The Black Teeth

IV - Clyde

Clyde hated being proven wrong. Especially by both of his best members in the Black Teeth. He walked the wet narrow streets. The streets were packed full of people as he tried to walk. He changed his posture, and rearranged things in his pockets. As a thief, you had to make yourself look like your not a target for other pickpockets, while also not making it look like your an obvious pickpocket yourself. He had mastered this simple trick. By rearranging things in your most used pockets, you'd give pickpockets an easy opportunity. Instead you use your most awkward maneuverable pockets, and simply don't carry valuable things on you. These streets that he was travelling, were always full of pickpockets, and an easy target to get yourself in some sort of trouble, but for Clyde, these were his streets. He knew them from the back of his hand, he grew up stripping valuables off of people here. He wasn't afraid. He kept his cane in his right hand, using it only really to steady himself from the holes in the ground. Here, canes were used by everyone, even if you didn't need them, because everyone agreed the streets were horrible to walk on. Clyde made a swift right turn into a empty alleyway. No sounds were heard. It was like a whisper in the wind.

Suddenly, he felt a tug at his right shoulder.

"Look what we got here fella's. A street boy. Let me tell you one thing, even come down an empty alleyway. Wanna know why-

"Because assholes like you think their gunna make a pinch. Yeah, I'm no stranger to thieves."

The man was large, buff, and if Clyde didn't know how to fight, would have lost after first contact. The other two blocked the alleyway, both scrawny and held knives.

"Look, back away now, you don't want this."

"Oh yeah 3 on 1. I like those odds."

"Good thing their not in your favour."

The man was the first to throw a fist. A simple dodge. Clyde would let him attempt the first few attacks and learn the way he fought. Next attack came from the side, a quick back step and Clyde was fine.

"You think your so agile." The next hit came in the form of an uppercut. A few more series of dodges and Clyde learned his strategy. He fought like a formed street thief, making his job likely a bouncer.

"Your a bouncer." A guess.

"How would you know."

"You fight like a chicken with no head."

Unfortunately, the next punch made contact with Clyde's leg and buckled him to the ground. The perfect opportunity to begin his defence. He hit the man's knee with the head of his cane, dropping him to the ground instantly.
The other two took the time to get themselves involved, one helping the man up, and the other proceeded to try and beat the hell out of Clyde. He tossed the cane to his left hand before winding up for a punch to the face, knocking him cold. The other grabbed Clyde from beside and held him in place, while the man grabbed his cane.

"Nice try. Now where did you learn all this."

"Like I told you, not I'm new to thieves."

"So your one yourself."

"Never said that."

Clyde took a fist to face. Blood splattered the ground. He spit what was a cluster of blood and saliva on the ground. He gave a chuckle.

"You think one punch will stop me."

"I'm not done with you boy, hand him here Tolvis." The boy threw Clyde to the other as he almost fell over the other boys body, still knocked out on the floor. He man pinned Clyde to the wall, pushing him. His breathing heavy against Clyde's neck, sending a chill down his spine.

"You think you have the advantage. Come on, see what one more punch will get you."

The next one jabbed his rib, Clyde gave a hiccup of blood, but still now sign of defeat.

"One more punch big man. Try me. Punch me one more time, I got all the time you need."
Outraged, the man finally buckled his knees, and began clocking him over and over again.
Not what Clyde was expecting, but his blood covered the floor. The beating felt like it never stopped, and Clyde was sure his partner began kicking him as well. Clyde rolled on his side, hiding his plan. His pain hurt like hell, but he pushed through the constant kicking. Finally grasping onto his hidden knife in his sleeve, he pushed himself up, and began slashing over and over again. He didn't show mercy, and no matter how much they screamed in agony, he zoned out all of it.

"Make them suffer."

Finally satisfied, the looked at all of them, now all fallen to the ground, covered in bruises and blood from cuts. They screamed for him to spare their life. He bent down and looked the main man who beat him, then spat in his face. He pulled his arm out of place until he heard the right snap he was expecting, knowing it worked from the crying and yelling coming from the man's mouth, and gave him one final kick in the face. He brushed off dirt from his sleeves, picked up his cane, and continued down the street.

"That was one hell of fight boy." A girls voice called down the alleyway.

"What do you want." He couldn't fight anyone else, he was injured, and one more fight may fully finish him.

"The right question is, what do you want?"

"I don't understand what you mean." He had to choose his words carefully.

"You seek help. I know who you are, and what you need. I offer my assistance."

"Show yourself." He called, propping his weight against the cane.

"I am a watcher. Who must know what I can do."

"I'm in need of a watcher. But how can I know I can trust you." It was true, he was in need of a watcher. Watchers refer to people who can find anything about anyone. Can transfer any information. They were very talented, but always came at a cost.

"You can't trust anyone. You know that Clyde Furdhill." The voice sounded so familiar. He knew her somehow.

He had no choice. If she knew who he was, and could get a watcher on the crew, that was one less person to worry about.

"Thing is Clyde, I think you know who I am." Her showed covered the sidewalk as she stepped into view.

"It can't be possible," He feel to his knees. "I thought you died."

"Guess I have 8 lives left."

"I fought for revenge. Why didn't you come back." He ran to embrace the girl in his arms. They shared a hug.

"I thought I lost you." A tear rolled down his face. He couldn't let go, not now. It had been years since the events, the ones he wish he'd never remember. So how had she come back? His skin touched hers, and the fierce Clyde faded away, as he held on.

"What happened?" He chocked out finally.

"Come with me." She grabbed his hand, and pulled him in her direction.