#lukeshthreads

Lukesh hated being included in something when they weren't on the job. When their face was recognised or when they felt that annoying itch that they had to participate, which is what they did. And after they always regretted it. They weren't dressed to deal with it, their shirt was ripped and their lip bleeding.

But a few of the fighters had been arrested and they were free to continue their night. As if that was such an easy thing to get back from. Lukesh licked their lip and hissed at the pain. "Fuckers and alcohol, I swear, almost makes me want to take up drinking myself."

Lukesh knew they were cutting it close, in all regards they were certain making a fool of themself with how often they were stealing stuff from crime scenes, lining their pockets with money that could only come from the criminal circuit and then buying expensive things with it. Luckily, nobody they worked with that wasn't Jack or Ira was allowed in their apartment, so nobody would learn that they had far too many expensive things. And they did far too many expensive things; vacations abroad, renting fancy cars and suits, going to clubs, operas, and so forth.

That did mean that any time someone tried to throw a wrench in their plan, Lukesh needed to stop them. They had to find dirt on Zane Bastias, to make sure that the criminal didn't rat them out.

"You seem to be up to something," they young MET agent said to the thief, who was older, taller, bigger, than them.

"Wallah, your life is shit."

Lukesh couldn't help sneaking up on Ira as they watched him work. And banter came natural to them, the trio of MET agents barely could get through a conversation without insults. The fact that Lukesh had time off and Ira was forced to work simply made it funny. Because they were the youngest. And there was always something to say about the youngest: still had a lot to learn, needed to prove themself. Not Lukesh. They managed to get out of most of that only because they associated with Jack and Ira. People thought they were older.

"Can you imagine having to work and keep an eye on all these fuckers?" They chuckled. "Seriously though, what's it like keeping an eye on rich people? Feels more like a stake-out than a surveillance. Seen anything fun?"

Lukesh smirked as they bumped a shoulder into Julie, their eyes already scanning the crowds. "Hi," they said, as they contented themself with the area and turned fully towards the nurse. "Did you clock your exits?" they asked, mostly a joke and a reminder of past interactions. As if Lukesh was some private security who did this on a daily basis and not a corrupt MET agent who did it because they needed to know how to make off with evidence.

"Safety always comes first," they assured her. "And place like this... plenty people hiding their true intentions. Pretty sure those masks are supposed to show that. Hiding in plain sight." Like them: because they were not supposed to be there.