Disclaimer: Not mines, anything mentioned by name here isn't mines. Except the OCs.
A/N: I rather have Ace Merrill be the next President.
No matter how many times I replay the words in my head, it still doesn't make a lick of sense to me.
"You're kidding right? Me? A Cobra?"
"Fits like a glove to me." Ace said.
I laughed, but there was no humor behind it. "This is a joke right? Like, any minute Ashton Kutcher gonna jump out and tell me I've been Punk'd right?"
"Who?" He asked, not getting my reference.
"It's nothing." I quickly, said. "But seriously, what makes you think I'd join you? You guys are thugs, you steal cars, you pick on little kids you start fights-"
"Oh don't give me any of that. I know all about you." Ace said, making me blink.
"You know?"
"Yeah, about how the first day you came here, you called Eyeball a dumbass when you bumped into him. You could've just apologize or kept walking but you provoked him first." Hearing that made me lower my head. I did pick the fight first.
"And last I checked, you challenged me to the fight. All I did was accept, you on the other hand could've just clean the glass up and be on your way. Don't try to play innocent victim on me, both times you took what could have been a minor issue and blew it up into a full blown confrontation." I put my face in my hands. Everything he's been saying is true, most of the trouble I've gotten into has been my fault. When I had the courage to look up again, I saw Ace smiling at me, beaming with pride. "Like a proper Cobra."
"I'm not doing this." I quickly said as I got up from the stool. "Thanks for the drink, but I'm not having this conversation." I tried to leave but Ace put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
"I heard your story, about how you ran away from Chicago all the way to here. Probably because no one wanted you back home. No one really wants us here either, that's why we all gotta stick together. You got an anger in you, one that you keep buried deep down by palling around with Choir Boy Denny. Stick with me kid and I'll show you how to use it properly."
I stood there in silence, taking his words in. I felt like Anakin Skywalker and Ace was Emperor Palpatine trying to seduce me into joining the Dark Side. My folks and my friends always told me I had a bit of a anger issue but I never thought it would bite in the ass this badly.
"You're right." I finally said. "I was angry. Angry that I somehow ended up here without any choice and you... you kept provoking me and... I wanted to hurt you. I hated you. I used you to release all my pent up frustration." Tears started to trail from my face. It's pretty rare for me to cry, so you know this is a big deal for me. "But I realize that was wrong. I shouldn't have done that. I'm not like you. I'll never be like you!" And with that, I left Irby's.
"My offer still stands!" I heard Ace call out. "You got Cobra potential in ya and you know it!"
I ran. I didn't know how long I had been running but I just kept going, as though my body was in autopilot. I ran and ran until I stopped to catch my breath. When I wiped the tears from my eyes, I saw I had... made it back to the park. Huh. Small world I guess. It was dark until the street lights finally flickered on. Man the wiring in this town must be faulty. I went a bench to sit down at to let my heart settle when I heard a twig snap. I sat up and turned my head back and forth until I saw a figure appear in the shadows. Oh God, I don't even want to imagine what kind of creatures pop out at night here! But once it emerged into the light, I saw it was... Chris?
"Chris? What are you doing he-" I was about to ask until I notice the shiner he was sporting, the swollen half of his mouth, and the bruises on his arm. "Oh my God, what happen to you?!"
Chris tried to cover himself up but clearly decided against it because, really, what would be the point? "My Dad." He croaked as he came to sit besides me. "Some of our neighbors were setting off fireworks, they woke my Dad up, he accused me of them even though I kept telling him I had nothing to do with it and he..." He trailed off. Hearing that made my heart break and my blood boil. Chris was a pretty alright kid, he didn't deserve this shit. I clenched my fist, maybe I should try picking a fight with Mr. Chambers, have him get arrested for assaulting a minor, probably be the first good thing that would happen to that family. Then I un-clenched since starting fights is how I got on Ace's radar.
"... Not that Eyeball was much help." Chris said, Hearing that broke me from my thoughts.
"Wait Eyeball was there?" I asked and he nodded. "Your brother was there and he did nothing to help?" I was shocked by this.
"Yeah, he kept egging Dad on, agreeing with him that I shouldn't have set off the fireworks even though he knows I had nothing to do with it either." The younger boy explained. We just sat there, listening to the crickets chirping and the fireflies blinking in and out, the wind ruffling the grass and leaves on the trees. It was so serene.
"So, your brother, he really doesn't do anything to stop your dad from..." I trailed off.
"He wasn't always like that once." Chris corrected. I turned to look at him. Sensing it, Chris turned to look at me. "When we were younger, we use to hang out a lot. He tried to protect me from Dad whenever he was on one of his mean streaks. But then he started hanging out with Ace... and now he rarely ever home..."
I dared myself to ask this. "What about your Mom?"
"The same." He said. "She use to try and shield us from Dad: 'Dear stop, you're being too rough!' 'Elton, please, you're hurting them!' Now, it's like she's doesn't even try anymore. And worst, she's as bad as Eyeball, trying to act like it's my fault he gets this way."
Man, the Chambers have got to be the most dysfunctional family I've ever heard. I want to give him a hug right now, but restrained myself, so I just gave him a comforting shoulder squeeze.
"But enough about me man, what about you? You look like you had a rough night too." Chris noted. Oh yeah, my eyes are probably still red and puffy from my crying earlier. I wiped the tears away before answering.
"Chris, am I a good person?" I asked him. The kid was clearly confused by this. "I mean, was I right to challenge Ace like that?"
"Yeah man. If you ask me, I say you won that fight. Like I said, snakes." Chris answered.
"But I was basically pounding his face in when he was completely defenseless Doesn't that make me just as bad as him?" I wanted his opinion.
"Not at all, he's always doing the same to others, so it's about time he got a taste of own medicine." Chris answered truthfully. Meh, figured Chris wouldn't be much help, he hates Ace just as much as I do.
Letting out a sigh, I sat up. "Well Chris, it was nice talkin' to ya. And, and I know you said you don't like it when others take pity on you, but if you ever need to get away from your Dad for a minute or a few hours, my door at Sukey's Tavern is always open. Don't worry about the age restriction either, I don't think Willy minds letting minors stay, I'm proof of that." I chuckled for the first time in a while.
Chris smiled, a real genuine smile. "I'll keep that in mind Bryce." He said getting up also. Then he stuck out his hand. "Skin it."
Now it was my turn to look confuse. "Huh?"
"Skin it, peace." He said. Oh, I got what he meant. Nodding, I gave him a downlow high five.
"What?" Now he looked confused.
"Did I not do it right?"
"Actually, here." He said as he grabbed my hand and ran his palm over it, then flip my hand over and make me run it over his. Oh, now I know what he meant.
"Have a good night Chris. Stay safe and happy Fourth of July." I told him as I departed.
"Happy Fourth to you to man!" He called out, waving me off.
Talking with Chris had help a little, well not much, but it felt like some weight had been lifted off my shoulders. So here I was, just walking around in darkness, not sure where I was going. I was starting to think maybe I should tell Denny the truth. About how I ended up here and why I'm even here. We've been friends for about four months now, that's gotta amount to something right? Would he even believe me though? I don't know what I would do if I lost him; him and Willy have been the only things keeping me sane since I've came to this dinky little town. Both ground me in different ways: Willy by giving me a home and a father figure, Denny by his kindness and friendship. I don't know where I would be without either of them.
Taking a deep breath, I decided then and there what I should do. I just hope he was still there.
I had made my way back Irby's and sure enough, Ace was still there shooting a game. And from the looks of it, Eyeball and Vince were there. I walked through the door and came over to them. None notice me until Ace flicked his eyes up and straighten himself, a smile appearing on his face. Not a smirk, an actual smile.
"Well boys, lookie who's here." Ace announced as Eyeball and Vince looked over, their faces instantly souring.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Eyeball demanded.
"Yeah, this is a private game." Vince added his two cents.
I ignored them and kept my attention directly at Ace. "So your offer still good?" And Ace's smile widen.
"What's he talkin' about man? Why you makin' deals with this Cocknocker?" Eyeball questioned.
Ace came over and put an arm around me.
"Now now fellas, that ain't no way of talking to a future Cobra in the makings." Ace told him, both their jaws hitting the floor.
TBC
A/N: Yep, making this chapter a two-parter if you will, but it does segway into what will be the final stretch of chapters for this fic. Much appreciation for everyone who has stayed with this. R&R.
A/N2: Let's make America Big Time Baby again.