Fucking Embarassing
Sean was good at knowing how any interaction was going to unfold before it started. Reading people, figuring out what they were going to do next. Then determining what he would say or do, based on this, so that it could all work to his advantage.
He had been described as cold before. Really, it was more of a particular talent for being able to control situations when he felt like it. It was part of his training. But it was sad, in a way. Even when surrounded by friends, family - all the people that he loved - Sean always found himself waiting for something more. And soon enough, he found it. Or rather, it found him. They were the moments he lived for.
This is partly why he knew - before they had even looked up, or made it obvious that they were part of the same group - that three men were following him. He found it funny, because they looked exactly like your stereotypical tough guys. Physically imposing. Just...overwhelmingly boring.
It was in the way that two stood further back in the gas station forecourt, while the most confident one looked much closer to making the decision to approach him.The other two were nervous. They weren't showing it outwardly, but it was there. They didn't really look at Sean, even though they must have known who he was. They switched between watching the leader, and glancing around as if they were making sure that nobody else was paying much attention. So... it was likely that this was only going to be an attempt at intimidation. In a public place with security cameras. Fine.
Sean continued to pump gas, staring out across the rain soaked ground which reflected the harsh fluorescent lighting. He kept them at the edge of his vision. They stood almost impatiently, as if they expected him to come to them. He didn't. Anton had laid down new rules about being the first to make a move when things like this happened, following a few inconvenient incidents. So Sean behaved.
Due to the lack of attention from his target, the first man stepped out from behind the car directly opposite him.
“You know why I'm here."
Sean finally looked at him. He blinked. "Do I?"
The man looked slightly annoyed, obviously not expecting to have to explain himself. “Don't be stupid. There's no reason for you to get involved."
Sean didn't react.
“It's not a good idea for you to keep digging around. Got it?"
He stepped closer. "Are you even listening?"
“I'm trying to get in my car."
“Motherfucker, you know what I'm talking about. Or do you want a demonstration of what will happen if you don't stop what you're doing?"
Clearly someone was trying very hard to send a message. Sean took another step toward his car.
“Look. I think you've got the wrong person."
The man appeared to take personal offense at being addressed so casually. Sean opened the car door, as if to get inside. Meanwhile, he thought of Anton's exact phrasing. Do not be the one to escalate. React only if absolutely necessary.
The man grabbed onto Sean's shoulder as he settled into the driver's seat.
Wait… that felt a lot like escalation.
Sean reached out and slammed the door. The man almost jumped back and recoiled, close to losing an arm. He was pissed now. Then Sean pushed the door back out, which knocked him back. That could probably pass for necessary.
He could hear the footsteps of the other men getting closer, above the noise of the main aggressor calling him a little shit while being visibly winded. Sean exited the car again.
“Let me go."
This didn't really make sense for Sean to say, because he'd already had the chance to drive away. They couldn't let him go, because he was technically no longer leaving. An unfortunate force of habit.
The man's face changed. He reached out and shoved Sean against the car, and tried to follow this up with another grab, shove, or punch, but Sean had already moved away. He used the man's slow speed against him, with a hit that sent him back into the pump and onto the ground. Okay, this may be slowly approaching the boundary of unnecessary. Never mind.
Sean stood over him as he started to put his hands out as support to get back to his feet. He thought again about Anton's new rule, and how he was sure that this could be considered a loophole. Sean glanced up. The other men were getting closer now.
Then his eyes returned to the one on the floor. He knew he should have walked away. Instead, Sean kicked him, and he fell back down. Then again. He grabbed the front of his jacket and dragged him back.
“Who do you work for?"
The man didn't answer. Sean hit him again. One of the other men was on the phone. The other was approaching the passenger side of Sean's car now.
“Who?"
The man still said nothing. Sean looked up, and past the second one, he accidentally made eye contact with the gas station clerk through the window. She stared at them, eyes wide for a few seconds. Then, she deliberately looked away. Good.
For some reason this suddenly made Sean realise that he was going to be late for work. Strangely, that was the part that had pissed him off the most. He also knew when it was time to leave these situations. Well, eventually.
He looked down at the man on the ground, who seemed to have given up on trying to stand while Sean was still there. He sighed. "Fucking embarrassing."
Sean got back into the car and drove away before they could reach him again. On the drive to work, he called Anton. Mei would need to handle it from here. He had other work to do.
He thought about what the men had said. Of course, he had a pretty good hunch about who they were and what they were talking about when they'd told him to stop. But sometimes it helps to play dumb.
