Let's go!
Chapter 2
Roman could only curse his luck as he entered the dilapidated building with Neo by his side, and the unconscious girl he had decided to nickname 'Red'. If not by the account of how much blood she was drenched in, then by the red accents on her hair.
It was a large two-story building with numerous cracked and open windows. Crusted orange brick held by badly aging mortar kept it all together, though the crumbling support pillars outside the L shaped building begged to differ.
The courtyard contained long straggly grass which was revealed only because the majority of the snow had been recently ploughed away.
A lone lantern swung idly over the single doorway entrance, lighting up the entrance only abysmally.
"Ah finally. Home sweet home," he groaned, only to receive a sharp nudge into his thigh from Neo.
"Oh please. You weren't exactly thrilled about having to rough it in the woods tonight anyways. All it means is we'll have to do it another time."
They were nearly at the doorway when a voice suddenly called out.
"Stop right where you are or I'll shoot you."
Roman looked up to the roof, seeing a silhouette hold what looked like a crossbow.
"DJ? Will you point that thing away before you get someone killed!"
The figure lowered his weapon in surprise.
"Roman? What are you doing here?"
He could only roll his eyes.
"Oh, just going for a wee casual stroll in the fine neighbourhood. What the hell does it look like! I've got wounded!"
"Shit," panicked DJ as he quickly ducked down to enter the building.
"Boss! Roman's back! And he's got someone with him that's hurt!"
A dog in a nearby courtyard started barking at the ruckus being made, and Roman couldn't help but flinch.
"So much for being quiet."
Neo only shook her head sagely as if to say what more should he have expected.
More voices could be heard as candles were lit inside the building. Several lanterns could be seen, and even the one functioning dust-fuelled lantern that was the owner's wing came on.
"Roman's back!" bellowed DJ.
It didn't take long for Roman to hear several recognisable voices, ranging from those of bleary and still-waking children, to the older and more matured voices of teenagers similar to him.
"Roman's back? Since when?!" came one shrill female voice.
"Oh now he's come slinking back, has he!"
Roman visibly wilted as he reached the door.
"Aw crud. I was hoping those two wouldn't be here right now."
Neo sympathetically touched his arm, a consoling look on her face.
Roman stared at her with suspicion, eyes narrowed.
"Oh piss off that you care. You just want to see me suffer at the hands of those two like the last time!"
Nought but a second later, and the front door opened with a loud bang.
Out came two little kids likely no older than Red in his arms. A lanky teenager in similar but better fitting rags chased after them in a desperate attempt to stop them swarming Roman.
"Get back here you little shits!"
With his arms full carrying Red in a bridal carry, he was helpless as the two kids crashed into his legs, squeezing them tightly as they exclaimed with joy.
"Uncle 'Wick, you're back!"
By now, more people in various states of dress came clambering out of the door, whilst others held back tentatively and watched from within the doorway.
Roman felt his eyebrow twitch as he struggled to wade through the small pack of children that kept growing.
"Lily, it's nice to see you too," he stressed out, barely holding back his annoyance with a sweet, but forced smile on his face.
"But what have I told you about calling me that?"
Lily ignored him, allowing the other little brat clinging him to verbally assault him.
"Who's that?"
The five year old asked him innocently, barely suppressing a yawn.
Fortunately, Roman was saved as an older and more authoritative voice bellowed out, brokering no nonsense.
"Alright everyone! That's enough! You can hound him later. After you go to bed and get your sleep," was added as a collective whine started to come from the youngest.
The handful of older teenagers, three boys and two girls, all dressed in what was likely peasant rags for sleeping, were quick to pounce on the ten or so younger children that had materialised outside and shepherd them back inside to bed. The few more shy ones near the door quickly scurried back deeper inside the building to avoid being chastised.
"Now, normally I'd have more words with you, Roman," the figure finally stepped outside, revealing a young man no older than twenty, with faint stubble, messy black hair and a proper tunic and pair of pants.
"However," he continued as he eyed an unconscious and blood-soaked Ruby, "this talk about wounded takes precedence. Come with me."
He turned around swiftly and marched back inside.
"DJ! Clear my office table and get some blankets. Clean ones!"
"Yes boss!"
Roman and Neo didn't need any further invitation and quickly followed the man inside.
After quickly navigating the maze of corridors and rooms, with only a few candles to illuminate the way, they found themselves finally in the man's office.
A single washed, but still tremendously bright, white light lantern hung from the ceiling directly over a large heavy desk by the far wall.
Books, papers, quills and more random items had been forcibly cleared off onto a large untidy pile on the floor out of the way of anyone.
DJ was quickly laying several blankets on top of the table, and two girls that looked like twins with black hair quickly followed Neo and Roman in, closing the door behind them with an audible click.
"Put her on the table now."
It was an order from the man, one that Roman didn't need to be told since he was already moving.
He quickly laid Red out on her back flat onto the blankets, and the bright lantern instantly revealed the girl' pale complexion which contrasted heavily with the small brown fur-jacket fitting her.
The jacket was torn asunder and soaked nearly black with blood from the massive gash that travelled from her left shoulder down to her right hip.
Drying blood was splashed across her face, and small chunks of gore and what looked like shards of bloodied bone were in her mostly black hair.
Roman, the twin girls and DJ paled a bit when they crowded around the table to get a closer look at her, but the older man didn't flinch. And Neo? Well she was Neo.
"DJ. Go into my personal stash and find the strongest bottle you can find. It should be the brown one wrapped in a white cloth."
"On it." DJ practically sprinted to the cupboard on the other side of the room.
"Miltia, get your sewing kit. I've a feeling we are gonna need it."
The twin named Miltia nodded her head meekly before scurrying off to find it.
"Melanie, get those rags you cleaned yesterday. Anything and everything, I don't care how big or how small."
"I-I," Melanie seemed stunned.
"Now dammit!"
That seemed to snap her out of her stupour, and with a quick affirmative nod, she too scurried off to find the rags.
"Neo. Get the fire started back up," he gestured to the fire-pit and mantle built on an adjacent wall to the left of the table. A small stack of logs were piled up semi-neatly next to it.
Faint embers could be seen in the ash, indicating that there was still some life left in the fireplace.
"Roman, help me keep pressure on the wound so she doesn't lose any more blood."
"Y-yeah Hei. Sure thing."
The two quickly hunched over to make sure the wound under jacket was kept as closed as possible.
It didn't take long for everyone to return with the materials Hei had asked while Neo slowly started to get the fire stoked.
"Miltia. Melanie, help cut that jacket open. I need to see the extent of her injuries."
Worldlessly, Miltia handed Hei a pair of scissors more akin to shearing than embroidering.
In several seconds, the girl's entire chest and abdomen were exposed bare.
"Fucking hell," gasped Melanie.
The left clavicle was clean bisected, and the deep wound exposed the inner workings of a shoulder that was nearly half-amputated.
The unsightly laceration grew shallower and shallower as it travelled closer to her hip.
The fact she was still breathing, however shallow that was, could only be attributed to that fact and the girl's rib-cage acting as a last resort shield.
"Alcohol and a rag."
Hei's hand was outstretched expectantly, never taking his eyes off the unconscious girl in front him.
Together, under Hei's instructions, the group of teenagers began to clean the wound, blood still oozing out.
"It doesn't look like any of her organs were damaged. Lucky," intoned Hei.
"Lucky?!" Exclaimed Roman in shock.
"The girl damn near looks like she's dead!"
"But she's not," a glare was shot Roman's way.
"Now keep pressure on that wound. I need to assess how badly her upper chest and shoulder is."
"What's there to assess," laughed Roman nervously.
"The thing looks fucked. I didn't realise she was on death's door when I picked her up."
"She's not," denied Hei.
"Once I set the bone right and make sure it's cleaned properly, then we can look at cauterising and stitching her up."
"And what then?" Melanie's tone was biting.
"She's lost a shit-ton of blood."
Hei sighed as he worked.
"I'll use an Aura-Shard."
Miltia gasped, whilst Melanie scowled.
"On her? No offence, but we don't even know her, let alone if it would work. We still could need it for one of us?!"
"It'll be fine," placated Hei.
"It will come out of Roman's pay this year."
Roman let out a squawk.
"Excuse me?! Since when did I agree to this?!"
Hei looked up at Roman for the first, revealing stern grey eyes.
"You did because I said so. You brought her here. You can pay for her treatment."
Roman huffed as kept pressure on the wound as best he could.
"Well excuse me for actually caring about the brat."
"I'm not saying you necessarily made the wrong call. But I have to care for these kids here as well."
Roman grimaced as did DJ as a meaty squelch could be heard as Hei dug around Ruby's wound to feel for damage.
"I run an orphanage, not a charity. And every resource we have here counts."
Roman took his hands off of her wound and looked at Hei indignantly, ready to retort back, before ultimately deciding it wasn't worth it.
He settled for a low grumble instead. "Fine."
There was a tense silence as Hei worked on Ruby.
"Miltia. Time to put your crocheting to work."
The girl in question let loose a surprised 'eh', before paling at what Hei was implying.
"Come on girl. That wound won't stop bleeding on its own. And I'm shit at that sort of work."
If it was meant to be reassurance and encouragement, it failed.
"But-but I don't know how! What if I –"
She was resoundingly cut off by her sister Melanie.
"You got this sis. Like the boss says. It's just like crocheting."
There was a nervous expression on Miltia's face as she balled her suddenly clammy hands into fists.
It took too long.
"Look, I know I said she'd survive this, but that's only if she actually gets proper treatment. You need to stitch her wound closed. It doesn't even have to be pretty."
Miltia looked Hei in the eye, before finally relenting.
"I…okay. I'll do it."
"Good girl."
Hei looked almost proud and ready to pat her on the shoulder, but instead kept his hands busy on the wound he was treating.
With tentative hands, Miltia took the needle and thread, and following Hei's careful guidance of where and what to stitch, began to work.
The needle punctured the pale skin edge, the jagged tear akin to a rocky cliff in terms of texture.
DJ spoke up hesitantly.
"Um. I know I'm not the expert here – "
"Then shut the fuck up," hissed Melanie.
"But is that thing even clean?"
Miltia suddenly stopped mid thread.
"Keep going," ordered Hei, before turning to address DJ.
"It'll be fine," he reassured.
"We'll wash and clean her up again."
Dj nodded timidly, and with that, only silence reigned.
Miltia worked for what felt like an eternity, all while Roman and Hei wiped and cleaned away any blood that leaked through.
By the time Miltia was done, Hei got Melanie to help him in giving one last wipe and disinfect of the girl's wound before bandaging it up tightly with the cleanest rags left available.
"Get her in front of the fire to keep warm. Melanie. Miltia. Get some water from the well ready. DJ. Find a pair of warm clothes for her. Roman. Walk me through what else happened to her."
"I don't know! She fell off a cliff. Can't be much worse than that."
Hei had a consternating expression on his face.
"A fall off a cliff doesn't nearly rip you in half. Though I'll keep that in mind as I look her over."
He began to feel and check her over for any other injuries she might have.
"No. Something cut her up big time."
"What, like a Grimm."
Even as he said the name Roman couldn't help but shudder, and for good reason.
Grimm were rare enough in these parts as it was, but for someone to encounter one, especially as a child, would spell a certain death sentence.
"Not a Grimm," Hei shook his head.
"That wound was too clean. No. This is something worse."
Roman couldn't help but curse at what Hei was implying, but even he couldn't find himself to deny what was likely to be the truth.
"Shit."
"Shit indeed," Hei raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Roman. Neo hopped by his side, a comforting arm wrapping around his waist as Roman ran a bloodied hand through his ginger hair.
"I need you to tell me everything. Including what the fuck you and Neo were doing out in the woods so late."
Neo shot a glare at Hei that almost would have been cute if it weren't for the glint of the stiletto on her hip.
"Probably getting a makeover by his girlfriend."
The sound of sloshing water in wooden bucket being put on the ground drew both their attention, as did the gentle sniggering of Miltia as Melanie stood upright.
Neo, however, took exception to that, if the way her eyes hardened as a hand drifted slowly to her stiletto was any indication.
Roman, realising the bloodbath about to happen, was quick to intervene with a forced laugh and fake smile.
"Okay, people, let's just calm down. Melanie, that's not a nice thing to say. Neo, let's think rationally here, okay? Brother gods be damned, we're still all one big family. Fucking savages," he muttered the last sentence under his breath to not be heard, but Neo apparently did.
She mimed a confused expression at him, as if to innocently say, who me?
Roman sighed.
"Yes, you."
Melanie was unimpressed, if the way one hand rested on her cocked hip was any indicator.
"Look at you. Still hiding behind your girlfriend."
"Oh, for the love of – She's not my girlfriend!"
Neo adopted a faux hurt expression, which Roman didn't fail to catch.
"Ah shit, that's not what I meant Neo, ah just... Argh."
Melanie adopted a sly smile at his discomfort.
"Aw that's so cute, Torchwick."
Roman's expression soured.
"Perhaps I should let her stab you. I've told you and everyone else here not to call me that stupid name!"
Neo nodded her head supportively. Whether it was because she was supporting Roman, or because she was seconding the motion to pass excessive violence was up to debate.
A fist slamming onto the table jolted everyone out of the standoff.
"The question, Roman. Answer it."
Hei was looking at him with blazing eyes, and Melanie was wise enough to back off.
Roman glanced at Hei uncertainly, before drawling out an answer.
"Yeaaaaah. I was… just getting a makeover out in the woods, when little Red over there," he gestured to the girl on the table, "caused an avalanche that cut the prospect of some alone time short. There, you happy now?"
The sudden kick Neo gave to his shin interrupted the disbelieving silence hanging in the room.
"Ow! The fuck Neo?!" Roman clutched his shin as the mute girl stormed off out of the room.
Melanie shook her head with an amused chuckle at his plight.
"You really don't understand women, do you."
"I know you can be a bunch of crazies," he groused. "Especially come that time –"
"Finish that sentence Roman, I dare you," she growled.
Hei interrupted their squabble.
"And that was all that happened?"
Roman shot an annoyed glance at Hei that seemed to ask why he wasting his time.
"Yeah. Red came down in an avalanche, and my bleeding heart decided I couldn't leave a kid out in the cold alone. Especially one all messed up like her."
Hei regarded him coolly.
"And why exactly were out in the woods in the first place?"
"I told you."
"Don't give me that crap. Neo's as likely to bone you as Melanie is to actually do her work herself without pawning it off onto her sister or some other poor sap."
Melanie flushed as she let out a weak protest that went promptly ignored.
Roman let go of his leg as he stood up, dusting himself off in a vain attempt to seem calm and collected.
"Look, what's it matter?"
Hei was silent for what seemed an eternity.
Just as he began to open his mouth to say something, however, DJ entered the room loudly, carrying a stack of folded clothes in his arms that well exceeded over his head.
"I got some clothes boss."
Hei shut his mouth, before relenting, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I guess it doesn't."
He turned to face DJ, ready to give an order, only for his eyes to suddenly bulge.
"What the hell, DJ?! I said A pair of clothes. A! As in single!"
Miltia grabbed the topmost clothes from DJ, before approaching Ruby.
"At least she'll be warm."
Hei shook his head, as if to give up.
"Help me finish looking over her injuries. For all we know there could be a broken bone we missed."
"We? I thought you were the expert here when it came to that stuff?"
"Gonna have to agree with Melanie on that one," chimed in Roman.
"I'm not," groaned Hei.
"I just know a little bit about the body is all."
Roman glanced at him.
"Because of your past work, right?"
Hei stilled.
He let out a shaky breath.
"Yeah. Because of that."
Instead of quipping a sarcastic response, Roman pursed his lips sympathetically.
"Then I guess you are more suited to being our resident healer than anyone else here."
"I ain't no healer."
The room was silent, until Roman began to walk towards the door.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired. It's nearly morning, and I haven't had a wink of sleep at all."
He punctuated that with a large overhead stretch and yawn.
He was stopped by Melanie who grabbed his arm.
"And where are you going?"
"Uh, to bed?" He shrugged her grip off his arm.
Melanie protested.
"I'm not staying up just to wait for some strange kid to come to. I'm going to bed. You can stay here and watch her instead."
"Well, I'm not."
She crossed her arms unimpressed.
"Then consider this me cashing in that favour you owe me."
"Even more reason for me not to."
"Must you be so insufferable."
"Must you be so vexing," Roman retorted just as quick.
"What, like 'Mint'," a hint of a smile played across her face.
"No. Mint is in a different league," amended Roman, growing worried at her smirk.
"Well how about a deal. You watch Red tonight until she wakes up, and I'll babysit Mint so she doesn't bother you tomorrow at all."
Roman's hands clapped together in firm resolution.
"Red it is," he agreed readily.
With that, he confidently strode back over to help Hei finish wrapping Ruby's wounds, dress her and place her in front of the now roaring fireplace.
Miltia strode over as Melanie grinned.
"You're not going babysit her like you promised. Are you, Mel."
It was a statement, not a question. And it was one she wasn't going to refute.
Ruby's bleary eyes woke up to the site of dark skin and red eyes mere inches from her own.
She jolted upright with a startled cry, only to keel over in pain as her chest exploded in fury.
"Argh!"
There was a scuffle of clothing, followed by a dull, heavy, thump, until a voice spoke up.
"Ah, blast it Red!"
Once her pain subsided enough, Ruby slowly looked over to the voice, only to find a young man wearing a ratty white cloak with bright ginger hair standing up and straightening out his clothes with grit teeth.
"Who are you."
Ruby turned to the source of the cold, dispassionate voice.
It was a small girl with dark skin, roughly her same age and height, but with wild, green hair and red eyes.
"Eh? Um, what?"
"Who are you?"
The girl didn't move as she loomed over a couch-ridden Ruby, hands on her knees as she leaned forward.
If it wasn't for the deadpan expression she wore, one could assume she was genuinely eager to know who the newcomer to her abode was.
"Oh. I'm Ruby. Who are you?"
That question was answered by Roman's screech.
"MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINT!"
Ruby and the girl in question both turned their heads to glance at Roman, who currently had melted candle wax all over his clothes, chest and face.
The green-haired girl turned her head back to Ruby.
"I'm Emerald. Why are you here?"
Ruby was confused.
"Um, where exactly is here?"
Emerald didn't get the chance to answer as Roman swiftly marched over and grabbed Emerald by the collar of her dirty rag shirt.
"Mint," he seethed with pure rage.
"You did this to me."
Emerald didn't even flinch as Roman crouched down and pulled her in, eyes wild.
"Your last name is Torchwick, isn't it?"
"It's NOT! Will people stop calling me that!"
"I just thought I'd help you become your namesake is all," she deadpanned.
Ruby could only watch on in a mixture of confusion and slight fear as Roman screamed again.
The loud ruckus was enough to get the rest of the building's residents attention it seemed, as the door opened to let in Neo and Melanie. Miltia came in behind, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.
"I didn't know we owned a donkey," breathed Melanie as she cracked her fingers and neck.
"Loud, isn't it," giggled Miltia.
Roman dropped Emerald and rounded on Melanie.
"You promised you'd keep this she-devil off of me today," he growled lowly.
"I lied," deadpanned Melanie, only for her eyes to widen in shock, before she burst out into laughter.
"Ah-ah-ahahahahaha. Why do you look like a clown," she wheezed.
Miltia, confused at first, soon joined in once she properly glanced at Roman.
"Ohhohoho. Now you look like an actual candle now! Hahahaha!"
Emerald didn't help when she turned to Roman and spoke in a monotone voice.
"See. Told you."
Roman seethed unimpressed, the dried candle wax all over his face and body in clear view for all to see..
"Um, who are you people," meekly asked Ruby, holding the blanket up to her as if it were a shield to protect her.
Melanie was the first to stop laughing as she focused her attention on Ruby.
"Oh shit, you're actually awake?"
Roman, for the first time since waking up, turned his attention to Ruby, with a somewhat surprised expression.
"Oh, hey Red. You're awake now."
"Um. It's Ruby," she offered timidly.
"Eh. You're Red to me from now on," dismissed Roman with a wave of his hand, only to glare at the random splotches of wax still stuck to it.
He glowered at Emerald, who remained unaffected.
"I'll not forget this, Mint."
He wheeled on Melanie as he strode forward with loud, angry footsteps.
"And neither will I forget this treachery of yours either," he bit accusingly.
Melanie seemed unbothered, but instantly took notice of him walking out the door.
"Where are you going?" She called.
"To let Hei know Red's awake. After I peel this fucking wax off and wash up," he called out furiously as he exited the room.
Everyone watched the scene, before settling on Neo who was hovering inside the doorway with an amused look on her face, only for her to turn around and follow Roman as he left. His grumbling could be heard down the hallway as he travelled further away.
"Anyway," began Melanie.
"That's Roman. Don't mind him. He's usually this moody and dramatic."
Ruby looked unsure as she clutched her ribs.
A pained cough keeled her over as she clutched her chest underneath the blankets.
"Ah right," began Melanie as she took a seat next to Ruby on the worn couch. Miltia strode and sat next to her.
"You came to us in a hell of a state. When Hei comes, you had better explain to him what happened."
"Mel!" Hissed Mitia disapprovingly.
"What? I'm just saying."
"Yeah, but you don't need to make it sound so ominous. She's still a little kid, for crying out loud. She probably is scared of us right now."
Melanie groaned in exasperation.
"So are half the people in this building. If a question is enough to make her cry, then we really did waste our supplies. What say you kid?"
Melanie looked Ruby straight in the eye, and she felt the urge to squirm under the gaze.
"I'm not a little kid," she muttered.
Melanie snorted, but Miltia cooed.
"Awwww, you're so adorable."
"Am I adorable as well," questioned Emerald with innocent hope in her eyes.
Melanie smiled suddenly and picked Emerald up and put her on her lap.
"Yes you are," she rubbed her nose against Emeralds, who suddenly was desperate to escape from her grip.
"You managed to piss of Torchwick, which makes you super adorable in my books."
"Can you even read?"
Melanie looked offended.
"Listen brat," she growled.
"I've done fine job of raising you so far, books or no books. You can get smarmy with Roman, but not me, ya'hear? And I can read!"
Emerald nodded unconvinced as she finally wormed her way out of Melanie's grip.
"Mmm-kay."
"I'm Miltia," interjected said girl for Ruby's sake.
"That's my twin sister Melanie – " "- And I'm the oldest," nodded Melanie, much to her sister's chagrin who decided to continue otherwise unabated.
"That's Emerald, and Roman left. He's the one who found you."
"Oh, okay."
Melanie let her grip on Emerald wane, and the green-haired girl instantly pulled away and scurried off to a safe distance.
"So, Ruby. What are you doing all the way out here? Where'd you come from?"
Ruby looked uncertain for a second before she began uncertainly.
"I.., I was in the forest camp," she trailed off as the memories began to return to her.
"I was with mommy and…"
Ruby's silver eyes widened like saucers as the previous night's trauma came crashing into her like a tidal wave.
"MOMMY!"
She lurched uncontrollably as tears sprung into her eyes.
Melanie caught her before she could fall off the couch.
Miltia shot her a concerned glance.
"Nononononononono! Where's my mommy!"
The pain in her bandaged wound returned, and this time Ruby acknowledged its existence as physical proof of the events that happened last night were true.
"Tch. Where's my mommy. Who cares," Emerald rolled her eyes.
That only made Ruby cry even more.
"She's my mommy!" Each word was forced through tears whilst Melanie held her uncertainly.
"And she's gone!"
Miltia was remarkably calm.
It didn't take a genius to place her wounds with a missing mother, and put two and two together to paint a potentially upsetting image.
"What happened?" Aked Miltia consoling whilst Melanie shot an annoyed look at Emerald who only frowned.
"They – hic – they…"
"Just breathe kid," instructed Melanie.
"The bad people came! And then daddy…" she trailed off.
"He got killed, didn't he," frowned Miltia sympathetically. The answer she got was not one she was expecting.
"He helped them hurt mommy!"
The twins were taken aback.
As Ruby sobbed and cried, Hei entered the room with Roman by his side, and Neo trailing but a step behind.
"Hells kid, can hear you crying from the other side of the building. Does it hurt that much?"
Hei was rubbing sleep out of his eyes. Roman was sporting a replacement white jacket that was equally worn and battered as his previous, and his skin was now devoid of chunks of melted wax.
It took one look at the room for Hei to suddenly sober up.
Breaking himself out of his momentary stupour, he walked over to the child.
"Hey kid. Nice to see you awake and in the land of the breathing. What's your name, kid?"
Ruby didn't respond, with subdued sobbing being her only answer.
"It's Ruby," offered Miltia whilst Melanie looked uncomfortable being pinned by a crying five-year old.
"So, Ruby," began Hei.
"How are you feeling?"
Ruby's muffled voice came from the blanket.
"It hurts."
Hei sighed sympathetically.
"Yeah, you weren't in exactly great shape when Roman brought you in. Hell, I'm amazed you even are awake right now."
"Not that!"
Ruby lifted her head up to face Hei directly, and it was right then that he got a proper look at her eyes.
"It hurts here…" she put a tiny hand to her chest, and everyone understood she was referring to her heart.
Hei, however, felt his eyes widen in shock as he stared into her eyes.
They were a vibrant silver. Even underneath all the tears, they still shone brilliantly.
Hei stumbled back in shock, and Ruby buried her face back into her blanket, her injured arm hanging limp by her side as Melanie and Miltia tried to console her, one doing better than the other.
Roman didn't miss what happened, and tilted his head quizzically as Hei backed away before ultimately turning around and leaving.
As he began to leave, he called out to Roman.
"Roman. Make sure everyone's fed and that they know their rosters for the day."
"Where are you going?"
"Out the back for some fresh air…"
With that, Hei left.
Roman sighed whilst Neo glanced at him with intrigue.
"This day's just gone to hell," he whined as he ran a finally clean hand down a washed face.
"Alright," he breathed as he gathered his wits and strength.
"No time like the present."
With that, he turned around to where Ruby was and called out in as strong a voice he could muster.
"All right people, listen up! Yes, that includes you lot as well," he glanced at the gaggle of children's heads peeking around the doorway Hei exited from, and the row of teenagers likely behind them.
"Gather up around me! Except you," he glared at Emerald.
"You stay the hell back from me."
Neo silently giggled in contrast to Melanie who shot him an annoyed look.
"And who put you in charge?"
"Why, Hei did," he replied smugly.
"So." His hands clapped together before being rubbed enthusiastically.
"First order of business is food for us all, and that includes Red as well. Gotta stay healthy and all."
Melanie deadpanned.
"We live in the slums dumbass. You're gonna have to narrow down your definition of healthy."
"Well, I'm glad you volunteered," came Roman's jovial tone.
"You and Miltia can go and prepare food for the kids in the kitchen so that way it's brought up to the absolute best standard possible."
"Okay," agreed Miltia without complaint.
"No Mils," whined Melanie.
"Don't agree with him!"
"But it does need to be done," pointed out her sister.
"Ugh. Fine."
"Excellent. And Miltia. Please make sure your sister actually does the work this time and cooks. She'll get fat if she keeps lazing about."
"Oh fuck you!"
"Language!" Admonished Roman.
"We have precious children nearby. How are you supposed to set an example for them with a potty mouth like that? For shame," he tutted whilst shaking his head slowly. Neo mimed he action as well with a disappointed look at Melanie.
"Fine," she grumbled, standing up and leaving a weeping Ruby to clutch her blanket desperately.
"As for the rest of you layabouts, you know your usual duties. I don't care as long as they're done. Ta ta."
And with that, he turned to walk away.
"And what, exactly, will you be doing then?"
He glanced over his shoulder to look at Melanie.
"I'm going to chase Hei up. I trust you can manage without my guidance and leadership."
"Oh sure," she rolled her eyes sarcastically.
"And what then, great leader, about dear Emerald? Hmm?"
Roman froze with wide eyes.
"Uhhhhhhhh. Mint!"
The aforementioned little girl looked up at him curiously.
"How'd you like to make friends with Red?"
Emerald glanced at Ruby who was still crying in denial and grief, before looking back at Roman with disdain.
"Ew, no. I'm not – "
"Perfect!" Roman couldn't help but smile at exacting sweet karma on the little tyrant staring up at him with mounting horror.
"You and Red can become besties! Wait, actually no that's a bad idea," he realised with sudden realisation of the prospect of having two terrorist children tormenting him.
"You just look after her while the big kids and adults do the more important work."
"But I-" Emerald began to protest.
"Thanks Mint!"
And with that, he darted out of the door with a smiling Neo at his side who flashed them all a peace sign.
Emerald pouted whilst Melanie and Miltia stood up.
"Please stay?" she whined.
"Nah. You can babysit the new kid for a change."
"Sorry Emerald," offered Miltia weakly.
Emerald could only watch helplessly as she was abandoned with a kid her age. One that was apparently weak and pathetic in her eyes.
After glancing back at Ruby, she relented with a roll of her eyes.
"Ugggh. Fine."
Roman found Hei standing outside in the courtyard as the sun was rising. His fists were clenched tight and shaking, and his rapid, foggy breathing could be seen in the cold air.
"Hey, Hei. You alright?"
Hei cast a brief sideways glance at Roman before continuing to stare ahead at the slums in front of them.
Roman stepped out into the cool air and leaned against the aging building's wall right beside Hei.
"You want the truth? No I'm not."
"I could kinda tell."
"Then why ask," he snapped.
Roman's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Because I care," he finally admitted.
"Yeah. I can tell."
"What's got you so pissy right?"
Hei wheeled around onto Roman with an accusing look on his face.
"You want to know? Really?"
Roman opened his mouth, but was cut off by Hei.
"Do you have any idea, what-so-ever, of what you just brought into our home?"
"I…?"
"You don't, do you. Well let me explain."
Hei stood tall and glared at Roman.
"I have a responsibility to these kids at the orphanage. To protect them. And make sure that, despite all the hardships we all endure, they make it out as safe as possible."
He leaned in close to Roman's wide-eyed face.
"And you may have just very well undone all that, by bringing that… thing here!"
"Thing?!" Cried Roman incredulously.
"That thing you are referring to is a small kid. One who was in need of help! I did just that! I thought that's what we did around here, was help the stray kids!"
By now, Roman had fury to match Hei's.
"Yeah, well, by bringing her here, there's gonna BE NO KIDS!"
Roman looked confused as Hei stood there panting after his outburst.
"What are you talking about?"
Roman looked at him with defeated eyes.
"Her eyes. I saw them."
At Roman's still-confused expression, he elaborated.
"They're silver. And only a Grimm-Whisperer, a monster, has them!"
Hei turned around to stand next to Romans so his backed was leaning against the wall, before sliding down to the ground, his hands hanging defeated.
"She has the ability to kill every single one of us without blinking an eye, and there's nothing we can do about it."
He glanced up at Roman, who was slack-jawed.
"And you just brought her right into the middle of our home…."
Next chapter: August 7th