The Betting Ring

[Raven]

Nikola chewed on her lip, and slowly came up behind him.

[Gifted]

Decades upon decades they'd known each other, but some things never changed.
"Where has Jack fucked off too now?" Leia asked Samantha with a sigh
"Has he been missing for awhile?" Samantha's eyes widened in alarm and Leia groaned internally. She shouldn't have said anything. Samantha had changed drastically ever since her best friend Jade had disappeared twenty years ago. She was more paranoid, and wary of making enemies. Her ears were always open for a sign Jackson or Leia too would disappear, or a whisper, a possibility of Jade's whereabouts. Leia had once snapped at her for it, about three years ago. Samantha, the worst fighter on the team, the one who legitimately disliked hurting anyone, even vile evil people, pinned Leia against a wall and nearly knocked her out with a single blow. Jade was the most street savy of all of us, she'd said. Jade had the most friends. Jade had the most connections. If Jade had disappeared, she was probably dead, and none of them were safe.
Leia didn't dare fuck with her after that. She knew Samantha would never get over it. Her best friend and the woman who'd saved her life had probably been murdered. Deep down, Leia really couldn't blame the girl.
But it was rather annoying, especially when dealing with a chronic flake like Jackson. "It's been no longer than usual for him." Leia responded. "It's just aggravating."
"But then why would you bother asking?" Samantha demanded, annoyed.
Leia sighed in exasperation. "Never mind. I'll go look myself." Leia grabbed her deck, the deck she'd just painted recently. Then she set out to find Jackson.
She hadn't been gone twenty minutes when a woman approached her. "Excuse me... you are Queen, aren't you?" She asked.
"Yes. You have someone you want me to play?"
"Actually... me. I... I need something from you, and I heard you could do it."
"The stories you've heard must be very old. I don't do the whole 'play for a wish' thing anymore. I only play the cruel and immoral."
"Please, I'm begging you. I have no other way."
Leia turned away. Everyone was annoying her today. "Look, lady-"
That was all she got out before there was a blue flash behind her and she fell into a haze of pain.

[Neon]

Nicholas felt the hairs on his neck stand up and he whirled around. He was relieved it was just a girl. "Can I help you darling?"

[Raven]

Nikka's hand froze on the way to her pocket. "I was just looking for directions..."

[Neon]

"I can help with that. Where to, sweetie?" He asked with a charming smile and a mischievious glint in his eye.

[Raven]

Nikola gave the address to Katrina's house, which was easily a mile or more away. "I really just need to get home. I'm worried my dog will make a mess with no one there."

[Neon]

"I'll walk you there, it's only a mile or so." It was clear from the shape he was in, a mile was a very trivial, simple thing to him.

[Raven]

"Would you really?" Nikka asked, feigning thankfulness. "Thank you so much."

[Neon]

"Of course. These streets can be a bit rough this late in the evening." He said, slipping his arm through hers in a misleadingly chivalrous way and walking her towards the house.

[Raven]

"Still, I'm sure you had somewhere to be," Nikka said. "I feel bad making you go out of your way for me."

[Neon]

"Not at all. Any gentleman would do the same, no matter the preoccupation," he said, flashing that charming grin again.

[Raven]

Nikka smiled, hugging his arm. "Still, thank you very much. It really does mean a lot to me."

[Neon]

"I'm glad I could help, miss...?"

[Raven]

"Nikola Bailey. You can call me Nicky. What's your name?"

[Neon]

He chuckled. "Nicholas Dimitrius. Some people call me Nicky, but most use Nico."