Chapter Text
"Is everything ok? Over."
Vasquez raised the walkie talkie up to his ear as he packed his things and began walking towards the subway. "Yes Master Remy, the Greens have just entered the subway, I am following them now. Over."
"Oh, cool cool. Over."
"By the way Master Remy, did you remember to take your vitamins? Over."
"I'm about to take them now. Over."
"Good. Over."
"Thanks again for doing this Vasquez I know it's been hard on you-uh oh, violin teacher's here. See you when you get home. Over."
Vasquez nodded. "Stay safe, Master. Over."
The bodyguard slid the walkie talkie back into his pocket as he neared the subway steps. He'd be lying if he said he was enjoying this. He'd been watching the Greens for weeks now, and still nothing. His protective instincts were screaming at him to race home, but he ignored them just like he did every Halloween and forced himself to keep walking. His job was to protect the Greens right now, and the subway was a breeding ground for danger.
"Everyone hang onto your stuff cause we ain't going back if any of y'all leave anything." Gramma barked as they walked the Subway, weaving through the crowds of people with as much haste as the little breathing room could permit. "I'm not spending any more time in this underground snake pit than I need to."
"Aren't all snake pits technically underground." Chip humorlessly pointed out, his suspicious eyes leaping from person to person that brushed against them as they walked.
Tilly sighed, tightening her grip on Chip's hand. She'd tried to offer Gramma the same comfort ,but the old woman rebuked her out of pride. She'd have to be sneakier next time, Gramma was already upping the complaining.
"Don't worry Ma, we'll be out of here before you know it." Said Papa, adjusting his grip on his bag of Overhauls tools as they boarded and sat down. "Heh, guess we should have put everything in the Kludge before Gloria left, oh well home ain't that far."
Tilly certainly hoped so, as much as she liked the rats down here, she had two not so big fans of the Subway sitting next to her. It was like being crammed in between two ticking time bombs, only question was who was gonna blow first?
Chip gritted his chipped teeth, his sandaled feet edging themselves to their tippy toes as the train rocked. Tilly's eyebrows drooped as she scooted closer. She'd almost rather Gramma blow, whenever Gramma blew up she just got angry and started waving her cane around like mad. It was never anything Papa couldn't calm down with a couple of back rubs.
Speaking of, Tilly smiled in sympathy as her Papa edged away from the end of their seat when a group of men and women filtered in through the doors. One thing all three of her current companions had in common was their need for personal space.
Tilly took a deep breath to take her mind off things, and began preemptively rubbing her Gramma's back as the subway doors finally closed and they left the station.
There actually weren't too many people in their car- just the group sitting across from them and a man in a trench coat standing towards the back-, most had chosen to ride up front, so maybe this wouldn't turn out too bad after all.
"~Buy your dad, forever and ever, and ever~"
Uh oh, maybe not.
Tilly's eyes popped wide as they wandered over the bluetooth speaker sitting beside the gaggle of young adults that came in earlier, all rocking their heads back and forth to the beat. The picture might've been comical were Tilly not preemptively tensing as she turned back to Chip.
The blonde's face stilled for half a second in horror, before he forced a smile as he noticed Tilly staring.
Tilly bit her lip. "Maybe we should change cars?" There was at least one behind them that was actually empty.
Chip just tightened his fake grin, going as far as to try and wave her off. "Psh, Whaaat? Why would we need to do that?"
"Are you sure Chip?" Papa cut in, leaning over Gramma. "It's really no proble-"
"I"m fine Bill.." Chip replied without separating his teeth. "I can handle it."
"Whatever." Gramma said as she crossed her arms. The song had thankfully ended by then, only to be replayed almost immediately.
Tilly sucked in a breath. Ok, not good ,but she'd seen worse. She just had to keep a cool head.
'After all, if I can convince Gramma to ride an elevator, I can keep anyone calm.'
Tilly smiled at her own comforting thought as she kicked her legs back and forth. "I know let's play I spy. I'll go first I spyyyyyy-whoa!" Tilly yelped as a flying football hit the window above her and bounced back onto the train floor.
The gang cackled to each other as one of them poked out to fetch the ball, they went back to throwing it amongst each other, not even bothering with an apology.
Chip's smile finally faltered, and he threw both hands into the air. "Hey! Are apologies just overra-..."
Chip trailed off to himself as he caught sight of the nervous glance in Papa's eyes. He forced out a sigh, gripping his khakis. "I mean uh, what-evs."
The gang didn't even seem to notice, too wrapped up in their game of subway keep away.
Both Chip's eyes were twitching at this point, never a good sign.
Tilly realized she had to do something quick and leaned forward slightly looking to Gramma for help. The old woman huffed, rolling her eyes as she nudged Papa.
"Bill, this loud music is messing with my hearing aid, let's move cars."
"I understand Ma." Papa sighed, as if in tune with her and Tilly. "Alright everyone stand u-ah!"
The football came flying back again ,but this time it was headed for Gramma, or it would have been had Gramma not immediately deflated it with her sword.
"Hey!" One of the ruffians barked, stomping up to them with a scowl on his bearded face. Tilly looked up in time to see Chip's face go pale.
"Thanks a lot! We have a perfectly good extra ball and you were clearly acting in self defense,but still!"
Gramma huffed, obviously unfazed as Bill held Tilly and her's shoulder whilst Chip tightened his grip against Tilly's. "Sorry, maybe next time you'll learn not to aim for an old woman."
The man narrowed his eyes as the rest of his group seemed to take notice. "Are you mouthing off to me Grandma?"
Gramma's gaze flattened sarcastically. "Took you long enough to figure it out. And it's Mrs. Green to you."
The rest of the gang scoffed as they came to stand behind the man. Their leader gritted his teeth. "You-"
"Ha, your group isn't scaring no one sweetie." Gramma chuckled, only to still as the man's face twisted into a menacing snarl, and he reached for his pocket.
Tilly's pulse shot up tenfold and Papa seemed to be on the same wavelength, he scooped his big arms around everyone and ushered them to stand behind him as their adversary pulled out a pair of brass knuckles. In the corner of her eye Tilly watched the trench coat wearing man edge closer, barely a foot away now.
"Everyone get to the other car now." Dad ordered without hesitation, ushering them away from the danger. Chip's hand was shaking at this point and Tilly might've felt sympathy were hers not shaking as well. Gramma held her sword out protectively, an obvious threat were any of the gang members to try and follow.
"Ha!" Their leader laughed. "Yeah run away you bunch of chickens."
"Yeah!" One of the lackeys laughed, and as final parting gifted threw their other football right at them.
Tilly's eyes widened, it was headed for Chip.
"Watch out!" Sacrificing herself for the great or good Tilly shoved up against Chip's legs causing the blonde to tumble out of the way.
The ball smacked against her face instead, causing her to fly up against the door.
"Tilly!" Papa yelled as he rushed to her side. Tilly moaned, rubbing the spot where the ball hit. She winced, already feeling the oncoming headache, her mouth was hurting too for some-
"Oh boy." Tilly's eyes widened as one of her front teeth came loose and fell to her palm. "Seems I've lost a tooth Papa."
Her father gasped holding her close protectively whilst the gang and their leader went back to their game of keep away, laughing like a pack of hyenas.
Tilly sighed, Gramma had rushed to her side as well, already petting her head and promising many a feel better butter biscuits when they got home.
The only one who hadn't joined the huddle was Chip. He stood to the side, both eyes wide and blown out, his mouth curved in a blank, unreadable frown as he stared at Tilly's tooth holding palm.
Tilly frowned. "Chip?"
He didn't so much as blink, instead reaching into an Overhauls bag and pulling out the new hammar Papa had bought.
"Excuse me." Chip said, not even bothering to face them as he walked towards the gang.
Papa's eyes widened in panic as he reached out his hand. "Now wait Chip-"
Suddenly Gramma's hands dove over Tilly's eyes as the sounds of unfolding carnage filled the subway car.
"Oh..my cripe.." She heard her Papa say over the sounds of pained howls.
"Okay ,but who taught boujee boy to use a hammer?"
Vasquez raised an amused brow as he watched Chip Whistler, the same man who had cowered behind his lackeys last time they met, ruthlessly bash the front molar out of a muscle headed ruffian, who was now weeping on the train floor for their mother.
The bodyguard had been seconds away from doing something similar, when Chip suddenly waltzed up to the one who had thrown the ball at Tilly, tapped him on the shoulder and bashed his teeth in with the hammer, causing the entire train to erupt into chaos.
Vasquez probably should have intervened by now, but…well…
"Okay let's see, that's, one,two,three, four,five…huh." Chip put a finger to his bruised cheek as he looked down at the handful of teeth he'd collected thus far. "That's weird I could have sworn there were seven of you."
"Ah I gotta get out of here!" One of the lackeys cried as they tried to escape to the other cart.
Chip smiled. "And bingo was his namo." The blonde began walking towards the cowering delinquent. "H-hey man stay back! I'm serious! Stop right now!"
"Eh, you'll get over it." Chip replied with a shrug as he raised the hammer yet again, his shadow casting a vivid display against the dreary subway windows.
He'd be completely shell shocked in disbelief, if…well if he hadn't been watching this strange family for the past few weeks now.
Vasquez couldn't help ,but smirk as he stood back. His stop was coming up anyway.
Gramma finally saw fit to uncover Tilly's eyes as Papa made them flee to the other car, shutting the door tight behind them.
Chip's shirt was torn in many places, one of his sandals was missing, and Tilly was pretty sure that was dried blood staining his forehead, but he continued to smile, hands on his hips like he'd just answered a trivia question correctly.
"Wow, talk about a fun ride, am I right?" He laughed, elbowing Papa. Her father actually flinched, eyes still akin to a deer in headlights. "Oh and here's your hammer back Bill." Chip said as he tried to hand Papa the tool, a couple of drops of blood still staining the handle.
"Oh whoops, I can wash it when we get back." Chip apologized, placing the hammer in her father's open hands.
Papa shook his head, face still frozen. "Don't worry about it."
Vasquez sighed as he fixed his master's supper of grilled chicken and green beans. The boy was hopping excitedly up and down as he poured his own water; he'd finally convinced Vasquez to let him do it, after months of begging.
"So, Mrs. Shift is all like this piece is in C major and I'm like actually if you could adjust your eyes you'd see it's actually in G major."
Vasquez smiled as he sat his master's plate on the table. "Very good Master Remy…..I think I'm going to stop watching the Greens."
Master Remy almost choked on his chicken, and Vasquez had to give him several hearty pats on the back for good measure. "W-what?"
The bodyguard sighed. "I know you're worried ,but I promise you Master Remy. They're doing fine."
"Vasquez you don't understand, the Greens need a protector!"
Vasquez sighed, rubbing the boy's head. Self-sacrificing as always.
"Actually, Master Remy… I think they already have one."
"... I swear I've never seen anything like it.." Bill guffawed, the water in his glass rumbling as he jostled the table with his arm flailing. "And I don't usually swear so you know it was bad."
Mr. Whistler's eyes widened as he sat across from him, what a coincidence he visited just as they got home and Chip had already left for a walk (this time Bill was more than willing to let him go by himself.)
"It was like he just…"
"Went completely berserk." Tom finished for him as he took another sip of water.
Bill gripped the edge of the kitchen table as he nodded along. "Like he was possessed."
"Yeah…I know what you mean." Mr. Whistler sighed with a head shake, a far away look in his eye. "Last time I saw him like that, we got t-boned by some guy on his cellphone. The guy got out and started yelling at us that it was our fault for being in the way." Tom took another sip of water. "Chip ended up going to the hospital for a broken rib, he went for three…and a concussion..eh you know, fun times."
Bill didn't know what shocked him more, the story or Tom's flippant description.
"I'll tell you one thing, he don't get it from me." Mr. Whistler continued. "I figured that out one night when I came home from making deliveries, and Mallory's curled up on the counter crying because 'she's a monster.' I started prodding her about it and she tells me this group of delinquents that had been loitering around the store for a few weeks, were picking on Chip apparently, and one of them pushed him against the wall too hard and knocked one of his baby teeth out."
Mr. Whistler shook his head as he swallowed down some more water. "She said she didn't know what happened next, all she saw was red and next thing she knows they're running out the automatic doors with their tails between their legs and she's got a patch of someone's ripped out hair in her hand."
Bill didn't think he'd ever received so many answers and yet so many questions at the same time.
"Aw yeah!" Cricket cheered as he proudly waved around the tooth the dentist had pulled out and hopped onto his hammock.
"Guess who's gettin' some mon-ehy tonight!"
"Aw, that's nice." Tilly agreed as she straightened her covers out and…slid a half a dozen teeth beneath her pillow.
Cricket blinked
"Night brother." Tilly sang as she got to snoring.