A/N: Happy birthday to me~. *hums song*. Yes, I give chapters to others on my own birthday. XD. Anyway, here's a kinda "teaser" for Target. No, I'm done writing it yet. I'm actually supposed to be finishing up the second chapter right now, but I wanted to spark some intrigue so I know it'll have readers. This fic might not ever even have a turtle in it at all, but it's still important. Don't get me wrong, they are mentioned in the vaguest sense, but they're not the focus. No, this focuses on Kimi's brothers. (For those who don't follow my series, Kimi is Raph's love interest). I know these guys are practically strangers (Benji less so if you've read Riverstone), but they are still her family. Plus there's a canon character in this, too! Angel plays a major role in this. She keeps this fanfiction XD. Now I should just let you read it...
Timeline note: This falls a few months after Riverstone, placing it before Harvest Moon in the timeline. It's a decision I originally made just to keep the Halloween special relevant to the season, but upon actually writing this, I realized just how glad I am that I waited. Target needed to be uploaded afterward. Just be aware of the timeline. :)
With a Bang
It all started with a bang. No, literally. Well, more like the rude intrusion of an older brother and then a bang, but it was still more excitement than Jeffrey Davis was used to. The worst he got to experience was losing a Battle of the Bands to his lame opponent. Obviously, the judges went insane that day. Frey was a Rockstar. Anyone who said different was a liar.
When he heard the frantic knocking at the door, his first thought was a neighbor trying to ruin his fun. Earlier that day, his band had rocked out at a gig to raging fans and the high was still coursing through him. Absently strumming his guitar to the radio's latest number was his way of celebrating his success, though there were always haters. The thin walls of the motel he called his temporary home meant many unwelcome guests. Still, he was a master of charm. He knew the ladies would swoon as soon as they laid eyes on him. Everyone else was just jealous.
By the time he unlatched the door, the party was over. Just like that. His brother came crashing in like the harbinger of the apocalypse and ruined every ounce of fun left in the world. It was Benjamin's way. He doubted his older brother even knew what real fun was.
The next thing he was aware of was the hard gravel beneath him as heat flared behind him. The intensity of the blast deafened him, leaving his ears ringing as he tried to make sense of what exactly just happened. In his rush to get up, an intense pain rocketed up his arm. He cried out as he collapsed back down. He wasn't a stranger to pain, but this was far from the norm.
"Hey, are you alright?" A female Brooklyn accent drew him back as he tipped his head towards the sound. "Don't move too much. That blast was intense. Let me help ya."
He blinked at the vision before him. The tight fitting, armor-plated, black bodysuit covered every inch of her while purple accents accentuated her curves. He couldn't see her face behind the full helmet she wore, but he imagined she looked like an angel. Her voice was hot. All his pain was easy to ignore as she crouched beside him.
"Can't stay here…" Benjamin groaned from somewhere to his left, reminding Frey that be wasn't the only one to be shot out of his motel room like a poser by an irate bouncer.
"Whoa, wait a sec, man!" The woman ditched him and ran over to his brother. "You shouldn't be movin' around just yet! You're worse off than that otha' guy."
"Benji?" Frey sat up, careful to avoid using his injured arm. "What the hell was that?"
"Snake Eyes," Benji hissed. "They couldn't get to me through Kimi anymore so now they put a hit on you. Ugh, this could have been over with already…"
"What are you talking about, bro?" Frey complained as he raised his good hand to his bleeding forehead, completely missing how tense the stranger became.
"You're him," The woman said, almost wistfully. "Just my luck. Of all the damn idiots…" The scorn that entered her tone didn't fit with his idealized image of her.
"You know my brother?"
"I should leave you to whatever trouble ya got yourself inta'," she cursed. "I can't believe this! After what you tried to do in Costa Rica, you deserve everything Snake Eyes could throw at you."
"We don't have time for this," Benji said with a groan. "I don't know how you know anything about Costa Rica, but if we don't move, they will make sure the job's done."
Frey could tell his brother was in worst shape then he was when he got closer. Blood matted his once military perfect crew cut. Pain kept him crumpled, his arm gripping his chest, even as he sluggishly tried to move. That stubborn persistence that never wavered, even in the face of their father's suicide all those years ago, still inspired him. Not that he'd ever admit that. He wasn't Kimi.
He heard the screech of tires behind him. The sound meant nothing to him, but both his brother and the stranger tensed with dread. Curiosity drew him to find the source, but the woman charged towards him. She was already in front of him with impossible speed by the time gunfire shattered what little peace they had left.
"Stop spacing out and run!" She yelled.
"My car's around back," Benji croaked through a visible flinch of pain as he struggled to his feet. The woman shoved Frey over before helping his brother.
"It'll have to work," she huffed. "S'not like we'd all fit on my 'bike."
"What about my 'bike?!" Frey objected, scrambling after them. "And my guitar! I'm not leaving them!"
"If your guitar was in that motel room, it's toast," the woman stated, impatiently.
"No, no! You can't say that!" Frey said, frantically.
"Get your priorities straight for once, Jiffy!" His brother snapped, his voice breaking into a harsh cough.
"If you're stupid enough to head back to that mess, you deserve to be shot!" The woman chastised him.
The attitude in her voice intrigued him, so his usual retort died before he could voice it. Her watched her, surprised at her already bullet-ridden suit. It was a wonder she could even see through her helmet with the spiderweb of cracks spread over her visor. He didn't have time to linger long as he dodged bullets between parked cars.
They reached Benji's dark crossover at the same time. The woman shoved Benjamin's keys into his hand before helping his brother into the back seat. "Get the car started and be ready to move fast!" She demanded.
He ran around the Blazer and quickly jumped in the driver's seat without protest. "Where are we heading?" He asked as he started the car.
"Anywhere but here!" She shot back as she slid into the seat next to him.
He pulled out of the parking space and drove off just as the gunman's sedan swerved in front of them. Panicked, Jeffrey yanked the steering wheel to the right one-handedly. They had stopped shooting, but that didn't stop them from trying to ram them off the road. How could he get away from someone that intent on killing them? He didn't like his chances.
Movement to his right momentarily distracted him as the woman tore off her helmet and tossed it in the backseat. The sight of her purple-streaked shoulder-length hair surprised him. Her tanned complexion and angled features enraptured him. Even down to the piercings along her brow and the side of her nose. "I knew you were hot."
"Shut up and drive," she snapped.
"Are you always looking to help a stranger in need or am I just the luckiest guy in the world?" Frey flashed her one of his trademark smirks that made ladies swoon.
"Are you serious right now? Don't look at me! Keep your eyes on the road! Do you want us to crash?"
"What do you call yourself, babe, so I have a name to go with my dreams tonight? It would be a crime to leave me in suspense."
"Ugh, is he always like this?" She asked his brother.
"You need to learn to tune him out," Benji grumbled.
"What's wrong with knowing the name of our goddess?" Frey commented, risking control of the vehicle to smooth his ravaged curls with his only good arm.
She cursed as the vehicle drifted over the left lane. "Angel! My name's Angel! Now can you get back to steering so we don't die?!" She gripped the dashboard in her panic, shooting a frantic glance at their pursuer in the side mirror.
"So I was right, then. You are my angel."
"I'm not your anything!" She huffed. "Ugh, you're impossible!"
"Jiffy, just drive!" Benjamin growled. "We're not out of danger yet!"
"Do these guys ever quit?" Frey asked, regretting his brother's reminder as he glanced at the rearview mirror.
"Not that I've seen." Benji's voice sounded pained. "Angel? Do you know a place where my brother can be safe?"
"Not here in Maine. It's too empty here." She glanced back to give Benji a pointed look. "If we were back in New York, we both know some guys who'd love ta help us out."
"Absolutely not. They already corrupted my sister. I'm not handing my brother over to them, too."
"Is that why you tried to hand them over to Bishop?" She scowled. "Yeah, I know about that. April told me everything. That was uncalled for."
"They're vigilantes!"
"So what? So am I!" She shot back. "Yanno, the one that picked your ass up and dragged you to the car? Dammit, even my mentor knows better than that and he's a veteran cop! Sometimes vigilantes are the only thing keeping this world safe!"
"What are you two going on about?" Frey glanced over. "Kimi's hanging out with vigilantes?"
"More than that," Benji said with a bitter edge. "She's infatuated with one of them. It makes me sick."
"Wow, man," Angel retorted. "They weren't kidding about your attitude. Those are my friends yer talkin' about."
"My little sister deserves better than some lawless animal."
Angel shifted in her seat, but whatever she was about to say was suddenly cut off by a violent screech and the sound of torn metal. The impact sent the car swerving and Frey struggled to regain control as the pursuing vehicle attempted to broadside them a second time.
"We need ta get off this road and outta sight!" Angel hollered.
"Sounds like a great plan!" Frey shot back. "Any ideas on how to do that?" His grip on the steering wheel was almost painful, especially so when he forgot his injured arm was more of a liability than helpful.
"They're way too obvious! These guys must be Taipan's grunts!" Benji determined. "If we could get lost in a bigger crowd, they should pull back. Snake Eyes abhors witnesses if they can help it."
"Are ya sure about this?" Angel asked. "I'd rather not endanger others by drawing these losers into that kind a' sitch'."
Frey heard Benjamin's pained groan as his brother shifted. "I'm positive. No one's supposed to know they exist."
"Just tell me where to go and fast! They're already too close for comfort!" Frey hissed.
"Then why tha hell are you slowing down?!" Angel stormed.
"I'm giving this baby all it's got, but I can't keep the speed anymore! It's been getting worse over the past two miles. It's just not responding!" Frey heard panic in his own voice even as he tried to reign it in. Still, no matter how much he pumped the gas pedal, nothing changed.
"What do you mean it's 'not responding'?"
Frey was ready with a retort before he caught sight of how easily the other car was now keeping up with them. "These guys don't play fair!"
He cursed when his head snapped back at the impact of the sedan with the back of the crossover. He desperately tried to keep control of the vehicle, but the intense pain of his injured arm made the task near impossible. He cringed at the sight of the brick building the Blazer turned towards.
Angel reached over and yanked the steering wheel from his slackened grasp. She hardly changed their course before the next collision of the sedan clipped the backend of the crossover, sending it into an uncontrolled spin. Frey had just enough time to shield his face with his arms as glass exploded around them.
A/N: I really hope you enjoyed this. I know it's difficult to get a fic so centered around OCs noticed on here. It makes me nervous. BUT, this is only one of many cliffhangers. So if you stick with me, be ready for a thrill. ;) Now feed that review box so I know you're out there!