Be Gay Do Crime

“Gentle,” Robbie said, watching as Ashe manipulated the tumbler.  “Focus more on getting a feel for it, you won’t have your eyes to rely on.” 

Keiko scoffed, and Ashe’s hand slipped, losing her place in unlocking the practice deadbolt.  Ashe glared at the woman, still irritated over the whole drugged without permission thing, but Keiko just rolled her eyes and walked over to one of the real padlocks Robbie had set up for her to practice with in her off time. 

Watching the irritating woman pick up a heavy wrench, Ashe took a sharp breath when she brought it down on the first padlock, popping it open with ease.  She then moved down the line, breaking each off with a sharp swing.  

“Why are we wasting time teaching her a useless skill again?” 

Eye twitching, Ashe set the lockpicks down and walked away.  They had a few hours to kill before they needed to be at the building for the stakeout, and Robbie offered to teach her a few useful skills for their line of work.  Lockpicking certainly sounded useful, right up until Keiko quite literally shattered things. 

“That only works if you don’t need to keep quiet,” Robbie said with a defeated sigh.  “Finesse is a thing, you know.” 

Robbie glared at the woman before letting out a weary sigh and walking off.  As he went, he stopped and patted Crystal on the shoulder.  She glanced up from the rifle she was working on, then rolled her eyes.  It didn’t escape Ashe’s notice that Keiko now sported a split lip, or that there was an added tension that hadn’t been there before.

“Keiko and finesse are not words that go together,” Crystal said, returning her focus back to the scope she was attaching.  “She sees every problem as a nail.” 

“I thought you liked being nailed,” Keiko teased, walking over to where Crystal was working.  Her hips sashayed with each step, and Ashe found her fists tightening almost painfully.  “I’m sure your new girlfriend could help there.” 

“We aren’t dating,” Crystal said, glaring at Keiko.  “Unlike you, I know when to back off.” 

Keiko snorted, waving her hand dismissively.  “You weren’t complaining back then.” 

“I was sixteen,” Crystal said.  “You took advantage of my immaturity and naivete.  Just because I don’t hold it against you and am still your friend doesn’t change that it still happened.” 

“Just admit you were touch starved.”  Keiko sighed, stepping away.  “Yeah yeah, we really were a shit couple.  Didn’t stop the sex from being fun once you were taught properly though.” 

Ashe set the lock down with a heavy thump and left the room, unwilling to hear about the sex life of her friend and teammate.  It might have been in the past, but the jealousy still crept in despite that.  It shouldn’t bother her, but Crystal had said yes when she invited her to prom, even if it was still months away!  If that wasn’t a statement of interest, she wasn’t sure what was. 

Finding a sink in the old mechanics shop, Ashe started scrubbing the grease from her hands.  The locks were well oiled, which translated to a bunch of gunk on her hands as she worked at figuring out how to pick them.  She needed to check over her guns before the job, and the differing oils might cause mechanical issues if she mixed them.  Best to not risk it. 

The AR platform that she had selected wasn’t all that different from her mom’s SIG, familiarity was a better choice than taking a bullpup she was still learning.  Her Beretta would also be part of her loadout, as would a sturdy combat knife.  Aside from that, their options were limited.  If called in, Robbie would be bringing a pair of flashbangs, and Keiko would carry an incendiary charge for reasons they wouldn’t get into. 

A few ideas came to mind, none of them pleasant.

Not wanting to think on the implications, Ashe began her gear check in full.  Robbie didn’t have anything in the way of ballistic vests, which was concerning.  Even if the plan was simple recon, there was a chance they might stumble on something that meant a firefight, and Ashe would rather be prepared.

While she didn’t have anything bullet resistant, she did bring one of her own personal cut resistant shirts.  It was better than nothing, and might save her from some injuries.  Anything more than scratches and bruises would be difficult to explain should her parents learn of them.  She might be able to play off criminal activities related to finding the kidnappers just once.  

Her parents had to suspect Crystal had gang ties, not that she had shown her tattoos around them.  They already knew she was looking into the trafficking using less than legal means, and were content to look away so long as she didn’t do anything too blatant.  It was a sad statement on the police in general, between the corruption that allowed her assailants to walk free to her own parents willingness to look away when it came to her own actions. 

Sighing, Ashe began to get changed, putting on all the gear that she would take with her for the scouting portion.  She also began to pack a bag with extra ammunition should they find the place the girls were being held.  Preparation was paramount if she was going to survive this life she had chosen. 

“Isn’t that a bit much?” Crystal asked. 

Ashe looked behind her where her friend was leaning against the door frame.  She was already dressed in what Ashe now knew to be Riptide’s standard field gear.  She couldn’t describe it as a costume, despite the fancy name.  It was simple bluejeans, a blue flannel jacket that was buttoned up and a bunch of tactical gear placed over top of it.  She also had a blue bandana tied around her hair, completely obscuring the dye job and cut.  A mask would make up the last portion of her outfit, though Ashe wasn’t sure what sort it would be in the end.  

“Better over prepared than under,” she said with a shrug, grabbing a piece of cloth and pocketing it.  Ashe herself had swapped the basic plague mask for a proper balaclava, finding it was easier to breathe in than the plague masks while also less likely to fall free and expose her identity.  “Also helps me keep my nerves down.” 

Crystal’s smile faltered and she stepped forward, surprising Ashe when she was pulled into a gentle embrace.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Crystal whispered, squeezing ever so gently as she did.  “It’s just a scouting trip.  If things get bad, you can always call in a tip to your parents, let the police deal with it.” 

Ashe shook her head even as she returned the embrace.  “Not really an option.  They would just get out again.  If this is going to stop, it has to be me.”

“Us,” Crystal said immediately.  “We’re right there with you, even if some are pissier than others about it.” 

Grunting, Ashe pulled back and gave her friend a weak smile.  “You have no idea how much I wanted to punch that bitch.”  Looking back towards the door, a grin grew.  “Thanks for doing it for me.” 

Crystal let out a hearty laugh.  “I figured you would put it off until after the mission, so I got in a shot first.  Feel free to take your own once everything settles back down, she’ll understand.” 

A disbelieving snort was her answer.  There was no way that Keiko would just accept getting punched, especially after Crystal had already done it for her.  Still, the gesture was appreciated, and seeing that split lip did bring a smile to her face.  

“I’ll consider it, if we all make it through the next bit intact,” Ashe said.  “Just please come up with something less offensive than Gremlin for my callsign in the field.” 

“Street names aren’t callsigns,” Crystal said, but it wasn’t reproachful.  “Funny how everyone always has an obsession with coming up with new names.  At least street names have to be granted to you compared to some of the shit I’ve seen online.” 

Given how everyone on her friends list had their own online handle, it wasn’t much of a surprise.  As long as she didn’t end up with something awful, she would be grateful. 

Blinking, Ashe had to stop and run back over that train of thought.  Did she actually expect to do something worthy of a name?  Was she actually planning to stay in this life?  Crystal’s reality check had shaken her a bit, but she still intended to stop the traffickers, if nothing else.  Would she continue beyond that? 

It was something she tried to avoid thinking about too much, but maybe she should.  Ashe had the impression that those that made names for themselves didn’t live all that long, not unless they clawed their way to the top.  She’d gone back to the documentary on the Storm Guard civil war in the eighties, looking up all the names involved.  Silver Cross being the most prominent.  He was probably dead by now, and a proud fascist besides, but he was one of the exceptions that weren’t killed in a public way. 

Headhunter was a name with almost a decade of history behind it, if his little stunt with the head in the box was the act that earned his name.  She couldn’t find anything of note on Merc, and Riptide was a relative unknown as well.  Then there was Hanabi, with a botched bomb threat that landed her the name nearest Ashe could tell. 

She could always just ask for the story, but they weren’t on good terms as it was, and Keiko didn’t seem to enjoy the tale either.  Best to just let that one be for the moment, rather than antagonize her to the point she slipped something else in her drink. 

If Keiko did it again, there wouldn’t just be words exchanged between them.  It would come to blows.  There was no way around it.  Ashe wasn’t going to tolerate people slipping her random shit, even if it was for her supposed good. 

“Thanks,” Ashe said after a moment. 

“For punching the bitch?” Crystal asked.  “Didn’t we already cover that?” 

Shaking her head with a chuckle, Ashe turned back to the workbench.  “Just, for being there.” 

Crystal didn’t answer right away, and after an awkward silence, Ashe moved back to working on her gear.  Had she said something wrong?  She didn’t think so, but she also didn’t know everything there was about Crystal’s history.  Sometimes even something innocuous could be taken as a grave insult due to things the speaker didn’t understand. 

Ashe was well familiar with how that worked, given her own history.

Securing her scope, Ashe checked the offset irons.  She didn’t have access to a range to dial everything in, so she would just have to hope for the best.  If anything, she was thankful that Robbie had an armory of illegally sourced weapons for the crew to draw on.  The implications of where it all came from were of course troubling, but Ashe was on the wrong side of the law now, she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. 

Then again, Trojans bearing gifts and all that… 

She set the gun aside, it wouldn’t be going with her on the recon mission, only Crystal was bringing a rifle for the recon portion.  Robbie would bring it with him if they did manage to find something worth attacking.  Just the thought of what they might find filled Ashe with cold dread.  She’d heard plenty of stories from her parents, but she hadn’t seen any of it herself. 

Even her brief time living on the streets hadn’t given her a strong glimpse into the worst aspects of it.  She could still remember the Viuda prostitutes that offered her some food and shelter during her darkest moments.  She wasn’t keen to experience starvation again, or taste rotten trash for that matter. 

Now, she was working with them, and investigating them at the same time.  Was that the reason the thought of the Viuda being involved with trafficking bothered her so much?  Ashe didn’t want to dwell on that, so she went back to checking on her handgun, and then realized she’d run out of things to stall on.

Holstering her gun, she sighed and turned back around.  She almost expected Crystal to have stepped away, but she was still standing there, a gentle smile on her face.  Ashe’s heart fluttered at the sight.  There wasn’t anything special about the moment, but there was something so open about her expression. 

Ashe walked up to her and threw caution to the wind, pulling the older woman into a tight and almost crushing hug.  Crystal went rigid, and Ashe was almost certain she’d read the situation wrong.  Gentle arms wrapped around her, then squeezed, and that apprehension fled from her in an instant. 

“I know what it’s like,” Crystal whispered, “when nobody is there for you.  I don’t want you to ever experience that.” 

“Already have,” Ashe answered.  “Which is why I’ll always be there for you too.” 

“Damn, if that isn’t mushy,” Keiko said, startling both of them apart.  Ashe glared at the unrepentantly grinning woman, to no effect.  “Just fuck already and get it over with.” 

“I’m not you,” Crystal said, but it sounded more tired than angry.  “Ashe is still new to all of this, and you know as well as I do how that would play out.” 

Keiko rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but she paused in the doorway.  “I give the two of you another month.” 

“I’m not betting over that,” Crystal said, her voice cold as ice.  “Just make sure you’re both ready.  We might find something worth robbing while out there.” 

“It’s half the reason I’m even entertaining this,” Keiko said.  “You don’t seriously buy that the Viuda might be involved.  Hell, I don’t think Ashe does either.” 

“I’d rather be certain,” Ashe said.  “If I’m really throwing everything away to pursue this, I’d like to make sure the people I’m tying myself to don’t drag me down with them.” 

“Too late for that,” Keiko said.  “You know how it works with gangs.  You’ve killed someone now, you’re already tied to us, cop mommies or no.” 

Ashe’s fists tightened, the numbness of her right hand almost painful in the absence of sensation.  Keiko had the nerve to smirk as she turned and left.  No, Ashe wouldn’t let herself be goaded like that.  She had a job to do tonight, and anger would only cloud her judgment further.  In just a few hours, Ashe might just be dead, having been killed while doing something illegal.  She didn’t want to dwell on that, and they were short on time as it was.

Grabbing her things, she followed Crystal outside to a waiting car.  Taking the passenger seat, Ashe found herself already missing the closeness that the motorcycle brought with it.  Maybe Keiko was right and in a month they would be physically involved.  That was a line of thought that was only marginally better than thinking about the people she might be killing soon.  There was just so much on her mind, and it was weighing down on her.

She wished Crystal was able to pull her into another hug, because she could really use it right now.

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