Chapter Text
If there was one thing Rust despised, it was humans who thought they could fuck with their kind.
They dismounted from their bike. They were sore from two or three days of solid riding. Before them was a lovely big house, home to some rich human who thought a Tombsona was some kind of modern art piece.
Rust yanked their pistol free from their belt. They clenched it way harder than they needed to as they loaded it up.
The skull mask was many things to Tombsonas. A way of recognising one another. A symbol of community, of kinship. A way of signaling I'm like you.
They knocked firmly on the door.
A young man in a smart suit opened it. His eyes fell immediately on Rust's gun. He went to scream but Rust tightened their grip and put a finger to their lips. They weren't actually planning to shoot, but luckily the boy didn't call their bluff. He clamped his mouth shut. Rust jerked their head and he scurried out of the way. They strode into the house unimpeded.
It was just as comfortable and indulgent as they'd expected, all soft carpets and fancy lights and oil paintings. They yearned to smash the expensive ornaments. But now wasn't the time.
They forged deeper into the house, searching for the captured Tombsona they'd tracked here.
For some Tombsonas the skull mask was a sign of safety. A sign that they were among friends. A whisper of don't worry, you're safe with me. Which was valuable in a world that, a lot of the time, was not safe for them.
Ground floor was bare aside from some house staff who they accidentally spooked. Rust stormed up a staircase, imprinting filthy bootprints into the expensive carpet. They smirked to themself.
They heard the sound of voices from the end of the hallway.
They strode to the end and kicked open the door, gun at the ready.
A lady- curly hair, rings and pearls, fancy dress, the works - gasped in horror. "Oh my goodness! The police! Somebody call the police!"
Rust ignored her. They had eyes only for the cage beside her.
Positioned in front of the window so the light fell through their colourful, translucent butterfly wings, a bruised figure shivered miserably, their skull mask torn.
To Rust, the skull mask meant something vastly different.
Not a promise from tombsonakind to them; but a promise from them to each and every tombsona in the cosmos.
No matter what, I will protect you.
They fixed their gun firmly on the human.
"Release them," they said calmly.
She quivered pathetically.
The Tombsona looked up at the sound of Rust's voice. When they saw them, their eyes lit up.
"Rust?!"
Rust gave them the barest nod.
They gasped a shuddering gasp. "Oh thank God."
"Release them," Rust repeated, stepping forwards.
The woman squawked in indignation. "Do you have any idea how much I paid for-"
They tightened their finger on the trigger.
"SOMEONE CALL THE DAMNED POLICE!" she roared.
"The police won't save you," said Rust.
The woman gulped.
"Release them or I kill you right here and now."
Shaking, she reached under her collar and pulled out a small key on a chain, which she unhooked and held out to Rust. "Fine! Take it!"
They snatched it from her hand, strode over and unlocked the cage door.
"Can you stand?" they asked the Tombsona gently.
They shook their head. "Bruises. My leg hurts too much!"
They nodded and crouched down. Gently, they took one of the other Tombsonas arms and slung it around their shoulders, then helped them gently to their feet. They leaned heavily on Rust. They began a slow walk towards the door together. The lady cowered away from them as they passed. Rust spat at her feet, just narrowly missing her fancy shoes. Her look of disgust made them chuckle.
They supported the other Tombsona across the road to where their bike waited.
They had nowhere to take them - the place they were currently staying was days away - but for now, Rust just wanted to get them away from here.
They supported them onto the back of their bike then hopped on.
"Hang on tight."
They wrapped their arms around Rust's waist and they kicked the bike into life.
Rust drove for an hour, slowly enough that their passenger wouldn't be jolted. The poor thing pressed into them, clinging tightly to their waist.
Eventually they happened across a cheap looking motel. Rust parked up and paid for a room with twin beds for the night. No idea if the other Tombsona would be staying the night but they definitely would. They were exhausted from the nonstop driving of the last few days. They needed a rest before heading back to their temporary home.
They supported the other Tombsona into the room. It was small and bare, but it did the job they needed it to.
Rust made for one of the beds and set the other Tombsona gently down, then unstrapped their belt of weapons and lay it down by the foot of the other bed, now theirs for a night, and flopped onto it.
"Got anyone I can contact to come pick you up?" they asked. "Or do I need to drop you off somewhere?"
"Um- my girlfriend Vinnie. I'm sure she'd be happy to come get me. I wouldn't… want to inconvenience you any more." They twirled their long light hair around their finger.
"She a Tombsona?"
"Yes."
"Awesome."
Rust stretched. They'd send a message via the Messenger Rat. The sooner the better. They didn't know how far away this Vinnie was.
They forced themself to get up and head to the motel reception, where they were lent a sheet of paper and a pen. They flattened it on the desk and scribbled out a note.
Your partner's safe with me. We're at…
They checked their location on their phone and scribbled it down.
I'll wait here with them until you arrive to pick them up.
Rust.
That'd do. They'd never met this Vinnie, but if she was known enough among tombsonakind for the Messenger Rat to find her, then she'd know who Rust was. They made it their business to be known; as so to let people know where to turn if they ever needed help.
They folded it up, scribbled Vinnie's name on the front and gave back the pen with a grunt of thanks. They quickly went back to their room for money to pay the Rat then headed outside and crouched down by the nearest sewer grate.
It smelled awful, but they were used to that by now. They licked their lips to wet them, then whistled clearly.
There was a cacophony of squeaks from down below, then a few minutes later, the Messenger Rat poked her snout out from down below.
Tombsonas bonded to humans. It was one of the few things they all had in common. All except the Messenger Rat.
A keen, almost human intelligence sparkled in her eyes behind the rat skull she wore over her head, and she was bigger, much bigger than the others of her kind, her body twisted into a vaguely humanoid shape; but her body was still that of a large, brown, chunky rodent.
Rust held out the letter and money and she took it without hesitation. They'd had this exact exchange probably thousands of times. They were probably one of her most frequent customers. What she did with the money they had no idea, but the letters always got delivered and that's what mattered to them.
They headed back inside.
The other Tombsona was hunched up on the end of their bed. Rust fell into theirs. Now the mission was over and the two of them were safe, they felt their eyelids growing heavier.
"Sent your girlfriend a message."
"Thank you."
"Gonna get some sleep now. Wake me up if you need me."
They nodded. Rust let their eyes shut.
Before they went to sleep properly… safety check.
Unlikely the lady would send anyone after them apart from maybe police; and even then, they wouldn't do anything to the other Tombsona. Rust doubted they would take them back to their captor; there was absolutely no way she had acquired them legally. Most they'd do is try and get Rust for breaking and entering and putting her at gunpoint, and they'd dealt with plenty of police in their day. And even then, the police would have to find them first; they were pretty far away. And even if they did get Rust, the other tombsona had somewhere to stay, and, soon, they were 90% sure, someone on the way. They would be fine.
Rust let themself relax and slip into sleep.
They didn't wake up until the early evening. The light was fading outside when they blinked open their eyes.
They stretched widely, feeling rested. They'd needed that.
The other Tombsona was tracing patterns on their blanket, humming tunelessly and gazing at them.
"You okay?" Rust asked.
They shrugged.
"Are you sure we're safe?"
"Wouldnt've gone to sleep if I didn't think you were safe. Trust me. You'll be okay. There's no way she's getting you back. Not with me around."
They relaxed at that.
"I just realised I never told you my name. I'm Swallowtail. I go by she/her."
"Swallowtail huh? Thought you were a butterfly."
They smiled slightly.
"It's a kind of butterfly."
"Oh. Gotcha."
"Thanks for coming after me," she said softly.
"Mm."
"Thanks for everything."
"Mm."
She was quiet for a moment, then glanced at them shyly.
"Can you stay with me and Vinnie for a bit?"
Here we go.
"You don't need me to."
"What if she comes back?"
"I'm sure I probably gave her enough of a scare that she won't. If she does come after either of you, you can get a message to me through the Messenger Rat."
"But…"
"I can't stay with you. I have places to be."
She frowned.
Time to change the topic.
Rust didn't remember when they'd last eaten. They'd had vague ideas of stopping for food after their mission was complete, but they'd ended up sleeping away the whole afternoon. They'd order in. Wasn't ideal but they weren't leaving Swallowtail alone. Not while she was still so scared.
"You hungry?" they asked her.
"Not really," she said quietly.
"Okay," they said gently.
They managed to find a local place that would deliver. Swallowtail cocooned herself in her blanket and traced patterns on the bed sheet. Her eyes were far away. Rust pushed a chair over to the door and sprawled in it, a gun in their lap.
Don't be afraid. I'll protect you.
Her eyes drifted to them. She let out a slow breath. Rust gave her a quick smile. Eventually, she closed her eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
It hurt to watch. Her breathing was sharp and shallow, and she tossed and kicked and fought like she was still in that cage, battling to get out. Rust almost woke her up a few times; but she needed the rest. They half opened the door so the delivery guy wouldn't knock and wake her up.
They didn't get much proper sleep that night after their long nap, but they but they faded in and out of a doze, slumped in their chair. They were in a light sleep when they were roused by someone knocking lightly but urgently on the door. They woke with a start, hand automatically jumping to their gun.
They stood. Swallowtail thrashed upright, wide eyed. At the sight of Rust standing there, her shoulder slumped in relief. She sank into her blanket.
The visitor knocked again. Rust didn't aim their gun at the door, but they kept a firm grip on the handle as they cracked it open.
On the other side, another Tombsona stood, bouncing anxiously on the balls of their feet. They were dressed in a smart suit and hat with a red, sequined, skull-shaped masquerade mask on their face. A Tombsona. Rust relaxed slightly.
"It's Vinnie," they- she, actually- explained. "Where's Swallow?"
"Vin?" said Swallowtail. They heard her climb from bed.
"I'm here, sweetheart!"
Rust stepped aside.
Vinnie rushed in and they fell into each others arms.
"I've got you- I've got you-" said Vinnie, sounding on the edge of tears.
"Vinnie, oh Vinnie- it was horrible-"
"Shh. I've got you."
They cradled one another.
Rust stood quietly to one side, letting them have their moment. They smiled to themself.
"I want to go home," Swallowtail sobbed. "I want to go home!"
"Then that's where we'll go."
Vinnie escorted her girlfriend slowly out to the car. Rust followed them, handing in their room key on the way.
Vinnie had driven down. Her car was waiting to take the two of them home.
She opened the passenger door for Swallowtail, but she hesitated before she climbed in.
"I didn't say goodbye to Rust," she said mournfully.
"I don't mind," Rust said.
"Oh!" She started. "I didn't realise you followed us.
"I can be stealthy when I wanna be," they said with a half smile.
"Thank you. I just- I- thank you." She swallowed and half opened her arms. Rust hugged her lightly and gave her a quick pat on the back. Couldn't hurt.
"Are you sure you won't come with us?"
"You don't need me."
"I guess not but…" she trailed off with a shrug. "This is goodbye then. Thank you Rust. I'll never forget what you've done for me."
"Yeah yeah."
She gave them one last smile then got into the car. Vinnie shut the door behind her and turned to face them. Here we go again.
"I know Swallow probably already thanked you about a million times, but I wanted to offer my gratitude as well."
"Uh huh."
"If there is ever anything I can do for you, anything at all-"
"Yup. Got it."
She gave their hand a firm shake, then got in the car and drove the two of them away.
Rust watched them disappear down the road. Another mission successful. Another Tombsona safe. They allowed themself a slight nod of satisfaction. Time to go home. Rest up for next time.
They rolled their shoulders and hopped back on their bike, already aching at the thought of the days of riding ahead of them. Maybe now they weren't on a time crunch they'd allow themself a stop at another motel.
They revved up the bike and headed for home. Alone.