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Rudo didn't know what to think of the people that had found her after her fall from the sphere.
The one that saved her, Enjin, was scary if she was being honest, he didn't seem to talk much and he always looked angry.
And the other two weren't much better as they both seemed just as unstable as him.
She didn't even know why he saved her, and he refused to tell her, only letting her know that the main reason she lived was because she was useful to him.
She liked Zanka more, he was actually kinda nice to her, he seemed to be more patient with her too since he didn't get mean with her like Enjin did or get bored like Riyo.
She didn't know what to think of Riyo, the other girl seemed nice, but she was also a lot more impatient and pushy than the other two.
So she tended to stick by Zanka more often, he usually just relaxed if they weren't on missions, since he didn't seem to like training that much.
She misses Regto, she misses his warmth and safety.
Regto would know what to do, he would know what to say to make everything better.
He would probably even be able to make friends with Enjin.
Maybe even get him to be a bit nicer.
She did like Gris though.
He reminded her a bit of Regto, even if he's far more aggressive than her dad.
Whenever she was with him, he seemed to soften a bit, talking less aggressively with her and with more kindness than nearly anyone has shown her.
He seems to like her, checking up on her after a mission is over and more.
Him and the other two seem to tolerate her more than her own team.
At first, she thought Follo hated her, what with how rude and forward he tended to be, but after a while, she realised that seemed to just be how he was.
She only realised a bit later on that Follo liked her when Gris commented on how he seemed more gentle to her compared to anyone else, not in tone, but in touch.
And Tomme also seemed to not mind her presence, she guessed it was because she was quieter than the others, but the supporter always seemed annoyed near Enjin, who was also rather quiet.
Despite all their outward appearances, she could see they all cared deeply for each other, even when they said the opposite.
Before she could think more on it, she was suddenly being shaken by a rough hand.
“Eh?” She opened her eyes to see Riyo shaking her awake as the van stopped, showing they had arrived.
Riyo smirked above her, “wakey, wakey sleepyhead, we're finally here!”
She could faintly hear Gris complaining about Enjin's slow driving as she rubbed her eyes.
She looked out the window to the area they stopped at.
Team akuta was sent to the market for supplies with the supporters joining them.
She could feel her stomach tighten slightly as she watched the crowd of people move, if she got lost… would they-
“Rudo!” Enjin snapped as she froze for a moment.
She pushed herself to ignore the tightness in her chest, “c-coming!”
—
Rudo stuck close to her team as they walked to different stalls, keeping a hold on Gris's jacket.
He didn't seem to mind as far as she was aware.
She hated crowds, back on the sphere, crowds always meant pain if Regto wasn't there to protect her.
They meant laughter and mockery, names and insults.
She detested crowds with a passion.
She shrank into herself, hiding behind Gris as they stopped at yet another stall, looking for something she couldn't remember.
She peeked out from behind Gris as she watched Enjin barter (threaten) the owner.
Zanka looked bored by his side, tapping his foot on the floor and glaring at Enjin as though it's his fault they're stuck here.
Which… it sorta is.
She looked around for the others, finding them all looking bored and somewhat annoyed with the noise of the market.
Follo was the most obvious with his dislike, “Enjin! Hurry up! We don't have all damn day!” He snapped with a scowl.
Enjin turned to glare back at him before huffing and moving to ignore him, going back to bartering.
Riyo whined as she joined in, “Yeah! C'mon Enjin! I'm bored!”
The sight was sorta funny if she was being honest.
Enjin growled lightly before snapping back at them, “Fine, just be sure to meet back here soon, got it! I don't want to have to explain to the others how I lost you” he went back to glaring at the owner while all the younger ones perked up, even Rudo.
Riyo cheered, “Sweet! Thanks, Enjin!”
Zanka rolled his eyes at her, “finally” he muttered before walking off.
And after that, everyone seemed to split up.
Rudo was originally following Tomme or Gris as they were the closest to her.
But somewhere along the way her grip on Gris's jacket had loosened and she ended up separated from them.
She was too small to see over the crowd, only being thirteen.
She looked around frantically, backing up before she bumped into anyone.
She had to run a bit to avoid people, having ended up in a quieter part of town.
Her head turned frantically, not recognising her surroundings.
Her chest started to tighten, her breaths coming faster and sharper than before.
Her new surroundings were quiet, but in that unsettling way where people walked and talked but would hurry along and shush each other.
She couldn't see anyone familiar.
Her throat closed up, tears prickling.
She didn't want to shout and bring attention over.
But she also didn't know how else to get their attention.
What if they forgot her?
The thought crawled unwillingly through her mind, freezing her veins.
She didn't want to be left here and forgotten.
She didn't want-
“Excuse me, miss”
A voice interrupted her internal spiral, a voice that unintentionally sent a shiver down her spine.
She whipped her head behind her, stumbling back a bit as a man far older than anyone she's ever known stands before her.
The man wears a simple red shirt with black shorts, he doesn't have any hair and he looks like bad news.
His smile makes bile rise in her throat before she forces it back down.
His smile is slimy and gross, and his eyes make her want to run and find her team.
She straightens up a bit as she realises he's still waiting for an answer with that slimy smile and those too intense eyes.
“A-ah…! s-sorry, Sir! H-how can I help you!?” She bows at her apology, stuttering as she fights every instinct in her telling her to run.
The man's smile widens, and she only realises now how much bigger he is than her, “Oh, there's no need to apologise”
He steps closer as he continues speaking, “I was just wondering where your parents are? You seem a little young to be all on your own don't you?”
She shrinks into her hoodie as she stumbles back, “h-huh?”, she can feel her hands shake, not only from pain.
Her eyes are wide as they stay locked onto the man that keeps taking small steps forward for her backward.
She swallows the sudden bile in her throat, her eyes prickling again as her instincts tell her to run.
The only reason she doesn't listen is because Enjin had told everyone before to not stir up any trouble like usual.
“I-I'm not alone!” She says so much louder than she intended too, especially as she sees heads moving before ignoring them again.
She flushes when she realises so, covering her mouth with her gloves, “Ah! I-I'm sorry, i-i meant to say that i-i was just waiting on them!”
She apologies a bit more in hushed tones as she desperately wishes to be anywhere but here.
The man looks like he's about to comment something before a hand rests on his shoulder, gripping tight enough to cause obvious pain.
And before she realises who it is, an arm slings around her shoulders and she's suddenly being tugged into warm and familiar arms.
She looks up to see who it is before realising there's suddenly a lot more people in the alley than before.
She also just realised they were in an alleyway.
“You okay?”
She startles slightly as she looks up into Riyo's eyes, her brow is pinched and her arms tighten around her.
Her eyes scan her, looking for anything that might be out of place or if the man hurt her.
Rudo doesn't think she can talk without letting out an embarrassing sob, so she nods instead, humming a bit.
She doesn't have to think too much before she relaxes completely into Riyo's hold, gloved fingers gripping her shirt as she tries not to cry, sniffling every now and then.
She turns to see Zanka and Follo in front of them, standing guard as Zanka leans on Lovely while Follo glares hard enough to kill.
She sees Enjin and Gris talking with the man before she's pulled away by Riyo and taken away from the scene.
“Great! Anyway, why don't we get a bite to eat? I'm starving!” Riyo says as she leads her away from the others.
Rudo perks up at that, like Riyo knew she would, and nods as she's distracted as she only now realises how hungry she is.
Even as Riyo starts talking about everything and nothing, Rudo can tell she's still pissed.
Her arms tighten whenever anyone gets too close, and her eyes and smile are too sharp and cutting to hide her anger.
But she's gentle as she leads her to a food stall, one with lollies and sweets.
—
She's eating her third ice cream when the rest of the team appear.
Riyo's still on her first, watching with amusement as Rudo eats hers like a starving man.
She doesn't even realise the others have popped up, only when Riyo shouts out a greeting does she look up.
“Hey! Over here!” Riyo smiles to herself as she sees the satisfied smile on Zanka's face and the look everyone else has.
Rudo waves to them as they near, feeling much better than before.
Gris strides over and places a hand on her head, “hey, kid” he said with a sigh as he pet her hair.
She leaned into the touch.
Tomme appeared behind Gris, her usual uninterested expression on her face with a small hint of smugness, “Enjin's back in the van, along with Zanka and Follo”
Riyo chuckled at that while Rudo was just confused on why.
Tomme gave a small smirk before she turned, “let's go, I'd rather not spend any more time here”
Gris nodded along as he followed, not before pushing Rudo forward first to keep an eye on her.