[Close is nice, warmer, stubblier, stickier. Shit he's still on his dick too and that's a-okay with Freddy Newendyke. When did he get so crazy on Lawrence Dimick?]
You still came down with your gun fully loaded. [Freddy remarks ever so casually, giving Larry a one-shouldered shrug and a slight smirk.] And you're sure not shootin' fuckin' blanks.
[Okay okay, he's gotta ease off the guy sometime.]
[A couple tissues take care of clean up but Larry there can help himself as Freddy hands him the box of Kleenex. One cigarette in his mouth and a light later the kid's sinking down in his chair again. Naked. It's their apartment. Why the fuck not?]
You can go back to bed now. [Cuz that's what old men do post-coitus, or what this old man was doing pre-coitus right?]
Clean up time. They got it down to a science for the most part. Tissues in the waste bin takes care of a good deal of the external mess. Freddy in the buff in eyesight is something else that can't be fixed for the moment. The better to look at.]
Can I?
[He stands up, adjusting his sweatpants. Then this bear gives a big long stretch.]
[The kid shrugs like it's almost funny how a tough guy like Lawrence Dimick needs his tough guy sleep. Then he adds, after a moment of consideration, because he hasn't had that many opportunities in his life to express the sentiment:]
I'll be up in five. [Don't you sound sentimental, Mr. Supercool.]
[Vroom vroom. There's a figure in denim and leather sitting on top of a fully finished purring motorcycle of sporting on and off road proportions. His identity's hidden under a no longer glossy helmet. Explanations later, first he's got to snatch Larry up. Freddy's waiting on the usual corner.]
[The old man strolls out. First cigarette of the walk home. It's not as dark as it could be. Really though it's nothing. Stay near the streetlights. Don't talk to strangers. Both are things he's been doing for a long, long time when he wanted to play it safe. Looks like everyone has the idea to get on out of the night air. Larry will too, in due time. His ears perk at the sound of an engine, he's got to look in that direction.]
[When he catches brown eyes he pushes his visor up to show off his green ones. Eye contact, followed by a gesture for Larry to finish up that cigarette quick. Can't smoke and drive at the same time, at least not on a motorcycle.]
[He pets his baby with a bare hand, no gloves just yet and besides who needs'em? If it weren't for the recent hullabaloo surrounding the city skies he wouldn't even be wearing a helmet. Speaking of helmets, there's a second gun metal gray one hanging off the side of the seat.]
[Ride too? On the back? It's his age and pride slipping out. Truly though, who's gonna give a fuck. Everyone is more focused in ducking and covering, so it would seem.
Brown eyes flick over the wheels and those legs on either side.]
[Yes, on the back. He's got the option of wearing a helmet though, if Freddy has to wear one then he definitely has to wear one-- Wait what? The kid stares. And stares. Then comes one flappy hand and an equally zealous shaking of his head.]
She wasn't made for me. I put her together, I created her, I gave her life.
[What's with men--even cocksucking ones--gendering modes of transportation as ladies anyway? Ah well, should make riding in the bitch seat less of a big deal right? Freddy shrugs then admitting.] The boss helped.
[The kid smiles again, helmet in hand and offering it to the old man.]
[Hey just cause he's a little lower to the ground than most average men of his background doesn't mean the bike is a pony, it's just no draft horse. As for the superhero aesthetic, well no argument there. That's on purpose.]
It's a garage, everything's in pieces. [That's right, you take that helmet and you wear it proudly, Lawrence Dimick. Freddy pats the backseat as some gesture of encouragement.] Uh huh. Couldn't come any sooner.
[Although it's after sunset that doesn't mean those creatures aren't still circling. He hasn't asked but the kid wonders what the old man thinks of this barrier business.]
[She. It. Freddy is looking like a proud Pop about now showing off. Excuse the old man for taking his time putting the helmet on. He's also getting over himself at the same time. A guy could get a lotta shit riding bitch.
A sigh in a huff and he's on the bike.]
I appreciate the ride. [Those buzzards haven't escaped his notice.]
Are you packing?
[He means heat, kid. And no, he's not gonna check for you, though he puts his hands at Freddy's waist anticipating movement.]
I dunno yet but I'll thin of somethin', somethin' that fits. Somethin' real good.
[He nods over his shoulder, noting the huff and feeling proud of that too. Hah. As for packing, the kid's got two guns on him but riding and shooting at the same time might prove to be difficult, so...]
Right boot, left side.
[He says to Larry so the old man knows where to draw from if he needs a quick reload. Vroom vroom, he's got the girl roaring again, ready for take off.]
[That goes for the model and maybe as far as names go too.
All the old man wants to know is that the kid is being careful. And it sure does cross his mind they may need to defend themselves, not just from ridicule. Except, see, who is out at this hour that's milling about. The last time they were this close in public on the street--that was broad daylight but who's counting--they had tits.]
It's no Nighthawk either but it's got a little Nighthawk in it.
[Her. Whichever. Freddy nods one more time, visor down. Who's gonna recognize them now and if anyone did does it really matter? Most people know they run together, maybe the only 'unexpected' aspect would be Mr. White riding bitch. What can Freddy say about that anyway huh? People ought to accept he who builds the bike drives it. Or something. Plus, feeling those paws on his waist is really something.]
And we're off. [The noise thunders onward as he peels out into the street, taking them down the fastest route home.]
[Throwing that out there, without knowing all of the similarities. Freddy'll come up with something.
A ride is just a ride in the public eye right? They say everybody does this in Europe and it's nothing. It's so nothing they got another name for it. Larry can't remember what it is but he remembers a man telling about his globe trotting and the differences between here and there.
Besides, why take the bike away from the man who just put it together. (As though he could muscle Freddy aside and drive...) He'll have to be sure to tell the kid how fucking proud he is to know he put together a whole damn bike. Is that something he'd be embarrassed about? Who the hell knows people who build shit like that? Freddy Newendyke that's who.]
Oh--[the engine thunders and his 'kay' is lost. Larry scoots closer, and keeps a good grip. The only thing worse than riding bitch is falling off they say.]
[Freddy shouts over the engine belatedly. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmm, the bike goes but the streets stay flat along the earth. It's the skies they've got to watch out for. Freddy's already caught two in his mirror, taking off from their perch at the roof of a building they pass.]
[Who says? Oh. That could be someone huh? Sounds like a super hero, now that he really thinks it over. Hawk is a neat name by Larry's count. Speaking of birds, he looks left. Sure enough there are some buzzards. Never saw ones like that. Already he's reaching for one gun, he's got to let go of Freddy with his right, cross drawing out of habit. Larry only takes off the safety when he's sure he's got a good hold on the kid.]
I see em. You focus on getting us there.
[Okay, now he's ready and good thing too because one more has decided to join.]
Ugly pieces of shit.
[Especially when they come on closer. Bang! Bang!]
[Like Lawrence Dimick, Freddy Newendyke here trusts the man with handling his guns. While he's not as strict as Larry, he doesn't let just anyone handle his firearms either. The sound of the bullets hitting their targets is hard and metallic, zinging and pinging like the rounds might just ricochet all over the place but the gunfire sends both pieces of shit crashing into nearby walls.]
Doesn't look like they do too well at night.
[That's praise for you too, Mr. White, not that the kid ever had any doubt about your marksmanship. But wait, while one's left in pieces on the sidewalk the other one's nowhere to be found even though Freddy's fairly sure they both hit.]
[A man trusts their guns with their life, and whoever they trust their guns to, well, that goes without fucking saying. So far one gun does the trick though any quick glance tells the old man to keep his eyes peeled.]
So they aren't part owl.
[All that metal coming to pieces. You can't call them robots though they've got skin.] What the fuck are they supposed to be?
[There's a rattling noise and for a second he believes they lost their fugly friends when one attempts to dive at Freddy's side. Larry's there with a bullet in no time. He is hardly even thinking anymore, just reacting.]
[That fucker takes the kid by surprise, making Freddy lean almost too far down before quickly righting the motorcycle back up. One shot from Two Guns though impacts the piece of shit hard enough to stun it...right before it crashes into a mailbox. Nice work.]
Fuck. [Huff huff. His heart's pumping now.] Fuck main streets.
[A turn and Orange is going down a street less wide than the previous one, with awnings. One bump and he's up on the sidewalk. Bad form for a cop but hey if he doesn't hurt anyone or break shit who's gonna complain right?]
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