Chapitre 17 :: Seeking solace

Publiée: 20-01-07 - Mise à jour: 20-01-07

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Mick Angel sighed tiredly as he inspected the scope of his Desert Eagle. Another sleepless night. He hated those. He hated his nightmares. Not that he had them often. He usually slept like a baby. But when he did have a nightmare it compensated for all the peaceful nights.  

Tonight was one of those un-peaceful nights of his. He woke up a few hours ago, drenched in sweat, his heart beating in a furious rhythm. His eyes glazed, he stared blindly around his bedroom, the screams still echoing in his ears, the smell of blood and stench of death still filling his nostrils. Yes, he hated nightmares.  

He sighed again, putting the scope of his gun gently on the table top. Folding his arms over his chest, his sky-blue eyes contemplated the organized chaos in front of him. A half empty flask of solvent, cleaning pads, a bunch of used q-tips, a brush and a cleaning rod were strewn among the parts of his dismantled semi-automatic.  

He loved his Desert Eagle .44 Magnum with a 6-inch barrel. Scoped, it was accurate to 100 yards. He grinned. That baby has never let him down. And he had to laugh at the general belief that this type of gun has never been used by various Spec-Ops. Yeah, right! A load of crap! Granted it was heavy, cost a small fortune and had a small magazine capacity, but those eight shots were more than enough for someone like him.  

Some of his colleagues gone soft along the years used to brag about being able to get two Glocks 17 or SIG-Sauers P228 topped with a hefty supply of ammo for the price of his DE, but he couldn’t care less. Those guns might be more reliable in severe combat conditions, but he rarely ventured into severe combat conditions. Go in, shoot the bad guys, get the hell out of there. That was his motto. That was Mick Angel.  

And he didn’t care about the muzzle blasts – being behind them offered plenty of protection – or the roaring sound it accompanied it. He loved the sounds his sweetheart made when she was on a death rampage. He absolutely enjoyed her singing.  

Assembling his trusting friend, he ran his fingers along the barrel. She stood by him every day of his life and she proved to be a trusting friend even when he couldn’t sleep. He could always get up and give her a nice clean and she never complained a bit.  

Picking up the mag, he started inserting the bullets, smiling slightly as his fingers ran along the carvings. Maybe he was a little morbid, be he liked to carve his initials in each bullet. It seemed like a memento to the dead-men-walking out there. It was like his calling card the coroner extracted. A .44 Magnum caliber bullet with the letters MA.  

A soft knock brought him out of his reverie. A glance on the clock made him frown. Who could it be at three a.m.?  

Sliding the magazine into the gun, he released the safety, his fingers curving like a lover around the butt.  

He knew he was probably being paranoid. Bad guys didn’t knock, they barged straight in, guns barking, but he couldn’t help himself. He never got visitors this late or early – depends on the perspective – besides, life on the razor sharp line on the outskirts of the law taught him to be cautious even when buying underwear.  

Index finger caressing the trigger, he didn’t remove the chain as he slowly opened the door.  

Kaori, her eyes red and puffy, her cheeks still shiny from the recent downpour of tears, tried for a shaky smile. »Hi.«  

»Hi.« Realizing the chain was still on, he smiled sheepishly, »Hold a sec.«, and closed the door.  

Kaori sniffed, listening to the faint rattling of the chain. A second later, the door was wide open, and Mick was there in his grey slacks and a white T-shirt, staring concernedly at her.  

»Are you okay?« he asked in a low tone.  

»Not really,« she murmured.  

He could see that and wanted to kick himself for even asking such a stupid question. She was in her pajamas for Christ’s sake. »Come in, Kaori.«  

»Thanks.« She sounded so small and defenseless as she slowly entered his apartment. »Uhm…« She glanced askew at his gun. »Could you, please, put that away?«  

He lifted his right hand, staring at his sweetheart. »Sorry.« Going to the table, he put the gun in its case, closing it. »Force of habit, I guess. Can I get you something?«  

»No, that’s all right. I don’t even know why I came here.«  

»Kaori.« He sighed, his eyes running over her tear-streaked face. »We’re friends. You can come here whenever you want.« He motioned to his sofa. »Take a seat.«  

She just nodded, moving as in a daze toward the couch.  

It was then Mick noticed she wasn’t wearing any shoes. She came all the way to his apartment in her pajamas and barefoot?! What happened?!  

What did that son of a bitch do this time?!  

Kaori flinched.  

He was immediately by her side. »What is it? Are you okay?« I’m gonna kill the bastard! What did he do to you?!  

»Mick, please,« Kaori whimpered.  

»What is it?« he whispered, sitting on the small table in front of her. How can you stand it, Kaori? Why do you stand it?  

»Please, stop!« she wailed. »Just, stop!«  

He stared at her in concerned silence.  

God, Kaori. Why do you keep suffering like this? Why are you still with him? He doesn’t deserve you – hell, I don’t deserve you either – but I’d treat you better than he does!  

»STOP THINKING!« Kaori tugged her knees under her chin, pressing her hands to her ears, squeezing her eyes shut.  

»Kaori…« Mick stared at her mouth agape. »What is going on?«  

»It’s… it’s a long story. And you wouldn’t believe me, anyway.«  

»Try me.« What the hell happened to you?  

She sighed. »Mick… could you please not think of anything?«  

»What are you talking about?«  

»Uhm…« Well, she could tell him. Sure, he wouldn’t believe her, but she needed to talk to someone and he was… well, he was Mick. He wouldn’t poke fun of her afterwards. That was Ryo’s job. She could tell him. Besides, she had proof she could clearly hear his thoughts. It would be embarrassing as hell telling him exactly what he was thinking of, but still, it was better than nothing.  

»You remember the accident?«  

His jaw tightened. »Yes,« he said darkly.  

»Well, I’ve been experiencing some side-effects ever since I woke up.«  

»What?!« He shot to his feet. »The doctors said you were perfectly fine!«  

»I am.« She stared up at him. »It’s nothing serious, trust me. Could you please sit down.«  

»Kaori…« There was a warning in his voice.  

»Mick, you better sit down.«  

He complied. »I’m sitting. Now, tell me.«  

»I can read minds.«  

He blinked. Did she just say she can read minds? He caught himself just in time, steeling his features into an expression of nonchalance. »I see.«  

She frowned. »Laugh all you want, buddy, but there you have it.«  

He had to blink again. »I’m not laughing.«  

»Of course you are.«  

»No, I’m not.« He pointed at his serious face. »Does that seem like laughter to you?«  

She patted his forehead with a fingertip. »You’re laughing in here.«  

Well, yes. In his head he was laughing his pants off. But it was just too funny a notion of Kaori being able to read his… His eyes flew wide. Wait a sec!  

»I’m sure it’s funny from your perspective,« she muttered dryly.  

»Kaori…«  

»It’s not funny from where I’m standing.«  

He tried something. Kaori!  

»What?!«  

»What number am I thinking of?«  

»Three hundred thousand ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety-six, ninety-five… Would you make up your mind already?!«  

Fuck me!  

»I’ll pass, thank you.«  

Mick shot to his feet. »You…« He swallowed, trying to think of all the repercussions. »You can really hear what people think?« Now, all the pros came up.  

»Not all people. Just men.«  

»Oh.« His face fell.  

»What? Did you think I’d be your personal translator or something? Forget it, Angel!«  

»Hey, I’m offended!«  

»No, you’re not.« She grinned.  

»This is creepy.«  

»Tell me about it.«  

An hour later she was cozying on his couch under a fluffy blanket, when Mick brought her a refill of tea. She’s told him everything that happened, from the moment she woke up in the hospital, to their new assignment, omitting the part about Ryo dreaming of a stranger riding him like a bull – she still shuddered at the thought – and Ryo going all love-struck Neanderthal on her, but she suspected Mick must have guessed something, because he looked at her rather strangely with amusement dancing in his eyes.  

After the first few moments of embarrassment, he just shrugged off her ability of reading into his mind, stating that what he felt for her was a public knowledge anyway, but he made an effort to keep his mind as clear as possible as not to cause HER any more embarrassment. Well, any more than necessary.  

He sat on the other end of the couch, lifting her legs and putting them in his lap. »So, will you finally tell me why you came here?«  

»Someone is after Ryo,« she whispered.  

He chuckled. »So what else is new?«  

Kaori shook her head. »This time it’s different.«  

»What do you mean?«  

Her eyes were wide and frightened as she looked at him. »This time it’s personal.«  

Mick shrugged. »It’s always personal, Kaori.«  

»Not like this.«  

She could feel his muscles tighten under her feet.  

»You mean you heard the bastard’s thoughts?!« His fists were clenched so tight, his knuckles were completely white.  

She grimaced. »It was more of a 3D movie experience.«  

»What?!«  

»I SAW his thoughts. I saw Ryo lying in a pool of blood…« Her voice broke.  

Mick pulled in his arms. »Shhh. It’s okay. We’ll look after him.«  

»We?«  

»We’re in this together, Kaori.« He sighed. »You can’t tell him anything.«  

»He wouldn’t believe me in the first place.«  

He stroked her hair. »You could prove it to him.«  

She froze. »I’ll pass,« she mumbled.  

Mick tucked a finger under her chin, tilting her head up, so they were eye to eye. »But that’s not the reason. You know how he is. At the first sight of danger, his first priority is you. He risks everything for you, so we must keep this a secret and keep an eye on him. Together.«  

She stared at him, her eyes wide.  

Mick smiled. How could she not know it? With her new mind-reading capabilities she must have glimpsed something. She must have realized Ryo loved her.  

»He doesn’t,« she whispered, her eyes veiling with tears.  

»Kaori,« he said as if speaking to a small child. »Of course he does. With all his heart.«  

She shook her head vehemently. »No, there is someone else.«  

»Kaori…«  

»I saw her,« she interrupted him. »That’s why I came here. He was dreaming of her, tonight. And I… I couldn’t take it.«  

Mick couldn’t believe it. He absolutely refused to believe there was someone else in Ryo’s mind, but he didn’t want to argue. »How about going to sleep, huh? You take the bed.«  

She smiled. Half way to his bedroom, she stopped. She turned. »Mick…«  

He grinned, lounging on the couch. »I’m not sleepy, Kaori, so don’t worry about any dreams I might have.«  

»It’s not that.« She twisted her fingers in her pajama top.  

He cocked his head inquisitively.  

»I’m sorry.« It was barely a whisper.  

»For what?«  

»For… for not feeling the same about you.« Her eyes were again shiny with unshed tears. »I’m so sorry, Mick. I’m sorry for hurting you, but I love Ryo. Always have and always will. Nothing can change that.«  

His smile was sad. »I know. But you don’t have to apologize for anything. It’s not your fault I fell in love with you. And it’s not your fault you cannot love me back. It just doesn’t work that way. Don’t worry about me. Eventually, I’ll get over it.«  

She dashed across the living room back to the couch. Leaning over him, she brushed her lips softly over his. »Thank you,« she whispered, straightening.  

He stared up at her in utter shock. Did she just kiss him?!  

»It was a friendly peck,« she laughed, walking toward the bedroom door. »So don’t get any ideas, you hear?«  

Mick blinked. She kissed him!  

Kaori rolled her eyes. Men! »Goodnight, Mick!« And she closed the door behind her back.  

She kissed me! Yeepee-ki-yay! She kissed me!  

There was a loud groan from the bedroom.  

Author’s Note on this chapter: As you know, Mick Angel’s weapon of choice in the manga (and Robert’s in the anime) is indeed a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum with a 6-inch barrel. And even though it’s a fanfiction I tried to stay as true to that as possible, though the whole thing of this being a good weapon for a guy like Mick is indeed a bunch of crap.  

The general belief of the Desert Eagle being used by various Special Operation forces found absolutely NO proof so far.  

It is a fact, though, that for the price and weight of this gun (unloaded it weighs about 4lb.), one can easily have two pistols like Glock 17 or SIG-Sauers P228 with a good supply of ammo. Guns like those would also be much more reliable in severe combat conditions and provide much bigger magazine capacity than the DE’s eight shots. Ad to it severe recoil in it’s larger calibers (like .50AE), huge muzzle blasts and super-loud sound, and you’ll see why only HOLLYWOOD WARRIORS use this monster as a combat weapon.  

In short – a Desert Eagle is an exceptional sporting and hunting (big game) handgun, but it wasn’t designed for combat conditions, which makes the possibilities of a guy like Mick Angel ever using it in his line of work slim at best. If it were me drawing the manga, I’d probably give him a Ruger .22 LR (with or without the silencer). It doesn’t cost so much as a DE, the rounds are cheaper, it is much lighter, more reliable, accurate, has less recoil, and is much quieter (hence, the silence is indeed optional). Even thought the caliber is smaller, if you know what you’re doing, you can still hit bull’s eye and make it worthwhile. ^^ 

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