The Gloves are Off

Untitled Part 19

Vik POV:

My client walks in a few minutes later, smirk plastered across his face, real 'fuck-boy' look about him but that's not really my problem or my business, just here to do my job so I motion him over to the closest operating chair, "what can I do for ya today?"

"You uh," he jerks his thumb over his shoulder, nodding towards the door as he steps toward the chair, "you get a new girl out front?"

I chuckle and shake my head, "don't let her hear you sayin' that. But no, she's just visiting for the day, not on payroll."

"She's a fiery one isn't she," he flops down on the seat and looks over to me, "hey, you know if she's seein' anyone?"

I quirk a brow without lookin' away from the screen, waitin' for his readings to come up after he hooked up to the system, "why don't you ask her yourself, kid?"

"Tried," he sighs, runnin' a hand back through his hair, "she just kinda laughed and told me I needed to stay in my lane. The fuck does that even mean?"

Can't help but chuckle again, "trust me, kid, you don't wanna bark up that tree."

"I really do though," he rubs his hands together, smirk growin' wider, "bet I could take him, whoever she's dating. Gotta be dating someone, right?"

I bite back my own grin, jaw flexin' a bit as he drones on, "alright, think that's enough. Let's get to why you came in, yeah?"

"Right," he waves a hand vaguely around his face, "optics, wanna get 'em upgraded."

I dive into the usual business, goin' on about the different models and such before he makes his pick, gettin' him set up and quickly shiftin' from amused to annoyed. His comments about her startin' to eat at me, makin' me crack my knuckles a bit, drawin' him attention as he sits upright to test out the new view his upgrades earned him.

"All done, kid," I kick my stool across the room back towards my table, wantin' to get this punk out of my clinic as soon as possible, "should be good to go, Misty will get you set up with some medicine, make sure you don't reject the upgrades."

"Great," he hops off the chair and glances around, seemin' pretty pleased with himself, a pep to his step as he strides over by my desk, standin' up a bit straighter like he's sizin' himself up next to me when I quirk my brow at him, "so uh, you know that girl right?"

"Could say that," I nod, crossin' my arms, tryin'a keep from rockin' this kid's jaw.

"Got any advice on askin' her out?"

"Kid," I shake my head and take a deep breath, "gonna say this once, alright? Leave it alone. Trust me."

"Why would I-"

There's a knock at the door, cuttin' him off mid-sentence and pretty sure savin' his ass before he had a chance to say anything too stupid.

"Come in," I call out, hopin' this punk will take the hint and leave already.

'Course she comes waltzin' in, that beautiful smile across her face as she holds up a bag of food, "not interrupting am I?"

"Not at all, sweet cheeks," punk ass kid pipes up, grinnin' from ear to ear, his eyes trailin' over her, damn near makin' my blood boil as I try to focus on only her.

She ignores him entirely, walkin' up to me and settin' the food on the desk, "you've got a few minutes before your next client, need to make sure you eat."

"Why don't you come grab a bite with me, hun?" Kid speaks up again, his voice like goddamn nails grating along my skull, "could show you a really nice place, they got-"