Chapter Seven: Aye, With gusto

I cleaned, took orders, and passed drinks in complete silence, not even bothering to greet or smile like I usually would have.

"Trouble in paradise?" I had stopped cleaning and started up at the ceiling in annoyance. I knew that tone and that off-putting confidence anywhere. "Well, if it isn't Silver-tongue." I gave him a half-hearted chuckle, watching him grin. "Interesting nickname, but please, call me Wednesday." I grabbed a bottle from the rack, not even bothering to look at the same and a cup, pouring him a drink and setting it in front of him

" I made it very clear that I don't like you and that I never wanted to have any forms of communication with you. EVER." His eyes wandered my face studying me, his sightless one eye seeming to glow.

"Just because you're having trouble with your leprechaun doesn't mean I had anything to do with it." His expression changed almost as if he was clueless, but I knew a fraud and a con man when I saw one; I wasn't going to be swayed by his will, I had my own to focus on. "Bullshit." I shook my head with a distasteful look that seemed engraved and etched permanently onto my face.

"Whatever you're offering, I want nothing of it." I went to put the bottle back on the shelf when he grabbed my wrist again.

In the next instant, I was watching him roll across the floor with a broken bottle shaft in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other, perched perfectly on the bar counter. " I told you never to touch me again." I twirled the blade around my fingers, flicking my wrist out throwing the knife at him. It missed him by a hair, slicing his cheek in the process as it embedded Into the wooden floor.

"ANUNDE!" Jack shouted, running in as she heard the commotion, desperately trying to drag me off the counter.

"Hey now, I didn't come here to fight. I just--"

"Get out." I cut him off, gripping the broken bottle shaft tightly in my hand." Before I fucking paint this place in your blood. Leave." I warned, feeling a larger pair of hands grab onto me. I elbowed whoever in the gut, hearing a pained gasped as they fell slumping on the counter.

"Shiet, lassie..." He grunted, freezing before falling onto the floor. Silver tongue rose slowly off of the wooden floor, his expression trouble just like the night he met me before. "GET OUT!" I thundered, feeling the vibration of my voice rattle the trinkets and anything laying around loosely, the ground quaking a bit.

Everyone else, who were somewhat ordinary, scampered out of place like a bat out of hell; so-called Wednesday was the last to leave but not before one last look in my direction.

I threw the broken bottle shaft to the ground, looking down at Bar-Brawler, sitting up against the cabinets on the floor. He looked up at me, his face twisted up in irritation. "I told you not to touch me. I know you aren't hard of hearing." I clicked my tongue, trying to fight a smile that surface. "The fuck I will." Was his only answer before he stood up, looking down at me.

"I think its time ya go 'ome. I'll take ya. " He sounded rushed as he looked around, pulling me off the counter. I smacked his hand away, getting down by myself, walking him in the face with the bar towel. "Why do I have to repeat myself?" I bent down to grab my duffel, turning to face him shortly afterward. "I'm goin' to keep sayin' it; I protect what is mine. Ya can clobber me later, but right now, we's to go, now." He left jo room for discussion, and when he grabbed my arm this time, I let him. "Anunde...." Jack managed to get in between the ginger superman and me, her eyes were troubled. "Yes, mother?" I gave her a pointed look, slightly shaking my head to tell her that the conversation would have to wait.

She sighed and gently touched my face before glaring up at Big-Red. " If I find you're going against her will, I'll cut your balls off and make you swallow them. Are we clear?" He blinked at her, swallowing uncomfortably before nodding. "No need, I'm just lookin' out for the lass." He gave a sheepish smile before turning this gaze on me, lost in thought.

"You'd better." Jack then turned to me and sighed before letting me go, watching bar brawler lead me out the back door.

********

I threw my back in the back seat as he hopped in the driver's side, his hand held out for the keys. "What're you doing in my driver's seat?" I raised an eyebrow, watching his eyes roll as he patiently wanted for me to hand him the keys.

A minute without an answer, I reluctantly handed him my keys, watching him start the car, pulling out of the parking lot.

He was silent for a while, a frustrated expression that seemed to evolve and grow even more twisted. "Where am I headed, lass?" He questioned as we sat at a red light. " the next right and keep straight." I kept it short and sweet, waiting to climb in my bed and forget that any of this ever happened.

We rode until we reached my house, parking my car on the grass before turning the car off and tossing me back my keys. I went for my duffel in the back seat, locking my doors shortly afterward. "It's nice. Lots of trees." He said suddenly as he followed me up the steps to my front door, unlocking it and walking inside.

Inside I watched as he looked around in silence, a puzzled look on his face. "No pictures of your mother?" He looked over at me, noticing there wasn't a frame in sight. "My parents are dead." Was my final answer to that question.

I stared at him for a long moment, watching him pull his jacket off, revealing his arms which were scared and bruised. I looked away, pondering before releasing a sigh.

" There's a guest room upstairs and a bathroom right next to it if you need to shower or handle your business. My room is across from you, so if you need anything, knock." He nodded as he watched me tiredly trek slowly up the stair and out of sight.