Slumber Party (3)

Heart to Heart

Ash and Shorter step outside, close the front door behind them without locking it, and sit on the stairs. The mood went from being an energetic evening with friends to a heavy weighted heart to heart between gang bosses. However, the way Ash and Shorter speak to each other about business and life in general, to an outsider, appears innocent as best friends simply catching up. When they sit down on the stairs Shorter hands Ash a drink so they can both settle down from tonight.

"Man, tonight was wild. Spin the Bottle? Really?" Shorter says questioning Ash's seemingly risqué state.

" Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking in there. I looked at Eiji's back, and I did a number on him. I really should apologize to him when he wakes up. You think I was too rough?"

Shorter takes sip of his drink and he answers, "You weren't rough, but you were rather passionate. I noticed a change in you for some time now. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I know now."

"I've changed?"

"I remember the old Ash would off someone in a heartbeat if they betrayed him, but now you let them go as if they'll repay you. Looks like Eiji really turned your world upside down."

Ash shifts his body around on the stair as if Shorter said something he didn't want to admit. Ash takes a moment to think about the events that have been happening since Eiji arrived, and can't help but half heartedly smile and admit to Shorter, "It's weird, isn't it?" Ash combs his hair with his fingers.

"I can't tell if he's a blessing or a curse. I know I shouldn't be putting him in danger, but there's something in me that is always happy that he decides to stay. Is that selfish of me to want someone like that in my life?"

"No, we know better than anybody it gets lonely at the top, but it's nice to know that we aren't alone." Shorter puts down his drink and leans towards Ash to lower his voice, "Ash...do you think we have a chance of makin' it out of this?"

"I'm not sure about this one, Shorter. I'm really not. This "Bananafish" whatever or whoever they are has got a chokehold on Dino, and if he's pullin' out all the stops just to stop me it'll only be a matter of time. Our days are numbered now. We might as well be countin' the time we have left instead of countin' sheep when we sleep."

"You know I got your back to the very end. My biggest worries are the 2 that are sleepin' right now. I wouldn't want my girl to die because of my bullshit."

Ash looks away from Shorter as he feels pain from his past, "I feel you. I regret every single day since they took my girl away. Believe me, you wouldn't want that shit hauntin' you."

"My bad, Ash."

"It's alright." Ash gives Shorter a smile in affirmation.

"What's the plan?"

"First, we head over to Dr. Meredith's and see what else he's got, then we gotta get Eiji and your girl to safety. They should be okay with us around for now to protect them."

"Sounds like a good plan of attack. We should get some sleep then." Shorter smiles at Ash, they share their familiar "handshake", and go back inside the apartment to get ready for the next day.

**Thank you guys for reading my work so far! I really don't think you all are ready for the next one. I promise you Blanca will not disappoint <wink>**