Be Gay Do Crime

Ashe expected silence, but instead she was met with the sounds of laughter.  Not from Jessica or Rachel because they had already left, but from her parents.  Had Ashe said something funny?  She didn’t think so.  It wasn’t like she was in the middle of something completely serious and accidentally farted either.  No, Ashe couldn’t think of a single reason they might be laughing.

“Care to fill me in on the joke?” she finally asked. 

Her mom waved up and down to encompass her entirely.  “Ashe.  Your mother and I have a combined thirty-five years in law enforcement.  You’re a few weeks shy of eighteen and just took control of the entire conversation like you’ve been leading people your whole life.” 

“It’s not something that can be taught either,” her mother added with a mirthful shake of her head.  “Leaders aren’t trained, they are forged.  You may not even realize it, but when you, er…”  She cut off, glancing at Mom for a moment and bit her lip.  “That video you showed us, did you not see how you just stepped right into a leadership position?” 

Shit, had she tipped her hand that badly?  Would they figure out who she was when she took to the streets?  Ashe only had to last a few more weeks and she would be officially moved out, keeping in touch, but not to the same degree as she had before.  It would be far easier to keep a secret then, it was why she spent more nights with Crystal than she did her parents, she didn’t have to tell as many lies. 

Mom grinned.  “Despite our experience, you just walked in and took over the conversation, and even tried to steer it back on topic when sidetracked, and you did it with minimal hesitation.”

“Are you trying to embarrass me?” Ashe asked. 

“Nah,” Mom said, reaching out to ruffle Ashe’s hair, much to her embarrassment.  “If we were aiming for that, I would have brought it up in front of those girls.  Which I would never do.” 

Her mother nodded in agreement.  “We would never embarrass you in front of people who once tormented you.” 

That was good to know, and if they were laughing about her leadership qualities, it meant they weren’t aware that she was Inferno.  Hopefully…  Probably best to not draw too much attention to the whole leadership thing, because she had become a leader in more ways than one.  

She was leading a gang, she took charge when the bullets started flying.  Ashe couldn’t deny that she had fallen into the role of a leader, and in a way, it fit her like a glove.  She hadn’t been the raid leader when she played online games, but she had been their strategist, she chose what the group actually did, made sure everyone understood their roles. 

And really, that experience translated remarkably well to leading her gang.  Being their shot caller for squad shooters was nearly identical to leading actual firefights, and even without Robbie, she had been fine stepping into that role.  It was like slipping on a familiar glove, just with a lot more real danger attached to it. 

“I guess playing games for years actually paid off?” Ashe tried, pitching it as a question. 

Her mom snorted.  “I suppose it did.” 

“Are you still planning to stay in Jericho?” Mother asked.

“I am,” Ashe said, firmly. 

Her mother’s shoulders dropped.  “You’ll end up joining the force at twenty-one, won’t you?” 

Ashe blinked, because once upon a time, her parents had looked forward to seeing her in law enforcement.  Just what had changed?  Should she agree or disagree with them?  Which would look more suspicious if she said it?  Hell, she was probably overthinking the entire thing.  Better to stick to the truth then, at least as far as that went and play it by ear. 

So, she shook her head.  “Not after everything that happened.  Hard to have faith in the system when it failed me so completely.” 

“It really did,” her mother said, surprising the hell out of her.  “If I wasn’t so close to a very comfortable retirement, I’d probably walk away.”

“I’m considering it anyway,” her mom added.  “These past few months have really challenged my beliefs.  Like, half the force is corrupt, and the other half may as well be for being complicit, myself included.  There are no good cops, not if we sit back and do nothing about the bad ones.” 

Holy…  Had her parents really said that?  Ashe couldn’t believe it, and immediately red flags went up in her mind.  Were they trying to fish for her to open up about things she might have done?  She wanted to trust her parents, they had raised her for the last five years and she called them mom and mother.  They might not have given birth to her, but she loved them all the same. 

She wanted to trust them, to stop the lies, but it wasn’t just her anymore that she had to worry about.  No, Ashe had over dozens of people that relied upon her for survival.  If she was wrong about her parents, they would pay just as much of the price as she might. 

She knew she was agonizing over things, and that it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.  Still, maybe she could change the subject slightly and get away from dangerously leading questions.

“I’m actually looking into business management,” Ashe said.  “Crystal had some money she managed to keep from her father that I’m helping her invest.  I figure we may as well do it right, so I’ve been studying the stuff in my free time so I can jump right into college classes.” 

Her mom snorted.  “Talk about being invested.” 

She and her mother both groaned at the pun. 

Shaking her head, Ashe couldn’t help but mutter out, “even with two moms, I can’t escape the dad jokes.” 

Mom just patted her on the shoulder with a smug grin as the food was brought in.  Sandra grinned, placing the plates down with practiced ease, which was impressive considering she only got the job two weeks prior.  It was a nepotism hire for sure, but hey, that was the beauty of being the boss, people had to listen to you. 

“I heard the tab was already covered,” her mother said as Sandra placed her order on the table. 

Sandra didn’t even falter.  “Yep, those two girls paid five hundred and said everything in the room was covered and I could keep the rest as a tip.” 

“They didn’t say who was covering the bill?” Mom asked, ignoring her own plate for the moment. 

“You learn not to ask that question,” Sandra said, her expression stern.  “And given I’m making almost four hundred off this table, I’m not asking.” 

“Sorry about that,” Ashe said.  “Old habits, and we don’t want to put the nice waitress at risk, do we?” 

She’d directed that last part to her parents, who still looked like they wanted to dig further, but bit their tongues.  To punctuate the point, Ashe dug into her plate.  It was her usual for a reason, but that was mostly due to convenience.  She would probably ask for something else when they picked up their evening order. 

“How often do you come here?” her mother asked once they were alone again.  “That waitress seems very familiar with you.”

“We actually helped her get the job.  I was surprised when you brought this place up because this is one of the investments Crystal made.” 

“Wait,” Mom said, setting her cup down with a bit too much force.  She grabbed a napkin to wipe off her hands.  “Crystal owns this place?” 

Ashe looked away, nodding sheepishly.  “Yeah, which is part of why we’ve been eating here so often.” 

“You do know that most restaurants fail, right?” 

She smiled, looking back at her mom.  “Yeah, but it’s a way for her to get the money into something legitimate.  Which, now that I say it out loud, it sounds sketchy as hell.” 

“It sort of is,” her mom said.  “Are you sure she got all of it from her father?” 

“I’d rather not consider what my girlfriend had to do to survive at sixteen on the streets.  You know what I had to do at twelve, and I only spent a week.  She spent years.” 

That was an unfortunate truth of the city they lived in.  Queer kids often ended up on the streets, and the smaller gangs were a way of survival.  Ashe hadn’t fallen in with one, but she was damn close to desperate enough when she was picked up.  Hell, there were Viuda women that were starting to check up on her, one had even brought her food.  If her parents hadn’t actually stopped and listened, she would have been sent right back into the foster system, and would have likely died years ago. 

“People like that don’t just get out, Ashe,” her mother said softly.  “We worry about you.” 

And there it was.  The question they had been dancing around for months now, the one that was a very real concern, one they were right to have.  Because Ashe was in deep, and she understood in all too real detail the truth of that statement. 

“You’re right,” Ashe said, standing up abruptly.  “People don’t just ‘get out’, as you put it.  What would you suggest instead?  Her father is using his kids as a political crutch under threat of death.  The ties Crystal made in a bid for survival still exist despite everything.  She’s trapped, and I refuse to leave her to that.” 

Her parents were silent just long enough that Ashe walked off, they called out to her, but she needed some air.  She’d all but confirmed she was involved in illegal dealings to her parents, they could easily bring her in for questioning now, they would be re-evaluating each of her injuries over the last few months.  The three who tried to grab her were all dead, killed by the gangs. 

Ashe hadn’t needed to be told that the Viuda were behind the shanking at the county lockup, and she’d been part of the operation that saw her other attacker killed.  She still didn’t know if she or one of the others were the ones to drop him.  She turned and cut through the kitchens, and out the back door. 

A man was leaning against the wall across from her, joint hanging from his lips.  Ashe huffed, almost a chuckle but not quite.  She found a spot that didn’t look too filthy and fished her own joint from her jacket and lit up, relishing the edge bleeding away.  It didn’t get rid of all of it, she was still irritated and nervous, but she wasn’t about to fall into either a panic attack or lash out, which was still an improvement. 

Months ago, Ashe might have worried about the way the man across from her was eyeing her, but that time was long in the past.  For one, she was armed and decidedly not afraid to shoot someone.  Two, she was technically the man’s boss, because he was the cook in the kitchen, and if he wanted to be an idiot, she would deal with him however was required.

She was halfway through her joint when Sandra poked her head out, her face scrunched in concern.  Ashe waved the girl out, then passed her the blunt.  Sandra looked at it for a moment, then shrugged and took a hit.  Ashe chuckled, blowing smoke as she did. 

Sandra let her own stream billow forth.  “Your parents asked for to-go boxes.  I’m stalling.” 

“Thanks for that,” Ashe said.  “I probably shouldn’t leave things hanging like that, but I’m just scared.” 

“Oi, Rayray, scram,” Sandra said.  “Above your paygrade.” 

The man blinked, then sucked down the rest of the joint before pinching it off with burnt fingertips and shoved his hands into his pockets and went back inside.  Once the door clicked shut, Sandra turned to Ashe. 

“They don’t know what you’re doing?” 

Ashe chuckled.  “Sandra, I know I haven’t been subtle with the girls, but my parents?  Mom is on the SWAT team, Mother is a fucking Captain.  They aren’t no-name cops, they’re career, and I can’t just tell them that their little girl has been out executing idiots because they didn’t pay up, or hurt one of my girls.” 

“Then tell them,” she said with a shrug.  “Sounds like it would remove a source of stress and prevent misunderstandings in the future.” 

Ashe wanted to laugh, but it wasn’t because she found the idea funny, she was terrified.  Her entire life would hinge on that conversation, and if she went through with it, there was no taking it back.  She would be risking everything, but what was truly at risk?  School?  She hated it, and would rather not attend.  Prom?  Yeah, she’d be disappointed, but she could easily put together a dance for the girls and make it up to Crystal.  College?  It would just distract from her work on the streets. 

The only thing really at risk was what her parents thought of her, and that was already circling the drain with each new conversation where they were fishing for information.  What she was doing right now just wasn’t working out, and continuing to dodge the subject would only serve to deepen the hole she was digging. 

“Fuck,” Ashe said, summing it all up. 

Sandra smiled, and passed the blunt back.  “You’re the boss, it’s up to you what you do about it.” 

That time, Ashe did laugh.  “I’m a seventeen year old criminal, taking advice from a sixteen year old runaway…  How the hell did my life end up here?” 

“Because unlike most, you actually cared,” Sandra said. 

That was what it came down to, wasn’t it?  Crystal offered that first act of kindness in her own way, robbing her attacker.  Then Ashe paid it forward with her girls, and accidentally came into power of her own.  Now, she was stuck in that period in between where she had to figure out how the hell she was going to hold onto that power. 

Shaking her head, Ashe moved back inside, flicking her joint aside.  “Give us the room a bit longer, I’ll either signal you, or come out in cuffs if this goes badly.” 

“Wait,” Sandra exclaimed, almost panicked.  “You’re actually going to do it?  I was mostly kidding!” 

“Probably why it was convincing,” Ashe said.  “You know, my first meeting with Alejandro I pulled a gun on him?  I was scared shitless the whole time and did that on impulse thinking it was the only way he might respect me.” 

“He didn’t kill you?” Sandra asked with wide eyes. 

“Obviously,” Ashe said dryly.  “He really should have, but he was probably just as flatfooted as I was, because I just showed him how green I truly was with that move, but it also made an impression.  Maybe I should make another impression.” 

Going back through the kitchen, Ashe’s stomach twisted into knots, but she kept moving.  It didn’t take long for her to be standing back at the door that led to the private room.  No doubt her parents were still inside, growing nervous about how long it was taking.  Ashe didn’t have any of her things with her, too much risk to carry the flaming bandana that had become a central part of her image. 

Besides, just walking in as Inferno was more likely to get her shot than anything. 

No, it would just be her, Ashe Hamilton, revealing herself to be Inferno.  All she had to do was step through that door and tell them.  Maybe that was the weed, making her too chill to the idea, but if she was going to do it, then she needed to do it right then and there, and stop fucking procrastinating. 

With a heaving sigh, Ashe gathered her resolve and pushed open the damn door.

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