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Tora's avatar cleared the room, looting anything that glowed when he scanned over it. Gyu and Brian were bitching about something over the headset, some shit about a chick they both liked being interested in some other fucktwat. Whatever, Tora didn't give a fuck.
The background music grew heavier, more bass heavy and Tora moved his character to the window.
"Incoming," he barked into the headset, interrupting the shit talking. "Zombie hoard. Got a necro king headin' them."
"Shit, I'm outta ammo," Brian's voice came though.
Gyu laughed. "Ha, mother fucker, you can be the one left to die this time."
Tora rolled his eyes at his friends' antics. "Just get in the fuckin' watch tower with me, and lay down ya traps around it."
"On it," Brian confirmed as Gyu's character appeared beside Tora's on the TV screen.
"Shiiiiiiiit," Gyu dragged out as he saw what Tora had.
It'd be a damned week. Vince had been running Tora fucking ragged and he finally got home an hour ago. Too keyed up to sleep yet, he jumped on the PlayStation. There was always someone on to shoot zombies with, even at four in the morning. The time of night was the only reason he wasn't buggin' Poppy. Shit, he could admit it to himself—he was gone over the chick. She was just too fuckin' cute, and her body was his wet dreams come to life. And somehow, despite bein' the size of a hamster, she wasn't afraid of him and didn't take his shit without givin' it right back.
All week he'd been thinkin' about goin' over to her small little apartment and kissing her. Not like the kisses they shared in the alley, but like the ones that would lead places. Like the ones back in Moonbright before Gyu triggered the motion sensor and Pinky was almost there. Shit, he wanted to do more than kiss her.
He planned to wind down killin' zombies, crash for a good five or six hours, then go take her for lunch or something. He might be new at this whole trying to do an actual relationship thing, but Bobby needed ta eat so why not eat with her?
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Once. Then again, and one more time. "Fucking Quincey," Tora grumbled into the headset as the necro king got closer. He swapped through his character weapons, pulling out the rifle with the salt bullets.
"Didn't he have a date tonight?" Gyu asked; his own character tossing grenades through the window.
"Probably callin' me after kickin' them outta bed since it's so early." Tora resolved to ignore him. He didn't want to deal with his friend's drama right now. Couldn't do it without slapping him upside the head.
But his phone started ringing and he bit out a loud fuck, and started dropping ammo and guns for Brian. "Don't let me fuckin' die," he growled. "He's fuckin' callin' me—the fuck?"
Ignoring Gyu and Brian's questions at the sudden change in Tora's tone, Tora swipes to answer the phone.
"Bobby? What's wrong?"
As much as he'd fuckin' love it to be, he knew there was no way in Hell she was callin' him for a hook up. So something had to be wrong.
"Oh thank fudging gooses." Poppy's voice was filled with panic and relief and Tora dropped the controller, standing and shoving his feet into shoes. "I didn't know who else to call!"
Shit, his heart was pounding in his ears. It didn't help that the headset was still around his neck and he could hear Gyu asking about her, and the stupid bass from the music. "Bobby, where are you?" He ripped the headset off and tossed it to the ground. Fuck the game.
"I'm on highway 12," she said, clearly trying not to freak out. "I didn't know who else to call and I'm at the gas station off of exit 47 but it's closed which is good because—"
"On my way, sweetheart, but ya gotta tell me what's wrong." Tora raced to his car in the garage, putting the phone on speaker as he jumped in his Audi R8, needing the speed. His tires squealed as he whipped back out of the parking spot and threw it into first gear, leaving black marks behind. The bluetooth caught up and Bobby's panicked breathing surrounded him.
"Bobby!"
"Right, right. Just breath, Poppy," she told herself. Whatever it was, Tora would get her through it. He didn't fuckin' care who he had to kill or threaten or pay off. He still had the envelope thick with cash in his hoodie pocket from Vince. Ten grand should take care any trouble.
"So I had to go back to Moonbright to get my scooter, and I know you've been busy with your own work all week so I took the train," Poppy started talking. He wanted to snap at her and tell her to hurry the fuck up and skip the back story. He was blowin' red lights, glad that the morning traffic hadn't started yet. He made it onto the highway out towards Moonbright in fuckin' record time, pushing the Audi close to 90. If a cop tried to pull him over, he'd lose them even if it meant dumpin' his car later. He could get another R8, but he couldn't get another Bobby.
"I didn't mean to be there for so long, but Granny was out of the hospital and even though June promised to help, Granny wasn't letting her. So, you know, I couldn't just leave Granny there in the house with so much needing to be done," she said.
"Cause ya a sweetheart," Tora said, gritting his teeth as he tried to sound as supportive as possible. His phone lit up a few times, Gyu's name flashing with text notifications. Not right fucking now, dude.
"Anyways, it was really late when I finally left and then, oh god." She broke off in a horrified whisper. "Tora, it's so bad. I don't know what to do."
He pressed the gas harder, shifting into a higher gear. "It's okay, sweetheart. Whatever it is, I'm gonna be there soon. Just keep talkin."
She sucked in a shuddering breath and Tora glanced at the glovebox. It was small, but he thought he had a gun in there. Checkin' no one was merging onto the highway since it was all clear save for brake lights far ahead, he leaned over and popped it open, grabbing the 9mm. It was small, but effective and discreet.
"Julri was waiting for me," she whispered.
Tora growled before he could stop himself. "I told that fucker I'd kill him," he said lowly. "Did he touch ya, Poppylan?"
"No, no, I promise," she hurried. "But, well, we got into it. Started yelling and saying such horrible things about you and... Tora I did something really, really bad."
He blinked, not knowing what the hell she could have done. Well, he knew she could knock out the rest of Julri's teeth, but that wouldn't have her callin' him would it?
"Whatever it is, I don't blame ya," he told her as he whipped past the few cars that had been so far ahead of him minutes ago. He didn't give a fuck as they blared their horn. He passed an exit. "Bobby, I'm passin exit nineteen."
"Oh thank goodness, because I think the place opens up at five and I really need to be gone before then."
Tora started to triage the situation. If it's as bad as she says and she needs to be out of the gas station before it opens, he'll need Gyu to hack their security and clear whatever is on it. He'll need to have Poppy retrace her steps so they can clean up whatever happened and make sure nothing connects back to her.
"Bobby, keep talkin'. I'll help ya, no matter what it is, boss level thug rememba?" He couldn't help the panic rising in his voice. He needed to know she was okay. "Are ya hurt?"
"Only a little," her voice comes quietly through his speakers after a few minutes.
"Sweetheart, ya killin' me," he said, almost as quiet. "What happened?"
He heard her clearing her throat, and it fuckin' hurt that he could tell she was cryin.
"I just..." Poppy paused, taking a deep enough breath that he heard it. "I need help hiding a body."
Tora almost fuckin' lost control of the car as he jolted. He wasn't expecting those fucking words to ever come out of his hamster's mouth. The backend of the R8 started to get loose but he snapped his jaw shut and got the car straightened out.
"Tora?" she whispered when he took too long to reply.
"I'm here, Bobby. Jesus, sweetheart."
"I know!" Poppy sounded close to panicking again. "I can't believe this happened. And I'm sorry but I didn't know who else to call. I couldn't call my Granny—"
"Ha, no," he said, air starting to flow back into his lungs.
"And the police woul—"
"No police," he interrupted. "Definitely no fuckin' cops. I'll take care of it, sweetheart. And if I can't, I got a crew that can."
She squeaked, and it was fuckin' adorable, despite the situation. He let out a small laugh. "Ya tellin' me ya need help hidin' a body but then ya get all flustered when I tell ya I got people who can help too?"
"Sweet sugar plum fairies I really hope it doesn't come to that," she said, sounding calmer than she had since he answered the phone. "I mean, he's kinda big but not like... really big? I was able to move him by myself out of sight at least."
Shit, she moved Julri by herself? He shook his head, glad he wasn't the one who pissed her off so much that she killed him. Hell, he knew she had violence in her, but this? This was more than he'd ever expect of his girl. Which...
"Ya know, Bobby, this is a mighty big favor," he said, letting his smirk slip into his tone. Hiding bodies wasn't what he expected but he knew what to do, so he could shift into an easier mindset now that he wasn't expecting to face down an whole town in an angry mob or some shit.
"... what's this going to cost me?"
He grinned, knowin' that both of his dimples that she loved so much had to be showin'. "Hidin' a body? Especially at four in the morning outside of the city? I think there's only one way for ya to ever repay me."
She didn't say anything, but Tora could fuckin' feel how hot she was blushing. He decided to put her outta her misery, like whatever poor bastard she had.
"I don't hide bodies for just anyone, sweetheart," he said. "So, if I do this, then I get to say ya my girl."
"Wait, what?" she said, shocked. "What do you mean?"
"Ya heard me," he said, still grinning like an idiot. He was passing exit 38, and he'd be there soon. "I help ya, and ya my girl. Girlfriend. I get to kiss ya when I want, and we go on dates and shit."
"Oh." Poppy's answer isn't exactly as excited or willing as he'd hoped and he backed off the gas, his stomach knotting with a different sort of tension.
"Forget I said anythin," Tora muttered. "I'll still help ya. Almost there anyways."
"Oh! No, it's not that," Poppy rushed out, and hope burst back into life in Tora's chest. "It's more just, I never expected that we'd get to this point because of this type of situation."
Tora's laugh surprised him and he felt gratified when she joined in, even if she was quiet. "When has anything about us been any sorta normal?" He changed lanes, slowing down rapidly as the off-ramp approached. He could see the unlit sign of the gas station silhouetted in the slowly lightening sky. "I'm getting off the highway now. See ya in a sec, sweetheart."
***
Tora stared at the corpse slumped over the back of her scooter, fucking speechless. He looked at Poppy, who hand her hands curled under her chin, her face terrified like he was about to judge her to hell and call her the worst type of person. He looked back to scooter.
"Jesus fuck, Bobby."
"I'm the worst, I know!" She protested, her voice going watery and, shit. She was crying. Tora tugged her to him, wrapping her up in his arms and she clung to his shirt, sniffling.
Then he laughed. He couldn't help it. He laughed so fuckin' hard that Poppy pulled away from him, shoving at him and calling him her adorable fuckin' insults.
"Sorry, sweetheart," he got out finally, and ran a hand down his face. "I just... when ya said ya needed help movin' a body, I thought ya meant ya shitbag of an ex."
She gaped at him, her eyes wide in horror, and it just set him off again. He was laughin' so hard, he hand to double over and brace his hands on his knees.
"Tora, this is serious," she hissed at him. "If anyone finds out I hit one of these deer, I'll get in so much trouble! I could literally go to jail, Tora! These are endangered. I can't even afford the fine if that's all they slap me with."
Tora forced himself upright and, nodding, tryin' to take her seriously. "Shit, ya right, sweetheart," he said, still trying to contain his laughter. "Wouldn't want that. Ya wouldn't survive without ya cute pens and notebooks." He looked around before looking back at the poor creature that Poppy managed to take out with her scooter. She'd probably insist on holding some type of memorial for it or somethin' later, seeing as its one of those cute fuckin' fairy tale forest creatures.
He stepped up and grabbed its front legs in one hand, and lifted it from the back of her scooter. He'd get it detailed for her later. "Here's the deal, Poppy." He met her eyes, keepin' as serious as he could manage, especially given how serious she was takin' it. "Ya gonna get on ya scooter, since it didn't get damaged when ya sent this poor, innocent, adorable—"
"You are the worst!"
"very endangered deer to the afterlife like the tiny savage ya are. Ya gonna go to your apartment and park behind the security booth. I'll take care of the body and meet ya there, where I'll get someone to take care of the evidence on ya scooter. Then I'll make sure any highway security footage didn't capture the moment when ya drove over this sweet doe's—"
"Tora!" she growled and would have leapt at him if he weren't holding said animal up.
"tiny-ass neck. And then, later tonight, ya gonna make me ya rice balls."
That had her looking at him with concern, and a bit of... sadness?
"So, just because it's not my ex, you're changing the favor?" She tugged at the hem of her jacket, not meeting his eyes. Shit, did she think he was saying she didn't have to be his girlfriend? Not that he'd force her, fuck, that wasn't the point.
"Nah," he said, reaching out with his free hand (that hadn't touched the victim of her crime) and tugged on one of her braids. "I just got a cravin' for my girlfriend's cooking."
Poppy beamed up at him, rising on her toes and he held the deer away from them, dipping his head to meet her upturned face in a quick kiss. The moment their lips touched, the lights of the station flickered to life with the buzz of fluorescents. She jumped away from him, looking around to see if there was anyone who'd caught them with the "evidence."
"Automatic lights, sweetheart," he teased, then nodded towards the scooter. "Best get ya cute ass on home 'afore anyone actually shows up to work."
"Right," she agreed, scooping up her helmet and tugging it on. "Going right now." She hopped back on the thing, pressed the ignition, and rolled it forward off of the kick stand. Then she stopped, shooting him a grin.
"I'm glad my boyfriend is a boss level thug," she said with a wink and drove out of the gas station.
"Shit," Tora said with a grin and looked down at the small deer. Couldn't be more than forty pounds. How the hell did she hit it? He didn't know what type of deer it was, but if she said she could get in trouble, he'd take care of it. He took it to the back of the R8, glad he keeps canvas or tarps in most of his cars. As he dropped it in his trunk, he looked at it. "I'd say I owe ya one but..."
He shook his head with a huff of laughter and closed the trunk. He had a body to get rid of for his girlfriend.