The Warrior

by RT Lucas

  Shuggie bowed his head and wrapped his hands behind his neck, leaning his elbows on the desk.

  “Shuggie, what the fuck am I missing here?”

  “She’s deid, Xavier – she’s the one they bastards mutilated.” His tone was grave.

  It all made sense to Xavier now, why it was affecting Shuggie so deeply – they may be seasoned soldiers who masked their emotions from the outside world – but some things scarred you, down to your very bones. He needed to shake his Lieutenant out of the guilt that would eat away at him. “Shug there was fuck all you could do. Once the Belcastros had her she was as good as dead anyway. Instruct Hawkeye to liaise with the Russians and you step back and put it to rest, yeah?”

  “Ah could’ve saved her – ah didnae stop them from hurting her an let her get murdered. She was only a wee lassie, Xavier. Look at her!” Shuggie sat back up, banging his fist on the desk as he answered.

  “Shit happens, Shug, we both know this. You did nothing wrong, yeah? Belcastro and his sidekick were the murderers. Hawkeye can start an investigation, then let the family know that their daughter is dead and who her killers are. You’re not to blame, understand?”

  Shuggie nodded in agreement, but he knew that Xavier didn’t understand. No one could. He had failed the girl because he was too focussed on his job. Too busy fighting a war to protect an innocent. Would it be the same with Teodora? Would history keep repeating itself? Was he more of a liability to those around him that needed his help?

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  It had been a long and eventful week, and Xavier sat in his office mulling over whether it was scotch o’clock time when Shuggie appeared at the doorway. He knew straight away that the Highlander had something on his mind by the way he was shifting from foot to foot and trying too hard to look casual.

  “Like the pimp said to the whore, spit it out fucksakes,” Xavier grinned, enjoying his Lieutenants obvious discomfort.

  “Piss aff Commander.” Shuggie walked in and sat down, grabbing the bottle of scotch and holding it hostage. “We need tae discuss summit important.”

  Xavier snorted. “When is it anything else?”

  Giving a small shrug of his shoulder, Shuggie leaned back in his chair. “Fair do’s. We huv ah situation that needs attending tae.”

  This intrigued Xavier and he leaned over the desk and freed the bottle of scotch in a surprise ninja attack, pouring himself a drink before he was relieved of it again. “You waiting for an invite? Fucking tell me.”

  Shuggie rolled his neck then cracked his knuckles as he tried to find the right way to put it. “Ah think we need tae talk tae Hawkeye. He’s been noticing ‘things’ especially since yeh came back from yer coma. Tae be honest, nae one really noticed a difference from ye being brain deid but still...he’s startin tae ask questions. Ah trust him, an think we should tell him about…”

  He left the end of his sentence unsaid as he watched Xavier take his drink, then wipe his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “I don’t fucking pay him to think, yeah?” Xavier’s tone was harsh.

  Shuggie didn’t reply, he could see the hamster wheels turning in Xavier’s head and could almost hear the whirr-click-whirr as he thought it over.

  “How much do you want him to know?” Xavier didn’t have a problem including Hawkeye in anything – the male had proved himself more than loyal and trustworthy over the years – but he had kept Shuggie’s secret for as long as they had known each other. Up until now, Shuggie had never expressed a need or want for anyone other than him and the Doc to know he was a vampire. Alicia was different, well, she was different in many, many ways Xavier thought to himself. She was a vampire and so it was a given that Shuggie would have ‘outed’ himself to her. Hawkeye though? He was mortal born and bred.

  Shuggie creased his eyes and bowed his head, his palms on his knees as he seemed to be contemplating the question. After a few minutes he exhaled slowly. “Ah think we need tae tell him it aw, Commander.”

  Xavier nodded and finished his drink, storing the half empty bottle in his desk drawer as he reached over to his phone and dialled Hawkeye, giving orders to report to his office immediately.

  “I wanted to talk to you both anyway, so we might as well get it over with now, yeah?”

  Shuggie agreed and sat in silence as they waited for Hawkeye to arrive.

  Ten minutes later Hawkeye arrived, out of puff and sweat pouring down his khaki t-shirt. Standing to attention and saluting Xavier, he waited for orders before speaking. His chest was heaving and he looked exhausted.

  “At ease, Sergeant. You’d better fucking sit down before you collapse.” Xavier and Shuggie both resisted the urge to laugh out loud as Hawkeye all but threw himself down on the empty chair. “Another ten minutes and you’d have that fucking t-shirt the same colour.” Xavier started laughing, the drenched top clinging to Hawkeye’s torso.

  “Ah fuck, Hawkeye – ever heard ah deodorant? What the hell were ye doing, oil wrestling pigs in shit?” Shuggie had now joined in laughing with Xavier and Hawkeye sat tight lipped and red-faced as he took the ribbing from his commanding officers.

  As the laughter died down, Hawkeye had gathered his breath. “Permission to speak, Commander?”

  “No,” Xavier answered simply and directly.

  “The Commander an I need tae talk tae ye, Sergeant, so less speech mare listening.” Shuggie watched as Xavier pulled out a stick of gum and started chewing it, thinking that this was by far the longest the grouchy motherfucker had given up cigarettes. In fact, the last time he had seen him light up was just after the youngling had first visited their base in Mexico. Snapped back to the conversation, his attention turned back to Xavier.

  “I need to de-brief you on a few things and I don’t give two fucking shits if you believe me or not – what I’m going to say is fact. You have a problem with that, I’ll deal with it fucking personally – understand?”

  “Yes Commander.” No. Hawkeye was looking straight ahead, but he could see Shuggie from the corner of his eye and both men were acting shifty as hell. Whatever he was going to hear must be damn important

  “Lieutenant MacAsswipe tells me that you’ve been asking questions about what’s been going on lately.” Xavier gave Hawkeye a ‘don’t fucking interrupt’ look as he seen the male about to answer. “He also thinks it’s about time we share some classified intel with you – seeing as we will be increasing your duties within the unit.”

  This was sounding promising, Hawkeye thought, and a little bizarre, but he was just going to go with it. If he’d learned one thing under Commander Raige’s command was that he never did or said anything unless it was absolutely necessary. And if he was being given extra duties, it must mean that he was pleased with his work.

  “You’ve heard rumours that have been spreading around here faster than a slut spreads her legs – about a wolf roaming the compound?” Xavier ignored Shuggie as he started coughing trying to gain his attention. When Hawkeye remained silent, he added, “You can fucking answer now, soldier.”

  “Well, to be sure, me and the lads had seen the beast, and we were wondering if it belonged to your lady friend, Commander. She does have a thing for the animals.”

  This earned Hawkeye a raised brow from Xavier and a muted laugh from Shuggie.

  “What we are about to tell you goes no further than the three of us sitting here. I am putting trust in you Sergeant, a fuckload of trust, and if it’s betrayed there will be consequences. Am I making myself clear?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Xavier was trying to figure out the best strategy to tell Hawkeye about him, Shuggie and Alicia. He was rocking back in his chair, scratching the stubble on his jaw thoughtfully. “You ever seen American Werewolf in London?”

  Stunned at the random question, Hawkeye nodded. “Yes Commander. Back in Cork me and the lads went to the local picture hall and we had…” His face was full of confusion. “Why are you asking?”

  Ignoring the question Xavi
er continued, “And you’ve seen Interview with a Vampire, yeah?”

  Shaking his head slowly wondering if his next mission was in Hollywood or some shit. “No, Sir. Never seen that one.”

  “Dracula then – you’ve fucking seen Dracula?” Xavier barked, almost sounding incredulous at his soldier’s lack of movie knowledge.

  Shuggie was ready to burst out laughing at Xavier’s ham-fisted way of breaking the news to Hawkeye. He really needed to start taping some of these conversations – they were fucking classic.

  The Commander must really like his films, Hawkeye thought as he seen Xavier’s reaction. “Yes, Dracula – seen it.” He hadn’t but he reckoned if he admitted that to Xavier right now it might earn him a week in solitary confinement. Of course, he knew what Dracula was...he hadn’t read the book or seen the film. He was more a Harry Potter kinda guy. Still…

  “Right – well, I’m the fucking werewolf and he…” pointing a finger in Shuggie’s direction, “...is Dracula”

  What-the-actual-fuck? Maybe his Commander was having some sort of seizure again. Hawkeye sat dumbstruck in front of the two men. He was waiting for them to burst out laughing again. They didn’t.

  “Commander…” Nope, no words were forming – his brain had frozen.

  Shuggie started to take pity on the Sergeant. “Hawkeye, wit the Commander is trying tae tell ye is that Supernatural beings exist. Shape shifters, vampires, witches – aw exist. An well, ah am no like Dracula, but ah am vampire. An that big galloot…” Shuggie inclined his head in Xavier’s direction, “is a werewolf. We’re immortals, an we tend tae keep that kinda knowledge on the need to know basis.”

  Xavier poured Hawkeye a very large scotch and slid it over the desk towards him.

  “Now that that’s out in the open, other business…”

  Shuggie glared at Xavier. “Ah think he needs ah bit mare time tae digest aw this, Commander.”

  Xavier looked positively puzzled at that. “No he doesn’t. Do you?”

  Hawkeye’s throat was burning from the alcohol as he swallowed it down in one, his eyes smarting at the harshness. “Just a bit, Commander.” vampires, werewolves? This was some kind of joke – it had to be.

  “He’s no gettin’ it Commander. Should ah show him?” Shuggie kicked Hawkeye’s foot to get his attention. As soon as the Sergeant turned his head, Shuggie extended his fangs, and was giving him a lopsided grin.

  Hawkeyes eyebrows shot up, his eyes went wide and he reeled backwards, upturning his chair and landing on the floor with a heavy thud. “Jaysis, Mary and Joseph...you...you!” He was pointing and backing away, making no attempt to stand up. Shuggie caught a look from Xavier and before Hawkeye could blink, Shuggie had flashed behind him and was helping him up off of the floor.

  “How did you…? You were just there!” Hawkeye’s head was moving left to right so fast he was almost giving himself whiplash.

  “As I said…Dracula,” Xavier stated plainly. “Now, can we get onto the important business?”

  Shuggie helped Hawkeye back into his seat and remained standing, between him and the door – just in case.

  Hawkeye still wasn’t able to regain the power of speech, so merely nodded slowly. What the hell could be more important than finding out not only that the things that go bump in the night existed, but that he had been serving under them for over seven years?!

  “Good. Right – so you know about me and McHairyarse, but Alicia is also a dra… Shug what do you call a female Dracula?”

  Shuggie rolled his eyes. “Commander, we are vampires – no ‘Dracula’s’ fur chrissakes!” Shuggie walked over to be in Hawkeye’s line of sight. “Alicia is a vampire an all, bit she’s a bit special-like. She is a ‘Sanguis-solis’ – ah cannae go oot in the sun, bit she can.” He could tell by the small head movements Hawkeye was making that he was understanding the information.

  “Now, the thing is…” snapping his fingers to gain Hawkeye’s attention again, “try to fucking keep up soldier – it’s not rocket science, yeah?” Xavier’s patience was wafer thin at the best of times. “Alicia is to be guarded at all fucking times. She has many enemies, not least the whole of the Mafia families who will be out for her blood – no pun intended,” he smirked, “and I can’t be here twenty-four seven with all the crap that’s going on with the active missions. Shug has his orders so I’m promoting you Sergeant to be my eyes and ears when I’m not here. You will take over bodyguard duties of Miss Carberletti in my absence. Whether I’m off the compound or just taking a fucking shit – you are with her the seconds, minutes, days and hours that I am not.” Xavier’s face was set in stone and his voice rumbled like thunder.

  Hawkeye blinked. That little woman was a what? As the severity of Xavier’s tone filtered through to him, he switched his brain back into ‘full function’ mode.

  “Anything happens to Alicia – she bruises her elbow, has one hair out of place – anything happens, when you are in charge of her safety? I won’t come after you, Hawkeye.” Xavier had a murderous look in his eyes as they narrowed on his prey. “I will go after every fucking one of your family and make you watch as I rip them apart. Then I’ll make you dig their graves, and when you’ve buried their dismembered bodies? Then I’ll bury you alive with them. Am I making myself fucking clear, Sergeant?”

  Bloody Hell. Hawkeye knew that his Commander was deadly and absolutely serious. He never had cause to threaten him before, but he had seen him do it to others, and they were no empty threats – they were promises. “Ms Carberletti’s safety is paramount at all times, Sir.”

  “Damn fucking right it is. You will be given a trial mission – something low level to start with to see if you’re up to the fucking job, yeah?” Xavier’s tone was less harsh now, but his face was still as stoic. When it came to his Sweetcheeks protection – it was never a laughing fucking matter.

  Shuggie could tell by Xavier’s demeanour that it was time for a sharp exit, and he grabbed the back of Hawkeye’s collar and all but dragged him out of the chair to the door. “Ah’ll ensure he’s up tae speed afore they even leave, Commander.”

  As Shuggie closed the door behind them, he could still hear Xavier cursing and swearing about what he’d do to Hawkeye’s genitals if he fucked up. He was glad that Hawkeye was a mortal and wouldn’t have been able to make out what the Commander was saying. Some things were better left to the imagination.

  As Shuggie escorted Hawkeye back to his quarters, he sat him down and threw him a beer from the fridge. “The Commander is awfy protective o’ the youngling, Hawk. She’s mare important tae him than his bathroom mirror.” Grinning at his own joke he continued, “so ye need tae be oan yer best game around her.”

  Hawkeye guzzled his beer, then nodded. “I picked up on that just a bit, Lieutenant,” gulping hard as he lowered his gaze to the floor. “So what’s Miss Carberletti really like? Are you both going to try to drink my blood or that?”

  Shuggie had been expecting this, so merely smirked. “Drink yoo ya Irish cunt? Ye’d gie us bellyache! An ah dinnae expect the Commander would approve o’ the youngling feeding aff ye, so calm yer fucking nerves. The youngling is a wonderful lass – she’s full o’ fun an spirit. Bit make no mistake Hawk – she’s deadly when she needs tae be. Strong, fast an disnae suffer fools gladly. She also hus a thing fur manners…”

  Hawkeye choked on the last of his beer. “Manners? So what is she doing with the Commander?!”

  Shuggie had to laugh at that. “Aye well, the Commander is summit different again, an the youngling seems tae huv taken a shine tae him an his ways.”

  Hawkeye couldn’t correlate the fact that the female vampire liked ‘manners’ and was dating one of the fiercest, vicious men with the coarsest foulest mouth that ever walked on God’s green earth. Opposites attracting? Bad boy syndrome? Hell that he could understand.

  “So, the youngling – she hus a tendency tae go aff oan one. Disnae really understand the concept of consequences tae actions – so be aware o’
that. Also, she kin get words an phrases a bit wrong – fur example, she sometimes says things like ‘that’s a mine in twenty’ when she’s meaning ‘that’s a dime a dozen’ – again, dinnae mistake that fur her being a bit daft. She’s always ten fucking steps ahead of ye at any one time. It’s jist that popular references get muddled a bit.”

  Hawkeye listened intently as Shuggie gave him instructions on his new ‘charge’ and how important she was to his Commander. He would give his life gladly for his Commander, and if she was as important as both Xavier and Shuggie made out, he would do the same for Ms Carberletti. And he was proud to do so.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Xavier was heading back to his quarters to change before going for a run. He was satisfied at how the meeting had went with Hawkeye, and knew the Irishman had seen many unexplainable and inhumane things out in the field, so he would get his head around the whole ‘Supernatural’ thing. Then again, Xavier thought, he had no bloody choice in the matter.

  Life was good and for the first time in forever he was allowing himself to make plans for himself. He could shift – all those years as the ‘runt’ of the pack, and if his sorry ass bastard father could see him now? Yeah, things would be very different.

  As he undressed and threw his fatigues and muscle vest into the laundry basket, he felt the warm air on his skin. Standing at six foot seven inches, he was a formidable man, and his fuck handsomeness only marred by the battle scars mapped out over his taught muscled physique. Every score and mark told a story and was testament to his strength, both physical and mental. His biceps were as thick as an average male’s legs and the ropes of muscle were toned and hard as iron. He had a dusting of light blond hair on his sculpted chest which trailed down to the deep dip from his hip bones leading to a thin strip of hair just above his thick, long cock. His thighs were the circumference of tree trunks and his ass was so tight you could bounce coins off of it. Growing up, his height and build had always been a disadvantage, and his striking facial features were his curse. He had learned to deal with it through time though but knew that females only wanted him for a good fuck or to make themselves feel good. They had never bothered to try to get to know him. Not like Sweetcheeks.