(no subject)

[latino_menace]

It's been a miserable few days and that's an understatement. Worse than that, it's been boring. He doesn't know whether they've lost the Americans or if they've just missed them by chance but there hasn't been a single attack since that first night. The jungle is disgustingly hot and just when it almost becomes unbearable, it starts to rain and keeps going for hours - which makes the place hot and wet. The heat never eases; it's exactly like walking through a sauna set to maximum heat. And the terrain makes things worse, if that's possible. It's slow going while half of them hack the foliage away and the rest of them struggle over rocks and crevices and through mud and scrub and tree stumps. The insects are constantly attacking them and there are any number of deadly species around here - he's also noticed jaguar tracks in places (the only tracks he can identify, for obvious reasons) and the mosquitos are starting to drive him insane.

Ramon is sick to fucking death of military rations, being sticky and filthy and bored. But these aren't the only problems he's noticing. Every night when they make camp, the men in his crew are quite obviously becoming more relaxed with the situation - the less danger the Americans seem to pose, the more they start not being afraid and their thoughts are turning to matters closer to home. Namely, the foreigners in their midst.

He's caught all of them, save Esteban, staring at Mary Anne in ways he imagines she probably doesn't like - the expressions range from lustful to mutinous depending on whether she's telling them what to do or doing something less intrusive, like coming back from changing clothes or cleaning up or anything similar. He's sure she's noticed herself so hasn't said anything since his original warning but it seems clear that things are going to come to a head at some point.

With Roxas, it's more like hate. He's not around so often and they don't know where he goes or what he's doing there. The kid is so impervious to anything around him and can't really be passed off as human by any stretch of anyone's imagination. The heat doesn't affect him, he doesn't sleep or eat or get uncomfortable in the conditions. He's also dressed differently and is impossible to insult. Ramon can virtually see their fists itching whenever the guy comes into camp but he doesn't know if it's registered with Roxas at all.

He doesn't do anything. He brought those two because they know how to handle themselves, not because he wanted to babysit. And because he's tired and in a bad mood, he doesn't think anything of leaving camp at night when he wants to think things over without being surrounded by people. Tonight, he takes Esteban with him because they have things to talk about.

Perhaps, in hindsight, this isn't a good idea. After all, they need some people left to carry the stuff.

Comments

[song_tra_bong]

Rico doesn't have long to scream, since the knife's next destination is his throat.

She turns before his body hits the ground, ready to deal with Luiz.

[latino_menace]

Luiz's mouth is wide open in surprise (this evening was not supposed to go like this) and Juan just managed to get to his feet as Rico dropped for the last time.

Luiz has a brainwave...and runs. Juan does not. He's still holding his nuts and staring at his friend.

[song_tra_bong]

Juan joins his friend with similar quickness; nobody puts a knife to her throat and gets away with it.

She sprints after Luiz, drawing one of her own knives as she goes.

[latino_menace]

He can hear her coming and it freaks him the hell out because he can't see a damn thing and isn't all that sure he's running in the right direction and he keeps falling over shit and branches whip him in the face and there are things crawling in his hair and...is that a flashlight?

Yes, yes it is. Ramon sent Esteban to go look around and the light from the camp is within sight. Luiz practically sobs with relief and grabs the man's arm.

'Come on, quick.'

Estenban doesn't know if it's the Americans or what, but he does as he's told. There's no mistaking the fear in Luiz's voice.

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne is hot on their heels

She isn't sure who Luiz grabs and it doesn't much matter.

"Don't you protect that little shit! Don't you dare!"

[latino_menace]

They're running but Esteban hears her clearly and it doesn't make him stop. He's been just as aware as Ramon has about the plans the guys have been making and while he didn't approve, he wasn't going to involve himself. But now its clearly gone wrong for them, he's not about to let her butcher one of the crew. He'd prefer to save Luiz's life than hers.

They make the campsite. Ramon is leaning against a tree, smoking and listening to the commotion. Luiz immediately goes to talk to him but he shuts him up with a wave of his hand and just waits for Mary Anne to appear.

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne skids to a halt at the edge of the camp.

She twirls her knives, eyes flicking between Luiz and Ramon.

"Hi, honey. I'm home."

[latino_menace]

It makes him smirk, completely against his will.

'What happened?'

This is directed at her because he trusts her to tell the truth, unlike Luiz.

[song_tra_bong]

"He tried to kill me. Him and two others."

She grins.

"I tried harder."

[latino_menace]

'We weren't going to kill you,' Luiz bursts out, as if offended by the very idea. 'Just wanted to teach you a lesson.'

He looks at Ramon as though they're together in this, like he'll understand that men shouldn't take orders off of women and that they're only good for one thing anyway. Which is pretty stupid seeing as Ramon doesn't feel solidarity with employees and also, was the one to bring her along and put her in charge in the first place.

So Luiz really shouldn't be surprised when he gets clubbed across the head with the butt of a pistol. When he hits the deck, Ramon turns to Esteban.

'Go and find their bodies. Luiz should know where they are. Make sure there's nothing incriminating on them, get their weapons, and leave them there. It'll keep the Yanks guessing.'

And when they're gone, he looks back at Mary Anne.

'I warned you but you obviously know how to take care of yourself. You alright?'

Beat.

'You can kill him when he comes back, if you like.'

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne rubs idly at the scrape on her jaw.

"Doing just fine."

She grins. "You know, I think I'll give him a little time to twitch first."

[latino_menace]

'I'm sure he'll appreciate that.'

If nothing else, it'll be amusing for him to watch.

'Do we need to take all their stuff with us?'

If they keep losing men at this rate, soon they'll all be carrying three times their own weight in supplies and ammo.

But hell, you never when you might need this shit.

[song_tra_bong]

She shakes her head.

"Probably not. Have everybody take only what they need; we can leave the rest, but we should hide it if we can. No sense helping out the enemy."

[latino_menace]

'I suppose so.'

He'd quite like to keep them guessing but this trip is difficult enough without leaving signposts for the Yanks. So he sighs and lights another cigarette.

'Tell Luiz what to do with the stuff when he gets back. I'll make sure he does whatever you want. And when you're done with him, do what you want with him.'

[song_tra_bong]

She smirks.

"You always do give the best presents."

[latino_menace]

There's a sudden grin at that.

'I'm renowned for my generosity.'

[song_tra_bong]

The smirk gets wider.

"Just one of your many attractive qualities."

[latino_menace]

'Don't I know it.'

The grin fades away and he looks out into the trees. He's starting to feel like he's been here forever.

'I'm going to see if Roxas has seen Benito out there. The others thought jumping the kid would be a good idea too - two came back from that, though.' Roxas doesn't feel anger, of course. 'One's dead and Ben's lost. I'd rather not leave him alone for someone else to catch.'

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne, on the other hand, is excellent at anger.

"You let me know if you need help hunting."

But first she has to scare the shit out of Luiz.

[latino_menace]

It's one of her attractive qualities. And she really is very good at it.

'I will. If I'm not back in an hour, come looking.'

Easy to get lost out here but he's not too worried.

'Have fun with your toy.'

He smirks and slips off into the darkness.