Chapter Text
Dom watched Brian slam the door and looked over at Xander.
“Let’s get this over with.” Dom ground out. He was pissed that Brian slipped his grasp, he had questions to ask.
Xander didn’t seem as inclined to let things lie.
“How long you known Bri?
Dom glanced over, annoyed. The Charger eating up the road but not fast enough to avoid a conversation; he couldn’t figure out if it was curiosity or Xander trying to piss him off. “Awhile.”
“Has he always been an ice cold bastard?”
The question startled him into answering truthfully.
“Not at all.”
“What was he like when you knew him?”
Images flashed to mind, Brian after that first race with an elective smile and ‘I almost had you’; Brian jumping off a moving car to save Vince. Brian chasing after Tran, lost in pain to loosing Jessie. The look in those blue eyes when he handed over the keys.
“Alive. Fucking on fire. He was reckless and intense, Full throttle.”
“Tell me some stories? Yeah?”
Over the next forty-five minutes Dom’s voice rumbled out memories. Xander laughed at some and seemed shocked by others.
“So what happened to him?” Dom had to ask, trying to keep the accusation out of his voice.
Xander gave a few false starts before answering. “Command is a hard place.”
“You don't seem like an arctic asshole.”
“Bri was trained at Command. I was recruited by Gibbons. He picked me because I fit in with criminals. Angelica sculpted Brian.” Xander shuttered as he said the last.
“Angelica?”
“Mean bitch. Manipulative too. She order a hit on me, it's why we're on the run. Still not exactly sure why Brian just didn't kill me.”
“What?” Dom sputtered. “He's your partner. Of course he didn't kill you.”
“He has an end game, he wants out and needs me alive to talk to Gibbons. Other wise he'd of put a bullet in my head because Angelica asked.”
“And you're fucking him?”
“Bastard is hot and awesome in bed. I've slept with plenty of people who didn't give a shit about me or that I didn't give a damn about. This though... me and him...he has good moments too and he's fucking awesome at his job and he could kick my ass. As long as I don't dig too deep or ask too much, we have fun.”
“You can just accept that?”
“Well until I met you, I figured it was just who he was.”
“But now?
“You get to him. Make him angry and frustrated.”
“Thats good?”
“I wasn't sure he knew how to feel anything.”
“What's your plan after this? Were you guys gonna go back or getting out? Goin domestic?”
“I'm stayin' in. Gibbons and I will rebuild Command. Before Angelica perverted it for her personal use, it served a purpose. We need to get it back to that, figure out which agents need to stay and who needs out. Brian was never stayin' with me but after this I wouldn't want him to.”
“Why? Just cause we look alike... I don't think thats..”
“Nah, I came on to him. Not the other way around. I think he just fucked me because he couldn't be bothered to fight it. I can't stick around knowing he could be more, that someone with my face makes him feel it.”
“I don't think hate is really what you want him to feel.”
Xander quirked an eyebrow.
“He thinks he is all stone but I can see the hate in his eyes.”
“Angelica did a number on him. If you think he hates you, why are you lettin' us stay?”
“He's family. If he'd of just turned me in none of this woulda happened.”
“It's gonna be rough but I think he'll come around. He needs you, someone to push him. Let us finish this shit then have it out.”
“You givin' me love advice Xander?”
“You tryin' to tell me you don't want him?”
“I want him all the way. I want a ghost.”
“You don't think he deserves some time to find that guy again?”
“He can always stay. He's family but I'm too old to do this push-pull love-hate shit. I can't just be his fuck. If he's mine then he's mine. All in.”
“His story isn't mine to tell. I don't know most of it but I can tell you this, the Brian I know in the field doesn't blink at a kill shot or sinking a knife in a belly. He doesn't get drunk or lonely. He doesn't hit on women or anyone, let alone mar his territory. So when I say you make him feel something. Its as all the way as he can be right now. Maybe you could help him be more.”
Dom did respond and for once Xander let things lay. He just turned up the music and pushed harder on the gas.