It was peaceful, and Naruto felt a deep, dark chill in his bones. There was no such thing as a peaceful day in Haven, no such thing. Paranoia had set in causing the blond to frantically check every shadow that passed him, and there were tons of shadows all around, above, and even below him. He wished he could remove his hat so he could hear better, and possibly hear any pursuing footsteps.
The terror was so deeply embedded in Naruto's mind he bypassed the right turn that would have taken him to the warm pipes he called home. It was only when the blond went down the next right path did he notice his mistake. The ramp that led up to the walkways above the Zoomer traffic was on the wrong side, left and not right. There was also no cluster of pipes together.
Naruto turned to flee this unknown dead end and just as he started to run he felt his hat snatched from his head. He spun around, panic rising in him as he stared at the man leaning on a still running two person Zoomer, a shade of green and the better, more expensive model that didn't look like two single person Zoomers put together.
The man was well groomed, blue-black hair slicked back smoothly and two jade orbs watched him with glee. He wore clean clothing, that if it was coated with dirt and grime could help pass him off as one of the elves from the slums.
"There you are little fox," He said, twirling Naruto's red cap as he spoke in an even voice. "You do know it wasn't hard to track you. Heck, you basically walked right into me." As he chuckled Naruto frantically searched for a way to nab his hat and escape. He jumped violently as the man was suddenly upon him, using his arms to pin the smaller male's to his sides, trapping Naruto in some twisted form of a hug.
"W-why? Why are you after me? Do you work for the Baron?" Naruto asked as cold sweat gathered all over his body. The bounty hunter laughed, shaking his head.
"I don't work for the Baron. As for why well, let's just say the Baron isn't the only one with a price on your pretty blond head." He said, giving the golden locks a nuzzle to prove his point before pressing the narrow barrel of a gun into Naruto's back. "Now hurry up and get in. I have other bounties to track."
The man released the blond and gave him an encouraging push towards the Zoomer. Naruto's heart raced as he climbed into the Zoomer, trembling violently for he never rode in one before. The man climbed in on the other side as Naruto stared at the locked controls on his side, fighting his fear as the man switched hovering zones.
"Calm down or you'll pass out." The words were barely heard as the man drove fast and weaved through traffic, earning shouts from many other drivers. Naruto's blue eyes looked over at the nameless man and the red hat he still had along with the Scatter gun with an oddly narrowed barrel resting across his lap.
Then the fact settled in, he was captured and his freedom was stripped away. He curled in on himself, not caring about the dirty imprints he left on the white seats. This man wasn't even the man who had him captured; it was who ever paid this man.
The Hip Hog Haven reeked of sex, sweat, cheap alcohol, grease, vomit, and an underling scent of blood. Naruto wanted to flee, to run and never look back. He would never leave his home if that meant escaping this place, but the Scatter gun at the hunter's hip stopped him. So did the massive floating man before him.
The man made the Hip Hog Haven smell pure and clean. Out of the man's rolls of endless fat and numerous chins was the stank of body odor, sweat, old food, feces, and expensive wine. Even with his mouth closed Naruto could smell the acid breath. The machine carrying the large man with thin useless legs groaned with effort as it quickly floated the man over to them.
"Hey Krew, brought the fox you wanted. Now where's the promised goods?" The hunter asked, placing an arm around Naruto's waist, ready to pull him back and shoot Krew if the crime lord backed out of the deal. The bald man scowled, showing rotting yellow-brown teeth. Krew took a deep breath and started to fan himself with a brightly colored paper fan.
"In a box by the door. Take it and leave." The man gave Naruto a soft push towards Krew then checked the box. Naruto's blond fox ears twitched as the bounty hunter whistled and lifted the box.
"Very nice. See you Krew." With that he left and Naruto felt what little safety he had here leave with him. The sixteen year old flinched and growled as Krew moved closer and greedily rubbed his ear with short, stubby, ringed fingers.
"These will have to go. Can't let the Baron find you, 'ey? Sig! Dispose of his fox ears." The massive crime lord floated away; around the stripper pole in the center of the room and to the bar. Out of one of the booths lining the sides of the room came out one of the most imposing elf Naruto ever saw.
He was dark skinned and one of his eyes was replaced with a red lighted Eco scanner. Sig's massive frame couple with his muscles towered over Naruto. In a way he almost seemed robotic looking with all the armor he wore and the metal that replaced parts of his ears.
Naruto flinched and chewed on his lower lip as Sig rubbed the same ear Krew touched, but far gentler. The blond wanted to run, but just a momentary glance at the large elf told him he wouldn't get far.
Naruto whimpered as a blade was pulled out. He clenched his sapphire blue eyes shut as tears started to escape, missing the sympathic and sorrowful glance Sig gave him as the blade bit into the fox ear. The wastelander asked the Precursors for forgiveness as the young teen let out the most heart wrenching screams as he slowly lost both his ears.
Naruto whimpered pitifully as he stared at the teen in the mirror. He was bathed and placed in fresh clothing, even if it was a bit too tight. His eyes were red rimmed and even after half an hour of crying tears still fell from them. Carefully, Naruto ran his fingers through his hair, flinching as they touched the wounds on the new tips of his ears.
Sig only cut off what was needed to hide the ears, but since his hair was so short he still lost a lot of his ears. Now he could barely hear. It was like wearing his hat but having the muffled sounds volume cut in half.
A desolate feeling washed over the blond at the thought of his hat. It was the only thing that was his and his alone. Now some bounty hunter had it, and he wasn't ever going to get it back.
Quickly, Naruto fumbled with his pants, loosing the tight black material enough for him to reach around and touch his tail. A wave of comfort drowned him. He was lucky and had been able to hide his other fox characteristic since no one watched him change and as long as he kept it flat and against his inner thigh he would be able to keep it.
Carefully, the blond tucked his tail back in. Just as he zipped the pants the door opened, revealing Sig. The younger of the two backed away, bringing his hands up to his chest, which was covered by the same tight material his pants were made from. The wastelander hesitated as he entered, comparing the look in Naruto's eyes to that of a wounded and trapped animal's.
"Here," Sig said as he placed a small metal cylinder on the vanity that Naruto was next to. "Ointment for your ears, cherry. It'll keep them from getting infected as they heal." Cautiously, the blond moved closer to Sig and the metal canister. He was scared that he was going to get more parts of himself cut off. With trembling hands, Naruto opened it.
The green paste smelled strongly of nature, of grass, trees, and wind…of freedom. Naruto peered closely as he dug out some with his index and middle fingers. The paste faintly glowed bright green with the power of infused Green Eco. Naruto's sapphire eyes glanced at Sig before gently massaging the thick healing paste into his partly bleeding ears.
"Thank you." He whispered feeling his flesh absorb the Green Eco. Sig remained silent for a moment before walking away, but not before saying.
"I'm sorry…" With that the door shut. Naruto froze then started to shake as he whispered out that Sig was forgiven. It was under Krew's orders he lost his ears. Krew stole his freedom. The blond growled as he continued to rub the paste into his wounds. He wanted his freedom back.