~*Purgatory*~
Gat sneezed, then took another sip of his drink. "Pierce, you have anything on what Li asked?"
Pierce walked by carrying a box. "Yeah, my boy got something, and then we can discuss it tomorrow. I have a plan."
"Aight, Carlos, what about you?"
"Yeah, nothing I can do. They locked Maero up."
"Shitting me, hold off on telling Li how long he is in for?"
Carlos shrugged. "Dunno, the second I know you know." Carlos trotted off when someone needed his help.
Gat nodded. His phone rang, looking at the screen.
> Went to visit Aunt Fu. See you later <3
Texting Aisha back, he then went to text several people. He has the task of gathering supplies, munitions, and the like. They were going to need guns, well… He was going to need guns and a shit ton of ammo. It did not focus his mind on what it should be. He took another long drink, poured himself another glass, feeling the burn slide down his throat, and left the HQ. His girls will be occupied for a while and he decided to hit the town.
Heading home, speeding through the streets, he pulled into the driveway. They were still out; he pulled out a black shirt and slacks, tossing a set of silver rings and necklace on the bed, and took out a pair of silver frame clear lens glasses. He hopped in the shower, his mind occupied. His dreams as of late have been waking him up in the middle of the night, Kyouki.
He always hears that song that she sang, they are together in his dream. Walking side by side, she runs ahead of him, stops. She's looking over her shoulder, smiling at him. "I'll see you later." Then, in a flash, she's gone. There is another that plagues him, worse than the other that leaves him waking, numb, shaking in a cold sweat. Johnny's thoughts even cycle when he tries to sleep, which has been impossible for years now.
~*Two nights ago.*~
They are outside with a large pool. It's sunny out. Li is wearing a hoodie, but she looks older, like now, just the hoodie; she's standing in a pool up to her knees. Aisha is there, with her, wearing what she did when she worked for Ben King, just a white shirt and black thong bikini bottoms. Inviting him to come play with them, then grows warm, he sees Troy come up walking past him.
Aisha walks to him, Troy leads Li away. Gat feels uneasy, he's getting angry, Aisha puts her hand on his cheek, he looks down at her, he smiles, but he tries to keep an eye on Li.
Seeing Troy lean in kissing Li, Gat is ready to deck him, seeing his hands move up, pulling the oversized hoodie up around Li's hips. The edges of his vision are frayed with blacks and reds. Aisha moves so she can pull Gat down. She kisses him and while they are engaged; he hears a scream. Tearing from Aisha's kiss, he sees Li is nowhere to be found.
Troy runs to him apologizing, but Gat doesn't hear him shoving the man out of the way. Troy screams "Help me find Li!".
In Gat's frantic searching, his chest burns, his voice is echoing the and outside colors shift to white. Aisha and Troy are side by side now, looking down at the pool. Gat's gaze follows theirs. Li is at his feet, face down and bleeding. The whole pool becomes red and everything outside fades to red.
He is trembling, his hands shaking, as he reaches for her, wet, bleeding, he kneels down in the bloody water turning her over, her eyes are closed, she looks like she's sleeping. He shakes her. "Wake up!"
~
Johnny always wakes with a start, heart pounding and he can't breathe, his whole body is numb. Aisha is there next to him. She had stopped waking up to check on him. She stopped long ago.
Gat leans over, when his body is in his control, kissing Aisha on her temple, "I'm going out." Aisha hums her response. Gat drives to Purgatory, and parks, nodding to the Night Owl Saints on shift, he walks to the house on the corner, the sound of clicking guns aimed in his direction, he waves them off thumbing for them to head back to HQ. He leans against the door leading to the single occupied room of Kyouki James. He knows she is sleeping. He leans on the wall, with the heaviest of sighs closes his eyes .
~*2401 S. Homan, S. Huntersfield.*~
Gat dressed, raked his fingers through his hair as he left his hair down. Checked to adjust his belt and shirt cuffs, he grabbed his phone from the bed, then shot a text to Aisha.
> Heading out won't be home.
Ok, everything alright? <3 <
> Yeah, just need some air.
Dream again? <3 <
> Luv you Ish.
See you later, be safe, g'night. <3 <
Stowing his phone in his pocked, he heading out across town for the night to relax.
~*~
Johnny arrived at Koi, he parked the car outside of Purgatory and walked over. He nodded to the Bouncer and he let him in. The music was bumping, and Gat needed a drink, taking his place in the two story nightclub, the VIP section. Gat was a normal fixture in the night scenes, before and after his lockup. "What can I get you, sir?" the server asked over the music, smiling seductively.
"Bottle of Jack, make that 2 and Vodka." He said over the music.
Without truly acknowledging the woman, he leaned back, scanning the crowd. It was still early, but he needed to drink. He hadn't been sleeping well. Those dreams, even though he knows Li is here, he can't seem to escape his mind of her suddenly being gone, not again. When the server came back, he eyed her. She was trying too hard. He watched as she set the bottles and his glass down, then he waved her off.
It's always the same. He poured himself a glass of vodka, then he waved the server over. "Lemon lime soda. Bring a dozen." He waved her off again. From across the room, two females were dancing with each other, touching one another seductively as they waved at him. He snorted and roamed over the crowd again. The young server came back once again. He pointed to the glass. "Pour. That's your job for the night."
"But Sir I have other."
"Fuck you say?" Turning his head to glare at her.
"Yes, Sir." She did as told. For hours she had to pour. When her boss came to see where she had slipped off too, he noticed Gat and waved his hellos.
~*~
Now, after his twentieth drink, Gat finally started feeling it. His head hurt, and one woman looked really familiar.
Gat took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He got up from his seat and headed to the dance floor. What he saw he didn't like. Li was there, and she was dancing with some guy. ' No, that's not right.' his mind was playing tricks on him. Gat went back to his seat, fumbling he handed the server a wad of cash, he took the unfinished bottle of Jack with him to the bathroom.
"Fuck!" He said. His mind wouldn't shut up. He was over Li. He had to be. His mind wouldn't shut her out. Taking a swing from the bottle as he took a piss, he dropped the bottle, missing the sink, and washed his hands. He sighed, adjusting himself. He left the club.
~
"You need me to call a cab for you, G?" The Bouncer asked.
"Nah." Gat walked on. He had a destination. It was just up the street.
He stalked through the alley between Koi and another building, and up the street. Gat curtly acknowledged the guys standing guard out at the mission house. He knew Ky was home, knew she would be there. Just like the nights before when he would come grace her door, he stormed up her side of the street to the small room she lived alone. His presence was intimidating as late night peoples avoided his presence. The guards that he assigned to watch over the woman waved the boys off for the night. Once they were out of sight, he pounded on her door. "Ky… yeoja sangsaga ib-eul yeolda … Open the fucking door, ijeneun yeoja sangsa-nim !" Gat needed to see her. He can't shake it. Her being away from the home sits ill with him. He can't keep his eyes on her. Yeah, she can take care of herself, but he made a promise to himself, and he will drag her back to the house kicking and screaming if need be.
"Woman, less go, open the door…" Gat leaned on the cool metal of the door and sighed. Turning to lean on, it fell backwards with a sound thud.
"Johnny, what the fuck?!"
~*Seven hours prior. Cemetery.*~
The sun had stretched the last bit of light as the girls had driven to the Mourning Wood Cemetery. It was quiet. Few people visiting their loved ones who were no longer on earth, Li was no exception.
She stopped in front of a mausoleum 'Wong' carved in the smoothed stone across the small structure. Li walked in, taking her shoes off. The others followed. Aisha and Li placed flowers in the room's corner, and Li placed a flower on the raised sarcophagus.
"[ Obachan, I came back, see I told you ], and I brought guests." Li introduced Shaundi and Ren, they stood about with Li telling stories from how she was woken up by the departed senior.
Few tears Li placed her forehead on the cool stone, giving a kiss and saying she needed to go but she would return soon. "Sleep well Obachan."
Aisha rubbed her back, Shaundi and Ren went ahead, already near the car. "When are you going to tell Johnny?"
"Tell him what?" Li fixed her shoe.
"About Shogo."
Li sighed. "Never if I can help it."
"Kyouki Irrisa!"
"Ew. Ok… Alright. Soon, I'll tell him."
"Are you scared to tell him?"
"No, I'm not scared of him. I just don't know his reaction. I guess I'm no better than Troy."
"I didn't say, are you scared of him and no, you are, you're not a cop." Aisha smirked, nudging Li as they walked to the car arm in arm.
"But still…" Li sighed again.
"But what?"
"I was hoping it wasn't Shogo." Aisha nodded when they reached the car. "I'll tell him honest." Li got in and they were off once more.
~*~*~
When they finished at Ren's, it was around 10pm. They made a deal with Ren's mother that she will be a companion, with compensation. Li printed up two contracts, one for her, and one for Ren.
"I may have something for you as well. I'll call you in a few days." Li and the others left to drop Shaundi off at her place.
As they drove around for a bit, they went and picked up something from a bakery they found that was still in business.
Aisha's phone chimed. She received a text from Gat; she sighed and put her phone back in her pocket.
"You good?" Li asked as they got up to leave.
Aisha sighed. "Yeah, it was just Johnny."
Li nodded. "He alright?"
"Yes, and no." Ish shrugged.
"He has said nothing to me." Kyouki said.
Aisha rolled her head to look at Ky. "He won't. You know how he is."
Li nodded again. "You right. Want anything before I drop you off?"
"No, I'm too tired to even walk. We had a nice day. It really has been too long." Aisha smiled as she looked out of the window.
"Yeah, we should make it a habit. Before shit gets crazy and I'm too busy." Li smiled. It felt good to hang out.
Aisha agreed it was simpler for them to all live together, bringing it up once more. Aisha felt it would also be safer for her as well. But she understood what Li needed. "Girl, thanks, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Night Noel, you sleep well. I'll text you when I get home."
"Alright, night!" Waved and closed the door.
Kyouki pulled off after Aisha was in the house and flicked the light off and on. Their code that she was locked up, and the house was safe, and the house was empty. Ky yawned as she drove home.
~* 12am, Purgatory*~
She stopped by Purgatory to see how it was coming along. She found the empty bottle and several Saints sleeping. The fell part of the city was going to be turned into something to allow the crew to stay. "For another day, wonder where Johnny is?" Li mused. She spotted his car and looked around, heading for it. It was empty. She looked around again.
"Ay, you guys see Gat?"
"Nah, Boss, we just got here." One of the late night crew answered.
"Oh. Night boys."
"Night Boss."
Li hopped into her car and drove the short way home. She yawned again when she parked and got out. Two guards from her 'Night Owls.' were on post. "You guys eat?"
"Boss, we good."
"Alright, if you need to go to the bathroom or a drink while I'm still up… Nevermind, I'll be right back." Li went in and fixed them a cool drink, and a sandwich, she packed them a small snack as well. Placing them in a bag, she opened the door and handed them their midnight snack.
"Thanks Boss."
"No problem, night."
"Night."
~*~*~
Two and a half hours later, well after Kyouki had crawled in the bed for the night, a loud banging outside the small room echoed. The loud pounding on her door startled her. She slowly woke from the fine line of sleep and was awake. "Huh?" She turned over and slipped back off to sleep.
" Open the fucking door, ijeneun yeoja sangsa-nim!" Muffled outside of her door. "Woman, less go, open the door…"
Li pulled her phone out, 2:30am. "Ugh, bright." She squinted at the intruding light. Reached for a Tonto from under her pillow and threw the covers off when the pounding sounded again, the small blade gripped in her hand. She raised her arm, opening the door with her left.
This vast shadow fell through her doorway. With a thud, he hit her floor. She straddled the intruder. He grunted when she sat on his chest, blade to his throat. In her groggy state, she didn't recognize the intruder til he called her.
"Kyouki…" He groaned with her added weight on his chest.
"Johnny, what the fuck?!" Ky got off of him and stepped out into the night air, looking around. No one was out, save for the usual night crawlers. She turned and helped Johnny to sit up, then to stand. "What are you doing here?"
"Where's my car!" He stumbled into her, they both fell to the floor.
"Hey, huh?"
"The car I gave you! Where is it?!" Gat grabbed her shoulders.
Li paused. "Come on. Get up." He wasn't making sense. She got him up again from the floors and sat him on her bed, then ran to lock up. She turned on the desk lamp and the under light counter. Its dim glow helped her to see the man better. "Johnny, it's the middle of the night. Shouldn't you be home?"
"I am home." He fell back onto the bed.
"No, you aren't." Li got her phone and text Aisha. > Gat is here with me. Any idea why?"
It took a few minutes for her phone to ring in response, but she in the time it took for her phone to alert her, slipped Gat's shoes off and had him stretch out against the wall of her bed, and covered him up.
He has nightmares <
> But he is piss drunk.
He is trying to drown out his thoughts? <
> He's a fucking idiot.
Aisha didn't sleep, and she was worried. She did laugh at Li's response. She sighed as she continued to text.
>Yeah, but I told you before he loves you. I guess I didn't tell you what happened.
Yeah, you said he loves me, but what does that have to do with this big ass man in my bed smelling like he bathed in alcohol? <
> The real reason Gat got locked up, he was going after Troy.
Li looked at her phone. She turned the desk lamp off.
> But they charged him with killing over 300 people.
Yeah, all of that to get to Troy because of you. That's that aftermath I was telling you about. Your 'death' caused him to hunt Troy like a dog and is still wanting to kill him now. <
Li looked back at Johnny. She reached over and removed his glasses. Placing them on her nightstand, then popped him on the forehead. He didn't budge.
No, he had no reason to murder those people because of me. There has to be an actual reason. <
Aisha sighed. She knew Li wouldn't believe her.
> I knew you was going to say that. He has nightmares about your death.
But I'm alive. <
Even in the text, she was annoyed that her supposed death was still brought up.
> We know he feels guilty about not being there with you.
We had that discussion already. I told him don't apologize. <
Knows it is still a topic she should ask how people felt about it. But she really felt raw. Especially after her and Troy's breakup. She wasn't in any mood for anyone's sympathy.
Aisha laid down and pulled the covers up. Li is still being stubborn. Those two really are inseparable.
> Baby girl, go to bed. I'm dozing over here.
I'll bring him home in the morning, night luv <
Li went and turned off a counter light. It was too bright for her. Gat tossed and turned, "Kyouki, wak…." Li stopped and watched him. "KYOUKI!" He sat upright with his hands gripping air. Li went to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm here, Johnny." Shaking his arm.
Gat turned his head to her and frowned. "Don't… leave… me."
Li opened her mouth to say something, but the look on his face. "I'm right here." She took his hand, he felt cold, Li changed positions and put Johnny's arm around her and his head on her chest. He sighed deeply and wrapped his other arm around her.
~*~*~*~
Listening to her steady heartbeat, he woke a few hours later. His mouth was dry, and he was in bed? With who?
"You talk in your sleep." A familiar voice sounded.
His eyes went wide. 'Shit! Oh shit…"'
"The Venom is where my car was. You want it back?" He felt her rub his back. "Get some more sleep, or go to the bathroom to use and wash your face, then come back to bed. We have serious shit to discuss in the morning when I take you home."
Gat looked up at a pair of honey-colored eyes that held the look of absolute irritation, and a messy bun. He closed his eyes and went to the small bathroom. He ran water over his face and neck. When did he get here, and why was she in her bedclothes with him in the bed, did something happen between them? He looked at himself in the mirror.
~
Li swallowed thickly. She remembered the car in question, a gift, but it must have been more than that. When she heard the water running, she got up and fixed him a sandwich. Johnny has a pickled liver, she was certain. He can drink and still stand, fully functional drunk. And Li hated it, him coming by; she warned him before, but him coming by drunk like a fish, unacceptable.
~
Shaking his head, he stepped out and greeted with a sandwich and a bottle of water. Li shoved it into his hands and went to sit on the bed. He didn't know what happened, but something definitely ticked Li off.
She watched him eat. ' 300 people ?' she will ask that one on the way back to Aisha's. "You wanted to know where the Venom was?"
"Ky, I really don't remember." Gat groaned out.
Li closed her eyes and sighed. She flipped the covers off and stood next to him as he ate more of the sandwich. "You come by here in the middle of the night, pounding on my door, blathering about a car. But you don't remember?" Gat ate quietly. She wasn't yelling, so that was a good thing. Li placed a hand on his arm. "Johnathan Gat, do you want the Venom back?"
He shook his head. Li nodded, and she walked around him, going to the cabinet, pulling from it an aspirin bottle. Opening it, she poured two tablets out and closed the lid before placing it back in the cabinet. She held her hand out, and Gat looked at her small hands. Taking the pills, he opened the bottle, then taking the headache medicine. "Thank you." he mumbled when he finished the water bottle.
Li took his hand and led him to the bed. She pointed to his spot by the wall, covered him up. Gat looked up at her. "I know. I need to be watched."
Li laughed as she crawled back into bed. "Don't make this a habit." She opened her arms, and he laid his head on her stomach. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her rub his hair. "I have never seen you like this, and I know why, when you are ready to tell me, tell me."
He knew he was in trouble. Gat balled his hands into a fist, then relaxed again when Li ran her nails along his back. She dozed off, the rhythmic sound of her nails on the fabric, and Gat followed.