Arrow of Time (Marauders)

by Andersson, Lina

  He was surprised to see Bull sitting by the bar and not passed out on the couch like Mace was. Instead he had a paper and was drinking coffee. Dawg was just glad he wasn't wearing reading glasses, because that had been way too Ozzie and Harriet.

  “Hey,” Bull said when he saw him. “Must've worn them out. They didn't get far.” He said and nodded towards the two girls who were now sleeping on the pool table.

  Dawg didn't reply, just shrugged.

  Bull shook his head. “So, after wearing those two out, you’re still not able to sleep?”

  “Changed the sheets, didn’t have any clean ones in my room. Just came out here to get some.”

  Bull looked at him and smiled.

  “Okay. Get some sleep, kid, got stuff to do tomorrow.”

  “Yeah.” He knew that and that’s why he’d tried to get some release. “See you tomorrow.”

  He walked by the closet, got a set of sheets, and once they were on the bed he followed suit. He lit a smoke and looked at the ceiling, arguing with himself before he picked up the phone. He held it in his hand and looked at the clock. 3.00 AM. She was working tonight so she was still up. She was often up quite late and should be in a better mood, since she’d been off the rag last time they talked. She claimed she didn’t have any mood swings and PMS while she had her period, and since it was stupid to disagree with a woman with PMS, he agreed. He found her in the phone book and pressed 'dial'.

  “Little boys should be in bed by now,” she answered.

  “That’s where I am, Nibbles,” he chuckled.

  “Well. I’m on my way to it, just having a cup of tea. Wanna keep me company? You’ll save me from the horrible fucking reality show I’m watching.”

  “Isn’t that the very reason you weren’t going to get cable? So you’d read enlightening and educating books instead of watching shitty TV?”

  “Yup. And look at me now. I got cable and I’m watching a show with a woman so desperately wanting a husband that she thinks she’ll find one on a TV show.” Edie sighed. “This is why the world is coming towards its end.”

  “Baby, what’s with your mood today?”

  “I don’t know. Why are you calling?”

  “No reason really. Couldn’t sleep.”

  “Aww, Dawg. You saying I’m your go-to girl for when you can’t sleep now?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Thought you needed more hands-on action than a phone call for that.”

  “Are you offering? 'Cause, baby, you just have to say the word and I’ll be on my way over there.” He was teasing; it might not have given him the release he wanted, but he was still sucked dry.

  “Tempting.... I remember it being a really nice cock. Still have to say no.”

  “Such a fucking tease.” He put out the smoke. “Get back to that show and dream of white gowns and I’ll get some sleep.”

  “Yeah. I can sooo see myself in a wedding dress.”

  “Hey! You’re the one who told me; when you find someone worth fighting for.”

  “Well, when it comes to marriage it’s more to it.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because... it’s not just fighting for someone, it’s being fought for as well.” They were both quiet.

  “Are you gonna be here tomorrow morning?” Most women came for the breakfast and to see them off. He wasn't sure if that included her, though.

  “Yeah, not sure why Lanie wanted me there, not like I can cook.”

  “Moral support, baby.”

  “Ooookay. I'll practice some cheers and bring my pompoms. Night, Dawg.”

  “Night Nibbles.” He hesitated for a second and then laughed. “Hey!”

  “What?”

  “Do whose pompoms come with a cheerleader costume, 'cause a cheerleader with dreads has been my wet dream since I was a teenager.”

  “Obviously. Go to sleep.”

  He hung up while laughing and turned over to his side. She was right. It would be nice to feel that someone was fighting for you, and he knew chicks fucking loved that. And a woman like Edie deserved it. She was worth a guy who fought for her, who'd do anything for her and who'd stick to her. He wasn’t sure he could be that guy. And if he couldn’t, he should just back off. Not even try to take whatever they were doing any further.

  He knew it, he just had a hard time ... backing off. In short; Dawg was torn like a motherfucker between actually trying to get something going with Edie, make something real out of it, or just leave her be. Let her find someone else.

  But the thought of her finding someone else and... hooking up with them, fall in love with them... it drove him insane. Absolutely fucking stark raving mad.

  -o0o-

  Friday, July 20th

  THEY WERE ALL STANDING around the table and Brick watched Wolf pointing out stuff on the map. Dawg was standing next to Wolf, with Vasco at his other side. They were going up to the mother charter in Englewood, Colorado. Since he was from there, Dawg knew the area well. He didn’t have many comments though. Not that Brick had expected him to. There was a reason he had Wolf as Road Captain. He’d been a Nomad for over ten years, he knew pretty much all the roads and was a fucking expert on the smaller, under the radar, roads. And when he didn't know, Vasco, the other former Nomad in the club, knew.

  This trip up there wasn’t under the radar, though. They were doing a toy run, and they’d be away for a few days, hitting all the children’s hospitals between here and the mother charter. The plan was to stop two nights along the way, since it was a twelve hour drive even without stops for hospitals. Then they'd stay in Englewood for two nights before going back. They’d ride back without stops and on small roads to scope them out, make sure they were still safe, and also some new ones that looked interesting.

  He looked outside towards the bar and noticed that the Old Ladies were about done with the breakfast and then looked back over the table.

  “This looks good.” He looked at Wolf. “And nice work on the new roads. I want as many routes up north as possible.”

  “I know,” Wolf nodded. “Thought I'd take a lone ride in a few months, see what else I can find.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Any word on when the next run is?” Bear asked.

  “Yeah. Got two coming up. Gonna need a van for one of them. The other one is smaller shit.”

  “Diamonds?”

  “Yeah.” He slammed the gavel. “Gents, we’ll deal with that later, now it’s time to feed and then we’re off. Got some kids waiting for us.”

  They all stood up, and he went out to catch his Old Lady. She smiled when she saw him.

  “Hey, baby. You ready?”

  “Yup.” He put his hand around her neck and gave her a kiss.

  While putting the food on his plate, he noticed Dawg next to Edie and halted to watch them for a while. Dawg said something, and when she replied he laughed, out loud, and gently bumped her arm. Mel came up next to him.

  “I’m trying to decide if I should panic about that.”

  He looked at the two of them. “Normally, I’d say yes, but I’m not sure what the fuck is going on there.”

  “Not sure they know what's going on,” he heard Vasco behind him. “At least not Dawg.”

  “What are you saying?” Mel asked and turned to him.

  “That he's confused and not sure what to do, since his main goal is usually to get laid, and that's not what he's after now. And Edie knows what he’s like and is holding back.” The old man smiled. “At least that’s my take on it.”

  “Think you’re right,” Brick agreed. He was pretty sure the old man was right. That was two confused and horny kids standing by the table, giggling like school girls.

  “Maybe I should...” Mel started.

  “No. Leave them. They’re two adults and you shouldn’t.” When she started again he held her closer. “Baby, it’s none of your business. They can take care of themselves, and you need to let them. You're just gonna get them even more confused.”
>
  Mel looked at them again, and he took her chin to make her look at him again.

  “Mel, she can take care of herself, and you need to let her. She's not about to take off. She's got an apartment, she's making a life for herself here. She knows what she's doing, and you need to trust her. Okay?”

  Slowly, she nodded and then untangled herself from him to go out to the kitchen. He didn't have time for her now, he'd talk to her again when he came back.

  -o0o-

  Saturday, July 28th

  I WOKE UP WHEN SOMEONE knocked on my door. Eliza was sleeping at my place, since she needed to be at a girlier place and have some girl time. Her words, not mine, and I had thought it was a good idea. We’d eaten pink things the night before, painted our toenails and watched ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. We decided that Ariel had the best singing voice, but Belle was the bravest.

  There weren’t that many people that came to visit me out of the blue. It was pretty much Lanie, Vasco and Dawg. I checked my watch while pulling up my jeans. 9 AM. Pretty early, so probably Vasco, since Lanie was picking up Eliza around noon, and it was way to early for Dawg. Especially on a Saturday. I didn't want to yell and also didn't want the knocks to wake up Eliza, so I tried to hurry my steps to get to the door.

  It was Dawg. I hadn't seen him since they got back from the toy run a few days earlier. I'd been there to welcome them back and he'd commented about me owing him a cheer in a cheerleader outfit and with pompoms.

  “Morning, Nibbles. Got you breakfast.”

  “Nice. I’m not alone though.”

  He looked down at me with raised eyebrows and I quickly shook my head.

  “No. It’s Eliza.”

  Just then she came walking. “Hi, Dawg. Why are you here?”

  “I got Edie some breakfast.”

  “Breakfast is her favorite meal of the day. And mine.”

  “Is that so?” He said with a big smile and looked at me.

  “I need to go to the bathroom,” I said since it had dawned on me that I was wearing nothing but panties and a camisole.

  I saw Dawg walk inside and put the bags on my small kitchen table. Or more like the side table that I used as a kitchen table. It just barely held two chairs. So when I came back, the table was set and he was on a chair with Eliza in his lap. I sat down and to my horror I realized that Eliza was filling him in on the Disney character discussion we'd had the night before.

  “So mom is Ariel cuz she’s like crazy in love with dad. And dad is like the sea king cuz he’d do anything for his girls, Edie and I are like Belle cuz we’re adventurous...”

  I could see where this was going. We’d compared the different characters with people in her life, and I wanted to stop her before she got to...

  “Am I in there somewhere?” Dawg asked. That’s what I wanted to avoid.

  “Yeah, you’re Gaston.”

  “Gaston?” He asked and looked at me as I sat down.

  “Yeah, from Beauty and the Beast.”

  “Haven’t seen it,” he said and gave me a bagel. He’d given half of his to Eliza.

  “I don’t need a whole. You can have this if you want, and I'll take the half.”

  “Nah, I’m good,” he said and then looked down at Eliza. “So why am I like Gaston?”

  “He’s got all these girls following him around and all girls but Belle want him and he thinks he’s all that,” Eliza said and happily shoved a piece of the bagel in her mouth before looking up at Dawg. “Do you wanna see it?”

  “I definitely want to see it,” he said with his wolf grin while looking at me. “Does he get the girl?”

  “No. The beast kills him.”

  “Bummer,” Dawg said and drank some coffee. “What else did you do?”

  “We ate pink cupcakes and painted our toenails. I got pink, but Edie wanted blue.” Eliza held up a foot to show him hers. “I need to pee.”

  She jumped down and ran off.

  “So who was the Beast?” He asked me.

  “Vasco. He looks all dangerous, but he’s really cuddly.”

  “I need to see this movie,” he decided.

  “They sing in it.” That should make him not want to see. Not that many guys liked musicals.

  “Don’t care. Need to see the guy you think is me.”

  “Actually, Eliza...”

  He interrupted me. “Blaming the little kid, that’s low,” he laughed. “Still gonna wanna see it.”

  Thirty minutes later, we were on the couch, Eliza cuddled up in Dawg’s lap with her big eyes on the TV. When Gaston was flexing his biceps, Eliza looked at Dawg's arm and squeezed a bit and he looked at me.

  “You think that’s me?”

  “Not far off. Although that’s three girls, not two,” I said.

  “You have two girls?” Eliza asked Dawg.

  “Sure. You and Edie.”

  “Ohh, that’s right.”

  He gave me the finger behind Eliza’s back, but he did it with a smile. He looked good with Eliza in his lap, and he really loved that girl, and she loved him. She talked about him often, that he was her favorite uncle. She kept babbling throughout the movie, and he didn’t once looked bored or snap at her. He asked her questions, teased her and tickled her, sometimes agreed that something was particularly funny.

  When he was about to leave, Eliza gave him a long hug and he promised to always bring breakfast when she was sleeping at my place and maybe even watch the movie with us during the evening next time.

  Lanie came and picked up Eliza not long after that, and when she heard about Dawg coming with breakfast she looked at me.

  “Something he does often?”

  “No. First time actually.”

  “Okay.” She gave me a long hug. “Take care.”

  “I will.”

  Later that night I got a text from Dawg “I’ve got biceps to spare”. It was from the Gaston song, and I laughed out loud.

  -o0o-

  Sunday, August 5th

  DAWG'D HAD A TEXT from Edie saying that even if she hadn’t woken up on the Japanese flag, she was on the rag so if he felt like watching a chick flick and eating chocolate with a grumpy woman, now was his chance. He picked up chocolate, one chick flick and an action movie that he hoped she’d prefer and went to her place. She looked a bit surprised.

  “Jeez, are you just starving for company? Didn’t think you’d actually show up after that text.”

  “I did pick an action movie as well. Kinda hoping you watch that one with me and save the chick flick until later. And...” He picked up two joints. “Worst case scenario I’ll smoke these to make it more fun.”

  “Both of them?”

  “If you watch the action movie instead you can have one of them.”

  “One? You got both if I watched a chick flick.”

  “Yeah, but I just bought chocolate, rented movies and am planning to hang out with a grumpy woman. I deserve one of them. Besides, I know you have a stash here, this was just a gentlemanly gesture from my side.”

  “Hmm, okay, since you brought me chocolate.” She took one of the joints and the bag with chocolate. “Action movie, 'cause I need more blood in my life.”

  He laughed and took the movie she was handing him and popped it into the DVD. He sat down on the couch and was a bit surprised when she handed him a beer and opened a bottle of water for herself.

  “Beer?”

  “Even if I don’t drink there’s no reason to keep my guests from doing it.” She shrugged. “What movie is this?”

  “The Rock. One of the best action movies ever.”

  She kept quiet until the scene where the ex convict rolled through a burning furnace in an awesome way and then opened the door to the other guys. She started laughing.

  “What? Like you could do that.”

  “No, but if he's going the opposite way compared to when he broke out of the prison, and now rolled through a furnace and then opened the door to let them in, why didn't he ju
st open the door the last time?”

  “Whatta you mean?”

  “Well, like I said, he's breaking into the prison, not out of it, and now he just opened the door and let them in. So he should've been able to do that the last time. When he was breaking out of the prison.”

  Fuck, she was right. It didn't make sense at all. He took a few deep breaths. “You just ruined the movie.”

  “Sorry. I'll shut up next time.”

  “Yes, please, and please shut up through the remaining parts of this movie as well.”

  “Okay.” She took another chocolate bar and opened it. “Like his accent though.”

  “Edie. Shut up.”

  She did. Kind of. At least she didn't comment on the movie anymore. And he was already planning on what movie he'd bring next time. He decided that he'd find an action movie that she actually liked.

  CHAPTER SEVEN:

  Folded, Not Fondled!

  -o0o-

  Thursday, August 9th

  THIS WAS THAT DAY of the year. All I wanted to do was pull the cover over my head, turn around, close my eyes and go back to sleep. Or at least try to go back to sleep. Empty my head, find my Zen, like the Tibetan monk had once tried to teach me, and fall back asleep, keep doing it over and over again and that way just skip this day entirely. I had cleared with Mack that I wasn't going to work today. I hadn't given him any further explanation, and he'd gone along with it. I guessed that since this was the first time I asked for a specific day off he didn't mind.

  The plan to completely skip the day was initially working out. I managed to fall back asleep, more than once, but then my doorbell rang. By the second ring I was wide awake. I still wasn't on my way out of my bed, though. I was planning to ignore it. I checked the time, 5.30 PM, and got annoyed. I'd been doing so well, and now someone was ruining it for me. There was no way in hell I'd leave the bed.

  That's when the doorbell started to frantically ring, accompanied by banging, and the last noise added to the cacophony was Vasco's voice.