Opposites Attract (Fawks)

[Tori Ashwood]

She likes it neat
And he makes a mess
I take it easy
Baby I get obsessed
She's got the money
And he's always broke
I don't like cigarettes
And I like to smoke

The darkness had always held demons for Tori Ashwood, even since she was just a child. In the past few years, those fears had been slowly easing away, since she the Black Thorns had her back. The darkness held no demon that they could not frighten away. But now... Now her second in command had abandoned her, leaving her to deal with everything herself.

The demons had been quick to reappear.

Reaching up, Tori tugged her coat tighter around her body as she took a shortcut through one of the alleyways. She knew it was a stupid move; people got mugged, ambushed... murdered because of stupid moves like this one, but unlike her, they did not have the protection of a gang backing them up. The tattoo on the back of her neck was enough of a warning to all those who wanted to pull something.

Besides, this shortcut was much quicker than going through the lit street, and God knows that even the lit street was dangerous. better to go quick, then to draw out the chance of being attacked. Her informant would be waiting on the corner, just two blocks away. If she could make it there with no problem, then she could grab a ride on the subway and make it home without any trouble.

She just had to get there.

[Fox McCloud]

Three animals hid in the shadows of the alley.

Fox raised his brows when the woman walked through, filled with surprise that someone with her type of dress would venture into the parts he and his friends hung around. There were only a handfull of options:

One: She was looking to buy.

Two: She was looking for "adventure".

Three: She... was just trying to take a shortcut.

But Fox could only focus on number one; it was all he could afford to focus on. Turning to his companions, he gave a sly grin. "We are in luck, comrades. Now, remembering what I tell you about scaring away and how you should not."

He stood, then, and walked partways into the light, eyes beginning to glow so he could see better. "Well, well, what are we having?" he said, left ear giving a curious flick. "We are not seeing anyone such as you in long time. You look for to buy, yes?"

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori leapt nearly three feet into the air when she saw the eyes light up, and the man - furry-thing - step into path. She tensed; her heart started to pound in her chest so loud she swore the entire block could hear it. Her demons had returned and, with them, an anthromorphic fox. Immediately, her hand moved to her bag, pressing the coin-and-shroom-filled pouch against her hip.

"Well, well, what are we having?"

Despite the fear that tugged at her, Tori couldn't help but let a small smile form on her face at his accent and dialect. "I'm assuming dinner, judging by where you're hanging out." She nodded her head towards the spot, and then towards a dumpster against the other wall. At his second question, however, Tori shook her head.

"No, I'm not looking to buy. I'm looking for my informant, but thank you for offering." She moved forwards, aiming to step around him and head out the alleyway.

[Fox McCloud]

Fox snorted, growling slightly at her comment. "You are making fun of Fox's accent?" he asked, cocking a brow as he began to walk around her, observe her, signalling for Falco and Wolf to do the same. The gang tattoo on the back of her neck did not go unnoticed, and he registered the fact that she may have had backup, even if he could not smell anyone else in the air. Perhaps they were downwind...

"You are sure?" Wolf said, tilting his head to the side. "We have Landmaster! Is--"

Fox held up a hand to silence him. "Informant?" he asked, looking all of a sudden very interested. "You are needing information, Fox be having. I see... many things. No one notice filthy foriegnor, you getting?"

[Tori Ashwood]

At Fox's question, Tori let out a quiet laugh. "No, no. I'm not making fun of your accent. Just your dialect." She gave him a cheeky grin. Her eyes sparkled with amusement; not the malicious sort of glint one would expect to come from an insult. Which was good, because she wasn't trying to be hurtful. She was just playing around.

When the wolf spoke up, Tori was already shaking her head. She started to turn down the offer again, but then the fox decided to interupt. She almost told him to kiss off, and go find someone who would buy his crap. But then Tori saw the logic in his argument, and pursed her lips in thought.

"Unlike the cops, I listen to the immigrants." And it was true, too. Tori was one of those kinds of people who employed whoever wanted -- needed -- a job. She knew how horrible the world was nowadays. "What kind of information do you have on the Shadow Knights?"

[Fox McCloud]

Fox grinned, eyes lighting up. He didn't have to lie, when he gave information; what he had said before was true. No one noticed him, and so it was very easy for him to gather bits and pieces on different gangs and mafias. His ear twitched again.

"You are being wise," he said, holding up one hand and waving it vaguely as he always did when speaking with customers. "Shadow Knights are being in tough times. Leader is having been in fight with second in command, and other members be taking sides. Soon... there be no more Shadow Knights."

The anthro creature cocked his head, then, and licked his lips. His expression showed the amused interest he was feeling. "If you are being quick, you getting territory before rival gangs do."

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori listened to the information the fox gave out with interest, her eyes brightening as she mulled over the possibilities this could bring her growing gang. If she could take the Shadow Knights' territory, then she and the Black Thorns would be one step closer to retaking their streets from the mafia dons that ruled the city. And Tori was wise enough to take every step she could be given.

Flipping the flap of her purse open, she started to rummage blindly through the shrooms and coins for what she considered the information worth. She managed to get four coins in the palm of her hand, and pulled them out. She extended her closed fist outward, so she could just drop the coins into his palm when it was offered out.

"The information is appreciated," she said, dropping the coins into his hand.

[Fox McCloud]

Four coins.

Fox's eyes lit up again, and this time his grin was something more then a calculating smirk. He gave a half-bow before pocketing the money and nodding for his friends to take their places back in the shadows.

Though he knew he would have to share the money with his friends, at least one coin would be enough for a small meal for his family. His children would not be going hungry that night.

"Fox is thanking you," he said, half-bowing again. It was obvious he genuinely meant it. "You need even more information, you knowing where to come, eh? Is there something I may be calling you?"

[Tori Ashwood]

At his display of politeness, Tori smiled, her own head bowing in response and thanks. She could tell by the way he had reacted to the money that he, like the rest of the world, had fallen onto hard times; the coins she had given would be well used and appreciated.

When he asked for a name, or something he could call her, the young woman did not hesitate. She had a feeling that her name would not be betrayed to the police by these three men; they were like her, in a way. Just trying to survive.

"Tori," she said, reaching up to rub the back of her neck, where her tattoo resided. The only good thing about having two names was that one normally could not be associated with the other. Rose and Victoria would stay two different people, for now.

"You and your friends," she nodded to the two that had almost melded back into the shadows, "may call me Tori."

She started to say something else when a voice cut through her words. Immediately, Tori pressed her lips together in a fine line, an irritated look appearing on her face. Without even turning around, she knew that they had been spotted by the authorities, and that this was the wrong part of town to be seen past dark... Especially with immigrants.

"You two, passports out immediately."

"And my day just went down the drain..."

[Fox McCloud]

Fox's ears pricked, and the animal-man let out a low growl. If there was anything that could ruin a good night, it was swine. And, as always, the piglets were ruining things again.

"I am being sorry, pigs," he said in a quiet tone, eyes flashing with malice, "but passport is in other coat. It is dangerous for piglets to be out late, no? Perhaps you should be getting back to farm like good swine you are."

And then it appeared again, that grin. His eyes seemed to glow, and not just with the extra light filtering through them. No, this... this was with malice. It was obvious that law enforcement was not something he was very kind towards.

"Marching away now, piglets," he murmured, as Wolf and Falco's own glowing eyes appearing next to him. The two police officers were outnumbered, and possibly outmatched. "While you are still having chance."

[Tori Ashwood]

Tori could sense the pure and utter hatred seeping from every fiber in Fox's being. While she had no love for law enforcement, she really didn't hate them; at least not that much. In her eyes, they were pointless, but that didn't mean they weren't trying. Well, some of them were trying, anyways.

The first officer, the one that had spoken, took a step forwards, towards them, and Tori skittered backwards, towards the group of anthros. As much as she disliked the thought of having her back towards the guys with glowing eyes, she knew she had more of a chance with them with the cops. Cops weren't too nice when it came to finding shrooms and a copious amount of coin in a woman's purse.

"I'm afraid I don't have a passport. I'm a native," she gave a weak laugh before glancing over her shoulder, at Fox. Her eyes then shifted towards the wolf and the bird.; her hand slid back inside of her purse. She felt the cold kiss of metal against her fingertips, and knew she had found her blaster.

"Step aside, wench."

"You know, I'm really not liking your tone right now. Maybe you should just take a breath, turn to your partner... and promptly take out your frustrations in the way we all know you two want to. Isn't that right, Ike?" She winked at the red-haired knight.

[Fox McCloud]

The red-haired soldier immediately blushed scarlet, and he took another step forwards, hand on his sword. "Hold your tongue, knave!"

And that's when a blaster shot cut through the night.

Falco put away the blaster, and as the two soldiers ducked, shouting out profanities and threats, Fox turned to Tori. "We are running now, yes?" His eyes shimmered with the obvious urgency of the situation; they may have outnumbered the two, but the actual injury or killing of a police man in one of these parts... well, it would be hell to pay for EVERYONE living there.

[Tori Ashwood]

The man took a step towards her, and Tori skittered back a few more feet, until her back was mere inches from Falco. The falcon reached up, grabbing her arm, and lowered his head to hiss in her ear, "It be best if we do as told, comrade."

Tori nodded her head, her fingers tightening around her blaster. She was terrified, so much that she was actually surprised she hadn't keeled over from a heart attack by now. But she was also thinking, and she knew that they couldn't kill a police. Everyone would suffer then; everyone would pay for a mistake they did not cause.

She couldn't allow that.

Carefully, the black haired woman pulled out her blaster and let the metal glint in the moonlight. "We be running now," she agreed, "and I think we be running fast."

Tori fired off a few quick, harmless shots at their feet, just trying to get them to retreat a few more steps. She wasn't sure how fast the animals were when it came to running - though judging by their respective animal, they would have some speed on them - but she knew that she was going to need some sort of a head start. She wasn't slow, but she wasn't exactly a runner, either.

"Move, the lot of you," she hissed, reaching back to shove Falco before turning to run after him.

[Fox McCloud]

Fox didn't have to be told twice.

He broke into a sprint, not even glancing to back to see if anyone else was following. He knew his comrades could take care of themselves, and he desperately hoped this Tori woman could, too. He wasn't going to take her by the hand and lead her away or anything, but he didn't wish capture on anyone.

The anthro ducked into a deserted building as soon as he could, peering out to see what would happen. He knew that the police wouldn't be thorough with looking for him or any of the others; so long as they weren't out in the open, they should be safe.

[Tori Ashwood]

The three anthros were gone before she had even gone halfway down the alley. Behind her, she could hear the hurried footsteps of the knights she had dared to piss off following her; if they couldn't have the "furries," then they were going after the next best thing.

There was no way she was going to let them catch her.

As hard as she tried, Tori was unable to run fast enough to keep the three anthros within her sight. The realization the three had managed to escape brought out relief and anxiety; the immigrants had escaped, but left her to deal with the cops.

Joy and joyness.

She took a left turn, escaping the confinement of the alleyway - and entering another. A ragged breath escaped. This was familiar territory to her, the desperate attempt to outrun those who wanted to harm her. It was enough to send a ghost shudder running down her spine.

Slapping a hand over her mouth, she struggled to calm her breathing, to stifle her whimpers, as she pressed up against a wall.

Well, no one had ever said she was good at hide-and-go-seek.