Chapter Text
“It’s rude to steal, y’know?” His voice echoed in the alleyway.
You were hiding behind a dumpster, holding your breath hoping he doesn’t hear where you are.
“So what’s your plan now? Sell the mighty pen to the best seller?” He asked, tapping the handle of his umbrella, waiting for any sudden movement or response.
You remained quiet and pressed the pen close to you. Before any of this happened, you were on the run from your past. So you entered this town hiding in the back of a pickup truck, hoping to find some refuge in a new town or possibly food.
But you overheard in a bar from this dude and his artistic friend that he has a glorious pen that runs the safety of the town and makes spells. You couldn’t help but pickpocket it then made a run for it when they found out it was missing and you took it.
If it is as valuable as they say, you could probably get enough galla in return to buy a place and start over. It was your ticket to peace.
The dumpster behind you slammed against the wall, leaving you exposed and startled at the blonde man pointing the tip of his umbrella at you. He looked at you bored, like saying you’re predictable. You clenched the pen while looking back at him in fear.
He analyzed you. You weren’t some runt stealing an important vital instrument, but a person trying to get by. Hair messy, bruises and dirt on your skin from long travel, lips dry and eye bags from malnutrition, clothes worn out like they were your only possession. He sighed piecing together your situation.
”I’m gonna cut to the chase,” He lowered his umbrella slightly, “in exchange for the pen, not only you’ll walk away unscathed but I can give you info for help.”
Help? He possibly means the authorities which is a big no no in your book.
”I don’t need help.” You finally spoke.
”Ah so she speaks,” He responded sarcastically. Your brows cinched in annoyance. “Last call, hand it over.”
A second passed. Then two. You pulled out a knife, pointing it at him. Warning him to stay back. That you’re a threat. He looked down at you in amusement.
”Didn’t say I warned you.” You held your breath, preparing any blows or sudden movements but all it took were 3 seconds before your back hit the soft trashbags in the corner and the air left your lungs out of shock.
You didn’t feel an ounce of pain and quickly looked up to see him scanning the pen for damages before tucking it away and turning on his heel.
”Thaaank you.” You watched as he walked away.
Don’t let him get away, you thought. You need that pen, you need the money, you can’t spend another night in the streets. Especially in a town you don’t know about.
You rose to your feet and darted to him, throwing a sad punch at the back of his head. He dodged it effortlessly, smiling.
”Oh you’re fun.” He commented. You threw more weak uncontrolled hits in the air as he gracefully duck and parried away from it like a dance.
He adjusted his umbrella towards your next step before walking past you, making you trip from his item. As you try to get up, he stabs his umbrella on the pavement in front of you, almost like trying to capture your full attention with a silent but firm gesture for you to stop.
“I like your spunk.” He knelt in front of you, not a seed of agitation on his face but rather intrigued.
You grew confused.
”What?”
”I like your drive. You have some good fight in you but actually fighting…” He made a face, “needs serious development.”
You got quiet, still utterly confused. Why was he not attacking or beating you for stealing something so important? Your gaze searched his expression and his body language for any trickery or mal intention. He took notice of your uneasiness before scratching the back of his head.
”Right, you must be thinking why I’m not pissed even though you robbed my buddy back there. Let’s say, you intrigued me with your skills.”
”So?” You asked.
“So, I was thinking, why don’t you join the cleaners?” You sweatdropped at his question.
”I’m sorry what?”
”The cleaners. All you gotta do is participate. We teach you, you learn, then you work. Think ‘bout it, you’ll get a place to stay, food, and make friends at it too. Oh and can't forget about the bag. You’ll get a lot of that. That is what you’re after, right?”
”…You’re offering me a job?”
”I’m offering a choice. Given your…current circumstances you either live in the streets and keep stealing, might get beaten up too if you don’t pull it off. Or you get a new life all for the cost of well…making the Ground a less horrible place.” You looked at him like he’s just grown two heads.
”What’s the catch?” You asked, trying to read his expression for any lies.
”You either take down trash beasts or help us cleaners take it down.”
”And if I’m not good enough?”
”You’ll accommodate.” He says, resting his head on the side of his umbrella, waiting for your never ending questions to end.
”I don’t get it,” You started, shaking your head, “Why offer me this when the skills I have are what any person would do? I just took, you came then retrieved, and now you’re offering me work? That’s crazy.”
He straightened his head with a serious look.
“Crazy? Not a soul snatched Gob’s pen from him that easily. Not unless it’s by extreme force. You trapped one of our fellow supporters in an empty fridge in the market while stunning our other cleaners by powdered chalk to hide your escape. Not to mention, you brought out a knife in an attempt to scare me off and tried to fight me when I barely touched you and got the pen back. People can call that crazy but I call that skill.”
You were stunned by his observation. You just thought it was an accident or coincidence out of pure survival. But to him, to this guy. He sees it as potential. But he has a point. What good is it to be desperate somewhere unknown with nothing when you can at least have something and it’s offered in the most absurd way possible.
“So what’s it gonna be?” He asked, raising a brow. “Homeless or employed?” You were about to lunge at him until he brought up a hand for you to rethink your choices. Your nose flared at his joke before clearing your throat to answer.
”When…do I start?” You asked begrudgedly, agitated from his smugness. He smirked.
”Excellent choice,” He stood up and stretched his umbrella for you to take to help you up. You took it. “You’ll start now so follow me. Oh and since we’re going to be coworkers, I gotta know what your name is.”
”…(name).” You replied while fixing your hair and walking beside him. “Yours?”
You both reached the end of the alleyway into the main street, he looked at you and you saw his face more clearly from the neon lights. But what you mostly remembered from this moment were how yellow his eyes are and how they expressed a sort of kindness that you haven’t seen in a long time. It almost felt like it was light. A beacon that got rid of your darkening worries and frights and melted you into a state of serenity.
All because of how kind his eyes looked at you.
”Enjin.” In that sliver of time you felt your walls come down from his kindness. Before it came up.
8 years later
“Enjin…” You whispered before opening your eyes.
You registered the familiarity of the ceiling before feeling your throat tighten and the high in your chest fall straight down in the pit of your stomach.
He’s not here, you thought. He’s not-
You checked next to you, the space next to you is empty. Right. You’re not in the HQ anymore and you haven’t seen him in a long time.
“Ah…” You croaked, before you felt a stinging sensation behind your eyes at the realization.
“(Name).” Someone called on your choker. Your fingers reached over to the night stand and touched it.
”I’m here.” Forcing your voice to be normal but a small shake came out.
”Get ready in 30, boss gave us new details about the mission today and we need to go over it.” You closed your eyes at the reminder.
Right, today is your first mission. You cannot fuck this up.
”Got it.” Your fingers released the choker and you sat on the edge of the bed and sighed.
You’ve got work to do.
But unbeknownst to you, today’s mission is quite a surprise.