Chapter Text
It was early spring in Narin City and like the beginning, the heavy rainstorms arrived one after the other. Cleansing the city from it's winter coat and bringing vegetation to life once more, at least what is left in a overgrowing city. During it's third rainstorm, in the heart of it all, stood the Balthuman organization headquarters. Standing inside by the large windows of the top floor, Tora watched the rain pound against the glass.
With the darkened sky, it made the waiting room look gloomy which was a welcome joy to Tora. It had been five years to the day since he had his freedom. It would also mean that while he served his time for drug trafficking and suspicion of assault, Tora hadn't set foot in the building since then. His hair was longer but still styled in a messy half man-bun. His plug earrings were back in which made his earlobes throb, but he could handle a little pain like that. Licking his lips, he craved a cigarette, so he pressed his hand over his breast pocket; checking for his pack.
At that very moment the elevator doors dinged opened, distracting him. His head turned over his shoulder and a smirk appeared on his face. Quincey stepped out and immediately saw Tora across the room, “Well, well, well...” he said as he began walking over. The two embraced in a small hug before Quincey added, “It's been too long.”
“Too fucking long.” Tora chuckled back. After their hug, he checked out his long time friend to see that he was still as stylish as ever with his fashionable suits and animal print accessories. Only when Tora looked at him, did he notice that his cross earring was gone and replaced by a stud diamond. Tora reached over to his ear and raised an eyebrow at him.
Quincey smiled as he knew Tora could say a thousand words with just a simple hand gesture. Knowing that would be quite the explanation, he decided to steer the conversation another way. “Hey after the meeting, come by my place, we got loads to catch up on.” Tora nodded.
Before another word was spoken, the heavy doors to the conference room opened. Both men looked over as a small figure came out, her little eyes went immediately to Quincey before they lit up in recognition before starting to run towards him. “Quincey!” She shouted.
Quincey smiled bigger for her as he stooped down to pick her up when she was close enough and kissed her forehead. “There you are my cherry blossom.” They hugged each other before adding, “Did you behave for Pop-Pop?” The little dark haired girl nodded as she held on tight to her stuffed animal before reaching up to rub Quincey's pierced ear.
With no further explanation, Tora stood in slight shock as it made sense on the sudden change. However, the shock was towards the fact that there was a new family member in the Balthuman clan and Quincey was a father. Or at least, adopted father since he was always taking in kids from the street and helping them out once in a while.
Moving her golden eyes over to Tora, she then felt shy and rested her head on Quincey's shoulder. Seeing her reaction, Quincey glanced over and then said to her, “This is my friend, Tora.” He rubbed her back to sooth her. “He might look scruffy but he's really a nice person.” He teased Tora and chuckled when Tora replied with a grunt. Then silence fell on them but before it could get awkward, Quincey looked at the young girl in his arms and asked, “How about you go with Smithy? I bet he has a lollipop for you.”
She nodded to him. “Okay.” She was lowered to her feet before she ran over to the elevator, where Smithy stood. Quincey watched her go and admired her little preppy style long sleeve dress and long boots. Proud, he enjoyed seeing her fashion style. I got to take her out for more shopping, he thought to himself. At the elevator, the little girl turned her head and waved to Tora, “bye-bye.”
From that distance, Tora finally noticed her eyes and fell mesmerized. “See ya kid,” he smirked at her. Once she got in and the door shut, he turned his attention back to Quincey. “When did you--”
Quincey shot up his hand and shook it, “she's not mine.” A nervous chuckle escaped him as he then ran the same hand over his gelled hair.
With another eyebrow arch, Tora thought about it, “Guess your old man still has it in him.” He licked his lips again. This time reaching into his black suit jacket and fishing out a cigarette, he put it to his lips and lit up.
“Um..yeah, she's the apple of his eye.”
Before Quincey could say anymore, the elevator doors opened again. This time, clan members stepped out and greeted them as they made their way to the conference room. Quincey turned his attention back to Tora and patted his shoulder. “I'll see you later.” Walking away, he made a straight line to the elevator. Clearly, he wouldn't be attending the meeting.
Tora already knew that it wasn't Quincey's thing to attend meetings since he obviously wasn't interested in the family business. Taking in a big drag of his cigarette, he walked to the conference room as he let out a puff of smoke. He joined the other clan members and took his seat. Seeing new faces among the old ones, Tora knew he had a lot of investigating to do in the upcoming days. Soon, the meeting began once Vincent walked in from his office that was adjacent to the conference room.
Throughout the group meeting, Tora couldn't help to notice how some of the clan members sounded like chicks complaining about their problems. He found easy solutions for them but he figured he'd stay silent until spoken to. He went through two more cigarettes before the meeting was adjourned. “Tora? I'd like to have a word before you go.” Vincent said from his chair. With that said, that was cue for everyone else to leave. Exchanging head nods as they passed Tora, they filed out of the room. Tora stood when he saw Vincent get up and make his way back to his office and he followed the older man through the set of doors.
Dressed in a navy blue suit and tie, Vincent walked over to his massive desk. “I saw that you met Taigariri.” He had watched the interaction from the camera footage before the meeting began.
Tora had closed the doors behind him before replying, “Briefly.”
Stepping to the cocktail caddy behind his desk, he filled a small glass with whiskey. He offered some to Tora but nodded when Tora politely declined. Vincent then took his seat and gestured for Tora to sit across from him. “She's beautiful isn't she?”
When Tora took his seat and leaned back, he wondered where his boss was going with this conversation. He nodded in agreement as he came to the conclusion that perhaps Vincent wanted him to be her bodyguard. Not really wanting to do that, he knew if that's what Vincent wanted then he'd do it.
But to his surprise, Vincent changed the subject. “Now that you're back. I want to bring my offer back to the table again.”
Tora studied Vincent's body language as the man drank his beverage, “Will I still have my men?” He thought about Smithy, Gyu and Lyle.
“Of course. Hell, you can have anyone.”
Without any change to his face expression, Tora took in a deep breath. “I'd like to think on it for a few days. But I'll give you my answer next time we see each other.”
Vincent set his drink down and nodded. “Fair enough.” He stood up and walked over to Tora's side and extended his hand.
Standing, Tora took his hand and shook it. “Thanks.” Tora continued shaking his hand as they silently knew that thanking him was more for helping him reduce his sentence. He knew Vincent had to do the impossible to get the judge to agree to it.
“I'm happy with you just considering it,” Vincent smirked, “Now, go think about it. Better yet, go get some pussy if you have to.” They chuckled.
***
Across town, in the newly remodeled Goldfish Dance Company theater, Poppy sat on the contemporary modern black bar stool. She was leaning on the bar counter reading over paperwork. On the other side of the bar, Erdene kept trying to interrupt her focus. “Seriously, hon. What was wrong with that one?” She crossed her arms in front of her while still leaning.
Shaking her head, Poppy looked up and giggled. “Are we talking about the audition or dating?” Poppy couldn't keep up with her friend's constant subject change.
She arched her eyebrow and smirked. “Both actually.”
Another giggle, Poppy thought of her reply. “Um...let's see.” She tilted her head before continuing. “The meaty guy from the audition...he was okay. Better than the other ones we've seen for sure.” Thinking about the man, she remembered that he was too much but she knew that the ultimate decision came to Quincey. All Poppy knew after Quincey took over the Company was that she was in charge of getting the next show ready. While Quincey spent his days still writing his novels, he got Poppy to manage to turn his novels into show performances.
“What about the guy from your date?” Erdene asked.
Poppy moved her thoughts back to her last date from three nights before. She got real serious and lowered her head, an attempt to pretend to focus on her paperwork. “He...wasn't right for me.”
Erdene rolled her eyes. Pushing herself away from the counter, she stood straight and placed her hands on her waist. “How many times are you going to do this to yourself?”
Clearing her throat, Poppy replied. “I don't know what you're talking about?” On the contrary, she knew.
“Oh, please!” She scoffed. “You have been dating for the past year and saying the same thing. Granted that you didn't the first two years, but ever since then, you nit pick.”
“I don't nit pick!” Poppy snapped her eyes over to her friend.
A chuckled escaped from Erdene. “You nit pick. You look for him in others.” She then got serious and quietly added, “That's not healthy.”
Knowing that she was right, Poppy sighed. “I know.”
They sat in silence as Poppy thought about Tora for the millionth time that week. He constantly invaded her thoughts even during her casual dates. It was no wonder she couldn't find a good man, because her mind wasn't in it. And that wasn't allowing her heart to open up to anyone else in the love department.
The silence was interrupted when they heard a door opening. Soon, entering from the side and walking into the lobby where the bar was located, Quincey appeared holding onto a little figure by the hand. Smithy was right behind them serving his position as bodyguard and driver. “Mommy!” The little voice echoed before the little girl released Quincey's hand.
Both women turned their heads and smiled. Poppy hopped off the bar stool and walked over. In a swift action, she picked up her daughter. “Hello my baby.”
Quincey and Smithy stopped in front of them. Smiling, Quincey greeted her. “Hello, beautiful.”
Poppy hugged her four year old child tightly. “Hello gorgeous.” She called Quincey by his nickname. “Hi Smithy.” She looked over to the other one.
“Hey Poppy.” Smithy greeted back.
Chuckling at his nickname, Quincey watched the pair for a minute before he said seriously, “We gotta talk.” Seeing the seriousness, Poppy knew whatever he had to say, she was fully prepared for it. Tora came to her thoughts again.
To be continued....