Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 3 – Testimony That I Alone Am Left To Bare.
Raptor's POV.
Two broken ribs and another case of internal bleeding. Seems times have changed. Before I just got shot and stabbed. At least now people have the respect to beat me up, instead of just jumping ahead of themselves and shooting me.
Alicia was helping me wrap up my ribs, but even she was scared to lay a hand on me right now. My mood and my anger haven't been this bad since Pakistan. But I'm not mad at anyone but G.U.N. All the shit I went through to see that treaty got passed, and it's tossed away like every other piece of paper on a desk. Alicia knew it better then anyway I wasn't going to just let that happen, and I know for a fact I won't be the only one. Commander Shadow Robotnik was a hero. He meant something to this country and I'll be damned if G.U.N destroys what he sacrificed so much for.
I wonder if Hannon or Mason knows about this yet.
As Alicia finished helping me clean up, she came back into my face to frown.
"God Raptor, what were you thinking?" She asked, as I looked back to the mirror to find a big black and blue mark along my right cheek.
Anger still controlled my voice.
"I can't just take what that asshole said! He and all of G.U.N are going against the treaty Shadow died to get! Do you understand how much I went through keeping him alive so he could sign that fucking thing!?" I asked towards her in force, as she nodded and quickly replied.
"I was there baby. Do you remember? I sat behind a desk doing paperwork. I filled out requisition forms. I got you coffee whenever you needed it."
"Real funny." I stated in an annoyed tone as she smiled and replied.
"I'm just saying we're not part of that anymore. We're trying to focus on us. Not the rebellion."
"There won't even be a rebellion Alicia! Archer said that to my face! G.U.N is sending troops over sometime next month to replace us! To replace the real people of this country!"
Alicia fell silent, as I said to her in concern.
"When Shadow died I promised him I would move on and take care of my family."
"And you are baby." Stated Alicia as I shook my head.
"That won't matter if G.U.N retakes control through a means lesser then war. I can't just stand by and let what Shadow did fade away."
"Yes you can Raptor. The rebellion? G.U.N? They don't matter anymore. We got through it. Our kids are our priority now. Don't put yourself back in harm's way or more things like this will happen. And the last thing I want is for you to get killed."
"I don't die Alicia." I stated as she leaned her head to the side to reply.
"Maybe twelve years ago, but you're getting old baby."
Immediately I replied.
"I'm thirty seven!"
"Still! Back in Pakistan you were only twenty five. I'm just saying you're not capable of what you could do back then."
"Watch me." I urged her as she then asked.
"Can I at least ask what you're planning on doing?"
Making my way to the exit out of our bathroom, I replied.
"I'm going to talk to Hannon. If anyone knows for sure what is going on around here it's him."
"He's in Pakistan." Stated Alicia as I nodded.
"I'll go this weekend. After my appointment with Dr. Clamer."
Alicia didn't like this, but she calmly let me walk, and as I left her sight; I heard Ghost exit his room from down the hall.
Ghost was my little boy. Named after a friend of mine who also died in the war. Of course he doesn't know that. The last thing I want to do is drag my kids into a life that made me the way I am now.
Seeing me approach him from his door, Ghost stopped in his tracks to ask.
"What happened to your face dad?"
Getting down on my knees in front of him, I replied.
"Accident. It was stupid. You wana go to the movies?" I asked him in a soft tone as he took a moment to think.
Ghost had my quills. All gray with some darker streaks fading in. I'm sure they will get bolder as he gets older, but until then I'm just happy to know he has something from me besides his arrogance at times.
"I thought you would like to see the new Ninja Turtles movie." I stated as he looked back into my eyes to reply.
"Is mom coming?"
Shaking my head as I heard Alicia behind me, I replied.
"Nope. Just me and you buddy. Thought it would be nice to spend some time together for once. I know I haven't done that much with you lately cause of work and all, but I'm sorry, and I wana make it up to you somehow."
Ghost being as small as he is for only being twelve, boldly replied.
"I'm not really in the mood for the movies. Maybe some other time."
My eyes widened as he then ran off down the stairs.
Alicia, who remained by the bathroom, quickly began to chuckle.
Slowly I looked back.
"Little bastard."
Giving me a smile, Alicia replied.
"He's your son remember? He gets it from you."
Letting my efforts to be a father pass me by once again, I looked back to Alicia to ask.
"Well what about you?"
"Me?" She questioned as I nodded.
"Yeah you. My loving and caring wife. Wana go out tonight? Maybe catch some dinner?" I wondered in an already sure tone that she would say yes.
"Sorry my loving husband, but I can't tonight."
My heart dropped like a brick.
"You're all a bunch of assholes. You know that?" I asked her as I made my way down the stairs to her laughter behind me.
As we made it down the small flight and into the living room, I looked to find Ghost on the couch watching TV.
"Hey, killer?" I said as he looked back.
"Where's your sister?" I asked him next as I got behind him.
"Down the street with Janey I think."
Gently looking over to my wife, she replied.
"I said it was only until dinner."
Nodding my head, I replied.
"You just assumed I was cooking tonight? Is that why you said no to our date?" I questioned her as she shook her head slowly.
"No. I have to go to school tonight dear. Remember? So I just planned on a small dinner before I have to go."
Why do they want you at the school?" I asked in confusion as I tried to sit down next to Ghost, who immediately got up and walked towards the kitchen.
Alicia and I both watched as he left and sensing my disappointment she replied.
"Parent teacher conference."
"Did they do something wrong?" I questioned as she declined with a shake of her head.
"Not from what I was told. If they did I'll find out when I get there, but you know your daughter." She stated, as I nodded and sat back into the couch.
"Yeah I do. A sweet little angel just like her mother. But it's Ghost who worries me."
"Just give it time. I'm sure he'll come around if you just keep bugging him." Stated Alicia as I then asked to be sure.
"So I just keep following our son and pin as much love and care onto him as I can?"
"Exactly." She replied with a kiss to my cheek.
"Now get cooking. I'll go fetch Midnight."
Remaining on the couch with my new task at hand, I let out a thin breath of air to watch as my wife left to go find our daughter.
As time passed, I began to hear some racket coming from the kitchen.
Calmly getting up and heading into the nicely lit room, I found my son setting up some boxes on the counter.
"What you doing?" I asked him, as I approached with confusion marking my face.
My son had placed a box of mashed potatoes, a can of corn, and another larger box of chicken he got from the fridge on the counter in front of me, and quickly replied.
"If you're making dinner dad, then you might as well make something that doesn't require you to think too much."
My ears shot up as he looked back at me with anger.
I was too shocked to hear such a thing from my own son, and during my silence he managed to turn and head off back to the stairs.
I watched in complete loss of what just happened, and as he ran back upstairs, I heard the front door open with my wife and daughter behind it.
"Daddy!" She shouted as I remained still in the kitchen.
Alicia gave me away in a second of my lack to respond, and as Midnight came rushing my legs for a hug, Alicia looked into my eyes, unaware of what just happened.
Slowly breaking out of my train of thought, I got down hugging my daughter who asked immediately.
"What are you making?"
"Go have a look." I urged her as she detached and ran for the counter to inspect the food my son had laid out.
As she was engulfed by the interest in our future dinner, Alicia came close to ask quietly.
"What's wrong?"
Giving her a confused look, I replied.
"Our son just insulted my intelligence and ran up to his room."
Alicia was also caught off guard by the act and calmly replied.
"I'll go talk to him. How about you help your daughter?" She wondered as I gently questioned.
"With what?"
Giving me a hint to turn around, I widened my eyes to see she was attempting to open the packet she found in the box of mashed potatoes.
"Oh baby! Don't...!"
Her little hands and force broke the packet in half, and in no longer then it took me to move, all the powder went up in the air above her and onto her small little black body.
Midnight was a little black hedgehog with purple eyes. She got none of that from me or Alicia, and that's because she isn't our real daughter. We adopted her when her real mother and father passed away back in the war. Of course, we still think of her as our daughter and show her all the love her real mother and father would have given her, but in the end we're just making her feel as if she is. One day when she is older, I'll tell her, but until then we keep going.
A faint yellow color now engulfed her, and Alicia quickly made her way out saying.
"Have fun!"
With my eyes widened still, I took Midnight away from the food and urged.
"Why don't you let daddy worry about the cooking baby?"
Smiling with powder covering her eyes, she replied.
"Okay dad!"
I let my smile appear once more, and in happiness I took her little hand to say.
"Let's get you cleaned up."
Midnight left trails of footprints behind her and on the stairs as we went up to the bathtub.
Quickly turning on the water and watching as she began to jump around with the powder beginning to cover me, I said.
"You're going to be the death of me."
Midnight laughed to the statement and continued to jump as the tub began to fill.
An hour later.
Everyone sat around the table enjoying their dinner. Everyone except my son, who just ran his fork through his food.
"What's wrong honey?" Asked Alicia softly, as I went back to continue eating my chicken.
Ghost hesitated at the answer, and as a few seconds passed he replied.
"I'm not hungry."
Alicia then looked to me for rebuttal.
Gently putting down my fork, I said.
"You haven't eaten all day."
Immediately Ghost replied.
"Not like you would know."
Alicia sensed my anger, as I asked in a hint of it.
"What does that mean?"
Ghost glared at me as I replied to my own question.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here this morning, but I had to go to the doctors."
Ghost had my talent for arguing and immediately replied.
"It's not just today dad! You're always going somewhere!"
"Cause I have to provide for our family Ghost!" I stated in confusion as he replied.
"Does it ever make sense to you dad that maybe just spending some time home is more then enough?"
Alicia quickly jumped in.
"That's enough! From both of you!"
As I went to respond, Alicia placed her hand in front of me.
"Not a word!"
I felt the chain being tugged hard as she then looked to Ghost who put down his fork in anger.
"Your father does everything for you Ghost. The least you can do is tell him that you love him and your sorry." Stated Alicia as I looked for my son to acknowledge me.
Slowly looking back into my eyes, he replied.
"If I did that it would be a lie."
Midnight remained quiet as Alicia and I both sat there in shock.
Quickly getting up from the table, Ghost made his way back up to his room.
Alicia continued to watch as our son left, and quickly putting down my fork and napkin, I stood up from the table to say.
"I'll be home later."
Alicia was caught off guard from my statement and quickly asked.
"Where are you going?"
Taking my keys up from off the counter, I replied.
"I just need time to be alone."
In sadness, Alicia and my daughter both watched as I exited the house to get into the car parked out in the driveway.
I sat in the driver's seat for a few seconds before turning on the engine to go, but as I pulled out into the street I knew where I was headed.
It worked back in Pakistan, it can work here.
I'm going to try and post five chapters a week for this series. So that means we still have two more left to read. The next one will be on tomorrow. Stay tuned and please review.
mT Shadow