Chapter Text
Clubs hummed a short melody as he walked, it was something of a habit he never really realized he did unless someone pointed it out telling him to stop. He was taking a late night stroll through town as a way to gather his thoughts. Not that he was upset or unhappy, but sometimes it was just nice to have a moment to yourself. Especially if that moment is a dark, clear evening with only the noise of a few cars now and then. Although suddenly the moment was interrupted. He had walked into something, no someone.
“Oh, excuse me!” He proclaimed. “I didn’t see yo-“ He cut himself off as he noticed that the someone actually was multiple people, multiple children in fact. And that he, lost in thought, had walked right into them.
“Oh my gosh I’m so sorry, here, let me help you up.” He put his hand out to the kid he accidentally knocked over, a lanky boy, not older than seven, with short black hair and glasses. The boy hesitated slightly before taking it, but then grasped it and got up, mumbling a quiet thank you as he did.
“Aren’t you awfully young to take a late night stroll in this area?” He asked as he inspected the kids. They really did look young, about five to eight years old he’d guess. And they weren’t wearing very good clothes either, no jackets and worn out shoes. ‘They must be freezing.’ He thought.The children didn’t say anything for a second, but then the oldest looking one, a girl, spoke up.
The children didn’t say anything for a second, but then the oldest looking one, a girl, spoke up.
“Yes. But we have to go to, uhh, go to, a greenhouse.” Deuce had no idea what that meant.
“A greenhouse? Like where you grow flowers?” He asked.
“No, a green house.” She said, frustrated that he didn’t understand. “Miss said we had to go to a greenhouse because, because they wanted us there.” The girl looked at the other kids, three smaller boys, so they’d confirm. They nodded in response, he could see that one of them was on the verge of tears.
“Miss?” He thought he might understand what was going on, there weren't that many green houses in this city. And not many places where kids get dumped by a "Miss" in the middle of the night either. "As in the Miss who takes care of you? And maybe other kids too?"
The girl nodded, and so did the others.
"Why would she send you out this late? That seems awfully mean, you must be exhausted! Here, have my jacket you should sit down." Deuce handed them his jacket so they wouldn't have to sit directly on the sidewalk. And as they sat down the boy he helped up answered his question.
"She didn't, we got lotht." He had a clear lisp, and his voice was small and quiet from tiredness.
"Oh, you poor things! How long have you been walking? You must be so tired!" He frowned, this really wasn't good. They were very much too young to be out this late, and this city wasn't the safest either. Really the best thing he could do would be to bring them somewhere safe so they could sleep. And if it really was the greenhouse he thought they meant, he should probably contact the rest of the Crew.
The kids shrugged tiredly, they were leaning against each other sitting on his jacket, almost too tired to keep their eyes open.
"You know what? I'm going to call my friend, he works pretty close to here, maybe he can come and take you guys somewhere where you can sleep over night, sounds good?"
They only answered with tired "hmm"'s.
Clubs picked up his phone from his pocket and dialled Droog's number. His tailor shop wasn't too far from where they were and if he was lucky he'd still be there.
"Hey, it's Deuce."
"A bit too late for a call don't you think?" Droog answered cooly.
"Yeah, I know, sorry about that. Are you still in your shop?"
"Just finishing up, why?"
"Great, and you have your car?"
"Of course I have my car, what's this about?"
"It's a bit complicated, but could you come pick me up as soon as possible? I'll send you the address. Bring blankets."
"Blankets? Deuce what is this? You better not have gotten yourself into anything-"
"No! Nothing like that, just, come pretty fast, alright?"
Droog sighed "Fine. I'll see if I can find any blankets, send the address." He hung up.
Deuce gave the kids a reassuring smile, sent the address, and sat down facing them, to be on the same eye level. "That was my friend just now, he's gonna come pick us up, you can sleep at his place over night. He's a bit strict, but he's a good guy." Deuce really wasn't sure if that was true. "So what are you guys' names? And how old are you? You seem pretty young."
The girl was the first to speak again. "Aradia, I'm eight, not that young." She crossed her arms.
Next was the boy he had helped up, the one with a lisp. "Thollux, m'theven, and tho ith Karkat." The boy, apparently named Karkat, was shorter than Sollux, but not as skinny. He was hugging his legs and gave Deuce a sullen look.
Last was the smallest looking boy. He hadn't said anything so far and had a round face with freckles, his hair was dark just like all the others. He looked down. "I'm... uh, I'm..." Aradia finished his sentence. "Tavros, that's Tavros. He's six." She took his hand.
Deuce smiled at all of them. "Nice to meet you! I'm Clubs Deuce."
"Thath a weird name." Sollux said.
"Heh, I guess it is."
They kept up the small talk until Deuce saw a car park a few meters away from them. He recognized it as Droog's and watched him step out from the driver's seat and slam the door. Droog was a tall man, 6'4" at least, slim, and well dressed in a black suit and tie. As he walked over to them he lit up a cigarette. He stopped in front of Deuce, gave him a sceptical look and then gazed over the children.
"That's what the blankets for?"
Deuce stood up after giving the kids a quick smile and nodded towards him. "Yes, they said uh, they were supposed to go to the 'green house' you know, The Felt."
"Yes, I know which colour the Felt has, they're not subtle." He looked at the kids again, both sceptical and confused. They looked small, tired, and probably cold. Even if it was August the evening wasn't very warm, and they didn't have jackets. He raised his eyebrows. "Can't see what they'd want with a bunch of waifs though."
"Not sure, but we can't- we can't let them go there can we?" He spoke quietly hoping the kids wouldn't hear.
"No. We should just dump them at the nearest orphanage, not our business."
"Come on Droog. They're exhausted, we can't just drop them off, they need sleep. I thought maybe... I mean, that's why I called you. Your apartment under the store, there's a couch and beds there right?"
Droog gave him a look of disbelief. "You're seriously overstepping boundaries here, Deuce. I am not running a daycare."
"I know, I know. Just overnight. Please, they seem like sweet kids. And if we just drop them off at the orphanage I bet they'd be asked questions. Wouldn't take that long to figure out which orphanage they came from and send them back. And then they'd probably be sent to the Felt again!"
"Fine. You're right. Just this one night. Then we figure out what to do with them tomorrow."
Deuce gave him a big grin and then turned to the kids. "Good news! You can sleep at Droog's place over night, then we'll figure out something tomorrow. Sounds good?"
After everyone agreeing it was preferable to sleep somewhere inside than sitting on the pavement in the cold Deuce ushered them towards the car. Gave them the blankets, and made sure they were all buckled up. Since the car only had three back seats they were a bit cramped, but the kids were happy just to sit somewhere soft and were too tired to start a fuss, so it wasn't a problem. And then they were off. It wasn't more than a five-minute drive but when Droog parked outside his shop the kids had already fallen asleep.
"If you go unlock the door I'll take one of them then you take one, and then we'll take the other two. I think that's the best way not to wake them."
Droog gave him an annoyed look but did as he said anyway. If they woke up and started crying it would be even worse. So after opening the door for Deuce carrying a lanky boy with glasses, he went to the car and took the next kid. It was the girl. He hadn't asked for their names so he didn't know who she was, but it hit him how small she was, probably around 4 feet or so. She had dark, curly hair, and her skin was tan. He caught himself wondering how'd she'd end up where she did, dead parents or something probably.
He met Deuce again as he was walking down the stairs to the apartment. The apartment wasn't his home, it was just a place he slept sometimes when he was too tired to drive home from the store. It had followed with when he had bought the premise to the store, but since he already had his own place he didn't bother too much with it. There were four rooms, a lounge, a kitchen, and a bathroom. None of it was particularly big, but it worked well as a neutral place to hold meetings and plans for the Crew. Right down the stairs were a lounge with a lone couch, a small table, and a rug. It had an entrance to the kitchen to the left, a corridor leading into Droog's part time bedroom, the bathroom, and two other empty rooms up ahead, and to the right was the last room, which was also empty with the exception of a mattress.
He noticed that Deuce had laid the kid on the couch and given him a blanket, so Droog followed suit and laid down the girl on the other side of the couch, giving her a bit of the blanket as well. After making sure she looked at least somewhat comfortable he went upstairs again, meeting Deuce in the stairs once again, this time with him holding another kid. He walked out to the car and after taking the child, a pretty short boy with spiky black hair, he locked the car and then the store after stepping inside, turning off the lights as well. The neatly ironed suits hanging on racks throughout the store looked like countless well-dressed ghosts as he closed the door leading down the stairs after him. As he came down to the lounge he saw that Deuce had taken the mattress from one of the rooms and put it on the rug in front of the couch. He had then put down the kid on it and given that one a blanket as well. Droog walked up to the mattress and did the same as he had before with the girl. Put him down on the other side of the mattress and gave him a part of the blanket as well.
Carefully, as to not wake any of the kids he walked into the kitchen where Deuce was already sitting at the table. He had started a pot of coffee, which Droog was thankful for, he shot a look at the clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was a bit over 11. Walking right past Deuce over the beige plastic mat floor he took a mug from one of the cupboards over the counter and poured himself some coffee. He didn't ask if Deuce wanted any. After sipping his coffee in silence for a while he finally walked over to the table and sat down facing Deuce. The shorter man was looking down at his hands, twisting them anxiously.
"So," he started.
"Yes."
"Uh, I guess we should figure out what we should do?"
"That would be optimal. And since it was you who got us into this in the first place I'd love to hear how you plan on getting us out of it." Droog shot back.
"Well we, we know that they were going to the Felt, but uh, we don't know why. So maybe we should try to figure that out? Because I don't think it would be good if they go there now, or anytime, and if we give them back to the orphanage they're probably gonna get asked, or tell anyway, which orphanage they came from first. And then they'll be sent back and probably be taken to the Felt again so, that's not good.
"No, that is not good." He answered quickly and rubbed his temples, he thought he was about to get a headache. "Why would the Felt want kids, aren't they already numerous enough?"
"Well, I was thinking that maybe, you know, maybe. Uhh, predecessors? Like train them up, and make sure they have someone else who take cares of business and, and those things." He looked down again, he was fiddling with the button on his right shirt sleeve.
Droog was quiet for a moment. "That... that might not be a bad idea." He straightened his back and clasped his hands in front of him. "But even if it is so, they're most definitely going to get some other kids now when these won't come."
"Probably... but don't you think that if the Felt's doing it. Shouldn't we too? I mean, we won't be here forever. Would be nice with someone continuing. For a bit at least."
"Are you seriously telling me you're considering keeping them?"
"It would be nicer than letting them off at an orphanage! You saw how small they were, and I've heard several times that orphanages aren't very nice so."
"No. No way. We are not keeping them. How would we care for them? Where would they live? Who's gonna take them to school? Feed them? Children are living beings Deuce. They crave effort, patience, and time. We don't have much of either of that. Not to mention. What would Jack say about this? Do you seriously think that he would agree with keeping a bunch of kids you found off the street?"
"We could hire a nanny! And I don't know about Jack, but if we explain the thing with the Felt then maybe... Because if the Felt gets some other kids then they're still gonna grow in number, but we're still just four."
"And you're fine with the thought of raising children to become mobsters? Do you know how high the fatality rate of being a mobster is? Pretty damn high!"
"I didn't mean that we should force them, they're people, they can do what they want. But still, if the Felt is doing it shouldn't we too? They're already more than twice our numbers so it makes sense to get someone else on our team don't ya think?"
"What I think is that we should ask the others about this tomorrow. It's a big question that affects all of us."
"Yeah, I think you're right. I'm gonna go sleep. I padded the bathtub with some pillows so, gonna sleep there. See ya tomorrow."
Deuce exited the kitchen and Droog heard him close the door to the bathroom after him. He remained at the table, stirring in his coffee mug and taking a few sips now and then, after a while a lit another cigarette. 'Could this possibly be a good idea?' He thought. 'No way, there is zero chance it could be, there is no way this doesn't only lead to trouble. We'd fuck them up, I don't know how to care for children. Seriously doubt any of the others do either. But... it is true, the Felt are bigger than us, significantly, and if they are planning on getting descendants either way then, well. Why shouldn't we? And a nanny might not be such a bad idea, some extra pay and she'll probably not ask any uncomfortable questions. And the shop is a good alibi, which is good it's what I intended it to be, and it gives me a steady income with plenty over for possible child expenses. There have been several customers wondering "how my family is" anyway so a kid running around the shop shouldn't be too hard to explai-'
Suddenly his train of thought was interrupted by a soft knock coming from the doorframe. He looked up and saw the small girl looking up at him. She had circles under her eyes from tiredness and her hair was tousled.
“I uhm, I was hungry."
Droog looked at her for a brief moment in disbelief. "Uh," he wasn't really sure what to do. "I think there's some bread in the pantry."
She shrugged and walked to the table, climbing up on one of the chairs. "Bread's nice."
Droog raised his eyebrows and got up from his chair to check the pantry. He usually wasn’t down here much so the food supply was low, but he remembered for sure that he had bought some bread just a week ago. After searching for a while he found the bread, some cheese, and also a box of chocolate Boxcars must’ve hidden away on a meeting. The guy was impossible with snacks, he had them everywhere.
He placed it on the table and gave the girl a plate. “It’s not much but it’s this or be hungry.”
She made herself a sandwich, but before even taking a bite she went straight for the chocolate. He didn't think that was surprising, he didn't know much about kids except that they liked candy and screamed a lot. Although these ones mostly seemed tired this far.
“What’s your name?” She asked after eating half of the chocolate.
“Droog, and you are?”
“Aradia, and that’s a weird name too.”
Droog smirked. "Aradia isn't very common either.” She didn’t answer that.
It was quiet for a while before Aradia looked up from her chocolate. She saw his cup and pointed at it. “What are you drinking?”
“Coffee.”
“Can I taste?”
“Go for it.” He passed the cup to her. She picked it up and smelled it, making a face. She took a small gulp and gagged.
“That’s gross! Why are you drinking that?” Droog let out a chuckle.
“It’s nice.” He smiled.
“You’re weird.”
Maybe this wasn't so bad.