Chapter Text
Aisha is her name. What her full name was, nobody knew. Nobody ever asked. Or if "Aisha" was even her government name. Nobody even ever cared to ask. Everyone was too preoccupied with either wanting to be her or be with her. Not only was she insanely talented, but she was also gorgeous. A real sweetheart that was lucky enough to make it out of the slums of the Row. She was loved extremely by many. However, there were some who loved her more than others. One in particular to be precise. Even if he had a peculiar way of showing it, there was no doubt about it that he would do anything for this soft-spoken young woman. Speaking of this guy…
Playa casually walked into the medium-sized space that once belonged to a busy pastor. There at the worn out desk and the cushiony chair sat no pastor. Now, there was a gang member; a Saint to be more precise. Well-known for his nasty ass temper and his lust for destruction, booze, and bloodshed. There was a reason why even with his smart mouth, this guy was not to be crossed. Not once. Don't even piss him off—Shit gets ugly. His dark brown eyes that were hidden behind the dark lenses of his glasses bored into Playa's matching dark brown eyes. Immediately, a grin came up on his face. How he fancied this guy. He may not necessarily have matched his cruel energy quite yet when it came to fucking up the other gangs, but nonetheless, the newer recruit was growing in the direction he wanted him to go.
"'Sup, Playa." He greeted as per usual, already expecting the drop dead silence to fall upon him. "Pull up a chair. You 'bout to see why I called you here today."
"...." Playa did just as they were told. They pulled up one of the chairs that sat on the other side of the desk before taking a seat. They would then reach over and fist-bump Johnny, before sitting back.
"Now, I know, I know. You were probably busy with some'n far more important…but I needed you to meet me here." Johnny held his hands up slightly in defense before folding them back across the table. "Think of it kinda like a favor and takin' care of bidness."
"...." Playa crossed their arms and leaned back in their chair, narrowing their eyes. They didn't seem too pleased.
"What? Oh, come on! Look—I'm callin' the shots here! And—" Johnny's eyebrows slanted downward to show that he wasn't taken with Playa's sudden attitude. However, he'd be cut off before he could finish fully expressing it.
What they had failed to notice was the distant click-clacking of heels that approached the room as Johnny talked. The least expected person to have shown up at a place like this with their status walking in like they owned the place.
"God! You haven't changed at all, have you?" Came a familiar stern, yet soft voice. Both Playa and Johnny's attention were now on the newcomer. Johnny rolled his eyes. Playa's mouth dropped in shock, which was something. Definitely something different than their usual stoic expression when they weren't glaring in irritance or confusion.
"Ay—Not all of us have a couple million dollars to make changes." Johnny stood onto his feet. He slightly leaned against the desk. Eyes focused on the young starress that had just strolled into the room. His smart remark seemed to have gotten a rile out of her, as she sucked in her teeth and smacked her lips, waving him off before taking a seat next to Playa. Who, mind you, was still looking at her like she was some weird, floating catastrophe that floated into the room.
"Boy, bye! It's always the same shit with you." Aisha huffed, before glancing over to Playa. She simply raised a brow, reached over, and closed Playa's agaped mouth before turning back to Johnny.
"Oh, here we go again." Johnny huffed, throwing his hands out for exaggeration before letting them fall into his hips. He turned his head and shook it before turning back to her. It seemed the more he showed his attitude, the more impatient she got. Aisha stood up from her chair so fast, she nearly knocked it over. Slamming her hands onto the table and leaning over slightly.
"Well what did you want me to do?! Did you expect me not to take my shot?!"
"No! I expected you to remember where you fuckin' came from!—"
"—Oh, fuck you Johnny!—"
"—Fuck me?!" Johnny went to mimic Aisha, slamming his own hands down on his side of the table and leaning over. Their faces mere inches apart now as he grit his teeth. He huffed like an enraged bull. His pulse quick from his slowly rising anger. "Fuck you!"
Playa sat there awkwardly, watching as they silently were locked in a heated glare. A glare that had more meaning behind it than what it was displaying. But the two arguing just didn't quite know it. Johnny would then move away from the desk and begin pacing; trying to calm his nerves.
"You're the one who ran off to be famous! The only time you remember who we are is when you want some'n!—"
"—My sister was kidnapped." Aisha cut him off again, as she sat back down and narrowed her eyes.
"An' I brought her back. Didn't I?" Johnny stopped his pacing and raised an eyebrow at her.
"No." Aisha had turned her attention to Playa finally, who has been sitting there and watching the argument awkwardly. Aisha's dark brown eyes eased in Playa's direction. "He did." Even her tone lightened.
"..." Johnny's jaw tightened subconsciously. He didn't like how not only was Playa getting all the credit, but how Aisha looked at Playa. There was a bubbling sensation in his stomach and his heart squeezed. "Bullshit!" He earned their attention, having yelled that part a little too loud. "I told him to do it!...No offense." Johnny turned to Playa.
"...." Playa shrugged.
"Look, if you're gonna help me, help me." Aisha turned her attention back to Johnny. Even if there was a hint of aggression still present, the gleam in her eye was softened. "But don't you dare try to hold it over me."
"...." Johnny hates that look from her. She knew that just like that, he'd melt like butter. Give her everything she wanted. Hell, if she told him she wanted him to burn up somebody's block, kill Julius, and blow up the Earth just 'cause, he'd do it. Because deep down, even if it made him sound soft, he'd do anything for this woman. They had too much history. Too much history he wouldn't throw away if it meant saving his own mother. And that lady was a piece of shit.
But he'd never show it though. Nor tell anybody. Not even Playa, whom he considered a really cool, and close homie.
"Fine…" Johnny grumbled.
"Fine." Aisha crossed her arms sassily, before crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair.
"Fine!" Johnny hissed, before going to sit back down himself.
Playa cleared their throat, once again earning both's attention. Both seemed to have finally eased up from the thick frustrational/sexual frustration in the room. Being the first one to crack the ice, Johnny grinned.
"Relax man. I'd like you to meet Saint's Row's claim to fame. This…" he gestured to her with his hand. Playa turned to Aisha and Aisha smiled sweetly. "Is Aisha." Her name rolled so perfectly off of his tongue. "And tonight..we're gonna kill her."
"Ugh, he's being melodramatic." Aisha rolled her eyes. "See, I'm signed with Kingdom Come Records."
"An' it's no secret that the label is owned by the Vice Kings." Johnny added in, propping his elbow up on the desk and resting his chin up on the knuckle of his pointer finger, while cupping his chin with his thumb in a thoughtful and smug pose.
"...." Playa raised a brow. Obviously signed to Kingdom Come Records and still sporting the color that the rival gang was growing accustomed to hating? Talk about spitting in the face of thyn enemy.
"But the real deal is that once you're in..you can't get out. They rip you off left an' right, an' they extort you to stay signed." Aisha's hand lightly touched Playa's arm and Playa almost passed out because of the excitement from being touched by thee Aisha. "I've talked to Johnny and he said that you might be willing to help me."
"...." Playa sat there for a few moments, processing everything that had just transpired.
First off, the fact that Johnny was very acquainted with Aisha was a whole question in itself. Playa remembered when Johnny mentioned Aisha's name on the phone, but never did they expect for it to be thee Aisha until they had met her sister that one night. Up until now, Playa had assumed that they knew each other by Aisha possibly being affiliated with the Saints. But who knows how far back their history goes. Then was the question of just how far Johnny was willing to go to get Aisha out of there. What was this big plan he had cooking up? The last mission involving Aisha had already got them popped good. Hopefully this time it would be different.
"...." Playa smiled and nodded towards Aisha, before looking back to Johnny.
Again, there was that jealous glint in his eye. But again, he was pushing down his deepest feelings for this job to be done in the smoothest way possible.
"A'ight, cool." Johnny folded his arms across the desk again, leaning forward slightly as he looked Playa in the eye seriously. "Check it out: Eesh has a recording session in a few minutes. That's when we make her disappear and give the Vice Kings a nice 'fuck you' while we're at it. I want you to take Aisha to her session, but on the way, stop at the chop shop where Samson at to have your ride loaded up with some C4. Park the car at the studio and get the hell outta there." Johnny then turned to Aisha. "Eesh, make sure someone sees you 'fore you jump out."
Aisha nodded and smiled.
"Johnny..I really appreciate—"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, I was gonna blow that place up anyway." Johnny waved Aisha off nonchalantly. Even if his faltering tough-guy tone was faltering.
Playa stood up, as did Aisha. They'd both began making their way out of the office and outside of the Church quietly.