The Nockfell Complex (Sal fisher + 2 others x reader)

Emancipation Clarity

Routines, as you've found, were fairly easy to fall into while taking up residence in the Addison Apartments. They were almost too easy to fall into. It was too simple. Too natural.

It had been a week since you were given the cuff, since this issue of yours had been fixed, and when one issue had been squashed, two more popped up.

Where would you live?

What would you do all day? You were still a teenager. When the question of schooling came up, Larry was the one who suggested. "If we distract the front office, I could probably get my hands on a form."

"Or a picture. Todd could photo-copy it from here, they'd be none the wiser." Sal adds, snapping his fingers. They're schemers, the lot of them.

Todd would hold his hands up gently, before turning the question to you. "Do you want to go to Nockfell High with us? Before we go jumping into theft." He trails off.

"I don't know what I'd do with myself otherwise. I can only wander the floors so many times n' all." You'd shrug. Then came the discussion of specifics. Of asking Ashley for her camera, whether they should keep her informed, if she should come meet you at the apartments,what they'd bring as distractions.

"We could do the same thing we did to get lunch lady kim's file?"

"You kept that ball? Nasty, Sal." Larry would scoff, but he laughs. You're kept out of the loop, but Todd does his job of explaining. That they had a plan in place involving the school already. Something about their math teacher making homemade bologna. The process alone sounds grody.

"Who makes bologna in their house?" You question, incredulously.

"The nutjobs of Nockfell." Larry would laugh.

Routines were easily to fall into. Todd had asked you to come down to his house at least once a week to make sure the cuff was working properly, that it wouldn't sustain any damage, and that it wasn't likely to break. This week, the answer had been a confident. "It did a better job than I first thought. Don't get your heart set of taking it off. This thing's gonna need heavy duty wire cutters." It was a joke...you think. Todd is, as a person, blunt. It's an almost admirable 'Take no shit' attitude.

Though, from what you've heard from Sal, Todd had a boyfriend he was crazy about. Good for him.

Today was the day of waiting for two different files. A file Todd would print of the school's sign-up, mocked up to look as if it had been signed months ago, and a file you would have to sign on your own stating that you were an emancipated minor. It made sense, it was all a clever cover for you being without any parents.

You think your father would go gray if he knew what you were doing.

Was it a little sick to feel happy about that? Sure, but now you were making buddies on your own, without mock 'playdates' set up by parental figures who talk for too long.

You brushed the thought away, strolling your way from the bottom floor hallway to the elevator, kicking your feet along the hardwood floors before a voice calls for your attention, following a metallic click of something opening.

"Excuse me? Have you been here before?"

When you turned, staring just behind you at the door to 103, it takes just a moment to register that the mail slot, which is now sleek and shiny and completely untouched, is open, and there were eyes peering through it, staring at you. The man beckons you over gently. "I apologize dearly for the intrusion, child. It's just, I know everyone in these apartments and I know I've never seen you before."