Tosser~ a James Cook fanfic~

Thomas~3

After a long, chaotic night underground, the group stumbled out of the party, squinting against the harsh light of dawn. Tess felt like her skull was being crushed under a jackhammer, and she clung to Katie as if she were a lifeline, trying to steady her wobbling legs.

Cook stood off to the side, methodically counting the crumpled bills they'd made from selling weed. He glanced over his shoulder, handing the stack to Thomas with a half-hearted smile. "Here you go, mate. Should be plenty to keep you afloat."

Thomas's eyes widened with gratitude, his voice thick with emotion. "This is... You are good people. This is everything I have dreamed of. And now... you are my friends, too." He beamed, the weight of the night lifting off his shoulders.

But just as the group began to relax, the sound of tires screeching to a halt shattered the moment. Two cars rolled up beside them, and Freddie's whispered, "Oh shit," hung in the air like a bad omen. JJ's nervousness was palpable; he bounced on his heels, eyes darting as he muttered, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh shit."

Out of the vehicles stepped none other than Johnny White and his goons, bats glinting ominously in the early morning light. Tess and Katie instinctively took a step back, but the tightening circle of bodies made it impossible to escape.

"Morning, fella," Johnny drawled, a sinister smirk spreading across his face. "Now we're really gonna fellate you." His gaze slid past Thomas, landing on Cook.

The atmosphere thickened with tension as Cook's usual bravado faded, leaving him visibly uncomfortable. He fidgeted, his fingers twitching at his sides. "Didn't I say I'd kill you if I ever saw you again?" Johnny taunted, stepping closer, menace radiating off him.

The group fell silent, dread wrapping around them. Then Thomas broke the stillness, his voice steady and defiant. "You must be some kind of English pussy cunt? You heard me. I think you're afraid. I'll fight you by myself. You can choose any weapon."

Everyone froze, shock written across their faces. Tess's heart raced, and she felt a mixture of admiration and horror for Thomas's bravado. Pandora let out a sharp gasp, her eyes wide.

Johnny's expression shifted, a grim look flickering across his face. "You, you just made my day," he replied, his voice dripping with malice. The threat hung heavily in the air, a precarious moment where everything could tip into chaos.

From what had been a chaotic night, Tess had been looking forward to crashing onto the couch when she got home, but that was far from possible now. She hadn't expected to be circled by Johnny White's men like vultures so early on a Saturday morning, but she should have learned to expect the unexpected with this crowd.

The group had walked to the nearest café, the kind that looked like it hadn't seen a renovation since the '80s. The walls were stained, and the neon lights buzzed overhead, adding to the dreary atmosphere. Johnny had insisted they come here, and as they sat down, the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Thomas sat opposite Johnny White, who stared him down with a predatory glint in his eyes. No one understood why Johnny had brought them to this rundown café; even his men looked uncertain. All Tess knew was that it wasn't going to be good.

"So, in summary," Johnny began, his voice dripping with mockery, "I win. You are my gimp forever, I take all your money, beat you, and your mates to a pulp, and my men rape all the women"

Tess scoffed and the rest of the girls seemed pretty concerned too

"What the fuck did we get ourselves into?!" Emily whispered into Tess' ear

But luckily one of the men stepped up "Uhmm boss the lads aren't too keen on you know.... The rape"

"For fuck's sake! I'm talking dangerous! Can nobody talk dangerous any more? Jesus! fucking Bristol. No ambition. No...edge, no style. You know? Provincial." He complained