Chapter Text
"Goooooooooooooooood MORNING, Liberty City! It's 8:26 a.m. on Friday, July 17th, 2009! Is going to be a beaut-i-ful 83 degrees as we focus here on Niko Bellic, the big man!" The camera zoomed in and out on Niko eating a bowl of Big Logs at the kitchen table in the boys’ Middle Park East apartment. "Will he finally bang Kate McReary, his Irish damsel in distress, tonight?? Find out tonight on another riveting episode of The Bellic Boys in Liberty City!"
"Roman, turn that stupid camera off. That's my sweater, by the way."
Roman looked down at the beige sweater with dual black and white lines that Niko had bought at Modo last year. "Hey, when you first got here, I said what's mine is yours, so therefore, what's yours is mine! It’s the trans-i-tive property!"
Niko stared at his cousin blankly. He always did this; used these huge mathematical and scientific words in an attempt to sound smart. "Do you even know what the transitive property is, Roman? It means that if you have two things that are equal to each other and the second thing is equal to a third thing, then the first thing is also equal to the third thing."
Now it was Roman's turn to stare at his cousin with a lost look on his face. "Okay, Niko? This is why Kate won't sleep with you. American women don't like nerds."
"They don't?" Niko looked at Roman with a quizzical look on his face.
"No! Look at Mallorie! Does she bang me because I love Impotent Rage?"
"But you do love Impotent Rage, Roman. And you build erector sets. You are a nerd."
"But I keep it on the down low , NB! Mallorie has never seen me build an erector set or watch Impotent Rage! I keep that shit to myself! You, however, keep spouting off about this transitive property nonsense in public in front of Kate and it’s causing you not to get laid and causing a rift in the space-time continuum!"
Niko couldn't do anything but continue to stare at Roman.
"Besides, I'd rather be a nerd than a murderer," Niko's dark-haired cousin said quietly. The quieter Serb didn't know what to say to that, so he just looked down.
"That's another reason why I haven't gotten laid..."
"Why? Too busy killing?"
"No...Kate doesn't deserve to have her virginity taken by someone like me. She deserves to have it taken by a good, honest Irishman."
"NB, you two have been going steady for a year. She loves you and you love her. You gotta keep that confidence up! Now come on, let’s get to work. Mallorie is waiting for us. I can't wait to see what she's wearing today!"
Niko rolled his eyes. "Speaking of which, change into one of your own shirts. I don't want your disgusting chest hair on mine."
Roman rolled his eyes. "Fine..." And changed into a black v-neck t-shirt that showed off his new muscles; Roman had started (with Niko’s and Brucie’s help) working out to, as he claimed, “get in shape for the wedding.” Most workout sessions ended with Roman crying that the weights were too heavy, but he’d made some progress.
"Okay, enough moody shit, enough nerd shit. WHEN are you going to do it with Kate?" Roman asked as the cousins crossed the Algonquin Bridge. Usually Niko drove, but they were taking one of Roman's cabs and Roman, although he normally loved how fast Niko drove, didn’t want his hard-earned cars totaled.
"Roman, you've asked me that a hundred times. Kate's saving it for marriage."
"No she isn't."
Niko looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"I've dealt with women like Kate before. Get them drunk enough or sweet talk them enough and they'll put out!"
"I'm not getting Kate drunk just to sleep with her!"
"I'm not saying that, cousin. Even you aren't that evil."
"Gee, thanks."
"Look, invite her to Brucie's party tonight. You...ARE coming to Brucie's party tonight, right?"
"Well...I don't know, we'll see what Kate wants to do."
Roman rolled his eyes and chuckled. "She has you whipped, cousin!"
"Mallorie's got you whipped too, man! We can't go drink vodka no more because" he holds his fingers to his ear like a phone. "'Sorry cousin, Mallorie wants me to take her to dinner tonight.'"
"Hey, this isn't about me, okay? I'm getting laid. I don't need an intervention!"
"I need an intervention? Because I respect what my woman wants, I need an intervention?"
"Yes! Well, what are you planning to do with her tonight?"
He shrugged. "I don't know...go to her place, I guess. The boys will probably be out and her mother asleep--"
"PERFECT!"
Niko closed his eyes. "Damn it...should not have said that."
"If you EVER had a chance to score with Kate, it's tonight, Niko."
"In her FAMILY'S home? Did I mention she has four brothers that'll kick my ass if they found out I of all people took her innocence from her?"
"Three. Remember? You killed the heroin junkie and kept the corrupt cop alive."
Niko looked down, closing his eyes, thinking of the late Derrick McReary. Roman knew.
"You still haven't told Kate about that, have you?"
"I can't, Rom..."
"NB, you're gonna have to tell her sooner or later. You can't get laid without being honest. Shit, Mallorie won't even let me touch her titties unless I tell her what I did that day."
They rode in silence for a bit.
"Have you told her anything about you?"
"Whenever I try to, she says that she knows what I am. I'm like her brothers."
"Well...that makes your job a bit easier, but...just be honest, all right, NB? Makes you feel good and besides, chicks love honesty. Gets them in bed easier."
Niko rolled his eyes.
"Now back to serious business: WHEN are you gonna do it with Kate?"
"Look, it's gonna happen, all right? We're on third base!"
Roman raised an eyebrow at him and Niko quickly confessed.
"Okay, two and a half."
"You've touched her titties?"
"Of course."
Roman scoffed. "She probably kept her bra on."
"Sex with a girl like Kate can't be just sex, Roman. It has to be perfect. The right time, the right place, the right...everything. Kate’s an old-fashioned girl and I’m an old-fashioned guy. It works out."
"Well luckily for you, it's summer, so it's the perfect time for NOT being old-fashioned. Beach parties on Firefly Island, summer nights, girls on the beach, girls, girls, girls!"
Niko smiled slightly and shook his head. "What about Mallorie on the beach, Mallorie, Mallorie, Mallorie?"
"Well her for me, but I'm talking about YOU, cousin! We need to make this your summer of love, buddy! Kate is gonna be yours!"
"She's already mine."
"Not physically."
Niko shook his head. “What about you, rođak? You’ve been engaged for a year and still no wedding. My mother is growing irritated.”
“It’s gonna happen!” Roman imitated Niko’s reedy voice and smirked. He caught a glimpse of Niko’s stare and his smile faded. “We’re still planning it, you know that. It’s just...taking a little longer than expected.”
“You mean you, how do Americans say it? Have cold feet."
"Hey, I do not have cold feet! We're just still planning everything."
"Mmhm."
They finally made it to Iroquois in Hove Beach as Roman pulled into the garage.
"I don't get what attracts women to you anyway, Roman. Oh wow, you run a cab depot. REAL chick magnet."
"Hey, you hear Mohammed when he picks you up! These babies get me pussy!" Roman said as they got out of the Esperanto. Niko rolled his eyes.
"Whatever you say, man."
The cousins went into the office where Mallorie sat at the desk doing some paperwork. She looked up and smiled at Roman as he came in, standing up and giving him a peck on the lips.
"Hiiii Papi. Hey Niko!"
"Hey Mal."
"Wha' gwan, rasta?" Little Jacob came out of the bathroom and he and Niko slapped hands.
"Heeey Jacob!"
After the events of last year, Roman thought it would be beneficial to get Niko's criminal friends into gainful employment. Little Jacob was quickly turning into his best employee. It wasn't like the Rastafarian had anything better to do and Roman didn't care if he hotboxed in one of his cabs, as long as he was getting fares done, which he was; he had the highest number of deliveries out of Roman, Niko and Packie combined. Yes, even Packie had been convinced to become a driver. Gerald had just gotten out of prison and sometimes did some fares too.
Niko took his seat behind the desk between Mallorie and his cousin, who sat at the computer and looked at him with a "can I help you?" face.
"Did I say you could come back here?"
"No, but you said I have an equal share in Bellic Enterprises..."
"Until you sleep with Kate, you go in front of the desk."
"...I'm your cousin."
"In front! Of! The desk!"
Niko sighed and smiled at Mallorie and got up and moved to the other side. Mallorie rolled her eyes.
"You know, Roman, maybe Niko just loves and respects Kate and wants to wait until she's ready to have sex with him!"
"God, I love how you say my name..."
Roman and Mallorie looked at each other lustfully before lunging at each other, kissing sloppily, leaving Niko and Jacob to exchange uncomfortable glances. Luckily, Roman broke away long enough to give them their assignments for the day, thrusting keys at them.
"Go do some fares and leave us alone. And that means fares, NB! Don'r use my cab to drive to Dukes to see your Irish virgin."
Niko saluted sarcastically with two fingers and left.
Niko wanted to drive straight to the community center to see Kate, but he placed loyalty to Roman above all, even in small things like working for him, so true to his word, he did a few fares around Hove Beach, Schottler and South Slopes. He got lunch at S'wish Pizza after the last South Slopes fare. He wasn't too crazy about pizza in general. He just liked the black carryout boxes. He pulled out his phone while he ate and looked at his text messages with Kate.
He hadn't been lying to Roman about being on second base. Kate wasn't as innocent as everyone thought she was. They'd sexted and even tried their hand at phone sex, though she claimed not to have masturbated and both of them felt pretty awkward. Even when they didn't have phone sex, when he called late at night, their conversations got pretty intimate. She even admitted to him she wished he was in bed with her holding her, but then they'd joke that Packie and Gerald would kick his ass. He didn't know why they didn't trust him. He understood that Kate was their sister and they wanted to protect her at all costs, but he reassured them time and time again that he only had the best intentions with Kate and that he loved her. Late at night was the only time they could really talk besides texting and dates; they both worked during the day and she still took care of her mother at night. He always called her when his past was hitting him particularly bad. Her beautiful voice in his ear was all he needed to hear.
Niko smiled looking back at their old texts. They didn't text a lot--only short little messages throughout the day--so he found himself on the paragraph he had written to her on Valentine's Day.
"Kate...do not celebrate Valentines Day in old country so do not know much and also not good at texting, u know that lol. But I need to tell u something: I love u. I have loved u since the day I first met u. And I want us 2 b...Mallorie says its called "exclusive" so...I want us 2 b that. I kno I have been taking u out since we met but I want them 2 b dates as boyfriend/girlfriend. I love u Kate and I think I want 2 spend the rest of my life with u."
He cringed at his spelling errors. He still wasn't any good at texting and didn't like it, but he tried because everyone he knew texted and it was convenient. He thought back to that Valentine's Day. It had taken a few months, but they'd finally had their first kiss that night. He took her to Drusilla's. She said she'd meet him there after work. She walked into the restaurant and sat across from him and his breath was completely taken away by how beautiful she looked with her hair down. She wore a beautiful lavender dress with an Irish necklace around her neck. She was blushing uncontrollably; he could tell she didn't go out much like this or wear many formal clothes, but it made him love her even more.
At Roman's suggestion, he'd bought her flowers and a box of chocolates. He drove her back to the McReary's place and there in his gray Buccaneer, they'd had their first kiss. Well, it started as a kiss, but when he wanted more, Kate didn't refuse. In fact, she wanted it too. With the radio on JNR, the jazz station, they made out softly with tongues caressing, not caring if Packie or Gerry or her mother were watching. She didn't care who he was. She knew who he was; just like her brothers: a criminal, a killer, a hired gun. And here she was kissing him. Niko had never been religious, but he knew someone up there must like him despite everything he'd done if he was getting this amazing kiss that he never wanted to end from this beautiful woman.
From then on, the relationship became serious. They reached second base in June at one of Brucie's beach parties on Firefly Island. Her breasts were everything he imagined; round and firm. He even found the way she denied him sexy; whenever his hand went lower while they made out, she moved it back to her breasts or wherever she wanted him to touch, but kept her lips against his. She was perfect for him in every way. He had realized this a year ago, but the realization became clearer and clearer that he had to live for her. He couldn't let himself be killed; that would mean never seeing her again.
Niko loved her and was patient, but there were times lying awake late at night in the Middle Park East apartment, especially when Roman wasn't home, when he thought about her hands and lips all over his body and love being made in every square inch of that apartment...and then if she wanted more, he'd take her to his Northwood apartment and love her on his pool table...
Niko came to and realized he was in a public place and got up and threw away his food. He pulled up to a flower shop in Hove Beach, but just as he was about to get out, he got a call on the CB from Roman asking him to pick up a customer in Bohan. He groaned, but accepted. He was always in need of money.
After he dropped the customer off in Northern Gardens, he stopped at a flower shop in Boulevard and bought a bouquet of blue delphiniums, Kate's favorite flower, then drove back to the community center in Dukes. He checked his appearance and got out and entered. Lots of little kids were running around. He checked his watch and had forgotten it was still lunchtime for the kids from Meadows Park Elementary that always came to the community center to eat and play games. Niko waited outside until they left, checking emails on his phone. Roman had downloaded some games for him, but they were too hard for him to play.
Eventually, the kids cleared out and Niko went inside to the reception desk where Kate worked.
"Ekspresna isporuka!"
Kate smiled. She wasn't fluent in Serbian yet, but ekspresna isporuka let her know that Niko was bringing her flowers. And sure enough, when she looked up, he was sitting on her desk holding out the bouquet.
"Za tebe," he smiled charmingly. Kate smiled too as she smelled them.
"You always know the right flowers to bring me..." she smiled and kissed him quickly.
"I know blue is your favorite color! How is work?"
"Oh, not bad...the kiddos just left and all is quiet again, thank God."
He chuckled. "Is good that you work with them though. I see how you are with them."
Kate noticed his genuine smile. She never thought she'd make a good mother, but Niko moved something in her. She saw herself raising a family with him, something she never thought she'd be able to do with anyone.
"So what's your night looking like?" Niko asked.
Kate sat down and kept going through papers. "Isn't that steroid junkie friend of Roman's having a party tonight?"
"Yeah, but...you don't want to go to Brucie's parties."
Kate looked at him. "I don't?"
"Things get...wild."
"Well...do you wanna go?"
"Roman wants me to."
"Do YOU want to?"
"Eh..."
Kate rolled her eyes. Besides murdering people, indecisiveness was one of Niko's worst traits.
"What are Packie and Gerry doing tonight?"
Kate stood up. "They're going out doing God knows what. And Ma goes to bed around eight. So come over and we'll watch a movie." She kissed him softly but lingering on the lips. "I gotta go. Meeting. Roman probably wants you back at the depot too. Love you."
"Love you." With that, she turned and walked away. Niko watched her petite ass sway as she left, Roman's words about getting laid tonight ringing in his head.