AN: Another update! Please review wonderful readers! I'm sorry if this chapter is rubbish, I'm not very good at writing action scenes. I also apologise for the misogynistic language used later on this chapter. Also take a look at my other fics on here, in particular my other JSRF fic 2025. I am thinking of doing a separate universe oneshot fic in this "numbers" series based on Rapid 99 and the world of 99th Street parties. Let me know if you would read it!

Chapter 12: Further Requests

PART ONE

Felix was sulking by the old pinball machine, dragging his skates on the discoloured tiled floor and refusing to uncross his arms. Cassie was nowhere to be seen since their fight and Yoyo had to give Felix his credit for sticking around. He hadn't thought he would after their argument the previous night. Corn was stood sandwiched between Garam and Boogie, looking increasingly awkward in his battered old skates. Yoyo wondered how long it had been since he had worn them. Gum likewise looked worried; her eyes were a little swollen and looked increasingly pale without makeup. Rush was sat on the couch, still drowsy from whatever shit she had been pumped full of while in the care of the Noise Tanks. Yoyo looked from face to face. Half of them looked like they didn't know why they were there, and the other half had the air of those who didn't want to be.

"Someone needs to stay here with Rush." Yoyo said to the group. "And to let Beat and Trixie know where we are when they come back from the Hill." He had been a little worried when the pair hadn't returned, but there was enough on his plate as it was. He had to reassure himself that the two of them would be fine by themselves.

"We'll stay." Boogie said, nudging her head towards Garam.

"That's good. We can't guarantee that the Noise Tanks won't come back. Be on guard." Yoyo turned to Gum and Corn. "Do you two think you'll be okay tagging along?" He reached into his back pocket and pulled out two spray cans.

"Aye aye Captain." Corn said. Gum simply nodded. Yoyo grinned and threw them each a can.

"Okay. Felix?" The younger Rudie was chewing on his finger nails absently, rocking nervously from foot to foot.

"What?" He frowned. His voice was soft but full of anger. Yoyo could see that this trip to the Skyscraper District wasn't going to be easy on any of them.

"Are you ready to show us where you found Rush?"

"I guess so." He shrugged. "Ready when you are."

"Okay." Yoyo turned back to the group, those who were coming along with him and those who were staying behind. "Wish us luck." He said. His voice was steady but his thoughts had lost all hope.

PART TWO

The morning air was refreshingly cool against their naked flesh. The sun had risen a few hours before but it had not awoken them from their pleasant slumber. It wasn't until the first seagulls began to call over the old reservoir that Beat and Trixie opened their eyes. They had slept upon one of the sturdier looking rooftops, their bodies wrapped in Beat's warm jacket, not another person to be seen in sight. They had been talking for hours, as though they had all the time and not a worry in the world.

"How was he? Yoyo, I mean, when you first met him?" Trixie asked, tracing small circles on Beat's chest with her long fingernails.

Beat smiled, remembering. "Young. He was so much smaller than the rest of us. Kind of naïve I guess. He hadn't been on the streets for long, hadn't really found himself an identity yet." He gazed down at Trixie, smiling as he kissed her forehead gently. "I'm guessing that's not the Yoyo you know?"

She grinned. "No. He's the bravest of us all. I kind of feel safe when I'm with him, because I know I can trust him."

"I don't think he feels that way." Beat said, stroking her shoulder. "I think he feels scared to be leading the group. I think he feels like he's out of his depth. That's why he went to find Corn…he was hoping he could help him be a better leader."

"I guess we would all feel that way if we had that responsibility." Trixie contemplated, yawning as she spoke. "Did you all feel safe with this Corn guy when you were in the GGs ?" Beat nodded in reply. "Well…" She continued. "I bet he felt exactly as Yoyo is doing now, back then. You know what I think? I think that no matter how stable and confident you appear on the outside, on the inside you always feel like a joke. I think that's what being a leader involves…only nobody ever tells you that. I think that both of them have felt like they're swimming in water that's too deep for them, and the rapids are coming…you know?"

Beat looked down at her. Taking the sight of her in. Feeling himself stir once again. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, as the seagulls cried above and the sun's heat beat down on his naked back.

PART THREE

"Are we close?" Yoyo called out to Felix in the distance. They had circled the Skyscraper District twice and the sun was already beginning to set behind the high-risers, making the labyrinth of buildings treacherous once again. Gum and Corn followed carefully behind. It had been years since the pair of them had been to this district and any mistakes they made could be fatal.

"I think it's around here." Felix shouted back, pointing to a clearing up ahead, a large rooftop with a line of old billboard lining the far edge in an arching semi-circle. Yoyo turned back to Corn, rolling his eyes. It was true the district looked distinctively different in the glow of the sunlight, but even so, Yoyo suspected Felix was stalling them deliberately. He found himself thinking of Cassie, alone in her room, and how badly Felix had treated her the previous night if the shouting was any record to go by. He turned his thoughts to Corn and Gum, noting the way they skated around each other, always keeping their distance. He couldn't help but wonder what exchanges he would have heard if he had stayed standing in the hallway at Corn's apartment. It sort-of terrified him now, looking at them, how small they both appeared to be when in each other's presence. How badly had they hurt each other?

Yoyo sped up, crossing the gap between two closely spaced skyscrapers and rushed to Felix's side. The younger GG sported a half-smirk on his face as he turned to Yoyo, his expression that of one who has played a seriously funny prank on the other.

"I think it was here." Felix said, nodding towards the ground.

"Right." Yoyo said, bending down. "She was bleeding."

Felix paused. "What?"

Yoyo rolled his eyes towards the darkening sky. "Rush…she was bleeding when you brought her back to the Garage."

Felix slumped his shoulders, the smirk dropping from his face and being replaced by his signature grimace. "So?"

"So…" Yoyo began as Corn crossed the gap behind him, landing a little unsteadily on the roof's surface. "Unless you slashed open her leg yourself, there should be blood here." He pointed to the tiled surface of the floor. "But there isn't which means you are lying to me."

"Fuck you." Felix snorted, squaring his stance, making himself larger. "You don't know shit."

Yoyo stood back up defensively, ignoring the two figures behind him. Corn was gesturing for Gum to follow him over the gap as she stood nervously on the edge of the building.

"You can do it." He whispered, motioning her forward with his hands.

"I know that you haven't uttered a word of the truth since you strutted back into my Garage." Yoyo said, suddenly aware that he had begun thinking of the Garage as his. When had that happened?

"Strutted? Have you forgotten who it was exactly who brought Rush back? Huh?"

"Come on…" Corn muttered under his breath as Gum took a few steps back, preparing herself for a run-up. "You can do it…"

"And now you can't remember where exactly it was you found her? Doesn't sound suspicious at all…"

"What are you accusing me of exactly?" Felix took a step forward, threateningly.

Gum darted towards the gap at full speed, her blonde hair flying behind her in the light evening breeze, her left skate twisted as she propelled herself forwards, gliding over the sheer drop. Realising her error a second too late she held out her arms desperately, as she hit the side of the skyscraper at an awkward angle, clutching to the rooftop, her legs dangling free above the thousand feet drop. Corn darted towards her, almost falling over the side himself as he came to a screeching break at the edge of the building, narrowly avoiding her small white fingers which dug into the surface.

"Fuck." He cried out, desperately as he dropped to his knees, bruising both caps in the process and leaning over to grasp at her narrow wrists. Yoyo and Felix had both turned around at the sound of Corn's voice and now skated over to the pair. Corn had laid flat on the ground, keeping the majority of his body weight onto the surface, as he pulled her up. Felix and Yoyo both reached over grabbing her under the armpit and yanking her up onto the roof. She was shaking all over as Corn pulled her into him, wrapping both his arms securely around her shoulders, pressing his lips to her hair.

"Is she okay?" Felix asked as Corn whispered under his breath into her hair over and over again, too quietly for the others to hear.

"Thank fucking God, thank God, thank God, thank God…"

"She's twisted her ankle." Yoyo replied, looking at the strange angle her skate stuck out at. He turned to the trembling girl. "Are you okay?"

Her gaze didn't quite meet his but she nodded silently.

"How far out are we here?" Yoyo muttered to himself, looking around the rooftops. "Corn?" The older man looked up, his lips slowing down. "I think you need to get Gum back to the Garage as soon as you can while we keep on looking. You think you can do that?"

Corn nodded. "I know a shortcut." He said.

"Okay, good." He turned back to Felix whose expression had softened; he almost looked like his old-self again. "Do you feel like continuing?"

Felix looked up at the now-navy sky and nodded. "Sure." He muttered absently. "I think I can remember where it was now. This place looks so different in the light you know?"

Yoyo nodded, half-agreeing, before turning back to Corn to Gum. "You're going to be okay." He said to Gum, her blue eyed gaze meeting his. "Just get home safe." He nodded towards her before turning back to Felix who had now jumped the gap onto the next skyscraper. Yoyo followed him into the night, leaving the two figures alone.

Corn loosened his grip on Gum's shoulders as Yoyo and Felix disappeared into the distance. He moved from underneath her awkwardly, feeling increasingly self-aware and embarrassed as he stood up, walking over to the far side of the rooftop and gazing out at the district below. Gum sat still for a long time as tears fell down her face and into her lap.

"I can't be here." She eventually said, softly. Corn spun around. She wiped her face with the palm of her hand as she spoke. "I can't be doing this…I can't be here." Corn slowly walked towards her, resisting the urge to bend down and graze his thumb over her cheekbones, drying her eyes. "I have a daughter." She said monotonously, looking up to meet Corn's gaze. "How could I leave her like that? What sort of a parent am I?" She cried out, the tears falling freely now.

Corn regarded her for a second, silently, before walking over to the edge of the building to inspect the billboard. Faces of long-dead celebrities gazed back from the faded panels; the wood splintered and decaying. He reached out and tugged at the oldest, pulling it freely from its stand.

"I think this is long enough." He muttered, half to himself, as he carried the plank over the gap between buildings. Gum watched him silently as he moved his hands down to the edge of the wood, pushing it slowly over to the next skyscraper, bridging the gap.

PART FOUR

"So what's their deal?" Felix asked, turning behind to look at Yoyo. They had skated past the old observatory and were heading towards the edge of the district were it bordered with 99th Street.

"Who?" Yoyo asked absently, looking over the landscape uneasily. The spotlights in the park had not been turned on and it took him a moment to realise it was a Sunday and the district was closed to tourists. For some reason their absence filled him with a strange anxiety.

"The oldies…beansprout and blondie. Are they fucking?" He had that smart-ass smirk back on his face and Yoyo suddenly had the urge to punch him right it.

"No." Yoyo muttered, trying to sound as casual as possible. He couldn't figure out if Felix was deliberately trying to piss him off or if it was just a by-product of his personality.

"Good." Felix grinned. "I wouldn't mind giving her one myself. It's good to know I won't be pissing off some hot-shot ex-Rudie while doing so."

Yoyo felt his patience nearing its end. "She's got a child…"

Felix's expression changed. "Oh Lord…is it his?"

"No…I don't know…look Felix…" Yoyo turned to face his companion. "I don't know what you are trying to get at here, but I advise that you stop it right now and show me where the fuck you found Rush before I beat the shit out of you…understand?"

Felix's face twisted, transforming into a gargoyle of his former-self. "You'll do what?"

Yoyo sighed. "Don't try my patience Felix." He turned back towards the park as Felix reached behind his back, pulling out a spray can from his baggy back pocket. He closed the gap between himself and Yoyo, raising the can high and bringing the rear-end down with all his strength onto the back of Yoyo's skull. The older GG crashed down onto the ground with a loud thump, hitting his head hard on the navy blue tiling. His vision swam as he drifted into unconsciousness, leaving Felix stood triumphantly over him like a hunter who has finally caught his prey.

PART FIVE

Pharaoh Park stood empty in the moonlight; the pyramids and obelisks looking like ancient relics in the darkness. Corn had helped Gum climb over the more dangerous parts of the district, clutching her awkwardly by the waist as they moved together over the satellites and pillars, but now they were on solid ground she insisted on walking by herself, moving slowly but steadily over the sandstone brickwork, remaining silent as they edged towards the pyramid near the highway.

Their silence was broken by the sound of approaching skates. Without thinking, Corn pushed Gum roughly down under the old Pharaoh-head, grazing her forearms and legs before climbing under himself. She let out a soft cry at the pain before being silenced by Corn's palm.

"Shh." He whispered. "Do you hear that?" Her eyes widened in the dark. "That's no Rudie…too rhythmic…be quiet and still." They both froze still, Corn slowly moved his hand from her face, touching the wet sandstone below them, flinching as he realised the ground was damp with Gum's blood; the deep cut on her leg dripping steadily.

The skates slowed down as they approached, thumping heavily onto the ground as a figure walked into view. Corn didn't know how much the engineering on this thing had improved in the last five years, but he silently prayed that its hearing ability hadn't been tampered with. He could hear his own heart pounding in his ears and could feel Gum's vibrating through her body and into his as they pressed closer; her arms sneaking around his shoulders and her face pressing against his neck. They both shook with terror as the robot walked around the Pharaoh, pausing to reflect on the empty park.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. He could feel her silent chant, so close to his own prayer earlier, as she mouthed the words against his neck, her lips brushing the flesh on his Adam's apple, her breasts pressing against his elbow. The figure turned around sharply to face the gigantic statue and Corn stopped breathing…his heart seemed to skip a beat as the robot raised its head and listened. The seconds seemed to spread out…five seconds felt like an age…and then the figure was off; the methodical sound of its skates disappearing into the distance.

Corn let out his breath, gasping for air. Gum slowly pulled away from him, moving her hands to her left leg which was covered in blood. When the park was once again silent Corn finally spoke.

"It must have heard something." He muttered quietly, moving his hands down to the bottom of his jeans and ripping a strip of fabric from the end. Gum was still trembling as she moved her hands away from her thigh to allow Corn to wrap the denim strip tightly around her wound. She couldn't see in the dark how deep the cut went but the pain was now beginning to subside. She just hoped her legs would hold her for the distance it took to get back to the Garage. Corn crawled over to the opening and stood up.

"I'm sorry about your leg. I wasn't really thinking." He leaned down and offered his hand to Gum who grasped it and pulled herself free. "Are you sure you'll be okay walking back?"

She nodded in reply, meeting his gaze. "I'm not as pathetic as you think I am Cornelius." She said sadly.

Corn shook his head slowly. "I don't think you're pathetic Holly."

"I don't know why you didn't just leave me there."

He frowned. "You know why."

She nodded slowly, her face filled with sadness as she turned towards the narrow street which led to the highway. The stars flickered above.

PART SIX

"Hey!" Felix's voice echoed over the rooftops and deep chasms of the district. "Hey!" He shouted. "Robot thing! Hey!"

"Be quiet fool." A monotonous voice called behind him. Felix spun on his feet, almost losing his balance and tripping on the body at his feet. "We can hear you just fine."

Felix let out a sigh of relief as he regarded the robotic figure. "You gotta stop sneaking up on people man." He whined.

The machine seemed to contemplate this. "I am no man." He replied in that same cold tone.

"I know." Felix laughed. "You got that whole humour thing right down to a T. Coulda fooled me." He waited for a reply. The figure didn't move. He eventually moved on. "So I got you a real treat today." He grinned, lightly kicking the figure below him with his skate. "I know he wasn't on the list but you seemed so pleased with that bitch I brought you yesterday I just couldn't resist bringing you another freebie…and what a freebie I have here…none other than the leader of the GGs in fact."

The machine seemed to think this through for a second…that's if the wires and circuit boards in his brain could be regarded as thinking. "I'm sure we could find a use for him."

Felix's grin spread even wider. "That's exactly what I thought! I hope you got that ex-girlfriend on mine on a slab somewhere…if it's experimenting you're doing be sure to probe all her holes…that slut would probably love it."

"We have found a use for her." The figure said.

"Good…real good…well if that's all…" Felix began to turn around, already thinking of what he would tell the others when he reached the Garage. Maybe their beloved leader tripped and fell while skating across the rooftops like that blonde bitch…falling down into the darkness below.

"We have one more request." The Noise-Tank said.

"Awh man." Felix spun back around to face the figure. "You're breaking my balls here."

The robot paused for a moment. "You will be rewarded."

Felix sighed before skating over to the figure cautiously, holding out his hand and collecting the final slip of paper from its cold metallic grasp.

AN: So what did you think? I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it.