No One Else (Just You and Me) - Shorter Wong
“When Shorter was manipulated to join the lee clan how about Yut lung also took his s/o and threatened to kill/hurt them.”
I literally got this request three months ago and, after setback after setback, it’s finally done. I’d like to apologize for such a long wait for this, the ending just never sounded right, the dialogue bothered me, it just wasn’t coming together. After reworking most of this, it finally sounds acceptable, so I hope it’s, at least somewhat, worth the wait.
It also deviated slightly from the prompt and definitely from the actual storyline in Banana Fish, but it was close and I’m happy with the result.
Shrill ringing broke the stillness of the apartment bathed in the late afternoon glow. You'd been lazing around since arriving home, too exhausted from a long day at work to do anything but plop down on the couch and mindlessly watch whatever played on screen. In the haze of a lazy afternoon, you'd forgotten to message your boyfriend, currently off doing God-knows-what with his friends. Then again, Shorter had always been like that, running around with his gang or with Ash; should anyone need anything, and he was there, no questions asked.
Would've been nice to know where he was though. Now over a week ago, he'd left for what he called a "quick weekend trip up north" with Ash, Eiji, and two older men you weren't acquainted with. Sometime during said trip, "plan's changed," he'd rushed over the phone. Now they were headed west, not stopping by for explanations or supplies, once again just taking off.
"We'll be back home soon, I promise babe."
At the time, you'd laughed it off and made Ash swear over the speaker to keep Shorter out of trouble. As time went on, however, you were increasingly concerned. Whatever had driven them out west was certainly unknown to you, and you weren't too keen on finding out what it was.
If it was anything like their normal shenanigans or related in any way to their line of work, you'd be more than content to remain in the dark.
The ringing of your cellphone had stopped, starting again as you jolted out of your daze. Praying it was your partner on the line, you pulled yourself up and shuffled to the counter where your belongings lay.
Sure enough, it was your beloved boyfriend trying to reach you. "Where are you?"
"Jeez Shorter, forgotten your manners out in the country? Can't spare your lover a simple greeting, hmm?"
"Where are you?"
The hiss in his tone and aggravated tone sent a chill down your spine, dissolving any humor you had at the ready. "I... I'm at home. Where-"
"LA. Stay there, don't leave. I'll have some of the guys check- wait shit." His voice trailed off, muttering to himself a string of incoherent words over the line. "Ash's boys will stop by. You know Bones and Kong. Remember em, right?"
LA? That wasn't just west, that was the clear other side of the country. And while you attempted to stay out of gang business, you had met some of Shorter and Ash's men, the former due to his overprotective and at times paranoid behavior while being introduced to the later's in passing. "Wha- What about Lao or Sing? Surely they-"
"Too dangerous, shit's already fucked as it is." He paused, a rustle sounding past the phone. Knowing Shorter, he was probably running a hand through his neon mohawk, a typical response he had while deep in stressed-out thought. His voice came through again, quieter this time with a subtle shake to it. "Maybe. They wouldn't... surely. Still, can't take those chances. Bones and Kong will do just fine. Answer the door for them and them only."
Trembling now, you mumbled a "got it." A second passed before you continued. "Sweetheart, what's going-"
Two knocks sounded at your door, a stark difference from the pounding and banging that usually alerted you or Shorter to a presence outside your door. Minutes previous, an unknown number sent you a simple message, stating that it was Kong on his way in tow with Bones; they'd be there any minute. Surely the knock was them.
Thumping of heavy footsteps and wind rushing past the receiver stopped your question, your boyfriend cursing under breath on the other side. He said no more before the call ended, leaving you alone once more.
---
Two more knocks sounded followed by an eerie stillness. Bones and Kong weren't the silent types, so the quiet of the building around you raised suspicion. You were expecting them, sure, but Shorter was clearly afraid of something, something he didn't want you facing.
In all honesty, Shorter was afraid of everything when it concerned you, be it your attention on anything or anyone that wasn't him to spending your days apart doing your respective jobs. He'd joked on more than one occasion with an unnerving glint in his umber eyes that he should lock you in the apartment where only he could interact with you. No more job, no more social media, no more friends or family. Just you and Shorter.
You'd laughed and told him to stop messing around. Shorter only held you tighter, reluctant to let you go in the morning.
Three knocks, sharp and clear sounded this time, impatient at a lack of response. Maybe your boyfriend was more protective and clingy than he should be, but maybe that was a result of leading the most powerful gang in Chinatown, second only to the Lee Clan. He'd made plenty of enemies on his own, let alone being Ash Lynx's right-hand man. Certainly, the knocking sounded more sophisticated and dignified than the usual gangsters trying to break the door down, but that in itself scared you enough. Whoever it was, dignified or otherwise, could be a danger to you; it sounded like anyone who wasn't with Shorter or Bones and Kong were at this point.
Grabbing a baseball bat you kept near the coat rack and pulling one of your boyfriend's switchblades from a stray jacket pocket, you peered through the peephole, your gaze falling on a lone, sharply dressed man. Whoever he was, he definitely wasn't a gangster. Mafia perhaps? But Shorter had kept as far of a distance from any of the local mobs or even the Lee Clan as possible; you'd never known him to have angered any of them.
But if he had... that wasn't why the boys were in Los Angeles, was it? It couldn't be, no.
As if he could see through the peephole or merely felt your presence through the door, the man outside finally spoke. "Excuse me. I was wondering if I could speak to anyone from the Wong residence."
Your breathing stopped, hoping that maybe he'd go away.
Trying again, he asked, "Is there anyone home? This is of the utmost importance."
Dread, thick and overwhelming started to creep in on you. The stranger didn't seem to be in any rush, he could definitely wait you out or at least until Bones and Kong arrived, when you'd have to let them in and reveal someone had been home the whole time. You'd have to shoo him away, there wasn't a way around it.
Against your better judgment and Shorter's ominous warning earlier in the day, you latched the door and adjusted the grip on both your bat and blade before unlocking the door, letting it creak open just enough for one eye to peek through to the hallway.
The well-dressed stranger straightened up slightly, nodding to you in greeting. "Apologies for the interruption, but as I stated, this is urgent business. Would you happen to live at this residence?"
Without thinking, you gave one, silent nod, not trusting your words to be enough.
"Then you would know Shorter Wong? I have information that he too lives in this particular apartment."
Again, you nodded, albeit shakier this time. In your stress, you found no sense in lying, though perhaps that would have been wise.
"Excellent. May I ask you to step outside for just a moment?"
You shook your head rapidly, already moving to close the door on him.
His face betrayed no emotion. "Please, it will take just one moment."
You refused him an answer, pushing the door farther. He merely switched tactics, dropping the eloquence of his words and politeness in the questioning.
"I understand you're quite close to Shorter."
You paused, hesitated; that was all he needed.
Coldly, he continued, "Got himself into some trouble. Looks like he won't be back for some time."
In a panic, you cracked the door back open, ready to ask what he was talking about when the man lunged forward, the opening just wide enough for him to grasp your arm roughly. A prick of a needle into your skin, an instant exhaustion overtaking your senses. Slumping forwards, grip on your only means of protection loosening as your eyelids fell.
A sharp scent wafted through your nose, waking you suddenly from the spell you'd been under. Your limbs felt like lead, heavy and immovable, as your head pounded furiously.
"Then again, he shouldn't have allied himself with Lynx and betrayed the Lee family."
---
Instantly, the man from the hallway and the strange prick in your arm returned to the forefront of your mind along with his claims of the trouble Shorter was in.
You weakly sat up with a groan, hands held to your forehead in an attempt to compose yourself. The danger he mentioned seemed to match with the fear you'd observed over the phone, the danger he wanted you far away from.
The danger you now found yourself engrossed in.
Squinting your eyes from the harsh artificial light, your gaze finally landed on the only other visible form in the room. You'd half expected the man from the hallway, not the stunning visage of an elegantly dressed teenager before you. Predatory eyes studied your form as a Cheshire grin stretched across his features.
"Took you long enough. You sleep like the dead." What a pleasant greeting.
Pushing his jest to the side, a question fell past your lips. "And you are?"
A huff sounded from the boy across from you as he rolled his eyes, finishing with a glare your way. "Hilarious. I wasn't aware you were a comedian."
You didn't answer, staring ahead blankly.
Waiting a moment longer for any response, the boy's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by your lack of recognition. "You can't be serious."
You were.
"You... You honestly don't know who I am?"
You didn't.
"Do you have any clue where you are?"
Thinking for a moment, you wanted to answer in the negative before recalling the stranger from the hallway's words. He'd mentioned the Lee Clan and how Shorter had somehow wronged them. By process of elimination...
"Uh, is this the Lee home?"
Another huff. "One of them."
"So... you must be a Lee?"
A snake-like smirk settled upon his face. "Took you long enough, but you got there. Yut-Lung Lee, seventh son of my father."
You hesitated, making an attempt at collecting your thoughts before the words spilled from your lips. "This matters why?"
The boy before you erupted in cruel, shrill laughter, sinister in nature at the bluntness, if not rudeness, of your question. Truly what you'd said wasn't funny, not humorous in the slightest; your best guess was that it was a thinly veiled attempt at keeping his anger at bay.
Judging by the sudden leap from his seat and dagger pushed against your throat, your assumption must have been correct.
Breath hot on your ear, Yut-Lung forced a chuckle before growling menacingly, "It matters because, if not for my generosity and goodwill, you'd be dead by now, or at least wish you were dead, so I'd watch your tongue and show a bit more gratitude if I were unfortunate enough to find myself in a situation such as yours."
It was your turn to express disbelief, scoffing at his claims.
"I'm being serious, so treat this matter as such. I could hurt you; my brothers would do things far worse. They know no mercy while I retain my humanity." His tone was asking for the gratitude he'd hinted at earlier, a luxury you would not afford him.
"Says the brat threatening my life," you growled venomously. "You cannot claim to be oh so merciful when holding a blade to the neck of an innocent person."
A melancholic glint settled in his eyes. "Sure, you didn't do anything wrong per se, but Shorter loves you, he'd do quite literally anything for you, and I need leverage. Simple as that."
"Whatever. It's all gang business, I get that. But torturing me half to death isn't necessary," you spat.
Silence passed between you two, Yut-Lung thinking on your words before drawing his dagger away from you, straightening up in the process. "No, not at all necessary, I'll give you that."
Hope sparked within your chest at his words, only to be doused as he continued while making his way to the door. "But if I am to be given the answers and results desired by my brothers and those even higher than them, it may be our only option."
The ornate door serving as the room's only exit flew open before Yut-Lung could reach for its sparkling golden handle, a panicked man rushing through the threshold. Stumbling through his words, he hastily explained to the Lee son the situation at hand as a distinct bang sounded down the hallway, followed by hollering and chaotic shouting.
Yut-Lung's polished facade cracked, hands shaking with fury as he screeched in response to the poor man before him. Hissing, he turned to face you, staring at your form for a moment before tearing his eyes away and striding the opposite way, debating his next move.
Whatever he'd decided failed to play out, interrupted as he was thrown to the ground, falling pathetically at your feet. The cocking of a gun directed your eyes to the man above him, shouting aggressively in a voice you recognized. Staring intently at his eyes, the only part of his form not covered in his attempt to disguise himself, you knew him instantly to be Shorter's right-hand man Lao.
A firey rage shone clear in his gaze until his eyes found yours, softening instantly despite not knowing if you'd recognized him or not; a simple nod from you was all the confirmation he needed.
"You! This way, now." You'd laugh at his weak attempt to deepen his tone if you weren't sick to your stomach, nerves getting the better of you while still woozy from whatever drug or sedative had been jammed up your arm.
"And you, you sick bastard!" He slammed his handgun against the Lee son's head for good measure. "Stay down and stay here, don't get any ideas about sending your goons after us."
Yut-Lung laughed airly, raising a single slender hand to the back of his head. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Lao gently took your hand in his, pulling you along with him past Yut-Lung and the man who'd barged in mere seconds before your savior's arrival. Out in the hallway, decorated just as ornately and finely as the small room you'd awoken in, the chaos of Lao's arrival, with what you assumed to be the rest of Shorter's gang, was apparent. Thunderous shouts and violent threats bounced off the walls and traveling through entryways, accompanied by slamming doors and the occasional gunfire.
The hectic atmosphere that surrounded the two of you was broken only by the clear voice calling out from the edge of the corridor, its speaker being a familiar wide-eyed photographer you'd befriended through your boyfriend not long before their little road trip. "Eiji! What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'd ask you the same thing, but Bones and Kong told us they'd found your apartment empty. I sincerely apologize we arrived here so late, we were planning a rescue and trying to find a flight home when Shorter and I got kidnapped ourselves out in California. Thankfully Lao and-"
You cut off his hurried words quickly. "What? You and Shorter were kidnapped?"
It was Lao's turn to speak up, answering gruffly, "Yeah, we got word from Ash and the guys with him who weren't taken, the old men-"
"Ibe and Max!" Eiji corrected.
"Uh right, Ibe and Max, that Shorter was double-crossed out in Chinatown and to ensure his cooperation, you and Eiji were simultaneously kidnapped. When Shorter tried to save Eiji, they took him too."
Your head was pounding, dread overtaking you as you were left thinking the worst. "But... But if you're here, Eiji, and I'm here... Lao, where's Shorter?"
A nearby door was thrown open, guns drawn and ready to fire at the slightest hint of hostile movement. The menacing weapons weren't what you focused on, your attention instead taken by the familiar sight of your beloved knight in shining armor, or neon mohawk to be accurate.
It was as if he'd heard your concern for him, eyes finding yours immediately, the rage blazing in his umber eyes overtaken by relief at your apparently unharmed form. Abandoning his gang mates at the door, Shorter all but threw his machine gun away in his mad dash to you, sweeping you up in his arms as if you were the most precious thing in the world.
Burying his face into the crook of your neck, you felt his breath on your skin, his piercing and digging into your neck, and what could only be his tears streaming down his face. Attempting to properly look at him, you shook your boyfriend slightly as he only held you tighter, shaking his head as he mumbled something against you.
"H-hey, you gonna look at me?" You tried, laughing shakily.
Shorter looked up weakly, red-brimmed eyes searching your uneasy gaze hopelessly as if he were waiting for the world to fall apart and for your life to crumble before his eyes, unable to save you from a horrifying fate at the hands of men with too much power.
He ultimately settled for a simple, breathless, "You're here."
Chuckling, you confirmed, "Yeah, I'm here babe."
His cheerful visage dissipated, eyes going wide and lips pressing into a line. "But you shouldn't be."
"Hmm?"
Trembling, Shorter straightened up, scowl etching itself deep into his features as a growl ripped through his throat. "You shouldn't be here."
Fully pulling away from you, Shorter glared down the hallway you and Lao had just run down. "You wouldn't be here if the fucking Lees hadn't-"
"Cool it, boss!" A gloved hand pulled on Shorter's bicep, forcing his attention back to the group. You recognized Sing as quickly as you had his brother, hoping beyond all hope that he could get through to your partner. Though, truth be told, once Shorter went on a rampage, next to nothing could stop him.
With your safety in question, you had no doubt this could prove the same.
Shorter's eyes found Sing's, shaking his hand off, before sweeping his gaze over Lao, Eiji, and you, lingering on your worried face, before facing Sing once more. Sighing exasperatedly, he snarled, "If the Lees hadn't gone back on their goddamn word and teamed up with the old bastard, then they wouldn't be here, we would've finished our business out in Cali without issue, and we'd all be at home right now."
"I understand that, we all understand that, but there's nothing we can do about all that now." For such a young guy, easily the youngest in the gang, Sing sure had an air of wiseness beyond his years about him. "What we can do is get the two of them out of here and take out anyone we find. We know Ash's boys are taking out Golzine and Arthur, so there won't be anyone to swoop in and help out here, it's just us and them now."
Grunt and shouts from the others backed up Sing, now holding out a spare machine gun to his friend as his brother clapped him on the back. "We've got this."
Hesitating for a second, Shorter took the gun in one hand while reaching for you with the other, searching your eyes for a moment or two before bringing your knuckles to his lips, kissing you softly. Mumbling against your skin, he promised a few of his men to escort you and Eiji home while he and the others "dealt with some things," as if you hadn't already gathered their plans.
"I'll be home soon, we'll talk then," he vowed, fury dripping in his voice, before dropping your hand, turning on his heel, and stalking down the way with his men behind him, leaving you and Eiji behind with a few men - mere teenagers, if you were honest - ready to leave the mafia mansion from hell.
You'd finally refused Nadia after the seventh cup of tea.
Your ears couldn't quite block out the deafening gunfire and enraged shouting as you all made your way out and onto the street.
---
For hours into the night, you'd been sitting in the same corner of Chang Dai's, staring out the window across the dining room, nursing the same cup of now long-cold tea, waiting, waiting, waiting. You'd attempted a spot near the window when the boys accompanying you had ushered you away, something about staying away from the windows and out of the open. That was enough for Nadia to close the restaurant early, waiting up for a bit with you and your companions before retiring to bed upstairs with the promise to be awoken the moment her kid brother returned.
Eiji had pushed through longer than you expected, finally passing out in the booth beside you maybe half-past two in the morning. Shorter's boys took turns waiting up and sleeping, intermittently checking their phones to no avail. If there was any news, it had yet to reach any of you.
No news is good news, you repeated over and over again in an attempt to keep you sane in the stillness of the terribly early morning. No news is good news.
The rattle of the front door shook you from your thoughts. Through the fogged glass, the person couldn't be seen; the lack of any word from the boys left you to assume it was one of the millions of others calling New York home trying to grab a late-night bite.
Keys being inserted into the lock accompanying the hushed but familiar tones of a few distinct voices erased any such thought from your head.
Leaping from the booth and sprinting across the floor, you'd reached the entryway as Shorter finally pushed the door open. Sing and Lao stood beside him, Ash Lynx and a few of his boys behind them, presumably having come to gather Eiji and perhaps lay low for the night.
Ultimately, whatever their real reason for being there wouldn't be answered for the foreseeable future, your attention directed elsewhere. Shorter mimicked his actions from hours previous, lifting you off the ground and into his embrace, breathing you in as though you were the very oxygen he breathed. Perhaps that's what he needed, no doubt a reprieve from the chaos of the past few hours. Your own lungs filled with the distinct scent of gunpowder and blood rolling off him in waves as you took note of his arms still trembling, perhaps from adrenaline or fear.
You caught Ash's eyes over the neon hair blocking most of your sight, the beautiful blond nodding once before directing his attention to your sleeping companion. While he made his way over to him, the others locked the door behind them, moving past you and Shorter to the guys who'd escorted you back home, groggily waking up and gathering their wits. You simply directed your attention back to your boyfriend, all but squeezing the life from your lungs.
Quite strangely, he was deathly silent. Even before in the mansion, you were able to pick up on the sounds of his ragged breathing and hushed sobs, but now he made no sound.
Still and unmoving.
Thinking.
"Shorter." Your whisper practically echoed throughout the room, only broken by the muffled voices of the others.
Shorter paid them no mind, his mind racing only with thoughts of you. He refused you an answer or even acknowledgment.
"Shorter?" You tried again.
Calculated and methodically, his face turned to meet your gaze, practically ashen and lifeless. Had you not felt the rise and fall of his chest or the thumping of his heart, you'd thought his face bore the glare of the dead.
A single command rang throughout the dining room. "Leave."
Wordlessly from all but a sleepy and confused but now awake Eiji, Shorter's companions exited through the back door that would lead up into the rest of the building. Perhaps they would go and wake Nadia now, perhaps they'd head home; either one wasn't your concern for the time being.
"What happened?" Another command, now phrased as a question.
"Honey I'm fine, just shaken up," you attempted meekly. Truthfully, it was probably too late, his fury having already run its course.
"That wasn't my question."
Your breath caught in your throat. Struggling for words, you finally managed a, "Someone came to the door, said you were in trouble, and stuck something in my arm-"
His grip on you tightened, face tensing in anger.
"-and then I woke up. Some kid named Yut-Lung threatened me and then Lao rescued me."
Eerie ticking from a nearby clock ticked on by, maybe for a minute, maybe it was less; your nerves wouldn't allow your brain to properly function, all but scared of the man you loved so dearly looking so irate.
"And?"
You cocked your head in confusion.
He took a breath to still himself, trying desperately to calm down enough to ease your fears. "And anything else? What else happened? Who touched you? Are you feeling okay? Anything?"
Weakly, you shook your head. "Nothing. I've told you everything that happened."
He studied you coldly, taking a deep breath before mumbling to himself. His shoulders drooped as he seemed to relax, color slowly returning to his now softening face, truly appearing to believe your claims of being unharmed. Shorter tugged you gently towards the nearest table, sitting down before you and taking your hand in his. His shaking having ceased, he caressed your knuckles softly while staring hopelessly into your eyes.
"Christ, I'm sorry." He chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "I'm so, so sorry. This shouldn't have happened, it won't happen again, ever. You can hold me to that."
You shook your head in turn, huffing lightheartedly, "Don't worry about it. Dangerous stuff happens when you're dating a gangster, I guess."
Shorter didn't laugh at your quip.
"Not anymore."
You opened your mouth to question what he meant when your question died on your tongue, drowned out by the growing wail of firetrucks rushing down the street. Only a minute or so later and three vermilion trucks with blinding lights sped past the front windows, flying down the road.
You'd come from that way earlier in the night.
A vice-like grip squeezed your hand, pulling your attention back to the soulless gaze of your boyfriend before you.
"You aren't going to be in danger anymore."
Chuckling nervously, you tried, "I'm not?"
His grip on your hand increased, eyes now shining with an insane lovesick glint. "Nope. Can't be in danger if you don't leave the house."
Your breathing stilled, unsure of what he meant.
Shorter snickered to himself, watching your every move. "The boys have been given the order; the building is to be watched at all times, all entrances guarded. No one's comin' in or out, not without my say."
"O-okay, but that doesn't-"
"The Lees won't even try, not while they're preoccupied with their own place, so don't worry your pretty little head about them."
The air was impossibly thick, dread surrounding you. His words were finally setting in.
"Even if they were stupid enough to try, they won't get within a mile of you, babe. Not if I have something to say about it."
Finding your words, you attempted, "Wonderful, but what about... what about when I leave for work?"
He stilled before you, breathing ceasing for a moment before erupting in cruel laughter. "Leave? Whaddya mean leave?"
"I-I've still got work, Shorter."
His laughter died out. "No you don't."
You opened your mouth.
"No. You don't."
Your head was pounding now, leaving your hands trembling under Shorter's grip.
"Life would be so much better for us both if you just stayed at home, where I can keep you safe." He leaned over the table, grinning madly. "Just like I’ve always wanted."
Your voice trembled, words failing you.
Shorter took note, quickly shushing you gently, bringing up his other hand to caress your face. "Oh sweetheart, this isn't to punish you. You didn't do anything wrong, not at all!"
His manner shifted, returning to rumbling anger once more. "It's the others- it's always the others. They're trying to hurt you, to hurt me by hurting you."
Your breathing was erratic now, gasping futilely for air as panic set in.
"But now they can't. No one can. It'll just be me and you. No one else."
You could still hear the sirens; you weren't sure how you'd missed the distinct smell of smoke and burning material throughout the early morning sky.
"No one else."
