Stockholm Syndrome

Niall was on his fourth beer when Broadway tracked him to the bar. Instead of making a scene like Broadway thought the British rock star would do, he simply stared the younger boy down until he begrudgingly waved him over.

When the invitation was given Broadway walked over and sat across the table at Niall, continuing to stare him hard for a moment before taking the unopened beer that sat there and popped the lid open, the cool zesty liquid pooling down his gullet like a refreshing urinated waterfall. Although the beer tasted like cold piss it did its job to get his mind off the main problem that sat in front of him.

“You don’t know shit about my job-“Broadway started gruffly but couldn’t get another word out due to the interruption.

“Yeah? Well you don’t know shit about my friend. How’s about them apples, huh? We’re both ignorant in something I suppose-shit, we’re all ignorant to bloody something, doesn’t mean we can’t learn but I am failing to see your point of view-probably because I can’t get my head that far up my bloody arse but hey-“

“Shut up!” Broadway finally yelled, his hand slamming down hard on the table, making the empty bottles fall over.

Niall went silent but looked at Broadway expectantly, ignoring the looks they were receiving.

“Look, we have a lead alright? We have reason to believe Alan is back in town. That’s why we’re moving you back home, make it harder for him to try something.” Broadway explained calmly, watching Niall smirk-although extremely sarcastically.

“I’d say no shit Sherlock but I’m guessing you already knew I was going to say that, huh?” Niall challenged, pointing to the front of the bar to a man with an oversized trench coat and dark sunglasses on facing their table.

Broadway went to react but Niall put his hand over the fed’s chest, waving the bartender over.

“Not just yet, I’ve been waiting to see what his move is.” Niall calmed as Broadway’s body relaxed some but still held a rigid response.

“Not very inconspicuous is he?” Broadway glowered, glaring hard at the man who held up a beer of his own and toasted it in their direction with a wide toothed smile.

“Cocky bastard at that.” Niall agreed, toasting back in his general direction. “Here’s to prison you stupid Neanderthaled numptie. May your asshole make plenty of friends.”

“Any idea what he wants?” Broadway asked, plastering on a fake smile when the bartender returned to their table with two beers.

“They’re paid for. Gentleman at table three paid for them, asked me to give you two a note too.” The barmaid smiled, handing them a piece of paper.

Niall grabbed the note, plastering a smile of his own.

“Love? Bring us two more and keep them coming, as for the gentleman at table three-he’s a known fugitive, very discreetly I need you to call the police, ask for Phillandrias. Tell him there’s a blackbird at this bar and we need help to catch it.” Broadway instructed in a low noncommittal voice, as calm as telling her the weather.

The bartender didn’t let on, she simply smiled, nodded and walked away.

“How do you know we can trust her?” Niall asked, his eyes unblinking at table three.

“She’s a barmaid, I doubt she’s any more dangerous than a milkmaid. The organization doesn’t train girls, anyone I’ve ever encountered were male. It’s the way they like it, male dominance and all of that.” Broadway replied, his eyes also on table three, slowly looking down at the piece of paper, opening it.

Come and get me.

Niall’s eyes flashed a dangerous blue, glancing at the paper for a split second.

“Gutsy.” Broadway remarked unimpressed, slamming his first beer down and standing up but stayed to his position, he would not approach the suspect yet-not until he had a clear shot to do some major damage.

Sensing this Alan shook his head, his hand slowly going to his trench coat and pulling it apart some to reveal a small explosive belt underneath.

Panic rose in Niall’s throat, his mouth opening to warn the other patrons but Broadway grabbed his wrist and gave him a firm shake of his head, looking at the bartender who stood in the back laughing with her coworkers-which wasn’t good considering she was supposed to be on the phone with the police.

Decisions were about to reach crucial direction, things were not going according to plan at all.

“We do not want to call attention to ourselves. Alan is playing a very dangerous cat and mouse game-if we don’t choose our next move very carefully it will be our last. Causing panic is exactly what he wants us to do, the gun positioned in his left pocket with the safety off means he’s going to want to take out as many people as possible. I don’t think you were part of that plan but I’m almost certain he has my name on that list and he’s using you as a figurative shield. Do not call attention, just be ready to flip this table over and duck your ass behind it. I need to move to get a clear shot. When that happens there will be panic.” Broadway explained, his hand reaching the hem of his jeans to go for his gun.

“Something is off, Jack. I can feel it in my gut. I don’t trust the barmaid.” Niall said, seeing the waitress look over in his position and smile.

“Maybe she’s a fan?” Broadway reasoned grabbing his piece and bringing it to his side, stepping to the left.

Alan counteracted his move and stepped left, which made Broadway step right. They were right back where they started – with the exception of one tiny detail.

“Look out!” Niall yelled, forgetting himself as he had been watching the bartender and her three coworkers.

He began to notice the one barmaid reach under the bar table for something, he didn’t like her smile and he sure as hell didn’t like the way she was looking at him.

When a slight glint of silver caught his eye he knew all hell was about to breakout. With that came a split second decision, unfortunately the call came too late.

The woman had sufficient accuracy and put a bullet in Broadway’s shoulder and another one in the middle of his chest while the third bullet whizzed past Niall’s head.

Time stopped, Niall hesitated for a second as the other two women drew their guns and pointed it at Alan, in whiplash speed a heavy rain of bullets hit him and the ex-bodyguard fell.

Niall threw the table down to the floor, a bullet grazing his ear but he didn’t feel it with the adrenaline pumping through his body, he could only hear the pumps of his heart as he dragged Broadway behind the table with him, the man barely breathing but still alive. Without thinking he snagged Broadway’s gun that had fallen near them as bodies dropped from the smoke and gunfire that began to cloud the air. It gave the perfect cover and allowed Niall to shoot blindly into the clouded room that was now igniting into smoke.

“Why are you doing this?” Niall shouted above the panicked screams from outside as people fled for their lives.

“We weren’t after you pretty boy. All you had to do was leave-we had orders to take out Alan, the organization was tying up loose ends. He’s been at this bar every day and just our luck you had to walk in! Now we’ll have to kill you. All ends must be tied up.” The one girl who had served him drinks spoke.

Niall felt as if he was going to faint, so he did the only thing his instincts told him to do if he wanted to walk out of this situation alive.

He jerked his body onto his knees and began to shoot blindly at the bar counter.

Notes

So ---bet no one was expecting that to play out huh? When you're about to be killed - you tend to let instincts take over. Everyone has them. My friend in real life ---ex friend now but she use to swear up and down she'd never harm another human being even if hey were threatening to kill her - a guy robbed her with a knife one night outside her ATM, her instincts told her to stick a key through his eye socket and permanently blinding him as his eye came out with the key (sorry tmi), turns out the guy was wanted for a few murders. You can say "I wouldn't---" but until you're in that situation you just don't know and Niall might be the gentlest guy in the world but if it's him or them -he guaranteed will choose self preservation and that's the direction I choose to go with. So this was my first ever action scene - how did I do action wise? Was it realistic or...nay? Need opinions, not required but very appreciated if you do. Merry Christmas guys and may it be filled with peace and love. Those who don't celebrate Holidays, may your days be filled with love and good health.