How Many Chances

"Damn this brat's heavy. Didn't even fly that far."

Coughing out his lungs, Rykar was on the floor before Loki even noticed he had been attacked… which is probably because a fist followed up just after the kick, only, the target of the fist was the confused Loki.

Similar to his brother, he was blasted in the stomach as a hooded figure sped round the corner, following after his left hook which had been thrown in advance.

Catering to the difference of height, the fully grown figure had generously bent their knees and swiveled his hips, all in order to land a perfect strike to Loki's solar plexus. The only thing that could be heard between the interval of Rykar landing on the ground and Loki being hit, was the intense ruffle of the cloak against the wind.

The pain from the muffled strike didn't even take effect immediately, the only thing which erupted in Loki's mind was the feeling of breathlessness as his body ejected its contents within his mask. Pie, meat and vegetables plastered his face as he slit to his knees.

The force behind this attack was probably not even half of what Rykar had received, yet the placement of the strike had completely devastated his system.

From the excitement earlier, the boys now couldn't even think straight as they heaved and coughed on the ground like shrimp.

The two standing over them didn't waste words, quickly bending down as they tore the dripping masks from the boys faces, letting out a slight gasp as they did so.

Even while wiping the snot and vomit from the masks, they took a moment to marvel at the faces of the twins.

"Their eyes really are amazing! The masks are probably worth nothing compared to if we were to sell them off!" A feminine voice came from the figure which had struck Loki. She grabbed his face for a moment with her gloved hand, staring into his eyes.

Through his tears, Loki could just about see a pretty figure looking down at him with dull green eyes.

"There's something up with this kid" a much deeper voice came from the second figure. He was squatting over Rykar while pulling on his cloak as though testing something. "I think this kid is even heavier than I am… must be around a hundred kilos!" There was a trace of shock in his voice.

The woman quickly rushed over, trying to grab onto Rykar who was struggling on the ground. She could barely establish a firm grip and was just as surprised to find her partners words were pretty accurate. "holy shit what is he made of!? Maybe not a hundred but not far off."

"Change of plan. You can't carry this one and I'll be too slow if I do. He's dead weight." Without waiting for an answer, he walked over to Loki and picked him up without caring for the struggles. As a shout escaped his mouth, a fist smashed into his face like a rock into jelly.

His mind was immediately thrown into chaos. The world simply became a blur of bright and shiny dots as his eyes roamed around in a daze. All he heard was another massive crack before, once again, he felt the hold hard ground pressed against his side.

"Do you know how many chances I gave you?"

Loki's mind turned in fear as he thought on the question. He simply didn't understand and was too afraid of uttering the wrong answer. The world was still spinning, the ground grated on his face, his eyes were watering and he could barely breath between coughs.

"One when you stood within the crowd."

*Thud*

Loki reflexively clenched his body as he heard the sound of something colliding with a body. He wasn't sure if his senses were in too much disarray to feel the beating or if the punishment was being carried out on his brother instead.

"One when you waited outside the store so patiently"

*Thud*

Wait… outside the store? He stopped moving as he shut his eyes and put his entire focus on listening to the commotion around him.

"One when you followed them to the ally."

*Thud*

Muffled groans and pleas could be heard between each of the strikes.

"One when you left. To be honest I thought that was enough" *Thud* "But who would have thought you doubled round to the other side?"

*Thud*

Mustering the strength to look, he saw Rykar on his knees while using a wall to support his weight as he clutched his stomach with his arms. A figure was laying on the ground not far from him with her leg spayed at an awkward angle.

With the hood pulled back, her dark hair now fell over her face like wet string as it clung to the sweat that rolled down her forehead. The pain she was in must have been incredibly difficult to bear as veins could be seen on her forehead and neck.

Tears streamed down her face as she watched the scene in front of her while holding in the urge to cry out loud.

By now, the burly man was whimpering after being given a moment of respite. Hearing his shallow and staggered breathing, Loki followed Rykar's and the woman's line of sight. Turning is head just in time to watch Chance Lift his foot and heavily bring it down on the base of the man's back.

Following a massive snap, there was silence. Unconsciousness saved the victim from the pain which would have followed, had his willpower been slightly higher.

"Please, it wasn't my idea! I was only following my friend! I swear." Promises and blame poured from her mouth like a broken fountain as Chance walked towards her, discarding her companion shortly after he had passed out.

"I swear…"

"If only…"

"I'll do anything…"

Promises, apologies, stories about her past, how pitiful she was. The rate at which she fired off information at the twins made it sound like a mosquito was droning in Loki's ears as he was stills lightly disorientated.

Unlike Chance's deep and clear voice which seemed to dominate his ears when it sounded out, she seemed like a frail animal that was barely capable of coherent speech.

Yet, seeing her on the ground, Loki couldn't help but sympathize with her pain. Disregarding the ordeal he had just been put through, he began to mutter under his breath as he halfheartedly spoke out in her favour.

"If you've got something to say, say it with your chest." Turning towards Loki, Chance had once again adopted a cold and indifferent façade which the twins had seen for the first time within the sewers.

Shuddering for a moment, Loki took a deep breath before organizing and repeating his words more clearly. "I think, I think this is enough." As he finished, he couldn't even hold Chances gaze as he looked towards his brother for support, urging Rykar to back him up with his eyes.

Rykar looked up from the woman, taking in gazes of both Loki and Chance. By now, his breathing had steadied and he was back in control of the majority of his motor functions. His head slowly tilted towards the side as he mulled over his brother's words.

"She wanted to take our eyes." He said with a deadpan voice, much like Chance, his voice was said in a matter of factly way. It wasn't a question, but something which caused Loki to think about how far the situation could have devolved without Chances interruption.

"She only said we have nice eyes. If we do this, were no better than them. Why hurt people more than we need to?" By not his voice was growing stronger as he found his own conviction. He felt much more at ease debating with his brother than with Chance.

"All we see are people that hurt each other. Her leg is broken and that guy is so messed up! We can leave it at this." He ended strongly, failing to allow Rykar room to maneuver. As long as his brother was torn, surely Chance wouldn't act any further.

Puzzlement was still on Rykar's face but he didn't refute his brother as he pulled himself up from the ground while using the wall as a support.

Pausing at the side of the woman, her green eyes stared up at him like a deer in the face of death. She didn't even have the mental capacity to beg for forgiveness as she looked at the face of the boy who now towered over her.

Hair messy, saliva caking his mouth, blood leaking from his nose. He looked down blankly as he asked "Do you swear never to do this to anyone again?"

"Yes! I swear on everything I hold dear! I would never. Please, I beg you." Brought back to reality by the question, she started panting and begging.

"Good. You owe him your life." He nodded in his brother's direction with a small smile, which prompted a drawn out sigh of relief from both Loki and the woman.

"Don't worry Rykar, I can even get her to swear on my book" Loki began shuffling over as a dark mist slowly became visible in his surroundings.

As though he was taking a casual step up some stairs, Rykar raised his leg up to knee height before slowly lowering it over the woman's head.

Exasperated by the sudden and awkward movement, fear and cautiousness caused her to go with the movement as she lowered her head along with his foot until she was sandwiched between the ground and his bound foot.

Seeing her head make contact with the cobbled ground below them, Loki winced without knowing what to say or ask.

Once again, a similar sound was heard within the alley as a loud snap was heard.

After bouncing slightly on his off foot, Rykar shifted the other foot to the side of the woman's jaw before transferring the weight of his entire body into a stomp.

All begging was tossed to the wind as the woman rolled on the ground with renewed vigor while sharp squealing grated on the ears of those present, and conscious enough to hear it.

Despite seeing the scene before him, his expectations had totally betrayed him as Loki watched the situation unfold.

Rykar and Chance each picked up the masks from the ground closest to them before casually walking towards the end of the alley where people were peering in, drawn to the screams that had been echoing for a while now.

His face switched between shock and horror as he looked between those on the ground and the figures of Rykar and Chance as they made their way out of the alley without exchanging words.

Watching the two in front of him about to become submerged within the crowd, he finally ran forward to join the duo before forcing a path through the audience together.