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To Belong	By : BringtheHawt Category: +A through F > Bioshock Views: 20677 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the bioshock franchise or any of its characters. I am not attempting to make any money off of writing/sharing this.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Author's Note: Boss fight! Check out my sex-scene-compilation fic called "Carnality" later tonight if you'd like to see Eli/Booker sex. Enjoy! As always, I love reviews. Very much.
No NEW characters this chapter but if you need a refresher here's the link for the OC character list(Noah's gang is super prominent this chapter):
tobelongfic . livejournal . com
Take out the spaces.
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"Your men aren't going to interfere when I have your blood pooling on the floor, are they?"
A chuckle.
"They know better."
DeWitt would never be able to recall every detail about how the brawl began. There were certain moments, however, that burrowed within his mind.
Booker remembered the feel of hands still holding him down. He remembered the Negotiator's preparation for the impending violence: the removal of his hat, his shoulder holster and gun, his knife ... the casual stripping of a suitjacket that revealed a powerful physique ... the rolling up of dress-sleeves that revealed truly muscular forearms. He couldn't remember feeling any fear, but he certainly remembered that fucking smirk that might as well have been permanently plastered on Noah's fucking face.
The ex-soldier remembered thinking Reed was just an oversized street-thug, just a malicious bully who preyed on the weak, not a man with any true combat experience. He'd later think these thoughts were a mistake.
DeWitt couldn't remember all the specific jests but there was plenty of heckling - from Reed, from his thugs. He remembered the intense sense of betrayal he felt when Ernest's voice contributed to the collective mocking. He also, in fact, remembered the moustached man's words: "Good-bye, you knuckle-headed guttersnipe!"
The Ex-Pinkerton aimed a particularly nasty scowl in the Ernest's direction, but then he noticed a peculiar act: Jacoby was subtly tapping the corner of his own eye from his position behind the unaware Negotiator.
The ex-soldier's attention returned to the large, smug bastard standing in the middle of his apartment, focusing specifically on Noah's glasses and the color gray. He understood the unspoken tip clearly: go for the eyes.
He remembered the calm, confident way Reed spoke the words 'release him.' He remembered the awkward marriage of both amusement and astonishment on the Negotiator's face when the ex-soldier immediately charged forward upon being unleashed.
Finally, Booker remembered the ongoing sound of Anna's cries.
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Ernest didn't know what he had to gain from the potentially futile attempt to aid Booker; He only understood that he deeply, deeply wanted to.
Even if DeWitt pulled it off and killed the Negotiator ... What would that accomplish for the ex-Pinkerton? Perhaps, other than a temporary sense of satisfaction, absolutely nothing. Stefano Galucci would either send more debt-collectors or possibly order for the ex-soldier's assassination on Reed's behalf. Then there was the threat of the Immigrant Mafia, who would sooner or later undoubtedly seek revenge for their fallen members ...
Jacoby forced the glum thoughts from his mind as he heard Reed's smooth command for Booker's release.
Come on, Mr. DeWitt. Get the glasses. He's nearly visionless without them.
Ernest cringed as he watched Booker surge forward like a violent hound that pulled free of its leash. The ex-Pinkerton would heed Jacoby's discreet counsel and, perhaps overzealously, targeted Noah's glasses.
The price DeWitt paid was a steep one. Who would have guessed both men would debilitate each other at the very onset of their fight?
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Noah was intimidatingly large and heavy with muscle, so he wasn't used to people recklessly charging him. Reed barely managed to shift into an effective boxing stance before DeWitt closed the gap between them.
Booker, predictably, launched a punch straight for the larger man's face. Noah twisted, which served two purposes: he simultaneously dodged the punch and fiercely thrust his fist twice into DeWitt's abdomen.
Unpredictably, the Negotiator felt the ex-Pinkerton's clumsy punch, which had just passed the his cheek, become a pluck for his glasses.
Suddenly, the world was merely a mix of light, shadows and blurs.
Noah was still smiling though. His ears were functioning just fine, and he had very much enjoyed the sounds of his opponent's surprised grunt then pained huffs over the two vicious strikes that smashed into Booker's body.
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Was that worth it? Booker wondered. He crushed Noah's glasses within his palm as he stumbled backward, gasping deeply. The first attack had smashed the ex-Pinkerton's lower left rib cage and DeWitt had no doubt at least one of his bones were partly if not fully fractured. The second punch was aimed slightly lower, jamming into the ex-soldier's abs and stealing his breath away.
The attacks had complimented each other nicely: one had temporarily made it difficult to breathe and the other made breathing hurt.
As Noah's arm was snapping forward to aim a blind jab toward DeWitt's solar plexus, the private investigator wisely chose to allow himself to sink to the ground. He needed to avoid any more of the Negotiator's brutal punches while he recovered his breath.
"Can't properly see you, Mr. DeWitt," Reed announced mirthfully, "but I can hear you gasping ... Get up."
Booker grunted when Noah reached down to grab at his vest with those gloved hands. With ridiculous strength, the Negotiator lifted the ex-Pinkerton and threw him into the nearby wall. DeWitt managed to both brace his body for impact mid-air and, with the support of the wall, land on his feet. A sharp, but temporary, pain emerge in his back.
The more significant issue remained the ex-soldier's ribcage, but he was finally managing a partial recovery from those debilitating punches. His ribs still hurt, regardless of whether he was motionless or breathing, but at least he felt like he could fight again.
Reed stood in the center of the room. He was in a semi-crouched boxer's stance this time. Those eyes were focused toward Booker's general direction, waiting. Smirking, of course.
"Gonna beat that smirk off your face," the ex-soldier growled as he moved toward Noah - this time with far more caution.
"Hurry on then."
Both men endured the disadvantages they incurred earlier in the fight with dignity. Noah was partially blind but patient, waiting for opportunities to make swift jabs that were sure to connect with the blur standing before him; DeWitt fought through his pain, managing to land some solid hooks into the Negotiator's torso. Still, Booker wished the searing pain in his ribs would disappear, even if only temporarily. The ex-soldier knew his attacks were lacking their usual sting.
It surprised DeWitt when Noah abandoned his boxer's stance. The large man, who was significantly faster than Booker had anticipated, suddenly charged forward and grabbed at the Ex-Pinkerton's neck and shoulder. Reed roughly kicked at one of DeWitt's legs while simultaneously swinging the ex-Soldier downward. Booker lost his footing and roughly smacked into the ground.
The investigator braced himself for the Negotiator's follow-up attacks: two kicks on the right side of the older man's ribs. DeWitt rolled three times, creating distance between himself and the powerful criminal before a third attack connected. The evasive maneuver brought the ex-Pinkerton close to his own dining table.
Booker stood, scowling. In the heat of the moment, he reached over to one of the beer bottles on the table and smashed the bottom of it, producing a jagged-edged weapon for himself. He froze immediately after the act though, wondering if he breached some sort of unwritten agreement that no weapons were allowed in this fight and that, as a consequence, all of Noah's subordinates were about to pull out their guns and shoot him. .
"Look at that. DeWitt's cheatin,' " Vincenzo snickered.
"No limitations were set for this match," Noah, surprisingly, argued on Booker's behalf, "besides," smiling, "I asked for a beast, not a knight. Why ... I think I'd be disappointed if he exhibited a sense of chivalry."
"You're a cocky bastard, Noah. And you're about to be a dead cocky bastard," Booker snarled.
The Negotiator beckoned DeWitt with his gloved hand before adopting a new boxing stance. This stance, with Noah's back foot heel lifted slightly, favored balance and mobility.
Go for slices, not stabs, the ex-Pinkerton told himself.
Again, Booker charged forward.
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Fighting in a world of varying blurs was quite the disadvantage. That said, Noah's poor vision wasn't entirely useless. For example, he could tell when Booker was about to swing his weapon based on the way his particular blur shifted.
Sounds, also, assisted Reed. Footsteps, breathing changes.
The Negotiator managed to dodge the first two attacks with a twist of the torso and a sidestep. DeWitt's third swing would make contact but it'd also leave the ex-soldier out of position. Yes, the glass' jagged edge had ripped into the fabric and flesh at Reed's bicep, but Noah managed to grab at the ex-Pinkerton's offending arm. He used his strength and weight-advantage to twist behind Booker and shove the ex-soldier into the wall - for it was a small apartment, and they were never too far off from a wall.
Reed used his massive frame to pin the temporarily stunned investigator, and secured his grip on that twisted, bottle-wielding arm. His own wound stung - slices from jagged-weapons tend to sting - but he had Booker right where he wanted him.
"I'm curious, Mr. DeWitt," as he clamped a hand on Booker's wrist, "did you believe me earlier when I told you I can easily snap a grown man's arm in half?"
The ex-soldier grunted. It was an unfortunate position - having his chest pinned against the wall by someone significantly larger than him. He felt Noah actively start to apply opposite pressures to his twisted elbow and wrist and he fully believed that the Negotiator was a handful of seconds from breaking his compromised forearm. Booker had few options left. He dropped the beer bottle and tensed up the muscles in his arm as fiercely as possible to resist the powerful criminal's efforts to break it. He, simultaneously, repositioned his leg and was about to lift his foot and slam it down on top of Reed's with all his strength before a woman's voice, angry and unyielding, shouted: "Cease this! Now! Violence in front of a lady is socially reprehensible."
The sound of Elizabeth's voice managed to steal all of Booker's aggressions. Perhaps it had the same effect on Noah as well because the pressure that had been applied to his arm instantly stopped. They both recalled her words were a repetition of a claim Noah had made during his first intrusion into the ex-Pinkerton's home ...
Aside from DeWitt and Reed, who were still locked together on the far side of the room, each man present had the opportunity to look at the mysterious female. They wouldn't think of how suddenly and silently the woman made her appearance at the threshold of Booker's home; they'd only think she was incredibly beautiful.
Each man felt a quickening in their hearts. Even Ernest, who was a very happy, loyal husband.
"Pretty ... Pretty girl ..." Vincenzo murmured. Piero whistled. Karl said nothing but he certainly looked. Jacoby, as he observed the gorgeous woman, became disheartened. Ernest couldn't help but think she put additional effort into her appearance to please Noah. That elegant auburn dress hugged her curves perfectly ... combine it with the long string of golden pearls that hung provocatively from her neck and she truly looked like a prize to be coveted.
"Mr. Pelosi," Reed called out.
Piero aimed his pistol at DeWitt's head and pulled the hammer before informing the ex-Pinkerton: " 'Mr. Pelosi' is the Negotiator's way of saying 'Shoot this prick if he does anything stupid.' "
"Manners, Mr. Pelosi," Noah reminded as he released Booker's arm and took a step back, "a lady is present."
The ex-Pinkerton focused a glare at Piero. The street-thug was probably half his age, which made the fact that he was pointing a gun in the ex-soldier's face feel particularly insulting.
"I'm going to slowly spin around," Booker warned the potentially trigger-happy young-gun. As DeWitt turned away from the wall to view the scenario before him, he became irrationally upset when he realized Noah had pulled a small case from his trouser pockets and was currently removing a second pair of glasses from it ...
He had a second pair of glasses the entire damn fight. It took every inch of DeWitt's willpower not to charge forward and launch a punch into the smug bastard's nose.
Noah placed the spare set of oculars on his face, restoring his vision. The sight of the thoroughly annoyed ex-soldier's expression forced a smirk and a wink out of the cocky criminal.
Then both men turned toward the entryway to gaze upon Elizabeth.
DeWitt always thought of her as stunning, but the unfamiliar dress with the addition of a few lovely accessories awoke his suspicion. It suddenly clicked.
He's here for her ...
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Elizabeth stepped forward, ignoring the collective leering she now received from the occupants of the apartment. She had been tempted to run to Booker and immediately attempt to console and calm him, but a man of impressive stature stood in the way ...
She moved in front of the Negotiator and focused her blue eyes on him: no hat or suit jacket, blonde hair mussed, sleeves rolled-up, a lightly bloodied dress-shirt, but he retained those leather gloves - he always did in public. It was the sight of Noah when he wanted to have fun ... his ridiculous version of it, anyway.
In a way he looked ... powerful. Even considering the blood.
I can do this, she reminded herself.
Reed gladly returned her look-over. To see her fresh and gracefully dressed was quite a shift from the half-naked, seductively unkempt state he had discovered her in during their initial meeting. Noah decided the choice between mesmerizing elegance or sumptuous vulnerability was a difficult one.
The viewing allowed the tall man to spy a flaw he hadn't noticed before: the thimble on her right pinky. Had it been concealed behind the infant she had been holding during their first encounter? Or was this ... crime, a recent occurrence? He decided not to mention it before their spectators. Instead, with a slight bow of his head, he elected to compliment her: "you're exactly as enchanting as my memory promised."
"Was all this necessary, Mr. Reed?" Elizabeth asked finally, "I hadn't anticipated finding unfamiliar men and the Negotiator bullying my lover in his home."
"I thought Mr. DeWitt could use some company during our absence. -"
"-Don't do this," Booker's interruption was accompanied by a pained look. Just the sight of her speaking to Reed was sickening him, and the thought that he might end up touching her was torturing him.
Elizabeth found her eyes flashing toward DeWitt sympathetically. A pensive pause before she looked back to Noah.
"I'd like to speak with Booker," she informed, attempting to make it sound like a respectful request rather than a demand.
Reed tilted his head to the side as he mused it over.
"There's nothing he can say that will change my intentions for the evening," Elizabeth promised insistently.
"As you wish," the blonde man relented, stepping aside.
Elizabeth charged at Booker and instantly moved into his awaiting arms. She always loved his arms - always felt safe within them. Even now she did, with the Negotiator watching them and Piero pointing his pistol at the ex-Pinkerton's head. With marginal assistance from Elizabeth, there was no doubting Booker could and would kill every man in this room. It was nearly a shame she wanted to try to pull Booker away from that sort of violence, a shame that she wanted her lover to see her as normal.
Somehow, they shared an earnest conversation, despite the presence of multiple criminals.
"Don't do this ... " DeWitt repeated.
"Did he hurt you?" she asked softly, grabbing at the fabric along the backside of his vest, leaning into him.
"No," the ex-soldier lied, and he kept it to himself that she was pressing into his cracked rib, "I can handle this. I want you to take Anna and go stay with one of the neighbors for the night ... "
Elizabeth sighed before pulling back slightly to give the ex-Pinkerton an incredulous look.
"Reed can have you killed at a whim right now - "
"-Listen," Booker insisted sorrowfully, hands squeezing her hips, "I'd rather die than let him take you."
The words pierced her. Against her will, those blue eyes went moist.
"You imbecile! You've given up," she murmured, smacking a dainty palm against his broad chest, "is that what you want? To go down swinging? That isn't fair to Anna. - "
"-I can't let you walk away from me again," DeWitt revealed, tone bleak, "watching you disappear last night almost killed me. You really think I can ... let you leave with that colossal bastard?"
Several feet away, Noah smirked and set his hands on his own hips. The Negotiator wondered if all the lessons and training in the world could teach the stubborn dog proper respect. He silently swore if DeWitt earned himself another lesson that the next one would involve mutilation instead of threats merely meant to intimidate.
" ... He won't hurt me - "
"- How can you possibly know that for sure?" Booker nearly shouted the question, "you really think it'd be the first time a woman ventured off with a man thinking she was safe-"
"- Booker! He won't hurt me, and you need to trust me," Elizabeth demanded firmly, staring straight into Booker's somber eyes. They were the green of summer ... which the thoughtful female felt didn't suit him at all. Maybe sometime in the future, with patience and affection and without debts and fear, DeWitt would be a more natural fit for such a color.
"I can't let you ... "
Elizabeth grabbed Booker's hands before telling him: "l'm going to fix this, but I can't do that without ... without bargaining with Mr. Reed. I'll be ok, I'll come back to you ... and, I swear, I swear ... we'll be one step closer to living a peaceful, debt-free life."
At this point she leaned forward to press the softest of kisses onto DeWitt's lips, causing her lover to sigh deeply.
"I - "
"-Shh, Booker," she implored, keeping her lips close to his, "just think about it. You, Anna and me. No more debt."
"Yah ... it sounds perfect," the ex-Pinkerton admitted quietly.
" ... Now, keep yourself calm, please," Elizabeth whispered, "and promise you won't kill anyone while I'm gone."
Booker nodded. He wasn't sure if he'd keep that promise, but he nodded anyway.
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Elizabeth was about to join the Negotiator's side before she turned to look at Vincenzo Abruzzo.
"Come with us, Vincenzo," Elizabeth called to him, "I require two men to achieve satisfaction."
Vincenzo erupted into a full grin, not caring that he was showing off multiple missing teeth.
Booker and Ernest's hearts nearly stopped. Noah expertly cloaked his suspicion with a chuckle. Piero looked offended ... thinking correctly that he was a far more attractive option than Vincenzo. So were Karl and Ernest, for that matter.
Booker calmed himself, thinking she must have some sort of ... plan. Maybe she wanted to split the criminals?
Vincenzo glanced at the Negotiator, waiting for the man's approval or denial ...
"As the lady says, Mr. Abruzzo," Noah bade.
"Yeh won't be disappointed, miss!" Vincenzo vowed excitedly, stepping toward the door to exit with them.
"Mind escorting her outside for me, Vincenzo?" Reed requested smoothly.
"Yes, sir," Vincenzo answered happily.
Elizabeth's eyes widened as she looked toward Noah. She didn't want to leave the violent criminal behind with Booker ...
The Negotiator smirked at her concerned expression before promising to her: "I intend no further harm to Mr. DeWitt this day."
Reluctantly, the beautiful female left the apartment at Vincenzo's side.
"Mind if I use your restroom, Mr. DeWitt?" Noah inquired, "I need to clean this little scratch you gave me."
Booker didn't bother to respond.
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At Noah's beckon, Ernest joined Reed within the bathroom. The room felt tiny and the Negotiator's bulky body dwarfed it even further.
The tall man opened Booker's medicine cabinet and instantly huffed at its contents: dental cream and aspirin powder. It was missing a decent number of common household supplies, including the standard medical supplies the wounded criminal had been searching for.
"At least he has dental cream," Noah commented dryly, "fetch me a glass of water and my personal belongings."
Jacoby left to do the given task. Reed grabbed his bloodied dress sleeve and pulled on it until it tore off. He examined the four-inch long wound - he estimated it was no more than half-an-inch deep but he would have prefered a smooth cut over tattered skin.
He was washing out the cut when Ernest returned. Noah immediately asked: "you know what's curious?"
"The lady's invitation of Vincenzo," Jacoby responded quickly as he set aside the glass of water and Noah's belongings, "very suspicious."
"You know what else is curious?"
"What, sir?" Ernest asked quietly.
"That she knew Vincenzo's name," and Noah embraced an accusing tone as he said this.
Jacoby paused. He hadn't even noticed, and he usually picked up on those sort of details. Perhaps the emotional conflict he felt over Booker and his mysterious lover's heartfelt conversation stole his focus.
"Mr. Reed, I've already admitted to you that I spoke to her last night ... but all, and I insist all, I told her was that she needn't fear you. I didn't give her any details of our syndicate."
Noah had been watching Ernest speak through the mirror. After a moment, he decided he believed the moustached man's words. Reed switched off the faucet before turning toward Jacoby to present the shorter criminal his detached shirt-sleeve.
"As tightly as you can manage," the Negotiator instructed. Ernest took the fabric and began to wrap it around the muscular man's sliced bicep.
Did you truly have to shine the lantern on me, Noah? Ask me to scalp a man you simply intended to scare ... ? Jacoby asked silently. He didn't have the courage to verbalize the question.
"Mr. DeWitt put forth a noble effort, didn't he?" Noah admitted as he watched Ernest wrap his arm, that trademark smirk returning, "I caught him off-guard early but he fought well through his pain ... - My, if I'm not careful I might develop a modicum of respect for the man."
"I haven't seen your blood in years," Jacoby commented as he tied the makeshift bandage, "perhaps a modicum of respect would be wise."
"I was expecting absolute victory even after he employed my significant visual disadvantage," Noah revealed with a laugh, flexing his arm to test the stability of the dressing, "I now lament that fighting blind reduced the potency of my strikes."
"Your arrogance is unquantifiable," Ernest muttered as he watched the Negotiator slip on that suit jacket, concealing the bandaged arm and torn dress-shirt, "would you still be humored if he managed to slice a major artery?"
Reed ignored the question.
"I don't think I met the White Injun today," Noah stated before plucking that aspirin powder out of the cabinet, "but the beast is certainly inside DeWitt. Waiting."
Jacoby remained silent as he watched his boss tap some aspirin into the glass of water. He'd like to think Booker was simply a father - a lover - that wanted to be left alone ... but Reed, historically-speaking, was skilled at sensing violence in others. Or perhaps incredibly apt at inspiring violence from others.
"DeWitt's woman ... she stole my breath," Noah admitted as he replaced his hat on his head and snatched his umbrella, "perhaps the only woman in this city that could eclipse my interest in the infamous White Injun."
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Piero was still pointing that gun at DeWitt's head, and the ex-Pinkerton found himself imagining shoving the young thug's face into the wall. Repeatedly.
What an utterly miserable day: threats, taunts, a hangover, a brawl accompanied by a cracked rib, Elizabeth's impending sacrifice and his daughter ... was still crying.
When the Negotiator reentered the room with Ernest lagging behind him, Booker refocused his silent rage toward the tall bastard.
"How's the arm?" DeWitt asked mockingly.
"Better off than your ribcage, I suspect," Noah returned with a wink, stepping before the ex-soldier and setting the glass of aspirin-water on the table, "this is for you."
Booker glowered at the man.
Reed smiled before stating: "I had a lengthy dialogue prepared listing all the reasons you should turn your escort mission to Buffalo into a permanent relocation for you and little Anna. But, after listening to that ... passionate conversation you shared with that striking woman of yours, I realize you'd never leave her behind. I certainly can't fault you for this; I wouldn't either."
"If you touch her, I'll kill you," the ex-soldier vowed gravely.
"I simply need to adjust my strategy," Noah explained mockingly, "I'll convince her to leave you behind."
DeWitt's jaw tightened. If it weren't for Piero's gun, Anna's exhausted cries and Elizabeth's sincere plea, he would have launched forward and initiated another tussle with the smug criminal.
Instead, Booker spat at Noah. Reed managed to twist his face away, causing the saliva to land on his neck.
Ernest grimaced. Piero tensed, wondering if the command for the ex-Pinkerton's execution was about to be ordered. Karl observed silently. The Negotiator emitted a small laugh, turning back toward the irate ex-soldier.
"I'm going to have your woman lick that off of me," Noah taunted.
Booker's hands clenched into fists.
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Elizabeth and Vincenzo stood within the concaved threshold of Booker's apartment building, avoiding the steady rain.
The anxious female watched all that unfolded within DeWitt's apartment: Ernest obediently bandaging the Negotiator in the bathroom, Noah's suspicions, the words shared between the two enemies.
Elizabeth smiled to herself when Booker spat at the Negotiator, then flushed slightly at Noah's subsequent taunt. The vulgar promise turned out to be a mere jest - as soon as Reed stepped out of DeWitt's apartment he pulled out a handkerchief to remove the offense from his neck.
I can do this, she told herself as she watched Noah's approach, I can play the role.
"So, uhh ... yer pretty fair, yeh know," Vincenzo complimented awkwardly. He had been giving her odd smirks ever since they had stepped out together. It seemed Vincenzo was ... overly excited over Elizabeth's invitation.
The pale girl glared at him, hoping it'd dissuade him from speaking any further. She thought of the unfortunate homeless girl that the despicable man had excessively mutilated a few evenings ago.
"If ya lift up the skirt a' yer dress, I can give ya a taste a' whats to come," Vincenzo promised with another grin, stepping toward her.
"Don't. Touch me," Elizabeth hissed.
"Jus' the tip! I swear!"
The irritated woman couldn't prevent disgust from exploding on her pretty face.
At this moment, the Negotiator opened the apartment building door and joined them outside. He couldn't help but smirk at Elizabeth's expression.
"Are you upsetting her, Vincenzo?" Noah questioned.
"Uh," as Vincenzo stepped back from her, disappointed, "no, sir."
"Excellent," the Negotiator responded, "go wait for us at my car. I'd like a minute alone with the lady."
The violent underling muttered something unintelligible before walking off, hurriedly venturing through the rain and slickened streets.
"He's nearly as charming as you are," Elizabeth quipped, watching Vincenzo's departure.
"I'd like to remind you that it wasn't I who extended him an invitation," Reed teased before holding out his gloved palm before her, "now, may I have your right hand?"
Elizabeth cloaked her inward emotions and examined the Negotiator's calm look that possessed the faintest trace of a smile. She placed her hand into Noah's palm, and watched the tall man lean down to observe the thimble on her marred finger.
"Who did this to you? Was it a man of this city?" Reed inquired as his eyes shifted back toward that gorgeous blue gaze, "someone from DeWitt's evolving list of enemies, perhaps?"
The conversation's focus distressed Elizabeth. She made no response, but was determined not to look away from Noah's slate-colored stare.
"Hm. Should this offender still live," Reed held her eyes as he spoke and gently squeezed her pale hand, "should he dare walk the streets of my city ... I'll kill him for you."
"I imagine you would," Elizabeth murmured, glancing at their entwined hands pensively. She mused over why she kept attracting men who were too willing, too eager to commit violence on her behalf.
Thoughts of Columbia awoke within her.
Booker had been such a powerful man. She remembered some of his more brutal moments - one time he had literally leapt from a skyline and drove his skyhook through an unaware guard's skull ... DeWitt might as well have tucked a grenade within the man's head; blood, bone and brain matter had splattered everywhere.
Reed observed her distracted look before running his thumb across her knuckles. The touch brought the beautiful female back from her mental departure.
"So," Elizabeth's expression hardened as her focus returned and she tugged her hand from the criminal's hold, "is the offer for murder the 'Noah Reed' version of kindness?"
The Negotiator produced an amused snort, straightening his posture.
"I was told your name would be my reward for accepting today's invitation," Noah subtly requested.
"Soon, you shall have it," Elizabeth responded evenly.
The Negotiator smirked. He lifted his umbrella, opened it, and offered his arm to the beautiful woman.
"Shall we begin the show, then? I'm truly curious over what role you intend to play," Reed remarked sportively - an admission that he was aware she had some sort of plan.
After a tiny moment of hesitation, Elizabeth hooked arms with the confident criminal. Together, they stepped out into the streets to begin their journey to Noah's car. The Negotiator adopted a languid pace so his petite companion could easily keep in stride with him, and he purposely tipped his umbrella to keep the rain from the female's uncovered head.
"Would you like to choose the setting for this afternoon's entertainment?" Reed offered. He was beginning to suspect this rendezvous would be fun, even without the exchange of physical pleasure.
Elizabeth paused for a moment before providing a suggestion that deeply amused the Negotiator: "A location where one's screams will not be heard."
Noah chuckled deeply.
"I know a few of such places."
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DeWitt was sitting at his kitchen table, now. He was staring at the aspirin-water Reed had prepared for him, his ribs were begging him to grab the glass, but he decided drinking it in front of the Negotiator's men would feel like a personal failure.
He tried not to think about the Negotiator and instead struggled to focus on Elizabeth's promise: I swear ... we'll be one step closer to living a peaceful, debt-free life.
It took DeWitt a few minutes to realize that Piero was sheathing and drawing out his pistol over and over, aiming it at him and saying 'bang' each time.
"What the hell, kid?" he growled.
"Mr. Reed said you were a famous marksman at one time ... so, what you think? You think you're faster than me?" Piero asked before demonstrating, again, how quickly he can draw a gun.
"Not sure. Go grab my gun. We could have a duel and find our answer," Booker challenged.
Piero snorted, sheathing and drawing his pistol again ...
"Stop antagonizing him," Ernest muttered nastily from the corner of the room, "he hasn't even missed a payment and we've invaded his home, threatened him, insulted him, assaulted him and claimed ... "
Jacoby was going to say 'his woman' but decided not to finish that last part when Dewitt's eyes snapped toward his direction.
"Christ, you guys are boring," Piero complained, sheathing his gun but maintaining a vigilant watch of the ex-Pinkerton, "wish they left Vincenzo behind." Yes, Piero decided he missed Vincenzo: Karl, who stood behind DeWitt's chair, was essentially a mute and Ernest was always moping these days.
DeWitt continued to watch Jacoby for a minute before making an accusation: "You knew last night he was going to come for her." He had remembered Elizabeth mentioning something about a 'message' for the Negotiator.
Ernest tugged at his mustache, frustrated. On one hand, he wanted to respond with a sympathetic explanation. On the other hand, he was speaking in front of two spectators loyal to Reed ... and he felt he had already accumulated enough negative attention on Booker's behalf.
"Perhaps you need to adopt a new focus, Mr. DeWitt," Jacoby suggested, "focus on surviving to see your daughter's first birthday."
Booker sneered wordlessly.
"I can see why you're so frustrated, DeWitt," Piero stated with a smirk, "your lady's quite a vamp. Mind if we trade places for a day? A day that doesn't fall on your collection night, preferably ... "
The words caused Booker's mind to become polluted with incriminating fantasies. He wondered if Elizabeth and Noah's bodies complimented each other. He wondered if Elizabeth would moan for a man like Noah. He wondered if Noah would hurt Elizabeth. He wondered if they'd share kisses and whispers.
What the hell am I doing? I gotta go find her. I can't ... let that absurd bastard have her.
"Christ, I could use a drink," DeWitt sighed, rubbing his temple before aiming a glance at Piero, "have you ever shot a Winchester?"
"Naw, not yet. Only pistols and revolvers," Piero responded, finding himself excited at the prospect of shooting a rifle.
"You grab me a beer and I'll let you take a couple of shots into the air with mine."
"Truly?! You have a Winchester in here? What model?"
"1876," the ex-soldier answered, "used it when I was in the Calvary."
"Piero ... " Ernest called out anxiously as he listened to their conversation.
"Yah, Mr. DeWitt, I'll grab ya a beer," Piero consented as he began to walk toward the freezer box.
Piero relinquishing his focus was all that Booker needed. He leapt forward as the thug attempted to walk by him, roughly grabbing at the smaller man's head and shoulders.
"Hey!" Piero cried out. Karl moved to aid his co-criminal but he was too late. The ex-Pinkerton slammed the young-gun's head down into the dining table twice. Piero was a gunman, not a warrior, and the violent act immediately caused his body to slump limply.
Ernest drew his gun as he cursed under his breath, watching with conflicted emotions as Karl and DeWitt began to grapple with each other. They were similar sizes - both slightly taller than six feet, each fairly muscular, and neither had a clear weight-advantage. Karl was a perceptive criminal, and knew from watching Booker's earlier tussle with Noah that the ex-Pinkerton ribs were compromised. Karl attempted two hooks into those ribs as the ex-soldier slammed his fist into his opponents thick jaw. Both men grunted.
"Booker, stop this!" Ernest insisted as the two men fought, "there's five million people in this city and none of us know where Reed took her! How will you find her? Where will you go? You've no choice but to wait this out!"
DeWitt, even though Karl's attacks managed to exacerbate the pain of his ribs, soon managed to get the upper-hand over the tough criminal. He started wailing on his opponent's face over and over until Karl stumbled then finally fell.
Booker aimed a kick at Karl's gut before he turned toward the stunned Jacoby with a cold expression. Ernest squeezed his gun but wouldn't dare point it at the ex-soldier.
Reed was right ... he's a beast.
After a moment, the ex-Pinkerton stepped quickly into his bedroom. When he returned to the kitchen, he had his colt pistol. He pointed it at the unconscious Piero's head.
"Don't, Booker!" Ernest insisted, stepping forward, "don't! You can't ... - imagine how the lady would feel if she made this bargain only to find out you spoiled it by killing Reed's men."
"Ernest," Booker growled, "I have to find her. I have to. And I'm not leaving these men in my goddamn apartment with my daughter."
"We'll leave, we will. We'll be gone long before your return," Jacoby promised, "and ... I'd sooner shoot them myself then let them touch your daughter."
DeWitt grunted with frustration, sparing Ernest another glare. But then he thought of Elizabeth ...
"Promise you won't kill anyone while I'm gone..."
"Reed ... he always takes his whores to Hotel Astor," Jacoby offered desperately, "I can't say I'm certain they're there, but it's the only suggestion I have."
Booker snatched the aspirin-water and chugged it. Then he slid his gun into the rim of his pants and began to swiftly step out. As he walked by Ernest, he muttered: "Eleven dollars just bought three men's lives."
oooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooo
Reed chose an ominous location - an abandoned pier with three-foot tall fencing along its edges. The elements remained unkind; it was still cold, still raining. The horizon was a standoff between the churning blue sea and the sky's sprawling clouds. They were, indeed, alone ... too far from anyone to be heard.
As they stepped onto the wooden pier, Vincenzo, who lagged behind Noah and Elizabeth, revealed his frustration: "This don' seem like a good place to stick our pricks in 'er."
"Vincenzo," Elizabeth called out, "wait here. I want to speak with the Negotiator alone."
"But I wanna - "
"- Do as she says," the Negotiator commanded coolly.
" ... yes, sir," Vincenzo grunted.
Noah smirked when he realized he was nearly glad for the beautiful female's impending betrayal. It would be revolting to carry out any sort of sexual endeavor that involved Vincenzo ... even for a prize as gorgeous as the woman holding his arm. Still, one had to wonder what she did have to gain from inviting the both of them to a remote location. Did this intriguing girl truly think she could kill two men apt at violence? Or, perhaps she simply wanted to remove the two greatest threats to Booker from the ex-Pinkerton's apartment ... Reed found himself wondering if leaving Piero and Karl with DeWitt and the recently unreliable Ernest would lead to any unforeseen losses. Booker certainly had an excellent reputation in terms of armed combat and actually proved to be a more-than-respectable brawler.
When they reached the end of the pier, Elizabeth muttered: "Why did you hire that man?"
"Vincenzo's far from being an exceptional employee, but he has his uses. He's also loyal," Noah answered before presenting the handle of his umbrella to the blue-eyed woman, "mind holding this for a moment?"
Without thinking, Elizabeth accepted the umbrella. Reed swiftly turned toward her, gripped her hips and hoisted her into the air to precariously perch her upon the pier's wooden fence. Before the surprised female could verbalize a response, the Negotiator leaned downward to press a sensual kiss against her lips. The broad-shouldered man's intimate proximity temporarily overwhelmed her. Lacking focus, her free palm ended up on the that muscular chest, and for a brief, brief moment, Elizabeth forgot to be repulsed by the criminal's touch. Noah's hold on her was firm, perhaps to prevent her from falling into the undoubtedly cold harbor bay waters behind her, perhaps for other reasons, but it made pulling back from the bold act impossible so she instead opted to turn her face away from the kiss. She felt the Negotiator's humored sigh touch her cheek.
"Forgive me; I was suddenly overwrought by thoughts of your lips," Noah whispered in her ear, "perhaps you should unveil your scheme before I take any further liberties."
"Vincenzo isn't loyal," Elizabeth responded, deciding it was, indeed, time to get down to business, "allow me to demonstrate."
As she called out loudly to Vincenzo, Reed pulled back from her slightly to gift her a quizzical look. Amused and quizzical.
"Is it my turn?" Vincenzo called back.
"Remember when Mr. Reed hired you and he presented to you that clever little metaphor about cannibalism you didn't fully understand?"
Both men stared at her silently, each wondering how she obtained such information.
"He gave you a thorough explanation as to why the blood of women and children must not be spilt," Elizabeth went on as she watched Vincenzo, who was positioned about thirty feet behind Reed, remove his gun from his holster, "so, tell me, did you forget this limitation when you butchered that defenseless woman four eves ago?"
Elizabeth and the two criminals understood fully that a line had been crossed. Vicenzo's betrayal had been revealed. There was no fixing the situation; someone was certainly about to die. It was amusing to Noah - an hour ago he had been anticipating a carnal exchange, after all, but now the scene promised blood. Most likely his own, considering Vincenzo's positional advantage the beautiful girl ensured he'd have when she insisted he stay behind them. The Negotiator smirked at the stunning woman in his grip before speaking: "He drew his gun, didn't he?"
"Indeed he did," Elizabeth responded with a mocking smile.
"I ain' bein' fed to no fuckin' dog, Reed," Vincenzo snarled loudly, pulling the hammer of his gun and aiming it at the Negotiator.
"Having my own man kill me. Very clever," Noah quietly complimented the incredible female, "you never fail to impress."
Elizabeth playfully pat the tall man's chest with her free hand before lowering it, and rolled the handle of Reed's umbrella with the other, twirling it.
"Raise yer hands an' turn aroun' slowly," Vincenzo demanded loudly, so he was heard clearly over the rain.
"Mm. Are you stable?" Noah asked her, not about to release those hips just to have the beauty fall into New York's harbor bay.
Elizabeth nodded as Vincenzo impatiently barked: "Turn yerself aroun' now."
The Negotiator released his hold on the dainty woman and lifted his hands as he slowly turned to face the gun-wielding criminal. He shifted so that he completely blocked Elizabeth from Vincenzo's line-of-sight, and it reminded the observant female of the first time they met - when Reed had purposely stepped between herself and Booker's pistol after the ex-Pinkerton discovered the Negotiator's intrusion in Anna's nursery.
"What now, Mr. Abruzzo?" Reed taunted loudly.
"What's yer address? I know yeh got piles of money hidden there," Vincenzo announced, "an' I figur' I'm now unemployed so I'm gonna need all that cash."
"Oh," Noah paused to chuckle, "you're funny, Vincenzo."
The provoking words were the catalyst - Noah, to his credit, was faster than a man his size should be and drew his gun at an impressive speed, but Vincenzo's gun was already drawn and pointed at the Negotiator. The shot was accurate - the bullet would have pierced Reed's chest - but a truly unbelievable intervention denied Vincenzo his victory over New York city's most notorious criminal.
Three tears were opened simultaneously. One swallowed Vincenzo's bullet, the other two flashed over the ugly brute's wrists.
The Negotiator, in the drama of the moment, was about to instinctively shoot at his ex-subordinate before noticing the curious flashes of light that seemed fastened onto Vincenzo's wrists like cufflinks. There was also a remarkable lack of hands where those lights had emerged. The sight froze Noah's movements.
"Where'd my gun ... - What ... what's this?! Where's my hands?" Vincenzo cried out, wide-eyed, staring at the stumps of his arms where his hands should be. It was terribly disconcerting. He couldn't feel the gun in his grip anymore ... but he could still feel and move his hands. Were they invisible somehow?
"I just saved you, Mr. Reed," Elizabeth spoke casually from behind the stunned sadist, "I suppose that makes you indebted to me. How fortunate that you're a man of significant wealth."
If Noah hadn't been so entranced by the sight of Vincenzo's missing extremities, he would have laughed at her usage of the term 'indebted.' Instead, he lowered his gun and murmured: "How truly ... fascinating."
Elizabeth opened a tear to bring a sturdy, grayed-out stool into this world, just behind the tall criminal. She stood on this stool, which elevated her enough so that she may whisper in the Negotiator's ear: "I can see the past, Mr. Reed, and I spent many, many hours looking into yours. "
Noah didn't respond. The sight of Vincenzo waving his stumps around as he started to fearfully shout was starting to invoke the Negotiator's dark sense of humor ...
"Hush, Vincenzo," the tall criminal scolded with a smirk, "you're embarrassing yourself."
"Turn around, Mr. Reed," Elizabeth insisted, tapping his shoulder,"I need you to focus."
Noah obeyed, turning to face her and briefly wondering where the hell she acquired a stool from ... The woman was full of miracles.
"You've my attention," the faintly-smiling criminal declared.
"I've seen your past, Mr. Reed," she declared, exuding confidence, "your mother's situation made you a sad, frustrated adolescent. Still, you at least had a soul at the time, before Giovanni found you. Your black-hearted tutor was absolutely fascinated by you ... truly delighted to find an impressionable, fatherless, freakish eleven year-old that possessed a man's body and strength. He saw the potential to make a monster out of you and you... you exceeded all his expectations. -"
"-there's no need to recount any further," Noah interrupted, setting a hand on his own hip, "I believe you can view the past. Astonishing, truly. What other wonderous powers do you possess? You can steal space, summon objects, observe the past ... is there more? Can you hear my thoughts? Can you see men's destinies?"
Elizabeth didn't get a chance to respond - Vincenzo ran to them and began desperately screeching: "Where's my hands, yeh bitch?! They ... I can still feel em ... They're somewheres ... wet and chilly. Give em back!"
Noah found his curiosity overwhelming when the frantic criminal appeared beside him. He gripped Vincenzo's right arm to examine the circle of light at his wrist.
The fearless female glared at Vincenzo. One would think the disgusting criminal would show a little respect. She pointed upward, prompting both men to look. There were the hands, trapped about sixty feet high in the sky. Vincenzo gasped out and wiggled his fingers, proving to himself they were indeed his hands.
"Insanity," Reed murmured, "utter insanity."
"Your hands will never harm another woman," Elizabeth vowed severely.
"No! Stop!" Vincenzo cried out.
Elizabeth closed the twin tears, severing Vincenzo's hands from his arms. As rivulets of blood began to erupt from the screaming criminal's wrists, as the descent of dismembered hands from the sky left Noah spellbound, she leaned forward to whisper into the tall man's ear: "I have plans for you, Mr. Negotiator. My name ... is Elizabeth," and this is when the bloodied hands smacked into the wooden pier, "and you will learn to fear it."
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Author's Note: I really appreciate/survive-on reviews. I'm a very slow writer(it literally took roughly sixteen hours to write the fight scene and it isn't even that long) so encouraging words always helps and thoughtful critiques nurture stronger writers.
Shout-outs for my repeat reviews(I lost Paul Perkins ... NOOOOO):
Incidental Vegan Cannibal: Hallo! Glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I want you to know I took your criticisms to heart. Sometimes it's tough for me to write long Elizabeth-centric scenes because all she has is her first name and I feel like it's repetitive. With Booker it's not bad because I can call him: Booker, Dewitt, ex-soldier, ex-pinkerton and people know who I'm talking about. With Noah I can go Noah, Reed, Negotiator, criminal. For Elizabeth my option is ... Elizabeth - cause I don't consider her a Comstock and calling her DeWitt would be confusing and, in my mind, incorrect. This all said, I'd rather be repetitive than incoherent, and I tried very hard in this chapter to learn from the awesome/sound advice you've given me. I realize that I have a solid number of original characters and using constant euphemisms/descriptors probably makes the story occasionally unreadable lol.
As far as the scalping: Noah wasn't actually going to have Ernest go through with it, but people have survived it! A quick search of "Robert McGee" shows you a pretty neat picture of a survivor.
Pelican182: Thanks for the comment! It's really cool/encouraging to see someone who reviewed a previous chapter come back. Hope you liked the fightscene.
Mr. Brown: Glad you liked the chapter! I love hearing from ya. Stefano's a really cool character to write and I'm a little sad I didn't get the chance to fit in the Stefano and Noah Whore Rescue of 1912 yet(it may come back as a flashback because in my mind its a funny, awesome scene). I was actually super proud of chapter 5 so it made me a little sad that I lost reviewers(drat!), but my repeat reviewers always save the day! I was actually going to be a jerk and have Elizabeth step in before the Booker/Noah fight even started ... but then I realized I hyped up the fight a little too much not to let anything happen. Ultimately this part of the story arch ended up far longer(and better) with the inclusion of the fight! Thank you so much, my muse, for your continued support. :D
Shtoops: You've totally touched upon my biggest issue with Bioshock Infinite: Comstock. He didn't feel fully fleshed out to me at all(in a way I think they were more concerned with the shock value of their ending then making him a believable character). If a simple baptism makes you ultra-racist, self-obsessed and super-violent, then mine was apparently a failure. I believe strong characters push stories(perhaps I care too much about this cause I may be overly developing my OC's to the point where people are losing interest in the story).
And, well this is a spoiler but I'll give it to ya anyway, angry Booker/eliz sex coming soon!
Finally: Oh, Mr. Twain. You never disappoint.
Another finally: Thank you!
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