Chapter Two

Trick

I t's not like we like lying to our parents, but there are certain things that they don't need to know about. Like the Pit, like the extra jobs that we take on, the bloody ones. I have to admit that the jobs got bloodier after we met Atlas, and that's saying something because they were pretty fucking bloody before. I suppose you could say that our jobs are in a morally grey area; we're fucking people up, but only because they've fucked up someone who didn't deserve it, or they've stolen something they shouldn't, or they're just a shitty person.

We deal with some of the worst that humanity has to offer, but we like it that way.

"We're here," Cash announces, and I quickly pull over, making sure that I'm parked behind the camera so that we won't be seen on the off chance that someone is actually watching the cameras at the station. It's unlikely, but I'd rather be cautious. The last thing we need is the attention of the cops. I ended up pulling over pretty suddenly and admit that I probably should have been paying better attention.

"Everyone spread out and check the perimeter. Make sure that there's no one around so Jensen can do his thing," I order them.

Jensen smirks, and salutes me as he says, "Yes, Sir."

"Fuck off," I reply, but can't help my smile.

It's not the first time that we have had to spread out to search the perimeter, so no one needs any more direction as they simply do what we always do. The area isn't that big, so it doesn't take them very long before they're back.

"Everything is clear," Rafe signs.

"Yeah, I didn't find anything either," Luc adds.

I nod, "Great, Rafe and Riot, you two go and watch the road, whistle if anything is coming."

They both nod and head off to stand near the truck so they can see incoming traffic both ways. As they walk, their arms brush against each other; they genuinely can't get any closer together despite the fact that there's plenty of space, and they don't need to be walking that closely together.

Jensen chuckles as he starts unraveling the wires that he needs to connect his laptop to the camera, "You know you can make them do as many individual jobs together as you want, but they still aren't going to talk about what they're feeling for each other."

I sigh, "I know, and I know that there are good reasons for them to be hesitant, but I'm still hoping that the more opportunities we give them to have that conversation, the closer they're going to get to having it."

Luc smirks, "I mean, it's a good theory, and they're never going to talk to each other without some sort of interference from us, so really, you've got nothing to lose." I don't bother replying as Luc turns to Jensen and asks, "Do you need a hand getting that cable up there?"

Jensen glances at the wire and then up the pole to the camera and replies, "Considering I tripped three times while we were making sure that there wasn't anyone in the woods with us, I'd say that it's probably a better idea for you to head up. I'll end up falling down and getting tangled in the wire and somehow getting my face on the camera, and I think if Richie has to question me one more time about something to do with my clumsiness, he's just going to throw me in a cell to save me from myself."

Cash, Luc, and I stare at him.

"That was the most long-winded way to say yes that I've ever come across," Cash replies, looking amused.

Jensen just shrugs, hands the cable to Luc, and we'll all watch as he shimmies up the pole with next to no effort. It's pretty fucking impressive.

"Where do I plug it in?" Luc calls down.

Jensen frowns, "I probably should've told you that before you went up there. It's the second small port."

"Got it," he replies, as he plugs it in and then slides back down, landing pretty much silently.

I frown, and share a look with Cash. Luc is usually pretty quiet and stealthy, but when he becomes silent, that's usually a sign of something else going on.

"Everything okay at home?" I ask.

Riot and Rafe are close enough that they hear what I ask, which means they most likely heard us talking about how they need to talk; I don't even feel bad about it; maybe it will help them realize and sort their shit.

I doubt it.

They instantly turn around so that they can see us. I'd tell them that they need to pay attention to the road, but hardly anyone comes out this way, and Luc is more important anyway.

He stiffens, his shoulders becoming tense as he glances at us all and sees the concern written on all of our faces.

"Luc?" Rafe signs, his shoulders tense and anger in his eyes.

We all know what Luc's about to admit; it's happened too many times before.

There's a brief moment of conflict in his eyes before he realizes that there's no point in keeping it from us because we'll find out eventually; we always do.

Now that I'm looking at him properly, I can see the dark circles under his eyes, and I feel the anger start to build. I can't believe that I fucking missed the signs. I know we've got shit going on with Atlas's sudden departure, but that's no excuse.

Luc glances away from us as he rubs his hand on the back of his neck, "Not really, my fucking dad is on the warpath again; it's nothing that I can't handle, though."

"Are you hurt?" I growl.

He shakes his head, "No, just the same emotional bullshit he likes to pull. He threw a few things, but he's not a very good shot."

"How long until he does start to hurt you?" Jensen hisses, the darkness that is always present in his eyes practically glowing with the hungry need for violence.

Luc shrugs, and I know that he doesn't want to talk about it. We've had this conversation so many times before, all of us warning him that it won't be long until his father's verbal abuse turns physical; he's already upped it by throwing things.

"Let us help?" Cash asks as he steps forward, his expression severe as he studies him closely, trying to determine if Luc's really okay.

Luc shakes his head, "I can handle it."

"You need to stand up to him," Jensen says bluntly.

Luc sighs as he replies, "I know."

The arguments that I had ready pause on the tip of my tongue, that is not his normal response when his father starts in on him. Usually, he mutters some excuses about his father going through shit at work, and he got in the way or something that is as equally shit a reason for his behavior. So this time, his quick and easy agreement is a surprise but a good one.

"Do you want backup?" I ask.

Luc shakes his head, "No, if I stand up to him and you guys help, he's still going to think that I need the help, and then he'll just carry on when you guys aren't around."

I nod, "Yeah, I can see the logic in that."

Luc pauses, and then adds, swallowing thickly, "I'll let you guys know if I need back up though."

We share a look, but Cash replies, "Of course, we'll all keep our phones close like usual."

Luc smiles and replies, "Thanks, guys."

Jensen starts to tap away on his laptop, and Rafe and Riot turn back to face the road; now that the conversation has moved on and we've established that Luc is okay, well, he's not, but there's now a plan in place, and that's more than we've had in the past.

"Stay at mine for the next few days until you've recovered a bit," I tell him. It's not a suggestion; it's an order.

Luc is an extremely capable fighter, better than most, and can easily take his father down if it goes that far. That being said, I don't want to risk him going back there and being caught unaware by his cunt of a father. If there were any way around it at all, then I wouldn't want him to go back there ever again. Unfortunately, it's complicated, and that's not an option at the moment. As soon as he's eighteen he's out, and thanks to Jenson's gift with investing he's got plenty of money to buy himself a place, in the likely event that his father cuts him off from his substantial inheritance.

Luc nods, "Yeah, thanks, dude."

"How are you going to let us know that you need us if you're in the middle of an argument?" Cash asks.

Luc thinks about it for a moment, "I'll just call Trick. He's on my speed dial anyway. So if I call you and don't immediately start talking, you need to get your ass to mine."

I nod, "Got it."

I fucking hate that he's in this situation, and I sort of wish he'd taken Atlas up on allowing him to sort it.

I get why he didn't though.