Chapter 4 - Baby Steps = Named Duo & Rivals

As the two smaller youths looked up at Richard where he only looked back at them... A smile formed on his face where he raised a hand to cup his chin to ponder but his smile faded away.

Following this; an extremely confused expression formed on his face before he said.

"...Nice to meet you?" Vocalizing his greeting as he realized that the thin one out of the two had just approached him to ask something about... what? 'Crew? Is this a Gang thing? ... Cause fuck that stupid shit.' Thinking as he didn't keep a poker face where those thoughts at the end had made him turn his head to the side and unintentionally snarling as he straight up.

The chubby one felt like he was piss his pants with how aggressive the action appeared but the thin one merely stepped forward, his grin lasting on his features whilst he spoke once mroe.

"Salutations to you, Big-Man. We need a huge-guy like you on our team." Ignoring his bro's attempt to hold him back as the boy walked up with an even bigger grin. Richard stood still with his curious expression being glued onto his face where he kept a merge amount of interest to the small duo.

...

...

"Welp; My names' Link. The knee-knocker behind me is Joe." Watching this as the now-introduced Link spoke with a salute where he finished by point and look at the rounded one whom a weak-wave back.

"I see... I'm...?" Interrupted so suddenly where Link had begun to pace around him. Looking and examine as Joe attempted to speak up but he didn't have a chance; Richard's brow only raised to a greater degree by this odd action.

"... Gawd... Dayum... Do you eat people?" A curious Link swung around to look up at Richard with an almost pure and child-like curiosity.

...

That had gotten Richard to squint his eyes as he didn't answer... "Huh... My Bad." Shifting a hand up to his head and rubbing it as he didn't realize where he was digging his own grave.

Sighing to himself which Richard rolled a shoulder and took a step-forward. 'Why does he piss people off?!' Joe perked up and lunging to the side before he smacked his fam with an open palm. *Spak!*

"Whoa." Happened to be the only thing that came out of Richard's mouth at the crazy scene.

Jolting his brother whose head was knocked aside as he yelped aloud. His body following afterwards that lead to him scramble on his feet til he crashed down onto ground. "Hells' wrong wit you, Bro?!" An odd and unfamiliar accent popped out that Richard turned his head to Joe who forgot about the bigger ones' presence at the moment. His spurt of anger at his brother's lack of manners and comments had gotten on his nerves one too many times.

Groaning aloud where Link was holding the back of his head where he whispered "Ooooooooooooowwwww." Joe's eyes shifted from looking down at his bro before closing them in frustration.

Prepared to walk away from the situation.

...

However his lack of focus didn't allow for him to notice the huge-body of Richard whom hadn't moved as he watched this entire scene play out.

"OooooF!" Exclaiming where Joe crashed into the seemingly rock-solid Richard whom didn't feel normal... He felt like bricks... or metal. Jolting where a stunning Joe stumbled over his feet and fell down on his butt like his brother had done so earlier.

"... Huh... You guys are alike in some ways, huh?" Speaking more to himself as Joe whom was currently shaking his head back-and-forth. He was slightly dizzy where he looked up at Richard whom seemed even more imposing than he had beforehand.

"Uuuuugh... S-S-Sorry, Sir." Muttering in a quiet voice which made Richard's brow twitch... He wasn't his Father or Uncles... He was barely a teenager!

Unknown to the poor round-shape boy; Link had snuck on him as the Big-Man didn't care too much to warn Joe which the thin one had an furious-face plastered across his features that he tapped Joe on the shoulder. Turning over where Link shouted.

"Think' ya tuff, eh?!" Forgetting one thing about his bro... His uncaring and animal-like temper! Wrapping his surprisingly long arms around his other bro's skull to squeeze like a vice! A shout of pain was vocalized by the seated boy who fought his way to his free.

Joe and Link had gotten right into a rowdy scuffle. Ordinarily; It would seem based on appearance that Joe would have the advantage because of his bigger build and seemingly looser clothing to have more room however it appeared that Link was even stronger than Joe as he lifted his brother off and even off the ground a couple of times.

...

The entertainment of this all was loosing it's appeal as a growl came from his stomach. Richard shifted his attention to focus on his crying belly at the moment. Truthful; the 'Crew thing-y?' that Link spoke about interested him... The eating people comment would've gotten Richard to laughed if he eased into it more... But... If anything; the Big-Man did eaten 6x as much as any child his age should or even want to.

...

Maybe it was just genetics kicking in and he felt hungrier... Like... Almost all of the time. Patting his tummy where the thoughts about Basketball always driven away that feeling of 'hunger.'

"Sooooooooo?~ You guys finished or? ... Nevermind." Asking a question only to grumble at the end... If only he had popcorn then he tolerate this non-sense. Their grappling had devolved over the course of couple minutes into full-on fisticuffs!

Every time Link threw a flurry of punches that landed; Joe slammed home a counter where Link took straight on and pushed onward. Every time Joe tried to wrestle his Brother to the ground; Link slammed a knee into the heavy of the two's stomach and pushed off the bigger boy whom shrugged it off.

...

Their fight was finished where they stood away from each-other. Link was breathing heavily with a mark on one of his eyes. Joe wasn't breathing so hard but marks were all-over his face.

...

"Huh? Oh... My Bad." Link realized as his lack of awareness that was something the two shared had lead to him forgetting about Richard whom stood with a hand on his core and rubbing it with a bored expression. Relaxing as he fixed up his clothing and nodded to speak to Richard but he flinched as he thought once more...

*Blink* ... Big-Man.

....

*Blink* Get Him Into Crew.

...

*Blink* Didn't let him finish his introduction.

Realizing this, Link nervously popped out a laugh and looked up at Richard. Speaking with an awkward and nervous tone. "Sorry, Big-Man. We do that... Sometimes." Unconsciously causing a corner of his lips as he smiled an oh-so-weak grin where he proceeded to his neck and stretch one of his shoulders as he turned around for a moment.

...

Link looked right into the eyes of his brother whom noticed the look his brother had been giving him... A nasty. ol' stink eye causing Joe to squint.

Link's thoughts twisted around as he picture him in mind dressed up as a demon with a pitchfork and hellfire at his finger-tips. Screaming around 'FUCKIN' JOE, BITCH-ASS! WATCH DAWG, I'M EATTIN' THE COOKIES THAT GRAM-GRAM MADE YOU WHEN WE GET HOME!' A long tangent formed in his mind where Link gnawed on his bottom lip with his brow tightening as they locked eyes for a couple seconds longer before Link twisted around to look at Richard who watched him.

Rubbing his hands nervously whilst Richard had noticed the rude look on Joe. Eyes locked onto his back as he had began to think ill about his sibling.

'Fuckin' Link tink' that he's top-shit. WHO BIG DAWG, BITCH! IMPOLITE LITTLE SHIT!' A short flurry of words was thought up by the chubby out of them...

The whole situation that Richard had seen could've been easily mistake as one of the 'comic-books' that his mom read when she was in her 'nostalgic moods.' Hell; the largest boy out of the group could've easily assumed that the two would start screaming and power-up to their maximum power... or something.

...

His mom's weird.

...

"... I'm gonna go..." This entire weird-ass situation was too annoying for Richard to deal with. Too much talking and not enough basketball didn't justify the hunger boy. Finishing his School Work was something that had to be done; that stupid-ass Main-Task was eating up his free-time.

Walking over to his backpack that Link noticed Richard had turned round to walk over and snatch up his backpack to swing it over his shoulder that Link followed after him, trying to speak up. "Whoa! Big-Man, Wait up! Just Hear me Out!" Richard however was ignoring Link as he was showing the same level of attention that boy gave to him, Joe hurried after Link as he attempted to back up his brow. "S-S-Sir?! C-C-Can you listen to my B-B-Bro?!" That caused Richard to stop in his steps as he was now a distance away from court and near the entrance.

...

And even Link stopped moving completely... A mechanical stiffness in his following movements as he looked at Joe with the biggest 'WTF' face that he could make on his face; he also mouthed 'What The Fuck?!'

...

The Big-Man had been alot more casual as he turned around to look at them where they look between each-other only to run over to him.

During the slight run, Link had regained his composure but the boy was struggling to keep this guy interested. If Link didn't have Joe, he felt like this guy would've left.

Coming up where the two looked right at each-other before the smallest out of the three spoke up. "I am honest-to-god sorry, Big-Man. Me and my Bro argue... Alot... 'Actually'" Whispering the last piece under his breath that Richard's eyes narrowed at the thin one.

"... You sure that you sorry?" Questioning Link as he leaned forward which he dwarfed over the others' completely. Physically intimidating him that made Link fidget in his feet where he couldn't meet Richard's eyes a couple times. Look up as he spoke as if he was answering an question that he wasn't too sure on.

"Yeeeeeeeees?~"

...

'This is so awkward.' Richard's face fell flat and he visibly deadpanned at the answer. Turning around completely as he began to walk away; the two of them watched him leave. Link and Joe muttered to each-other under their breath, Link wasn't able to get momentum going which forced Joe to step up!

Taking a couple steps and shouting towards Richard as he said "BIG-MAN! L-LISTEN UP!" Link paused and looked at his brother with another 'WTF' face as his jaw... dropped.

...

Richard's steps ceased after that shout. His free hand traveled up to the back of his hand as he scratched his head slightly where they looked as the Big-Man got rather rough for a moment only to stop.

Turning around as he released his hold on his basketball that bounced up and down before it became still. Shrugging off his backpack that seemingly banged off the concrete. His movements had a focused and innately, made-gifted swiftness. Walking over Joe before he stood right over him; his eyes tightly locked and he sneered.

Awaiting to hear words from Joe whom found himself even more frighten than before where his body jiggled as he attempted to speak. Link had ran over to his brother's side which made his sibling relaxed, the two looked up at him as Joe tried to speak as best as his nervous body could.

"W-We can play B-B-B-B -" Joe's stuttering had caused for a bulging vein to develop on the larger boys' forehead that Link's eyes noticed right away. Move his hand in a blink of an eye; Joe flinched and curled up to protect his face. Eyes shut as he stood still.

...

Breathed weakly and opening his eyes only to see the largest set of knuckles that filled out his sight completely!

"If you ever... ever speak to me like that? Speak your message clearly." Commanding the chubby boy whose voice didn't even squeak out. Twisting his head over towards Link as the two locked eyes.

Flicking his head up that Link's eyes widen. Understanding the message that it was 'your turn.'

"Well... Every summer within these couple of blocks. We have a tournament; It's a 3-v-3 Street Ball, Ting. It's a community thing but it can build up your rep!" Exclaiming the last piece which made Richard visibly interesting by his attentive look... However; he shifted in his steps and spoke.

"Why does that matter? You guys just get swallowed by the older teens and adults or something." If it was a tournament; these two would be destroyed by more physically-developed Players. High-Schoolers and College Players would destroy them.

"Bah-Bah-Bah-Bah-Bah! That's the thing. It's separated into Age groups! Under 10s, Under 18s & Over 21s. If we had you; We win the under 18!" Exclaiming with a big smile that caused Link to reach forward and grab one of Richard's hands.

'... His hands are big...' Link's thoughts ran over his face, the visible shock was present but he pushed forward. Wrapping both of his hands around it as best as he could making the Large Boy's eyes flinched and narrow. The Big-Man's didn't like that his personal bubble had been broken... with desperate eyes?

...

"Me and Joe... We... Try our best... We lost the last-two years... We... Couldn't find someone whom could... balance us out." Link's memory trailed back; the past two-years... They had been hell... The lack of a true big-man on their teams forced Joe to play Big... Something that he couldn't do. Bullied around both defensively meaning that Link had switch and play help.

...

Leaving someone open for a shot.

...

Offensively, him leaving the paint reduced chances for rebounds to get the ball as well which had been a massive weakness.

"We... Want... To... Win." Link muttered under his lips as he seemed saddened by thinking about this.

...

The once curious Richard had shifted from be interested to being conflicted... Til he heard that one word.

'Win. ... Win. ... Win. ... Win. ... Win. ...' Repeating the words where all of those failures, mistakes & misses. All of those times that Richard became a non-factor in his previous life. His strengths had caused weakness in the team.

...

....

...

"I'll do it." Speaking clearly caused Link's head to snap upward where Joe whom was watching everything lose that shiver in his body. The brothers watched as his face shifted; turning from a calm-expression into a big grin.

...

A proper grin.

"I'll help you guys win." Speaking with a big-grin which caused Joe to loosen up and smile where Link was excited!

"Really! THAT'S FUCKIN' AWE-" His accent came in with Richard raising a hand to interrupt him; chuckling abit before he spoke.

"Have to tell you my name first, though." Clearing his thought as the two were somewhat interested to hear what it was. Smiling to himself as he said clearly.

"The name's Richard... But y'all can call me Ink." Smile afterwards as he chuckled under his breath where Link mouthed to himself 'Richard' where a wide-eye Joe mouthed to himself 'Ink?!'

...

"Why the nick-name, though?" Link asked with Richard smiling as he responded; speaking a small little bit of himself.

"Simple actually. My old-man's a Tattoo Artists whom everyone loves... So I began Little Ink... But... Now that I'm big... I'm just Ink to people." Nodding a-bit where the two understood and nodded in understanding.

Heading over to pick up his bag where he ran over to pick up his basketball as well. Heading over as he looked at their eyes.

Link's confident and knowledge gaze whilst Joe's held a hidden passion underneath that free.

"... Tell you guys what... Let's get signed up soon and hell... Let's practice tomorrow for an hour or two?" Speaking up as he turned his head to side and asked.

"Hell Yeah! Trust me, Ink! We are nice at Ball!" A smiling Link spoke up as he pat one of Richard's arms where Richard openly laughed at his excitement.

"... Thank god, you said yes!" A yell of relief came from Joe whom deflated which made the two boys look at each-other before they suddenly laughed at them.

Calming down amongst themselves that Richard put his hand forward where he clenched it tightly. They looked and put their own fists forward - Knocking his knuckles against their own.

"Boom." Bring his hand backwards as if the contact had caused an explosion to go off where Link exclaimed with a "Ka-Boom!" which Joe simply said "Boom." Link pat his brother on his back at his current timidness at some points.

"Wait... Ink... How old are you?" That was riding on everything... Ink in his mind was the perfect Big-Man just-off appearance. Joe froze up as sweat begun to form on his brow... The two awaited an answer.

Smiling to himself before he attempted to speak.

"You won't believe me but I'm actuall-" Answering the question with a humbling smile only to be interrupted by shouting person whom wasn't to pleasant to listen to.

Link's smirk vanished into a loose snarl where Joe's eyes squinted.

"WELL! WELL! WELL! IF IT ISN'T LEGEND OF ZELDA & FATTY JOEY!" The three looked to the source of the noise.

A trio of teens or so whom the leader who stood in front or at-least the one whom was talking to them.

" Perfect... Fuckin' Ralph." Muttering to himself which Link said as he fixed his posture to directly look at them as they approached. "... So annoying." Joe muttered to himself which the two brothers stepped up.

As the boys which happened to be the object of the brother's hate-filled gaze approached them.

Richard examined them as he looked towards them which made him narrow where they walked up to them.

Their leader: 'Ralph' whom was of a bolder and broader build compared to Link and was the same height of both Link and Joe who seemed to be around 5,8 ft (1.72 m). Sharing the same darker complexation and dark-brown eyes as the brothers did with a short haircut of black-hair done in precise waves. A white shirt with the splatter piece of color affixed onto the cloth. A black-bandana was wrapped around his right wrist where he was wearing a pair of grey shorts. Finishing this look happened to be a Pumas' and some high-socks.

"Hey! You gonna keep talking like the bitches that you are or you actually gonna do something?" Speaking out with a developed voice that seemed deep but it was somewhat high meaning that he wasn't done growing.

"Fuck you, Ralph! If your boys weren't with you. I'd fuck you u-" A heated Link begun to talk as he walked over to the two before he founded himself being pushed back suddenly!

...

Joe knew who that was... and Link knew as well whom looked down where he looked to the crouching form of another.

Standing up to his full height of around 5,6 ft (1.67 m). A razor-bald boy stood up; his face wasn't as grown as Ralph but he seemed to hold a similar look in his eyes. A condensing gaze of mint-green eyes. Unlike the others; he was currently shirtless that revealed he had an under-develop physique that made his tanned-white skin glisten with small droplets of sweat from the heat. His shirt - Presumably a tank-top that was several sizes too big was wrapped around his waist with pitch-black joggers on his feet. Wearing a pair of all-black Nike Shoes without any socks in sight.

"What ya gonna do, 'Princess.' Gonna order fatso to come over." That comment made Joe's brow tighten as his face turned red.

"WATCH IT, MALCOM!" Point a finger as Link swung back and pushed up against his bro's body to prevent him from snapping.

"Wow. Didn't know that bitches stuck that close together." Ralph commented which made Malcom snort and bust out laughing as he stumbling all-over the place. The waved-hair teen giggled at the two whom had been tormenting for a long, long time.

"Oh... Trust Me. We got something that's gonna knock y'all out." Joe grumbled out where he was able to calm down where Link held his grip back as the brothers looked at the duo of asshole teens.

"W-What's T-That?" A still fumbling about Malcom asked out only for him to bump into something hard. Gasping as he fixed his posture and prevented himself from falling over to look at what had caused him to do such monkey business.

...

His mouth unconsciously opened upon looking at Richard whom had stepped up to interfere with this. Ralph's laughter ceased and Malcom's instincts told him to back up which he exploded backwards; hopping to his feet and paced backwards swiftly.

"Him. Super-Cuts Asshole and Santa's Abandon Elf... Meet Ink." Link spoke up which he turned around and smirked where Richard's smile reappeared as Ralph whom had been crossing his arms untucked them to look at the monster in front of him.

'Holy shit. He's built like one of the Linemen at School; those two ant-looking motherfuckers managed to snag this guy?!' Exclaiming his thoughts to himself as Ralph snorted at this. Somehow; the idiot brothers scouted and found someone whom atleast looked good... Malcom's mind was on the opposite side of the spectrum. 'WHAT IS THAT MONSTER?! HE'S SCARY! IT FELT LIKE MY LEGS WERE MOVING ON THEIR OWN!' Thinking as he had backpedaling into Ralph whom caught him and wrapped an arm around his neck.

"About time you find someone. Was waiting to smoke you bitches anyway." Smirking a sly way with his insult where the two brothers' looked even anger where their fists clenched as they had made up their minds to throw down.

"HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHHHHAAAAAAA!" Everyone looked at Richard whom cackled loudly. Shifting his neck as he crouched down to suppress it only to raise a hand to halt any further comments.

"T-That was funny but... You talk funn- AHAHAAHAHAHAH!" Unable to finish his sentence where Richard continued to laugh aloud.

"B-B-But... You don't talk to my crew like you all big and bad, you bad mix-between a Donut and a Cinnamon Ring."

...

Nothing but silence followed as Malcom's mouth dropped and Ralph's surprised face formed... That... was a good insult.

....

.....

The brothers' however couldn't hold back their laughter

"OOOOOOH SHIT! AHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!/LOOKS LIKE A PASTRY! YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?!" The duo laughed to themselves which they ran up to Richard and hugged his sides which they held up their bodies that caused Richard to openly laugh at the foolish of his new buddies.

"OH SHUT UP!" Ralph said as a vein formed on his brow which he took an aggressive step forward that made the brothers calm down slightly yet Link pointed and kept chuckling.

"... So 'Ink.' Think your little girlfriends gonna help you win or some shi-" That comment stopped all laughter which Link practically ran forth where he planted himself right infront of Ralph.

"How about... You stop talking shit for once, Ralph." Asking as he leaned forward to speak which Ralph only snorted widely.

"Make me, Link." Their skulls smacked into each-other as they looked intensely at one and another, Joe and Malcom also stepped up to face off as Richard sighed and spoke.

"Yo - If you wanna fight, take it off the courts atleast./ Mal & Ralpho; we gonna do something aside from this... stupid shit." Richard's eyes widen where his eyes traced over to the origin of the voice that spoke alongside himself.

Eyes twisted and they locked right onto the third and biggest out of the group... Hell; this guy was even taller than himself! Standing at roughly on Richard's estimation around 6, 2 (1. 87 m) of Asian descant; a flowing mane of silky jet-black locks followed from his head. His voice had been deep but his face seemed very young?

Wearing a Brooklyn Nets Jersey with nothing underneath as his yellowish skin popped out in comparison to the upper-body wear. A pair of pitch-black shorts with three white-stripes on the sides as he was wearing with white socks. Lastly; a pair of Modernized-Classic Adidas Sneakers.

"Huh/Whoa." The two vocalize in amazement as they looked one and another from head-to-toe. Their groups however looked at their Big-Man which Malcom spoke.

"But Jackson! These two have been nothing but trouble!" Speaking his point which Joe denied leading them arguing as Link and Ralph devolved into bitter and heart-felt trash-talk.

...

Richard looked to the taller male and Jackson looked back as him. They sighed to themselves as they interfered with this.

Reaching them; Richard reached over and pulled the brothers' backwards with ease yet they were flung back from the larger male's strength which spooked them as they quieted down to look up at the lighter-skin boy. Jackson was much gently and tapped the two as they relaxed; Ralph wasn't too keen about.

...

It was kind of intense.

"Hey... How bout a game? Get some of that tension out?" Speak aloud was Jackson who thought about it - Malcom nodded happily as Ralph pondered only to look at Link. "Yeaaaaaaaaah~." He grinned as he looked at them.

Joe tapped Richard whom looked at the teen right across from himself whom looked down. Whispering as he said. "Please, Richard. We have to shut them up." Annoy by two of the teenagers whom not only bothered his brother but him whenever they got a chance, Link however spoke up.

"Yuh. How bout we bust their asses like Pop Cans, Ink. Trust; I'm gonna that Wavy Cuts-lookin' Motherfu-" An arm went infront of Richard who looked down at Link whom ceased his insults.

...

"Yeah... Let's do so."