Chapter 5: Staging the Storm

It was raining when Mr X's men decided to attack Nyteblade. He was just walking down a derelict street minding his own business when the goons appeared out of nowhere. He was drained and exhausted but he knew he still had enough fight in him to show them a good time. He unsheathed his sword and gripped it firmly waiting for them to strike first.

When the first goon struck out with his own sword he was immediately cut down in a blink of an eye. One by one they charged and would to his blade but they just kept coming and coming at the vigilante. His strength waning one of them managed to knock him down to his knees and disarm him.

"Mr X sends his regard." The goon sneered at him.

Nyteblade prepared to grab the blade and deflect it away from him when the goon's face suddenly contorted in pain and his weapon slipped from his hands and in slow motion he collapsed backwards on to the wet hard stone ground dead.

Nyteblade's eyes widened in surprise as all around him all the remaining goons fell one by one like a stack of dominos. The small whining sound of bullets rang through the air as they connected with their targets heads. He wasted no time in reaching for his sword and standing up surrounded by a circle of dozens of dead henchmen. He was admiring the handy work of his would be ally when he heard something launch out from the darkness and fly in the air towards him.

His eyes to the sky he saw a small black figure glide elegantly and somersault to land a few feet in front of him. The figure was knelt on the ground, her back to him. She rose to her feet slowly and purposefully, with an aura of power he had never felt before. She wore a simple outfit of black jeans and a tight fitting purple jacket. She turned round to face him, raking a hand through her dark chocolate brown unruly hair as she did so. Dark blue eyes with a hint of violet shined with mirth and her full rosy lips tugged up into a smirk.

Silently Nyteblade strode forward and stopped mere inches away from this deadly beauty in front of him.

"Who are you?" He asks breathlessly as he takes in her pretty face.

Her smile widens to an impish grin and she flashes her impossibly white teeth in a flirty manner. "The Boss." She answers gracefully and just as breathless as him.

"CUT!" The director shouts and the lights turn on transforming the dank dark street into an endless pool of light. The crew all start to busy themselves and pack up for the day and somebody turns off the rain machine.

Josh Birk instantly takes a few steps away from her and seeks out his assistant to get him out of his costume leaving the Boss to simply watch him practically run the hell away from her. She lets her impish grin fall into a frown as she clicks her tongue in disapproval. She sees his assistant helping him undo the clasps to his Nyteblade armour and sighs heavily as he doesn't glance her way once.

Her own assistant comes up to her, a painfully beautiful woman with long blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes so bright compared to her own dark ones.

"Let's get you out of that shall we?" Her voice is annoying sweet and the Boss feels her blood boil in unnatural rage.

"I'm perfectly capable of changing myself!" She shouts at the pretty assistant and her hands are clenched to fists as she resists punching her in the face and breaking her nose.

Then she feels it and she looks around and everyone is staring at her. They look at her like a wild ferocious animal that's about to pounce and normally she wouldn't give a damn but she catches him out of the corner of her eyes. She stops whatever verbal onslaught she was about to unload and feels the rage wash away from her entire body. She spins on her heels and walks as fast as her pride will allow back into her trailer to change. When she slams the door shut on all of them and she is alone with her emotions she punches the wall as hard as she can and lets out a frustrated growl.

He was looking at her the exact same way as everyone else.

Josh watched in amazement as the Boss nearly exploded on the poor wonderful lady that had the bad fortune of being her assistant. What amazed him even more was how the Boss didn't lash out as she typically did, instead she managed to control her temper somewhat and retreat into her trailer. The way she had looked at him, he wasn't sure what it meant but he's pretty sure that's why she stopped and he smiles a little to himself. He thinks that maybe the Saint leader is starting to mature into a normal lady a little more each day.

When he turns his gaze back to the pretty assistant all thoughts about the Boss leave his head. The blonde beauty nearly has tears running down her cheeks and he springs into action. He strolls over to her with half his costume falling off and gently wipes her tears with his cheeks.

"Hey there beautiful." His loud charming voice easing the atmosphere back into a more peaceful and happy one. "Don't let that monster get you down." He jokes and sleazily puts an arm around her waist. "Let's go and get a drink or two and forget this whole mess, yeah?"

Her entire face lightens up and she nods her head a little too enthusiastically but Josh doesn't care for he loves the attention. "Just give me a minute to change and we'll be out of here!" He announces to everyone and they all cheer, so eager to leave the troublesome Boss to herself.

In her trailer she hears their cheers at Birk's announcement and clenches her fists in defiance. She stands once again in her trade mark outfit of a baggy white t-shirt and baggy jeans and converse and storms out of her trailer. Her face is a controlled mask of nothingness and she walks with her back straight like she owns the place. Everyone stares nervously at her as she passes by them without as much as a glance to acknowledge their existence.

Shaundi had just turned up to see if she could tease the Boss and Birk about their day but senses something is horribly wrong when she notices the Boss stalk towards her as if she's heading off to war. She's about to ask her dearest friend what happened when she sees Birk with the pretty assistant and can figure enough of it out. She's worried though when the Boss remains silent and just keeps walking to where she parked the car. Shaundi just shakes her head and follows after her.

When they make it back to the Saint's headquarters the Boss doesn't greet the Pierce and Viola and heads straight for the gym to work out her anger and frustration. Shaundi wants to reason with her but knows that the Boss needs some alone time venting before having any kind of conversation.

"What the hell happened over there?" Pierce demands as the Boss closes the door to the gym without bothering to change into appropriate gym clothes.

Shaundi waits a moment for the music to start as the Boss undoubtedly plays while she's working out. "Pretty blonde got Birk's attention." She states simply with a little venom lacing it. As much as she despises Birk she knows that he's good for the Boss, he's a much needed diversion in their chaotic lifestyle.

"I don't know what she sees in that loser." Pierce makes his way over to the fridge and pulls out a crate of beers and brings them over to the main sofa that Viola is reclined on. He opens two bottles and passes them one each before taking one for himself.

"She's young and clearly doesn't know what she prefers yet." Viola adds cheerily while shrugging and takes a wig from her bottle.

"Not like she has much to choose from." Shaundi points out and downs her entire bottle in one swig and bangs it down on the coffee table. "There was Gat but he was more of a brother."

"I bet they would have hooked up if she were older." Viola counters and pulls a face that says that would have been obvious for anyone to see.

"Oh hell no! I don't even want to imagine it!" Pierce protests and crunches his face up in disgust.

"Oh so you've never imagined what the Boss would like once she gets her womanly curves?" Viola spoke huskily and laughed when both Shaundi and Pierce's eyes widened. "She's a pretty girl, a diamond in the rough. Once she polishes up she'll have all the men chasing after her!"

"Too bad she only has eyes for one."Shaundi muttered as she dashed towards the elevator as an idea popped into her head and she just had to get to work straight away.

Meanwhile Josh and the beautiful blonde assistant whose name he had already forgotten were sitting in the first bar that the pair had come across. They were sat on stools next to the bar counter drinking margaritas and talking about nothing interesting. He had made the mistake of asking how she ended up working for the studio and more importantly the Boss' assistant when she just ranted on endlessly.

"I went to university and got a degree that actually means something and she just shows up like she owns the place and I bet she didn't even finish school!" She rages out and downs the rest of her cocktail before ordering another one. "She's nasty and foul mouthed; I mean she runs a gang for heaven's sake! She should be locked up for all eternity, I mean I have no idea what made her the way she is but there's always another way right?!" She takes a sip of her new drink and without missing a beat is still talking, "She's got the worst dress sense and the way she looks at you is simply pathetic and a little depressing actually."

That last sense got his attention. "Erm what?!" He nearly chokes on his drink and stares at her like she's grown a second head.

"She's always watching you when you're on set together and she fidgets a lot when you go through your lines. I think she likes you which is weird because I wasn't even aware she had a beating heart!" She declares a little too loudly and the bartender glares at her but she doesn't seem to care.

Josh was now thoroughly confused, was this lady actually implying that the leader of the Saints had a crush on him? That was the most absurd thing he had ever heard and he'd heard it all. "I'm sure she doesn't. She's probably just looking ways to get under my thumb to do whatever she wants. I mean I'm part of her gang now technically."

"Every woman can tell when someone's interested. Too bad she's just a little girl with a bad attitude and murderous intent." She states nonchalantly and downs her drink again and continues "I mean obviously you're not interested in her because you're here with me." She winks at him then and pulls a sultry smile. "Besides she's not even pretty..."

There haven't been many times in his life when he's been truly angry but that last remark just set his nerve endings on fire and he's suddenly furious. "That's out of order don't you say?" He snaps at her and the friendliness is all gone now.

"You're telling me you find her pretty? She's not even a woman yet! She has no cleavage! A crappy attitude! She doesn't even bother to take care of her appearance! She can barely be considered a girl let alone a woman!" She shouts at him and she glares at him like a traitor.

"She's young but she'll get there eventually if someone doesn't kill her first - " He starts to protest but she rudely cuts him off.

"That girl deserves the most painful death imaginable." She spits out violently.

"How dare you!" He's finally lost it and bangs his glass hard down on the counter. "You say she has a crappy attitude? Well she's not the only one..." He pauses long enough to give her a pointed look and stands up abruptly. "Sure she's not the most beautiful girl in the world but she's certainly not ugly! The only ugly one I know of is you!"

He doesn't stay after that to see her reaction to his words. He just barges his way through the crowd and out the exit and heads for his car. Once inside he knows he's not meant to drink and drive but he suddenly has the overwhelming desire to see the Boss.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. Hope you all enjoyed it!