Though it was still early morning, the Hub was already bustling with trade among the residents of Loxley. Whoever intended to be a vendor for that day usually arrived at Dawn to set up, which meant the earliest to arrive for shopping would get the best pickings. Since money was scarce in the county, everyone dealt in trades, making successful trips harder to come by for some. But if they arrived just early enough to be among the first, they could walk away with whatever they wanted for whatever they had. Robin used to think that the loot they shared with their neighbors from their heists would allow people to relax more about transactions within the Hub, but he had yet to see it. Some were so grateful of the gifts bestowed upon them that they held on and cherished it, only parting with it when absolutely necessary. Still, not once had he seen those people look bitter or upset to have to be up and out that early in the morning.
"All the spots are taken," Will said with a yawn, stretching his arms and knotting his fingers together behind his head. "Should've been here earlier if you wanted to get rid of that meat."
"Guess you should've thrown the pillow at me earlier, then," Robin replied sarcastically, giving him a fake smile. Will smirked in return.
"I'll keep that in mind for tomorrow."
"God, why don't you two just date already," Rye groaned with a roll of her eyes. Robin felt heat rush to his face, for a moment, at her words. Aside from Tucker, Rye was the only one who knew of Robin's interest in both sexes. It wasn't that he was embarrassed or afraid of what others might think, so much as not believing it was anyone else's business. They all had their secrets and that was just one of his.
"While you bicker among yourselves, I'm going to go see Ami," Tucker said with a shake of his head as he started to walk away from them. "She said she had something she thought I might be interested in. I'll see you all back at the house." He disappeared into the crowd before any of them could ask him anything more; not that he would've answered them anyway.
Robin took a deep breath as he looked around at all the people he'd grown up around before turning back to his little family. "Well, there isn't really any reason for all of us to stick together—" he started, pitching his voice so only they could hear him. Before he could finish the thought, Will spun on his heel and walked in another direction.
"Glad you said that, Rob," he called over his shoulder proudly. "I've got a date I need to scam for."
Robin rolled his eyes; sometimes he didn't feel like a leader so much as a babysitter. "Whatever," he continued. "I still need to get rid of this meat and we still need to check the Wall."
"Do we need anything in exchange for the meat?" Jon asked, fingers flexing and uncurling at his sides.
"Not really," Robin answered. "Why?"
"I was walking by Gil's yesterday and saw some of the Kregs in the alley. Babbs was there, said they hadn't been able to find anything to eat lately. One of them died last week because he ate the first scrap he found in the trash and it happened to be covered in rat poison. They're trying to be careful, but a lot of them are getting desperate," Jon said, meeting Robin's green eyes confidently. He straightened his back to look as tall as he could, an action he recognized as Jon trying to make him proud. "I thought maybe we could give it to them. They could really use it."
"A lot of people can use it," Rye said. "You're just letting your bias get in the way again."
Jon shrank a little in on himself and Robin glared at her. The Kregs were a group of kids worse off than most everyone else in Loxley; the kid dregs of their society. Jon had been with them for a year before Robin decided to take him in, but he always felt indebted to them. Before the Merry Men came to save the day, many in Loxley were far from friendly. Jon thanked every god he ever heard there was that the Kregs had been. Robin admired him for his loyalty.
"Then let's bring it to them," Robin said, slinging the bag full of meet over his shoulder and towards the boy. Jon grabbed it, eyes sparkling at him. "Your gift, your work."
"Thanks Robin!" Jon beamed, holding the bag tight as he ran back in the direction of their home, towards Gil's Pub a little distance away. "You're awesome!" Robin chuckled at the boy's giddiness before turning himself.
"Whatever the two of you want to do, is on you," he said. "I'm going to go hit the Wall like we planned."
"Guess we'll see you back at the house then," Millie said quickly, grabbing Rye's wrist and pulling her in the opposite direction. The three weaved their way through the crowd until they couldn't see each other again and Robin felt at peace.
He listened to the trade auctioning at each booth that he passed, watched the children beg for a sweet that their parents' got just to indulge them. He saw friends meeting up for their day of mischief and tired workers pushing on to care for their families. Hopping up on a crate for a minute, he could see in the distance Will charming his way into another girl's heart as she pulled him around a corner, and Tucker disappearing into Ami's smoke filled shop. He turned the other way to try and spot Jon, but he was already gone, as fast as he was thin. As for Millie and Rye, he didn't bother to look for them, knowing there were only a handful of places they visited so frequently.
Robin jumped down, walking towards the farthest end of the Hub, just by the gate that divided them from the wild; their meager attempt at keeping wolves and other forest predators at bay. Two buildings, long since abandoned because of the instability of their structures, rested just within on either side of the gate. The building on the right was slowly crumbling, thin bed sheets thrown over the lowest, broken wall warning to keep a distance. The one on the left was slightly better from where Robin stood, but knew all too well that if he turned the corner he would see a gaping hole where another wall should have been.
This was the building that housed Loxley's Wall.
Loxley's Wall was a common place for information. No matter who you were or where the news was coming from, one could always find some reference to it on the Wall. It was their version of a message board, a place they could leave secrets and other hidden information for the sole purpose of keeping identities safe. No one wanted to be the known keeper of important details in case it could be used against them. So in the cover of night, many would slink to the Wall, posting what they knew or what they desired, never to be judged or outed.
Staring at the scraps stuck to the Wall one way or another, the graffiti marked underneath, Robin saw a multitude of information. A few messages warned of a feral creature in the forest with a thirst for blood, others calling it nothing more than a sham created by Sherwood to keep them away. There were articles from both Sherwood and Loxley newspapers about the Merry Men; the latest from Sherwood offering a reward for information on the crew while Loxley continued to sing their praises. This made Robin smile, especially when he noticed the graffiti surrounding the Sherwood article was one of a horse's bottom; the article stuck up in the designated spot for opinions of the least favored.
Other articles spoke of missing persons throughout the country, some presumed dead by foul play. A few of those were as old as the Wall, Robin was sure, while others he hadn't seen until then. When he was younger, he would pay the most attention to those pieces, wondering if he could've been one of those missing, but now he had outgrown that fantasy. Any wealth he could have in life came from whatever he could carry out the door.
His eyes finally settled on the messages he looked for the most; those to the Merry Men. Some were just letters of thanks for what they'd given and continued to give and others were wishlists for their future heists. Green eyes scanning the words, Robin made mental notes of all he could. The best liquor they could find, the finest silks for mending, silver to melt down and remake into money for themselves. The best toys for their children that wouldn't break, coats to keep them warm in the harsh of cold, a doorknob to add to their home. Perfumes and other fragrances, even if there was only one sprays' worth left. The messages all varied from the finest of things to the simplest; things that the people of Sherwood never even realized they took advantage of, while the people of Loxley yearned for it.
"Adding anything good to the Wall?" Jon's voice said suddenly from behind Robin, catching him off guard. He moved so swiftly and silently that he often scared people without meaning to. Robin turned to meet the boy's blue, mischievous eyes, and smiled.
"No need to," he said. "Seems like everyone else has got it covered." He gestured towards the lists he just read and Jon nodded, only scanning them.
Though there wasn't anyone close enough to hear them, Jon pitched his voice low, keeping his eyes trained on the Wall as he spoke. "I heard a few people talking about the news report this morning. No one seems to be buying the reward Sherwood is trying to sell. Some even said they'd believe the Merry Men capable of stealing them an entire home before Sherwood would give one up for free."
"Loxley does take care of their own," Robin said proudly. He was glad to hear his people would never turn on him; not that they had information to be able to. He liked being able to help others get things that they couldn't get themselves. Especially since he was so good at it. "So, I take it you found Babbs and the Kregs?" He noted the significant absence of the meat sack from Jon's person.
Jon turned to him with the bright smile that made him think of the little boy who had eaten his first real meal in longer than any of them knew. "They said thanks," he replied. "Babbs almost pasted out from the smell, even though it was raw." He laughed slightly, thinking of his friend, before his smile dulled some. "There's more of them then there was before, though. They're going to try and make it last as long as they can, but I don't think it's going to work. Some of them are a lot worse than the others and if they don't get more soon, even that little bit won't save them."
Robin felt a pang in his chest at the words. For as long as he could remember he had always been with Tucker, always having just enough food to make it through the week. As he got older, Robin taught himself how to hunt so he could bring home more food for himself and his family. He'd gotten exceptionally well at the bow and arrow; because of it, he and the others never starved. Jon, on the other hand, had a rough start to life and remembered it every day despite not going hungry anymore. He always went out to check on the Kregs and, when he didn't think anyone would notice, he stashed some of his own food from meals to bring by to them later. Just the memory of the frail boy he'd taken in made Robin feel for the family he'd had before. "They'll be okay," he said, placing a hand on Jon's shoulder with a squeeze. "They're tough, like you. And they have the both of us looking out for them."
"The both of us?" Jon said, sounding in awe of the idea.
Robin smiled down at him. "As long as I'm around to hunt, they won't go without food for too long anymore. You have my word." Jon's smile returned as he crashed into Robin's torso, hugging him gratefully. Robin hugged him back, unable to help the love that swelled within him. Jon had truly become his younger brother over the years, and if he could help no one else in the world he at least wanted to be there for him.
"Help!" a voice called suddenly in the distance behind them, breaking them apart. Robin spun fast at the sound, putting himself between Jon and the unknown danger past the gate. Though they'd heard the voice, neither of them could see anything through the trees. "Someone help us please! It's coming for us! The beast is coming!" Still, no one appeared as Jon and Robin shared a look. Then there was a growl.
Without thinking, Robin kicked into action, shoving Jon backwards and yelling, "Go get help! Tell them to bring some weapons just in case. And do not follow me!"
"Follow—what do you mean?" Jon asked, going wide eyed as Robin took off for the gate, pushing it open and charging towards the tree. "Robin! Rob—" But Robin was already too far gone; unarmed. Despite the urge Jon felt to run after him against orders, he turned and headed back towards the Hub, knowing that was the only way he'd be of use in the moment. He just hoped that Robin could make it that long.
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A/N: More coming soon! Don't forget to comment feedback, vote and spread the word if you enjoy it ^.^