Scarecrow and the Rainbow Solution

“They’re too fucking calm, I don’t like it.”
“You’re high as a fucking kite, you couldn’t tell calm if it bit you on the ass.”
Crimson smirked at the irritation in Rainbow’s voice and let the warmth in her fingertips enjoy the vibration screaming from the dashboard as her friend pushed the car to an even one hundred and ten. Keeping up with Party when he was angry and driving was no mean feat and she could see someone waving their arms in the passenger seat. Clearly an argument was going on there too and it didn’t bode well.
“Hey, they didn’t shoot us on sight at least.”
Rainbow bit back a reply as the car in front disappeared over a crest in the road. She was hot, tired and ready to ditch both her friend and the whole venture. There were still places to disappear too and she wondered if Ghoul would at least be willing to discuss it before the Trans Am reappeared and turned into a violent skid. She slowed the car and t boned it, ready for a getaway and just for the satisfaction of watching Crim’s head connect painfully with the window frame. She looked up and nudged the swearing woman.
“Show time.”
Party was already out of the car and striding toward them, one hand on the gun at his side and a determined look pinned on his face. The desert stretched around them in every direction, nothing but a few irradiated cacti and stunted bushes to break up the dusty scenery. It was getting late in the afternoon but the sun was still burning in its intensity. It somehow matched the man coming toward them, all fire and passion. Crimson couldn’t take her eyes off him even when he reached through the open window and pulled her out by the hair.
“So talk. Why the fuck did you leave.”
Crimson gingerly put her hand up to her head and didn’t bother trying to get up from the floor. There was no point in getting up only to be pushed back down. Already Kobra and Jet were nearby, Rainbow saying her own greeting to Ghoul.
“You know why. We almost died thanks to Korse and your damn war.”
“No reason to up and run out on me…on us.”
For a moment she thought he was going to lash out again before Jet put a hand on his shoulder and then glared down at Crimson. The eyepatch was new and she was trying not to stare. Close up Party hadn’t changed a bit and neither it seemed had Kobra.
Rainbow reached down a hand and pulled Crimson back up as they all stared at each other. Four years was a long time and yet they had already fallen into the old habits, Camaro behind Trans Am, the girls leaning against the car, they guys watching the road. Rainbow tore her eyes from Ghoul and looked at Party.
“You had the option to come with us. Don’t tell me Dr D didn’t know where we were cos he sure knew quick enough when we came back.”
Party pouted but his brother looked away confirming the statement and Rainbow felt her temper start to rise. It was easy to claim to be the injured side in this but they had been left on their own in Vegas and had coped without needing back up. They had survived things that had made Battery City seem like a holiday camp and she wanted to badly to beg forgiveness and never think about that horror again.
“We stayed. We fought because somebody had to.”
“Save the fucking speech Party, you still want your damn martyrdom.”
Before Party could speak or move, Ghoul put himself between them and stared him down. He had always been the only one that could make the red head stop and think, the voice of reason for the most part and although he was mad as hell, Ghoul needed them to all think rationally.
“That’s unfair Crim.”
There was a pause and a silence between them all. Crimson and Party were still staring at each other, neither willing to back down or look away. She knew he had missed her, he knew she still wanted him and there was now an impasse, a four year roadblock and a shitload of unfinished business.
“We should get undercover. Could be surveillance all over here and we don’t need Korse to know you’re back.”
Kobra flashed Rainbow a smile, unconsciously she and Ghoul were leaning into each other and he hoped that at least they would have a chance of working things through. He hadn’t realised how much things had changed without the girls around and he wasn’t above admitting to himself that he wanted to see how this would work out.
“Why are you back ?”
Party didn’t want to back off, the sting of Crimson’s words always went deep with him and brought back bad memories of their last argument before he had woken up to find her gone and a note on his pillow. He had spent too long after that keeping Ghoul from racing after them and too many nights staring at a bottle to make it easy on them. Rainbow stared at him, her eyes almost pleading and he saw fear there that made him stop.
“Not here, not in the open.”
“FINE.”
With a last glare at Crimson, Party stalked off towards the car. Jet was still serious and followed closely behind, only Kobra and Ghoul offering embraces that were gratefully returned. Crimson almost clung to Kobra, there were too many times she had cried on his shoulder over the risks Party would take. The tough façade was true for the most part but he had always been her weak spot and his brother had been there to share the strain. Kobra buried his face in her hair, his lips brushing her ear.
“He missed you, give him time.”
“I missed him too and you. Its good to see you Kobra.”
The other man smiled and winked, following Party back towards the car as Crimson turned to find that Ghoul and Rainbow had gone past the looking at each other phase and were now in the kissing each other until the air ran out phase. It was both endearing and incredibly fucking annoying, even more so as the other car fired up.
“Great, you’re happy to see each other but can we please leave now ?”
Ghoul giggled at the sour look that Crim was shooting them, he recognised the comedown that drift tended to cause and thought back to the bet he had made with Kobra. He had put his last five bucks and three tins of Power Pup on the line that Crimson and Party would be fucking before the end of the week. He was still convinced he was on a winner.
“Just saying hi. Can I hitch a ride ?”
Crimson caught the keys and followed as Ghoul and Rainbow took over the backseat. She concentrated on driving, trying not to listen to their conversation and trying to keep up with party as they headed on out into the most remote part of Zone Five and into Zone Six. It was almost too quiet, as she remembered it there were usually Drac patrols out here regularly and it had been normal to fight at least one pitched battle on the way.
“Is it always this quiet ?”
Ghoul nodded, he felt too good to want to break it to the girls that there were very few of their kind this far out left to kill. Most stayed hidden in the day now, hitting BLI closer to the city and saving their numbers for co-ordinated raids. The running battles still happened but the firepower that the opposition had now didn’t make for a fair fight.
“In the worst part of the day yes, we can hit them better at night.”
Crimson nodded as the diner appeared in the distance. It had always felt like home even though they never stayed anywhere for more than two nights at a time and the cellar offered limited protection from a raid. Her mind was pulled back to nights on the roof with Party, talking and making plans after the initial lust had been satisfied. It felt like a world away and she realised that she really didn’t want to fight with him anymore.
“Surprised it’s still standing.”
Rainbow craned over Crim’s shoulder and smiled at the old building as her friend swung the car behind it next to the Trans Am. From the road you would see nothing, just a boarded up old building that had somehow survived nuclear fire. The wanted posters that covered the wall were of familiar faces and the boards had become even more weathered. To slide inside and relish the cool air of a clapped out air conditioning unit was bliss after the blazing heat and all of them couldn’t speak for a moment. Jackets and guns were shed onto the cracked leather of the booths and all of them sat down on the blankets that had been spread over the faded tiles of the floor. Party leant back, unable to resist the smile that crossed his face.
“So now will you cut the crap and tell us why you’re here ?”

Notes