Chapter Text
Sweat rolled down her neck and back as the summer sun beat down. Even with the cheap goggles and mask protecting her face, tiny bits of dirt, sweat, and grass clippings still managed to harass her eyes. Luna finished mowing the row, shut off the mower, and removed her headgear to wipe away the grime. Just another day, another lawn, and a pittance of pay. But she wasn't complaining. She used to, but the world didn't give a damn.
This yard was done. Some of her crew mates were across the street or next door or at the house on the corner working on the lawns of the tightly packed New York suburbs. Homes to a bunch of morons who were too lazy to do their own work, too lazy to pick out a home that wasn't a clone of their neighbors, and had too much money to care. Whatever, they paid and she got fed. It beat stealing.
Stealing was more fun though.
“Hey, new guy,” she shouted to one of the crew on the same lawn. “You got the time?”
He rolled his eyes. “'Bout 2:30. But why? You gotta go run off and play mommy again?”
Oh, another one of those. Luna sighed and crossed her arms. “Yeah, soon. What? You got a problem with that?”
“Yeah, I do. How about you go back to the kitchen where you belong? This ain't no place for a girl like you.”
Okay, that deserved a reaction. Luna heard the crew around her stop and stare as she marched up to the newbie. The guy was amused at first, but hesitated when she got within inches of him and stared up into his face. New Guy was about a head taller, but she didn't care. He'd just hit the pavement harder when she was done with him if he didn't learn his place.
“What are you trying to prove, girl? You don't scare me.” She heard that slight crack in his voice. Scared? Maybe not. Surprised and intimidated? Yeah, probably.
“Oh really? Do you want me to make you scared?” She smiled. “There's a reason the street gangs don't screw with me or my kid.” He didn't seem to buy it. She brushed her long, sweat-drenched black hair back from her forehead. “So, why don't you apologize and admit you're an idiot and I won't shove your foot so far up your own ass that it'll pop out of your mouth, hm?”
New Guy hesitated. He then frowned and shoved her. Big mistake. He started to say something to intimidate her, but his pathetic, high-pitched yelp from her knee being driven into his groin only amused her instead. A large guy making that kind of noise? Pfft. She didn't want to hear him embarrass himself more, so she quieted him with a punch to his throat. Luna turned, grabbed his arm, hefted him over her shoulder, and slammed him onto his back. She planted her foot on his chest and leaned down low.
“And that's me going easy on you. But next time you touch me or say anything about my kid? You'll be waking up in a ditch somewhere. Maybe with a few broken bones if I'm in a bad mood.” She looked up at the inevitable small gathering of her crew mates and grinned. “So, who had the balls to bet against me this time?”
“You think we're that dumb?” A few of the guys chuckled while some others grumbled as money changed hands. “Only bets were if he lasted long enough to try to swing at you.”
Her grin widened. “You guys are learning.”
“Hey, guys, get back to work! We gotta lot to do still!” She turned to see Big Boss marching over, cellphone in hand. “'Cept you, Luna. Phone call from the school.”
That got her attention. Unfortunately, New Guy- no, New Idiot had the audacity to speak up first. “Yo, boss, you gonna let her get away with this?”
Their employer didn't even give him a glance. “I told you not to mess with her. If you got your ass beat then you probably deserved it. Stop being a pansy and get back to work.”
She stepped off of New Idiot and ignored his groaning while she took the phone. She stepped away from the crew and the restarting sounds of mowers. “Hello?”
“Ms. Hayes?” A voice asked.
“This is she. Something happen?”
“It's your son. He got into a fight again. We need you to come in.”
Luna sighed. “All right. But it'll be a few minutes. I have to drive.”
“You can't get here sooner?”
“I work outside. Until people start putting public teleport pads in their lawns then, no, I cannot get there sooner. Tell the other kid's mom to suck it up and be patient. I'll be right over.” She ended the call before the school could say something else and handed the phone back to Big Boss. “Hey, I need a ride to the school again. Ike got into another fight. Betting it's some bully who got their ego popped again.”
Big Boss nodded. “Let me just make sure the boneheads don't slack off while we're gone. I'll be at the truck in a minute.”
She didn't know why he bothered. If they saw an opportunity for a fifteen to twenty minute break then they were going to take it. Even though the boneheads were stupid for doing that since fewer lawns meant less pay for the day. Whatever, she was getting jipped too because other kids at school were also too stupid to learn not to pick on her kid, so it balanced out in the end.
Luna couldn't drive. No car, no license, no access to teleporter pads, and couldn't afford to pay a ride share. Big Boss understood and often brought Ike to school and her to work. Home was usually on foot. Usually. Either way, she had no hesitation in opening the truck, grabbing her backpack from the rear seat, shoving her goggles and mask inside, and pulling out her jacket. People always gave her looks for wearing the jacket in the summer. But they'd give her more looks for the scars on her arms.
Normally, she didn't care. But the last thing she needed was for the school to judge her for having been in knife fights. Idiots, you didn't fight someone who had a knife without getting cut. And better she be scarred then dead. But, no, their judgmental asses would just see the scars and probably call the CPS or some other bull.
A minute after she got inside and buckled, Big Boss swung into the cab of the old, beater truck and cranked the engine. “Luna, as much as James deserved that ass kicking, you gotta watch it. Sooner or later someone's gonna call the cops on you.”
“Oh, please, the cops don't give a damn about me. As long as I don't punch out anyone who actually has a legal address then they have no reason to give one.” Luna rolled her eyes as they took off down the street. School wasn't far by truck. “And nobody with that kind of money is going to be a mower.”
He gave her a sideways look. “I have that kind of money and I'm a mower.”
“Yeah, but you own the business.” She lazily glanced out the window to watch all the identical suburban homes drift on by. “That's different.”
He rolled his eyes. Most people would annoy her if they did it. But he had enough of her respect to get away with it. “Think of Ike though. If something happens to you then what's going to happen to him?”
“Look, of course I think of Ike. Why do you think I stopped stealing books and got a library card instead?” The whole library system was a hassle, but at least it was legal.
“Because I gave you a job?”
She rolled her eyes as hard as she could. “Besides that.”
“Look, Ike's a bright kid. And you're bright enough to know that he might have an actual future if school goes well for him.” They passed under a bridge and went straight from suburbs to run down businesses. She never understood where people with money got the balls to build right next to poorer areas. “Let's just say, if you get arrested for knocking some asshole out, then I'm gonna be pissed at you for leaving him stranded.”
“And if you don't get pissed then I'll get pissed at you.” They started to pull into the school parking lot. It was too early for the buses or soccer moms to be there yet. “Trust me, if I do anything that stupid, then I deserved to be throttled three times as bad as I did to New Idiot.”
Big Boss sighed as he pulled into a park. He pulled a bag out of his broken console and dug out a wad of money. Luna mentally counted it out at the same time he did. She frowned when he offered it to her. “Well, here's your cut for the day.”
“Boss, that's a full cut. I'm done early. I didn't earn this.”
“A little extra for having to put up with James' crap today.”
Luna crossed her arms. She saw through his excuse. “That's not going to work.”
“Fine. When's the last time you treated Ike?” She frowned harder. “Get him ice cream or a pizza or something with it, okay?”
She had to resist growling as she took the money. Asshole playing her like that... “Fine, but you better not overpay me tomorrow or I'm taking your ass down too.”
“You have a good day too,” he replied as she started to get out of the truck. “And you're welcome for the ride.”
“Right, sorry, thank you. And you too.” As much as she hated him sometimes for pulling stunts like that, the money helped. And she hated that. She didn't need help. She didn't want help. But, whatever, Ike was getting a treat today.
As Big Boss drove off, she approached the school and, making sure nobody was looking, unslung her backpack and hid it behind the bushes. For whatever stupid reason, people made a big deal about her having that instead of a purse. But nobody said anything if she didn't carry either. Stupid.
Getting into the school and everything was easy. She always picked her kid up herself so the staff knew her on sight. And, fortunately, they were used to the stink of her sweat that came with the territory of working outdoors in the heat year round. They were used to the jacket too. So, she got in and got led to the principal's office with no questions ask. Well, beyond the “how are you?” question nobody was ever honest about.
Really, what genius decided it was considered polite to pry into somebody's business as a form of greeting?
Unlike the rest of the staff, Principal Spineless wrinkled his nose when she stepped into his office. He always did when she saw him right after work. The snooty jerk should know by now that not everyone could pencil push in the air conditioning for enough money to own a home with. Whatever, gotta be polite now. At least Ike looked happy to see her, but only smiled and kept quiet. The other kid, who had a bloody wad of tissue held to his nose, just sulked. She thought she recognized him.
“Glad that you're finally here, Ms. Hayes. Have a seat and I'll buzz the secretary to let Mrs. Heauter know that she can come on in.”
Luna bristled, but held her tongue. That's why she recognized the dumb kid. Still, she took a seat and said nothing. It was only a few moments before the lady, who probably just got her fat ass up off her couch and teleported to the school, came into the office. She immediately spotted Luna, stared down her nose, which she pinched, and gagged. “Ugh, such an awful smell. And... are you high or something? Wearing a jacket in early September?”
Ooohhhh, she really, really, really deserved a swift kick to the throat for that one. Stupid doctor's wife was lucky Luna couldn't get away with that. So, today, Luna wouldn't be messing up her excessive make-up or fancy, pretentious clothing. “Well, I'm sorry some of us still do actual work outside in the heat. Yeah, the jacket sucks in the sun, but I'll take it over the sun burns any day.”
“Ladies, please, can we not set a bad example for your sons?” Too late for that. That kid's mom was already a classic example of everything wrong with the world. “Ike, Billy, do you care to explain what happened?”
“Ike... Ike... he- he- he smashed my face in!” The boy whined. Fake whined. As a kid, she was an expert at fake whining, so she could see right through him. “I think he broke my nose!”
Money Leech's eyes went wide as saucers and she wheeled on Ike. “How dare you touch my boy you little mongrel. I-”
No more words, just a deer in the headlight stare when Luna jumped to her feet and gave her the most smoldering death glare she could muster. “How about you let my kid speak before you jump to conclusions?”
“Billy and his friends were making fun of me again. Called me a poor boy.” Money Leech started to say something, but another glare silenced her. “Mrs. Reese didn't do anything, even when they crowded me in the corner. They started shoving me and I hit Billy in the face to make them back off.”
Luna turned to Principal Spineless. “Is that what it shows on the camera?”
“Well I-” He fumbled and then nodded. “Well, yes. But we can't tolerate violence in school, which is why we need to discuss both of their punishments and-”
“Uh, no.” Yeah, that made him stop. “Are you telling me that Ike is getting punished for being shoved into a corner and being forced to fight his way out because the teacher wasn't doing her job? This isn't the first time something like this has happened, either. Do I need to talk to my lawyer-” She didn't have a lawyer. They didn't know that. “-show him the videos, and explain this is what happens in school?” She grinned at the shocked and stuttering expressions on the other two adults faces. “If you don't want me to, then you deal with those little punks. And get my Ike out of that class. I'm sick of that teacher letting this crap go on.”
“And YOU!” She wheeled around and jabbed a finger into Money Leech's face, though fell short of touching it by a few inches. The wench would press for assault if she got touched at all, she bet. “If your kid dares to lay a hand on mine mine again, I swear I'm going to-” Luna caught her words before she said something violent. “I'm going to call the cops myself and we'll see how Billy likes juvie.”
Another glare back at Principal Spineless, who shrunk in her gaze. Dear lord he lived up to his nickname. “So, am I done here?” He sheepishly nodded. “I'm pulling out Ike a little early today. Deal with this mess or I'm talking to someone in charge.”
She could feel the bewildered stares on her back as she led her son by the hand out of the office and out of the school. She paused only to recollect her belongings from behind the bush. Big Boss had gone back to the work site, as she had expected him to do. So, like almost every other day, it was on foot to home.
Once they were away from the school, he looked up to her. “I'm not in trouble, am I?”
“Not at all.” She sighed. “Schools have always been stupid about punishing the victim for fighting back. Luckily, at least the government isn't dumb enough to arrest you for self-defense.” Usually. Unless it was someone wealthy or important. But then you were just screwed no matter what.
”But why don't they do it like the law does?” Smart kid, asking the right questions.
”Don't repeat this, but schools have their heads stuck in the clouds and think the world works one way when it doesn't. They think the world is perfectly safe, but nobody is powerful enough to make it that way.” Not really a conversation she wanted to get into with her kid. Luna had... opinions, to put it nicely. Maybe when he was older, but not now. Maybe it was a good thing Big Boss gave her a little extra money. “But, mommy got paid extra today, so how about we get a nice pizza for dinner?”
”YEAH! Can we get a big one this time?”
”We'll see~”
Honestly, he'd probably be happier with ice cream. But the kid had a bad habit of letting half of it melt into the streets during the middle of the summer, so pizza it was. Besides, pizza meant breakfast was also handled for the both of them. Yeah, that meant she'd have to suffer through his weird pineapple ranch pizza for two meals, but it was food and, more importantly, it made him happy.
Together, they strolled through the suburbs and towards the city proper. They didn't live on the island itself, but rather one of the run down districts not too far from one of the bridges. It was quite a walk, so when they finally hit the pizza place, got their food, and made it home, it was already mid-evening. In a few months, they'd only have an hour or two of sunlight left at this point. Right now? Much more time.
They crossed the streets in the old, empty warehouse district. Not many businesses bothered with this place anymore. Not many legit businesses, anyway. This was gang territory. But the gangs left her alone. They had nothing to gain from her, she didn't get involved in their business, and she had broken more than a few bones when a few of their grunts tried to bother her. She wasn't worth their time.
A few blocks down was home sweet home. It was a smaller warehouse, rotting and falling apart. It was shelter for now and would be until either the law or a gang turf war made her move again. She went inside with Ike and left him to have first dibs on the pizza while she took to the one faucet that still had running water for some reason to clean off the day's dirt and grime. After that? A typical night. She read her books from the library, helped Ike with his homework, and played games with the kid until dark, at which point they'd slip away into a out-of-the-way niche near the rafters to talk until they fell asleep.
If anyone knew the truth, they'd probably be appalled. They'd think it was a crummy life. They'd say they were homeless. They'd try to force her to a shelter. Find Ike foster parents with actual money. Hell, she wouldn't argue life kind of sucked. It was why she was trying to get her kid through school and get him the opportunities assholes had denied her at birth.
But it was her life. It was their life.
“Free help” always had strings attached. And, damn it, she hated the strings and the assholes who held them. Nothing ever good came from tugging on them. Except Ike. She'd never say Ike was a bad thing.
* * *
Luna was jolted awake by the sounds of footsteps echoing in the warehouse. Her movement caused Ike to stir next to her. She quickly covered his mouth, put a finger to her lips, and whispered, ”Stay here and stay quiet. Especially if I have to lead them away like the last people.”
She started to move, but he clung to her and held her. She shook her head and smiled. ”I'll be back. I promise.”
Okay, now that she had him settled, time to see who the heck was barging into her home in the middle of the night. Luna grabbed her knife, tucked it away safely, grabbed two large rocks, crept away from their bed in the rafters, and moved along the top of the one that was both low enough from the ceiling and still attached securely enough to for her to safely climb. It didn't take long for her to clear one of the walls below her into the next room, only to spot two flashlights probing the darkness. The dull, red glow they casted had to explain why she hadn't noticed the lights from the first room.
Time to get their attention and see their reaction. Bracing herself, she aimed one her rocks at the doorway on the far side of the room, steadied, and tossed it. The intruders whirled around and one of them called. “There you are. Come out and make this easy, okay? We're not going to hurt you.”
Oh yeah, sure, she totally believed that. But seriously, who were these guys? Couldn't be the cops since these guys weren't in NYPD uniform. Couldn't be gang members either. The gangs here were all too honest about how badly they wanted to hurt you. No, these were other people. But, they were after her. Or just after whoever happened to live here. Either way, she needed to get them away. And then she needed to sneak back and get Ike away.
After that? Hell, that could wait. Worry about the now.
Okay, time to bust some heads. Jumping from this height would wreck her ankles. So, looks like someone else's bones were going to have to break instead. Luna crept to the middle of the room and threw the second rock back in the direction she came from. The men commented on it, one of them remarking it might be rats or something. They split up. That was going to make it harder. Still, at least one was coming back, underneath her rafter. Luna waited, bided her time.
And then she pounced.
The man probably never knew she was there. One moment, he was scanning the far wall. The next, she crashed onto his shoulders and used him to cushion her fall. Luna tumbled to the ground hard and managed to pull a roll so she didn't end in a heap. Her body complained from the maneuver, but heck if she would listen to it. This wasn't the time to show weakness.
She stood up just as the guy's partner spun around and shined the light on her. One hand had a flashlight, the other hand a baton. “Freeze!”
Luna froze as she saw the man's vest. FBI? What the hell did they want with her? Luckily, the man froze when he saw her draw the knife. But only for a moment before he pressed something and the baton crackled with electricity. A freaking taser baton, great. She could probably hurt the guy, maybe even kill him if she was careless enough (though that was not a good idea), but one hit from that and she'd be down.
If it wasn't for Ike, she'd probably take the risk.
Cursing, she turned tail and sprinted through a nearby door while the guy shouted. She doubted the asshole could keep up with her in a footrace, especially with that body armor. Outrun them, outpace them, get away, and then go back for Ike. Dear god, they better not find Ike. Please kid, please keep quiet.
She burst out into the moonlit streets and quickly debated where to run. She could hide in the other warehouses. Or maybe to the docks? The docks were deep gang territory. Like, that area had actual guards. They'd not appreciate her running through there. But they'd appreciate FBI running around their business even less. Well, tomorrow was now moving day anyway, so why the hell not? She turned and tore for the docks.
“Freeze! On the ground, now!” Okay, when an FBI agent with glowing blue eyes stepped around the corner a dozen feet ahead, could she be blamed for skidding to a stop? Hell, that guy also had a dog's head with a black bandanna on. Wait, what? Oh hell, this was one of those augmented soldiers she saw in the newspaper, wasn't it?
Okay, who was stronger? A homeless vagabond with a knife or an unarmed-but-augmented government lap dog? He was most definitely faster if anything she read or heard about them was true. So, she better be the stronger one. She also better not accidentally kill Loyal Pupper. Otherwise she'd better learn how to live the fugitive life.
No quips or shouts. Waste of time and would draw more attention. Instead, she brandished her blade and rushed him. She caught that momentary look of surprise in Pupper's face, despite the fancy eye glow, but he reacted quickly enough. He lunged. She lunged lower, slipped out of his grip, and slid that blade right up his ribs. Cutting, no stabbing. Cutting hurt more and would be less likely to kill him. Still didn't feel like she cut as deep as she should have.
He hissed as he pushed her and tried to grab her wrist in some sort of fancy martial arts bull crap. Probably trying to disarm her. Idiot left his snout open to a punch, although all it did was make him growl. He let her go and shoved her back. Damn it, she needed to take him down, fast.
She lunged again and this time his arms ignited with something that looked like dull, blue fire as he tried to grab her. Luna's turn to hiss as she felt her skin burn underneath his paws. She swiped him on the belly with the knife. She could gut him easily but, again, not trying to murder the puppy. They wrestled, her ignoring the pain and him trying his best to get her on the ground or disarmed and getting cut more than he should for his effort. Finally, she was sick of this crap, so she sunk that blade right into his shoulder. That yowl told her she didn't exactly pull it out cleanly either, but he at least let her go and stopped burning her.
“You, stop right-” She didn't even give Taser Baton Guy a chance. She didn't even realize he was there until he was grasping his throat from where she punched him. And she hardly kept up with her own instincts when she grabbed him, spun, and threw him into his doggie friend. Pupper caught him with his bad arm and collapsed, yowling all the louder.
Luna allowed herself only a moment to realize she somehow managed to get through that without getting too hurt before she took off. There was no way Pupper had been trying to actually hurt or kill her. Not if that crap she saw in those news reports had any truth. Doggie probably could have exploded her insides with some fancy blue fireball. No matter, gotta get to the docks because who knew how many more agents were here? Three was definitely an unusual number.
Around a corner. Through this small, broken office. Another corner. Over that fence. Was someone following her on the roofs? Hell no, that was movie logic. Keep going. Here, the dark street with the lights nobody ever bothered to fix. Another corner. Two corners. The alleyway and thank god nobody was drug dealing right now. Seriously, though, it sounded like someone was above her. No, stop being paranoid, just take this next corner. There, just a block away, the docks! Just get in there, get into the cargo crate maze, hide somewhere, and either let the gang scare off the FBI or slip away during the gun fight.
She crossed the street. Only half a block. So close. So close!
Oh hell, that was someone on the roof!
A yellow, feline FBI agent dropped down and landed right in front of her. Luna didn't waste and time and lunged with the knife. If she could just sink it somewhere vulnerable and... oh damn it, was his fist crackling with electricity?
Pain exploded all throughout her body as her muscles all decided to seize up and do whatever the hell they felt like. The entire world flashed as she hit the pavement as her body tried to re-enact every single movement they ever did in her life all at the same time. But, even with the electricity, she refused to scream or cry. Damn it, not losing her dignity.
Zap Cat leaned over her and grinned. “I think they chose well, going after you. They won't be happy you injured three agents, but I'm impressed regardless.”
Luna spat. “Go die in a fire.”
“I think I'll pass on that offer, thanks.” Just as her body was calming down, he reached down to place a hand on her shoulder. “But I'm going to have to bring you in. Sorry, but this is probably going to hurt. A lot.”
Electricity surged through every single nerve and convulsed every single muscle in her body. Only, this time, it didn't stop. She writhed in pain as the lightning ripped through all of her senses. She fought it and refused to give him the satisfaction of screaming. She would stare Zap Cat in the eye if her body would let her. She wasn't afraid of him!
Oh god damn it... Ike! No, no, they couldn't take her! She couldn't leave Ike! Or let them take him! Damn it damn it damn it! Luna fought with every ounce of her strength to try to break free, but all it did was bring on the encroaching darkness sooner. No no no no, this wasn't how things were supposed to go! Hell no!
Hell, her senses were all going numb. Damn it! Ike... please Ike, be smart, stay hidden, and get somewhere safe later. Mommy will come back for you as soon... as soon... as soon as she could. Just... stay safe!
Finally, Luna collapsed unconscious.