TRP: Finch, Goro, Jonn, and Larkin (Better Than Expected)

LINA:

[Setting: Skyport, day 281.]

Goro scaled up the building to Larkin's place and banged on her window. "Open up!"

JEN:

It took a few seconds before there were footsteps from within. Then came the sounds of bolts being dragged aside and locks being undone. The window swung open to the inside.

LINA:

Goro climbed in. "Your boyfriend ain't here, is he?"

JEN:

Larkin stepped aside to make space for him and gestured at the grand total of fifteen feet attic space she owned. "He's hiding in the dining room."

LINA:

Goro walked straight to her bed and flopped onto it, kicking his feet up and folding his hands behind his head. "Eh. So how's everything going?"

JEN:

For an answer, Larkin just grumbled and turned to redo the locks.

LINA:

"You know what's a nicer place to live than this hole? Your bedroom, in the castle."

JEN:

"Sorry, buddy, can't do. Shit's going down in Skyport. I'm... kinda needed." She turned and gave him a suffering look.

LINA:

"Psh." He flapped a hand at her. "Outsource it."

JEN:

"You offering yourself?"

LINA:

"Hell nah. I'm a country boy now. Farming and shit. Gonna get some chickens."

JEN:

"Yeah, right." Larkin walked over to her cot and poked Goro's side with a foot. "Move."

LINA:

"To where? The dining room?" He stayed right where he was.

JEN:

Larkin sat down on the edge of the bed and squeezed herself in, elbow jabbing into Goro's side.

LINA:

Goro relented, scooting over to make more room for her. "What kinda shit's going down, anyway?"

JEN:

"How about all of it."

LINA:

"Hell, I might regret asking this, but... anything I can do to help?"

JEN:

Larkin shook her head. "Not if you're not hiding a bunch of competent motherfuckers that can lieutenant for me up your sleeves. Oh, or maybe twenty grand in gold."

LINA:

"A bunch of competent motherfuckers," Goro mused. "Well. I mean. We did take down a hydra, and shit."

JEN:

"Well, I got Raef now- hey, did I tell you? Raef works for me now. That's about it, though. Even had to get rid of Jonn, fucking shithead."

LINA:

Goro squinted at the ceiling. "Wait. Slow down." Raef--yeah, fine, whatever. "What do you mean, get rid of Jonn?"

JEN:

"Oh, chill." Larkin rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "Didn't do anything to him. He just wouldn't take my commands so I told him to get fucking lost."

LINA:

Goro frowned. "How long ago?"

JEN:

"Three days. Why?"

LINA:

That'd be plenty of time for him to come to the castle, if he'd been so inclined. "What's he... what's he doing now? He's not still living with Finch, is he?"

JEN:

"Fuck no, I hope not." Larkin grimaced. Maybe she should've told Finch about this. He must be fucking starving by now, if Jonn didn't feed him. On the other hand, if that finally drove him out....

LINA:

Goro sat up, rubbing his face and groaning. He let his hands fall to his lap. "Motherfucker. Who's keeping an eye on him, then? Making sure he doesn't make deals with eldritch abominations and shit?"

JEN:

Larkin used the free space to stretch her arms over her head. "The fuck do I care. I got enough to do keeping the Redbirds over water."

LINA:

"Fuck. I mean, Finch can go die in a fucking hole for all I care, but at least I knew he was keeping Jonn alive. Goddamn." Goro closed his eyes and bowed his head. Fired off a message to Jonn, which would probably freak him the fuck out, but oh well. Shouldn't've disappeared without saying where he was going. Where the hell are you?

IZZY:

Asya's, was the only terse response.

JEN:

"Hey, now." Larkin sat up as well and frowed at Goro's back. "Jonn can die in a hole for all I care. He's gonna live, alright? Rats always do."

LINA:

Goro glowered at her over his shoulder. "Hey, now. That's my... future stepson."

JEN:

"Gross."

LINA:

He scoffed. "Well, I guess you'd know gross family when you see it, being a Basha and all."

JEN:

"Yeah, well. Gotta burn these sheets after you're gone I guess," she snapped.

LINA:

"Fuckin' fair. Do you know where Asya lives?"

JEN:

"Nah. Why?"

LINA:

Goro closed his eyes and Sent again. Where's that? I need to talk to you.

IZZY:

Port. Meet you.

JEN:

"Hey." Larkin elbowed him. "Why?"

LINA:

"Gotta go talk to the little turd." Goro levered himself off the bed. "He's meeting me at the port. You should come with, and tell me what the fuck happened."

JEN:

"He's not gonna stay when he sees me," she said. "Ran like a fucking rabbit last time."

LINA:

"What'd you do to him?"

JEN:

"Nothing."

LINA:

"Let's see, nothing in Larkin speak... you pin him down and threaten to murder everyone he loves? Not cool, by the way."

JEN:

She gave him a flat stare. "I tried to grab his hair, alright? Boy just freaked out cuz he knew he was in trouble and I wasn't taking his shit."

LINA:

"What'd he do that got him in trouble, anyway?" Goro pulled the window open and beckoned for Larkin to follow.

JEN:

She grumbled again but took her gear off the hook next to the bed and followed. "He didn't want to report on Finch for me."

LINA:

Goro had one leg out, but he froze to give her a look. "You wanted him to snitch for you? On your partner?"

JEN:

She showed him her teeth. "Fuck you. You don't know what's going on with Finch. We're having a fucking situation."

LINA:

"Oh, I have a fucking inkling. Fuck that guy." Goro climbed the rest of the way out and started down. "I'd've refused you too, though. Goddamn, Lark. Acting like fucking law enforcement."

JEN:

"Yeah, 'n you know why? 'cause it's my law I gotta enforce!" She climbed after him, wanting to throw something at him for that but having her hand busy gripping the window's edge.

"He's not fucking talking to me, so what do you suggest I do, huh? Just fucking ignore it? Besides- Jonn's in no fucking position to refuse orders from me. He's lucky he's still alive."

LINA:

Goro hopped onto the ground, and as soon as Larkin was on her feet beside him, he pointed in her face. "If you lay a fucking finger on him, Lark, I swear to god."

JEN:

Her eyebrows bobbed up and she stared down the finger at him. "What're you saying, Goro? You're putting fucking Jonn above me now? That what's happening here?"

LINA:

"I just wanna make sure we're fucking clear. That kid's my family, and we don't fuck with each other's families, yeah? 'Cept, you know." He dropped his hand and leaned back. "Your aunt. Free pass there."

JEN:

"Oh. So you get to decide who's off limits and who's not. Good to know."

LINA:

Goro sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his face again. He turned and started for the port, kicking a pebble on his way. "You liked me better before I had any family, didn't you?"

JEN:

"Yeah, right. That's what this is about. Sure, why not." She tagged after him, keeping her distance. "Let's go down this path, shall we? You weren't too sad for me when Renar left me. Bet you liked it, me not having a gang. Bet you'd be really fucking happy if I lost Finch, too."

LINA:

Goro scoffed, crossing his arms. Technically she wasn't wrong about the Renar part. "I don't want you to be alone, dumbass. Just think you deserve better people. I mean, Finch was fine. Had nothing against him up until a few days ago. Why's he not talking to you, anyway?"

JEN:

Larkin was silent for a moment, still too angry he'd thrown that accusation in her face.

"He's breaking down," she said. "It's too much."

LINA:

"What is? Babysitting all them birds?"

JEN:

Larkin scoffed. "Fuck you."

LINA:

"Jeez. What? Sorry I asked."

JEN:

"We're struggling, Goro. The Redbirds are... we only got so many good people we can let on the streets. The rest are just literal fucking kids. Not so much we can do to stand our ground like this and money's tight."

LINA:

He tossed a glance back at her, but she was still keeping her distance. "Least the competition's not so bad, though, right? With Helena and Morgan out of the way?"

JEN:

"Big players are gone, yeah, but we're back to the petty skirmishes. Our turf's being attacked every week." She sighed and ran a hand through her sweaty hair. "My name's not worth half as much as it should've been."

LINA:

Goro kept his arms crossed and kicked another rock. He felt bad for her, and pretty fucking useless. He just kept running off to his cozy little country castle. Skyport was such a fucking dump, though; it was hard to make himself care about it as much as she did.

And that thing about her name--yeah, wasn't fucking right that assholes like Maaki could just claim not to be scared when they heard it. Shit was fucked up, for sure.

"Sorry to hear it," he mumbled, not sure if she could even hear him.

JEN:

Larkin didn't say anything more. She followed Goro down the streets, keeping her eyes mostly on the roof tops and on the ground.

IZZY:

Jonn was waiting in the port, like he'd said. Hadn't wanted to -- Asya had coaxed him out.

Goro wants to talk to you, she said. You like Goro.

"Gonna be mad," he mumbled, curled up in her bed with his face planted in the pillow.

I'll take care of you. No one'll hurt you.

He didn't tell her that wasn't the problem. He didn't tell you you don't get it, I fucked up, I'm worthless, I'm pointless, someone should hurt me, that's not the problem. The problem was that he was just dreading it. He deserved it, but he didn't want it.

But he dragged himself up and she brushed his hair a bit before giving up and pulling it back for him, bringing him his boots and kissing the top of his head like Hansel always used to. Then they sat in the port, in a busy square where they'd be easy to find, perched on a low wall. He leaned into Asya's shoulder complaining wordlessly and keeping an eye cracked.

He saw Goro first and his gut clenched a little. Then he saw Larkin and yipped in alarm and scrambled behind Asya. She sat up straighter, going rigid, and stared them down.

LINA:

Ah, Goro hadn't realized Asya was going to come with. That was fine, he guessed. He was never quite sure what to think of that lady, but she was good with Theo, which always automatically got a person points in his book.

"Afternoon," he said, and followed it up with a signed hello in Nighthand. You could make the sign into a salute, and he kind of did, but not as sarcastic as he normally would. Just kinda casual. He glanced back at Larkin.

JEN:

Asya stared at her and Larkin stared back. She stopped a few paces behind Goro and signed her own greeting in Nighthand.

Get lost.

IZZY:

Asya signed back, Go fuck yourself, pointedly at Larkin.

Jonn stayed behind her.

LINA:

"Alright, kids, let's everyone calm the fuck down." He actually had no idea how old Asya was. Eh. "Um. Jonn. What happened, pal?"

IZZY:

"Nothing," Jonn said automatically.

JEN:

"He's not gonna talk as long as his babysitter is here," Larkin pointed out. "Just ask her. She's got it all figured out, don't you?"

LINA:

Goro shrugged at Asya. "What happened?"

IZZY:

She tilted her head back like she was rolling her eyes, and signed, Larkin wanted Jonn to spy on Finch because Finch is a fucking disaster, and Jonn wouldn't flip on his partner so she attacked him.

Jonn looked out from behind her warily.

JEN:

"This brought to you by some ex Sanguine bitch who's not even been there to see it."

LINA:

"That's the same story as you fuckin' told me," Goro pointed out.

IZZY:

Asya snorted.

JEN:

"We have varying definitions for the word attacked, man."

LINA:

"Alright, alright. Listen," he said to Asya and Jonn, "Larkin, she's a bit--y'know, she's got the tough love kinda thing going on. Well, never mind on the love part. Just tough. But she means well. Ah." He rubbed the back of his head. "I told her you were fuckin' right not to snitch, Jonn. But also, I'm not surprised she fired you, since that's how it fuckin' works and all, people not taking orders. You know where you don't gotta worry about taking orders? The castle. You should come to Glimmerton."

IZZY:

After a bit of hesitation, Jonn shook his head. He swallowed, shifting to slip his hand into his cloak pocket and tightly squeeze the lump of clay still in there. It helped. Goro helped.

"I don't wanna live in Glimmerton," he said quietly. "I like Skyport. I like helping Finch." He flicked a look towards Larkin. He liked helping her, too. He'd liked it when it seemed, for a little while there, like she didn't hate him. "I like ... doing what we do. Even when it's hard. I like it."

JEN:

Larkin shook her head. "Should've just fucking done what I told you. If you like helping Finch so much."

LINA:

God, these fucking nutcases who liked gang life. Maybe Goro was just getting old. Damn, that snuck up on him fast.

"Lark. C'mon. Be reasonable. What would you've wanted him to do if Finch told him to spy on you, huh? Aren't you and Finch supposed to be equals in this venture? What are your people fucking supposed to do if the two of you are giving conflicting orders? At least Jonn was fucking honest."

JEN:

"Only Finch hasn't given him any conflicting orders, has he? Jonn's just decided that for himself."

IZZY:

"Finch doesn't want me to tell people shit about him," Jonn mumbled. "Bunker's a secret. Plans are secret. Magic's a secret." How much he drank was a secret. How little he slept was a secret. No one was supposed to know.

LINA:

Goro bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't want Asya and Jonn to hear him undermining Larkin too much, so he switched to Infernal. "Seriously, Lark, what the fuck. 'Don't tell people shit behind my back' ain't something that requires explicit orders. You and Finch need to get your shit straight before you start punishing your underlings for the two of you not getting along."

JEN:

"You're not getting it," Larkin said in Infernal. She glanced Asya's way and flipped her off, just because.

"It's not about not fucking getting along. Finch is in serious trouble and I need someone to keep an eye on him. Jonn's the only one who'll do, and he's refused me, so what the fuck am I gonna do? Just roll with it? That's not how this shit works, man."

LINA:

"Aw, come on. You really thought that was your best fuckin' option? That'd be like asking me to squeal on Joan Ripley. You gotta start thinking outside the box, sis. You need a vacation, or some shit."

JEN:

Larkin just squeezed her eyes shut with one hand, slowly shaking her head.

LINA:

"Or a drink," he said, switching back to Common. "Yeah. Let's you, me, and Hansel go out for a drink again sometime. Hopefully with less kidnapping, but, y'know. Anyway, seems pretty fucking clear to me that the two of you--" He wagged his fingers at Larkin and Jonn-- "both care deeply about that son of a bitch, Finch, and maybe you oughta be working together to help him. Not behind his fucking back, but talking to him like an adult, and shit."

IZZY:

Asya scoffed softly, and shifted from absently stroking Jonn's hair like she'd been doing while they talked to putting a hand on his shoulder to urge him out of hiding.

He always kind of hated it when people spoke languages he didn't know right in front of him. It always seemed so ... targeted. Sometimes he missed when it was just him and Asya who knew nighthand, but that wasn't okay, because now she could talk to more people. He squeezed the clay between his fingers and let her guide him up beside her instead of behind her.

Jonn wasn't sure if he was supposed to say anything, so he just nodded and worked the clay in his pocket. He wanted to help Finch. Even wanted to help Larkin, kind of. Didn't know how he could though, 'cause he was cut off. Cut out. What he got for running.

JEN:

"Okay, fine." Larkin still had her eyes closed but she sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Jonn, here's your second chance if you want it. I won't tell you to go against what Finch wants again but I expect you to fucking obey now." She opened her eyes and stared directly at him. "Are we clear?"

IZZY:

"I was obeying before," he said quietly, only meeting her eyes as long as he could still cling to Asya. "Yeah."

LINA:

"You got any other non-negotiables she should know about?" Goro asked, not sure if Jonn would even know what he meant. "Now's the time to speak up about 'em."

IZZY:

Jonn gave him a puzzled, concerned look.

LINA:

"You know. Shit you absolutely won't do, even if it's an order. Some of the ones you hear a lot are, uh..." Goro batted his hand, trying to think of examples. "Won't rough up kids under a certain age, won't go up against the prince's soldiers, won't commit crime on sacred ground, that kinda shit. Some people set real strict boundaries when it comes to their family, though hopefully Larkin's already minding that one, since--" He gave her a pointed look.

IZZY:

"Oh." Jonn shifted, a little more behind Asya again. "A contract. Like Diva."

JEN:

"Gods, kid." Larkin frowned at him. "I don't want your fucking soul. If you even have one."

IZZY:

"Neither did Diva. Just had to give her a list of people she wasn't allowed to hurt." Hansel and Luci, Finch, Roddy even though they hadn't known each other that well. "And she lied, and they all got hurt anyway," he said, giving Larkin the same wary look.

LINA:

Goro sighed wearily. "No, Jonn, it's not fuckin' like Diva. This is a normal conversation any criminal has with a prospective employer. Listen, Larkin's not gonna fuck with Hansel, or Luci and Roddy, 'cause she knows that'd mean fucking with me. Is there anything you won't do for her, is the question."

IZZY:

"Hurt Finch."

JEN:

Larkin tilted her head at him and snarled. "Listen here, you little shit. Finch is my fucking partner, I've known him for more than a fucking decade. Don't you dare suggest I'd hurt him. Or be such a coward as to send you to do it."

IZZY:

Jonn ducked behind Asya again.

LINA:

"Hey. Chill." Goro frowned at Larkin. She needed a fucking hug, was what. But he'd spare her the indignity until they were alone. "He's just doing what I asked him to do. Laying out his non-negotiables. Ain't a fucking attack on you. Anything else, Jonn? Don't be scared. She's not gonna bite you."

IZZY:

Jonn made an unhappy sound and hid his face, frustrated. He wasn't good at this kinda thing. He didn't know what he wouldn't do until he was about to do it and didn't, instead. He'd done all kinds of things and then realized afterwards that he hadn't actually wanted to do them in the first place. He couldn't do this. That was all he knew.

Sighing, Asya took over for him. She petted Jonn's hair, then addressed Goro. He doesn't hurt kids and he doesn't stand by and let them be hurt. If he sees Larkin talking to some kid the way she talks to him, it's going to be a problem. He's loyal to Finch. Larkin hasn't earned his loyalty. He tilted her head to fix Larkin with a flat stare. He's Finch's lieutenant, not her's.

JEN:

"Well, see-" Larkin waved a hand at Asya. "That's the fucking problem here, isn't it?" She scoffed and laughed. "You can't be loyal to me, you can't be part of my gang. I'm not fucking waiting for your highness to decide who he'd like to listen to, and whose legs hed like to break." She looked at Asya, smirking. "Can't imagine Helena or Wyn would've gone through with this kinda bullshit."

LINA:

"You're wrong," Goro muttered. He glanced at Larkin, chewing his lip. He wasn't sure she was really in a spot to be hearing criticism right now, but it fucking had to be said. "They knew when to bend, and when to hold firm. You don't. You're a fucking iron gate. You're not gonna get as many people that way."

JEN:

Larkin shot Goro a look to make him shut the fuck up, snarling silently.

IZZY:

Asya scoffed through her teeth and stood, pulling Jonn with her. Her hands were still -- she didn't have anything left to say.

Jonn was -- kind of hesitant. He felt like maybe if he walked away now, that was it. Felt like maybe they'd kind of gotten somewhere, for a second, but -- Asya and Larkin just kept poking each other. And he thought maybe it'd be all right if he just tried to listen to Goro, and Goro could help him talk to Larkin, because Larkin would talk to Goro.

"Um." He gripped Asya's sleeve, and she looked back at him, icy. "I'm gonna ..." He tried to run a hand through his hair and got tangled. "I'll be okay. I'm gonna meet you later. Okay?"

What he could see of her brow furrowed. He cut his eyes towards Goro -- he wouldn't be alone. She sighed in annoyance and leaned in to kiss his forehead, then shot Larkin a red-lensed stare before sweeping off. Jonn followed her for a couple steps, feeling vulnerable without her -- alone for that beat -- before edging closer to Goro. He fixed his eyes on the street, arms crossed around himself.

LINA:

Goro patted Jonn on the shoulder awkwardly.

"Helena fell to Wyn 'cause she wasn't treating her own people right," he said to Larkin. "Wyn fell to us 'cause the two people at the top stopped communicating and trusting each other. If you and Finch don't get your shit straight..."

JEN:

"Mask," she growled and put a hand to her face. At least that fucking bitch was gone now.

"Listen, Jonn, I-" she sighed. "Dunno what you think of me, but I'm not gonna do anything to hurt Finch, alright? I swear. On a fucking Mask shrine if you want."

IZZY:

"You did," he muttered, still staring down. "You already did once, and you wanted me to."

JEN:

Larkin made a fist but she didn't lash out to hit him in the face like her gut told her to. Goro was right, fuck the guy. She needed to relent some, and.... well, shit if it wasn't at least a bit true.

She bit the insides of her cheeks instead until the pain mellowed the anger.

LINA:

Goro almost patted her on the shoulder, too, but he was a little worried she might punch him. She needed a fucking hug, alright--lots of 'em--but hell if she'd be willing to let that vulnerability show in front of Jonn.

This was fucking tricky. He knew the Finch-loyalty thing was a touchy subject to her. Wasn't much that could be said about it, either. She'd be haunted by that shit for the rest of her fucking life, probably.

And Jonn... seemed like he knew the details. That was worrying. Real fucking worrying, the more Goro thought about it. Jonn had a history of going a little over the fucking top with trying to get revenge on people who'd screwed over his loved ones.

"Hey, uh." Goro grimaced. "How's about we go get a drink?"

IZZY:

Jonn shrugged one shoulder. He didn't want to get a drink, but he'd do it if Goro thought it would help.

JEN:

Larkin relaxed her hand slowly, flexing a bit before she answered. "Yeah. Sure, whatever."

LINA:

"You guys are killing me with the excitement, here," Goro muttered, running a hand through his hair and turning to lead them up the street.

They were close to the Crooked Coin, and he knew the Crooked Coin, so that's where he took them. Tazu grinned and waved as soon as they stepped through the door. "Friends! Come on in! Just in time for the last of the lunch special!"

"Uh, I already ate," Goro said. He switched to Elvish and said, "Fuckin' help me. Get these assholes tipsy enough they don't wanna kill each other." He looked at Jonn and switched back to Common. "Wait, do you drink?"

IZZY:

Jonn nodded.

LINA:

"Yeah, so." Goro gave Tazu another pleading look.

Tazu came out from behind the bar carrying a bottle. He came right up to Larkin and gave her a little mock bow. "Madam Basha, you never darken my door anymore! Look what I've got for you. I've been saving it for you, my love. Fifteen year special reserve rum."

JEN:

Larkin rolled her eyes at Tazu's antics but the mention of well-aged rum drew her eyes to the bottle. She nodded. "Sounds great."

LINA:

Tazu put two fingers in his mouth and whistled, drawing over his newest server, a young tiefling man who already looked harried and bewildered. Tazu handed him the bottle. "Uncork this for the Basha. On the house. Get them a nice table, something in the corner."

He turned on Jonn, snapping his fingers and pointing in his face. "You, sir. I know exactly what you could use. You ever heard of agave wine? 'Course you haven't, it's new. Latest import. Everyone's raving about it. You're gonna fucking love it. You trust me?"

IZZY:

"No," Jonn said bluntly. "I'll try it, though."

LINA:

"Yeah, you shouldn't trust me, I'm a fucking crook." Tazu grinned even wider and patted Jonn on the shoulder. Finally he turned on Goro. "Water?"

"Uh. Nah. Gimme some of that wine, or whatever."

"Since when do you--hey. Hey." He snatched up Goro's left hand, and Goro promptly yanked it away. "Heyo! When's the wedding?"

"None of your goddamn business," Goro grumbled, rubbing his hand and obscuring the ring.

"Didn't I tell you, though? Didn't I tell you? Hah!" Tazu smacked his leg and walked back behind the bar.

"This way, please," the server said, showing them the way to a table in the corner. This was fucking rich, Tazu acting like they were at some kinda upscale place and not a shitty bar two blocks from the harbor.

The table was set with three classes and the open bottle of rum. A moment later, Tazu rejoined them and set down the agave wine. "You're welcome," he said to Goro in Elvish, patting him on the back before he left them alone.

"Uh. Well," Goro said. "Bottoms up, or whatever."

JEN:

"Uh-huh. Whatever." Larkin squeezed herself in beside Goro and reached for a glass for herself. She sniffed the rum before pouring, suspicious of it being served to her on the house. Couldn't be worse than some of the shit she'd drank, though, so she filled her glass and had a few sips while staring at Jonn.

IZZY:

Jonn slipped in opposite Larkin, as far as he could get without being at a different table entirely. He chewed on his thumbnail and watched her out of the corner of his eye and he took a glass, and poured some wine.

He didn't like wine. He didn't usually, anyway. This was fine. He glanced towards the bar, then back to Goro, not sure what he was supposed to do.

LINA:

Goro took the wine bottle, poured himself a little, and gulped it all down.

He gagged. "Gross."

JEN:

"Lemme have some." Larkin snatched is glass and filled it with liquid. The taste was sharp and weirdly sweet. Not bad at all. Certainly not gross.

IZZY:

Jonn's knee bounced under the table. He wondered if he could just slip off. If they'd notice. He silently took another drink and kept hold of his glass to remind himself he had to stay.

LINA:

Goro poured himself some of the rum next and tried that. He shuddered.

His face was already pinched, making it not much of a stretch to scowl at Jonn and Larkin. "Alright, listen, you two. As far as I'm concerned, ain't nothing to be gained by the two of you continuing to work together. I still think both of you oughta move out to Glimmerton, but that's another matter. Seems you're both worried about fuckin' Finch, and that means you gotta figure out a way to be part of his life without stepping on each other's toes. Yeah?"

JEN:

Larkin set her glass down with a thud, giving an annoyed roll of her head. "Can you stop it with fucking Glimmerton? Just for a sec, yeah?"

LINA:

"I said it's another matter." He poured some more rum and gulped it down. "Fuckin' 'scuse me for wanting my best friend to live close by." He didn't look at her or Jonn. He gave the agave wine another go.

IZZY:

Jonn gave Goro a slight frown, and slid the bottle of wine away from him subtly.

JEN:

"Okay, okay." Larkin held up a hand in defense. "I get it. Fucking... precious or whatever. Aww and shit."

LINA:

Goro ignored her, glowering at the table.

IZZY:

Jonn looked between them and started chewing on his thumbnail again.

It was the same way he always felt when Larkin and Finch were together -- like he wasn't needed or wanted, like there was too much between them and he was some sort of growth. Should be cut off. He edged away slightly.

JEN:

"So. Jonn." Larkin only let him out of her sight to fill her glass again, then fixed him with a stare. "Just so we're clear, I didn't wanna get rid of you, but I had to. You get why?"

IZZY:

He kept chewing on his nail. "Didn't obey."

JEN:

"What I need is lieutenants that are loyal to me. If you can't do that, I can't keep you on. How am I supposed to trust you then, huh?"

IZZY:

"How is Finch supposed to trust you?" he blurted, then immediately shoved his chair back half a foot and tensed, anticipating something.

JEN:

Larkin clenched her teeth and her hand around the glass. "I made a mistake," she said in a quiet, strained voice. "I didn't do it on purpose."

LINA:

Goro kept staring at the table. Hey, this was... good-ish. They were saying real shit now. Maybe if he just stayed real quiet, they'd manage to keep it up.

IZZY:

Jonn glanced at Goro, then at Larkin. He chewed his tongue for a second, then more firmly said, "It wasn't a mistake. You wanted me to spy on him. If I'd said yes and done it, you wouldn't think it was a mistake."

JEN:

Larkin snorted. Oh, well. "Yeah that's not what I meant. That wasn't a fucking mistake, that was an attempt to help him. He won't fucking talk to me, you know? And you didn't want to either, so what was I supposed to fucking do, huh?"

LINA:

"Maybe that fucker's just beyond help," Goro mused aloud. Eh, so much for staying quiet.

IZZY:

"No!" Jonn objected, louder than he meant to, then quieted down, fidgeting, still bouncing his knee. "No. I can help. I wanna help. Helping isn't ... doing shit behind people's back, is all," he finished in a mumble.

JEN:

"Yeah, whatever. I just wanna get to it before he drowns in his own puke."

LINA:

"God, call me nuts, but how exactly was Jonn giving you secret reports on him supposed to help?" Goro was feeling too warm and fuzzy from the alcohol now to care if she snapped at him.

JEN:

"Get me a clear idea of what's going on? The fuck do you think?"

LINA:

"He's a nasty, mean drunk, is what's going on. Ain't that complicated."

IZZY:

"It's not that bad," Jonn said quietly. "I'm taking care of him. Who ..." He gave Larkin an apprehensive look. "Who's been with him?"

JEN:

"What do you mean?"

IZZY:

"I haven't been there." He felt a nervous buzz starting in his chest. "Who's been with him?"

JEN:

"Finch is a grown fucking man, he can stay alive for a day or two without you." Larkin frowned. The look on Jonn's face made her... suddenly unsure of the fact.

IZZY:

"Mmm." His fingernails tapped erratically against the tabletop. He shook his head.

JEN:

"Okay, look-" she leaned in to Jonn, gripping her glass with both hands. "We're gonna go check on him, alright? It's gonna be fine. He'll yell at us but he'll be fine."

LINA:

Goro licked the remaining drops of rum off the rim of his glass, watching the two of them. He idly considered offering to scry, or Send--that'd piss Finch off, but still--but frankly, it was too fucking entertaining watching them stress out over him together. Maybe they could bond.

IZZY:

Jonn kept tapping, frowning. "Or he's drowned in his own puke."

JEN:

Larkin sighed. She poured herself another glass, downed it, then stood. "Come on then."

LINA:

Tazu had said on the house, but Goro pulled out some coins and tossed them on the table anyway. For continued goodwill.

"Y'know, if... something did happen to Finch, I can fix him," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "So don't stress yourselves out too much."

IZZY:

Jonn gave Goro a worried look. That should be comforting, but it wasn't. He shoved away from the table ahead of the others, not waiting on them.

When he'd started working with Finch, it'd been because Helena thought Finch might flip on her, and she knew Jonn would take Finch out in a heartbeat if he was disloyal. Jonn hadn't cared about him then. He'd wondered how deep Finch's scars went, and he'd wondered what the broken and mended bones in his hands would look like. He would never hurt Finch, now, but he still wondered sometimes -- because he knew it wasn't the surface scars that were the worst.

Now he wondered if Finch's liver was gray from too much vodka, and if his lungs were black and spotted from smoke and mildew, and if his bones shrank and turned brittle as his body ate them, since he wouldn't feed himself. More than anything else, Jonn wondered why -- no matter how many people he dug up and took apart, whether they were a murderer, or a soldier, or a homemaker, or a priest -- no one's brains looked different. There wasn't any telling what was wrong inside them. Nothing real and solid and understandable to point at, and say, This is why he shouted at people who loved him. This is why he drank too much. This is why he wanted to cut people apart. This is why his body didn't fit him.

Finch needed to drink less, and eat more, and get out of the bunker and into the sunlight and fresh air. His body said that. Jonn didn't know how to help his brain. He was trying so hard, but he just didn't.

He took a shortcut he knew to the bunker, scaling the wall that let them drop down into the dead end where the door was. He paused to offer Goro a hand up, figuring Larkin wouldn't need it, but he might. Then he slipped down the other side and skipped into the recess, and tried the door.

.

Of course it was locked. He whispered the password and tried again. Still locked. He frowned and pulled out his key, wondering if Finch had just forgotten to recast the magic locking spell, but it didn't turn.

He opened his mouth and drew a hand back to whack on the door, then stopped and looked to Larkin.

"Changed the locks," he said lowly. "And ... the password, maybe. Did you ... did you tell him to not let me in?"

That, or -- he wasn't opening up for a different reason. Because he couldn't.

JEN:

Larkin frowned at the door. "No. I didn't even- I didn't tell him yet you were out. Because he wouldn't let me back in after last time."

IZZY:

Jonn's eyes widened. He didn't even care why Finch hadn't let Larkin in -- that was fucking weird, but more importantly --

"He thinks I just left," Jonn stammered, dropping down on one knee and pulling out his lockpicks. "He's alone and he think I left him."

LINA:

Goro frowned, considering what little he knew about Finch--one, that the guy was just about as much of a paranoid bastard as Goro was, and two, that he was studying magic pretty intensively now.

"Hey, hey, hold up, wait a second." Goro put a hand on Jonn's shoulder. "If he's changing the password and shit, we oughta check for traps before you go too nuts, there."

Goro could've also stepped them inside, provided Finch hadn't warded the place, but he didn't fancy getting zapped to death by a glyph like he had on his own wall.

JEN:

"He's right," Larkin told Jonn. She squeezed herself in in front of him and began searching the door, lock and frame for signs of traps. Nothing, though- which didn't mean there wasn't anything hidden on the other side.

She banged at the door again, shouting. "Finch! It's me and Jonn! Open up man, we gotta talk!"

IZZY:

No response.

Jonn pushed Larkin aside and started picking the lock.

LINA:

"Uh." Goro took a couple steps back. "I'll just... y'know, wait here, in case you fuckers explode and need some help."

JEN:

"Finch, we're coming in now, so you better unarm those traps!" Larkin yelled as she did the same.

IZZY:

The lockpicks slipped a little. Jonn's hands were shaking, because he kept picturing awful fucking things -- he did that a lot, never on purpose, just happened and then it was hard to get them out of his head unless he made them real. (Hansel always said don't.) These weren't the sort where he thought about doing shit, though.

These were the sort where he pictured Finch spiraling out, emptying the liquor shelf, throwing up on himself, choking on vomit. He wouldn't starve, but he could drink himself to death. Jonn had seen Hansel try it and he'd seen other people pull it off.

He tried again and did a good job, but the locks Finch got from Maaki when there were Diva zombies roving around the city -- they were really good. He almost had it, though, and then he found just the right spot and got a click. He didn't even pull the picks out, just shoved the door open and stumbled in, lurching back to his feet.

The room was pitch black. No magic lights, and the oil lamp either hadn't been lit or had been let to burn out. Jonn couldn't see a fucking thing, but he could smell the familiar scent of spilled and regurgitated booze. He stepped in, blinking rapidly, trying to get his eyes to adjust, but the shade of the alley and overcast sky meant not much light even crept into the bunker from outside.

Finch liked it that way, he said. Jonn hated it. He stayed out of the way, knowing the other two had night vision -- he could follow them.

JEN:

"Oh, shit!" Larkin shoved past Jonn to get inside- stopped short in the doorway, glancing around for the faint traces of glyphs or the sheen of a trip-wire. Still, nothing. She felt her gut clench with guilty fear at the sight of Finch crumbled in the corner. Fuck. This was her fault. Again, her fault.

Larkin hurried over and got to her knees beside him. She took his head in both hands, holding it up to see if there was life in him, fingers probing for a pulse in his neck. His skin was clammy, sticky from sweat and vomit and he seemed ghostly pale in the dark.

Her hearth skipped a beat when there was no pulsing under her fingers- then there was the faintest hint of a breath on her face and when she sat Finch's head back against the wall and listened at his chest, there was a beat.

"Oh, thank Mask," she muttered, face pressed into Finch's shirt. "Thank you."

LINA:

Jonn and Larkin made it into the room in one piece, so Goro ambled in after. Larkin had gone straight for the body, and she was thanking Mask now--prematurely, in Goro's opinion. Someone who didn't wake up when you manhandled them that way was not in a fucking safe condition.

He passed by the desk and touched something random with his light cantrip. Turned out to be an empty vodka bottle, which was fucking hysterical. He couldn't be that funny on purpose if he tried.

He came to a stop over Larkin and Finch, took in the sight of Finch's condition, and started swearing. He dropped into a crouch and dragged Finch away from her, out of the corner, letting him flop onto his back.

"Fucking dumbass," he snapped, checking Finch's pulse and breathing. He stuck two fingers in Finch's mouth to wrench it open and check his airway, then rolled him onto his side.

He laid hands on him and said a prayer to clear the poison ("booze," as it was known in some circles) from his body. Checked his pulse again--still dangerously fast. "I swear to god, if I have to bring this motherfucker back from the dead later, he's paying for the gem dust outta the Redbirds' coffers."

IZZY:

Jonn shuffled in place, hearing Larkin and the direction she'd gone in but not sure she was going on or what to do until Goro flooded the bunker with light. Then he cried out helplessly and started over -- trying to stay out of the way, because Goro could help and -- and Larkin had more of a right to be next to Finch than he did, she was the one he'd wanna see when he woke up.

If he woke up, on his own.

"I'll pay for it," he blurted, knowing he was fucking broke and revival was expensive. Sucking dick in the port ain't gonna cover it, Finch had growled at him, but he'd do whatever he had to, he'd make it work, he'd find the gold some way.

Finch shuddered a little as Goro's magic seeped into him. He was so pale he might've been dead already, but he started shivering, still completely out as far as Jonn could tell.

JEN:

Larkin scrambled aside so Goro could work. She stayed close by, though, grabbing one of Finch's cold hands and squeezing it, saying nothing but already calculating her funds. She'd pay any fucking price that was needed, if only Finch didn't die. Even if that killed the Redbirds.

LINA:

Jonn looked like he needed something to do. "Get me a blanket for him," Goro said. "And some water."

IZZY:

He obeyed immediately, grabbing the best blanket off the bed -- shaking crumbs and bigger pieces of food out of it -- and dropping down ro carefully lay it over Finch, looking at Goro to make sure he was doing it right.

As he was offering his waterskin, Finch's shivers got worse. Harder. Not shivers at all -- convulsions, like he was electrocuting himself.

JEN:

"What the fuck!" Larkin let go of Finch's hand and tried to hold him still instead. She pressed down on his shoulders but it barely seemed to help.

"Jonn!" She called. "Get me something- a belt or a stick! For his mouth!"

LINA:

"Don't," Goro said. "Let go of him." He grabbed Larkin's wrists to pull her away. "No sticking shit in his mouth. Just leave him."

IZZY:

Jonn started to do what Larkin said, then stopped and just whined helplessly, looking between Finch and Goro and Larkin. This'd never happened before. He didn't know what to do. But -- but Goro did, so Jonn watched Goro because watching Finch was hard, and so he would know what to do as soon as Goro said or did something.

After a few beats, the convulsions settled into tremors. Finch made a small sound like a cough or a sob, retching up foam.

LINA:

Goro grabbed Finch's jaw and checked his mouth again to make sure his throat was still clear. Then he settled him back onto his side and patted his back gently, once, before taking his hand away.

JEN:

"What was that?" Larkin asked. She made to grab Goro but thought better of it. He needed his hands free. "What the fuck was that?"

IZZY:

Finch settled, still shivering, but breathing stronger now, fingers twitching a little now and then. That meant he was dreaming, or something was going on his head, anyway, and that made Jonn feel a little better. He sniffled and settled down beside Finch.

LINA:

"Seizure," Goro told Larkin. "Y'know, as can happen when people almost poison themselves to death."

He pulled the stopper out of the waterskin to have it at the ready. He shook Finch carefully by the shoulder. "Hey. Finch. Buddy. You wanna rinse your mouth out?" Not optimistic Finch was actually gonna wake up and answer him, but knowing there was a chance.

JEN:

"Oh my god." Larkin settled back, squatted on her heels and hiding her face behind her knees. This was all her fault. She should've gone to check on him earlier. Should've known this would happen without Jonn there. Instead she'd let herself be run off, stayed away, hadn't even wasted a thought on what Finch was gonna do to himself alone.

And Jonn. Fucking Jonn. He should've just fucking done what she'd told him. Just gone back and checked on Finch but no- no. It was useless. Finch was gonna be angry at her, not Jonn. She'd fucked up. He might not even forgive her this time around.

IZZY:

Finch didn't move beyond resettling from the nudge. Jonn started to pull Finch's head into his lap, like he was used to doing sometimes, but hesitated and looked to Goro for permission.

"Will it hurt him if I move him?" he asked quietly.

LINA:

Goro considered. Jonn seemed like he had the perfect amount of hypervigilance to babysit a half-dead drunk.

"Nah," he said. "He needs to get warmed up."

IZZY:

Carefully, Jonn shifted, crossing his legs and slipping under Finch more than moving him, automatically tucking the blanket in around him more securely, trying to get it under him, too, so he'd be off the cold bunker floor.

He sniffled and leaned over, half-hugging Finch, closing his eyes. He knew he wasn't the one Finch was gonna want to be there. He'd leave before Finch woke, but it took a long time for him to wake up from just passing out sometimes, and this was ... worse.

When Hansel had been sick, and Jonn had talked to that nice cleric who'd helped him out, she'd told him that Hansel might be able to hear him even unconscious, so he'd talked and hummed and sung to him. He whispered now.

"I'm sorry. Should've been here. I'm sorry. It's gonna be okay." That was what Hansel would say. "I got you."

JEN:

It hurt to see how Jonn cared. Not that Larkin didn't; she ached to do the same for Finch. To hold him like he'd done for her when she'd been at her worst but.... that was long ago. They didn't have that kind of relationship anymore. And even if... Finch probably wouldn't want to see her anyway.

She stood and walked around them to the door. She couldn't look at Finch and Jonn and not hurt. Maybe it'd be better if she just left. But then... she'd have to fucking fire herself then. Maybe Goro was right and she'd breached Finch's trust by asking Jonn to tell on him but if she walked out this door now, that would mean proving herself wrong in the assumption that she was loyal. It would mean proving Jonn right.

Larkin closed the door and went to look for candles in the mess. She found some under the desk, lit them with a match and set them out on a shelf. Then she got the trash bin and started collecting the bottles.

LINA:

Finch seemed stable now, and Goro would've really liked to just fuck off and get out of this smelly hole with its sad fucks who couldn't get along, but he was hesitant to leave in case Finch got worse.

Jonn had the immediate situation under control, at least. Goro climbed to his feet. "Gonna get some air. Yell if anything seems weird." He walked to the door and stepped outside, leaving it open a crack behind him.

IZZY:

Jonn was quiet for a moment while Larkin cleaned up. He should be doing that, he kept thinking. It was his job.

Except that Larkin had fucking fired him.

"This is your fucking fault," he said softly, without looking up. "You did this to him. All of it." His voice broke a little. "I always thought he was full of shit when he got drunk and talked about you abandoning him, but I was ... I was helping him, and he was getting better, and you fucking did it again."

JEN:

Larkin felt her face go hot with anger. The little shit dared to... had the fucking nerve-

She rounded on him, dropping the trash bin and letting its contents clatter to the floor, stalking towards him with a hand raised. "I did not. I did not fucking abandon him! Say that again, I dare you, motherfucker!"

IZZY:

He hunkered down, shielding Finch, and glared at her. "You fucking abandoned him and you made me fucking do it, too. You wanted this to happen so you can run the Redbirds by yourself and no one'll fucking challenge your authority."

He didn't think he even believed that. It'd never occurred to him before it came out his mouth, but -- it was out there now.

JEN:

"You made me throw you out because you piece of shit can't even follow a simple command! I was going to help Finch but you had to go and make it complicated!"

Larkin stopped in front of Jonn, Finch on the floor between them. "You got any idea how easy it'd have been for me to fucking murder you back then? I just didn't because of him." She pointed down. "Now come and tell me again how I don't care."

LINA:

Goro heard the arguing, sighed, and stepped back inside.

Yeah, alright, this was gonna turn into some shit. He wasn't bothered by the indignity piece anymore. He came up behind Larkin and grabbed her in a hug. "Hey, hey. It's okay."

IZZY:

Jonn hunched over Finch silently, grinding his teeth and looking away.

JEN:

"What the fuck!" Larkin twisted around in the hug but it was just Goro, so she didn't snap her elbow into his face like she could have, and just slipped out of his grip.

LINA:

Goro slouched, feeling defeated. He didn't try to grab her again. "The fuck's going on in here, exactly?"

JEN:

"Nothing," she said.

LINA:

"Fuckin' bullshit. What were you yelling about?"

JEN:

Larkin glanced at Jonn, then moved away from him. "He said it's my fault."

IZZY:

"It is," Jonn muttered, not looking up.

LINA:

"It is not, it's fuckin' Finch's fault," Goro said. "What are you, a couple of five-year-olds? This dumbass knew what he was doing."

JEN:

"And I didn't abandon him. He wouldn't let me back in for fuck's sake!"

IZZY:

"Probably already passed out," Jonn said lowly. "Why didn't he let you back in? What'd you fucking do? He always lets you in. Doesn't even let me in all the time."

JEN:

"Because," Larkin said and scoffed, "he got angry 'cause wanted him to stop being such a shit to people."

IZZY:

"Pff." Jonn was torn between saying that was fucking rich coming from her, and saying she might as well ask him to grow fucking wings, but he was pretty sure he shouldn't say either one. "Yeah. Like all you said to me was that you wanted to help him."

JEN:

"Oh, so I wanted him to be nice to the new recruits 'cause it's all part of my secret plan to take over power of this steaming shit pile of a gang, huh? Yeah, sounds about right." This time, she laughed.

IZZY:

He jerked upright again at the sound of her fucking laughing about it. His voice was too loud for the bunker.

"You fucking pushed him into this!" he snapped. "You wanted him to fucking -- change who he is, 'cause you never fucking cared about him -- you just wanted to use him, and now you wanna take over, so you just -- want him out of the way!" He realized he was crying. That happened, sometimes. "You wanted both of us out of the fucking way. So fucking fine. Kill both of us, then. Just do it upfront. Fuck you."

Then he hunched back over Finch, fists tight in Finch's vomit-crusted shirt, grinding his teeth again, trying to not cry.

LINA:

Yeah, this was just fucking worrying. Goro wasn't sure there was any point in trying to reason with Jonn about it. The kid didn't exactly have a nuanced understanding of relationships. If Finch would fucking wake up already, he could speak for himself and maybe diffuse things, but for now, Goro figured it was gonna have to be him.

"No one's fucking killing anybody, alright?" He crossed his arms and scowled. "'Cept Finch trying to kill himself, maybe. I'm telling you, he knew what he was doing."

IZZY:

"I never said he didn't know what he was doing," Jonn mumbled. "I know what it looks like."

JEN:

This was too much. The situation- Finch almost killing himself, Jonn accusing her- not even the accusation itself but the fact he had the nerve to imply he cared more about Finch than she did. It made her blood boil and her fists clench. It was enough.

Without saying a word, Larkin stepped forward and clamped a hand around Jonn's throat, the other reaching for his arm.

LINA:

Ah, yeah, Goro was afraid that might happen. He jumped forward, hooking his elbow over her chest and grabbing the hand she had on Jonn's throat. "Nope. We're not doing that."

JEN:

"Fuck you," she spat and twisted out of his grip, then went for Jonn again.

IZZY:

Jonn ducked away, glaring at her and baring his teeth. He didn't fucking budge. Wasn't letting her get to Finch.

LINA:

"Lark!" Goro snapped after her. No point in trying to grab her again. That was always gonna be a losing battle. "If you don't fucking cut it out, I'm gonna spell you."

JEN:

She gave no indication that she'd heard him. Instead, she snarled at Jonn. "Get the fuck out or I'll make you!"

IZZY:

He growled at her.

LINA:

"Halt," Goro commanded, and watched her freeze up. Fuck, though. Might be best to just remove her from the situation entirely. God, though, she'd be so fucking pissed at him.

IZZY:

Jonn tensed. Despite what Goro'd said, he just expected the spell to be targeting him. Because that ... made more sense. But then there was no compulsion to shake off and he just cut his eyes up at the two of them warily.

JEN:

"Goro," Larkin growled, staring Jonn down. "What the fuck. What the fuck."

LINA:

"What the fuck is right. Keep your hands to yourself, alright?"

JEN:

"No!" She struggled against the spell, trying to move- to grab for Jonn's throat again, drag him out of the bunker by his hair- but her limbs wouldn't obey. It felt like being trapped in a waking dream.

"Fucking hell-" Larkin tried turning her head and it worked, this time, but not much more would move. "Why don't you do something useful and get this fucker out of my sight, eh? You even heard what he said? Fuck me!"

LINA:

"Sure. I'll get him out of your sight. Let's go somewhere else and talk."

JEN:

"Oh, we can talk, we can talk right fucking here. Hey! I got an idea. Why don't you do your truth spell thingy on me, huh?" She looked back at Jonn and bared her teeth. "Motherfucker. I'll fucking show you who's loyal here."

IZZY:

Jonn glared at her, then flicked a look at Goro. He was pretty sure Goro would really do it. But he knew that spell -- people could still get around it. He'd done it before, at the Sanctuary.

"Yeah, fine," he muttered. "Cast it on me, too. I'm not fucking lying about anything either." He didn't think Larkin thought he was lying -- he figured she just fucking hated him in general, which was ... fine. Normal. Maybe there was something he could say, though -- spelled -- to make things better somehow.

LINA:

Goro grimaced, looking back and forth between the two of them. Seemed like they were serious about wanting it. Eh, couldn't hurt.

Or, fuck, maybe it could. But probably no worse than anything else they tried.

"Alright," he said, and traced a glyph in the air. "Zone of truth." He paused a moment, eyes closed, to sense its effects on Larkin and Jonn. They'd both given into it, felt like. Fuckin' Finch, too, if he woke up. Goro opened his eyes. "We're all under the effects of it. Go nuts."

JEN:

Larkin spread her arms as if making herself a target for Jonn to hit.

IZZY:

He narrowed his eyes at her, glancing at Goro again to be sure. Then he looked back to Larkin. "You don't really care if Finch is hurt," he said, slowly, testing it out. "Or you wouldn't've wanted me to spy on him. I -- he's paranoid as fuck. You knew that'd freak him out."

JEN:

"What I wanted, you little shit, is to fucking help him. There. You hear me? I care about Finch more that you ever will."

IZZY:

She'd said it, so she had to believe it, and that just made him fucking angrier. "Then why'd you fucking leave him alone?" Jonn spat. "You made me leave and you left and you know he doesn't fucking take care of himself."

LINA:

Goro took a step back, getting himself as much out of the way as possible while still keeping a close eye on things. This was... alright.

JEN:

"Okay, fine! So I made a mistake alright? Who the fuck are you to talk? You tried to kill your dad's husband!" Larkin snorted, almost amused at how ridiculous Jonn's claim to moral high ground was. "How can you say you care, huh?"

IZZY:

"They were separated," Jonn objected, scowling. Like it was the same fucking thing. Like that was the worst fucking thing he'd even done. "And I've never tried to hurt Finch. I --." He stopped himself. Finch was still out -- he wouldn't hear.

"I wouldn't," Jonn muttered. "I love him."

JEN:

Larkin sneered in disgust, then said, "he's not gonna love you back."

IZZY:

"I know that," he said quietly.

JEN:

"Is that why you fucked him? 'cause you're in love? Man." She shook her head, almost feeling bad for him. Almost. "He's not gonna appreciate that, trust me. He never loved any of his whores."

LINA:

Goro scowled. "Larkin, you got a fuckin' point to make, or what?"

IZZY:

Jonn flinched and ground his teeth. He fucking knew that. There was a mess of logic in his head that didn't really follow -- Finch had stopped fucking him because he didn't want to hurt him, or something. And he didn't want Jonn on the streets, getting hurt by other people, either. But he always said he didn't give a shit about Jonn. Didn't make sense.

Larkin was probably right, though. Finch probably just thought he was a whore -- 'cause he was -- and had gotten bored with him or something. Always said Jonn was fucking weird and fucked up. Of course he wouldn't want to fuck someone so broken. (Finch didn't even fuck boys, and Jonn was a broken boy. Of course. Yeah. Of course.)

"If the point's that he's gonna hate me 'cause you're gonna tell him I love him," he muttered, "don't waste your fucking time. He already does." He shot Larkin another glare, holding it this time. "I get it. He loves you. He'll pick you. I get it."

LINA:

Man, if Goro didn't know that feeling. Sounded kind of insufferable coming from someone else, though. Goddamn.

"Has he really gotta pick one of you over the other?" he asked. "Or can the two of you maybe get your shit together long enough that you can both help him out? I ask for the hundredth fucking time."

JEN:

"Not as long as he thinks I wanna kill Finch and take over the Redbirds and all that bullshit." She frowned. "Yeah, just in case. I never wanted this to happen to him. I don't want the Redbirds for myself. And if you ever imply that again I'm gonna fucking-"

The last of the sentence ended in a choked growl. Alright, okay. Maybe she wasn't really going to gut Jonn over that. Maybe she didn't even hate him that much. Maybe there was even a little empathy there, looking at him huddled over Finch and insisting he got it. Thing was, he didn't. Larkin sighed.

"Look, Jonn, what I meant was, why the hell do you even care? Me and Finch, we go way back but he's treating you like shit. You really love him that much or...?"

IZZY:

He shifted. Again, she was saying it, so ... He guessed he'd never really thought that, it was just -- all that made sense in the moment. Sometimes he just said shit, and it was right, but more often he shouldn't say anything at all, because he was fucking wrong all the time.

"Yeah," he mumbled. Fidgeted again. He needed to move, and do something, but he couldn't leave Finch. Or -- he could, he guessed, if Larkin would stay. Make sure Finch was okay. His fingers worked in Finch's shirt. "He looked out for me. With Helena. And Diva. And Wyn. I'm not ... I'm not going anywhere unless he tells me to."

He looked at her again, more wary than glaring, now. Larkin could probably get Finch to ditch him -- she was probably right about that, too. He fucking hated it, knowing he might lose someone else because they got back what they actually wanted, instead.

JEN:

Larkin rolled her eyes but the snide comment wouldn't come out this time. It was just too pathetic. Too easy. Too... undeserved, maybe.

Thing was, she believed him, and not just because of the truth spell. Jonn wouldn't go anywhere and, fuck, he was right about taking care of Finch. He had done it while Larkin had been living her life away from her partner. Maybe there was something to make up for here.

She waved it off. "Okay, fine, I won't make you again. Just wanna point out that you did go away. So stop giving me shit. We're both to blame for this." Larkin pointed at Finch.

"Now, you wanna help me get him on the bed or what?"

IZZY:

Jonn almost said something about how -- she couldn't be mad at him for not doing what she said, and mad at him doing what she said, too. They couldn't both be his fault. And -- that maybe Goro was right about it mostly being Finch's fault? Maybe. He wasn't sure. It all felt complicated.

Mostly, though, he was just relieved that it seemed like things were okay now. Better, anyway. He was still wary, too, and defensive and wanted to say he didn't need any help, he could do it himself, he'd hauled unconscious Finch around plenty. There was probably nothing wrong with them working together on it, though. That'd probably be good.

So he nodded, and pulled back from Finch a little so that Larkin would be able to get ahold of him, too, and they could heave him up into bed.

LINA:

"Make sure you lay him on his side," Goro offered, 'cause otherwise he was pretty sure the two of them had it.

It bothered him that Finch was still out cold. Usually wasn't a good sign when someone kept being unresponsive like that. Maybe he was just more impatient than usual, though, since he was fuckin' exhausted of this situation. Didn't feel right leaving either Larkin or Jonn, let alone taking off before he knew if Finch was ever gonna be able to count to ten again. Sucked.

JEN:

Finch was a tall guy but shit, he'd lost a lot of weight. Not on his stomach, of course, but sheer muscle mass. Larkin and Jonn struggled a bit with Finch's limp body until they had him on the bed and propped him on his side with blankets and pillows. Larkin patted him on the head, then went to sit on his desk, looking over the spread out papers and books.

IZZY:

Once Finch was in bed -- and it was easier getting him there, with two of them trying -- Jonn settled cross-legged beside him, keeping a hand on his shoulder and an eye on him. He wasn't shivering so much anymore, and he was breathing normal. Honestly, he probably just needed the fucking sleep. That was what Jonn told himself.

He watched Larkin, too. Finch's work was all in code -- the maps were self-explanatory he guessed, but all the notes were gibberish, and the stuff about magic was even worse if you didn't know anything about magic. Jonn liked codes -- he'd come up with his own once the Eldathyns had taught him the Common alphabet -- but Finch's was too complicated for him.

"I can't read it," he said, before she asked. "He's the only one who can. He says it's safer that way."

JEN:

"Yeah, I know." She didn't stop leafing through the papers. "Does he ever tell you about his magic? What he's working on?"

IZZY:

He shook his head. "I watch him practice sometimes. I know he's been having a lotta trouble with this one spell. He's mostly learning stuff to like, keep us safe." He picked at the threads of a blanket, and quietly added, "'Cause he's scared. I -- I tried to get him to bed a few days ago when he fell asleep at his desk, and he zapped me 'cause he thought someone'd broken in to get him. And he worries about you a lot -- someone getting you."

JEN:

"Me?" Larkin frowned at the table. "Well yeah, it's my ass out there on the streets. But that's just my part in this, y'know."

IZZY:

"I know." He knew they all had their roles to fill. Finch did too -- Jonn was just pretty sure he wanted Larkin to have a different role. Scared, again. Jonn wasn't stupid; he understood that. "He just ... doesn't wanna lose you. Freaks him out more than like ... anything."

JEN:

"Oh," Larkin said, and then nothing more. She glanced at Finch. Felt fucking sick for him, going through what he had. And to still be worried for her so much... didn't seem right, somehow. He shouldn't be so afraid of something so likely to happen. Didn't do anything for the chances, only make the blow that much harder when it came.

She looked back down on the papers, pretending to be able to read them.

IZZY:

Jonn looked down, too, and away. He wanted to ask her how she'd gotten Finch to care about her that much. That wasn't normal, though. He shouldn't say that, so he didn't say anything.

After a moment, Finch stirred -- he coughed weakly, and flexed his fingers a bit, and groaned. Jonn's back straightened, but then he remembered he shouldn't be here -- Larkin should be here. He made himself move away from Finch's back slightly, and looked to her, pleading.

JEN:

She stood and hurried over, then went to one knee beside the bed. "Hey, buddy," she said and patted his cheek. "It's Larkin. Don't zap me, yeah?"

IZZY:

His eyes cracked open, gummy and not really focusing on anything yet. He muttered some nonsense and closed them again, then swallowed hard and blinked them back open, squinting at her.

"The fuck," he managed hoarsely.

LINA:

Hm. Cursing. Probably a good sign. Goro wandered over and stood next to Larkin, peering down into Finch's face. He pulled a coin out of his pocket and cast a light cantrip on it, then bent over Finch and shined it directly into one eye at a time to watch his pupils contract. Satisfied, he put the coin away and held up three fingers. "How many?"

IZZY:

He made a disgruntled eh sound, still wincing from the light, and swallowed and coughed again. His throat was too dry -- he felt desiccated, like that fucking head Larkin's friend had brought in. That was ... just about the last thing he remembered happening. Must've gone on a bender for some reason, but it was all fuzzy right now.

Must've been a bad one if Larkin had called Goro in.

"Why the fuck are you here," he demanded anyway, or at least tried to. All the menace of a baby crow all puffed up with downy feathers. "Fuckin' ... get out."

(Behind him, Jonn offered Larkin his waterskin, still keeping out of Finch's line of sight.)

JEN:

"Make us," Larkin said. She took the waterskin from Jonn and held it out to Finch, watching if he could take it.

LINA:

Goro held his hands up and took a few steps back into the shadows. The fucker wanted to risk brain damage, that was his business.

IZZY:

Finch wanted to make electricity crackle around his knuckles threateningly, but he really didn't fucking have it in him. Not the magic -- he felt drained, but he could always manage a couple of simple cantrips -- the will to actually do it.

He reached for the waterskin and tried to push himself upright so he could drink, and about the time he recognized it as Jonn's waterskin (there was a leather strap looped around the neck with some animal teeth braided into it), he felt familiar small, careful hands helping him up. He twitched at first, startled -- little motherfucker was always sneaking around -- then settled. Jonn helped prop him up, and he took a drink. Mask, he was so dehydrated it almost hurt. He made himself chug a bit, though, before lowering the skin and looking around blearily.

Jonn's arms wrapped around his waist, and he'd faceplanted in Finch's back. Larkin looked all wary and concerned. Fuckin' Goro was here. They were acting like he'd fucking died or something.

"What?" he asked.

JEN:

"Motherfucker," was all Larkin said before she grabbed his collar, shaking him once, then hugged him around the neck.

IZZY:

"Geh." Finch struggled weakly for a second, fucking trapped between Larkin and Jonn. They were fucking tiny. He could take them.

He didn't, though.

"What?" he demanded again, and muttered, "Like this is the first time I've ever passed out drunk or some shit."

LINA:

"You were just about fucking dead, asshole," Goro piped up from the corner.

JEN:

Larkin detached herself from Finch and stood, nodding to Goro.

IZZY:

"Pfff." Finch scowled. "Don't be fucking dramatic."

He did feel like shit though. More than usual. Jonn squeezed him harder, but Jonn was like that.

JEN:

"Okay, so how'd you call lying on the floor in a puddle of your own puke, cold as a fucking fish?"

IZZY:

He scoffed again. "Wasn't that fucking ... Look." He gestured at himself. "Look at me. I'm fucking fine."

Goro, though. There was a fucking cleric in the room. So.

JEN:

Larkin stepped in and gave Finch's chest a shove.

IZZY:

"Hey." It came out weak. "Fuckin' ..."

He crossed his arms and looked off to the side, uncomfortable as shit. All right. Yeah. Fine.

"I mean, thanks for stopping by, then, I guess," he muttered. "Breaking in or whatever." He looked over his shoulder at Jonn. "You call them, or something?"

Jonn shook his head and didn't elaborate. Finch had this creeping feeling like he'd been pissed at Jonn for something, and Larkin, too, but it was all fucking blacked out. Jonn would know, though. He was acting like he was in trouble or some shit.

Finch didn't ask.

JEN:

"We just stopped by to tell you you're getting sober," Larkin said.

IZZY:

"Fuck that," he grumbled. Sober in Skyport. Yeah fuckin' right. He could stop drinking when he retired to a nice townhouse with its own guards and silk sheets and golden fucking fixtures. "I'm not doing this fucking job sober."

JEN:

"You almost drank yourself to death, man," Larkin said, almost pleading. "You don't think it's time some shit changed?"

IZZY:

Finch scoffed and said, "Look," and then didn't have anything else to add. He felt real fucking bad about how Larkin was looking at him, and how Jonn was holding onto him and not saying anything, and the fact that Goro was ... fuckin' there. He'd shown up when Jonn was in trouble, and apparently said some shit about them being family, or whatever, but people didn't fucking bother to show up for people they didn't know unless shit was ... dire. And favors were being called in.

He looked away for a bit, scowling, and cut a look at Larkin, and past her to Goro, and away again. He wanted to bitch more about how he was fine, but he did still feel like shit -- he just had a low fucking bar for what was fine.

"Look," he muttered finally, not looking at anyone. "It can't've been that fucking bad. Like I've never ..." He glanced up at the shelf where they kept the booze. All right, so it was empty. When'd Jonn gone on a booze run, last, anyway? He hesitated. "What, uh. What ... day is it, anyway."

"Thursday," Jonn filled in, muffled.

"Oh." Shit. Okay. Well. That was just an entire fucking day he'd lost track of. It wasn't like he'd been having a good fucking time, either -- he'd been shut up down here, alone. Drinking himself to death, yeah. Trying.

He shifted and leaned forward to put his face in his hands.

"Fuck. All right. Uh, all right."

JEN:

"Okay," Larkin said, more than a little surprised that had actually worked. "Okay." Then she glanced at Goro and at Jonn, too, before continuing. Fuck it, they could both hear.

"Look, I'm sorry for how... y'know. Last time went down. Shouldn't've gotten in your face like that. Shouldn't've left."

IZZY:

Finch lifted his head slightly to grimace at her. "I don't think I even fucking remember last time, Lark."

He kind of wanted to yell at her for leaving -- yell at Jonn for it too. Something had gone down and they'd both fucking left him down here (helpless, alone) to drink himself stupid. They fucking knew who he was. But goddamn, it wasn't like he couldn't have just walked the fuck out any time he wanted to. He was the one locking himself in, being a fucking coward, being a fucking child because ooh, oh no, some bad shit had happened in his life and now he was a little scared, and he wouldn't fucking step outside without someone to watch his back because every nerve ending screamed at him that something bad would happen again. So fucking sad. Suck it up, dipshit.

"Listen, whatever it was," he muttered, putting his face back down, "sure you had your reasons. I probably deserved it." Miserable son of a bitch. He was lucky Larkin kept coming around, kept apologizing to him and shit.

God, he wanted a fucking drink.

JEN:

"Nah, it's... I mean, yeah, kinda, but- ugh, listen." She cracked her knuckles, fiddling with her fingers. He didn't even remember. Complete blackout. Would be easy to just... leave it at that. Felt like a fucking betrayal, though, 'cause it'd be absolutely self-serving. She looked at Jonn again.

"It's my fault Jonn wasn't here. I... ordered him to tell me what the fuck's up with you and he refused. So I fired him."

IZZY:

Finch squinted into his fingers, working through that. Larkin had ... fired Jonn. That didnt fucking work, because he knew no one else was going to put up with his shit. And Jonn hadn't followed orders, which didn't sound like him -- especially since Finch knew how embarrassingly much Jonn had wanted Larkin to like him -- and that was a fucking problem because he also knew what Jonn could do if no one was keeping control of him. Except that it'd been in the interest of -- eh -- protecting Finch's privacy, or some shit like that, which sounded about right.

He sighed and scrubbed at his face. Still really wanted that drink. Coffee would be good, too, though. Shaking his head, he twisted to look at Jonn, about to ask him to get some.

Before he could, Jonn flinched and pulled away from him, looking off to the side. "Sorry. I'm sorry."

Finch winced. He just stared at Jonn for a second, then glanced back to Larkin so hopefully they'd get that he was mumbling at the both of them. "It's ... fine. Fine. I mean -- you're not fucking fired, and --" from Jonn to Larkin again -- "pretty fucking clear someone should be ... keeping track of me, I guess."

He might be pissed off about more of this some other time -- Jonn not doing what he was told, Larkin trying to get reports on him like he was a fucking mark -- but as it was, he was just goddamn tired. He slumped forward again, dropping his head to rub the back of his neck. Everything felt fucking bad. There was -- a tiny bit of him that was relieved and grateful and happy that Lark and Jonn had both shown up for him. It was mostly drowned out by feeling like shit, though.

JEN:

Finch looked defeated. Larkin had expected him to get pissed again; maybe not loud, or aggressive, in the state he was in but... not like this. Made her feel fucking guilty for being as relieved as she was. Things were about to change and Finch seemed on board. For now, at least.

Larkin wanted to hug him again but also, he looked like he needed some fucking space so she went to sit down in the couch, sighing. "Y'know, maybe we should get you out of this hole. You deserve something better. Would be safer, too, being on the move."

IZZY:

The idea of not being in the bunker made his heart speed up. He'd've snapped yeah, fuck that if he'd have the fucking energy for it -- like this, though, he had to take a beat to get his thoughts together.

"Maybe," he allowed. "Fucking safe here, though. It's fortified." Fuck. He remembered that spell he had to cast here every day for a year -- he would've missed it the day before. Have to start over now. Goddammit.

He groaned just in fucking general and leaned over further. Too fucking fuzzy-headed. Everything was fucking impossible. He was pretty sure he needed something to eat, but the idea made his stomach burn.

Jonn moved closer to him again, sounding tentative. "Maybe ..." When no one yelled or interrupted him, he said it a little firmer. "Maybe you should get some rest? And talk about it later?"

.

He touched Finch's back, and pushed the waterskin at him. Finch took it -- he didn't have the energy to be all grudging, either -- and drank some more. He was still so dehydrated that it was almost fucking painful. Someone was going to have to remind him to drink, make him do it when he got bitchy about it, because apparently he needed a fucking keeper. He pulled a grimace. Just in fucking general, again.

"Yeah," he muttered. "Yeah, I'm fucking ... tired." He glanced at Goro, lurking in the fucking corner and looking awkward as shit. Yeah, god -- if it was Finch, he'd be fucking dying to get away from this whole situation. "I'm gonna be fine. Just gonna get some sleep."

That gave Goro an out. He -- Mask, if he was being honest, he didn't want the other two to go, though. He wanted to wake up and have people around -- just ones he trusted, but just to not be shut up in a damp cellar with nothing but his neuroses for company.

He couldn't fucking say that, but when Jonn started to slip away again, he did grab Jonn's wrist. Not hard, just ... hoping he hadn't fucked up too bad already. Jonn stayed, and took the canteen from him and started shuffling the blankets around to get it all ready.

JEN:

"Okay." Larkin stood up, then paused. "Do you, uh. You want us to fuck off?"

IZZY:

He mumbled some incoherent bullshit, looking away and fiddling with the waterskin's strap. He guessed he was going to have to fucking say it out loud and shit if he actually wanted her to stay. The fuck.

"Nah," he managed. "I mean, if you've got some place to be ..."

LINA:

Goro pushed off from the wall he was leaning against. He pointed his finger between Larkin and Jonn. "One of you's gotta stay with him, at least. Keep an eye on him. Let me know if, uh." Hm. None of them had mentioned this part to Finch. "If he seizes or anything like that."

He started for the door.

IZZY:

Finch grimaced again. He watched Goro for a second, then looked off to the side to mumble, "Thanks for ... whatever."

Jonn, meanwhile, hastily hopped off the bed to go intercept Goro. "Hey. Um."

His fingers danced anxiously, not sure what to do -- then he lifted up on his toes to carefully hug Goro around the shoulders. That seemed -- safest. People didn't usually like it when he touched them, or he wasn't supposed to, but shoulders were pretty innocuous. He angled his hands away, too, so it was just his arms around Goro, not really grabbing him. He wanted to, but -- he figured he shouldn't.

He hugged Goro hard and then let go fast to take a respectful step away, folding his hands behind his back. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Really."

LINA:

Well, that was fuckin' weird. Goro would be lying if he said he didn't know exactly what was going through Jonn's head during that tentative-ass hug, though. God.

"Uh," he said. "'Course. Anytime. S'what I'm here for." And he turned and slipped outside.

JEN:

Larkin sat back down on the couch while Jonn and Goro said goodbye- or whatever the fuck that was. When she next looked over to Finch, he'd pulled the covers over his head and rolled himself into a ball. Larkin wondered if she should coax him into lying with his face at the edge of the bed, in case he had to puke again, but decided to let him rest. She'd put a bucket by his bed later.

She dug a whetstone from a pouch and started sharpening the already razor edge of her dagger, giving Jonn glanced between strokes. She should talk to him. Try to bridge the rift they'd created. Be a good fucking boss.

IZZY:

Once Goro'd gone, Jonn locked the door -- all the locks, quickly and efficiently. Then he went over to the desk and refilled the oil lamp and lit it, so there'd still be light once the spell Goro had cast wore off.

He glanced at the couch doubtfully. He wanted to sit down, but he didn't know if he was supposed to. He kept his hand busy by tidying the desk up a little, instead, putting things away, marking places in books and stacking them on the shelf, replacing pens and quills in the little brass cup they were supposed to be in, refilling the well of invisible ink, just -- just something to do.

He wanted to curl up in bed with Finch and try to make him feel better, but he didn't think he was suppose to do that, either. He didn't think he knew how to, anyway.

JEN:

Larkin ignored Jonn for a while, using the relative silence of his clattering and her sharpening of the knife to sort her thoughts. Trying to, at least. All she knew for certain was that Finch needed Jonn to function, and that meant Larkin needed him, too. That and... People she cared for seemed to about for him.

"I don't... hate you," she finally said. It came out a little stiffly and she grimaced. "I just don't know how... how to deal with you."

IZZY:

Jonn kept looking at his busywork. "Okay." He wondered if that spell Goro cast was still up, because he kind of didn't believe the first thing. Or maybe she didn't hate him, yeah, because she just didn't generally care if he lived or died. Just apathy. That was fine. The second thing, though. Yeah. "I'm sorry. Most people don't."

JEN:

"I know a shit ton of fucked up people, so that's not new. It's just- y'know, I'm gonna be honest, I had you on my kill list. But now you're..." She shrugged. "Don't know what kinda list you're on now."

IZZY:

He kept fidgeting even though there was nothing left to fidget with, just running his fingertips along the edges of some papers, too lightly to get cut. Hansel would say something really helpful right now. He did a thing where he'd ... say something about himself, but make it about the person he was talking about, too. Maybe Jonn could try that.

"I, uh." He hesitated, because it seemed like sketchy fucking territory. "I used to wanna kill Mishka. Because he hurt Hansel -- almost killed him. So I get why you wanted to kill me." He shrugged a shoulder. "But things change, I guess. So now I just ... leave Mishka alone. And we work together sometimes, 'cause of Dad, but we don't have to, like. Be friends, or anything." He picked at a corner. "I don't know. Maybe it gets easier."

JEN:

"Yeah, thing is, it doesn't really do me any good to hate you, so..." Another shrug. "Guess I should just let go." She paused and looked over at Finch's sleeping form, then quietly said, "Guess I should be more grateful you were there for him."

Once it was out, Larkin knew it was true. Twisted little shit that Jonn was, he'd been there for her partner when Larkin hadn't. And really, wasn't she kind of twisted herself? (Bad blood, he'd said. Demon blood. Treacherous and vile.)

She grit her teeth and refused to look at Jonn, but really, admitting that to him hadn't been.... that bad after all.

IZZY:

Jonn shrugged one shoulder awkwardly, still fidgeting. "You don't have to be grateful," he mumbled. "You don't have to be anything."

JEN:

Larkin set down the whetstone and turned to look at Jonn. "Hey. I'm sorry for what I did earlier. I'm just trying to- y'know." She waved a hand at the room. "Keep this shit show running. You got in the way of that and it wasn't even your fault, so... I guess what I'm saying is, uh..." Larkin trailed off, as she had no fucking clue what she was saying.

IZZY:

He looked over at her, finally, wary. Hansel would say he should forgive her, but he didn't really think he even had to. He didn't think he held anything against her, 'cause -- he never did, really. It was fine if people hurt him. He just didn't want Finch to get hurt, and -- he really did believe that Larkin didn't want that to happen.

So anything else was okay, he guessed. He shrugged again. "S'fine. Don't worry about it." Yeah. That was what Hansel would say. "Just ..." He worried against the paper too hard and sliced his finger, pulling away quick to keep from staining it. "Can you just ... believe me, next time, if I say Finch won't like something?" He glanced over at the lump in the bed. "I know him pretty well, y'know?"

JEN:

"I'll treat you more like a lieutenant," she said, and then realized that didn't really answer his question. "I mean... yeah, sure." She could do that. Heed his input. Why not.

IZZY:

He frowned a little. He thought he was supposed to already be a lieutenant. "Okay."

JEN:

"I want you to stop going to Asya, though."

IZZY:

He looked back up sharply. "No. She's my friend."

JEN:

Larkin scowled but held back for a moment before saying anything. Calm. Reasonable.

"I guess I can't stop you then. But you better tell her if she sticks her nose into Redbird business again..." Larkin drew her thumb over her throat. "It's a choice. She can make it."

IZZY:

Jonn grit his teeth, turning back to the table. "She's been helping," he said lowly. "Just 'cause. Finch hasn't been paying her or anything. She just ..." He picked at the grain in the wood, speckled by electric char marks. "Wants to help us." He shouldn't argue, though. Larkin was his boss. "I can ... tell her not to anymore."

JEN:

"Hmm." Larkin nodded and picked up the whetstone again- then paused. "Guess you can hold off on that until I talked to Finch. He's gotta have opinions." There. Assertive but willing to compromise.

IZZY:

He nodded, pressing his bleeding fingertip against his pants leg to stanch it. That was ... fine, he guessed. He just didn't want Asya to get in trouble -- get on Larkin's hit list -- for helping. "Okay." He paused. "D'you ... know about Maaki?"

JEN:

"That guy Finch buys from?"

IZZY:

He nodded again. She'd probably have more of a reaction if she'd heard about the whole situation from Finch already -- or from Goro, he guessed. "Um. Finch'll fill you in, later, I guess. Just ... something else we gotta take care of. He wanted to charge us a late pickup fee, and we couldn't afford it, and ..." He checked the papercut. Clotting. "I dunno, Finch said fuck him. I guess we'll need a new supplier."

He didn't feel the need to fidget so much anymore, but he felt like he shouldn't sit on the couch. There was room for both of them, but he didn't wanna get in Larkin's space. He crossed over to the foot of the bed instead, and sat down lightly, settling in a bit.

JEN:

Larkin frowned. "Late pickup fee? And that's enough for Finch to go fuck him?" As far as she knew, there was no one who could beat Maaki to his prices; no one selling to the Redbirds, anyway. Even with some kind of bullshit fee, they couldn't really afford to lose that supplier.

IZZY:

He hesitated. "Uh, well. So ... Goro tried to help, and he mentioned your name to Maaki, and Maaki said he wasn't worried about the Cardinals. I think that's more why Finch said fuck him. The ... respect thing, and all." He picked at the eyelets of his boots. "I dunno who's gonna supply us now, though."

JEN:

"Oh for fuck's sake." Larkin didn't even have the strength to be pissed anymore. It just figured. On top of all the shit, they were even losing their supplier; and respect on the street it seemed.

"Eh, I got a man or two, that's not the problem... It's just gonna be expensive." She drew the whetstone down the blade. "Guess we gotta do something 'bout Maaki now, too."

IZZY:

Jonn picked at the eyelets a little more. "I thought maybe," he said, "if we burned his shop down, then people'd know we're for real."

That, and ... maybe he kind of just wanted to burn Maaki's shop down.

JEN:

Larkin was silent for a few more strokes of the whetstone, thinking.

"Actually," she said, "I think we shouldn't. Take him out of business I mean." She lifted the blade and waggled it at Jonn. "He's gonna get what's coming for him alright, but listen. If we can convince him we're for real, we can also convince him he's gotta keep seeling to us or else he's going down." Larkin grinned. "Time we started selling some protection around here."

IZZY:

Jonn perked up. He liked the sound of that. He liked that Larkin sounded like she liked it. He really fucking liked the idea of going back to Maaki's with some real power, and telling him what to fucking do.

He grinned back, a little tentatively. "That sounds good. Y'know -- y'know Maaki's got a grandma. I could find out where she lives. I bet she'd like some company. I don't think Maaki would want me hanging around with her if he could avoid it, though."

JEN:

"God. Bet he'd hate that."  Larkin chuckled, nodding. Then she frowned. "Can't be just you, though. When word gets out, people gotta hear the Cardinals take care of things like that themselves. Would be safer, too."

IZZY:

"Okay." That made sense, yeah. Maaki had dissed Larkin's name. "We could ... do it together," he said slowly. "Maybe, uh. Maybe get someone to make me look like Finch, so it seems like both of you? And ... I could get a scroll to -- no." He sat up straighter. "Dad'd let me borrow his trident and that'd be free, and I could charge it with one of Finch big lightning spells. Yeah?"

JEN:

"Fuck, that's kinda overkill for a fucker like Maaki, but yeah. Why not."

IZZY:

"Send a message, right?" Yeah, Jonn definitely just wanted to fuck up Maaki. Huh. He wondered why that was.

JEN:

"Let him live, though." Larkin raised an eyebrow. Maybe it'd be bad idea to send Jonn after all. Who knew with him- he might get into a blood craze and slaughter Maaki. Was that a thing that happened to Jonn?

IZZY:

"Okay," Jonn said contentedly.

JEN:

"And the grandma, too. For now."

IZZY:

"Oh, yeah." He nodded. They were on the same page. "Of course."

JEN:

"Good." Larkin smiled, satisfied. It vanished quickly. "Eh, shit. We gotta wait with that until Finch is doing better. Can't leave him alone again, or... " She tilted her head. Who of the Redbirds could be trusted to keep an eye on their boss?

"Raef. We need Raef to watch Finch while we deal with Maaki."

IZZY:

Jonn started to smile back at her, then frowned just as fast. He stopped himself before he just said no, then decided he could say it anyway -- she hadn't gotten pissed at him for saying no a minute ago.

"No. He wouldn't like that. He doesn't know Raef. And." He hesitated. "I don't wanna leave him 'til he's doing better anyway."

JEN:

Larkin scowled at that, even though it wasn't a stupid objection. At least not the part about Finch not knowing Raef.

She waved it off. "Doesn't need to be you doing the scouting," she said. "The baby birds can find out where granny lives and I'll leave her a message. We'll see if Maaki is a clever boy or not then." She kind of had an inclination which one it was.

IZZY:

"Oh, he's not," Jonn said bluntly.

JEN:

She snorted. "Well, then. At least no one on the street can say we're not generous then."

IZZY:

"People don't really like Maaki," he commented. "I bet there'd be people happy if we like ... roughed him up or whatever." He picked at the eyelets on his boots some more, kinda just more absently now. "I would be."

JEN:

"And why's that," Larkin asked before she could think about whether she wanted to know at all.

IZZY:

Jonn shrugged. "He's a dick. He fucks his prices around and he doesn't barter." He paused. "Usually. And he's shitty to all the whores. If we wanted to, like ... have a brothel ... That'd help us get, y'know, staff."

JEN:

"Huh." She looked up from her work, frowning at Jonn. "A brothel. That's... not a bad idea." Renar had never bothered with prostitution but that didn't mean the Redbirds couldn't make use of it. They should find out who had the highest stakes in that business right now.

IZZY:

He perked up. "Yeah? Finch didn't like it."

JEN:

"Why?"

IZZY:

He shrugged again. "Dunno. He was bein' weird."

JEN:

That didn't sound promising. She glanced at Finch, sleeping. Hopefully. He'd not appreciate them talking about him. "Weird how?"

IZZY:

Jonn shifted uncomfortably. It was one of those things he didn't understand, he was pretty sure, and now he was remembering how Larkin had called him a whore, sneered at him about it. Wasn't like Finch didn't like whores, though. He probably just didn't like Jonn.

"I think," he said slowly, figuring it out, "maybe he just didn't want me being a whore. I think he just didn't wanna be my pimp." He shrugged. "Maybe he'd be fine if it was different people."

JEN:

"That's not weird. That's reasonable. Our lieutenants shouldn't be on the streets selling themselves." She paused, then tilted her head. "You know how to run a brothel?"

IZZY:

He squinted. Oh. That kinda made sense. Finch had ... sort of said that, but not like that. It'd sounded all weird and personal when he'd said it.

"Uh. Kind of. I mean, I never worked in one, 'cause I'm not fancy enough, but I hung out with people who did." He thought about it. "I could ask around. The mistresses would get mad if I tried poaching, but ... I could ask girls I know what kinda treatment they'd like better, maybe? To figure out how to do things, and maybe get workers, too?"

JEN:

"Yeah." Larkin nodded. "I know some of the baby birds did it before we got to 'em. Doubt they'd wanna go back, but you can talk to them."

As far as Larkin knew there were two general options of running a brothel: fast and cheap, with the bare minimum provided for the whores to maximize profit, catering to sailors in port who were looking for a quick fuck on their shore time- or the more upscale class, selling not just sex but entertainment. They'd need a nice location. A place to wash sheets. Wine and food and music. And they'd have to make sure the prostitutes didn't steal from their suitors. In short, it would make a shit ton of work.

IZZY:

Jonn uncrossed his legs to dangle them off the foot of the bed, tapping the toes together quietly. "Yeah."

Hansel always said he needed something to do. Helena had told him the same thing. That he needed to be kept busy.

"I could ... just take care of all it," he ventured. "So that Finch doesn't have to do more planning and stuff, but -- I could get more gold coming in. Maybe he'd be less stressed out all the time." He glanced back at the lump under the covers again. "And if I was running things it wouldn't be like I was a whore anymore."

(Like that mattered. He'd still be himself.)

JEN:

Well, that was an idea. "I mean... " Larkin said, tempted to just agree. She couldn't just ignore the problems that brought, though. "Raef could replace you on your current tasks, I guess. But it's a shit ton of work and you'll be gone a lot." She nodded at the Finch-heap. "I thought you wanted to stick around?"

IZZY:

He tapped his boots together again. "I can still take care of him." He'd done it before, with Hansel. He'd actually been ... pretty happy, then, except for being worried about Hansel -- he'd been kept busy. "And once we're making more money, he won't need me so much, I bet. He won't be so ..." He hesitated at saying it out loud, since Finch never would, but he figured Larkin knew. "Scared."

JEN:

"Scared," she repeated. Didn't go down easy, the thought that Finch destroyed himself because he was too scared to do otherwise. Made sense, though. A whole fucking lot of it.

"Yeah, I don't know, man." Larkin sighed. "Money will help. It's a name that's gonna keep us safe, though. People need to know not to mess with us."

IZZY:

He nodded. It'd been Basha and Baron for years, in Skyport. It kinda helped that Larkin was a Basha, but -- there were people like Maaki who were stopping giving a shit. Maybe they needed a big show of force. Something to prove themselves.

"Y'know how when you're small on the street, sometimes you gotta go up and beat the shit out of the biggest guy?" he said. "Maybe we should tangle with the church."

JEN:

Larkin gave him a skeptical look. She didn't like the sound of that. "Tangle with the church how?"

IZZY:

"I dunno. Maybe we wouldn't even have to. Just spread rumors that we did." He considered. "I mean ... shit, tell people that when one of your lieutenants got picked up, a Basha broke him out all alone. You think Goro'd mind you taking credit?"

Huh. He didn't actually know if Larkin knew that'd happened. Maybe Finch had mentioned it -- he'd probably been annoyed Jonn had been kinda useless for a while after it.

JEN:

"Wait. What fucking happened?"

IZZY:

"Oh, uh. Yeah." He shifted, all uncomfortable again, pulling his legs up. "Yeah, I uh. I picked a fight with some shitty clerics and got grabbed by the paladins and thrown in the Citadel. They just wanted to know about Wyn. Goro and my little sister got me out."

JEN:

"Ugh." Larkin only shook her head. No sense in getting all riled up over something that was over and done. She just wished she'd fucking know what was going on with her lieutenants.

"Yeah, well. I mean, we can do that. But I'd rather pull off some action before we go boasting about it."

IZZY:

He nodded.

JEN:

Larkin nodded, too. This was going well. Talking, exchanging ideas. Not as bad as she'd feared. And Jonn had a good point about the church- the paladins played the protectors in the city but only for those who stayed in line. Everyone else...

"Y'know, there's an idea," she said. "We should break out some people. Heretics. Locals."

IZZY:

Jonn perked up. "Yeah. That'd be good."

JEN:

"Damn," Larkin muttered, more to herself. They'd had some good ideas, but it was so much to do, and it would cost so much money to pull off. They'd have to talk to Finch about it. Go through to books to to see if they could even afford venturing in new directions. Made her feel better, though, having options. Not so stuck.

"Y'know, we should make a plan for that. Take some of the work from Finch." He was the better strategist but they'd manage. It was just the church, after all.

IZZY:

"I'm not usually good at plans," Jonn admitted, chewing on his bottom lip. "I'll try, though." He glanced back at Finch.

JEN:

"Good. So, uh, do you wanna... " Nah, Jonn wanted to stay with Finch.

Larkin sheathed the knife and stood up. "I'm gonna go get some coffee. This'll take a while."

[End]

Title: Better Than Expected

Summary: Goro and Larkin talk about the Jonn situation. They meet up with Jonn and Asya. It goes badly. After, they find Finch half-dead in his bunker. Goro performs first aid, then gtfo. Larkin and Jonn are left alone talking. It goes not so badly.