"Hey kid. Who are you?", the Top Dog spoke in a gruff voice.
The young boy looked up at him, a blank expression on his face. The Top Dog frowned, the boy's eyes failed to look at him. As if he wasn't even there.
"You intend to answer or just look at me stupidly?"
"Boss I don't think he's gonna respond."
The Top Dog curled the corner of his lip, "Whatever. Looks like this kid lost his will to live anyway. Just another to add to the pile. Go bring R-R, I want answers."
"Right away."
A much thinner, but still muscular, man stepped from behind the Top Dog and walked towards the office and hospital hybrid. R-R exited the door and called out, "I'm not something to be fetched. I figured your impatient ass would come here."
The Top Dog's eye twitched at the blatant disrespect, "R-R, you're quite bold with your words."
"I can do as I please. You know my ability is of high demand. I could totally find greener pastures."
"Which is why I'm only warning you."
"Sure, we'll go with that."
"So who's the kid?"
"Jay's comrade in death. Or so he says."
"That bastard awake?"
"Hell no, don't you dare go and wake him either. Not my patient."
"Don't got much of a choice R-R."
"I'll say who has a choice."
"Ghost Hand is getting involved in this mess. After all he did just wipe one of their Subs. Else I would've let him recover."
"Ah shit. . . alright send your bodyguard he to wake him."
The Top Dog nodded towards the slim but muscular man. Responding with a slow blink and a faint nod they continued up the stairs.
"So Jay's comrade in death is it? He a part of the mess with Heavy Thorns?"
"Apparently not. Seems once they were wiped Jay found him lying in trash in some backway. Guess he planned to die with him so they both weren't alone."
"Jay's two shadows with him too?"
"Don't call them that."
"Fucking hell R-R, you in a bad mood? What about Cole and Hearth?"
"Yes I'm in a bad mood! Heavy Thorns couldn't keep their nose where it belonged and now all this mess came to be! Cole's doing some errands for me, and Hearth is watching over Jay."
"Damn, needed them to be there too. They're the only ones who know anything else."
The Top Dog looked down at the young boy. An irritated expression forming, "And this kid is like a mindless doll. What the hell you still staring for?"
R-R had descended while talking. Now approaching the Top Dog she placed a hand on the young boy's head, "You're not about to hit some kid for looking at you."
"Sounds like a statement not a question."
"Yeah, it is."
The Top Dog stared down at R-R before sighing, "This whole mess is stressing us all. Ghost Hand is breathing down my neck for the D-Ts of this stitch, and the only person who knows what happened is currently bedridden."
R-R ruffled the young boy's hair, "You choosing to stay or go?"
The young boy lowered his head. There was nowhere to go.
The Top Dog rose an eyebrow, "What do you mean stay? You think we're in the position to take some random kid off the street?"
"I wasn't referring to the Street Dogs. Just my office for now. Besides you act like the sudden territory expansion isn't going to thin out your forces. I doubt any of Heavy Thorns is gonna defect at this rate."
"You're the only person with the mettle to talk to me with such disrespect R-R."
"Be grateful."
"Well if the kid proves to be of any help I won't be against having an extra pair of hands. Even if he turns out to be an Impractical."
R-R spoke to the boy, "If you wish to stay, remain by my side for now."
For the first time the young boy responded. A slight nod and an obedient movement to R-R's side. She was slightly surprised, but relieved nevertheless.
Jay stumbled over with the support of the bodyguard his hand covering a stinging wound, "You needed me Top Dog?"
"Look at you, all ready to prove yourself despite being nearly crippled.", The Top Dog said with a hint of praise.
"I gotta take responsibility for this mess. Even if Heavy Thorns started it."
"Good, because someone's head needs to be placed on the chopping block."
Jay's gazed lowered as he didn't speak.
Suddenly Hearth spoke up, apparently she had been following the two, "It's the Heavy Thorns that started this!"
"Yeah, so I've heard. But I'm not the one who needs to hear it. Ghost Hand does."
Jay's expression turned grim, "Ghost Hand? Shit. . ."
Top Dog pulled a silver container from his back pocket. Flipping it open revealed several cigars neatly lined up inside. Grabbing one he placed it upon his lips and leaned to the side. With an experienced movement one of the bodyguards lifted a lighter to the cigar and ignited its end. Top Dog inhaled the smoke, removed the cigar, and heavily sighed, "They sent a Ghoul no less. Making them wait is a sure way to be another stain on the street."
Ghost Hand usually never bothered with the fights of small-time Street Gangs. After all that was left to the Districts to handle. The fact they sent a Ghoul of all ranks to this situation was concerning. R-R was especially concerned, "A Ghoul? Why the hell is there a Ghoul being sent here?"
Top Dog inhaled more smoke. Staring at R-R he responded, wisps of smoke fluttering from his lips, "Turns out Heavy Thorn had more territory than we thought. Looks like they were incredibly ambitious."
Top Dog flicked the half consumed cigar, "Enough chit-chat. We move now. Troy you keep Jay on his feet, can't have that guy crawling to a Ghoul, even if we are Dogs."
"Got it Boss.", the bodyguard supporting Jay nodded.
Jay began limping, but did his best to ignore the pain while walking with Troy. Top Dog turned around and left with his bodyguards, with Jay following behind. Without looking back Top Dog called, "The rest of you better be following. Ill send someone to search for Cole too."
R-R nudged the young boy, "Head back to my office okay? This doesn't concern you."
The young boy looked at the office door and back to Jay's injured back. His face remained expressionless. Not completely unaware of the situation R-R also offered, "Otherwise you can stay behind me. If you end up joining the Street Dogs then so be it."
Leaving the young boy to his choices R-R followed behind Top Dog and the others. Placing her hands into her lab coat pockets she walked by the side of Hearth. The young boy hesitated. Eyeing the office and R-R. Coming to a decision he took a step forward and followed the others. What caused him to make this choice is uncertain. Maybe it was the fact that R-R and the others were the only friendly faces he's seen in a long time. A want to not let go of this feeling too soon.
As they walked Top Dog began to interrogate Jay, "Right you start spilling what happened. Last thing I need is to look like a moron in front of a Ghoul. The D-Ts, all of 'em."
Jay coughed violently as he started speaking. The bodyguard supported him for a moment as he recovered. Grasping his chest Jay ignored the pain and explained, "Heavy Thorn was approaching our territory. The small corner store at the west end of Wingfield. Seemed like some new faces, small time fry meant to scout or something. I stepped up, scared them off."
Top Dog nodded, "I know this much, that same corner store vouched on this. Was grateful for us fending them off. That doesn't explain how Heavy Thorns got wiped."
"Turns out they weren't too appreciative about that. Jumped me later down the street, I guess it was the higher execs of Heavy Thorns. Dragged me to their homebase. I thought it wouldn't be wise to fight so many at once."
Hearth mumbled, "Some good that was."
R-R shot a glare her way to keep her silent. Jay chuckled slightly regardless before continuing, "Upon tying me up they started speaking some nonsense about a warning. Wanted to return me to your doorstep bruised and broken as a warning. Stating they were going to take our territory too. Figured if I was gonna be some punching bag might as well take one or two down with me."
A bodyguard commented, "One or two? Did you mean gangs? You took down the whole damn thing!"
Top Dog narrowed his eyes, "Enough Wren."
"Sorry Boss."
Jay shook his head, "Not like I wanted to take them all down. One thing led to another, everything turned a blur. I just focused on taking one down at a time. No matter how much my body burned."
"So you mean to tell me you took down a whole gang just 'one at a time'?", Top Dog suddenly paused.
Turning around he towered over the injured Jay, "I have a hard time believing you. If it was that easy I woulda done it myself."
Jay stared back not willing to be accused, "That's everything. After everything I dragged myself to some unknown backway and dropped among the trash. Found my comrade in death there, nearly died myself. Not like I left that place unharmed, I barely have my wits."
Top Dog analyzed Jay's wounds again. Although R-R did a fantastic job bandaging them, the bruised muscle wasn't entirely hidden. A gleam formed in Top Dog's eyes as he returned to walking, "Right, and after that?"
"Dunno how much time passed. Cole and Hearth found me later and dragged me to R-R's. On the way we found Heavy Thorn's head. Had a final stand against that stubborn bastard. Broke my shoulder, but I won in the end."
Top Dog remained silent for several minutes. The only sound of the night was the footsteps of the group. Neon lights hitting them instead of the stars. Shaking his head Top Dog praised, "Good shit Jay. If you manage to escape Ghost Hand somehow I'll make you an Enforcer."
Jay and Hearth's eyes widened. Nearly stammering Jay had to confirm, "Really? I ain't even a Beta yet!"
"Who among the Street Dogs can claim they took down a whole gang? Sure it might not even be a District, but alone? This whole situation massively improved our Rep, if I didn't reward you properly it'd make me look bad. So don't go asking about it, might change my mind."
"Thank you Top Dog!"
"Don't forget, you gotta survive whatever Ghost Hand has for you."
"Of course!"