Running on empty

[stone_roses]

Who: Vivian. Breacan. Mac. Eothian.
When: Now.
Where: Trinidad - still.

Rating: R for violence.
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The one thing that surprised Vivian about Audr’s brother was the fact the captain never stopped to kill anyone. She was quite sure he was able to take out the men they were running from, instead, they ran. When she just about had enough of being drag along and finding herself dodging bullets the captain managed to lose the group of hunters. She didn’t under stand why they just didn’t kill the bad guys.

As they drove away in a taken car she gave the man beside her a side glace. He looked like ‘good people’. Her gaze moved over the man’s profile noting the firm jaw with a hint of five o’clock shadow, the elegant nose, the round almost baby face, and soft lips ---lips that didn’t seem to have a cynical line to them --- lips meant for kissing. She wondered who had kissed that mouth. The face was, she decided, impressive. That kind of face could have got him any where and probably did. He was quieter than the strong hand man at the safe house named Mac. Vivian wondered what this man’s story was. There was a story she was certain of that, they all had stories.



Vivian settled back in her seat as the captain drove them to the next place to keep her safe. She leant her forward against the closed window of the car door and closed her eyes. Distrust lingered in her, right then she didn’t have a choice, trusting these people was her only choice for the moment.

When she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and a voice calling her, Vivian stirred out of the broken sleep. Her body ached and her head felt fuzzy, making her wished she had forgone the stolen bit of sleep. Her dark wide sleep filled eyes settled on the man who was watching her with concern. ’Yes,’ she reflected, ’the face was definitely impressive.’ Getting out of the car, Vivian stretched, and blinked when she realized they weren’t at the safe house.

“Why aren’t we at the safe house?”

“The security has been comprised there.”

Shivering slightly at the way he said the world comprised, Vivian spoke again,

“Markus?”

“Yes.”

Tears pricked at the back of her eyes and she forced them away. She hadn’t cried in years, what was wrong with her?.

“The two men. The brothers…”

“Are quite safe and capable men.”

Vivian sighed. “Markus would have…”

“Yes.” Breacan didn’t need Vivian to finish the sentence. He, now, knew quite well what Markus would have done.

They made their way into a dingy block of apartments. There was nothing about the place which made it stand out, while run down it still had inhabitants housing the various small apartments. Vivian followed Breacan to one of the apartments and waited as he let himself in. They were greeted with the sight of Eothian’s gun, the old man lowered the weapon and eased off the trigger.

“Hello to you too.” Vivian quipped.

Eothian gave her a dazzling smile. “You missed the party Markus threw for us, baby.”

“Well, I didn’t have nothing to wear.” It was easy to banter with the youngest child of Lir. Even though Vivian could see the expression in his eyes was more haunted than the last time she had seen him. And he was holding onto the toy cow as if his life depended on it.

“What’s with the toy cow?” She asked trying to not to ask him how badly Markus had hurt him. She knew. She had seen what Markus could do.

“I’ll tell you some other time.”

There was a discreet cough as the captain interjected into the conversation. “Is Fiachra still present here?”

A hand rose up from the other side of the couch.

“Present and accounted for.” Replied Mac tiredly.

Vivian moved into the room, making her way to round the couch. She was met with the sight of the tough man stretched out on the couch. There was a plate of unfinished pancakes on the coffee table near the couch and he was nursing a bottle of tequila as if his life depended on it.

“Good thing I didn’t wait out side the bathroom window.”

She knew what he meant and gave a soft smile. He looked awful. The half dead kind of awful that made her stomach churn. He had survived something bad and it just hurt her to look at him. Vivian lowered her gaze.

“I’m good.”

Her gaze rose up again and she nodded her head briefly. She knew he’d be okay. Turning away Vivian looked back and forth between Breacan and Eothian, “What happens now?”

Breacan spoke, “Madame should let her self rest.”

Eothian turned to Breacan, “You want me to head out and see if I can find a way off this Island that won’t attract attention?”

“Yes, Lieutenant.” The captain moved to the chair picking up a duffle bag. “My turn for point.”

“I just can’t sleep and do nothing. Let me help!” Vivian protested.

She edged away from the fight at the hardening of Breacan’s gaze. “We are not negotiating Madame.”

That ended that. She sighed, “I can’t sleep on my own. I should do something.” Maybe not quite ended that.

Breacan arched an eyebrow. Eothian’s gaze widened at the statement of her not being able to sleep on her own.

“Perhaps Madame can begin to learn.”

He was met with a childish pout. Breacan gave Eothian a side look and his gaze dropped to Moo-Moo.

“Oh no, baby, no.” He clutched the toy cow refusing to give it up. There was a moment of silence as two sets of eyes fell onto the couch and the out of sight Mac as he lay stretched out. Mac’s hard voice broke the silence.

“Hell no.” Mac said, and when they faced him he knew he wasn’t about to win.

“She can keep an eye on you at the same time.” Said Eothian as he tried to convince his brother to let Vivian stay with him.

“Fia…” he pleaded again.

Mac closed his eyes and groaned in defeat. He was too tired to argue. Eothian gave a sound of happiness, and smacked a noisy kiss on Mac’s forehead. “I’ll be back before you know it.” Mac swatted him away.

“Just get us off this damn Island.” He grumbled.

Vivian couldn’t help the smile appear on her face at the sight of the playful affection between the two brothers. She wondered who the eldest was. Suddenly the fatigue took over her and there was nothing else in her thoughts as Vivian took up the invitation to join Mac on the couch. The door closed on the apartment as Eothian and Breacan made their way out. Breacan would stay to secure the area and Eothian left to find transport for them all.

As she lay against Mac. Vivian asked the question she wanted to know the answer to,

“Which of you is the oldest?”

Mac put the bottle of Tequila aside and draped an arm across his eyes. His body shifted on the couch to accomadate Vivian laying against him.

“I am,” There was the briefest of pauses, “by two minutes.”

Vivian took in the startling revelation, “You’re twins?! But…you look nothing alike…how does that work?”

“Yeah. Long story.”

With her head laying against Mac's chest, Vivian was more than pleasantly surprised to find his muscled body still had a softness, making him a some what comfortable human pillow.

“How long?” She waited for a response and the answer she got was the sound of very loud snoring from Mac. Vivian couldn’t help giggling at the sweet but annoying sound and sighed, closing her eyes to give into her own sleep.