Chapter four:
Rusty comes out of where he decided to sleep as it's morning and glances around only to spot something he didn't expect to see. "Never thought I'd see the Mad King of all people here." He says and the Mad King turns around.
"Rusty." The Mad King greets. "I thought you'd have a home with your friends." He comments.
"The people here are close to me as well." Rusty explains. "But I'm kind of here on a different reason." He says in which the Mad King raises an eyebrow.
Big Mama comes over to the two. "Ah Rusty. I see you've met the possible newest member." She says. "He came last night and as he agreed to our rules we are giving him a chance to stay."
"We've seen each other around so we kind of know each other." Rusty tells her. "Back in the city that is."
"Ah then you must be kind of aquatinted." Big Mama nods at this. "It's good that not all the faces will be completely new to him."
"By the way." Rusty glances around then turns back to Big Mama. "Is X-ray up yet?"
"Not that I've seen." Big Mama says.
"X-rays here too?" The Mad King asks a little confused.
The other two turn to him.
"Why yes he is. You know him?" Big Mama asks.
"Well we kind of ran into each other a few times." The Mad King says. "So yeah we generally know each other. Is Vav here too?"
"Ah." Big Mama nods. "And no." She adds after her nod. "Vav is not here. Out of their group it's just X-ray and Rusty here. The others went back to the city and the two decided to stay here for a bit."
"That's right." Rusty confirms with a nod. "Well I'll see if we have anything for breakfast." He heads off with that.
"Where is X-ray?" The Mad King asks Big Mama.
"Last I checked up there." Big Mama points to the car as they turn to face the pile. "Unfortunately as I told you before you can't climb this one until you're ready. Just for safety. If you want to say hi to X-ray you'll need to wait for him to come down."
"That's okay. I can wait." The Mad King assures her.
Big Mama nods. "Alright then. Go ahead and take a look around if you haven't already. Just try to not wake the others up just yet."
"Okay." The Mad King confirms then with one last look at the car he heads off wondering where Rusty went as he is also a little hungry. He finds Rusty at one spot where there are containers safe from the piles of stuff. He approaches and glances to inside the one that Rusty has opened that looks like a cooler.
Inside are some sandwiches that are wrapped up in plastic wrap.
"I know it may not be officially breakfast food but it's food." Rusty says taking one sandwich. "Want one?"
"Sure." The Mad King takes one as well and Rusty closes it.
The two unwrap the sandwiches and dig in.
The sandwiches are fine and have lettuce, a slice or two of sandwich meat and tomatoes.
They finish and toss the plastic wrap into a nearby bin meant for it.
"Well. What do you think you'll do now?" Rusty asks the Mad King.
"I'm not sure. I'm kind of waiting for X-ray to come down." The Mad King admits.
"He'll come down from his favourite spot probably after waking up." Rusty says and the two look up to the car only to see Bailey climbing towards it.
"Who is that?" The Mad King asks.
"Bailey. I'm sure you've heard about him." Rusty says in which the Mad King nods. "He probably is going to check on X-ray. They did grow up together after all."
The Mad King turns to Rusty. "Before coming here?" He asks in which Rusty shakes his head.
"Nope. They grew up here together in this very junkyard." Rusty informs him making the Mad King blink in surprise.
"X-ray was raised in a junkyard?" The Mad King questions and gets a nod. "Huh. Guess that does explain a few things. I mean he doesn't really jump into trusting others and it seems like even then the trust can be hesitant."
"Yeah. Though neither him nor Bailey for an example were born here let alone born to anyone who's ever lived here they ended up here when they were young for their own reasons and thus grew up here. They see the group here as family. Though not everyone on the streets are as kind as this group. It's a hard lesson to learn out here." Rusty says. "You have to be careful who you trust when it comes to living on the streets. Oh and just so you're aware Big Mama is more than just a leader. She's also a mother figure to those here. So you will hear her being called mom or mother."
The Mad King nods. "Yeah. The others on the streets really aren't as nice as those here." He agrees and looks to Bailey who climbs on top of the car.
Meanwhile Bailey pokes his head through the hole in the roof finding that X-ray is still sleeping on the seat. "Hey. Hey X-ray." He says causing X-ray to groan tiredly. "Hey come on."
X-ray blinks then raises his head only to tiredly look to Bailey. "Bailey? Why'd you wake me?" He asks tiredly.
"I thought we could have breakfast together." Bailey says with a smile.
X-ray gives Bailey an annoyed look. "Go get your own breakfast." He lowers his head back down. "I'm going back to sleep."
"Aw come on you know you want to." Bailey says flashing a grin.
X-ray glares annoyed at Bailey. "Can't you let me sleep?" He then gets out of the car through the window then he heads down the pile. He makes it to the bottom and Big Mama approaches.
"You're up a little early today X-ray." Big Mama says.
"Bailey woke me up mother." X-ray explains.
"Bailey is still working a few things out." Big Mama says. "I will talk to him though."
X-ray nods and turns only to see the Mad King approaching. He fully looks at the other surprised suddenly fully awake. "You." He gasps.
"This is our possible new member." Big Mama says. "And I heard that you and Rusty know him from the city. So join Rusty in helping him around here if you can."
"Okay mom." X-ray says glancing to the woman and Big Mama nods appreciatively before heading off as Bailey starts to come down. He turns back to the Mad King. "I thought you would have had your own place."
"It's not that simple." The Mad King says. "After I was defeated by you, Vav and Mogar no one really wanted to associate with me. So I ended up here."
"When you do bad things it can follow you." X-ray says. "But let me tell you if you mess up this place I won't show mercy."
"I have no plans of doing such things." The Mad King assures X-ray. "This is the only place with people willing to give me a chance. As with how things are right now I cannot lose this right now. So no worries. This place is not a target for any villainous plans from me."
"Alright. You have your chance to finally do the right thing Mad King." X-ray says slightly turning away. "And don't screw it up." He then heads off with that.
"I don't plan to." The Mad King says then a moment later turns as he spots movement.
Bailey comes up next to him. "Hey. New guy." He greets. "You like the Mad King right?"
The Mad King fully turns to Bailey. "Bailey. It's nice to meet you." He greets.
"So. Do you and X-ray know each other?" Bailey asks watching the Mad King carefully.
"You could say that." The Mad King says.
"Well just so were clear X-rays mine." Bailey says with slight warning.
The Mad King laughs. "Oh please. I know that isn't true."
"Oh? And how do you know for sure?" Bailey asks.
"Well as you said me and X-ray know each other and I am very observant." The Mad King says watching Bailey. "And a word of advice. Actually land X-ray before you start saying that he's yours. I thought you'd know this but X-ray doesn't like people just putting claims on him."
"I know." Bailey says. "But I just want you to back down."
"The only time I'll back down from anything that you're thinking of is if he actually gets with someone." The Mad King says.
"So you are interested in him." Bailey slightly growls.
"He interests me." The Mad King responds simply. "And you should let him decide himself who he goes with." He then heads off elsewhere as Bailey watches.
Big Mama sighs from where she had been watching. "He still has a long way to go before he can start training. At this rate he won't be ready in time." She turns away and walks away thinking to herself. "I might have to actually look at other options just in case." She thinks in silence for a moment as she walks. "Unless..."
...
The Mad King finds X-ray sitting by the food eating some breakfast so he approaches and sits next to him.
X-ray glances to him then finishes what's in his mouth. "Here for breakfast?" He asks.
"I already had breakfast." The Mad King responds. "I was hoping we could maybe talk a little." He says in which X-ray tilts his head. "I mean it seems we'll be having to work together now. But I don't expect you to just trust me at the drop of a hat. So I figure since I can't mess this up then I'd try to honestly gain your trust this time. It'll be better for the both of us living here if we can at least try to I guess in a way bond a little."
"I see your point." X-ray says then pauses to eat some more of the sandwich. He chews then swallows before speaking. "So where do you want to begin?"
"Is it true that you grew up here?" The Mad King asks glancing around as more people who live here come out.
"Yeah. I did." X-ray confirms also watching them then takes another bite out of his almost done sandwich. He chews then swallows only to speak. "I mean it's not really too much but it's one of my homes."
"It's a nice home." The Mad King admits as X-ray finishes his sandwich. He brings his knees up to his chest and somewhat has his arms around his legs with his head kind of resting on his knees. He does this as he and X-ray watch the others getting up and waking up. "Especially when you've lived with nothing."
"Yes. They're truly compassionate that way. Ready to give people a chance. I actually admire that. I want to try to be like that. Even if it doesn't always turn out good they keep doing it giving people chances that others won't. It's so kind of them."
"That it is." The Mad King agrees closing his eyes for a moment softly. "I can see why you proudly call it a home of yours."
"What about you?" X-ray asks with a glance to the Mad King.
"Well I grew up with the Corpirate. Our parents often visited each other so we became friends." The Mad King says. "I followed my friend because it seemed interesting and I wondered what would happen. Then I got swept away in all of it. In the end I ended up getting defeated by you three and finding myself with nothing. The Corpirate kinda stopped talking to me after his defeat so I don't even know where he is."
"Some friend." X-ray mutters glancing away.
"Yeah." The Mad King crosses his arms behind his head. "Eh. Whatever. If he wants to be that way then he just won't have my help anymore. No point in keeping such a friendship."
X-ray glances down falling silent.
"Let's move onto something else." The Mad King suggests.
"Yeah. Sure." X-ray agrees.
The two continue talking and Bailey watches only to let out a growl.
Bailey is about to move in when a hand rests on his shoulder. He turns to who it is. "Big Mama?" He questions. "What can I do for you?"
"Bailey. I need you to step down for a while." Big Mama informs him.
"W-What!?" Bailey questions in shock. "But don't we need a stand in leader!?"
"You have a lot to learn and a good leader knows when to back down. It can be for a new perspective to figure something out or for the better of the group." Big Mama says. "It's an order to step down Bailey. You're a normal member now. Study what being a member is like and what you would want to see in how a leader treats not only you but the others as well." Big Mama then turns and walks away leaving a stunned Bailey behind.
"No." Bailey gasps once Big Mama is out of hearing range and he kind of snaps back to reality. "No this can't be happening. X-ray is a hero in the city! How am I supposed to get his attention if I'm not someone important anymore!?" He turns back to the Mad King and X-ray who are getting up. "But with the way that new guy is going I'll lose X-ray before I know it." He swallows harshly. "What am I supposed to do?"