all it took was a misread of a sign to get lost in New York, at least for Riff. Give him some slack it was blazing hot with no way to cool down, his brain might as well have been a melted ice cream on the sidewalk. Hell the only reason he was thinking straight was because he was in a very shady alley. The bandages wrapped tightly around his arms legs and waist made that a little hard with Riff's sweat and body heat soaked into them.

Of course the entire thinking straight thing was kind of a curse because He was just now realizing how dangerous his situation was, from not knowing what territory he was in to not recognizing any of the stores or stands. Riff was starting to internally lose his shit, with not having any of his jets around and not even having some form of weapon he was beyond vulnerable to any goons or gangs wanting a taste of blood. it's not like it would be that hard, they'd just have to open up one of his many cuts and they'd have a feast.

Seriously all Riff wanted was to head over to doc's and buy himself some pain killers, his back had been killing him sense the rumble. But he couldn't even do that without fucking it up! Was he that stupid.

Not only that but there was also the added worry of possibly being in the sharks territory, which was an entire different thing on its own.

- - - - - -

The rumble had happened only a week ago, Riff still remember the smell of dirty seawater and shit. The jets and sharks facing eachother like walls, blood lust coursing through their veins. Ice and Bernardo both walked up to face eachother, fists at the ready when Tony came barging in the scene. "STOP!" Tony stood in the middle of the two teenagers. "Oh, so the big guy finally decided to stop playing chicken and fight his own battles eh?" Bernardo stepped towards Tony, annoyance dripping from his voice. "No, there will be no fight-" Tony got cut off by a blow to the face by Bernardo, making him studer back with a bloody nose. next thing Tony knew he was in an arm brace by two of Bernardos fellow sharks. "Hold him there, I shall deal with him when I am done here." He turned back to fight Ice but was met with a fist just nearly missing his face. "You don't fuck with my friend and get away with it!" Riff pulled out his pocket knife, the blade gleamed in the light.

"Alright pretty boy, come on then." Bernardo pulled out his knife as well, but instead of just standing around he leapt at Riff, slashing his stomach. the cut wasn't so deep that he would bleed out but it bleed alot, and it hurt like bitch. Bernardo didnt cease his slashing, not until Riff was kneeling over in pain with blood soaked clothes.

Riff couldn't get up if he tried. His arms, legs, chest, thighs, hands and even his face had long gashes all over them. Of course Bernardo wasn't that much different, he just had less cuts ( around 5 of em ) and a bunch of bruises with the help of the jets.

"I will ask you this once, do you yield? because I assure you I can go all night." he squated down right in front of Riff, with the biggest smug grin on his face. Riff could feel Bernardo's ego rolling off of him.

Riff looked to his fellow Jets, a silent question if he should push foward. but to his surprise, his boys had looks of either sympathy or fear, which was all Riff needed to know.

"I yield, have the stupid streets. I never cared about em anyway." Roars of cheerful laughter rose from the sharks as they relished in their victory. Riff couldn't find it in himself to care as his vision began to spin in circles, with his eye lids becoming heavy. if him passing out meant he wouldn't have to see the looks of disappoint and sorrow from his jets, then it was fine by him.

"Riff!" At some point, those shark goons had let go of Tony, with being too caught up in the glory of the battles end results. Riff felt arms rap around him, somehow the show of comfort had managed to keep him awake long enough for Bernardo to make a sudden announcement.

"Alright, Alright everyone, listen up. Before we clear out I'd like to make small declaration..." Everyones eyes turned to look at Bernardo, anticipation in the air "We all must admit that the leader of our beloved rivals has fought with honor, putting himself in the front line simply because his big brother was shoved around a little."

Nobody knew where this was going, Not even the Sharks. Riff will admit that both sides have been assholes but never would he expect to be praised by someone he's socked in the face once or twice.

"So with that said, sharks, I'd like to introduce you to our newest recruit!" He made a grand hand gesture towards the cut up sack of meat that was Riff, wearing the smugest look he had all night. It took what felt like hours for it to set in what Bernardo meant, and when it did it hit like a ton of bricks.

The jets almost threw themselves onto Bernardo at this, him take their leader? when he had already won all the land his stupid gang could ever want? Not happening. cries of protest rang from the jets

"You take Riff and you'll be six feet under!"

"who the hell do you think you are!?!?"

"Riff ain't ever leaving us, we won't let you take'm without a fight!"

Bernardo ignored the yells of protest as he made his way over to Tony, who still had Riff rapped in his arms in a tight embrace. Tony couldn't help but strengthen his hold on the boy, Riff was his honorary brother and he wasn't gonna let some scumbag take him away.

Riff was somehow still awake, barely but he could make out what everyone was saying. If he could feel his arms he'd have had been hugging Tony back, hell if he felt his legs he'd probably already be running far away from this stupid bridge in shame.

"So American boy, what do you say? Ready to join?" Bernardo kept his smug smile from before. Riff could feel Tony's arms tighten around him protectively, a silent reassurance that he wouldn't let Bernardo lay a finger on Riff.

I...ain't eva' gonna...join yous' guys" it took Riffs last strands of energy just to muster those few words before his head feel limp against Tony's shoulder. his body going numb as the world faded to black.

"Riff?...RIFF!" Tony immiedietly went to check the boys pulse,...it was slow but still there. like he had fallen asleep.

Bernardo wasn't exactly suprised with that response, but he still didn't have something to counter it with...until an idea popped into his head, a glorious one at that.

"Hey, big bro." He gestured to Tony, trying to redirect his attention from the teenager in his arms

"WHAT THE HELL COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!?!" All the frustration and rage Tony felt had come to a boil, all he had tried to do was remedy a situation to be with the girl he loves but no, of course things had to escalate. Because now his little brother was bloodied and bruised all over just for a couple more blocks of territory.

"Chill stupid, all I want is to make a proposal"

"I hate to remind you of this dumbass, but you already did and Riff declined." Tony snarled, his self control visibly slipping.

"I mean a different one, a game, to decide whether or not Riff joins us, to give him a chance to redeem his terrible performance tonight." Bernardo spoke with this underline cocky tone, that made the few threads of Tony's control snap further.

"..." but even with the arrogance in Bernardos words, Tony had to take his proposal into account. Of course he wasn't going to go and make a decision right now with Riff having no say in it (cause, ya know, he's still passed out), but he wasn't going to shut it down either, he didn't want to make this decision for Riff, so he ultimately came to a decision.

"I'll talk to him about it when he wakes up, but for now leave us alone till we come to a decision." He began to stand up, making his move to leave with the rest of the jets, who had been standing nervously around them, hoping for they're leaders safety.

"Of course, but I do expect an awnser by next week, so make sure American boy knows by then."

And with that, the two gangs began to file out of the dirty underpass, one left confused at their leaders decisions, the other pissed and terrified of the outcome of the rumble.

"don't worry Riff," Tony whispered in a determined hush as they made they're way to Doc'sshop for medicine, "none of us will let them lay a finger on you, I promise."

--

That brought us back to present, with Riff leaning against a cool brick. his anxieties spiking with being vulnerable in the new environment. jesus had one of the sharks already seen him? was the whole gang on their way!?!? Would they kill him?

Before he could even head back out into the street, he heard the soft taps of feet behind him. like whoever was behind him was trying now to be heard.

"Bernardo if you here to finish me off please just get it over with!" he yelled out with all the courage he had, only to hear a feminine voice reply to him.

"whater' you talking about ya numbnut?" Oh thank god.

"Anybodys I swear to god you scare me like that again Imma pound you, girl or not." he turned around to see the ragged girl looking at him with confusion.

forget about that, what the hell do you think you doing over here! do you want to be on sharks footsteps or somethin' " Anybody shoved him backwards, like she hasn't thrown a punch.

"The hell you talking about? This is shark territory!?!" he felt his fight or flight kick in, with his feet being pumped with adrenaline by the minute. he was like a deer in headlights, frozen in place but ready to jump at a moments notice.

"Wait...how do you know about Bernardo wanting me for the Sharks!?" Anybody wasn't even at the rumble. The only other way she could have known was if one of the guys spilled, which wasn't likely sense they hade agreements to not speak of the rumble to anyone outside of the gang.

"That doesn't matter right now you dumbass! Bernardo literally lives right around the corner! what are you blind! how did you even get here!?!" Riff had a fun time explaining to Anybody that he had a minor heatstroak and ended up with a melted brain that couldn't even read signs right.

"What are you evening doing out here, ain't you supposed to be on bed rest?" The grimy girl got all up in his face, hands on her hips.

"Yeah Cielito, aren't you supposed to be on bedrest?" that voice made Riff really feel like a dear in headlights