Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Dee ❯ Chapter 7

~AN~ This story is set not long after volume 7 of the manga. More details of the precise setting will be revealed in later chapters. Enjoy!

 

~ Disclaimer ~ I do not own FAKE, or any of it's characters - they belong to Sanami Matoh. I would not object to them being donated to me though. I also do not have a beta - these chaps are all me. You see a mistake, you NOTIFY me! Please!

 

 

 

 

You never realize how safe you feel with the comforting weight of a gun at your side until you're caught without it. Ryo winced as another bullet chipped the wood a few centimeters from his face. He shrunk back behind the counter. From behind him he could hear the sound of a latch being ripped open and he turned in time to see James pulling a shotgun from under the counter. A smaller pistol tumbled out as well.

 

“Grab that! There's bullets in the box!” James was pumping ammunition into his own gun as he shouted over the racket. “I hope you can shoot worth a damn!”

 

Ryo stared indecisively at the weapon when another bullet flung wood in his face. Grabbing at the familiar item his eye caught Mary. She was huddled in a corner of the bar, hands protectively holding her legs close, but looking much too calm for his liking.

 

Almost as though she was used to this.

 

His hands worked on autopilot as he loaded the gun, surveying what was going on around him.

 

Two cars were parked at the front door, engines still running, their occupants hanging out of the open windows to shoot. The customers were running for cover, more than half of the sober ones revealing weapons of their own and returning fire. Three patrons he assumed dead judging from the amount of blood spilling from the bodies, and another man was well on his way. He was desperately clutching his stomach even as juices flowed from his body and burned his fingers.

 

Clicking the magazine into place, he leaned to the right of the bar and aimed at one of the gunners. Pulling the trigger, the shot slammed into the laughing man's hand, making him drop the automatic weapon with a curse. He clambered back into the car clutching his hand as another bullet left the barrel of Ryo's gun and hit the man on the backseat in the arm. He fumbled with the piece of machinery as it threatened to slip from his fingers.

 

The shotgun firing from behind him made Ryo start, and he pulled back as the spray of bullets sunk holes into the car. He took a deep breath, resolving to stop the shooting as fast as possible.

 

Two quick shots resounded from his weapon, hitting two more in the hands before the cars pulled away. A few desperate die-hards ran out after the cars to waste shells and shout curses.

 

“Ha! We got 'em good!” James smiled broadly and proudly held his gun in his hands. Mary strode over and extended her hand to Ryo.

 

“Congratulations Alex! You've survived what many before you have not.” Her voice lost its candor. “May you continue to do so.” Abruptly she turned her attention to the rest of the bar where she pulled new glasses from behind the glass to start serving again.

 

It was all wrong.

 

Suddenly the bar seemed fuller than it was as curious passer-byes dropped by to celebrate in the victory. Ryo's head spun in horror when a heavy hand on his shoulder pulled him back into reality.

 

“Come on Alex. We've got clean-up duty.” His eyes traveled to the bodies on the floor.

 

Ryo hung back as James stepped forward. He turned to look when he realized the other man wasn't following him.

 

“Shouldn't we… you know, contact the police? Or someone?”

 

James squinted, then laughed out loud. “Good god, you're a piece of work! The cops? No boy, around here they don't have time for us. If you plan on living out here, you're gonna have to get used to that. I don't know what upscale living arrangement you came from, but here, it's everyone for himself. Survival of the fittest if you want.”

 

He returned to the task at hand. “Come on. I'll show you how we deal with things.”

 

Ryo hesitantly joined James as Mary skirted around them, her hands full of drinks. His detective-mode was taking over again, analyzing facts as he lifted the bloodied corpse to carry it out with James.

 

“Why… why did they attack this place?”

 

James shrugged his shoulders as much as he was able. “Not a clue, but I have my suspicions. The only person always in the bar during one of those…” he shook his head. “Nah. I won't say. I'm not gonna risk my neck over something silly like this. It brings business.”

 

Ryo nodded in acknowledgement. He understood.

 

Sort of.

 

But damn if he didn't feel like a criminal.

 

~$~

 

Drake blinked in amazement. It was funny how the human mind worked.

 

Just yesterday he had admitted to himself that being attracted to JJ wasn't all that bad, and suddenly the case seemed to make more sense. He even had a new theory about the motive behind the bombings, courtesy of the early morning newsreader. She had said something about the police having their hands full that had clicked a cog into place in his mind.

 

Halfway to the precinct he had scribbled ideas on post-it notes that were currently clinging for dear life to his steering wheel. He turned into the parking lot and frowned when he found himself consciously pulling into the empty spot next to JJ's car.

 

He shook his head.

 

He was being silly.

 

He had woken up earlier than usual and had spent the time picking out his outfit. Somewhere in his closet, the part where he never folded anything, he had found a pair of black faded jeans and a black turtleneck top.

 

A previous girlfriend had once told him that all men looked good in turtlenecks. His image in the mirror had agreed.

 

So as he stepped from his car, he shook a few stray blond hairs out of his eyes and slid his shades into place.

 

He felt like kicking ass today.

 

He felt good.

 

Maybe JJ would even be surprised enough to shut up about Dee…

 

~$~

 

Berkeley frowned as he double-took the man that had just walked past him. At first he didn't recognize him, his eyes traveling appreciatively up the sleek figure. He had nodded respectfully when the figure froze and seemed to stifle a laugh. Only when his greeting was voiced in return did Rose finally recognize Drake.

 

He stared in embarrassment after the black clad man, wondering why he had not realized who it was. After a while he concluded that Drake was carrying himself differently, more determined than his usual slouch.

 

He shook his head.

 

He prayed that whoever had inspired the sudden change didn't die soon.

 

Being a fan of the blond-ish breed, it was a very nice change of scenery.

 

~$~

 

“You're late.” Ria looked up into the face of a man that resembled her own. She waved nonchalant hand at him.

 

“It's your fault. Rick and his men saw me at The Talisman, and thought they would score.” She flung a rag in his general direction. “It's the second time this month! And it happened just as I was getting to know a really hot guy.” She huffed in indignation.

 

He leaned against the doorway, smirking at his sister's attitude.

 

“Planning on bringing him home for Tim to play on?” She shot a glare at him and he held up his hands in defense. “Hey, I was just saying. Nothing wrong with you screwing a guy or two, but lately I heard all your catches went to him.”

 

She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Fuck off. He needs the practice. It's not like drunk men put up much of a fight. Plus, you make a profit off of them later anyway.”

 

He narrowed his eyes at her as he stalked over and grabbed her by the hair. “I can make a profit of you too if I want, don't forget that.” He jerked her head back for emphasis and left the room.

 

She stared after him in open contempt as she muttered “I hate you.”

 

~$~

 

Ryo slumped down on his makeshift bed as sleep spilled over him in waves. He didn't even bother to write up what had happened the previous day, he was tired and quite sure that it would remain in his memory for quite some time.

 

He sighed as he pulled his legs up and felt cold air against his knee.

 

It was sad in a way. He had just spent a small fortune on the pair of pants he was wearing and they didn't even make it through the day.

 

Unconsciously he reached out to the missing warmth next to him.

 

~$~

 

Drake felt like a million bucks as he settled himself into his chair behind his desk. Pulling his keyboard closer, he deposited the stick-it notes onto the screen as he simultaneously began to pull up the records he was looking for.

 

JJ had flat ignored his greeting, and had opted to stare at him in silence.

 

Whether the man's mouth or brain had stopped working wasn't clear.

 

Ted had cursed and demanded to know who his hot date was, Marty vigorously nodding his head in support of the question. He had grinned and innocently stated that he didn't have a date… yet.

 

But what had made him feel the best he had in over ten years was more centered on his recent one-sided competition with a green-eyed man.

 

He basked in the moment as he remembered to mark the day on his calendar.

 

Dee had spilled his coffee on his lap when Drake walked by.

 

~$~

 

 

 

 

 

~AN~ {Insert laughter} Wow… I really liked typing up this chapter. I feel like a bit of an idiot though. I was going to write the price for Ryo's jeans when I realized that I don't have a clue how much jeans would be. It's embarrassing… Wrong currency! I think it costs ±R200 for a pair of nice jeans around here.

 

Anyhow.

 

Ria's coming along nicely, that little bit I wrote reveals quite a lot. And Drake… {Happiness is…}

 

Haha! I have to calm down now…

 

~Me~

 

~Daxemon~ Your fic was good! Really! You should seriously write more! Oh, and I don't know if you're aware of it yet, but I do have a huge gallery of FAKE fanart on devart. Just do a search for JJ and Drake and I'll pop up = DogOfTheForest. I'm dedicating my newest picture to you! Please continue to be such a kewl muse!!

 

~Kita and Subu-chan~ LOOK AT WHAT I”VE DONE TO DRAKE FOR YOU!!! Whahaha!!!! Damn Subu, you made me cry with joy for spotting that line. I spent nearly fifteen minutes figuring out how to put it. Your own talents are unrivaled. I'll continue to worship you two in hope that I may be nearly as good as you in the future!!

 

~catti-dono~ Ha! Yeah. I'm debating over whether or not she should… no! I can't say! That's too mean of me! Bad Mags! {ignore me, please}