Still got it baybeeee

It was 9:03 in the morning in Downtown Southtown, and although Rock had been at work for exactly ten seconds, he was already mentally exhausted. Iori Yagami was a handful and so many nonsensical things seemed to happen around him that Rock stopped trying to find rhyme and reason in it. He just walked into work every day and dealt with whatever bullshit his boss dumped him in.

("Is he the guy?")

("Yeah. Call the boss.")

Today? A whole bunch of gangsters were arranged on the 'office' couches when Rock walked in. They had obviously broken in from the back door - which was now laying flat across the concrete floor - and were making themselves quite comfortable in the storefront. All of them had handguns on their waistbands, pressed suits, and seemed to be earnestly waiting for somebody.

It was a surprise to be sure, but after the initial shock - Rock greeted them with an almost bored acceptance.

Scary people showed up at work fairly often. The first time it happened, Rock almost had a panic attack. After Iori's flashy involvement with the Triads in Shanghai (something that Rock was partially responsible for) he was now considered an active member of the 'underworld' and people were crawling out of the woodwork to chat with him.

Unfortunately, Rock was usually in the way - and had spent a ridiculous amount of time with his hands duct taped behind his back as Iori did his best to convince people he wasn't interested and to 'leave me the fuck alone you shitwads! Next time I see your face I'll gut you! etc...'

So when Rock saw gangsters, got patted down, and got his hands duct taped behind his back, he knew he was just going to sit there like a sack of potatoes until his Boss arrived to kick everyone out. He was convinced that this time would be no different, and was almost dismissive of these particular henchmen... until somebody threw a hood over his head and wrestled him into a van.

At this point, he felt a bit silly, a bit ashamed, and very scared. Although he was compromised and no longer able to put up much of a fight, he still did his best. He nearly exhausted himself hollering, squirming around, and kicking shins. Hell - he swore he bit somebody (he received a punch to the gut for that one). He had even managed to break out of his duct-tape, but was immediately seized upon and had actual handcuffs snapped around his wrists.

And now, here he was - sitting on a cold metal bench wearing a pair of handcuffs and a black bag over his head. The air was stale and smelled earthy, as if he were in some damp basement. There was nothing restraining him from standing up to attempt a blind escape, but he knew for certain there were at least three people watching his every move. His stomach ached where he was struck, and honestly, he was still reeling from the experience. This would be the… second time he was kidnapped this year? Seriously? What the hell is going on… Did those Chinese guys I let go come back for me? No wa-

*Fwip*

Ah Damn!

Rock snarled and twisted away as his hood was yanked off and a flashlight was shoved in his face, effectively blinding him. He squinted and blinked, trying to see past the glaring light to the person behind in an attempt to memorize any notable features for identification. Rock was so pissed off, he wasn't just going to tell his Dad and Mary about this - but also Iori. Whichever bastard dared kidnap him had better get ready for hell to come down on them, becau...

"...you!"

"Hi, Rocky-boy."

Rage turned to recognition turned to disgust.

A face mirroring his - the same fine features (yet so different in expression and spirit) that could only be attributed to a blood relation. A slight figure, tall, willowy, and dressed in a starched white suit. Rock met Kain Heinlein's unsettling leer with gritted teeth and a pointed glare.

Kain Heinlein.

Rock Howard's creepy uncle who - as far as he was concerned - was a bad influence in the past, and thereby a bad person in the present. Rock didn't share many good memories with his late mother, but had plenty of tragic ones and always held whatever warnings she uttered close to his heart. Apparently much of her heartache had been caused, either directly or indirectly, by her violent, obsessive little brother. Rock wasn't going to hunt him down - he was precious to mom after all… but that didn't mean Rock had any love for the man who had just kidnapped him from his workplace.

"What the hell do you want?! Let me go!"

"Oh, No. That won't do Rocky-boy… we've got a job to d- ack!"

Rock managed to kick his uncle in the shin. One of the bodyguards seized him and another pulled out his firearm to press it against his temple. Rock paid them no mind. Not because he was being brave, or had come to a rational conclusion nobody would shoot him, but rather he'd become so frustrated he was suffering a bit of tunnel vision. He began to shout.

"Let me go right now! I remember what Mom said about you. I won't help you do anything. Let me go, right now or my Boss is gonna come looking for me! It's already been like an hour, and he's definitely at work by now! Are you tryin-"

Kain scowled at him, evidently unhappy he needed to negotiate with an angry, rather bratty kid. He made an attempt anyways.

"Listen to me, boy. The time is right to take down Geese's empire. I need your help. Don't you want revenge for your mother, because I want revenge for my sister? I know I always caused Marie trouble, but I loved her. She knew that."

Rock flinched at 'that man's name. The reaction wasn't lost on Kain - whose scowl had softened into a gentle smile. A smile which was infuriatingly reminiscent of his mother's. His voice was as smooth as honey, but there was a dangerous glint in his eye. Rock's instincts were telling him not to trust this man.

"You hate him, don't you? Help me bring him down. He betrays all his family, first Marie, then you, then me... and now it's high time he pays for his sins. Join forces with me! Now's the right time! We'll purge our blood. Take down that Hated man - Geese Howard!"

"..."

Rock would be lying to himself if he claimed not to be interested, but he certainly couldn't make a decision like this under such duress. Although he had come to some kind of peace within himself, and Ms. Kagura had scrubbed Orochi's curse from his blood - his father's legacy still overshadowed him. He still felt the deepest urges of his blood stirring him to violence, albeit the influence was muted and had become less of a danger, and more of a pestering.

Purge my blood? Does that… work? No… Rocky, what are you thinking… you can't go to war for nothing like this… deep breaths…

Rock sucked a lungful of air, and let it out slowly. He glared at Kain.

"Let me go, Uncle. It's almost 10. My boss will start looking for me."

Kain fidgeted. Clearly he knew who Rock was referring to. After a moment of deliberation, he nodded to the bodyguards and Rock knew he had won. They placed the hood back over Rock's head and stood him up to drive him back to the 'office'. Just as they began to walk, a card was slipped into Rock's jacket pocket and Kain offered a final plea.

"Well, Rocky-boy… if you change your mind, call the number on the card. Think about it, for your Mother's sake."

Precious little Rocky... ehehehe I screw this kid up man. gg