Now, when it rained, it put Rusty in a terrible fucking mood.
Hunching his shoulders against the dreary drizzle, he tucked his paws into his pockets and ducked his head, flicking excess water off his ears. Puddles accumulated in the cracks in the sidewalk, and he avoided them as best he could as he headed back toward his neighborhood. He hadn’t bothered checking the weather before heading out on one of his nightly walks, and now, he was paying the price for his negligence.
He didn’t sleep much in general, and he hated his roommates almost as much as the shitty flat they all shared. So instead of lying awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling as his roommates got high on gods-knew-what in the living room, he’d head out into the night and walk. Thanks to his roaming, he knew Lust like the back of his hand. He knew which side streets to steer clear of, and which alleys were the most popular for drug deals. He knew which S-workers worked which corners, and what brothels to avoid if he didn’t want to run into any old customers. He had several escape routes mapped out in his head at any given moment in case he ran into trouble.
Not that he ever went looking for it, but trouble had a knack for finding him, one way or another.
Like his internal musings had somehow manifested them, a trio of braying men turned the corner ahead of him, and he slowed to a stop under the awning of a 24-7 mini-market. He faced the window display, tracking the group from the corner of his eye as they approached, stumbling drunkenly as they laughed about something he hadn’t heard.
Two Elas and a Gymnot, all three bigger than Rusty—not that it took much to be bigger than him. He wasn’t insecure about his height, or lack thereof, but the disadvantage when it came to self-defense was annoying. Sure, he couldn’t win in a fight using brute force, but he was fast and scrappy. It was usually enough to get him out of a jam when necessary.
He hoped the trio would pass without noticing him, but instead, they staggered to the bus stop a few yards ahead of him. It was empty save for a Nyko girl huddled in the corner, taking refuge from the rain. The glow of her phone lit her face, highlighting the tightness of her features as she shuffled farther away from the obnoxious men.
Dread settled low and heavy in his gut as the Gymnot knocked one of the Elas’s arms and jerked his chin in the direction of the girl. The Elas with gray skin and white hair smiled, all jagged teeth, and waggled his eyebrows at his friends as he turned toward the girl.
“Hey, sweetheart. What’s a pretty thing like you doing out so late?”
The Nyko shrunk in on herself, her tail twisted around her ankle as she mumbled a barely audible, “Meeting friends.”
“Is that so?” the Elas said, giving his friends another shit-eating grin. “How about you hang out with us instead? We’re more fun than your friends, I’m sure.”
With a tight smile, the Nyko shook her head. “No thanks.”
“Ooh, Hari, I don’t think she likes you,” the Gymnot snickered.
The Elas shot him a glare before he stepped closer to the girl, looming over her and essentially trapping her against the bus stop glass. “Come on, baby, don’t be like that.”
“Walk away,”Rusty’s brain instructed as he watched it all unfold. “Not your problem. Not your fight. Just walk away.”
But he couldn’t. She was just a kid, for fuck’s sake. And Rusty knew what it was like tobethat kid. Bigger, older men crowding him, leering down at him until he gave in to avoid further harm. It had rage bubbling to life in his gut.
“I have a boyfriend,” the girl was saying, voice shaking as she cowered away from the Elas called Hari.
“And he left you all alone out here?” Hari tutted. “I can treat you better than him. I’ll be so nice to you. You know, if you’re nice to me.”
“Oh, fuck this dick,” Rusty grumbled as he stalked back into the rain and made a beeline for the bus stop.
The second Elas noticed him first but dismissed him almost instantly. That was okay. Being underestimated worked in his favor most of the time. The Nyko’s eyes widened in alarm when she saw him, and he did his best to offer her a reassuring smile.
“Hey, babe, sorry I’m late,” he said as he jogged up to her, feigning familiarity as best as he could as he shouldered past Hari. The Nyko gaped down at him, and he shot her a subtle wink before he faced the three inebriated men. “Evening, fellas.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Hari demanded, and Rusty frowned.
“Excuse me? I don’t think that’s any of your business.” Rusty turned back to the Nyko and asked, “Sorry you had to wait for me. Are you ready to go?”
She was still gawking, but when Rusty gave her a significant look, she blinked and nodded. “Uh, yeah, I’m ready. I was just… wondering where you were. Babe?”
Okay, she was not making this look natural, but it wasn’t her fault. She was clearly rattled, and trusting him was just as much of a risk as taking her chances with the drunken assholes. Without touching her, Rusty motioned for her to take the lead, trying for another comforting smile as he said, “Well, let’s get going. Don’t wanna keep the others waiting.”
It took her a moment to decide, but eventually, she shuffled back into the rain, sidling up to him without actually making contact. He hovered a hand at her back, giving the illusion that he was hugging her waist.
“Have a good night, fellas.” Rusty nodded at the group—Hari scowling deeply—then turned and ushered her down the sidewalk.
“What—”
“Shh,” Rusty cut her off quietly, knowing the Elas could still hear them. Louder, he said, “How was the bus ride? I know you get motion sick. You feeling okay?”
“Uh, yeah?” she said, clumsily hooking her arm around his until their elbows linked. She glanced down at him in panic, and he gave her an approving nod.
