League of Kids: The Next Generation
Chapter 7
You guys are gonna have to tell me if I'm doing this right.
(Vi)
"Do you even realize how bad that looked for us?!" Caitlyn yelled from the other room. "We have worked so hard to build your reputation up, and now all of that is for nothing!" I tried to ignore her as I packed clothes into my travel backpack. "Vi, are you eve listening?!"
"Of course I am!" I yelled back. "I just can't be fucked to respond to your damned yelling right now!" The glare that Caitlyn gave me when she walked into the room would have terrified me years ago.
"And what do you mean by that?" Zipping up my bag, I did a mental check of everything that I needed. "Wait, where are you going, Vi?"
"What does it matter to you?" Her strong fingers gripped my arm tightly as I tried to pass. "Let go."
"Not until you tell me where you're going." I didn't respond. I just kept looking forward. "Is there a problem with us?" She asked, giving Jayce a cue to stand in the doorway.
"You have to tell us what's wrong, Vi." He said, putting his hands on my shoulders. "We can't help if we don't know."
"This is my problem." I stated, pulling my arm out of Caitlyn's hand. "I don't want either of you to get involved." None of us spoke for a few beats.
"Is it so much so that you don't want our help?" I knew that Cait would take that the wrong way. Shaking my head, I stepped around Jayce and started walking towards Vincent's room. "Are we not good enough for you, now?" When I walked into his room, I pulled the door closed behind me. He was sat on the floor with Caylee in his lap.
"Hey." I smiled, kneeling in front of them. "Are you two okay?"
"Why are you guys fighting?" Vin asked. Shit. That's a hard question to answer. "Is it because of earlier?"
"Kinda." How can I explain to my 5 year old son that we're both in trouble of being attacked by my old gang? "Look, Vincent,"
"You never use my whole name." He whined. "Something is wrong!"
"Vin." I put my hand on his shoulder. "You and Tabs are in danger. We need to go somewhere safe."
"Okay, this is where I draw the line." Jayce opened the door and lifted me to my feet. "There is no way that you are taking Vincent away from home."
"So his safety means nothing to you, Jayce?" I felt Caylee grip my leg. "My only concern right now is keeping them both safe."
"Safe from what?" He asked. "Have you just made up an imaginary evil?"
"From my old gang, Jayce!" I palmed his chest. "You saw them before!"
"They're perfectly safe right here." Caitlyn said, coming into the room. "If you take either of them away from this home, you won't be welcome here again." I stared Caitlyn in the eyes. She's not serious.
"What do you want to do, Vincent?" I looked back at him. He looked surprised that I'd even asked. "Do you want to stay here, or come with me?"
"Vi, you can't-" I hold a hand up to Caitlyn, and nodded to Vin. He stood up, walked over, and gripped my hand.
"I want to stay here." He said. "I don't know any other place." I nodded and looked back at my partners.
"Are you happy now?" The tone of my voice took a harsh edge, which made them both flinch back. I have never been mean towards either of them. "If you don't mind," I started, leaning over and lifting Caylee into my arms. "I'm still going to take Tabs with me." I brushed past both of them with both Vincent and Caylee, walking over to where Tabs was sleeping.
"Mommy why are we in danger?" Vincent asked, hugging Caylee when I put her on the floor.
"Are you leaving forever?" Cay asked. "You can't leave forever."
"I'm not leaving forever, babygirl." Tabs made a whining noise as I lifted her out of the crib. "You two are too important to me."
"But where are you going?" Vin asked. "Where are you taking Tabs?" Smiling, I rested Tabs in the crook of my arm, and knelt in front of my kids.
"You know how Tabs is from my sister Jinx?" They both nodded.
"Isn't she our aunt?"
"Yes, she is. This time, I'm going to make sure that Tabs is safe with your Uncle Ekko."
~~~~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Third)
Moods in the house had turned solemn. Caitlyn and Jayce had hidden themselves away to talk, Caylee had already fallen asleep, and Vincent was sat in his room, shuffling his stuffed toys around. The only thing that he currently knew was that his mother wasn't coming back. Tears started to sting the corner of his eyes, then a knock at the window surprised him and shook them away.
"4!" Vincent jumped up and pushed the window open as much as he could, which admittedly, wasn't much. "How did you find me?"
"It's not that hard." 4 grinned, running a hand over his bald head. "Why do you look so upset, Vinny?" He asked, kneeling down in front of him. "What happened?" The tears sprung back into the 5 year old's eyes.
"M-Mommy left." He sniffed. "She's gone to take Tabs to my uncle." 4 raised an eyebrow. "I don't know if I'll ever see her again!" As the tears started to fall, the man smiled and wiped a tear away with his thumb.
"That's why I'm here, Vin. My boss wants to see you. You're special to me, and my group. The same way that your mom is." Vincent's eyes appeared to sparkle. "You're not going to be alone, either. Your mom is coming to join us, too."
"But what about mummy and daddy?" 4 looked at the wall that connected the rooms. "What will happen to them if I leave?"
"Nothing at all." 4 grinned. "Do you wat to come with me? Number 1 is very excited to meet you." Vincent nodded with vigour.
"Can we bring Caylee, too? She misses mommy." The bald man raised an eyebrow, then unclipped the walkie-talkie from his belt. When he pressed the button, a sharp, screeching noise lasted for a couple of seconds before leaving silence.
"This is 4, back to base. Do I have permission to bring a semi-related child?" Silence lasted for a short while.
"This is 2. That is a strange request, 4. What is your premise?"
"This is 4. Number 15 wishes to bring his half-sister with him." Vincent tipped his head in confusion.
"This is 2. 1 has allowed this, under terms that will be later discussed." With a grin, 4 put his walkie-talkie back on his belt and rose to his full height.
"So, Caylee can come?" 4 nodded. "Is she going to be safe, too?"
"Go get your sister, then."
~~~~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Vincent?" Tears stained Caitlyn's cheeks as she gently rapped her knuckles on Vincent's door. "Are you alright in there, sweetie?" When no answer came, she sighed and rested her forehead on the door. "Look, Vi isn't going to be gone forever. Your father and I are going to find her soon. Neither of us have told you or your sister, but your mother, she's not entirely well. Something happened about a year before you were born that is still affecting her. It's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." Sighing again, Caitlyn gripped the door handle and turned it. "The thing is- Vincent?" Her eyes scanned the room, with no sight of her son. "Vincent, where are you?" She pulled the blankets off of the bed and didn't find him, with the same result after opening the wardrobe. "Jayce!" After Caitlyn called his name with a voice filled with panic, Jayce's feet thundered across the floor.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Vincent isn't here!" The two of them stared at each other for a second before Jayce ran to Caylee's room.
"Caylee's gone, too!" Only now did they see the 'XV' painted on the wall above Vincent's bed. Nothing needed to be said. They both knew that they had brushed Vi's concerns off before. And it had cost them the safety of both children.
Not sure how dramatic that last part felt, but I loved it.
