Führer Charlie

He sees you glowering sideways toward a table and following your line of sight, sees that customer lustfully eyeing you, catching his friends attention to make a stroking gesture toward his crotch as they all howl with laughter.

Vander exhales in a growl, recognizing the guy as the same one whom you mentioned earlier and leans forward toward you a little, "Is he still not gettin' the hint?"

"Nope," you reply through clenched teeth.

"Say the word darlin' and I'll personally throw'im out on his ass."

"If he tries anything else you can throw out what's left of him after I'm done."

He barks out a short laugh, your statement an unexpected and vivid reminder of one of the many reasons he loved you-your intellect, your beauty, your huge and fierce heart of course, now here was another; your unwillingness to take shit from anyone, especially obnoxious little rats like this guy. Reaching over, he gives your hand a brief, affectionate squeeze and flashes a reassuring smile before turning to fulfill the orders you had, passing you the stocked tray when he was finished.

He watches you walk away, another small smile on his face and pondering how he'd gotten so damn lucky before going back to his many other tasks.

Weaving between tables and patrons at various levels of intoxication, you deliver the drinks to a couple other spots...then draw a calming breath before heading back to the one you dreaded. Luckily they seemed more interested in whatever asinine conversation they were having than you at the moment, so you quickly set the mugs or glasses down and start to turn away.

"Heeeey there she ish!" the idiot slurred, blowing a kiss at you and beckoning you closer, "C'MON doll gimme a chance I shwear you'll love it!"

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you no, but NO," you snap firmly, gripping your tray, "Last chance. Back. Off."

The mood suddenly shifts in his bloodshot eyes, turning oddly dark and deciding you've had enough, you whirl on your heel and turn your back, reconsidering Vander's offer-

When the man abruptly lurches forward, grabbing you by the wrist and yanking you backwards so you end up losing your balance, dropping your tray and fall right into his lap. You gasp out a string of curses, furious and indignant as you try to push him off but he holds you fast around your waist, and at this point even his companions are telling him to knock it off.

Still refusing to give up and now clearly feeling slighted, he whines angrily, "I dunno who thish dude is ya got but baby I can do better-" one hand slides up your side towards your chest.

The adrenaline and rage fully kick in and you throw your head backwards into his face, cracking against it and he shouts in pain, loosening his grip enough for you to break free, whereupon you leap away and whirl, swinging your fist right into his nose as onlookers cheer for you.

"Gyaaah!" he screeches, eyes scrunched shut yet still grabs for you, "Little bitch-!" but you spin away and take a quick step forward-

And right into Vander's arms.

He had seen most of what happened, your initial shout grabbing his attention. Instantly his hands curled into white-knuckled fists, cold fury boiling in his gut.

"...'Scuse me a moment." he gruffly and as calmly as possible informed the people nearest him at the counter, coming around it and striding purposefully across the room, making it to you at the perfect moment. Many, also seeing what was going on, had lowered their voices as they informed others, thus the noise of the entire room slowly dissipated into rippling murmurs.

Vander gently holds your face to look at you and carefully asks, "Ya okay, love?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm good..." you answer, eyes flashing in disgust and breath rapid, "I'll be even better once I break his face some more."

The faintest smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, but it's one that instantly raises the hairs on your neck because you know that look; that tight, humorless pseudo smile, his grey eyes that are at once burning with rage yet icy cold, how you could feel the muscles in his hands and arms coiled tight with the effort of maintaining self-control. It was a look you hadn't seen on him for some time and it always gave you chills; here was the famed and feared hound of the underground, the man that sent even Enforcers backing away...no threat to you but certainly one to the jerk he now glanced towards while speaking to you again.

"I understand, darlin'. But I also think you've 'ad to deal with this lump of shit enough. Why don't ya take a breather? I'll handle the rest."

The man's friends, sensing the oncoming storm, are now slowly sliding out of their chairs, distancing themselves as he's sitting there with his eyes still squeezed shut and holding his bleeding nose, swearing and complaining. You nod slowly, drawing deep breaths and raise one hand to rest it briefly against Vander's jaw; part of you still wants to beat this guy's ass, but you can see the barely controlled fury in his gaze on your behalf and desire to dole out justice. He meant to make an example of this asshole, and you respected and understood that desire. It was at this point the guy opened his eyes-and his face went from reddened in drunken anger to ghostly pale as he looked at the pair of you and realization set in.

His voice a shuddering squeak he asked, "W-w-wait, HE'S your man?!"

Flipping him off, earning a couple scattered snickers, you step back until you're off to the side of the counter as Vander pulls a chair around and sits across from him. Taking out his pipe and a match, he reaches to strike it on the metal plate on the man's gauntlet, tossing him a sarcastic nod of 'thanks', lighting the tobacco and taking a long, thoughtful puff. Vander takes his time, letting him sweat and building the tension, working the room like a performer commands their audience.

Desperate, knowing he had royally fucked up and scrambling to think of something the man stutters lamely, "Yo if-if I had known s-she was your girl I wouldn'ta-"

"Wouldn't 'ave what?" Vander interrupts, his tone eerily calm, "Harassed 'er? Insulted 'er? Touched 'er?" at this last point his voice sets into a low growl, "I don't see how who someone is or isn't with makes a damn bit 'a difference. Ya don't harass people mate, plain 'n simple."

He's a wolf, toying with his shaking, cornered prey as the entire room is watching in curiosity. The guy swallows audibly, staring at the floor then suddenly looks up at his friends, eyes wild and seeking some sort of validation or backup. However, they simply glance away. One quietly dares to speak up, "Nah bro. You went too far."

He lets out a whine, deflated, while Vander continues, "I don't think-"

Abruptly he leaps to his feet, shoving his chair aside and scrambling to try and run-but Vander is faster, standing to lunge and grab him by the shirt collar, slamming him hard into the wood floor as he yelps in pained shock. Several folks nearby cringe or flinch away, making mental notes to never cross this mountain of a man. Hauling him upwards, he drops him back in his chair where he rests on it with a groan as Vander sits back down too.

"Ah, don't worry ya can leave when I'm done..." he takes another drag on his pipe, blowing the smoke right at his quarry who coughs and weakly swats it away, "See, I'm not an idiot. I know a lotta things go on 'round here," he pauses to make a point of scanning the room with his steely grey eyes, "And sometimes, I'll let it slide. However, one thing I will never abide by, is what 'appened here. Someone tells ya no, ya stop. No question."

He leans forward, brow furrowed and in a gravelly tone that was more threat than suggestion, "Now, you got anythin' to say before ya go? An apology perhaps?"

Only you, knowing Vander as you do, truly comprehend how lucky this guy was; you see the thinly veiled fury in your love's features, and were this in his younger days he would have simply smashed the guy's face in before throwing him out like yesterday's trash. Now however, with his hard gained wisdom and leadership position he found it better to use this as a 'learning opportunity' for everyone present, as well as the people they would be talking to later.

The guy, glowering but full well knowing he was in enough trouble, sniffled and coughed before lifting his head enough to glance at you, "...sorry 'bout that..."

Your only reply is to incline your head, and he looks away again at his feet, sore and humiliated. Vander suddenly cracks a smile, though it's dark and almost mocking.

"There, that was easy wasn't it? Now you can leave. C'mon then-"

Bracing his hands on his knees to stand, Vander grasps the man under the arm and hauls him to his feet, half helping him walk and half-dragging him to the exit, people scooting out of the way as they pass. Reaching the large doors, Vander opens one enough to unceremoniously and effortlessly toss the guy several feet away into the muddy street. He lands hard and rolls, but quickly drags himself to his knees then more unsteadily, to his feet. Several people nearby laugh or offer commentary and he stares at Vander with a pouting, defeated look. The large man leans casually against the doorframe, the embers from his pipe as he uses it illuminating his face with an amber hue, and he exhales a cloud of smoke into the damp evening air, meeting the man's gaze with an icy, humorless smile.

"If ya ever darken my door again, I don't think I need to tell ya what'll 'appen."

Without waiting for a response and knowing one wasn't needed, he turns to step back inside while shutting the door behind him. The barroom, which had been abuzz quiets again as he steps into the middle of the space and slowly looks around.

In a gruff voice that held no room for discussion he announces, "I'm only gonna say this once; I don't 'n will not tolerate that kinda shit from or toward anyone. Forget that 'n your gettin' the same treatment ya just saw. Are we clear?"

There's a ripple of nods and words of understanding, and slowly everyone returns to their drinks and conversations with Vander coming over to you, still in your out-of-the-way spot near the counter.

His arm slips around your waist and he murmurs while briefly touching his forehead to yours, his gaze intense, "Long as I'm around, I swear, no one's gonna treat ya like that 'n get off without catchin' hell."

You sigh, reaching up to rest your hands on his chest; his heart is hammering, and you move your hands to grasp his face, tenderly rubbing small circles with your thumbs.

"I know, Papa Bear and I love you for it. You know I've got your back too, right?"

The Last Drop was truly a sight to behold on Saturday nights. While the hole in the wall was usually livelier than any of the other bars in the undercity, it was nowhere near as busy as it was on Saturday nights. and that's what left you pushing your way through the crowd of inebriated criminals. Well, most of them were criminals. that's just how it was in the undercity.

Music blared in your ears, and you could feel the bass pumping through the soles of your shoes. The band playing was some underground pop punk band, under the alias of "sugar poison explosion" they were tacky at best.

you let out a sigh as you flopped onto one of the rickety barstools, tapping your fist on the pockmarked wood counter, catching the attention of your best friend and long time

"this the best you could do, Vand?” you shouted as the monster of a man turned to face you. “I had no choice, they’re powder’s favorite” he said, gesturing down the bar, to where you could see Vi watching her sister twirl around. “They’re good kids,” You smiled, leaning towards him on your elbows

“They’re a good handful, they are” he avoided your gaze, although you could see the hints of a smile play across his face despite himself as he watched them. “So, what’ll it be?” he turned to you. 

“All these years, and you still ask my order?”

"Well I can't help but hope you'd want something better than the battery acid you usually order"

"it's just whiskey and Cybertron" you shrugged, knowing that you'd had this conversation before and you'd have this conversation again tomorrow night.

"it's an aneurism, that's what it is!" he laughed, but even so he set to making your drink. "I don't know how you drink this stuff.." he muttered, popping open a can of Cybertron Energy , and pouring it into a glass of whiskey.

"what? it's delicious" you spun lazily on your barstool, watching the ceiling spin

"it looks like dogshit" Vander scowled at the murky liquid, placing it in front of you. Grimacing as you took a sip. it tasted like flaming toxic waste, but in the best way possible.

"you look like dogshit." you retorted, taking another swig of the drink

Vander only laughed at you. you were so...you. you drank your battery acid every night, you spun around on your barstool despite the fact you were almost as old as he was, and yet you were quite terrifying indeed. he'd done some terrible things in his time, but he knew you'd done much worse. and he loved you. shit, he loved you.

"Oh! a booth just opened up!" you jumped up, "come on you big lug," gently tugging his arm, instructing him to follow you to the quiet booth in the back.

"I can't just leave the bar-"

"oh sure you can, just leave it to fucking jerry" you sent an offhanded wave to the scrawny teenager taking orders down the counter.  He nodded back at you silently. 

"you go on, I'm gonna grab a drink first"

you nodded, and began retreating to the back of the bar. by now, most people were clearing out of the last drop, drunk off their asses. that is to say that the night was hardly over, but now people were off to seek their...other needs in the brothels down the road, making it much easier to navigate your way through the still crowded bar.

It was from there that you watched Vander gently carry a sleeping powder to the back room, Vi following behind. it was rare to see him so vulnerable when...so vulnerable ever. Vander was a good man, and he had a good heart, but to see proof of that was rarer than gold.

You caught his eye, as he was filling a tankard for himself. he caught you looking, and quite nearly sloshed his beer down his shirtfront as he made his way towards your table. 

“tired are we?” 

“not a word, y/n, not a word.” he grumbled. collapsing into the booth next to you, taking a swig from his mug. 

“I think it’s sweet how much you care about those girls” you said, nudging into his shoulder. “If I had had someone like you growing up, lord knows i’d have a lot less on my conscience.” you said, with a mirthless laugh. “but seriously,” you met his gray gaze, watching as his hard-set face seemed to soften as he looked at you “they’re lucky to have you,”  you nodded. Vander looked away from you, his ears flushing red.

“well now, I’d say they’re lucky to have you to being as you’re, so, i don’t know I think you’re better for them than I’ll ever be” he stumbled over his words, still avoiding your gaze, and attempting to take a swig from his tankard, although he ended up sloshing most of it down his shirtfront. 

Surely there must be another Vander, because this one is acting like an idiot

“you okay there, Vander?”  you laughed, helping him mop the beer, choosing to ignore the close proximity. 

“m’fine, just..uh...” His voice trailed off as your eyes met his, your hand on his chest. you stared at each other, not wanting to speak, lest one of you break the moment.  “hi,” you whispered, not moving at all. 

“hey” his hand slipped around your waist, tentatively, and you felt your breath catch in your throat. “D’you mind if I...” 

you nodded silently, gently brushing your lips against his, and then again, more assuredly. his hands tightened around your waist as he kissed you back, humming as you moved your hands into his hair. 

it was awkward, and messy and his beard was scratching your cheek, the table was digging into your side, and you both smelled like beer, but you couldn’t have asked for a better first kiss with Vander. He was warm and comforting and always made sure you were comfortable. and now he was kissing you.

it was warm and it was sweet and it lasted forever but it was over too soon. You gently pulled away from each other, hearts pressed together, pounding a mile a minute. 

“you taste like battery acid” 

“oh shut up, you big lug." you laugh leaning into his side.

“it’s not..” he took a moment to consider the drink “as bad as I thought.” 

“I told you!” you swatted at his arm.  “But I think I prefer it when I’m kissing you.’