Nick paused, and looked back. The girl was seemingly passed out on the ground, the group of boys closing in to do who knows what to her. He glanced back and forth between the apartment building and her before sighing and shaking his head. Curse my good nature.
Nick jogged back, approaching the group. He got a whiff of them; part of the Queens Tribe. "Hey, Queenies, back off," The Queens and Brooklyn Tribes were in an alliance, and if these kids defied his orders, he'd have to report them; something he didn't necessarily want to do.
The boys looked from him to the unconscious Rejina. "Fine," one of them mumbled. He must've been the leader because the rest dropped their shoulders and followed him off.
Rejina came to but didn't open her eyes. She moaned quietly. Her head hurt too much to even think.
"Hey, you alright?" Nick said awkwardly, standing near. He hadn't have a clue what to do if someone maybe had a concussion. Should he whip out his phone and check, or would that initiate he was ignoring her? God, I'm terrible at social cues.
"No, moron," she got out before a sharp pain stabbed her head. Okay, maybe not the best idea to call the people who saved you a moron. "I mean… no." Her head felt heavy, so she didn't want to stand up. However, she managed to sit up, leaning against the building. Her eyes were barely open.
“Hey, I’m the one who saved you, remember?” Nick said with an edge to his voice. Those Queenies would’ve beaten her up on the spot if he had left her there to rot. He then held out a hand to her, offering to help. “Here, take my hand. I’ll help you up.” She did look like she had a concussion, and her eyes were barely staying open. Nick was smart enough to assume something was wrong.
"Yeah, sorry," she muttered, taking his hand. She tried opening her eyes more and was successful to a degree. At least she knew she could kind of stand… with the help of this mystery person. "Who are you?" she asked, getting a decent look at him for the first time.
"The name's Nick. I'm a Brooklyn Tribe native. And you are?" He could tell just by her scent that she was from out of town, but not too far out. Nick looked the Outsider up and down. She had bushy, slightly curly brown hair and greenish blue eyes. Not bad. Definitely not bad.
"Rejina. From Chicago," she answered, holding her head to try and relieve the hammering pain. "Do you have a place where I can crash?" What are you doing?!
"Yeah…?" Nick pointed down the street, a confused look on his face. "It's just down the block." Nick glanced at her again, noticing how she looked like she was gonna fall any second. She doesn't look too good.
Rejina leaned heavily on the building. "Can I…?" she asked, pressing her palm against her forehead.
"I guess. Do you need help getting there?" Nick held out his hands, in case she decided to fall. Maybe once we get to the apartment, I'll call a doctor.
She nodded weakly. This sucked. Usually, she took care of herself and now was no different.
Nick swept her up in his arms, and started to walk down to his apartment. They got a few weird looks, but he glared at them, reminding them to mind their own business.
Tick had scaled the side of the building. It was a terrible idea, she knew that, but she hardly thought that the soft, city tribe members would be able to follow her. She swung up onto a balcony, after making sure nobody was home. She slumped against the wall and sighed, still tense with fear.
Nick had arrived at his apartment, or more like a penthouse, and laid the mysterious Outsider on the couch. He glanced around the house, making sure nothing was missing. In New York, your apartment could get broken into at any moment, no matter how rich or poor you were. Eyes arriving at the balcony, he noticed a pair of legs sticking out. Somebody's out there!
Sniffing the air, Nick recognized it as the same Niagra Falls Tribe member from earlier. He walked over there and threw open the door, revealing the girl. "What do you think you're doing on my balcony?"
Tick bolted upright and backed away. She lept for the side of the building starting to scale it again. "Why can't I just catch a break!?!" She was panicking. She did NOT want to head to jail. "Freakin' drunk dad is what got me in this situation!!" She was mumbling under her breath as she heaved herself quickly up the bricks in fear.
Shit. Nick jumped up and grabbed the back of her shirt, tugging her down on the balcony. "Not so fast, Niagra." he snarled. He didn't catch what she said, it just heard like incoherent mumbling.
Rejina tried to stand. "What's the matter?" she asked quietly. Talking too loud hurt.
Tick instinctively threw him a punch in her fear and then swung her leg in a kick. "NO! I CAN'T GO BACK THERE!!" She was shaking in fear. She then just went limp, a dead look coming into her eyes. She slumped to the floor, kneeling in front of him with her head down. "Not again…" her voice was in a monotone. "Not… again…" Her chest was heaving as she hyperventilated.
“Shit!” Nick stumbled back as the girl clocked him in the jaw and kicked him, now leaning against the bar of the balcony. He touched his face gingerly, pressing down lightly. That’s going to leave a bruise…
Nick glanced over at Rejina, and then back at the strange girl who was now in a fetal position hyperventilating. Rubbing a hand over his face, he crouched down next to the Niagra Falls native, even though every instinct in his body was telling him not to. “You alright?” Nick kept the words short and simple.
(Hey! Don’t want this to die after it’s barely begun! ;)
(Sorry. My family was sick this weekend so I couldn't get on a ton. I'm always on more during the week.)
Tick jumped and scrambled away from him, only to bash her head against the brick wall. She cried out and curled back into a fetal position, whimpering and clutching her head. "I haven't been "alright" in many years…" She kept her face hidden in her legs, curled up tightly.
(You’re good!)
Nick winced as she banged her head on the wall. Yikes, that’s gotta hurt. “Well, come inside. I’ll call a doctor or whatever to get your and Rejina’s heads checked out. Then, I’ll decide what to do with you.” The only reason he wanted her inside is because she was making a scene. A small group of people had stopped on the ground below and was looking at them curiously.
Tick-Tock shook her head. "No doctors…" she whispered, unfurling from her position. Other than that, she remained silent and still, looking at the floor of the balcony.
"Fine, no doctor," Nick crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "But at least go inside." he said, his tone holding a hint of pleading. He didn't like being the talk of the town even more-it was bad enough being the Chief's son.
