Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 51

Halfway across the lobby, Will saw Justin side-step off the stairs, a scorch mar on his jacket. Will jogged over, frantic with energy he didn't think he had.

"You've been shot!"

"I've noticed," said Justin, hand over his chest, hissing through his teeth.

A closer look at the jacket made Will grimace. "I'll call a Med van-"

"One's already on its way, Trekkie." Justin leaned against the wall, looking close to slumping to the floor. "No need to clutch your pearls."

Will froze, took a breath, and gestured to the wooden bench by the doorway. "Let's get outside and you can tell me what happened."

Justin shoved Will's hand off his shoulder. "I'm staying right here until backup arrives."

"One word. Bomb."

"That's a good word," said Justin, nodding and following Will outside. "Never figured you a man gifted with persuasion."

"A bomb is persuasive in any language."

***

Beni and Reese waited under the eaves of a café down the road. Reese inhaled the aroma of sugar sweetened dough and coffee that puffed out with every opening of the door. Despite the mud soaked refugees from the rain, and lack of electricity, business continued; working with cash only to sell all pastries made in the morning, and free coffee for those in need of it. Reese salivated. Sourdough doughnuts stood on promenade in the front window, their glaze sparking in the occasional flash of lightning or headlights. Such heaven, such sweetness. To go inside and buy a dozen would be decadence in itself.

Too bad his conscience restrained his stomach.

"Will said he'd be a moment, right?" asked Beni.

"Yes, he did," replied Reese. And such was the restraint. Hard to indulge in sweet fried goodness when friends sat in harm's way. Will, alone with Justin and a bomb wielding, gun-toting bitch. And then sweet Paro, hostage to said bitch. And then Louis...

Reese didn't much care where Louis was as long as he was out of trouble.

"Maybe we should wait with Louis?" said Beni.

"I was just thinking about him," said Reese.

"What were you thinking?"

"He's out of trouble for once. Good for him." Reese inhaled as the door opened again, a person walking out with a can of soda and... an apple cinnamon fritter.

Not fair.

"But bad for us," said Beni. "We're supposed to keep an eye on him. Make sure Watch One doesn't get grabby."

"You want to split up?"

"I think it would be best."

Before they could deliberate who would be assigned who, a black Watch Med van rolled by, in the direction of Ram's apartment. They looked at each other, exchanging worried looks.

"I'll take the geek, you take the grouch," said Reese.

"Got it." Beni held out a can of Red Bull to him, fulfilling his longing for sugar.

Reese popped the tab. "I love you."

"I know."

And then the two ran in opposite directions.

***

The rain didn't let up as Will sat Justin on a bench right outside of the apartment building. "Can you tell me how Paro is?"