[center][h2]Vincent & the Nates: Damn the Man[/h2][/center]
[center][sub]a Collab with [@Subject Zero][/sub][/center]



At the sound of his phone chirping with an incoming text, Nate fished it out of his pocket and stared at the screen, reading the message from Harrison. He wanted to pay him? That was weird. Nate had expected the weasel to weasel out of the payment. And what was this "Not safe to talk on the phone" thing?

Something felt off. Something Nate couldn't put his finger on. Maybe he was just being paranoid. He did have a habit of doing that. But he did like the idea of getting payed.

"You shouldn't text and drive." said a voice in his head.

Nate screwed up his face in annoyance and said ""Sssssshhhhhhhut up!" despite the fact that the only person in the car with him was Vin, who hadn't said a word.

Vincent, startled by the kid’s sudden outburst, shot him a confused glance. “I hope you’re not talking to me, bro.” He paused for a moment looking at Nate’s phone. “And by the way, do you know if your...er…[i]clone[/i] has made it back to the alley? I’d really like my phone…”

He let his words drift as he turned his attention out onto the passing streets, mumbling under his breath. “I’m already up shits creek with James no doubt.”

Nate didn't pay much attention to Vin. He was too busy replying to the text.

"What are you wearing?"

He threw the phone back in his pocket and finally addressed Vin with a smile that hinted at mischief. "Hey man, wanna go to a party?"

Ah yes, the “P-word” which always added a little spring in Vin’s step, a gleam in his eye, and a hundred memories of long wasted nights delving into hedonistic lifestyles that should have killed him long ago. The very thought of partying, however, seemed a bit out of place at the moment considering their current situation, but he was intrigued nonetheless.

“So what’s the catch?” He replied with a smirk, knowing that Nate wasn't referring to any party he was interested in attending . “Something to do with that text message you just received?”

"Why does there have to be a catch?" asked Nate. "Someone invites you to a party and you instantly assume they have some kind of ulterior motive?" He shook his head and looked as though he was judging Vin. "You have issues, man."

"You really shouldn't talk about someone else having issues." said a clone that had suddenly appeared in the backseat, causing both men to jump and Nate to momentarily lose control of the car, swerving into oncoming traffic for a second before regaining control.

"Seriously!?" complained Nate at his clones sudden and unwanted arrival. Having exact copies of yourself pop out of nowhere was annoying and surreal. He would have to find a way to stop them from doing that. He needed to have some control over how this thing worked.

"Seriously." replied the clone as though nothing had happened and they were just having a casual conversation. He sat forward, leaning his head inbetween Nate and Vin like Nate had done earlier and informed Vin "You don't need to worry about it. We just need to go pick up our babysitting paycheck and then we're gone again. You probably maybe won't get shot."

The clone then began stroking Vin's hair as though he was reassuring a worried child...Or maybe petting a dog.

"Fuck off freak!" Vin exclaimed, recoiling from the clones advances, and running his own hand through his hair as though he were brushing off an infestation of lice. "What is it with you guys and all the touching? There are plenty of you to go around, go feel up on one another instead."

Vin instantly felt nauseous at the thought of a dozen Nate clones in some bizarre ritualistic orgy, and was pretty sure he just vomited in his mouth. He took a deep breath and continued.

"So, where is this place you're taking me? And who are we seeing? And..." Vin stopped himself, knowing full well that Nate probably wouldn't bother giving him much to work with anyway. 

"You know what, just drive, and I'll look out for my own damn self."

Nate made an exaggerated sad face at Vin and said "Aw, is baby feeling left out?"

He kind of enjoyed playing with this guy. Maybe he was being an asshole in a time that was probably very confusing and frightening for Vin but...honestly?...Nate didn't care much.

"You know all those questions you had earlier about JJ and why I was protecting her and who hired me and such? Well you're about to get a lot more detail."

"...Well, probably not." added the clone. "But you might get to sit in the lobby and read a magazine while you wait for us."

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It didn't take very long for the group to arrive at the office where Harrison had asked to meet Nate. Not the way Nate drove anyway.

Never really being one for entering through the front door, way too many eyes and cameras that way, Nate drove the car to the back of the building and parked. The clone got out and scanned the area to see if anyone was around while Nate turned to Vin and said "Well this is it. I know it doesn't look like much but the strippers and cocaine are inside."

"Oh that's rich." Vin said, looking at the rear door and hoping there wasn't a pointed gun barrel waiting for them on the other side. "And just so you know, not [i]every[/i] party I've been associated with had strippers."

Vincent glared back at the clone, motioning his hand in that general direction. "So what is he looking for? And why the cloak and dagger all of a sudden? Isn't this supposed to be a simple 'payday' ?"

"Oh it is." said Nate as he pulled a bag from under the seat. "Simple payday." He pulled a handgun from the bag and continued "Don't you worry your pretty little head about a thing." He shoved the gun into his inside jacket pocket and pulled another from the bag. "Everything's fine." The second gun was put in his waistband, causing Nate to wince slightly as the cold metal touched his skin. "We're just meeting a business acquaintance." Several clips were pulled from the bag and placed in various pockets as Nate calmly smiled and said "We'll catch up, hang with the strippers and such, then we'll get back on the road." The last thing pulled from the bag was a grenade, which Nate shoved down his pants, creating a larger bulge than was already there. Nate winced at it and told himself "Well that's just ricidulous" before pulling the explosive back out and handing it to Vin, saying "You need this more than I do."

Vin's eyes widened at the sight of the grenade, letting the heavy ball of iron slip through his fingers and fall onto the seat in between his legs; a decision that would probably cost him way more than his manhood.

"Shit."

"Uh...Nate?..."

Nate was quickly out of the car, and heading towards the building. The clone ducked down to see Vin in the car and gave him a casual salute before following after Nate. Once inside, they headed to the service elevator and pressed the button to go up.

Both men stood in silence as the elevator began moving, the clone swinging from his heels to his toes with his hand in his pockets. He glanced over at Nate and asked "So...How are things?"

Nate slowly turned his head to see his clone. He didn't say a word but had a weary look on his face which said it all.

The clone turned back away and sighed.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, only one Nate stood there. He stepped out into the hallway, stopping short when he saw someone standing by the door to Harrison's office. He hadn't seen this guy before but he knew a gun for hire when he saw one. He sighed and said to the man "You are the least attractive stripper I have ever seen."