The streets I trot

by MidnightLunaRunner

Rating: mature
Tags: Gilda, Spitfire, Slice of Life, Babs Seed, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Human, Anthro, Main 6, Romance, Original Character
Length: 5840

A lone wonderer of another caliber is stuck in a land that treats him like a monster. will he thrive or die?

"The life and adventures of a lone human in a land of anthropomorphic ponies"

Niko is the only human in a less than tolerating world than we all thought it would be. through many enemies and very few friends can he survive?

HIE fic, my first one to be exact....my first story on this site come to think of it.
This story will hit many subjects along the way. racism, gangs, and some lighter stuff but I aint gonna spoil it for ya if you like my stuff.

special thanks to good0bye for the awesome artwork

Published 2013-10-21 05:00:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-25 05:47:26 UTC

1: Mares are allways trouble

A dark figure walked through the alleys and side streets trying not to be seen coming home from his job at the local docks. He's wearing a black fedora, a thick leather jacket of the same color, and long blue jeans that covered his black combat boots. He wasn't worried about being mugged (thank god he didn't live near the pink district) but that didn't mean they didn't try, he would defend himself if somepony attacked.

'Cant believe ive been here for over a year and everyone still thinks im some kinda freak' The man thought to himself and shuddered a bit at how many times he had gotten into fights just because they all wanted to beat the freak.

He was 24 years of age 6'4, 225 pounds and broad shouldered with long dark brown almost black hair, the only human in a world full of half pony people. He had arrived in this strange world of pastel colored, half equine people or ponies as they preferred to be called, almost a year ago when he was flying with a friend near Bermuda.

They were doing a little island hoping for fun and some time away from his girlfriend. Then, when they were flying over the northern edge of the triangle everything went straight to hell. the engines started to smoke and give off an un-earthly wine.

"Chuck what the hell is goin on man?!" Niko yelled over to his friend who was trying everything he could to keep the old bird in the air.

"I don't know! The oil pressure just dropped like a stone and im getting no response on the stick!" replied Chuck.

Niko watched in horror as they got closer and closer to the water. Chuck grabbed the parachute he kept behind the pilot's seat and threw it at his best friend "Get the fuck out of here Niko, if you die youre girlfriends gonna kill me" Chuck yelled still fighting the stick, leveling the plane slightly at about 200 feet.

Niko looked at the parachute then back at Chuck "Fuck no, I aint leavin you here dude" He said shoving the parachute back towards his friend.

Chuck looked over and gave him a glare that could freeze a volcano "Put the fucking chute on and when I tell you too jump, you jump" He replied throwing the parachute back into Niko's lap.

Niko stared at the chute and then at the fast approaching water "Your my best friend man I aint gonna leave you t-" Niko tried to argue but was cut off.

Chuck had, had enough and knocked him out. Quickly Chuck buckled the chute on him and popped the emergency lever on the door causing it to fly off its hinges. 'Good-bye brother' with that last goodbye he pushed his best friend out of the plane pulling the rip-cord as Niko fell out. Returning to the stick Chuck tried everything he could to keep the plane level but to no avail and it went into a nose dive spiraling towards the water.

As soon as he hit the water Niko was instantly awake, he looked up just in time to see the plane spiral into the ocean and explode on impact.

Niko just shook his head, not wanting to feel the sorrow of loosing his best friend come back. he pulled out a pack of smokes from his jacket and lit one up in remembrance of his lost friend.

As he continued walking through the dark alley ways. A little farther down he heard a few voices yelling at each other. then he heard something else, a rather strong sounding female voice echoing through the ally "AYE! Git yer damn hands offa me ya fucking priks!"

'Fuck' Niko thought as he picked up his pace getting closer to the confrontation. He didn't like to fight, sure allot of them found him but he usually tried to avoid them....except when a woman was involved, or mare in this case.

Niko rounded a corner and ducked behind a dumpster. Peaking from behind the dumpster he saw a rather built looking mare with a pink mane and tail, standing off against three rather stupid looking stallions.

"Stupid fucking mare! Think you can get away with kickin me outa the club? ME?!" the stallion in front yelled as he backhanded her. She spit on the ground fighting to break free of the other 2 that had her hands behind her back and smirked.

"Yea yea, keep barkin like a bitch cause that's all ya are" She said looking the stallion in the eye, he just roared and proceeded to draw his fist back and punch her in the gut over and over again.

'I've seen enough' Niko thought as he bolted from behind the dumpster he had dashed behind and quickly charged at the stallion that backhanded her.

"Hey bro look out!" One of the thugs restraining the mare yelled. before the thug could turn far enough to see him Niko had the stallions neck in the joint of his arm and freight train close-lined him, throwing him into the ground hard enough to make him bounce about a foot in the air clutching his throat.

Without moving Niko tilted his head towards the other 2, his hat and hair covering his face "Let her go or ill rip you stupid fucks apart" He said in a low menacing tone.

The 2 stallions holding her were shaking. One of them, a white coated earth-type let go of her and rushed at Niko in a blind rage. picking up a pipe he found on the ground he charged.

Niko brought his arm up, blocking a downward strike with his fore-arm "that all you got pussy?" Niko chided but in reality he was thinking how much that pipe hitting his arm fucking hurt.

Niko spun his wrist grabbing the pipe and pulling the thug forward hard, bringing his fist rocketing into the stallions muzzle, breaking it instantly. As Niko threw the pipe away he didn't notice the first thug get back up with a knife in his hand.

"OI! look out mista!" The mare shouted grabbing the last thug holding her by the shoulder and throwing him into the wall behind her. She tried to grab the mysterious stallion that very well may have saved her life but it was too late, the knife sunk into Niko's side.

"GAHH-" Niko yelled as he grabbed the thug by the mane and rapidly punched the stallion in the muzzle till he let go of the knife and fell into a heap on the ground. the remaining 2 thugs that were still conscious ran off leaving their buddy

"Hey you ok lady?" Niko asked the mare as she ran up to him with a shocked expression on her muzzle.

"ME?! whata bout you mista?" The light brown coated mare asked/yelled

As if to answer her question Niko grabbed the knife and grunted, ripping the knife out of himself. "ill be fine, not the first time ive been stabbed"

He threw the knife to the side as he leaned down to the unconscious thug, pulling out his wallet. "Figures, only about 50 bits on'im. Cheap bastard" Niko stated.

He pocketed the bits then pressed a hand to the wound on his side. She just stood there with her mouth open. "Thanks for savin me mista" She said almost whispering.

He smiled at the comment and started walking towards home again "Aye mista, we gotta git ya to da hospital" She said, concern filling her voice.

He didn't turn back, he just kept walking. She was a little annoyed that he ignored her so she ran to catch up to him. "Aye didn ya hear me?" She asked still annoyed.

"I heard you miss, like I said ill be fine" Niko said as he continued walking. She got in front of him and gave him a glare that could have made most stallions piss themselves. He sighed and looked her in the eyes.

Finely seeing his face she gasped "what are you mista?"

"A monster" He said as he put his head back down and pushed past her.

Walking through the dirty streets of Manehatten's lower east side, passing through dark alley ways the mare followed him just a step or two behind trying not to draw to much attention. Her eyes focusing on his left side wondering if he really had the strength to get home or if he was just full of...

"How long are you going to follow me?" Niko asked interrupting her thoughts.

She had her arms crossed with a small frown on her muzzle. "Till ya get that wound looked at" She replied, closing her eyes with a sigh opening one to look at him as they continued down the dirty streets of Manehatten.

He sighed again and pulled out a cigarette from his jacket with his free hand "Fine fallow me home for all I care but I aint goin to the hospital because they wont treat me anyway" She looked a bit shocked at this bit of information.

"Whataya mean they wont treat ya? It's a hospital! They treat everypony" she stated calmly.

He laughed as he pulled out his Zippo and lit the end of the cigarette. "yeah, everyPONY not everyHUMAN" he said in a slightly sarcastic manner.

She was disgusted at the amount of racism that ponies had toward races they didn't understand. "So what's your name mista?" She asked.

He looked over his shoulder, cocking an eyebrow "Why do you want to know?" He asked taking a long drag from his smoke.

"Cause you saved me. I kinda like to know my friends names" She replied.

"You don't even know me, besides isn't it rude not to give your name before asking someone else's?" Niko asked making her blush a bit in embarrassment which looked surprisingly cute on the muscular mare. He looked over his shoulder and took in her appearance for a second, she was muscular and taller than the average mare but not bulky. She looked tough as nails so the blush was almost funny.

"Hehe sorry bout that, the names Babs, Babs Seed" Said the now identified Babs as she scratched the back of her head still blushing a bit.

He internally chuckled a bit "When I had friends, they called me Niko" He said with a defeated smirk. Mares and kids for some reason had an uncanny talent for knocking down his tough-guy exterior.

"Whataya mean when you HAD friends?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Since I ended up here ive only been met with racism and fear, im lucky that princess of yours didn't vaporize me " He said spitting on the ground as if trying to get a bad taste out of his mouth "love and tolerance my ass" he sighed as they turned into another ally.

They were still walking through the run-down side streets of downtown manehatten, passing a few bums and prostitutes along the way.

"So where we goin anyway?" Asked Babs as they passed a few old stores and a shady looking pawn shop.

"My home, but I still don't know why your following me" Niko said, Babs just smiled and bumped his shoulder.

"I said it before ill say it again, you saved my life so that makes us friends an I don't let friends walk away bleedin" Babs said, Niko just grunted in defeat and kept walking. They came to a ratty looking apartment building and turned down the alley way next to it. they soon came up to a fire escape connected to the building.

Babs looked at the building. It wasn't supper tall, about average for a downtown apartment complex. It was pretty old and rundown with windows broken out, rotted mortar and graffiti all over the walls. The first thing that went through Babs's mind was 'condemned' but she didn't want to piss Niko off by insulting his home.

"If ya live in this building, why are ya goin up the fire escape?" Babs asked a little confused.

"I live on the roof" Niko replied grunting a bit from the pain in his side being worsened by the climb "At least that fucker didn't hit anything vital" he hissed.

Just as soon as he uttered those words he tripped and hit the railing with another hiss of pain. Babs was next to him in a second "Aye you sure you're alright Niko?" She asked, leaning down and puting his arm over her shoulder to help him climb.

"Ill be fine, but..uhh..thanks for helping me" He whispered the last part, making her smile at him.

"Aye what's a friend for?" She replied not losing the smile. He grunted continuing up the fire escape.

When they reached the top Babs looked around trying to see his place "So where's this place of yours?" She asked.

Niko sighed and let go of her shoulder before replying "its over there" with a slight hiss as he limped a bit, walking towards where he was pointing.

She looked in the direction he was pointing in and saw a small rundown shack on the far end of the roof with a lean-to on one side and a few pipes from the building here and there "You serious?" She asked with a cocked eyebrow.

Niko just grunted as he headed towards the door. Babs followed not sure if she should feel sorry for the guy or knock him over the head for living in such conditions.

Niko went inside his shack and left the door hanging open. Seeing this as an invitation Babs walked up to the shack 'why would he live in a place like this?'

she looked at the shack a little closer now, the door was just a house screen door. the shack was made of rotted timber, the roof was tin sheeting. Walking inside, the interior wasnt much better. The shack was a single room with a couch on the left wall that looked like somepony threw it away 10 years ago, a homemade stereo in the corner next to the couch with a guitar case leaning on it. on the other side was a simple workbench with shelving next to it organized with tools and parts of various things.

Niko walked over to his workbench and pulled out a small, old-looking first aid kit. "So you obviously didn't fallow me home because you think im cute or somthin" He said, making Babs's face light up like a christmas tree.

He pulled his jacket off and threw it on the couch, then started to check the damage "dam I liked this shirt" He grunted in frustration as he pulled it off.

"Aye I was just worried about ya, I didn't want ya ta die after savin me" She replied with a huff.

He just laughed and laid his hat on the workbench. pulling out some gauze and a small bottle of rubbing alcohol "That's gonna burn like a motha you know" Babs said as she sat down on the couch watching intently.

"I still don't know why you're so eager to be my friend" Niko stated.

Babs just sat there and looked him over for a minuet, he was tall and had very little fat on him, multiple scars on his chest and stomach. his muscles were well defined but not overly bulky. all-in-all not bad by Babs's standards.

"So you're a hair-less monkey, big deal" She said shrugging with a grin on her face.

This made him laugh a bit "Hell you know many stallions are scared ta death a me jus cause I could bench-press em?" she said laughing out loud.

"You know i think your one of the few ponies ive met that i think i could stand to be around for more than 10 seconds" he said returning the smile.

Niko then grabbed a hammer off the table and put the handle into his mouth biting down "Aye whataya doin?" Babs asked.

He grabbed the bottle of alcohol and dumped it onto the wound cringing and biting down hard on the hammer handle. "RRRGGHHHHH!!!" he roared through his teeth at the pain.

After cleaning the wound thoroughly he pulled out a needle and thread "Aye let me do that for ya" Babs said as she got off the couch and sat in the chair next to the bench. She took the needle from him and started threading it.

"Thanks" Niko said as he lifted his arm and relaxed his muscles.

"Your lucky he didn't hit your kidney" She said examining the wound closely.

"I guess" he said as she pushed the needle into his skin making him cringe "hey, whataya mean you guess? that psycho coulda killed ya" she said.

"Seams like ponies have been tryin to since I first got here" he said.

She gave him a sad smile then continued her work "Your pretty good at that" Niko said watching her work.

She smiled "You pick a few things up when you live in a town like this. It aint Ponyville" she stated.

she soon finished up the stitching and taped a bandage over it. "Well that outa hold" She said examining her own work.

He put his hand over the wound and sighed "so you wana drink or somthin?" He asked reaching behind the bench, pulling out a bottle of apple whiskey and 2 glasses.

"Sure why not" replied Babs with a shrug, he poured the whiskey and placed the bottle back down. He handed Babs a glass and took his own and downed it in 2 gulps.

"Ahh that's better" He sighed out.

She sipped hers and sat back in the chair "so if ya got a job why do ya live in this shack?" she asked.

He sighed, got off of the bench and walked over to the couch. He reached over and pulled the guitar case from in front of the stereo over to him "because my boss shorts me every check saying i did any number of things wrong and no one will let me rent an apartment around here. The only reason I have a job is because the princess dam near made him hire me" He said, downing another glass. he opened the guitar case, and from it he pulled out a ratty looking dreadnought style acoustic guitar.

"Whattaya do for a living?" She asked.

"I work down at the docks unloading freighters, what about you?" Niko replied.

"I work as a bouncer at one of the clubs downtown" Babs stated rather proudly.

He wasn't surprised by this, she looked like she could handle just about anypony around, well as long as they weren't ganging up on her "You must be pretty tough" He said with a smile.

Babs blushed a bit and smirked flexing an arm "Heck yea i am, so don't piss me off" she said with a glare jokingly raising both eyebrows.

They shared a few laughs, just drinking and enjoying each others company. More on Nikos end since he only ever hung out with a few ponies and they didn't come around much, and foals that thought he was cool and wanted him to teach them how to fight.

Niko pulled the guitar onto his lap and started to tune it a bit "You know how to play that thing?" Babs asked pouring another glass of whiskey for him.

He accepted the glass and took a long swig of the sweet liquor then smiled setting it down "Lets see" He said as he started to strum the first cords of a song he grew up with.

(John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - NYC Song)

As he played the last few chords Niko heard Babs clapping. He looked up to see a very impressed mare staring at him.

"Aye that was awesome Niko, where'd you learn to play like that?" she asked.

"I taught myself over the years, that song isn't my-own. It was a song from where I come from, just changed the lyrics a bit" He stated leaning it back up against the stereo.

Niko leaned back at Babs "Well I don't know about you but im gonna get some sleep, I gotta work tomorrow" She sighed and put her glass down.

"Alright alright, catch ya tomara" She said getting up and dusting her butt off.

Niko cocked an eyebrow at her "Tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yea tomorrow cause you're hangin out with me after ya git offa work and i aint taken no for an answer" she said pointing a finger at him.

He had a bit of a shocked look, before he could protest she was already halfway out the door swaying her tail back and forth with a big grin on her face.

"Well it looks like things are getting interesting" Niko chuckled to himself then laid back on the couch and dozed off.

Author's Note

before anyone rips into me Im doing my best at writing a Brooklyn accent.....its a pain in the flank

2: Gangsters are not allways stereotypical

2: Gangsters are not allways stereotypical

That night as he laid there, Niko's mind was plagued with bad memories. Dreaming of how long he floated there in the ocean with no food or water, praying to any god or goddess for salvation.

His prayers were answered after three days of floating on that parachute bag. He had been slipping in and out of consciousness for the last 12 hours, trying to will himself to stay conscious. If it hadn't been for the almost tropical heat he would have succumbed to hypothermia long ago.

He was pulled into consciousness by a strange sensation, opening his eyes he almost wished he had stayed asleep. He was in the eye of a storm with a whirlpool in the center which was slowly pulling him in.

"Just fucking great" He croaked out, barely ably to make a sound from his dry and cracked lips. He had already realized he was going to die so he just decided to let it happen with a smile on his face.

The current swept him faster and faster to his inevitable demise "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!" Niko laughed like a mad man as he was swept into the swirling vortex of water, only silenced as he was finally swept under.

Niko jolted awake breathing hard and sweating profusely "haven't had that dream in a while" He said to himself shaking his head a bit. Groaning, he sat up from the couch and felt the bandage on his side. the memories from last night flooded into his mind.

"'Hm' She is kinda cute I guess" He shook that thought out of his head. There weren't many ponies he could trust and he had just met her. "Keep it in your pants Niko" he said to himself remembering his friend chuck telling him off anytime he started chasing a girl. Niko always seemed to fall for the girls that would hurt him, and fall hard. Not that Babs seemed like a bad mare or anything he just didn't want to jeopardize the little bit of peace he had.

Looking over at the clock on the stereo, it read 5:02. He groaned knowing it was time to head for work. without another word he got up and threw a good t-shirt, his jacket, and trusty fedora on, then headed for the door.

'Today is gonna suck' He thought to himself as he walked through the side streets heading towards the docks. The injury from last night was mended fine but if he wasn’t careful he might rip the stitches out.

As he walked through town he did his best to hide what he looked like, to be a fly on the wall, a skill he picked up quickly over the last year or so. between guards following him, everyday ponies screaming and running and the gangs around town either trying to capture him or kill him, the skill became quite useful.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his cigarette pack and noticed it was almost empty. Deciding better safe than sorry he made a slight detour to a back ally shop he frequented. It was a simple gryphon grocery/supply store. the ponies hardly ever came around the shop aside from the ponies in the gang in control of this area, was because they sold things like meat and other things that were the norm for omnivores but not for herbivores like the ponies.

They were the only ones in town that treated him fairly. not to mention the gryphon who ran the store was kind of cute but he wouldn’t tell her that for fear of her anger and respect for her brother, the leader of the local gang 'the Black Phoenixes', Raul wasn’t you’re a-typical gang leader. He had strict rules: #1 no-one sells drugs or weapons to kids #2 they don’t hurt civilians under any circumstances and #3 the gang is family, if you hurt one of them you have to deal with every single one of them on your doorstep looking for payback. I respected them for how they did things, yea they sold drugs and other shit but they kept to there rules and made their neighborhood one of the safest around most of the time.

The shop was on a large side street between his building and an orphanage were most of the gangs members grew up, there were a few of Raul's gang hanging around the street listening to music or selling, nothing out of the ordinary. unlike all the other gangs in Manehatten , Raul's was made up of both ponies and gryphons.

As Niko walked towards the shop he noticed a group of gryphons inside an ally fairly close to the shop surrounding a young gryphon girl maybe only just into her teens. The group were all wearing a red and gold headband that he recognized all to well. The 'Red Talons' were a gang of burnouts from the gryphon empire that had thoughts of taking over Equestria from their shitty little hide-out on the east side of the city.

Approaching them from behind cautiously he spoke. "You guys lost? This isn't your turf last time I checked and I'm sure Raul didn’t give little piss-ant hatchlings like you permission to peddle your shit around here" Niko called out a few feet behind the thugs.

"da buck you say?" The apparent 'leader' said turning around walking towards Niko trying to look tough and failing miserably. He wasn’t very big maybe about 5'2 if even, ratty feathers and looking like he hadn't had a fix in a few days.

"Oh my bad, I didn’t realize your ears were so full of dick juice you couldn’t hear me. Let me spell it out for you GET.THE.BUCK.OUT.OF.HERE.YOU.LITTLE.PUSSY. That clear enough for you?" Niko said putting his hands in his pockets. The gryphon continued walking up to Niko and as soon as he was close enough Niko moved fast, grabbing him by the neck, lifting him off the ground causing the rest of his group to turn their attention toward them.

Hearing the commotion a gryphon walked out of the store and saw the group of thugs surrounding Niko and just smirked before putting a claw into his beak and letting out a loud whistle. the sound bounced around the ally making everyone but Niko stop what they were doing and look at the gryphon by the store entrance.

He was an intimidating sight. He was larger than most gryphon males, almost as tall as Niko. His feathers and coat were dark brown almost black, the feathers on his head were gray with the same dark brown as his coat jaggedly accentuating both eyes with on long scar over the left one going down his cheek.

"Aye Niko, was-up man you outa smokes again?" He said striding out of the shop soon fallowed by three gryphons and two ponies at his back.

"Yeah, just cant seem to kick the habit" Niko said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Man those things gonna kill you homes" He said come to stand beside Niko.

"And that rotgut you call booze wont?" Niko chided back with a grin making Raul smile.

"So where you catch these red talon pussies?" he said ripping the headband off the gryphon being held by the neck and examining it.

"Harassing this poor girl on her way to school and trying to peddle their bullshit" Niko said with a grin knowing Raul had his back.

Raul chuckled as he snapped his claw and four more of his gang came out and surrounded the group making them look like they were about one twitch away from pissing themselves.

"What you fucks thinkin? Comin into MY neighborhood, harasing this pour fledgling near MY sisters shop, and pissing off one of MY friends?!" Raul looked at me and then back at the group.

"Your lucky I showed up when I did or Niko here would'na been as nice as I'm gonna be" He chuckled as he said that and motioned with his head. Niko threw the thug back into his little group as they were all grabbed by Raul's gang.

"Strip-em and tossem into the pink district. Oh and don’t forget to hand-cuff there hands to their feet" He said with a devilish grin.

Niko and Raul started laughing there asses off as the group of thugs were drug off screaming. Niko fist bumped Raul.

"Have fun boys!" Niko yelled still laughing.

"No soap needed homies!" Raul added as they headed toward the shop.

As they were walking the young gryphon girl the thugs had been harassing ran up and hugged Niko with enough force to almost rip his stitches out "GAH! careful kid, your welcome" Niko said rubbing the feathers on her head and smiling down at her.

While she was hugging Niko Raul just smiled and went into the shop leaving him and the girl.

"Thank you, they were trying to take me with them. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up" She said with a few tears in her eyes.

"Its alright, no need to thank me. I think you should get going though, school starts in an hour" she nodded and quickly pecked him on the cheek then took off fast.

Niko watched her take flight. It always amazed him to watch gryphons and pegasi in flight, their wings compared to their bodies seemed disproportioned, more so for the pegasi. He turned and started into the shop. It had a simple over hang and a single glass door with raught-iron bars over the glass. The interior was just as simple with 3 isles filled with various goods from school supplies to food stuffs. The lighting was slightly dim casting a kind of home-y feel to the whole place, the walls had a few posters and various pictures ranging from the Wonderbolts to the Gryphon Empire. In the back was a single half counter with a cash register. behind the counter were a few shelves containing various liquors and tobacco products. (Niko was rather relieved when he found out this universe had cigarettes)

He went through the door and noticed Raul still standing just inside the door with his front claws in a prayer pose.

"What are you doin man?" Niko asked a little confused.

"Prayin to the royal sisters for your soul" Raul replied smirking.

Niko just shook his head and walked further into the shop "NIKO!!"

Niko grimaced hearing that voice, especially if it was pissed. He walked farther into the shop not wanting to stall the inevitable ass-chewing he was about to get.

"Hey Gilda, how are y-" He tried to say but got cut off.

"Causing trouble around my shop again? I swear to Tartarus ill kick your ass if you scare off my business!" Gilda walked out from behind a short counter and walked up to him looking ready to kill, so Niko just stood there waiting for her to finish. He looked over and saw Raul siting in the back avoiding the whole conversation.

"I'm sorry Gilda, but you know I cant stand by and let shit like that happen!" Niko pleaded, she just huffed and ruffled her feathers about to turn around, she stopped short though and sniffed.

Niko flinched 'damn gryphon cense of smell' He thought.

She turned back and walked straight up to Niko getting within an inch of him glaring, she sniffed one more time.

"Ok, where are you hurt this time?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm fine Gilda, I don’t kno-" He tried to speak but was again cut off.

"I can smell the blood, an I know its yours." She stated crossing her arms and giving him a look that told him he wasn’t getting service if he didn’t tell her.

So Niko preceded to tell her everything that happened last night from walking home, to the conversation he had with Babs including being stitched up.

Gilda had a bad habit of treating Niko like a disobedient child she had to take care off sometimes. through the whole story she was looking over the wound, which was half healed already, checking the wound over and bating his hand away every time he tried to put his shirt back down.

"It’s a good thing he missed your kidney, not to mention that freaky fast healing of yours." she sighed pulling his shirt back down.

"You get yourself killed and ill bring your ass back just so I can get a shot in, you hear me?" she stated poking me in the chest with her claw, a worried look in her eyes. Niko just nodded with a smile.

"I know Gilda, I know. So you think I can get my usual?" Niko asked keeping the smile on his face to try and lighten the mood.

She sighed again heading back behind the counter and rummaging in the glass case under the counter, pulling out a red pack with a moon crest on it and tossing it at him. He caught it and reached into his pocket to pull out his bits.

"6 bits right?" he asked counting them in his hand. Gilda looked at him blankly inside her own thoughts for a second then shook her head.

"Their on the house for saving the girl" She said with a shrug

Niko exited the shop with a smile on his face, those were the only two on this planet that he had come to trust whole heartedly.

Author's Note

........some answers come later, MUCH later.

I would like to apologize to those who like this story. I work for a living and don't have anyone lighting a fire under my but to write on the occasions that I actually find some free time. Im not abandoning and not giving up. brony till I die.