If you hadn’t guessed yet, I’ve been struggling with the next part of AMC. The first half just does not want to come together.

So have this little piece set in the same universe, some years later, and not involving Ryan in any way.

—-

“Nice tattoo.”

“Fuck off.” the response is almost instinctual by that point; too many people had mocked him for having a “geek” tattoo so large on his arm that just mentioning it wad enough to catch his ire. Michael Jones’ ire was a flame that burned bright and hot and one did not want it directed at them.

His infamous rage didn’t quite gutter out as he finally gave the clerk his full attention. The glare he’d originally intended dulled to a confusion-tinted glower as he realised that whoever the woman behind the counter was, she was definitely not the regular Ammunation clerk he dealt with. “Who the fuck are you?”

The redhead woman smiled cheerfully, ignoring the temper that made his bones creak trying to hold it in, and rocked back on her heels. “Lindsay. I’m subbing in for Joe. Poor guy bumped his head and had to rest.”

“Riiiiiight,” Michael could not have possibly cared less. “I’m here for ammo.”

That was about the extent of their interaction. She rang up his purchases and sent him on his way with a smile and a wave.

The groan at her feet brought her back to reality, where she could only click her tongue in dissappointment. The upside was that the tattooed cutie had disappeared before it happened. The downside… “Now Joe, that’s not very nice of you! I even sold some of your merchandise! I’m practically a coworker!”

The tip of her boot dug into his neck, “And workers get paid, so I’ll be taking that from you too.”