Random Writes 2

Deceiving Deals - Part 1

 "See ya later, Mugs!" Cuphead, Mugman's older brother, called to him as he stepped out of the front door. "Be careful- and don't do anything I would do!" Even though the red brother of the two was careless and chaotic, he cared deeply about his brother.
 Mugs let out an amused chuckle. "Don't worry about me, Cup. I'll be back soon!" He gave his brother a wave before shutting the door.

 Mugs walked quietly, lost in his own little world of thought. He was walking aimlessly, thinking back to when he and his brother were nothing but little kids, sitting by Elder Kettle and listening to his stories. It felt like a lifetime since that had happened. Nowadays, he and his brother were either taking care of their older-growing Grandfather or working side jobs to pay bills. Life was pretty boring, but it was a good life. No chaos, no bad events, nothing really negative. Just him, his brother and Kettle- who had to be put in a nursing home sadly. But life was pretty okay.
 Voices and laughter made him snap out of his spaced out mindset. He stopped and took a quick look around, freezing up as he realized where his feet had led him. His eyes widened at the red and massive dice that decorated the sides of the red stairs. The Devil, or at least a sculpted replica, was atop of the building, his claws hands holding two casino chips. Mugs knew he wasn't supposed to be here. He knew he should have turned and walked away from that damned casino. But something pulled him closer, making his feet force him to the doors of the casino. 
 Gulping down his fear, he shakily put a hand out to open the door. Before his fingers could grab the handle, the door swung open. Mugman jumped back as to not be hit by the door- and because he had been startled. He moved to the side as a tall boar man stumbled out, laughing with another man Mugs couldn't quite see. The scent of alcohol flooded his nose, giving the clear sign this man had been drinking and was very- if not extremely -drunk. His feet were rooted to the ground as the boar man's drunk gaze snapped to him.
 "Well, if it ain't tha know-it-all of the Cup brothas!" He laughed as is he had made a hilarious joke. Mugs stared at him, his body trembling. The boar leaned down close to Mugs, eyeing him.
 "Sean, he won't cause us any trouble. Hell, you'll be the one getting in trouble if you do anything stupid in this state." The other man, whom Mugs still couldn't catch a glimpse of, pointed out as he warned his companion.
 "Ah what's tha worse that could happen, eh? His brotha comin' to kick m'shin?" Sean laughed again, his over-sized stomach bouncing grotesquely as he did. 
 "M'brother can do a lot more damage than just kicking your shin." Mugs choked out the words quietly, trying to defend his brother.
 "What was that, pipsqueak?" Sean's nasty, yellow eyes snapped back to Mugs, a sudden rage in them. Mugs's words were stuck in his throat, choking him, his hands balled in even shakier fists. "You tryna pick a fight? Well, ya gonna get one!" Sean's fist reeled back and swung, slamming into Mugs's face and sending him flying back. Pain shot through Mugman's head. Sitting up with a groan, he raised his hand to his face to try and sooth the pain. Panic shot through him upon feeling a crack below his eye.
 'Oh, what 'll Kettle say about this?' In his shocked state of mind, he didn't realize Sean charging at him with tusks lowered until it hit him full force, slamming and pinning him into one of the large, red, decorative dice. The force drove the breath out of his body. Panic surged through him as the boar pressed the tusks into his skin. This man wasn't just trying to hurt him, he was trying to kill him!
 Panicking, he rummaged through his pocket quickly. Slight relief struck him as he felt the pocket knife Elder Kettle had give him as a teen. Snapping into action, Mugs pulled out the knife with the blade out and stabbed it into Sean's eye, earning a squeal of pain from him, blood shooting onto his hand and the painful tusks being yanked away. Gasping for air, he tightened his grip on the pocket knife, on his hands and knees. He glanced up at the boar, horror shocking him stiff as he realized his actions. He stood, stumbling back.
 "Oh my god, I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-" His apology was cut of by Sean's loud and raged yell.
 "You little shit! You blinded me!" Sean screamed, his hand against his eye- which was bleeding profusely. Stamping his hoof against the red concrete with a snort, he charged again. 
 Having very little time to respond to the action, Mugs fell back and held the knife to his chest, blade towards the charging boar. He squeezed his eyes closed and thrust the knife out, holding his breath and bracing for the worst. He felt the knife get pushed back in his hands. But paired with it came a warm liquid squirting on his hands and face. Mugs flinched as it splashed onto him. He slowly opened one eye. Then both shot open at the horrific sight. 
 Blood was splattered all over the boars face, making him nearly unrecognizable. His wide eye was now glossy and rolled upwards. There was a gaping hole where his other eye should have been. His body lay limp at Mugs's feet. 
 Mugs stared at Sean's body. He was still gasping for air, his chest heaving as he stared wide-eyed at the lifeless body.
 "Oh my god." Sean's companion stared at his body, his eyes wide and white. Mugs tried to swallow down his fear as he looked over at Sean's friend. But he was getting dizzy and could hardly see him. "Holy shit, you killed him, kid." 
 "I-I.." Mugs was at a loss for words. He just wanted to go home. He quickly stood, yanking the knife out of the boar's head. 
 "Hey, c'mere. Don't worry, I'm not out to hurt you, I only want to help." The boar's companion came closer to him, his figure now more clear in Mugs's blurry vision. He had a white and purple dice for a head. He had a weird and thin mustache and he wore a purple suit. Mugs blinked and shook his head, stepping back. "You don't want your older brother seeing you like this, do you?" Mugs stared at him for a minute. If Cuphead saw him like this, bloody and with a crack in his mug.. he couldn't bear to see the shock and worry on his brother's face. 
 "I'm King Dice, I help run the casino. As long as you're with me, no one will mess with you and I can get you fixed up." King Dice held a hand out, a warm and comforting smile on his face. Mugs had heard tales of how Dice was a cruel and mean person. But he didn't seem cruel or mean. Maybe Elder Kettle had been wrong about King Dice. The younger of the two, despite being an adult, grabbed Dice's hand and walked with him like a little kid into and through the casino, past watchful and gleaming eyes. Mugman kept his eyes locked to the floor, still trying to process what he had done and what had happened.
 Soon the lights dimmed as they stepped through a door, cool air greeting him like a cold blanket. He finally raised his eyes from the floor. Mugs was greeted with a purple themed room. The carpeted floor and wallpaper were purple with spots and designs of white and black. Two dim lamps sat on a vanity and an end-table by a relatively small bed- which had a black comforter and purple pillows. A recliner sat a bit away from the bed, facing a turned-off TV attached to the wall.
 "Are you hurt?" King Dice's voice reminded Mugman he wasn't alone. He shook his head, meeting the warm eyes of the dice. 
"I think I'm okay." Mugs responded, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Well while I go get something to clean you up with, I want you to check for any signs of injury. And if you cough up or taste blood in your mouth, I need you to tell me." Dice patted his shoulder as he swiftly walked out of the room and shut the door.
 Mugs stared after him for a few seconds before glancing around the room again. Nothing seemed out of place or sinister like Elder Kettle had told him and his brother of. It just looked like a regular casino-hotel room. Figuring he should probably listen to King Dice, he stepped in front of the vanity and lifted his loose turtleneck. There were a few bruises on his stomach and chest, but no bleeding. Pressing a hand against his ribs, nothing was broken but they were bruised. He let his shirt drop again as he stared blankly at himself. His face was splattered with blood that was, thankfully, not his. A small crack ran from the bottom of his right eye to his mouth. He had a black eye to complete the look. He stared, disappointed at himself. First, he had wandered off to the wrong side of the tracks. Then, he had gotten into a fight- which resulted in him ending the man's life. And now here he is, inside the casino, the one place Kettle had forbidden him and his brother from ever going.
 He turned as the door opened again. King Dice stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He had a rag, rubbing alcohol, a medical pad, medical tape and an ice pack in his hands.
 "Sit." Dice waved a hand to the recliner. Rather reluctantly, Mugs did as he was told. "Are you okay?" Dice asked again, putting the rubbing alcohol on the rag.
 "A few bruises. Nothing broken." Mugs answered quietly. He kept his his good eye closed as Dice began rubbing the blood off. 
 "Good. Wouldn't want you getting hurt and having a lawsuit." Dice gave an amused chuckle at his poorly made joke. Mugs returned the chuckle, although it was much quieter and forced. 
 King Dice finished getting the blood cleaned up within minutes. He took the medical pad and taped it on the crack below Mugman's eye, then handed him the ice pack.
 "You're one of Elder Kettle's grandsons, no?" The dice stood as he asked, brushing his hands off on his pants before grabbing the bloody rag and remaining rubbing alcohol. There was a sharp sting from a small cut Mugs didn't realize he had gotten. He held the ice pack to his bruised eye.
 "Yeah." Mugman nodded, narrowing his good eye slightly.
 "Do you want me to call him or your brother?" Dice raised a brow. His heart seemed to stop, the image of Elder Kettle's disappointment and worry and Cuphead's fearful and shocked faces flashing through his mind again.
 "No! Please, don't. I-I can get home myself." He insisted, standing.
 "I won't call him, but you need to sit down." The older of the two put a hand on his shoulder. "You just killed someone in front of my casino. The police are on their way." Shock and panic froze Mugman. "But not to worry. They won't step foot inside of the casino. When they're gone I can let you go home. But for now, I want you to stay hidden here."
 "Wait. You're.. not, handing me to the police?" Mugs blinked at him, his mouth slightly agape with shock.
 "No, why would I do that? I warned him and he didn't listen. You were only defending yourself." Dice's expression softened. "Besides, who'll take care of Elder Kettle when Cuphead is working?"
 Mugs knew he had a point. He nodded and sat back down, biting his thumbnail as Dice left again.
 He found himself spacing out again. His mind wandered to merely a little bit ago, during the fight. The rush he had felt was scary, he hadn't felt anything like that in.. a long time. The last time he had felt anything similar to that was when he and Cup were kids and had found themselves about to wander to the casino- which resulted in Mugs promptly punching Cuphead and dragging him away before he could step foot on the red stairs. He had only been defending himself against Sean, it wasn't intentional that he had killed him. But the rush had felt frightening, but it had also felt.. good. It's not everyday you get experience something like that with a calm life. It had felt good to feel fear after not feeling it for so long. The shot of adrenaline.. he wanted it again. 
 Mugs shook the thought from his head. He probably wouldn't feel it again for another long time, which was okay by him- right? He doesn't need the adrenaline. He should be happy with the calm and peaceful life he has.
 Everything was quiet for awhile. Mugs was lost in his own world of thought, though he could hear the sirens of the police as they investigated. However he snapped out of his daze as he heard arguing coming closer to the room he was in. 
 "I told you, you cannot come into the casino!" King Dice's voice was sharp with frustration. "If you don't leave, I will have to call security!"
 "Knowing you and Devil's damned tricks, you could have my brother locked up in this place!" Mugman jumped up upon hearing his brothers raging voice. Moving quickly, he darted out of the room and nearly ran into Cuphead and King Dice.
 "Cup!" Mugs blinked at his brother, his mind flooded with surprise.
 "Mugs! I knew he had you in here, that lying bastard." The older of the two swept him into a tight hug. Mugs hugged back, blinking at his brother. Cup pulled away, his eyes gleaming with relief. "Why're you here? And who the hell beat you up?" His brother's voice went cold with that last sentence, sending a chill down Mugs's spine.
 "I'm here because King Dice is-.." He didn't want his brother to know he had killed someone, but he shouldn't just keep it a secret either.
 "I'm helping him by hiding him from a false murder accusation." King Dice put in, his hands behind his back and eyes narrowed.
 "Murder accusation? Who would accuse my brother of such a thing?" The red Cupbro shook his head, a disbelieving and horrified look to his face. Mugs stared at Dice, his eye wide. But I did kill someone, it wasn't an accusation. Why was he hiding that?
 "The police if they knew he was in this casino." Dice rolled his eyes. "The justice system isn't what one would exactly call 'just'. And he's lucky I didn't turn him over to the police beforehand."
 "Why'd you help him though? If this is part of a sinister scheme, then you can tell the Devil to go find another soul to catch!" Cup stood in front of his brother protectively, his chest puffed out and finger glowing. It was usually forgotten that he and his brother had the powers of their ancestors since they never usually used them much. The few that did know kept it to themself as a reminder that the Cupbros could beat their ass again.
 "I helped him because I'd rather not have Devil get mad at me for allowing the police to just mosey on in here. Mind you, most of the stuff we do here is illegal in the Inkwell Isles." King Dice scoffed at him.  "Besides, I'd rather keep my life and my job."
 Mugs put a hand on Cup's shoulder. "Calm down, he didn't hurt me, and I doubt he would right now." He turned his attention to King Dice and kept talking without letting Cuphead respond. "I'd assume the police are still outside? Can't we sneak through one of the back doors or windows?" He suggested hopefully.
 "Hmm." King Dice thought for a minute before nodding. "I guess you could use one of the 'Employees only' back doors. Follow me." Mugs and Cup looked at one another before following silently. The dice-headed man led the way swiftly through the halls and into a storage room full of boxes. He pointed a hand to a windowless door nearby. 
 "How do we know you ain't sending us to the Devil?" Cup's eyes narrowed at him. 
 "Cuphead!" Mugs grumbled to himself, grabbing his older-by-a-minute brother by the wrist. "Thank you for helping." The blue Cupbro nodded to Dice before dragging his brother out into the dark landscape. He didn't realize it had gotten so late.
 Cuphead took the lead silently and led the way back to their apartment complex, leaving Mugman to his own thoughts. The night sky was cloudy, thunder rolling in the distance. The rain started just as they got into the bright complex, the receptionist greeting them with a smile. Mugs returned the smile before silently following Cuphead to their apartment. Once the door was shut, Cuphead spun around to face Mugman. Anger and worry clouded his eyes. Mugs's eyes widened at the amount of emotion coming off of his brother that threatened to sweep him off his feet.
 "What were you thinking? Just-just walking to the Casino? I thought we promised Kettle we'd never go there- I though we promised each other!" Cuphead's cup was boiling, bubbling over the brim. 
"I didn't mean to! I wasn't paying attention. Cup, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you." Mugs tried to calm the situation, his chest tightening. 
 "Worried? More like scared me to death! When you didn't come back, I thought the worst had happened to you. I searched all over the city before I even suspected that you went to the Casino. When I got there, the blood.. it made me think something had happened to you." Mugs was shocked silent as he realized there were tears streaming down Cuphead's face. "I can't bear to lose you. With Elder Kettle so close.." His voice trailed off as he wiped the tears from his face. 
 Understanding washed over Mugman as he realized just how much he had scared his brother. "I'm sorry." He apologized again as he pulled Cup in a hug. The silence was heavy around them for a bit. Eventually, Cup pulled away.
 "And I told you don't do anything I would!" Cuphead playfully punched Mugman's arm, smiling again. Mugs gave a chuckle, glad to see his brother had cheered up a little. "It's late and I have morning shift, so I'll see you tomorrow." Cup squeezed his brother in a hug one more time before leaving off to his room. Mugs wished him a goodnight before sitting down on the couch.
 He opened the hidden compartment he had built into the coffee table and pulled out his book, brushing the dust on it. It had been awhile since he had read it. The leather cover was engraved with a chalice, one that looked a lot like Ms.Chalice- a ghost the boys had met as young children. The familiar sense of some kinda of intrigue entered his mind as he opened the book to the last page he had read.