Things do not improve much, after hitting that low.

However. Learning that he could still puppet Frank Taylor at a distance goes a long way toward cooling Xaviax's temper. Hospitals, houses, other worlds—it doesn't matter how far away they are; his backdoor into the vegetative minds of his captives remains. It is perfect. More than perfect. At last, he has a way back into Kit's mind—a way to misdirect him and manipulate his feelings and actions. Wing Knight has had the only key to influencing that numbskull for far too long.

After the setbacks Dragon Knight has caused him, the irreparable damage he has done just because Xaviax has chosen to keep his kid gloves on for the boy, it feels like justice to use his father's face and voice to drive a wedge between him and his precious teammate. "Blood is thicker than motor oil, Kit." It's genius. Truly inspired. Throw in a bit of a threat, a reason to dread the near future, and the boy is back on his way to eating out of Xaviax's hands.

Then he tries to bring the same recipe to deal with Danny Cho: manufactured sympathy, fatherly understanding, a bit of a firm hand. And it goes about as well as he expected.

"I don't care about that stuff! He Vented my brother. Nobody hurts my family. Nobody."

The poor, simple fool. Thinking that anybody left on this Earth gives a damn about his familial pride.

"Danny..." he says patiently, patiently. He knows how to play by now. He must be patient with these dumb creatures. Patient! "...you made me a promise. You also took my money! You told me the Cho brothers were honorable men—"

"That was before! Family honor comes first."

(First?)

"You can take back your stupid money."

The poor, stupid, simple fool.

Xaviax lets the words sting the air. Then he waits, and waits, until the static surrounding him is undeniable and Danny would have to be as stupid as his brother not to know he is in trouble.

"Take. Back. The money...?"

He advances. Axe retreats.

"TAKE. BACK. THE. MONEY?"

He advances again. Axe retreats again. But it's too late for that nonsense. He may not be able to vent his full frustration on Dragon Knight yet, but his own incompetent goons are absolutely fair game.

All Xaviax has to do is twitch one finger. Then Axe's breath is gone, and he's lifted in the air as easily as a kitten.

"I own you, you little hoodlum. Either you do what I say, or you get what Albert got! Do you understand!?"

He doesn't let the boy down until he promises Xaviax his absolute obedience, his avoidance of the Dragon, and his continued loyalty. Well—he doesn't get to say all of that with his air supply nearly cut off, but Xaviax is a master at reading body language. Danny swears to follow instructions, and his quick pulse and sweaty forehead say the rest.

"Don't. EVER. Forget."

"I promise—I promise!"

It's sufficient, for now. In the back of his mind, however, Xaviax starts a tally, and adds a mark. A strike against his little axe. Too many of those, and he won't be worth keeping around.