Chapter Text
Stupid stupid stupid stupid. They were all stupid. They were all stupid stupid people. Stupid. They didn't even know what they were talking about. Tink could feel her legs burning as she tried to get as far away as she could. She had been cycling for what felt like hours and she knew her skin was probably very sunburned by this point. It hurt like it was. But her eyes burned worse as she couldn't remember how long she had been crying for. Not that she let anyone see her cry. She was better than that. But she was still angry and upset and she made sure to show Hollander who was boss, kicking him really hard in the nuts before she made her escape with a lot of swearing and yelling at the crowd around them.
It wasn't like he didn't deserve it. He totally deserved it. He had no right to talk to her like that and she was fully justified in scratching his face up and destroying his chance at getting laid for it. Or at least she thought that's that kicking him in the nuts did. But she was more focused on riding now. Using her bike to just get away from them all. She needed some space, going to the edge of town, feeling helpless and stupid and wanting to throw some rocks about or something. Tink pulled up to a little bit of flatland around some oil drums, it was just outside of the city and part of a junkyard. It would be fine enough for what she needed. She just needed to get her energy out and she didn't want to be around people who spoke to her like that.
"Stupid." She said, skidding out on her bike before her body slammed into the side of a broken down car. She yelled in rage more than pain before then grabbing a rock before chucking it at a tire and yelling. "I am a grown up!" She yelled, the words still ringing in her ears as she tried to calm herself down just a little bit. People just kept treating her so small and she hated it. She was big. She was a big kid and they had all just been so mean so when he told her to and grow up after she got angry at him for making her feel small, he got the punishment that he completely deserved. There was no denying that was the case. At least she thought so, grabbing another rock and this time throwing it before kicking it across the yard.
When Strat got back from his little trip to Raven's place, or the tower, or whatever he was supposed to call it, he got back to a mess of a group. Hollander was a bit of a mess, and when he found out what happened he smacked him for it. Telling Tink to 'Grow up' was such a stupid thing to say when the kid was already struggling to fit in or even accept that she was different to the rest of them. It was something she couldn't help and yet it seemed like the rest of the group just wanted her to be a pet while also making her get bigger and tougher and on her level. It was stupid and he was sure to give them all a very good scolding because of it.
But when the scolding was over, he looked around and there was no sign of Tink or her bike which was a bad thing. She was certainly able to get around on that thing and without supervision she could be miles away or flat under some train. There was no way of knowing what had happened and it quickly sent Strat into a full out panic. He was pissed off at the rest of them for not asking Tink where she was going to even trying to stop her. When she was upset she could go for miles on that thing. Once he had found her on a highway because she got so upset. Tink had almost died before now and now Strat was going to have to find her before she got run over or kidnapped or worse. The people in the city weren't very nice and especially when thinking about where a kid like Tink would go when she got upset. They were all so stupid and this was why he didn't like Tink hanging out with them.
After getting his bike, Strat went out looking for Tink, trying all the normal spots that she liked to go hiding in when she was upset. Under the bridge, in the rubble of the orphanage, the subway station of fifth. Nothing. No sign of her and so he was getting more and more worried about what this could mean. He was searching everywhere he could think of, getting the rest of the Lost in on it as he needed to expand the search radius. Tink was not going missing and he really couldn't think about the idea that she was alone or scared or even dead by this point. He was spiralling the more he thought about it. More and more violent images of what could be happening to Tink the longer the search continued and he was starting to feel his body tremble with fear maybe these images were about to come true.
After a few hours of searching and Strat riding his bike about eight miles away from where they were normally based, just on the outer edges of the city, he was finally able to spot a silhouette that looked like Tink. That lead to a mix of annoyance and relief as he was very thankful he had found her but also a bit annoyed about all the stress she had caused him because she was running off. Then again he couldn't blame her for it, she was just a kid and her brain couldn't handle bigger emotions like that. It was just something that she couldn't physically cope with so there was nothing more she could have done. Still, he was going to scold her for not at least telling someone where she was going. "Tink!" Strat yelled, running over to her before she had a chance to run away herself, and he grabbed her hugging her close from behind.
The kid kicked and yelled, not liking how Strat was picking her up like she was a baby before she winced. "OW! Stop! Stop it hurts!" She yelled, her body aching from when she had slammed into the car earlier upon arrival. "Let me go!" She yelled and kicked and finally Strat put her down. She stumbled and fell onto the floor, curling up and hugging her knees as she huffed, eyes glassy with tears as she avoided looking at Strat. Tink was feeling even smaller than before. It was horrible and she just wanted to be left alone.
It didn't take Strat long to realise that Tink was hurt somehow. "What happened? Did someone hurt you? Falco? What happened?" He asked, moving over and very quickly looking over Tink's body, seeing the cuts and grazes and knowing she had probably been doing something stupid and gotten herself hurt when she didn't respond with anything else. "Tink, I was worried sick about you. You can't just go off and disappear without warning. Especially without telling anyone about it." Strat sighed and looked around. "Look, I know it's difficult. I know you have a hard time being the youngest and the smallest. It's not your fault. But you've gotta talk to us about it. Talk to me about it. It's not like I'm going to tell you to piss off. I want to help and I know you hate having to deal with all the hormones and feelings and stuff but I'm here. And the rest of the Lost are too. I promise." He said, before he offered her his hand. "Come on. We need to get back before they crucify Hollander." He joked and that finally managed to bring a small smile to Tink's face. She took his hand and stood up with him, feeling a bit better and wiping her eyes. Strat was about the only person who treated her nice and she was forever thankful for it.