The Gun For Hire's Bounty

Chapter Sixteen ◬ Jester? But I'm Not Joking

TEMPEST

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Three Hundred Grand for taking the life of a hero. Three Hundred Grand.

With this, I can buy a home, a small one with one room, one bathroom, and the kitchen and living room combined. I’ve lived in smaller homes than that, but I can’t have it. To buy a home, I need a real ID. Real government documentation of my existence, none of which I have.

I burned my birth certificate, government number, ID, and every other single form of identification.

I spend my money on the only things I love and can spend on—drugs and on Jaded Nights.

“You might wanna save the dust for later,” Via advises me as she dries a glass cup.

“Why?” I asked her before licking the pile of fairy and pixie dust, with the tip of my tongue.

She points at the door. “Heroes have been dropping in and out since last month every morning.” She tells me and puts the cup down. “And you know how heroes feel about drug users. Just look at the Relic cops. They’d beat the living shit outta them.” I sniff the remainder of the dust on the counter. “They see a homeless person using, and they go ballistic.”

Not even a few seconds later, the door gets flown off its hinges, and a gush of wind knocks me off my stool. Man, drugs have really fucked with my balance.

Before I can touch the ground, someone catches me. At first, I thought it was V, but that was way too fast for it to be her.

“Woah, careful there.”

I look up to see a man with a smile plastered all over his face. Zonic. “What would have happened if I wasn’t here to catch you in time?” He chuckles.

Anger bubbles up inside me. “You were the one who caused me to fall in the first place, fucknut.” I snarl at him. He raises an eyebrow at me. “Get the fuck off me.”

I roughly rip myself away from his grasp and turn to V- her eyes are wide and filled with fear. She’s holding onto the rag so tight, that some water is squeezed out.

“What’s wrong with her?” He asked me.

I shoot him a glare. “None of your fucking business.”

“D, do you think you can cover my shift for the rest of the day?” V asked me while still staring at the hero who locked her brother away. When I don’t immediately respond, she snaps her head towards me. “D?!”

“Yeah. I’ll cover your shift.” I nod.

I get behind the counter and take the rag from her hand.

With that, she walks off, not saying another word, but she does look back. She spares Zonic one last glance before going out of sight.

He leans over the counter. “Hm... Is she ok? Mentally?”

I turn to him. “Is there something you need?”

He furrows his blue eyebrows. “What?”

“Did you not hear me the first time?” I ask him while I get to dry the cups.

He sits on the stool. “I heard you the first time. I was just expecting your answer to be different.” I can feel him staring at me. “No one gets to talk to me that way and walk free of consequence.”

“What are you waiting for then? Abuse your power and get it over with.” I retort.

He chuckles. “You are fiery as you are good-looking.”