TLH-Verse: Another Job

[luvs_yogurt]

 It's just supposed to be another job, Michael had been working almost a week on putting together his cover and infiltrating a small time gun runner's inner circle all in an effort to get close to their leader - a man named Douglas Moore who was proving to be more elusive than Michael had initially hoped. Of course, the problem with trying to get in with gun runners when you happen to have a history with one runner in particular is that you have to sell it. Without Fiona on his side, he'd had to pull off almost half a dozen shady deals to even get to the people that are allowed to drop Moore's name without getting a rifle stock to the back of the head.

He had one last transaction to make, one more very shady deal and he'd been promised an audience with the man himself.

Michael wasn't expecting to come face to face with the blond he'd parted ways with on somewhat questionable terms in a cheap motel only a week prior. Damn it.

"You aren't the guy I'm supposed to meet!" Michael clenched his jaw, eyes quickly darting from one side to the other - trying to indicate to his lover that he wasn't alone and there were two other heavily armed men waiting for a good reason to put a bullet in him. "I'm not doing this deal with a guy I never met that aint the guy I'm supposed to be meetin'." He affects a deep southern drawl, rubbing his hands over a greasy undershirt, attempting to show he's undercover - not Michael Westen. Just another idiot fresh off the bus in Miami that thinks he can run guns with the 'big boys' in Moore's gang.

Comments

[lighteningcount]

Well...Zechs would have said something, but the silver duct tape over his mouth prevented it. He was bucking and struggling against the ducttape that held him to the chair he was in. There was a forming bruise on his face, and a shallow gash along his cheek. He was not here willingly. That much was obvious.

Between the time he last saw Michael and now... He'd started putting things into motion to stay here. This was just supposed to be an easy heist. Now he was tied to a chair, watching his lover.

What the hell?

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael opened his eyes wider.., trust me...

In a smooth action, he drew a custom 9mm from a holster at the back of his jeans and leveled it at Zechs' head. "What the hell sort of prank is this?" He drawled; "Ya'll playin' a prank on the new guy - it's funny, man but I don't do no guys in chairs. Come on, I thought this was about AK-47s!"

One of the two guys flanking him stepped out of the tall bushes serving as cover with a silenced magnum aimed for him - not Zechs. "Just a test, Johnny." He replied with heavy emphasis on the name - not a good sign. "Turns out, we got a guy trying to infiltrate our operation."

He grins wide, letting out a big fake/nervous laugh. "What, this guy? He don't look like he could *in-fil-trate* a potato chip bag. Where'd you find him, some spring break Motel 6?"

[lighteningcount]

Zechs struggled against the bonds. Ropes, handcuffs... he could squirm out of those, but ducttape... No way, too sticky.

God damn it, run Michael.

He hadn't messed up, Zechs hadn't talked. Someone had just known they were lovers.

[luvs_yogurt]

He saw the warning in Zechs' eyes, it was just as bad as he'd thought. If he was going to get out of it, he was going to have to keep hem thinking he was either stupid, in the dark... Or both.

He turned toward the guy and shrugged; "What, you gonna shoot me because you told this guy something? Come on, I'll take care of him!" He stepped closer to Zechs, still nearly a foot away and used his left hand to draw a nasty looking Bowie knife. "Won't even have to waste a bullet."

The large Cuban frowned deeply and shook his head; "Sure, go ahead and kill him."

They were playing him, wanting to see just how far he'd go for a cover. It was exactly what he wanted them to do.

Run? Not alone.

Michael returned the gun to his holster, leaving the safety off and a bullet in the chamber - he'd need it. Then very slowly, he approached the chair. "You a little rat?" He drawled, his voice forced with anger as he stepped to the back of the chair and pointedly stepped on the bonds at Zechs' ankles - aloowing just enough wiggle to break free without cutting it. The wrists... That have to be quick.

[lighteningcount]

He looked at Michael and then the two men. They'd have to be quick about this or else it wouldn't end well.

He managed to get his ankles free, without gathering the attention of the two men in the room.

Zechs took a breath, reminding himself to remain calm. If he worked himself up... It wouldn't be good.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael pushed in close, turning the edge of the large blade as he drew it against Zechs' throat - barely drawing up a thin red line with the sharp blade. "I'm gonna do you good, punk ass kid..." He raised his voice, trying to make a scene as he palmed his pocket knife - quickly thumbing it open and catching the edge on the tape - slitting it with a silent and barely perceptible motion.

It was time. If he could get Zechs out of the line of fire, he could take out the one closer to the with a single shot - leaving only the one still obscured to put a bullet in him. Theoretically, taking the shot and then getting out of the way to pull off a second could work.

As long as he caught them off guard.

He pressed the pocket knife into Zechs' hand and then in a swift motion kicked the chair out from under him and drew his weapon - single slug to the right shoulder on mook number one.

The second guy, unfortunately, seemed prepared for that and got off a shot as Michael rushed toward him. With a soft grunt of pain, he forced himself forward - dropping the large knife as he tackled the large man at the knees

[lighteningcount]

He grunted as he hit the ground. Fuck if he wasn't going to feel that later. The blonde quickly cut one wrist free and then the other. The thief managed to get the chair off him and was up, running over to the man Michael had shot. He hauled back and then decked him, sending him to the ground.

Stay.

Zechs ripped the ducttape off his mouth, barely wincing. Michael... Armed with just the pen knife... He wasn't going to leave his lover. He couldn't leave him. Someone knew, and they needed to get out of here together.

[luvs_yogurt]

Barely noticing the slug in his shoulder, Michael dragged the larger thug to the ground; slamming his head against the uneven concrete before shoving the gun in his face.

"A gunshot to the head at this range and this angle might kill you." He said in his normal voice, digging the barrel of the gun against the man's left temple. "At this angle, it will kill you - especially if I did something crazy like load it with fragmented rounds. Do you want to test my theory or answer questions?"

The thug pushed up against his injured shoulder until the blood spread across the front of his undershirt and down his chest; "Fuck you."

"Not an answer," Michael fingered the trigger and asked; "Tell me where Moore is and you live. Say anything else and you don't."

[lighteningcount]

Zechs hovered just within reach, unsure what to do. He had done what Michael had asked, stayed hidden, stayed under the radar... Look where it got them. He turned the pen knife over in his hand, frowning.

He just... What was he supposed to do?

"Moore's probably not here." He said after a moment, the German part of his accent thicker than normal.

[luvs_yogurt]

He hasn't been out of the loft in four days and calling him edgy is an understatement. Once the infection broke he was nothing more than a bundle of nerves on full alert; ready for a bullet to come through the window any time.

The first excuse he got, he made a careful trip to the market down the street - four grocery sacks, yogurt and various bits of food that Zechs happened to insist on them needing.

Of course, most quick trips to the store don't include four hours of surveillance and a special bag from Sam on his doorstep.

Nerves slightly eased by the assurance that nobody was watching the loft or the club, he lifted the big black bag and knocked on the door with his elbow - three short taps to let him know he was clear.

[lighteningcount]

The door carefully opened to allow Michael into the loft. Zechs shut the door when the older man entered.

"Sorry for the delay, I was in the shower." Zechs had made his displeasure at Miami know. The heat, the bugs. Ugh.

[luvs_yogurt]

A slow smile crept up on Michael when he turned to catch his lover in nothing more than a low slung towel, the cut of his hips barely holding it up.

"It's all right... I took a little longer than I meant to, but did a little recon. I didn't see any potentials between here and there... which means we're either no longer a target - or more likely, their guy works at night."

[lighteningcount]

Zechs chuckled and twisted his hair into a knot to keep it out of the way. "Some people are extremely careful." He said, "And I thought your friend was going to come inside today. Or I'm just a little paranoid."

He shrugged his shoulders and headed back towards the bathroom to get dressed. "I'll be back in a moment."

[luvs_yogurt]

"He probably considered it." Michael raised an eyebrow, eyes following Zechs; "Sam's worried. He doesn't like it when things get hairy... but, he left some information that might help."

He set the bags on the island, taking quick steps to get a better look at him; "I told him the place was booby trapped while I was out... and that he shouldn't wait for me to come back. The last thing he wants right now is to be seen with me."

[lighteningcount]

The blonde stopped at the door and looked at Michael. "With this atmosphere, he'd probably shoot me then call you. And I really don't feel like getting shot right now. I'm still putting you back together."

His lips curved into a smug smile. "Did you get something other than yogurt?" Zechs knew that standing in nothing but a towel that was barely hanging on was teasing his lover. After that time a few days ago, he'd been very firm that no sex was to happen until Michael was feeling better.

[luvs_yogurt]

It's true... Sam might. Probably not... but you never know.

Michael rolled his eyes; "Yes... yes. I got some fruit and vegetables and eggs. I might make an omelet."

His smile didn't fade; "Maybe after we build up an appetite."

[lighteningcount]

"Aha." His lover had used that line before, Zechs had ignored it before.

"If you say so dear." He opened the door to the bathroom.

[lighteningcount]

'Don't leave the loft.'

Michael's parting words rung in his head. Of course he wasn't going to. Elve was a nasty, creative, resourceful man. And Zechs didn't really feel like tangling with him right now. He was sitting in the bathroom cleaning and re-bandaging the wounds his lover inflicted on him the other day. Not that he was complaining, he had enjoyed every moment of it.

To need that much pain... He had to be in a certain mood. He had to be in the right frame of mind. Elve oddly brought that all out.

Zechs chuckled to himself before shaking his head. He stood up after applying the last bandage and then pulled the tank-top he'd taken to wearing. It was amazing that he and Michael were close in size. Made it easy since Zechs had nothing of his own here.

He turned when he heard a knock on the door. Maybe it was Sam. The blonde left the bathroom and walked over to the door. He opened it just a crack to peer out. His pale eyes widened and he slammed the door shut. But, he was too slow. As soon as it was open, it was shoved fully open and the men came inside. Zechs stumbled back, grabbing the nearest object to throw at the men.

Elve's men.

How?

How had Elve found them here?

He was not going to go down without a fight.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael knew something was wrong as soon as he pulled through the gate - the door was slightly ajar and part of him hoped Zechs had been looking out for him but knew all too well that was unlikely.

Ignoring the food in the passenger seat, he drew his weapon and thundered up the metal stairs to find the loft trashed - obvious signs of a struggle... and Zechs missing.

On the counter; scrawled on the back of an envelope was an unfamiliar address and no other sign.

[lighteningcount]

His head was pounding. That was the first thing he realized when he came to.

"You're awake."

That voice cut right through him like ice. He looked up, staring at the familiar man through his bangs. "Elve."

"Welcome back to the world of the living Milliardo." Elve Onegell drawled with a smirk on his face. He was examining a dagger. The very dagger Zechs had been hired to steal. The one that led him to Michael.

The blonde didn't react. He just stared at Elve. "What do you want?"

"You. Your lover. Revenge. The list just keeps going."

Zechs spat towards him. His anger slowly started to claw to the surface. Elve always pissed him off, even when they had worked together. Even before he had gotten the man arrested and sent to prison five years ago. "Fuck you."

Elve rose and crossed the room. He swiftly backhanded Zechs, fury overcoming him. "You will watch as your love is slowly tortured to death. He's coming here to save you."

The blonde raised his head, looking up at Elve. "Michael will not be caught."

[luvs_yogurt]

It would be a trap, of course. Nobody just leaves a genuine address like he's going to pick up a package - he knows as well as anyone that there'll be some major challenge waiting for him when he goes.

But they've got Zechs. And they trashed the loft. And he's not exactly keen on dragging Sam and Fiona into the problem.

So, he goes alone - taking a stolen car loaded with explosives, a long range sniper rifle and a pair of 9mm handguns tucked into his jeans as he closes in on the place.

He takes aim through the rifle's scope and waits for someone to make a false move.

[lighteningcount]

Slowly the blinds for one window slid open. Tied to a chair and looking angrier than ever was Zechs. Bait.

Maybe it was a trap.

But maybe Michael wouldn't know what for sure until he ventured inside.

[luvs_yogurt]

He could be pretty sure, nobody leaves a guy tied to a chair just hanging out - it's not a movie.

But, he can't see anyone posted - nobody suspicious.

Concerned, fully aware of the danger of the situation, he steels himself to go in - it's the only way.

[lighteningcount]

A man rushed into the room and spoke quietly to Elve. He then left as quickly as he came.

"It looks like your lover is here Milliardo. How shall we ever pass the time until he arrives?" Elve purred as he went to shut the curtains. Now that they had laid their trap and snared the spy.

Zechs snarled and yanked at his bonds. "Touch me Elve and when I'm free, I'll rip you apart."

"Tsk, tsk. That's not proper for someone of your stature." He replied as he walked over and touched Zechs' cheek. Elve was amused as the blonde jerked away.

"Go to hell." He snarled. Zechs hoped Michael didn't do anything stupid...

[luvs_yogurt]

Walking into a trap isn't always the best move, but sometimes it's the only move. He draws one of the handguns and keeps it tucked against his chest as walks out in the open as much he possibly can - eyes tracking over the windows for any sign of Zechs or trouble.

He's being watched, without a doubt, and wants them to know that even if they do catch him it's not exactly his first time.

"Just so you know," he calls out to nobody in particular; "I didn't come alone."