Spots: Legends

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

80. Better than a Hallmark Card.	82. Leading From Behind.

81. Legends

Spots, looking at Claws. "He did what?"

Fang2, dropping onto his exercise mat. "He ****ing picked a fight in the gym when it was, like, eight to one. And actually brazened it the **** out so they didn't pound him to ****ing powder."

Claws. "Christ, Chao, if you're gonna tell the story, tell it right. They picked the fight, not me."

Fang2 chortles. "Not the way they tell it. Which is all about the size of your—"

Claws holds up a hand, wincing. "Chao!"

Fang2 to Spots. "I heard it was because of you and the Fiddler."

Claws. "Can we please stop talkin' about this?"

Fang2. "You know you wanna."

Claws. "I'm completely sure I don't, really, honest, cross-my-heart."

Fang2 to Spots. "I'm serious, it was about you."

Spots, back to stretching. "I'm sure it was."

They both look at her.

Fang2. "That's it?"

Spots. "Yes?"

Claws. "Really? You're not gonna ask?"

"Nope."

Claws. "Not even a single question?"

Spots. "Well, maybe one." Looking at Fang2. "What on earth is a pee-yoh?"

Fang2. "It's not a thing. P-Y-E-O. It stands for 'Peck Your Eyes Out.' I play cards with their sergeant, Abrams, he's cool. Maybe a little whacked, but cool."

Spots. "Oh, the man with the broken leg?"

Fang2. "Heh! Yeah, him."

Claws. "Do you know everyone?"

Spots, sweetly. "Apparently not as well as you almost did."

Claws, touching hand to chest. "Ouch." To Fang2, "I hope this story hasn't gone far."

Fang2. "**** no, man! I was lucky to hear it all after that footage about Bonny-****-you-up-beautiful Peaches got out!"

Claws, slowly. "The... what?"

Fang2. "The footage of her taking on that infiltrator crab single-handedly! You haven't seen it?" He mimes a shooting gesture with one hand. "Pee-yow! She emptied her gun into that ****er, and when it didn't go down she ****ing kicked it like some kind of barroom brawler and when that didn't stop it she ****ing took it on with a PIECE OF GLASS to the ****ing EYES!"

Spots, wide-eyed. "No kidding."

Fang2. "Not a chance, Mother! That was some serious-****ing ***-kicking!"

Spots lowers her head, hand to her mouth to cover her twitching mouth.

Fang2. "I'm serious! You have got to see the video, it's ****ing AWESOME."

Claws, moving toward the wall computer. "All right, yeah, I wanna see this—"

—when the door opens on two security men and... Fang.

Long pause.

Security. "This private says you're expecting her?"

Claws. "Yeah, she's one of ours. Let her in. Thanks."

They nod and step back as Fang steps forward. The door closes. Another silence. Then:

Fang. "I'm not stupid. The moves the two of you were doing on patrol... those are way too smooth. You've been training."

Claws, holding up his hands. "You got us. What about it?"

Fang. "I want in."

80. Better than a Hallmark Card.	82. Leading From Behind.