Brew City- Underground

Chapter 2- Bravado

"Get outta here." Duncan slammed the yellow door shut, the rusted taxi driving off. Looking down, Duncan saw the dirty crumbled burger wrappers and sticky smashed soda cup he dragged with him when he left the taxi. Kicking them in a huff, Duncan felt a wave of pain wash over him, so intense it was hard to breath. Holding his side as he caught his breath, Duncan sighed, flicking off the rotted banana peel from his shoulder. God how long was that there. "Ugh, the cab was covered in more garbage than me."

Turning to his side, Duncan looked down the block of the neighborhood and saw his family home. Sighing again, Duncan took a deep breath as he tried his best to walk over without a limp or any sign of injury. Duncan would like to believe that he did, but it was pretty obvious something was wrong with him. If for no other reason than how long it took him to walk one end of the block to the other. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the house driveway, Duncan looked up at his house.

It was a Victorian era two story house with big attic, a two vehicle garage attached to the side. It had a faded green paint job, the same color as Duncan's eyes, faded dollar bills. It was the same design as the rest of the houses on the block, only the paint job was different. The only thing that made the Thatch family home stick out was the color of the front door, jet black.

Even though it wasn't dusk yet, Duncan could see more than a few of the lights were on through the windows. Looking over, Duncan could see through the open garage that the pitch black Pick-up in it. So at the very least one of his parents was home. Duncan groaned to himself. He really didn't want to explain why he looked like he was just tossed out of a dump. Crouching down, Duncan took another look at the house windows, seeing which rooms had the lights on, so he could figure out the best ways to sneak in.

Before he could though, Duncan swung around to the street as he heard someone honking at him and cursed under his breath as a car headed straight for him. It was an old lime green sedan, probably not even going ten miles an hour. The guy behind the wheel looked a little over Duncan's age, well developed shoulders and arms were visible under the green hoody he was wearing. His dark raven black hair neatly combed over to the side, his faded emerald eyes locked on to Duncan's own, a smug grin on his face as he honked one last time.

Taking a breath in, Duncan jumped best he could to miss the car's front bumper, only to land on the car's green hood and slam into the wind shield. Duncan had his eyes shut tight, his body into a fetal position, his head protected by his arms. Not unlike earlier that day during the beating. The car abruptly stopped, sending Duncan sliding off the sleek metal hood and into the sturdy wall of the garage and landing on the cold hard cement floor.

Pain erupted throughout Duncan's body. Throbbing horribly to every spot Duncan was hit and beaten that day and more. His vision dazed as he saw spots everywhere, Duncan's head feeling like it was trying to crack open. The worst was his front. Duncan's chest was convulsing, his lungs frozen, trying desperately to breath. Duncan managed to force open his mouth to suck some air in, but there was nothing.

"Wow, that looks painful. You must've landed wrong."

Duncan looked up, focused his vision best he could and saw the driver staring down at him. A mocking concerned look on his face as he grabbed the spamming Duncan by the back of his collar and hoisted him so Duncan was sitting up, his back leaning against the wall. The driver kneeled next to Duncan as he rubbed the side of his back until he could stop spamming and breath again. Still wincing from the pain, Duncan scowled at the driver as he stood back up.

"Whelp, your turn." The driver said as he pulled out car keys from his hoody pocket, dropping them on Duncan's head as he walked away. "Have fun."

Cringing in pain, Duncan picked up the keys as he grabbed the top of the work bench next to him and hoisted himself slowly onto his feet, a few of his joints cracking on the way up as the rest of his body screamed at him. Standing up, Duncan gave a pained groan before he walked over to the door and inside the house. A few steps into the hall, Duncan heard someone walking down the flight of stairs to his right. It was the driver, his brother Donovan, carrying a cardboard box in one hand and a helmet in the other. Duncan had to bite his lip to keep himself from cussing out his brother and cursing in pain as Donovan shoved the box into his brother's side.

"Go help mom and dad fill up the car with this crap then toss it in the dumpster when you're done." Donovan ordered, putting on the helmet as walked over to the two motorcycles next to the truck. Hopping onto the green and black chopper with the punisher logo on the side, giving Duncan the finger as he cruised away. "You're turn dumbass."

Shaking his head, Duncan looked into the box. It was filled with nothing but old ceramic birds wrapped in old news papers that used to belong to his grandmother. That and an old unmarked letter. Duncan tilted his head, curious. Duncan couldn't tell what was in it, other than some kind of thick paper. Shrugging, and cringing from the pain of doing so, Duncan put the letter in his back pocket.

"Duncan." Looking over to his side, Duncan could see coming up from the living room was an older matronly looking woman, appearing to be in her mid to late 40's, though she looked rather fit for her age. She had shoulder length blond hair, wore a read sweater and blue jeans. Carrying a box of her own with a cardboard tube laying on top of it, the smile on the woman's face turned to a look of confusion and concern as she reached him. "Duncan, Look at your clothes, all covered in filth. What happened, are you okay?"

"Kinda, ma." Duncan shrugged, doing his best to hide the pain and look nonchalant. "Just lost a round of car chicken with Don."

"Ugh. I can't believe you boys are still doing that." Duncan's mother groaned. "You'd think at least one of you would've learned after the first trip to the hospital...You don't have to see a doctor do you?"

"Nah ma." Duncan wiped off the front of his shirt with one hand, as he held up the box with one arm, flinching from the pain. "Nothing's broken."

"Are you sure sweety?" Mama Thatch asked concerned, setting down her box on the floor before she went over to her son. Duncan pulled away from his mother as she reached out to him. "Duncan?"

"I'm fine Ma." Duncan slumped, and flinched from the pain. "F-fine."

"It better stay that way Duncan." Mama Thatch snapped at her son, picking the crate back up with one hand and the tube with the other. "By the time summer's over it'll be a full year sine we've had to put a cast on any of you. Think of it like this, if you and Donovan make it, you'll get that ice cream cone I promised when the twins first started it."

"Yeah ma." Duncan rolled his eyes. "An ice cream cone. Can't wait."

"And, I'll make the final payment on the last windshield you boys had to replace." Mama Thatch said flatly. "Don't tell me you smashed another one, just now."

"Um, I don't think so."

"That's good to hear." Mama Thatch raised her eye brow at him. "Do you know how many that old family car has gone through over the years?"

"Uhhh..."

"Well I know. I counted." Duncan's mother squinted her eyes at her son. "So has your father... and our insurance."

"S-soooo, Don said to fill up the car and dump it." Duncan stammered, reaching for the box his mother was holding. "You want me toooo-"

"I first got that car when I was 16. Not once did I have a problem." Mrs. Thatch shook her head, dropping her crate on top of Duncan's own in a huff. Duncan let out a wisp of pain, hunching over and doing his best to stand. Looking up, Duncan could see his mother rolling her yes, her free hand on her hip as she twirled the cardboard tube with the other. "Then suddenly you boys got your license and its practically in the shop every other week."

"I-Its n-not that bad, Ma."

"You're right of course sweety, I am exaggerating." Mama Thatch smiled sweetly at her son before she tapped the cardboard tube against Duncan's side, the exact spot where the large bull headed freak had stomped on him during the beating. Duncan grimaced and slowly sank to his knees, wincing through his teeth all the while. Dropping the boxes in a slump on the ground, holding his side where his mother poked him, Duncan felt the cardboard tube tapping his forehead. "Now, are you going to tell me what really happened? If Donovan really hurt you like that, I would have heard you two fighting in the garage."

"Ma." Duncan took a deep inhale before he forced himself back onto his feet, ignoring his joints creaking and his muscles screaming at him. "I. Am. Fine."

"If you say so sweety."

Mama Thatch sighed, shaking her head before whistling fallowed by a clap. The sound of excited pounding accompanied by a small jingling chain erupted down the hall before a giant four legged monster strolled out of the hallway. The hellish beast angrily snarled at the mother and son, a rusted broken chain that belonged with the Titanic was wrapped around its neck, slimy gore oozed down its gaping maw before it gave a hunger filled roar before it charged. The eldest Thatch jumped in front of her injured son, filled with the strength of a determined mother to defend her child from the ungodly beast.

Really it was the family bulldog. While he wouldn't win any beauty contests, he was an adorable purebred. The dog was about knee high, mostly covered in white fur, aside from the black bit around his right eye, giving the canine the look of an eye patch. The giant chain was just his dog collar, neatly patterned in green camouflage. Regular dog dribble dripped a bit as he strolled out of the hallway and into the living room. The dog's eyes spotted Mama Thatch and marched over to his beloved master, a happy chuffing sound laughed through his doggy grin as he looked up at her. Mama Thatch smiled herself down at the dog, rubbing behind his ears as she knew he liked it before the dog fell over onto his side, exposing his stomach to her.

"Oorah. Who's a good boy Chesty? Huh, who's a good boy?" Mama Thatch cooed, rubbing the dog's belly. The dog laughed out a singular bark before licking his nose."That's right, you are!

"I-I'm walking the dog," Duncan sighed, his hand gripping the crates as he leaned on them. "aren't I?"

"No, the dog is walking you." Mama Thatch nodded whistling, Chesty instantly stood back up on all fours, at attention… well as much as a dog could anyway. "Your brother dumped everything we wanted thrown away before you got here. Your father and I will shift through more of it this weekend, and since you didn't help out today, you'll be doing that while your brother gets off scott free."

"Oh come on Ma, that's bullsh-"

"Duncan. Edward. Thatch." Mama Thatch glared, her voice flat. Even the family dog straightened his gaze at the youngest Thatch.

"Sorry Ma."

"Don't you 'sorry Ma' me, young man." Mama Thatch put her left hand on her hip. "First you skip out on a family project you've known about for months, forcing the rest of us to pick up the slack. Then you come back when its all over, hurt and covered in filth. All of which you lie to me about while blaming it on your brother. I give you a chance to tell the truth and make up for it only for you to lie to me again and have the gall to complain about it, playing the victim."

"Uh, ummm," Duncan stammered. "I wouldn't say I was playing the victim."

"No, you were just going to curse to my face how I was being unfair to you." Mama Thatch deadpanned, crossing her arms. "You are right of course. I am being unfair."

Duncan took a step back from that, as whenever she said something like that with knowing smile she had on face couldn't mean anything good, especially for him. Mama Thatch unscrewed the end of the tube, her smirk only grew as she stared at her son for moment before pulling out a full Japanese katana. It was easy to recognize as it had the famous- dangerous curve of the type of sword. Its black handle was covered with overlapping green thread for a grip, decorated with a silver diamond weave in the design. The scabbard was the same solid black as the base handle but it also had the same green thread wrapped around the center, right at the base of the curve. Duncan stood in awe as his mother held up the sword over her head and pulled it partly open and free, the shining metal reflected a brilliant silver like beam of light from the lamp above it on the ceiling.

"H-holy," Duncan stammered, so distracted by the sword that he lost his grip on the creates and lost his balance. Duncan tried to catch himself but it was too late and he fell, landing on all fours, though never loosing sight of the shining blade above his mother. "I-is that real? Where did you even find that?"

"Oh, its real." Mama Thatch nodded, triumphant joy in her voice as she slammed the blade back in its scabbard. "Found it in the attic today. Apparently your great-granddaddy Deacon came back from Okinawa with a little souvenir besides a can of dirt."

"Jesus, that's awesome." Duncan cheered, jumping back up to his feet, not even bothering to hide his limp as he jumbled over to look at the sword. Only when Duncan managed to get close enough to touch it, Mama Thatch pulled it away and back into the tube, sealing it shut. "O-oh come on!"

"Ah-ah. No." Mama Thatch decreed. "This is going in storage with the rest of the valuable stuff we found today, safe. Where it belongs. If you were with us when we found it, like you were supposed to, you might have had a say in it."

"Uh-huh." Duncan snorted, folding his arms over his chest, and wheezing from the pain and effort. "S-sure Ma. I bet Donovan was all on board with that."

"Your brother is leaving to join the Marines at the end of the summer. He can't bring a sword with him. For now this is staying with me." Mama Thatch announced as she scratched Chesty's ears. "Since we're not dumping any more junk from the attic today, just leave that in the garage for now. Then I want you to walk the dog. He's been good so give him a treat when you get back."

"Where are you going?" Duncan asked.

"I just spent all morning in a moldy old attic." Mama Thatch explained, tossing Duncan Chesty's lead. "I'm going to eat and have some fun."

"Shooting range?"

"Shooting range." Mama Thatch nodded. "Now Duncan, before I go, are you sure you're okay?"

"I told you." Duncan sighed. "I am fine."

"Duncan Edward Thatch, you wouldn't lie to your mother would you?"

"No ma," Duncan answered, a wide smile on his face, sarcastically talking through his exposed closed teeth. "I'd never do that."

"Alright than, give chesty two laps instead of his usual one." Mama Thatch ordered. "And you will be here this weekend to help me and your father. Don't even think of sneaking out of it."

"Oh, ma i'd-

"Save it." Mama Thatch rolled her eyes, holding up the tube which held the sword. "We found this on the first day Duncan. Imagine what else is up there. I can already here it now. 'Dibs'."

"I'll be there Ma." Duncan nodded, his eyes staring hard at the tube in his mothers hands.

"You better be." Mama Thatch said, rolling her eyes as she quickly jabbed her son in the side again with the tube. Duncan was too slow to block it and grimaced, curling up from the pain again. Mama Thatch sighed as she walked out the door to the garage, tube still in hand. "So stubborn."

"She never plays fair." Duncan sighed, rubbing the spot his mother jabbed until the pain faded. Looking down at the bulldog at his feet, the same toothy grin the dog gave Duncan's mother staring back up at him. "Well come on boy. Lets go."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"We're here, ya flee bitten slobber machine." Duncan groaned, stopping just before the gate. Chesty himself gave a doggy grin as he stood before the old wooden 'dog park' sign bolted into the support poles of the chain link fence. A line of actual slobber rolling down droopy mug. Almost like he was actually reading it before turning back to his master and ruffled up against Duncan's leg. Just like that it felt like someone ripped off the top layer of skin and replaced it with hot coals. 'What, when did i get hurt there?'

Duncan shook his head, ignoring it as he opened the waist high chain link fence door. The shin sized dog instantly made a dash for the open field of the park, but Duncan pinned him against the support pole using the very same leg the dog rubbed against. To Duncan's surprise the pressure actually lessened the pain.

"Not yet mutt." Duncan ordered, pointing down at the dog's excited face as the little guy let out his famous low whine. Duncan grabbed further up the lead as he walked in, keeping the dog close before he could get a running start. "Don't gimme that look."

The park was exactly how anyone'd expect it. Kinda small. Gates surrounding everything. Plenty of grass, leaves, trees, signs everywhere telling owners to pick up after their mutts. Though, from what Duncan could see, there were only a few other owners and their dogs at the park. Which he was thankful for, letting out another sigh before cringing at the wave of pain it caused. Because of that, Duncan almost fell over as the dog pulled against his lead, almost like he was hopping to the park. Duncan shook his head and suddenly a rod of glass shattered in his neck.

"Aahh- Damnit..." Duncan shut his eyes as he sucked in a breath while he kicked in the gate, doing his best to stay on his feet as chesty pulled him into the park. Shaking off the pain, Duncan pulled back hard on the leash, stopping the dog hard in its tracks. Slitting his eyes open, Duncan could see Chesty looking back up at with anticipation, hopping up and down on his front paws. "Sit. Stay. You do, I'll let you go."

To Duncan's own surprise, Chesty actually did as he was told. Butt down, mouth closed, eye's up. Almost like he was a Marine at attention. All he was missing was the cameo.

"Ruff." Chesty barked up at Duncan, almost like he was sounding off.

"Okay, fine. Dumb dog."

Duncan rolled his eyes as he reached down to Chesty's collar and the second he did... imagine there's this really old door, well oiled, swings open with a nudge with not so much as a squeak. Then suddenly it freezes solid. None of the hinges can handle it and shatter to glass mid swing. Now imagine that was Duncan's joints, from ankles all the way to his neck. The latter of which still felt like crushed concrete. Duncan couldn't even whimper as he dropped to his knees and then to his side. As his face hit the floor, the rest of his body started screaming along with his joints fallowed by the memory of every boxing movie where they start beating on slabs of meat. Like earlier that day when his brother ran him over with the family car, Duncan found himself slumped to his side and unable to breath aside from small gasps. Using all the strength he had left, Duncan tried to pull his body together, or at least shift himself to his back to breath better. Try as he might, he just couldn't.

Then suddenly there was a wetness padding his face, numbing his pain. Opening his eyes, Duncan saw none other than his dog Chesty licking his face down to below his chin. Soon enough the shattered rod of glass was his neck again, the pain almost gone and fading. Not long after Duncan was back to doing full breaths. It still hurt to do so but at least he was able. Same thing when it came to moving, not a lot but some. Just as suddenly as he started, Chesty stopped licking his master. Looking up, Duncan saw the dog hovering over him with a droopy, smug grin. Well, as smug as a Bulldog can look anyway.

"G-gah. Le-let me lay here dog." Duncan coughed, his chest on fire. "Go away."

"Ruff!" The dog hollered back, nodding to his master.

Like before, the dog did as he was ordered and walked away... with the leash still attached and wrapped around Duncan's wrist. The family Bulldog padded on in happy struts, seemingly oblivious to the 200 plus pound sack of dead weight of his master he was dragging behind him. Duncan couldn't so much as growl in protest as he tried to hold his broken body from falling apart, which was exactly what it felt it was doing. Duncan couldn't even enjoy the irony of the dog dragging him around to a place he didn't want to go, like so many cold or rainy nights when Chesty had to be let outside to do his business but refused to do so much as roll over. The only part Duncan could enjoy was the mileage he could get out of his parents from how strong the dog was, because as far as he could tell, Duncan's weight wasn't even slowing the mutt down. Still hurt like a bitch though. Every lump of dirt, hole, stick or rock they ran over hurt ten times worse.

"S-stupid dog."

After what felt like forever the 'walk' suddenly stopped, everything was spinning when Duncan opened his eyes with his breathing shallow and erratic.

"Ruff."

Focusing his eyes, the gray blob above him focused into the slobber dripping mug of a bulldog with a black patch over one eye.

"I-I always knew the grim reaper was as ugly as some inbred runt, but wow." Duncan joked, it hurt to smile but it was worth it. Chesty sneezed at his master's comment, spraying Duncan in what he hoped was doggy drool before sniffing down his body. Looking back up at Duncan's face, Chesty barked at his master before stomping his two front paws to his side. Duncan could do little more than clamp his jaw shut to hold in a scream. "Take a joke, asshole."

Chesty the Bulldog stomped on Duncan again, same spot too.

"Gah." Duncan breathed. "Worst. Dog. Ever!"

Chesty lets out a triumphant bark at Duncan before smugly waddling on, the leash slipping off his master's wrist. Taking a deep a breath as he could, Duncan groaned out a sigh trying to relax. As he stretched his arms out, Duncan felt a small piece of plastic next to his leg. Peaking down, Duncan saw a small pill bottle. Fighting through the pain, Duncan reached down and grabbed it before flipping off the cap.

"When'd you get out?" Duncan asked before deciding he didn't care dropping a few in his mouth. Predictably when he tried to swallow, Duncan almost chocked on the pills and was forced to spit them back out. Duncan slammed the back of his head against the ground in frustration before noticing his new angle allowed him to see the public water fountain looming behind him. "Huh, what are the odds of that?"

Duncan grunted defiantly as he used all his strength to flip himself over onto his gut, and just like that the memory of the family's lime green sedan charging into him appeared in his head, with the pain of two tons of metal smashing into his body. Annoyed beyond words Duncan bit his lip as he grabbed hold of the cement covered pipe and hoisted himself to his knees. Duncan's arms feeling like two wet noodles that were somehow also on fire. Squeezing down the handle of the fountain like a hangman's ax, Duncan wouldn't have been surprised if he gobbled half the damn bottle in a rushed swig. The water from the fountain tasted like toxic runoff but it did its job, and after the final gulp Duncan collapsed and hit the ground on his side like a bottle inside a paper bag. Smashing on contact broken bits held together in a lose container.

"Bruuhhh." Duncan groaned, or burped. He couldn't tell. He couldn't care. Not through how dizzy he felt. "P-pills kick in that fast? Nah, I'm not that lucky. Gotta be dying."

"Well don't do it in public."

Tilting his head up, Duncan saw a woman, girl really. Middle to late teens and hotter than hell. Straight dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her face was beautiful. High cheekbones, tiny nose, full lips, heavy black lashes. The girl was wearing a tight gray sports bra, black leggings, and matching tennis shoes. Which allowed Duncan to see how flawless and silky smooth her skin was. Mocha brown, just a few shades darker than her hair. Just Duncan's type. He was always partial to darker skin, Mediterranean Persian. That sorta thing. Duncan could tell the girl wasn't quite that, but close enough. What was more than enough was her chest, even through the tight sports bra Duncan could tell she was stacked. That along with her thick thighs, curvy legs, and if god had any kinda love toward humanity, a bubble butt. This was the kinda girl that belonged on the cover of 'jack it at work, buy our shit' magazine.

"Find some ditch or alley and die there." The girl said, squinting at Duncan. "Where your kind belongs."

"Wow," Duncan smirked. "cold princess."

"N-no, I'm not." The girl stuttered, squinting harder as she smushed her lips together and folded her arms. Unfortunately that last bit covered up her chest at the angle Duncan was laying at. "Is there a reason why I shouldn't be calling an ambulance... or the police?"

"Go ahead, call the cops." Duncan shrugged, instantly cringed from the pain. His neck and shoulders felt like broken glass again. Smacking the back of his head into the dirt, Duncan chuckled best he could. "I'm sure they'll love hearing about you harassing a guy taking his dog to the park."

"Not as much as they'll be interested in a garbage covered homeless junkie collapsing in public after a fight with a hobo." The girl smirked back. "Leaving the rabid mutt he was saving for a dog fight to run loose and apart rip anyone it waddles into. Oh yes, I'm sure the cops will prioritize lil o'l me over you."

"... HAHAHA! You're better at BS'n than I am." Duncan laughed, god it hurt to laugh. That shattered rod of glass in his neck were his ribs now. "Not a homeless junkie, just look like one. And me mutt isn't an attack dog. He's a mascot... well, was."

"You're right." The girl rolled her eyes. "You're BS is way less believable. Are you telling me I was wrong about the fight?"

"More of a beating." Duncan nodded. "But you won't believe who done it. Hint, it involves monsters and my brother with the family car."

"If you're going to lie, at least put some effort into it." The girl glared. "Try to make it sound believable."

"Its all the truth."

"You're a garbage covered neanderthal that just gobbled a bottle of pills like it was gummy bears." The girl put a hand on her hips. "That's enough proof for the junkie hobo part."

"Wellll..." Duncan winked. "Woke up on a dumpster mattress. Took a junker cab. Then I got kicked out of my own house by me splendid ma to walk the slobbering mutt before I could take a shower. As for the pills, see above for monster beating in every sense of the word before having a roadkill 101 course with my D-bag of a brother as the teacher. Pretty sure you'd gobble pills by then if you still got any ribs- Oh, speaking of."

Duncan picked that time to groan as he patted the top of his gut and cringed, though only partially from the pain. Duncan winked as he saw the girl cringe back at him. The girl continued to look at Duncan for what had to be a solid minute, just standing there above him doing nothing before- finally, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Your BS might sound worse but you are committed." The girl tilted her head to the side, agreeing with her own point. "I'll give you that."

Duncan could only laugh before cringing again, this time it was just from pain.

"Damn princess, don't make me laugh. It hurts, it really does. " Duncan smiled, making sure his mouth was closed to hold in a girly screech. "S'pecially if its tru- hey what are you doing?"

What she was doing was stealing his pills. Walked right over to him and pulled the bottle out of Duncan's hands like it was candy and he was a baby. For a reason Duncan didn't know that hurt worse than the beating and the car ramming put together.

'Why doesn't she cut off my dick while she's at it?'

"Well..." The girl said, examining the bottle. "These are for pain. You weren't lying about that. But I really doubt they're prescribed to you."

"Got me, princess." Duncan smiled back, enjoying the look of confusion on the girl's face. "They're my brothers."

"The one that ran you over?" The girl asked, her confused look turning to concerned before she turned back to the bottle. "He's taking these? That might explain some things."

"Other brother." Duncan explained. "He's on deployment. Left'em in his room last time he visited."

"Well if he's anything like you i guess it makes sense he forgot his anti-psycho meds for his dirty baby brother to get his grubby mitts on." The girl said sticking her tongue out smugly at Duncan. "Shame on you Mr. Daron Thatch."

"Lance Corporal, actually."

"Whatever." The girl shook her head before looking back down at Duncan like he was something she skuffed off her shoe. "Did you really steal this from your brother the soldier?"

"Marine, way more badass." Duncan clarified. "But when every last member of your family is one its hard to be scared."

"S-seriously?" The girl asked. "Aren't you an open book."

"Meh." Duncan shrugged, and cringed. 'Hello pain, forgot you were there.'

"Hold on," The girl rubbed her temple. "you're telling me that you're from a family of fine 'badass marines', but you're a beaten up thief who belongs in a hospital and a jail cell."

"I know." Duncan knew he was smiling like a clown, but he didn't care. "I fit right in."

The girl looked at Duncan silently again, not moving just like before. Even opening her mouth a few times. No sound coming out. Soon enough the girl stopped, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Okay, this is getting way too weird." The girl exhaled. "Will you at least stand up?"

"Nope." Duncan shook his head, and instantly gagged. "G-gah, can't. Hurts too much."

"How about that bench over there." The girl said, pointing to the old cement bench with no back next to the side walk. "Its not too far."

"Uhhh...Nope, can't do it. Can't even get up. " The bench was a good ten feet away, no problem any other day. But today Duncan couldn't feel his legs. The girl didn't need to know that though, and he'd rather cut'em off than tell her that. To work that, he'd have to play it up. Gripping the grass beneath him, Duncan pretended to lift himself up with thee most pathetic fake whine he could do. Duncan managed to make it about an inch, maybe, before collapsing back on the ground. Judging by the look on the girl's face she was not amused as Duncan raised a hand to her. "Gonna have to help me princess."

"Hmmm, okay." The girl smirked knowingly and for the tiniest moment, it looked like his mom's knowing smirk. Right before she jammed him with the sword. That's when Duncan saw the girl pick up a large branch next to them. Even though he got to see her turn around and discover the girl did indeed have a bubble butt inside those tight leggings, it wasn't much of a conversation prize. Especially when she started poking at him with it."Hold still."

"Ahhh, what are you doing?"

"I'm helping you." The girl answered, the smug look still on her face as she jabbed him with the stick under his shoulder. "Now seriously, hold still."

'God, it feels I've been shot.' Duncan thought as he grabbed the branch. "So you're poking me like roadkill?"

"You did say you were run over." The girl joked, pulling away the branch and jabbing at him again. "I'm flipping you over.. and I wanted to see if you were actually hurt. You were, so you're not a total liar. Good for you."

"Owww, that was my nose. Damn it." Duncan said, grabbing the branch with both hands. Instantly the girl yanked Duncan onto his stomach and dropped the branch. Duncan clamped his jaw hard to hold in a scream as he turned his gaze back at the girl. It must've been harsher than he thought because she actually took a step back. Using the branch as a crutch Duncan lifted himself to his feet and started waddling toward the bench. "You coming?"

"H-huh?" The girl stuttered, her face blank as her eyes were shifted down before they shot up back to his. Shaking her head before glaring at him, the girl strutted past him like a spoiled purse dog and squatting down on the bench like damn peacock. One leg crossed over the other. The girl's baby browns staring hard at his his faded green. "I'm waiting."

'She was staring at my ass. Huh, covered in garbage and beat to shit. Girl can't keep her eyes off me.' Duncan thought hobbling over next to her. "I'm coming princess, I'm coming."

"I know you're full of shit, but don't smile like you eat it." The girl said, crossing her arms at him.

"Girl's got zinngers. Nice." Duncan said, the grin only growing on his face as he sat down next to her on the bench. "What else you got?"

"Ugh, don't even." The girl cringed, scooting away from him as she fanned the air from her face. "You were not kidding about the dumpster thing. Wow."

"So was the part about the no shower thing..." Duncan slumped, didn't even care about the pain. "Sorry about that."

"Forget about that, doesn't matter." The girl looked away, resting her chin on her palm. "...it's about the pills."

That got Duncan's attention. "Huh, okay."

"Can you, get other kinds?"

"Anything specific?" Duncan asked.

"Just tell me if you can?" The girl asked, her face still turned away.

"If you'd look at me you'd see me nodding." Duncan joked, actually nodding. "Fraid of the super spy dro-"

"If you get me the stuff I want I'll pay you."

"How much?" Duncan asked, folding his arms- and regretting instantly. 'Damn it.'

"Enough for one person." The girl explained, holding up one finger. "The pay will be fair, reasonable, an-"

"Done." Duncan said without thinking, he didn't care. But he answered so fast it surprised the girl, if the look on her face when she turned back to him meant anything.

"J-just like that?" The girl stammered, her face a mix between confused and reluctant.

"Just like that." Duncan nodded, ignoring the glass rod breaking feeling in his neck yet again. "I'll get a chance to meet up with you again. That's enough."

"W-whatever." The stuttered again as she rolled her eyes. Duncan played up his smirk when he saw the blush on the girl's face.

It got silent after that. The girl looked forward at the park and Duncan lingered, staring at her figure for a bit before doing the same.

"Sooo, what brought you here anyway?" Duncan asked. "This on your jogging route?"

"No." The girl shrugged. "This is where I take my dog. Where did she go anywa- oh my god!"

Looking where the girl's horrified glare was pointed at, Duncan saw his shin high trusty bulldog Chesty on top of what had to be a waist high grey and brown poodle. The bulldog's front paws spread out over the poodle's back as his little back legs went to town. Duncan laughed. He laughed loud. He laughed hard and he fell off the bench.