The Causeway to Baltimore, Thursday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had been doing some thinking recently, going over the activities that helped her cut through the noise in her brain. All of the ones she'd found so far involved the participation of other people and she needed to find something she could do by herself so she didn't have to keep bothering folks. And that had gotten her to thinking about the almost-reverie she'd slipped into on Dante's motorcycle. That was something she could potentially do for herself...except she'd need a bike of her own.

Or Dante could share his, but ahahahahano.

It wouldn't hurt to start looking for something like that, though, would it? Even if she didn't buy something right away, having an idea in her mind wouldn't hurt. She made her way towards the Causeway and sent a text at the same time. If she were going shopping, she should consult an expert, right?

Hey. U busy?

[For the motorcycle guru and SP]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

That got everyone's attention. The noise of machinery and chitchat died away as everyone turned to peer at the new entrance into the building, several of them blinking in the sudden sunlight.

Kathy slipped past Dante in a blur a speed, ending up behind a guy who had been handling a drill press and was now staring at the ex-wall in confusion. He barely even noticed her--at least until she kicked out the back of his knees. He dropped to the ground and she followed it up with a heel to his temple. He hit the ground again and wasn't going to get back up for several more minutes.

That seemed to end the surprise round snap the auto workers out of their confusion and with a host of shouts, most of them snatched up various tools and charged.

[rebelseekspizza]

It was even easier this time around than back when they'd freed Dante's bike. Bullets didn't do much, and implements-- fuck, none of these guys were fast enough.

He slammed his fist into someone's face, turning and spinning to kick the legs out from someone else.

"C'mon, kids," he called. "Put the pedal to the metal already."

[spin_kick_snap]

If the fight lasted an entire ten minutes, Kathy would eat one of the garage's power tools. Most of them ignored her in favor of the obvious threat, which meant Kathy had been able to take people out from behind before they even knew she was targeting them.

...The few guys Dante hadn't taken down first, she meant.

And when they were all a groaning heap on the floor, Kathy turned to inspect the goods on offer. "Are we sure I don't want a sexy car instead?" she asked, looking at a couple of the cars up on the lifts. "They went high end as hell, didn't they?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"I'm not gonna stop you if you decide you'd rather get a Corvette," Dante said, laughing softly. He kicked one of the bad guys out of the way.

"But some of their bikes have racing stripes too."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Holy fuck me, that's a Maserati," Kathy breathed, looking up at the sleek curves of another car. "Okay, so what do you say I get that and then just put a bike in the back seat, we drive out with both?"

She was only...73% joking.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante looked over at the Maserati and shrugged merrily.

"I wouldn't book you for it," he said.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I should hope not, because I'd finger you for an accomplice so fast," Kathy declared, bouncing up onto the lift and taking a seat behind the wheel. "Ooooh, this feels too good. This leather is like a cloud. I'm pretty sure I get a plus five to sexy just being in this car."

Taking a Maserati home would be ridiculous. There was no room for it on the island. She didn't need it. But, oh, it felt so good.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Finger me, huh?"

Dante sank into the seat next to her. "Now you're just sending mixed signals."

He took a second to bounce on the seat. "Not bad."

[spin_kick_snap]

"They're only mixed till you drop the soap," Kathy cracked, laying her hands on the steering wheel like she was touching something divine. "Man, I'm not even a gearhead but I know this is awesome. Too bad we stopped at the rest stop. This is probably the only opportunity I'll have to bang in a car like this."

Not that fucking on a lift was a good idea in the least.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante snickered. "No can do on the fucking," he said, "But I can eat you out in this ride if you want."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy glanced down at the goons on the floor. "You think they're all gonna be out that long?" she asked. "I mean, I like playing at getting caught not giving a show to assholes."

[rebelseekspizza]

"We can always do like you said and dump my bike and yours in the back, park this thing somewhere nice," Dante said, smirking at her.

He was the worst influence.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy paused for a moment, her head tilted to the side like she was listening for something. "...Pretty sure a little angel is supposed to pop up on my shoulder and tell me all the reasons we shouldn't do this," she said. "And yet--nothing. Okay, let's figure out how to get this thing to the ground. If it runs, we're taking it with us."

You were a terrible influence, Dante.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante flashed her a manic grin with raised eyebrows. He hopped back out of the car, neatly landing on the ground. "Probably a flashy button for that."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well find it and see," Kathy called down, hunkering down behind the steering wheel to pull out some wires. "I'll get her started when we're on the ground."

Right, how did this go again? Ignore the red wire, because that was the alarm...

[rebelseekspizza]

"You're the boss," Dante joked easily.

He started messing around, poking at buttons, shoving the occasional goon out of the way.

[spin_kick_snap]

"And here I thought you only liked that in the bedroom!" Kathy called back cheerfully as the lift slowly began to sink back towards the floor. A moment later, the engine roared to life.

"I did it!" Kathy cheered--seconds before the alarm started whooping. "Shit! Wait, I got this!"

[rebelseekspizza]

"You better!" Dante called.

He circled around the car. "I need to go grab my bike!"

[spin_kick_snap]

Her response was a slender arm waving at him in the air. Look, she was busy; he didn't need a baby-sitter.

When he got back, Kathy would be perched on the hood of the cherry Maserati, the engine on and the alarm off, looking completely casual. Just ignore the wrench in her hand and the guy napping by the car that wasn't there before. He'd be fine.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante, his arms full of motorbike, just shook his head. "Nice work," he said, tossing her a wink as he passed her by.

He fit the bike in the back seat. Snug fit, but it worked. "Looks like we could also just fit one in for you if I drive my own bike," he offered.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well, help me see if there's a good one in here," she said, tossing the wrench to the ground and hopping to her feet. "I got distracted. That's why I brought you along anyway."

The interlude in the bathroom hadn't exactly been on the agenda when she'd planned this little outing. Though even if she went home without a bike, she'd consider it time well spent.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante shook his head, amused, and hopped out of the car. "We can always hit up another one if you don't find what you need," he said, stalking into the bike area of the building. "But we're keeping the car."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Mine," she said, cheerfully baring her teeth at him. "Finders keepers."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Fine, the car is yours," Dante said. He rolled his eyes as he ran his fingers over the saddle of a nice, classic motorcycle. "We're not leaving it here, either way."

[spin_kick_snap]

Oh like he could roll his eyes with the way he'd gotten immediately possessive of his bike that night. "If we'd done this before your trip, you could have driven cross country in style," Kathy said.