#mac fraser

He had waited weeks to set his plan in motion. Well, the truth is, Griff wasn’t smart enough to come up with something decent. There were many things to consider and he was far too busy (more like, impatient) to deal with it all. So, in typical Griff fashion, he had paid someone to come up with it instead. The person in charge assured him it was foolproof. Griff threatened to bankrupt him if that wasn’t the case. Now all he had to do was put his best acting skills to good use. “Moon, a word, if I may?”

Finally, she was alone. Thank the heavens the others were downtown for whatever reason. Only Thorsen remained but he wasn’t a threat. Parker on the other hand would’ve noticed something was off right away, which he couldn’t afford, and God forbid he was around.

“Of course.” She looked up, placing her sketchbook down on the picnic table beside her. She had been drawing outside, seated on the edge of said table “What can I do for you?”

He took a step closer “I’d like to apologize for the way I behaved in the car. It wasn’t fair of me to lash out at you like that.”

Moon assured him there was nothing to apologize for. “I’m the one who should apologize. I was acting out of line.” The poor girl was making this far too easy for him. How naïve. It must be so tiring to always see the good in others.

Griff shook his head. “No, you did nothing wrong. This was all on me.” It wasn’t like him to apologize, let alone take accountability for his actions. He didn’t recall ever apologizing to any of them. Yet Moon did not seem to be alarmed when he did just that. “You see, the reason why I reacted the way I did was because… well, I was stressed. It was a lot to take in and a lot has happened that day.”

Moon nodded. It was a big event, she couldn’t even fathom how taxing it must have been for him to represent the lot of them. They had all been stressed, he needn’t tell her twice. “I understand. It was a lot of weight for us to carry. You did great.” If only he could hire her to praise him on a daily basis. The others could learn a thing or two from her. He took another step to close the gap between them. Now that he had a closer look at her face, it only now occurred to him how she looked at him: an expression filled with genuine adoration. If money and fame hadn’t clouded his judgement perhaps he would’ve realized that what he was doing was very, very wrong.

“Would you like to go get coffee? Just the two of us. It’s been a while.”

She beamed at him. “I would love that!” And so, they grabbed their coats and made their way downtown. Griff could only hope he wouldn’t come across his team but again, he wasn’t as smart as he believed to be. Already he was taking a huge risk. “So, I would like to talk to you about this soirée a week from now…”

--

“I can’t wear that!”

“And why the fuck not?” Eve demanded, hands resting on her hips. She gave the brunette an all-too-knowing ‘speak up’ look.

In Eve’s defense, the dress was drop dead gorgeous but also quite daring for Moon’s standards. Moon’s aunt had gifted it to her on graduation day, for when the time came she’d be able to wear it. Well, at long last, the occasion called for it. It was a white, asymmetric long sleeve one shoulder dress covered in sequins.

“Well… What if, you know…” She was almost too embarrassed to say it out loud “... My breast pops out?” Truly nothing slipped past her. She always thought of every possible thing that could happen. Granted, Eve wasn’t a fan of wardrobe malfunctions either but the doom thinking was getting old at this point.

“That’s what nipple guards and double-sided tape is for.”

“What an interesting concept.” The brunette seemed fascinated. Eve on the other hand wondered if she had been living under a rock.

“You’ve never heard of these?” Eve asked while raising her brow. The brunette shook her head. How had she survived without them all this time? Oh, right, she always wore things twice her size.

“Girl, you have a lot to learn.” Eve sighed as she shook her head.

Freya chimed in “You have a lovely figure, show it off.” She complimented as she was flipping through this week’s fashion magazine.

Now Sorian butted in. “And if your tit does pop out it will give those corporate fucks something to talk about. I bet that’s more action than they’ve had from their wives in twenty years.”

Eve laughed while Moon looked horrified. Freya glared at him. Sorian simply shrugged. Ever the protective figure, she threw her magazine on the blonde’s lap and turned her attention back to the girl. “It won’t happen, so don’t worry.”

Moon took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s go with that one.”

Eve squealed in delight. She loved getting ready with the rest of the girls and additionally, whenever he felt like crashing, Sorian. “So, for hair and makeup, what were you thinking about?”

Moon asked if Eve was familiar with the ‘mermaid tear’ trend. Eve nodded. It was a good choice. As for hair, Moon was hesitating between three looks: the wet, slicked back look; straight and parted in the middle or the K-pop-inspired hairpin look.

Eve didn’t expect the girl to come forward with such a bold suggestion but now that she did, she was going to take advantage of that. It was about time she outed herself a little more. Freya on the other hand argued that the last look was more true to her personality. In the end they went for a compromise: the wet look, with a strip shape rhinestone pin placed right above the ear as finishing touch. Incredibly pleased with the final look, Moon thanked them and went to retrieve her makeup brushes. Bored with the stale gossip the magazine had to offer, Sorian accompanied her.

While Sorian was busying himself with the brunette, both Eve and Freya took this as an opportunity to get dressed. Eve had opted for a skin-tight plunging metallic mini dress with long sleeves. It was loud, it was fun and it was glamorous. She looked absolutely stunning and she knew it. For makeup, she had opted for a colorful cut crease. For hair, she wanted to rock her natural curls.

Freya on the other hand had opted for an elegant, pink pin-up dress. She too, liked to show off her curves and damn right she was. Who in their right mind wouldn’t when you had a rack like hers? For hair, she went full Jessica Rabbit. To compliment tonight’s style, she had picked a beautiful retro glam makeup.

Suddenly, Eve remembered Griff’s comment a week prior. “This isn’t a frat party so dress accordingly. Important people will attend this event.” He had told them. So naturally Eve had decided otherwise just to spite him. She was going to shake what her mama gave her, just like the song says, whether Griff liked it or not. Unlike him she wasn’t afraid of color (or fun).

--

As for Sorian, unlike Griff and Val, he wasn’t much of a suit guy. If he had to wear something fly however, you best believe he was going all out, Sorian style. So there he was at the bottom of the stairs, wearing jeans, while waiting for the others to come down.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” He heard Griff yell at him.

“What do you mean? I’m wearing Gucci. Be happy I didn’t go full ‘Old Town Road’ like Lil Nas X.” He retorted nonchalantly. Granted, his brightly-colored silk ruffle dress shirt was fancy as fuck but he didn’t expect Griff to understand it. Griff didn’t know what Nasex, a fucking nasal spray, had anything to do with this and he dared not question it.

“Get changed right this instant or so help me God.” Alas, it was already too late. He could hear the girls giggle upstairs and a door slamming shut behind them. They were ready.

“What’s up?” He heard behind him. Great, Aguilar looked like a clown too. This was going to be a nightmare once again. Why did he even bother to bring them along? At this rate he could cover every single act in Cirque Du Soleil with the way they were dressed.

“What the fuck are you two wearing? Didn’t any of you understand the brief?” Skylar was wearing a black suit vest with a white dress shirt underneath. The blue denim pants and brown dress shoes really tied his look together. To his credit, he looked the part. To Griff? Not as much.

Skylar’s companion, Mac, had actually given his outfit some thought. Skylar could only guess he had done it for Eve’s sake. The rapper was wearing a dark green velvet suit with a bowtie. He had opted for a golden chain and brand new sneakers to complete his look. In all honesty, even though he wasn’t pleased in the slightest, Griff had to let that one slide.

Skylar shrugged. “We do, we just don’t give a fuck.” The free drinks and hotties is where it was at, really. The Dominican knew all too well this event had nothing to do with them. Griff just trudged them along to showcase them like cattle on an annual fair. Whatever would make the sponsors happy, he guessed.

Finally, Thorsen had shown his face. “Are we ready to go?”

Griff pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. He, too, looked absolutely horrendous. A white band jacket paired with a leopard top hat, really? Not to mention the graphic black metal band shirt he was wearing underneath. This was an event, not a rock concert. “Do you see Parker anywhere?” He asked the Norwegian.

Ty gave him a sheepish look. “No?”

“Then no, we’re not. Parker is late again. Always the same.” Griff complained.

“I heard that.” Freya snapped back as she made her way down with Eve. They hadn’t even left and already he was complaining. Freya huffed, this was going to be a long night. Griff gave the redhead a disgusted look. Needless to say, he didn’t approve of her attire either. Had they somehow conspired against him? It sure seemed like it. Ty, on the other hand, couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He thought she looked stunning. She always did.

Mac didn’t hesitate and went straight for Eve, pulling her closer. “You look hot, babe!” The girl giggled in response, running a hand through her thick curls. She knew she looked hot but always appreciated his compliments nonetheless.

There was one member missing. “Where is Moon?” Griff asked as he glanced at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently. The cab could arrive any minute now and they couldn’t afford to be late.

“Here!” She replied as she traipsed down the last steps, giving her friends an apologetic look. “My apologies, I’m not used to wearing heels. I didn’t want to tumble down the stairs.”

When Griff had finally bothered to look up, he didn’t quite know what to say. He was met with an unexpected sight for sure. His mouth hung slightly open but no words came out.

Freya and Eve high-fived each other. Their work was done here. A job well done in Freya’s opinion. Moon was no longer the wallflower of the bunch. She looked fantastic, even if she didn’t realize it. All the girl needed was a gentle push to come out of her shell. With newfound confidence, Moon beamed at him.

“You… look different.” Griff said stupidly. He had one job and blew it. Freya sighed. He was hopeless.

Moon wasn’t sure what he meant by that. She clutched her dress nervously as she glanced down at her feet, then back at him. Was the dress not formal enough? Did she look ridiculous in it? Granted, she knew they weren’t used to seeing her like this but still, this was a huge deal for her. “Is that a good or a bad thing?” She asked him.

At least someone understood the assignment. Of course it was a good thing. Wasn’t that obvious? His compliment was spot on. She should be grateful he was complimenting her at all. “Well, um…” He stammered, until Skylar came to his rescue.

“What Simmons is trying to say is that you look stunning, Moon.”

The girl blushed “Thank you, Sky. You’re far too kind. You look dashing yourself, as per usual.” Without further ado, Skylar offered the girl his arm, which she gladly took.

“We’re done here.” The Dominican stated as the group now made their way outside with Griff left behind. Skylar took the opportunity to turn to face him, lifting his index finger and thumb in the shape of an L on his forehead. Griff truly couldn’t say something nice about someone even if his life depended on it.

--

They had seated themselves at the bar. Well, most of them. Upon entry Val had been dragged off by a handful of women. This time however, Griff had provided them with a VIP area from the start, unlike some festival they had been part of a little while ago. Security on the other hand wasn’t necessary. This place reeked of ‘friends in high places’. They weren’t the kind to ask them for pictures, tug at their clothes nor declare their undying love for them. ‘Favors’ and business deals on the other hand weren’t off the table, if you catch my drift. The whole scene disgusted Skylar.

“Fuck this.” He announced before downing his drink and heading outside.

Freya didn’t blame him. This party was boring as fuck. The music was shit and the people were so fake it hurt to watch. She had lost count of the amount of pretentious laughs and two-faced personalities present in the room. At the end of the day, these rich, haughty fuckers were all the same. She was surprised none of the old sods had dropped dead while they were there.

Moon was visibly uncomfortable by older men ogling her like vultures hovering over their prey. Freya felt for the girl. Unlike her she wouldn’t flip them off or tell them to scoop out their eyeballs and toss them in the bin where they belonged. She also didn’t have someone to protect her and keep the creeps away, like Mac or Ty. Instead, she simply turned her attention to her friends and tried to make the best out of the situation. Bless her heart.

“Well, I don’t know about y’all but I wanna dance. Let’s go, babe.” Mac didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Freya grimaced. Dancing wasn’t her thing. At least not in public. Luckily, it wasn’t Ty’s either. Lord knows he had two left feet and she wasn’t particularly excited at the thought of having hers stepped on. “No thanks, you have fun.” She needn’t tell Eve twice. The redhead then turned her attention to Moon. “What about you, love?”

The girl smiled, eyes glittering like a child in a candy store. “Oh, I’d love to… But I’m not sure if now is a good time. He seems quite busy.”

Freya understood who she meant. He’d be dumb not to but this was Griff they were talking about after all. You know what they say, if you don’t expect anything at all you can’t possibly be disappointed, right? Perhaps this time he’d surprise her in a good way. Freya could only hope that was the case, for Moon’s sake. “It’s a party, isn’t it? You won’t know unless you try.”

Moon nodded. Freya was right. A little while ago the brunette wouldn’t have been able to gather the courage to ask something so… bold, for the lack of a better word. Over time, she hadn’t necessarily become more assertive but more comfortable in her own skin. She still had a long way to go, but Freya was proud of her nonetheless. Perhaps this was why Freya was so protective of her. She saw a lot of her younger self in the Belgian girl.

Moon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Right. You’re absolutely right.” There’s a Flemish saying that goes as follows: ‘gedachten op nul en ga ervoor.’ Which roughly translated to taking action before your thoughts and doubts got the better of you. Moon thought it was particularly fitting. “I’ll be right back.” She announced before taking her leave.

--

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me. Mind if I borrow him for a minute?” Moon gave his companions her most charming smile. Seeing no issue with her request, they let her do as she pleased. “Be my guest, darling.” One told her. She thanked them and led the American away, holding him by the arm.

“What is it?” Griff asked, albeit not unfriendly.

Perfect timing, seeing as ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ by Elvis Presley just started playing. It was one of her favorite songs, if not her favorite slow. It was now or never. She wasn’t going to get another chance for a long, long time. “I was wondering if you would like to dance?” She asked.

“Not now, I’m busy.”

Her smile faded. Oh well, it was worth a shot. At least she gave it a try, that’s what she tried to tell herself. “I understand. My apologies, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation.” She reassured him. He nodded, then made his way back to his business associates. As Moon turned her heel, she could’ve sworn she heard them laugh. Maybe it was her imagination. If it wasn’t, she could only hope they weren’t making a mockery out of her and additionally, her request. Perhaps she was being rude. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him in front of his friends.

“And?” Freya asked interestedly as Moon made her way back to them.

Moon smiled faintly. “He said, and I quote: ‘not now, I’m busy.’”

“Prick.” She huffed as she took a sip of her cocktail.

“Well, it wasn’t a no.” Ty interjected. Freya glared at him. His timing was always spot on.

“What? I’m not defending him or anything. I’m just saying.” He made a fair point but still. It was his loss, really. Fuck him, she could do so much better. He’s had his chance.

“It’s perfectly fine, honestly. I should’ve known better than to interrupt.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Freya asked. She couldn’t really tell what Moon was feeling but she didn’t seem defeated either. That was a good sign, at least.

Perhaps Sorian would like to dance, Moon thought as she scanned the room looking for him. It was always a good time with him. Upon a closer look however it seemed the blonde had company. He was on the other end of the bar, chatting away (more like, flirting) with a very pretty redhead male. Thus, not wanting to interrupt another person, she decided otherwise. “I’m going to get some fresh air, see what Sky is up to.”

Freya thought that was a good idea. It’s been a while since she’d seen his face. Lord knows what he was up to indeed. “Good call. You have fun, alright?” Freya didn’t feel like mingling with the business tycoons either. Dancing was one thing. Flaunting wealth was another thing entirely. Granted, perhaps she had passed out on a once in a lifetime opportunity (and a lot of money) but she was willing to take that risk. Anything beats the stench of fakeness. Besides, she was doing damn well on her own, thank you very much.

“I will.” The brunette promised, smiling.

--

“There you are! Are you alright?” He looked up to see Moon smiling down at him. He had no idea where she had found a blanket but there she was, holding one. “Mind if I sit?”

“Be my guest.” He replied as he motioned to the empty seat beside him.

“Aren’t you cold?” She asked him as she sat down, concerned. Granted, it was a little chilly outside but it could be worse. At least it wasn’t snowing.

“Nah, the booze keeps me warm.” He joked as he pulled out a bottle of whatever he had gotten his hands on. Moon giggled. It was rather full still. Over time Sky had started to drink less. That didn’t stop him from enjoying a drink from time to time however. Especially if it took the boredom of this fucking party away.

To answer her previous question, Skylar told her he was fine, it’s just that whatever was going on inside wasn’t his cup of tea. She understood. She too felt very out of place despite growing up in a privileged environment. “How’s you, though?” he asked.

“I’m alright, thank you for asking.” Here, in Skylar’s presence, she felt safe. She knew she could be herself. From up here, the view of the city down below was absolutely stunning. The lights, in contrast to the starry night sky, were oddly comforting. She understood why he’d rather hang out here. It was so quiet, so peaceful.

“Aren’t you bored out of your mind with these people? All they talk about is their expensive yachts and shit. Gross.”

“It’s certainly a topic of conversation among many. Perhaps they’ve exhausted every other one.” She chuckled. Her answers were always so calculated, the poor soul was far too kind for her own good. She was more tactful than he was, for sure. Skylar preferred a to-the-point-zero-bullshit approach, Moon spoke and acted according to an etiquette, even if she spoke truthfully. Skylar thought that must be exhausting as fuck but seeing her upbringing, it didn’t surprise him.

“Why do you think I nap so often?” She joked. Skylar laughed. The difference between them is that at some point, Skylar stopped giving a fuck while she cared too much. She should do the same, really. It’s freeing. Once in a while however, when she felt like it, she’d show this side of her: a more carefree, impish side to her. One day, he would teach her how to diss Simmons. That was a promise.

They had talked for what felt like hours while enjoying each other’s company, completely engrossed in their conversation. Why here of all places? Who knew. Did it really matter? Moon believed that was how some of the most treasured memories were created. Just talking about anything and everything that came to mind. Truly getting to know a person, their heart and soul. Skylar was someone she had clicked with from the start. They shared a lot of similarities despite having a different upbringing. Over time, she had grown fond of him. He truly was someone she’d do anything for, like a big brother she never had. This made her question something…

“I wonder why it wasn’t you… and if it ever could have been you.”

“Who knows what the fuck is going on in an alternate universe, am I right?” Skylar replied, giving her an if-you-know-what-I-mean look. Amused, Moon laughed. Who knew indeed.

It would make perfect sense. They had great chemistry and they’d make such a cute couple. She knew all too well both Eve and Freya would love to see it happen. However, Moon was a firm believer that everything happened for a reason. The truth of the matter is, they didn’t have feelings for each other. She’d never deny that Sky was very attractive but it was what it was. Then why Griff of all people? Why was it Tae in the past? Love worked in weird ways.

Sorian didn’t give her the time to ponder over it. “Hey, hey.” He greeted them in a sing-song voice. Clearly he was having a great time. Or maybe he’s had a couple of drinks already. “Will you come dance with me? These people can’t fucking move. Pretty please?” He pouted.

Skylar declined his offer. Moon however, frowned in confusion. “What about the gentleman you were talking to earlier?” She asked.

“Ugh, he’s so boring. He refused to dress up as a café maid. Besides, he didn’t even know what pegging was, can you believe it?” In all honesty Moon didn’t know what it was either but knowing Sorian she dared not ask.

She turned her head to face Skylar. “Will you be alright?”

He assured her he was going to be fine. Anything was better than heading back inside and getting judged by these asshats.

Sorian reached out to her, implying that she had to take his hand. She did as she was told and followed the blonde back inside, leaving the blanket behind, just in case Skylar got cold.

--

“Where is Moon?” Griff asked.

“Well, that depends.” Freya replied as she put her drink down on the counter beside her. “What’s your business with her?”

Griff didn’t appreciate her attitude in the slightest. Who did she think she was? It was none of her damn business to begin with. “Forget I ever asked.” he spat. Freya was glad to be rid of him. That didn’t take her as long as she thought. Probably a personal record, if she was honest.

A couple of minutes later, he had found his way outside. Of course Aguilar was making a prime example out of himself again, bottle in hand and everything. Griff sighed. The Dominican was going to be his best bet, whether he liked it or not. “Where is Moon?” He asked him.

Skylar didn’t look up. For a moment he contemplated on whether or not he should lead him astray but he wasn’t in the mood for games. The sooner he got rid of him the better. So, instead, he simply told him “I don’t know.”

Great. How helpful. Griff was back to square one. Defeated and utterly exasperated, he headed back inside. He dared not ask Eve, who was now by Freya’s side. Both Mac and Ty were utterly useless so that wasn’t an option either. Val on the other hand just happened to enter his line of sight. Now that the Russian was alone Griff was going to have to seize the opportunity. He only had so long before he’d get swept away by women. “Have you seen Moon?” He asked him as he grabbed him by the upper arm.

The Russian, seemingly unaware of Griff’s presence at first, stopped dead in his tracks. “On the dancefloor, I think.” He simply told him. Griff was lucky, if it weren’t for him being his boss he dared not think of what he’d do to someone holding him back by the arm. Never cross a Russian spy’s boundaries. It was both bold and dumb. Griff dismissed him as he made his way to the dancefloor. How difficult was it to track down a girl in a flashy dress?

It didn’t take long for him to find Sorian. It was hard to miss him since he was about as colorful as a box of neon highlighter pens. He blamed whoever he had convinced to dance with him. Until he took a good look at his dance partner’s face. Griff almost choked on his own spit. He cursed inwardly. This was bad.

Panicked (and furious), he did what every regular person would do: demand answers. Who thinks before they act, right? “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He hissed as he pulled Moon away to get in Sorian’s face. Taken aback by his brusque action, she let out a small yelp.

Sorian on the other hand wasn’t impressed in the slightest. Irritated, yes, but impressed? Nah. “What does it look like we’re doing?” He replied curtly. Wasn’t it obvious? They were just having a great time. Jeez, he made it seem as if they had robbed a bank or something, Ivy and Harley style. Now that was a sexy concept, Sorian thought.

Moon on the other hand blinked in confusion. Did she do something wrong? Did she say something she wasn’t supposed to say? “Is everything alright?” She asked, concerned. Frankly, Sorian had no idea what he was talking about either but he did find his outburst endearing. Griff was such a hothead. He’d be lying if he claimed it didn’t turn him on a little.

“You.” He was waving his finger in her face now. “You asked me something earlier. What was it again? I’ve been looking all over for you, damnit.”

“Oh, W- Well...” She muttered. “I’ve been meaning to ask you for a dance.” So of all people she had come to Sorian. Fan-fucking-tastic.

“Well, I’m here now. Let’s dance.”

Moon frowned. She was having a blast with Sorian. She didn’t want to ditch him on the spot. Besides, with the way Griff was acting, was it really okay? She wasn’t so sure. Sorian giggled.

Aggravated by Sorian’s reactions, Griff glared at him. “Do you think this is funny? What’s the big idea here, huh?”

“Please calm down. I’m not sure what’s going on but whatever it is, we can discuss it.” Moon suggested in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Griff was clearly fuming and she wanted to fix it. She needed to fix it since this was likely her doing. Besides, she could tell Sorian didn’t appreciate Griff’s comment in the slightest. She didn’t recall ever seeing the blonde mad but here they were. First time for everything?

“Shut up! I’m perfectly calm!” Griff retorted hotly. Moon flinched. Somehow she wasn’t convinced but she dared not talk back.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Sorian asked, aggravated.

Griff couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was he really standing up for her? Against him? What the actual fuck? “Why are you of all people coming to her defense?!” he accused.

“Because she’s my friend?!” The blonde retorted as he hugged Moon close. Now Griff was really losing it. He had done everything in his power to keep the two separated. How was it that they got along? His plan was perfect, where did it go wrong?

“Friends?” Griff blinked in confusion. “Friends?! Since when?”

Moon looked crushed. “I- I don’t understand… Why wouldn’t we be?” She asked. Yes, they may not have much in common but their differences had brought them closer.

Sorian agreed, squinting. “Yeah, Simmons. Why wouldn’t we be? Opposites attract, babe.”

This was way worse than he ever imagined. Not once did he consider the possibility of them getting along, which was a huge mistake on his part. On talking terms? Sure. They were co-workers after all and they had been working together for a while now. Even so, they almost never hung out, so he just assumed friendship wasn’t an issue (more like, didn’t have to deal with keeping them apart). Shit. This made things way more complicated… Seems like his foolproof plan wasn’t so foolproof after all.

He was going to sue the shit out of Robert or whatever his name was. Griff shuffled uncomfortably. The damage had already been done, is there anything he can do to salvage it still? Once again he was back to square one and frankly, it annoyed him greatly. “You’re trying to ruin my reputation, aren’t you? This is why I can’t have nice things, huh? Figures.” The American accused.

Moon was desperately trying to puzzle the pieces together. What was going on? She didn’t have the chance to do so however. Before she knew it, she saw a fist flying. Then, there was a grunt. After that, Griff was on the floor, holding his jaw as he spat out what looked like a tooth. When it finally dawned on her, Sorian was on top of him.

From across the room, Freya heard a panicked scream. If she had to guess, one of the women had seen a rat crawl out of the kitchen. Sadly these places weren’t as clean as they pretended to be. When she turned her head to where the scream came from, she noticed a familiar figure trying to yank someone off another on the floor. “Please stop, both of you! This is not the answer!” She heard the girl plead. She sounded like she was on the verge of crying “Someone please help!”.

“Fuck.”

Without a second thought Freya rushed to the scene with the rest of Team Griff following suit. “Don’t just stand there, do something!” She yelled at no one in particular. Déjà vu much? She didn’t expect any of these rich bastards to dirty their hands for the likes of them but it was worth a try. If they were so busy gawking at them they might as well lend a hand. Moon was still desperately trying to yank Sorian off but to no avail. The blonde didn’t let go. At least she knew better than to get in between.

“What the fuck?! Are you serious?! Cut it out!” Freya barked as she pulled at one of Sorian’s arms. How the fuck was he so strong? What the fuck did Griff do to piss him off this badly? Team Griff had never seen him like this. Whatever had happened here, Griff definitely deserved it, although suckerpunching Simmons was usually Skylar’s job.

Luckily Val came to their rescue not long after. With one decisive pull he managed to yank Griff away by the shoulders, ripping Griff’s suit in the process. Oops. Oh well, his safety came first. Surely he understood? “Enough!” Val bellowed as he tossed the American aside like a ragdoll in an attempt to create distance.

Now that Sorian no longer had a grip on Griff (except for the tuft of hair in his balled fist), Moon, with the assistance of Freya, restrained Sorian by the abdomen, as if hugging him from behind, with Freya holding him back at the front, hand pushing against his chest. Ever the kind soul, Moon apologized profusely for having to take such drastic measures. It was for his own good. He needed to regain his senses.

Clearly he had underestimated the blonde. Five foot four power bottom, my ass. More like, five foot four fury. Humiliated, Griff resorted to verbal assault. “You’re fired!” Griff screeched. “How dare you put your filthy little hands on me, Griff Simmons! King of the mountain! My father will hear about this!”

Welp, if Griff had ever contemplated plastic surgery in the past, he definitely needed it now. Sorian was bleeding as well but Griff clearly got off worse. It was rather impressive, really.

“Did somebody order a cherry pie?” Mac joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Eve glared at him. Now was not the time. Embarrassed, the DJ lowered his head.

“That’s fine, honey. Tell your daddy I said hi.” The blonde taunted, biting his lower lip in anticipation. If Griff wasn’t currently restrained by Val he’d have no lips to bite on. He was shaking with anger. Flamboyant half breed, he thought.

In typical Skylar fashion, he was late to the party. Seemingly unaware of what went down, he addressed the crowd by asking them why the music was turned off. While most remained silent, a handful of women were either giggling with their phones pulled out. Skylar raised his brow. “What the fuck?” Great. Now Griff had another headache to concern himself with.

Eventually, his gaze fell on the trio that was Freya, Sorian and Moon. Then, on the other side, stood Val with Griff. “Someone punched Simmons and none of you told me? Damn, that’s cold.” Whoever re-arranged Griff’s face had done one hell of a job. “Who did this?” Skylar asked, grinning.

Of course Aguilar was utterly pleased with this discovery. Griff expected no less from him.

“Take one fucking guess.” Freya told him.

Welp, seeing as there was only one other bloodied figure in the room, it didn’t take long for Skylar to find out and boy, was he happy when he did. Oh my fucking God. This was gold. Skylar couldn’t believe he had missed out on Sorian going ham of all people. The Dominican laughed out loud while Griff groaned. Beat a man while he’s down, why won’t you?

At long last, one of the wealthy bastards, which Freya could only assume was the one who had organized the event, finally bothered to show his face. The man in question went straight for Griff, clearly concerned with his well-being. Typical. They wouldn’t even do so much as lift a fucking finger but when it came to the one percent everything else came after. Disgusting.

“This is outrageous! Leave the building at once, young man.” The chairman ordered. Moon understood Sorian had no choice in the matter. She believed they’d call the police otherwise, which wasn’t an option.

Freya realized this as well. “Let’s go. We’ve clearly overstayed our welcome.” She spat, finally letting go of Sorian. She could’ve verbally ended Griff’s career right there and then but Sorian came first.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Griff scoffed as he pointed at Moon “You’re siding with them, really?” Once again, Moon was on the verge of tears. This was never about picking sides. She couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. She already felt terrible for being unable to put a stop to their fight. She couldn’t leave Sorian alone. He needed medical attention, as did Griff.

The audacity was astounding. Freya couldn’t believe her ears. If she had a drink in hand she’d be sure to throw it at him. She gently placed her hand on Moon’s shoulder. This was not her burden to bear. She did nothing wrong. “Leave her out of this. You’ve done enough.” The redhead snapped back. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Your head is so far up your ass you can’t even hear the shit that comes out of your mouth.” Before turning her heel, she addressed the chairman one last time. “I assume your precious Republican insurance will cover this, yes?”

He didn’t respond.

“We’re done here.” She announced, escorting both Sorian and Moon out of the venue alongside the rest of Team Griff.

--

“Why do we work for him again?” Eve complained. “Seriously, has anything good ever come out of it?”

“Nope.” Freya replied as she took a sip from Skylar’s bottle.

“What the fuck is a Suzuki Jimny?” The Dominican asked.

“The fuck do I know? Google it.” Freya replied.

“I can’t. Reception is shit.”

“Great.” She sighed.

“We could always take the bus?” Ty offered.

“Ew, I’m not taking a fucking bus.” Eve retorted. Frankly, they were running out of options. It was already way past midnight and snow was starting to fall. While the lodge wasn’t that far away, going by foot was out of the question. Val couldn’t carry Sorian all the way home, it was far too dangerous with the black ice on the pavement.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to call an ambulance?” Moon asked.

“Fuck that.” Sorian interjected. He refused to go unless he’d get to wear a sexy nurse outfit, which wasn’t possible. She still believed it was the smartest thing to do but she couldn’t force him. His injuries would need to be checked at the lodge by SSX’s medics instead. They were used to it by now anyways.

“There’s a night shop across the street, why not ask for help regarding our ride?” Moon suggested instead, pointing at the shop in question. She, too, was holding on to Skylar.

“Good idea.” Well, it’s not like they had much else going for them. Freya was willing to try anything if it meant avoiding the upcoming snowstorm.

“Let’s split up. We’ll meet you back here.” Moon said as she took her leave with Eve, Skylar and Mac while the rest would wait for them on the other side. It shouldn’t take long and with a bit of luck, their Uber would stop by.

--

‘What the fuck is taking them so long? I’m freezing.” Freya hugged herself in an attempt to keep warm. While Ty (bless him) had draped his jacket over her shoulders to provide her with extra warmth, it didn’t change much if she wasn’t moving around. For how long had they been gone? Surely it mustn't have been longer than twenty minutes but it was still far too long to Freya’s liking. She had expected them to hop out of the store as fast as they had gone in.

Freya then decided she had had enough. Fuck it. “Stay here.” She ordered as she crossed the street after checking left and right for incoming cars. Head held high, she failed to see the slab of black ice down below. First, she heard a crack. Then, she was on the ground, a sharp pain spreading throughout her foot and up her leg towards her knee. Freya screamed in agony as she clutched her right ankle tightly. It was probably broken. Just her fucking luck. She didn’t know what hurt her more, her now swollen ankle or her dress getting all dirty.

“Freya, are you alright?!” Impeccable timing as always. Did she look alright to him? She knew Ty meant well but right now she wasn’t in the mood. She tried to speak but no words came out. All she managed to do was grunt and grit her teeth. The pain was so unbearable she honestly felt like she was about to pass out. So naturally, Ty being Ty, tried to lift her up. Freya let out another scream. It was impossible to put any weight on it. It was far too painful.

Meanwhile, Val was stuck with Sorian in his arms. Well shit. Freya clearly needed help but he just couldn’t leave the blonde behind now, could he? He was in no condition to fend for himself. What now?

“Hey, get away from her, you creep!”

“Yeah, didn’t your mama teach you not to hit women?”

“Hit women?” Ty frowned, confused. As fate would have it, three passerbys had heard the scream and decided to investigate. Much to Ty’s dismay, they had somehow interpreted this as him trying to assault her. Just his fucking luck. Even Ty had to admit the situation looked hella suspicious. He was holding her purse while she was on the floor, screaming. “I can explain.” He stammered, letting go of the purse and holding both arms up in defeat. “It’s not what it looks like, you see-”

Freya’s saviors didn’t give him the time to explain however, as one of them sent Ty flying with a fist to the nose. “Making up excuses, huh? That’s what they all say! People like you should be rotting in jail!”

“Scum of the earth! To Hell with you!” He heard another yell.

The third was busying himself with Freya instead, asking her if he should call emergency services. She shook her head. Right now, she wasn’t the one who needed it the most. Once again she tried to speak but she couldn’t quite catch her breath. The pain was too overwhelming. Freya cursed inwardly. How did things get fucked so quickly? She reached out to Ty, but to no avail. He was curled up on the ground, begging his assailants to stop.

“Let me fight!” The blonde yelled on the other end of the street, witnessing the whole ordeal. Sorian couldn’t just stand by either. He had already gotten in a fist fight tonight, why not another?

“Absolutely not!” The Russian warned as he tried to hold Sorian back while Ty was getting the beating of his life. Damnit, Val was wasting time. He should be out there helping for crying out loud. “Will you please comply?!” he growled. His plea fell on deaf ears, Sorian was having none of it.

“Yo, what the fuck is going on?!” Freya heard someone yell. The voice sounded strangely familiar. Mac? Then there was a scream. Was this Eve?

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” This was definitely Skylar. They sure had taken their sweet time. Did they not hear her scream earlier? Christ.

The stranger now turned his attention to Skylar “Are you defending this shithead or something? He was robbing the poor lady!”

Distraught at the absolute state of affairs, Moon pulled her hair. Robbing? This was clearly one big misunderstanding. “That’s her boyfriend!” She yelled, panicked at the state both of her friends were in.

--

“Well, it’s definitely broken.” Great. Exactly what she wanted to hear. “You got lucky, can’t say the same for your partner.”

Why not rub the salt in the wound while you’re at it, doctor? Surely that would make me feel so much better, she thought. “I’m filing a police complaint.” She simply stated instead.

“You’re starting to sound like Simmons.” Skylar chuckled. She knew it was a joke but right now she wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. If Freya could move she’d choke him with the cord of her infusion.

“Piss off.” She replied as she folded her arms across her chest. Needless to say, she didn’t exactly envision spending her night at the hospital but when did her outings ever end up the way she wanted? At the very least, she wasn’t alone. Ty was in the bed beside hers, gently squeezing her hand as he was throwing up while Mac was patting him on the back, encouraging him to let it all out. The doctor was right, the scoundrels hadn’t spared him.

Across the room was Sorian. He, too, could’ve been off worse. Aside from the black eye and bandaged hands, of course. While Moon was discussing follow up treatment with the medic in charge, Eve wanted to pay the cafeteria a visit. “Do you need anything?” She asked her best friend as she got up.

Freya smiled faintly. Anything to undo tonight’s events. “A spa day would be great.” She replied instead.