2
10 years later
Squall smirked as one of three burly men attacked him in front of a remedy store. Easily dodging the man's blow, he pushed out his leg, tripping the inexperienced fighter, "My brother just never gives up, does he?"
A few girls cheered for him as he made a public display of his fighting abilities.
Squall's wolf, Dran, sat obediently by the side of a dusty pathway, waiting for his master's orders incase he needed help.
Squall's fist connected with another's jaw, sending him flying backwards, "I hope this is worth the money he is paying you, or I wouldn't be wasting my time like this."
Grey eyes flashed with amusement as the third thought to catch him off guard.
"Dran!"
The order came. The white wolf was there in a flash, knocking the man to the ground in one strong leap and baring his fangs as he held him pinned to the ground.
"Good boy." Squall patted his wolf, "How about you guys call it a day? You could go ahead of me to collect your payment. Oh and here." Squall punched the guy, "A bruise to take with you so that he would believe you did your best."
The man glared at Squall as the crowd went wild, laughing and clapping for the brunet's hundredth victory that week.
Squall waved to Dran, "Let's go."
"You're late." Gavin enunciated.
"It's sorely your fault, nii-san." Squall pouted as he walked in, leaving the door open behind him.
Their cottage was a small peaceful place that held the broken family together.
Gavin grinned, "You need to train once in a while or your abilities will rot."
"Once in a while! Nii-san, you make me train all the time. The poor guys always lose and I sympathize with their pain."
Gavin frowned, "So you thought you would get back at me and create your own army?"
"Huh?" Squall looked down at Dran who was growling at something behind him.
The brunet turned and frowned, "Nii-san, is this one of your jokes?"
"Hell no."
Squall rolled his eyes, "They look like they are here for trouble, you know."
"Yeah, for once I totally agree with you."
"What do you mean 'for once'! I'm always right."
Gavin chuckled, "Well, you are only right because I taught you. So the credit is always mine."
Squall frowned at his brother's faulty logic, "Well…are you going to help me?"
"Help you…my dear little brother," Gavin began as he walked out of the cottage, his brother following close behind, "I am going to give you a glimpse of what true power looks like."
Squall rolled his eyes as he counted fifteen armed men, "They don't fight fair…look at those clubs and whips."
Gavin nodded in agreement, "It's fashion to play dirty these days, haven't you heard?"
Squall laughed, "You know, nii-san, courtesy states that you ask what those men are here for. Haven't you learned anything from mama's lectures?"
Gavin bowed in mock courtesy, "Oh, do forgive my insolence, but you did hear my brother's question."
One man stepped forward, "Our king has honored you by asking…no telling you to come to his royal court."
"Well…" Gavin's eyes hardened as the king was mentioned, "Tell your king we are not worthy of such an honor."
The man frowned, "You are to be forced if you do not agree to come quietly."
Gavin walked over to the man, "Tell your king to get lost and if he wants anything he could 'honor' us by coming here himself…or is he scared?"
Squall's eyes widened at his brother's anger. Gavin never looked scarier. The glare in his eyes…the man was actually snarling…and Squall could bet his brother's growl was more menacing than Dran's.
"We cannot allow you to speak like that of our king."
"Really?" Gavin drawled out, "And exactly what are you planning on doing? Give us a lecture?"
The man nodded to his men, who crouched, preparing for attack.
"Squall?"
"Yes?"
"How about we show these kind men a taste of our reputable hospitality?"
Squall chuckled, "After you, nii-san."
"You told me they were fifteen, Squall…I see your counting abilities are as poor as your looks."
Gavin ducked a blow as he fought to defend his brother's back, knowing Squall was also defending his.
"My looks? Hey…I'm hot…everyone says so. My looks are as decent as my abilities."
Gavin chuckled, driving a kick to one of the soldier's chest, sending him flying back into another guy.
"Your wolf looks like he's enjoying this."
Squall frowned, "Is it okay to kill them?"
"Yeah. Self-defense. They're better off dead than serving that mule of a king anyway."
There were startled gasps and angered growls from the loyal soldiers as they tried to stop the brothers. Squall fought over a sword with one of the soldiers, trying to dodge attacks from two others at the same time.
Gavin appeared out of nowhere, "You know, Squall, I don't think I ever taught you this trick before."
Squall clenched his teeth, his arms beginning to hurt from the strain of holding on to the weapon.
"If ever you are in the position you are in now…against a man too, just knee him…try it now."
Squall grinned and followed his brother's instructions. The man before him fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
There weren't many soldiers left…ten from the many that had actually been there at the beginning.
Gavin took in deep breaths as he grabbed one of the men and rammed his head in an oak tree's bark.
"I always loved this tree." He told the unconscious man.
Squall dodged one of the attacker's blows and sent one of his own, never missing his opponent, sending his crashing against another fallen soldier.
Gavin's brown eyes sparkled as he took on another soldier and another, making sure their pain would still be there when they come around.
He was bleeding form several cuts and bruises were already eminent on his jaw. Squall looked like hell too. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and he had a black eye. Dran was uninjured, but his fur had seen better days.
Squall gasped for breath as a man jumped at him from behind.
"Hey, you bastard, get off my little brother." Gavin ruthlessly kicked the man's side, making him curl in pain. Gavin extended his arm for Squall and pulled him up, "You look like hell." He chuckled before dodging a kick that would have been painful.
Squall smiled, "You look just as good, nii-san."
"Excuse me boys, but I would suggest you stand where you are if you give a cat's spit about this sickly looking woman." A voice called from behind them.
Dran lunged, intending to attack the one who had dared to touch Elisa.
"Mother!" the brothers cried in unison.
Elisa coughed in the man's grasp.
"Get your filthy hand off of her!" Squall snarled.
Gavin held the brunet's arm and glared at the man, "Leave her alone. It's us you want."
"Shut up. No more jumping around and showing off your skill. It's what got you in this mess the first place. Now if you would be so kind as to let us tie you up and take you with us…of mama here will be having a hard time you know."