Starbourne, page 22
“Alexander,” Teagen said, rising to her feet. “Can you come here for a moment?”
Hoss raised his brows and nodded. “Sure-thing, sweet-thang. Whatcha’ need?” He asked as he sat on the stool beside where Teagen was now standing.
Taking a deep breath, Jaeden pushed himself out of the booth and approached the bar. He walked behind it and retrieved a bottle of clear liquor along with a shot glass. He filled the shot glass with the liquor and replaced the lid on the bottle.
“You gonna’ pay for that? For you? It’s triple the price!” Hoss laughed, pointing at the shot glass.
“We need to talk,” Jaeden said dryly. He picked up the glass and shot the liquor back, before placing the empty cup back on the countertop.
“Aces, what’re we planning?” Hoss’ facial expression grew more serious.
“How to correct your behavior,” Teagen said, stepping beside the countertop.
A deep laugh escaped from Hoss as he looked at Teagen. Jaeden watched the expression on Hoss’ face change from amusement to confusion. Hoss looked from Teagen to Jaeden, and a menacing scowl took form.
“Hold up, my behavior?” Hoss repeated.
Jaeden ran a hand over his mustache and beard. “Why are you trying to gun everyone down, man?”
Hoss dropped his head down and groaned. “This about last night? I already apologized.”
“And that was appreciated, but we need to address the issue directly,” Teagen added.
Hoss sat rigidly in the stool; face pointed towards the ground. He didn’t verbally respond, but Jaeden watched as Hoss began to shake his head. A low growl escaped from him as his breathing began to become visually heavier.
“You guys can’t be serious, right?” Hoss muttered quietly.
Teagen nodded once and turned her head to the side. “I’m afraid we are, Alex–”
“You wanna’ address an issue directly,” Hoss snapped, “How about Jae’s pill poppin?”
“What?” Teagen gasped, taking a step backwards.
Jaeden cringed as he too stepped back. “What does that have to do with anything.”
“You’re goin’ to give me hades? For what? Getting shaz done?” Hoss spat, rising to his feet. He turned and pointed a finger towards Jaeden, before facing Teagen. “Has he told you what that’s about Teagen? Dude goes off to get straight, comes back in worse shape than before, his personality is all different, and now he’s a pill head.”
Heat flushed Jaeden’s face and he adjusted his jaw. “That’s none of your business.”
“All I’m saying is, what makes you so high and mighty that you can judge me.” Hoss snapped. “At least I’m not a junky.”
“A junky?” Jaeden repeated, raising a hand to his chest.
“My guy, are you gonna’ try and deny it? I saw you with the pills.” Hoss said, squaring his shoulders. “I even caught you trying to buy some shaz off that dealer the other day.”
Jaeden stepped closer to the bar and placed his hands on the counter. “Are you out of your–”
“This is a distraction, Alexander.” Teagen interrupted, “We are not trying to attack you, we are trying–”
“Oh facts, is it?” Hoss cut Teagen off, “Well how about these facts. Ever since this golden boy showed back up, you’ve been throwing a lot of gloom my way. Coincidence?”
Jaeden prepared a response of his own but stopped when he thought about what Teagen had just said. This was just a distraction. Hoss was in survival mode and trying to get the attention off himself.
“Stop dodging Hoss.” Jaeden said, taking a deep breath, “You tried to gun those guys down.”
“Why are you worried about some random NPCs? We didn’t have a choice!” Hoss exclaimed, stepping away from the countertop.
Jaeden scoffed and waved a hand, “We clearly did have a choice. We pulled it off and we didn’t have to shoot anybody in there.”
“In situations like that, there are always alternatives,” Teagen added. “We had planned for those scenarios. We just had to trust the process.”
Hoss turned away from Teagen and kicked his foot at something on the floor. “I wasn’t actually going to shoot them. I would have just threatened them. At gunpoint, they would have done whatever I said.”
“And then what?” Jaeden pressed. “Let’s say you did that, and you had complete control. We get the painting, and then what?”
“And then we would have been out of there,” Hoss said, looking up toward Jaeden.
“But now we’ve got two guards that have seen us and would have set off the alarm the first chance they got.” Jaeden retorted.
“Okay, so then…” Hoss started, eyes darting from side to side as he thought. “I would have threatened them that if they did that, I would find them afterward and–”
“Do you see how insanely stupid this all is?” Jaeden said. “You’re just making it up as you go. We had a plan already. All we had to do was stay calm and stick to it.”
“If you continue to act like a bloodthirsty wildcard, you will soon be treated like one,” Teagen reinforced, “And I do not associate with those that act like that. Consider this a warning.”
Hoss opened his mouth to respond first to Jaeden, but then turned to look at Teagen. His eyes darted from one to the other, as he stood motionless and contemplated internally. Jaeden watched as Hoss closed his mouth and dropped his hands to his sides.
Pursing his lips together, Hoss ran a hand through his hair. “Alright. I think I got it.” He exhaled deeply and crossed his arms across his chest.
Jaeden saw the anxiety in Hoss and looked for a way to relax the situation. “Look man, maybe some of this is on me too. I know I razz you a lot and if–”
“Nah,” Hoss interrupted, “You’re right. Both of you. It’s me. Like I said last night, I just get into these moods where like, all I see is red. I just don’t want anything to get in the way of…” Hoss trailed off, his eyes losing focus. “Our future.”
Leaning back against the wall behind the counter, Jaeden raised a hand to his chin and stroked his beard thoughtfully. This wasn’t at all how he expected this conversation to go. He had anticipated Hoss to make excuses. He had anticipated him to strike out. But he had also expected more fight than this.
“We’re on your side Alexander,” Teagen said, stepping beside Hoss. She gently put a hand on his back. “We’re a team, all of us.”
Jaeden pursed his lips as he studied Hoss’ demeanor. His shoulder hung low, as did his head. His brow was furrowed, and he was clenching his jaw. Jaeden’s gaze dropped down to Hoss’ hand, which was balled into a fist. But just as Jaeden noticed the tightly knit fist, Hoss released his hand and pressed it flat against his pant leg.
“Thanks, Teagen,” Hoss said, a small smile spreading across his face. “I’ll do better. I promise. Just, don’t give up on me alright? You two are all that I’ve got.”
“Of course, man,” Jaeden said, eyes still carefully studying his friend.
“Well thanks for that, my guy, and my girl,” Hoss said, raising a hand to his chest. “I appreciate it.”
Teagen smiled at Hoss and lowered her hand from his back. She took a step away from him, and loosely wrapped her arms around her torso.
Hoss clapped his hands and rubbed them together quickly. “I guess we’d better get going to see Cyrus, right? He’s expecting that painting today. I’ll bring around the hovercar out front.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jaeden said, dropping his hand from his face. He stuffed both hands into his pockets and stepped away from the wall he was leaning against.
“Aces. Be back in a nano.” Hoss announced, making his way towards the back exit of the building.
Awkward silence filled the room with Hoss’ absence. Jaeden bit on the inside of his lip and swayed from side to side as he thought about the encounter.
“That went…” Teagen started, her eyes wandering to meet Jaeden’s own.
“Like shaz?” Jaeden finished the sentence for her. “Yeah, I thought so too.”
“I’m not sure our message was well received,” Teagen added, dropping her arms to her sides.
Jaeden laughed and pulled a hand free from his pocket, using it to rub the back of his neck. “Yeah, maybe we should have hired an interventionist.”
“Is that what that was?” Teagen blinked wide eyed. “An intervention?”
“Nah that was an awkward conversation with some serious conflict avoidance going on,” Jaeden replied, running his hand from the back of his neck, over to the front of his face. “It’s alright, we can try again.”
Having this message sink in with Hoss would not be easy, but they would have to find a way. How could Teagen and Jaeden work with Hoss on these jobs if they couldn’t trust him.
Sure, he may have listened last night, but how long would that last? How long would it be before he stops listening and lets loose with his pistol? How many people could get hurt?
A vehicle horn sounded several times from outside the front of The Wishing Well. Jaeden looked over his shoulder towards the front window. He could make out the silhouette of a hovercar positioned outside of the building.
“Let’s get this over with,” Teagen said, moving towards the front door.
Jaeden sighed and ran both hands through his hair, adjusting his hairstyle. As Teagen approached, he stepped in stride and the two left through the front door to join Hoss.
There was a thick cloud of tension in the hovercar on the ride over to Cyrus’ deli restaurant. Hoss had turned on the radio to mask that none of the three spoke to one another. Jaeden had opted to sit in the backseat of the hovercar for this ride, a decision he was very pleased with at this point.
The isolation in the backseat allowed Jaeden to think freely. He was worried that Hoss would hold a grudge against him. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to approach the situation, but they had to try something to get through to him.
Then there were the comments Hoss had made about Jaeden. While he realized they were likely just a defensive mechanism, he couldn’t shake the feeling there was something at the core of those accusations.
Jaeden hadn’t told Hoss or Teagen about his medication for two reasons. First, his anger issues were something he was embarrassed about. Especially since the only way he could seem to control it was with heavy medication. Second, it honestly was none of their business what he did.
It's personal, I don’t need to share every little detail about my life, He thought.
Jaeden sighed and pressed his cheek into his palm. He peered through the window into the eclipsed cityscape outside and recognized a familiar office building. They were close to Cyrus’ Deli Restaurant.
Hoss pulled the hovercar up to the front entrance and hovered over an empty spot. The vehicle started to lower, and Jaeden braced himself for the vehicle to drop to the ground. The engine shut off and hovercar hit the surface with a thud.
One by one, the three opened their doors and stepped onto the pavement outside of the deli restaurant. Free from the confines of the vehicle, they each stretched out their arms and legs.
Jaeden looked down the length of the dark city street. Neon signs, passing vehicles, and streetlamps illuminated what little they could. It had been raining a few hours ago, and the lights reflected against wet puddles on the ground level, giving off a hazy horizon.
The towering buildings stretched skywards on either side of the street. The immense structures caused Jaeden to feel a bit claustrophobic. The irony was not lost on him, as he just recently came from living on a tight space station. He figured it was something to do with the sheer scale of the structures. When he followed the buildings upwards, they continued for as far as his eye could see.
Jaeden’s nose twitched as he picked up all the scents present on the street. The air was heavy with an odor mixture of fresh rainfall, and industrial metal. Sounds of vehicles flying over head and electronic music playing somewhere in the distance battled against the chatter of the crowds that flowed through the streets.
“Excuse me, Jaeden, would you mind taking the painting inside?” Hoss asked in an upbeat tone.
Jaeden turned and regarded Hoss with narrowed eyes. “That’s a weird way to ask that.”
Hoss looked up with raised eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“First of all, you never call me by my full name,” Jaeden said, crossing his arms. “Secondly, that was way too polite.”
The corner of Hoss’ lip curled into a smirk; he always smiled when he was uncomfortable. “I’m just trying to be more considerate is all. To make you guys feel more valued around me.”
“Well, stop over doing it,” Jaeden replied, approaching the rear of the hovercar. He reached in and removed the harness from the trunk. Jaeden slipped the contraption onto his back and secured the straps across his chest. “Be yourself. Just less of a dirk.”
“How much of a dirk should I be?” Hoss laughed.
“I dunno,” Jaeden said, adjusted to the weight of the canvas. “Maybe dial it back fifty percent?”
“Fifty percent!” Hoss exclaimed, slamming the trunk of the hovercar. “That seems really aggressive.”
“That doesn’t seem like enough,” Teagen chimed in, a small smile etched across her tired face. “But it’s a start.”
Hoss shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled out a small silver snack packet. After opening it, he stuck a hand into the bag and pulled out a few treats, tossing them into his mouth.
Hoss caught Jaeden’s gaze and gestured the snack bag towards him. “Want some?”
“No thanks,” Jaeden said, a smirk spreading across his face.
“You sure? It’s double salted chocolate trail mix. I think there’s some berries in here too.” Hoss said, peering into the contents of the snack packet.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Thanks though.” Jaeden replied.
“Teagen, you want some?” Hoss asked, shaking the packet towards Teagen.
She simply gazed at the packet, and then back at Hoss.
“Alexander, I cannot have any nuts. You know this.” She replied, shaking her head.
“Oh shaz, right,” Hoss said, pulling the packet back. “I can get some of the chocolate or berries if you–”
“We shouldn’t delay,” Teagen said, turning from Hoss.
The three friends collected their remaining belongings and made their way to the front entrance of Cyrus’ restaurant. They entered through the front door, a delicate bell ringing announcing their presence. Hoss approached the counter and spoke in a hushed tone with the employee stationed at the register. After a few brief words, the attendant pointed them to the back room.
Walking through the doors into the back waiting room, Jaeden recognized the same two-armed guards posted outside of Cyrus’ office door. Jaeden squared his shoulders and avoided eye contact with the beefy guard whom he had an issue with earlier, an attempt to avoid another confrontation.
“Ayo.” Hoss greeted the two guards and pointed to the office door.
“Another drop off?” The wiry guard asked, barely paying any attention to the group.
“That’s the sitch,” Hoss confirmed.
The wiry guard nodded and knocked on the door three times. After a moment, the door swung open, and Hoss walked through into the office. Teagen was next to enter the office.
The large guard loomed over Jaeden and sneered down at him. “Nice backpack, you bring your pencil crayons with you?”
“You know I work for your boss too, right?” Jaeden said, shaking his head.
“Nah, you don’t.” The man replied. “You just do him favors; you don’t actually work with us.”
Jaeden clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. The urge to snap back at the man was unbearable, but he didn’t want to cause a scene. Not here, not now.
Hoss was next to go through into the office, but he must have heard the conversation between Jaeden and the large guard. Hoss had stopped and looked back at the guard, one of his eyebrows raised high.
“Sorry buddy, were you asking a question?” Hoss asked, walking back towards Jaeden.
“Beat it pipsqueak.” The larger man teased.
“Pipsqueak. Nice.” Hoss said, nodding sarcastically. He chewed on his trail mix and looked towards Jaeden. “He’s right though, Jae. We’re small guys aren’t we.”
“I guess,” Jaeden replied. He wasn’t sure where Hoss was heading with this but knew he took offense to the guard harassing Jaeden.
Hoss had always treated Jaeden like a brother of sorts. Whenever Jaeden was seemingly in trouble with someone, Hoss would jump in to help. Jaeden was convinced that half the time it was because Hoss just genuinely liked confrontation.
“This guy is probably super strong though. Am I right?” Hoss asked, staring up at the larger man. “How much can you deadlift, my guy?”
“Two-twenty kilos.” The guard said, his demeaning sneer redirecting towards Hoss.
“Neat,” Hoss said, tossing a handful of trail mix into his mouth. “How much could you deadlift with a bullet in each kneecap?”
The guard’s expression soured as the threat sank in. Hoss smiled up at the man, chewing on his snacks. The guard opened his mouth to respond, but as he did Teagen called out from inside the office.
“You guys coming?” She asked.
“Excuse me,” Jaeden said, “They need my pencil crayons inside.”
Jaeden pushed passed the large guard and stepped by Hoss into the office. Hoss followed after Jaeden and when the two entered the room, the door shut behind them.
Now inside the back office, Jaeden could see that Cyrus was entertaining a guest in a private meeting. He thought it a bit odd that Cyrus didn’t have any additional personnel in the room with him. Not even the stealthy Alina, who was there the last time Jaeden had come. But then again, the armed guards on the other side of the door were probably a strong deterrent for anyone to try anything clever.
The man sitting opposite of Cyrus sported a well-trimmed moustache and beard that traced his jawline. His jet-black hair was buzzed short on the sides, and the top was styled to the side. He regarded the trio with speculative narrowed brown eyes, and a devious smirk spread across his face.
