at twilight || mirob
The Next Town Over was always a good haul. Big enough so he could slip into a crowd, sneak his hands into the pockets of rich tourists and businessmen who looked like they made more money than most of the shopkeepers ever would. Always had a good run there, Rob did, and heâd spend some on a round at a different pub each time and then toss half the rest of it to whatever beggar he saw on the street first and pocket the other half just as a sorta lining for himself.
He walked back to the train station now, at the break of twilight, whistlinâ a little, when he heard a commotion of sorts. Shoutinâ, mostly, which normally he wouldnât pay mind to, âcuz who was he to judge a buncha unruly kids gettingâ rowdy on a Saturday night?
âcept they were doinâ more than gettinâ rowdy. âcept he heard them yell somethinâ about no-good Magicks (âcept they said something a little worse than that, mind you).
âOi!â shouted Rob, roundinâ the corner where a group of secondary-aged boys were ganginâ up on a cowerinâ girl. âArenât you lot a little young to be out drinkinâ?â
âAh come off it,â said one of the boys, probably not the leader as far as Rob could tell. âWhoâre you, my mum?â
âThis dirty little Magick deserves it,â spat another.
âMy mum says those with devilblood oughta be kicked outta the country,â said the third, who drew himself up to his full height. Ah yes, there was the leader.
âDunno if your mum would take too kindly to pickinâ you up from the police station,â said Rob, calmly. âYouâre causinâ a ruckus, you are â get outta here right now.â
The leader sized Rob up and Rob didnât look away. He wasnât bigger than this boy, in fact, he was much shorter, but he knew how to act tough and knew that there was a way to it, a way to gettinâ posh secondary boys to realize that they were messinâ with someone far outta their skill level.
Eventuallly, the leader shuffled away, gesturing at his two mates to follow him.
Rob watched them leave, then glanced over at the girl, not wantinâ to crowd her up â hell, he wouldnât trust some stranger off the streets even if theyâd rescued him.
âYou alright?â he asked.
@theglowiest-worm
