Teen Idle❔Edward Nygma❔

22.Short-lived

I rushed to where Lee was. She had made a court to work out problems in the Narrows, peacefully. I had been trying all morning to get in contact with Alex that I lost track of time and came late. 

"Sorry, I'm late.", I tell her as I walk behind her, putting my hand on her shoulder.

"You're fine." Lee smiles at me, sitting behind her desk.

I see Ed also standing up here with Lee and offer him a smile. He starts walking towards me when a man comes in and frantically pushes past the crowd of people.

"Move out of my way. Out of my way, I need to see the Doc's.", the man yells as he holds a rag to his face.

"What happened?", Lee asks as the three of us head over towards the man who had blood all over his face.

"Sampson sent his thugs to my shop, demanding protection money. I told them no. I said this is your neighborhood now.", the man recounts as Lee checks his broken nose.

"I'm sorry, who's Sampson?", Ed asks.

"He controls the territory just south of here.", I tell him.

"All right. Go to the clinic, I'll stitch you up.", Lee tells the man.

Ed pulls us aside, "You know, this was bound to happen. You're a new leader in the Narrows. Sampson's just testing you. But you have to show him, and these people, that you can't be pushed around."

"What, should I send Grundy to rip his arms off?", Lee asks sarcastically.

"Look at him. It's what he lives for.", he says, pointing at Grundy.

"I'm asking these people to settle things amicably. I can't just be a hypocrite and send Grundy every time I have a problem." Lee shakes her head.

Lee looks at me to back her up, and then so does Ed.

"Look, Lee, I'm not going to tell you how to run this place but I'll support whatever choice you make.", I say, raising my hands.

Ed sighs, "Okay, what would you like to do?"

We end up going over to Sampson's turf. And as I saw the number of armed men, I hoped not bringing Grundy wasn't a bad idea. Sampson sat behind a table filled with food. He was a big guy and if I wasn't already used to gangs and stuff of the sort, he'd probably be intimidating.

"So, you're the Doc? I heard you had a giant. I figured you might have brought him along with you, rather than this, uh, has-been and your little girlfriend." Sampson waves towards Ed and me.

"Excuse me." Sampson's men cock their guns the moment Ed speaks up, making him give up right away.

"Why would I bring Grundy along for a friendly conversation? Look, I understand you had a deal with Cherry, where you left her people alone. I expect you to honor the same with me.", Lee tells him.

Sampson looks up from his plate, "Why would I do that? You aren't even from the Narrows. You have no idea how things work around here."

"Maybe you're right. But I do know that you love money. I'm willing to offer you ten percent of fight night.", Rose continues.

"You just don't get it, huh? I'm not negotiating. I'm taking. I'm taking your clinic. I'm taking your club. I'm taking your whole damn neighborhood." Sampson wipes his hands with a napkin.

Ed turns to Lee, "Okay, we tried this your way. Let's use Grundy.", he whispers.

Samson starts coughing into his napkin. When he pulls the napkin I notice blood spots on it