Back at it again with my annual Pride anthology! This time, the theme is the symbolism of the number 4, since this year is 2024. So tell me, readers, are you ready four it?
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"Oh, hey, look...! An arcade...!" With his usual, slow way of speaking, Shocker pointed to the neon sign flashing overhead through the rain and darkness. Press Start. "Maybe we can hide out there? If there's a lot of games and stuff... there's a lot of stuff to keep us busy while we wait!"
"You just want to goof off, don't you?" Taro narrowed his eyes at the other man, glasses flashing. That idiot wears sunglasses! Even at night!
"No, wait, actually, hang on, Taro, I think he might be onto something!" Mikoto held up a hand as he looked at Shocker, eyes admiring behind his own sunglasses. Taro's face and voice went deadpan.
"... You can't be serious." It was a statement rather than question, for he knew the answer already anyway.
"No really, think about it!" Mikoto pleaded, turning to Taro. "Like Shocker said, if there's a lot of games and stuff... there's a lot of places to hide and stuff! Now that I think about it, we should really expand our criminal enterprise!" The Head Assassin stared up at the neon sign, rubbing his hands together greedily. His hair was silver; he was going for the gold!
Taro's nostrils flared. "As if the indignation wasn't bad enough, working for... Ass R Us! The last thing we need is... is... an Ass Start!"
"Ooh, good name!" Mikoto slapped Taro's back chummily. "I was thinking Press Assassin. Like, "if you need a hit, Mikoto and friends are it. All you have to do is call; press ass, and that's all!" Mikoto hummed a jingle while Taro wrenched free from his assassin partner's grip.
"Let us put it to a vote." Buchanan, the largest, oldest, and arguably sanest of the quintet finally spoke up, voice low and rumbling. His dark blue eyes—one of them scarred—locked with Taro's, a silent promise passing between them. They would vote to move on. Mikoto and Shocker—being the idiots that they were—would vote to hide in the arcade. That left their fifth assassin, Harley, to break the tie.
Wait, what?! Why me?! They know I'm indecisive! Despite Harley's calm, cold, composed, collected exterior, on the inside, they panicked. Of course, they knew the smart decision was to get back to base ASAP, but they couldn't deny that they secretly wanted to go to the arcade. Yeah, it was dangerous, but that was all part of the fun! Assassin life had to have a little bit of spark sometimes! So, Harley had to decide, head or heart?
"Hmmm..." Their dark blue eyes drifted down as they fiddled with the brim of their cap, trying to buy themself time. Maybe it was time to test their Ability again and get their way with nothing but a little bit of charisma... Come on, Harley, you got this...!
They exhaled slowly, then looked up, expression as disinterested as they could make it. "Arcade." They shrugged and tilted their head casually.
Buchanan recoiled in silent disbelief and outrage, and out of the corner of their eyes, Harley saw Taro frowning disapprovingly. Their gut wrenched.
