• Welcome

Women screamed and ran from the scene, men dodging flying furniture and bottles which shattered against the walls. Rocco cursed as he scurried out of the bar, tripping and running on all fours just in time to duck a bottle flying at him. He finally found himself on the ground just outside the establishment, watching as five men exploded out the door. "Shit!" He leaped to his feet, able to lay a blow to the first man's face, but not quite quick enough to dodge the second's and third's hit to his abdomen.

Gritting his teeth, he shoved back, trying to put some distance between them, but when he did, he was met by a wall of men standing behind him. Rocco was surrounded. "Well, well. Little Rockie, eh? Been a while since we've seen you." The leader wiped his lip. He had been the first one Rocco had hit. "You know, I seem to remember telling you I'd 'repay' the favor from last time. Now seems the perfect opportunity." He smirked and adjusted the gaudy rings on his fingers, full intentions of using them to really mark up Rocco's face.

His arms were seized before he could even attempt to fight them off and he was held tightly in place. He kicked out with his legs, hitting one of the free-handed cronies in mouth, perhaps knocking a few teeth out. He cried out in pain and shriveled away, holding his face. The second, however, knocked the wind out of Rocco with an over sized fist to the gut, 'calming' him down. Rocco wheezed, struggling to bring air into his lungs. Now the real beating began. The leader reveled in beating the hell out of Rocco's face, busting open his cheek just under his eye and his lip. He struggled against the men though it was futile and only gained him yet another blow to the face.

The leader took a step back, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, now that I've returned the favor, I think it's time to end this. Permanently." After reaching into the inside pocket of his suit coat, he pulled out a switch blade, flicking it open with a sick smoothness. The hand recoiled and brought it back, aiming to sink it into Rocco's stomach. And he would have succeeded had Rocco not squirmed out of the way, the blade dragging across his hip. It was much better than internal bleeding and a much more serious wound. Though, he wasn't done, the blade recoiled again, this time the hold on Rocco much tighter. Now was about the time he wished some onlooker would step in and lend a hand, but, what were the odds of that?

The odds were apparently good today, A "Tch" was heard as a hand grabbed the wrist belonging to the man holding the blade.. He smirked.. "Not nice to play unfairly." he stated sharply.. Giving a painful press to the pressure point where the hand would involuntary lose it's grip on whatever. Making him drop the knife...

He glanced about, taking note how many were there.. This was no problem.. A Fair amount... Moving, a fist came up, knocking the guy in the jaw letting him stumble towards some other men... Moving he lit a cigarett and inhaled as he stepped forward, "Let him go now" he stated.

When they failed to comply he moved, soon rather suddenly behind them, "Tsk tsk, didn't your mtohers teach you better?" hands came up and clunked the two heads together, since they'were to busy holding onto the black haired male to really do much about it.. Once they let him go he looked down at him.. "You can hold your own, ya?"

Rocco flinched when he heard another voice. Great, another one to cut him to ribbons. But, the leader fell away and the man could clearly be seen. He wasn't like the cronies holding him--mostly because he was opposing the boss. Rocco watched in shock, almost as he took out the men, leaving them to scramble to their feet and flee as their boss did. When the grip on his arms released, Rocco fell to his knees, hissing through clenched teeth as the cut across his hip stung and his knees hurt from hitting the road.

And just like that, they were gone, off to their head quarters and swearing up a storm as they scurried off. Rocco looked up at the man, too tired to do much else. "Yea, when they're not so organized." He cursed to himself as he tried to get up, only succeeding in falling back on his ass. Oh well, it was more comfortable. He let out a sigh, gently touching his lip and wincing as his fingers touched the open wound still bleeding profusely. Same with his cheek, blood streaming down to his chin and dripping off onto his clothes and the ground. "Just in the neighborhood I take it?" No one ever came to Rocco's rescue, hell, if they did it was only to do him in themselves.

Mari watched him, and watched as he tried to stand and failed, falling back on his ass.. He stayed quiet as he spoke, and he slowly moved to kneel in front of him, watching him touch the one cut.. "Wouldn't touch that if I were you" he stated softly... Leaving it at that...

When he asked, He chuckled, "Just got done a fight" he murmured softly.. And he moved, shifting to the others side, opposit of his cut hip, and he moved, helping him up, one arm around his chest, the other hand held the others wrist over his shoulder [the arm over his shoulder he's holding his wrist to keep it there]

"Ya got a place ya want to get to, or want me to jsut take ya where I live to get ya all patched up?" he asked bluntly.

Rocco stared at the other blankly. Yea, thanks for the warning. He blinked, surprised, when the other knelt beside him and started moving him of his own free will. Through clenched teeth he hissed in a breath, the wounds springing to life and searing on his side and abdomen. "Ow, sof of a--" He groaned, his eyes closing as he concentrated on ignoring the pain.

"I don't care. Anywhere. Whatever's closest. My place is on the other side of town.." At this point, he'd be find just sitting in the middle of the road, as long as it didn't hurt like this! He looked to the man holding him up, noting that he hadn't seen his face around before, meaning he wasn't part of a gang or at least wasn't part of one he often pillaged. "Just.. hurry up, you're killing me."

Mari just rolled his eyes, "Man up" he stated... He lived right down the street.. So definately closer than across town.. So pretty much dragging the other since he couldn't move his one leg much, he got there as quickly as he could. You could tell the building had been 'abondanded. Not like he could afford much else, it was through a loose board he got through with Rocco.

Once inside he led the way down the hall, to another room that was probably once an office, but was now obviously his home, it was cleaner than the rest... He helped him over, "sit on the desk" he stated, the chair was no good, considering it was in three pieces on the floor.

Mari didn't leave him to do it alone, he helped him sit there. He moved getting into one of the drawers and got out his supplies, pouring some rubbing alcohol over the needle, before, "this will probably burn" he poured some over the cut on his hip... He then moved, "try to keep it down" he muttered, before he started sewing while the burning fromt he rubbing alcohol was still bothering him...

Without a lot of money, you get use to taking care of yourself.. So that's why he knew what he was doing...

Rocco shot a glare in the others direction. "Oh, well sorry for getting my ass whipped by a bunch of gang-bangers," he thought to himself, really wishing the other would just drop him and let him fend for himself. However, it didn't happen that way, and before Rocco knew it, he was bring dragged into an old abandoned building. This was sketchy. "You know, you could have just left me in the street if you were going to just dump my body somewhere.." At least his body would be found for burial in the middle of the road.

And, yet again, Rocco found himself surprised when he was taken into a more homey room--though it was a far cry from any kind of home Rocco had ever seen. When he was set on the desk, he let out a sigh of relief as his body wasn't being moved around anymore. Though, the worst was about to come. He groaned, clenching his jaw when the rubbing alcohol was spashed over the wound on his hip, trying to keep himself from decking the other square in the face. His hand balled into a fist as he got the needle ready. When it pushed through the first bits of flesh, he brought his fist up to his mouth, chewing on his knuckles in order to distract himself from the sharper pain below. His body shoot with the effort it took to keep from yelling at the top of his lungs. If only the wound wasn't so long, stretching from almost mid-abdomen clear around to the other side. It was going to be a long night.

Mari had only given a soft "tch" to Rocco's complaint, and didn't retort to his words about being dumped.. He wasn't dumping his body anywhere...

When he finished with the seweing he tied the final knot, and leaned in on habit and used his theeth to break the thread... He moved, standing and splashed more rubbing alcohol on the needle, before he put it and the rubbing alcohol back into the drawer he got them from...

"Got some pain killers if ya want some.. They're probably out of date though' he muttered, not sure if they'd even work. He needed to swipe some more at some time, but the local pharmacies tended to recognize him on sight now..

By the time the stitching was done, Rocco thought he was going to pass out. He let his fist fall away from his mouth, deep intentations from his teeth left behind, but hell, what was one more bruise? He let out a sigh, though, not of relief because it still burned like hell. Well, at least the worst was over.. hopefully.

"I don't care. Anything." God that hurt. Probably because this other didn't used the curved needle like he was supposed to, but then again, any stitching hurt without any kind of numbing agent. He swallowed, findign his mouth and throat dry from dehydration or blood loss, one of the two. "Got anything to drink?"

Mari blinked, and moved, walking over to a side, lifting a loose board, he strifled through what was in there, and soon found a can, he pulled it out, brushing it off a bit, before he replaced the board and walked over, "Eh, this good?" it was some tea.. No one cared it you stole canned tea.. it tasted like shit anyhow.. but it was enough to keep ya hydrated...

He moved, getting out only two pills, since to many with his low blood count could hurt more than help... He moved, "Here.." he stated softly, and moved to help him sit up.

Rocco took the tea, popping it open and sitting up half-way to take a swig. It wasn't the best tasting tea in the world, but it quenched his thirst. He took the help offered by the other and sat up, taking the pills and popping them into his mouth before downing another gulp of tea. He was already immune to the taste and drinking it wasn't killing him. Yet. He looked to his surgeon and gave him a once-over. "So what's your name?" He asked, figuring he minds well get to know the man that just tied him up.

Mari was quiet as the other drank, and soon took the pills.. he moved, and said softly, "Brace yourself" he stated gently, and carefully lifted him, bridal style...

He carried him over to the mattress on the floor, covers were on it, but not like they were needed at the moment, and he knelt carefully laying him down so he'd be more comfortable there, considering he'd be here awhile, he didn't see him walking anywhere..

"Names.. Mari" he muttered softly.. Giving him a glare, sielntly telling him to not say a damn word about his name... "And you?" he asked once he was done giving his glare... He moved back to the board, lifting it, he strifled through it, and found the package of jerky he had, and another can of tea.. He sat on the floor by the bed, opening the jerky bag, he offered his 'guest' some, as his other hand opened up his can of tea.

Rocco looked up at the other, confused when he was told to brace himself. When he was lifted, he tensed, clenching his jaw as he was carried over to the bed. Bed? Wait, no dinner first? He raised a brow, after being laid down and told the other's name. "Mari?" He asked, almost in disbelief. "And here I thought you'd have some impossible-to-pronounce name like Kokobungi." He let that marinate for a moment.

"Name's Rocco.." He said softly, chewing his lower lip some. "It was supposed to be Ricco but the nurse was weird handwriting and the 'i' turned into an 'o'.. Mom always hated it.." He concluded, reaching into the bag of jerky when offered and pulled out a piece, chewing on it some as he laid there. He could already feel his lip and eye swelling. He was going to be realy pretty in the morning, that was for sure.

Mari blinked, but decided to not ask about that 'name' and figured it was the medications talking... He gave a faint nod.. "Well, Rocco you should get some rest. You'll be safe here." he stated gently.. Not like anyone knew he lived here after all.. He'd wait for him to fall asleep before he left to go to the fighting rings.. he wasn't "scheduled" you showed up and offered to fight.. That was it.

Rocco watched him, a little wary. Then again, Rocco wouldn't have even guessed someone lived in this place, why would anyone who was hunting him? "Mnn. But you've only got one bed." He blinked a few times, his eyelids feeling heavy--probably from the pain killers. "I'll.. sleep on the floor.." He tried to roll off, only making about half of the turn before getting stuck, his eyes closing as the medication knocked him out. Well, not completely. "Hey.. Mari.." He started, his speech a little slurred. "Don't forget.. to hook.." Whatever he was babbling about faded away as he lost consciousness, his nonsense probably only confusing the other more.