucking good at what she did. It just put her
in so much goddamn danger, staying street level. Fucking kept him up at night
trying to work out how to keep her from getting killed.

Jonn had shifted to help hold her up, one hand on her back
and the other forearm offered as a prop for her to grip, and once Finch
finished wrapping her up, he shifted again to put himself under her arm so she
could lean on him fully while Finch put away the medical supplies.

"I'll send a crow to Glimmerton for Goro," Finch
said as he packed. "C'mon, let's get you over into bed and you can pass
out until he shows up. Mask, Lark," he added under his breath. "Fuck."

**JEN**

"Nah," Larkin said and waved it off weakly.
"Don't... ugh, don't get Goro. It's fine. He'll just...worry." With a
lot of good fucking reason, admittedly, but Larkin didn't want Goro to come
bargin into Skyport, hellbent on busting up some street kids just because
Larkin had been to stupid to avoid a knife. Fuck, that kinda thing sucked but it
was part of the job- besides, Goro wouldn't let her live it down for weeks.
Larkin needed that like another stab wound.

She let herself hang limp over Jonn, who almost collapsed
under her, and have him drag her over to the bed. Her legs felt numb and her
side just couldn't decide if it wanted to burn or be numb. Larkin wondered,
briefly, how old that healing potion had been.

**IZZY**

"What's the point in partnering with a fucking cleric
if --." He broke off, sighing in annoyance. He already knew it was because
a good partner would give her endless shit over it, and she didn't want to hear
it. Fine. Fucking fair.

"All right, whatever," he muttered, fumbling for a
clean shirt. "Get that bloody crap off before you go staining my fuckin'
sheets."

When he held one out for her, Jonn quietly said,
"That's mine."

"Yeah, you're the same fucking size."

Jonn shrugged. He held his hands out to offer to help Larkin
with her blood-stained shirt. It was a shame Finch didn't know that spell for
fixing things -- he wouldn't be able to get the blood out, but he'd be able to
mend the rips, anyway.

**JEN**

Larkin sat on the bed, swaying lightly while trying not to
topple over, and squinted at Jonn. Right, something about that- something was
off. Finch's shirt, for example, and Jonn's pants. In the middle of the fucking
night. She reached for the shirt handed to her just as the pieces of the puzzle
fell into place.

"Oh my fucking god." Larkin pointed between them.
"You're fucking... fucking! What the fuck?!"

**IZZY**

Finch sputtered for a second. "Hey. Fucking -- no we're
fucking not, it's just cold in here, and --."

It turned out to be pretty fucking difficult to defend
yourself over something that you had actually been guilty of, and Finch wasn't
that good of a liar. He glared at Jonn, because that little fuck was better at
it.

"Not anymore," Jonn said blithely, telling the
fucking truth for some reason. "We were just sleeping."

**JEN**

"Not anymore? Oh my god." Larkin clapped both
hands over her face and flopped backwards. "Why the... what... why for the
love of Mask, why would you... oh my god."

**IZZY**

"You're getting blood on the fucking --! Oh,
goddammit." Finch gave up and tossed the shirt away, going back to find
one of his own and grumbling, "Look, don't you fucking judge me, you
motherfucker."

Jonn crossed one arm over to hold the other elbow and back
off a couple steps, looking uncomfortable.

**JEN**

"Why not? What's there not to judge, fucking fucking-
Jonn!" She threw a hand out at the direction she supposed he was standing.
"You know how fucked up that is? You're not even gay, for fuck's
sake!"

**IZZY**

"Listen --," he started to argue, and out of the
corner of his eye caught Jonn backing off more, looking away and dropping his
head a bit. Ah, fuck, he was going to make this worse, too. He jabbed his
finger at Larkin. "Listen, you try being shut up with someone with some
fucking zombie apocalypse shit going on outside, and see if you don't take
whatever you can get, too, all right? Fuck off."

**JEN**

Larkin didn't answer, just rolled around onto her stomach
and yelled into the mattress.

**IZZY**

Finch growled at her and turned to grab a shirt, shoulders
raised defensively. He yanked it on and snatched up the one he'd tried to give
her to chuck it at her. "You don't get to have any opinion on who I fuck,
anyway. Mask."

Jonn, meanwhile, quietly kept retreating to the far corner
of the bunker.

**JEN**

"Oh god," Larkin muttered, ignoring the shirt
hitting her head. "You've done it in this bed, have you? Fucking
disgusting. Mask help me." She tried pushing herself up but her arms only
wobbled on the mattress, then gave out and she smacked her face back into the
covers.

**IZZY**

"I washed the fucking sheets," Finch snapped.
"Stay the fuck down, if you pop those stitches I swear to Mask I will get
your fucking cleric."

**JEN**

"This is the worst day of my life." Larkin coughed
a couple times and, fuck, the stitched did stretch so she held still.
"Why's that fucker still sleeping in your bed, though? Just make a goddamn
fire."

**IZZY**

Finch knew she was being dramatic, but still snarled at the
worst day of my life comment. Fuck it, fine, whatever. "I don't fucking
know, Larkin, maybe because the smell of coal fucks me up for some reason. I
can't fucking imagine why that'd be."

That wasn't even the reason, and it wasn't fair, either, but
he said it anyway.

**JEN**

Larkin said nothing, just breathed through the burning in
her side. And the stinging of that dagger Finch had just stuck between her
ribs. Fuck.

"I-" she tried after a long moment. "I'm
sorry. Should've- fuck. Sorry."

**IZZY**

He scowled, crossing his arms and looking off to the side.
He shouldn't have said it, but he wasn't going to fucking take it back, either.
It didn't even fucking feel good for her to apologize. Ugh.

"Whatever," he muttered. "Get some fucking
sleep or something. There's plenty of blankets."

**JEN**

Fucking unfair to throw that into her face. Felt like a
slap, and it was probably supposed to. Larkin had been pushing it and Finch-
they weren't that kind of friends anymore. Apparently.

Larkin reached out blindly to drag a pillow over and prop it
under her head. Thing was fucking soggy but she decided she didn't want to
know, or care, and just flipped it over. Sleep. Yeah. That'd be good.

Something pricked at the back of her mind and she lifted her
head again, twisting around as much as she could to search for Jonn. He was not
standing anymore but sitting, in a corner, looking... looking weird as hell.
Fuck, was she supposed to stay in a room with that guy?`

**IZZY**

Jonn looked back at her for a second, then dropped his head
to hide.

Finch caught the look and sighed again, and scrubbed at his
face with both hands. He went over to press fresh lock and alarm spells into
the door, and flip all of the locks that hadn't been paid attention to when his
partner had shown up fucking bleeding out.

Then he nudged Jonn with a foot to get him to look up.
"Hey. Give me your knife, all right?"

Reluctantly, and sniffling, Jonn passed it up to him.

Finch crossed to his desk and jammed the magic blade into
the corner, where Larkin could see it. He sat down at the desk heavily.
"There. He's fucking unarmed and barely even dressed. I'll stay up and
keep watch. Fucking sleep, Mask."

**JEN**

"Yeah. Fine. I'm gonna..." Larkin tried to curl up
but it sent a fresh lance of pain through her side, so she rolled over again to
lay flat on her back, feet dangling over the edge of the bed. She gave Jonn one
last glance, wondering what the fuck was that guy's deal, then closed her eyes.
Finch was here. He was taking care and it made her... feel safe. Saver than
she'd felt in a long while, weirdly enough. Force of habit, she supposed. It'd
always been easier to sleep in their place when Finch had been there.

**IZZY**

A few hours passed. Finch kept trying to work, or something
-- since he was fucking awake now -- but he kept shifting and looking back to
make sure Larkin was still breathing. It was too distracting.

Jonn pried himself out of the corner after a bit, wiping his
face dry, and silently got dressed in his own clothes and left. He didn't try
to take his knife back. Finch felt like he was supposed to say something, but
he didn't fucking know what. It was easier to just concentrate on his work. (It
fucking wasn't, though, because he kept looking back at Larkin.)

He had to find some fucking way to keep this from happening
again. Some way to guard Lark without damaging her efficiency or driving her
nuts.

Jonn came back after a while -- the sun was coming up
outside, now -- and put a warm carafe of coffee on Finch's desk, still not saying
anything. Finch grunted to acknowledge it, and Jonn sat a second one down
before going to curl up in his cloak on the couch, and sip at his own.

Larkin woke up a bit later, maybe roused by the smell of
coffee or the sound of Jonn coming back. She was immediately swearing in pain.

Finch jerked upright. "Hey. Fucking lay still,
dumbass." He paused. "You feel any better?"

**JEN**

Larkin did not feel any fucking better, as her stomach was
still one big knot of pain. She wasn't bleeding out anymore, though, so that
was something she supposed.

"Please tell me I'm having a fucked up dream," she
said and rubbed at her face. Sadly, no waking up again. "You got any more
of those potions?"

**IZZY**

Finch grimaced. "I would've fucking given you one
already if I did. We're out."

While he was trying to decide how to get her to a cleric, or
some shit -- not Goro, sure, but maybe the undercover Maskarran that worked at
the temple a few blocks away -- Jonn slipped off the couch and went over to the
bed. He pulled a store bought potion out of his cloak and held it out to Larkin
silently.

**JEN**

That gave Larkin pause. She glanced between Jonn, Finch, and
the potion. Hadn't fucking... expected that. She took it from him with a quiet
"oh," and pushed herself onto her side to drink it without choking.

**IZZY**

Jonn went back to curl up on the couch with his coffee.
Finch watched him, then took the extra coffee he'd brought over to the bed,
sitting it on the floor (had to get a fucking bedside table in here, or
something) and himself on the edge of the bed to offer a hand to help Larkin
sit up.

"Be fucking careful," he warned. "Snitching
to Goro is still on the table." He didn't even try to make it a good lie.
Completely full of shit.

**JEN**

"Yeah, yeah." She swatted at his hand weakly but
then made a grab for it nonetheless, and let herself be sat up against the
headboard. The potion was doing its work now, she could feel, slowly numbing
the stabbing pain to a dulled throb. She sucked the last of it from the bottle,
then handed it over to Finch and took the coffee he held out to her.

Coffee that'd come from... where? Larkin glanced over to
Jonn who huddled on the couch, avoiding their eyes. Right. Should say something
here.

"Uhm. Thanks for that. Jonn. It's, uh... I'll pay you
back for it. Thanks."

**IZZY**

"That's okay," he said quietly, without looking
their way. "You don't have to."

Finch winced at him, then went to get his own coffee and
came back to sit on the bed, scowling at the bloodstains and scratching at them
with a fingernail.

**JEN**

"Hey, uh," Larkin said, suddenly uncomfortable for
reasons that had nothing to do with her injury. "Sorry for talkin' shit
last night. It's uh, just..." she trailed off, drowning the last of the
muttered apology in coffee. She wasn't even sure who she was apologizing to.

**IZZY**

Jonn didn't respond or look up.

Finch kept scowling, but he figured Larkin was perfectly
well aware that it was just what his face tended to look like. "You were
fucking delirious from blood loss. Don't worry about it." He also figured
he should probably apologize back for being a dick about the coal thing, but he
didn't.

**JEN**

Larkin grumbled an acknowledgement. "Thanks anyway. For
picking me up." She lifted her shirt lightly to get a view of the
stitches. "Did a good job there."

**IZZY**

"Yeah, well, I can't have you fucking bleeding out on
my doorstep." He grumbled and drank some coffee. "You should start
fuckin' carrying some potions, or something."

**JEN**

"Should get stabbed less," she tried to joke.

**IZZY**

He scoffed, but grinned a bit, wryly. "I didn't know
that was a fucking option for you."

**JEN**

Larkin kicked a foot at him, then winced. Bad fucking idea.

**IZZY**

"Hey." He shoved at her leg. "What'd I say
about popping a stitch? That's my hard work you're fucking with."

**JEN**

"Speaking of. What's up today? Don't need to sit around
coddling me, I'll deal."

**IZZY**

He gave her a scathing look. "What, you got more
getting stabbed to do? You're on fucking bed rest, you little shit."

**JEN**

"Your warm words make me feel much better already, thank
you." Larkin thought about giving him another kick but eh, wouldn't be
worth it. "I just wanted to know what I'll be fucking missing. Maybe I can
help plan or some shit." And hopefully she wouldn't have to be stuck with
Jonn the whole day.

**IZZY**

"Eh." He stood back up and stretched a bit,
rolling his shoulders. "I had plenty of time to plan last night, since I
was fuckin' up." He shot her a look that was only partially nasty, and
ambled back over to the desk to shuffle some papers around. "We'll send
out scouts for that last Fisher motherfucker -- Jonn and Asya, maybe some
others. Make it sound like we're going to be gracious, then slit them open. My
grand fucking plan is to get a nap."

**JEN**

"Pity you can't get 'em here so I can do it
myself," Larkin said, then glanced at Jonn. Well, maybe... eh, no. Better
to make it more public, to let those other dumbasses know who was boss. Also,
not to get any more blood on Finch's furniture.

**IZZY**

Finch eyed her. That wasn't a bad idea. Show people that if
you stabbed Larkin Basha, she'd just come back the next day to deal with you
personally.

"No one's coming to my fucking bunker, but if you think
you're up to a little walk ..." He trailed off suggestively.

**JEN**

Larkin eyed him back. Just a moment ago he'd put her on fucking
bed rest and now he suggested she'd go for a stroll with a knife? Guy had to
make up his mind. On the other hand...

**IZZY**

He grinned at her a bit, then snapped his fingers at Jonn
and tossed him back his knife.

###

It only took a couple of hours for Jonn to find the jackass
who'd gotten away from Larkin. He sent his crow Cora with the location -- an
abandoned shanty about a block and a half from the bunker, firmly inside
Redbird turf -- and Finch helped Larkin up, changed her bandage, and got her in
a clean shirt. Yeah. Looked like she'd never been fucking stabbed at all.
Normally he didn't like to fucking put in personal appearances, but he didn't
trust Lark to make it herself -- all right, he trusted her, he just fuckin'
worried -- and besides, both of them showing up to deal with a small time
fucker would send a strong message. Larkin taunted him about it anyway.

They followed Cora to the shanty, where Jonn had deputized a
couple of rangy young thieves as sharp-eyed guards outside. Inside, the Fisher
was tied to a chair and gagged, with Jonn sitting on a nearby table, swinging
his legs and playing with his knife. He glanced up when they entered.

The Fisher, meanwhile, spotted Larkin looking fucking
pristine and stared at her wide-eyed, and started struggling. His wrists were
already rubbed raw from it, and that didn't stop him.

**JEN**

Even the short walk down to that ruddy had been fucking
torture, but as soon as the door closed behind them and Larkin was facing their
guy, she drew herself up and forced a smirk onto her face.

"Fuck, man," she said, taking a step forward. Not
easy without Finch's support but fuck it, it was show time. "You look like
shit, and you're not the one gotten stabbed. Shoulda run a bit faster,
no?"

She tilted her head at him as all that came out behind the
gag was the hiss of his panicked breathing. "What's that? Yadda, yadda,
don't hurt me?"

**IZZY**

"Nah, I think I'm hearing 'cut my tendons so I can't
run anymore'," Finch commented.

The Fisher struggled more and forced some profanity out
around the gag, trying to look fierce and just looking shit-scared instead. He
thrashed around enough that the wooden chair rattles, and Jonn slipped off the
table and stopped behind it to lean his weight on the back and hold it in
place.

**JEN**

"Oh, man." Larkin shook her head. She eyed the
table Jonn had sat on, now empty, then moved over to lean against it. Slowly.
"Fucking pity your boss decided to fuck us over. You guys had promise.
Hey, was it really her stupid idea, or someone else's? I thought she was
sharper than this."

**IZZY**

He gnashed at the gag, and Finch signaled for Jonn to untie
it. Once it was out of the way, he spat, "Fuck you."

Jonn remarked, "That isn't polite."

Frowning, Finch went to stand beside Larkin, making it look
like they were both just fucking relaxing. He crossed his arms.

**JEN**

Larkin snorted and grinned. "Cute. That your first ride,
or...?"

**IZZY**

He just snarled at them. Fucker had a lot of guts for being
the last survivor of his gang.

Finch sighed and pulled the knife out of his belt. "I'm
bored, Lark. You bored?"

**JEN**

"Sure am, Finch. Hey, Jonn." Larkin nodded at him.
"You never told us what you did to Shrewd. What do you think, you wanna
show us?"

**IZZY**

Jonn spun his knife around in one hand. Flatly, he asked,
"How long do you want me to keep him alive through it?"

**JEN**

"Yeah, sure," the Fisher spat, but his voice
sounded anything like it. "All you do is fucking talk. I know you want
something from me, but I'm not fucking giving it to you!"

**IZZY**

Finch shrugged. "I mostly just want you to suffer and
die so I can throw your fucking mangled shitty body out into the gutter. Little
bit of street art making a statement on why lowlifes like you should fucking
fall in step with Redbirds, you feel me?"

**JEN**

Larkin pointed a thumb at Finch and smiled.

The Fisher went white as a fucking wall at that and his
mouth bobbed open and closed like a fish's. Hah. Then he did something
incredibly stupid, namely bending over so he could stand on his feet and
swinging wildly at Jonn with the chair still tied to him.

**IZZY**

Jonn lost his balance for a second, and braced himself
against the impact of the chair legs, taking the hit so that he could whip out
a hand to grab the gag still dangling around the Fisher's throat. He looped it
around his hand swiftly to tighten it down and choke the man, looking past him
to Finch and Larkin for permission to finish him off.

**JEN**

Larkin shook her head as if pitying the man, which she sure
fucking didn't, then glanced at the door. "Make it loud 'n messy, buddy.
Give our fresh meat outside something to think about."

**IZZY**

Jonn's face was blank. "Okay," he said quietly.

###

Finch had the baby birds outside cart the Fisher's corpse
off to the middle of the old Fisher territory -- make sure everyone in the area
got the fucking idea that the Redbirds were no more someone to fuck with than
the Basha had been. Especially not when you took a chunk out of the Basha heir.

Afterwards, Jonn had to get cleaned up, so Finch held his
cloak for him and stood back from the bank of the canal as he scrubbed his
hands, leaning against a wall next to Larkin and smoking. Felt good. They were
cementing their place in the city. It was only going to get better from here.

**JEN**

"Do you think we went too far?" Larkin asked while
they watched Jonn get cleaned up. It was a hell lot of blood that came off that
boy and the look on the young ones' faces had made her wonder. Renar had held
his power through hard means as well, but his people hadn't just followed him
because they feared him. They had true, honest respect for him. Larkin knew
they had to get dirty from time to time, but it felt like lately all they'd
done was dirty work.

**IZZY**

"Nah." Finch offered her a puff.

**JEN**

Larkin took it, though she was still pretty winded from the
walk.

"Just saying. We can't be all scare and no.. uhm.
Care." She grimaced at her own bad rhyme.

**IZZY**

He snorted. "Oh, yeah? You wanna open up the Basha and
Avis Orphanage?" He paused. "Fuck, I mean, actually that'd be a good
way to recruit new blood."

**JEN**

"Uncle used to give out charity when there were
shortages, remember? He took care and locals respected him for that. Should've
seen the lines by the warehouses after we killed that demon bitch."

**IZZY**

"Yeah, well." He frowned. It was a good enough
point. "We don't have the fucking resources for that kind of shit, yet. We
can't lose ground with the other gangs because we're playing fucking
philanthropist."

**JEN**

Larkin exhaled smoke with a long sigh and passed the cig
back to Finch. "I know, I know. Just-" she paused and drummed her
fingers against her thigh, then dropped her tone. "You seen the look on
Jonn's face? He ain't happy with what we do. Are our people stickin' with us
because we're the best or because we'll brutally murder them if they
don't?"

**IZZY**

Finch scowled. "Maybe we're the fucking best because
we'll brutally murder people if they don't do what we fuckin' tell them."
He gestured, flicking ash off the cigarette. "And if you're worried about
Jonn, still, don't be. He loves me or some shit. He's on our side."

**JEN**

"What the-" Larkin scoffed and turned to face
Finch. "You're kidding. Right? You're kidding."

**IZZY**

He shrugged, pulling a face.

**JEN**

"How can you fucking tell? He's-" she gestured at
Jonn. "Fuckin'- lunatic. And you said you weren't fucking anymore. What
the hell, man?"

**IZZY**

"He's all fuckin' ..." Finch gestured again, still
vaguely, and also frustrated, now. "Man, I didn't say I fucking got it,
either, but listen, he's fucking ... considerate, and shit." He hesitated,
not sure if he should bring it up again, but slowly said, "There for a
bit, Wyn made us move into the Thieves' old guild housing. I think she got
suspicious and wanted a closer eye on me or something -- anyway, though, the
rooms have coal furnaces, and it fucking ... fucked me up, while I was asleep,
gave me fucking night terrors and shit."

He handed her back the smoke.

"Jonn ... helped. Calmed me down and got me out of
there, you know? I mean." He cast Jonn a look. "Yeah, he's a fucking
psycho, but I came up swinging and whacked him in the face and it's not like he
fought back. He always does what I fucking tell him. I don't think he's
dangerous to me. Seriously."

**JEN**

Larkin was silent for a long moment, just dragging on the
cigarette. There it was again, and not as a jab this time. And that about
Jonn... sounded fucking fake. She couldn't imagine it. Couldn't be true.

Finch though, he was good at figuring people out, even if he
was prickly like a fucking hedgehog. And if he said that shit about Jonn, there
must be some truth to it.

It made Larkin feel awkward and some other feeling she
couldn't quite place. A hurting at the thought that Jonn had been a partner to
Finch when she hadn't. That fucking guy.

Larkin passed the smoke back to Finch even though it was
only a stub now, then said, "I hadn't thought you meant it. About the
coal. I'm sorry."

**IZZY**

He grumbled and watched the paper wrapping turn to ash until
it was about to burn his fingers, then flicked it away. "Stop fuckin'
apologizing. It doesn't change shit. I mean ..." Yeah, that hadn't come
out right. He just always sounded like an asshole, even when he didn't intend
to. "I mean I wouldn't be fucking working with you again if I still needed
fucking apologies, all right?"

**JEN**

"Oh, fuck me." Larkin groaned and tilted her had
back against the wall. He was right, of course. "Just don't want you
thinking I don't fucking care, alright? 'cause I do."

**IZZY**

Finch cringed at her dramatically. "Eugh."

**JEN**

She snorted. "What?"

**IZZY**

"What am I, supposed to be fuckin' emotional and
sincere and shit back, now?" He shuddered. "Just throw me in fucking
canal, already."

**JEN**

"Hey, you were the one fucking started it with that sob
story." Larkin kicked the pebbles underfoot so they flew at Finch's legs.
"Emotions." She snorted again. "Like you have any of
those."

**IZZY**

"Hey." He kicked pebbles back at her.
"Fuckin' pissed is an emotion, asshole."

**JEN**

"Doesn't count if that's your only one."

**IZZY**

He scowled. "All right, fine. Horny's an emotion. And
those are the only two you've got, either, so fuck you."

It was nice, going back to this kind of shit. Like nothing
bad ever happened.

**JEN**

"Not true," she said and put a hand over her heart
in a dramatic gesture. "I got a boyfriend now. I'm in real fucking' love.
What d'you say to that?"

**IZZY**

"Revolting," was what he had to say to that.

**JEN**

"Not as revolting as what you do with your dick."

**IZZY**

"Hey, stop fuckin' thinking about my dick, that's even
worse. I'm gonna throw up."

**JEN**

Larkin only laughed. She always won these games with Finch.

**IZZY**

He scowled at her to hide the fact that he was grinning.
Fucker.

After a moment, he said, "Next thing you're going to
tell me is you're quitting your life of crime to move outside the city and spit
out babies. Eugh."

**JEN**

Larkin grimaced involuntarily. Fuck, no. No one could want
that, except... well, maybe she should ask Azriel about that. Mask, that could
get awkward.

She pushed the thought aside to get back to needling Finch.
"What if I told you there's already Basha fletchlings running
around?"

**IZZY**

Finch gave her a legitimately horrified look.

**JEN**

Larkin stared back, serious. "Three of 'em."

**IZZY**

He looked her up and down, taking a step back like she'd
smacked him. "What? What? No fucking way. No. You're fucking with
me."

He was usually better at spotting lies than she was at
telling them, though. What the fuck. What in the entire fucking fuck.

**JEN**

She tried holding the dead serious expression for longer but
it cracked and split into a toothy grin.

"Fuck, you should see your face." Larkin pointed
and started laughing again, so hard it tore at her stitched. "Ow. Fuck.
Ha!"

**IZZY**

"Oh my fucking god." He doubled over, letting out
a relieved sigh and propping on his knees. "Mask. Don't pull that shit.
You just aged me ten fucking years. Mask. Hey, fucking be careful." He
looked back up and prodded her in the ribs, well away from the wound, but
enough to make his point.

**JEN**

"Hey." She swatted at his hand, still giggling.
"I was serious, though. There's three little Bashas, but they're not mine.
Thank fucking Mask."

**IZZY**

He squinted at her. That didn't sound like a lie either.
"No shit? Renar finally knock Bretta up, or something?" He felt like
he would've heard, but maybe they were keeping it locked up tight.

**JEN**

"No. I got an aunt who stayed in Calimport back when
Renar and Pa came to Skyport. Well, turns out she came to this side of the
continent, too, and she whelped." That was probably an inappropriate term,
given that dogs tended to look after their children better than she had.

Larkin waved a hand dismissively. "She didn't want in
with family business. Which is alright, 'cause she's a real bitch."

**IZZY**

"Huh." Finch considered that for a moment.
"How about the brats? Having more Bashas running around would give us more
street cred, I bet. I'm not sure anyone would believe they were legit,
though," he admitted. "Fucking convenient timing, Renar fucking off
and then more of you bastards showing up. Still, though."

**JEN**

Larkin shook her head. "They're literal kids. Not
street raised, either. Well-" That wasn't really true, but Goro wouldn't
be running around giving the Redbirds street cred. Not that she really wanted
him to, anyway.

"Any case, doubt I could recruit any of them. Gotta
make my own, I guess." She smirked, then poked Finch in the side. "Or
you could."

**IZZY**

Finch opened his mouth to say he'd been a literal kid when
he'd gotten into this shit, and it was never too late for the streets to adopt
a brat, but ehh -- Larkin probably wouldn't take too kindly to that, with the
way she felt about family.

He made an exaggerated gagging noise and shoved her
shoulder. "I'm not gonna make any fucking Bashas, I'll tell you that
much."

**JEN**

"Ew. God, no. That's not what I fucking meant."

**IZZY**

He sneered at having successfully grossed her out, even though
he'd fucking grossed himself out, too.

**JEN**

"Man." Larkin held a palm out and wagged her
fingers at Finch. "Where's your smokes? I need another now."

**IZZY**

He snorted and dug one out of his pocket, lighting it up for
her with an arc of electricity between his fingers.

**JEN**

"So," Larkin said with a puff of smoke.
"Seriously, though. When's Jonn having your child? He's one of them guys,
right?"

**IZZY**

Finch choked, halfway through lighting his own, dropping it
and zapping himself in the fucking face instead by accident. He put a hand over
his eye and swore, cutting a look at Jonn still sitting by the bank of the
canal, blinking the spots out of his vision and hissing at the prickle of pain
as he bent to retrieve the cigarette.

"Fuckin' ... fuck you, I told you we're not screwing
anymore," he protested weakly. God, horrifying fucking thought, though.

**JEN**

Larkin winced with him as he zapped himself in the face, but
he looked to be okay and she had to chuckle. "Yeah, well. It's just so
funny to nag you about it."

**IZZY**

He snorted, blowing some grime off the paper before sticking
it in his mouth and taking another shot at lighting it. "Yeah, well."
He blew out the first stream of smoke. "Five more years and it's me and
Jonn and you and whatever dick you're hitched to, out in the countryside with
our two and a half kids apiece, right?" He snickered at the mental image.
"God, I can't wait to jump off a bridge to get away from that
nightmare."

**JEN**

"Aye." Him and her, they weren't made for settling
down. Finch had tried it often enough but never made it out and Larkin, she'd
always know she'd live and die on the streets. That was just how it was.

**IZZY**

He nodded. "Hey, Lark -- if we're both married and have
kids in five years, let's agree to just kill each other, yeah?"

He offered her his hand grimly.

**JEN**

"Sounds like there'd be plenty of opportunity to stop
that from happening, but-" She put the smoke in her mouth and grasped his
hand. "Yeah. Deal."

**IZZY**

He zapped her hand.

**JEN**

"Ow! Fucking asshole!" She shook out her hand,
putting on a hurt look.

**IZZY**

"What?" He acted innocent. "I didn't do
shit."

**JEN**

"Must've been some other asshole with lightening magic,
then."

**IZZY**

"Yep. Yeah, that must be it. I mean, I sewed your dumb
ass up, why would I fry you after all that work?"

**JEN**

"Easy. 'cause you're a dick."

**IZZY**

He tapped his temple and pointed to her knowingly.
"See, that's why you're the fucking boss. Smart."

**JEN**

Larkin grinned, then turned her head to the canal.
"Hey, Jonn! Finch just admitted I'm boss!"

**IZZY**

"Hey, fuck you." He shoved at her shoulder again,
laughing despite himself. "We're both the fucking boss. The fucking gang
is named after me, though, asshole -- we're not the fucking Bashas."

Jonn looked over his shoulder at them blankly for a moment,
then stared back out over the canal.

**JEN**

"Yeah, about that. Why're you going by 'Avis' again?
Thought you hated that name." In fact, he'd told her never to use it back
when they'd first met.

**IZZY**

He shrugged, scowling a bit. "It's a fucking name.
Y'know, you have to build your reputation on top of something. I don't have the
fucking Basha brand to stand on."

**JEN**

Larkin nodded. "Fair."

**IZZY**

"Anyway." He gave her an appraising look. She'd
been on her feet a while, and didn't seem to be doing too badly. That second
healing potion had done her some good, he figured. "Hungry? We could hit
up the usual place."

**JEN**

The 'usual place' turned out to be the same grimy inn where
they'd sat with Goro and planned the downfall of Morgan Wyn. They even sat in
the same places, Larkin on one side of the booth, and the guys on the other,
Finch's fingers immediately going to worry at the same burnt spot in the table.

**IZZY**

Jonn frequently dragged Finch into booths with him, making
him sit on the inside so he couldn't get away or on the outside but clinging to
him. This time he just slid in silently, and Finch sat next to him
automatically, but Jonn scooted further away. He was still acting fucking
weird. Finch ignored it, scratching at the table. He'd deal with it later, or
something.

They'd come here a lot when he was still in the early stages
of learning wizardry, hence the fucked up table. Lightning magic was tricky
shit -- it could be unpredictable. He liked it, though.

"Hey, so I've been learning new spells," he
commented. "I've got a magic lock on the bunker now. Next time you're
fuckin' bleeding out and need a place go, you can just come straight in if
we're asleep or some shit -- the password's 'loft'."

**JEN**

"Neat." Larkin watched his fingers scratch away at
the scorched wood. "You're really into that, huh? Spellcasting?" She
paused for a moment, thinking. "You think I could learn some magic,
too?"

**IZZY**

He shrugged. "It's all in fucking books, man. Anyone
can." Then he smirked at her. "You were never a great fucking study,
though."

**JEN**

Larkin groaned and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, nobody got
fucking time for that. Can't you just show me? Like-" She snapped her
fingers a couple times, "how you do that finger-lightning stuff. That
shit's cool."

**IZZY**

He tapped the burnt patch on the table. "Yeah, you know
how long it took me to do that finger lightning stuff without scorching my damn
hands? That tiefling shit protects you from fire, not electricity."

**JEN**

"Nothing without a price." She leaned in and held
out a hand, bobbing her eyebrows. "Come on. Show me."

**IZZY**

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Okay. Sure. Here, look
real fucking close." He held his fingers up between them, poised to snap.

**JEN**

"Yeah, no." Larkin leaned back again. "You're
not getting me with that shit twice."

**IZZY**

He snickered. "See? Smart."

A waiter came by to take their order, and Finch got himself
a beer and a sandwich -- the usual -- and Jonn ordered rum and sweet soda
without anything to eat. Finch gave him a look but didn't mention it.

"Anyway, you can already set people on fucking
fire," he said. "What else do you need?"

**JEN**

"Well," Larkin said after ordering the same
sandwich (supposedly a safe choice, if Finch was eating it). "I'd fucking
love being able to set them on fire before they can slice me up." She
pointed at her stomach.

**IZZY**

"Hm, fair point," he allowed. "Maybe
tieflings get an edge on learning fire magic, I have no idea. I don't know that
shit, though, you're on your own there."

**JEN**

Larkin grumbled and glanced away, then her eyes settled on
Jonn. Guy still looked fucking weird but maybe that was just his face.

"Hey," she said. "What about you? Got any
cool magic tricks?"

**IZZY**

"No." He didn't look up.

**JEN**

"Uhm. Alright." Larkin squinted at Jonn but he
didn't look at her. Maybe she should ask if something was wrong, but... she
didn't really want to know.

**IZZY**

Finch grimaced at Jonn. Bringing down the fucking mood.
"You didn't have to come along if you're just going to fucking sulk about
it."

"Okay." Jonn ducked under the table without
another word, slipping back up on the outside of the booth to leave.

Finch shrugged. Whatever.

**JEN**

"Fuck," Larkin commented, looking after him.
"What's crawled up your ass, man?"

**IZZY**

He stopped and turned back to look at them, glancing to
Finch before settling on Larkin. His expression stayed largely blank, but
flickered with confusion. "I -- I don't ... Should I go?"

Finch scowled at him, and in Infernal, muttered, "See,
just wants to do whatever someone tells him." It fucking weirded him out.
It was convenient, yeah, but it was fucking unsettling.

**JEN**

Larkin glanced at Finch, then sighed.

 There probably wasn't
anyone less attached to Jonn than her, and for all reasons personal he could go
fuck himself, but Larkin had meant what she'd said to Finch about building
respect. You couldn't hope to keep the loyalty of people by just being the
biggest and meanest in town; someone bigger and meaner was always bound to show
up. Nah, Larkin wanted her gang to stick to her even when the going got rough,
like Renar's people had (most of them anyway). And for that you had to play
nice from time to time, even if it was with some psycho motherfucker like Jonn.

Larkin waved to him. "No, you don't have to. Come one,
at least finish your fucking drink. "

**IZZY**

Finch grumbled. Probably shouldn't fucking undermine her, so
he slid to the inside of the booth and swapped his and Jonn's drinks, and Jonn
slowly came back to sit down beside him, still looking between the two of them
uneasily.

"Okay," he mumbled again.

Finch rolled his eyes.

**JEN**

Larkin shot him a glare and, in Infernal, said, "People
like it when you're nice. Less likely to stab your back."

**IZZY**

He scowled and matched her tongue. "Yeah, well, he's
not going to fucking do that, anyway. It doesn't fucking matter if I'm nice."

Jonn stared silently down at the burn mark on the table.

**JEN**

Larkin shrugged. "Last words of a dead man."

**IZZY**

He kept scowling. For a fleeting moment there, he considered
just fucking showing Larkin that he was serious -- he was goddamn positive, at
this point, that he could hit or stab or zap Jonn and the little fucking weirdo
wouldn't even complain. That was how Helena had treated him, and he still
fucking loved that dead bitch.

Maybe that'd be too far, though.

"Look, fine, you have a good point," he grudgingly
allowed. "Maybe I should be a bit fucking nicer to the grunts. Sure. But
it doesn't fucking matter with him." He avoided saying Jonn's name, even
though the fact that they were using a language he didn't know probably clued
him in a little. "Listen, when that Diva shit happened, I left him for
dead twice, and he's still here, right? Your Graverunners tried to kill him and
he still thinks you're all his fucking pals. It doesn't matter."

**JEN**

"That's fucked up," Larkin said, dropping the
Infernal and the matter with it. She didn't buy it. Something was wrong with that
guy for sure, but he couldn't be that delusional, could he? Larkin would have
to keep a close eye on Jonn and how he behaved towards Finch. If there was any
indication he was about to flip on them...

Their food came, and Larkin took the sandwich in both hands,
before stopping to investigate the contents a bit closer. Regular greens and
some meat. She took a bite of it. Tasted like some kind of poultry. Hopefully.

**IZZY**

Finch scoffed. Yeah, fucking agreed.

When their food arrived, Jonn downed the last of his drink
and ordered another, but still no food -- Finch offered a bite of his sandwich
without thinking, and Jonn shook his head.

"Meat."

"Right." He still forgot that Jonn didn't eat meat
because he didn't fuckin' get why, but eh. "Are you gonna be fucking sober
enough to work tonight?"

Jonn shrugged.

"Well, I've got shit for you to do, so make sure you
are." Then he nodded to Larkin, and around a mouthful, said, "Planned
on scouting out the Five Fingers' turf in the artisan district tonight. I heard
they've got some shiny magic goods the Sanguines left behind. Up for it?"

**JEN**

"Just scouting?" Larkin tilted her head from side
to side. "Yeah, why not. But why don't you send some birdies to fly
over?"

**IZZY**

He waved it off. "They're locked down too tight. It
might be a fucking trap, or they might have something really fucking good that
they're trying to keep hold of. I need people who actually know what they're
fucking doing and can get in and back out."

He made a disgruntled sound and took a bite. The Basha'd had
good scouts and thieves, and so had Baron, and so had the Sanguines. But they
were all spread out, now, splintered between different weak gangs, all trying
to make their own fucking names. Half of them had gotten fucking killed by each
other or caught by the paladins instead of just doing the smart thing and
working for him -- he had Larkin, and Jonn, and sometimes Asya, and that was
two or three more actual competent motherfuckers than anyone else had, but
still. Damned frustrating.

**JEN**

"Hate to say it, man, but we really shouldn't be
risking our asses for the basics like this." Larkin made a grimace and
glanced around, but no one seemed to be paying them any mind. "We should
have people for that. Maybe... ugh, I don't know." She tore at a piece of
meat and chewed for moment. "Maybe we should hire freelancers. I know, I
said I didn't fucking trust them but maybe we can make them an offer they can't
resist."

**IZZY**

Finch snorted. "I thought we were supposed to be
fucking nice to people now. Or do you want to pay extra to coddle some fucking
contractor? We literally can't afford to have pride, here, Lark." He
jerked his head to the side. "Jonn can do it. If Asya's available she'll
just pop in and out."

The last past made him grimace. Asya was fucking invaluable,
with that cloak she had, but she wasn't really loyal to them. Didn't charge,
but didn't always fucking show up when he wanted her for something.

He kept thinking about ways he could get the cloak away from
her. The mask was magic, too, truesight shit. That would be fucking useful.

**JEN**

"Yeah, I mean true. But it's not about pride but
appearance. We keep fucking expanding our turf, but not our higher ranks.
Sooner or later someone's gonna notice."

**IZZY**

"Yeah," he admitted. There was a fucking idea,
actually. He gave her a look. "Hey. You should start training up the baby
birds. I mean, look at me." He gestured to his general entire fucking
body. "I'm not in shape to fucking do it. Pick out the cream of the crop,
find some lieutenants." It'd give her something to do that wasn't fucking
dangerous, too. Well, not as fucking dangerous.

**JEN**

Larkin made a face. "I don't know..."

**IZZY**

"Well, if we keep having to fucking incinerate rival
gang leaders instead of getting them to join us ..." He shrugged. Where
the fuck else were they going to get good help? Then he snickered and tossed a
bit of crust across the table at her. "Unless you want to fucking make
some new Bashas."

**JEN**

"Motherf-" Larkin inhaled a bit of salad and
started coughing instead of finishing the curse.

"Hey," she said when she'd gotten her breath back,
and flapped a hand at Jonn. "You hang with the baby birds more than I do.
Anyone there who's not a total idiot?"

**IZZY**

Finch kept snickering at having gotten the expected reaction,
then glanced at Jonn, who looked up and seemed startled by being spoken to.

"Um." He was definitely not fucking sober. Unless
he'd gotten breakfast to go with the coffee he'd brought back to the bunker,
that rum was going on an empty stomach. "Maybe. Uh, there's this half-orc.
Kinda shrimpy, real quick. Her name's Aisha. And there's Elina -- she's kinda
squeamish but she's really obser ..." He stumbled over the word, and Finch
silently reached over and slid his glass away from him. "She notices
stuff," he finished sullenly.

**JEN**

"Hm." Aisha and Elina. Larkin noted those names.
Maybe she'd really go take a look at them. "Anyone who can take a lead?
Someone we can trust to handle a commando for a night?"

**IZZY**

He umm'ed again, and Finch scowled. Jonn was good at lying
to people and he could read them a bit, but Finch didn't particularly trust his
fucking judgements of them. He was pretty sure Jonn had only last night noticed
that Larkin didn't care for him, for fuck's sake.

He did take more of an interest in the baby birds than Finch
had the time to, though. "Maybe Baz?" He sounded uncertain,
scratching his nails against the grain of the table now that he didn't have a
drink to occupy himself with. "If ... If Elina helped him, maybe?"

**JEN**

Larkin gave Finch a pained look. "Aisha, Elina and Baz.
Maybe. That doesn't sound like a whole fucking lot."

**IZZY**

He scoffed. "What do you want from me, woman? You're
the one out there burning up our potential recruits." He polished off his
sandwich and washed it down with a long swig of beer, and wiped his mouth on
his sleeve. "Training or recruitment. Which sounds less fucking
torturous?"

**JEN**

"I've been doing recruitment for fucking weeks
now," Larkin said with a sneer. "Your turn, asshole."

Training did sound more torturous, but if Larkin could get
back at Finch for that comment, she'd be happy to pay the price.

**IZZY**

Scowling behind his drink, Finch grumbled, "All right,
you fucking take the job of being closed up in a cellar all day and night
playing at fuckin' strategist and accountant at the same time, because that's
what the fuck I've been doing for weeks now."

"You like being closed up in a cellar all day and
night," Jonn said, almost tentatively.

"Beside the point." Finch waved it off.

**JEN**

Larkin pointed at Jonn, grinning. "Good point,
though."

Finch also had a point, which was that he did all the work
Larkin really didn't care about. He could really need some help, but they had
no one yet. Needed to be someone sharp and trustworthy to handle all their resources.
Family would be best. Someone who's ties weren't money or fear. Maybe she
should ask Goro if he interested after all.

**IZZY**

Finch grumbled more. "Fine, fine, you can be closed up
in the big fuckin' elegant, breezy clocktower at the old guild, where it's
sunny and shit." He smirked at her. "Princess in a tower, imprisoned
by that dragon, sums."

(Jonn had brightened a little at the acknowledgement.)

**JEN**

"Yeah, sure." She grinned. "Wearing a white
flower dress and shit, and, like, what's it called? A tiara. If I'm gonna be
princess, I want a fucking tiara."

**IZZY**

Finch snorted and made a mockery of a bow without moving any
more than he absolutely had to. "Then you shall fucking have one, milady."

**JEN**

Larkin batted her eyelashes and delicately held out her hand
for him to kiss.

**IZZY**

He took her hand and zapped it, because that shit never got
old.

**JEN**

"Ow! Shit." She rubbed at her fingers. "Knew
that was coming. Just did it 'cause you love it so much. You owe me one."

**IZZY**

"Fucking rebuke me, then." He leaned back and
spread his arms a bit like he welcomed it.

Jonn slid away from him a bit, wary.

**JEN**

"Oh, buddy," she said, absolutely smug.
"It'll come when you least expect it."

**IZZY**

"Hah." He jabbed a finger at her triumphantly,
just as smug. "I know there's a time limit on that tiefling shit. I bet
you can't even do it now."

"She could just do something else," Jonn pointed
out quietly.

Finch narrowed his eyes at her and withdrew his finger to scratch
at his stubble. "Fuck."

**JEN**

"Right. I have the password to the bunker now. I could
do anything. Lace your booze... fuck with your sketches." She bobbed her
eyebrows. "Fuck, I bet Jonn would even help me if I told him to."

**IZZY**

Finch turned his narrowed eyes onto Jonn, who withered a bit
and looked away.

"Well, guess next time you're bleeding out, you'll just
have to fucking knock again and hope someone notices," he groused, knowing
perfectly fucking well he wasn't going to change the password.

**JEN**

Larkin waved it off. "You can't stand my whining long
enough to let me bleed out."

**IZZY**

"Ehh, I've got a spell for that." He waved it off.

**JEN**

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you know. I really missed
how much you cared for me. Bastard."

**IZZY**

He scoffed and kicked her under the table.

**JEN**

Larkin winced and shuffled to sit opposite Jonn instead.
"Careful," she said and pointed the last bite of her sandwich at
Finch. "You break a leg, you carry me home."

**IZZY**

Finch flexed thoughtfully. "I think you might be staying
here."

"I can help," Jonn said, missing the point.

**JEN**

"Well, thanks, but I don't think Finch is gonna break
my leg." Larkin smirked. "Too much of a wuss." She quickly
pulled her legs in.

**IZZY**

Finch tried to kick her again and banged his foot on the
booth. "Fuckin' ow!"

**JEN**

"Anyway," Larkin said after she'd stopped laughing
at Finch. "If we work tonight, we should better get the details
down."

She waved to flag down a waiter and order more drinks. Cider
for her, beer for Finch and water for Jonn. He had to be sober tonight, and
from her experience, she knew they'd be talking and drinking for some more
hours now.

**IZZY**

[END]

Title: Wounded Bird. Summary: A gang fight goes badly, and
an injured Larkin turns up at the bunker for help from Finch. She finds out
about his and Jonn's relationship, and they talk about recruitment and the
future of their gang.