It was the usual spring weather in Stronghold as Remiel quickly headed home/workspace. While it has been a couple of years since being kicked out of the inner citadel, would it be strange to say that Remiel didn't miss it? While there were some luxuries he missed and took for granted, he didn't mind this life. It wasn't pretty nor was it perfect, but it was better than being his brother's plaything.
However, his uncle Carl has become more challenging as of late. Remiel has tried to detox his uncle plenty of times, the two often coming to blows. The old conversation of "what he should have done" was signed and yelled at him and he would like to not repatch the wall again either.
Remiel doubted he was still served the Military with the way he was. If anything, probably put on the uniform to "work", steal what he could, and go gambling. Usually getting a text from the Casino as a courtesy because one of the security guards there was a friend of his.
Deciding to take a break, he found himself a spot where the rain wasn't angled toward him. His bright hues stared up to the dark ominous sky where it would occasionally glimmer with light. Thunder, he thought and shook some water off of his coat. Allowing his eyes to wander for a little bit to see what was happening around him.
The streets were muddy and not as crowded as it could be. Many had their heads down to keep the rain off their face, some using makeshift protective gear using tape, bags, pieces of a tarp, and whatever else that was water repellent. There were umbrellas scattered about but most have found out that they break way too easily and would be a waste of money. It's funny how behind the wall, where he used to live, it was a common sight.
Remiel's vision focuses on the way the rain hit certain things, like the thin metal roof across the street or the blinking neon sign down the way, how different were the sounds? Did it sound high or sound low? Some of his students have told him that when it hits the sheet metal, it reminds them of a dull bell or like a hammering sound. Again, can't verify, but he appreciates the effort nonetheless.
I probably should get going, who knows if Robert texted me or not about Carl, sighed Remiel and waited for a big enough opening to squeeze himself into. Making sure he was moving at the same speed as everyone else while throwing the occasional shoulder when someone got too aggressive with him.
It wasn't until he reached the safety of his alleyway did he move out of the moving line and reached for the keys. The package inside of his jacket was still dry and that is all that mattered. No sooner did he turn the key to unlock the door, there was a vibration he felt through the door handle. Turning his head, he saw what caused said vibration.
A fight has broken out, nothing new here, but usually he had his uncle around to help break it up. Pushing the door open and closing it, Remiel took off the drenched jacket and placed the dry filter for the water system he created onto the counter. His hand ran through the damp hair with the other checking his belt for what is about to come next.
"You should never turn a blind eye to someone suffering at the hands of another."
Remiel's mother's words played in his head over and over again. There was a fear of him hurting another, but to harm another to save another? It was a rough decision and something that he needed to do. After all, it was three against one.
To whoever you are out there, I am sorry, as he unsnapped the holster. And damn it, uncle, why couldn't you be here this time?
Remiel moved quickly to the door without his jacket and opened it, the rain was warm now, the air humid, and he flicked his wrists as the fiberglass batons extended. Without hesitation, he moved to the first person that appeared to be the biggest threat after a knife was brandished above their head. The man appeared to be in a euphoric state based on the side profile and he noted where the other two were. Holding down the person that wasn't in any condition to fight.
His arms spread out as he brought them together quickly with eyes on the joint of the elbow. The two batons came from opposite ends and connected in the middle and he didn't stop there. Closing the distance as both men slid a little, tripping them, and with a turn of the one baton in his hand, he drove it down onto their chest. Two forces, gravity and himself, drove the other down until the murky concrete stopped them. The baton being given enough force to make it sheath itself.
Flicking a wrist, the baton extended again and made contact with another's face. Catching them in the teeth while rolling away when the other began to move. His clothes were already wet but even he could feel the coating of whatever was on the ground. The one on the ground wasn't moving, most likely won't be, and the other was holding their mouth.
Remiel couldn't see what the other was saying due to them being partially covered by the other, though he was certain they were threatening him. The one holding his mouth spit out bloodied teeth as rage took over his gaunt face and charged him. For Remiel, nature assisted him here. He slipped in the water and Remiel struck him with both batons on the downswing.
Both men weren't standing up and the third one seemed to change his mind and threw the other down as they ran. While he knew that his home and business may get some backlash from whatever gang they were affiliated with, but... A big but that is, they may just be plain muggers looking for a fix.
After a few moments, with both bodies still not moving, Remiel took both batons and slammed them against the side of the building that made them resheath as he placed them back in their holsters. Taking a few steps forward to the man who was injured to help them up and get them to the door of his place where he can patch them up.
You are in good hands, he signed with one hand and took both of their soaked and dirty bodies inside. Shutting and locking the door as the rain washed away the evidence from his step and door as if nothing ever transpired.
Strangely enough Puck loved the rain, both in terms of watching it hammer against a window from a spot safely inside as well as being out in the rain itself. There was something about being surrounded by a storm that just felt so empowering to him. Feeling the way nature still took control of the world however it wished made him feel both miniscule and powerful for he survived each and every one of these natural tantrums that was thrown his way. He knew it was probably a bit strange to think of things that way but he could never quite shake that thought pattern. It was as if it were ingrained within his mind and he had finally come to accept that was just how he was as a person. Not really surprising when he knew he was hardly normal.
Not that normal was all that common around here. You didn’t survive in this world without becoming a little strange, particularly outside the inner Citadel where everyone had everything they could need. But Puck had never been a child of the inner Citadel and his only glimpses of it had come much later in his life, when he’d already learned his strange ways and behaviors to survive. And when he had already made his mark here in the Stronghold in his own way, one that put him at the top of something far greater than anything his child self would have considered possible.
Or perhaps not, he had always been a precocious child and prone to striving for the top. After all you couldn’t exactly survive here if you didn’t have a certain level of drive and he might as well have the most! It meant he lived a life far more comfortable than one would think they could find outside the inner Citadel.
Still, despite his position he wasn’t one to rest on his laurels and let others do his job for him. He could rightfully demand such treatment, send others out to take care of most things, but he never did. Or rather rarely did he do so. He much preferred taking a very hands on sort of deal with these things. Better to get his own hands dirty than to have something mucked up by another. Which is what brought him into the rain today, though one might assume it was for the simple enjoyment of the weather given the bright grin on his handsome face.
The way the rain fell had long since plastered his hair to his head and he couldn’t even feel the way it ran down his skin in rivulets anymore with his clothing stuck to his skin as well. Not to mention the chill of it had taken hold of his skin, leaving him with slightly blue lips but he hardly seemed to care. Since he was moving it was keeping him warm enough to not worry about that. And he had other things to concern himself with, like the three guys who had been following him for a while now. He was just waiting for them to make their move, waiting for them to jump him as they so obviously wanted to. And all the while wondering who had sent them. Which of his enemies was it this time that was trying to take him down. Or were they working for themselves? That would be new and somewhat novel.
What he was not expecting was for all three of them to attack him at once. Defending against one or two would have been possible but fuck him that third guy was a fucking golliath of a man! And he hit just as hard as all that fucking packed muscle would suggest. It snapped his head to the side and already he could feel the bruise forming and the blood trickling from his split lip. But he wasn’t the kind to go down without a fight, already lunging back.
The struggle was intense and short lived, sadly for him it ended with him pinned to the ground by two of the fuckers while the third held a knife over his head prepared to slice him to bits. Not something he was inclined to enjoy and certainly not a position he wanted to be in. But the black eye forming made it hard to see and the repeated knocks to the head had made thinking a fuzzy process at best. And he could feel other injuries rather vaguely, the adrenaline making it hard to fully pinpoint the pain. Something with his ribs and possibly his left hip? He was certainly going to be bruised up and there were a few slices bleeding, something he mostly knew becasue the skin around them was oddly warm from the blood compared to his chilled skin from the rain.
When he managed to look up again the three men were gone and the giant in front of him was offering a hand up. ”Thanks.” He grunted the word out and let the stranger help him, spitting blood from his mouth to the side as he did so. Fuck that hurt and he doubted it would stop anytime soon.
He stumbled after the other, blinking and squinting to catch the signs used before laughing softly to himself. Well now that was interesting wasn’t it?
He waited until they were inside before turning to the stranger and lifting his hands. His own sign was a bit clumsier, a bit slower, from lack of use but it was still a skill he possessed. Thank you for saving me. I owe you one. I’m Puck, what’s your name?
Once inside the safety of his home/work space, Remiel didn't hear the other speak at all. His back remained to them as he dropped his batons on the counter to make a rush to the bathroom. Grabbing a couple of towels, a first aid kit, and a clean set of clothes. Remiel zoomed through the living area where the young man stood and into the kitchen to get a pot of water on the stove to heat up—coming back to them once more to get them to sit on the old sofa.
Draping a towel around the man's shoulders and setting the other on their lap. The first aid kit was opened up before he finally met their eyes. The adrenaline finally ebbed away as he signed to them. Do I have your consent to treat you? Waiting a moment before opening a drawer on the coffee table to take out pen and paper just in case.
My name is Remiel and do I have your consent to treat you? Is there any place where you are feeling pain? Quick and simple. Once things are established, he will get the man some water and go from there.
A part of him says that this person could be just as dangerous as those that attacked him but they needed help. That kindness, in this world, had a ripple effect or so he told himself. So far, it has gotten him far though with his Uncle, it seemed to counter everything he did.
Honestly he was pretty impressed with the rush this young man seemed to be in to give him aid, which was really kind of sweet to see. He was much more used to the kinds of people who would happily stab you in the back rather than the kind of people who would lend a hand. And this young man had done more than a little bit for him! Of which he was very thankful and very much inclined to decide that he liked the guy. And him liking someone was useful, even if they didn’t know ir or need to know it. He had a lot more influence than most thought or ever needed to know! At least in certain areas and he wasn’t above using that influence however it suited him. And this time it suited him to potentially use it for someone else. Though he wasn’t about to let anyone know that of course.
He watched him rush around with a mildly interested look on his face but given the situation he felt like it was okay that he wasn’t quite as with it. He did follow though as he was directed towards the couch. He sat down on it and chuckled. Man this guy was a lot more considerate than most he knew and he was very thankful for that right now.
Yes, you have my consent to treat me. He realized the other hadn’t noticed his attempt to talk to him before in his rush and that was fine. At least now he could show what he could do! Somewhat anyway. His signs were still clumsy and a bit slow but they were at least close enough to be understood. He didn’t bother looking at the paper beyond checking the name and seeing it was the same thing plus another question.
I’m Puck. Nice to meet you Remiel. My lip and face hurt, my ribs and hip on the left side, and I have some slashes across my arms. He went through the list, trying to actually catalogue each and every thing that hurt at the moment. It took him a moment or two to really figure it all out but he was pretty sure he’d hit the big ones. Anything beyond that was bruising and scrapes that he could deal with later on his own.
With a nod, Remiel stood up to go and get the glass of water and an ice pack to help with any potential swelling that may appear on their face later. Coming back rather quickly and handing everything to them. Deciding to sign to them since it appeared they knew a little. Nice to meet you, Puck, and I am just going to clean up the blood and the wounds first and then feel your ribs, okay? Tap my shoulder if anything hurts too much.
Remiel began to set up his make-shift first aid station by mixing rubbing alcohol and water together in a glass before dipping a clean washcloth in it to begin cleaning away the blood. Dabbing it dry with another while inspecting to make sure there was no debris and it was nothing that needed stitches. His hands being the indicator to gauge Puck's pain and discomfort based on how they reacted and would make sure to make eye contact before continuing.
After some time, he was able to clean what he can see before applying ointment and bandaging. When it came to Pucks face, Remiel was extra careful. Setting everything down and lifted both hands to show them that they were now going move to the ribs as he placed his palms against the tender areas. Making eye contact with Puck again and took a deep breath in and exhaled in hopes that the other would get the signal.
While he believed Puck was in the clear with no broken ribs, he still wished to make sure. Once Puck was able to do a few deep breathes as best as he could is when Remiel was satisfied. Pulling his hands back and began to clean up. Would you like more water? He signed single-handedly. Not wanting to leave if he was so he could get them another drink before throwing things away and cleaning others.
The First Domino
Posted 03-20-2023, 10:12 PM
