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I'm downtown all the time! I drive a car that costs more than the bar he burned down. [This might not be true but it's close enough, the point stands, listen—] Someone out there already knows who I am and how often I'm with you, someone who isn't on your side!

[Right? Logically, for several months he hasn't gone unnoticed, the rich boy with the nice car who always comes around.]

Leaving me alone won't protect me any more than the alternative.

[That . . . makes an unfortunate amount of sense, which only adds to his quiet terror. Yeah, Ling's right, somebody probably does know-- which means Ling got out without a scratch because either Father didn't want to deal with all the fuss that'd come from someone wealthy getting hurt, or the Devil's Nest was just a first warning.]

So what? You're gonna stick around with me here? Living in the shadows right up until it's daybreak and you go home?

[That—stings, in a way he doesn't expect. He hasn't been living two lives all this time, but he's straddled the line between the two very different worlds they come from and, yes, he gets to go home at the end of the day. Eventually, he gets to leave the shadows and go back to his money and his mansion. He looks down.

In some other life, Ling gives in here. He concedes and he leaves, and it hurts, but life goes on and maybe he sees Greed in passing one day and maybe he never sees him again, but life goes on.

Maybe that Ling is smarter than this one, maybe not. Everyone chooses a side eventually.]

I'm going to stay with you whether you like it or not. [Flippant, but it doesn't match the look in his eyes. He sits up straighter, holding his arms out to gesture at the room. It's symbolic.] This is home now.

[He stares at Ling for a long few seconds, his eyes wide and his expression stricken. He'd think Ling was being rash if not for the look in his eyes. That's an easy thing to say, but Ling isn't stupid. He's seen how Greed lives, and he knows exactly the kinds of people he runs around with. Sure, maybe he doesn't have all the details, but it isn't as if he's seen only the good shit.

So Greed doesn't immediately scoff, no, because Ling is quite serious. But that doesn't mean he accepts it.]

You sure about that? Really sure? Because there's no going back if you change your mind. You can't break up with me and go home three months down. If you join us, you join us for life-- and I do mean for life.

None of these people have anywhere else to go. I won't tell you where I picked up most of em, but trust me, this life? Is a hell of an improvement. It wouldn't be for you. You're a trust fund kid, you've gotten everything you've ever wanted from the start.

Edited 2018-05-21 07:55 (UTC)

[Ling knows exactly how serious this is, and even if he hadn't before tonight - Greed's father tried to kill him and all of his friends, which is kind of a huge tipoff. And Ling knows Greed is right when he says there's no going back. He can't slink back to the Yao estate and climb in through his window and go back to sleep if he does this, heaven knows if he can help the family this way--

(But he hasn't done anything worthwhile for them so far, he thinks, and maybe joining a gang will somehow do the trick! Maybe it doesn't matter anymore, maybe they'll replace him in an instant with someome more pliable, maybe they already have after he stormed out—)

Maybe Greed and his people are more like a family to him than the one he's known, and money goes far but it doesn't carry a person the way being welcomed into a group like this does. At least they call him by his name.]

Did you think I was going to break up with you anyway...? [He's getting a vibe here, but maybe they can address that later. Now it's simply this decision, and Ling is ambitious with a head full of half-formed plans for greatness but beneath all that he wants to just... be around people who want him. That's not so much to ask, is it?

Maybe it's unconventional to join a gang when he could buy all the friends he wants, but, well, there's the difference - the money is a non-starter. He's thinking too hard about it; simply put, he wants to be with Greed and his people more than he wants to be dumped and sent home to entertain people he hates whose names he can barely remember.

It should be fine.]

You're definitely wrong about what I want, [and he holds his hand out before Greed can make more of a fuss. Shake it? Or something? He doesn't know the proper agreement ritual here, but just come back over to him already.] I'm yours.

[There'll be time enough later to address Greed's slip of the tongue and his deep insecurities and terrors. More important now is the issue at hand, and so he ignores that first question in favor of the rest.

He looks at Ling's hand for a long few seconds, not saying anything. Maybe the responsible, kind thing to do would be to refuse it. Actually, that's definitely the right choice here. He ought to refuse the kid, throw him out and send him home, because living in the shadows stains you for life. Does Ling realize that? Does he realize that there's really, truly no turning back?

But then again: had Greed, that night when he'd fled?]

You're an idiot.

[He scoffs it out as he grabs his wrist, yanking him up and towards Greed. One arm wraps around his lower back as he tips his head down, kissing the top of his head.]

My idiot, though.

[But that's enough of the emotions. It's easier to joke than to be genuine, and so he leans back, glancing down at him.]

You don't get special favors just because you're fucking the boss, you know.

[Greed can call him whatever he wants - he is an idiot, this is a genuinely stupid and dangerous thing to throw himself into blindly, it's true. But he wants what he wants, and so - here he is, Greed's for the taking even more than he was before. He's still looking at him with that same serious gaze, but a spark of something happier lights up in him as soon as Greed pulls him close. His fingers curl in the back of Greed's shirt, content just to be close to him again, after a very harrowing ten minutes.

He's an idiot. It's fine. This definitely isn't the time for jokes but he raises an eyebrow up at Greed, not smirking, but close.]

I think you'd have to actually sleep with me first for that to be funny. [You goddamn tease!! Anyway, he's cool with it, he's fine...

And also,] Lan Fan?

[Can he bring his number one girl! He's going to!]

[The smile doesn't drop off his face, but he's not joking when he says:]

That's up to her.

[So, like, she's definitely allowed, he'd love to have her near, he's heard great things about her, even met her once as she glared at him from a distance, but he's not going to forcibly press-gang her just because Ling's here.

But that's something for Ling and Lan Fan to settle. For now . . . he pushes his bangs back away from his face, looking down at him.]

But you're going home tonight. Don't argue-- that's your first lesson, when I tell you to do something you do it, yeah? It's not a choice.

Go home, pick up a bunch of things for yourself. Weapons, if you have them; a few changes of practical clothes. Any spare money, as much as you can get. And if you've got something sentimental, bring it, but don't overburden yourself. We're traveling light for a while.

[Ling doesn't say it, but he knows Lan Fan will come along. She might not approve - she certainly will not, actually, at least at first - but she's Ling's as much as all the people outside of this room are Greed's; she'll come. She'll have the weapons Greed wants him to pick up, too. Now the question is, how much can he cash out before he disappears into the night forever?]

When do I come back? [In the morning, or when he's picked up his things?? He's going to have to take a bus or something so his fancy car isn't just sitting on the street for weeks...] I hope it goes without saying that if you leave without me, I'll find you.

[try him!!]

Yeah, yeah, take it easy, Liam Neeson . . . I'm not gonna leave without you. Come back tomorrow morning, right before dawn. Call it . . . five AM, maybe, right around there. Everybody'll be going in and out of the building around that time anyway, so you shouldn't run into trouble.

[He needs to go soon, but he can wait just a minute longer. Greed's hands drag over him, fussing lightly, tugging at his clothes and smoothing back his hair.]

Be careful, all right? Whatever she decides, have her at least come with you tomorrow morning.

[To think Greed tried to separate them, when he still acts like this... laughable. Ling nods a few times, only letting go of Greed and leaning away to pick his phone up off the bed before he hugs tight around his waist again. A minute is fine; he can get a lot out of a minute, and when he leans back he looks like he might have something more to say, hesitates, then pushes up on his toes to kiss Greed quickly instead.]

I'll be back.

[And then he's gone, slipping out of the apartment and back down to the street. He does go home - climbs in through the window, avoids speaking to anyone except for Lan Fan, and that is an argument for the ages. She'll follow him anywhere, but she plainly refuses to help him pack - fair enough. Some clothes, Lan Fan's personal arsenal, the money he can get away with taking without raising suspicion—waiting until the hour before daybreak is the worst part.

When the time comes they go out the window again, Lan Fan first, and Ling pauses before tossing his bag down to her to look back at his bedroom and wonder. Something sentimental, Greed had said, and it occurs to him he doesn't have anything like that.

That's that, then. They're gone, and public transit at five in the morning is a real adventure, and then Ling shows up again at number 303 with an angry girl who's boring holes through the door with her gaze before they're even let inside. Lan Fan is having a fantastic time already.]

[Five in the morning, and Ling gets a few sleepy greetings as he heads up the stairs, because it's just as Greed had said: there's a fair few people heading out. Some of them look familiar, although distantly so; they're all changed in some way, shorter hair or scarves around their faces, keeping their identities somewhat hidden.

Some-- the more injured ones, the ones that slept on the bed last night, the ones that need a better doctor than they really have-- are still around. And Greed, of course, who is the one to answer the door, first with a gun and then with a grin as he sees who it is.]

Lan Fan!

[An enthusiastic little greeting, made entirely because she looks like she hates him.]

No trouble? C'mon, let's see what you've got--

[He jerks his head, leading them to the kitchen. There's somebody dozing there, holding a mug of coffee and perched on the counter, but Greed waves them off as they try and get up.]

Nah, nah, stay-- here. How much did you manage to get out?

[The money, he means, as he straddles a chair and sits at the kitchen table.]

[Lan Fan hates him, that's true, that doesn't even take a good eye to spot; she nearly snarls at him when he greets her, after already pulling Ling out of the way when he opens the door with a goddamn gun. She is so... unhappy with this situation. But Ling pats her on the shoulder and follows Greed inside, leaving Lan Fan to pick up the rear and linger not too close to Ling, but close enough that she could murder anyone who looked at him wrong in here.

You know, all these injured people. They could be dangerous, nursing bullet wounds like that.

Ling, on the other hand, is incredibly pumped. Possibly too excited, but then, he's always excitable. He plops his bag of stuff down on the table and rifles under some shirts before he reveals- like this is a bonafide heist movie- a bunch of stacks of cash.

Rich boy rising, possibly for the last time.]

Enough, I think. You could hire a doctor.

[A shady one, but still.]

[He whistles softly. He would've been fine if Ling hadn't grabbed anything-- annoyed, maybe, because he's rich (or was rich, whatever)-- but nor had he expected this much.]

Shit . . .

[Maybe he hadn't had to send them all out after all . . . ah, well, he'll call them back in a few weeks. It's always good to have some extra money, anyway.]

Yeah. I'll see who we can get.

[It's definitely going to be someone shady, though. But whatever! Greed takes those, rising to tuck them away in the one bedroom. Lan Fan isn't pleased by that, him just taking the money, but whatever! Suck it, Lan Fan, he's the boss now!

Besides, he has a plan.]

There's an empty building I got my eye on. Restaurants are pretty good as fronts, but kind of risky, and I hate cooking anyway. Might go for a night club . . . pity we can't do another bar, but it'd be too obvious.

[His rich boy funds are officially limited, so take care of those. Ling trails after him, motioning for Lan Fan not to stay on his heels the whole time, just relax or something— which she couldn't possibly do, but she does sit down at the table and glare after them both.

Great time. Now, it's Greed time...]

What am I going to do?

[Like, he can participate, right? That's technically his money, even if he wouldn't play that card.]

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

[Because yes, he's participating. Greed sprawls on the empty bed, beckoning Ling to join him.]

Let's say for a minute we do go with a club. What d'ya think you'd be best at?

[Nice, he gets to be important. He crawls onto the bed and curls up against Greed instantly and would have even if he hadn't been summoned. It's been a long week; they deserve this cuddling.

Now, what talents does he have besides jumping around. Hm.]

Entertainment? [Eh? No, that's nothing.] I don't know, I could wait tables?

I'm not gonna make you a stripper.

[Obviously. And he says that just gruffly enough it's clear the ideas of strippers in general, if not Ling in particular, has crossed his mind. But yes, come here, and he wraps his arms around him, pulling him atop him so he can run his hands over his back.]

Waiter's a good start. Yeah . . . you'll get a good feel for how things work, both in the club and behind the scenes, and we can go from there. Yeah, all right . . .

[God, but it's a pain in the ass to start up a new business. Greed groans softly and leans forward, burying his face against Ling's hair.]

[What if he wanted to be a stripper? He would be a terrible stripper getting by solely on his cute face and sweet ass alone, terrible plan, he'll be a waiter. He settles comfortably with one arm folded over Greed's chest, reaching for his hair with the other. This is nice, and he's quiet, enjoying the closeness, but...

After a pause,] I'm sorry about the bar.

[Ah. There's silence for a few seconds, thoughtful and calm, as he tries to think of how to best respond to this. His heart pounds too hard, his breathing coming in shorter, but his expression doesn't change. He stares at the ceiling, his eyes a little dull, before he heaves a sigh.]

Be more sorry for Ulchi.

[Because of course, that's the one corpse that had been left behind. Bullet-sprayed and their first warning that things were about to shatter. They'd thrown his corpse into the bar, and then . . . chaos, mostly. Screams and shouts, gunfire and molotov cocktails being thrown in through the broken glass, the smell of blood thick in the air . . .

Greed's fingers curl in Ling's shirt, but he keeps his temper under control for the moment.]

. . . I shoulda seen it coming. The old man was never gonna let me get away forever.

[Ah, so that's who it was, then— Ling frowns, brow furrowed, looking down and plucking idly at Greed's shirt collar just to give himself something to focus on. He wasn't there, he isn't sure how to sympathize; all he can do right now is wait for Greed to open up more about it.

—And we're getting right into the daddy issues part of the evening, well, alright. Then Ling will get right into it, as well-]

What happened between you and your father?

[He laughs, short and sharp and humorless.]

Y'know how you hear about those families where the mom gets knocked up a bunch of times because she's always wanted a set number? It's, uh, kinda like that, except my pops wanted a set number of kids who'd do shit for him.

He's got his fingers in a little bit of everything. Drugs and prostitution rings and real estate swindling, all that shit. He likes the power, you know? There's probably some whole psychological analyzing you could do on it, but all I know is, he likes being more powerful than anyone else.

[His fingers drift through Ling's hair, smoothing it out and sweeping it back.]

So. Seven kids, cuz he figured we'd be more loyal. Blood ties, you know? And hey, six outta seven isn't so bad. But I thought there was probably more to life than just running at his heels my whole life.

[It almost sounds like his own father, Ling thinks, but more criminal. And with fewer kids. And - and this is probably the big one - no attempted murder of the children.

So really, what they have in common is being complete assholes who are excellent at driving their sons away. Great. Ling hums low, leaning his head into Greed's hand and thinking.]

So you ran away. [Factual, without disapproval. It seems like the best choice he could have made, actually.] And that's as bad as insulting him to his face, I'm guessing?

Pretty much.

[He keeps moving his hand, soothed by the steady rhythm and the warmth of Ling above him.]

He'd like it best if I came back alive, I think, but fuck that. I'd rather keep running than ever go back to working for him.

[A beat, and he bares his teeth in a grin.]

At least he showed me how to run a gang real well.

[That's his Greed... always thinking about, uh, crime.]

Ah, you know, this explains a lot about why nobody would talk to me when I first came downtown.

[Thugs... thugs he now loves and cherishes, but thugs.]

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