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Thieves Den.
Shuriken’s home.
The place that he vowed to protect. The very reason he snuck out of his shared apartment at night, the reason he sometimes came home injured, and the reason he needed to be so secretive towards his friends and family. Yet, he didn’t regret it at all. In fact, despite the risks he faced, Shuriken wouldn’t have it any other way. He would take Thieves Den over the other regions any day. He would much rather chase someone through overgrown alleyways instead of falling victim to the Lost Temple’s sweltering heat. He would much rather run through quiet neighborhoods than deal with the violence and noisiness of Playground. …And most of all, he would rather take any aspect of Thieves Den over Blackrock.
Shuriken landed onto the roof of the next home, making little sound. Some nights like this could be considered boring. Nothing but making his rounds around neighborhoods and cities, waiting for something to happen. Not that he particularly enjoyed seeing people in trouble, or that he enjoyed the aggression some criminals harbored, but… at least that caused some thrill. He was starting to reconsider heading out tonight— there was hardly anything to do. Sure, he was determined to keep these now darkened streets free of danger. Obviously. But was it really so bad to wish he could have caught up on some sleep? Especially when tonight he really didn’t seem needed.
But really, it wasn’t easy balancing… this aspect of his life with his work during the day. He didn’t want to worry Slingshot or Vinestaff with his lack of sleep, this wasn’t something they needed to concern themselves with. However, as his eyebags grew noticeably darker, they were already beginning to question him. He could only use ‘I just couldn’t go to sleep!’ as an excuse much longer…
…The rancid smell of oil (or whatever it was, he simply couldn’t place it) had ripped Shuriken from his thoughts. Confusion soon washed over him. That was certainly… out of place. Never had something that smelled that putrid come his way—not here. Well, aside from his lousy attempts to cook something for his roommates. But that’s not the point!
In all reality, it likely wasn’t that big of a deal. It was probably just some nasty accident someone in the neighborhood had!
Oh, but even then, it wouldn’t hurt to check it out…
Maybe it was like when you smell smoke in the neighborhood, and you wish to check it out to ensure nothing is burning—or something like that.
Against his better judgement, Shuriken began on his way towards the source.
The constant blares of some kind of alarm (or siren? Or whatever it was, he couldn’t tell!) soon followed that stench. A loud, grating sound, it was. It annoyed him greatly.
Shuriken’s eyes scanned the allies and streets that he loomed over, sandals colliding with roof tile after tile. He had come across a strange couple of things, such as the residue of ice that clung to nearby walls, or the faint scent of something burning. Yet, that wasn’t enough to tell him where he was supposed to go, or if it was even worth investigating this. He would have appreciated, y’know, a sign of life! Like some kind of belonging or the sound of a voice or even just footsteps. It’s not like those stupid, drawn own beeps were telling him anything important.
But there was nothing of use.
He leapt down from the rooftop, taking silent steps further into the alleyway. Perhaps if he actually looked closer he could find something—or maybe he could just continue following the sound. That probably would have been more effective. Whatever.
He ran a gloved hand over the ice coating the wall. Saying it was strange would just be stating the obvious. It didn’t really lead to anywhere, more like it was just in random patches of the walls or ground. Following some of the frozen patches on the floor led to another thing that puzzled him—some sort of parts or scraps. They carried that burning stench, despite some being coated with a thin layer of that ice.
Shuriken kneeled down, picking up one of those chipped pieces of metal, running a finger over it. Clearly it took a beating, as did most other parts he inspected. But, of course, finding this only resulted in more questions. Questions that he was eager to answer. Why were these things here, what happened, why?
…Not that he had time to ponder those thoughts any longer. Those alarms (which he was already awfully tired of) grew louder, paired with the quickening sound of footsteps. Those of which almost sounded frantic, uneven. As if whoever that sound belonged to was missing steps or changing speeds or whatever else.
Of course, as soon as he found something of note, another thing needed his attention. Whatever, at least he was starting to get what he wanted.
Shuriken was quick to follow those footsteps, climbing upon the roofs once more. It was far easier to chase something from higher up. This way, he wouldn’t have to deal with winding streets or people ducking into alleyways or somehow losing them. In short, he could see and keep up far better.
The sounds of the chase came to a sudden halt. Shuriken couldn’t tell if he was relieved or worried. It might have meant a lack of movement, but… what if some innocent person was— I don’t know— getting beat to a pulp or something! And he couldn’t do anything about it!
…He didn’t want to think of it like that.
Shuriken continued on his path, scanning every inch of ground for any other signs of whoever those noises came from. Even just some other patch of ice, some new smell that wasn’t that horrid oil.
But it didn’t take long to find exactly what he was searching for.
A glance down into some random alley allowed him to catch sight of something bright. A bright, candescent orange could be seen from the corner of his eye, before he fully peeked over the side of the rooftop. The blaring sounds had abated, yet those awful smells remained. It seemed like that belonged to those metal beings that he caught sight of.
Biografts.
There were about three of those mechanical figures—ones still standing, anyways— and someone cornered.
This felt wrong. Biograft’s were a product of Blackrock. So why, pray tell, were they here?
His thoughts grew quiet as he heard a voice pipe up, causing Shuriken to crouch down slightly, as if trying to remain undetected.
“Damn you…” the cornered demon spat.
One arm, and perhaps even the side of his face from what Shuriken could see, was encased in that same ice. However, it seemed to be flaking and melting away, similar to the now fading purple of the coils wrapped around his arms. He certainly didn’t look like he was from Thieves Den, just based on his clothes. That begged a similar question.
Why was he here, too!?
Perhaps a more important question was if this guy was okay. He sure didn’t look too hot, not with the crimson trickling from a bleeding leg of his. Based on the scraps he had previously seen… He didn’t have to be a genius to piece together that this man had caused that mess.
The closer Shuriken looked, however, the more that some leg wound didn’t appear to be the biggest issue.
Instead, it could have been the exhaustion that was found in the stranger’s eyes, in his movements. All of those Biograft’s dismantled, and a single wound stopped him? That felt unlikely. This guy just looked strong. It could slow him down, sure, but causing this much of a struggle? Really?
Not that it mattered. Especially not to the Biografts eyeing him like rabid dogs. Not as one of them attempted to strike.
That man visibly tensed up, raising his arms to try to block it.
But that cursed robot didn't even get a chance.
Shuriken landed on it as he jumped from the rooftop, thankfully being enough to knock it down. Shuriken wasn’t exactly some bodybuilder; he was glad that it was enough to topple that thing.
The other two were going to be a struggle. But it ended up being something that Shuriken didn’t have to deal with.
The exhausted stranger took advantage of the surprise, a bloodied fist colliding with a Biograft to the left of Shuriken. It was unfortunate that these things weren’t the easiest to take down—but that didn’t prove to be that much of an issue. Not as the Biograft that had just been struck was subdued moments later. Guess that it didn’t take much for this guy to destroy these things…
The final one was similarly dealt with moments after. The most Shuriken had to do was distract it, allowing the stranger to repeat the same actions and destroy this one as well.
Shuriken lightly kicked one of the fallen Biografts away, taking a few hesitant steps towards the stranger.
He looked bad. Not that he looked any worse than a few moments before, a couple of punches wouldn’t cause him to pass out. But, as he noted before, exhaustion clearly plagued his body.
An awkward silence hung around them, neither daring to start any conversation.
The stranger finally spoke up.
“...Thanks,” he grumbled.
Shuriken gave a small, awkward nod of recognition.
“Are you okay?” Shuriken questioned.
The stranger fell silent again.
Back to that uncomfortable quiet.
“...You’re bleeding,” he insisted.
The stranger just grumbled something under his breath. Shuriken took a few more steps forward. He didn’t raise a hand to try and help, not yet.
“Can I help you?” he chirped.
He raised the edge of his scarf slightly. He didn’t exactly carry bandages with him— a bit of cloth would have to do. That is to say, if his help was even accepted. He could only hope.
“I’m fine,” he retorted, “I need to get going.”
Shuriken shook his head, lightly tugging on the hood of the other. He wasn’t eager to let him slip away, not in his condition. Shuriken was sure he’d pass out before he even left Thieves Den.
The stranger shot him a glare—not that he cared. His main priority was helping this guy out.
“You wanna at least tell me your name?” Shuriken pestered.
“...It’s Coil,” the stranger—well, Coil— replied.
Finally. He was getting somewhere.
“So, Coil,” he began, “where are you from? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around.”
“I’m from Playground,” Coil answered simply.
He didn’t seem in the mood for conversation. Shuriken sighed. That wasn’t going to stop him.
“Hmm. Then how’d you end up all the way out here?” he continued to question, his grip on Coil’s hood remaining tight.
He couldn’t have him trying to get away now.
“None of your business,” he huffed.
Coil wasn’t trying to be rude—Shuriken could tell that much. The tone of his voice read far more like one of annoyance or exasperation. Emotions likely not directed towards him.
“Yeah?” he began, “I think a ton of Biograft’s charging into my home is my business. And it seems like their reason for coming here was you.”
Another grumble escaped Coil. Shuriken smirked behind his mask.
“Look, man. I’ve gotta get home, I don’t have time to get questioned by some—”
Before he could finish speaking, Coil clumsily fell to the ground. When his gaze lowered, he was met with a vibrant green rope tied around his ankles. Of course, careful not to disturb the still bleeding wound (which Shuriken was just dying to try and patch up).
A mix of bewilderment and annoyance crept into Coil’s eyes.
“Did you just—?”
“Yeah,” Shuriken hummed. It felt impossible to hide the amusement in his voice.
Not that Coil found it funny.
“The hell was that for!?” he spat, pushing himself up. He couldn't do much more than sit, anyways.
“I don’t want you to run away so soon,” Shuriken replied matter-of-factly.
Coil raised an eyebrow.
“Do I really have to spell it out for you?” Shuriken sighed, “I don’t think you’ll be able to get very far.. You said you’re from Playground? Not to be rude, but you really don’t have the energy for that.”
Coil didn’t look amused. The guy didn’t seem dumb… but y’know, it’s not the smartest thing to waltz around like this alone.
“I’ll be fine, really.”
Shuriken shook his head, “yeah? Even though you’re about to collapse? I saw a lotttttt of Biografts that you destroyed. Y’know, I don’t think it’s too crazy to say more might come after you.”
…
That awkward silence befell them for a third time.
Thankfully, it was soon broken by a sigh of resignation.
“Whatever…” he grumbled.
With a quick rip of Shuriken’s cloak and a slight (and I mean very slight) wince of pain from Coil, that leg was wrapped up as best as it could be. Of course, not that Shuriken intended to leave him with such a… Haphazard attempt at bandaging.
Well, he had an idea for how to help Coil further, but whether or not he would accept it was going to be an issue. Not that rejection would solely be a product of Coil’s own pride or him just being stubborn (although, those are certainly still factors). No, what Shuriken had in mind would cause anyone to scream ‘Stranger Danger!’
Nonetheless, he had to try.
“Come on,” Shuriken began, offering his hand to Coil, “we should get going.”
Coil wasn’t so quick to take his hand. “...Get going? Where?”
Shuriken let out a quiet sigh before speaking, “okay, this is gonna sound really suspicious, but I think it’d be better to stop by my home before anything else—”
“Are you serious?!” that interruption was near immediate.
Shuriken’s gaze softened with disappointment. He could have expected this. Should have.
“Let me get this straight,” Coil huffed, “you, some guy I just now met, think you can just drag me to your house?”
“It’s not—” Shuriken attempted to speak, before being cut off.
“And you sure seem to think I can’t fight back right now!”
“I never said that!” Pleaded Shuriken, sheer desperation leaking from his voice. “I’m not trying to like— kidnap you or something— I just want to help!”
Much to his devastation, Coil still wasn’t buying it.
“C’mon, I mean—” he searched for some reasoning, something to try and reassure Coil’s anxieties, “If I had bad intentions, I think I would’ve already hurt you or whatever. Do you really think a kidnapper would ask to bring you to his home…?”
Coil fell silent for what seemed like the hundredth time today.
“...You wanna walk all the way home with that leg of yours, or have somewhere to rest for a bit?”
Shuriken didn’t know why he asked that. He could already tell that Coil wouldn’t be willing to sit around and rest. But that’s clearly what he needed, regardless of if that’s what he wanted.
In the end, Coil had almost no choice but to resign. He trailed behind Shuriken, sulking. He made it abundantly clear he didn’t need to be carried or anything. Shuriken was surprised that Coil was allowing him to help, even if it was solely when he stumbled.
They weren’t too far, at the point where Shuriken recognized half of the houses they walked past. Thank god he left pretty late… he didn’t know what he’d do if Vinestaff or Slingshot happened to still be awake, just because he decided to sneak out too early into the night. This wasn’t even a common worry he had, yet when he was hauling a whole other person with him? His anxieties could only be amplified, no matter how unrealistic those thoughts were.
“We’ll be there soon,” Shuriken reassured.
The sigh that Coil released was one of pure relief. He was tired of walking—anyone would be.
“You’re gonna have to be quiet when we get in here, alright?”
“Why’s that?”
Shuriken paused. He wasn’t just going to tell this guy that ‘oh yeah, neither of my roommates know that I sneak out every night to go and possibly risk my life for others!’ He’d have to be stupid to do that.
“...I don’t wanna wake my roommates up,” he hummed out.
Not a total lie, at least. But he didn’t know how likely this person was to catch on to any lack of truth.
...
“Why are you out so late, anyways?” Coil questioned, anything to fill the silence.
Shuriken almost wanted to laugh, to spin the question right back at him. But he knew he'd probably get some stupid, mostly answer. Just like his own.
“Late night walk.”
“Hah. You stupid or something? Thieves Den cannot be that much safer than Playground. I would never dream of just– taking a casual walk alone at night.”
Whatever. Shuriken would just have to let Coil think he's stupid. Better than him knowing the whole ‘secret identity’ thing. Of course, not that he thought Coil would be enough of an asshole to do that, he just wanted to be cautious.
After awkward silence and dozens of short conversations that lacked any depth, Shuriken finally made it back home– even if it was with some stranger in tow.
It wasn't the most fun thing, helping Coil crawl through a window after Shuriken's refusal to simply use the front door– But anything to not alert Vinestaff and Slingshot.
He wasn't sure why, but the silence between them had somehow grown less tense. More comfortable– he just assumed it was because they weren't in immediate danger anymore. Not where anymore patrolling Biografts could see them, where Shuriken could properly care for Coil's wounds.
He had spent longer than intended just looking for any kind of medical supplies. He eventually found them, but really, did Vinestaff have to hide that stuff so far back in one of the bathroom cabinets…?
He returned to his room to see Coil making himself comfortable— resting on his bed. Eyes closed, breathing slowed, as if he had already fallen asleep. Maybe that exhaustion was getting to him. At least he was mindful enough to keep that bloodied leg off of the bed.
Few words were exchanged the rest of the time he was there. Most likely with how Coil seemed to be half-asleep already. Even so, Shuriken managed to get Coil's leg fully patched up– and hell, even convinced him to eat something (even if that was just a small snack. Better than nothing!).
The time Coil spent in that little room wasn't long, hardly more than an hour, yet— watching Coil stand from the bed and walk over to the window again, Shuriken almost felt disappointed.
He didn't know what he expected, why would anyone want to spend the night in a stranger’s house? But– he, for some reason, couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted Coil to stay.
“So, uh…” Coil began awkwardly, tearing Shuriken from his thoughts.
“Guess I'll… Head out then. My friends will be worried if I'm not there in the morning.”
Shuriken gave a slow nod.
“...See you later then?”
At least those words made Shuriken perk up again. A smile weaseled its way onto his face.
“...yeah. See ya,”
And with that, Coil stepped back through the window— Heading off towards Playground once more.