Crimes in Caster

Interlude: Gambling at Minty's, Part 2

    Teddy’s grand escape involved breaking into a sprint down the street. Her trusty motorcycle not being a viable option all thanks to the cops situating themselves around it. No, it was all up to her legs and stamina this time around. At least doing this gig for two years had those built up.

    Her journey brought her to Caster’s own Rosdale park—The bustling park always had some event going on. Tonight, it was a concert. Teddy guessed that all the colors, loud music, and blaring lights would be a good way for her to blend in. Weaving through crowds and cheering concert goers, she swore if she didn’t cover her ears, she’d go deaf from all the noise.

The occasional party goer would get so hyped, they’d stumble back and crush Teddy’s toes. This would in turn cause her nearly to drop the priceless statue she’d been holding. After all that work, she wouldn’t dare let it fall to the ground so easily. She swaddled it close to her chest like a baby. Some people from the concert even stopped her to ask her why she would bring a child to such a loud event. She’d just awkwardly chuckle at them in return, then explain she was trying to leave. Which wasn’t entirely a lie, she was, indeed, trying to leave.

    All the breath holding and painstakingly tiptoeing through crowds did get her somewhere. Whether it was miraculous chance, or the merit of her own skills, Teddy was finally on the other side of the crowd. The breath she was desperately holding onto she could finally release. Or so she thought.

    “Stop right there, Vulpes!”

    A shiver down Teddy’s spine, she released that breath she was holding onto in the form of a strained sigh. “Percy…” she turned around to a smirking police officer. The women had long black hair, long enough to reach her back. An expression that could be described as smug, it plastered itself across Percy’s face. Teddy wanted to slap it right off.

    “Teddy,” the voice alluringly haunted. “Still at the whole thief thing I see?”

    Teddy took a cautious step back. She was desperately fighting the urge to hurl. “What, come to finally get your prized trophy?” She hissed through a set of gritted teeth.

    Percy pulled her handcuffs off her hip, swinging them on the tip of her finger. She tilted her head, causing her long hair to sway to the left. “Don’t be that way, I’m only doing my job.”

    Teddy took another step backwards, hugging the poker card statue close to her chest. “We both know that’s not why you’re doing this.” A few more steps back, Teddy felt the uneven surface of wood against her back. She was pressed against a tree. Some of the wood splintered through her coat and poked her in the back. She tensed and flinched but maintained an expression of neutrality despite it. “Just—leave me alone,” Teddy choked back fighting tears, her attempts only in vain. She could feel the wetness as it streaked down her cheeks.

    Percy’s smug smile twisted downward, and her eyebrows flattened. “Sorry Teddy, but I’m not letting you get away this time.”

    “SOMEBODY HELP ME, PLEASE!” Teddy and Percy both snapped their heads to the concert venue. A man had been flailing his arms, waving for help. His own back pinned against a wall, it appeared he was getting mugged.

    Teddy turned back to Percy; a forced chuckle broke through the hiccupping tears. “So, you’d rather catch a thief then help a person in need, huh?”

    Percy stomped her foot, “curse you, Vulpes,” she scoffed. She turned on her heel, before leaving, she said, “mark my words, I’ll catch you someday.”

    Teddy chewed her lip and looked to the side. “Yeah… I’m sure you will.” When Percy was finally gone, she let out a final hiccupping tear. Teddy had really hoped she’d never see that woman again. Yet she came back to haunt her, time and time again. After everything she just wanted a moment to herself. But alas, the world had other plans. Knee deep in its vendetta against Teddy Day, it threw yet another obstacle her way. An irritated voice shot through the air, making no effort to conceal its overflowing rage.

    “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DITCHED ME AGAIN!” She’d completely forgotten about Tevin. “Or maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s not like this is the first time you’ve done this!” Tevin pulled himself through the concert venue. His arms were spread to make his presence known. The overwhelming of sound of his clicking shoes as he stomped her way was nerve wracking.

    She nervously swallowed.  “Just leave me alone.”

    “Leave you alone? You’re the one who left me alone!” Tevin gestured back to the shaded Casino. The once bright building now clouded in shadows. Compared to the rest of the bright city, Minty’s appeared as if it was a void. “I barely escaped!” Tevin’s usual angry squirrel expression was one much more sinister this time around. His brows furrowed in genuine frustration, and his teeth gritted.

    Teddy kept to herself. Her body language was closed, and she still refused to make eye contact with him. “So what? You’re just going to keep using me, anyways!” Wet streaks against her cheeks morphed into an all-out waterfall. With every word, her voice caught on itself and snot dribbled a little into her mouth.  Tevin’s expression went for another change; one of pity. That was only more irritating for Teddy, the last thing she wanted was his pity. “You have Barry’s help now, don’t you? Just leave me outta this…”

    “Teddy,” Tevin slowly reached a hand out for her, before he could reach her, he pulled it back. His eyes grazed the ground and his once bright green eyes dimmed. She knew it; he couldn’t refute her.

    “You’re just out to get me like everyone in this city!” Unknowingly, she cast a glance Percy’s way. Percy was still aiding the desperate man from earlier. Too busy to notice Teddy’s weeping stare.

Tevin’s gaze moved to follow hers, narrowing when it landed on the officer. “What do you mean?” Teddy didn’t want to bother answering him. Tevin’s eyes still gleamed with a dwindling sense of curiosity.

    Her broken heart was terrified to open up. But the lonely aching was cause to try. “That officer over there…” her words hitched on the back of her throat, she was regretting this already. “W-We used to be friends. But she used me. She… She only became friends with me to ‘catch me.’” The closer she held the statue to her chest, the more she could feel her rapid heartbeat reverberating through it. “I’ve come to accept it,” her eyes squeezed shut while doing everything in her power to avoid looking at Tevin, “no one wants me for me.”

    Teddy’s confession only led to that rift between the two of them to grow larger. Metaphorically and literally, thanks to Tevin’s quiet steps back. He stayed in that long contemplative silence for a while, his brows furrowing and un-furrowing every few seconds. Teddy bit her tongue through the whole process. The tension wormed its way into her throat making it hard to breathe. “Trust…” Tevin finally said, “if we want this partnership to work out, then we should build trust.”

    Teddy could only stare at him. Trust? Was that truly achievable? She doubted it. But that deep and desperate hole in her heart begged her to give it a chance. “If we’re going to build trust, then tell me…” Teddy looked up to finally, fully, meet Tevin’s gaze. Their eyes were locked. “Tell me the truth, why were you kicked from the RHU?”

    Tevin’s eyes widened and he took a surprised step back. He clutched his side and looked at the ground. “I…” Sighing, he pulled his gaze back up to Teddy. “Suppose that’s fair… Okay,” He took in a deep breath, his shoulders releasing the tension they held. “I’ll tell you the truth.”