Chapter 6: Forging of True Friendships

Over half an hour later, Victor was standing at the edge of a pier, staring at the sea. He always found any large body of water calming. The sea or the ocean usually worked the best in relaxing him. He needed the peace after his behavior earlier. "Why did I do that?" Victor whispered. He scratched his head, "Why did I do that? Why did I do that? Why, why, why? I know better. Trying to fight the Breaker alone… it's never worked. Especially after I used all that power!" He growled, throwing his head back, "Losing control like that! I know better! I did that in front of the Guardians, too. Dammit. They probably think I'm insane."

"No more than we already did," Mako joked.

Victor gasped and turned around to see Usagi, Rei, Cass, and the rest of the group, back in their civilian attire. With them were also Luna and Artemis.

"Hey, Vic."

"H-Hey!" Victor studied the group. "All of you… are here?" He looked at Cass.

"Wasn't my idea," Cass smiled. "I was gonna let you have your space but they insisted." He walked over and stared at the water, "I guess…" he folded his arms, "they really do see you as a friend."

"Not just him," Ami smiled.

Cass looked over at Ami and nodded.

"And you had nothing to do with them coming here?" Victor asked.

Cass looked at Victor. "What are you talking about? I was gonna let you pout like the toddler you are until you got it out of your system." He turned his attention back toward the water, "I came to admire the bay. The view in Japan is so beautiful!"

"You're so kind and considerate," Victor said, dryly. He looked back at the others. "Listen, everyone… I… I'm really sorry about that. I… have some anger issues. I forget how bad they are until I see those two."

"We get it," Mako reassured.

"At least you have a reason," Usagi declared. "Unlike Rei."

Rei's eye twitched.

"Usagi, really?" Ami asked.

"Well, I'm just saying," Usagi replied.

"Well, to be fair, Usagi, it feels like you provoke Rei more often than not," Victor joked.

"Those who lives in glass houses…" Cass mused.

"Stare at the water!"

Cass chuckled, softly.

"Thank you, Victor," Rei smiled. "You're such an observant man."

Usagi growled, "Hey! Why are you nice to him and not me?!" She looked at Victor, "And why make fun of me?!"

"I wasn't making fun," Victor smiled. "I just couldn't help but notice…"

"Oh, yeah?! Well, your clothes are stupid!"

"HEY! I take that personally! My style is impeccable!"

"You have an obsession with t-shirts," Cass declared.

"I SAID STARE AT THE WATER!" Victor shouted.

"You should dress more like Cass!" Usagi teased. "At least, he looks like a real man!"

Victor growled then calmed down. "You know what? That would sting if you didn't dress like every romcom manga character ever!"

Ami, Rei, Mako, and Minako blinked. They all looked at Usagi, studying her silently.

"You know what?" Minako asked. "He's right."

"How have we never noticed that?" Ami asked.

Usagi growled and turned to Victor, "What would you know about manga?!"

"That you depend on them to pick your outfits day by day!"

"This coming from the guy who can't go five seconds without his music blasting in his ears!"

"I like music!"

"From the shirts you wear, I bet all of your music is lame!"

Victor took an elongated gasp, his mouth and eyes as wide as possible as he pressed his hand to his chest. He held his stance for a few seconds before he scowled at Usagi, "How… dare you! Are you insulting my music?!"

"That, and I'm insulting that you can't go five seconds without it!"

"She's got you there," Cass smirked.

"YOU!" Victor yelled at Cass. "WATER!"

Cass put his hands up in defense again.

Victor turned and glowered at Usagi, slowly advancing toward her, "And you! I'll take a lot! But my music is where I draw the line!"

"I bet it sucks!" Usagi insulted, marching up to him until they were face-to-face.

"IT DOES NOT!"

"Bet it does!"

"Actually…" Rei blushed. "…it… doesn't."

Ami, Mako, and Minako froze for a moment then slowly turned to Rei. "Say what?" Mako asked.

"Rei?" Ami asked. "How do you know that?"

Rei blushed, "Umm…"

"WHATEVER!" Usagi screamed. She looked back at Victor, "Your music still sucks! Just like your style!"

"Okay, that does it!" Victor shouted. "My style is something I pride myself on! Plus, I'd put money you couldn't identify half my musical library! Let alone pronounce it!"

"Are you calling me dumb?!"

"I didn't but if the shoe fits…!"

"This is amazing!" Ami noted.

"Right?!" Minako agreed.

"You're a gigantic jerk, you know that?!" Usagi shouted.

"Least I'm not a whiny crybaby like you!" Victor fired back.

"Better a baby than a no-fashioned-sense moron!"

"Says the girl who's got bon-bons coming out of her head!"

"They're hair buns, you know-nothing idiot!" Usagi shouted.

"Unlike you, I have culture," Victor replied. "I'm actually world-travelled! I know what bon-bons actually look like, so I calls 'em as I sees 'em, sister!"

"Shut your mouth, shadow boy!"

"Make me, moon girl!"

Rei smiled. 'Ohhhh, I really like this guy,' she thought to herself.

"Is this a TV show?" Minako asked. "I need to catch the reruns."

"At least, I don't have a face that would scare small children!" Usagi screamed.

"You'd scare them anyway!" Victor fired back. "You'd steal all their food!"

"Victor…" Cass raised an eyebrow.

"Wha-you're getting on my case?!" Victor defended. "She started it!"

"Did not!" Usagi shouted.

"Did too!"

"Did NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

"And you wonder why only the two of us travel," Cass groaned. He turned around and leaned back against the railing. "But I can tell you're feeling better already. That's gotta be a record. It usually takes me half a day to cheer you up, at least. That was what? 15 minutes."

Victor calmed down and smiled. "What can I say?" He looked at the rest of the group. "They're pretty special."

Everyone smiled.

"I can't argue with that." Cass pushed himself up. "Anyone hungry? I made some spaghetti before the attack. I probably just need to reheat it and throw a salad together. Who's up for dinner?"

"I'M IN!" Usagi shouted.

"That was a quick turn around," Luna noted.

"Someone mentioned food," Rei pointed out. "She always turns around with that." She looked at Victor. "Are you okay with that?"

"As long you all don't mind being around a crazy guy like me," Victor nodded.

"We hang around Usagi," Ami, Mako, Rei, and Minako said in unison, and matter-of-factly.

"WHY IS EVERYONE MAKING FUN OF ME?!" Usagi cried.

During dinner, everyone decided to ignore the subject of Verdune and Bahram. They kept the conversation as light as possible, which mostly consisted of everyone keeping Victor relaxed. Everyone soon discovered how Usagi and Victor were really talented at insulting each other then laughing it off. Cass very much appreciated the sight, as well. Victor was surrounded by people who cared about him, not the title he held.

Two hours later, the girls, Mamoru, and the cats left Cass and Victor's. After arriving at the Hikawa Shrine, everyone was about to head to their own homes when Rei spoke up, "Luna? Artemis?"

Everyone stopped and looked at her. "What is it, Rei?" Luna replied.

"Other Shadow Angels. Isn't Victor… different from them?"

Luna and Artemis looked at each other then back at Rei. "Vastly," Luna answered. "Shadow Angels were supposed to be weapons. Nothing more. Almost cannon fodder but they were cannons themselves. Basically, they were trained to fight and pretty much that was all they were supposed to do. I'll put it this way: if one fell in battle… the rest were supposed to keep fighting no matter what. They weren't comrades… they were tools of war."

"In fact, they weren't even allowed to associate with Sailor Guardians," Artemis added. "Or most anyone else."

"Right."

Mina glared at Artemis. "If you think we're gonna abandon him now…"

"No, not at all," Artemis countered. "I'm just saying… that's how it used to be."

"That Cloister Victor was raised in?" Luna continued. "They probably were training all of them to be just that: weapons. Carry on the tradition. But Victor, he's… he's nothing like past Shadow Angels."

"They trained kids to be weapons?" Mako asked. "Not okay."

"No…" Luna whispered. "It's not…"

"You all have to understand," Artemis began, "when the Shadows Angels first appeared… their powers weren't expected to be on the side of good. No one saw them as potential heroes. People were afraid of them, what they might be if their power grew too great. To keep them under control… they were basically devoid of emotions."

"But for a guy like Victor to have rage like that…" Luna exhaled. "He's nothing like the Shadow Angels of old. The anger… it's for his fallen friends. A righteous fury. No weapon mourns their friends, especially this fervently."

"He was so angry when he saw that Breaker freak," Mako mused. "Poor Vic…"

"Whatever he experienced when he lost his friends…" Mamoru said. "…I can't even imagine the effect it must've had on him."

Rei rubbed her arm, then looked off. All her thoughts solely focused on Victor.

"So, we'll help them take these guys down!" Minako declared. "These monsters hurt our friend! We find those two, and we take them out!"

"Right," Usagi, Rei, Ami, and Mako agreed.

"Do you think there's anything we can do to help Victor, in the meantime?" Ami asked.

Minako smiled. "I think there is. In fact… I think I have a pretty good idea."

"Wait…" Artemis said. "You do?"

Minako winked at Artemis then looked at the group again. "I think Rei should talk to him."

Rei looked up. "Me?"

"Yeah, you. You were the first one of us he met."

"Yeah. So? He gets along with all of us."

"True," Mako agreed. "We could talk combat sports and stuff."

"And he is just a great person to be around," Ami added.

"Speak for yourself," Usagi grumbled.

"You started it, Usagi!" Luna scolded.

"I did not!"

"Mina," Mamoru spoke up, "can I ask why have Rei talk to Victor?"

"Sure." Minako looked at Rei, "'Cause I'm thinkin' it'll mean more if Rei does it." She winked at Rei.

Rei looked off, nervously. "I really don't get how."

"Just trust me on this one. Call it a hunch."

Rei began to blush a bit. "I… I mean, I'll try… I guess. I mean… if it's to help him… why not?"

Mako and Ami looked at each other then back at Rei. "You like him, don't you?" they asked, simultaneously.

Rei roared and walked off.

"She totally does!"

The following morning, Victor sat in a park between his rental home and the Hikawa Shrine. Rei called him earlier, asking if they could meet. No matter what mood he was in, Victor was nowhere near down enough to turndown that invitation. As he sat, Victor observed a family, playing nearby.

"Hey," Rei greeted.

Victor looked up at her and smiled, "Rei, hi."

"Thanks for meeting me."

"Sure. Thanks for calling."

"I didn't know if you wanted to…" Rei said, nervously, "given… everything."

"Last night was hard," Victor admitted. "But… I'm glad you wanted to see me."

"Of course, I did. May I?" she motioned toward the vacant spot on the bench.

"Yeah, sure, please," he said, regretting how eager he sounded.

She sat down. "First things first… are you okay?"

"Not really." He shrugged. "But… I will be. I have to be. I have to fight them."

"I don't know about 'have to be'. You're… all of this hurt you."

"Yeah. But…" Victor looked back at the family. "…if I lose control like that again, the Disciples win… and innocent people die."

"Yeah. I get that." Rei looked at the family as well. "Miss having that?"

"I can't miss it. I never had it. Just…" Victor sighed, "I wonder what that's like."

"You know, Luna and Artemis told us about the Shadow Angels. And, it's really weird."

"Me?"

"No. How the Angels were… are… supposed to be emotionless soldiers but you… you're anything but."

He smiled. "I've been trying. The Cloister taught me to be a powerful weapon. Cass taught me how to be a human. Sister Rebekah tried to do the same, when the elders at the Cloister weren't looking. But the weapon side of me… it's a part of who I am. That's the part that fights and has to. That same part… influences me when I see Bahram. It just makes me… want to destroy him."

"How do you deal with it?" she asked. "Not always being a weapon."

"By focusing."

"On what?"

"Not always having to fight," he answered. "The music really does help with that. Seeing the beauty in the world. And enjoying it." He looked back at the family. "It can be found anywhere."

Rei looked at the family again.

"I've never met them before, but I can tell you, without any doubt, that's the first child for that couple. And they've always wanted to have kids." Victor looked over to his left. "See that elderly couple over there?"

Rei noticed them sitting on a far bench.

"They've probably been married an easy 40 years, give or take. They've seen it all. The good, the bad, the worst, the best. And I'm telling you right now, just for five minutes to know what either family experienced would be more than I deserve."

Rei gasped, quietly, and turned back to Victor, "Why did you say it like that? You haven't done anything wrong! You deserve a family as much as anyone else! You're a hero!"

"I'm a weapon. That's what Shadow Angels are."

"So what? You deserve to have a happy life, too. For the record, you're not a weapon, either! You're a Shadow Angel but so what? You can't control how you were born. You're also a Crimson Paladin. A hero! A protector!"

Victor looked down. "It's more than that."

"Huh?" Rei asked.

Victor leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Defeating the Disciples… stays on my mind more than I let on. I want… I need to defeat them! I have to take them all out! I…" He sighed. "Cass is right. The Cloister… they were my family. Cold and harsh as they were… I knew they cared. They gave their lives to save me and the others. I was just… the only one who survived."

"You feel guilty… for living. For surviving."

"Exactly." Victor looked around, "The Disciples… took away everything I had. Yeah… I've… gained a lot since but… all I think about is how to defeat them. Make them pay for what they did."

"You say that like it makes you less of person," Rei declared.

Victor looked at her, confusedly. He noticed her hands were shaking and tears were in her eyes.

"You lost everything. Of course, you're angry! Who wouldn't be?! They took it all from you! Your home… your family! You have every right to be angry! But… being angry… doesn't mean you don't deserve to have a family. A beautiful life! You're so kind! You're nice to us. You even can take Usagi's teasing and give it right back! You have such a kind soul. You should have a family who loves and appreciates you for that!"

Victor smiled. "Your soul is way kinder than mine. Thank you, Rei."

Rei smiled.

"And, honestly… I do have that family. With Cass." Victor smirked, "Don't ever tell him I said that. If he thinks I actually like him, he'll get the wrong idea."

Rei laughed and Victor joined in. They settled down and just took in the rest of the park.

"Victor…" Rei said.

Victor looked at her.

"I'm… really glad we met."

Victor blinked. "Yeah. I… I feel the same."

"We'll beat them together," Rei reassured. "I promise."

Victor smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Rei. Just… don't be too hard on me if I get angry again."

"Wait until Usagi says something that irritates me too much. You think you can get mad? Trust me, you ain't seen nothing yet."

Victor erupted into laughter again with Rei joining in.

Usagi, Minako, Mako, Ami, Luna, and Artemis peeked around nearby tree, staring at Rei and Victor.

"Told you so!" Minako smiled.

"Well, we guessed she liked him after last night!" Ami whispered.

"I can't lie," Mako grinned, "they're really cute together."

"I was starting to think you liked him."

"I did at first. But, honestly, I think regular friends is just right. Besides… even if I did 'like him' like him, there's no way I can compete with Rei at this point."

"Hmph!" Usagi grunted. "They deserve each other. They're both mean."

"You're just mad he can go blow-for-blow with you in insults," Minako teased.

"He's not that clever."

"Yeah, he is, romcom manga," Mako joked.

"That wasn't funny!" Usagi hissed.