Side Story: Sheng's Debt
"A twenty," Jay said, putting the money down on the table. He grinned with the ease that alcohol lent him and pointed across the room to the two young women sitting at the bar.
"Ok," Alexi said, skeptical. "Go ahead."
"I will."
"Alright then."
Jay hesitated. "Back me up?" He asked the man next to him and Lyle shrugged. He swirled the last of the beer in his glass and looked at it expectantly. It remained dark and unhelpful.
"Yeah, I'll come," Lyle said and stood up, following Jay to the bar.
"Another for me, oh, hello," Jay pretended to just notice the girls as he came up beside them, too close to be casual, "and seconds for the ladies, on me."
"No thanks," The brunet said, the red head rolled her eyes and they turned back to their conversation.
"Give it up, mate," Lyle cut in with a thick Irish accent, "I haven't seen that look since I left home but it means, piss off."
"A fellow Irishman then? Where abouts are you from?" The red head asked.
"Dublin, though I haven't seen the place in years."
"We're from Roxboro outside of Limerick."
"Real country girls then?"
"On one side of the family."
"It's good to hear a familiar accent, makes me feel almost at home. Excuse my friend, he's an ok bloke." Lyle punched Jay playfully.
"And please accept the drinks," Jay replied, moving closer to the brunet. "I've a soft spot for pretty women with erotic accents."
"Excuse me?" The brunet asked, leaning out of her seat to get away from Jay.
"Come on, it's a compliment."
"Tell your friend, to back off," The red head said angrily.
"Really, he's harmless," Lyle said, leaning on the bar beside her.
"Promise," Jay said and leaned closer, reaching out for the brunet.
"Don't touch me!" She jumped out of her seat and Jay's arm shot out to grab her.
"Come doll I wasn't gonna—" Someone spun him around and he saw the shadow of a fist before it connected with his face. The brunet let out a shriek and clung to her sister as Jay fell to the floor under the bar and stayed there. Lyle took a minute to figure out what had happened.
"Hey," He yelled and advanced on the attacker. One second the man seemed to be standing straight and the next he'd dogged Lyle's fist and thrown his own in return catching Lyle under his ribs. Lyle went down, holding back bile and reeling.
"Apologies for scaring you," the attacker said to the women in a heavy chinese accent.
"No, thank you."
"Give him one on us."
"Many thanks." High heeled shoes clacked against the floor as the girls left. "Another and water." A man came to stand beside Lyle and a strong hand hooked under his arm, pulling him forcefully to his feet and leaning him against the bar. A cup of water was put in front of him and he then got the chance to look up at his attacker properly.
The man was chinese, with a tanned and lined face that didn't look like it would fit a smile. His eyes were dark and thin, as if he were perpetually squinting into the sunlight.
"Drink."
"Why?"
"It will help clear your head."
Lyle pushed the water away he reached over and picked up the man's drink and drained it. He winced as it went down. The man didn't even blink as the glass was placed back on the table.
"What do you want? Why not leave me on the floor?"
"My name is Sheng, I owe your family."
"My family? What? Hang on, I've seen you around…" Lyle shut his mouth before he said Kathrons and just stared.
"I owe my life to the man who shares your face," Sheng said then bowed to him and walked away leaving Lyle standing over Jay as he groaned and rolled over on the floor.
"What the fuck was that?" Jay grumbled.
Lyle wasn't paying attention, his hands were gripping the edge of the bar and his knuckles were white. Somehow he'd always known that Neil was alive but it was the first word he'd had of his brother in nearly a decade. It made him feel small, like Neil was still watching him over his shoulder and it pissed Lyle off.
"Get up, you arse." He growled at Jay and strode away toward the exit. He didn't feel like drinking anymore, he felt like fighting. He wanted to find his brother and punch him hard in his smug self-assured face. But Neil was just a phantom, a ghost who was better off ignored and a memory better left forgotten. Lyle pulled out his pack of cigarettes when he got outside. He quirked a small smile as he lit the first one. As he blew out the smoke into the night he smiled. Neil would hate that he smoked.
[AN: Sheng is the solitary man from Yungang who sent Yun out to Hilla before Hilla left. He's a kind of side character I took a liking to. He joined Kathrons and might show up again in Season 2 to kick ass. :D]
