Chapter Nine #4
Am I worried about my friend? Sure. But there’s nothing I can do about it. So for right now, I’m just moving along with life in prison, worrying only about the things I can actually control and holding out hope that Kieran will be back at some point. No more, no less.
It’s time for showers. Wandering out of my cell, I’m looking for my crew, like a reflex. Luthor and Dash are already out in the row, headed my way. But as soon as they’re close, I can tell something is up.
Oh, come on…
Please tell me I didn’t jinx it.
Luthor seems a bit shiftier than usual. My eyes flick to Dash, who glances up from his shoes, pinning me with a shimmering hazel gaze that sets my teeth on edge.
“I don’t want this…”
“Sup,” I grumble, swallowing down the tension I need not to be feeling.
But Dash seems infinitely less fidgety than usual. In fact, he’s acting more normal than both Luthor and me combined as he chirps, “Hey,” offering me a kind smile.
The hunch in my shoulders retreats, and I exhale.
Okay, so… Good.
This is good.
My eyes shift to Luthor, narrowing at the way he’s picking invisible lint off his shirt. But what’s up with him now?
Ignoring it, the three of us putter along, following Jasper and Peters to the showers.
Ren isn’t in his cell, which automatically sparks some worry in my gut.
But I remind myself that Ren kind of does what he wants, and it’s not unusual for him to be off trading goods or collecting gossip the way a child collects tickets at an arcade.
Doesn’t automatically mean he’s off taking his… supplements.
“You got anything for me?” Dash’s voice cuts into my thoughts, and I peek at him. He lifts his brows in wait.
I’m momentarily caught off-guard as a slideshow of memories hits my brain. But I shove them all back into the shadows where they belong.
“ Privet, kak dela ?” I say to him slowly, sounding out the words he taught me.
Dash chuckles, beaming. “Not bad, my dude. You’re making better progress than me… Tokki .”
I cackle. “You just called me a rabbit.”
He chuckles, forcing a scowl. “That’s what I meant to say! It’s my nickname for you… Bunny.”
Luthor snorts. “Aww! Bunny … So cute.”
“Nice, dumbasses.” I shake my head, my own smile unrelenting.
Whatever weirdness Luthor was dealing with has slipped away. And I can’t ignore the way Dash’s face is glowing.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they got some action. Separately, I mean. Not together. Unless…
The moment we step inside the showers, my curious musings are once again cut off. Moans are echoing off the walls.
My stomach drops so fast it’s in my shoes. Luthor and I share a look, all of his joy from a moment ago having sunk into a sea of fear.
Racing around the corner, I’m praying that I’m not about to see what I’m expecting to see… I’m dreading it, holding my breath and everything. And Luthor is practically falling down. But we come to a stop when we find the source of the sex noises.
Hancock is fucking Benson up against the opposite wall. My anxiety evaporates, as does Luthor’s. I literally hear him exhale as if he just narrowly avoided death.
“What are we watching?” All three of us jump, startled by the voice that just snuck up behind us.
It’s Ren. He’s fully clothed and standing beside us, also watching Hancock drill into Benson.
Ren tilts his head, eyes lingering on the sight for a couple of extra seconds before murmuring, “Unless you wanna get jizzed on, might I suggest moving to the other side of the wall. That dude Benson can shoot … I swear to God, he could hit a target from twenty feet away.”
We’re all just staring at him until Dash lets out this raspy giggle. Then I snort. Then Luthor cackles. And before I know it, we’re all dying.
“Shut up!” Benson yelps, voice choppy from the thrusts jostling him back and forth.
“Yea, some of us are trying to picture Pedro Pascal over here!” Hancock grunts.
“Huh…?” Benson rasps, then groans.
“Let’s go,” Ren hisses, still laughing. “Now now now!”
We all hustle around the corner, tripping over each other and wheezing, like children. It’s fucking hilarious.
Sometimes this place is fun.
The rest of the shower goes on as they tend to, the four of us washing up together, sharing products and ragging on each other. Then we head to the caf for dinner.
“So, how long until you’re back in solitary?” Ren teases Dash, picking something out of his instant mashed potatoes. I don’t want to know what it was.
Dash rolls his eyes. “Funny.”
“I’m just saying…” Ren chuckles. “You spend more time in the hole than the only top at an Ariana Grande concert.”
I’m trying not to laugh too hard, and clearly so is Dash, his face flushing as he shifts in his seat.
Luthor glares at Ren, who’s snorting as his own joke. “Ren, cut the crap.”
“Oh, come on! That was funny,” Ren sneers.
“It’s fine…” Dash looks like he wants to say something more, but instead, he clears his throat and changes the subject. “Hey, Ren, you think you could give me some ink?”
Ren’s laughter cuts out, his face sweeping into pure elation. “Really?!”
Dash smirks and nods, to which Ren squeals, shimmying around in place.
“What made you decide you want one?” Luthor asks Dash.
Dash pushes food around on his plate. “I don’t know, it just feels… right.” He clears his throat. “I mean, it’s something to do, ya know?”
There’s something different about him… I can’t put my finger on it. He seems much calmer than he has been up until this point.
I don’t want to think about what kinds of issues he has… I’m just glad he’s feeling better.
Luthor is giving Dash a look, and it reminds me of the way he blushed when we were— Nope. Not thinking about it.
That’s what the journal is for.
“Let’s get you tatted, baby.” Ren winks at Dash. Then he points at me. “And you’re next.”
I shrug. “You know I’m always game, bra…tishka ?” I look to Dash.
“Almost,” he chuckles.
“Get him to teach you Twat-Waffle,” Ren whispers to Dash, his eyes on mine. “I need to know how to write it for a thing…”
“First of all, Joy would obviously understand how to read it, and then she would castrate you.” I grumble-laugh. “Second of all, there isn’t really a ‘twat waffle’ in Korean. It’s more like… vagina pancake.”
Ren cackles out loud. “Oh my God! Please, B! I’m begging you—”
He goes quiet when Joy stomps over, plopping down next to Luthor. He’s literally holding his lips together with his fingers. It’s killing me.
“Alright. It’s done,” she says to Luthor, unaware of the ridiculous conversation we were just having, involving Ren’s promise to tattoo her in exchange for helping Luthor get his computer parts.
Luthor is instantly bouncing. “Oh goodie oh goodie oh goodie! Thank you, Joyful!”
“Yea, yea,” she sighs. “If anyone asks where you got it, what do you say?”
“A spaceship landed, and it—”
“Yea, whatever, I don’t care.” She grunts. “Just not from me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Luthor nods.
Shaking her head, she grumbles under her breath. “Not sure when I became UPS in this bitch, but whatever…” She peeks at Ren. “You owe me some ink.”
Ren beams. “You got it, vagina pancake.”
Joy lifts a brow, suspiciously unamused, while the four of us try to disguise our laughter.
Her face turns slowly from Ren to Luthor. “Do I wanna know?”
Luthor just shakes his head.