Chapter Text
12:30 pm, Monday.
Vance Hopper, local delinquent and public menace, was walking down the street after skipping his last and most hated class, fucking math.
He despised that crap, not because he were bad with numbers and shit, the problem was fucking Mrs. Brooke, that old hag whose favourite subject besides polinomiis was Vance’s drug dealer future. Really, he had been seen smoking ONE time after school and now everyone thought he sold meth in his free time.
Well, fuck them. Who needed school anyway? Only nerds needed that shit. He could start a rock band with the other junkies from school (that wouldn’t help the drug-dealer-Vance rumours but whatever) he would make it big and then make a cool concert in these stupid suburbs, to rub it in their faces how wrong they had been. If that doesn’t work he’ll join the military like his dad, nobody looked the wrong way at veterans, even if they beat their wives, like his dad did too.
If his lucky he’d die in combat, and would never have to set foot in this dumb town again.
While on his way to his grandma’s house, he catches glimpses from few bystanders, who seem puzzled to see a kid out of school at this time of the day. Vance only then notices the black, spooky looking van down the street, this one parked just besides the curve Hopper would have to make to get home, he hadn’t seen that vehicle before.
But then spots the Yamada Bazar, a small business belonging to a Japanese family that moved into town before Vance was even born. They had a big variety in almost everything, specially candies, and Vance had a couple pennies he took from some kid earlier, and he was feeling kinda hungry.
Instead of walking straight home, close to the black van, he checks both sides of the street to take note of any cars nearby, and makes a run to the other side of the street, towards the store’s publicity taped door.
He finds said door closed which is a very weird thing, since the open sign it’s right there and Mr. Yamada never closes. He gets closer and overhears shouting from the other side, deciding to finally open the door he finds himself regretting it as soon as he does.
Some guy was holding Mr. Yamada against the cashier’s table by a gun. The asian man had a few trail of tears and a big bruise in his left cheek, he was trembling. The teen realises that he does know who the robber was, an old junkie Vance had seen at the bad side of town a few times sleeping in some park or dark corner, he was named Larry or something, hell knew how his ass had gotten a gun but he was making the most of it, his pants pockets full of dollars, big and small.
Vance was in trouble now, since both male’s attention were on him know, there was only one way to end this, and just like he had known all his life, the best way to solve anything was violence.
“Eyes here motherfucker!” The asshole robber let go of Yamada and pointed the gun at him, surprisingly he did shot but Hopper was fast enough and managed to dodge it, the bullet going through a window and making Yamada yelp.
Vance threw a kick to the other’s leg and Larry was regretting it fast, the moment the junkie’s attention diverged from the threat that was 15-years-old Vance Hopper, the teen took the opportunity and kicked the older man again, this time hard and harsh in his groin.
He was done for, but Vance wasn’t done just yet, he got on top of him and with a single blow the man was out, but Vance was feeling kinda sour that day, and he kind of wanted blood.
A few teeth out later Hopper heard the cops siren coming to the store and suddendly two policemen were holding him away from the drunk, and taking him outside.
“Again, Hopper?” Policeman Barney said, Vance remembered him from that time he was arrested after loosing a pinball game, he recalled fondly that one time the cop had given him half a donut through the cell bars.
“Let me go! I did nothing!” He yelled, fighting against both policeman.
“As if, kid.” The other one laughed, this one Vance did not know, but the policeman probably had heard of him, he was quite popular between cops.
“Wait!” A voice came from behind and a man approached them. This would be the first time Vance Hopper took the time to actually see Mr. Toshida Yamada.
He had black straight hair and a dad-type hairstyle, all short. His eyes were of a dark brown almost oak and he was a bit smaller than most of the older men in town but still taller than Vance himself. He had a kind smile, and dimples on his cheeks, one of them darkened by the assault suffered earlier.
“Sir, this boy is not the one I called for.” Yamada said, taking Vance by the arm with calloused but gentle hands, away from the cops.
“Toshida, you said you were held by gun point, right?” Another cop approached them, he was black and had lectured Vance many times in the past, but Hopper could never remember his name, maybe he would have if he had given Hopper half a donut too.
“Yes! but not by the boy.” Yamada informed rapidly, explaining to the cops the entire situation while Vance stared from behind, his breathing still wild from the adrenaline, hands tainted in blood and knuckles feeling hot, but he stood quiet, Mr. Toshida put a hand on Hopper’s shoulder, firm, and keeping him in place, but not hurting.
“Told you suckers I was fucking innocent.” Vance crackled as the two policemen got inside to check the scene, where like twenty minutes earlier was a drunk laying almost death, just before the paramedics arrived.
The last cop sighed. “Shouldn’t you be in class, kid?” He asks.
“Not your damn business, you ain’t my old man.” The man looks as if he had aged 30 years in one conversation.
“Heavens know I’m grateful for it.”
The asian man smiled. “I’ll watch out for him, captain.”
The officer sighed one last time. “Just take care of that eye, Toshida. And congratulations kid, you sure were the hero today.” and went inside with the others.
some people were staring from the sidelines which made Vance restless, but his focus was then directed towards the store owner, who was grinning at him.
“What?” He snarled
“You are a one of a kind, you know that Hopper?” Mr. Yamada proclaimed. “Son, thank you for helping me today. I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t showed up.”
Vance scoffs, petulant but a bit embarrassed, not many strangers would thank him very often. “Whatever, I was just feeling like punching something, alright?” He also had a no stealing from small business policy that applied to him and everyone around him. If they wanted to play thief they could go to fucking Costco.
“Say, you free on the evenings? I could use a little help in the store.” Mr Yamada said, Vance, on the side, looked at him as if he had grown a second head right there and then.
“Man, I don’t know if you’ve heard what people say about me around this fucking city, but I’m considered bad news, very bad news.” Vance stated clearly, his reputation preceded him.
“Well, today all I got were good news, and thanks to you, boy.” The Japanese man laughed. “But truth is, this is not the first time something like this has happened, while I’m alone at the store, it could really help to get some help. Not necessarily fighting, but calling the police when i couldn’t would be nice.” The father of two said.
“So? I’d pay you 5 bucks per hour, you come here after school and leave at six.” Yamada told him and hopper was starting to like the idea. “I always pay extra hours.”
Pinball thought about it, he could use the money, his dad’s retirement money paid for the house and groceries, but it would be very cool to be able to use warm water during winter and to get a new pair of jeans.
His grandmother would have also been very happy to hear he’d gotten a job.
“Deal.”
They shook hands, Mr. Yamada in a very goofy way.
“You start tomorrow. Until then, is there anything you want from the mini market? You did, kind of, save my life today.”
By the time the bell rang in his school, Vance was already home, with his pockets full of candy and a place to be the next day.