Reader x Boxcars: Sisters Doing It For Themselves

    “C'mon, Babe- you know I wouldn't do that to you!” Boxcars protested as you just about stormed out of the Casino in broad day-light.

    “NOPE! I'm done! I'm done with men!” you said as you slammed the door on the way out... Which was hard to do, considering that it was a revolving door.

    Now, the reason why I started you off on such a... abrupt foot was because it would take too long time to explain the details about how you came to be so... Um... “Miffed” at Boxcars... Believe you-me; you had a good reason to feel, and even react the way you did WHEN you found out, but... Ah.... It is best to leave HOW it happened to speculation.

    It didn't take long till you got home, since you could now afford a cab, but you wouldn't let that affect your decisions. What Boxcars had kept a secret from you; was beyond repair of any material wealth you could ever hope to gain. It'd take more than a lot to make you convince to give Boxcars an apology, and forgive him. A lot more.

    You loitered around your newly furnished apartment, which was a result of the Job Boxcars had landed you, sure, but... Hot-damn. No. No no no no no.

    You wanted to think of anything... Anyone... BUT Boxcars right now.

    Just as quickly as you had thrown your things on the couch, you picked it all up again and headed to your door, only to come face-to-face with the other Woman you saw hanging around the Casino.

    “Hey, Babe!” Sweetheart said a tad apprehensively. “Uhh... You left in such a rush that-”

     Damn detective. She's probably here because Slick asked her to follow. You crossed your arms in skepticism. “Oh?”

    Sweetheart's forced smile faded. “That was terrible, wasn't it?” she asked with a cringe. “Alright, look;” she started. “No one sent me, okay?”

    “What does it matter?” you ask scathingly. “You'll gab anyway.”

    “... Well,” she said brandishing a brave smile. “I've only seen those sorts of... Outbursts... In man-related situations... Comes with the job... So... Talk to me? As a girl? A gossip? Set the record straight?”

    You wanted to tell her to buzz off... But dang it, at the very least Slick needed explanation of why you were angry at Boxcars. Maybe he'd even understand and let you keep your job.

    “... Augh...” you swung the door open all the way and gestured for her to come in. “You want coffee, or something?”

    “Um... No thank you,” she said as she eyed the new surroundings. “I'm fine, so...Yeah.”

    You and her sat down on the couch and you couldn't help but notice her fidget nervously. “So... What... Exactly?-”

    “Oh, I found that all men cheat.”

    Sweetheart wrinkled her nose at you and raised an eyebrow. “...I'm not sure if I quite get what you're saying, pudding.”

    You took a long sip off of your coffee. “Boxcars-” you started triumphantly, boldly. “Is a-” your throat wobbled. “No good, yellow-bellied,” the wobbles turned into sobs. “Cheater...”

    You broke down into tears in the comfort of your own home, at the discomfort of your guessed who lightly pat your shoulder. “Uh... Listen, Doll, um... I... That... That's a mighty big... Statement. Um...”

    You wiped away the snot that had dribbled down your chin. “Oh, I should have seen it coming a mile away... I was either his cheat or going to be cheated on. That's how it always goes with my relationships.”

    Sweetheart pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to you in sympathy. “Um... Well... I hate to ask this again, but... Well, in course such a statement needs... Proof...”

    You sniffed and tried to recompose yourself... Which you did, if only a little bit. “Alright... I get it.”

    “So... Um... What makes you think that Boxcars would cheat on you? Ever?”

    You swallowed. “Well... I heard he and Slick talkin' in the back room... I was on break and I was going to talk to him, you see, and... Well... I heard them talking. About girls.”

    Sweetheart nodded. “Right. Right...”

    You gave your guest a look. “You don't sound convinced...” you pouted. “What else could it be?”

    Sweetheart rubbed the back of her neck. “... Oh, golly, Babe... I want to tell you. But I don't think it's my place...”

    You shot fire at the detective. “If you KNEW this was going on I SWEAR TO GOD-”

    “NO! I mean-” Sweetheart cringed. “Look. I... It's not what you think it is. At all. Boxcars....”

    You glared daggers at the woman.

    Sweetheart sighed released a business-like frown. “Look. You know that the boys are NOT perfect little angels, right?... I mean, apart they aren't bad, but they aren't good together?”

    You shrugged. “Clearly.”

    “Look-” Sweetheart said. “Boxcars didn't do you wrong. He was doing part of his job. He's a pimp. It's WHY he's the heart suite.”

    Wait... “WHAT?!”

    “Sweet lord, what did I get myself into?...” Sweetheart shook her head and pulled out a cigarette from a tiny cigarette case hidden somewhere in her purse. “Babe, Boxcars has never been with one of his ladies, but he treats them better than anyone else in the city. They look up to him... Before the speak-easy became a thing the Midnight Crew had to... Start smaller, I guess, and Boxcar's big teddy-bear nature, and intimidating stature made him perfect for the night women.”

    You blinked. “Wait...”

    Sweetheart lit the cigarette without your permission. “See? I shouldn't have told you... but I'm pretty sure you can see why Boxcars was hesitant to tell you about it in the first place.”

    You blinked and sniffed... Not feeling... Angry, or betrayed any more, just a bit... Deceived and confused. “Wait... Explain?... From the beginning? Please?”

    Sweetheart took a long drag off of her cigarette. “I'll tell you what I know...” she said as she cinched her forehead. “Um... Let me see. He was in the military with Slick before prohibition started, and when they got back together with Droog, the three of them tried to make a bar. A legal one... But then prohibition started and changed everything, so... Each of them took to separate jobs to get things going. Droog sold opium on the sly while he worked as a hat clerk. Slick started selling boot-legged gin a bottle at a time... Boxcars had a way with women, so they put him in charge of battered women who needed a better life.”

    You nodded. “What else?”

    “Well, a lot of people liked Boxcars and how happy his girls were. As... as backwards as it sounds; he gave these girls a place to stay, meaning, massive confidence, and any time anyone did them wrong; he'd knock a few heads together and keep his girls safe.”

    “... How often did he have to do that?”

    “Only once or twice before people stopped treating his girls badly. They sort of became infamous, and got a tub-load of gravitas.”

    “... So... He never was cheating on me?”

    “No. Boxcars loves his women, but... He was never the type to mix business and pleasure, unlike...”

    “Unlike Slick?” you asked, laughing a bit.

    Sweetheart bit her lower lip. “I was going to say 'Droog', but...”

    “Woah! Wait- WHAT?!”

    Sweetheart shrugged. “Too my knowledge Droog was admitted once or twice because of his opium addiction... Which is why he doesn't have full custody of his children... My point is that everyone's got their something, right?”

    You pondered quietly. “... Everyone does...”

    “Oh! No you don't have to tell me, sugar!” Sweetheart interjected. “I mean... Well, I'm not sure if you want me to hear. I mean... Golly, am I a gossip or WHAT?”

    You chuckled and covered your mouth. “Okay, okay!” You smiled for a long while before looking down at your lap. “... So I guess you want me to apologize to Boxcars, right?”

    “Well, not particularly,” Sweetheart admitted. “I mean... Don't get me wrong, sugar. I'd be pissed too if my swain did that. Hiding something like that from me... You reacted in a very real way. I won't patronize you by saying you gotta say sorry to Boxcars... Not until he's done plenty of appologizing and explaining to you as well, you dig?”

    You smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Sweetheart....”

    “No problem, toots.”

    You sat in silence for a moment. “So... I have another question; why is it that you followed after me?”

    She smiled. “Boxcars and Slick honestly asked me to since I was heading out to meet someone... But I was going to come if they hadn't after what I saw... What with all the hell these men have been putting us gals in.”

    “Ha-hah...” your smile faded, to a thoughtful one. “Um... Sweetheart?”

    “Yeah?”

    “Does everyone else know about what the guys have done?”

    “Uh... As far as I know, you're the only one other than me who knows about the three really bad vices of the members... Why?”

    “So Poptart doesn't know about Deuce?”

    “No, she knows about Deuce... But not about Droog, or Boxcars.... She guessed with Slick... Then again it's sort of obvious.”

    “What about Darling?”

    Sweetheart strummed her fingers. “I don't think she knows about Droog... I don't know. She may, since she's been under Slicks employment since before all of this happened. It could have been a reason why they weren't already together.”

    You paused for a moment then perked up. “Then I have a request... Could you ask Droog to be a man and let her know? She's pretty young and... Well, I have a feeling like Droog is abusing her subconsciously, and... Well, let's give the girl a fighting chance, right?”

     Sweetheart considered the possibility before nodding. “Seems like a fair trade... Sisters are doing it for themselves, then, huh?”