Armstrong smiled at me, finishing his drink before suggesting, "Let's take a walk, shall we?" He stepped down from his chair and called over to Anthony, attracting my lookalike's attention. "Put it on my tab, would you?"
"But you don't..." Anthony began to say, but Armstrong didn't care. He was already gone. The twenty-year-old heaved a sigh and mumbled the rest of his sentence, "...have one."
I smirked out of pity and pulled the cash out of my pocket, setting more than enough money to cover Armstrong's and my drinks and winking at Anthony before following the short man out. I found him a block away, standing at the corner of this street and the next, the yellow light of the stoplight turning red, even though there was no one in sight. I joined Armstrong's side, shoving my hands into my pockets, and asked, "So you want-"
"I help people like you," He cut me off, silencing me almost immediately. He kept his eyes locked on the glowing red hand across the street, a serious expression marking his face. "People who don't really have a purpose in life, or want a better life than the one they're living, those are the ones I tend to help. It doesn't hurt if they're not in a relationship either. In fact, I prefer it, because relationships distract you, make you question what's important and what's not. You said you weren't looking for anyone, right?"
"Right," I told him, a faint embarrassed blush creeping up in my cheeks.
"Good. Because I don't just help anyone, I help people who I think will benefit my team."
"And I'm one of those people?" I inquired.
He laughed. "Oh, no, not now. You have a lot of work to do before you become that person. But I'm willing to put in the work to make you that person because, you see, I'm on the verge of losing one of my men and I need someone to motivate them to stay. I think you'll be perfect for that."
"Really?"
Armstrong's narrowed eyes flickered over to me. "You won't be if you keep asking so many questions."
"I-I'm sorry," I stuttered, pressing my lips tightly together to prevent myself from saying anything else. I didn't want to blow this chance of a new life.
It felt like years that I'd been living like this, with no real, actual purpose. Sure, I sounded a little dramatic, but without my best friend, my life had become a constant drag, doing something I wasn't even that great at just to make a penny and keep living the dumpster I dared to call a house. Each day was the same, and when something different happened, I tended to latch onto it. Life was becoming a bore, and when Harley told me that I couldn't join in her game of hide and seek, I was heartbroken. I needed it. I needed to get out of this place. I needed to become someone new.
"That's another thing," He muttered, the street light switching to green and the red hand shifting in a white stick figure walking. Armstrong stepped out onto the cracked and weathered pavement and began to cross the road, me following shortly after him, "You can't apologize. I usually don't tell people this before they start with me, but this job is going to take a toll on you, emotionally and physically. If you keep apologizing for everything, I don't think this is going to work out."
"I'm-" I began to say when I cut myself short, remembering what Armstrong had just told me, and restarted my sentence, "Note taken."
He nodded his head and we continued walking down the mostly deserted sidewalk. There were a few other people out at this hour, but not many. A majority of them were at home, getting themselves ready for bed if they weren't already. They were tucking their children in, falling asleep to the last few minutes of the television program they put on to keep themselves awake, and drinking alone in their kitchen to forget about the stressful day they just had.
Then there were the people still out. These were the people looking to get a cheap, quick fuck because they and their significant other were having an argument, or refusing to go home because they knew that there would be nothing for them. But there were also people like Armstrong and me, taking a late night walk to process the thoughts racing through their heads.
"So you never did tell me," I blurted out, interrupting the silence that had fallen over the two of us as we trekked down the sidewalk drizzled with cigarette butts and chewed gum, "What kind of job is this exactly?" The short man glanced up at me, an indifferent expression slathered across his face. "Like, what will I be doing?" I elaborated, trying to explain what I was asking.
He kept his eyes locked on me for a minute or two longer before returning his attention forward and responding, "I haven't decided yet."
"Oh," I muttered, failing to hide the disappointment laced within my voice.
"I mean, you won't be playing with the big dogs just yet," He went on to say, bringing my spirits up a little bit almost instantaneously, "You'll probably just being doing something simple."
"Anything would be great," I told him, my disappointment quickly replaced with excitement as I glanced down at him, "I'm up for whatever you want me to do."
He met my gaze and smirked devilishly. "Glad to hear that. However, let me give you another tip - don't be so enthusiastic and cheerful. It's unsettling and won't go over well in my line of business." I straightened out the smile stretched across my face and nodded my head once, composing myself. "Very good." He grabbed my shoulder and gave me a slight shake. "You're a quick learner, Urie. I like that."
The corners of my lips began to curl upward, but as soon as I realized it, I brought them back down and gave another shake of the head, showing my appreciation.
YOU ARE READING
Drive (Brendon Urie/P!ATD FanFic ft. Green Day)
Fanfiction==DISCONTINUED== Brendon never expected to be in the situation he was in. He never expected that his life would be at risk like it was now, and that he'd been willing to lose it in order to spare hers, the person responsible for all of this. With h...
