-Welcome to The Slums-
-Please watch your step as you exit the bus-
Ruby flinched at an awful odor that hit her as she stepped off the bus with Leo.
"Ewww, what's that smell?" she asked, pinching her nose.
"Probably that homeless guy taking a dump in the corner over there," Ruby gagged, wishing she'd never asked.
"Come on, Ruby, let's go we still got a bit of a walk ahead of us," Ruby nodded following Leo trying her best to forget the nasty scene that greeted her.
The Slums is what the locals dubbed this district, and it fits this place like a glove. From the moment you entered the district's threshold, you will notice nothing but shady mobile houses and run-down apartment complexes that felt they'd collapse at any minute. The citizens nesting in these homes weren't any better; in fact, they were worse. Many of which made a living off dealing drugs or other illegal activities.
As they made there way deeper into the neighborhood, Ruby grimaced at how many of the locals eyed her as she walked past them. Some even catcalling and offering money for some favors that she ignored without a second thought. Thankfully no one approached her mostly thanks to Leo, who had a rep around these parts.
"Looks like they haven't forgotten who you are huh," She said as a man cowered to the side, letting Leo and Ruby walk uncontested.
"Guess not, which is good and bad, I guess," Leo turned the corner but stopped abruptly, causing Ruby to bump into him.
"Shit," he said under his breath. Ruby looked around him to see what he cursed at with an annoyed tone. A small group of guys stood loitering around, blocking the sidewalk ahead of them. Looking closer, Ruby was able to make out a couple of faces one, in particular, she'd wished never to see again.
"Damn it, why is he here?" she grumbled.
"He moved here after he was released didn't think we'd run into him," Ruby noticed Leo's expression darken and grasped his shoulder.
"Hey, hey, it's in the past. I'm sure he doesn't even remember me-."
"Is that Chibi Ruby!" Ruby cringed. He did remember her and the nickname she hated with a passion. Her mood soured as they started migrating towards them with the man who recognized her, leading them.
"Do you want me to-"
"No, this is my problem," Ruby let go of Leo's shoulder, stepping forward, trying her best to look confidant and proud. The group stopped a few feet away from them, with the leader standing a foot away from Ruby. He was a hair taller than Leo, yet he wasn't as built as Leo. He was more slender with lime-green like eyes and hair tied into a messy ponytail. The man wore a white suit that had a noticeable stench of alcohol and cigarettes.
"To think I'd find Midget Ruby here of all places, it must be my lucky day!" he announced loudly, waving his arms in the air, wearing the same asshole expression he had since she first met him.
"What do you want Matt," Ruby glared at him as he tilted forward, looking down on her as he always did. "Why Ruby, if I didn't know any better, I'd say your not happy to see me?" Ruby shoved his hand away when he tried to pet her like some pet.
"That's because I'm not!"
"Awww don't be like that don't you remember all the happy memories we shared?" Ruby snorted. "Ha! What happy memories? From the moment I meant, you were nothing but an asshole to me!"
"Whoa whoa I was not an asshole to you I gave you friends, remember?"
"You gave me fake friends who used me to make weapons for you!" Ruby's rising temper was showing, yet that didn't bother Matt, who never faltered to grin at her with every retort.
"And it was a beautiful dream, wasn't it? You finally had friends, and I made bank selling weapons you made," he chuckled, scratching his chin, probably recounting all the money he made back then.
"You jackass! Because of you!" Ruby gritted her teeth, holding back her words.
"Because of me, what? Oh? Are you blaming me for the people that almost died by the weapons you built?" his devilish grin grew wider, noticing the guilt in Ruby's eyes.
"HA! That's your damn problem, not mine," Ruby felt her eyes become watery, but she wasn't going to break, not now, not ever again. "Your right, it was my problem, and I fixed it when I threw you straight into prison!" she let the anger fuel her words, and it worked. Ruby noticed a small twitch in his crooked smile, egging her to keep going.
"Yeah, I remember when I dragged you to prison, you were kicking and crying, saying you'd never survive in there," this time it was Ruby's grin growing wider as she saw Matt's crooked smile turn upside down.
"Hey, Matt, you said a team of veteran huntsmen took you in?" one of his followers spoke up. Matt turned to yell at him to shut up, but Ruby spoke first.
"HA! Is that what he said?" Ruby looked straight at him and pointed, "He's lying! I kicked his ass in a fight then dragged his sorry ass in!" Ruby made sure to be extra loud, making sure everyone in Matt's group heard.
"She's fucking lying don't believe a word she says!" he yelled out to the group, his mask falling apart.
"Oh? Then let's have a rematch right here to show everyone!" a sea of oooos sounded as his group looked at him, seeing if he'd step up.
"Y...yo..uh." Matt stuttered, trying to find a way out of this situation.
"Come on, Matt, she's just a little girl," one of his guys said, pushing him forward. "Don't be a bitch come on your always saying you can fuck anyone up," another adding fuel to the fire.
"I...I..can't," he replied in a low voice."
"What why?"
"Because!...she...she...she has a weapon!" he stated, pointing at Crescent Rose holstered on her waist.
'Hm? what about Crescent Rose?"
"It's not fair if you have a weapon, and I don't that'd be cheating!" Leo and Ruby couldn't help but laugh at him. A grown man afraid of a little girl now that's something you don't see every day.
"If that's your only issue, then here problem solved," Ruby unholstered her weapon handing it to Leo. She then started cracking her knuckles smirking at Matt that he wasn't going to escape from this.
"..I...wh...What if...what if you have more weapons hidden?" Ruby rolled her eyes; he wasn't trying his hardest to get out of this. "You say that, but I can tell you have a switchblade in your right pocket," Matt's eyes were wide in surprise. Ruby knew from the start he had it though it wasn't going to change the outcome either way.
"Y-yea, but It's a small one," he said, meekly pulling it out, showing everyone a small green switchblade most likely purchased from a nearby liquor store.
"That's not all that's small," another wave of oooos sounded at Ruby's burn. "If you're afraid of getting hurt, then let's do this the first to knock the other off there feet by any means wins. How's that?" Matt's face perked up, seizing the opportunity.
"Y-yeah, let's do that; it'll be quick and fast! I won't have to worry about hurting you too badly!" Leo scoffed at him from the back. He has no idea Ruby is playing him.
"What! That's boring!"
"Yeah, what kind of shit is that!" Matt turned barking at his crew to shut up. He wasn't going to let them ruin this opportunity.
"At least make a wager or something!" Matt jumped at his crew member's idea and caught Ruby's attention.
"Yeah, Matt, he's right; let's make a wager" Ruby mimicked Matt's asshole like expression giving him a taste.
"N-no It's fine we don't gotta wager anything," he tried to backpedal his way out, but now way Ruby was going to let him.
"Awww come on, it'll be fine! I'll start let's see hmmm," Ruby thought for a bit what would give him the final push to fight then smirked when an idea dawned on her. She turned to Leo, who was waiting patiently for Ruby to settle this. Ruby caught his attention and stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Shifted back quickly before she could see his reaction, she announced her wager.
"Alright, I wager myself," she announced it so confidently that no one knew how to react. Leo facepalmed, mumbling something Ruby couldn't quite hear. While the others were whispering amongst themselves trying to figure out if this was a joke or she was serious.
"A-are you serious?" Matt finally asked.
"Yup!" she playfully replied, rocking on her heels, grinning at him. "If you win, all of this is yours..." Ruby seductively highlighted her figure slowly, even softly pressing her breast together, earning audible gulps that mostly went ignored except for one that came from behind her.
"O-okay, then let's do it!" Matt said hastily obviously captivated with the wagered. Ruby snickered gleefully at the fool. "Easy there, you forgot to announce what you wager," Matt quickly hid his face, embarrassed at how fast he jumped the gun.
"A-ah w-well, what do you want?" most people would say they wanted something of equal value, which would undoubtedly end up with him also wagering himself, however, Ruby didn't want him or anything he has for that matter. So she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"A favor," Matt looked taken aback; he probably wasn't expecting this.
"..Just a favor?" he asked timidly.
"Yup! just a favor, nothing more, nothing less!" Matt hesitated, most likely thinking how this is a trap of sorts, which it wasn't. Ruby didn't care what he wagered.
"...Okay, deal," he finally said.
"Alright! So like I said before, the first person to get knocked off their feet by any means loses," Matt nodded. "Good, the fight starts when this coin I flip into the air hits the ground. got it?"
"Yeah, I got," Matt took a stance though not a fighting stance. His legs were spread apart with his arms wide and hands open, he was planning on tackling Ruby as soon as the coin hit the ground. To him, this a foolproof strategy. After all, he was bigger and heavier than her. The first time they fought, it was with weapons, and at that time, he had no clue Ruby was a prodigy with that scythe of hers. Now that the weapon removed from the equation, he had nothing to worry about, right?
Ruby smirked at how confident he looked and flipped the coin as high as she could. She took a step back and got into a stance except just like Matt; it wasn't a fighting stance. This was more of a running position with one leg in front of the other, and her body tilted forward. Hands at her side hands firmly clenched into a fist.
As the coin flew upward, Ruby took a deep breath letting her aura build-up inside her. Then when it started to descend, Ruby began exhaling, matching her release with the coin's speed allowing all the power she accumulated slip out.
*Clink*
As the coin bounced once, Ruby released all the aura she generated fueling her semblance shooting forward with her right fist cocked back. In less than a second, Ruby was in front of Matt, who still hadn't moved an inch. She launched her fist, aiming right for his overly confidant face. Ruby could feel her fist sink into the center of Matt's face, a soft cracking sound, most likely his nose breaking as her fist dug deep. Then with a heavy grunt, she launched him flying back, crashing into his crew, dropping all of them to the ground. They all scrambled to get up well, everyone but Matt, who was out cold on the sidewalk. Eyes rolled back along with a broken face that was dripping blood from his broken nose and busted lip.
"F-fuck is he dead?" one of his crew members asked worryingly. Ruby scoffed at his question.
"Course not I held back my punch he just couldn't take the hit," Ruby dusted herself off, turning walking towards Leo to reclaim her weapon. "I do suggest you guys call the paramedics for him, though, or else that face might stick," The duo walked past the group Ruby holding her head high feeling satisfied with the outcome.
After they gained a bit of distance from the group, Leo patted Ruby's hair and chuckled, "That was some punch," Ruby turned to him with tears in her eyes. "It really hurt!" she cried, raising her swollen fist that was bleeding from skin torn off from the knuckles.
"Haha, you certainly gave it you're all, didn't you?"
"I wasn't going too! But when I saw him smirking all confident, I kinda lost myself."
"Can't blame you considering the history you had with him. We'll bandage your hand once we get to Vicky's. It shouldn't be far now."
"I forgot to ask what kind of person is Vicky?"
"W-well Vicky is kind of...Um, what's the word...hmmm." Ruby waited for Leo to find the word to describe his friend though it didn't look like he was going to find it anytime soon.
"Is she a bad person?" she asked something else to move the conversation along.
"U-uh well, the stuff she does is bad," Ruby raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't that make her a bad person?"
"W-well not exactly she only does what she does because that's how's she was raised."
"Soooo, she's done bad things, but is a good person?"
"Ehhhhh, I wouldn't call her a good person."
"So, she's bad?"
"Ehhhh, she's more neutral is what I'd label her."
"Neutral?"
"Yeah..." Leo looked up at the night sky with a sad expression. "Vicky does whatever she has to to get by..." Ruby was going to ask what he meant when Leo spoke, "Were here."
Ruby faced forward to view what appeared to be a two-story home, at least what was left of one. The building's color had faded to an awful piss-yellow sort of hue. The walls and foundations showed excessive decay from years of no maintenance. Several sections of the house revealed numerous bullet holes, shattered windows, and one side looked like a car tried to smash threw the building.
"S-she has quite the home."
"Don't let her hear that, or she'll shoot you."
Y-your joking, right?" Leo gave her a look that he wasn't kidding.
Leo walked towards the front door, pushing it open as there wasn't any doorknob for him to turn.
"Shouldn't we knock?" Ruby asked nervously, following behind Leo.
"No, if we did, Vicky would think where cops and shoot us," Ruby gulped; she was starting to have second thoughts on meeting Vicky person.
"So, she's not going to shoot us if we walk into her home?"
"Na, she'll still shoot us."
"Wha-" before Ruby could retort, Leo immediately grabbed her and dove to the side, narrowly evading a bombardment of pellets most likely coming from a shotgun.
"You'll never take me alive yew sumabitch!" a loud female voice boomed.
*Bang*
*Bang*
Another two shots followed with more sections of the house showered with pellets. Fortunately, Leo and Ruby's side remained shell-free.
"She almost blew our heads off!" Ruby snarled.
"I told ya she was going to shoot at us," he replied, keeping Ruby close to his chest.
*Bang*
Another shot sounded another area littered with pellets.
"Leo, we got to stop her. She's going to shoot our side eventually if we don't!" Ruby struggled to break out of Leo's grasp; however, he wasn't letting go.
"Leo!" she looked up at Leo, who was laughing when they could be blown to bits at any moment.
"Don't worry. I got this."
"Vicky, your aiming is fucking trash! You might as well as blow up the whole house, you crazy bitch!" Ruby grimaced, hiding deeper in Leo's chest there was no way she wasn't going to miss now that Leo gave away there hiding place except the blast never came only a loud annoyed voice, "Is that fucking you, Leo!"
"Yeah, it's me!" he yelled back, popping his head out.
"God fucking damn it, Leo! Why didn't you say so sooner you asswipe! Ya made me shoot my nice cupboard!"
"Then, you should have asked who it was before fucking shooting!" Ruby cringed if she had a swear jar. She'd fill it up in no time.
"Tch you fucking smartass hurry up and get up here!" Vicky shifted, walking up the stairs.
"See? Told ya I got this," He said with a cheeky grin on his face picking Ruby and himself off the ground.
"Your lucky I love you, or I would have left by now!" she retorted, punching him in the chest though it hurt her more than him.
"Haha, come on, let's go," She followed Leo up the stairs to the second floor of the house. They walked into one of the rooms where an elderly lady wearing torn-up white shirt and black jeans with dirty blond hair tied into a messy bun was waiting for them.
"Jesus Leo would it kill ya to... Who the hell are you?" she scowled at Ruby, her hands firmly grasping her shotgun.
"AhI'mRubyRoseI'mwithLeonicetomeetyouandupleasedon'tshootme!" she said quickly, shaking her arms frantically, not wanting to get blasted again.
"What the hell did jew say?" her words came out too fast that it sounded like gibberish to Vicky.
"This is Ruby she's with me, Vicky," Vicky raised an eyebrow at Leo's words. She stood up and walked towards Ruby. Though to Ruby's relief, Vicky left the shotgun behind.
"So your the one that put a leash on this moron, huh," Ruby internally winced at the awful smell of cigarettes and marijuana flowing off Vicky.
"Y-yeah," she replied, trying not her best not to cough. Leo noticed her dilemma and opened the window.
"Oh? Look at you being a gentleman. I remember you'd talk so much shit when someone couldn't handle the stench," Vicky said, laughing stepping away from Ruby, giving her some breathing room.
"Ha well, people change Vicky," Leo pulled chairs out for Ruby and himself sitting near a wooden table Vicky set up by the window.
"Obviously, you haven't if your back here stupid," Vicky lit a joint as she sat down across from them, blowing smoke on Leo's face. "Easy, Vicky, I'm not here to get back in the game. I just need a favor," Ruby noticed Vicky's face seem to relax a bit, yet she kept scowling at Leo as if she didn't want him here.
"Does this favor involve me getting paid?"
"Yeah, you'll get paid."
"Whatadja want?"
"I need you to forge us two hunting licenses," Her expression hardened at hearing Leo's request.
"Can't you go to one of them huntsmen academies to get one? You should be old enough by now."
"Didn't you hear? Beacon fell to the Grimm."
"Course I heard who hasn't, but they aren't the only academy."
"Yeah, I know, but we need the licenses for tomorrow."
"What's so important that you need fake huntsmen licenses?"
"It's...a private matter."
"Then no," she said bluntly.
"Vicky, it's important!" he pressed.
"Then tell me what you need them for, and maybe I'll consider taking your request," Leo held his words they weren't for him to say. He glanced at Ruby, who spoke up, "We need them so we can go to Menagerie," Vicky shifted her glare from Leo to her.
"Why do you need to go to Menagerie?" Vicky asked her glare, making Ruby shrink. Ruby hesitated for a second, but she spilled her reason why she needed to go to Menagerie. Vicky's face softened up once more as she listened to Ruby.
"I see, so you're going to Menagerie to find one of your sister's teammates to help her get back on her feet," Ruby nodded. She told Vicky everything leaving no detail out.
"You don't need fake huntsman licenses. You just need money, right?"
"Yea, but we don't have enough time to take on Grimm bounties."
"I'm surprised you can even take on bounties seeing as you don't have a license."
"Signal Academy lets graduating students take on C class or lower bounties without needing a license though only hunting hubs here in Patch everywhere else we'll need a license," Vicky stood up after Ruby's explanation walking towards a metal cabinet near the door. She opened it, pulling out a brown package and chucked it right at Leo, smacking him dead in the face.
"Ow! What the hell, Vicky!?" he growled, letting the package fall onto the table with a thud.
"Take that package to old man Jenson's pharmacy down the street. Keep the money he gives you," Leo was baffled, but what she said he tried to speak, but Vicky cut him off, "Hurry the fuck up Leo I ain't got time to listen to your bullshit!" Vicky seized Leo by the collar throwing him out of the room. Ruby took it as her cue to leave as well; however, before she even attempted, a firm hand kept her from moving.
"You stay," Ruby gulped and nodded.
"Vicky, what are you pl-" before Leo finished his sentence, Vicky slammed the door in his face. "Get a fucking move on, Leo! Come back when the job's done. I'll watch over the girl!" Leo tried to argue, though a couple of shots with Vicky's shotgun got him going. Vicky sat back down, turning to a frightened Ruby.
"Relax kid, I ain't gonna shoot ya. Unless you give me a reason too," Ruby clutched her hands tightly together under the table, praying she didn't.
"How long have you've known Leo?" Vicky asked, taking another puff of her joint.
"A-ah, I've known him for three years, mam," Vicky scoffed, making Ruby flinch, thinking she might get shot.
"Just call me Vicky none of that mam bullshit makes me feel old when you say that."
"O-oh, okay, sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Did you and Leo attend the same school?"
"Yeah, we did," Vicky's features seemed to mellow down.
"How was he in school?" Ruby took a second to think back to the past when they where high school students.
"He was a pain in the ass," Ruby stated, bluntly making Vicky laugh.
"Haha! I don't doubt that."
"I-if you don't mind me asking how long have you know Leo?" Ruby asked nervously.
"I've known that asswipe since he was just a lad."
"I see, are you like family to him?"
"Family? Naw, he doesn't need more shitty relatives in his life," Ruby nodded in agreement.
"How much has Leo told you about his so-called family?" Ruby's mood sullen, hearing Vicky's question.
"He hasn't told me everything, but I can't blame him. His family wasn't very..."
"They're all fucking degenerates," Ruby winced Vicky's wording was frank, but she wasn't wrong.
"How much did Leo tell you about his whore of a mother?" Ruby looked down at her hands with a sour expression.
"He's told me how she'd force Leo to fight in underground matches for money when he was younger, and how she'd whip him whenever he lost a fight. When he couldn't fight, she'd pump him full of drugs and throw him back in the ring," Ruby looked up, hearing Vicky call her. She was holding her joint in front of Ruby, offering her a hit, which she turned down.
"The money she won off Leo's matches, she'd waste on fancy clothes, drugs, or gamble it somewhere. Leo never got a dime. She was a real piece of shit even by our standards," Vicky took a hard hit off her joint blowing the smoke out the window, "It's a blessing she's ten feet under."
"Do you know how she died? Leo never told me," Vicky turned looking at her dead in the eye, "I killed her," Vicky's tone was cold her expression to match. Ruby didn't know how to respond to that. Her mouth opened and closed, trying to say something, but nothing came out. Vicky took another hit then spoke.
"...When I use to sell, his mother was always coming to me to get her fix. At the time, I didn't know how she got her money. I assumed she'd whore herself out. It was typically what most women do when they want there fix."
*Slam*
Vicky slammed her fist down on the table, startling Ruby.
"4 fucking years I sold to his mother never questioning how she got her money," she snarled with anger.
"H-how, did you find out?" she asked meekly.
"I went to one of the underground fights one day. I usually never go, but I don't know that day I just felt like going. The matches were held in an abandoned school gym at the edge of the slums. I remember walking in and sitting down at the top of the bleachers, getting a full view of the center where they fought. I saw several matches never bet on them though gambling was never my thing. After some time passed, I got sick of these fights. Most of them were hella dull. I was just about to leave when the announcer yelled that the minor matches were about to start," Vicky paused for a second gazing at the shattered moon outside through the window. "I don't know if it was a blessing or a curse that I decided to stay for one more match, but I did, and that's when I met Leo," Vicky stood up and leaned against the wall taking another hard-hit finishing her joint.
"I'll never forget seeing that failure of mother throw Leo into the ring. Poor kid was already painted black and blue before the match even started when he removed his shirt he was layered in bruises and cuts all over still fresh. Guessing he was pumped full of drugs cuz there was no way he was standing on his own."
"And they still let him fight!" Ruby interjected her voice bitter.
"She paid off the ref, and it was also part of her plan since no one would bet on a half-dead kid except for her. So if he won all the winnings would go to her. At the moment I realized how she earned her money," Ruby dug her fingers into her arm, frustrated at how a mother could treat her child that way.
"Did...did he win?" she asked through clenched teeth. Vicky tossed the remains of her joint into the ashtray then lighting another joint, "No. He lost three matches kid never stood a chance in his condition," Ruby smashed both fists ontop the table causing it to crack from the force, "Why didn't you do anything!?" she yelled, silver eyes full of fury. Vicky visibly flinched, surprised from both Ruby's anger and strength. For a breath second, Vicky was afraid of Ruby though she quickly recovered hiding it.
"..." She shifted her gaze away from Ruby, not saying anything for some time. "Your right kid, I should have done something to stop the fight, but I was too much of a coward to do anything," her expression hidden from Ruby, though her tone told her she despised her past self. Ruby felt her anger slip. She understood the feeling of being a coward all too well.
"I confronted her after the matches had ended. She was just about to whip Leo for losing. I grabbed her arm before she could. Yelled at her, why'd she'd grab some fucking kid off the street and made him fight for her. Didn't know she was his mother at the time. She broke free shoved me back, declaring she could do whatever she damned pleased with her son. I was taken aback I never once believed he could be her son because no mother would ever treat there own flesh and blood like that, however, I was wrong. I've never felt so angry and disappointed at someone in my life that I slugged her right there and then," Vicky smirked, swinging her fist straight in the air, reenacting the moment. "I remember sending that bitch flying. She was light as a feather. Prepared myself for a fight except it never came. Bitch just picked herself off the floor and ran away, leaving Leo behind. The kid was slumped against the wall, beaten to a bloody pulp. I crouched down near him, calling out to him. First, I thought he was dead since he didn't respond, but after a bit, he opened his eyes slightly. His eyes were empty, and pupils dilated a sign he was on something. Poor kid was a mess without help; he'd die then and there.
"Did you call 911?"
"Naw, there be no point. He'd just die waiting in line before getting any form of aid. Ended up taking him home with me carried the little shit on my back. I threw him on the table soon as we got home, bandaged him even used some herbs to keep his injuries from getting infected. Was gonna let him rest when he whispered something."
"What'd he say?"
"You should have just left me there.' Is what he said," Ruby felt tears escape her eyes. Leo wanted to die that day.
"I smacked the shit out of him after he said that. 'Don't you go dying on me before you pay me back for the bandages and herbs you little shit' is what I told him. Idiot just nodded and passed out after I said that," A small smile escaped Vicky's lips as she reminisced.
"After he recovered, I put him to work."
"Work?"
"Yup, I meant what I said. Had the kid work as a courier for a while."
"Guessing he wasn't delivering letters."
"Oh, he was delivering letters. They just had something better than words," Vick laughed while Ruby scowled at her.
"Kid wasn't half bad as a courier usually they get jumped for what they're carrying, except Leo was no pushover. Shit, I remember seeing the Kid kick three grown man's asses. It made me realize why his mother always made him fight in underground matches. If Leo was rested and recovered that day, I'm damn sure he would of went undefeated. Regrettably, this also made me realize another thing..."
"His mother would come looking for him," Vicky nodded at Ruby's words
"Yea... It was a Sunday afternoon when she came barging into my home demanding I give her Leo back. Course I told her to go fuck herself. Crazy bitch then pulled out a gun threatening to kill me, and she would of too if it wasn't for Leo stepping in. He tackled her stripping the gun from her hands. I picked it up and aimed it at her, yelled at her to leave and never come back. Most people would have left, but not her; she was desperate to get Leo back, though not because he was her son; it was all the money Leo was making for her when he fought. Let her live a life of luxury one she wasn't going to give up. Pulled out a shitty pocket knife you'd buy from a liquor store then rushed us," Ruby held her breath, listening intently for the outcome. "Dropped her with a bullet through the chest, though she didn't die right away, she bled to death before finally kicking the bucket."
"A dog's death," Ruby whispered, releasing the breath she was holding.
"Pretty much. Gave her a one way trip to hell ain't gonna bother Leo anymore," Vicky noticed something outside her home from the window.
"Looks like we're out of time, Kid time for you to go," Ruby followed, where she was looking to see Leo was returning from his errand.
Ruby shifted back to Vicky and spoke, "Vicky, before I leave, why did you tell me all this?"
"..." Vicky avoided Ruby's gaze as she walked to the door
"We've just met, and you've told me something even Leo hasn't told me," Ruby stood, turning to Vicky, who was waiting by the door back facing her.
"..."
"Vicky?"
"...You're different from everyone else here."
"Different?"
"Yeah, unlike us, you have a bright future ahead of you. People who are born and raised here become criminals, drug dealers, or prostitutes. There's no future here." Vicky's tone was soft as she spoke. "I...I don't want that for Leo. He deserves a better future than this shit hole, but he can't shake this place."
"What do you mean?"
"You can never escape your roots Kid no matter how hard you try. Leo was determined to leave this place numerous times, saying he wants to be a better person, yet he always ends up coming back here in the end. Like today, for example, I know you two came here for a more honest reason. However, he was still relying on negative methods to get stuff done was even going to make you a criminal in the process," Ruby looked down she was right even if they weren't caught Ruby still did the crime. It wouldn't be on her record sure, but she'd know Leo would know Vicky would know, and she'd eventually tell her family as well.
"Idiot always trips and falls back here, so I need a favor from you, Ki...Ruby.." Ruby looked up, seeing Vicky facing her with an expression befitting of a mother. "When he trips catch him. If he plans to do something that's going to get him in trouble, slug him in the face. Cut the roots that are keeping him here and give that idiot a future.
"I will!" Vicky smiled softly at Ruby's firm response.
"Good now go on. He's waiting for you," Vicky gestured towards the door she opened.
"Okay...Vicky, could I get your number?"
"What for?" Vicky asked raising an eyebrow
"I don't want this to be the last time we talk there's so many stories I want to tell you about Leo and me. Like our days in high school or how we met!" Ruby held out her scroll to Vicky.
"...Tch. Fine, just don't go rambling on, or am I'm gonna hang up you. Got it?"
"Got it!" she said, beaming a smile at her. Vicky took her scroll, adding her number to her contracts then tossing it back.
"Now get I got a mess to clean downstairs," Ruby nodded, leaving the room.