The Muscle

I'm Ben Hawkins. I'm part of this group of criminals that use their talents to help out the good guys. I'm there to make sure they don't get their asses kicked. ((OC RP Blog based on the show Leverage. Sub-blog of Logan and Sage tracked tag: fightingforthegoodguys ))

[dirtbagdefender]

[fightingforthegoodguys]

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“No.” Willa turned to face him now. “I am not living with bars on my windows. Perfect safety is unattainable anyway and I refuse to cage myself in just to keep out all this shit.” Her demeanor softened and she placed a hand on his cheek. “But everything right up to bars on the windows… I won’t stop you from protecting me.”

“Except if it’s you or your brothers.” Benji said, remembering their conversation from earlier. It was evident now that this idea hurt him. He had hidden it well before, but after the break in, it wasn’t so easy. He turned away quickly and moved to the door to the patio. “This is where he got in.” He gestured to the slightly broken lock. “It’s nowhere near as strong as the lock for the front door.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa closed her eyes and sighed softly. She knew it had seemed too easy before, he’d agreed too quickly. She took a moment now to find a voice somewhere between girlfriend and boss. “Benji…” She stepped up behind him, tucked her arms around herself, and nestled against his back. She leaned most of her weight against him but not so much that she couldn’t catch herself if he moved. “I know it was a fucked up thing to ask… Just because I said it as the boss doesn’t mean you can’t voice your opinions, your feelings… I need you to be real with me…” She took a steadying breath and waited.

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“I think you need to hire a new hitter.” He said quietly, his fist lightly resting on the door frame. “I, um… I thought I’d be able to put the job first, but the more I think about it…” Ben sighed softly. “I think you need to find someone who can follow good orders without any reservations.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa pried her arms from between them to instead wrap both around him. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re the only person I trust with my life.” She pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade. “The problem with putting the job first… is that this isn’t just some company. It’s a family. Family makes everything more complicated,” she sighed softly. “You’re just one person and there are 5 people besides yourself for you to protect. Maybe we need to hire some additional muscle. You and I should also start training again. That way I can keep myself out of trouble.” 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“Okay, so I’m not going anywhere… but maybe some additional muscle wouldn’t hurt. That way maybe I don’t have to choose.” He said as he carefully turned in her arms. “I’ll start looking for other people we could bring in. Provide you with resumes of people I trust so you can choose who is the best fit for the team.”

[brainsandcharm]

She nodded a few times as she pressed in close to hug him tightly. “Sounds like the best plan to move forward with.” She released him now to take his chin in her hand. She pulled his face closer to hers. “And from now on… You tell me exactly how you feel. If you’re pissed the fuck off at me, if you’re hurting, if you love me desperately… We tell each other the whole truth and we work though any issues it may or may not cause. Okay?”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“From now on I’ll tell you. Even if it pisses off the boss side of you.” Ben said with a light smile on his face. “Just know... I do still plan on protecting everyone to the best of my ability.” He rubbed her arm lightly. “Alright, we should go ahead and get to building up the security of this place.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“No.” Willa turned to face him now. “I am not living with bars on my windows. Perfect safety is unattainable anyway and I refuse to cage myself in just to keep out all this shit.” Her demeanor softened and she placed a hand on his cheek. “But everything right up to bars on the windows… I won’t stop you from protecting me.”

“Except if it’s you or your brothers.” Benji said, remembering their conversation from earlier. It was evident now that this idea hurt him. He had hidden it well before, but after the break in, it wasn’t so easy. He turned away quickly and moved to the door to the patio. “This is where he got in.” He gestured to the slightly broken lock. “It’s nowhere near as strong as the lock for the front door.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa closed her eyes and sighed softly. She knew it had seemed too easy before, he’d agreed too quickly. She took a moment now to find a voice somewhere between girlfriend and boss. “Benji…” She stepped up behind him, tucked her arms around herself, and nestled against his back. She leaned most of her weight against him but not so much that she couldn’t catch herself if he moved. “I know it was a fucked up thing to ask… Just because I said it as the boss doesn’t mean you can’t voice your opinions, your feelings… I need you to be real with me…” She took a steadying breath and waited.

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“I think you need to hire a new hitter.” He said quietly, his fist lightly resting on the door frame. “I, um… I thought I’d be able to put the job first, but the more I think about it…” Ben sighed softly. “I think you need to find someone who can follow good orders without any reservations.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa pried her arms from between them to instead wrap both around him. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re the only person I trust with my life.” She pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade. “The problem with putting the job first… is that this isn’t just some company. It’s a family. Family makes everything more complicated,” she sighed softly. “You’re just one person and there are 5 people besides yourself for you to protect. Maybe we need to hire some additional muscle. You and I should also start training again. That way I can keep myself out of trouble.” 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“Okay, so I’m not going anywhere... but maybe some additional muscle wouldn’t hurt. That way maybe I don’t have to choose.” He said as he carefully turned in her arms. “I’ll start looking for other people we could bring in. Provide you with resumes of people I trust so you can choose who is the best fit for the team.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“No.” Willa turned to face him now. “I am not living with bars on my windows. Perfect safety is unattainable anyway and I refuse to cage myself in just to keep out all this shit.” Her demeanor softened and she placed a hand on his cheek. “But everything right up to bars on the windows… I won’t stop you from protecting me.”

“Except if it’s you or your brothers.” Benji said, remembering their conversation from earlier. It was evident now that this idea hurt him. He had hidden it well before, but after the break in, it wasn’t so easy. He turned away quickly and moved to the door to the patio. “This is where he got in.” He gestured to the slightly broken lock. “It’s nowhere near as strong as the lock for the front door.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa closed her eyes and sighed softly. She knew it had seemed too easy before, he’d agreed too quickly. She took a moment now to find a voice somewhere between girlfriend and boss. “Benji…” She stepped up behind him, tucked her arms around herself, and nestled against his back. She leaned most of her weight against him but not so much that she couldn’t catch herself if he moved. “I know it was a fucked up thing to ask… Just because I said it as the boss doesn’t mean you can’t voice your opinions, your feelings… I need you to be real with me…” She took a steadying breath and waited.

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“I think you need to hire a new hitter.” He said quietly, his fist lightly resting on the door frame. “I, um... I thought I’d be able to put the job first, but the more I think about it...” Ben sighed softly. “I think you need to find someone who can follow good orders without any reservations.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“No.” Willa turned to face him now. “I am not living with bars on my windows. Perfect safety is unattainable anyway and I refuse to cage myself in just to keep out all this shit.” Her demeanor softened and she placed a hand on his cheek. “But everything right up to bars on the windows… I won’t stop you from protecting me.”

“Except if it’s you or your brothers.” Benji said, remembering their conversation from earlier. It was evident now that this idea hurt him. He had hidden it well before, but after the break in, it wasn’t so easy. He turned away quickly and moved to the door to the patio. “This is where he got in.” He gestured to the slightly broken lock. “It’s nowhere near as strong as the lock for the front door.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

His voice and arms pulled her from her from her racing thoughts. “You were here. And I’m safe.” She placed a soft hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb over stubble. “I should’ve picked it up before but I didn’t want to look paranoid,” she sighed. “And we just can’t catch a break.” Willa tucked her face against his chest, taking a moment to settle herself. “As soon as this is all done, you and I are taking backpacks and tent off the grid. Dessert, mountains, rain forest, anywhere you want to go.”  She took one more breath before looking up at him. “Do we believe Franklin?”

“That sounds like a fair deal. We all need a small vacation.”Benji sighed softly as he moved to sit on the bed. “What do we believe that he doesn’t want to hurt us or that Logan has a boyfriend we should apparently be worried about?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. He could be trying to shift our focus, I really… you’ve known him for a long time, what do you think?”

[brainsandcharm]

Her posture instantly slumped as he released her. Wanting his strength still, she curled up in his lap and rested her head against his chest. “I don’t know… When they were dating… He was family. I trusted him. That’s what made this betrayal hurt us all… And I thought he’d lost his damn mind when he left Logan. But if Logan broke it off… I always assumed since Logan wouldn’t talk about it, Franklin had been the one to leave.” She attempted to curl further into Ben’s chest. If she could just disappear into him then none of this would matter, she wouldn’t have to pull apart the knotted strings and find how they all connected. She breathed in deep and held it for a few moments. “I think… There’s at the very least a kernel of truth to everything he said, or I wouldn’t be struggling right now. But I’m not convinced that the truth isn’t being used to distract us.” She raised her head just enough to peak up at him. 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“Well… Logan knows him best. Maybe we tell him everything we were told and we’ll see what Logan thinks of it all.” Benji let out a heavy breath and thread his fingers in her hair. “And maybe Logan will be willing to tell you the whole story after this.” He shrugged a little and got lost in thought for a moment before sitting up again. “We need to change the security of this office and apartment.”

[brainsandcharm]

She sighed softly and glanced in the direction of the door. “Yes, you’re right. On both counts.” She bit her lip and finally forced herself away from him. She stood up and took a few steps toward the door. “We’re never going to catch a break, you and I.” For the first time, a normal life actually sounded nice. Anything had to be better than this constant state of barely treading water well enough to keep her head up. She picked up a discarded hair tie and pulled her hair into a haphazard faux bun. “What can we do tonight? We can get locks changed tomorrow. I’m sure there’s something we can rig up for the windows. Changing the alarm code is easy enough.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“We will… once this is all over.” He tried to smile at her, but it was a weak attempt.  “Tonight we can… yeah we can change the alarm code. We can assess all of the ways someone might try to get it, maybe again ask Logan what he would do and work on strengthening the security based on that.” He moved out to the office, figuring she would follow, as he looked for how Franklin may have gotten in.

[brainsandcharm]

“Sounds like a plan. You’re the security expert.” Sighing she followed after him. “Tell me what I’m looking for and help you.” She glanced over at Benji before moving to the window. “Even though the mood is spoiled… You’re still staying the night right?”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“I’m definitely staying the night tonight after that.” Benji walked behind her to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. “Just... any broken locks or anything that might give us a hint of how he got in.” He stared at the window, a slight frown on his face. “I’d hate to put bars on the window... but it might come to that, I don’t know.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

His voice and arms pulled her from her from her racing thoughts. “You were here. And I’m safe.” She placed a soft hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb over stubble. “I should’ve picked it up before but I didn’t want to look paranoid,” she sighed. “And we just can’t catch a break.” Willa tucked her face against his chest, taking a moment to settle herself. “As soon as this is all done, you and I are taking backpacks and tent off the grid. Dessert, mountains, rain forest, anywhere you want to go.”  She took one more breath before looking up at him. “Do we believe Franklin?”

“That sounds like a fair deal. We all need a small vacation.”Benji sighed softly as he moved to sit on the bed. “What do we believe that he doesn’t want to hurt us or that Logan has a boyfriend we should apparently be worried about?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. He could be trying to shift our focus, I really… you’ve known him for a long time, what do you think?”

[brainsandcharm]

Her posture instantly slumped as he released her. Wanting his strength still, she curled up in his lap and rested her head against his chest. “I don’t know… When they were dating… He was family. I trusted him. That’s what made this betrayal hurt us all… And I thought he’d lost his damn mind when he left Logan. But if Logan broke it off… I always assumed since Logan wouldn’t talk about it, Franklin had been the one to leave.” She attempted to curl further into Ben’s chest. If she could just disappear into him then none of this would matter, she wouldn’t have to pull apart the knotted strings and find how they all connected. She breathed in deep and held it for a few moments. “I think… There’s at the very least a kernel of truth to everything he said, or I wouldn’t be struggling right now. But I’m not convinced that the truth isn’t being used to distract us.” She raised her head just enough to peak up at him. 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“Well… Logan knows him best. Maybe we tell him everything we were told and we’ll see what Logan thinks of it all.” Benji let out a heavy breath and thread his fingers in her hair. “And maybe Logan will be willing to tell you the whole story after this.” He shrugged a little and got lost in thought for a moment before sitting up again. “We need to change the security of this office and apartment.”

[brainsandcharm]

She sighed softly and glanced in the direction of the door. “Yes, you’re right. On both counts.” She bit her lip and finally forced herself away from him. She stood up and took a few steps toward the door. “We’re never going to catch a break, you and I.” For the first time, a normal life actually sounded nice. Anything had to be better than this constant state of barely treading water well enough to keep her head up. She picked up a discarded hair tie and pulled her hair into a haphazard faux bun. “What can we do tonight? We can get locks changed tomorrow. I’m sure there’s something we can rig up for the windows. Changing the alarm code is easy enough.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“We will... once this is all over.” He tried to smile at her, but it was a weak attempt.  “Tonight we can... yeah we can change the alarm code. We can assess all of the ways someone might try to get it, maybe again ask Logan what he would do and work on strengthening the security based on that.” He moved out to the office, figuring she would follow, as he looked for how Franklin may have gotten in.

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

His voice and arms pulled her from her from her racing thoughts. “You were here. And I’m safe.” She placed a soft hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb over stubble. “I should’ve picked it up before but I didn’t want to look paranoid,” she sighed. “And we just can’t catch a break.” Willa tucked her face against his chest, taking a moment to settle herself. “As soon as this is all done, you and I are taking backpacks and tent off the grid. Dessert, mountains, rain forest, anywhere you want to go.”  She took one more breath before looking up at him. “Do we believe Franklin?”

“That sounds like a fair deal. We all need a small vacation.”Benji sighed softly as he moved to sit on the bed. “What do we believe that he doesn’t want to hurt us or that Logan has a boyfriend we should apparently be worried about?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. He could be trying to shift our focus, I really… you’ve known him for a long time, what do you think?”

[brainsandcharm]

Her posture instantly slumped as he released her. Wanting his strength still, she curled up in his lap and rested her head against his chest. “I don’t know… When they were dating… He was family. I trusted him. That’s what made this betrayal hurt us all… And I thought he’d lost his damn mind when he left Logan. But if Logan broke it off… I always assumed since Logan wouldn’t talk about it, Franklin had been the one to leave.” She attempted to curl further into Ben’s chest. If she could just disappear into him then none of this would matter, she wouldn’t have to pull apart the knotted strings and find how they all connected. She breathed in deep and held it for a few moments. “I think… There’s at the very least a kernel of truth to everything he said, or I wouldn’t be struggling right now. But I’m not convinced that the truth isn’t being used to distract us.” She raised her head just enough to peak up at him. 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“Well... Logan knows him best. Maybe we tell him everything we were told and we’ll see what Logan thinks of it all.” Benji let out a heavy breath and thread his fingers in her hair. “And maybe Logan will be willing to tell you the whole story after this.” He shrugged a little and got lost in thought for a moment before sitting up again. “We need to change the security of this office and apartment.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

His voice and arms pulled her from her from her racing thoughts. “You were here. And I’m safe.” She placed a soft hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb over stubble. “I should’ve picked it up before but I didn’t want to look paranoid,” she sighed. “And we just can’t catch a break.” Willa tucked her face against his chest, taking a moment to settle herself. “As soon as this is all done, you and I are taking backpacks and tent off the grid. Dessert, mountains, rain forest, anywhere you want to go.”  She took one more breath before looking up at him. “Do we believe Franklin?”

“That sounds like a fair deal. We all need a small vacation.”Benji sighed softly as he moved to sit on the bed. “What do we believe that he doesn’t want to hurt us or that Logan has a boyfriend we should apparently be worried about?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. He could be trying to shift our focus, I really... you’ve known him for a long time, what do you think?”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“I would make my decisions as I always do, once I have as much information I can get,” she grumbled. As he moved back, Willa took another step forward. “You need to pick a side at some point, Franklin. Either you care about Logan or you don’t. Following through with Henderson will definitely be the final nail in that coffin. Possibly as literal as it is figurative. There’s no way for us all to walk away from this… I’m not going to let anyone hurt my family, Franklin.”

“I have picked a side. Just not the one you think.” Franklin was nodding as he spoke. “Warn Logan about this new guy. Just so he can be prepared just in case I don’t get a chance to speak to him right away.” He made it to the door and stopped to look at her once more. “You guys are my family too… whether you believe it or not.” And with that he was gone.

Benji ran to the door and threw open the door, but Franklin wasn’t in sight. “God damn it.” He cursed, and slammed the door shut again. “That son of a bitch.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa stifled the urge to scream and instead kicked the couch. “This just keeps getting better and better. Sounds like a ploy, scam. Get us all looking one way while they screw us. Boyfriend? What boyfriend? Logan has always been good a keeping his secrets…” Her ramble died off as she started back toward her bedroom. She went straight for her gun now, checking the chamber as she waited for Benji to join her.

[fightingforthegoodguys]

Benji followed her, stopping at the sight of the gun. “Willa... You need need to keep that on you from now on. Until all of this has passed.” He finally closed the distance to her and carefully set the gun aside so he could hug her. “I don’t like the thought of him pointing a gun in your direction again.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

“I would make my decisions as I always do, once I have as much information I can get,” she grumbled. As he moved back, Willa took another step forward. “You need to pick a side at some point, Franklin. Either you care about Logan or you don’t. Following through with Henderson will definitely be the final nail in that coffin. Possibly as literal as it is figurative. There’s no way for us all to walk away from this… I’m not going to let anyone hurt my family, Franklin.”

“I have picked a side. Just not the one you think.” Franklin was nodding as he spoke. “Warn Logan about this new guy. Just so he can be prepared just in case I don’t get a chance to speak to him right away.” He made it to the door and stopped to look at her once more. “You guys are my family too... whether you believe it or not.” And with that he was gone.

Benji ran to the door and threw open the door, but Franklin wasn’t in sight. “God damn it.” He cursed, and slammed the door shut again. “That son of a bitch.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

Willa pressed a fist against Benji’s back as she fought the urge to punch Franklin in the mouth. “You keep saying you want to talk, but you haven’t said anything of consequence. I’ll say it again. Tell me what it is you want to say then get the fuck out.I don’t care what you’ve been doing to help us. Big picture is that you chose to work for that asshole. So speak or get out.”

“You guys need to stop. You’ve done a lot of good sure, but it’s time to move on. You had to know there would come a time when someone wanted revenge. This is the last chance you get. Henderson is putting his plan into action soon, that’s a part of what I wanted to tell you.” He said, rubbing his forehead roughly. “Yeah, I’ve made my choices and yeah, I guess I shouldn’t expect you to understand, but I can’t see you guys suffer the way he wants you to. Logan… Logan broke my fucking heart, but I couldn’t just sit back and let Henderson…” Franklin breathed in sharply and it was clear that he at least believed everything he was saying. “Right.” He let out a breath and tried to regain himself. “There’s also… there’s something else you need to be concerned about.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa’s voice caught in her throat for a moment. It had never once occurred to her that Logan had been the one to break it off between them. In all of her imagined scenarios Franklin was the one causing the rift. “IF you really want to help us, help Logan. Then you should tell us what you know of the plan. We can’t stop them if we can figure them out.” She just slightly stepped out from behind Ben. “What do we need to worry about?” 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

Ben kept a hand on Willa, warning her against moving any closer to the man. “Exactly. Stop talking about how you’re trying to help us and actually help us.”

“Yeah… I could do that.” He chuckled wryly as he lowered the gun. “But, um, do you really think betraying Henderson would end well for me? You really think I’d survive that? As you said, I made my choice.” Franklin took a few steps away so he could grab the folder he had set down on a small table in the hall.  “I was really hoping to talk to Logan about this, but… I think you need to ask Logan about his new boyfriend. Ask him what he really knows about him.” 

[brainsandcharm]

“What’s in the- Boyfriend?” Her mind fogged with a hundred questions and she lost her focus for a moment. She shook her head and placed a hand on Benji’s arm. “Why does his personal life have anything to do with the current state of affairs. More importantly tell us what you can about their plans and what you have in that folder.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“And why should we believe anything you say anyway? I don’t see how we could trust you after everything.”

“So if I did tell you the plan, you wouldn’t believe it anyway?” Franklin scoffed a little and raised the folder. “No... this isn’t about Henderson. It’s about this new guy and... it’s not good for Logan.” He frowned as he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He set the folder back down so he could pull his phone out. “The guy...” He faded out as he read the text. “Shit... I’ve gotta go.” He put his phone away and grabbed his folder again, backing up a few more steps towards the door. “I’ll just... I’ll tell Logan about this when I see him next.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

Willa pressed a fist against Benji’s back as she fought the urge to punch Franklin in the mouth. “You keep saying you want to talk, but you haven’t said anything of consequence. I’ll say it again. Tell me what it is you want to say then get the fuck out.I don’t care what you’ve been doing to help us. Big picture is that you chose to work for that asshole. So speak or get out.”

“You guys need to stop. You’ve done a lot of good sure, but it’s time to move on. You had to know there would come a time when someone wanted revenge. This is the last chance you get. Henderson is putting his plan into action soon, that’s a part of what I wanted to tell you.” He said, rubbing his forehead roughly. “Yeah, I’ve made my choices and yeah, I guess I shouldn’t expect you to understand, but I can’t see you guys suffer the way he wants you to. Logan… Logan broke my fucking heart, but I couldn’t just sit back and let Henderson…” Franklin breathed in sharply and it was clear that he at least believed everything he was saying. “Right.” He let out a breath and tried to regain himself. “There’s also… there’s something else you need to be concerned about.”

[brainsandcharm]

Willa’s voice caught in her throat for a moment. It had never once occurred to her that Logan had been the one to break it off between them. In all of her imagined scenarios Franklin was the one causing the rift. “IF you really want to help us, help Logan. Then you should tell us what you know of the plan. We can’t stop them if we can figure them out.” She just slightly stepped out from behind Ben. “What do we need to worry about?” 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

Ben kept a hand on Willa, warning her against moving any closer to the man. “Exactly. Stop talking about how you’re trying to help us and actually help us.”

“Yeah... I could do that.” He chuckled wryly as he lowered the gun. “But, um, do you really think betraying Henderson would end well for me? You really think I’d survive that? As you said, I made my choice.” Franklin took a few steps away so he could grab the folder he had set down on a small table in the hall.  “I was really hoping to talk to Logan about this, but... I think you need to ask Logan about his new boyfriend. Ask him what he really knows about him.” 

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

Willa pressed a fist against Benji’s back as she fought the urge to punch Franklin in the mouth. “You keep saying you want to talk, but you haven’t said anything of consequence. I’ll say it again. Tell me what it is you want to say then get the fuck out.I don’t care what you’ve been doing to help us. Big picture is that you chose to work for that asshole. So speak or get out.”

“You guys need to stop. You’ve done a lot of good sure, but it’s time to move on. You had to know there would come a time when someone wanted revenge. This is the last chance you get. Henderson is putting his plan into action soon, that’s a part of what I wanted to tell you.” He said, rubbing his forehead roughly. “Yeah, I’ve made my choices and yeah, I guess I shouldn’t expect you to understand, but I can’t see you guys suffer the way he wants you to. Logan... Logan broke my fucking heart, but I couldn’t just sit back and let Henderson...” Franklin breathed in sharply and it was clear that he at least believed everything he was saying. “Right.” He let out a breath and tried to regain himself. “There’s also... there’s something else you need to be concerned about.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

Willa climbed off the bed and padded silently to her closet to pull on a pair of jeans and a hoodie. She crept back to his side. “Be my back up. If it’s just Logan then we don’t look crazy. If it’s someone else, then you have surprise on your side.” Without waiting for his agreement she cracked the door and stepped into the hallway to listen.

“Willa…” He hissed out but it was too late. It was a solid plan, however, so he stayed behind, listening closely. 

Franklin had managed to get passed the locked doors of the office and the apartment with ease. He heard voices, but once he had finished the search of the office, he made no effort to remain quiet. He was here to talk to Logan after all. When he entered the hallway, he found he wasn’t alone. “Willa, it’s been a while.” He said softly, a slight smile on his face.

[brainsandcharm]

Willa let the surprise wash over her. “Franklin?” She used the real shock on her face and in her voice to move closer to him. Once she was in range she balled her hand into a fist and aiming for his solar plexus she put her full weight into her swing just as Ben had taught her. “It hasn’t been long enough,” she glowered. “That was for my brother. What do you want?”

[theftandhacking]

Franklin groaned loudly and coughed as she hit him. “Wow.” He coughed again, taking a step back from her. “Always full of surprises, aren’t you?” He didn’t have a chance to say more when Benji came through the door, moving fast and with intent. “No.” Franklin said quickly as he reached under his jacket and pulled out a gun. “No, no. I’m just here to talk.” 

Ben slowed at the sight of the gun, but didn’t stop until he had reached Willa. Without a word, he pulled her back behind him, blocking her from the weapon. “Says the guy with the gun.” 

[brainsandcharm]

“Oh you do actually know how to use your words, not just help a gang of assholes find someone to jump in an alley,” she growled. “What could you possibly say? Fucking up both my brother’s wasn’t enough? If it’s a half hearted apology I don’t want to hear it. So say what you want to say then get the fuck out of my house and don”t come back.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

“That wasn’t me. I told them to leave you alone.” Franklin explained in an even tone, leaning against the wall, but keeping the gun aimed lazily at Benji. “I joined this group to try to end this peacefully, okay? If Henderson had his way, you all would be dead already. I convinced him that you guys didn’t have to die. Problem is, he was starting to think that I was dragging my heels. So, he sent those guys after your brother.” A look of real regret crossed over his features, but he quickly shook it away. “Which is another reason why I’m here. He thinks I am starting to hesitated again. That maybe I’m trying to give you guys enough time to get out before he gets revenge. Which is exactly what I’m doing, actually. You guys are family after all.” 

“And yet you’re pointing a gun at us.” Ben said, keeping a firm grasp on Willa so that she remained behind him.

“Well, this is for my protection. You’re angry and you’re a big son of a bitch, Ben.” Franklin chuckled, but Ben only continued to glare. “Point is he sent me here to pick up any new information I could, but I thought I would talk too.”

[fightingforthegoodguys]

brainsandcharm:

Willa climbed off the bed and padded silently to her closet to pull on a pair of jeans and a hoodie. She crept back to his side. “Be my back up. If it’s just Logan then we don’t look crazy. If it’s someone else, then you have surprise on your side.” Without waiting for his agreement she cracked the door and stepped into the hallway to listen.

“Willa...” He hissed out but it was too late. It was a solid plan, however, so he stayed behind, listening closely. 

Franklin had managed to get passed the locked doors of the office and the apartment with ease. He heard voices, but once he had finished the search of the office, he made no effort to remain quiet. He was here to talk to Logan after all. When he entered the hallway, he found he wasn’t alone. “Willa, it’s been a while.” He said softly, a slight smile on his face.