//------------------------------//
// Ch. 5: Lucky Clover 
// Story: A Party Went Off In Liberty City 
// by KingDaddyDiscord 
//------------------------------//

        As Niko and Pinkie got in the car, he immediately noticed that her hair had miraculously gone back to it’s standard poofiness. Seeing that Kate was alright seemed to cheer her up a deal, as she was back to grinning.
        “Where to, then? The house?”
        “Actually, no. I think there’s somewhere we need to go first.” Niko felt his pocket. His pistol was still there. He always carried it around with him, even if he didn’t intend to cause any trouble.
        “Where…?”
        “You’ll see.” With that, they drove away.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

        “Where are we?” Pinkie asked in curiosity. He couldn’t blame her, this part of the subway wasn’t very well known.
        “This is an abandoned section of the subways. I found it when I was exploring one day.”
        “Should we be here?”
        “...No.”
        “Oh, good!” Her attitude was strange for someone who had just found out that they were illegally in the subway, but Niko brushed it off. In the few days he had known her, he realized that Pinkie was a bit… different, to say the least.
        He pulled out his pistol and showed it to Pinkie, who looked confused.
        “What’s that?”
        “We call it a pistol. It’s a gun, like the one that tried to… to shoot you.” He answered, holding it out. “I use it for self-defense. If a gang member tries to kill me, I kill him first. It’s the way of life here.” Pinkie’s hair deflated a tiny bit again at that. He sighed, and crouched in front of her (She was sitting on a box).
        “Listen, Pinkie. This city is not very friendly. Neither are the people who live in it. I need you to please try to listen to me, for your own good.” She nodded, and he smiled.
        “With any luck, you won’t have to use this information in the near future.

        Niko showed the girl how to click the safety on and off. How to load the gun. How to check the ammunition. How to cock it back. Finally, he was teaching her the proper way to shoot a gun.
        “Hold it out like this.” He positioned her arms so that she was holding out the gun, pointing at a bottle that the Yugoslavian had gotten from one of the many hobos who lived in the subways. She was trembling at the feeling of the cold metal.
        “Breath in. Breath out. Let the weapon become part of yourself.” She nodded tensely, breathing in and out, releasing some of that pent-up stress. She clicked the safety off, readying the gun to fire.
        “See the gun?” She nodded. “That’s your target. Focus on nothing but the target. Do you have it?” She nodded again, and he removed his hands from her arms.
        “Now fire.”
        “What?”
        “Fire!” Without a word, Pinkie let out a single bullet, dropping the weapon immediately after the bang had sounded through the subway tunnels and the bullet had been ripped loose from the barrel.
        Niko had expected a nick, maybe. The bullet more likely would have sailed through the subway tunnels until it hit a wall. When he looked, the bottle that he had placed for a target was completely shattered. His mouth hung open in awe.
        “Did I do good?” She asked worriedly, shaking the man from his stupefied state.
        “Um… yes.” He chuckled. “Yes, you did fine, Pinkie. Come on, let’s do it again.”

        They fired the gun multiple times. Pinkie’s hair was regaining it’s inflation, and she soon became deadly accurate with the weapon. He felt proud for some reason. Which was odd, as he had only known the girl for a few days now.
        “So…” She panted. “Am I ready?” Niko looked at her with a hard stare, then broke into a huge grin that rivalled her own.
        “Pinkie, I believe you’ll make it here in the city!” He clapped her on the back, and they trekked back to the station they had parked their car by.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

        “So, what do we do now?”
        “Well, I believe it is about time we begin tracking down your attackers.” Niko answered with a sour face. Pinkie nodded knowingly. Shifting into gear, they began driving to an old friend of the Yugoslavian’s.
        Pinkie watched the street signs. Many of them said “Airport,” until they finally reached a large building. A sign said “Francis International Airport.”
        “What’s this place?” The girl asked, squeaking as a roar sounded. Turning around to face the beast, Niko pointed to the sky. Looking up, a great metal bird soared into the blue above.
        “What the heck is that?” She asked.
        “That was an airplane. A jumbo jet. This is an airport, where people get into those airplanes and fly around the world.”
        “And anyone is allowed to fly in this world?” She asked curiously.
        “Well, mostly anyone. Unless you have the police on your tail, but most people don’t. It’s… usually just me.” He frowned for a second before brightening. “But we aren’t here for the police! We’re meeting an old friend of mine, who is returning to Liberty City!” They exited the car and walked into the massive building. People bustled around the structure, carrying bags and suitcases.
        “Where is he… there!” Niko pointed to a lone man with a suitcase that stood across the main room. The Yugoslavian ran towards him, and nearly tackled him. The man laughed and pulled the ex-criminal into a hug.
        “Packie McReary! How has Los Santos been treating you, my friend?” Niko laughed as they pulled apart.
        “Ah, same old crap, y’know how it goes. I found a few guys who would hire me for a job now and again, but I can tell you about them later.” He looked around the man at Pinkie.
        “I, uh… see you have a friend.”
        “Oh! Packie, this is Pinkie. Pinkie, this is Patrick McReary. He… was Kate’s brother. He introduced us.”
        “Pleasure to meet you!” Pinkie extended a hand, which Patrick took and shook warmly. The trio then exited the airport and entered Niko’s car, with Pinkie in the back and Patrick beside Niko.
        “So how’ve you been, Niko?” The Irish man asked as they drove away.
        “I’ve been better. Roman and Mallorie had their girl, Kate. It was an honorable tribute to your sister.”
        “Ah… um, remind me to thank them next time I see them.” The newcomer fell silent for a few moments before twisting around in his seat.
        “So… Pinkie. Interesting name.”
        “I’m apparently an interesting person!” She beamed, making Packie smile a bit.
        “I believe it. This numbskull ain’t been giving you a hard time?”
        “Nah, Nicky’s been nice enough to let me stay at his house!” A guffaw of laughter erupted from the Irish man’s mouth, much to Niko’s annoyance.
        “I thought we agreed never to call me that again.” He said through gritted teeth to his companion.
        “Sorry!” Pinkie apologized, though she was laughing too. Patrick tried to regain his composure.
        “Lighten up, will ya’? It’s kind of cute… that she… calls you…. Nicky!” He burst into laughter all over again, and Niko contemplated how scarred Pinkie would be if he shoved Packie out of the car as they crossed Broker Bridge.
        “Ooh! Niko! We’re back!” Pinkie’s voice broke Niko out of his thoughts as they pulled up to Niko’s penthouse. The Eastern-European pounded his forehead with his fist.
        “Sorry, Packie! I forgot, you wanted me to drop you off in Dukes!”
        “Nah, man! I can call a taxi from here.” Patrick got out of the passenger seat, and looked back at his friend.
        “Niko. It was great seeing you, man. There were some real weirdos in Los Santos, and it’s good to be back!” He then ran off down the street, whooping about being home. Niko smiled at his friend.
        “Is he always that crazy?” Pinkie asked.
        “Crazy? Nah. Energetic? That’s Packie McReary for you.” He unbuckled and got out of the car, followed by Pinkie Pie. Together, they walked back into the apartment.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

        “Pick up, pick up.” Niko muttered. Finally, a voice came through.
        “Cousin!” Roman growled. “It’s 1 A.M. What could be as important as sleep?”
        “Patrick’s back in Liberty City.”
        “Packie? Packie McReary? Why didn’t he come visit me?”
        “He’s visiting his family, Roman. Give him time to adjust to Liberty City again. In the mean time, contact some of your usual people. We need to find who’s targeting Pinkie. Not for her sake alone, but for Kate’s.”
        “Your determination and will is honorable, Cousin.” Roman sighed. “She’s getting better, and should be out of the hospital tomorrow. But we can’t let this maniac hurt her, for real this time. We must catch whoever it is.”
        “And we will, Roman.” Niko hung up. “And we will…”