The Lion of Vale
Chapter 12
Outside of O'Malley's
The motor bike idled softly for a moment before I went to switch off the ignition. Sitting in the silence was calming, more than usual for me. The outside of the bar was quiet with a few strangers either too drunk or too shady to care about what my business was here for. Getting off the bike, I started my walk to the shabby establishment. It wasn't much to the naked eye, just a place to escape reality as they would call it. To others such as myself who have dwelled even some time in the criminal underworld, it is a haven for fugitives, to obtain information, or even conduct clandestine meetings from society. The best part, even the establishment itself is corrupt, so they wouldn't call the cops. But rather deal with it themselves.
Opening the door, all eyes immediately turned to me to examine me, or rather to ask if I was a cop. On immediate site, they knew I was nothing of the kind. However, a few knew me just by appearance alone. Of who I was and what my reputation meant to them.
"Holy shit..."
"Is that the Black Lightning?"
"When the fuck did he get back into the business?"
"I heard he has a code, that he will only hunt certain criminals."
"I just hope he doesn't mean us."
The conversations continued to the side as I picked the booth farthest away from the main door and closest to the back exit as I took off my mask and placed it on the table. Sighing, I raised my hand to the bartender as he sent over a young woman to my booth, much to her discontent past the flirting men.
"W-What can I get for you sir?" She asked in a nervous tone, as if I was going to hurt her. Which I wouldn't do regardless.
"It's alright, you can relax. I just want a scotch, that's all." I said kindly to the young woman who only looked 18 or a year older. It must have been bad enough for her to work in an area such as this.
"Make it two young lass." A man said sitting across from me. He wore an open faced shirt with a necklace that had a cross laid on his side. He had slicked back hair and brown eyes with a slight fade as he set down a large buster type sword on the floor.
"Mind if I ask who you are." I said as he chuckled with a slight slur in his speech.
"Qrow Branwen, Huntsmen." He responded.
"Never heard of a Huntsmen getting hammered in a shit bar like this." I responded as the girl set down our drinks before Qrow immediately began to chug his glass.
"Didn't realize you had gotten back into the game. You have a reason for doing it, or do you like the thrill." He asked downing the rest of his drink.
"And why should I tell you, I just met you Qrow. How do I not know you aren't an associate of the Schnee Corporation or a friend of Ironwood's?" I asked as he slammed his glass down on the table.
"Listen here kid, I am only going to tell you once. I hate the Schnee's. More than any one man like yourself. And two, Ironwood can go fuck himself. I came to talk, is that too much to ask or should I let my fighting do the talking?" He asked me as I reached for my Gunblade.
"That is enough Uncle, you should really tone down the booze." Yang yelled as she burst into the bar with everyone immediately falling into silence.
"Uncle? So Yang is your.."
"My Niece yes, which is why I approached you kid. If Yang seems to trust a shady man like yourself. So do I, although I am not a fan of that hair." He mentioned.
"Thanks asshole. Took you long enough Yang." I said.
"Well it wasn't a waste, Qrow here has some information for you that you may find appealing." Yang mentioned as I turned my head back to crow.
"Well she is right, we have a new mystery player in town. I can't get a positive ID on the man because I am not sure if he even exists, however, circles and others around have come up with a name that they have heard over and over." Qrow said.
"And that is?" I asked.
"The name is Sephtis." He said as my heart skipped a beat at the name of me hearing it. No, that was impossible. Flyresa put a lance through his throat. There was no way in hell he was still alive unless...no...No god no.
"Kid! You alright? Looks like that name means something to you. You completely zoned out and went as pale as a ghost." Qrow said.
"That name nearly killed my wife, nearly killed me. That name nearly ruined what was left of my life while I was still a Vigilante. I remember Flyresa killing the man. That is what I don't understand about this whole situation." I said wiping away the sweat from my face.
"It's possible that this new character is using it as a moniker. But if that is the case. Then why use that specific name. Unless.." I stopped Yang mid-sentence.
"Unless they are using it to get at me alone. Which means whoever this person is, they have a personal vendetta against me. The only two people I can think of are Winter Schnee, who isn't dumb enough to go after me. Knowing the consequences and Victor Schnee who is now dead. Which leaves no one. Because anyone who could hunt me is dead." I explained.
"I'll look more into this Sephtis, but I don't think I'll get anywhere." He said raising his drink as the glass shattered quickly followed by a gunshot as he held his hand mid-air still staring at it. "That was good scotch. Who the fuck had the balls to shoot my scotch?" Qrow asked as I saw the young man in a long brown coat with short black hair and a recently fired pistol in his left hand.
"Oops, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was aiming for Mr. Rhodes, not you Old man." The man said as Yang quickly equipped her Ember Celica. Sighing, I got up from my seat looking at the boy.
"And are you another one of Yang friends?" I asked.
"Kyran, that is not my friend."
"200 Million, that is what you will be to me: Dead or Alive." He said drawing a second pistol.
"Bounty Hunter." I said aloud drawing my Gunblade as I pushed Qrow out of the way.
"What the fuck kid? This boy shot my scotch." Qrow said.
"He wants me, not either of you. Now let us take this outside." I said to the bounty hunter as he gave a nod of approval as Yang grabbed my wrist.
"Kyran.."
"I'll be fine Yang." I assured her as she let me go before I walked past the terrfied bystanders to the cold exterior of the bar to where my bounty hunter gave a smile.
"Glad you could be so accommodating. Sure you don't want to come in alive?" He commented.
"You're quite the smart-ass aren't you? I never caught your name." I said.
"Since it won't matter, Gabriel Kerrigan." He said as I instantly recognized the name.
"From the Kerrigan Family huh? Was rich boy life not enough for you?" I joked as he holstered his pistols and drew a long sword from under his coat.
"No, your head was enough for me." He finished before charging me as our swords clashed quickly as he rushed with a flurry of attacks, quick enough to keep me on my toes. It went on for some time, with neither of us gaining any ground. It was only when he took his free hand and pulled out the pistol did things change. It was then, did I hear a familiar voice.
"FATHER!" The voice screamed as loud as it could, clouding all of my senses. In that brief moment, I felt a sharp pain in my side as I raised my left arm where his sword clashed with the metal as I struggled against it.
"A metal arm huh? Sneaky little bastard aren't you?" Gabriel scoffed as a concussive blast flew past my head, forcing the Bounty hunter to jump back.
"Get away from him damn it!" Yang screamed as I sighed in brief relief holding my right side, picking myself off the ground, looking behind me briefly to see both Yang and Qrow ready to fight off my rich boy bounty hunter.
"Not about to try my luck with you Ms. Xiao Long." Kerrigan said as he began to run off.
"KERRIGAN! GET THE FUCK BACK HERE NOW!" She screamed as he disappeared into the city streets before I turned to face her. Yang looked down at my waist in terror.
"Is s-something wrong?" I asked her as I lifted my hand off my side seeing blood before looking to notice a fresh bullet wound. Chuckling softly, I gave a small smile.
"Huh, so that's it." I said softly before collapsing on the ground, hearing a barrage of footsteps quickly in pursuit.
All I saw next was darkness, was that what it was like to be dead?
