“You get one chance,” Nadir boomed, walking up and down the line of bound Nazis, staring up at her fearfully. “Leave the city forever, with nothing but the clothes on your back, or die.” She raised her gun and took aim at the nearest skinhead.

  “Fuck you—” A loud pop and the man slumped over, mouth open wide in shock.

  “Anyone else?” Nadir demanded. “No? Then get the fuck out of my city.”

  They turned as one and headed back to the cars. Nadir bent over the back of Jeep’s car briefly, before clambering in with the rest of her squad. Wick got in his own car, the passenger door slamming as Reese joined him. The engine rumbled, and they were off into the night as sirens wailed behind them.

  “Yeah?” Reese spoke into his phone as the car ahead of them made a sharp right. Wick kept driving straight. “Alright then, see you. Wick? We’re good to head home. Payday’s tomorrow.”

  “Cool,” Wick said with a grin, taking the next left. “So...what you wanna do with the rest of the night?”

  “Man I dunno,” Reese sighed and shut his eyes. “You got a bottle of tank at your place?”

  “Hell yeah,” he replied eagerly. “Drinks and dinner?”

  “Sounds like a date.”

  Wick smiled and stepped on the gas. Just him and Reese, the way they’d grown up, the way they’d always been. He was happy with it, no one else got Wick like Reese did. A couple of soldiers, through and through. Reese put his hand over Wick’s as they drove.

  It was a quiet evening, despite the horror they’d just been part of. Nazis really weren’t much for fighting when they had a half-dozen guns shoved in their faces. Coupled with Amaranth’s standing orders, it meant they were in and out before the cops had any kind of chance to grab them. It was a smart way to play things and gave him confidence this would actually work out one day.

  One day, he hoped he could walk the streets with his boyfriend, hand in hand. That was probably a long way off, unfortunately. Too many skinheads around still, and Reese couldn’t kill them all. Amaranth though, well, they’d just have to see.

  “You’re quiet little man,” Reese said softly. “All good?”

  “Yeah, yeah, just thinking,” Wick replied. “You know we got a good thing going here.”

  “Figures you’d be about it,” he snorted. “Softie.”

  “Man you know what happened to my cousin Ross.”

  “Yeah, sorry,” Reese sighed. “Look I was just raised to stay out of those places. No trouble if you don’t go looking for it. It’s why I’m making sure we get paid.”

  “I mean, I want to get paid too,” Wick said quickly. “Just, there’s more important things in life than cash.”

  “Like our lives,” he said gravely.

  “Yeah and our life,” Wick retorted. “I love you, Reese. I don’t want to have to hide out my whole life because we live in this shithole.” Reese looked away, frowning.

  “Man don’t say shit like that,” he muttered. “It’s embarrassing.”

  “We’re in good company,” Wick said. “Lia’s cool, why can’t you be?” Reese’s phone rang, and he answered it instead of the question.

  “Shit,” he said, snapping it shut a moment later. “New orders. Boss is in trouble. Go to the Third Precinct, and step on it.”

  “Oh christ,” Wick groaned, taking the next left. “What’s she doing with the cops?”

  “Hell if I know,” Reese muttered, checking his rifle. “Can’t be good though.”

  “Rain check that date?”

  “You know it,” he said, leaning over and pecking Wick on the cheek.

  The promise would have to be good enough for now…

  “Let’s get the hell outta here,” Reese said, slamming the door shut behind him.

  “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

  Wick stepped on the gas and sped away from the burning precinct, sweat beading on his brow. Things had gone badly wrong, with cops and capes forcing them to retreat in short order. Apparently it was mission accomplished though, with Amaranth and a team riding off with guns and an armoured van. Wick wasn’t sure it was worth it but...well, the boss was happy and that meant they’d be getting paid.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “God damn,” Reese swore, peeling off his balaclava. His dark skin was drenched with sweat, glistening in the pale street light. “I don’t know about this man.”

  “You mean going after Nazis?” Wick asked, giving his boyfriend a look.

  “I mean this army shit,” he countered. “Like, you know what happened to Antoine.”

  “I know,” Wick sighed. “But this is different man. We’re taking this city for ourselves, not the military.”

  “That’s the problem,” Reese muttered, gazing out the window. “This ain’t like it was after Leviathan, with shit gone crazy. This city got cops, capes, gangsters, and all sorts gunning for us. We could...man we could die out here.”

  “We could die anytime,” Wick countered. “C’mon man, what’s up?”

  “I don’t want to lose you,” he replied, voice quieter than Wick had ever heard. “I can’t lose you. After all this, I want to leave, get outta the city and stay gone. I want you with me.”

  “I want to be with you,” Wick reassured him, putting a hand on his knee. “Nobody in the world’s gonna stop me either.”

  “Hope not.” There was a long, heavy pause. “Hey, where do you wanna go? I mean once all this is over.”

  “Tahiti,” Wick replied without a hint of humour. “Warm, luxurious, and far, far away.”

  “Tropical paradise? Hell yeah,” Reese agreed easily. “Won’t be cheap though.”

  “Amaranth will pay for it,” he said with a grin. “Pays for everything else, don’t she?”

  They shared a laugh as snow began to fall, the cold not touching them in the warmth of their company.

  “Back it up,” Wick said, beckoning to the mirror.

  The truck’s engine rumbled as it backed into Reese’s garage. It barely fit, but once inside they got the doors shut and had it hidden in moments. Lia clambered out, looking wired and exhausted all at once. Her bloodshot eyes appraised the van, a smile twisted by ugly scars spreading over her face. She looked at Wick, as if seeing him for the first time, and nodded.

  “Thanks.” Her voice sounded like glass grinding on stone. “Appreciate the help with this. Hey do you guys have cutting torches? Think we can take the armour and put it on our cars.”

  “Talk to Reese,” Wick said with a shrug. “His garage, you know?”

  “Cool.” She swayed on her feet for a moment. “Can I crash here? Don’t think I can make it home.”

  “Come on,” he sighed and led her to the door.

  He brought her into the house. It was a bit of a mess, Wick hadn’t had the chance to clean up since getting home. Empty takeout boxes littered the counter, where empty magazines or gun parts didn’t take the space. Lia didn’t pay it any attention, only setting her pistol down next to the sink before heading into the living room with him and Reese.

  “Yo boss,” Reese greeted her, offering a beer. She took it and sat heavily on the couch next to him. “How’s it going?”

  “Fine, van’s in the garage,” she replied. “You think we can take it apart?”

  “Shit, no problem,” he said. “Got a chop shop just up the road.”

  “Great.” She took a sip of her drink and grimaced. “God, does all alcohol taste like shit?”

  “Pretty much,” Wick said, chuckling. He grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV. “I got green if you prefer.”

  “Nah, I…” Lia sighed and put her beer down, scratching a long scar on her neck. “I should probably just get some sleep.”

  “Not a bad idea,” he said gently, giving Reese a look. “You can have my room, okay? Second door on the right, upstairs.”

  “Okay,” she said, nodding slowly and rising from the couch. “Thanks.”

  “You’re getting soft,” Reese said once she’d vanished upstairs.

  “She’s just a kid,” Wick shot back, scooting over until he was resting against Reese. “Deserves a little bit of kindness.”

  “I guess.” His arm wrapped around Wick’s back, drawing him closer. “Doesn’t seem like a kid.” He gestured to the screen, where the morning news was playing out.

  “You’re looking at the entrance of the Third Precinct of the Brockton Bay Police,” a news anchor explained as the camera tracked over smoking ruins. “This was the site of a terrorist attack last evening. Over a dozen attackers infiltrated and set fire to the station, while others prevented the police from responding.”

  Participants include Amaranth, leader of the Terriers organization, and local gangs ABB and RFB. One man was killed at the scene, and a police officer was wounded. Amaranth is still at large, and the PRT have issued a reward for information leading to her arrest. Separately, a charitable organization called ‘Dog Watch’ was created in response to this attack, offering a small bounty for any parahuman or human who captures her.” Reese grabbed the remote and shut off the TV.

  “Well hell,” he sighed. “Guess we’re terrorists.”

  “Shit,” Wick swore, scratching his chin. “They really took that serious huh.”

  “It was a raid on the cops, of course they did,” Reese grumbled. “God dammit, and they was with Nazis too. Fuck!”

  “Take it easy Reese,” Wick said gently, putting an arm around Reese’s. “Cops have always been dirty here.”

  “This is different,” Reese said, shaking his head. “This ain’t a shakedown it’s—”

  “A war,” Lia’s rattling voice cut him off, making them both jump. She peered down from the stairs, blue eyes practically glowing in the pale morning light. “I told you both what the deal was. If you’re not happy with it, that’s your problem.”

  “Hey, Lia, take it easy,” Wick said gently.

  “The city is at a point where, if we stop, it’ll fall into chaos,” she continued flatly, slowly coming down the stairs. Her eyes remained fixed on them, like a wolf stalking prey. “It’s not about profit, it’s not about guns, it’s not about money. The only thing that matters is keeping those rats in line. We accomplish that, you guys can screw off to Tahiti or whatever.” A chill went up Wick’s spine.

  “How’d you know about that?” he asked shakily.

  “I didn’t,” she said without a hint of humour. “Go wherever you want, I don’t care. But until this city is clear, you’re under my command. Is that going to be a problem?” She stared at Wick for a moment, then at Reese who bristled. “Reese?”

  “We didn’t sign up for no war,” he said coldly.

  “You signed up for a paycheque,” Lia retorted. “And if you need a raise, fine, that can be arranged. But I can’t afford to lose you, any of you.” There was a beat of silence.

  “Boss you—”

  “Shut up,” she snapped, turning on her heel. “I’m going back to bed. Don’t wake me up fucking too loud, okay?” She stalked off in silence, leaving them alone in the living room.

  “Christ she’s nuts,” Reese said under his breath. “Maybe we do your vacation sooner than later.”

  “You heard her, she needs us,” Wick hissed. “And she knows, man who else would be cool with that?”

  “I...goddammit.” He slumped back against the couch, massaging his eyes. “Gonna be charging double.”

  “Good,” Wick said with a chuckle, hands fiddling with Reese’s belt. “Means you can afford a ring.”

  “Tropical wedding sounds nice,” Reese agreed, a calloused hand rubbing Wick’s cheek. “But you’re gonna have to earn it.”

  “Bet.”