Tangerine flavored
As if you didn't have enough problems already... You sighed as the man behind you pushed his gun in your rib to make you move faster. Your hands were up in the air and you were breathing slowly, focused on the sounds around you. Why did so many people want you dead again? You chuckled a bit, remembering all of the stupid decisions that brought you here. You kept smiling. Quite funny how most of your survival instinct can shut down when you've been sleep deprived and stressed long enough. The big bad man standing in front of you must not have liked that as he ordered his men to knock you unconscious.
When you woke up, your hands were tied to a rusty radiator with dried bloodstains. You weren't quite smiling anymore. Especially when you saw the instruments in a metal bowl lying on the ground not far from you. The room was dark and only a ray of light slipped through a metal door on the opposite wall. You blinked as someone opened the door, letting all of the brightness from outside reach your tired eyes.
-Sleep well darling? did a male voice say in a mocking tone
-Where were you all night? Off to another girl's bed I take it.
The man grinned a bit and you knew your sarcasm would sooner be beaten out of you then you could get a laugh out of this tall caricature of a gangster's handyman.
-A lot of money has been paid for your pretty head, you know.
-Always knew I could be a face model.
-I don't think that's so true anymore, bloody mary.
You wipped your cheek and looked at your hand. Dried blood and dirt covered your fingers.
-Anyway, sweetheart, my boss wants to know how you were able to piss off all of these people.
-Can't he ask me himself?
-You're not that important.
-Well it seems I am actually. And you guys are the only ones unaware of why apparently.
A voice coming from outside shouted "We have a fresh one!". The man in front of you harshly took your hands to tie them. Then he turned around calmly and left the room with the door still open. You tried to get up, but were too slow as he quickly came back with two other men. One was almost unconscious, beaten up, and bloody all other. His messy brown curls hid most of his face and a golden chain hang around his neck as his head was tilted towards the floor. The two men handling him threw him on the ground next to you and his already torn blue suit soiled with the grey dust of the room.
-Alright, we'll let you two rest for now, but don't worry, darling, I'll be back soon enough. And you better have an answer for me by then.
The two men left the room and you stared at your new now completely unconscious companion.
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-Where the fuck am I?
He said in a raspy voice, waking you up from your very light sleep. You didn't answer and looked his way for the second time today. He was quite handsome, actually, with piercing blue eyes, a sharp jawline, and a nice British mustache. You stared more than you were meant to because that's how he took notice of you. As the weird girl staring at him.
-They locked me up with the crazys?? What the fuck is wrong with these people?! I'm a respectable sane man, I am. Fucking pricks.
You chukled, your eyes still lingering on his figure. You liked his accent too. You turned your head to the door, finally leaving the man some privacy as you closed your eyes. You heard him standing up with difficulty and reaching the other side of the room probably while leaning on the wall. He was grunting in pain. You opened your eyes.
-Yeah, they probably forgot to lock the door. Or maybe they left us the key. Oh, wait, what if this is just an elaborated escape room, uh?
-Your hands are tied, mines aren't. So maybe try that again in a nicer tone, uh love?
-Kinky...
He threw you a mean glance from across the room. That smug smile that earned you all those problems was still on your lips.
He slid on the wall and fell back in a sitting position. He looked exhausted. As you were trying to think of what to say, the door opened.
-So, are you ready to talk? Or do I need to deal with you in a less calm manner?
That man from earlier was back, smiling and clearly on a power trip.
-I don't know what you want me to tell you.
He walked across the room, past the handsom exhausted man, and stood straight like a stick in front of you.
-Maybe start by what you did to deserve one of the highest price I've ever seen on someone's head.
The british looking man, who was starting to fall asleep, began to pay attention at those words. His blue eyes were on you except you doubted it was to take in the sight of your face. Too bad...
-Would you believe me if I said I didn't do anything?
The handyman squat down, looked at you, and slapped you in the face harshly. Even the other guy flinched.
-Start speaking now or...
-Or what?! You'll kill me?? You're going to do that either way! So what's the point of figuring out why others wanted to do it themselves?! You'll collect the prize with or without knowing why it was put on my head in the first place. You don't need the info. You just need an excuse to keep me alive until the client comes in and sees me alive. I know they want proof. Live proof. They want to see you guys kill me. You're not doing me a favor by letting me live, you're just doing it to get the bigger bag.
The man stood up, hummered something that sounded like "smart cookie", chuckled, and left.
-Jeez... what did you do? *did british hottie say*
This time it was your turn to throw a mean look his way.
-You really think I'm gonna tell you.
-I can untie your hands for starters. And I can help you get out of there. However I like to know who I'm doing business with, so if you wouldn't mind disclosing the information that guy was looking for...
-Get me out of there and I might.
-Doesn't work like that love.
-Then leave me here. I never asked you to help me, did I?
-Obviously, it's going to be harder to escape alone.
-So untie me and I'll help you.
-What if you're actually crazy and will turn on me the first chance you'll get.
You chuckled. Smiled a bit, a sad look on your face.
-A big tough buy.. scared of me... scared I'll be the one to hurt him. It's crazy how life turns out, uh? One minute you're scared to walk home alone after the sun goes down. The other, the guy you would have been scared of on those streets at night turns out to be the one distrusting you.
His eyes were locked on you. Watching you as if you were some lab rat. An eyebrow raised in interest. A serious look that meant he wasn't taking this scientific anaylisis lightly. He rose back up, slowly walked up to you with the difficulty of a hurt man, and lowered to your level when he came close enough.
-What's your name?
-Is it important?
-It is to me. You thought of pointing out the implications of that answer, but were scared of where that would lead the two of you.
-Y/n.
-I'm Tangerine.
-That's a fruit.
-Good observation skills. A real detective.
-I'm just saying.
As you were talking, he came even closer and untied your hands. His fingers were grazing your skin. You smiled again, this time without the sad look on your face but a more embarassed one. Like a young girl with a crush in 6th grade recess. It wasn't that he was touching you (not entirely at least). It was that he was helping you.
He stood back up, straightened his back, and extended his arm towards you, opening his hand. You were looking elsewhere as he gestured to you.
-It is a fruit's name though... you're named after a fucking fruit... and I'm the crazy one...
You take his hand, get off the floor, and smile big this time, confidently, and with a mysteriously cocky look in your eyes.
-Alright, time to get out of here.
-Look love, I appreciate the confidence and all, but let me take the lead on this. You're obviously a bit slowed down by all the beating and like you said, I'm the big tough guy here.
-I'm not slowed down! *You said while starting to walk towards the door, damn your leg hurt...*
-You're limping...
You smiled a bit awkardly. "Nothing serious... just haven't stretched out yet is all". Tangerine smirked and walked (shall I mention a lot faster than you as he wasn't limping) towards the side of the door.
-Could you get your friend back in the room please? Just him though.
-HEY ASSHOLE!! COME BACK HERE I'M READY TO TALK!
And just like that, you heard footsteps advancing. The door opened 40 seconds later, and you locked eyes with the bitch slapping dumb looking goon. In shock of seeing you standing up, free of your ties, he took a milisecond to stare you down during which Tangerine grabbed his head in his hands, quickly broke his neck, and picked up the riffle.
-Could you pass me his handgun?
-You're not gonna kill me are you love?
-I don't eat tangerines... always preferred oranges.
-You do realize that there are other ways to interpete this right?
You laughed silently, murmuring "Yeah well I don't mean it like that obviously...". To your surprise he heard.
-Obviously?... *He smirked at you with a very cocky look on his face which made you blush a tiniest bit, but under the dirt and blood, you were almost sure he couldn't see it. He handed you the deceased goon's gun*.
But, time for banter quickly came to an end as your british eye candy advanced in the dark and gloomy hallway, on his gard. You followed after him. Quick story short: he shot most of the gards himself, and you had to fire the gun maybe 5 times total, surely hitting your target, but not contributing much to the team's effort as there was a little bit more than only 5 gards between you and the exit. To be completely fair though, you guys managed to not alert every guard there thanks to you, as you killed quickly the ones running for help.
All of this came to an end in a backalley of a London restaurant where the fire escape you took led. You were free. Somehow. Still limping and in a quite awful condition. But free.
-Well this is where we say goodbye Y/N. I don't know what you did to get that prize on your head, but surely you must be a terrible person. Get yourself out of trouble though, love, this isn't a life for a sarcastic humorist tangerine hater such as yourself.
-So no one believed me when I said I didn't do anything wrong?
He looked at you, a bit surprised, but you didn't look back. You just started walking (in that case limping) towards the Main Street. It must have been quite a pathetic show as he walked up to you and put his arm under yours to help you. You didn't say anything. Didn't look at him. Just starred at the ground before you, wincing quietly at each step.
-Where shall I drop you off love?
You stopped moving. Chuckled. Looked the other way. And with a sad but desperately trying to be funny tone, said:
-I'm not sure to be quite honest...
He didn't respond. Took a deep breath for a minute. Then put his arm back in place and you both walked towards a phone booth. There he let go again and went in. Made a phone call, went out, starred at you, you starred back.
-Hungry?
You nodded your head to say yes and, wonderful timing as it was, your stomach started growling just then. You put your hand on your stomach as to silence it and Tangerine chuckled which showed off his extraordinary jaw definition.
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You both sat on the same side of the table, apparently waiting for someone. As your british knight in a shining armor looked around the diner, you ordered fish and chips, chocolate milkshake, and a banana split. Once you were finished talking to the waiter (who was very disturbed by your bloody appearance by the way), Tangerine looked at you.
-That is the weirdest order I've seen placed in a while.
-Well what did you want me to order?
-Lemon! *Did he exclaim*
-Lemon for dinner? I don't think so, that would be terrible...
Tangerine stood up and hugged the man that came in. Both took a minute to catch up as you continued to mutter on how dumb ordering lemon would be for diner...
They both sat down, and Lemon starred at you.
-Who's that? A bit roughed up are you? Do you need a tissue or something? To wipe all that off...
You looked up from the menu.
-Ah, I look fine, haven't slept in a bit is all.
-Who is she Tangerine?
-That's Y/N, she needs a place to crash and we have a couch, so I thought...
-When did you meet?
-At least 24 hours ago. *You said in all honesty*
-Tangerine are you fucking mental?? Do you know how many people want us dead for what happened last year? We're not inviting a bloody stranger to the hotel. Hell no...
-Lemon... She seems to be on her own and it's not like she couldn't have killed me earlier had she wanted to... Jim's men wanted to sell her off to some kind of client, she's a bit lost is all*He said whispering*
-No! What are we?! A fucking adoption shelter taking in strays like that? She's a liability is all she is... You can't help a girl just cause she's pretty and seems harmless. She could be a hired assassin for all we know.
-I should probably go... I'll just wait for the food though, if it's okay with everyone. *You said looking down and with a low voice.*
You all sat in silence for a minute.
-Why did they want you dead so badly? Jim's clients? *asked Tangerine*
You didn't respond, just looked down. The food came. You ate the fish and chips quite quickly, then the banana split. All in silence. As you sipped on the milkshake, you noticed they were both still starring at you, waiting for you to answer probably.
-Well I meant it... I didn't do anything wrong.
-No one ever does... *sighed Lemon, visibly distrusting of you*
-I'm not an assassin okay? I don't kill people for a living... I find things, things people want. Like antics, or old military files.
-But you're a good shot, and quite calm for a civilian. *Raised Tangerine*
-When I started the job, I was just an academic looking for pretty random stuff, but the work wasn't just adventures and detective work, sometimes criminal organizations looked to acquire the same objects as I was. So I got help from hired gunsmen and sometimes even official special forces. They didn't want me to be helpless without them so they trained me a bit. Once I got a few skills added to my resume, my clients started asking me for more valuable objects, that more and more people wanted. So of course my skillset kind of diverged to dealing with the competition. But it wasn't on the job description when I applied.
-Jim specializes in assassination though? Why would he want you? *Asked Lemon*
-Because there's a bid on my head...
-And why is there a bid on your head?
-Because they think I stole something...
-What did you steal?
You finished the milkshake. You were about to stand up but Tangerine was looking at you a bit too concerned.
-Look Love, if you tell us what happened, and you didn't actually do anything wrong, then we might agree to help you. We're not complete assholes...
-Aren't we?! Now why would we help?
-Because Jim is a prick and anything to piss him off is worth the effort.
-Fair point... Alright Y/N, tell us, what happened?
-They think I stole the key to the MI6 database.
-Wait... don't tell me they have one key that can access...
-All datas on past, present, and future missions, on British government security, on british criminal organizations, on undercover agents, what they have on the CIA, on the FBI, on every other country's secret services, on the nuclear codes... Yeah all of that. Yes it exists.
-And they think you have it...
-No, they think I stole it.
-But then why would they want you dead?
-Because they also think I destroyed it after looking at it.
-And no one wants their secrets spilled out by you...
-Yep.
-But you didn't steal it?
-Not exactly...
-What did you do?
-My client wanted me to recover a file of the MI6. It was practially undoable. So I digged and I digged until I found this hardrive in an old vacant MI6 hideout. It was weird because it looked top secret but didn't have anyone around it to gard it, it was like it was handed to me. I looked at it, didn't have that much protection, just enough for me to think it was valuable, but easy enough to crack down. Then when I accessed it, it was a whole database of incredibly sensible documents. Yeah I looked at it, but not for long, got the file I needed, but before I could send it to my client, someone knocked me unconscious and I woke up without the hard drive but with a billion dollar target on my back. Somehow the information got out that I stole the hard drive from the MI6 super super secret base, which I never even set foot int.
-So someone set you up?
-Yes.
You stopped talking. Looked at them. Lemon looked sorry for you, Tangerine looked concerned, and you... chuckled.
-The bill's on you, right? *You asked in all seriousness.*
Tangerine smiled, and lemon was about to refuse, but his brother replied first.
-Yeah, the bill's on us love, but maybe let me eat first, okay?
-Are you gonna eat a fruit?
-You know I've already ordered right, and this joke's old already.
You waited for the two brothers' food to arrive while Lemon changed the subject to whatever happened to Tangerine. Apparently Jim and his men had some beef with the fruit brothers, and those nice lads had a plan to take down Jim's goons except it all went wrong when Lemon made one too many references to Thomas the train... ah no, it went wrong when Tangerine took too long in the bathroom to check his hair, well something went wrong, and, ah the food arrived!
-Where's your family Y/N? *Lemon asked*
-Countryside.
-So you have one. Do you want us to drop you off with them?
You didn't reply right away. They were almost fininshed with their food. You waited until the plates were clean to say:
-Look, if you want to drop me off somewhere and forget I ever existed, take me to the airport, I can look after myself, but don't think my story is gonna have some fairytale ending. Obviously I'm gonna get killed at some point or another, I'm just trying to enjoy my time until then.
-It's not like we can make the entire criminal world stop looking for you. I would help you, you see, but I don't know how. Honestly, you're kinda fucked...
-Don't listen to him -*Tangerine jumped in*- You're not fucked, you just have to diverge the attention to whoever has the key. Once people start looking for them, they'll forget about you.
-The problem is, I don't know who has the key. If I did, not only would I be off the hook, I'd be damn rich.
-Hold on... *Lemon stared at you for a moment* How much money is in the game?
-More than a billion that's for sure...
The two brothers starred at each other not sure what to say for a minute. Tangerine turns back to you and is about to speak when Lemon says:
-Let's make a deal, we help you find whoever got the key, it gets the target off your back, and we get 2/3rds of the money. You get the rest.
-I'll make you one better. *You smile fully, showing your teeth and visibly amused* You get all the money, as long as I'm still alive.
-Deal! *Lemon extands the palm of his hand which you clap right away*
As the three of you head to whichever hotel the brothers booked in a cab, Tangerine whispers to you:
-For the record, I was ready to help you regardless of the money.
-That's stupid. You shouldn't do that.
-What's stupid is being a big though guy and not helping people who so clearly need it.
You looked at him for bit. The same look you gave him in that cell when you first saw him. "Fuck you're actually so beautiful" you thought.
-Thanks. Not the reply I would have expected, but thanks.
Sleep deprivation clearly made you a tad bit lunatic, saying stuff you weren't supposed to. You looked away immediately and rested your head against the window. Closing your eyes felt like heaven.
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The hotel was old and cheap, the late 80s style still intact. You liked it. Starred at the curtains of the room as the sound of the shower filled the silence. You closed your eyes.
-The shower is free. May I suggest you take one before going to bed love?
You woke up with a dizzy head, you really wanted to go back to your nap, but the guy standing in front of you wasn't budging.
-Are you saying I smell bad?
-Yeah, I am. Get up now.
You did, he held up a hand for you to take it which you did as you were more than tired. He didn't let go when you were up though and led you to the bathroom. You weren't sure where Lemon had gone to. He turned the shower on, pointed to the soap, and said:
-I reckon you know how to shower. Won't need my help for the next part then.
You grinned a bit and looked at him, he smiled. After he left, (and only after), you started undressing and finally took the shower. Once you turned the water off, he knocked on the door.
-Are you decent?
You grabbed a towel and answered positively. He came in, took a glance at you, closed the door, and stood in front of you for a second. His eyes went from your wet hair whose natural color was finally visible, your face which was now recognizable, your clean skin, your bruises, and then back to your face. He had some medical products in his hand and gestured to the bathtub. You took a seat on the edge of it. He dabbed a cotton in disinfectant, and slowly went over every single one of your cuts. They were quite a lot of them.
-Jesus, how many days did you stay in that place?
-Just a couple hours before you came in.
-Where are all these marks from then?
-Other people.
The last injury was your cut lip. He went over it delicately and you just starred at him for the third time this week.
-You're quite sweet for an assassin.
-Are you gonna make another fruit joke?
-Saw right through me... No but really, why the kindness?
-Just because you do some bad stuff for money doesn't mean you have to be an asshole for free too now does it?
-Thank you.
-You're not saved yet, thank me when you are.
-I will.
You both smiled, this time he was looking right back at you. Nice blue eyes like antartic ice. Really, really nice eyes.
-I'm back. *Lemon shouted from the room. He then entered the bathroom looking for his brother and his gaze settled on you.* You look quite nice without all the blood and dirt on you. Oh, wait, guys... Did I walk in on something?
Tangerine scoffs, gets up, and pushes Lemon out the bathroom. You hear them banter for a second before Tangerine comes back with a bag that he hands you. He politely smiles at you and exits the room, closing the door behind him. You go through the bag to realize your old clothes are no longer in condition to be worn and two men who were complete strangers a week ago just had to guess the size of your bras and panties. What was even more awkward is that the ones they bought fit quite well. The rest of the bag was some blue jeans, a black halter top, and a loose shoulder black sweater which you liked. You didn't put it on though, opened the door without getting out and asked for a t shirt. No way you were sleeping in jeans for 12 hours straight. A t shirt flew right to your face a second after. Probably Tangerine's guessing by the smell. He smelled nice. But not the point. You put it on and finally got to fully crash out on the couch. You couldn't move anymore, too tired, too comfy, you were just there. Before falling asleep, you saw the handsome brit throw a blanket on you trying not to look at your figure.
You woke up a bit lost, not sure where you were or how long you had slept for. A few seconds brought your memory back and your eyes adjusted to the light. Tangerine was there. Sitting at the desk typing away on a computer, his back turned to you. You got up and walked towards him. You were standing just a few centimeters away as you leaned over his shoulder and stared at the screen.
-What's that? *You asked*
-Holy... fuck, have you heard of heart attacks??
-You're that old? Don't look a day over 50. Are you trying to hack into the MI6?
-Well obviously yes.
-From a cheap retro looking computer?
-Do you have a better idea?
He then realized you weren't wearing pants. To which he gave you a disapproving look over his mustache and continued:
-Maybe start by wearing some pants before attacking the cheapness of my computer.
-Pants are overrated.
-I'm sure they are. *He turned back to the screen. You sat on the desk, facing him.*
-If my legs disturb you so much, stop looking at them.
-Get off the desk. You know for someone getting threats from half the criminal population, you're surely quite calm.
You hummed, got off the desk as prompted, and went to get the jeans from yesterday. However, he stood up and grabbed your hand before you could get fully away.
-Alright maybe you don't need to put pants on right away. *You turned your face to him, starring into his eyes* I was right though, when we met. You are really crazy.
-For not wearing jeans to sleep?
-For flirting in the middle of a life or death situation. *He pulled you in closer.*
-Who said I was flirting? *You closed the last gap between you two*
-Me. *He leaned in to kiss your lips*