Authors Note: My One Piece readers are gonna kill me for updating a fic for another show two days in a row after they have to wait weeks for me to update my other one. I must be on a Motorcity kick cause I'm just dying to write this one. No worries though! The new chapter of Blue, Gold, and Pale is well on its way to being published.
Also, I was happily surprised to get a few reviews for this fic :D thanks guys! So much!
Mutt
Walking alone on an empty street allows one plenty of time to reflect on their life and, as Mike Chilton took his three hundred and eleventh step, he began to realized that his life was seriously beginning to suck. With no one to talk to and nothing to do other than move one foot in front of the other, all of his injuries came to the forefront of his mind; doubled with his thirst and hunger.
"Not already" he growled, mumbling to himself "I can't be hungry before I even get to the town."
One thing to ignore at a time he thought to himself as he again tried to control his breathing so it wouldn't shift his injured ribs. Breathing was a horrible experience all around, not even counting how it agitated his wounds. The air below Deluxe was polluted and rank in comparison to the untainted oxygen above. He was already beginning to feel sick as he continued to inhale and exhale the tainted atmosphere. Now he was beginning to understand why his comrades decided to wear gas masks every time they came down. Still, he hadn't worn one on his first trek down, feeling that they looked too intimidating and wanting to present himself as friendly.
"Maybe that was a bad idea." He chuckled to himself. He wanted the queasiness to go away very much. If he got any worse he might need to throw up and considering the state of his body he figured that would be a very unpleasant experience.
Casually he brought the collar of his t-shirt up and placed it over his nose and mouth, wincing at the tug of the fabric at his, now dry, injury on his side. He hadn't bothered with it since it was inflicted so the blood had just stayed where it was, sticking to everything it had come in contact with.
So far that independence, faith, whatever that old guy had bragged about wasn't convincing him that living down here was a better alternative.
Still, he was fascinated by what he was seeing. The building they had demolished resided on the outskirts of Motorcity, so the ex-cadet was getting a good view of what could be called the "countryside" of the mecha structure underground. Where he was walking was a lifted bridge that crossed over some abandoned shacks and unkempt yards, some of which had laundry hanging on clotheslines outside. Every once and a while he would spot a stray dog or cat wandering under the streetlamps. Oddly enough he felt he could relate more with them than anyone. They had no home and no companions either.
Suddenly he heard a roar behind him and noted the newly formed shadow of his lanky figure growing on the ground in front of him as an intense light drew closer. Glancing behind he barely managed to jump to the side as an automobile sped by, the driver yelling something about getting off the road, along with some words he wouldn't repeat.
The exhaust from the car puffed into his face, the warm smoke brushing over his chilled arms. He coughed as he inhaled some of the polluted gas, squeezing his eyes shut as the jerking motion shifted his ribs.
"Gah" he choked out, hunching over the guardrail and letting out a few more coughs.
The nausea was fighting its way up and he covered his mouth with his hand, willing his stomach to hold its contents. He needed to keep every bit of nutrition down and didn't particularly want to feel any acidic guck make its way up his throat.
"Keep it together Chilton" he thought to himself, steeling his resolve.
Gazing out over the landscape before him, he noted the incredible expanse of Motorcity; the streetlights and massive building structures extending beyond what his eye could see. It was a world of roads, the paved lines crisscrossing over dirt and steel like an intricate pattern of a garment. Along those roads he noted the red and white lights that traversed them, assuming that they were cars.
In Deluxe he'd been taught that automobiles were horrible machines; a creation of the past that used up resources and polluted the air and, from what he'd just experienced, he would have to agree.
Up to that point he, like everyone else above ground, relied on hovercrafts to get around, and they were fueled solely with battery power that was constantly being recharged by the sun. Why did these people refuse to adapt to better technology?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, another vehicle passed behind him. Again he heard the roar of its engine and felt the rumble of its wheels as they propelled the hunk of metal forward at an unsafe speed.
The sound of a thousand tiny explosions under the vehicle's hood blurred together as one loud purr and for a moment the brunette found himself closing his eyes and just soaking in the blaring noise.
It wasn't until the car was out of hearing range that he realized that there was a smile on his face and he broke out of his trance-like state with surprise.
"What was that about" he mumbled to himself as he released his grip on the railing and returned to walking along the road, this time making a point to keep to the side, not wanting to add being hit by a car to his list of troubles.
As he trudged along he found himself longing for another automobile to pass by.
Another hour passed, as well as five other cars. He noted each of these, considering their different shapes and sizes but having no former knowledge on what model or make they were. The anticipation of seeing a new vehicle was a good distraction from his thirst and nausea.
It was when one of his legs buckled under his weight that he realized that he needed a new strategy other than just walking the rest of the way to town. He at least could see the city lights now, but he would venture a guess that it was at least ten miles away. Simply walking just one mile now seemed like an unreasonable feat so he decided to try something else, which to his shame was begging for a ride.
Mike was bold and for the most part fearless, but still the thought of hopping in a car with a stranger who probably hated his guts made him a little anxious. Or was it a hidden desire to actually ride in an automobile to see why they beckoned him so that made his heart pump in anticipation. This reasoning made no sense to him but he couldn't deny it.
It was another ten minutes before the next vehicle drove by. Mike raised the arm opposite of his injured side and waved it, using his large hands to block the glare of the headlights as they drew near. He was surprised when the car slowed beside him and a woman rolled down the window on the passenger's side of the vehicle where he stood. A man was in the driver's seat and leaned over as if to welcome him in. The cadet saw them eye him up and down to be sure he wasn't a threat, both of their gazes locking on his pants which he knew they would recognize as Deluxe military garb. His heart dropped in his chest.
Without another word the window was rolled up and they left him in the dust holding his breath to keep from inhaling their exhaust.
He wasn't expecting any kindness to begin with but for some reason their rejection hit him with a wave of frustration and loneliness that was unusual for him. He was usually pretty good at keeping his spirits up, but this was a new low for him and his eyebrows creased as he struggled to keep from breaking down.
Another two cars passed by without slowing. That didn't help his mood but it hurt less when they didn't give him hope to begin with. One of the cars had, however, enchanted him and kept his mind busy daydreaming about it as he trudged along.
It had been a surprisingly long car that glistened like colored glass under the melted reflection of streetlights above. The purr of its engine was richer and more alluring than any of the cars Mike had heard up to that point and as it faded from view he longed in his soul for the driver to turn around and reconsider. Surely they had enough space in a machine that long to add one more passenger.
It didn't come back and he wouldn't see the car again until several months had passed.
Another hour passed and, after a stumble that almost dropped him on his face, the ex-cadet returned to the railing to support him as he walked.
Not long after this did he hear the sound of a different engine which perked his ears up and drew his attention immediately. Unlike the last one, this automobile had a blaring and offensive rumble under its hood, yet it still called to the brunette. It was the sound of raw power and dependability and he almost drooled with the desire to ride whatever it was.
His heart picked up when the vehicle slowed beside him, revealing itself to be a massive monster truck with wheels thicker and taller than he was. He'd never seen anything like it and he gazed starry-eyed for longer than his dignity should have allowed.
"Hey you!" a voice from the driver's seat called out as the man's head came in to view and he leaned over the empty passenger's side.
Immediately Mike was on edge. The voice was coated with a heavy Southern slang that gave off a tone of hostility. Still he kept a poker-face, not willing to give up on the lovely ride just yet. Gazing up with a smile he saw a kid with a backwards baseball cap on and braces, his long bangs covering one of his eyes to the point where he couldn't even see it.
"Yeah?" He replied to the boy calling him out.
"You look like'n you could use a ride" the driver answered.
"I could" he agreed, though the tone in the other man's voice was still sending off alarms in his head. "I've been hurt and need to get to town to get medical attention."
Three red hologram screens popped up in front of the truck's dashboard which surprised the ex-cadet for he hadn't expected such advanced technology to be built into such crude machinery. The faces of what must have been the driver's friends showed up on the screens, one of them asking "Junior" what was up.
"Boys" the redneck replied in cocky amusement "I just found me that Kane army deserter. Seen him walkin all by his lonesome on I-250 and he waved me down. Seems he needs him a ride."
Again Mike felt tense at the tone in the boy's words. They dripped of mockery.
Catching the hint, the brunette turned and kept walking down the dirty road.
"Hey hey now" Junior taunted as he let his car roll to keep up with Mike's slow trek, "you don't want a ride?"
Mike looked up at him with a frown. "If you're not going to help me, then please continue on your way. I'm sorry for disturbing you."
The redneck laughed loudly, his chortles grating on the ex-cadet's nerves.
"Didj'you think I was gonna lend a helping hand? I mean, you are a hero after all. Savin' all those lives back there. Standin' up for justice. You must be thinkin' you're somethin' special."
Mike kept walking, not looking at the man taunting him.
"Ignorin' me huh?" the kid spat "too high and mighty to mingle with us commoners are ya? Ohhh, you're from Deluxe. You must be so sur'perior' in every way."
"Your words, not mine" Mike said sternly, never taking his eyes off the road before him.
"Well then, let me tell you what I see" Junior scoffed, not liking being talked down too "I see a stray dog of Kane's tryin' to play himself off as a goody-two shoes. You know what you are? A mutt! You ain't got no one to call your own and you can't fool nobody down here that you're one of us!"
The ex-cadet kept walking with no reaction, knowing that to allow an idiot's taunts to get to him would make him just as much of a fool as the offender. There was no point in arguing with someone who had no capability to see reason.
"Bah" the redneck spat again "yer' too yeller to even speak. Well screw you man! Good luck getting to town!" As Junior said his last words he tossed a used cup at the offending hitchhiker, frustrated when the brunette caught it in mid-air before it hit him in the head.
Mike glared up at the kid, which caused him to turn red with embarrassment before stepping on the gas and driving his fantastic machine away, leaving the ex-cadet to deflect the scattered pebbles with his arm.
Now in even more of a sour mood, Mike continued on. He considered how easy it could have been to simply beat the crap out of the brat and steal the car. Even in his injured state he was sure he could have taken the idiot out. Then he'd have himself a way to get around and have enjoyed the pleasure of teaching the kid a lesson the hard way.
That wasn't going to happen though. As low as he'd gone since that morning, he wasn't about to turn criminal. Just the thought of transferring from a cadet in Kane's army to a criminal in Motorcity sounded so ridiculous.
No, he'd die before he harmed others to benefit himself. If he lost everything for it at least he'd go out with some dignity.
Just as he thought this both of his legs buckled, sending him to his knees on the hard concrete below. The nausea remained with him like a clingy girlfriend and he hurt everywhere. Would he be lost before he even got to civilization? Perhaps he'd have to beg at the doorsteps of the nearly-homeless residents under the road he was on.
Glancing down he realized that the beverage cup Junior had thrown at him was still in his hand so, since he wasn't going anywhere at the moment, he popped the lid off to see a few melted ice-cubes floating at the bottom. Tossing sanitary concerns out the window he dumped the remains of the drink into his mouth, savoring the cool liquid as it flowed down his throat. It lasted but a moment before he was again left empty-handed and thirsty.
The glow of a new pair of headlights lit up the road again and he halfheartedly lifted his arm to wave whoever it was down.
This vehicle didn't have the hostile roar of the monster-truck, nor did it have the soothing purr of the limousine, but its rumble was a good one. He looked over to see another truck, but this one just a simple pick-up. There was what looked like another redneck in the driver's seat, leaning over and rolling down his crank windows.
"Kid" he said, his voice rough and Southern as well "if you're hitchhiking, you're doing it wrong."
The tone was nothing like that of the last visitor so Mike responded.
"How's that?"
"Well you've gotta hold out your thumb like so" the older man presented his own thumb as a visual.
"Good to know" he replied with a smile, holding up a thumb.
"You the man they've been talking about who dropped out of Kane's forces?"
Mike hung his head "does everyone know already? You guys have a heck of a grapevine."
"Yeah" the man chuckled "word travels fast around here. Congratulations on being the new source of everyone's gossip."
The brunette was embarrassed when his own chuckle turned into a hacking cough which doubled him over against his will. So much for dignity.
"You look like you've had a rough time kid" the man stated as a fact. His voice didn't convey much genuine concern but there was something there that reflected kindness. Mike looked up, his eyes begging for some sympathy.
"Can't say I trust you boy, but seeing as how you'll probably become road kill if I leave you here I guess I'll give you a ride. Hop in the back" he said, indicating the bed of the truck.
Mike felt a wave of relief rush over him at the stranger's kindness. Not wanting to waste the man's time, he struggled to his feet hastily. This proved to be a bad decision as a wave of dizziness struck him and he fell back to the ground, sprawled out and coughing from the dirt he'd kicked up from his landing on the filthy roadside.
Quickly he tried to regain his composure and gave getting up another try before the man got annoyed.
Suddenly there were strong hands lifting him by his pits and carrying him from where he'd fallen to the old vehicle nearby. This all was a blur to him and he hardly had the energy to be embarrassed by the treatment before the tailgate was slammed shut and the truck revved.
This brought him back to the present, the rumble of the engine vibrating the entire vehicle and him in it. Placing his hand on the metal below, he found himself closing his eyes again and letting the low growl of the living machine consume him.
TBC…
There's a quick update for you :) Mike's having a rough time and it's not about to get any easier. No worries though, we're soon to meet some of our familiar Burners in the near future.
Hope you enjoyed.
Again, any review is super appreciated! I was so pleasantly surprised to get a few early reviews yesterday, which I must say is probably why I got to writing the next chapter so soon.
