“So, after that phone call, he jumped me after school one day soon after, and now, here we are.” Spike said calmly, wrapping up the explanation he just gave his friends as to why the Garble situation was happening with a quick recap of all the aforementioned events.

“Bloody hell, mate. That bloke just sounds downright evil to me.” Pip said, almost in disbelief of what his friend had gone through at the hand of the degenerate, violent scum that was Garble. “The guy just sounds mental. He said he’d off you if we beat him in the game next season, even! He needs to be locked up in the loony bin, ya ask me!”

Mac just gave a sagely nod before adding, “Eeeyup. He sounds like a danger to pretty much anyone he crosses trails with. He and his lil gang tried to git me, too. At the gas-station outside o’ town.”

They all sat in silence, an air of discouragement beginning to fill the room before Pip sighed, his lip turned up in a bit of an annoyed smirk. “Well, I hate losing as much as the next bloke, bu’... I’d hate losing me best chap a million times more. So we throw the game.”

Spike stood, stomping his foot in anger. “No, we’re not throwing the game! The competition next season is gonna be stiff, if we lose even just two games, we might not make the cut for the playoffs!”

Pip’s mouth dropped in disbelief. “Mate, do you remember what you just said about this bloke? He said he wants to KILL YOU.”

Mac folded his arms and nodded, agreeing with Pip. “T’aint worth it, Spike. He’s bad news, and Ah ain’t git got when I ran into’m and his boys, but Ah’m sure Ah rightly could’ve, the situation were different.”

Spike held his nerve, shaking his head insistently. “You guys, I’m not gonna let you throw the game for me, especially when sports is pretty much your biggest hopes of getting into college. You both love the game, you’re both really good at it. I can’t let you forfeit that for me.”

“Mate, are you sayin’ that some dumb scholarship to some shite ivy league school we won’t even want to go to is more important than your life? Bugger that!” His lanky Trottingham friend tossed back, crossing his arms, arguably even more stubborn and bull-headed than his mohawked partner in crime.

“Look, guys.” Spike said, sitting back down onto the couch, running a hand stressfully through his mohawk as he spoke. “Honestly, he talks a big game, and don’t get me wrong, he’s tough… but I doubt he’d actually go through with it. Jump me again? I’d put money on it, but even he’s not dumb enough to kill someone and expect to get away with it. And besides, with all the working out we’ve been doing, I’m stronger than ever, I can hold my own.”

“But you cain’t, Spike, not alone! Last time he jumped you - an’ like y’said, weren’t that long ago - he got you pretty good, you said your ribs is still all black’n blue.” Mac said, pointing a finger at his friend's abdomen, which prompted Spike to lift his shirt and reveal a heavily bruised ribcage.

“Well, yeah, but if we’re all together, then-”

“But what if we ain’t? Say you go back to the locker room after all of us, or, Lord forbid, Twilight’s with ya. He might bust you up even worse, or even put hands on yer woman. That fella ain’t right in the head at all, and I don’t have many doubts about him stoopin’ that low. It’s too much of a risk, Spike....” The large cowboy said, sighing in frustration as he stroked the tuft of hair on his chin, racking his brain for a solution. “... The only thang I can think of would be to find ‘im and lay a beatdown on ‘im and his whole lil posse first… but that’s also dangerous, and at least a few months in juvie if we get caught.” He thought out loud before shaking his head. “No, we ain’t doin’ that, neither.”

“Or…” Pip suggested, what could only be described as a shit eating grin plastered on his face. “We put all this hard work in the gym to good use, and just absolutely pummel the blokes during the game. Spike, we were lookin’ at their roster a while back, and you said you recognized a few names as bein’ this fella and his gang, ri’? Well, he plays halfback if I remember correctly, and you play linebacker defensively, and Mac’s on the D line. So, whenever they hand him the ball, just absolutely drill the prick, and make his buddies eat astro-turf, let him know we’re not blokes to be fucked with. By the time the game’s over they’ll be too banged up to even try anything!”

“Heh, well that sounds like our best option. It may not stop him for good, but at the bare minimum it’ll give us some time after the game to figure out how to stop him once and for all.” Spike chuckled, playfully jabbing his friend in the ribs. “Good idea, Pip! When did you get so smart?”

Pip chuckles and swats away his friends hand, speaking after he takes a sip from his soda. “Beats me, but I definitely didn’t pick it up from you, mate.”

“Eeyup.”

-----

Garble growled in anger as him and his posse were gathered in a dark alleyway. He kicked a garbage can in anger, so hard that the can bent inwards. “That damn peckerwood ruined our plan, boys! We’ve gotta find him and lay a beatdown on his ass, too! You stupid fucks can at least find out where that god-damn hillbilly lives, I’m sure.” He grunted out, then, not hearing any retreating footsteps, glared at two of his henchmen, pointing at them. “Well? What the FUCK are you waiting for?! You two troglodytes go out and FIND HIM!”

The two aforementioned teens scurried off, Garble’s rage never failing to intimidate them. He then turned his attention to his remaining lackey, gripping him by the shirt and pulling him close enough that he could smell the nicotine on Garble’s breath. “You said that prick has another friend, right? Little scrawny english ass-fuck?”

The slightly smaller delinquent nodded nervously, before he was shoved back by his leader. “Good, then find him! Don’t think about coming back without some information, or I’ll beat the shit outta you, too!” He growled out as he fished a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, hacking up a loogie before putting the cancer stick in his mouth and lighting it. He took a long drag before grunting in anger again, kicking the already dented can over, and stomping it until it looked more like a crushed pipe than a trash receptacle. “That fuckin’ prick, rrgh! You’re on my shit list, you little punk!” He cursed aloud, as if Spike could hear him, or was anywhere near his vicinity. He sighed angrily, taking his cigarette into his hand and having a long drag of it, before noticing a man looking at him from the street as if he was crazy. He snarled at him, flicking the tobacco twig at him, spreading embers and ash on the ground. “Whatcha looking at, fucknuts? GET LOST!”

-----

“I just dunno, Unc.” Gilda said aloud, clicking her tongue in slight irritation as she had soon after made a stray mark in her sketchbook that she hadn’t meant to draw, quickly erasing it.

“Whatcha mean, kid? Your art’s great.” Her relative offered with a smile, his feet up on the coffee table of his living room as he sat on the couch next to her, sipping a cold beer.

“No, it’s not that… It, uh…” She stuttered, a light blush forming on her cheeks before she continued, lowering her voice and ducking her head, her dyed hair falling over her eyes for a moment. “This fuckin’... guy at school…”

“OhohoHO! Ya got a crush on someone, Gil?” Hawkeye asked with a smirk, chuckling as he saw his niece getting flustered, giving him the answer immediately.

“Wh-What?! No, oh god, no! He’s way too shrimpy! Uhh… is that even a word…?” She said, struggling with finding the right words to falsify her claims of not holding affection for a certain Trottingham teen that she couldn’t get out of her mind for some reason.

“Heheheh, suuuure, Gil. Whatever ya say.. So, what’s this ‘shrimp; like?” He asked, before chugging the rest of his beer, setting the empty bottle on the table before letting out a loud, wet-sounding belch.

“Nice.” She says, critiquing her uncle’s burp, using it as an excuse to stall. She wanted Hawkeye’s wisdom on the matter, but she was quickly becoming discouraged, not used to talking about her feelings and all that sappy crap. “I’unno.” She shrugs dismissively, chewing on her lip as she directed her attention back to her sketchbook, drawing in some details on a medieval crusader, a heroic stance coupled with a valiant flowing cape completed the epic piece. “It’s just stupid highschool bullshit, don’t got time for guys right now, anyways.”

Hawkeye lit up a cigar and smirked, speaking in his gravelly tone after a few puffs. “Hm… In all fairness, I always took you for a dyke anyways.”

“Heh, fuck you too, Unc.” She shot back with a chuckle, before shaking her head. “Nah, I’m not a lesbo. Thought I was for a while, but I was just confused, I think… but, in all honesty, I wouldn’t say no to hooking up with Dash, heh.”

“Heh, yeah, she’s DEFINITELY gay. I mean, her hair inspired the pride flag, for cryin' out loud!” Hawkeye coughed out, taking too hard of a puff of the White Owl cigar, thick white smoke swirling around him and upwards towards the ceiling.

“Right? I tell her that all the time and she HATES it, haha!” Gilda sits up and begins to shake with light laughter, her eyes twinkling as she looks back down to the english knight in shining armor in her sketchbook. “Heheh… anyway…” She stands up and stretches, clasping her hands together behind her back, causing it to crackle and pop along with her shoulders. “Oh yeah, that’s the shit, ngh… what’s the plan for dinner?”

“Well, I didn’t really plan anything... Why don’tcha order something?” He says with a smile, taking another puff from his cigar. “I’m gonna get loaded as shit later, I’ll be too lazy to cook anyway.”

“Why wait?” Gilda asks with a smile, reaching into her backpack that she had sat next to her seat while she was drawing, pulling out a bag of some pretty fluffy and dense bud, tossing it to Hawkeye. “Now we’re even for that zip you bought me in L.P.” She begins to walk up the stairs towards her bedroom, eyes glued to her phone. “I’m gonna order chinese, just cuz I know you like it and I’m an awesome niece. You’re welcome!”

Gilda shuts and locks her door behind her, ordering the meal for delivery and then setting her phone down with a huff as she collapses onto her mattress. “Ugh… stupid fuckin’ brit.”

-----

“Wow Spike, I’m impressed!” Twilight said to her lover, who was currently behind the wheel of her compact, head turned over his shoulder as he was currently reversing parallel to a long, straight curb on a relatively empty street. “You drive better than me! Have you been sneaking out in my car at night or something?” She joked, laying a hand gently on his thigh as he chuckled out a response.

“Heh, well, maaaaybe a few times here and there, yeah.” He admitted with a smile. “But I figure i need to get my license and a car of my own now, anyway! It’s better than walking everywhere, and to be honest i’ve been watching videos online of people modding their cars, and it seems really fun!”

“Oh, gonna be my personal mechanic, hm?~” She raised a brow and gave a shining smile as she continued, “Maybe you should take auto shop next year, you might end up being really good at it!”

“Sure! Not like I’m cut out for AP academics like you, anyways, heh.” He replied, coming to a stop at the end of the curb. “I was thinking of going in to take my driver’s test tomorrow. Think I’ll pass?” He asked with an excited smile one that Twilight thought was adorable.

“If you drive like this, you might just get a perfect score!” She replied, thrilled at the idea before pausing and winking at her mohawked boyfriend. “But don’t think you’ll get out of cleaning the house with me before you go! We’ve been slacking, and your allergies are gonna start acting up if we don’t dust the house soon!”

“Yeah, I know, I know~” he chuckled, playfully throwing his hands up before shifting into drive, heading back to the house, before throwing up the question on his mind. “I wonder what kind of car I should get once I earn my license?”

“Well, with this new look you’ve been rocking,” Twilight starts, ruffling his green mohawk with a giggle, “I could definitely see you in some classic Equestrian muscle! That old school greaser aesthetic, hm?~”

“That’d be cool, yeah! There’s bound to be a few cool muscle cars in need of love in that old junkyard at the edge of town. Maybe we could check it out this coming weekend?” The tattooed adolescent replied hopefully, chuckling as he felt Twilight’s dainty hand run through his short, green locks.

“Ehhh…” Twilight trailed off, not too keen on the thought of trudging through a gravel field full of rusty metal. “It’s not really my thing, babe… but maybe Pip or Big Mac would wanna go with you! A guy’s day, or something, y’know! Judging by the Apple Family’s old truck, seems like he might know a thing or two about working on those older cars.” She explains, smiling as she could see Spike’s excitement climb higher and higher each second.

“Ah, yeah! He might be able to tell me which car would be worth wrenching on. It’d be another way for the three of us to hang out, too.” He says quickly, then looking to his sister and smiling sheepishly. “Heh… just as long as you don’t mind any potential oil stains in the driveway?”

“Tell you what,” She starts, kissing Spike’s cheek as they pull up to their home and he puts the car in park. “Pass your test first try, and I’ll clean out the garage for you guys!” She offers before quickly stepping out and heading for the front door. “Now c’mon inside, Chef Spike; I’m starving!~”

His eyes were practically beaming with excitement as he walked in, pulling out his phone and sending a message to the group chat he had with his two workout partners turned best friends.

“Hey guys, I’m taking my driving test soon. Let’s all head to the junkyard on the edge of town on Sunday so I can pick out a car!”

It didn’t even take a minute for the two to respond with enthusiasm. Pip’s came in first.

“Right on! I’ll be dying to see what kind of wheels you end up with!”

Mac, seeming to have patiently waited for Pip to reply first, gave his approval soon after.

“Sounds good. I’ll bring my tools in the truck and pick y’all up at Spike’s place, noon sharp.”

The two younger teens texted back their approval of the plan and Spike set his phone down with a smile, heading into the kitchen. As per usual, he both quickly and masterfully whipped up a delicious meal for himself and his lover. The two talked casually over the meal before heading up to their room and lounging on the cushy mattress, where they flicked on a movie and cuddled up as they idly relaxed together.

“Y’know Twi,” Spike said softly, nuzzling his sister’s neck while he held her close, “You’re surprisingly well adjusted to all this ‘new me’ stuff… I thought you’d be more wary of it… Not that I mind at all, heh.”

“Well, I love you.” She replies warmly, giving him a chaste but intimate kiss. “And, I need to accept that you’re growing into your own man, and you’re gonna change from the cute little brother you used to be. I can’t control who you are and as much as that scares me I need to come to terms with it.”

“You don’t need to be scared, Twi…” Spike said softly, smiling as he cupped her cheek, looking into her eyes. “I’m always gonna be here for you… Just like you were always there for me when we were younger. It’s my turn to protect you now.”

Twilight smiles and moves in close to him, content to lay with him, lost in the intimate moment as she replies, simply and happily.

“I’m yours, forever and always.”

Author's Notes:

So finally, finally finally FINAAAAALLLLY....

We get back to business! I feel pretty good about getting back on the horse, so to speak, and hopefully we can keep rolling along with this story! As always, check out the super talented Ringmaster1336, he's amazing and he makes these chapters possible. (As do all of you guys! )

I just put up a quick blog post about being MIA for so long, check it out if ya want!

And that's about it from me for now.

Deuces guys!