//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Life's Serendipity 
// by MistressMystery 
//------------------------------//

  As the school day neared its end Flintlock pulled up to the school in her Jaguar, it was hot pink in color contrary to her mindset as her pitch black business suit claimed. Her cohort struggled to get out of the car, his pants almost up to his chest, his face was shielded from the sun with his hand as he let out loud complaints.

"Can you be any more melodramatic, you'll blow your cover." Flint claimed grabbing her disguised criminal brother.

He lowered his voice as he smiled, "You're the one who made this character, I should get an award for playing it as well as I am." He chuckled as he pulled out a latex glove to open the school door, "Speaking of which what is my name should they ask?"

As they walked into the building he tossed the glove in the trash then filled his hands with sanitize, "Don't worry I'll introduce you, have you came up with your cover as the foster parent?"

Brushing back his hair with his fingers he removed the glasses and put on a Latin accent, "But of course, I'm a savvy business investor who's decided to ground his roots in this town. Feeling I have too much money I've decided to give back to the community by taking in those whose needs far out reach my own." Messing his hair back up he placed the glasses back on and resumed his awkward breathing, "A perfect cover if I do say so myself."

"I like it but ditch the overseas thing and the Latin accent, unless you've been here over 2 years and have proven to the state you're not a threat to the young that isn't happening."
He let out pfft to the rules she stated, "Killjoys, why do you even work for them?"

"To cover your ass and keep you out of jail, like I promised mom and dad I would. God rest their souls."

"Hey leave them out of this they taught us well..." Letting out a groan as they waited for the Principal and Vice Principal Celestia and Luna he turned and pointed at her, "besides they ain't dead, they're just locked up is all. 20 more years and their out."
"Close enough to being dead, what you call a cell I call a coffin. Reason I gave up the game and started going straight."

As Celestia and Luna started walking up he leaned in and whispered, "I didn't know you were batting for the same team, any women I may know that could have warmed your bed?"
Leaning in to him she pinched his love handle causing him to lock up, "Get your fucking mind out of the God damn gutter." Once Celestia and Luna was up to them to escort them to the office Flint extended her hand, "Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice, I'm Flintlock with the Department of Social Services. This is Geyfooker, he assigns the young their new foster parents during the investigations and during the rehabilitation of the biological parents. And that is if the investigation turns something up."

Faintly looking at Flint he gave an awkward smile as he thought, 'Oh you fucking...' Slapping on a latex glove he continued his act while extending his hand, "Pleased to meet you."
After shaking their hands he tossed the glove and rubbed his hands down in sanitizer. It wasn't long till they were in the office and talking things over, Celestia informed them that they spoke with the young woman Angel when she was alone. Though she claimed nothing was wrong at home they had instructed her to come by the office after her final class ended, she had asked to
know what was going on but they explained to her that she will know soon enough.

Trying to go over the details of the case file Flint requested the transcript of miss Angel, "Well she puts on a convincing act that nothing is wrong, good grades, good behavior, just about good everything from what I see."

Passing the file over to the stallion he looked into it, "But you're overlooking this, some teachers have noted that she keeps to herself. Rarely ever talks unless spoken too first, almost cowers in the face of authority, and seems to jump from the slightest touch when in deep thought." He groaned almost breaking character as he slammed the file shut and slammed it on the desk,
"Seems like cries for help to me, almost like she wants help but no one cared. Is this how the school system works now, ignoring clear signs of help?" They stuttered as they tried to clear their throats, "We can't just claim something is wrong at home unless the student says something first, we've tried talking to her but she just…”

"Says nothing is wrong? She's hiding the truth because she fears this is the best things will be, that it can never get better only worse." He realized he was starting to falter in his persona so to cover himself he started wheezing more while patting his chest, "So you... pay your defense... and let this crap slide?" 
Placing her hand on his shoulder Flint blushed as she held him back, "I'm sorry he too came from a family that didn't treat him right, it's like a tender soft spot on a soldier. Touch it and they go off the rails, please forgive him."

Before they could respond the final bell rang and before they knew it Angel walked into the office, she saw all four of them and was baffled at what was going on.

Angel stood in the doorway, her paws shaking visibly who were they...? She didn't trust them... especially the weird stallion... something about him was not right... She refused to look anyone in the eye as she slowly walked in and sat down as far away from everyone as possible. Playing with her sleeves, she glances over at flintlock then at Celestia and Luna then back at the floor, speaking in a barely audible voice "this is about my parents isn't it... I've told you already, everything is fine at home... I don't see why you all are so concerned about me..."

They waited to hear more from her but her fidgeting the stallion took it as a hint that was all she could muster, "Not quite..." He claimed in a slow steadily calming wheeze, "you see a passerby had taken notice of how you rushed home in fear yesterday. They then made a phone call to our department and in the middle of it heard screaming. They also noted that your father was, and they quote, 'In an angry drunken state leaving his car.' This is clearly a sign of a bad living environment."

As many of them nodded in agreement Flintlock calmly walked over and kneeled before her gently taking hold of her hands, "Sweetheart this is just a quick little investigation, if nothing is found you'll be back with your parents before you know it. Till then you'll be moved into a foster home, a good one..." Looking back at the stallion she hinted he needed to have his back story for his alias ready, "isn't that right Geyfooker?"

His right finger tapped the arm rest of his chair in annoyance of that name, "But of course, I've picked out the best. His name is..." He tried to think of a name he hadn't used yet, but most was already known world round, "oh now where did I put that note?" He started patting himself down as Flintlock shook her head knowing he hadn't thought any further ahead than say the next ten seconds, "Oh yes that's right, his name is Ayahuasca. He's a savvy business investor who wants to give back by helping others, he's trustworthy."
"I'm not very familiar with that name." Celestia claimed as Luna wrote it down.

"Nor have I, is there a chance we will be seeing him, or do you have a file on him we can request a copy of?"
Standing up Flintlock glared at her adoptive brother as her finger tapped her crossing arm, "But of course I'll bring a copy of his file first thing tomorrow morning. And I'm more than certain Geyfooker will inform him to come here at that time as well."

The stallion sat there in an awkward silence as his eyes slightly bugged out while looking around the room, 'Fuck, I didn't think that one through. I have a hist planned in Mareaco and I needed to catch a flight at that time.' He thought to himself as Flintlock sat next to him explaining that he had a mental condition that sometimes causes him to drift off, "I'm sorry what are we talking about now?" He looked around the room playing off what Flintlock had said, "Oh yes of course he will come by in the morning, I'll inform him right now. Please excuse me." He stood up and walked out of the office as he pulled out his phone.
Once in the hall his phone rang for a moment as they continued to talk in the office, "Don't tell me you need my help, I already told you about the King's Diamond."

"Ya about that, anyway you can push my flight back till late in the afternoon. Something just came up."

"You and that bleeding heart of yours, Mom and Dad always said it would do you in. Hell it's what did them in."

"Ya, ya, ya, can you or can't you?" He whispered trying to keep the conversation between the two of them.

"Oh ya I can do that, but there's a problem with doing it." The stallion groaned as he asked what the problem was, "The diamond won't be in Mareaco by the time you get there, it gets moved at the end of the day and is shipped back overseas. It will be another week or two till I know where it will be, or even where it could be going, and that's playing it safe." Looking at the school calendar the stallion hummed as he rubbed his chin, "Then we'll do that... wait... how did you find out?"

The voice scoffed, "Oh well sis told me all abou- WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I AM!? I tapped your phone when you last called me, I've been keeping tabs on your dumb ass since then. Come on you think sis is the only one covering your ass? I have to cover hers twice as much when you call her, which by the way I've got your alias and background covered already  into the system, it also looks like it's been there for at least five years and to top it off you're a special case only one kid at a time. That will help keep them from sending more your way. And really you named yourself after a plant used in native rituals, are you high or just dumb as shit?"

"I swear I'm not on any drugs of any kind..." The call went silent as he stood there, "shut up." The voice on the other end started laughing, "Alright look in a then next week they have spring break, find out where the diamond might be going and we will plan something from there."

"Alright, but you know I'll have to take some risks. That means you can be found as well." From the other end the stallion claimed he knew but wished his brother all the luck he could, "Ya say that to my feathery ass we share the same cell... oh and FYI if we share the same cell you're the bitch, and I demand you get us out the same night we get locked up."

He chuckled, "Ya of course I will, stay safe bro." As he hung up the phone he resumed his act as he opened the door, "He knows he's to be here first thing in the morning, so young lady you will be driven to school by him in the morning." As he walked to his seat he noticed that not only did her fingers fidget but her legs slightly rubbed together, something was making her anxious and he could only guess what.
Releasing Angel into their custody Flintlock and the stallion walked her to the car, "First thing we need to do is go by her home and get her things, I'm sure she has a few things she would like to keep with her and she will need a set of clothes."

As they sat in the car the stallion smiled, "No I don't think that is necessary, Ayahuasca has plenty of money he can take her shopping for some new clothes. And besides if there's anything there she really wants to have with her she can give us a list, then with the right paperwork we can obtain it for her."
With a groan Flintlock knew he was right and hated that, "Alright, so where to."

"Flat Top." Those two words, the one safe house he designed for a last minute standoff.

"Odd that he would live there." Flintlock knew that he avoided that place simply because of how much work he put into it, he wanted to keep that place unknown so he could one day retire there. She chuckled at the thought, he would never call it quits. He would always have that itch to go after something, or prove he was the best.

Looking back at her he saw the frown on her face and how she kept her eyes on her feet, "Don't worry he's a great guy I know him well." He forgot to accent his voice and bring in the odd breathing, slowly he turned around to face forward hoping she didn't notice the change.

Angel puts her music in as they walk to the car, unaware of the many tripping hazards laying about. As she plays black veil brides In The end, she stumbles over a large rock, falling onto her side. Both pant legs are shredded, exposing fresh cuts, new bruises and signs of daily abuse and depression.

The stallion saw all that he needed too, his own hate for what had happened to her was enough to make him break his focus.

Looking around he made sure no one was watching as he removed his glasses and stood up straight, "Say what you want later sis I'm not keeping this act up." Walking over to her he kneeled down wrapping one arm around her back and the other under her legs, "You are far too wonderful to deserve those bruises." He whispered picking her up off the ground.


As he turned around and continued walking his mustache fell from his face and into her lap, looking up at him she pondered why he even bothered. What reason did he have for picking her up, why did he even care? Was it to have his way with her, to abuse her more than her parents, what was it?

Before she could try to squirm she saw it there in his eyes, in a way they were like hers. Pain hidden behind each of them. Setting her into the Jaguar carefully he wrapped his arms around her while slipping off one side of her head phone. He whispered into her ear, "I will do all I can to make sure they never harm you again, and I promise to show you a far better life, to give you anything and everything you could need. I only ask that you forgive me for not finding you sooner."
Letting her go he slipped the head phone back on her ear, oddly he liked the music. It wasn't Enigma but they had their own style and it suited them, and that is what he liked about them, individuality.

As the doors were shut Flintlock looked over at him, "You going to-"
"Just shut up and drive." It was the first time she had ever heard him sound this way, her little brother had never once given a command, never once spoken out of anger, rage, or even hate.
It was clear to Flintlock that this struck a nerve far more than anything. She had seen him beaten, mocked, his pride tested and even broken. But this was something on its own new, and she didn't like it at all.
"Look just let the law take care of this alright?" All she got out of him was a hmph as he looked out the window, "Listen if you get involved she could be dragged into it, so for once listen to me and stay out of this."
He looked back in the rear view mirror only to see her somber face as he gave a sigh, "Curse my bleeding heart..." He whispered, "fine, for her sake I'll let the state take care of this." As they drove off he pointed at his sister, "But so help me if she goes back into that home I will take her right back out, law be damned, and damned be the consequences. She's been through enough."

Looking out the window towards the passing buildings he saw a faint reflection of himself, his jaw was fractured, one eye black the other filled with blood. Holding up his right hand its reflection had all fingers broken, and his hand shown signs of being beaten with a hammer. Looking at his real hand and not the reflection he could still feel the faint sting.
'You're life is going to get better, I promise you'll see.' He thought to himself looking at her once more in the rear view mirror.

Angel looks up at the stallion as he holds her, paws visibly shaking. Tears spilled from her eyes, matting her fur. She watched as he removed his glasses and told her everything would be okay. She didn't know if she trusted... not after he turned out not to be who she originally thought. Thankfully he didn't realize that the cuts on her thighs were self inflicted... or at least that's what she thought... she had more on her arms but she knew how to keep them hidden. She spent 13 years, from age 3 to age 17 (her birthday was today. Not that anyone really cared) learning to hide the bruises her parents had inflicted on her. 

There were several deep scars on her upper arms from a suicide attempt several months ago. Hearing her stomach rumble a little bit, she tapped the stallion on the shoulder and says softly "Can we get something to eat please...? I'm really hungry and I didn't get a chance to eat lunch..."