FotD: somatic, Heavenly Hash #5 + fresh peaches
Story: Blaze Mafia Family
Title: The Two-Pronged Attack
Prompts: FotD: somatic (of the body; bodily; physical), Heavenly Hash #5: all hell breaks loose + fresh peaches (Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Leo.)
Rating: PG13 for language, implied domestic abuse
Words: 1464
Characters: Firebird Blaze, Paul Robinson, Takashi Kodama, Peter de Luca, Willow de Luca
Summary: What? I’m alive? Oh yeah! I’ve been gone for way too long due to writer’s block, family crap, and soup on my computer! but RaTs and the Blaze Family have never been too far from my mind.
This takes place two weeks after Peter’s Revenge. I’ve mentioned them in passing, but here is a more formal introduction to the Kodama-kai, the Yakuza family that rules a portion of the Metroplex. I apologize in advance if I screw up any Japanese language/culture mentioned! Otousan = father
The nightly news couldn’t get enough of Peter de Luca. He was always willing to give an interview, and the press was always willing to write up the inflammatory comments the man spat out about the Blaze Family left and right.
Paul was watching just such a press conference in the living room. Firebird had half an eye on the television, paying more attention when Paul made derogatory comments at the screen, but the bulk of her focus was on her telephone call.
“No, the fault was all on Pelz. Contrary to everything we’ve told him, he had the bank account number written down and kept the papers unlocked in his office,” Firebird told Takashi Kodama.
Takashi was the Boss of the Kodama-kai, one of the big three Yakuza clans in the Metroplex, and a very close personal friend of the Family. The Kodama-kai and the Blaze Mafia were strong allies, and both families visited each other often. Takashi had taken a special interest in Firebird as a child, partly because she was the heir to the Blaze Family but also because she was a female in the perfect position to marry one of his nine sons, dubbed the Nine Nightmares by the media. Atlas and Takashi had made all sorts of plans to finally unite their family in a formal alliance, but Firebird had her own opinions on the matter of who she married. Still, Takashi was like a second father to her, and when the scandal of a dirty judge murdered on the street had reached the Metroplex, he’d wasted no time calling her to ensure all was alright.
“I’m surprised the idiot didn’t get caught sooner then,” Takashi sniffed. The Metroplex was a much harsher place than New Palermo. Where the Blazes had sole control of their city, three different Yakuza clans fought for dominance over the bustling megalopolis. And the alley fighting was nothing compared to all the above-table dirty dealing that went on in the heart of the Metroplex where the national government convened. It was a shark pit that didn’t suffer fools lightly. Errors like Amos Pelz’s had much more painful consequences than a simple bullet to the brain in the Metroplex.
“Me as well,” Firebird agreed. “But the silver lining to this little mess is that the rest of the officials on our payroll are going to be much more careful about where they put their personal information.”
“So you don’t expect any further...disruptions of this sort?”
Peter de Luca’s voice rang throughout the room in what Firebird was coming to recognize as his Politician Voice: strong, confident, and slimy. “At this very moment, the hard-working employees of the New Palermo police department and Justice Office are doing everything they can to root out more of these dirty politicians and ensure that there are no more judges with lined pockets sitting in our courtrooms.”
“Stupid fucker,” Paul grumbled.
“No, I don’t,” Firebird assured Takashi. “I’ve ordered some of my men to go around and make sure our associates are upholding their end of the deal, and Luka and Romeo Esposito are adding more twists and turns to make our accounts untraceable. This was an accident that won’t be repeated and certainly won’t come back to us.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it’s all alright,” Takashi said. “Now, may I intrude and ask about your plans for this Peter de Luca character?”
Firebird smirked at Peter’s smarmy face on the television. “Peter de Luca. He’s from your town, you know.”
“I’d heard that, but I don’t know him. I had him looked into when I got word of your troubles. He was just a nameless civil servant here, not worth my attention.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Firebird said. “He escaped the Metroplex and now he thinks he can come to my city and be the biggest fish in my little pond.”
“He’s a fool, then,” Takashi surmised.
“Yes, it’s looking to be that way,” Firebird sighed. She smirked then stuck her tongue in her cheek, “I must say, otousan, I’m a bit disappointed in the quality of opponents you send my way. I expect a stronger contender when they say they’re from the Metroplex.”
“A pest is a pest, no matter how tough the environment he grew up in,” Takashi answered. “But if you’re looking for trouble, just say the word and I’ll send my sons to visit.”
“Don’t you dare,” Firebird said with a laugh. “I have more than enough to deal with now without the Kodama boys dogging my steps.”
“They would not be so persistent if they did not all think that they had to compete for your affections,” he pointed out.
Firebird mentally replaced ‘affections’ with ‘bank accounts’ and the situation sounded much more accurate. It’s not that the Nine Nightmares didn’t like her, she was sure there was affection there, but she had no delusions of deeper feelings from any of them. They wanted her for her power and the prestige they’d get from their father by finally uniting the families. Firebird appreciated their candor, but it didn’t necessarily entice her to hurry and settle down.
Not that she told Takashi any of that. If he thought that there was a possibility Firebird was considering someone other than his sons to marry, he’d teach them a new schtick to get her with and have them in her city on the next train. No return ticket. “I’ll remember that,” she said neutrally then steered the conversation back to safer waters. “I wanted to ask what you think about this whole de Luca debacle. I’ve allowed him his fun long enough. Now it’s my turn.”
“What did you have in mind?” Takashi’s voice warmed up. Revenge was something the Kodama-kai was very good at.
“Mr. De Luca likes exposing people’s dirty little secrets. I say it’s high time a few of his were brought out to air.”
“That’s always fun. Real secrets or are you planning on being more...creative?”
Firebird looked over at Peter de Luca’s smug face and grinned. “Oh, this man deserves a bit of both, I believe. I have a two-pronged attack in mind, but I’ll need your help for the second half.”
- - - - - - - - - -
Peter didn’t see the news until the next morning, but he couldn’t miss it splashed across the front page as it was.
HERO D.A. ABUSES WIFE?
“What the fuck is this?” he snarled, spilling his coffee in his hurry to snatch the paper up. He scanned through the article. An anonymous source had released Willow’s hospital records to the press, all of which an expert physician had reviewed and said this was a classic example of a woman subjected to chronic domestic abuse by a controlling, power-hungry husband.
He stormed into the kitchen where Willow was cooking him breakfast. She shrieked when he snatched her up in a punishing grip. “What the fuck did you do to me, you little bitch!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she cried, her eyes wide with fear.
He pushed the newspaper into her face. “This, you twat! I’m talking about you giving the press your hospital records!”
Willow looked at the paper then back at Peter. “I didn’t do that! Peter, please, you know I wouldn’t do that to you! Please!”
Peter lifted his fist, his vision going black on the edges as all of his anger focused on this idiot woman he’d had to saddle himself to, but he stopped himself. The last thing he needed was for Willow to go to the police all bruised up now and press charges. He grabbed her and pulled her close. “Tell me you didn’t do this to me. Swear it wasn’t you.”
She was crying. “I swear! I don’t who did it, but I had nothing to do with it!”
He let go of her and she fell back against the counter, sobbing. He left the kitchen in disgust. This was a disaster. No one liked an abusive husband, not even if he cleaned scum far worse than himself off the streets. Everything he’d done with the media, all the public goodwill he’d cultivated with the people would be ground to dust with this one headline.
But he could fix this, Peter assured himself. Willow was too stupid to release those records, which meant they hadn’t been leaked by an authorized source. It was those damn Blazes that did this. He knew it with every fiber of his being. That little bitch heading the Family thought she could destroy him with a blow like this. She was an idiot and he was so much smarter than her. He would fix this, restore the people’s faith in him, and then he’d destroy her.
Title: The Two-Pronged Attack
Prompts: FotD: somatic (of the body; bodily; physical), Heavenly Hash #5: all hell breaks loose + fresh peaches (Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Leo.)
Rating: PG13 for language, implied domestic abuse
Words: 1464
Characters: Firebird Blaze, Paul Robinson, Takashi Kodama, Peter de Luca, Willow de Luca
Summary: What? I’m alive? Oh yeah! I’ve been gone for way too long due to writer’s block, family crap, and soup on my computer! but RaTs and the Blaze Family have never been too far from my mind.
This takes place two weeks after Peter’s Revenge. I’ve mentioned them in passing, but here is a more formal introduction to the Kodama-kai, the Yakuza family that rules a portion of the Metroplex. I apologize in advance if I screw up any Japanese language/culture mentioned! Otousan = father
The nightly news couldn’t get enough of Peter de Luca. He was always willing to give an interview, and the press was always willing to write up the inflammatory comments the man spat out about the Blaze Family left and right.
Paul was watching just such a press conference in the living room. Firebird had half an eye on the television, paying more attention when Paul made derogatory comments at the screen, but the bulk of her focus was on her telephone call.
“No, the fault was all on Pelz. Contrary to everything we’ve told him, he had the bank account number written down and kept the papers unlocked in his office,” Firebird told Takashi Kodama.
Takashi was the Boss of the Kodama-kai, one of the big three Yakuza clans in the Metroplex, and a very close personal friend of the Family. The Kodama-kai and the Blaze Mafia were strong allies, and both families visited each other often. Takashi had taken a special interest in Firebird as a child, partly because she was the heir to the Blaze Family but also because she was a female in the perfect position to marry one of his nine sons, dubbed the Nine Nightmares by the media. Atlas and Takashi had made all sorts of plans to finally unite their family in a formal alliance, but Firebird had her own opinions on the matter of who she married. Still, Takashi was like a second father to her, and when the scandal of a dirty judge murdered on the street had reached the Metroplex, he’d wasted no time calling her to ensure all was alright.
“I’m surprised the idiot didn’t get caught sooner then,” Takashi sniffed. The Metroplex was a much harsher place than New Palermo. Where the Blazes had sole control of their city, three different Yakuza clans fought for dominance over the bustling megalopolis. And the alley fighting was nothing compared to all the above-table dirty dealing that went on in the heart of the Metroplex where the national government convened. It was a shark pit that didn’t suffer fools lightly. Errors like Amos Pelz’s had much more painful consequences than a simple bullet to the brain in the Metroplex.
“Me as well,” Firebird agreed. “But the silver lining to this little mess is that the rest of the officials on our payroll are going to be much more careful about where they put their personal information.”
“So you don’t expect any further...disruptions of this sort?”
Peter de Luca’s voice rang throughout the room in what Firebird was coming to recognize as his Politician Voice: strong, confident, and slimy. “At this very moment, the hard-working employees of the New Palermo police department and Justice Office are doing everything they can to root out more of these dirty politicians and ensure that there are no more judges with lined pockets sitting in our courtrooms.”
“Stupid fucker,” Paul grumbled.
“No, I don’t,” Firebird assured Takashi. “I’ve ordered some of my men to go around and make sure our associates are upholding their end of the deal, and Luka and Romeo Esposito are adding more twists and turns to make our accounts untraceable. This was an accident that won’t be repeated and certainly won’t come back to us.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it’s all alright,” Takashi said. “Now, may I intrude and ask about your plans for this Peter de Luca character?”
Firebird smirked at Peter’s smarmy face on the television. “Peter de Luca. He’s from your town, you know.”
“I’d heard that, but I don’t know him. I had him looked into when I got word of your troubles. He was just a nameless civil servant here, not worth my attention.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Firebird said. “He escaped the Metroplex and now he thinks he can come to my city and be the biggest fish in my little pond.”
“He’s a fool, then,” Takashi surmised.
“Yes, it’s looking to be that way,” Firebird sighed. She smirked then stuck her tongue in her cheek, “I must say, otousan, I’m a bit disappointed in the quality of opponents you send my way. I expect a stronger contender when they say they’re from the Metroplex.”
“A pest is a pest, no matter how tough the environment he grew up in,” Takashi answered. “But if you’re looking for trouble, just say the word and I’ll send my sons to visit.”
“Don’t you dare,” Firebird said with a laugh. “I have more than enough to deal with now without the Kodama boys dogging my steps.”
“They would not be so persistent if they did not all think that they had to compete for your affections,” he pointed out.
Firebird mentally replaced ‘affections’ with ‘bank accounts’ and the situation sounded much more accurate. It’s not that the Nine Nightmares didn’t like her, she was sure there was affection there, but she had no delusions of deeper feelings from any of them. They wanted her for her power and the prestige they’d get from their father by finally uniting the families. Firebird appreciated their candor, but it didn’t necessarily entice her to hurry and settle down.
Not that she told Takashi any of that. If he thought that there was a possibility Firebird was considering someone other than his sons to marry, he’d teach them a new schtick to get her with and have them in her city on the next train. No return ticket. “I’ll remember that,” she said neutrally then steered the conversation back to safer waters. “I wanted to ask what you think about this whole de Luca debacle. I’ve allowed him his fun long enough. Now it’s my turn.”
“What did you have in mind?” Takashi’s voice warmed up. Revenge was something the Kodama-kai was very good at.
“Mr. De Luca likes exposing people’s dirty little secrets. I say it’s high time a few of his were brought out to air.”
“That’s always fun. Real secrets or are you planning on being more...creative?”
Firebird looked over at Peter de Luca’s smug face and grinned. “Oh, this man deserves a bit of both, I believe. I have a two-pronged attack in mind, but I’ll need your help for the second half.”
- - - - - - - - - -
Peter didn’t see the news until the next morning, but he couldn’t miss it splashed across the front page as it was.
HERO D.A. ABUSES WIFE?
“What the fuck is this?” he snarled, spilling his coffee in his hurry to snatch the paper up. He scanned through the article. An anonymous source had released Willow’s hospital records to the press, all of which an expert physician had reviewed and said this was a classic example of a woman subjected to chronic domestic abuse by a controlling, power-hungry husband.
He stormed into the kitchen where Willow was cooking him breakfast. She shrieked when he snatched her up in a punishing grip. “What the fuck did you do to me, you little bitch!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she cried, her eyes wide with fear.
He pushed the newspaper into her face. “This, you twat! I’m talking about you giving the press your hospital records!”
Willow looked at the paper then back at Peter. “I didn’t do that! Peter, please, you know I wouldn’t do that to you! Please!”
Peter lifted his fist, his vision going black on the edges as all of his anger focused on this idiot woman he’d had to saddle himself to, but he stopped himself. The last thing he needed was for Willow to go to the police all bruised up now and press charges. He grabbed her and pulled her close. “Tell me you didn’t do this to me. Swear it wasn’t you.”
She was crying. “I swear! I don’t who did it, but I had nothing to do with it!”
He let go of her and she fell back against the counter, sobbing. He left the kitchen in disgust. This was a disaster. No one liked an abusive husband, not even if he cleaned scum far worse than himself off the streets. Everything he’d done with the media, all the public goodwill he’d cultivated with the people would be ground to dust with this one headline.
But he could fix this, Peter assured himself. Willow was too stupid to release those records, which meant they hadn’t been leaked by an authorized source. It was those damn Blazes that did this. He knew it with every fiber of his being. That little bitch heading the Family thought she could destroy him with a blow like this. She was an idiot and he was so much smarter than her. He would fix this, restore the people’s faith in him, and then he’d destroy her.