Yellow Flag
Nik and Ray knew better than to stay in the harbor once they awakened everyone BUT the big, bad assassin, who had Lagoon Company’s panties in a bunch. Oh, and they left the metal pipe around Revy’s wrist. Nik figured their duo couldn’t have made a worse impression already, so there wasn’t any need to let loose a murderous freak threatening to kill them every three minutes—he counted the time, yes.
“You shouldn’t have taken her gun,” Ray notes as Nik shrugs, looking at the variety of people and colorful banners filled with the few languages he knows and the several ones he doesn’t. “I don’t have any gun experience, so I figured to keep a few and see what I take a shine to. Like, those officers had longer guns. They’re called rifles, right?”
Ray cattily grins at a passerby as she answers, “Among other things, yes. I also noted you need to work on your slang— Nik?” She looks beside her to find her towering partner skipping toward a stall with a gleeful expression.
“Ten samosas, please~!” He practically trills at finding one of the snacks from his true birthplace, his mouth watering with utmost expectations as the middle-aged, grey-haired stall owner glances at Nik before scoffing. “Tourist, are you? It’ll be 50$.”
“Sure—”
“50$?!” Ray snaps. “Why don’t you rob us blind? And for those soggy samosas? Don’t you lie to us! They aren’t dry and crunchy in this god-awful city!”
“Girl,” the man scoffs. “My snacks are special.” He taps the side of his nose, adding, “If you get what I mean.”
“Oh,” Nik does get what he means and feels bummed out. “It’s just drugs.”
He shrugs before waving Ray off. “It’s alright. Let’s look for someplace else to eat.”
Ray and the stall owner blink as the former catches upto Nik.
“So, is that your favorite food?”
“Why do you ask?” Nik inquires.
“To get to know you better.”
“So, you’ll lead a roundabout way of asking what I said to Dutch? About me being a prostitute. You’ve been wanting to speak about something since then.”
Ray grows quiet before inquiring, “Among other things. We’ve only really known each other for a few hours. But you know how I tend to consume media and learn about different people I’m lucky to meet. Perhaps I know a little more about you. For instance, I know about your mother, Esta.”
Nik stops and looks at Ray with a frown.
“Did you hypnotize me?”
“What?” Ray rolls her eyes. “No! Do you think we all have Mokshi to use different powers in different worlds without limitations?!”
That only built more questions for Nik as he pointed at the nearby restaurant. “Do you have the currency? I only have gold and yen on me.”
“Sure,” Ray shrugs, leading the way.
---
While Nik knows how his fiancee’s bending skills are affected in the homeworld and not his personal space since it’s part of ‘Infinity’ and capable of housing every ‘power system,’ he did fail to consider how other travelers like him will feel a sense of weakness and suppression in different worlds unless they are ‘free.’ No wonder Ray refrained from using most of her bloodline skills since her bloodline is at a greater rank than his, making her face more pressure from the world whenever she uses skills not inclined with this world’s will.
Nik would question how a planet can have a will if he hadn’t conversed with the primordials—so, the more you know.
But it was merely the start of their discussion.
“Goddess Collector? Every Hole is a Goal?” Nik slurps up the noodles with widened eyes. “That motto has a nice ring to it. I like it.”
“Right,” Ray huffs. “I suppose it’s not too strange that we’re ‘characters’ in some other media. But I hate how I was just a cute trap instead of the perfection I am in reality!”
Nik smirks, “Maybe that Ray exists, too. The one with a teensy dick.”
“You would think that sounds insulting,” Ray rolls her eyes. “But tiny dicks are cute on someone with my frame.”
She hesitates before adding, “So, you’re fine with me just knowing about Esta? I admit I told it to you so we can have a more understandable and cooperative relationship.”
Nik shrugs, “It’s alright. I don’t peculiarly care about Esta.”
“That’s… mature,” Ray muses with a sad smile. “But I just get so sappy around those with a bad past.”
“You mean someone like Revy, who you took absolute joy in insulting?” Nik picks up the bowl to drink the broth as Ray giggles. “Just because I feel sappy doesn’t mean I show it. Besides, you took her prized guns. She’s probably forgotten about me.”
Nik smirks before inquiring, “So? Where do you think I can earn an honest living in this town?”
“Why?” Ray wags her brows. “I thought you were the kind to not like spoilers. Ah, spoilers are when someone—”
“I know what spoilers are,” Nik deadpans.
“You do?” Ray gasps. “That’s groundbreaking! Come on, you didn’t even care to ask about the fanfiction I just mentioned, so I thought you really don’t care about ‘knowing’ others through such means. Wouldn’t it be cheating if I guided you?”
Nik inclines his head, “That’s true. I don’t honestly care what another Nik is up to or if he exists.”
“He killed Aang,” Ray states bluntly.
“Son of a bitch! He did what?!” Nik’s eyes widen as Ray shrugs, smirking teasingly. “But why do you care? It’s not like a version of Nik killed another version of Aang.”
“I know. It’s just in bad taste,” Nik pouts before huffing. “But I’m good with slight cheating. This is the paradise of crime and corruption, right? I’d like a taste of it.”
Ray’s grin broadens. “Right. Then let’s hit a pub and see if they need new bartenders and waiters.” She leans forward. “And I call bartending! No way I’m waiting on other drunk assholes and risking someone copping a feel!”
“I’m fine with waiting as long as I don’t have to wear a bodysuit like a Spiderman costume,” Nik sighs. “It looks good. But it shows a little too much.”
“Damn!” Ray gets up from her seat. “You shouldn’t discount them. Maybe Gwen and Silk might take a shine to you.”
“Who are they? Your friends?” Nik follows after her as she pays for the seven bowls of noodles. She looks back with an annoyed pout, “I wish!”
---
Yellow Flag is a ‘neutral’ pub owned by a Vietnamese named ‘Bao,’ leading a neutral zone of drinking and fun with an extensive brothel directly above its establishment for ‘all-you-can-think’ fun! People, hired guns, mistresses, and many others enter the jovial establishment to share a few laughs, regale their tales, and drink in each other’s name and health—NOT!
But the Yellow Flag being neutral is accurate, and using [Twilight Thief] on the pub’s owner to enter a contract of employment was the most convenient method for Nik since he didn’t know Bao enough to abuse his ‘trust.’
“Oi! I asked for rum!”
“Te-he~? Silly me! Is this it?”
“Bitch! It says Vodka right on the label! Bao, are you going to do something about it?!”
Bao, the middle-aged, mustached gentleman, looks over his newspaper before muttering, “Nik, show Ray how it’s done.”
“Sure!” Nik performs a salute while wearing an apron over his hoody since his outfit is bulletproof. He glances at the many bottles on the shelves before looking back at the brown-haired man with a wry smile. “Uh, you asked for rum, yes?”
Meanwhile, Ray huffs and drags a cloth to clean the counter.
“Which rum? There are 11 different labels.” Nik questions as the customer groans, covering his face with his hands before snapping. “Kid, what the fuck are you two doing here? Any rum is fine at this point!”
“Oh! Right away!” Nik smiles broadly and serves the drink before walking from the bar to wait at other tables.
“So?” The customer glances at Ray, letting his gaze level with her body before inquiring. “You and the kid hooking up or what? Doesn’t matter. I’ve got a fat tip waiting for you if you extend some ‘Kind’ services.”
Ray blinks before flushing and cupping her cheeks. “A-Ah. I’m sorry, dear customer. But my employer—”
“Bao has no problem with it~!” The man grins. His face looks a shade darker as the evening glow settles within the establishment. Ray glances at Bao cautiously before purposely taking her time to look at Nik’s back with a generous longing, making the customer’s grin widen and more despicable.
She nods shyly before wiping her hands and walking from the bar.
“N-Nik,” she calls out bashfully. “Mr. Bao asked me to take the customer to the back for something. I won’t be long.”
Nik would toss her a confused look. But since he heard everything, he rolls his eyes and shrugs. “Do whatever you like.”
Ray glares at him. Would it have been too hard for him to play along? She hides her pout as the customer follows after her.
“Nik, right? Rodjy's looking to bang your girl,” the young Chinese man offers with a sneer. “You’re down a nut or what?”
“She isn’t my girl,” Nik smiles. “Here’s something. How about I arrange a meeting between you two if you hand me 500 bucks?”
The man seems to consider the offer. Of course, Nik doesn’t care what happens to the poor bloke once he finds himself in a room with Ray since she hates prostitution. In her words, it’s an act of pure villainy against Vannila Supremacy.
But Nik thinks prostitution is acceptable if the workers are willing and getting good pay. It’s a job, like many other things.
“Fine,” the man grins, taking out some cash.
“A pleasure,” Nik smiles. ‘Great,’ he sighs. ‘I can do some shopping without converting gold. Ray will just use everything he has for AP.’
He continues working until he hears a distant grumbling. Of course, he doesn’t keep using airbending to hear everything around him since it's tiring, but his senses are naturally heightened. And if he heard it, it’s likely Ray heard it, too. Heck! Nik believes she is physically stronger than him but doesn’t show it because it might not be ‘cute.’
“Bao,” Nik calls out. “I’m going to take a piss!”
“Fine,” Bao hums. “I’ll just cut the time from your wages.”
‘Man, Ray got us some shitty jobs.’ He scoffs. ‘Working for Yuuko is several times better than this shit hole!’
He walks out from the pub’s backdoor, finding Ray atop a naked man while going through his wallet.
“Hey!” She turns to glare at him. “First, you don’t play along, and then you sell me for 500 dollars? Ask for 5000 at least!”
“Isn’t 5000 a lot?” Nik cocks his head. “You’re pretty flat for that price.”
Her lips gape in utter shock because she sincerely believes Nik isn’t mocking her but stating a ‘fact.’
The Bastard!
“Hmph! Shove it! So? Why are you out here?” Ray questions, her words only cutting by a loud yell.
“WHERE THE HELL ARE THOSE TWO BASTARDS?!”
Nik smirks. “You should be the one to play the situation since you know so much.”
“Nu-uh!” She scoffs. “You’re the one who wants to experience them. And you took her gun.”
The duo looks at each other before nodding. It’s the same way they decided who would devour the ship from which the Black Lagoon was loading their cargo.
The two cock their fists before shaking it thrice and tossing it out!
Ray’s left hand opens wide, showing her smooth palm, while Nik’s hand remains in a fist.
“I won again~!” She grins as Nik thins his lips. “I told you! I’m an expert in Rock, Paper, Scissors!”
“It’s a game of chance. You cannot be an expert in such a game,” Nik scoffs before undoing his apron. “Fine. I’ll deal with her in a way she won’t bother us for the coming week.”
“Unless you crack her skull, there’s little to nothing you can do about it,” Ray snickers, patting his back. “Go, get her, tiger!”
He groans again, walking around the store instead of entering it from behind as he hears Ray chuckle, “Oh, and send me a message through the communication tab once you’re done. I’m entering my space.”
“Yeah, yeah!” he waves her off without looking back.
---
“Where the hell are they, Bao?” Revy loads her shotgun, pointing the barrel at Bao’s nose as he glares at the woman. “You’ve got some nerve pointing that thing at me when you have to pay for the damages! Dutch! You either control this bitch, or your company’s going to shitter for attacking me in MY pub!”
“Calm down, Revy,” Dutch plants a hand atop the woman’s shoulder and lowers the shotgun with his other one before sitting beside the bar. “Excuse Revy’s anger, would you? Someone stole her guns. We’re following after them for a few hours before hearing you hired the two of them.”
“Hmph! They ran!” Revy scowls, taking another sea before demanding, “Get me some rum! I’m in no mood for piss.”
“Why would you drink piss? Ah, you mean beer.” Dutch and Revy feel a firm hand landing on their shoulders before hearing. “And what type of rum would you like?”
Revy’s hand clenches around her shotgun’s grip, but her body fails to move with the amount of pressure exerted on her. “And please refrain from threatening my employer. Mr. Bao is trash for cutting wages for a toilet break, but he did take us in.”
“She drinks any kind of rum,” Bao relaxes as he pours a drink for the duo from Black Lagoon. “And where’s that girl? Can’t she make a man bust a nut in this much amount of time?”
“Oh,” Nik shrugs. “She is taking a half day. She isn’t used to it and is tired.”
Bao gapes before snorting. “Girls these days sure are fussy.”
“Oi,” Revy looks back with one murderous look. “Get your hands off me.”
Nik tilts his head with a crooked smirk, “Make me.”
The duo stares at each other for a while before Revy turns to her glass and downs her rum, exhaling. “I’m cool. Nik, was it? Just return my guns.”
“So you can shoot me?”
Nik lets go of the duo as Revy’s calm expression twists into a furious grin as she turns back and pulls the trigger without hesitation!
*Bang*
“Damn right!” she smirks, only to find the bullets bouncing off his chest with not so much as a mark on his hoody.
“Hmm,” Nik glances down as his hand snatches the gun from the woman. “Ray was right. Bullets hurt a lot.” And if it really hurt him, he didn’t show it on his face.
Dutch’s eyes widen as he reaches for his gun, only to find Nik whacking the butt of the shotgun against Revy’s dome. “Take her back, Dutch. Oh, and as I said before. Try not to kill around me—especially me. It just hurts my feelings.”
He snickers, walking behind the bar as he stuffs the shotgun in Bao’s arms. “Can we offer you something else in this fine establishment?”
Dutch’s arm returns to the bar as he shakes his head. “Nothing comes to mind.” He ignores the unconscious Revy lying near his feet as he questions. “Since you and your partner are new here, I was hoping to rely on your kindness.”
“Hmm? Sure.” Nik nods, curious. “What’s up?”
“All the ships around us disappeared when we woke up. I wanted to know what happened to those ships. If you sunk them—where? And if you salvaged goods from them, where did you hide it? Would you like to trade for the officer’s ammo and ship parts?”
Nik leans against the counter thoughtfully. “I can’t help you with the ships. But I stole and hid the guns and other ‘trinkets’ before you woke up. However, I wouldn’t hold out hope for the merchant ship and its cargo.”
“I see,” Dutch takes a sip of rum. “And are you interested in a trade?”
The one thing Ray told him about Roanapur as they made their way to Yellow Flag was to understand that every profession has its ‘master’ and requires their permission before setting shop.
“Can I sell guns without permission?” Nik tilts his head. “I’ll be the ‘new guy’ looking to undercut the big boss.”
“You’re new, so you don’t understand. Supplying arms and selling what you find is different,” Dutch offers. “And there are many sellers and gunsmiths in this town.”
Nik nods before shrugging. “I’ll think about it.”
“Hmm,” Dutch finishes the drink and pays for it before picking Revy over his shoulders. As they left, Nik’s gaze hung around Revy’s booty-cut jean shorts.
‘Huh,’ he muses. ‘Now that’s a 5000 dollars ass.’
***
Alternate Title: Nik: Say No To Drugs, Kids!; Nik: My Other Self Did What? I’ll Kill Myself!; The Wild Samosas; A 500 Dollars Ass; Ray Baiting NTR For Others Only To Curbstomp It; Yellow Flag’s New Employees; Nik Misses The Superior Amano Bookstore!; Rum is Rum; Also Ray: Vodka is Rum; Ray is Sappy AF; The Jan-Ken-Pon Champion; Two Different Partners; A Spoiler Loving Gal and a Spoiler Evading Hunk; Cheating is Fine; The Angry Revy; A Hole In One; Nik: What Do You Know? Dem Bullets Hurt!; Nik Following Ray’s Advise And Going For the Head; The Distant 5000 Dollars Ass
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