Their eyes are locked.

Crip feels frozen in fear. This guy was so unnecessarily intimidating. His ice blue eyes, tall, slender but muscular frame, and those dark clothes. It's like he emits a dangerous aura.

"Do my eyes deceive me?"

Crips eyes flick to the right, and sadly, he does recognize this man. His hair is bleach blonde and short, gauges in his ears, and of course, Crip knows from the past, tattoos all over his body.

"You've got some nerve coming in here."

He's approaching fast, but Crip doesn't care. If he gets beat up, so be it. This guy was a major pain in the ass back then, and he's not about to make his life even more miserable now.

Crip: "You've got some nerve being alive."

Victor chuckles a bit, grinning as if he really enjoyed that remark.

Victor: "He's got a point Rat."

Crip: "Rat? That's what you're going by now?"

StreetRat: "It's StreetRat to you."
He says through gritted teeth.

Crip: "Seems fitting."

StreetRat: "I see your mouth hasn't changed. That's what got your ass in trouble before, remember?"

Crip: "I don't fucking care."

StreetRat: "Oh good. I guess we can have another session then. Wonder how many of these new members want in?"

Crip: "Shut up."

StreetRat: "Come on now, you know you enjoyed that many dicks at once."

Crip: "I said shut up!"

StreetRat reaches out, but before he can get close enough to grab him, Victor steps between them. The sudden movement forces StreetRat to step back, and stare at Victor in disbelief.

There's a moment of silence.

StreetRat: "What's up with you?"

Victor: "Red gave me instructions to protect this one."

StreetRat looks very confused.

StreetRat: "Why?"

Victor doesn't answer, and just stares at him.

StreetRat: "Are you serious right now? I can't even fuck him?"

Victor: "Do I need to remind you of what happened when I first joined?"

StreetRats eyes widen a bit.

StreetRat: "No...I get it. I'll back off."

Victor smirks a bit, and StreetRat walks off. Surely, he's going to talk to Red.

Crip is honestly shocked. Victor really is gonna protect him. It's a conflicting feeling. On one hand, he can do whatever he wants and Victor isn't gonna let anyone mess with him...but on the other hand...there's still the question of why Red would order such a thing.

Since when has he cared about a gang war?

Something doesn't add up.

Victor: "Let's go. I want you to meet Thad."

Crip: "Thad?"

Instead of explaining, Victor just starts walking, and Crip is quick to follow. After all that, Crip would rather stay near him the entire time he's forced to be here.

They reach an office, and as they enter, Crip spots this man with shoulder length, curly brown hair. He's wearing glasses, and certainly doesn't look like he should be in a gang.

His green eyes snap up, spotting the two.

Thad: "Ah, you brought the little fellow. Thank you Victor."

Little fellow?

The quirky man hurry's over, sticking out his hand happily for Crip to shake.

Thad: "My name is Thaddeus. Red told me we were getting a new member."

Crip hesitantly shakes the man's hand, then withdraws it.

Victor: "This is Crip. He has a messed up ankle, so I wanted to know your thoughts as far as what he can do during a run."

Thad's eyes sink down, and he makes note of the foot that is slightly off-set.

Thad: "I see. Nothing we can't work with!"

Crip: "Really?"
He asks, shocked. O'Riley has always said he's useless other than using his body for sex. Then he went and fucked up being a distraction with Switch...

Thad: "Absolutely! I do think, maybe you need someone with you at all times, for safety reasons that is."

Victor: "Red has instructed me to stay with him."

Thad: "Oh, wonderful! I know you are usually front and center, but I feel Crip should not be in the direct line of danger. Perhaps you two could secure the alternative exits? Make sure the cops or rival gang, doesn't catch our men from behind?"

Victor nods, "Sounds fine to me."

Thad: "And you?"
He asks, looking down at Crip.

Crip: "Y-yes! I can do it!"

Thad smiles big, loving Crips enthusiasm.

Victor: "I need to check in with Red real fast. You stay here with Thad. I'll be right back."

Victor leaves the room, closing the door behind him. This is perfect actually. Crip had some questions about that strange man.

Thad steps off, continuing to look over some sort of map. Crip calmly steps over as well.

Crip: "Um..Thaddeus?"

Thad abruptly stops, and looks over at Crip.

Thad: "Yes?"

Crip: "Do you...know what happened when Victor got here? He said something about...something happening to StreetRat."

Thad: "Ah, yes. When Victor joined us, StreetRat couldn't understand why Red was giving him so much privilege. Red was having him take control in his absence, specifically on runs Red did not go on. Needless to say..StreetRat ran his mouth, like he always does, and Victor..."

There's a pause.

Thad: "Victor put him in his place, real quick-like."

Crip: "You mean...he beat him up?"

Thad: "I've seen men scrap before. This was no scrap. This was a straight up show of dominance. StreetRat didn't stand a chance. Victor seems to have extensive knowledge with two things...firearms and fighting. He's an excellent shot. When I've seen him, he's never missed his target. When he fights, he's fearless. He walks as if he's an army tank and nothing can hurt him. I'm not sure what Victor did before joining this gang, but sometimes I think this gang is actually a downgrade for him."

Crip can feel the fear riling up inside of him yet again. So his hunch was right. Victor is indeed very dangerous.

Crip: "W-wait..When did he join exactly?"

Thad: "It hasn't been that long. Maybe..two months ago?"

Two months?! Two months, and he's somehow Reds top man?!

Crip: "It doesn't make any sense."

Thad: "I agree. My guess is he and Red must've known each other already. I have to say though, it is because of Victor that things have changed around here for the better. I respect him. He seems to know exactly how to run a gang, but he doesn't overstep. He is truly working for Red, like the rest of us."

Crip doesn't even know what else to say. Nothing makes sense, and this Victor guy is fucking terrifying.

Thad: "Ah, excuse me. I have somewhere to be. You can wait here for Victor to return. Come see me again, yeah? I enjoy chatting with you."

Crip nods slightly, and Thad leaves. Since he's alone, he takes this opportunity to check out whatever these maps are that Thad had scattered across this table. It looks like...buildings...some are even circled. Could these be the places they plan to raid?
The door suddenly opens, and his eyes meet light blue ones.

It's Victor.

He looks a little irritated...

Victor: "Where's your babysitter?"

Crip can feel his face getting hot again.
Babysitter? Seriously? What a fucking asshole.

Crip: "He said he had somewhere to be.."

Victor: "Of course he did. At least he left you in here."

This guy is the worst. One moment he pays for his coffee and calls him cute...then he treats him like a fucking nuisance.

Crip: "Can I go home now? I really don't see any reason for me to hang around here any longer today."

Victor: "Sure. Let's go."

Oh no.

Crip: "W-wait!"

Victor is steadily walking now, and Crip is following close behind, trying to think of a safe way to tell him he doesn't want him to walk him home.

Crip: "I don't need any protection to walk home!"

They reach the outside of the hideout, and it's actually a little hard to keep up.

Victor: "Please, a little thing like you, walking home all by yourself? I'm shocked you've survived this long."

Crip: "I'm not completely helpless you know!"

Victor: "I don't know...from what I've heard, you are."

Crip stops, dead in his tracks, and it causes Victor to stop as well.

Crip: "What....do you know?"

Victor turns around, peering down at the smaller male.

Victor: "I know about the past, with Red I mean. I know he got mad, because it seemed like you were always defying his orders. I also know about your punishment."

This bastard knows way too much.

Victor: "Seemed cruel to me."

Crips eyes widen a bit, and he looks up, surprised.

Crip: "What?"
He whispers.

Victor: "I said it seemed cruel to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm a killer...but I'm not a rapist. I've always found it disgusting, wanting to force someone. Especially someone like you. You aren't one of these thugs that needs to be tortured and broke. I think Red went too far."

Somehow...that feels like the nicest thing anyone has ever said to him. He can't help but feel a little guilty judging Victor so harshly. Maybe...he's not as bad as he seems.

Crip thinks back to what Thad said. Victor is the reason things have changed.

Crip: "Did you talk to Red? I mean..are you the reason he doesn't wanna kill me anymore?"

Victor smirks a little, "What if I did?"

Crip: "But...why?"

Victor doesn't answer. Instead he starts walking again.

Crip: "Uh, w-wait! Seriously, I can walk myself home!"

Victor: "You're not gonna let this go, are you, little birdy?"

There's that fucking pet name again...

Crip: "I just....I don't really want anyone to know where I live..that's all."

Victor: "Why not?"

Crip: "Because I value my life..."

Victor sighs, pinching between his eyes.

Victor: "Fine. Walk home by yourself then."

Crip can feel the relief wash over him. Thank GOD.