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Haroun catches GW before he heads back into New York. They talk about Nathan, about Haroun's parents, and about parades.



Not a happy camper. At all. Bridge was managing to keep a relatively neutral face as he headed down through the mansion to where his rental car was parked in the garage, but it took effort. He had never been a big fan of the 'blowing shit up' school, but there were days he felt like making an exception.

Haroun, on the other hand, was one of the Poster Children for the blowing-shit-up school of therapy. Which would be why he was wandering up through the garage towards his quarters, reeking of spent propellant and with a big ol' grin on his face. Seeing GW, Haroun changed course to intercept. "Hey, GW!" he called out, to be polite. "You heading back to NY soon?"

"Right now," Bridge said, mustering a brief, somewhat tight smile for the other man. "Need to hook back up with the Pack and tell them what's happened."

Haroun nodded. "A pity. Was hoping I could steal you for an hour or two." he said. "But if you've got to bail then you've got to bail. Keep your team in the loop and all that."

Bridge paused, eyeing him. "I gather the loop has worked its way around to you, then?"

"I got caught up on my mail a while ago. Hence why I was just ... relieving some frustration." he said with a grin. "I want to argue for putting Nate's entire older-than-him bloodline out of sanction, but he won't stand for it."

"Surprises me in some ways," GW said quietly. "Especially with the business about Aliya and Tyler. I got to see pretty much first-hand what he did to the people he thought were responsible for that." He shook his head a little. "Doesn't surprise me, in other ways," he said. "He's changed."

"See, both Saul and this Gideon character lead public lives, to an extent. Businessmen. Makes them predictable, and if you're predictable then a dedicated-enough assassin can get you." he said flatly. "Offered to do the job myself to keep his hands clean, but he made it fairly clear that he didn't want any of that going on."

GW tilted his head in the direction of the garage, a silent invitation to Haroun to keep him company on the way down - and continue the conversation. "It's not really got anything to do with keeping his hands clean," he said. "Nate, in the past, when he's done the revenge thing... he's done the revenge thing." GW gave a helpless shrug. "When Aliya and Tyler were killed," he said, very quietly, although there were no students anywhere in the vicinity, "he killed every operative from the team that hit the hotel that day. Then he tracked the director who'd ordered the hit down at his home and shot him in front of his children. Then he went back to the Mistra home facility and turned it into a crater. Would have walked into the desert and died if I hadn't been following his stupid ass trying to keep track of him." GW shook his head a little. "The near-perpetual crankiness is not Nate's anger," he said. "Nate's anger is a very, very scary thing."

Haroun nodded. "I had a feeling he had that kind of fire in him." he said, just as quietly. "Personally, I'm in a mind to send a little message that says "Fuck with him, and you fuck with all of us. And we are the best at what we do." he said, cracking his knuckles. "It's the only real way to keep our loved ones safe. Anonymity is fine, but sooner or later it's always compromised."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted," GW said very forthrightly, "and I shudder to think of how the others are going to react. But he said no, and unless he changes his mind, I'm not taking action." He sighed. "He's worried about Moira and Rachel."

Haroun nodded. "Frustrating, but I can understand it. Man's got his family to think about. Which reminds me - any word from my parents?" he asked as the two of them walked to GW's rental car. "I'm worried about them."

"Not since we got that last note saying thank you for the last package we passed along for you, and I already sent you the letter that came along with that," GW said. "I did ask our contact in Rabat to keep a discreet eye on them from time to time and he hasn't passed along anything alarming."

Haroun exhaled sharply and nodded. "Thanks." he said, meaning it from the depths of his heart. "It's stupid, but I worry."

"Hey, worse comes to worse, we're not all that far away," GW said a bit wryly. "Extractions used to be one of our specialties."

"If worst comes to worst, I'll be more than happy to scrape a little something together to pay you to extract them." he said. "Somehow."

Bridge shook his head. "Forget it," he said. "Haroun, between the lot of us we've got enough money in various banks to live the rest of our lives times five, and enough to carry on operations until we're all eighty. Some pro bono work is not going to cause any undue hardship." GW blinked, a few things shifting around in his mind into new and interesting shapes.

"It's good that you don't have a problem working pro bono, but I won't take charity." he said firmly. "If it comes down to it and things get hot, I'll find a way to make sure you guys get compensated for your trouble."

"And we take any money you give us and give it to your parents," GW said a bit acerbically. Ah, youth and pride. "Unless of course someone happens to get shot. At which point we let them spend it on alcohol." He offered a faint, wry smile.

Haroun scowled, and endeavored to change the subject. "So how are things going with the Pack lately? Haven't heard anything in a while out of you guys. No news is good news, I guess?"

"We've been staying out of sight, remember?" GW said patiently. "Flying below the radar just in case." Although he was starting to think it was a waste of time. Nothing had come to the attention of any of his contacts, nothing that suggested the Hellfire Club was showing any interest at all in the Pack. Even the job offers that were still rolling in, no matter how many got turned down, all checked out.

"Right! Duh. Gotta get my head out of my plasticbutt, as Domino would say." he said with a bit of a sneer at the mention of the woman's handle. "Good thing you've got all that scratch tucked away, then." he added. "Hellfire giving you any trouble?"

"Not so much as a poke," GW said quietly. "Then again, now that we're not taking on high-profile jobs, or any jobs, we're probably not worth the trouble of troubling." No conflicts of interests. Dropping off the map had been the easiest way to do that, but... GW shook his head again, not quite sure where his mind was going.

"You sound bored. Maybe you should take a quiet job or two, test the waters a little. Maybe all the Club wanted was to make you folks skittish."

"It's given us some time to think," GW said quietly. "Sitting by the Med, there's not much else to do but think."

"Too much thinking is generally not an asset in your line of work." he said with a small laugh. "Anyway, I've hogged your time enough. Here, this is my cell. Keep in touch, OK? Nate's not the only one who likes to hear from you from time to time." he said, handing over a card with the relevant contact info on it.

GW took the card, giving Haroun another brief smile. "Take care of yourself," he said, "and of Alison. You'll probably see me again at some point this week."

Haroun nodded. "If you can swing a few hours free, look me up. We'll head down to Harry's, shoot some pool or something. Have ourselves a little Kill Whitey parade or something." he smirked.

"Can hardly wait," GW murmured a bit wryly, tossing off a half-salute and then heading over to the car.

Haroun laughed, and returned the lazy salute with one of his own. "Be safe."