After his fleeting encounter with Rika, Law made his way back home under a brooding, overcast sky. The streets were deserted, the air thick with the scent of rain and neglect. As he strolled through the dilapidated neighborhood, he couldn't help but notice how the buildings had fallen into disrepair, their paint peeling and windows boarded up. Graffiti scrawled across crumbling walls told stories of despair and defiance. The harsh reality of his world pressed down on him, and he wondered if Rico's words, that maybe there was a way out, were just a fleeting hope or something more.
Approaching the battered facade of his house, Law hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting over the broken porch and the sagging roof. He paused to examine himself in the dim glow of the flickering streetlamp. His shirt was steaks with a few lines of now dried blood. The scars and scabs on his hands looked raw, the flesh torn open during the fight. His head was probably just as battered, maybe worse. He grimaced, knowing his reflection wouldn't be pretty.
He reached out cautiously for the rusty, squeaking door handle, which protested loudly as he pushed it open. Inside, the house was silent but heavy with the scent of dust and neglect. Law moved slowly, bracing himself for what was coming, a storm of anger, worry, and frustration. He knew Ruby's temper well, she was fiery and fierce, but beneath that exterior, she cared more than anyone. He waited in the shadows of the entryway, listening for her footsteps, knowing she'd soon burst into the room.
"Ruby! I'm home!" Law called out, his voice echoing through the empty halls, trying to sound confident but knowing she'd pick up on his fatigue.
In truth, Law's favorite part of every day was returning to his sister's presence. No matter how battered or broken he felt, her smile, the way she greeted him with warmth and frustration, made everything worthwhile. She was his anchor in this chaos, the only family he had left, and he promised himself he would do everything in his power to protect her, to keep her safe from this cruel world.
Her voice burst from the kitchen, loud and impatient. "Finally! Took you long enough!" Ruby's tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of relief behind her words. As she hurried into the entryway, her eyes immediately flicked over him, narrowing as she took in his battered state.
"Holy shit, what happened to you? You look terrible. Are you okay?" Her voice cracked with worry, a raw edge of fear buried beneath her fierce tone. It was obvious she cared deeply, even if she tried to hide it with anger. Every time Law came home, battered and bloodied, she seemed to see a little more of the danger he faced outside their fragile sanctuary.
"Nothing much, don't worry," Law mumbled, forcing a thin, reassuring smile. "I'm fine… I think." His voice was tired, and unbeknownst to him, his body was slouched over. "Some punks tried to mug me on the way back from Ricken's, that's all," he added casually, as if dismissing the violence as nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Ruby's eyes widened, frustration and concern flickering across her face. "It's every day with you. Don't you get it? I worry sick about you," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and love. "You keep risking yourself out there, and I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."
"I'm sorry, sis," Law said softly. "But guess what? I made a friend today." His face suddenly lit up with a genuine smile, a flicker of hope piercing through his battered exterior.
Ruby stared at him, her brow furrowing. Her brother had always been guarded, she'd known him to be antisocial, especially after everything they'd been through. The idea of him making a new friend, a stranger, made her suspicious.
But Law pressed on, eager to share his story. "His name's Riko. He was one of the guys who jumped me. But… hear me out, he actually seemed pretty cool. We talked for a while after I took down those two goons. Still smiling, he said he wants to teach me how to fight. Says he sees something in me."
Ruby's face twisted with concern. "Wait, your 'friend' was one of the guys who attacked you?" She gestured at the bruises and cuts on his body. "And now he's offering to teach you to fight? No, Law. I don't like this at all. You already hate fighting. And now you're going to train? Are you planning to follow in Mom and Dad's footsteps? Joining Brawl? Risking your life? That's not the way. Absolutely not." Her voice was thick with worry, anger, and a flicker of hope that he was safe.
A long, tense silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint hum of the house's old wiring. Then Law spoke again, his voice calm but earnest. "Ruby, I never said I was planning to join Brawl. He's just going to help me channel my anger into something better. Maybe I can earn some extra credits, enough to get you out of that second job. Good things can come from this. Just give me a chance. I promise I'll be careful."
Her piercing stare felt like it was searching his soul, trying to read every unspoken thought. Then she finally nodded, her eyes softening just a little.
"Just trust me, sis. I'm going to get us out of this hellhole and give you the life you deserve," Law whispered, his voice full of quiet determination. His words carried a warmth only she could see, a promise of hope.
Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes, and her voice trembled as she responded. "Do whatever you want, just… be careful. But I swear, we're never going to escape this place. We owe Ricken's too much," she said softly, almost to herself.
"Let me worry about Ricken," Law replied gently. "I'll get the money to pay him back. And then… we're leaving this nightmare behind."
Her tears spilled over as she wrapped her arms around him in a fierce embrace. "If you come home with so much as a black eye, I swear I'll kill you myself," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Just leave it to me, sis," Law replied softly, holding her close.
Later that night, Ruby helped bandage his bruised hands and tend to his wounds, the quiet sounds of their shared effort filling the darkened house. Both of them were restless, their minds consumed with thoughts of what lay ahead. As Law lay on his bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, he couldn't help but think about the future. He envisioned a life where his sister was truly happy, no more worries about food or safety, surrounded by friends who cared.
He drifted into sleep, dreaming of that better life, unaware that his destiny was about to take a dark turn. The path ahead was fraught with hardship, suffering, sacrifice, and broken promises, things he couldn't yet begin to imagine.