Pickle Pie

DROP FOUR

DROP FOUR

Canvas arrived on time. He walked at the front, his two fuckboys at his side, plus two more men. New guys, Hector hadn’t seen them before. They stayed outside forming a relaxed perimeter and Hector got up to the door to greet him.

“Canvas, my man, looking good today!”

“You look like s**t, on the other hand,” Canvas said. “I got a lotion for those bags under the eyes of yours, does wonders.”

“And I’d love to try it, please, send me a sample. But come on in.”

Canvas adjusted the enormous machine g*n hanging on his shoulder and sighed. “When people are this much polite with me, I know they ain’t got the scratch.”

“Times have been tough,” Hector said, his head bobbing up and down. “But I got some, four-k.”

Canvas glanced back at Angelo and shook his head. “Four-k is something I can show my superiors, for today.”

“No, there’s no need-”

Angelo kicked one of the displays over and smashed it on the floor. That little blond b***h. Hector flinched but ignored the damage. “And I have something I know you’ll like. Let’s call it a gift.”

Canvas raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Follow me round the back, it’s in my workshop.”

Hector darted at the back and the titan followed.

“Now, this, is a work of art. Absolutely unique in the world, no one else has this.”

Canvas frowned. “It’s weird. What is it, a half-armour?”

“It’s sexy armour, my sexy man. Check it out. Please, I took the liberty of fitting it to your size, try it on.”

Canvas glanced back at Angelo and the fuckboy lifted his rifle a few degrees, casually covering his boss. He undressed right on the spot, his current armour slapping the floor in falling parts.

“There’s a changing room right- Oh, right, with that physique, you’ve got nothing be ashamed of.” Hector looked away.

Canvas looked down, fussing with it. “How do I-”

Hector adjusted the straps.

“Now, imagine walking around with this, with your chest and your six pack painted, just the way you like it. You can show it off, you can be the Canvas!”

Canvas looked at his reflection in the mirror.

Angelo stepped close, his expression lustful.

Yes! Hector contained his excitement. But he made a tiny punch in the air.

“How do I look?” Canvas asked.

“Badass and sexy,” Angelo whistled. “I love it. In fact, I wanna do you right here.”

“Nice. And this stops bullets?”

Hector went into full selling-mode. “High quality metamaterial, transforms upon impact into better than Kevlar, impervious to knives. Shows off your body and protects it at the same time. Bitchin’ cost-per-centimetre, only celebrities and corporate bigshots can afford it.” Then he turned away and said casually, “Viko wears it.”

At the mention of the celebrity’s name Canvas perked up. “Viko? Seriously?”

“Doesn’t leave home without it. Custom-job, with these hands right here.” Hector wiggled his fingers. “You know I don’t tell on my clients but I know I can trust you.”

Canvas eyed himself in the mirror some more. He looked real good, Hector had to admit. A muscled titan, intelligent, trained, armoured to the teeth but with transparent parts interwoven at strategic places. Badass and sexy indeed.

Hector felt kinda proud.

Now if he could live to enjoy the feeling.

Canvas stepped close and Hector started. He slapped him on the shoulder and showed his perfect teeth. “I like it.”

Hector took his first truly deep breath in hours.