Chapter Text
“JANZOOOO!”
Talon shot up in her bed, startled, hand already around the handle of her dagger. Once the initial shock of the waking world wore off, she sagged and flopped back into her bed, rolling her eyes. Mistress sure knew how to shake the floorboards. The way she called at Janzo like a dog made Talon’s stomach churn. Anger simmered under her flesh - a familiar sensation. She knew that saying anything about it, even to Janzo, would only be a mistake. She knew Mistress’ kind. They never saw anyone but themselves as human, and there was no changing that.
Talon listened as Janzo’s pounding footsteps echoed up the stairs from the basement. Soon, the sound of the Mistre
barking orders and insults at Janzo rose above the drunken chatter that was typical of the hours before the dawn. Talon rolled over in bed, trying to block out the sound. After her escapade to Gallows Peak with Janzo, it was even harder to keep herself from shutting that bitch up once and for all. But she knew it would be troublesome if she stepped in in place of Janzo standing up for himself. He was truly gentle and kind, and she couldn't help but love him fiercely for that, but he would die if he didn't learn to put his foot down for himself.
As if on cue, a new sound declared itself into the night, as Janzo’s voice became rigid as steel. She had never heard him like that before, and it made her heart skip. Janzo cursing the Mistress where she stood must have hushed the entire establishment, because the chatter dropped away to an eerie silence.
Talon propelled herself out of bed and yanked on her jacket, grabbing her sword and practically throwing herself out the door. She was halfway down the stairs when she heard the SMACK of what must have been an entire platter against flesh and bone and glass. Janzo’s cry of pain and shock sent ice through Talon’s veins.
She made it to the bottom floor just as Janzo was backing away from the Mistress, his head lowered in submission and pain, blood and alcohol dripping from his hair. The Mistress had the platter raised once more, her eyes wide with rage. But as she stepped towards Janzo, her eyes where not on him, but flicking to everyone in the room, as they watched with rapt attention.
Talon was sickened to her core, as if her blood wasn’t already black enough. Mistress wasn't even actually angry enough to be hitting Janzo in some blind rage, this was calculated. Just another way to show off the power she pretended to have.
Before anyone could do much as blink, Talon was sliding across the room on her knee, coming up with a fist to the Mistress guy and a sword to her throat. As Talon stood, putting herself between the Mistress and Janzo, she smiled as she saw true surprise flick across those cold eyes for once.
“Move, and i’ll cut your tongue out like the wrinkled bitch you are.” Talon snarled into her painted face, watching the color drain from underneath her pale powdered features.
“How dare you- get out, you hussy! I should have never let you in here you wretch!” The Mistress spluttered, jerking her head away from the blade and dropping the platter as she clutched her abdomen.
“Touch him again, and you’ll lose more than a barmaid.” Talon retorted, Before Talon could move forward and make an example of the woman once and for all, the big guy - Munt, was his name? - stepped in front of her protectively. No doubt another child she’d manipulated.
Talon was pretty sure she could take them both, but a shaking hand around her arm stopped her. She turned, and found Janzo attempting to smile at her, his eyes bloodshot from having alcohol introduced to them directly and with malice.
“Talon, please, just let it go.” He pleaded.
“Both of you, get out!” The Mistress exclaimed, pointing a shaking finger towards the door. “Go back on the streets where I found you!”
Janzo’s head snapped up and he stared at Mistress in shock. He hadn't been expecting this, not really. He had thought it only an idle threat.
“Mum-” He began to beg, and her face twisted into an even uglier facade of a human being.
“I’m not your mother!” She sneered, words laced with poison that told everyone in the room she was enjoying how much the words would hurt. The whole room was frozen, staring at the events unfolding before them with attention so rapt they’d all momentarily forgotten their games and drinks.
Talon knew if they stayed any longer, it could only end in blood. Janzo seemed to be in shock, his tear filled eyes staring into nothingness like the world had fallen out from under him. Talon knew all too well how that felt, so she wrapped an arm around his shoulders gingerly and pulled him away, towards the stairs to her room.
“Come on, Janzo, lets go. We’ll be okay, I've got you. Don't worry about them. It's just you and me now.” She murmured into his ear as they slowly climbed the stairs one step at a time. Janzo stared ahead of him, numb to her words.
She lead a dazed Janzo to her room, glancing behind them to make sure nobody was following. She just had to grab a few things and then they could go. Once they entered her room and she let go of Janzo in order to grab her things, Janzo began to cry, slapping a hand over his mouth to cover up sobs. Talon slung her bag over her shoulder and grimaced, unsure of how to comfort him. She wasn’t good with things like this.
Once again, Talon found herself scrambling to remember what her mother or even her brother might have done in this situation. She hesitantly pulled Janzo into an embrace, giving him what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
“Don’t worry, Janzo. I’m here.” She said, since it was the only thing she knew to be true at the moment. She could only hope it was enough.
“Maybe - maybe if I beg her, get more colipsum-” Janzo’s shaky voice began to ramble, as he pulled away from Talon and tried to turn back towards the door. Talon stopped him, whipping him back around and planting both hands firmly on his shoulders so he wouldn’t be able to look anywhere but into her eyes.
“Janzo, listen to me. They don’t deserve you. They never will. They’ll only keep using you and abusing you until you’re not of any use to them anymore. You deserve to be around people that appreciate how wonderful you are.” Talon felt like this, right here, was the closest she’d ever come to begging for anything since she was a little girl. But she was begging Janzo to believe in himself, at least enough to walk out the door with her.
“I’m not…” Janzo began, trying to shrink into himself as he shook his head.
“You are smart, loyal, caring, funny - dammit, Janzo, you’re the only person i’ve felt safe or happy around since my family died. You need to stop letting other people define you!” Talon insisted, letting go of his shoulders and turning to swing the window open.
“Come on, it’s safer if we leave this way.”
Janzo stilled seemed dazed, but at least he was looking her in the eyes now without flinching. He glanced at her, and then leaned over the windowsill to look at the street below.
“Where are we going?” He asked forlornly.
“I think I know a place we can crash, at least for tonight.” Talon explained as she began to climb.