Bad News From The Zones, Tumbleweeds

Kid came speeding into the canyon where they made their home base. It was sparse but safe and it had become a beacon of creativity. Drab colored buildings blended into the desert sand but inside it was bright and colorful, a bit cluttered. It was home. Poison met him as he got out of the car.
PP Hey Kid, good trip?
KK Yeah, hugging his brother. Grab Ghoul and let’s unload the supplies. Kid says all business.
PP No, we can do that later. I think we need to talk about this girl first.
Kid follows Poison inside. Ghoul is sitting on his favorite chair, strumming a tune on his guitar.
FG Thank God you’re here. Your brother has worn a path outside pacing and worrying about you.
PP Sit down and tell us what is going on.
Kid sighs heavily as he sits and shrugs off his jacket. He’d gone over everything in the car, replaying it over and over.
FG Jesus, is it that bad?
PP just start at the beginning.
Kid tells his side of everything from arriving at the supply hut to leaving this morning. Poison and Ghoul let him talk. Poison sits on the arm of the chair Ghoul is sitting in and by the time Kid finishes Poison is draped across Ghoul’s lap.
KK That’s what happened.
FG Ok now tell us what about it all bothers you.
KK I’m not sure.
PP Describe YN.
KK Well, she’s about my age? I don’t know. YC hair, longish. I don’t know she has eyes, I don't know the color but they have a wildness to them, you know?
FG Well at least she has eyes! He rolls his eyes and glance to Poison.
KK Maybe its sadness.
PP …and THERE it is
Ghoul looks at Poison and shakes his head NO.
KK What?
Kid repeats himself. What? What am I missing?
Before Poison can explain, Ghoul interjects. No, he’s right to be suspicious. Something sounds odd.
KK Even Ghoul can see it.
Poison smiles and shakes his head in disagreement. I think you like her but you don’t like her with Jet.
FG Jet isn’t the type to toss aside safety over a piece of ass.
PP Exactly! He kisses Ghoul on the top of the head. Thank you for making my point.
KK Wait Poison, are you really trying to say I’m jealous? His voice getting louder with each word. Really? Jealous?! He’s now standing.
Ghoul looks to Poison to respond.
PP Don’t get all bent outta shape. Stop and hear me out.
Kid slowly sighs and sinks back in to the chair.
PP First, how many single girls have we met since we’ve been in the zones?
FG I don’t know 20-30
Kid starts to speak and Poison holds a hand up for him to wait.
PP How many has Jet been into?
FG Zero.
PP Why?
KK He’s gay!
Ghoul throws an empty can at him.
PP He’s met plenty of girls, known them for ages. Nothing. So it’s gotta be someone special that pulls his attention. As Ghoul pointed out crudely, he wouldn’t risk what we have for a piece of ass. You agree?
KK Okay, yes but how does that mean I’m jealous?! I felt nothing when I kissed her and told her so.
FG What The Fuck?! Was that before or after you caught Jet bending her over the counter?
PP Before, am I right? You kissed her and she picked him. Come on Kid, you gotta see it.
FG Oh I gotta meet this chic. She’s got you both making a play for her. Maybe I’ll make a pass.
Poison tousles Ghoul’s hair. Sorry baby, but your gay and your mine.
FG Oh yeah, I forgot. Smiling at Poison.
KK Fucking Jet!
PP What now?
KK He said you’d agree with him.
FG He’s always had a way to read people.
PP If he trusts her, I’m good.
FG I’d still rather meet her way from here.
KK Fine, we’ll all go back. I’ll warn you they are more lovey dovey then you two.
Ghoul and Poison look at each other shocked.
PP What?
FG More?
FG Come to me my love, my reason for living! He grabs Poison by the face and lays a long, loud, sloppy kiss on him.
KK Fuck you all. He says standing and storming off to his room.

Later that night in bed, Ghoul is smoking as Poison’s head is in his lap, absently playing with his red hair. Poison has his eyes closed and is humming softly.
PP Spill it Ghoul, what’s bothering you?
FG Hmm?
PP Something is on your mind. Tell me.
FG I’ve never seen Kid and Jet disagree. In fact they have always been close.
PP Yeah, so?
FG Well maybe he is jealous. But not over her.
Poison lifts his head and looks at Ghoul. What are you saying?
FG I’m not saying anything, but I’m wondering. When have we seen Kid show interest in a girl? Really serious interest?
PP I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it. You think he has feelings for Jet? Really?
FG I don’t know but something seems off with the whole situation.
PP Maybe you’ll feel better once we meet her.
FG What about Kid’s feeling?
PP I don’t know, he’ll have to get over it. Either way looks like he won’t be with Jet or this girl; no matter which one he’s hot for.
Ghoul pulls Poison to him. I love it when you say ‘hot’.
Poison smiles and kisses Ghoul, a small peck. I love it when you shut up. He kisses him again, a longer deeper kiss with tongues exploring.
Ghoul breaks the kiss. Jerk!
Ghoul flips them over so Poison is lying under him. He straddles him and pulls off his shirt and begins to plant kisses from his jaw down to his collarbone. Poison moans. Ghoul pulls his own shirt off and resumes his seduction of Poison.

Kid is lying on his bed in his room. Replaying everything from meeting YN to his conversation with Ghoul and Poison.
KKIM Jealous? That’s ridiculous.
She’s not my type, she’s too pretty, she’s a stranger, can’t be trusted.
Why can’t Jet see that’s somethings off? He’s smarter than this. I’ve never seen him so gaga for a girl like this before. He’s blinded by her.
Maybe I should tell him I kissed her. Maybe that will make him see she’s …she’s what? Not loyal? A slut?
Why did I kiss her? I remember thinking how good she smelled and that she was pretty and her lips were soft.
It meant nothing!
I’m not jealous.
When I saw her and Jet kissing I felt nothing then too.
Poison’s an ass. I’m not jealous. I don’t care about YN.
With that thought Kid rolls over and goes to sleep.

The next morning the three roll out back to the supply shack. They ride in silence listening to Dr. Death Defying’s broadcast. “Listen up you motor babies. Report just came in our favorite Crash King has been dusted. Looks like Cleric is on the scene and in the zones looking for the Killjoys. So if you’re listening, keep your guns handy and your eyes open.” The music resumes and Ghoul turns it down.
FG Cleric? How the FUCK would Cleric find Crash King?!
KK Did he know when we were making our supply run?
PP No, last time we saw him he said he was heading back towards the city to scavenge.
FG but that wouldn’t matter, he knows where the shack is.
KK Fuck, that Drac we killed said he was searching for an Exterminator to deliver tablets. What if…
PP You think Cleric could be on his way to the shack?
FG No, you think YN is Cleric.
PP Kid, you said she pressed the Drac for answers as much as you guys did. She had plenty of time to kill you. Why wait?
FG I can’t say I’ve ever heard of an Exterminator seducing a victim before killing him, I mean why bother? They are supposed to be emotionless killing machines. Korse is all anger but I don’t see him making a pass at me or you.
KK Funny, very funny. I don’t think YN is Cleric.
PP Good, I don’t think she is either.
FG I’m still not sure.
PP What?
KK Really?
FG I think Kid is jealous.
KK Fuck you Ghoul.
Poison laughs and they drive on.

Notes