King of Hearts

Chapter 20 – Where's Pitch?

Rover's POV, Robotnik compound, New York.

Making my haste for Pitch's room, I opened his door to find his bed empty and him no where to be found.

"Pitch?" I asked around as I got no response.

After checking his bathroom I made my way out to quickly make my way to the office of Mr. Robotnik who was with his wife at his desk. They were speaking in private as I barged in.

Shadow noticed my concern and asked.

"Is something wrong Rover?"

Nodding I replied.

"Pitch isn't in his room. Did he go out?"

Shadow quickly stood up to reply and approach in confusion.

"Not that I know. Are you sure he isn't outside?"

Nodding I replied.

"I just got done checking the perimeter, there is no way he was out there without me seeing."

Shadow quickly jetted by me to Pitch's room as Mrs. Robotnik followed in haste.

Both of them searched as I remained by the door in fear for his safety.

As it became clear he was missing, Shadow looked back at me to order.

"Go check with the gate. If he left the compound he had to have seen him."

Nodding, I made my way for the exit.

Lace's POV.

I swung my keys along my index finger as Rover ran through the entrance to run right into me.

"Whoo!" I shouted as he took hold of my shoulders to ask.

"Have you seen Pitch?!"

Shaking my head I replied.

"No. Mrs. Robotnik kicked me out last night after I got done seeing him. I just came in to grab him. Why? Is he okay?" I asked in concern as he quickly replied.

"He's missing!"

My eyes widened as he continued on his way to the gate keeper.

In confusion, I made my way inside to find Shadow and Mrs. Robotnik yelling at one another.

"This is your fault!" She shouted at me as I neared.

Shadow immediately interfered.

"Lace had nothing to do with this!"

As I grew worried, Mrs. Robotnik replied while getting in my face.

"She already got my baby hurt once already! What's to say this isn't another one of her lessons!? Where is he you bitch!?" She asked as I instantly shouted back.

"I don't know! You kicked me out last night remember!?" I asked her as Shadow shouted.

"Zarra!"

Quickly she looked back to her husband to order.

"Shut the fuck up! My son is missing!"

Shadow grew irritated as Rover ran back in to say.

"No one at the gate saw him leave!"

"He must have sneaked out somehow." Stated Shadow as Zarra ordered Rover.

"Go out there and find him!"

Rover looked to Shadow as he agreed and replied.

"Yes, go find him. Both of you."

Rover and I both made our exit as I asked.

"Wana take separate cars!?"

"No time! Just hop in!" He replied as I got in next to him.

As the car soon left the compound we began our search for Pitch. God I hope he's okay.

Don Pitch Robotnik's POV.

"Come on! Just take the money!" I urged my friend as she shook her head.

"Pitch man, you don't owe me shit. Think of that as a little gift from a friend who's grateful for all your past business."

Putting back the cash I brought to pay off the rest of my debts I replied.

"This doesn't feel right man."

My friend and second personal dealer was a hedgehog by the name of Misty. Really nice girl, a few years older then me, but I guess you can say we had a thing a long time ago. She never liked taking my money. That's why she's hard to argue with."

"It's not suppose to Pitch. I understand your going through some shit and I want to make it feel a little less stressful. Just take it and promise me if you ever need anything when your doing what your going to be doing with your family, you can always come to me for help. That's what I'm here for."

I smiled wide as she hugged me tight.

"Now get going before your pops sends some people after you or something like that."

With a chuckle I replied.

"Thank you."

Waving me off as I went for the exit to her home she replied.

"Don't mention it Pitchy!"

As soon as I was gone I found myself back on the street with a half pound of weed in my pocket. And I knew if I didn't get back soon my father would have my ass.

Quickly now I made my way back through the streets, but as I neared the dangerous turf of the other loan sharks I once was in debt to, I saw them taking notice to my presence.

As fast as I could without drawling suspicion, I made my way in the opposite direction.

As I made haste to a turn, I looked back to see some of the sharks taking chase after me.

My mind went off and I began to run as they pursued.

Jetting down the streets, I began to gain some distance till I found one of their spotters camping out in a car with some muscle. They immediately came for me as I booked it down another street.

I had no other choice but to gang down an alley, and seeing how it led out to the other side I made my sprints count to run right into another black car.

Instantly I ran as fast as I could to see whoever was in the car get out. I couldn't see who, and made another turn. In time my energy ran out and I had to stop near another alleyway. Getting behind the wall I began to catch my breath till I bgean to hear footsteps coming from the way I came.

In speed I ran the other way to get grabbed my the arm.

In force I was pulled into a pair of familiar eyes.

Lace stared at me with her body taking in air to ask.

"Why the hell did you run!?"

I was caught off guard by her finding me to reply.

"I was being chased by some guys. I didn't see you."

Gently she replied.

"What the hell are you doing around here anyway? Your mom is killing for you back home."

My eyes lowered as the black car pulled up with Rover quickly getting out from it's driver side.

They both got around me as I replied.

"I had to visit a friend of mine."

"Jesus Pitch! Another Shark!?" Questioned Rover as I shook my head.

"No! More like a good friend. I wanted to pay her."

"For?" Wondered Lace as Rover already knew.

"Weed."

Lace chuckled as Rover said to me.

"I get why your out here, but you got to let us know first before you just run off. Your a Don Pitch, not a kid anymore. You have to be guarded. Your important."

I lowered my head as Lace intervened.

"Give the kid a break Rover. He was just doing the right thing and admit it or not he has some balls to be coming down here and taking responsibility for his actions."

Rover nodded and quickly replied.

"I'm proud of him for that, but he still needs to responsible and understand his place now among the family. Pitch?"

Looking up at him with respect, I listened as he said.

"Your a man. A very important man. Everyone in this family has a job and number one priority is to make sure your always safe. You know I'm cool with your personal business, but please understand mine. Your not only my boss, but your my friend. Your like a son to me and it scares me to know you might be in trouble alone. Next time you go sneaking out of the compound just check in with me. I'll watch your back. Understand?" He asked in a serious face as I nodded.

"I got it."

Calmly taking me in for a hug he asked.

"Are you done now with all this shit? Can we go on without the loan sharks?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yeah."

Smiling Rover stated.

"Good. Now get in the car. Your mom is probably burning your dad's ass alive for you being missing this long."

Nodding, I made my way in the back seat as Lace and Rover got in front.

As we got rolling, Lace looked back to smile at me.

I smiled back as she then looked to my pants.

My face blushed as she looked back to the road with Rover at the wheel.

As I soon broke through my blush I managed to look down towards my pants to see part of the bag hanging out from my pocket.

With speed, I shoved it to the bottom and waited till we got home to look back at her.

The second we left the car however, my mom rushed me to shout.

"God I was so worried about you!"

"Mom! I'm okay!" I stated as she squeezed me to death.

My father slowly made his way to my side as she asked.

"Where were you!? You had us so worried! Are you hurt!?" She wondered as I shook my head.

"No I'm fine."

"Where did you go?" Asked my father as I looked back to Rover and Lace who stood on the sidelines.

"I just went to visit a friend. I'm not going to have any time to...?" I was cut off by Rover.

"Pitch." He said in a serious tone as I looked back to my parents who knew there was more to it.

"Okay I went to pay back a friend."

"Pay back? For what?" Questioned my mother as my dad could already guess.

Without a word from him he let me answer the question.

"I've been smoking a little."

I thought my mom was going to have a heart attack, but she asked.

"Smoking? What? Weed?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yeah."

"In my house!?" She questioned as I nodded.

"It's only been a few months."

"Who knew!?" She asked around as Rover and my dad both raised hands.

My mom immediately looked down with her hand on her head as I said.

"She's a really good friend of mine I meet a few years ago at a party and we kind of went out for a few weeks. She didn't want my money."

"Why?" Asked my father as I replied again.

"Cause we went out. She still likes me a little I guess, I don't know for sure."

My dad nodded as my mom replied.

"I'm just happy your safe."

Taking me in for another hug, I hugged back and looked to my dad who stated.

"Now that your okay, you can go spend some time with Rover and Lace here catching up on the time you already missed, right?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yes sir."

My father smiled and hugged me next as Rover urged.

"We better get going now Pitch. I don't wana burn any more time then we can afford."

Letting my dad go, I replied.

"Alright."

Lace took my side as I began to follow them to the back of the compound. Leaving my mom and dad alone.

Shadow Robotnik's POV.

"You took that pretty well." I stated to Zarra as she looked back at me.

"How can I be mad at him? I use to do the same shit when I was his age."

"What? Smoke?" I questioned as she nodded.

"All the time. I stopped years ago. Even before I met you."

I widened my eyes as she took my arm softly.

"The stories I have."

In a curious tone I asked.

"Can I hear some?"

Shaking her head as we made our way back inside she replied.

"If your lucky."

Both of us began to laugh as time was surly our enemy.