I Remember Love

When Luke woke up a few hours later he found himself inside Hunter's office back at the warehouse. Looking around through hazey eyes he could see the chipped paint on the walls, the reinforced ceiling and cabinets layered in dust. There was a small nondescript desk to the left covered in papers marked with pen.

Luke could only rub his eyes wearily as he tried to stand, the pounding in his head so intense he was forced to sit right back down it was at this point Hunter entered the room followed by both Cage and Charlie. Luke peered at the three men through bleary eyes, stumbling over his words.

"Why am I here?What did you bast*rds due to me?!"

The mumble was followed by weak glare. He was tired. His head was throbbing and off places he had to wake up here, the last place on earth he wanted to be, with that last person on earth he wanted to see. He only vaguely remembered parts his night from earlier. He remembered the bar. And his fight with Hunter. F*ck!! Hunter hadn't spilled had he. He looked to Charlie and Cage for confirmation of his suspicions but not seeing any difference in their behavior decided to disregard it. For whatever reason, Hunter had decided to keep his secret.

Hunter put his foot up on the sofa, glaring at this punk and his audacity. He had so many questions to ask him unfortunately, with his current audience, this wasn't possible.

"You were drunk. Not only were you drunk, you were causing trouble in my territory"

Hunter had pretty much spat the words at him. Most people would have been scared and groveling. This kid just sat there looking at him like he was a two headed monster he needed to kill. That didn't stop Hunter from continuing his tirade.

"I'm not exactly sure what got your panties in a twist this, but in my crew we don't stir up sh#t in our own backyard! Did you even stop to think of the headache you would be causing me if the cops showed up? Do you even know whose colors those men were wearing?! Are you trying to start a war!!"

Luke just looked at the man glaring back at him in a daze. His words not fully sinking in as he spat back at him, pushing himself from the couch. Drunk or not he was going to knock this guy off his high horse if it killed him. Coming to stand Luke lunged at Hunter and began to swing.

"What the f*ck does it matter to you. All you had to was leave me there! I could have handled it! And if not who the f*ck cares right? Problem solved!"

Luke was fuming with anger. Like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment. Who did this guy think he was? His father? He already had one of those and he was dead. All thanks to Hunter, and guys like him and the assh*les in the bar. Who cared if one, two or ten of them were dead good riddance!

Hunter was going to just let him off with a warning initially but this was the third time Luke had tried to jump him. This kid just never seemed to learn. Shoving Luke onto the cough he did the only thing he could do with Charlie present. He cold cocked him. Charlie still believed Luke to be a guy, so Hunter had no choice to treat him as one. His left hand flew out hitting Luke square across the jaw.

Charlie was about to interrupt as a part of him just could not handle seeing his brother being knocked around like this, however Cage held him.

"Calm down mate. You're a soldier now. Let the boss do his job."

Cages tone was gentle, almost understanding, but his arm was firm. There was no way at all he was going to let Charlie intervene this time.Nudging Charlie in the the shoulder he nodded to the barely concealed 10 mm he had strapped to his side.

"Its orders mate, nothing personal."

Charlie went silent.

Picking up the spare jacket which Cage had carried in when they arrived Hunter flung it at the kid.

"I won't repeat myself again. When you run with my crew you follow my rules. This is the last warning. Test me again, you wont like what happens to you."

Luke was stunned. He lifted the leather jacket in his hands looking up at Hunter in confusion. Even Charlie was stunned. Luke had challenged the boss three times now and somehow, still managed to earn his colors. How did that work.

Luke was looking at the jacket with a mix of reverence and confusion. He had to be missing something. What exactly was Hunter after. Hadn't he just told him that he had made a mess of things in the bar? Gradually though, his initial rant came back to him. He had said, that the soldiers didn't stir up trouble at home. Did that make this his home then? Luke narrowed his eyes. That made even less sense. The more he tried to reason it out, the more confused he became.

Charlie looked from Cage then back Hunter and then to Luke. He had so many questions, but f*ck it. He was tired. He was bone tired. Too tired even to ask Luke where he had been earlier. And why there was a school nearby that had a girl that looked like him. The questions just tumbled over and over in his mind. After everything that had gone down in the last twenty-four hours, he need a drink. He just didn't think there was enough alcohol here in the hideout to keep his mind off the mess his friend had made of things.

Feeling a little overwhelmed he left. Cage followed behind him not long after, sensing the tension in the room, and knowing Hunter still had his questions to ask.

They all just needed a little room to breathe.