Babysitting Brats

[Rebekka Stromholm]

Why did she always end up in this part of town? True, Rebekka wasn't the greatest member of society. In fact most would call her scum if they knew what she really did. And that was just being polite. So maybe it wasn't so surprising she ended up in the back water part of the city where the rest of the vermin were. Although she put herself higher than most of the people there. Mainly on the account that she could kill most of the people there.

But that didn't mean she couldn't be stolen from. Which was exactly what happened when she got the odd feeling to check her coinpurse. Only to then realize that it wasn't actually there. "Son of a- what the hell?" She growled, whirling around to find a culprit. The only person she could see in the dingy, dirty alley was some young girl. Girl? It looked like one at least. "Hey!" She shouted. "Did you just steal my coin?" Even if she expected a lie for the answer, she asked it as she approached.

[Bo Riddle]

Bo glanced back when she heard the other girl start squawking. Growling was more like it actually. Idiot hadn't even realized Bo had been behind her for a couple paces.

Which explained the coinpurse currently in her hand.

She took the time to tuck the purse away somewhere in her clothes while the girl approached. Bo didn't even say anything; she sized up the angry mercenary as she approached. Not as heavily armored as the guards, or fat as a merchant. But Bo knew her way around these streets better than anyone. Especially some idiot without the common sense to look around for thieves.

Bo stuck out her tongue before she took off sprinting.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

The girl wasn't even saying anything. She was just studying Rebekka as she approached. Which may have been even more infuriating than if the girl had tried lying. Besides, it wasn't like she could. As Rebekka drew closer, she saw her coinpurse in the little shit's hand. Which then disappeared somewhere in her clothes. Rebekka frowned and her steps grew more determined. Not to mention quicker. "Ok listen here you-" she started to say before the girl stuck out her tongue and started running.

Rebekka blinked in mild shock. But it only lasted a second before a scowl took over. "Get back here!" Rebekka yelled after her. She was more than mildly pissed that someone had stolen from her. But at the same time she was slightly excited. This was not something she expected to happen today. And while she didn't want to lose her coin, she had to admit she loved a good chase. Hopefully this girl would manage to give her just that.

[Bo Riddle]

Why did people always yell that when they were chasing something? Did they really expect it to work? The hundred of times Bo had heard it, it hadn't. She rolled her eyes and dodged around a corner.

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

It might've been a waste of breath, but Bo was just getting started. Besides, it was a lot more fun when there was taunting involved. It tended to tire out the fools chasing her even faster. The sooner they gave up, the sooner she could eat.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

The girl dodged around a corner, so Rebekka followed too. Unfortunately the little brat had an advantage at being lighter. And judging from the way she was moving through the alley, this was her home turf. Made sense for the little rat. But Rebekka wasn't anything if not determined. Especially when it came to getting back money she'd been planning to give to her siblings anyways.

Why would she stop? Rebekka grinned a little. "Because maybe I'll go easy on you!" She replied, sprinting faster to close the gap between them. She doubted she'd go easy on the girl, even if she stopped. Although the brat had some balls for stealing from her of all people. Rebekka could slice her up and burn her to a crisp. Although the last part wasn't exactly something she liked to announce to the public.

[Bo Riddle]

Harsh, mocking laughter left the small thief.

Go easy on her? If only Bo had a gold piece every time she heard that.

"You can take your offer and shove it!" They never went "easy" when they caught a thief. The most merciful she'd seen was being left beaten in an alley with all their parts intact. If not worse for wear. So Bo turned corner after corner and finally found someone else in the streets. Someone she didn't hesitate on grabbing and throwing behind her to impede the mercenary's path.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

The laughter that left the girl did not indicate she'd be stopping any time soon. If anything, it reminded Rebekka of her own laughter. Harsh. Sometimes mocking. It was just the natural way she sounded. So hearing it come from the little brat was something else. Although that wasn't all Rebekka got. She also got a suggestion of what to do with her offer. Which only made her clench her teeth and move faster.

They turned corner after corner, which only solidified the idea that the girl knew where she was going. But Rebekka was starting to catch up. The anticipation grew on the grin on her face. Until of course some random pedestrian was thrown in her way. She'd been close enough that she fully slammed into the unfortunate soul and nearly fell down. "Shit!" She cursed, trying to stay on her feet without a care if she trampled the other person. It did its job though. Rebekka had lost a lot of distance untangling from the obstacle. But now she was even more pissed as she took off after Bo. "You little brat!"

[Bo Riddle]

Bo only wished she could've seen the damage her little stunt had caused. The mercenary certainly sounded angry about it. Which only made Bo cackle as she turned another corner.

"Like I haven't heard that before!"

Dimwit or not, the mercenary was obviously pretty fast. Outrunning her wasn't going to be an option unless there were more random street scum standing around. Bo wasn't about to put her trust in that. What she could trust was her memorization of the commons. So what was her next best option?

Busting through the first backstreet brothel door she could find of course.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

The cackling Rebekka managed to catch on the wind did nothing to help her already boiling temper. Neither did the little reply the girl threw back. Obviously Rebekka wasn't the first one to call her a brat. Seeing the current situation they were in, Rebekka would've guess that the insult was a common part of the girl's daily life.

Nonetheless, Rebekka wanted to grab the small rat and put her in her place. The thrill of the chase was still here, but she was starting to tire. Which meant her ire only rose. Although there was a brief bit of confusion and minor triumph when the brat turned into a building. She could trap her inside. But when Rebekka turned into it as well, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. And the gall of the young thief. "You've got to be kidding!" She growled, but still charged through after only a heartbeat of hesitation.

[Bo Riddle]

Bo barely restrained from yelling out a retort. The old brothel trick almost always worked. No one expected it.

Bo shoved her way through patrons and workers alike without looking back. No doubt the big angry mercenary would be right behind her. So she needed to get out of there fast. Which involved running up the stairs and choosing a room.

One that was occupied, but Bo couldn't give less of a shit.

Despite the gasps and protests, she made straight for the curtained window. She only wished it was open, but this wasn't her first window escape. Falling down to the ground along with the shattered glass, she rolled to her feet. Mental note: check for shards later.

For now, Bo kept running with only one spared glance back.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

A brothel. Of all places, a brothel. Obviously the girl had thought this through. But Rebekka didn't care how many prostitutes and cheaters she had to shove out of the way. She saw the girl run up the stairs. So naturally Rebekka followed with thundering footsteps. Most people knew to get out of her way just based on the murderous expression she wore. Others, however, were shoved away and against the wall. Whatever it took.

At one point the brat turned into a room. Rebekka skidded into her turn just as Bo jumped through the window. What was this kid made of? She barely looked winded and now she was jumping though a damn window? Ignoring the fools using the room, Rebekka stormed to the window just in time to see the girl take off again. No way in hell was Rebekka leaving this as it was. She wasn't as skilled with falling out of buildings, but she knew enough to roll. The glass cut her on her landing and she hissed, but the anger that had boiled into rage made her push onwards.

[Bo Riddle]

She was still following? Either the girl really cared about her money, or really wanted to kill Bo now.

Judging from the fact she just jumped out a window, Bo was going with the latter.

Now she had to really think to get away. Fortunately she was much farther than when they began. So now came the second option when being chased; hiding. Although it was a lot riskier since Bo might actually be caught. But she could backtrack and get out of there if she was fast enough.

So after a few more twists and turns, Bo decided to wing it. She dived into the first door she could find and shut it behind her as quietly as she could manage.

[Rebekka Stromholm]

This was getting really annoying. Not only was Rebekka bleeding now, but the girl was much farther ahead. She risked losing her if she slowed down, but it was getting really hot to keep up this speed. Especially with all the twists and turns thrown her way by someone who clearly knew the streets far better than she did. It was an unfair advantage, although little in life was fair.

At one point Rebekka completely lost her and had to curse. Shit, which turn had she taken? These alleys were so winding and confusing. Who knew which way the little brat had gone? But Rebekka swore she'd been able to see her earlier! She ran forward and checked the different turns before finally stopping and catching her breath. With teeth clenched in rage, she slammed her fist into the wall. She'd been outsmarted by a little shitty brat, of all things! She was no doubt long gone by now. Next time Rebekka saw the girl, she was as good as dead.

[Bo Riddle]

The place Bo dived into was occupied, but the suddenness of her action had bought her some stunned silence. She shushed them for a moment before peeking out to see the mercenary run past.

Idiot.

Bo hurried back out the door and back the way they'd came. She didn't bother to shut the door behind her. All that mattered was getting away.

And after a while of running, she realized she had.

Bo came to a stop after adding a few more twists and turns just to be safe. She'd escaped once again, which wasn't all that surprising. Still, it was always fun. She deserved to treat herself today.

What better way to spend the mercenary's coin?