Chapter Text
First Meeting: December 4th, Queens
Nancy grips the zipper of her coat as she weaves through the streets of Queens. She had once again overslept and was now paying for it. A warmth radiates from her face as she begins to grow sweaty under her coat. No time to stop and take it off, she couldn’t be late again.
Her dad had kept her up the night before with his yelling and screaming until the early hours of the morning. It was just the two of them, and her dad wasn’t known for being the most savoury person. She reckons she couldn’t have gotten more than three hours of sleep. Though, there was no point in dwelling about that now, She had to get to work before she got told off by her asshole of a manager. There was no time to think about anything else right now, lest she starts crying in the middle of the street. Or worse, lest she starts crying in the cafe again.
Well, that was until a bottle smashes in front of her. Nancy cringes, the sound of smashing bottles was one that was familiar to her, often followed by a slap from her own father. She’s so disoriented that she hears it before she sees it, and she sees it before she registers she’s the cause of it.
“Oof. Watch where you’re going, girly girl. There’s some real characters roaming these streets, you could get in some real trouble smashing up peoples drinks like that.” She looks up at the man she had just run head first into. Dammit. She’s never been the best at navigating the streets, but this was not the time for her lack of coordination to betray her.
“I’m so sorry, I’m really late to work. I just can’t afford to be late again. What were you drinking? I’ll cover you for your next one.” Not that she had the money to do that. She bites her top lip, breathing heavily from her near jog. With the number of times she’s had to run to work, you would have thought she’d be used to this routine by how. He grins at her - whether to be reassuring or whether her sheer restlessness was just that amusing she wasn’t sure.
God, when will he say it’s okay and so she can go.
“Don’t sweat it, sweetheart. And take a breath and relax,” he moves past her to start walking away but manages to throw in a last comment before disappearing into the street, “you’ll wrinkle your pretty face frowning like that.”
Nancy frowned to herself for a second before realising the precious minutes she’s just wasted in a conversation with a man she didn’t even know. She should’ve just kept walking like the rest of New York would have. She sets off into a run to try and make up any of the seconds she just lost. Whether her face was hot and forehead damp from the run or the man’s random compliment was anyone’s guess.
Nancy just about slides into the doors of the cafe when she arrives. One minute to spare. Her boss won’t be happy, but hopefully he also won’t be too mad. Quickly, she speeds into the back and takes off her coat, fanning herself and taking deep breaths in an attempt to catch her breath.
“What’s your excuse this time, Nancy?” She heard from behind her when she whips around to see David, her boss, glancing dramatically at the clock on the wall. 9:01.
“I’m barely late, David. I have plenty of time to set up before opening. Please don’t be mad, I’m really sorry. It’s just been a rough few days.” Nancy begged. At this point, her apologies were hollow but she needed this job. She needed to keep saving up so she could get away.
“Don’t take that tone with me, Nancy. At some point it stops being a rough few days and just becomes a lack of responsibility. Just get set up. Don’t open late and I’ll consider letting this one go.” He says before turning around and leaving to go sit in the back. So much for help. The power trip he got off of being a cafe manager never failed to baffle her.
“Don’t pay him no mind, Nancy. There’s no point wasting precious brain power over him.” Nancy heard the voice of her co-worker, Deborah, behind her. Thank god it wasn’t just her facing David’s wrath today.
“Thanks, Debbie. I’m just already having a bit of a shit day but I’ll be fine. Let’s get set up before David throws a fit again.”
After the morning rush ended, Nancy finally had a moment to herself. The set up had gone fine with 10 minutes to spare, as she knew it would, really. There was no rhyme or reason behind David’s ire. Well, beyond personal catharsis and being a dick for the fun of it, she supposed. She thought back to her morning interaction with the tall stranger. She didn’t get a chance to process it then, but he was certainly very handsome, and in another life she would’ve spent the rest of the day on cloud 9 over his passing compliment. He had the sharp eyes and long legs she’s always had a bit of a soft spot for. Nancy had always longed for love, but couldn’t imagine dating whilst she still lived at home. She couldn’t imagine having to explain her situation, or even worse, bringing someone to meet her dad.
Once she got out of there, she would indulge her fantasies. Until then, they were to be left for her daydreams alone.
It was dark outside by the time Nancy was allowed to leave. It wasn’t particularly late per say. In fact, it was only 5pm. She was sick of the winter time, daylight savings, and the fucking sun setting before she even had lunch. Sighing, she pushes open the cafe door and steps out, bracing against the cold.
“You know, you really shouldn’t walk the streets alone in the dark like this. It’s not safe for a pretty girl like you. Some asshole might get some funny ideas.” Nancy gasped, whipping her head around as she processed the man in front of her. He was leaning against a lamppost near the cafe, throwing the cigarette butt onto the ground before stepping it out with his boot. It was the man from earlier, she was pretty sure. She’s never been brilliant with faces, less so when it was already so dark and the only light illuminating his features were the shitty dim streetlight he was directly under. Once she got over her surprise, a realisation hit her.
“Are you following me?” She frowned, zipping up her coat as an extra layer of protection and getting ready to run if she needed to. She gripped her house key in her pocket, the only defence between her and the potentially dangerous man.
He chuckled, shaking his head as he turned to face her properly, leaning his arm against the lamp post.
“C’mon, I’m hurt. Why d’ya think so badly of me? What have I done to give you the impression I’m anything other than a distinguished gentleman?” Maybe he was right, but if he did he definitely didn’t look or sound the part. His thick New York accent was clear in every word he spoke. Though, it didn’t sound like it was from this area particularly. Most be new, she supposed.
“Distinguished gentlemen don’t lurk in the shadows trying to talk to girls after sunset.”
“Now, who’s been doin’ that? He sounds like a creep. You should point me in his direction and I’ll teach him a real good lesson.” Nancy breathed a gentle laugh after her breath. Creep or not, she could admit he was certainly funny. A silence came over them as he stood up straight and began walking towards her. Her fingers gripped her keys tighter. “Now that I’ve proved I’m nothing but a trustworthy, respectable fella. What do they call you?” He asked once they were in clear view of each other.
He was more handsome than she remembered. Taller, too. He stood a good head taller than her, and was strongly built. His short hair emphasised the prominent jawline and cheekbones, and he moved with a confidence she’d never seen before.
In response to her silence, he raised his eyebrows, smirking at her. “C’mon, doll face. What’s a man gotta do to earn a pretty girl’s name?” Truthfully, she didn’t mean to ignore his question. A mixture of the exhaustion and how struck she was by how handsome the stranger truly left her speechless, and if she was honest, a little breathless.
“You think I’m pretty?” Nancy wasn’t sure why she was dodging the question as much as she was. It was exciting, the most attention she’s gotten probably ever. She never dared to date, not with the situation with her father always in the back of her mind.
“Haven’t exactly been subtle.” He answered, smirking as he noticed her blushing cheeks and shy smile.
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“And then we’ll get ice cream after school and dance around the playground. C’mon, we’re not kids.” He mocked, but his tone was light. It wasn’t the usual mocking sarcasm she was used to. It felt light and fun, like she was in on the joke rather than the butt of it.
“Fine. It’s Nancy.” She finally admitted, rolling her eyes as she pressed her lips together to suppress a smile from creeping up onto her face.
“Nancy.” He tested the name in his mouth, head tilting as if he was in thought about something. “Good to meet ya, sweetheart.”
There was a shout from behind them. She couldn’t actually make out what was said, but it seemed the man in front of her had. It was as if a thought had struck him over the head as he checked his watch and cursed under his breath. “Shit, I gotta run. I’m late for some business, but I’ll see ya around, won’t I?” He asked, already turning around to leave.
“Wait, I never got your name!” Nancy reached for him to stop him from running off like he did that morning, not even questioning the logistics of him possibly managing to see her again. Despite the freezing temperature, he was only in a vest and tank top. Her cold hand met his arm, causing him to pause for a second when he turned to face her entirely again. His blue eyes were fully concentrated on her face, and it made her feel weak at the knees.
“It’s Riff.” He winked, before pulling his arm out of her grasp, saluting and running off into the night.
Riff. Until we meet again.
Second Meeting: December 12th
Nancy sighed as she entered the flat she shared with her dad. Thankfully, it was past 5pm which means he wouldn't be in. He was likely out at some local dive bar, getting drunk and making a mess of anywhere he was still allowed into. She felt sorry for the bartenders that were going to be the target of his abuse, but at least she had peace for a few hours.
She kicked off her shoes in her room, before going to check the pile she kept under her bed. She had carved spots inside several books to hide the money she was saving up so she could afford a hotel for a couple of months wherever she ended up. She was nearly there. If she was smart and careful, she could be out soon. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if her father found out she was making more than she told him, let alone if he found out what she was planning.
Sighing, she moved to complete her usual routine of placing an empty bottle in front of her door. It was her security for if her dad came into the room, the glass would be knocked over and would wake her up.
Less than two weeks. That’s all she had to do.
Luckily, some angel from above had blessed Nancy because her dad hadn’t come home that night. There was a brief moment of panic as she saw that the sun had risen, suggesting she was going to be late yet again. However, she quickly realised it was a Wednesday, and the cafe was closed on Wednesday. She sighed as she cuddled back into her sheets. She couldn’t stay here long. She had to get out as quickly as she could to avoid running into her dad, but she was appreciating the lie in for once in her life.
She double checked her door to make sure the bottle was still lying there. Lo and behold, it was. So she dangerously let her eyes flutter shut and she dozed off once again.
The front door slammed open, ringing through the small apartment and making Nancy jolt awake from her bed.
“God fucking dammit. Nancy. Thought I fuckin’ told you to throw out your shit.” Shit. Shit, shit, shit. He’d told her to remove all her stuff from the living room a few nights ago, but she’d forgotten amongst all the chaos. Not that any of this was new, really. Her manager’s words from the previous week had echoed in her brain - at what point does it stop being a hard few days? She’d slept for far too long, and now she’d have to face her dad’s abuse. How stupid could she be?
There was only one solution now - through the window.
She jumped out of bed. This wasn’t an unfamiliar routine, and she moved quickly. She stripped with record time before throwing on the closest dress she could find, only managing to zip up the side halfway before giving up. She picked up a pair of socks next, and stuck her feet into her shoes. She hated the feeling of bare feet in shoes, but that was hardly her priority when she was about to be faced with her dad’s abuse.
“Dammit, Nancy. If you’re in there and ignoring me, I swear to God.” His stomping steps drew closer. Luckily, he was always slowed by how drunk he was when he got in. Turns out small hallways and big drunk men don’t tend to mix.
She grabbed her coat and threw open the window, hopping out onto the fire escape. She gently closed the window and quickly ran down the fire escape. Luckily, they weren’t high up and she was halfway down the stairs when she heard the familiar sound of the bottle behind her door shattering as it hit the wall.
“Swear to God, that girl is fucking useless. Can’t even keep this place clean. Fuckin’ useless.” He slurred. She was sure he was probably inspecting the room but didn’t have time to think. She ran into the alley closest to her house when she heard a whistle from the other end.
She jumped, gripping her coat tightly in her hands until she registered the familiar voice. “Golly gee, sweetheart, are you following me?”. It was Riff. How was he always everywhere?
“Very funny.” She huffed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand whilst trying to listen intently to her dad. She could hear him opening the window, and he continued to yell. She winced, imagining the last of her personal belongings being smashed up.
“What’s gotten into you, doll? Your frowns graduated, soon it’ll be popping out babies.” He teased, stepping closer until he registered the true panic on her face. “Hey, ya okay? Did something happen?”
She always dreaded the question when she was caught out like this. But she sighed, nodding towards the apartment.
“What? That your boyfriend or something?” His brows furrowed, not quite picking up what she was putting down.
“Ew, no. That’s my dad. He’s just like that sometimes. But I’m going to get out soon, so you don’t have to worry about me.” Nancy sighed, finally starting to feel the breeze and moving to put her coat back on.
“Who said I was worried?” Riff questioned, eyebrows raised as he moved closer to her. “Can’t blame me for thinking that when you’re only half zipped.” At that exact moment, he pulled up her zipper the rest of the way. Nancy gasped, she hadn’t even noticed his hand was there, or that he was even that close. Her cheeks heated up and her heart refused to slow down from her run down the fire escape. Or maybe it was something else.
“Thanks.” She breathed the words, putting her coat on anyway and moving to make some distance between them.
“Your pa, he always like that?”
“He didn’t use to be. He went a bit mad after my mom passed, never recovered once it was just us two, I guess.” Nancy hated explaining herself. She supposed it didn’t matter anymore anyway, she was leaving. She was. There was no other option.
“Haven’t got anyone else?” She shook her head. No, hadn’t she just made that clear? “Gee, girly, you’re tougher than you look. Maybe you should be the one giving me tips about street smarts. Seein’ as a pretty girl told me I was creepin’ on her just last week. Can you believe that?” He teased, referring back to their conversation.
“Wow, who could say such a thing? Doesn’t she know hanging out in dark alleys is all the rage nowadays?” Nancy felt better already, grinning from ear to ear. She liked talking to Riff, he made her feel light and carefree. Maybe it was the way all his worries seemed to slide off of him without care. He couldn’t have been much older than her, mid 20s maybe. “Are you from around here?” She asked, trying to shift the subject back to him. She felt like he knew so much about her already - where she worked, where she lived, her family situation. She didn’t know anything about him.
“Why? Wanna wine and dine me?” It seemed every question always had some kind of quick comeback. She wondered if he’d ever had a normal conversation in his life. “You’re smarter than you look, doll. Nah, I’m from the West Side. Just here to make some deliveries is all.”
The West Side. Manhattan. She’s heard about the gang violence there, but if everyone roaming the street there was like Riff, maybe it wasn’t so bad. Maybe Manhattan would be her target.
“Is it nice there?” She asked, trying to fish out information. It was hard to get information about anything and anywhere out of the people around here. She knew a lot of people went to Manhattan trying to start a new life, maybe she could do the same.
“It’s home.” Nancy had no idea what that really meant, but went on with her questioning anyway.
“How do you get back there? Like, how do you get there from here?” She questioned. Fuck subtlety at this point, she needed out and she was going to get her information one way or another.
“You’re forward, doll. Tryin’ to stalk me all the back to my house? Most girls wouldn’t be so brave.” Nancy just stared at the man in response, she’d run out of quips and just wanted information at this point. Raising his hands in defeat, he continued. “Icy. You’d fit right in. It’s just the subway. Surprised you didn’t know that, maybe my compliments were premature.”
“I’m surprised you know what that means.”
“I’m full of surprises, doll.”
“And how much?” She was beginning to fill with hope. 50 cents? A dollar? She could go sooner than she thought. Granted, she wanted to get further away than that but it would be a good start.
“How would I know?”
“You said you’ve taken it?”
“You think I pay? That’s cute.” He smirks, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep inhale. Nancy had used to smoke, but quit to help save money. “But I know it’s not gonna cost you much, a dollar or two, if that.” A dollar or two. She could do that.
“Hey, thanks for the info. It’s gonna help a lot.” She smiled genuinely for the first time in a while. She realised at that point, with the distraction of conversation, she hadn’t noticed her dad’s tantrum ending.
“Help with what, sweetheart? You thinkin’ of visiting us on the West Side?”
“Actually, I am.” Riff’s eyebrows shot up. It was rare that he was actually caught off guard but Nancy had managed to do that repeatedly since they first met.
“Well, you’ll give me a ring when you manage it, won’t ya?” Riff winked, putting his coin back in his pocket. “Or maybe I’ll come pick you up.”
“Pick me up? I don’t even know when I’m going, how will you?”
“I have my ways. Catch ya later, doll. And you give me a shout if your pops starts causing trouble again.” He stomps out his cigarette, before brushing past her and once again, disappearing into the distance.
Who on earth is this man?
Final Meeting: December 25th
Nancy sighed. It was the day. Her dad was always drunk all day on Christmas. This was the perfect plan. She gripped the straps of her bag tightly in her hands - it was only a small backpack with the essentials. She figured she would be moving around a lot, no point in weighing herself down.
Or so she thought it was the perfect plan, when she heard her door open. There her dad stood, clearly as drunk as he normally always was.
“Why’re you dressed like that, Nancy?” He slurred, squinting to try and clear up his vision. “What’s in that bag?”
Nancy took in a deep breath, clutching the backpack tighter until her knuckles went white.
“Daddy, I’m just going to the shops.” She whispered, swallowing and slowly inching closer to the window. She’d left it open, ready for escape.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Nancy. Where are you going? Going to meet a boy? No surprise, you’re living up to your slut of a mother.”
“Please don’t say that to me, daddy. I’m not going anywhere. Here, are you hungry? I’ll grab us some food. It’s Christmas day, we deserve a meal! My treat.” She tried to put on a fake smile, but she couldn’t hide her heaving chest.
“Nancy, Nancy, Nancy. Knew you were a useless whore but didn’t realise you were a liar too.” His eyes narrowed, making his way towards her. She turned quickly to escape out of the window when she felt her dads strong grip pull on her backpack. She held onto the window frame with all of her might but she couldn’t overpower him. She never could, and still couldn’t.
“Daddy, please! I’m sorry! I’m not doing anything, I promise! I’m sorry!” She shrieked as she fell onto her back. Nancy felt tears roll down her cheeks as she attempted to get up, her backpack significantly shifting her weight of gravity made it harder. “Daddy, please believe me!”
He growled, kicking her back down as she managed to get to her knees. “Stop fucking lying and I might keep this to a minimum.”
Nancy screamed as she managed to wriggle free of her backpack. She dodged her father’s foot coming down on her back, catching her in the side instead. It winded her. She clutched her side, reaching for her bag and running for the door.
Nancy managed to escape her fathers grasp, running for the front door. She had a few benefits over her father - she was fast, and more importantly, sober.
“Daddy please understand. Please stop.” Her hands were shaking as she attempted to unlock the apartment. Fuck, the key normally in the door was gone. It was one that required a key just to unlock. Her hands were shaking violently as she saw her dad come closer, grabbing her keys from the pocket of her coat and struggling to unlock the door.
She ducked as she felt the breeze of her father’s fist flying past the back of her head, when she heard his body fall backwards.
“She’s not gonna fight you. How about you fight someone who will?” Nancy paused as she heard the familiar New York accent behind her. Riff. She just about turned around in time to watch Riff’s fist come into contact with her dad’s face.
“Who the hell are you? Get outta my house before I call the cops.” Her dad spit the blood in Riff’s face, attempting to wriggle out of the taller man’s grasp.
“And what’cha gonna tell them, buddy boy? That you’ve been beating your own daughter black and blue? Come on, pick on someone your own size for once.” She watched as Riff threw her father against the wall, his fist quickly coming into contact with her father’s stomach.
“Fuck you.” Her dad was wheezing on the floor. She hated him, but he was still her dad. She turned away and stuck the key in the door, ready to escape. The final sound she heard from her dad was a crunching of bones before it went silent. Turning around, she noticed his heavy breaths. Okay, thank god, she thought, he’s not dead.
“Leaving without a thanks, doll? Didn’t take you for a rude girl.” Riff teased, wincing as he stretched out his knuckles.
“No, n-no. Just- it’s just one of those doors where you have to put your key in just to to unlock it and-”
“Relax, girly girl. I was jus’ playing.” He laughed, stepping over the passed out body. It was as he was approaching Nancy, he noticed how aggressively she was still shaking. “Hey, now actually take a deep breath. C’mon. You’re okay now, he’s not moving anytime soon, and if he does I’m here.” His hand landed comfortingly on her arm, bending down to look her in the eye. “You’re okay, trust me, I’m pretty strong y’kn-”
He was cut off as she suddenly wrapped her arms around him tightly. She was sobbing into his shirt, his leather jacket gripped strongly in her hands. Riff’s hand landed comfortingly on her back, the other one going around her waist.
“Thank you.” She sighed, finally pulling away after a minute. She wiped her nose and looked up at him with red, swollen eyes. “Sorry. That’s pretty disgusting.”
“Ruining my nice shirt, doll.” He grinned, pulling away from her and making her giggle gently. She took a look at his tattered tank top, with rips and stains all over it. “What? You don’t think I look nice?”
Nancy rolled her eyes playfully. Was he ever serious for once in his life?
“C’mon, I’m walking you to the station.” She blinked. So much had happened in the last five minutes, it was all so much to process. Plus, she was still winded from her father’s foot in her side earlier. Shit. She checked the side of her dress to find it stained with her father’s black shoe mark.
“You’d do that for me?” She smiled regardless, deciding she just could not care what she looked like right now. Not when she was literally a few steps from freedom.
“Doll, I’ve just knocked out your own dad for you. Besides, I did warn you, the streets are full of creeps.” He reached around her, opening the door and gesturing outside. “After you, sweetheart.”
Nancy smiled, stepping outside. The first step to the rest of her life. She took one last look behind her, tears welling up as a bittersweet feeling grew in her chest.
“Goodbye, daddy.”