Chapter 2- Grue

We all need someone even when we think we don't, that person will always end up saving our skin

Violette hugged herself while staring at the lights below her. "If you're that cold, why don't you come inside? I made some hot cocoa, it might help you fall asleep again," turning around, the girl watched as her mother stepped into the balcony while reaching into the pocket of her own sweater. Pulling a packet of Marlboro Reds, Nell took a cigarette out of the package, while holding in her mouth she lit it. "So, you want to head inside? It's late you need to get rest, tomorrow you're going out of the city, aren't you? Enzo has already reserved your room and driver. He just called me. Go in you have to wake up early to be there around six sharp," Violette fanned the thin smoke cloud away from her face, although she hated admitting it, the smell of menthol actually soothed her. "Fine, I'll try to go back to sleep, I'd hate it if I went to the shoot with bags under my eyes," her mother bit back a laugh, instead shook her head "Why you damn kids are so vain, I'll never understand," her daughter shrugged "I have to be, if it weren't for my looks I wouldn't even have that job." Walking past her mother, she went inside heading for the small apartment. "Lay off of the sleeping pills!" The girl's mother screamed, but as always there was no response.

Tony woke up the next morning to his surprise, with Enzo by his side. "Ugh, wake up you!" rolling to his side, Enzo muttered something in his sleep flatuating loudly. "You pig," Tony walked out the door hoping to get a breath of fresh air. He stared at the immense billboard before him, advertising some sort of fast food restaurant. Shaking his head, he smiled at the sight of dawn, the sky shaded in by many different colors. Guess all the pretty things happen when no one is around to see them, he thought as he walked down the street gazing into the empty, closed shops.

"So, kid can you tell me why it is that you wanna be a Merc?" The commissioner asked Tony the first time they had an actual conversation, his objective was to see if the silver haired boy would be worth his time.

Smiling broadly, the teen answered "Because, I've a goal to attain that's why,"

Arching an eyebrow, the Italian looked at him with curiosity wondering what someone so young would want to achieve. "Really? And what's the goal?"

" To prove to all you bastards who undermine me; I can stand on my own two feet,

I don't need any of you to survive. Just you watch I'll leave this hell hole and show you that I'm going to make my own path."

Enzo laughed happy to hear the response, at least this way he knew the kid would bust his ass if he worked for him.

He shook his head as the words rang in his head. "I was such a little prick back then," kicking an empty can down the block he continued on his way. It had been two years since he had actually joined the mercenary world and yet no one had heard of him. There were others who had started after he did, Aaron, Joseph, those bastards they had all started shortly after he had and yet they now were well known in the ranks. "Heh, maybe some idiots have more luck than I do," he stopped in front of a window of a home, watching as a child played with his stuffed animal. The child laughed happily but an older boy neared him. Snatching his toy away from him. The younger boy cried trying to regain his plaything while the older boy simply laughed keeping the toy out of the child's reach. "Oddly familiar, but a little too early for kids to be up and playing" he muttered as he kept walking bored and lost in his thoughts. "Don't you know what they say? If you go through deja vu then it means you've lived it once before," he turned around behind him stood an old woman in her fifties, carrying a brown paper bag of groceries. "Do you go around eavesdropping on every conversation you hear?" Tony asked as he neared her taking the bag away from her. Shaking her head the old woman swept a chestnut colored lock away from her face "No. Only when I hear stupid remarks," he chuckled, "You look like one of those kind old ladies. I guess I'm wrong."

Nodding she walked next to him they kept a steady pace "I look like a lot of things, never judge a person by their appearance boy," he shrugged, she shoved her hands inside her jacket. "It's six a.m. what a boy like you doing out here in the street? Isn't your mother worried about you? Why aren't you home?"

Tony didn't answer her question instead he looked straight forward, a dull look on his face, "I'm speaking to you kid," she smacked him in the back of his head causing him to turn in her direction. "Ow! What? What? Why'd you hit me?"

"Answer when spoken to, don't be rude, what the hell is your name anyway?" Nell barked in an annoyed tone, leaving Tony with a mouth full of obscenities.

He rubbed the back of his head "Tony , my name is Tony and I didn't hear you, damn old bat." They stood in front of a ten-story apartment complex painted beige and green "Follow me inside I'll give you something for you troubles," Tony said nothing as he went inside with her, past a Hispanic looking receptionist. "Nell, how good to see you! Is Violette off again?" The old woman smiled "Yes Nicole she is, she left this morning wont be back 'till tomorrow afternoon I think." The brown skinned receptionist smiled, showing off her white teeth, "Oh, and how is this handsome man? Violette's boyfriend? You know she always gets the cute guys," she sighed dramatically Nell walked past her pushing the elevator button waiting for it to come down. "You have a daughter?" Tony asked, staring at his reflection in the polished chrome doors, "Yeah she's sixteen years old, works as a part time model."

The elevator doors parted as a light bell chimed, "Let's go in," stepping inside, they were silent as Nell pushed the button marked three. "Heh, at least she keeps a roof over your head right?" Nell shook her head, "Wrong boy, I do work for a living, I'm a gunsmith." Tony stared at her with a blank expression "You? Aren't you a little old to be in the business?" Nell stepped out of the elevator, the teen following right behind her, they stopped before apartment 3d. "Welcome," opening the door for him they both walked inside. "To Nell's shop, specializing in repairing and making customized pistols." Tony examined his surroundings staring at the desk in the corner, the old crimson couch and the small wooden coffee table. The walls were lined with all sorts of guns and assault rifles, most bolted to the wall. The living room was dark with the exception of a small lamp on the desk which cast long shadows. The room was windowless, or at least it seemed that way, if there were any windows they behind the immense bookshelves that lined some of the corners. Above her mahogany desk there was a large gold plate that read .45 Caliber Warks

"Home, sweet home huh?" Tony said aloud as they walked into her small kitchen, even smaller than the living room, where she put away the refrigerated goods. "I take it you haven't eaten breakfast yet," Nell pointed out while pulling out a frying pan.

"What, you're going to cook me breakfast or something?" Nell's chestnut colored hair bounced as she nodded "Course I am, it's the least I can do to thank you, " he lowered his head. "What? What's wrong?" looking into her eyes his blue eyes sparkled "How about little money instead?" what he received was a punch to the head. "Ow, damn old bat!" she scoffed while muttering to herself, Tony simply went into the living room/ office and plopped down on the old couch.

The phone rang, a moment later, Nell cried out "Answer that will you! I'm kinda busy right now!" growling Tony walked over to the wooden desk "Yeah? What do you want?" a female voice replied. "Huh? Mom? Put my mother on the line!" Tony pulled the phone away from his ear sounds of shouting could be heard in the background. "Nell it's for you!" Nell cursed under her breath but came out of the kitchen, snatching up the phone from Tony's grip. "Yeah?" her face was a grim expression but as soon as she heard the voice on the other side, her expression lightened "Vi, I didn't think I'd be hearing from you today! How's it going?" Tony shifted his attention to the Playstation 2 sitting in front of the television. Creeping over to it, he examined the library of games that were piled before it. "Hmm, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame . . . damn this chick is a supernatural freak," he muttered as he read the back of Resident Evil 4. "Heh, doesn't sound too bad, wonder why the hell they were complaining about this game on T.V. "

Nell hung up the phone and turned to Tony, "Sorry kid, but it looks like I owe you a breakfast." He turned to her confused, "What?" she dusted her hands and pointed to the door, "You gotta go kid, here," she reached into her pockets and fished put a fifty-dollar bill. "Here. For your trouble, now scat, get going" he snatched the bill and headed for the door "You know, nobody uses the word 'scat' anymore. But then again you are a crone," she stared at him, not sure wether to scold or ignore him. "Get the hell out!" she finally screamed after a moment of silence.

He chuckled, picking up his sword which he had placed on the edge of the old sofa, hoping to get at least something to eat and then exited while calling out, "Nice meeting you too!"

Outside he hurried back to his motel, wondering if Enzo had awakened yet.

"Where have you been?! I ordered food for us already and since you didn't show up I ate it all!" Tony shook his head "You fat bastard," Enzo tried to argue but said nothing and instead turned on the television. "So, um, what time am I meeting my partner?" Tony asked after sitting in silence for another thirty minutes.

"What? Oh, Grue, well let's see it's twelve, he should be up by now. Grab your things let's go."

As soon as Tony had grabbed his belongings they checked out of the motel and called a cab. "Is it that long of a walk?" Tony asked, Enzo ignoring his question. "Hey fat man, I'm talking to ya," reaching into his pocket the Italian fished out a black cell phone and pressed the number seven, waiting for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" a young female voice answered Tony turned in his boss's direction curious to know whom he was speaking to. "Hey there Jess is Grue home?" Moments later he was speaking to Grue. "Yeah?" a rough voice answered on the other side, Enzo finally noticing that Tony was listening. "Pay attention to the streets. We'll miss the cab!" Resuming his phone conversation, he spoke to the other person as if they were old friends telling jokes. "Damn Enzo," Tony thought while keeping an eye out in the street. Ten minutes later they were riding their taxi across town down to Raven Drive. They pulled up in front of a two-story house, painted white, with a red roof and two large glass panes in the front. A balcony was in the middle if the second floor, while in the first floor there were a porch and a swing. Tony could tell that whoever this Grue guy was, he had kids, young kids, if he was lucky maybe a nice teenage daughter.

Approaching the door Enzo rung the doorbell twice before it was opened by a girl carrying an infant, behind her was a child of maybe five or four years of age. "Yes?" she asked them politely, Enzo clearing his throat as he said "Hey there Jess, your father home?" the teenage girl nodded as she moved out of the doorway allowing them to enter. "Wait in the den, and I'll get him right now." Both men waited in the small hallway Tony watching the girl as she entered a room at the end of the hallway, the toddler right behind her, her eyes on Tony. "Don't you dare mess this up Tony" Enzo warned as he straightened the collar of his jacket "You're the one who seems nervous, not me." Tony muttered while staring at the family pictures which lined the walls around them. "I'm nervous because if this guy doesn't accept you, then I hate to say it but you're done my friend. If Grue wont take you in, then no one else will." Tony scoffed, leaning against the wall, "What? His opinion in this town is that important or somethin'? My career isn't gonna die 'cause of a mistrusting bastard." His employer remained quiet, not answering to the boy's remark.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" Said Tony, but he was ignored.

They turned their attention to the doorway Jessica had entered when they saw a large man exiting the room walking toward them. "Morning, what I can I do for you today Enzo?" The man that stood in front of them was almost six feet tall, sturdily built, with short brown hair and matching eyes. He wore a green T-shirt and black cargo shorts. From the looks of it, it seemed that he had just been awakened. "Morning Grue," the Italian man replied holding his hand out they shook hands "I brought you your newest partner. Please don't kill this one," he nodded in Tony's direction, Grue shooting the boy a dull gaze.

"Another greenhorn? I thought we agreed, no more baby-sitting in exchange for 40-60 pay." The dissatisfaction obvious in the mercenary's voice, Tony crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm not a greenhorn, I've been working as a Merc for two years now, I've got my work cut out for me." Grue only stared, the disappointed look not fading. "That true? Well, kid if you've been in this business for so long then why is Enzo still trying to find you a partner? Anyone who's been in this for that long should have a partner by now? What's your excuse?" Tony shrugged "What's your excuse?" The mercenary rolled his eyes "Looks like we have a smartass in our hands Enzo," Grue mentioned for them to follow him into his small office at the end of the hallway obediently, they followed and entered the small room Grue closing the door behind them. "So tell me kid what are you experienced in? What are your abilities?" Tony smirked pulling out the enormous sword that was strapped to his back, "This is my ace in the hole. Baby goes anywhere I go. Anyone in Sepulveda can tell you about my abilities, Tony Redgrave, best of the best! Ain't no one better than me Grue!"

Grue shook his head as he walked past them, sitting down in front of them while turning on his laptop. "Redgrave was it? Well, we'll find out just how good you really are." The room became silent, and the only noise was that of Grue typing away at the keypad. Minutes later he muttered a 'Hmm,' as he surfed the internet.

"Found it." He said finally turning the screen so that the other two could also see. It was a web page with the headline "Bringing you the latest and greatest in the Mercenary world." Grue scratched his beared "You're from Sepulveda City, right? Who was your agent? Did you work full time or freelance? Never mind I'll just type your name on the search bar." Tony and Enzo watched as TONY REDGRAVE was typed into the blank slot and in the blink of an eye, 350 results were found. "Let's see," Grue muttered quietly while reading the headlines.

" Newcomer destroys more than one million in property damages"

"Redgrave responsible for death of three people, local police carrying investigation"

"Redgrave involved in high profile murder. Police still investigating"

The headlines kept appearing, most of them tarnishing the boy's reputation even more then it already was. Grue gave a quick glance in the boys direction "I'm surprised you haven't been locked away yet. How the hell does one boy do so much damage by himself? Who the hell commissioned your training? Were they blind or something?!" Tony shrugged "I trained myself I don't need anyone telling me how to kill someone. Besides it's worked out just fine for the last two years, and any way everyone knows the reporters always corrupt stories just to get the readers attention." Enzo was only listening wondering how Tony was going to get out of this mess, but judging by the tone both mercenaries were speaking in it was better he just kept quiet. "To become a mercenary you have to go through training. You know someone has to take you in and teach you the basic. First aid, weapon selection, overall self defense. Didn't anyone tell you this? How the hell did you get started anyway?"

Tony shrugged "I was hanging out in this place that looked like a run down crack house and some guy walked in saying he needed someone taken care of for two hundred. I jumped at the job seeing it as easy money and two years later, here I am."

He held his hands in the air while raising his shoulders at the older man "So, we're going to be partners or what?" Grue took one look at Enzo who mouthed the word 'Yes' to him. Sighing heavily he answered "I don't think I have a choice, looks like we're partner's kid."

(A/N- I tried to change and better my story as was pointed out in a review, thank you for pointing that out and if there's anytihng I missed please, let me know!)