#interactions; hunter and elliot 001

[manybcdthings]

beekman hotel

hunter cross and elliot cross @ofwrxth

"El, somethin's fucky happened." Hunter appeared from nowhere, grabbing his brother by the arm to haul Elliot along with him. He didn't have time to point out that he knew exactly who El was looking at, as he had bigger fish to fry. "I can't speak English no more. Am I speakin' it right now?" he snapped, a determined expression on his face and his worry spilling out as frustration. "That God damn witch, ella me quitó mis derechos americanos." his head cocked to the side as his hand worked at his tense jaw. "Eso no es lo que iba a decir. Quiero decir... lo era... pero no en maldito español." Hunter sighed out, more frustration entering his tone. "I ain't American now! Was that English?"

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"Well, don't." Hunter bit back, waving a hand to try and dismiss Elliot but it wasn't long until the Cross brothers were laughing again. At Ryan's expense. Which seemed to happen more often than not. "Duno about livin' and breathin'. I bet Ry been the reason why we get our elecktrick cut out. Stickin' his dick in the outlets." Hunter joined with a cackle.

The sound even grew as Elliot insisted about his accent, making Hunter shoot him a look of disbelief. "What you think you sound like!?" he asked, tone loud and incredulous. "Bet you think you sound real fancy now ya with Isla." he teased, getting back to work. Mainly so he could ignore all of the accusations about B. Hunter was grumbling away to himself, deciding to ignore his baby brother. "I do hate lookin' at her 'cause her mouth always makin' noise. Ruins the damn view." he griped, throwing a stern look at Elliot before focusing back to work. "I ain't listenin' to ya. Shut the fuck up."

END.

"'Cause I can," Elliot retorts with an easy grin, enjoying the rise he's getting out of Hunter. Admittedly, an easy thing to do, but entertaining regardless. "Probably just saw somethin' living and breathin' and asked what's this do?" Elliot cackles. "That or he stole Mase from a lab. Ain't no other reason why that boy reaches Olympia." The younger Cross holds up his hands in a protest of innocence. "I didn' say nothin'!" He insists, scowling at the accusation, and hammering a track a bit harder.

"Anyway if there's a dumbass here, it ain't me, Hunt." Elliot shakes his head for emphasis. "That's how it's spelled! Just 'cause you talk like one of them earther hillbillies don't mean I gotta!" He retorts, completely missing how he might sound exactly the same as his brother while insisting he doesn't. "I ain't no chancellor, I just ain't a dumbass." He heats up the track with a bit more gusto than he's done, sparks flying as he scowls yet again. But as with most exchanges between the two of them, if one of them's laughing, the other's scowling, and if one of them is scowling, the other's laughing. So when Hunter's laughter tapers off into a grumble, Elliot's shit-eating grin returns. "But you don't hate lookin' at her do ya?" He teases, giving his brother a pointed look. "You'd hate her less if she weren't pretty." Because nothing is more offensive to his brother than a pretty face that talks back.

[manybcdthings]

watch

hunter cross and elliot cross @ofwrxth

"You got shit planned?" was Hunter's way of greeting Elliot, and further elaboration wasn't given until he finished rolling his cigarette and had wandered closer to the younger Cross. "Don't ask me how, I dunno. Turns out those fuckers listen to me better than you fuckers do, but I got us a watch shift." he declared smugly, making sure to remind everybody any chance he had that something was fucky with the town. He'd stand by it until he died, or was killed by the fucky town nobody was listening to him about. "Figured we can see if this place is as safe as they keep sayin'." he shrugged, mostly excited that he would be holding a gun again. "If you can't do it, that means I gotta ask Ry and I ain't in the mood. So, c'mon. Let's go"

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downtown streets

hunter and elliot @ofwrxth

There were shackles involved in the freedom The Reapers offered. Despite Hunter relishing in the violence and fast money, he was glad to see his youngest brother slowly distance himself from it. At least one of the Cross brothers had a brain and it certainly wasn't ever Hunter or Wolf. Well, Wolf had one but it worked weirdly. But the conditional freedom was exactly why Hunter argued about calling on Elliot, claiming the money could wait until other members were free. Problem was, Bruce ran a tight ship and there was no avoiding it. "You can just wait here." Hunter said to break the silence, waiting on the target to arrive to their apartment. They owed a hefty amount and apparently there would be more than one person waiting for Hunter on the other side. "Don't wanna mess that pretty face up you think you have." he laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. "Or make Aiyla hate ya."

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"Yeah well, you're here now." Hunter said begrudgingly but he did always accept things for how they were, that was either a positive or a negative thing about him. "You regretting it yet?" he pointed to the open trailer door, knowing that his conversation with Kat wasn't quiet by anybody's standards and he knew Elliot always hated it...so he guessed the Mini-Half-Cross probably would have opinions herself too. She seemed the type. "Me neither, I don't know half the shit he talks about. Never have." Hunter added with a dry laugh which got louder when he saw the penny drop that Rory had welcomed herself into one of the biggest families of the trailer park. "Wolf has a whole bunch of women. Xi, Rhea and Halo all date each other or something." he explained, sounding like a grumpy old man that didn't understand new-age bullshit. "Andy is Halo and Wolf's kid. Luca and Luna are Xi and Wolf's kids. Tyr is Wolf and Rhea's and Allie, well. Her mom was as dumb as me and my brother's. Rhea took her in. Asher's my kid with Kat, and little Nash lives over there with his mom Lia. Elliot, well...we just hope he has a cock somewhere under his bullshit. And you? We hope whatever bullshit you drop on us next won't have anything to do with diapers or money."

"May-be." Rory nodded firmly, her cadence dropping as if in conclusion, shrugging as she said it. She too could go back and forth all night and it was clear stubbornness was something inherited from the father she couldn't remember, and the same father these brothers didn't want to talk much about. Luckily, with the two of them laughing Rory managed to forget the heaviness that surrounded the trailer and she scoffed at the banter. "Yeah well, it's not my fault Wolf doesn't know how to fill in a profile 'cause if I knew there was a ready made army here, I wouldn't have bothered." she chuckled, squinting slightly at Hunter's response about the card. "Wait what did you just say? Mokepon?" she laughed, knowing exactly what he meant. "Never heard of it, sounds dumb." Rory commented with light sarcasm. "Wolf mentioned there's a lot but I've not met anyone yet." she added, her words trailing off as soon as Hunter began listing the names. "Holy shit, you're joking." she didn't fully believe him at first but could see he wasn't much of a joker. "Who's who? Or is it more of a, we think that one's related so it doesn't matter how?"

[manybcdthings]

grand gala

hunter cross and elliot cross @ofwrxth

"El. Why'dya say I don't wanna play cards?" Hunter accused his baby brother as he intercepted Elliot, ushering the two of them to a quieter corner of the party. If one of them even existed. "You know I like cards." he added, a disgruntled look on his face as he glanced to Elliot. But, Hunter was still just a man, and he couldn't control his gaze moving to Isla in the distance. Until he remembered he was stood with Elliot, straightening his posture and pulling his eyes away from...well, that was hardly a dress. "Her daddy kill ya yet? I saw y'all talkin'." he laughed slightly, slapping Elliot's arm with a mean-spirited grin. "Anyways, this what I figured out." Hunter cleared his throat, bopping a quick nod around the evening. "There's 'bout three exits out the back, and some rooms people would pr'ly wanna see inside through them corridors, so we should keep near those for the night. Or watch 'em when folks head that way."

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center hill trailer park

hunter and wolf @secrettyrant

Obviously their voices could be heard throughout the small trailer, but Hunter didn't care. The girl was technically a stranger and he had never done well with them. As always, Elliot was left to do the conversational part that Hunter didn't want to. He was good at that, leaving the baby brother in the dust quickly. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he asked sternly to Wolf as soon as the separating door was closed, despite it not being much use. "She can't fucking stay here, Wolf. If we had it your way, we'd be a fucking adoption shelter for people. It's fucked." he insisted, voice raising. He didn't want to turn family on the streets but was she family? "She's the worst fucking part of us, man." he said, loudly and crystal clear. Truthfully, a lot of Hunter's apprehension was coming from a selfish place. He had just got used to having to fight for the main room between him and Elliot, and then adjust to Wolf's return. Now, Wolf wanted to just give it over to some five foot nothing mini-Cross. "If she stays, she has the fucking pull out."

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"Shut the fuck up." Hunter sighed, not sure what he was expecting when he'd already fought Jackson Jones twice and the two men just floored one another both times, at the same fucking time. It wasn't a loss and not even Ryan's snarky attitude would make Hunter feel like it. He took the beer, knocking his fist against his brother's chest in thanks but he used the drink to swirl and cleanse the blood resting in his mouth, spitting it to the ground quickly. "Where's Elliot? Wolf's next." he nodded again to the ring and then glanced Ryan up and down with a scathing look. "You ever get sick of your own voice, asshole? Last time I saw you in that ring you didn't fucking have any wrinkles. Shut up."

where: fight night, abandoned barn

with: hunter cross and ryan cross @manybcdthings

★・・・・・・★

"You almost had'im, I guess." Ryan grinned at his brother, beer waiting to be passed over once Hunter had a moment to weep in the loss. It wasn't even a loss, it was a draw but...a loss, because it wasn't a win. Couldn't be Ryan. "Maybe next time, huh? Or maybe let Asher have a turn in that ring. Think our age is catching up to us, gotta know when to say when." he said lightly before he laughed. He sipped his own beer, squinting one eye as he peered at some of the bruising that was appearing over Hunter's face. He laughed again, a little mean as he shook his head. "Let me guess, you'll rock up to Lia's trailer in the morning like sup honey, look what your big strong man got up to."

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"Cute." Hunter grumbled at her joke, scoffing and ignoring the surge of annoyance that it spurred through him. Instead, he focused on his cigarette and took a lingering gaze beyond the back steps. There were moments he could pretend there was no such thing as death and pain beyond the town, and not even need to close his eyes because through the thick of the trees it was impossible to see the ruins of what was left. How empty everything was. The only thing left was family and whether Lia liked it or not, she counted as it now. Her proclamation to become a Cross meant many things, but it quickly changed her from just a wolf to a wolf that counted. If only he was good with his words, because there was a lot he could say to her. Needed to. It wasn't that he thought she was incapable of anything else and it wasn't that he didn't care about her family. He could see her restlessness and had seen it before with Kat, with other women too. Being a good fighter is great, being out there in the thick of it is great but family is even greater. Hunter watched as Lia grew more agitated, and he grew with her but remained silent. Even when she turned to him, he only could offer her a shrug and another short answer. "Think there's a lotta things you wanna say but don't wanna piss me off." he offered because he knew there must be words dancing on the tip of her tongue. They were so vastly different, her living life as free as a bird and Hunter used to his being a cage of anger and violence. Things were the way they were and there were many reasons why he didn't wish to change it. Safety. Fear. As Lia stepped to the back door, Hunter's hand that clutched his cigarette instinctively raised above her head so the smoke cleared away from her lungs and he followed after her. Slowly, though. "Lia." he called, not needing to pick up much of a pace before he was by her side. "I ain't gonna lie to you, Li. I don't follow those leads nowhere near as much as I do for Isla, that's just the way it is." he spoke lowly, knowing how it sounded but also knowing it needed to be accepted. "I try, when I can. I ask my boys to, and Ry. But me and El, Isla is who we look for. That's how it is. And I'm not sorry."

lia can't help herself as both her hands raise daintily in a faux surrender. 'you right, i got caught. send me to the council.' she mutters, somehow cheerily as she returns to unpacking the supplies but with sharper movements. cans of food are then lowered with a heavier drop to the cupboard, the door being left to close with a thud behind her. lia moves in a silence, listening to hunter but not registering words she's heard a thousand times by now. words that won't sink in, words that annoy and stir her restlessness each time she hears them. same fresh air out that door. but it isn't. no, it's not. it isn't. lia abandons the supplies completely then, irked even by the scent of nicotine which is another thing she misses. a smaller and better sacrifice, she knows. but a sacrifice. the walls close in on her day by day and it isn't until hunter claims he looks for her family that she can look at him. 'i know.' she responds quietly but those aren't the two words she wants to say. do you? sits like a knife on her tongue which doesn't escape in any way except the harsh glare to the other wolf. lia's hand rests on her hip then, nodding once at the claim he knows what she will say. 'now, i think we both know that we don't know each other well enough to start finishin' each other's sentences, hunter. what do you think i'm gonna say?' she challenges, tone soft and careful but the expression on her face far from it. in fact, she doesn't even want to wait for the answer. she moves entirely from the kitchen and towards the back door. 'excuse me, i'm gonna take that minute you want me to have so bad.'

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Hunter's cackle stuck, a gritty noise that was packed with an evil note because there was something about Beau's squirmy demeanor that was far too amusing. "That's what you heard, huh?" Hunter mocked with a nod, fighting back more laughter. Enjoying the moment, the Cross started up a slow step to leave but Beau's comment caused a pause. Hunter swept a quick glance over the other wolf, trying to scan if the Sullivan was being genuine. "Damn." he nodded, as if in full understanding. "Yeah I hear ya." Hunter faked the agreeable words, grinning. But there was a hint of pity in the smirk for the poor guy, even if amusement still lifted Hunter's features. "I'll watch my mouth, right?" he chuckled, just the sheer thought of being told what to do making the shit eating grin return. "'cause er...what? What'll happen?"

Out of all the Cross brothers, Beau knows Hunter's reputation the most. Arguably the worst brother, some would say. So, there is no abrupt reaction from Beau. Just an obvious, wounded nod. Even as Hunter calls for the other wolves' input, Beau is watching them all with an accepting and defeated dip of his head. "Alright, I got it, made your point." he sighs but Hunter isn't done, pulling Beau's glance to Tammie and Ryan which gives him no choice but nod yet again in a hurt acceptance. "Well, I heard nothing's going on so." he remains steadfast in his delusion. He knows it's delusion too, but it's only been a few months. There's no way she's moved on...or back that quickly. "Ha, Uncle Beau's got a ring to it definitely but er...look," he's visibly uncomfortable again at the images he doesn't particularly want flashing through his mind. "No offence but I would appreciate it if you didn't talk about her like that."

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As the three brothers stood to watch, Hunter could see the slow form of others doing the same. A peeling movement of wolves and vampires alike, all witnessing the same thing as he was. As his brothers were. But nobody could begin to imagine what Elliot and Isla were feeling. They could all sense it, hear it. Hunter's own heart twisting in his chest when Isla's words managed to string together. He could have sworn he heard his heart drop with a shatter in the same moment as Elliot's. In an uncharacteristic bid to hold onto hope, Hunter's eyes glanced through the streets again. Hoping that one of the many blurred forms would appear as a clearer Amaris, Cece on her hip or walking at her side. His eyes closed for a brief moment, knowing that it wasn't coming. Hearing Isla's mournful and tormented cries melt into the sound of his little brother's panic and pain caused the familiar defensive and protective anger rise. But, there was no shielding Elliot from this. And somehow, despite little Cece being gone for three years, the void of her absence seemed to grow in size.

Hunter's step was hesitant when both Elliot and Isla dropped to the ground, an instinct from years and years of wanting to help his brother to his feet. The uncertainty didn't remain for long before Hunter stepped further enough for a hand to be placed on his brother's shoulder. There was nothing he could say, or any words circling his mind as he helped the two of them to their feet. "C'mon, let's get you both home." his words were a crisp quiet, a stark contrast to the usual coarseness but Hunter was trying to fight back his own threat of tears. All he could think of were the next routes planned, the next towns, the next bases. His arms remained around both of their shoulders, keeping the two wolves that have needed each other for so long together as he glanced to Wolf and Ryan with a look of concern and fear. Help me. Help them. Help me help him.

;

The exhilaration cuts through Isla as she clings to him, palms glued to his back as her arms wrap around under his. She squeezes him. Tighter and tighter. Her whole body trying to adjust that he's here, the weight she feels in her arms is him. She has to look at him, see him. It's real, he's here. After so many years of feeling an emptiness, an unrelenting fear that she would never feel this again, she's scared to even blink. When he says he's sorry, Isla's head is shaking and her hands are back to holding his face, pressing her forehead to his. "No, no, don't, I-" because it's her that has to be sorry but she can barely speak, the words are just blubbering from her. "I missed you so much." Isla holds his face, studying his features that she has been so scared of never being able to see again. And all she can do is cry because right beside the incomprehensible joy is something unspeakable.

"Amaris- I...." it takes all of her strength to try and form the words, but each one chokes her and her head is still shaking. "She let them take her so me and Cece could get away, and I...I've been looking everywhere but-" her breaths inward are sharp and shaking. "Cece, she...in April, they took her- right from me, I was...the wolfsbane, I couldn't even fight. She hasn't been with me, Elliot." it's the first time she's been able to say it to someone who she knows will feel the same pain as she does. It's the first time she can cry about their daughter knowing that her tears are understood. The past six months she's only been able to say it while reaching other towns and staring into faces of pity looking back at her. "I'm so sorry, please...don't hate me- I couldn't fight back, I-failed her, I'm so sorry."

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Hunter was no stranger to carrying a crushing weight on his shoulders, one that was given to every Cross wolf when they were born. For as long as he could remember, he could see Elliot's struggle with it. An overt one that was identical to his own internal. Hunter could bury his, accept it but Elliot was stuck in an endless loop with his. That's why, as he helped Elliot to his feet there was a firm shake of his brother's arm. "That's it, El. Keep going." he muttered because that was the only thing Hunter knew as a coping mechanism. To keep going, to get on your feet again. Even if Elliot didn't consider himself strong at times, Hunter always admired him as it. He was a fighter, even through invisible battles. "She's looking for you, you're lookin' for her. Somewhere y'all meet in the middle." Hunter smirked slightly, knowing he was making it sound much simpler than it was but there was also a small semblance of hope in his words.

It made sense that they were bound to find one another. It went without saying that Hunter would be with his brother every step, every town, every base. He'd go with him beyond the border if they needed to, and nothing else mattered. "One foot in front of the other is still a step, El. You got it." Hunter nodded firmly, no pity in his tone and hardly much emotion either as he tapped his brother's jaw in a quick pep of support and glanced down to the damn dog. "Oh Jesus Christ." he griped, leaning to pick the thing up and take another look at it. "Well, we can't fuckin' leave him." he grumbled, despite the pup already taking a lick against Hunter's face and making him pull back. "Alright, calm it." he said, tucking the animal into his jacket and zipping it up further for a make shift holder. "C'mon." he then said, guiding Elliot with him from a firm slap to the back. "Don't fucking say anything, Elliot." he added, pushing onwards together but now with a floppy eared mutt popping up from under his coat.

END.

At his worst, Elliot feels like the world is spinning off its axis. There's nothing he can do to regain his balance besides wait. Slumped against the facility wall, his senses are keyed to a hundred and he can hear his heart thundering in his chest. He can hear the blood rushing past his ears and his own shuddering breaths as Hunter crouches beside him. There's always been something muddled in his mind. He knew it from the time he was a child – something wasn't quite right. When their mom died, he felt even more at odds with himself. But after her death, whenever he floundered, Elliot would find his brothers by his side, like Hunter is now. For so long, they were the only reason he could find balance again, until Isla. Until Cece. When he lost them, he lost that equilibrium. But Hunter...Ryan...Wolf, they've been relentless in trying to help him regain it. It doesn't matter how futile it seems, they're right there with him. Hunter's right there with him. Elliot drops his head in his hands as his brother speaks, letting his words wash over him. Like if he can absorb them, they'll become true.

It's a moment before he exhales a slow breath, lifting his head to look at Hunter. People say their bond is obvious, it's clear they're close, but in this moment, Elliot feels it more than ever. He knows Hunter would never lie to him. He knows that his brother isn't the type to give false hope. And because of that, he believes him. We'll find 'em. "We will," he nods once, twice, and takes another breath, the shaking of his hands subsiding with each word. Elliot takes Hunter's hand, letting his brother help him up, in more ways than one, and accepts the rifle. "Thank you," he whispers, in debt to Hunter in more ways than one. Elliot knows he wouldn't be alive without his older brother. He wouldn't've had Isla and Cece in his life if Hunter had let him go all those years ago. He owes so much to him and he can never repay it. "We will find 'em." Elliot says with renewed vigor, despite the exhaustion settling in his bones after the come down. He's about to turn heel when there's a slight yelp. The dog. Elliot down to see the small thing ambling to Hunter's side, nudging his boot. "Guess ya got yourself a pal."

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He grunted at his son, never bothering to answer much or respond to anything Alfie said. It was always hot fucking air but as Hunter made sure he had everything he snapped his glance back to the boy in a loud "HUh!? Noom-er says what?" he tutted as if it was Alfie who made no sense, shoving by his boy to call Nash over. "Why the fuck would I take any of you to a zoo? You woulda been worse than the fucking animals." he stated in a huff, accompanied by pushing away Alfie's hand from his shoulder. "Get off and shut up, you're already pissing me off. Just get in the fucking car, Ash." He tutted. "Aa...Alfie." Jesus fucking Christ, if today could just be over with already. "Actually, go get your brother." he decided to make his older son useful, save himself from walking to the toddler. The bitch seat comment was the last strew, Hunter pushing Alfie into the side of the car a little roughly from the sheer stress his son could conjure. "You're gonna be sitting in that damn booster seat yourself after I break your legs, get Nash and get in before I lose my fucking mind!" he yelled, not with anger but pure frustration.

"You don't like all Lia's floaty clothes looking like she just stepped outta Woodstock?" Alfie waved his arms, chuckling. "I thought that was your thing considering...y'know." he nodded his heads towards wherever his littlest brother had wandered to. "Numero seis over there." Then he chuckled, throwing his hands up and frowning in mock serious apology. "My bad, waiting three years to take a kid to a zoo is totally normal." he explained with a grin and then waved a finger. "Wait, more than that. Ash is twenty three, Nash is three." He did the easy math as if he was working out a NASA equation. "Twenty six years to take a kid to the zoo. And they say old dogs can't learn new tricks." he slapped his dad on the shoulder, shit eating grin in place. Once again, it was if the world lined up the jokes for Alfie to make and he snickered at the question which was clearly meant to be a good joke from his old dad. "Yeah, Lia's." he nodded once, laughing as he then smacked the booster seat. He was expecting the answer to be yes all along so he tried his luck some more, offering his hand out for the keys. "I can drive, you can ride bitch." he suggested helpfully.

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He didn't like her tone but there wasn't a time that Hunter enjoyed any kind of attitude being returned to him. Too bad there were cameras otherwise her words would've been cut off before she could even pronounce the end of them but, he smiled forced and cold. "Smart mouth on you today. Wanna watch that." he commented, getting comfortable into the seat and ignoring her passive way of telling him what to do. He wasn't dumb enough to wave his pistol around but he reminded her it was there by pushing it against her waist low enough to be hidden still. "Think we got off to a bad start, Isra. I'm sure you're gonna re-think a few things on the drive over. Head out and turn left." he kept things simple for her, since obviously she was going to twist and turn everything he said. He didn't feel like going back to prison for a fucking member of government. Despite his history there wasn't much pride in fighting someone who wasn't a fighter.

Hunter remained mostly quiet until it was time for a new direction, and he watched Isra's expressions closely to see if she was beginning to understand where they were headed. "Feel similar?" he smirked with a small and dry laugh, waving his free hand for her to turn right at the next stop. "Pull up." he then said once close enough to tall apartments. He didn't know which Avci from which, nor their names. He was just told the basics, they were going to be a fucking problem and Hunter followed orders from the top and nobody else. "Your sister, right? Nice place. On the top floor." he nodded, tapping at the window with a grin as he looked at Isra. "Anyways, I just wanted the drive. Think you're ready to stop being an annoying fucking bitch with that attitude when we talk now?"

It might seem complacent to simply go along with him but Isra knows his type. She knows him. At least what he appears as on paper. She’d pulled his criminal record after their first encounter. A rap sheet a mile long with twenty-five criminal convictions from the age of fifteen. This isn’t a man you can reason with, nor a man who would hesitate to pull the trigger. Voluntary manslaughter comes to mind as they walk and she gives him a sharper smile, not reaching her eyes. “Well, I guess it’s your lucky day.” Her words are more biting than her smile as they walk in close proximity, gun obscured by their strange embrace. Even if she’d wanted to make a break for it, she’s not sure she’d managed to escape his hold.

Irritation prickles at the back of her mind with each step, though, urging her to resist or fight back and she squashes each instinct, her sister’s face coming to mind. Hunter’s threats resurface and she swallows back her indignation. Isra resists the urge to shrink from his words, chewing the inside of her cheek instead. “Only because it’s so repetitive.” Unoriginal. Boring. If only she had the gall to say those insults. Slipping into the driver’s seat of the black Porsche 911, Isra glares at him now that there are no cameras. “I don’t feel like being kind. Put on your seat belt.” She can already imagine being pulled over for a stupid violation and adds with another empty smile, “I just mean, it would be a shame to ruin all of this because of a traffic stop.” And she doesn’t want anyone getting hurt. Engine started, Isra turns off the radio and turns on the headlights, knuckles bone-white as she grips the steering wheel, awaiting directions.

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"Will someone shut her the fuck up!?" Hunter yelled, not hearing Kat's voice as concern for Danny but as an insisting siren repeating over and over. Every time she opened her mouth it was like a shrill pierce going through his ears, making him violent just at the sound of it. He didn't even bother to look to the floored Anderson, not until Elliot made an appearance and Hunter only struggled slightly in his brother's grip. "Yeah, yeah! I fucking know!" he shouted, seeing Danny's blood as a flash of red warning. Another warning that came too late. There'd be no apology either, Hunter only shrugged off Elliot's hold sharply, glancing around at all the eyes watching. "Get off me I'm good." he huffed angrily, but in a lower tone than he had used for anybody else. His focused gaze moved back to Kat, pointing a finger at her and then to Danny "Go get him cleaned up so you just fuck off for once and everyone leave me the fuck alone."

Kat is full of the type of anger that needs somewhere to go. The sort that overwhelms a person until they're not sure which way is up because all they see is red and all they hear is the crash of their heartbeat in their ears. It feels almost like she's not herself, screaming and swearing at Hunter. She's said it a million times and he doesn't fucking get it. He never has because Hunter's never understood anything that couldn't be solved with a fist. Or his fucking head. It happens too fast, one moment Danny is trying to get her to leave and she might've too, and the next there's a burst of red as Hunters head connects with her cousin's. "What the fuck!" And then he's kicking him and Danny's on the ground and Kat's at his side, shouting at Hunter. "You're fucked in the head, Hunter! What the fuck is wrong with you!"

Elliot was preparing for a quiet afternoon. As far as he knew, Wolf, Hunter, and Rory were all off doing their own things which mean that the over-crowded trailer is finally his for a few hours. He thinks that, after work, he might even be able to catch up on his tv considering he wasn't ready to reveal their Kardashian-viewing habits to a veritable stranger. But, windows lowered, he hears the sounds of a fight before he sees it when he pulls up to the trailer, and then the door of his truck is swinging open with force. "Hey!" Elliot shouts, seeing Hunter head butt Danny before kicking him. The younger Cross doesn't think, doesn't ask questions before he's grabbing his brother from behind, arm snaking around his neck as he tries to pull him way. "Hunter! The fuck you doing?!" he shouts.

[manybcdthings]

"Why the hell you usin' my insults to you, on me!?" Hunter bit but his expression was far from stern. He was staring at his baby brother with a bemused look. "You're a god damn idiot." he muttered, turning back to work as another laugh left him about their nephew. "Maybe Ry fucked the gee-raff. That sounds more like it." Hunter said carelessly, finding himself hilarious until Elliot corrected his accent. Which earned the younger Cross a quick and harsh stare. "The fuck? I don't say it like that, El. Shut the fuck up. Sick of ya." he huffed, back to work again to give his brother the cold shoulder.

He managed to ignore Elliot for all of three seconds, because it was the mention of respect that made Hunter snap around. "There ain't no T, dumbass. RESPEC. How the fuck you been sayin' it? Idiot." he accused confidently and roughly, laughing at Elliot's expense. "Fuckin' respec-t. Who the fuck you think you are? Chancellor El, talkin' 'bout repspec-t." Hunter was cackling away but the amusement was short lived when it came to HoneyBee. Or B. Whatever the fuck she was called. Then, he was grumbling. "I do say it to her fuckin' face! Every time I see her." in fact, it had become something of a routine. What the fuck's your problem? You're my problem. "Hate that bitch. Only dancer I ever met that thinks she's somethin' special."

"Well your laughin' sounds a hell of lot like gigglin' so you might wanna get that checked out," Elliot replies with a snort, cackling at the idea of Mason trying to catch up to the train. "Maybe Ry got him mods, just to boast about it to Wolf." Considering Tyler was also a weed, Ryan seemed proud his son was the tallest of the boys. "Chopped off his legs and replaced 'em with robot ones." A graphic image, maybe, but one that they've seen plenty of times in The Wards, people hoping body mods will change their lives. "Or maybe he fucked a machine and they churned out lil Mase instead." Another cackle from Elliot before the mention of Gee-raffs sends him into another bout of laughter. "I heard they got ellie-fents too. Imagine just goin' to a place to watch big animals walk around." He shakes his head, unable to wrap his head around it. "Whatever they're feedin' 'em up there, Ry fed to Mase."

He snickers at Hunter's words then, and holds up his hands. "Listen, it ain't my fault y'all are twins. Don't go gettin' upset at me." Even if he can tell Hunter isn't upset, it still brings an amused smile to his lip which quickly turns into a frown. "Yeah, I am. 'Cause I can I actually got respect. I know it ain't a word you're familiar with. It's spelled R-E-S-P-E-C-T, case you was wonderin'." He adds, hammering away before torching the rail, letting the pieces fuse together. "Maybe it's 'cause you're a ray of fuckin' starlight," Elliot suggest with a cheeky grin. "Probably rubs her the wrong way. Maybe you should tell her that next time, see how far it gets ya."