A Dahlia Amongst the Daisies and Marigolds

Unexpected Reunion

This was a stupid idea, yet here Mordecai finds himself outside of Viktor's house late at night, armed with only a bouquet of Paloma's favorite flowers and a huge knot of anxiety in his stomach that seemed to be growing by the minute. For the past few weeks since that disastrous fight, he had been wrestling with his thoughts and feelings about what had occurred between him and Paloma and recovering from his injuries while trying to deal with Asa. She said she still wanted him, that had to mean something, right? Well, tonight he had a plan and a sliver of hope that if it went well, he'd be walking back home probably covered in lipstick kisses and hopefully not single anymore. And perhaps if this went well, he could ask Paloma to help him look into why Asa was so paranoid about tying up loose ends and if it really was connected to Atlas and his sudden death. He still didn't trust the Savoys about this ordeal, but he could trust her more than them.

Alright Mordecai, you can do this. You've faced worse things than this. The triggerman tells himself as he rings the doorbell. But never feeling this anxious.

Okay, to be fair he hadn't felt this nervous since he began working for Atlas, where he was always trying to prove himself to the man and that often went poorly.

No response from the door. Frowning, he pushes the doorbell again, and a few more times out of impatience. Was she not home? Perhaps she was at her gang's speakeasy, he didn't even think of looking into her work schedule so he could figure out a night to come and surprise her. As he's contemplating whether or not he should go to the speakeasy, the door suddenly swings open.

Paloma didn't answer the door, instead, a girl who looked a lot younger than her was poking her head out. She had dark brown colored hair that started turning orange towards the end of the strands that was pulled back in two braids, a calico fur pattern and bright green eyes that studied him. Her eyes then widened and she let out a terrified scream before trying to shut the door.

"WAIT WAIT!" Mordecai yells as he manages to shove his foot and shoulder in to keep it opwn. "Hold on! I'm looking for Paloma!"

"¡Maria! ¡El bate!" The girl screams as she runs from the door. "¡Viktor!"

"No don't call him!" Mordecai yells as he manages to get inside and rushes after her. He yelps as a wooden bat almost hits him in the face, being swung by a slightly older girl with dark colored fur and short hair and a blazing fury in her copper colored eyes. She swings again, screaming something in Spanish before the bat collides close to him, hitting the wall. "Uh...shoot which sister are you-"

He then feels a strong hand grab him by the back of his coat before he is slammed into the wall, now facing Viktor, who definitely did not look happy. Mordecai hears crying and spots a little boy with white and orange fur tugging at the older man's pants and babbling in Spanish.

"Vhat you want?" The older man snarls, his free hand now pressed against Mordecai's throat as the other is raised in a fist.

"I...Paloma..." The triggerman manages to say. "Looking..."

"¡No esta!" The girl with the bat snaps. "You do something to her didn't you!"

"Flowers?" They hear the little boy say as he holds up the bouquet of dahlias that had been dropped. "For Loma?"

Mordecai nods wordlessly, praying Viktor would let him go soon. The two teens look at the little boy before they look at each other and Viktor, before the one with braids touches his arm.

"Let go, please." She says softly. "Let's hear him out at least, maybe he can help."

Viktor lets out another annoyed grumbling sound before he moves his hands away, allowing Mordecai to drop to the floor, coughing and rubbing his throat. "Vhat you want? Speak truth."