The Marksman and the Speedster Part 2

## Mob Boss Peggy

Paying the driver in cash, Gavin once again held open the door for his companion when they stopped in front of Westmount's most opulent hotel.

The older man took the lead, quietly passing the doorman and the administrator at the lobby, to the elevator where he didn't say a word to the attendant. It seemed that there was a mutual understanding amongst them all not to speak to Gavin. No one questioned a damn thing and he had made sure that it would always remain that way.

On one of the very top floors, the man pulled out his room key and entered the large, fancy room. It was positively spotless and gleaming, looking every bit like a suite for royalty. It wasn't Gavin's, of course, but the inhabitants were long gone, never to be seen or heard from again. Would anyone dare rescind the Marksman's access? The place looked like it hadn't been touched in ages.

"Make yourself comfortable." He said once the door was shut behind them. Gavin removed his suit jacket and set it upon a gilded coat rack, baring his holstered guns.(edited)

## sephet

*Damn* maybe this guy was more important than Fan Li thought, he’d kinda figured the guy for well-to-do white guy, but it took money to reserve this kind of place long enough for people to know you on sight. Especially when the place looked generally unused.

At the prompting to make himself at home Fan Li simply *was* on a chair lounging back comfortably. He figured he’d made himself clear enough about what his abilities were, if Gavin hadn’t figured it out by now that was his deal. They were coming here for a demonstration anyway, right? He began pulling wallets, watches and jewelry out of his pockets, mostly as a demonstration of his skill. Part of this felt like an illegal job interview and he’d put forth extra effort in the opera house just to make an impression.

“So are you gonna show me yours? Or open up about whatever you need talented people for. Now you’ve got me curious, you know?”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin blinked and Fan Li was already sitting across the room. His stare was yet again frozen, confounded. But this was a pleasing development. More than convenient. Although Gavin had set out to accomplish something entirely different, he felt as if he had hit the jackpot with this one.

"So you're fast. Reflex fast." He said with little inflection as he crossed the luxurious room to sit directly across from Fan Li. The young man was either extremely eager to make a good impression, or just looking for the rare opportunity to show off his fantastic abilities.

Gavin leaned back in the plush seat, crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbow on the arm of the chair leisurely. The Marksman's stare didn't leave Fan Li's face as his skin and clothing shifted in mere moments to shiny, solid titanium.

"I work for a very powerful man." He spoke immediately after the shift, suddenly much more talkative than before. "This hotel is a shack to someone like him. We could use someone with your talents on our side. No more stealing to survive. No more begging for sponsors online. Someone like you... Is meant for more."(edited)

## sephet

“Faster than reflexes probably. Very fast. It’s what I do.” His grin widened as he watched Gavin shift metallic. “You’re so fucking patient you turn into a fucking statue. That’s kind of fucking hilarious, actually.”

He began sorting money out of the wallets he’d plucked, eyebrows going up at Gavin’s explanation. It was a very inviting sort of offer, it was almost too inviting. “What does this very powerful man want? I mean I’m not gonna deny, you could totally use someone like me on your side, I’m great and very useful. But I’m not really looking for like high key dangerous shit? Like sure I know danger’s part of life but like I’m not joining an underground fight club or some shit, right? Like I don’t really need my teeth kicked in. Like unless powerful man has a real good dental plan I guess. If he was gonna replace ‘em with better teeth then maybe.”

February 11, 2019

## Mob Boss Peggy

Right. Fan Li was far too young to know who Reflex was.

*Hilarious.* That wasn't a word people commonly used to describe Gavin's ability, and he was rather unamused by Fan Li's reaction altogether. Although, his interpretation of it was one that Gavin had never heard before.

The metal shrunk away again to reveal the still statuesque human beneath. "My employer is searching for people to help grow and protect his enterprise. It's a simple job with a hefty payoff. Judging by what I've seen from you so far, it's not likely that you'll get hurt. Someone would have to catch you in order to do that."

Gavin stood from his seat and made his way over to a large, gilded globe that slid open, revealing a valuable cache of expensive liquor.

"I can set up a meeting. What do you like?"

## sephet

“That does sound good. It is pretty hard to catch me if I don’t wanna be caught.” Fan Li gave Gav a cheeky look and bounced up off the chair and appeared abruptly at his side to look through the fancy shit being offered. “I’m far from picky. Gimme something with a high alcohol content.”

He bounced on his feet again and then quickly went to sort the cash from the wallets. “I got a bunch of old white guy IDs, obvs they’re not gonna work for me but you could probably do something with them if you want. I don’t really like the risk of running stolen credit cards, probably only got until the end of the show ‘fore they get cancelled too…”

“Are there rules about meeting ambiguously powerful man that I should be aware of? What kind of life changes am I looking at?” He buzzed back to the previous subject without much segway and continued sorting out his haul.

## Mob Boss Peggy

"Keep whatever you want." Gavin said simply. He slowly poured a single glass of Cognac and traveled back to where Fan Li was sitting in the time it took the speedster to buzz around each and every way to and fro. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket after setting down the glass next to Fan Li's stacks of cash.

"You won't have to entertain older men for money." He explained, with the slightest hint of sarcasm to his voice. "Be loyal. That's all." A tiny smirk appeared and vanished just as quickly as he put the phone to his ear, having dialed the big boss himself. Or whatever burner phone he had that week.

@Elysium | Vindaya | al-Fasis(edited)

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin lifted the phone from his ear and placed it back into his pocket. "He's very interested. I'm actually surprised. We'll set a date and time soon. In the meantime..." The older man stood again and slid his fingers into the knot of his silk tie, loosening and unraveling it, letting the fine piece of cloth hang from his shoulders. "You can stay here if you want to. Drink the alcohol, order room service. I don't care."

## sephet

“I like appreciate it, I mean gotta be real this whole thing seems like a human trafficking thing and if it does turn out to be human trafficking I am *way* more of a pain in the ass when I want to be. You could ask my mother.” Fan Li leaned back in his chair, seemingly content with the idea that he could get out of the situation if it ended up too deep.”I’m like. I’m not *keen* on murder. I’ve never done it before and I’m not a *huge* fan. Is that gonna be a deal breaker? I mean I get that situations that come with the qualifier ‘just be loyal’ are usually like… probably do as your told kinda situations. I mean I ain’t gonna snitch or like judge someone who is in the business of murder, like that’s a lifestyle choice you do you all that shit. You know? I mean your secret organisation’s gotta have like a non-lethal department, right?”

He pursed his lips and finally took his circle shades off. “Okay, now I’m getting mixed signals, you’re like kinda repulsed by me but kinda not, you’re letting me stay here? Like what *are* you expecting out of all this? I should also state if this is about organ harvesting then mine are probably not great? Like I am really bad at maintenance. I exercise fine but like honestly you would be better off with someone else.”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin let out a deep, calming sigh as Fan Li went off on a sprawling spiel. The man spoke as if he didn't apply punctuation to his sentences. A speedy person who spoke in a speedy way. It was exhausting, but Gavin was a patient man and calm nearly all of the time. *Nearly.* He was well aware that the situation looked *weird.* And yet Fan Li was still there.

"Nobody wants your organs." He replied, looking into a mirror on the wall as he removed his cufflinks and placed them on the desk.

"I was looking for special people. I found you. If you're uncomfortable with this and uninterested in what I have to offer, you're free to leave." The Marksman wrapped his fingers around the grip of one of the pistols holstered around his shoulder and pulled it out, always keeping his fingers away from the trigger. He casually checked the number of rounds still in the gun and slipped it back into it's holster.(edited)

## sephet

“Hey yeah, I get it, getting annoying. *Still* I would like to point out that I’m pretty sure you only answered one of my questions so like. Sketch.” He waited until the gun was *back* in the holster to get up and be beside Gav. “Like you can’t *actually* be oblivious to how evasive you’re being, right? With the addition of the intimidation tactic. So like I *get* that you’ve kinda decided talking is over. But you said I could stay here. Also there’s a lot about this situation that’s going on?”

He held his hands open and gestured around. “Like I’m interested, very interested. Obviously I like the option where I get a gig and don’t gotta rely on fast hands to make rent. Clearly. But all I got to go on here is that you’re evasive as shit so it’s *definitely* illegal, folks got super powers, there’s a big bossman and you went fishing on Grind On Me. Like you said I didn’t have to fuck old people for money but it does sound a little like a prostitution ring. I’ll take your word though, would like an answer as to the murder situation.”

February 12, 2019

## Mob Boss Peggy

Gavin expected Fan Li to have more words, but he found it funny how concerned he was, for someone who didn't give a fuck about robbing innocent people. He was having a *lot* of feelings, as a guy who could easy get out of any situation at a hundred miles per hour whenever he wanted to. Fan Li's immaturity and inexperience was showing. He seemed afraid. Gavin didn't really care.

The taller man turned slightly to face Fan Li, piercing his face with his intense, steely gaze. "Murder isn't in the job description. They have *me* for that." He said, gesturing with a hand to his weapons. He stepped closer to the speedster and leaned in just a little. He was staring. Judging.

"I could have done anything with you by now, if I had the desire. I could have locked you in, or drugged your drinks, or put you to sleep in the back of the cab. You could have a bullet in your neck or a knife in your ear. If I wanted you in bed with me, you would be in bed with me.

I have a mission. To find people like you. That's all. Stay if you want. Or don't. I recommend you see what the Boss has to say before you pass judgement."

## sephet

“Oh my *god* you are dramatic!” Fan Li cast his arms out in exasperation and suddenly was back at his chair to collapse into it with a huff. “Do your friends tell you that? You’re probably gonna say something like ‘I don’t do friends’ aren’t you?” He pitched his voice down for the quote in a mockery of Gav’s voice. “You’re not the main recruitment officer, right? You have the social skills of a dead salmon.”

“‘Let me list the number of ways I could have killed you already.’” He groused in imitation again. “It is a little disappointing though, I mean ‘if I wanted you I would already have you’ is a little on the aggressive side but like I coulda swore there was a bit of interest there. I bet you could learn to like me if you could chill out for five minutes. I could probably help you get the stick outta your ass. Like shit yeah if you wanted me you could have me ‘cause I’m a ho. You don’t gotta jump immediately to the dramatic shit drugging me locking me up or whatever. You could just ask. That one I wasn’t askin’ ‘cause I was afraid you were gonna sneak into my bed at night, I was asking for clarification ‘cause you could fuck me if you wanted but it doesn’t gotta be an *event* right? Plus like this is your house so you’re getting comfortable but the very exact purposeful way you do stuff is like sorta a seduction technique.” He paused for breath finally and took a drink, then shrugged off his flamboyant coat. “So here, in the hopes of further bluntness down the line: Do you want to fuck? What are you hoping this night leads to? How can we mutually end this evening happy. Or whatever brief fleeting emotion I’m sure you’re going to tell me you don’t feel.”

## Mob Boss Peggy

Dealing with Fan Li was becoming more exhausting by the second. Gavin didn't think he had ever met anyone so dense. Fan was living in some planet in outer space - no, more like - bouncing like a pinball all throughout the universe yet never landing here on Earth. He simply ignored any of Fan Li's childish and pointless jabs at him and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Despite staying here, and being relatively known within the building, the lavish penthouse was far from Gavin's 'house'. Fan Li didn't need to know that. Gavin stood there, leaning against the desk as Fan Li requisitioned him, repeatedly reminding him that he was there if Gavin wanted a good 'fuck'. He appreciated the other's blunt question. Gavin thought that he would never stop talking.

"I'm sorry if you mistook my kindness for attempts to get you into bed. No, I don't want to sleep with you. I got what I wanted from you. Do whatever makes *you* happy. I'll be in the other room if you need me. If you do leave, you know how to reach me."
Without saying another word, as he felt that he had granted Fan Li far too many words to begin with, the Marksman turned around and disappeared behind a beautifully decorated wall into the master bedroom where it was *quiet*.

## sephet

“Okay! Fine! Cool! Was that so hard?!” Fan Li groaned and sank into the chair as Gavin left then let out a long puff of air and kind of deflated. He knew he was in deep now, but there was a good chance he’d been in deep since he agreed to the date. In some way or another. He’d run from people in the past he could probably run from this if he really needed to. The idea of the kind of financial stability Gav was offering him. It would nice to get some place to live that wasn’t the sort that accepted payment in cash with no questions asked about work or employment.

Gav *had* told him he could get room service, so even if he probably shouldn’t spend the night in the crazy house with the crazy man he was definitely getting something to eat out of this. He couldn’t actually remember exactly when he’d last eaten, though that was his own fault. He was constantly forgetting to eat, so he dug around to find a menu and ordered himself some pasta with tons of carbs and protein hopefully. He’d made out pretty good tonight he could probably get some groceries or something. He ate when the food came, then gathered up his things and ran home. No need to stay in the same house as some dramatic crazy loser. Even if it was extremely nice.