It hadn’t been a bad day until bare moments ago, when all of a sudden it became a terrible day.
Let him deal with them, Fii thought, almost savagely, as he eyed the situation for the slightest opening. The shadows covered him, where he was unseen, and the attention of the men were drawn entirely towards the other boy. Good. That meant he was safe for the moment. That meant he could observe. That meant he had the freedom to wait before he acted.
Fii planned on high-tailing out of here, consequences be damned.
But the alley was blocked tight, and the four men remaining were advancing upon his companion. I don’t even know his name. The wall against his back felt jagged and rough, and the stone was cold even through the fabric of his shirt. For a moment there, Fii wasn’t sure if he was at fault for causing all of this, or if the other boy was the one who had dragged him into this whole mess.
If the men continued advancing deeper into the alley, even the shadows would not be able to protect him. Fii knew this. They would chance upon him eventually, by luck if nothing else. The dread of that certainty sent a shiver down his spine, and his fingers twitched for the hilts of his daggers. Yet, he did not move, for if he did, they might be able catch a glimpse of the metal.
Four left standing. Fii didn’t like the odds. He really didn’t. His companion could take another one down -- and then what? That still left three. Fii could wait for them to take his companion down, but then what? Hope that they forgot about him?
If he was lucky, going by the way they were ganging up on his companion, maybe they already did. Yet, somehow, Fii doubted it..
They were advancing closer now. Deeper into the alley, and the last of them stood almost in line with Fii, so close that Fii could almost hear the other man breathing. Fii held his own breath. His fingers itched. His back was cold and rough. He could hear the drumbeats of his own heart and feel the heat of the thugs’ flesh. His eyes were wide open. I can run now, he thought. He could run and pray that they would not react fast enough to follow--
Fuck. Except he did not. In one swift motion, his hands drew the daggers hidden in his sleeves. Metal gleamed. Without hesitation, and almost without thought, he plunged one deep into the sides of the man closest to him.