Neon is the Colour of Vengeance (Flappers and False Gods)

THE CICADA

Hugo hovered nervously at the door of Bobby’s apartment. He needed a favour, but he was more afraid to ask than he would ever admit.

“You two had a fight?” Dana asked, glancing from Bobby, who hovered next to the window, then back to Hugo. Dana was tall, slender and White, her person perpetually adorned with beads and sequins. She was a quintessential flapper with her short dark hair styled in finger waves and her ever present pearls.

“Something like that,” Hugo muttered.

“I’m not cleaning blood off this floor if you go at it.”

“No promises.” It was the first thing Bobby had said in the long minutes since Hugo had arrived.

“I’m meeting the girls for lunch. There better not be a thing out of place when I get back. Love you, baby,” she added to Bobby, kissing them on the cheek. She patted Hugo on the arm as she left.

“Why are you here, Ford?”

Hugo stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I need a favour.”

“Funny guy.” They crossed their arms over their chest, supremely unamused.

“You know what is funny? When I was walking over here, I heard this kid ask her friend what The Scorching was. Ain’t that crazy? What are they teaching them in school if they don’t know that climate change got so bad fire rained from the sky.”

“Is this a joke to you? Because it sure fucking ain’t to me.” Bobby stepped forward then seemed to think better of it, remaining near the windowsill.

“Of course not, but I don’t know how to fix it.”

“The fuck you don’t. Put a bullet in Evan Carter’s head and you and I are square.”

“I can’t and you know it. If you just give him a chance?—”

“This isn’t personal. I don’t hate the guy. I just don’t want to die. I don’t want to lose everything I care about—including you. Everything I’ve worked for.” That stopped Hugo cold. “When this blows up in your face and it will, Sam isn’t gonna take kindly to me saying, ‘Please don’t kill me, Boss—I told Hugo he should kill him but that’s all I did’. You’ve marked me same as you with this.”

“I’m sorry,” Hugo said simply. He was, he didn’t want to drag Bobby down with him, but Evan was…everything.

“Help me understand. I just don’t get it.” They were looking at Hugo like he was a stranger.

“I’ve never had anything. He’s not mine, but when he curls up against me at night, kisses me, takes my hand in his…it’s so easy to pretend that he is.”

“You poor sonuvabitch. You really are fucked, aren’t you?”

“What I’m doing is dangerous and stupid—I know that.” Hugo’s voice shook but he pressed on. “I think what I am is already starting to push him away, but I’m not ready to lose him.”

“You’re the pretty one. You have men throwing themselves at you and you have to fall for the one man who could kill us all.” They seemed amused as much as angry.

“Nothing good is ever easy.” His heart beat for Evan, it was that simple.

Bobby nodded. “I knew Dana was the one the moment I saw her.” It was an acknowledgement of Evan, and Hugo’s feelings about him.

“Thank you.”

Bobby softened, they almost visibly deflated. “Promise me?—”

“Sam will never find out. Evan is leaving. He just needs some answers first. I promise.” Hugo rubbed his eyes and sniffed.

“Is that what you need? Answers?” It was as if no harsh words had been exchanged. They were just them again.

“No, that is something I refuse to get you involved in.”

“I’m already involved. I might as well be hanged for a crate as for a bottle.”

“Believe me, you don’t want to touch this.”

“What then?”

“Evan is supposed to be dead, but his Cicada is still transmitting.”

“I’ll get the kit. Let’s go.”

Evan was clearly uncomfortable as he sat at the kitchen island opposite Bobby.

“They are here to help,” Hugo reassured. He kissed Evan gently on the cheek then moved away to let Bobby get to work. It didn’t take them long to replace Evan’s Cicada. He still seemed slightly wary even as Bobby finished up and stepped back.

“Feel okay?” they asked.

Evan nodded.

“You seem tense, are you sure?” They examined their handiwork as if worried they had made a mistake.

“You want me dead.”

“No, they don’t,” Hugo said quickly.

“He’s right, I don’t. I just don’t want to die; those are two very different things.” Bobby gave Evan’s ear one last check then began to clean up the mess they had made on the countertop.

“All this trouble for me,” Evan mumbled.

“Make sure you’re worth it.” Bobby clapped him on the shoulder.

“He is.” Hugo’s honesty was rewarded with a small smile.

“You two are cute,” Bobby said to Hugo before turning on Evan. “You hurt him, and I’ll kill you myself. Otherwise, you and I are square.”

“Why?” Evan asked in stunned surprise.

“You might just be good for him.”

“I’m leaving,” Evan said.

“Good. The sooner the better. Until then, treat my boy right.”

Hugo glanced at Evan, who still appeared shocked by Bobby’s change in attitude. He offered a small smile, and Evan responded with a slight nod.

“You cooking? I could do with some of that homemade pasta. Gen wants to go to the club too; I need something in my stomach if we’re gonna party with that broad.” They waved a hand vaguely then moved into the living room leaving Hugo and Evan alone.

“What did you say to them?” Evan whispered.

“Nothing much,” Hugo evaded.

“C’mon, Hugo.”

“I told them that I care about you. They care about someone too. They understand.”

“Just like that?”

“You’re leaving.” Hugo shrugged.

“And if I don’t?” Evan stepped in close and placed his hands on Hugo’s hips, pulling him gently into a kiss.

“Don’t,” Hugo said with no real conviction. He refused to examine the feeling unfurling in his chest. It was too dangerous to acknowledge.

“Yes, Chef,” Evan said, pecking Hugo on the cheek. He grabbed an apron from the counter and threw it gently at Hugo. He caught it with a smile and set to work.