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[h3][sub]December 21st, 2016 || Edge of Sin, Southie[/sub][/h3]
[sub]A [@metanoia], [@Aces Away] & [@BrutalBx] Collaboration || [color=635687]Honey Badger[/color], [color=crimson]Boa[/color], and [color=gold]ReyRey[/color], featuring [color=lightblue]Prof[/color], [color=f5d42e]Sonny[/color], [color=ff7f50]Danny[/color][/sub]
[color=#635687]_[/color][color=#655485]_[/color][color=#675384]_[/color][color=#6A5282]_[/color][color=#6C5081]_[/color][color=#6F4F7F]_[/color][color=#714E7E]_[/color][color=#734C7C]_[/color][color=#764B7B]_[/color][color=#784A79]_[/color][color=#7B4878]_[/color][color=#7D4776]_[/color][color=#804675]_[/color][color=#824473]_[/color][color=#844372]_[/color][color=#874270]_[/color][color=#89406F]_[/color][color=#8C3F6D]_[/color][color=#8E3E6C]_[/color][color=#903C6A]_[/color][color=#933B69]_[/color][color=#953A67]_[/color][color=#983866]_[/color][color=#9A3764]_[/color][color=#9D3663]_[/color][color=#9F3561]_[/color][color=#A13360]_[/color][color=#A4325E]_[/color][color=#A6315D]_[/color][color=#A92F5B]_[/color][color=#AB2E5A]_[/color][color=#AE2D58]_[/color][color=#B02B57]_[/color][color=#B22A55]_[/color][color=#B52954]_[/color][color=#B72752]_[/color][color=#BA2651]_[/color][color=#BC254F]_[/color][color=#BE234E]_[/color][color=#C1224C]_[/color][color=#C3214B]_[/color][color=#C61F49]_[/color][color=#C81E48]_[/color][color=#CB1D46]_[/color][color=#CD1B45]_[/color][color=#CF1A43]_[/color][color=#D21942]_[/color][color=#D41740]_[/color][color=#D7163F]_[/color][color=#D9153D]_[/color][color=#DB143C]_[/color][color=#D9153D]_[/color][color=#D7163F]_[/color][color=#D41740]_[/color][color=#D21942]_[/color][color=#CF1A43]_[/color][color=#CD1B45]_[/color][color=#CB1D46]_[/color][color=#C81E48]_[/color][color=#C61F49]_[/color][color=#C3214B]_[/color][color=#C1224C]_[/color][color=#BE234E]_[/color][color=#BC254F]_[/color][color=#BA2651]_[/color][color=#B72752]_[/color][color=#B52954]_[/color][color=#B22A55]_[/color][color=#B02B57]_[/color][color=#AE2D58]_[/color][color=#AB2E5A]_[/color][color=#A92F5B]_[/color][color=#A6315D]_[/color][color=#A4325E]_[/color][color=#A13360]_[/color][color=#9F3561]_[/color][color=#9D3663]_[/color][color=#9A3764]_[/color][color=#983866]_[/color][color=#953A67]_[/color][color=#933B69]_[/color][color=#903C6A]_[/color][color=#8E3E6C]_[/color][color=#8C3F6D]_[/color][color=#89406F]_[/color][color=#874270]_[/color][color=#844372]_[/color][color=#824473]_[/color][color=#804675]_[/color][color=#7D4776]_[/color][color=#7B4878]_[/color][color=#784A79]_[/color][color=#764B7B]_[/color][color=#734C7C]_[/color][color=#714E7E]_[/color][color=#6F4F7F]_[/color][color=#6C5081]_[/color][color=#6A5282]_[/color][color=#675384]_[/color][color=#655485]_[/color][/center]
[indent][indent]The night the Haze/Carlisle crew got out of Juvie was the night that a Serpent Party broke out in the Edge of Sin's parking lot in celebration. There were fires lit in barrels spread out across the lot, with plenty of tables piled high with food and drink, and dozens of Serpents and Serpent adjacents roaming around and already getting started. The large van pulled into the lot to the cheers of everyone there, and one by one the boys stepped out of the back and took their first breath of home in over a year and a half. Decky had stepped out first, followed by Sonny and then the others. The first thing he did was scan the welcoming faces in search of one person: ReyRey. Charlie could wait, but Decky's big brother and veritable leader (barring only Big Rey himself, of course) would probably kill him if he greeted anyone else other than him first. Once he'd done that he could find whatever Serpent was watching over Danny until they'd gotten there.

Trailing past snake-patched jackets and receiving claps to the back and shoulder as he looked for the familiar imposing figure of ReyRey, the other freshly freed Serpents followed right after. When the other boys noticed how stiffly Decky received the friendly welcomes, they quickly made sure to bracket him from the onslaught, explaining in low tones that he was still healing from Hatchet’s attack two weeks prior. That allowed Decky to breathe and for their whole group to move a little quicker. And there, at the back of the lot near the Serpent entrance to Edge of Sin, was the man they had been searching for. Decky walked up to him, waiting on the edge of his personal boundaries as always, right hand pressing into the injury on his left side as if it were the only thing keeping him up. As always, he kept still and waited for the man’s conversation to end and to be acknowledged.

His fever had broken two days after Poppy’s visit, but the infection had been in constant flux, and unfortunately, it was [i]not[/i] a mild day for him. He felt aggravated and a little dizzy, and he hasn’t been able to stomach anything for the past day. He just wanted to greet ReyRey, find Danny and keep him at his side all night, and maybe do a damn line or two to forget about the fact that he felt like a warmed-over pile of shit on a hot day. 

Maybe he could even avoid seeing Hard Times altogether tonight. He wasn't sure he could keep his cool with his already short fuse.

Cigarette between his fingers, drink in hand and girl on his lap, ReyRey glanced past the whore and at the small crew heading towards him. He spat on the floor and shoved the girl off of him [color=gold]"Go find yourself a pole to ride, mami. I got business”[/color] R2 pulled himself up to his feet and opened his arms wide to greet the newly arrived Decky and his boys. [color=gold]”Well well, it’s the juvie boys. Tell me guys, which one of you dropped the soap the most? I reckon it was lil Sunshine over here. Lord knows you been just waiting for Decky to give you an Eiffel Tower. Get in here, you little jerk offs.”[/color] He embraced all of them with a hug and a kiss to the cheek. 

There were laughs had throughout the group as they received their welcome, Sunshine with a little more of a blush than the rest at ReyRey's words. While luckily none of them had dropped the soap- at least not with other Serpents around to watch their back- that didn't mean none of them had gotten any action on the inside either. Aside from a very dedicated-to-Findley Prof, all the Serpents had managed to keep themselves busy but that didn't make hearing ReyRey's depiction of Sunshine any easier on the boy's ears.

[color=dc143c]"All safe an' unmolested, if not unmarred,"[/color] Decky finally replied for the group, grinning at ReyRey past the pain the hug had caused. A welcome back was a welcome back, no matter your current wounds.

[color=b3e7f4]"I'm certainly scarred from sharin' a cell with you two Energizer bunnies."[/color] Prof muttered from behind Decky, receiving a middle finger directed at him from behind the younger's back.

[color=dc143c]"Least ya didn't get stabbed, bitch!"[/color] Decky singsonged in response, generating a truly impressive eye roll from their chemist. [color=dc143c]"So R2, wa's new?"[/color]

ReyRey returned to his “throne” and for a brief moment became lost in thought. Whispers of sweet nothings, and the image of green and white… Snapping out of his trance, he looked at his amassed underlings and let out a hearty laugh. [color=gold]”You mean besides you ass bandits being home? Well, let’s see. Profits are up but our rep is way down, wanna know why?”[/color] the kingsnake sprung to his feet and slapped Decky hard in the face, with enough force to knock the youth to the ground. [color=gold]”Cos your boy Decker killed the fucking Queen of this stinking town. He fucked up, kid.”[/color]

Decky stared at the ground for a hot second, his side burning from the twist to the ground and breathing short as pain flared from his hip to his ribs. Sonny had lunged toward Decky on instinct, only to be grabbed back by Prof and Ransom as the two pulled him to the back of their little group. Everyone knew that ReyRey barely stood Sonny, that the boy's natural attitude seemed to personally grate on the man for reasons unknown. Having him jump in the middle of something between him and Decky was like asking for a beating.

Decky was grateful for that. At least the second of lively distraction allowed him to regain his breath. The slap had been hard- R2 never did things half assed after all- and Decky had definitely bit into his cheek when the hand had connected. He pushed himself back up to his feet and squared his shoulders, eyes void of his swirling emotions as he met ReyRey's similar browns. Nobody needed to know what he was feeling right now, emotions had no place here. They needed their captain, not some kid who chose the wrong replacement but still felt loyal to him as a friend. But he was always more loyal to ReyRey, and that had to show. He pulled his hand away from his wet side, the stitches once again torn and wound leaking blood and infection, and spoke up.

[color=dc143c]"I'll take care of it. He could avoid me before by not visitin' me inside--"[/color] he spat a glob of blood to the side to show his opinions on that cowardly move. [color=dc143c]"--he ain't 'boutta skirt away any longer. His shady ass needs ta gimme some answers."[/color] he kept his gaze on ReyRey, no shake in his voice as he asked, [color=dc143c]"Til I see 'im, what's my punishment for the bad Vouch?"[/color]

He'd beg later. When it's just him and ReyRey alone he'll get on his fuckin' knees and beg ReyRey to allow Charlie to stay on as a Serpent. If only to help his mother, if only on a low-ranked basis. He may be pissed at Hard Times, but Momma Decker didn't deserve to suffer for his stupidity.

Behind him, his crew held their breath.

[color=gold]”I haven’t decided yet”[/color] Rey adjusted the rings on his fingers after the slap. [color=gold]”At least not in full but to start…”[/color] the serpent monarch glanced at Decky’s crew, his support bubble, his familia and grinned like a rattlesnake. [color=gold]"To start, you get ten lashings. You are going to get on your hands and knees like a dog, begging and your boys are gonna hit you, one by one, with my belt. Then some pledges are gonna hit you some more, then I’m going to tear you up and you will say [i]thank you, ReyRey, may I have another?[/i]. That, that’s where we start”[/color]

The older man picked up his beer from the side and took and downed it in one. His face was tired and he looked like he hadn’t slept. The night was beginning to wear thin on him. [color=gold]”You be at the Sin tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy your first night of freedom. Get your hole, get a drink. Make peace with the fact that after tonight, you got ground to make up. My boy HB is around here somewhere, find him. Show him the South Side way. Welcome back, Boaz.”[/color] Rey turned away and headed off into the crowd of people, soon disappearing from view.

Once he was gone, all the statues behind him came back to life, his crew murmuring worriedly as they closed around him again. His head was pounding, his side was burning and bleeding, his mouth tasted like copper and he was in for a beating in less than 12 hours. He deserved it, anyway. First, he let his guard down in Juvie and got jumped, and then Hard Times fucked up under his vouch. Now after tomorrow he's gonna be walking funny in the [I]least[/I] enjoyable way possible. Decky's staring past all the faces of his crew and in the direction ReyRey had left.

He'd still brought him into his arms and kissed his cheek in welcome. He'd just entrusted him with someone he called HB- and who the [I]fuck[/I] was that that he's so important to ReyRey?- so it wasn't like he was getting dropped to the side for his failures. ReyRey was giving him leeway: a rare thing for the man. 

[color=f5d42e]"-ain't gonna fuckin' belt ya Mob, yer still fucked up from Hatchet!"[/color] Sonny's words cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the real world. As real as it was while gray tinted the edges of his vision and each breath felt like embers flying within his lungs. He blinked at Sonny slowly, still trying to process what the other said as all the stimulus of the night started filtering back into his senses.

[color=dc143c]"Yes...you are."[/color] he finally replied, spitting a glob of blood out of his mouth and shakily wiping his mouth with the back of his arm.

[color=f5d42e]"[I]No[/I] I ain't!"[/color]

[color=dc143c]"Then he'll put you on the fuckin' ground next ta me, Sunshine."[/color] Decky growled weakly, pinching the bridge of his nose as if it would help the headache at all. The others were watching on as though it was a fatal tennis match.

[color=f5d42e]"So let 'im do it then!"[/color] Decky flinched back violently at the words, the final twist in his stomach's coffin as he found the nearest fire-less barrel and emptied the meager contents he had been able to take in in the van. Jokes and Creed fell into place on either side of him on instinct, and he could feel and hear other partygoers' attention on him despite it already being well known that he wasn't in the best of health.

[I][color=dc143c]“So do it!”[/color] Decky yelled, making his father jerk back in surprise before the scowl retook his features and another sharp crack! was heard through the room as Beni left a hand shaped mark on his cheek.

[color=930101]“You wanna take his beatin’,”[/color] Beni replied with a poisonous glare. [color=930101]
“that’s just fine. Lana, keep the other watchin’.”[/color]

[color=dc143c]"Wait wh-”[/color]

CRACK!

[color=930101]“You didn’t think he’d get off that easy did you? You taking his punishment doesn’t teach him anythin’ unless he fuckin’ sees it!”[/color]

CRACK![/I]

Decky picked his head up from the edge of the barrel and reached a hand back, blindly reaching for Sonny's jacket. The other boy didn't disappoint, stepping into Decky's space so he could latch hold.

[color=dc143c]"[I]Never[/I] take a fuckin' beatin' for me, 'specially one ya c'n fuckin' 'void,"[/color] he half slurred, half pleaded as he finally turned around and buried his face in the crook of Sonny's neck, the familiar scent of his Serpent jacket helping him to relax a fraction. Sonny stared at the top of his head as he tried to figure out his violent reaction. Suddenly, his arms tensed around the dark eyed boy as he remembered the night they joined the Serpents.

[I][color=dc143c]“They kept Danny in our room,”[/color] Decky let out with a broken sob. [color=dc143c]“They made ‘im watch and now he’s in there ‘n’ I’m stuck out here. They made him watch, Sunshine.”[/color][/I]

[color=f5d42e]"Okay, Mob,"[/color] Sonny finally replied, kissing the top of his head as the other still wouldn't leave his spot. [color=f5d42e]"Okay, I'll…fuck idunno, I'll pretend we're doin' some exhibitionist crap or somethin'," [/color] they both chucked weakly while the rest of the crew exchanged hushed conversation around them, creating a bubble of privacy for their Captain and Lieutenant. [color=f5d42e]"We always figure it out, us two."[/color]

Decky finally pulled away from Sonny, and at this point the rest of the crew had glared away the curious partygoers. Prof looked over his shoulder and gave Decky a stern glance, eyes tracing over his now very red tank top.

[color=b3e7f4]"To Fins. Now."[/color]

[hr]

Decky stepped back out of the Edge feeling more grounded than he had in two weeks. Prof had stayed behind so he and Findley could celebrate his return. Ransom had disappeared with Prof's cousins and fellow Serpents Ducaleon "Duke" and Dolce "Dutchess" Booker, and wasted no time in pulling his literal partner in crime away to dance after the siblings had been properly reunited with their cousin. Jokes and Creed had gone to their dorm as soon as they were sure Decky was in Fin's safe hands. Molotov had broken off halfway to the dorm in order to indulge in the Edge's bar, muttering something about wanting to get blitzed and stay that way.

Sunshine stepped out behind him, sucking obscenely on the lollipop Fin always gave them as a joke. Decky gave him a rough grin in response to the noises he was making, rolling his eyes and taking the lollipop out of Sonny's mouth and giving him a bruising kiss before keeping the candy for himself, popping it into his own mouth. Fin and Prof always made great pills, and luckily Prof wasn't the [I]only[/I] producer for the serpents. But since she had been helping him make pain meds for her MawMaw since they were kids it was something Fin did completely on her own while the crew was inside. They worked damn well too, the pain in his side was still there, but it was as if there was a layer of softness over everything. She had cleaned out the infection as best she could before stitching him back up, and told him to take it easy in that long suffering tone that meant she knew he wouldn't. Pain no longer flared at every step and while the world was a bit muted along with it, he felt he was ready to actually experience the party.

[color=dc143c]"Go find Danny for me, will ya Sunshine? I'm gonna go find this HB kid ReyRey spoke 'bout."[/color] Sonny nodded and headed off into the crowd, Decky doing so in the opposite direction. He spoke to a few of the groups milling about and after a few minutes was finally directed towards a guy about an inch taller than him with dark brown hair in one of the corners of the lot. He approached slowly but confidently, his walk still stilted from the wound but much smoother than before Findley had gotten ahold of him. His cheek was already bruised from ReyRey's hit, but he couldn't feel it at all.

[color=dc143c]"Oy, yer HB yeah?"[/color] he asked, leaning against the brick behind him as he settled beside the other boy. [color=dc143c]"'parently I'm a new tour guide for ya."[/color] he popped the lollipop out of his mouth and gave the guy a sharp, toothy grin. [color=dc143c]"'N' I've always got somethin' ta show."[/color]

Mika rolled his eyes as soon as he heard someone whose voice he didn't recognize call him by his street name. And when he turned around, he met this boy's gaze with something in the neighborhood of boredom and unamused. [color=635687]"Were you now? And lemme guess, you're supposed to be the cure for my apparent need to loosen up, right?"[/color] It was clear in the way Mika spoke that he wasn't in the mood to do anything that even resembled what this Urban Justin Bieber knock-off had in mind. [color=635687]"Just go tell Rey I'm fine. Or whatever ya need to that'll make him happy."[/color]

Realizing he had approached this guy the wrong way, Decky released his playful air and came back with an eyeroll of his own. [color=dc143c]"I'm not goin' back to ReyRey ta tell 'im anythin' but the truth,"[/color] he said blandly. [color=dc143c]"don't think my side could handle another smack if I lie to 'im. He told me ta show you the way an' I'mma do that whether or not either of us likes it."[/color]  He frowned as he stuck the lollipop back in his mouth, watching the rest of the party from their secluded little corners. [color=dc143c]"Just 'cause I can be a lil' fun don't mean I'mma be your personal fleshlight or some shit, I'm not some hanger-'round. Besides, looks like your ass is already occupied by that stick up it."[/color]

He barely registered his last words, and had to suppress a flinch when he did. He still had almost no idea who this kid was, either. He had been half worried that HB was meant to be his replacement before some of the party goers' gossip had reached his ears. HB was favored and taken in by the snake royalty, and he was from outside Edenridge. That's all he could go off of right now. The pills were working too good if he was going to be running off at the mouth like Sunshine always did. Speaking of, he couldn't see Danny or Sonny in the crowd and his shoulders were tensing the longer there was no sight of either. It was a damn parking lot, how hard is it to find one twelve year old in a sea of serpents?

[color=635687]“Excuse me?”[/color] Mika raised a brow at this guy at that last comment he threw at him. [color=635687]“Who the hell says I have [i]anything[/i] south of the border?”[/color] He asked, clearly offended at this presumptuous asshat’s words. 

He was already in a bad mood. He told Rey Rey he didn’t want to come. He even told Big Rey that he didn’t want to come, but it wouldn’t be until it came at the behest of [i]Ley[/i], that fucking viper who Mika found himself having a soft spot for, that he had been convinced to give it a chance. Ley, the only person who thus far had been getting through to Mika ever since he was forced to live in this shithole of a town. Not even that brief moment of understanding with that Belmonte girl a few weeks ago had any lasting effects on him. He still hated this place. He still hated that he was forced to live here for whatever reason.

And he hated whoever this fuckass was and his inability to take no for an answer. [color=635687]“Are you hard of hearing or just a [abbr=Russian for thick-headed fool][i]balvan[/i][/abbr]? Because I said I don’t need any tour guide and I'm already in a pretty bad mood.”[/color] Mika turned away from him. [color=635687]“So go find one of your butt buddies or whatever it is you need to do to leave me the fuck alone.”[/color]

[color=dc143c]"Jesus, I'm just tryina do my fuckin' job here,"[/color] Decky growled out, staring up at the heavens like they would help him just once in his life. [color=dc143c]"Yer over here actin' like sayin' no to R2 is a common thing 'round here. I dunno if that's privilege or ignorance comin' from you but if it's the latter it'll change fast enough."[/color] He wiped a hand down his face and took a deep breath. [color=dc143c]"Look, I got a hole in my side and a brother to find, I don't know how ta talk to ya and I don't actually fuckin' wanna but yer my assignment now so-"[/color] he was cut off as someone collided into his side, and suddenly the painpills seemed nonexistent once more. His breath-and the lollipop- was punched out of him all at once and he half crumpled over the small figure of Danny, who had wrapped himself right around the elder Boaz.

[color=ff7f50]"Decky!"[/color] He called in excitement before he saw how white his brother's face had gotten. [color=ff7f50]"Ohmygod! Your wound, I'm so sorry!"[/color] He went to lurch backwards as if his touch was poisonous, before throwing himself right back in place as Decky began to collapse.

[color=dc143c]"W-were ya that mad 'bout me goin' insi-[I]ah[/I]-inside, [abbr=Yiddish term of endearment for a young boy][i]Boychik[/i][/abbr]?"[/color] Decky attempted to joke, but it all came out much more strained than he had wanted it to. At Danny's distressed face he huffed and dropped a hand onto the younger boy's mop of curls, pushing his forehead to his own. [color=dc143c]"'M kiddin', know it was 'n accident. 'M fine"[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"The slurred speech says otherwise, [abbr=Yiddish for dummy][i]lekish[/i][/abbr]!"[/color]

Sonny stumbled out of the crowd then, eyes wild in his search for the young Boaz boy. His shoulders relaxed when he saw the two brothers, despite the fact that Decky had obviously taken another hit to his wound judging by his curled posture and pale face. He grinned weakly at the sight before calling to Danny.

[color=f5d42e]"You should join a fuckin' track team you lil' speedster,"[/color] he said with an eyeroll before reassessing something in his mind. [color=f5d42e]"Or maybe I'm outta shape…"[/color] he trailed off as he watched the brothers, taking in the moment for a second before turning his gaze to the outlier of the little group. Decky had completely lost interest in the other boy in favor of his brother, but he still knew he was there. It was evident in the way that even though Danny was fluttering around his brother like an excited puppy, Decky always made sure to remain between the young Boaz and the unknown player. Jeez, the guy seemed to take brooding lessons from ReyRey.

[color=f5d42e]"...'Sup?"[/color]
 
There was a lot that happened in the past few minutes and Mika wasn’t sure what to focus on. Seeing hearing something about a wound reopening or something along those lines wasn’t the sort of thing Mika could completely ignore. He witnessed the whole ordeal when a younger kid hugged Urban Biebs, or Decky but Mika was still going to call him Urban Justin Bieber and then when that hug made all hell break loose. But amidst the chaos, there was something else Mika fixated on. 

Growing up in the house he did, [i]Boychik[/i] was a term used so often from a few of his uncles that visited. Mika knew it and, maybe it was just him being homesick, but he kind of focused on that. They might have not seen it, but Mika half-smiled at everything. Even Decky, the Urban Justin Bieber, was getting some kind of reaction from him.

[color=635687]“Hey,”[/color] Mika finally said to one of the guys who decided to acknowledge him, [color=635687]“So, Decky is that guy’s name, huh? He gonna be alright? The fuck is up with his wound, anyway?”[/color]

[color=f5d42e]"Mob's fine, it happened two weeks ago,"[/color] Sunshine tilted his head, tracking the boy's small smile. [color=f5d42e]"They didn't treat him in juvie so it's been gettin' infected on an' off."[/color] He answered easily. Decky had allowed himself to slide down against the brick so he was sitting against the wall, Danny immediately curling up under his arm on his uninjured side. 

[color=dc143c]"'Tis but a flesh wound 'n' all that shit,"[/color] Decky gasped out. [color=dc143c]"I'll get more pills from Fins an' I'll be all ready ta go. Gotta be, for tomorrow."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"What's tomorrow?"[/color] Danny asked, eyes wide. [color=ff7f50]"You shouldn't be working again already Decky, you couldn't even get out of bed last week to see us at visitation."[/color]

[color=dc143c]"Nothing's tomorrow [abbr=Yiddish term of endearment][i]bubbe[/i][/abbr]."[/color] Decky replied quickly before Sonny could put his foot in his mouth. [color=dc143c]"Just Serpent business, gotta get my corner back in order after a year an' a half away."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"An' I get to sit in the dorm waiting for you, right?"[/color] Danny pouted, expecting to be left to his own devices until Decky would return to him. His brother winced slightly before rubbing at the back of his neck. 

[color=dc143c]"Nah, sorry bubbe but you're either gonna be with Pops or Phil tomorrow, I'll pick you up once it's all over."[/color]

Danny frowned at his older brother, but kept his mouth shut. He could tell something was up, but there was a lot that his serpent family wouldn't tell him. Always for his own safety, they'd say. Decky tilted his head up towards HB, unsure if the boy would be part of his punishment in the morning as well, or if he had known about ReyRey's ideas for punishment before Decky had.

[color=dc143c]"So, since we ain't got much choice in seein' a lotta each other: this is my baby brother Danny, he's almost always around with one of the Haze/Carlisle corner crew,"[/color] his voice was coming back a little stronger now that he was sitting down and taking in enough air. [color=dc143c]"I'm Decky, newly returned corner Captain, and that's Sunshine over there, my lieutenant."[/color]

Mika gave the little kid a soft smile. He reminded him of his younger sisters. Stacy specifically came to mind. They both had soft eyes. [color=635687]“Sup--”[/color] Mika said as he looked at Sunshine for a few seconds and then drew his eyes back to Decky. [color=635687]“I’m Mikhail, but everyone calls me Mika or whatever the fuck you want.”[/color] Mika didn’t know how to do this...pleasantries thing. Even when he didn’t have a ‘stick up his ass’, he wasn’t sure how to be friendly, let alone with people he barely knew. But maybe it was the fact there was a sense of familiarity with Decky and his friends, it almost reminded him of his own crew back in Brooklyn.

Decky quirked a brow at the boy's change in tone, catching his gaze on Danny and slowly putting things together. So he had a soft spot for kids, huh? Danny remained buried in his side, but pulled his face away when Mika had spoken. The black eye Sonny had mentioned after visitation was almost completely healed, the coloring a light yellow and brown instead of the angry purple and black it had been when it was fresh. He was watching Mika warily but curiously, and Decky nudged the younger boy in his side.

[color=dc143c]"You got a question or some shit?"[/color]

Danny mumbled under his breath in response, and Decky could barely hear him when he was right next to his ear.

[color=dc143c]"Speak up Danny, he ain't gonna hit ya-"[/color] he sent a glare towards Mika in warning as if he would be able to stop the boy from hitting his younger brother in his current state. [color=dc143c]"-an' I can't understand yer mutterin'."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"Mikhail Krutikov has really good books,"[/color] he spoke up, eyes shifting anywhere but Mika's eyes, but at least now facing the older boy. [color=ff7f50]"There's one with Yiddish kids tales, That's the one I'm reading. And then there's one called [i]Yiddish Fiction and the Crisis of Modernity 1905-1914[/i] that Decky was reading me before he got pinched."[/color] His eyes were wide as he recalled the information, a spark of excitement alight within them. Decky was staring at Danny like he'd grown another head. Danny loved reading, but he didn't realize the boy memorized the titles that Decky was reading to him, especially when it had been almost two years since the book had been cracked. And who pays attention to the author like that? Given Decky had told Danny about him and they'd watched his lectures, but Decky didn't even remember until Danny mentioned him!

Damnit, his brother was probably some genius and no one even knew because he's been left behind by anyone that would be able to help him forward in that regard. He was wasted potential in human form, and Decky didn't have enough foothold or good grace to propel him forward the way he needed to.

Danny seemed to notice Decky's bewildered expression, and shrunk a bit before his brother caught the action and threw him a reassuring grin.

[color=ff7f50]"I...uh...just wanted to know if you ever wanted to read him maybe? No one else around here does…"[/color]

Mika had just looked at Danny for a few moments and briefly did the same with Decky. [color=635687]“I’d be honored, Danny,”[/color] Mika said sweetly, kneeling down to Danny’s eye level. [color=635687]“You know, my mom told me that my father named me after that very author. Said it was one of the few authors that he enjoyed. And I kinda just grew up on stuff by him and others like him.”[/color] Danny's eyes practically had stars in them as he stared up at the new boy. This had been the first time Mika actually opened up about his parents or anything. Since coming to Edenridge, Mika had shut himself off and hated the fact that he didn’t feel any sense of familiarity or belonging despite him living with his godfather. But he was starting to feel that with Decky’s crew. [color=635687]“--If that’s okay with your brother, that is,”[/color] Mika said, looking up at Decky.

Decky stared at Mika with as much bewilderment as he had Danny, wondering briefly if Findley had slipped a hallucinogen into his meds. What a fuckin' attitude change. The thought made Decky grin, knowing that with masks like that the other boy would do just fine with the Serpents. He gave Mika his first genuine smile, approving of his actions towards his baby brother. 

[color=dc143c]"Danny could always use more readin' buddies,"[/color] he offered in response, giving a shallow shrug with his right shoulder. [color=dc143c]"He can read the kid's tales on his own but Krutikov's heavier shit is a bit too wordy, he needs some runnin' commentary for it."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"I [i]like[/I] the running commentary,"[/color] Danny corrected with a pout, causing Decky to turn his grin on him. He blushed and crossed his arms muttering, [color=ff7f50]"I like the way you explain things."[/color]

Decky laughed, catching Sonny with a relaxed grin as he took in the scene before him silently. Even he knew when not to kill a moment every now and then. He turned his attention back to Mika.

[color=dc143c]"We caught one of his free lectures usin' one'a the library computers a couple years back. Lotta it went over my head but I did what I could."[/color]

Mika watched in silence, a small curve of a smile on his lips as he watched the brothers talk about Krutikov and how Decky couldn’t handle the heavier stuff. When he mentioned that they caught one of his lectures, Mika heard himself chuckling before the others would. [color=635687]“Don’t blame yourself too much, Decky,”[/color] Mika said, placing a hand on his shoulders, smiling at the boy. He made sure not to press too hard because of his fragile condition. [color=635687]“I’ve been reading his stuff for half my life and I still have a tough time comprehending it on a literary basis. My father was so intent on grilling some aspect of literature in me -- at least whenever the [abbr=Russian curse word for shit sucker][u][i]govnosos[/i][/u][/abbr] was around.”[/color] Thinking about his shithole of a father always made him feel sour, but right now, he couldn’t help but think of Ivan fondly. Even if he wasn’t always around and Viktor always seemed to be his preferred son, especially when it came to showing any sign of affection or acknowledgement, Mika wasn’t completely ignored by him. Or at least in those early years he wasn’t. 

Decky and Danny had both flinched slightly when Mika had raised his hand, relaxing once all it did was fall onto Decky's shoulder. The other boy even maintained a gentleness to his condition that only his crew seemed to before. The way Mika spoke of his father seemed to be with a bit of yearning and a hint of bitterness. Decky only understood one of those emotions in regards to parents, but he wasn't going to begrudge someone for not getting their body beat or sold every day of their childhood. From behind Mika's crouched form, Sonny nodded to Decky and slowly melted back into the crowd, most likely to find the parts of his crew that wasn't fucking each other's brains out and give them an update on this Honey Badger character. Sonny could run information with the best of them, so long as it's not required to go Northside to deliver it.

Looking back to Mika, Decky smiled and gave a mock-pompous sniff. [color=dc143c]"Well, I guess ya ain't so bad if Krutikov is in your library."[/color] He said, keeping his nose in the air until Danny started giggling uncontrollably at the face he was making. He then broke down with laughter himself before grabbing his aching side and taking in a sharp breath through his teeth. [color=dc143c]"Motherfucker, this is bullshit. Over two week and this thing's still actin' like it's new."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"It's because of the infection, Decky. It basically keeps everything from healin' 'cause it's irr-irritatin' everythin'."[/color] Danny stumbled a bit over one of the words, blushing as he did so. He was always so embarrassed when he pronounced a word wrong or used it in the wrong context. Decky would always respond that he learned everything through books alone and that it was nothing to be ashamed of. One of his few lessons that never stuck. He was about to give the same speech anyway when something at the edge of the lot caught his eye. Charlie Decker had arrived, and with him all the bitterness and anger Decky had pushed aside. ReyRey and the others were gonna beat him tomorrow because Hard Times fucked up. Some chick was dead because Hard Times didn't check his batches right. He was Decky's responsibility.

[color=dc143c]"Watch [i]boychik[/i] for a sec. Got someone ta...talk to."[/color] His eyes were stormy as they latched onto Charlie and didn't let go. His adrenaline was already pumping as he stood up and pushed himself off the wall despite Danny's protests. His unoccupied crew seemed to melt out of the woodwork behind him as he watched, as if they'd felt their Captain's rage. As he got closer to Charlie, he masked his face with a large smile, arms wide as if he were greeting an old friend for the first time in a while. Which is what he should have been doing. Instead, once he got close he called out, [color=dc143c]"Hard Times!"[/color] before darting into his space and giving him a full force right hook to his jaw, sending him to the ground. Decky then crouched over him, grin still on his face as she stared his friend down with cold eyes. [color=dc143c]"Ya stopped visitin' me!"[/color] The smile finally dropped to a scowl as he glared. [color=dc143c]"[i]Any particular reason?"[/i][/color]

Once again, Charlie Decker had found himself in a situation he didn’t want to be in. This time; he was at a serpent party but this wasn’t just any party, it was a serpent welcome home party. He didn’t want to be there, he had no right to be there considering what had transpired over the last few weeks but yet there he stood or at least, where he now lay after a punch from his friend, from his brother, Decky. He spat a glob of blood onto the floor and looked up at the visage of the elder Boaz glaring at him with rage.

[color=D3D3D3]”Deck I…”[/color] As Charlie raced through all the words that he could say, all the things he could do to try and convince Decky that he had nothing to do with the bad batch and Allison’s death he reached an epiphany of sorts. It wouldn’t matter if he managed to prove to the Carlisle crew his innocence; the town had already judged him. They had judged him from before he was even born, a bastard, a criminal born; he was guilty as charged before there had ever been a trial. Decky's narrowed eyes were watching his every moment.

The boy stood up to his full height; he was always the tallest in class and now they were in high school a lot of people confused Charlie for a senior. He towered over Decky and the rest of his boys, his deep set dark eyes staring almost blankly at them.[color=D3D3D3]”Life isn’t always what we want it to be, Decky. You should know that more than most”[/color] He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, the smaller's flinch was more violent than it has been in years. [color=D3D3D3]”Welcome home buddy, enjoy your party”[/color] He turned away from the crowded group and walked back towards Lyon Park.

The crew watched the distance between him and Decky grow, which just seemed to make Decky's face redder with each step. His blood was practically singing and he couldn't tell if the pounding in his head was blood rushing or just a damn fine migraine in the works. His vision tunneled in at Charlie's retreating back. The boy had barely glanced at him before taking his leave, barely stood his ground.

[color=ff7f50]"Decky Boaz!"[/color] Danny's voice called out, making Decky turn and wobble as he caught sight of his brother again, the boy has dragged Mika through the crowd by hand and was looking at him with confusion and alarm. [color=ff7f50]"You're bleeding again! Just to punch Charlie?! Why'd you punch Charlie?"[/color] 

All the words hit him but didn't process. He did indeed tear Findley's new stitches with the twist he threw into his punch- and she would make him pay dearly for that later no doubt- and Charlie's quick retreat had practically taken all the wind out of Decky's sails to make way for confusion. He stared at Danny as if waiting for the words to process. He took one step towards his distraught brother before his world tilted and went black.[/indent][/indent]