Chapter 4

He didn't quite know where he was gone. But all Garou knew was he needed time and space away from everyone to speak with Pac. Perhaps, there was one place he could go. It was where he took Boros to train and ironically, where Garou himself went after Saitama defeated him.

The moment he landed there, he turned to Pac who appeared to be a mess. He began to cry before roaring out to the heavens in anguish. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

Garou stood there as his son unleashed his pent up anger and frustration. He began questioning himself. Why was he changing, why did he change so much in such a short period of time? How did it happen? Why isn't he the way he was? What happened back at the house of evolution? What made him become that?

Question after question he asked and bombarded himself with, until he fell to his knees and then to the ground crying in sorrow to it all. "Dad… What happened to me?" he whimpered.

Garou took a seat next to him. His hand gently went on his son's back as he gently rubbed it trying to settle him down. "What happened was, you became a lot like me. You remember when I showed your sister and brother the first time I was becoming a monster? Apparently… part of that still existed in me, and manifested in you."

He felt Pac's body tense up. "It… it did…" he whispered.

"Yeah, it did. I didn't think I would have altered you that much but I was wrong. Your body adapted to the environmental change, you were so focused on saving and protecting Zenko, that you began to evolve yourself. You know how that you're thicker and stronger from the chest up, and yet you maintain your serpents from the waist down. Why do you think that is?"

Pac shook his head. "I dunno." He whispered.

"You had intentions of mating with her. I know since I've been there, and know what those instincts will do to you. Your body was preparing for the after portion of said ritual. You had made yourself bigger and stronger so there would be no threats, as you bounded her into yourself…"

Pac shook his head to it all. "She will never want to be with me, not after that… dad… I nearly did it… against her wishes… I am a monster!"

A growl came out of him. And a smack upside Pac's head followed. He was startled by it, but it also made him focus. "Enough with that damn pity party!" Garou scolded. "A monster never would have stopped himself, get it!" he demanded, his son tried to peer away. "Pac… Look at me!"

Slowly, he turned to face him. Pac's eyes widened in shock as Garou glared down at him. "You… will never call yourself such a thing again. I had enough of this. You know what you are. You are my son, you are a hero and you do good for those around you. If you didn't. You wouldn't have given two shit about anyone or anything. Look at yourself. You are crying over what you nearly did. If you are a monster, what the hell are you crying about! Monsters… don't cry!"

Pac's lip quivered, yet the tears stopped as he cleared them away. Instead sat himself up and brought his knees up to his chest. "What do I do? I can't see Zenko for a while, not after what happened… what I nearly did…"

Garou sighed to it all, but perhaps his son needed an escape. "Why don't you go on a trip?" he asked.

Pac was confused. "A trip?" he demanded.

"Yeah, if you want to. Talk to Jag, he came from an area that isn't well known let alone near any of the cities. Get yourself out and explore a little, find yourself, hunt some monsters."

"But… with everything going on with 106…"

"We'll talk to your uncles about a tracker they can put on you. So, what do you say?"

Pac thought it over. "Maybe I do need some time away to clear my head…" he said. "Dad… if Zenko asks about me…"

"I'll just say you are trying to figure yourself out. I am sure she will understand, but I think it would be best if you said something to her before leaving."

There was a reluctant in Pac, Garou wasn't certain if his own son would go through with the task but the idea was at least out there. "Come on kid, wanna go home?"

"Actually, I think I rather stay here for a moment."

"Suit yourself. You know… you can talk to me about this kind of stuff. I mean I am your father. It's what I am here for, right?"

A small smile came over him. "Yeah dad… I know." He said.

"Come home soon, or your mother will hunt you down, trust me… she will!" warned Garou.

He took off that moment, Pac would be home shortly after, but Garou had to speak with the Brawlers first about what they could do to keep his son safe…