𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍. remembrance

ROBBY WAS M.I.A, GONE AS IF HE NEVER EXISTED. A TALENT, truly, his ability to simply drop out of life. Jieun would like to say this was something new or surprising. But it wasn't.

Now, she was pacing in her sunny kitchen, her fingers cold and clammy, her stomach so sour even the bright, fluffy lemon scones she made an hour ago ❨ in a sad attempt to ease her agitation ❩ didn't tempt her. And she knew they were delicious.

So, instead of eating, she clutched her phone, willing herself not to dial but doing it anyway. She gave him one night; that is true, but she didn't think he'd take it seriously. It had now been three days since.

For three days she searched, she made calls to all the shelters within reasonable driving or walking distance, she even went as far as looking through the guest bedroom where she had placed him a few nights before in the hopes there'd be some clue to where he might've gone to.

A cold sweat suddenly broke out along her back as the call rang through.

Don't pick up, don't pick up, don't pick ―

"Hello, Jieun." Ben's voice was far too cheery this early in the morning, or at all. "I was just thinking about you. What is this I hear about a suspension?"

"I need a favor."

Slightly offended amusement lilts through his voice. "No 'hello' or 'I got a two-week suspension because I got involved in a karate throwdown'?"

"No, because I didn't want a lecture from you."

"You are a horrible pessimist, darling."

Jieun snorted, continuing to pace the length of her kitchen. "I think you mean pragmatic." She drawled.

She didn't know it, but she was the only person who could manage to tease him yet make him feel a little bit lighter in his soul while doing so. Ben smiled despite his disquiet. "So, what's this favor you needed?"

Clearing her throat, she leaned against her counter and dove in. "There's this boy ―"

"― no."

"― I didn't get to finish!" Jieun exclaimed. Ben could barely hear her over the sound of helicopters on his end. "He's sort of... in hiding." Her statement lingered. "I need your help finding him, take him in." Ben's eyes narrowed as she continued, "I don't know for how long."

He stayed silent, Jieun called out his name, "what did he do?" He gruffed out.

"Put someone in a coma." Her voice sounded hollow.

"Oh, that kid." He responded, and he cleared his throat. "Fine. Only this once."

Her phone's case creaked under her grip. "Thank you. If you find him, please let me know. And... don't let him leave before I get there."

There was a protracted pause before he answered. "Robby Keene, was it?"

"What? I didn't even..."

"His name is all over the news." He interrupted, "nothing special on my end." They both fall silent, then he speaks in a halting voice, "I'll let you know when I find him."

THE RATTLE OF A SUPERMARKET CART shook Robby from his daydream, with no stores nearby it wasn't a normal part of the street's auditory makeup. An old cart, rusted and full of tin cans shook as it passed over the uneven slabs, a shriveled old man behind it with a white beard traveling down his dark overcoat.

Robby observed him for a moment, with the homeless it was harder to get a bearing on their age, one year to them was at least five for other folks, likely more. As expected the man averted his gaze, not meeting Robby's friendly eye. The harshness of street life taught them very quickly to stay isolated in every possible way, even a stray glance could mean trouble they'd best avoid.

At times he broke that protocol and made eye contact with another person in the overstretched hope that someone might take pity on him. Each time he did so they recoiled worse than if he'd been one of the dealers or pimps, lips curled and head moving away until they could safely redirect their eyes to the sidewalk or the person walking next to them. Their steps gathered pace as they suppressed a tinge of guilt, hastily beginning a vacuous conversation their mind was only half on.

Robby doubled over, the cough that had persisted since the incident becoming worse with every passing hour.

Though the weather was now warming, Robby's body grew colder and his breath had a rasping rattle he'd only ever heard on the other street dwellers before. Those were the ones who didn't last long and to think of it cast him into a blackness he couldn't fight.

His mind searched for a happy memory, something to cling to, but every one of them was attached to a plethora of bad ones. Except for one.

"What are you doing, moron?" Jieun said with a wry grin.

Here was the situation: Robby was on the makeshift rope standing on the window sills to help finish putting up a Halloween decoration. "I'll come to you."

"No. Don't come." Robby looked at her, "Don't. Don't come."

"I'm coming."

"Don't!"

He watched as Jieun struggled to make it over to the other sill. Unimpressed eyes. "Hey, above you!" He screamed.

A zombie figure ❨ Robby insisted to put up, despite it clashing with her slasher-madmen theme ❩ hung its head out the window above them, the duct tape Robby had messily attached to it must've slipped, Its voice box rang through their ears, hungrily, the front of its uniform dark with fake dried blood and bile, his face full of tore off flesh.

Jieun threw herself onto Robby, barely making it as the zombie made its way to the ground.

"My back!"

"Stay still. I'll help you."

The two conversed, and Jieun felt anxious. Here she was on a window sill, bickering. One wrong move from either of them and they're doomed to drop to a painful fall.

She latched onto him, kicking the zombie off. "Shit. I told you the zombie was a bad idea!" Robby gasped, "Why couldn't you just leave it in the basement?"

"Hey. Stop hugging me. You're grossing me out."

She rolled her eyes. "Quit talking and get the hell down, some of us want to live!" She screamed, earning a chuckle from the boy.

Robby let go of her, gently, and heaved himself to the other side on the rope he made, making his way to the open window, a few feet from her.

Looking around Robby pushed his head out the window, "Laurie! You can come down now!"

Jieun stood quietly, gripping the walls. "I can't." She slung her purse over her shoulder carefully.

"Why? Are you hurt? Did something happen?" Worry filled his tone.

She took a deep breath, "I'm... scared of heights." She yelled back.

There was silence, a light snicker was heard, and if she could, she would've glared at him. "You climbed, threw yourself to where I was, and you're scared of heights?" He replied back.

"I fell out of a tree and broke my leg when I was little! What the hell is your problem!"

Robby grinned. "You'll have to come down soon enough. Get moving!"

She attempted to climb over the cement block, mentally scolding herself. If earlier, Robby could barely get his long legs around it how the hell could she? She thought.

He continued to watch her. "Trust me, you're okay!" He yelled.

"What if I miss the rope?"

"I'll catch you!"

Jieun chuckled softly, "I got this, I got this, I got this," She murmured to no one in particular, letting all the pent-up rage and sorrow come out as she flung herself onto the rope.

Robby grinned, cheering her on. It was a sweet moment, for a second they had seemed to forget they hated each other.

She shimmied down the rope, gripping the feet holes tightly with sweaty palms before he pulled her back into the room, Robby holding her close.

Robby's emotions told him she needed more of a connection, or that he did, though he guessed in reality it was both of them.

Her eyes were so different at that moment, softer than he knew eyes could be. The stubborn, annoying girl was gone, and instead, it was the eyes of one who loved deeply. If it were anyone else he would've dropped his gaze, but with her he drew in closer, wanting more.

Then, she broke eye contact. "I think we're done, right?" He just nods, taking in every moment for his memory, knowing it was the medication he'd need, one day.

Ben had walked these streets for a long time, he basically knew as if they were etched on his head with a sharp knife, scored in deep like some strange work of art. His senses were on high alert. Every color was brighter, every noise louder, every stranger a cause to make his heart beat more fiercely still.

When his driver drops him off at another hotspot for homeless people, Ben says nothing and climbed out of the car. He's in his black suit, a suit always, a small backpack slung across his shoulder, and he starts walking directly to the crowd of people.

It was disgusting, piss stains and grime all over the area, he makes a note to peel off his clothes and burn them when he finishes this job.

According to his research, and a few drive-by visits, a boy was spotted around a few hours ago, comes and goes they said. Ben spotted a short-haired dirty-blonde girl who looked in her late thirties or early forties. He headed straight for her. She's alone, scrolling through a fake phone and smoking a cigarette.

When she glances up at him, she does a double take. "Holy shit," she mutters as he stopped in front of her. "Who are you? This is my corner, bitch."

It's a weak attempt at the tenacity, but Ben didn't bother arguing with her. He just slipped two hundred dollars and handed it to her. "Here."

She glares down at the money looking half-offended and half-tempted. "What's this for?"

"Two hundred to get the fuck out of here and two more if you can tell me anything about this kid." He pulled out a picture of Robby, post haircut, that Jieun sent.

"Are you a cop? You have to tell me if you are."

Ben laughed. "Who told you that? No, I'm not a fucking cop."

"I don't want any trouble."

"Then take the two hundred and get outta here."

Her fingers reach out, glancing around quickly like someone is about to ambush her and arrest her for taking money from his hand.

"I don't know nothing 'bout him," she mutters, quickly shoving the money into her bra. "Saw him go that way, though."

"How long ago?" He asked, cringing as the words come out of my mouth.

"A few hours ago. No, wait, I think ten minutes ago, could be thirty though ―"

"That's enough," He snapped. She cowards back. "Jesus, here." he quickly pulled out the other two hundred and push it into her hand. "Please for the love of God, quit the drugs. Go back to school, call your mother or something... it's not a good look for you."

She scowled at him for a moment, and suddenly he sees the wrinkles around her eyes and the texture of her skin. If she was any older than him, this life had hardened her.

"Fucking dick," she muttered as she walked away, and he let it roll off his shoulders.

Luckily for Ben, almost immediately after the confrontation, he squinted his gaze far away to his left. Robby had his hood on, and Ben sauntered over, holding the bag close to his side.

Seeing him this close, it took everything in him not to jam his knee immediately into this boy's body for getting Jieun involved in the school fight, though Jieun had already told him she joined willingly, he didn't care.

"Hey, kid." He said, his voice seemingly more aggressive than he intended. Robby didn't look at the voice, startled, so Ben threw the bag to the ground next to his feet.

"I don't want your drugs," Robby said in a slimy, low-pitched voice.

"It's food and a change of clothes, per request," Ben said firmly. A chill ran down Robby's spine, 'per request?' He must be a cop. "Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you."

Robby springs up, "who the hell are you?" He mumbled.

A cold chill filled his bloodstream as Ben glared at him, looking impatient and not nearly as welcoming as he was a few moments ago. "You made someone very upset." He continued, "I'm here to take you to ―"

Before he could finish his sentence Robby darted in the other direction, "Fuck." Ben muttered before racing after him.

Ben fumbled quickly for the bag, and despite Robby having a head start, Ben was faster.

Robby struggled against his hold, trying to find an opening, he gives enough space between Ben's face and his head just before he threw his head back, he managed to make bone-shattering contact with his face. Robby's head is spinning and he swore he could see actual stars as Ben stumbled off him, cursing things like 'you little shit.' and 'fuck this.'

"You're gonna pay for that, kid." Ben groaned, holding his bloody nose.

He knew there was little to no time before Robby would start running again, so Ben reached down to grab the backpack, swinging it at the teen's face, knocking him out almost instantly.

"Damn." Ben heaved. "Jieun's gonna kill me."

"Need help, sir?" It was his driver.

Ben's eyes began to focus, this kid really got me, he thought. "Take him to the training center, I need to make a call." The driver nodded, throwing Robby over his shoulder, not before Ben muttered, "and maybe a goddamn doctor's appointment."

BY THREE O'CLOCK, JIEUN MADE IT to the building, she didn't hesitate to get in her car and drive there after her call with Ben, giving her grandmother a bullshit excuse that she was going to Yasmine's place.

"Robby?" She whispered, her hand clapping over her mouth. His hands tied to the chair, head hung low. She turned to Ben, "you crazy bitch! I told you not to hurt him!"

"Yeah, I was aware of the plan. Little shit got me first." Ben gave a harsh glare. "If you haven't noticed the bandage on my face."

She threw up her arms and rolled her eyes. "I bet you had it coming." Ben huffed as she went closer to Robby, untying his hands and moving him gently to the floor.

"He has a lot of potential."

Jieun didn't answer him, biting the inside of her cheek and hating what that phrase may mean. She thought this was the right option for him, but it might have done more damage than good.

"You're not getting him involved in your shit." She barked with contempt, "this is temporary."

Ben glanced around the room, "I suggest you stay until he wakes up, explain everything."

There was something about Ben barking orders that had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. He's hardly spoken a word to her since the first day of school ❨ granted, it had only been a few days, but still. ❩, and now he's here, saving her life.

"He's not getting involved. Don't teach him anything." She said after a few moments of silence. "Promise me."

Ben let out a deep sigh, griding his molars and she couldn't help but notice just how much she had set Ben off. He looked angry, almost. He then nodded and left the building.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

small filler plus a cutsey scene from ch 2 i never put in bc i didn't wanna make it too long hehehehhe

robby finally meeting ben

imagining the whole thing bc the jensen i have in my head is soldier boy from the boys which makes it funnier

also no worries ben isn't acually a threat, i know im writing him as one but u can trust him i swear !!

hes just a lil grumpy man w a soft heart for jiji

much love,