He Got 99 Problems and the Yakuza Are 1

Summer 2021, Week 5

Saturday evening

Saint Marsh Orphanage, The Wards

Saint Tobias Marsh

The relative quiet of the three story house seems rather peaceful, the only present sounds the gentle snores of the children and the general sounds of the night in the streets of the Wards district. Tobias was awoken from a dream, and stayed up to make sure that it wasn't another dream of prophecy and just a dream of worry. I hope th' lad's all right. Dear Lord in Heaven above, that boy's gonna meet ye soon if he keeps this up. He closes his eyes and leans back in an old wooden rocking chair, listening to the sounds of the night and picking out what noises were what: the wind moans through the streets and alleys, the occasional sounds of a distant train rolling about the tracks, and the occasional sound of someone roaming the poorly lit streets of McAlpin.  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

Aloysius had finished up his patrol before he went to the orphanage doing his best to make sure he wasn’t followed and walking up to the front door. He was wearing darker clothes looked exhausted with a few minor cuts and bruises. Like he had come out of a fight a while ago. “Tobias are ya here buddy?” He whispered softly as he softly tapped on the door.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

Aloy would hear a sigh of relief from the other side of the door, and Tobias slowly stands to his feet, shuffling quietly to the front door to unlock it. "A strange time ta see ya, m'boy. What brings ye ta my d-" Upon seeing the damage, even if it were minor cuts and bruises, he stops in mid-sentence to take a sharp breath and wave Aloy in. "C'mon, we'd better get ye inside."   He leads Aloy to the first floor's bathroom, trying his best to walk as quietly as he can amid the creaky floorboards as he makes his way to the child-proofed medicine cabinet. "What happened, lad? How bad's th' damage? Are ya feelin' lightheaded?"  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

His clothes were torn and bloodied like Aloy had been cut with a sword numerous times however he had whats seemed to be no major wounds. “It’s a strange time for sure Tobias.” Walking slowly in Aloy chuckled weakly to himself. “I’m mostly fine. I fought a ninja. Didn’t expect them to be able to make their sword into smaller pieces. So I need a hand pulling a shard out of my back. I can’t reach it. Besides that I am fine.” Aloy sat down and took off his cut hoodie facing away from Tobias the back of his once white shirt now drenched red from where it burrowed into him.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

He blinks incredulously for a few seconds. "A.. a ninja? Like ones in th' big movies?" He grabs a large pair of tweezers, gauze, medical tape and disinfectant from the cabinet, and begins to work on the wounds on Aloy's back, carefully extracting the shards with the tweezers before bundling up disinfected gauze, placing it over the wound and applying pressure to help stem the bleeding. The disinfectant would sting just a little bit, but compared to the pain he suffered earlier this would be nothing.   "What in heaven above are ye doin', attractin' attention of.. ninjas and such?" He asks quizzically as he continues to work, even if the gauze and pressure would be made redundant given Aloy's capability to heal.  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“Kinda. More modern and cool looking I guess.” He shrugged not reacting the the stoning pain that would emit from his wound liking back with a weak smile. “You ain’t gotta hold it I can close it myself just needed ya to pull it out…..and I uh….I’m doing the maths but I think I might have….uh pissed of the Yakuza.”  

Saint Tobias Marsh

Shaking his head, he smiles at his own forgetfulness for a moment. "Ah, yer right. Jus' force o' habit, y'know? I'm used ta cleanin' up th' wounds and patchin' 'em up." Then the mention of the Yakuza makes him pause. "Yakuza? Th' Yakuza are here? Whatever it is they're up to, it's likely no good... I might need ta find some security, what with th' Redeemers an' now more organized crime folk movin' in.." He stares at the shard he extracted from the young lad's back, the creases in his forehead growing deeper with worry as he seems to be lost in thought.  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“I know habits are hard to break T, but I ain’t one of the kids.” Aloy smiled weakly shrugging as he waited. “I dunno what they’re doing here T…..wait the redeemers?” Aloy looked back to the shard and held his hand out to inspect it.   “Who’re they? Ugh fuck that stings.” The wound on his back closed in an instant before he turned around looking at the shard. His body suprisingly had no cuts or bruises now, scars from before his time as an evo sure but nothing new.

[Self heal minor x 2 -2 17/25]

 

Storyteller

As had been implied by now, the metallic shard seemed to indeed be part of a katana - or at least it seemed plausible enough given that was Aloy's assumption. Measuring some three inches long, it was hard to say for sure but it was mostly the very tip of the blade. Washing his blood off also revealed other details which might have gone unnoted during the battle itself: ordinary steel at some points and within in particular, but colored in decorative gold and black in front and back respectively. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship, maybe even resembling an ornament more than a weapon, yet something about it didn't seem like a recent creation. Quite a curiosity, all things considered.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

He carefully sets the deadly and decorative piece in the sink to wash off, turning his attention back to the wound that closes before his very eyes as he runs hot water over the fragment of metal. "Ye might not be one o' th' kiddos, but that won't stop me from worryin' about ye. Even if ye can patch yerself up like that."   He considers even telling the lad about his plight, knowing that youth can be headstrong and foolish. Especially with powers. "Th' Redeemers are a new group formin' in th' Wards in th' absence of Bolt an' his crew. But it seems ye got yer own beef with th' Yakuza ta sort out." He moves around and puts a hand on Aloy's shoulder, looking him in the eye with a smile that barely masked his worry and concern. "I don't want ye fightin' a battle from two fronts. As durable and unbreakable ye might feel, these are large groups that'll stop at nothin' till they see ye beaten an' broken. I can't have that happen ta more o' th' family.." He tears up and almost chokes out the last sentence as he thinks of the recent events with Sorin.  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

Aloy pulls his phone from his pocket and takes a photo of the fragment of metal maybe one of his friends or someone would know better about this. “I’m fine Tobias. Just couldn’t reach the shard bitch put it in such a spot.”   “I didn’t even know I was starting shit with the Yakuza honestly….what’s their thing? Y’know the mob has family, Bolt had whatever he had. They for a specific target or reason to join?” Aloy turned around at the shoulder touch fighting his natural instinct which was to throw whoever did so through a wall. He still flinched though.   “I’m alrighty fighting on all fronts Tobias…..I won’t stop til they are stopped, I’ll be fine…..have you visit Sorin? He’s doing seemingly well considering what happened. I’m not gonna end up like him.”  

Saint Tobias Marsh

"I dunno exactly what they're about, but I know that they're dangerous if messed with. But if yer.. struggling with somethin', anythin', I'm here if ye need an ear fer listenin', aye?" His worried expression mixes with a warm smile, trying to show as much support as he can in this situation.   His hand remains on Aloy's shoulder for a short moment, adding a small, reassuring squeeze, and with a deep sigh he retracts his hand. "I've gone ta see him.. Lord knows I wanted ta have some choice words fer 'im, like I want 'em with ye, but.. I know yer hearts are in th' right place. B'sides, he wouldn't have known why I would be chiding him like an unruly child."   "We have a new volunteer whose friend might be able ta help us with th' Redeemers. I can ask if they'd be okay workin' with ye and if they're okay with me giving their number out to ye. I can't.. I can't stop ye if ye really want ta do somethin' about them, but please be careful. They are a very serious anti-evo group with the power ta back it up, from what I've heard."  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“Well try and keep the kids away from ‘em not that I gotta tell ya, and oh god Tobias I don’t think you wanna hear. I accidentally punched a man so hard in the dick he’s paralysed from the waist down. I slipped too much power behind it. Stopped that trafficking ring by the Ivanko’s though. Saved some people….felt good.” Aloy smiled weakly trying to find an upside to the horrible act he commited.   “Yeah he wasn’t looking to good, I explained to him he was an evo since he seemed to be talked really fast so he could understand and maybe work on slowing down. Doc’s said to not tell him what happened so I didn’t.” A weak chuckle left his lip as he rubbed his hands together grabbing his blood soaked shirt and throwing it on.   His movements stopped when he heard that and looked over with a certain fire in his eyes. “Bigots. Already fighting one. After I take him off this planet I’m going do the same to those bigots. I ain’t gonna let them hurt Anna or you or anyone here. If they so much as lay a hand on any of the kids I’ll fucking shatter the hand.”  

Storyteller

At the mention of someone getting their dick punched so hard that they may be paralyzed, a preteen chuckle escapes Alec; the not-so-youngster's attempt to eavesdrop ruined by his slapstick sense of humor.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

Tobias glares at the door and utters a sharp but quiet "Hey. Back ta bed wit' ye. Ya youngins shouldn't be up at this hour."  

Storyteller

With some grumblings and a snarky "Old farts shouldn't be up, either..", two sets of footsteps made their way back to their respective bedrooms.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

With a deep sigh, he pauses a bit before replying "It's good ye broke up th' trafficking ring. Tha's th'... Russian family, aye?" His attempt at a consoling smile is accompanied with, "Sometimes, tha's th' only language they'll understand. Good ol' fashioned justice'll make any person think twice about wrongin' others like that."   "Hmm.. First he can copy card tricks he sees, an' now he's a speedy fella? Prob'ly best he heard about it now than find out on his own, a'fore he gets himself inta trouble." As Aloy begins to put on the bloodied shirt, Tobias ushers him to stop. "Don't worry, I can get ye somethin' a bit cleaner, and a bag fer th' dirty one. Can't have ya runnin' around lookin' like you and someone else tried ta kill each other."   "Aye, they're many and don't have a bit o' sense in their heads. But.. Try ta keep it to th' point they can still live, an' try ta show them th' error of their ways rather than fuel the fires o' hate. If ya keep smashin' 'em to th' ground, more people are gonna see that side of it an' spark more hatred fer people like us. Russian traffic ring? They'll not get any support from anyone but themselves. People claimin' ta be hunters an'.." his face scrunches up with contempt. "People here ta 'clean up the mess'? More likely ta attract a crowd, especially if they're able ta show that they're in th' right by bein' a martyr fer their cause. Jus'.. don't be gentle, but be careful with 'em, aye?"  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“Fuck.” Aloy sighed rubbing his head as he heard the footsteps walk off physically getting up to check that they weren’t being listened in on again before he came back and whispered.   “Uh I think so. I was a bit too busy being y’know fuckin’ shot at to listen to accents.” He sighed fixing his hair to no avail, like a mop it wasn’t going the way it should, he was exhausted, looked worse then a single father with two toddlers. “Maybe. Just sucks the world’s like that. Why can’t I just be a fuckin’ normal teen? No powers, both parents at home….”   “I’m as surprised as you are about that. Didn’t find out til he was on the floor really….god I…..he looked dead T. I….he must have been the luckiest man alive to make it through that. I don’t believe in a god but maybe there is one.” He admitted looking down at the shirt and still throwing it on.   “It’s fine I’ve got a meeting with V and I gotta wear this so I can pick up something more professional, and don’t worry about that, I always look like I just tried to kill some one part of my street smart appeal.”   “Too many at this rate. Fuck that’s not including my mother the bitch. You know she specialises in anti-Evo cases. I….I’ll try Tobias but it’s hard not to. I feel like I live in a cardboard world more and more every day. I’ve…..already ended lives in accident……I’ll try. I don’t wanna spark hatred I’m just trying to protect people evo or not……I dunno what I’m gonna do if I run into that hunter that shot Sorin…..I’m gonna peel the pussy from his fucking armor like a fucking tin of tuna.”   Aloy sighed clenching his fist.   “Just….try and be careful with ‘em around Alright? Once I’m doing with the Yakuza I’ll talk to my…..bird guy it’s a weird vigilante thing…….uh so Monday afternoon , I’m gonna come over and help with hurricane prep same with Tuesday if ya need it, and wednesday I’ll be here to help the kids stay safe or get them to my place before it hits and I have to go be a fucking idiot.” He sighed deeply rubbing his hands together. “Might have a friend join me to help but you gotta not make it weird for her. Alright?”  

Saint Tobias Marsh

He listens to the lad, nodding his head, cleaning up the sink and washing off the shard as he does. "It's a hard thing, feelin' like ye can destroy everythin' ya touch.. I'm sorry ye've been dealin' with that, m'boy." He lets out a deep sigh and adds "It's also hard ta realize.. tha' ye took another person's life, too. There was a time when I lived back in Ireland when th' Troubles were at their worst, an'.. well, I needn't bore ya with ol' stories."   "I'll be happy ta have any help I can get, m'boy. An' I swear I'll try not ta bagpipes or make ye cook this time." He chuckles a little bit, and puts away the supplies back into the medicine cabinet. "If ye want ta take th' shard, please be my guest. I don't have much use fer a piece like that, and it's yer reminder, or trophy."  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“It’s…..terrifying…..but empowering….like knowing I could accidentally snap someone’s wrist play fighting but protect those I need it’s….there isn’t a word in my vocab for it.” Aloy weakly chuckled rubbing his head and looking over. “I didn’t think you were old enough to be there at the potato famine….”   “But I don’t think you can help….nothing really just keep your head down and try to keep the kids safe.” Aloy laughed a bit before he coughed into his hand taking the shard. “Oh, uh don’t rush out in your underwear if you hear a scream, or y’know imply we’re anything more then just acquaintances please? I think I’ve got a good thing going with her. Don’t hate being around her……not that I like her or anything. Just. It’s nice to be with someone y’know my own age and not, the kids or you or Sorin or a bunch of fucking adults fighting a guy who shoots lightning around, or a ninja, or some evo hunting knight.”  

Saint Tobias Marsh

Trying his best not to chuckle at the boy's ignorance, he jokes in stride, "Aye, it were rough times in th' ancient days, i-t'was. But.. remember that ye have th' power ta protect innocents,. An' though it may be easy ta let it go an' get th' best o' ya, remember ta temper yer will ta match the strength th' Lord gave ya."   "Heh, not ta worry, lad. I'll do me best ta not make things.. well, strange. Seems ye've enough strange in yer life, it'll be nice ta have some normalcy." He continues to smile supportively, thinking of all the potential good the boy could do. If only I could see more of it. The depressing thought creeps into his train of thought, ever so slightly threatening to turn down the corners of his smile as he maintains his supportive mask.   "Are ya okay ta head home? If ye need ta stay th' night, I got some spare sheets an' a comfortable couch."  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“Heh, I guess it’s always been tough. I know I have to hold myself to a higher standard but what if I was given this to kill. I mean I don’t want to except for that one asshole evo hunter. I’m so good I’ve accidentally killed enough people. Fucking hell. Got this from my dad and he fucked off before I could even get it.” Aloy shrugged looking over to the older man as he rubbed and messed his sweaty hair up.   “Thanks Tobias, strange doesn’t even begin to describe what the fuck is going on. I just don’t want her to come here and instantly get weirded out I’m already good enough at doing that. She’s like me y’know more fortunate then others, except she has family that y’know didn’t disappear like a magician or they doc hoodini fella. However you say it.”   Aloy nodded his head at tbe question watching as something was off about Tobias. He wasn’t sure what it was maybe it was just concern but he knew it’d eat the man away if he did bring it up. “Yeah I’ll be good but what about you? Everything alright? Besides the blood covered teenager suddenly appearing at your doorstep.”  

Saint Tobias Marsh

He gives the lad a light chuckle, and fixes the facade of confidence he wears on his face. "I'll be fine, m'boy. I plan on preparin' th' place for th' incomin' storm, an' I think ye should do th' same."   The old man stands and groans as he stretches, various parts of his bones popping in response. "Hah.. I'm gettin' too old fer all this excitement. But I'm not accepting th' Lord's call home jus' yet. Too much ta be done here, aye? But I think ye've done enough fer tonight. Go get yerself some rest."  

Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi

“I already got some stuff to help me prep for the storm, but maybe it’s best we move somewhere where it won’t be so chaotic.” Aloy questioned softly as he stood up and stretched out throwing his own mess of clothing on and opening a nearby window.   “You ain’t going there anytime soon. I’ll make sure of that. If you need me you’ve got all my cell numbers and shit yeah? I’ll see you when I do Tobias.” Aloy stated with a nod to himself before he leaped out the window, and just like Batman vanished into the night while Tobias wasn’t looking.  

Saint Tobias Marsh

He smiles and turns to where the boy was, and looks to the open window that would be the avenue of exit. As he watches Aloy fly, with a little more grace than before, he think to himself, Th' boy likes ta shoulder ev'ry burden he can, doesn't he? I wonder how he'll be if he doesn't have th' good outlet he does here.. Hopefully th' of has a good group o' friends he can lean on when that time comes. He shuffles out of the bathroom, turning off the light and entering the old hallway, looking at every little blemish that showed how well-lived in the building was as memories of different events pass through his mind.