Published: September 8th 2021, 8:51:49 am
Continuation of September 6, 2021: "Finnicky Baby Pt. 3"
That next Tuesday was the day of the big payout. Nick and Finnick were scheduled to meet, and Nick told Finnick that the payer expected them to be in costume.
"What? Why?" asked Finnick, when Nick stopped by the van to tell Finnick about the added stipulations to their meeting. This was a change to the routine. He didn't like last minute changes to the routine.
"Number one, because the cops have been breathin' down everyone's neck since little goody two-shoes got promoted and started cleaning up the department, and two, it protects us as well. He doesn't even know who you are in that getup. Or do you want your secret identity to be common knowledge? Cause if you do, then more power to ya, little man."
"Hey!" said Finnick. "Watch it with the 'L' word. I just washed these threads and I'd hate to have to get 'em dirty with fox blood so soon." He patted his shirt and smirked up at Nick.
"Fine, fine, my bad. So do what you wanna do. It won't hurt my reputation."
Finnick let out a short bark of a laugh. "Ha! What reputation?"
"if it's too much trouble, I'm happy to go by myself. I promise I won't pocket an extra hundred or two." Nick batted his eyelashes at Finnick.
"Not on your life, asshole," said Finnick, with a wry grin, "I'll be ready." Then, he whipped out his shades and followed it up with his signature "Goo fuckin' goo, motherfucker!" sticking his thumb in his mouth. Nick nearly melted.
"Oh yeah, that's the stuff," he said, tapping the inside of his arm. "An injection of pure adorable straight to the heart. You're too good at that, man."
"Haha, I know, I know," he said. "Gets me all kinds of tail, too. Now get the hell out of here. You're cutting into my whack-off time."
"Is that all you do in there?" asked Nick, sardonically.
"No, no," said Finnick. "I also do... your mom." He broke down laughing and holding his belly, while Nick rolled his eyes.
"Good one," said Nick, stuffing his hands in his pockets and stepping away from the van. He called back over his shoulder as he walked off. "Juvie called. They want their insults back." He gave a lazy wave as he left the donut shop alley, a smile already on his muzzle. Got 'em!
*****
It was late-afternoon that Tuesday, and the sun slanted across dusty street and its buildings. Old paper streamers hung off the balcony above the faded wooden door to the nondescript little establishment that Nick approached.
"What's with the kid?" asked the very descript henchman guarding the door.
"Hey, it's part of the deal, okay?" said Nick. "Your boss don't ask questions, I don't ask questions." The bear folded quicker than a hyena in a poker game at the mention of his boss.
"Okay, okay, true enough. When you're right, you're right."
Nick looked down at Finnick, who was sitting comfortably in his chest holster baby carrier. Quintessential dad gear. He smirked down at the little fennec and shook his head, giving a nod back to the entrance they had just passed through. "Can you believe this guy?"
Finnick looked back up at him, his face completely innocent and devoid of understanding. Of course Nick knew that Finnick understood every word that was being said, but he played the part so well, you'd never know it. And sometimes they got some choice information that way too.
The payout went smoothly, and Nick stuffed the money down the front of Finnick's sleeper as soon as he counted it. The big boss, Purple Puma, looked Nick up and down and flashed a predatory grin, his teeth glinting in the light of the room as Nick said his goodbyes.
"That's a mighty cool look you got there, Daddy-o." What Nick was wearing was definitely not cool. Laughable was a better word, and the Puma's expression and tone definitely let him know it.
"Hey, say what you will about my dorky dad getup. No one's gonna be checking junior's diapers for anything but his next accident."
"Hehe, yeah, you're right about that," said the boss, looking back and forth to two of his bodyguards and chuckling. Everyone else in the room chuckled too, because that's just what you did when the Puma laughed.
"Haha, yes," said Nick, stepping away. Pleasure doing business with you. Call me anytime!"
"Feel free to grab a drink and some milk for the little one on the way out. Anything the cazador de conejos wants is on the house."
"You're too kind," said Nick, not wanting to stay in there a moment later than he had to. A shot of tequila and a bottle of milk later, he managed to extract himself and get back onto the street. "See, kiddo? Easy as pie. And I didn't even piss myself, though believe me, I was pretty damn close," he added, speaking out of the side of his mouth as he walked away from the store as briskly as he could without running.
Finnick opened his mouth once they were out of earshot. "Yeah, yeah. He's a scary guy, I get it. But what the hell was that he said about cazador de conejos?"
"Oh, the 'rabbit hunter' thing? That's just because everyone things I'm dating Carrots, and that's why I'm one of the only crimin- er, I mean, one of the only entrepreneurs left in town. As if I'd need any special favors from a donut-munching co-ho-hiiii, Carrots! Didn't see ya there!"
It was Judy, in the fur, and Nick had nearly walked right into her. "You were saying?"
-Written by ChampTehOtter