“The city is still recovering from the violent attack this afternoon,” the news anchor said to a mostly empty living room but the entire household could hear it going. “The attack occurred around three this afternoon. An explosion engulfed the quiet streets throwing them into chaos. Seven people were killed and several more wounded. The motive seems to have been related to an earlier altercation involving the police.”
“What the hell happened?” Yumi asked coming back into the living room. Shade was with her and she held onto his hand the entire time. He went to sit down and she sat on the arm of the chair looking at him.
“The N Kings,” Shade shook his head rubbing his head and feeling the small band on his temple. Touching it he winced slightly. “News won’t know that but it’s definitely their fault.”
She shook her head, “What’d you do to piss them off too?”
“Wasn’t us,” Phase walked out of the tinker room Roxie following. He rubbed her face and sighed. “It was the police. They started harassing some kids over bullshit.”
“And the Vanguard aren’t pulling punches anymore. Or those kids were done putting up with it.”
“Can’t say I blame them,” Yumi growled. “I’ve been tempted to do the same.”
“Except doing that causes more problems than it fixes.” Phase rubbed his forehead slowly. “A clusterfuck.”
“No shit,” Shade laughed. “Whoever is running the N Kings wanted to send a message to the police and the city at large. The restaurant and everyone else was just caught in the crossfire. Calling Yu a Firebug puts this guy to shame. Actually, had flamethrowers for hands.”
“Whoa,” Yumi looked at her palms, made them glow for a second and then put them out. “Wish I had that.”
“Of course, you do,” Shade smiled and kissed her cheek. “But this was a different entirely. Can still hear the people. Smell the fire.” He shuddered. She wrapped her arm around him tighter and he leaned into her looking toward the floor.
Phase went over to him and squeezed his shoulder and Shade nodded as he walked back toward his room. “Anyway things went to hell for a minute. We did what we could to help out but it was a special kind of shit.”
“The gangs are getting insane,” Yumi said scowling. “These guys are worse than the Vanguard by miles.”
“They’re more aggressive than Rook was. Dusk has competition.”
“At least the two of you are alive,” Feint said looking between the two of them and frowned hard. “But I can’t imagine how the city is going to react to this stuff. Bad enough that we’re on the must watch list.”
“Actually. This might work in our favor,” Darren walked into the living room but before they could make another comment Echo came forward and shook her head taking the tablet from their hands. “Wait what?”
“After today I think now more than ever we need a night off,” she said looking at the assorted members of the family. “No missions. No work. No jobs. Just sitting around together and doing nothing important. We need a night to relax. Probably more than a night but I doubt we could all do that.”
They exchanged looks but what she was saying made sense. Not only did it make sense but the fact that she brought it up made a feeling of exhaustion that went far beyond their bodies rush to their minds. A mental and physical exhaustion from the past few weeks that had just dwelled in them and ignored.
Filling the silence was the TV, the newscaster having shifted over to another, “In other recent news the Neo epidemic is growing. Another reported overdose has been confirmed. That is the twelfth one in the local area over this weekend alone. This highly addictive and dangerous drug has been ravaging communities and the police are doing their best to answer it. Remember everyone, if you see something, say something. Meanwhile the individuals who caused the implosion at Harris LLC are still at large.”
Phase dragged both his hands across his face, “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”
“I’m pretty sure I am,” she pressed her hands together and walked over to Darren. “Come with me my friend.”
“Wait what?”
The doorbell echoed in the apartment and Roxie started barking, tensed up along with everyone else. But Echo was smiling, “I may have ordered food. And I’ll need another hand getting it back up. That’s you Darren. You guys clean up a bit. And get rid of the TV.”
Phase watched Echo take Darren out the front door and looked at everyone else. He turned off the TV and shrugged, “And here I thought I was the leader.”
They all got up and moved around the apartment at Echo’s suggestion. Rogue and Phase dragged the couch back, doing their best to not let it scrap against the floor. Feint and Yumi a folding table from the tinker room into the living room and set it down against the main coffee table.
Their front door opened and first Roxie sprinted inside followed immediately by Echo and Darren. Darren had three pizza box and a few other boxes atop them which obscured their vision as they moved. Echo had four bags spread across both her hands which she dropped down the moment she could.
“Alright everyone, dinner is hot. Grab it now or forever hold your peace,” she said reaching into the cabinets above and grabbing plates and setting them down on top of the pizza. “None of the pop is cold so use ice.”
“Or drink water like a good person,” Rogue said taking a glass and filling it from the pitcher in the fridge.
“Good thing I’m not a good person,” Yumi said picking up one of the bottles of dark cola and put it into the fridge and took another one out and set it on the counter for use later.
Shade set a deck of cards down on the table and went to the kitchen taking the boxes of pizza and set them side by side. He propped them open so everyone could get what they wanted. He loaded his plate with three slices of mushrooms, peppers and sausage.
Phase picked through one of the other containers taking a few of the wings and slice of the meat lovers pizza. Feint passed him taking one of his wings and making her own plate. Roxie sat on just outside of the kitchen her tail wagging back and forth. She kept her eyes trained on Phase as he walked by and sat down in front of the table.
He looked at her and she looked back, not diverting her gaze from the food that she definitely wanted to take. He watched her lick her chops and he just laughed and looked toward the kitchen, “Hey Echo toss me a treat.”
She looked over her shoulder looking at Roxie and smiled. Picking out a treat from the cabinet out of reach of the dog she pulled out the biscuit and tossed it. Phase moved to catch it but Roxie jumped snatching it out of the air. She went down and gnawed on it happily while Phase just watched.
“Oh, so you can do that but you can’t do shake,” Feint said sitting in the chair behind him. She grabbed the dog by the head gently and shook her head back and forth. Roxie just smiled at him her wail wagging furiously. “Is that the case Roxie? You do everything motivated by food?”
“Of course she does,” Yumi rolled her eyes and sat on the opposite side of the table with her pizza balanced between cheesy bread. She took a huge bite and moaned softly, “God this stuff is good.”
“I know. I made sure to get everyone a little bit of their favorites,” Echo crossed her legs sitting at the couch.
“How long have you been thinking about this?” Shade asked balancing his pizza on his fingers and taking a big bite.
“Hm?”
“This big night off thing,” he clarified.
“Oh. A few days actually. Today just pushed me over the edge to force all of us to sit down and breathe. I don’t have to read your minds to sense the stress in the house.”
They ate in silence together for a bit just enjoying the fact that they didn’t have anywhere else to be tonight or anything to do. Yumi took a piece of cheesy bread and leaned back pointed toward Darren. “So Wiz Kid. Been wondering for like ever. Were you always this?”
“Can I get some clarity on what you’re even remotely asking,” Darren said continuing to eat his pizza.
She waved her hands at them, “You know what I mean. Have you always been espionage genius extraordinaire? Were you like in middle school going, ‘When I grow up I wanna be a master hacker and person in the chair”
Darren couldn’t help but laugh at that and sighed, “No Yumi. I didn’t always want to be this. I lucked into it.”
Yumi just scowled and waved her hands at them, “What does that mean?”
“I’m curious too actually,” Shade said. “When I first met you, you were pretty deep into this life.”
“You said you were a bishop for a while,” Feint said thoughtfully. “What were you before that?”
“Story time Wiz Kid.”
Darren sighed looking around the group but they had everyone’s attention at this point. “Alright. The best place to look at is around high school. As you all know, I’m very smart. So I skipped a few grades along the way. Getting a scholarship wasn’t hard but I got bored easily. Most of my computer skills were self-taught back then. Only way for me to really learn was trial and error. My biggest experiment was hacking a place called Albasta Science.”
“Wait. The Albasta Science?” Rogue repeated and Darren nodded. “But you were a kid then.”
Feint shook her head, “You really went and hacked Albasta on a whim?”
“It was a challenge and I wanted to see if I could. And I could,” Darren shrugged.
Yumi looked around at them and scowled, “So we’re just not gonna explain what Albasta Science is huh?”
“They were a cutting edge pharmaceutical company. They had some of the most advanced cyber security in the business back then.” Feint told her.
“And what I and the rest of the world didn’t know about was that they were one of many groups partnered with the Royals,”
Shade raised his eyebrows, “Oh shit.”
Darren nodded, “I got in but I didn’t see much. The Royals came and found me a little after that. It turns out they keep an eye out for people like me and normally they get discouraged from repeat attempts. But the one who came to deal with me thought otherwise. Saw something they liked.
“About a week later I got a letter in the mail about a job interview. I can still remember it. Something like ‘You have been invited to take an exam for a position with Albasta Science for a position within their R&D department. The exam is to take place now.’”
“Now?” Yumi raised her eyebrow. “What did they just show up at your place?”
“Yep.”
Phase blinked, “You’re serious?”
“Don’t underestimate how much effort I put in to keep us a secret all these years. The Royals were a scary group then. If they wanted to find someone they had the resources and the means to do it. And they found me. I think it was like five minutes after I opened the letter that I had a knock on my door.”
“What did your parents say about this?”
“Not a damn thing. They shipped me off to boarding school the moment they could. Having someone like me at home was too much for them.”
“A super genius?”
“Super genius nonbinary hacker teenager,” they shrugged.
Yumi frowned, “Sorry Wiz Kid.”
“Don’t worry. I’m beyond over that part of my life,” they shook their head. “But yeah. The job they offered me was a recruitment program. Seeing if I really had what it takes to become something useful to the Royals. I passed their expectations in a lot of ways.”
“What if you didn’t pass?” Rogue asked.
Darren shrugged, “Who knows? Never focused on that. Just thought about the fact that I passed.”
“Did you go to college?” Phase asked.
“I did. All on their dime,” Darren rubbed their fingers together and laughed. Their laughter died out after a few moments and they sighed. “I did a lot of good work for the Royals. Some of my personal best. For a while I thought that the Royals were a family I could rely on. But as you know things didn’t work out.”
“You had a messy break up but ended up finding someone new and better,” Yumi said nodding smugly.
Shade nodded back at her, “Exactly. Though they think about their ex a bit Darren is faithful to us.”
“That’s why we love you Wiz Kid.”
Darren sighed heavily, “You guys are all exhausting. I want you to know that.”
“That’s what family is for,” Phase put his hand on their shoulder.
Darren looked at the six of them one by one and couldn’t help the smile that spread across their face. Raising their glasses they rubbed their eyes quickly before taking another bite of the pizza. “Yeah. I guess so.”
Everyone finished eating and even had seconds, and in Yumi and Phase’s cases thirds. Phase and Feint went back toward the kitchen coming back with glasses and two half empty bottles, one of dark liquor and the other tequila. While they passed them around Shade nodded to Rogue then reached under the table pulling out the deck of cards and shuffled again.
“What’s all this Shadeow?”
“I figured since we’re all going to relax together. We can play a bit of cards,” he bridged the deck and then started dealing them out to everyone but Echo. “I’ll be our dealer and Echo can be our banker. Sorry Echo, did you actually want to play.”
She tapped her nose, “I’m talented but even I have limits.”
“What are we playing? Blackjack?” Phase asked.
“You got it,” Shade flashed him a grin. “Cause I don’t know how to play Poker.”
“Seriously?” Darren raised their eyebrow.
“Yep. Never learned and never tried to.”
Feint giggled softly, “You and Yumi really are a match made in heaven.”
Rogue glanced at his cards then at Shade, “Don’t play favorites with Firebug.”
“He wouldn’t do that Senpai. Would you Shadeow?” she blew a kiss his way and Shade just laughed.
“Fair and unbiased dealership is the name of the game.”
Phase snorted, “What’s the count?”
He shrugged, “Who knows. I’m betting Feint does.”
“I wouldn’t know this early if I did,” Feint replied.
“Really? I’m betting I could guess it,” Darren said sipping from their drink. “But I want to give you all a fair shot.”
Yumi peaked over her cards at Rogue, “And you worried about me cheating. Look at them.”
“So let’s do a quick practice round so we can get used to the timing,” Shade said and glanced at everyone. “So what’ll it be?”
“Hit me,” Darren said.
“Me too,” Phase added.
Yumi snapped her fingers, “And me,”
“I’m good,” Feint said leaning back and sipping her drink.
“I’ll go in,” Rogue said.
“Awesome, amazing,” he dealt another round of cards around one after another. “What’s it looking like everyone.”
“Hit me?” Phase questioned slowly.
“I’m good this time,” Darren said and sipped their drink.
Yumi didn’t respond and pouted looking toward the ground.
Rogue waved his hand, “I’m good too.”
“Don’t make me regret my choice now guys,” Phase laughed and glanced at Shade.
Shade dealt him one more and Phase groaned, “Too greedy leader. So now that we’re all good let’s see if the dealer can bust.” He flipped his cards over revealing 10 and then dealt, 15, 17, 23. “Oof. There goes me. Which of you have it?”
Rogue flipped his cards, “20.”
“18 here,” Feint raised and shrugged and looked at Darren. “Thought I had a good one.”
“Close. I had 19. Looks like Rogue’s poker face is just that good.”
“Okay practice round over, let’s do it for real this time,” Yumi clapped her hands together. “Deal em out Shadeow.”
Shade chuckled, “Alright. But this time let’s play it the right way. In hindsight I’m realizing I did that a little wrong. Can’t’ have you guys going to a casino and only knowing house rules.”
“Puhlease. I know the right rules,” Yumi said sipping her drink again. “Now deal. Those. Bones.”
And so, he dealt them out keeping a 3 face up and a mystery face down. They watched their cards get dealt until they were all on the table. Yumi’s were 2+3=5. Rogue had K+6 =16. Phase had 6+6=12. Feint had 2+A which she chose to make a 3. Finally Darren got an 8+Q=18.
He turned to Yumi first and spread his hands. “What’ll it be Yu?”
She stared at her meager numbers and pounded her fist into the table, “Hit me.” He did and dropped a 7. “Again.” And then a 5. She stopped for a moment and mulled on her 17. “I’ll stay.”
“Wow you’re showing restraint Firebug?” Rogue raised his eyebrow. “I’m impressed.”
“Mind your business Senpai. You’re up.”
“With a 16? I’m staying thanks.”
Shade laughed and went to Phase, “Alright leader. What’ll it be?”
“Split.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Shade slid the cards apart and dealt two more. A 1+6 to get 7 for one and a K+6 to get 16 for the other. Shade pointed to the first and got a 4 to an 11. He pointed again getting a 3 up to 14. After some thought he pointed one more time and got a 6.
“A 20 and a 16? I’ll stand for both of those thank you.” Feint tapped his shoulder lightly and nodded. “Not looking good for you Yu.”
She flashed both her middle fingers getting a laugh out of Phase and Echo. “Don’t be a sore loser Yumi,” Echo chided.
“I ain’t lost yet,” she pouted hard. “Shadeow could still win and that counts for me.” She glanced at Phase and winked. “Or you leader.” He tipped his drink and she tipped back.
“That so Yu?” Shade chuckled and moved on, “Alright Feint. Tell me you’re going to hit.”
“Mmhm,” he dealt her a 7 and she motioned for another. She got a 5 and she thought on her 15 before motioning for one more. It was a 9 and she shrugged. “Bust. Can’t win them all.”
“Amen to that,” Shade clapped his hands together. “Last but not least its you Darren. What’ll it be?”
“Trick question. I’m staying.”
“Read my mind,” Shade smirked. “So just to go over it, Yu has a 17, Rogue has a 16, Phase with a 20 and a 16. Feint’s out and Darren’s got an 18. Phase is looking good. Let’s see if I can beat him.”
Shade moved his 3 to the side and revealed a 5. Then he started dealing cards: 7. K. “Out I go at 25. Good job leader.” Collecting the cards together he shuffled them up for another set.
“Boooo,” Yumi finished her drink and shook her head. “I want another round! And another drink. Shadeow!”
Hours blended together and the amount of alcohol they had also slipped away. They’d played dozens of hands between them at this point and no one victor could be decided on. They thought about betting on something but no one was sober enough to keep track of their cards. Even now Shade leaned back against the couch for support, Yumi’s head in his lap as she dozed off. He sloppily threw cards at Feint and Rogue who were still sitting up with drinks half finished.
“How are you two still going?” Phase asked fighting the urge to scowl. He lifted up his glass and tried to drink but it was empty. He stared at it frowning for a moment when Echo walked past taking the glass from him and replacing it with a glass of water. “What’s this?”
“It’s what you need to drink instead,” she said and stepped over Darren who was passed out on the floor. She kept going and sat on the couch behind Rogue and smiled. “I don’t know if this is what I had planned when I said we spend time together but I had fun.”
“I can agree with that,” Phase laughed raising his glass.
Feint peeked at her cards and looked at Rogue with a suppressed snort, “I’m looking at a strong 11 Rogue. You want to challenge me on that?”
Rogue stared at his own 13 and raised his eyebrow, “Maybe. Unless you’ve got a strong hunch on what the next card is going to be.”
“I’m going to double down. So what’s that tell you?”
She motioned to Shade to let him know that that was her play. Rogue stared at her and tossed his hand into the air finishing his drink in one swallow. Shade stared at the two of them and leaned back on his hands and tossed the top card of the deck her way. It flipped over revealing a queen and she fanned herself lightly and smirked. “I’m glad that counting works exactly like I think it does.”
“Hey you want a job? I can find you a group of people,” Shade laughed pushing the cards away and ran his fingers across Yumi’s forehead lightly. He just stared at her for a long moment and sighed. “You know I love this pain in the ass. Way more than I should.”
“Trust me, we all know,” Feint said smiling broadly.
Phase snorted as he took another sip. “Definitely. But I’m assuming you two haven’t openly said it yet. So do that whenever you feel like it but remember that we’re on your side with it. You’ve been with us almost since day 1. Not like either of you two need my permission to do anything.”
Phase pushed the glass away and lay his head back down against the chair. Feint walked over to him and wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. Shade sighed and started to stand up, balancing carefully so that he could slip one arm under Yumi’s neck and the other around her legs. Half asleep she managed to wrap her arms around his neck and mumbled something.
“I’m going to carry her back to bed,” Shade said taking one stumbling step forward and then another as he got himself together. “We’ll see you guys in the morning.”
“Yeah. Night you two,” Phase waved and groaned putting one hand to his forehead lightly as they went past. “I feel like we should get to our bed too.” Feint mumbled something that he barely heard and she moved up to whisper it again and this time he just snorted. “Not out here we’re not.”
“Not out there you’re not,” Echo repeated her voice echoing through their minds. “Go to bed Leader and Feint. In a very sleepy way. Not in the other way.”
Feint rolled her eyes and sighed, “Fine. I’m not moving from here though. I’m comfortable.”
Phase nodded slowly and closed his eyes, “Me too.”
The Harlequin Library 