"C'mon Einstein boy, let's get going."
Frustratingly, he shut the door of the pawn shop behind him and yanked on the sides of his green coat. He started walking down the snowy sidewalk, his loyal gray Great Dane, Einstein, right behind him. After a few steps, he tore off an old cartoon themed watch and threw it to the floor with a sigh, a foggy cloud of frost being produced in the process.
He turned back sadly to Einstein, seeing how his dog walked behind him without any hesitation at all, it wasn't a pleasant thought to think that it was up to him to provide for the both of them. That without him, poor Einstein would never make it. It was sad to see so much loyalty being wasted on him.
To say that Einstein was an old dog, would be an understatement. He hadn't quite reached the age where sagging skin took up most of his appearance, or he fumbled over himself confusedly, but a tiredness did already exist in his eyes. Eyes that begged constantly for a safe, warm place for the two of them to settle into. Eyes that begged to feel apart of a family. Unfortunately those were two things that he doubted he could ever give his dog.
Turning into the alley where they slept, he tore off his black beanie, despite the cold and fell backwards onto a dirty, unkempt, pile of blankets. As he looked to the sky, he allowed a few tears to run sideways down his face. He wiped them away with the back of his right gloved hand. His other hand settled on Einsteins head, who had taken to resting on top of his stomach. He scratched and stroked gently, working the both of them into sleep.
The peace was rudely interrupted by a man in a black balaclava. That was the only feature that Fagin could work out as he was lifted up and held against a wall. A knife was promptly pressed against his neck.
"Listen close and listen careful, 'cause I'm only gonna' say it once." The man's husky voice sent a chill up his spine. "You don't look like the rich kind, but I know New York City, everyone has just a little cash somewhere. Now let's just make this nice and easy, what would you rather lose? Ten? Twenty dollars? Or your life?"
"B-bu-but I really don't have any money at all. I'm completely broke."
"Broke, huh? Do you think I'm that stupid! Like I said I kno-"
The man broke off, glancing to his right where Einstein was angrily growling. Despite his size, the Great Dane rarely produced any threatening sounds, the current situation was an exception.
"Tell your dog to back off." He pressed the knife closer against Fagin's neck. "Right now."
"Alright! Alright!" Fagin cooperated quickly, limitedly waving his hands in Einsteins' direction. "Calm down boy! Everything's gonna' be alright."
Einstein obediently stopped growling and sat down, still watching the scene with narrowed eyes.
"Good. Now where were we? Oh right you were just abo- oh no!" This time the man glanced to his left, blue and red lights flashed wildly and a police siren could be heard in the distance. "This was some kind of stint! I'm outta' here."
He took off, dropping Fagin, who landed roughly on the floor. Before he could even stand, or dust himself off, Einstein had taken off after the man, whilst barking. In a hurry Fagin scrambled to his feet and looked quickly around the alley. He pushed the dumpster out of the way and pulled out the old scooter that he had taken from the junkyard. Even after several attempts it refused to start, only giving him angry groans and a huff of smoke. The eight try was the lucky one though, as the vehicle jump started to life and he threw himself over it, trying to steer the direction where Einsteins' faint barking could still be heard.
The idea of his dog being injured or killed was an overwhelming one. Einstein could probably handle himself if need be, but he decided that it wasn't worth taking any chances, pushing his foot harder against the pedal, going far out to a part of New York that he rarely visited. Far out by the docks. He scanned the place carefully, looking for any sign of Einstein.
After a minute or two, he managed to spot a tall gray figure sitting in the distance. "Einstein!" He cried. "Oh you can't go running off like that boy! I was so worried." He scratched his dog behind the ears. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, I'd prob-"
He stopped and looked in awe at what laid just beyond the docks. "A barge?" He looked closer. "An old one at that. I wonder if..." His eyes lit up suddenly with excitement. "Einstein boy, I think I have an idea!"
AN: This was written as a favor to my friend SkibidiBopmmDada.
He likes this fandom and wanted to see a little more action, so I quickly came up with this idea, for a short series looking into (as the title suggests) how the gang came to be. Each of these will follow a different member of the gang.
Hopefully you enjoyed this first (admittedly short) chapter. Next one is coming soon.
Oh and also for anyone who is waiting for the next chapter to 'A Routine Day in NYC', it'll be coming early January according to Skibidi.