Author's Note: I managed to write something for Rip Appreciation Week, I'm so proud of myself.
This is for Day 6 – Rip & The Future.
Enjoy.
The light filling his world was blinding.
Finally it faded and he slammed into the ground forcing all the air out of his lungs. Moaning in pain he forced his eyes open looking around the alley he was now in.
"You have got to be bloody kidding me," Rip Hunter snapped managing to sit up hoping he was wrong but he wasn't.
The core had exploded and thrown him back 'home', and it completely deserved the sarcastic quote marks. Because no matter how long ago it had been Rip knew, without a doubt, that this was the exact same alley the Time Masters had picked him up in.
Pulling himself off the ground Rip wondered how long it had been since the bastards had stolen him off the streets before dismissing the thought, he had other things to focus on.
Taking a breath he took stock of the situation, grimacing at the stench. Victorian London still smelled as fragrant as he remembered and he frowned knowing what he was possibly sitting in.
He was alive, somehow, and there were no broken bones which was a surprise considering how hard he'd hit the ground. Checking the area he could see pieces of the core scattered across the alley. Looking around he managed to find a piece of cloth on the ground and Rip began to gather the shards, he didn't want to leave anything lying around. Besides there was a possibility Rip could put it together again.
One good thing was that Rip knew this world, it didn't matter he'd been out of it for a long time there were some things that he would never forget. Including the fact there was a pub two blocks from where he was standing, he could go in and spend the rest of the day drinking there but that would more than likely be the best way to actually kill himself. Since he'd, miraculously, survived his confrontation with the Time Demon then Rip was not going to do that.
Checking his pockets he found a few items that would prove useful now that he was here and started out of the alley. He knew how to survive in this time and, if he could restore then charge the core, he would find a way to contact Gideon.
The full moon shone in the cloudless sky lighting much more of the park than he would have liked but it wasn't like he could put this off until another night. The crowd of people moving through the park towards the altar swayed slightly as they walked.
Checking his weapons, he hoped they worked since there hadn't been much time to test them, he started into the park. The thing that had enslaved all the people crowding the altar before him was partly his fault.
Actually it was the Legends fault since they were the ones who allowed Amaya to break time and release the bloody Time Demon in the first place, which in turn set free a whole manner of other creatures to wreak havoc on the world. Several of which had followed Rip through time when the core had dumped him here.
"It's starting," the young woman with long blonde hair and bright green eyes said appearing at his side.
Rip rolled his eyes, "Thank you, Grace I have been paying attention."
"Smith is waiting for your signal," she continued ignoring him.
Nodding he pulled out the stun-grenade, "Let's hope this actually works. Testing wasn't exactly easy," he pushed the button before throwing it into the middle of the crowd using his duster to cover himself and Grace from the flash. Looking back he saw the grenade had frozen all the people, "Go," he ordered.
Grace ran forward to rescue the child that was being held by the crowd while Rip and Smith attacked the creature they were about to sacrifice the little girl to. Rip had no idea what it was but had mentally tagged it 'The Blob' due to the strange gelatinous quality it had. Luckily he was prepared thanks to several reconnaissance missions and they destroyed it with no casualties.
x
Rip Hunter returned his weapons to the cabinet before shrugging off his coat and dropping onto the chair. It had been six months since he landed on his ass in an alleyway and he had managed to set himself up quite well thanks to his 'dearly departed uncle' whose house and fortune he had taken over - thanks to a little identity theft.
Rip, in the past few months, had become known as a wealthy eccentric and managed to socialise with the 'right people' so that his place in society was guaranteed if he needed it.
His position meant he needed servants and Rip had two people he'd allowed into his house. Smith who functioned as his valet but was really his backup and muscle whenever he went after a creature then Grace was his maid and cook while she learned everything she could from him. Both knew he wasn't truly the nephew of the house's former owner but both owed him their lives and wanted to help him stop the creatures.
"Here," Grace appeared in the study placing a plate with some bread and cheese on the table along with a cup of tea, "Eat and then go get some sleep."
Rip smiled slightly, "As long as you go to bed yourself. Is Smith still awake?"
Grace nodded, "He's just cleaning the weapons and then he'll get some rest."
"Good," Rip replied, "Goodnight, Grace."
"Goodnight," she slipped out of the room leaving him alone once more.
Eating the food Grace had left him Rip sat and stared at the cabinet which held the core. It was beginning to fuse together after a lot of experimentation and frustration. Rip knew that, although it was giving him power to create weapons, it would be years before it gave off enough energy for Gideon to trace.
Closing his eyes he sighed in regret. If he hadn't been such a bloody coward he would have stayed after they'd stopped Thawne and actually sorted out his feelings for her with her. But no, he had to run away and start the Bureau, which had turned in to such a success for him.
Rip missed her deeply.
Gideon had been his constant for so long, his steadying voice, his comfort when he was lost and the one who could kick him up the arse when he needed it.
With a long sigh Rip finished his tea before heading up to his bedroom to get some sleep.
Normally Rip spent a few hours each morning before breakfast in his basement workshop creating new weapons or testing the core. He hadn't slept well the night before so decided to get something to eat prior to starting work. Entering the kitchen he heard noise coming from outside the backdoor. Walking quietly through the kitchen Rip found Grace handing food out to a group of about ten ragged children.
There were gasps the moment he was spotted and Rip quickly hit the button to lock the gate so no one could leave until he was ready.
"I'm sorry," Grace stammered "But they're starving and they're just children...they won't..." she stopped when he raised his hand.
Rip's eyes scanned the waifs filling the close behind the house. He remembered this, remembered being starving and being grateful for the kindness of certain servants of the rich.
"Here's the deal," he stated, "I need to know if there is anything odd happening around the city. You bring me any information you find, no matter how trivial you think it is, as well as doing some work for me and you will receive food each morning. Steal from me and you're out. Cause trouble and you're out. You get one warning and that is it. Agreed?"
Ten sets of wide-eyes stared at him before they all nodded. Rip scanned them stalling when he spotted the smallest one standing in the corner. There was dried blood on his hand and Rip suddenly understood.
"What happened to your hand?" he asked the boy.
Defiant eyes stared at him before one of the elder boys nudged him to answer.
"Got cut," came the sullen reply.
Rip turned to the woman at his side, "Grace, take him to kitchen and clean the cut. If everyone has finished eating then you can go and we'll see you tomorrow morning."
He allowed the gate to open again and watched the kids disappear quickly. A network of the ones nobody in the city ever paid attention to would be helpful for finding the creatures he had chosen to fight.
Once all were gone Rip swallowed knowing he now had to face the little boy in the kitchen. He took several deep breaths before turning. Grace had the boy sitting on a stool while she cleaned his injury smiling sweetly at him. The cut sat at the very bottom of his hand at his thumb and would scar, Rip knew that. The blue eyes watched him warily as Rip picked up an apple and waited for Grace to finish.
"Here," Rip offered the boy the piece of fruit, "I have something I need you to do."
Hesitantly accepting the food the boy asked, "What?"
"You know the alleyway behind Barton's Bakery?" Rip knew the answer before the boy nodded, "I need you to go there today, there is a place you will be able to sit and I want you to watch for any strange people who enter the alley."
"That it?"
Rip nodded, "Stay there until dusk then come back here. Grace will give you a hot meal and you'll be given a warm bed for the night. Understand?"
The boy nodded again.
Rip turned to Grace, "Give him some bread, cheese and water," he took a few deep breaths while the boy received the pack from Grace before he looked down at the boy. Words stuck in his throat and finally all he managed to say was, "Go."
The boy scampered away leaving Rip standing watching him with Grace.
"Make porridge for the kids tomorrow morning," Rip told her trying to focus again, "Add some fruit as well. We'll work out a way for them to carry any that's leftover."
Grace nodded, "Should I make some stew for when he comes back?"
"He's not coming back," Rip told her.
Frowning Grace replied, "Michael will do what you ask."
"I know," Rip whispered sadly, "But that little boy will never return to this house."
Horror filled the young woman's eyes, "What did you do?"
Rubbing his hands across his eyes Rip sighed, "I sent him to where he needs to be."
"Tell me what you've done," Grace demanded anger filling her voice.
Holding up his hand Rip showed her the small scar that was in the exact same spot as the boy's cut, "I sent him to where he needs to be so I can be here."
Confusion covered Grace's face, "How...how is that possible?"
Rip shrugged, "Consider everything you've seen since you met me Grace, trust me this is possibly the less complicated part of everything."
x
Grace knocked on the door to the study where her employer sat staring into space. From the moment he had sent Michael away he'd hidden away in here brooding in a way she never knew someone could until she met him.
"I brought you some lunch," she said when he didn't acknowledge her. Placing the tray down Grace frowned, "I don't completely understand what happened this morning, or how you're Michael grown up, but I know you only do what you have to in order to protect us."
He let out a bitter laugh, "You're probably the first to ever think that."
Grace frowned again. From the day she'd met him when he saved her life there was something about him that made her trust him, something that meant she joined his quest. Despite the fact she was technically his maid, and cook, Grace's job description was much more than cooking and cleaning.
"Rip," she snapped, making him turn to her showing the sadness in his eyes. It was Rip in private and Mr Hunter in public because that was what he insisted on, "You've felt sorry for yourself long enough. You have work to do so eat your lunch and get back to it."
Letting out a long sigh Rip shook his head, "I apologise, Grace. I do have work to do and I need to do it."
"Let me know if you need anything else," she told him.
"Grace," he called after her, "Thank you. Gideon would be very proud of you."
Smiling as she left Grace wondered, as she always did, if she would ever get to meet the mysterious Gideon her employer held in such high esteem.