[08:00 - Kabuki Market, Watson]
The sun had already crested over the City, illuminating everything in its path and reflecting off the steel and glass of the high rise towers; but the streets were still mostly empty, save for the movers and shakers pushing onward in the City Center to keep the heart of free enterprise ever beating. Out here, everyone else was happy to take it easier, move into their day slower, take life as it comes.
Today of all days, Miz had elected to forgo her usual gym run with Billy and Vik, instead indulging in a different workout; one she'd neglected for far too long, one that her recent foray into the Afterlife brought into the front of her mind. She'd lost her footing in the skeleton-frame of a new tower adjacent to the Palm View waterfront skyline only two weeks prior, and it honestly scared her to think what could've happened if she hadn't caught a lucky break on a crossbeam with her Gorilla Arm.
She pushed these and a hundred other thoughts to the back of her mind as she carefully counted down, Three, two, one, jump!
She leapt off the edge of a tenement building facing the Market Roundabout, curling her legs into her chest to clear the raised ledge of the adjacent building. It was only ten feet, but she wasn't taking any chances. She needed to retrain and re-discipline herself. She'd spent too long free-running on the ragged edge, taking too many chances with no regard for herself or anyone else, but if the last year and a half had taught her anything, it was that she now had something... someone... to live for. She had always held Pops and the crew near to her heart, willing to sacrifice herself for any one of them without a second thought; but since meeting Billy, she had learned how to step back from it all, how to consider others' feelings. She learned that her own life was worth living for their sake... for his sake.
She cleared her mind again as she landed on the adjacent roof, pushing into a roll as she dropped off a raised section of the ledge and kept moving. The path forward was blocked by a downed antenna and a mess of trunked cables wrapped around it; she didn't think twice before cutting to the right, heading for another ledge. She slowed her pace before crashing against another raised section as she peeked over and considered her options. It was twenty feet to the next rooftop, but she didn't have hardly enough room on this roof to get a good running start... unless...
Her eyes cut to the left as she smiled and stepped up on the ledge. She briskly balanced her way over to another building slammed against the one on which she was presently teetering. It was a six-story climb with no fire escape... that's nothing'... right?
She could top that in her sleep, if she was careful and stuck to the window fixtures jutting out from the exterior wall. She decided then and there, it was time to go vertical. She held her arms out to the sides for balance as she took three steps back, then pressed forward with a running start. No charged jump this time, she was certain she could do this the old-fashioned way as she leapt towards the wall. She met her mark, grabbing hold of a brick fixture with both hands as the rest of her slammed against the side of the building... fuckin' OWWW...
As much as she enjoyed watching Billy bury his face in her cleavage, in this instant she almost wished she was still as flat as she was in her earlier teenage years. It made things a whole hell of a lot easier... she just hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions about the bruises she could already feel forming in the soft tissue. Maybe he'll kiss it and make it all better, she thought as she blushed bright red. Oh right, she was still hanging by both arms on the side of a building; she looked to her right as she braced her feet against the exterior wall and carefully pulled herself up. She could see her next perch as she appeared in view of a dirty window looking into a run-down apartment. There were two young children playing on the floor while their slightly older Asian mother was working tirelessly in the kitchen facing the window. The woman looked up before a light gasp broke loose as she covered her mouth. Miz shrugged her eyebrows with a smirk and leapt over to her right, grabbing the adjacent window sill. She was shit-out-of-luck as the woman followed, looking at her with a motherly concern. Miz giggled and hurried to climb up. In a matter of seconds, her feet were perched on the sill as she jumped up, grabbing hold of the next perch above her. Rinse and repeat, like riding a proverbial bike, the muscle memory came back to her and she smiled wide as she kept climbing, enjoying the burn in her shoulders and thighs.
Finally, she reached the roof, pulling herself up as she rolled over onto her back and admired the pattern of clouds overhead. After a few deep breaths, she rolled over again and pushed herself up, eyeing another roof top dead ahead; it had to be at least thirty feet, and she flashed her teeth. It was time to really test her new ankles. She had the entire length of the roof to get a running start, and she wasted none of it as she broke into a sprint. With each step, she could feel the kinetic energy building as she counted down again. With her last step, she leapt up to the raised ledge before releasing the charge with both feet as she flew forward. She tucked her legs into her chest again, letting her arms hang loose as the air blew past.
She landed on the far roof light as a feather, rolling forward and continuing her sprint with a grin from ear to ear. She had already mapped out her next jump from the air as she broke left across the empty space. Another leap to the ledge, leap from the ledge, and she planted herself against a wall before turning and charging her jump off. The impact shook the wall loose of dust and bits of brick as she rose to the next roof above, grabbing and pulling herself up. She kept a bouncing gait as she walked to the center and hopped up on a raised section of roof. She proudly surveyed her surroundings, looking down on the entire Market as she breathed in deep. The sweat had settled, drenching her sports bra and leggings as it poured off her body. The morning sun radiated against her golden skin, kissing her shoulders in its warmth as a light breeze shivered down her spine. Somewhere distant, in the back of her mind, she could hear a familiar and loving voice:
"This town is your jungle gym, Ju, but always keep your feet planted... I love you."
Her eyes clouded over with a smile as she brought her hand up over her heart and looked to the skies, I love you too, Mama...
She closed her eyes and breathed in deep for several seconds before deciding it was time to climb back down; she wanted be there when Billy got back... As she looked around, planning her route, she noticed the Bellevue overpass was in plain sight from where she was standing, and she spotted a familiar face on the walkway as she chuckled to herself, Time to say hi to an old friend...
--
[Loft Apartment, The Glen, Heywood]
It had been a week since Max and Vik operated on Ky's neuralware, but you'd never know that anything had happened otherwise. Outside of a mad desire to sleep for a couple days straight, he was back to his usual antics in a matter of hours, at least in front of the crew... by the time he and Max were finally alone, he placed himself entirely at her mercy, apologizing for the way he'd acted. Even though it was out of his control, and they both knew it, he had a hard time forgiving himself for as loving and understanding as she had been to him for the last two years. He swore to her up and down that he'd make it up to her anyway he could. He spent the next few days groveling, not that she expected or even wanted him to; but he felt is was his charge to own his bad behavior and show Max how grateful he was that she didn't kick him to the curb. He was a gentleman to the end, and she loved him for it... but today was unlike all the rest.
The sound of passionate moans and heavy breathing echoed through the entire space, mixed with cries of pained pleasure. A plate sat on the kitchen's elevated bar-top counter, a half-eaten breakfast having gone cold at least an hour past; the plate rattled and reverberated against the counter with a rhythmic cadence. Max's hands were braced on the edge of the counter, pressing against it as her supple breasts settled against the cold surface, her nipples hardened and begging to be caressed. Her back was arched as she sat upright on a stool, her ample ass hanging over the edge as she tribbed herself against the soft and padded syn-leather. Evidence of her arousal had soaked the stool top before running down her legs as Ky worked in her from behind. The rim of her asshole was wrapped tightly around his pulsing cock as he slid in and out of her, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he pressed his teeth gently into her collarbone.
They were drenched at this point in each other's sweat as their bodies moved together in a beautiful harmony. Ky growled in Max's ear with every thrust, and she answered each with a whimpering yelp, saliva dribbling from her mouth as she begged for more, faster, harder. Her eyes flashed a solid white, and if her Kiroshis could, she would have had glowing hearts for pupils. She was entranced; they both were, minds blank and lost in their lust for each other. Ky pulled away from her collarbone as he pressed his lips against her neck, his tongue aching to taste her flesh before she craned her head to look in his eyes... those striking emerald greens.
Her tongue longed for his as their lips met and they moaned into each other's mouths. His hands found their way from her hips to cup her bosoms as he groped the flesh and teased the nipples between his fingers, eliciting muffled squeals from her mouth to his as her eyes rolled back in her head. He had already treated her to several blissful orgasms with his talented tongue before she could even get her hands on his cock, and so came another one for the count as she cried out again. Her legs were weak and trembling, and if not for her ankles locked around the legs of the stool, she worried she might fall off. He wasn't helping the matter as he reached down with one hand, massaging her clit with his thumb as he pressed two fingers inside. She stopped kissing him at that point, instead simply drooling into his mouth as her moans turned feral.
He pulled away from her mouth as his own moans grew louder and shifted into a breathless cry, "Oh fuck! Babe, I'm about to co—"
"Na' papi, leave i' in", she cut him off with a devilish smile. She moved her hands from the counter to reach behind and press him deeper inside as his pace quickened. She called out to him, "Das it, jus' like dat... pwease bebe, come inside... fill me up, papi."
Ky braced himself, pulling Max back as he kissed her deeply and moaned loudly into her mouth with an explosion of warmth inside. Her breathing was ragged as she cried in ecstasy and her entire body quaked against his. As they pulled apart, a trail of spit hanging between their mouths, Ky exhaled deeply and he nearly collapsed as his forehead rested against his lover's shoulder. She could still feel him rock-hard inside of her as a satisfied ache was setting in and she sighed in exasperated pleasure.
Finally, he wrapped a finger and a thumb around his shaft as he gently pulled out, leaving Max's opened asshole twitching as a stream of white slowly leaked out. He admired his handiwork as he smacked her cheek, the flesh bouncing as cum dribbled out onto the stool. She turned to look at him again with a smile, "Das wha' I like... mmm..."
He laughed as he tried to catch his breath, the sweat dripping off his nose. Max spun around on the stool before grabbing him by the neck and pulling him in for a kiss. She unlocked her ankles and stepped off as she pulled away and continued, "Clean dis up an' meet me in da shower. I'm no' thwu with you yet, cheri..."
Ky watched as she sauntered seductively up the spiral staircase to the upper level, looking back to him at every pass with a teasing smirk before disappearing into the shower.
Ky grabbed a towel and quickly wiped down the stool and floor before swinging the towel over his shoulder as he ran upstairs to meet the love of his life for round two...
--
[Bellevue Overpass, Kabuki, Watson]
Miz slid down the side wall of a building facing the overpass walkway, holding tight on a pipe running from top to bottom as she planted her feet to hold position. She surveyed the walkway, waiting for a small crowd to clear as she wore a smirk. It was now or never, and she braced herself as she charged a jump off the wall; with all the grace of a butterfly, her legs swung over her head as she flipped in mid-air before landing squarely on the walkway. The impact was enough to startle some passersby, but the real kicker for her was the cry of panic from the clothing stand's proprietor; a wheelchair-bound Tyger Claw with wild green topknot, shaved sides, flashy optical implants, and a menpo mask. His jacket was open, revealing his torso and the walls of ink running down either side of his body. Miz stood from her kneeling stance as she turned and flashed a smile, "Heya Oji!"
The former gangoon stumbled on his own words, trying to catch his breath, "H-Heya choom, how's life?"
She looked back to the building with a giggle as she said, "Eh, y'know, ups and downs, right? How 'bout you?"
It was obvious by the creases in his forehead, even behind the mask, that he was grinning as he fired back, "Oh, just... rollin' with the punches."
Miz scoffed at the audacity, but found a comfort in knowing nothing had changed in the last ten years. She always enjoyed hanging out at Oji's stand, and he always enjoyed having someone to talk to, even if it was just a teenage Miz and her friends. After a few seconds, she eyed a mini-fridge behind the boxes of clothing and other sundries as she asked, "Ya got any RealWater in there?"
"We're fully stocked, help yourself", he answered as he reached down and swung the door open. Miz flashed him a transfer of eddies before she reached in and grabbed two bottles. She wasted no time guzzling the first, her entire body still soaked as Oji continued, "So, what brings you 'round here?"
Between greedy gulps, Miz answered, "Went for a run, saw you down here from the rooftops, thought I'd drop in and say hi. Plus, Yaiba's parked close by."
She could spot another smile creeping up as Oji said, "It's good to see you still scaling walls, kid... thanks for stoppin' in."
Miz punched his arm, "Thanks for the water! I'll see you 'round!"
He waved as she walked over to a set of concrete stairs, descending to the street level. She tossed one empty bottle in an overcrowded trashcan as she cracked open the other and stepped off to the side. She took another quick sip before leaning forward and pouring the water over her head. The cold splash was a welcome relief as she watched the runoff pouring through her hair onto the ground. She whipped her hair back, the excess painting the wall behind her before she finished off the bottle with a final guzzle and tossed it into the trashcan. As she walked the block back to where she stashed her bike, she ran her fingers through her soaked hair, scratching at her scalp and trying to shake out the loose water and sweat. The temperature was already rising fast, and the day was only getting hotter, making her impromptu shower a small comfort; she always marveled at the fact that no matter how you paint it, most Californian cities were little more than paved-over deserts.
As she reached the small recess away from the street, she smiled at her favorite jacket draped over the seat and fuel tank of her motorcycle. From the shadows, an eery voice called out, "Pretty little thing like you ought to be more careful walking these streets alone..."
Miz's entire body tensed, but she didn't let it show as she fired back, "I used to run these streets, kid."
A second voice called out, modulated by a mask, "That's a lot of bike for a little girl. You sure you can handle it? Maybe we ought to take it off your hands..."
The first voice answered his choom, accompanied by the 'shink' of a switchblade, "Or maybe we'll give you some two-on-one riding lessons... how 'bout it?"
Miz's jaw clenched as she turned to face them, "Or maybe you rethink your life choices and walk away while I still let you."
"Hey, fuck you!", the second punk called out. No surprise to Miz, they were both young wannabe Tyger Claws, barely 16 at best. They had some small pockmarked tattoos between them, and they were cheaply dressed, but definitely trying to walk the walk. She scoffed at their whole image as she said, "You know who I am? I was running rackets for Kabuki TC when your moms were still turning out gummy blowjobs for ennies while you played with your own shit."
This only angered the punks further as they stepped closer, prompting Miz to slide one foot back as her hands curled into fists. The 'lead' punk fired back angrily, "You better watch your fuckin' mouth, lady! You don't know shit about us...! N-Now empty your pockets and hand over the keys to the bike."
"Or what?", Miz smirked as her eyes narrowed, to which the second ganger grabbed his crotch and said, "We'll take turns on you 'til you stop screamin' for good."
She brought her hands to the ready as she egged them on, "Well what're you waitin' for? Let's dance, boys..."
The first punk stepped in, plunging the knife forward as Miz dodged effortlessly to her left. She could have easily dropped him, but she felt like blowing off some steam, and hell, they'd earned it. The punk stepped in again with a wildly undisciplined outward slash, leaving his entire body exposed. It was too much to resist, and Miz went to work. She stepped into him, grabbing his knife hand by the wrist as she drilled his gut with her Gorilla Arm, causing him to double over. She wrenched his arm back and up, forcing him to release the knife as she plunged it into the base of his neck and twisted the blade with a sickening crunch. His body collapsed, leaving the second punk in a state of enraged shock as he cried out for his choom and unleashed a wild flurry with a swinging length of chain links. Miz dodged back, left, and right, careful to avoid the swipes and slashes. Even in untrained hands, a chain could cause serious damage with a lucky hit; maybe not enough to injure, but definitely to disorient.
She saw her chance, grabbing the chain and pulling the punk close as she planted her foot into his chest. He flew backwards, slamming against the wall as his balanced wavered. It was enough time for Miz to close the gap as she extended the scratchers on her left hand. She carefully wrapped her hand around the punk's throat, pinning him to the wall as she leaned in against him and breathed in deep like an animal sniffing out a scent. Finally, she released a warm and breathy exhale against his chest as she said, "The next time you crank one out with that tiny little scop-weenie... you better be thinkin' about me..."
She followed up as she plunged the knife through the crotch of his pants, catching some flesh as his eyes went wide with a gasp. She pulled the knife out, feeling a spatter of blood come with it. She released her grip around his throat as she stepped back. He fell on his ass against the wall, scrambling to make sure he was still intact, as Miz walked back to her bike. She tossed the knife away before she pulled her jacket off and slung it over her shoulders as she gracefully mounted the Yaiba and turned the engine over. It's throaty purr echoed in the enclosed space as she revved the engine to get the gonk's attention across the way. He looked at her with wide eyes full of panic and blood-soaked hands as she mimed a kiss to him before peeling out into the street. The engine bellowed through the underpasses and cramped buildings as Miz sped through her old stomping grounds on her way home.
Just another day in paradise...
--
[NC Devils Gym, Little China, Watson]
As I live and breathe, Vik thought to himself as he looked on with a proud smile; never in a hundred years did he think Billy would take up the mantle of training newcomers among the Devils' ranks. And yet, once again, the young edgerunner had found a way to impress and surprise the old ripperdoc. He stood along the edge of the ring, outside the ropes, as he leaned in and watched Billy with pads drilling one of several new members to sign up in the last few weeks. The kid was green, but he showed lots of potential. Billy called out the strikes, alternating hands and throwing occasional crosses to train footwork and reflexes. Finally, he brought the pads together in the center as he called for a series of quick jabs back to back.
Vik called for them to break as he leaned under a rope and entered the ring. Billy had a wide smile on his face as the old 'doc gave a punch to his arm and said, "You're doin' this old dog proud, kid. You look good up here."
Billy chuckled, "All thanks to you, old man."
The kid returned, having grabbed a quick drink of RealWater as he raised his gloves with a smirk. He looked first to Vik, who deferred to Billy and said, "It's your show, kid."
He returned the smirk as he raised the pads and nodded, "Let's go."
The kid smiled as he stepped in and alternated jabs to the pads. Billy's HUD pinged with a message from Miz, prompting him to lose focus as he was smacked in the face with a topless mirror shot; she was pouting and squeezing her breasts together, both of them bearing symmetrical bruises, with a caption:
"hurry home, tiger... need you to kiss them and make it all better <3 "
He was distracted just long enough for the pads to drop at the worst possible moment...
WHAM!
He took the full force of a gloved right hook across his jaw, sending him to the canvas like a bag of hammers. It didn't take long for him to sit back up as he shook his head. Vik was laughing... hard... and the new kid just stood there, white as a ghost with a terrified look on his face before he ran over and apologized profusely. Billy shook it off, laughing along with Vik as he tried to assure the panicked rookie it was no big deal; shit happens, right?
Vik being Vik, he knelt down to check on Billy anyway as he ribbed the merc, "What the fuck was that, kid?! You totally spaced!"
Billy shrugged, embarrassed at all of it, as Vik helped him up and continued, "...the fuck, Miz send you a topless photo or something...?"
The look on Billy's face gave it away, his cheeks burning bright red. Vik scratched his jaw before another laughing fit set in and he walked away to try and compose himself. The rookie stepped up, sheepish and still shook up, "I-I... fuck man, I'm sorry..."
They shared a laugh as Billy gave him a punch on the shoulder with the pads and said, "First lesson free, no distractions. That one's on me, choom, so don't sweat it."
Having mostly pulled himself together, Vik returned and said, "Alright, that's enough for today. Rookie, you did good work, but Billy's got more important shit to do."
He followed up with a slap to Billy's ass, causing the younger man's jaw to clench as he wanted nothing more than to mop the canvas with his older choom... he was going to be living this one down for a while.
Fuck.
--
[One hour later - Lower Levels, Japantown Markets]
The elevator lurched to a stop and nearly sent Billy flying forward before the cage doors opened. He lightly rubbed his jaw and opened his mouth wide, trying to stretch and relieve the tightness. New guy has a good right hook, he thought as he chuckled to himself, still embarrassed he let his guard down like that. He kept to himself as he walked down the hallway of their floor, only casually waving to a few familiar faces standing around or coming the other direction. He was on a mission, only one thing on his mind since Vik had cut them loose earlier.
At long last, the door slid open, and he walked in the apartment as he called out, "Hey Em, I'm ho—"
Miz ambushed him, sending him crashing against the wall as she reached up and kissed him. He moaned with a wince of pain, causing her to pull away as she noticed a light bruise forming and asked dryly, "What the fuck happened to your jaw?"
Billy looked down with a smirk before noticing the bruises fully set across her breasts showing above the line of her tanktop as he fired back, "What the fuck happened there?"
She blushed as her nose wrinkled and she sheepishly admitted, "I, uh... I misjudged a jump, slammed into the side of a building..."
He tried not to laugh as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He leaned down, gently pressing his lips against the soft flesh, moving side to side. She giggled and squealed as she pressed him further in and inhaled deeply. After he'd made several passes, he looked up in her eyes as he asked tenderly, "...that better...?"
She burned bright red as she bit her bottom lip with a nod and answered in the cutest teasing voice she could muster, "All better, Tiger..."
All the blood in his body rushed away from his brain, leaving him nearly drooling like a gonk before Miz whiplashed him with her usual sass, "Now what the fuck happened here?"
He smirked, "Your message popped up in my HUD while I was drilling a new kid with the pads. I got distracted, pads dropped", and he clicked his tongue to indicate the shot. Miz's eyes went wide before she crashed into his chest with a laughing groan, "O-o-oh no-o-o... fuck, I'm sorry."
Billy kissed the top of her head, "Em, it was fucking worth it. I ran out of the gym."
He could feel her warm breath against his body before she dropped down to her knees in front of him. She looked up with the biggest puppy eyes she could give as she recalled the same voice from before, "Let me make it up to you...?"
He smiled as he raised her up by the chin and snapped his teeth. She ripped his gym shorts off, revealing his half-hard cock bulging through a pair of athletic boxers. She massaged gently over the fabric with her hand before pressing her mouth against it. She breathed in his musk, feeling the head pressing against her as he hardened further. She couldn't wait any longer as she pulled down the boxers, nearly catching a smack in the face. She wrapped her hand around the shaft, admiring as she looked back in his eyes and teased at first, lightly lapping her tongue against his head.
Billy leaned back and let loose a deep sigh as he watched his lover work him over with just her tongue. She giggled as she finally wrapped her lips around, her tongue still swirling around the head in her mouth as she massaged his balls. He contracted with a light yelp before she stopped, letting his cock go as she pulled him around by his hips and pushed him toward the couch. He happily obliged, crashing down into it and leaning back as Miz resumed kneeling in front of him, this time removing her tanktop. She rested her arms on his legs as she playfully swayed side to side, his cock trying to find its place in her cleavage before she pushed her breasts together around it and moved up and down; slowly at first, she bit her bottom lip and locked eyes with him as she asked, "Does that feel good, Tiger...?"
He couldn't find any words in that moment, just a low laugh with uneven breathing. It was enough, Miz knew she was hitting all the right spots as she quickened, teasing the head again with her tongue as saliva ran down between her bosoms. The bruises were starting to fight back, causing some genuine discomfort as Miz adjusted. She took all of Billy in her mouth, her lips working up and down the shaft as she gagged and fought through forming tears to keep eye contact. She wanted it all down her throat, she wanted to taste every inch; she wanted him to fuck her face. Her eyes said it all, as Billy grabbed her head with both hands and guided her up and down with a quickening pace. Her throat bulged with veins pulsing as her eyes rolled back in her head. She was in no position to speak, so instead pinged a quick holocall to Billy, "That's it. Own my mouth, Tiger, just like that. Fuck my face. I want it, I need it..."
The gagging turned to muffled moaning as her throat loosened and tears mixed with spit running down her face and drenching his cock. She braced her hands against Billy's legs, her nails digging into his thighs as he growled. By now, he was holding Miz's face steady, properly fucking her mouth as he thrusted his hips. As much as he wanted to keep going, he didn't want to hurt her, so he carefully slowed his pace before pulling out. Miz's throat released him as her tongue followed its departure, leaving her mouth unfulfilled as she pouted and pleaded.
Billy was so close to giving her exactly what she wanted before he saw her eyes flashing orange. FUCK! Now?!
Miz ignored the call, unfazed as she started stroking Billy with both hands and wrapped her lips around the tip. She wanted his load, come hell or high water. After several seconds, her eyes narrowed as his were now flashing orange, and he swore under his breath before saying out loud, "She's just going to keep calling, Em..."
She rolled her eyes and shrugged, Whatever, as she continued working. A call with the Living Legend of the Afterlife didn't need to involve her, not now at least. Billy obliged and answered the holocall, "Heya V, call you back? Right in the middle of something..."
V wasn't having it as she fired back, "Get your cock out of my girlfriend so we can talk... got a job."
Billy laughed but stood his ground, "No, really. Call you back."
"Have fun, you two...", V laughed before the call dropped. Thankfully, Miz hadn't wasted any time, jerking Billy's cock as she soaked it in spit and begged between ragged breaths, "C'mon, Tiger... come for me, please. I want to taste it."
Billy's hands curled as he gripped the couch cushions and his moans grew louder; he was close, and could blow at any ti— NOW!
He grabbed Miz by the back of her head and forced her to the base of his shaft as he emptied himself down her throat with a series of grunted moans. Her eyes rolled back again as she took every bit of it, not wanting to waste a drop. Despite the bulge, Billy could see her throat moving as she swallowed all of it, finally releasing his cock with a gasp for air and a hanging trail of spit from her mouth to the tip. She licked up and down to clean the shaft as she laughed and teased him.
He collapsed further into the couch as he sighed with relief, Miz soon climbing next to him as she curled up and melted in his arms. Her throat ached in the best way possible, and she giggled at watching him nearly comatose from the whole ordeal. She gently tapped his forehead as she rolled onto her back and said, "Your turn."
In a second, Billy rolled over on top of Miz as he kissed her deeply before working down her body. She smiled at him and used her feet to guide his head as she bit her knuckle while he went to work between her legs.
We never said when we'd call V back.
--
[One hour later]
There was a glowing air of post-coital ecstasy all around the apartment, Miz bouncing on her feet as she had a towel wrapped around her neck, her hair still damp from the shower. After a world-shattering tongue fuck from Billy, they went for round two in the shower. She was now filled from both ends and happy as she stood by the window and enjoyed a smoke. It was early afternoon now, the sounds of the market in full swing and trailing in. She decided it was time to return the call as she pinged V, who answered after a single ring, "Heya Miz!"
Time for some fun, Miz thought before she spoke, "So... girlfriend, huh? Thought that was a one-time thing..."
There was a hearty laugh from the other side, "Shi— fuck! There really are no secrets between you, huh?"
Miz giggled, "Not a one, babe. So what's up? Billy said you had a job?"
V collected herself and started the brief, "Yeah, it's a fun one, though. You'll get a kick out of it. Pull him in here, it's a two-man gig."
A few seconds passed, and Billy chimed in, "Yeah, whattaya want?!"
"Fuck you too, Wonderboy", V spat with a scoff, "Got a job for you two... either of you familiar with Finn Gerstatt?"
There was an awkward silence before Miz answered, "Uh... gesundheit?"
V chuckled and continued, "Fingers, ripperdoc in the back-alleys of Jig-Jig..."
Billy could see Miz's entire disposition shift, her face blank before her entire body cringed and he answered on her behalf, "By the look on Miz's face, I'd say that makes one of us..."
"He's a real piece of work...", V explained, "...accepts payment for his services either in scratch or by sexually assaulting his patients."
"Say no more", Billy affirmed, "Point me to him, he'll be dead before dinner."
V cut back in, "Careful, Sparky... fun as that would be to watch, he's not the target this time around. However, your target does rent space in his clinic."
Miz appeared to have recovered from whatever the fuck that was as she locked eyes with Billy, "Not a target, but not off-limits either... right?"
Billy flashed his teeth and shook his head. God, I love her... but what was that?
V conceded, "I won't fault you for telling him the Afterlife says 'hello'... anyway, your target is another massive skeeze known as 'The Sofa King'."
"What's his deal", Miz asked, "Other than keeping terrible company?"
"He fancies himself a rather clever and revolutionary porn-scroller", V answered, "He makes 'casting couch' XBDs where he tricks young women with promises of getting them into movies... then he blackmails their families for scratch to keep the scrolls off the Net..."
Miz parroted Billy, "So, dead by dinner. Preem. Call you when it's done."
Jesus, they're jumpy today, V thought to herself as she further explained, "Contract doesn't explicitly state to kill him, but I'll understand if shit happens. Client just wants the bastard shaken down with the intent that he rolls up his hustle and disappears."
Billy was genuinely curious, "Who's the client?"
"Didn't get a name", V answered casually, "One of Blue's chooms on the City Council... I guess it's not the first time 'Princess' has embarrassed 'Daddy', but even this is a step too far for him to lay the blame entirely on her. Anyway, contract's twenty-five thousand."
Miz and Billy locked eyes; no words needed to be said, they both nodded as Miz spoke for them, "Flash us the deets, we'll head that way..."
"Preem! Good luck...", V answered. The call dropped as they both got a flash copy of the contract. Miz sauntered over as Billy was already loading his Molniya and situating his shoulder holster. She grabbed him by the straps and pulled him close as she looked up in his eyes, "I love watching you gear up, Tiger..."
He smiled before leaning down as they kissed and held each other for a few moments of peace and quiet. He couldn't shake what he'd seen, and he asked, "Hey... you okay...?"
Miz tightened her grip around him as she sighed heavily and said, "I... it's a long story... tell you later?"
That really wasn't what he wanted to hear, but he accepted it anyway as he pecked the top of her head and said, "Okay... I'm here when you're ready."
"I know you are, and that's why I love you...", Miz replied, "Now come on, let's go."
As they slowly pulled apart, she gave him a little hip-check with a wink as he said, "Lead the way, boss."
--
[Thirty minutes later - Jig-Jig Street, Japantown West]
The air was always different crossing the arched threshold of the City's largest red-light district. Even though the sun was at its peak and shining down on everything, Jig-Jig Street lived in a smog of perpetual dark with only polluted neon lights to guide the way. Even being only one crosswalk away from the top level of the Cherry Blossom Market, it was two completely different worlds.
Miz and Billy didn't waste any time finding their way through the multitude of kiosks and vendor carts, or even just the standalone barkers for the sex-shops, as they pushed further in. Towards the back of the entire block, all the 'splendor' of Jig-Jig disappeared, leaving only a few darkened alleys and underground paths. This is where the worst of the worst came to play; those who couldn't find their preferred poison under the neon glow would shrink away to the utility tunnels to shoot up the hardest drugs or get off on the hardest and most perverse brain dances, known by their 'Death's Head' stamp. Once upon a time, Miz dreamed of blowing through the whole place with a flamethrower to scorch it from the face of the Earth so nothing could ever grow back. Being back here wasn't doing her any favors.
Regardless, they pressed on, walking side by side down the largest of the alleyways between cramped and dilapidated buildings. In every nook and cranny, there were small groups of junkies huddled around folding chairs, shopping carts, fire-lit oil drums, or any other junk, all eyes fixed on the relatively clean pair of mercs strolling through. Miz's hand hovered over her holster in anticipation, ready at a moment's notice to paint the brick and bare concrete walls red if anyone got in their way. Billy's eyes took in every detail, looking up and down and all around to scout for possible threats, until they finally reached their destination.
Across the alley was a glowing neon sign in the shape of a condom, positioned ever-so-carefully as to point directly at a two-story tenement building bearing an even larger neon sign that read, "Fingers M.D."
Billy couldn't help himself as he leaned in and spoke quietly, "Looks to be the place..."
"Gee, ya think?", Miz scoffed before catching his smirk as she nudged him. There were two windows on the second story; one was closed, but showing the soft purple and pink glow from the neons and lamps inside; the other window was open with a subtle light show going on, and there was music thumping and trailing out from the room. Miz and Billy walked towards the open ground-level door before three young gangoons with no apparent affiliation perked up and stood in their way. They were dressed like typical street punks, dyed and side-shaved haircuts styled with too much or not enough product, cheap but flashy clothes, and purely decorative cyberware threading.
The middle of them stuck his hand out with a smirk as he mustered every ounce of confidence he had, "What's yer bus'ness here?"
Miz said nothing, but stared him down with a raised eyebrow. He only had a few inches on her, but the intensity in her eyes made him feel so much smaller as he retracted inwards; the second gangoon backed him up, holding a deck in his hand as he said, "Appointments only, and ain't nothin' booked for the rest of the day."
Billy stepped up, towering over all three of them as he smiled, "Well, if there's no appointments... no reason we can't just poke our heads in for a looksie, right?"
He took another small step before the third gangoon panicked and had iron pointed at his chest; in no time at all, Miz had her Unity out and pointed at the middle gangoon as her wakizashi was held against the neck of the deck goon. Her narrowed eyes were locked on the third as she said calmly, "Rethink that move, choom."
Billy laughed as he stared the kid down before he turned to the lead goon and said, "I'm reaching in my pocket for some scratch, okay? Unclench your assholes and chill..."
Miz fought to keep a straight face at those words, but maintained her steely resolve as Billy pulled a stack of physical hundred-eddie bills from his jacket's inner pocket. He made sure to open the jacket just enough for them to see he could have gone for his revolver at any moment, and they all started to perspire. He held up the fold as he said, "There's a grand here... now you kids fuck off for the next hour, it's yours. No strings attached. Go get some lace, get your dicks sucked, I don't judge, and I don't care..."
The middle goon's eyes narrowed before he cautiously reached for the wad of cash. Billy retracted his hand slightly, "Uh-uh-uh, tell Sparky here to drop the iron first."
'Sparky' didn't really want to do any such thing, but the middle goon carefully placed his hand over the gun, pushing it down as Miz followed suit. Before long, they were all de-escalated and standing casually as if a stand-off hadn't just taken place. The lead goon reached for the cash, Billy nodding and handing it over. He nodded to his chooms and said, "Yeah, we didn't really see anyone come by here. We were grabbing some lunch, right?"
The other goons nodded in agreement and they all moved out of the way. Miz and Billy stood for a few more seconds, making sure the goons were out of sight before they entered. She gave him a playful punch to the arm and said, "Smo-o-o-oth, Tiger..."
He guided her in before covering the rear as he quipped, "Money talks, and all that..."
Miz scoffed, "You've been spending too much time around Ky", and she unholstered her Unity again as they moved carefully down the main hallway. This building reminded Billy of the one he and Pops had raided back in the Glen. There was trash strewn about everywhere, roaches and rats and whatever else scurrying about. The walls were pockmarked with holes of all shapes and sizes, and there was an ever-present stench of waste, human or otherwise, permeating throughout. There were several doorways off the hallway, leading to different rooms. All of them had the same soiled mattresses placed in rows on the floor. Not all, but most of them were host to any number of laced out junkies, writhing on the floor and crying for a fix, scratching at their skin, pulling at their hair, or just staring blankly at nothing. A few of them looked like they could have been joytoys at one time in the past, but those days had long since come and gone. One poor tenant in particular caught Miz's attention; a young woman, maybe around her age, scantily clad in what used to be hotpants and torn stockings, was sitting upright, her arms wrapped around her knees and rocking back and forth, shivering and whimpering. She was rail-thin, veins protruding up and down her arms and legs. Her eyes were shuttering between red and blue and dead black, and her face twitched as she scratched at her cheeks and neck.
As Miz passed by, she saw the girl's arm reaching out, following by a hauntingly weak and scratchy voice, "D-Don't... whatever they promised... don't go up there..."
Miz's jaw clenched as her eyes flashed red and cut upward, her ears trained on the bass of the music pulsing through the floor. Her entire body tensed up as her breathing became uneven. There was a righteous fury welling up inside her as she pressed forward with a vexation. Someone's going to fuckin' die!
She leaned in towards the wrap-around staircase, clearing the area before waving Billy forward. He stopped short, noticing the shift as he asked, "Em... talk to me. What is it with this guy?"
Her face twitched awkwardly as she tried to shake loose the thoughts in her head, "You'll find out soon enough. Just go, please."
He shook his head and took point, his revolver at the ready as he carefully climbed. Miz covered behind them, staying close as they moved back-to-back. As he reached the top of the stairs, he swung around a corner to clear, Miz moving past to check the other direction. There was a crudely-made sign affixed to the wall indicating Fingers' office was to the left, so their target had to be right, judging by the music pounding through the walls. Miz indicated to Billy to keep watch as she charged the entrance to Fingers' office.
Billy alternated between the stairs and the door, on the off-chance one of the kids got stupid and tried to ambush them. Not likely, but weirder and dumber things had happened. It was less than a minute before Miz walked back out of the office. She shook her head before nodding towards the other door; there was no sign of Fingers on her side. They moved together down the hall, the door growing closer and the music louder. In the background, they could barely make out several voices; There was a masculine-sounding male grunting, an effeminate male cheering him on, and the voice of a young female moaning.
As they took opposite sides of the door, Billy spoke softly, "Sounds like they're having a hell of a time... on three?"
Before answering, Miz pulled Billy in by his neck, kissing him before she said, "On three."
One. Two. Three!
Miz punched the sliding metal door with her Gorilla Arm, damaging the latch assembly as Billy reached through, ripping it off the guide rails and slamming it open. They both entered the room, a wild sight before their eyes; Fingers sat in a syn-leather chair in the corner, lit cigarette in his mouth and stroking himself as he cheered on the other two performing in front of several cameras. He had even thinner and less hair than the last time Miz had seen him, but he still wore a pencil thin mustache. Age was catching up to him quick, leaving him looking like some poor gonk's perverted uncle along with his junkie-thin frame.
The Sofa King was arguably way more handsome, although his face was obscured by a hannya mask for obvious reasons; his body was taut and muscular, albeit shaved smooth and covered in panel seams and nondescript black-ink tattoos, and his hair was styled into a coif. He sported a pair of syn-leather rockerboy pants presently flying half-mast, leading into unlaced combat boots with the tongues and uppers creased and folded out from wear and tear. The object of his affection couldn't have been more than 18 years old. She had a distinguished and striking face, and looked as though she could have been a model, had they not just found her bent over a cheap coffee table covered in lines of syn-coke with a Mr. Studd in her ass screaming for 'daddy'. She was completely naked, save for a pair of torn hot pink fishnet stockings running halfway up her stomach and matching pink platform stiletto heels.
All three of them were caught off guard, not entirely sure what to do in the particular moment. Miz stepped forward first, putting her fist through the stereo; the music itself wasn't bad by any means, just loud to the point of rattling her brain. As the stereo sparked and fizzed and the speakers fell silent, there was an unsettling calm as Miz looked to the girl and said coldly, "Get your shit, get out, go home."
The girl was hesitant, almost frozen, before Miz raised her voice, "Get the fuck out!"
This shook the girl from her trance as she unceremoniously pulled off of the Sofa King's cyber-cock with a light gasp and flash of discomfort across her face. She leaned down to grab what little clothing she had worn to this 'audition' before taking a chance and bumping one last line from the table. In a few seconds, she slinked out the door, giving both Billy and Miz a wide berth as they turned their attention back to their two hosts. The Sofa King had all but softened at this point as the blood returned to his brain. He was furious, pointing a finger at the two mercs, "Who the fuck do you think you are!"
"You dicked the wro-o-ong daddy's daughter... daddy," Miz smirked, "Tried to shake down a City Council member... the fuck did you think that was goin' to turn out?"
Fingers tried to slip out of the chair before Miz trained her Unity on him, "Move a muscle and the first round goes through your dick."
His eyes narrowed but he raised his hands carefully. Billy observed him and leaned in toward Miz, "He's even sleazier than I imagined..."
She focused her eyes on King as she barked, "Pull your pants up and sit the fuck down!"
King tried to step forward in protest before Miz fired a single shot past his ear, shattering the terminal on the desk behind him. Her point was made, as he carefully leaned down and shuffled his pants up as he took a seat on the soiled sofa before raising his hands. Billy stepped around to Miz's other side, training his revolver on Fingers with his Crusher shotgun trained on King as he spoke calmly to both of them, "Careful now... we got itchy trigger fingers for assholes like you..."
Miz grabbed a small chair, dragging it over as she crashed into it backwards and crossed her arms over the back. She had her Unity pointing conspicuously between both dirtbags as she lit a cigarette and stared King down, "So here's how it is... you're done. You get one chance to walk away clean, leave the city."
King leaned forward as he ripped off his mask in a tantrum, "Do you know who you're fu—"
Billy fired a warning shot from his Crusher, shattering the coffee table into pulp as the syn-coke exploded in a hazy white cloud and he said, "Ain't our concern, buddy. Whoever you think you are, or who your chooms are, they can take it up with the Afterlife..."
Miz's eyes cut to Fingers as she flashed her teeth, "V says hello, by the way..."
His eyes went wide and his face paled as he recalled having his jaw broken back in 2077 when V and Judy were on the warpath to find Evelyn Parker following the Konpeki Plaza heist. His hands trembled as he sunk further in the chair while Miz continued, "This is non-negotiable, fellas... nobody needs to die today, but these are the terms... you have until the end of the day to clean house."
Fingers shot forward, "B-But I have accounts that need settled... and these things take time. I'm just a humble businessman, you understand?"
Miz waved her hand, nudging her Unity towards him as she said nonchalantly, "...tell ya what I understand... I understand you prey on the weak... I understand you get off on raping women who can't afford decent chrome, so they're forced to put up with you for secondhand dogshit..."
In an instant, she kicked away from the chair as it fell over with a crash and she continued, "...I understand you like cutting up teenage girls' faces for the Tyger Claws..."
His eyes shot wide open as her face threading flashed red. Billy cut to her in shock, dropping his Crusher long enough for King to take his chance as he lunged forward from the couch with a yell.
BANG!
King's body stalled before dropping as half his head was vaporized into a mix of blood, brains, and skull fragments painting the desk and destroyed terminal behind him. Miz held her Unity out straight to the side, smoke rising from the barrel although her eyes never broke away from Fingers. She sucked her teeth dismissively, "Damn... what a shame... really thought he'd be the more reasonable of you two shitbirds..."
Billy's eyes were on fire as he took a step forward with his revolver ready to crack Fingers upside the head as the sleazy ripperdoc cowered away, falling out of the chair and scrambling towards a corner of the room as he cried, "P-Please, I'll d-do whatever you say, j-just don't kill me!"
Miz marched straight towards him. He couldn't crawl any further as he turned to face her, tears forming in his eyes as he pleaded for his life. Billy saw the writing on the wall and backed out of the room. He didn't need to be here for this; it was Miz's score to settle.
She was having none of Fingers' bullshit as she stood over him, pressing the still-warm barrel of her iron into the smooth crown of his head as she spat at him through gritted teeth, "You cut me up like a piece of fuckin' meat! And when that wasn't enough, you laughed and joined in with the rest of them..."
The tears were rolling in waves as Fingers begged for mercy and tried to cover his face with his hands. Miz's eyes and threading were solid red as she grabbed him by the jaw and craned his head up to look at her as she continued, "Look at your work, motherfucker!"
He shut his eyes as tight as he could before Miz had enough and struck him over the head with the butt of her gun. He flew to the floor and curled into a fetal position as he screamed, "P-Please, d-don't kill me! I'm s-sorry for what I d-did!"
She stood over him again with her finger on the trigger as her hand started to tremble. She tried to fight it before a cooler head prevailed and she holstered the gun.
"No... death is more than you deserve...", Miz rebuked him before kicking him over on his back. She pulled him up by the grimy collar of his shirt as she readied her Gorilla Arm, the platelets on the knuckles coming to life. The last thing Fingers saw was Miz swinging with every ounce of strength she had. It was lights out from there.
She let go of his shirt as he crashed unconscious against the filthy carpeted floors in a pool of his own blood and spit. She stood for what felt like an eternity, seemingly frozen in time and space, not really here nor there, nor anywhere. Her eyes stared at nothing in particular. Finally some instinct brought her back and she gasped for air as a single tear fell. What the fuck was she supposed to do now?
She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself and step back from the ledge. She hadn't gone to that dark place in a long time, and she had forgotten how much it drained her. She tried to focus on something, anything... as the deafening silence in her ears subsided, she realized a call was coming to her and she answered with no inflection, "You're about as timely as the angel of death, y'know that?"
V was on the other end, lightly amused and somewhat relieved, "I think Pops said the same thing to me once... Billy called, filled me in... you okay?"
Miz cut to the sack of meat and bones laying on the floor, "I will be... King's dead."
"Shit happens... client will probably jump for joy at the news", V joked before her tone shifted, "I'm just glad you and Billy made out alright... I..."
There was a pause and a deep sigh as she fought for her words. Miz knew what she wanted to say and threw her a bone, "I know, V... thanks."
V cleared her throat and continued, "There's a crew headed your way to clean up... we'll deal with Fingers. He's not your problem anymore."
Miz didn't want him dead, she wanted him to suffer; to feel an ounce of the pain he'd caused her, and probably hundreds of other victims over the years. Still, there was some comfort in V's words, and they kept coming, "Want to come by for a drink? My treat."
Miz looked down and blushed, "Rain check, babe. You know..."
"I get it, no worries", V reassured her, a tinge of hurt in her voice, "Take care of yourself, Miz. I mean it, for your own sake, for Billy, for the crew... for me... I'm here if you need anything."
"Thanks, V...", Miz swallowed a knot in her throat, "I'll uh... I'll call you in a couple days."
She dropped the call there, her mind awash with a thousand different thoughts, as she stumbled out of the room and down the stairs. Her gait was shiftless, nearly dragging her feet along the ground as she walked the line in her own mind between the ragged edge and the void.
As Miz exited the building, her nose perked up to the scent of a freshly-lit cigarette. Billy was standing watch out front, his Crusher at the ready. She walked up next to him, her arm brushing against his, though not entirely intentionally. He turned to her and asked, "You okay, Em?"
She stared on into the alley as she answered blankly, "Peachy..."
His eyes narrowed before she leaned into him, intentionally this time, and he placed his arm around her. In the dark and deep bowels of the city, they had survived another day, and they had each other. And that's all that really mattered. Everything else would fall into place in due time.
--
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