AN: Beta Read by Brawn1984 and Starrmastrr.
AN: I do not own RWBY or Red Hood.
Disclaimer: Strong language throughout, and some content may be uncomfortable for some readers.
The next morning Loki woke up to the sound of silence. Ebon had woken her up four hours after his watch, and she'd passed it off to Gale after her four-hour watch. She'd gone back to sleep, and expected to wake up to the sound of training, but no. She looked around and saw that everyone else was asleep.
"Guy's?" She asked. "Why aren't you guy's up?"
"I went to wake them up." Gale said. "But there was so much blackmail material that I couldn't bring myself to do it."
Loki looked around at everyone who was sleeping, and took out her Scroll to take pictures, but there was a rustling sound and Pardus was up. She began rubbing her face like a feline would and Loki began taking pictures while cooing silently. She only stopped when Pardus looked in her direction.
"Good morning Loki." Pardus said.
"Good morning Pardus." Loki replied.
"San." Pardus said pushing him to wake up. "San, get up."
San rolled over. "Five more minutes." He spoke.
"Okay." Pardus said. Five seconds later she jumped on top of him. "Wake up San!" She yelled.
"I'm up Gods damn it!" He said jolting up and knocking Pardus off him.
Pardus just laughed at her friend's antics.
"Why isn't breakfast made and camp torn down?" Ebon asked.
"Relax Ebon." Pardus said. "We can relax for a bit."
"We need to make it to Atlas Right? If we can get to Haven Academy, I might be able to convince the headmaster to let us rest and restock before we leave. The sooner we get Atlas."
"Okay, okay." Pardus said.
They made breakfast and put camp away before heading out.
José, Scott, and Gale were walking in the middle with Yang, Loki, Pardus, and Lily were walking front of them. Ebon, San, and Hel were walking behind them.
"So, José." Gale said. "I noticed that you let Hel borrow your cape. Why haven't you gone into 'I need my security cape!' mode yet?" He asked in a Portuguese accent.
"I didn't let her borrow it Irmano." José defended. "I gave it to her."
"WHAT!" The brothers yelled in unison drawing attention to themselves.
"Did it come with a ring?" Gale asked in a whisper.'
"Cala a boco!(Shut up!)" José whisper yelled.
"Oh." Scott said. "So, this is serious."
"Nao quero falar sobre isso.(I don't want to talk about it.)"
"José and Hel sitting in a tree." Gale said in a sing song voice.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Scott continued.
"First comes love."
"Then comes marriage."
"Then comes lots of babies in a baby carriage." They finished in unison.
José was blushing a deep crimson.
Behind them Hel was attempting to hide her delight, and her face was flushed.
"Are you okay Hel?" San asked.
"Yes." Hel said weakly. "I just feel weird about what they are saying. Like in my stomach, and it is spreading through my body."
"I think you're in love." Ebon said.
"What is love?"
"Love is one of the most powerful forces on the face of Remnant." Ebon explained. "It has caused people to do horrific things, but it's also made them do some of the sweetest things. It gives a couple the power to endure life's hardships, and the power for them to do everything that they can for their children. It causes two people to find each other in this existence and become close enough to enter into marriage. It can drive a person to become like San, a lack of it can create someone like Pardus, and in my case it can make a person hunt monsters."
"I see. How do you know when you're in love?"
"Well. How does being away from that person make you feel?"
"There are times that I can't breathe or function because I miss him. There are times that I just wish I could be holding his hand, and when I can't I hurt. Every morning I wake up and look at him, it brings a smile to my face, and I just want to be with him. Then there are times like right now where I just feel warm, and I want to be with him again." She said putting a hand on her stomach.
"Hel?" Ebon asked. "Have you two been involved?"
"I don't understand."
Ebon explained what he meant.
"Yes. Why? Is that bad?"
"Did you guys use protection?"
"What do you mean? Our Aura?"
"Not exactly. Protection for sexual intercourse or lovemaking are condoms or birth control, and since I don't think any of us carry birth control you would have had to use a condom. Did you guys use a condom?"
"No, but then again I wasn't paying attention."
"Well if you start feeling sick in the mornings let us know."
"Okay." Hel said.
San walked a little faster to catch up to José, Gale, and Scott.
"Hey." He said grabbing José by the shoulder.
"Yes?" José asked.
"Have you and Hel had sex?"
"Yes." He spoke.
"Did you guy's use protection?"
"No." José said.
Gale and Scott looked at José in shock and Pardus turned around.
"What do you mean you didn't?" San and Scott asked in Unison.
"We didn't use protection." José said. "It's as simple as that."
"Why not?"
José motioned for them to come closer, and he Whispered low enough so that only they could hear him.
"I see." San said before glaring at him. "If you break her heart, I will break your legs, and castrate you with a red hot, rusty carving knife. Am I understood?"
José looked at Scott.
"Don't look at me." Scott said. "I'll help him. You don't just start shagging a lady unless you plan to be together for a long time. Next time ask one of us for a rubber."
"Wait." Gale said. "You bought a box of condoms?"
"No. Yang has a box of them in her bag."
"What, did she have a bunch of one-night stands before she met you?"
Scott just looked at Gale.
"Oh." Gale said.
They turned back to José.
"So, what are you going to do next time you and Hel have sex?" Scott asked.
"We'll use protection."
"Good. I'm not trying to be a hard ass, but if she gets pregnant you won't run away from them."
José pushed Scott away. "Of course, I wouldn't leave her alone with the baby! I know what it's like to be raised by a single parent, and I won't make her, or the baby go through that!"
"Good." Scott said standing up.
San glared at José one last time before going back to Ebon and Hel.
The rest of the walk was filled with awkward silence until they stopped for lunch.
"I'll be back." Scott said. "I've got to use the loo."
"What?" Pardus asked.
"He's going to the bathroom." Gale said.
"Oh. Well why didn't he say that?"
"He did." Yang said. "He just speaks weird."
"I'll say."
Scott walked a hundred feet from the group and unzipped he pants before peeing on a tree. He had just finished and zipped up his pants when he felt like he was being watched. He reached for his 'Fangs' when a voice broke the calm of the forest.
"No need to be alarmed." An old voice said.
"Who are you?"
"I have long since forgotten my name, but I have a favor to ask you."
"What is it?"
A figure cloaked from head to foot walked towards him. "Please." He begged. "Take this burden from me." He said pulling a bag off his back. "I've carried this burden long enough. Please. Take it from me."
"What is it?" Scott asked looking suspiciously at the bag. "They are the only reminder I have of who I was, but the memories they bring up are too painful."
Scott cautiously reached for the bag and took it. He shook it and heard metal clanging. He tentatively opened the bag and saw two swords. A Khopesh and Shotel. "Why me?"
"I have lived a very long time, and I have seen many things. I know how to tell a virtuous person from an evil one. You will not abuse their power."
"Then I will take them."
The being seemed like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Thank you." He spoke.
A stiff wind blew through the forest and the cloak was knocked to the ground.
Scott looked at the cloak and saw dust coming out of the bottom, sleeves, and hood. 'Just how old was that guy?" He thought before taking the Khopesh and Shotel out of the bag and looked them over.
There were markings on the swords.
The Shotel was a long three-foot semicircular curved double-edged blade with an additional four inches for the hilt and said ᛞᛖᚨᛏᚺ and the Khopesh was a long two-foot curved blade with an additional six inches for the hilt and said ᚱᛖᛒᛁᚱᛏᚺ.
'Hm.' He thought. 'These symbols almost look like ancient runes. I wonder what it is.'
He strapped them onto his pack and walked back to the others. When he got back, they were already eating lunch.
"So, you leave to take a piss and come back with a pair of swords?" Gale asked.
"I ran into a guy who gave them to me."
"Hold up Irmano." José said. "You gave us all those talks about not talking to strangers when we were younger, and then you go and accept weapons from a stranger?"
"Yeah." Gale said. "Are weapons the new Candy?"
"No." Scott said. "I was alert of the situation, and only took them when I was sure it was safe."
"Oh. So, you're saying that we can take things from strangers as long as we feel the situation out."
"You guys are adults now. Do whatever you want."
"Except have sex with a beautiful Seniorita." José said.
Hel blushed at that. "I never said you couldn't. What I said was that you need to use protection. How would you feel if the two of you had a baby when you weren't expecting it? Or what if you guys got an STD? Ever think of that?"
José went quiet.
"I didn't think so. Sex is a meant for two people who love each other to convey that love in a way that they couldn't otherwise. It's not just something where two people shag their brains out because they feel like it. When two people have sex, they do it knowing that their partner isn't going to leave them if they get pregnant. They do so knowing that their partner is doing this out of love and not some need to get off."
"Then why do you and Yang do it?" José demanded.
"Because." Yang cut in. "Scott and I make love! My dad would probably lock me in a convent if he knew how many one-night stands, I've had! What Scott and I do is different than what I used to do! I used to fuck my brains out with any guy that bought me a drink! Now I wish that I had waited for Scott because what we have is different than all the other times, I've had sex! I actually got to know Scott before we made love and trust me! I can tell a fucking difference between the two!"
"Break it up!" Loki shouted. "We need to move! So, eat your food quickly! We will be moving out in half an hour!"
They sat down and started eating. After the half hour was up, they packed up and started walking. They were walking for an hour when José started talking to Scott.
"I'm sorry Irmano." He spoke. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I was just angry that you were treating me like a little kid again."
"I wasn't treating you like a kid." Scott explained. "I was treating you like an adult. There are very real consequences to what you and Hel did. I know that you said that you pulled out at the last second, but what if you hadn't? Would Hel be pregnant right now? What if one of you guys had an STD? You'd have to take all sorts of meds and whatever else just to get clean. Would you guys still like, let alone love, each other after that? I don't want to see any of you guys get hurt... not even Gale..."
"Hey!" Gale yelled indignantly.
José thought about that for a bit before he nodded. "Thanks for looking out for me Irmano."
"You're welcome Бротхер(brother)"
"Hey." Gale said. "You're speaking Russian. The last time you spoke Russian you nearly killed someone."
"That Бастард(Bastard) deserved it." Scott growled.
"I want to hear this story." Pardus said coming up from behind them. "I don't know what this... Russian... is, but I want to know why you hate the man you almost killed."
"I'll tell you tonight before bed, but here's a teaser."
Pardus looked up at Scott expectantly.
"He deserved it."
"You're no fun." Pardus stamped her foot.
They walked for a few more hours with casual conversation between everyone. When they finally stopped for the night, they stopped at a lake with Crystal clear water.
"Looks like a good of place as any." Loki said. "Clean water, good camping area. We can even take a bath if we wanted to."
"We also have plenty of fish." San said.
"And we can swim tomorrow." Gale said.
"One problem genius." Loki said. "No swim trunks."
"You've got underwear." Gale said. "Unless you're going commando."
"Want to see?" Loki asked with a dangerous gleam in her eye.
Gale met her gleam with a dangerous grin. "You don't have the balls." He spoke.
Loki dropped her bag, put the 'Multi-blade' down, and took off her shirt and pants to show that she was wearing a pair of lacy blood red panties and matching bra. "Well?" She asked.
"I'll concede." Gale said. "But you've proven that you literally have no balls."
"Unless I'm hiding them."
"Where?"
Loki grabbed her panties and started to pull them off.
"Okay!" Ebon said, stepping in front of Loki. "Since I am the only mature adult here..."
"How old are you?" Loki asked, cutting him off.
"Thirty-two." He spoke.
"Oh wow." She spoke. "I thought you were younger than that. You only look maybe 26, if that."
"I'll thank you for the compliment, but please. Put your clothes on."
"Okay. Since you asked so nicely." Loki said pulling her panties up and pulling her pants up and her shirt on.
"Thank you. Now. Let's set up camp."
They set up camp and divided up the chores. Hel and José went to gather firewood, Scott and Yang went to catch fish for dinner, Pardus and San started digging a firepit, Gale, and Loki refilled the canteens, water skins, and the pan for dinner, and Ebon went to gather herbs and other edible plants for dinner.
They met up after their chores were completed. Hel and José came back with two armfuls of firewood, Scott and Yang came back with nine large fish, Pardus and San had dug a hole that was two feet deep by three feet wide, Loki and Gale came back with the canteens, water skins, and the pan filled with purified water, and Ebon came back with herbs and a variety of berries.
"How did you catch those fish?" Pardus asked?
"The same way I snagged this." Scott said holding 'Tsas'.
"What!?" She demanded. "Give me my weapon back! Now!"
She was holding it before she said now.
"What the. How did you?"
"My Semblance allows me to alter my perception of time allowing me to speed up or slow down depending on the situation."
"That sounds like a terrifying Semblance." She spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it." She spoke. "You have the ability over time. Do I need to go into further detail?"
Scott looked at her before looking at Yang in confusion.
"I'm saying that if you wanted to you could use your semblance to rape someone!" She snarled.
"What the fuck! No! I would never do that! Why would you think that!"
"Because I'm a realist!"
"No." Yang said coming to Scott's defense. "You're paranoid and a pessimist."
"Besides. I only use it to find and exploit my opponent's blind spots in a fight!"
Pardus looked at him warily and backed away from him.
"Hey!" Yang shouted. "What's your problem?"
"He's, my problem!"
Yang went to say something, but Scott grabbed her arm.
"Yang." He spoke.
"No! She doesn't even know you! She can't say that!"
"She can't help but not trust me. She has been hurt for more than half of her life. I can't blame her for that."
"But doesn't it hurt to be hated because of something you can't change?"
"More than you know, but there's not much that I can do that wouldn't validate her fear."
Yang walked over to a tree and activated her Semblance before punching the tree, cracking it, and toppling it.
Scott walked over and held her while she plotted against Pardus.
San walked over to Pardus.
"You know that's not fair." He spoke.
"Fair?" She asked. "Was it fair when I was sold into slavery? Was it fair that he tortured me? Was it fair that he killed her? Was any of that fair?!"
"No, no, no, no."
"Then don't talk to me about what's fair and not fair!"
"I'll let you calm down." He said before he kissed her on the top of the head and walked away to start dinner.
Pardus looked over at Scott and Yang who were making out, probably to calm Yang down. The blond bimbo.
That night they had their fill of fish and berries. When they finished, they cleaned up and gathered around the campfire.
Scott and Yang cuddled together as well as Hel and José and San and Pardus. Loki, Ebon, and Gale sat in between the others and Loki asked the question.
"So. Which of you guys want to go first?"
"I will." José said.
Everyone looked at José.
José
"José!" A woman called from their car. "Have fun. Your father and I will be here to pick you up for winter break."
"Sim, Mãe! (Yes mom)" He called back flipping his cape over his shoulder and walking into the school. He was walking through the school grounds when he ran into someone. He looked up to see a big guy who looked like he was over six feet tall with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a light complexion.
"Olá." He spoke.
The big guy just nodded his head
"My name is José Salamao. What's your name?"
"Scotland Allen."
"Nice to meet you, Scott. Do you think we will have any classes together?"
"Perhaps."
"Not really talkative, are you?"
"Not really. I like to let these do the talking." Scott said holding up his arms to show his fists. The cuffs of his sleeves were bulging, and José could see wrist weights.
"So, you use your fists?" José asked.
"My father taught me to fight when I was five. He wanted to pass his title off to me when he retired, so I've been fighting ever since."
"Nice. I'm going to take my father's place when he retires or dies."
"Oh. Is he a Huntsman?"
"Not really. He is a soccer player and Grimm fighter. I hope that I'll be able to take his place one day."
"I'm sure you will."
"Thanks. I'm sure that you'll take your fathers title too."
"What about your mom?" Scott asked. "What does she do?"
"Oh. She's a model."
"Nice."
"Sim. What about your mom?"
"She's a police officer."
"Wow. So, you must be really good at fighting."
"Yeah. My mom doesn't like it though."
"Why not?"
"She wants my brother, sisters, and I to choose a less dangerous career. Like becoming musicians or something like that."
"Wait. You can play an instrument?"
"Yes, and sing."
"What! You! Sing?"
"Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, no. I just thought that you were gifted in fighting."
"Would you like a demonstration?"
"Why the hell not?"
Scott took out his Scroll and began singing a medium paced song in a language that José didn't understand. When he finished José was just staring at him.
"That was bonito(beautiful). What language was that in?"
"Thank you. It was in the dialect that my mother speaks. It's called Russian."
"What was the song called?"
"Brother my brother." Scott said.
José was about to say something when a kid ran past them.
"Get back here loser!" An angry voice called out.
Scott stepped in front of the kid who was fleeing.
"Move it!" The angry voice yelled.
"Nyet." Scott said in a Russian accent. "I do not tolerate bullies."
"Well then." The kid in front said. "Let's see you tolerate this!" He yelled punching at Scott.
Scott grabbed the kid and with the sound of Velcro ripped off one of his Writs weights and put it on the kid before letting go.
The kid fell to the floor and looked up at Scott.
"How heavy are these?" He asked in panic.
"Each wrist weight has five slots. Each slot has a twenty-pound osmium bar. They are one hundred pounds each."
"How?" The kid asked.
"Would you like to continue your pursuit of the other kid?"
"No."
"Good. If I see you chasing him again, or if he is injured in the future..." he grabbed the guy's shirt and pulled with enough force to dislocate his shoulder. "...I will do worse than that." He said over the guys screams. He dropped the kid and grabbed his Wrist weight.
"Sorry about that." He said turning around to see that José was gone. 'Oh. I guess I got carried away and scared him off.' He thought before walking away.
José had seen the kid run and saw the fear on the kids face. So, he decided to follow him. He ran past a table with a tablecloth covering and stopped just past it. A minute later the kid crawled out from under the table.
"Ola." He said startling the kid.
"Look." The kid said. "Like I told th' others. I don't have any money, and I won't fight ye."
"Wait. What? They were trying to take your money?"
"And fight me."
"That's not right." José said. "Do you have any friends?"
"No. My parents sent me here ta try and get friends and confidence."
"Well, you have a friend now." José said shaking the kids hand enthusiastically.
"Ye do realize tha', tha means yer befriending a loser, right?"
"No, I'm not, and even if I were that doesn't mean much to me. I've already befriended a berserker giant."
"Wa-was tha' a D and D reference?"
"Yeah. Do you play?"
"Yeah. Do ye?"
"Yeah. What do you play?"
"Artillerist Artificer. Ye?"
"Banneret Fighter."
"Nice."
"Agreed. Maybe if we can get enough people together, we can do a campaign?"
"Maybe."
The two walked off talking about previous campaigns they ran.
It was the next day when the two ran into Scott.
"Hey Scott." José said.
"Hello José." Scott said.
"I'm sorry." José said. "I ran after Geoff yesterday. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I was able to intimidate them easily. I thought you ran away because I went overboard."
"No. Sorry I didn't find you yesterday, but this is Geoff."
Geoff looked up at Scott.
Scott nodded.
"I can see why ye said he was a Giant Berserker."
"I don't play Giant or Berserker." Scott said reflexively.
"Wait." Geoff and José said in unison.
"Ye play D and D too?" Geoff asked.
"Samurai Fighter." Scott said.
"Dude!" José yelled. "That's awesome."
"We should start a campaign when we can." Geoff suggested.
"I heard D and D." A new voice said. "When do we play?"
Scott looked over at the kid and glared.
"Oh." The new kid said. "Are you still mad that I ran circles around you yesterday?"
"Come at me head on and watch me rip your legs off." Scott glared at the new kid.
"I take it that ye two know each other?" Geoff said.
"We met yesterday." The new kid said. "I'm Gale by the way, and Twinkle toes is mad that in our fighting class yesterday I was able to run circles around him."
"If you would have stood still, I would have won." Scott grumbled and crossed his arms.
"I don't stay in one place too long." Gale said.
"So." José said. "Where and when should we start our new campaign?"
"Friday nights?" Geoff suggested.
"And Saturday's." Gale said.
"Given we don't have homework." Scott added.
"Fine." Gale groaned. "After homework."
"Look who it is." The same kid from the day before said. His left arm was in a cast. "A bunch of nerds."
"This nerd kicked your ass yesterday." Scott and Gale said in unison before glaring at each other.
"I wasn't talking about you two." The kid said glaring at Geoff who cowered from him.
José jumped up and spun his cape around the kids face and pulled down before kicking him in the head. "I would appreciate you not bullying my friend, Bunda de macaco!(Jack ass)"
"What's going on here?" A teacher asked coming up to them.
"He has been bullying Geoff." José said pulling his cape from the kid's head.
"It looks to me like you're the bully. Attacking an injured student."
"No." Scott said standing up to his impressive 6' 2" height. "Yesterday him and his friends were chasing Geoff..."
"For his lunch money." José added.
Scott glared at the kid and stepped towards him.
"Sit down Mr. Allen!" The teacher snapped.
"Make me." Scott said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Why don't you sit down." Gale said.
Scott glared at Gale, but Gale nodded.
Scott sat down.
"Good. Now. Let's go. We'll see what the principal has to say about this."
They all got up, but the kid's shoes popped, and he jumped up before landing and slipping leaving a trail of ketchup as he slid into a splits, and let out a long, high pitched cry.
The teacher looked horrified and grabbed the student only for his shoes to pop causing him to jump up and end up doing the splits as well.
The newly acquainted friends couldn't help but laugh as the bully and teacher held themselves in excruciating pain.
Over the next several months the friends became an even more tight knit group. Gale was light on his feet, fast, and a dedicated prankster. Scott was a good student, the group parental figure, and strong. He'd insisted on at least Geoff learning some self-defense but ended up teaching everyone... including Gale. José was a bit of a ladies' man who flirted with every girl that he saw, which got complicated at times. He was also extremely charismatic and could get the group out of their funk almost all the time. Geoff was great at fixing things. Anytime one of the appliances or electronics broke he was ready to help, and even the teachers seemed to ask for his help.
It was the end of their first year at school and they had plans over the summer but agreed to keep in touch.
José's parents were the first to arrive.
A beautiful woman and a well-dressed man stepped out of the car after a dapper butler opened the door for them.
"José!" The woman said. "Como você está? Como foi a escola? Esses são seus amigos?(How are you? How was school? Are these your friends)"
José just smiled and embraced his mother and father. "Mãe, pai. Estes são meus amigos.(mom, dad. These are my friends)"
"It's very nice to meet you." José's mom said.
His dad came and shook each of their hands.
"It's very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Salamao." Scott said.
"Likewise." Mr. Salamao said. "I wish we could stay longer, but we have to get going. Perhaps we can meet up before school starts."
"I think tha' would be nice." Geoff said. "We can catch up and talk about our summers."
"Sounds good to me." Scott said. "My dad will be fighting for his third time super middle champion fight. I can't wait to tell you guys about it."
"Yeah." Gale said. "Sounds great."
With that the Salamao's left followed by Geoff, Gale, and Scott.
José stopped telling the story and wiped his eyes. "Sorry." He spoke.
"Do you want one of us to continue?" Gale asked.
José could only nod in the affirmative.
"What's wrong?" Hel asked.
"This is the part of the story that always gets to him." Scott said before continuing.
Scott
Scott was working out. His dad had obliterated the competition and had become the third time super middleweight champion. He was just wrapping up his workout when his Scroll rang. He looked at it and saw that it was José's number.
"Hey José. What's up?"
"Um... Scott." José said over the scroll in a raspy voice that sounded like he'd been crying.
"José?" Scott asked starting to take his wrappings off. "What's wrong?"
"It's... it's... it's my parents!" He sobbed into his Scroll. "They were killed!"
"I'm on my way!" Scott spoke into the Scroll. "Where are you?"
José told Scott how to get to his house, and Scott jumped on the next airship to Jose's. On his way he text Geoff and Gale.
Scotland Allen: Have you guys heard the news yet?
Geoffrey Patrick: Yeah. I'm heading up there now.
Gale Hamilton: Same.
Scotland Allen: See you guy's when I get there.
Geoffrey Patrick: *Thumbs up emoji*
Gale Hamilton: *Peace emoji*
When Scott landed, he took off for José's house. When he got there, he saw Gale and Geoff looking like they'd also run to the house.
"Let's go." He spoke.
The three friends walked up to the gate and hit the buzzer.
"We are sorry, but we aren't allowing anyone onto the premises at this time." The voice from the intercom said.
"We are friends of José Salamao." Scott said. "He called us."
"One moment."
They waited for a few minutes before a man with three large Terceira Mastiff's, and let them off their leashes. The three dogs ran at the gate, barking and snapping at them. The trio flinched away, but quickly composed themselves.
"Get out of here." A guard said.
"No." Scott said. "We aren't leaving until we see José."
"I will let these dogs loose!"
"No, you won't!" A harsh voice said from behind the guard.
The guard turned around to see Jaimé stalking towards them. "Alejandro! Diego! Rafael! Heel!"
The dogs ran to Jaimé's side, and Jaime opened the gate. "Come this way gentlemen." Jaimé said leading them up to the manor. They were led to a room on the second floor.
"I ask that you wait for José to acknowledge you." Jaimé said. "Just be there for him until he's ready to talk."
"Right." Geoff said.
With that they were led into the room. José was sitting with his head on his desk, his shoulders shaking, and the sound of someone who had cried themselves raw and kept crying.
They were all devastated but didn't know what to say or do.
"José?" Geoff finally asked.
José kept crying.
Scott sat down against the wall with his arm resting on his knee, Gale leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and Geoff sat down with his legs crossed and pulled out his Scroll to work out some engineering problems.
They were sitting like that when José started gagging.
"José!" The trio yelled.
Scott opened the door and yelled for Jaimé while Gale ran down the hall calling his name, and Geoff ran to José's side.
Jaimé came running into the room with Gale and Scott on his heels.
Jaimé put a trash can under José's head, and held his head while the trio watched anxiously.
"Is there anything we can do ta help?" Geoff asked.
"No." Jaimé said. "This is all just a part of the grieving process. Some people take loss harder than others."
"I hate this so much." Scott said clenching his fists. "I am a warrior. I just feel so useless."
"You're exactly where you're needed." Jaimé said.
Scott's Scroll rang shortly followed by Geoff's and Gale's.
"It's my mom." Scott said. "I forgot to tell her I was leaving."
"Same." Geoff said.
"It's my sister." Gale said. "I left her a note."
"Take your calls in the hallway." Jaimé said.
The trio left the room to answer their calls.
"They are good friends." Jaimé mused. "Though a bit thickheaded if you ask me."
Geoff answered his Scroll. "Hello ma." He spoke.
"Geoffrey Douglas Patrick!" Isabel Larsen-Patrick yelled over the Scroll. "Where are ye!"
"Sorry Ma. I'm wit' my friends from school..."
"Why!? Ye didn't call, write, or text! I thought tha' something bad happened ta ye! Come home this instant! Ye'r grounded."
"I'm sorry ma, but I can't."
"And why not!"
"One of my friends parents died. That's why I left in such a hurry."
"What?"
"He called me in tears and told me tha' his parents had been killed. He didn't go inta details, just said tha' they'd been killed, and I took off because I figured tha' I could help him. I'm sorry tha' I didn't tell ye, but I'll be staying if it's all the' same with ye."
" Stay safe. I love ye."
"I love ye too ma. I'll call ye later."
With that they ended the call.
Scott answered his Scroll.
"Mother." He said in a cautious tone.
"SCOTLAND WOODROW ALLEN!" Grace Petukhova-Allen yelled from the other side of the Scroll in a thick Russian accent. "What were you thinking running off without telling anyone! I was worried sick! Someone had better be in the hospital, dying, or dead!"
"They're dead." Scott said in a subdued voice.
"What?" Grace asked. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember me telling you about my friends from school?"
"Yes."
"Well one of them went on vacation with his family and Butler, and his parents were killed. I don't know how, but they were killed. We're all he had, us and his Butler."
"Oh. Make sure you take care of him." She said in a subdued tone.
"I will. I'll call you later mother."
"Okay. I'll talk to you later. I love you."
"Love you too mum." He said hanging up.
Gale answered his scroll. "Hello Abby." He spoke.
"GALE!" Abby yelled. "What in the name of the brothers were you thinking! You left me a note! You only said 'be back soon. Gale'. What were you thinking!"
"That my friend needed help."
"So, you jump on the first Bullhead out of town! You do realize that you guys can play D and D virtually right!"
"We aren't playing D and D." Gale said coldly.
"Then what was so damn important!"
"His parents died, and my friends and I are the only people he has left! I thought you of all people would get that."
"Gale." Abby said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get so upset. I was just worried, and mom and dad aren't dead."
"They might as well be with how little we see them!" Gale snapped.
"GALE!" Abby yelled.
"Goodbye Abby. I'll let you know when I'm heading home." Gale said before hanging up.
The three friends looked at each other before looking at the door.
"Well lads." Geoff said holding his hand towards the door. "Shall we?"
They walked back into José's room and saw Jaimé squatting beside him and rubbing his back.
"Is there anything we can do?" Scott asked.
"Since you're here." Jaimé said. "One of you fill the tub with water, one of you find a pair of Pajamas, and the other tend the bed."
Scott went into big brother mode. "Geoff go to the bathroom and turn on the hot water to full and give the cold water a quarter turn. Gale go grab a pair of Pajamas."
Geoff went to the bathroom and started the water like Scott said and Gale went to José's dresser and looked through the drawers until he found the Pajama drawer. Scott went to José's bed and folded down the comforter and flat sheet at an angle before fluffing the four large pillows. When they had finished Jaimé overlooked their work.
He looked at the bed and saw that it was done in another style than what he normally did, but it was still done well. He looked at the pajamas that had been picked out, silk. Not a bad choice. Next, he moved into the bathroom, unbuttoned the cuff of his sleeve, and pulled his sleeve up before putting his arm up past his elbow into the water. It was at the perfect temperature. He picked José up and took him into the bathroom.
Geoff, Gale, and Scott looked at each other before looking at the bathroom door. Gale took out his scroll and sent a text to Geoff and Scott.
Gale Hamilton: wow. I wasn't expecting this place to be so big. Did you know that he's got a drawer just for capes? And his pajama drawer was full of silk pajamas.
Geoffrey Patrick: you're telling me. His bathroom is huge! The faucets are gold, and I think his bathtub, toilet, and sink are made from marble.
Scotland Allen: I think his bed, bedding, and pillows cost more than my parents' house.
Gale Hamilton: so, he's the rich friend that every group has. That makes Geoff the one with the weird powers, and Scott the big, tough, stupid one.
Geoffrey Patrick: what does that make you?
Gale Hamilton: the pretty one.
Scotland Allen: hey! You take that back or I'll kill you!
Gale Hamilton: all right, all right. You're not tough.
Scotland Allen: that's better.
Geoffrey Patrick: wait. Didn't you...?
Gale Hamilton: give him a minute.
Scotland Allen: HEY!
"Ahem." Jaimé cleared his throat.
The trio put their scrolls away and stifled their laughter.
"I would like to thank you for coming to help José. He doesn't have many friends, and I hope that his... resources haven't driven you away."
"No." Gale said. "Of course not. Though that does beg the question of why he uses those old dice for D and D."
"They were his grandfather's dice." Jaimé supplied.
"That makes sense." Geoff said. "I use my da's old dice."
"And I use a mix of dice from both my parents." Scott added.
"I guess that I'm the only one with new dice." Gale said. "Well new-ish. Abby bought me a three pack for Christmas a few years ago. My parents were working... again, but Abby made Christmas special that year. It's the reason I started playing D and D. I didn't want her to feel like I didn't like her gift. It's also the reason I play as an Alchemist Artificer. Abby was able to make it special, and I wanted to be able to make things special for others."
"There's no shame in admitting that." Jaimé said. "I thank you for being so understanding of José."
"He's one of us." Geoff said. "Practically a brother, or what I think a brother would be like if I wasn't an only child."
"Well, you can have three brothers in our group." Scott said wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Yeah." Gale agreed. "But that means that now I can prank you all I want now."
"You do tha' already though." Geoff admitted.
"Oh. Then it looks like I saw you as a brother before today then." He smiled a coy smile.
Jaimé just looked at the three young men standing in front of him and could only say a quick prayer of gratitude that they had been put in José's life.
"I don't mean to pry." Scott said. "But how did José's parents die?"
Jaimé sighed a deep heavy sigh that sounded old even from him. "We were in Columbia for the championship game." He explained. "We decided to visit a local market before the game and decided to take the bus. That was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because when we were attacked, I was able to hide José and myself among the bodies of the fallen..." he bowed his head and said a prayer for them before continuing. "... but also, a curse because... my dear friends, José's parents... were killed with the others." At this Jaimé's control shattered and he started crying.
The trio just looked at each other, not sure what to do.
They held a funeral at the end of the week. It was a small affair. José and Jaimé along with Geoff, Gale, and Scott. José and Jaimé each said a few words, and they went to the cemetery where laid the Salamao's to rest. When the funeral service was over, they went back to the Salamao house, and sat in the sitting room. They sat there for several minutes in silence when Geoff had an idea.
"Hey guys. Want to do something?"
"Like what?" Gale asked.
"Well... we could always start our new campaign for School?"
"Maybe let José honor his parents for a bit." Scott said. "My mom says that funerals are stressful times for the families. So maybe we should..."
"Actually." José said. "I don't think I can cry anymore tears. I'd like to do something that would distract me from today. We could start our new campaign."
"Okay." Gale said pulling out his dice from his left pocket, and his Scroll from his right pocket. "So. Are we doing home brew like usual?"
"Why not." Scott said taking his dice from his right pocket and his Scroll from his dress shirt.
"All right." Geoff said pulling his dice from his satchel and his Scroll from his left pocket.
José just pulled his Scroll and dice from his suit coat.
They had gotten so used to carrying their dice with them everywhere they went that it was second nature, and with that they went about creating their characters for the campaign they would play the following year at school.
"That's so sad." Hel said snuggling closer to José.
"What happened next?" San asked.
"Should we tell them about the time you got drafted for the track team?" Scott asked Gale. "Or the Битч(bitch)who used Geoff?"
"We could always tell them about the fight your dad lost and how you got revenge for him?" Gale suggested.
"Why not all of the above?" Hel asked excitedly.
"Okay." Scott said. "But Gale has to tell you what he did to the track team, and José can tell you about the little Trollop who used Geoff...if he's up to it that is. Then I'll tell you the story of how I avenged my dad's honor."
"I can't wait." Hel said.
"So." Gale began.
It was a lovely day at school during the friends/brothers second year at the boarding school. The sun was shining, the wind wasn't blowing, and it was a lovely 72 degrees Fahrenheit... or 22.2 degrees Celsius for the non-Americans. The friends, brothers now that they had taken an oath of brotherhood, were playing their new D and D campaign when they were interrupted.
"Hey." The captain of the track team said coming up to the groups table and throwing a clipboard on the table knocking their dice, characters, and Scrolls around the table. "Why are you dorks playing a nerds game when you should be running track or playing football?"
"Because." José said in an irritated Portuguese accent. "I am already on the soccer team thank you very much."
"I'm on the MMA team." Scott said with a slight Russian accent. He punctuated this by snapping the clipboard in half.
"I'm on th' boxing team, mechanics and robotics club, and taking extracurricular S.T.E.M classes." Geoff said in an irritated Irish accent.
"Then what about you Hamilton?" The captain asked.
"I'm busy... Bradly." Gale said in an annoyed tone.
"Doing what?"
"Well. We were just about to roll for initiative to see who attacked first, but then this big ugly ogre just so happened to crash the party."
"Hey!" Bradly said. "I know you're talking about me."
"Don't overwork your last brain cell Brad. Why don't you up late down before you hurt yourself."
"Quit insulting me!"
"Careful. He's learning."
"I bet you're not as fast as your mouth!" Brad yelled.
"Well." Gale said. "We could always ask your mom how fast I was when I made her..."
Scott put his hand over Gale's mouth. "No need to devastate the poor boy more than you already have. He'll already have to look at your face every day when his new baby brother is born. No need to rub it in."
"All right!" Brad yelled. "We'll race! You against the track team. If you lose then you join the track team for the rest of our time at this school!"
"Fine!" Gale yelled. "But when I win, I don't join, and you and the track team have to wear dresses for the rest of the semester. And you have to wear bikinis to the track meets."
"Deal!" Brad yelled putting his hand out for Gale to shake. Gale took out a sanitizing wipe and wiped Brad's hand before shaking it.
"Oh." Gale said. "Just for reference..." he pulled some cloth and a ring out of his bag. "... this is a bikini." He unfolded the cloth to show a two-piece swimsuit and slid it through the ring. "The original creator of the bikini said that "a bikini should be able to slide through a wedding ring because s should only be able to cover what her mother gave her." I'm paraphrasing but you get the idea. Here ya go." He said tossing the bikini and ring to him."
"Where did you get these?" Brad asked.
As if on cue the P.A. Came on. "Attention students." Headmistress Amzy said. "My wedding ring and an article of clothing was taken from my quarters. If they are given back that will be the end of it, but if I catch you with it, there will be consequences."
"DUDE!" Gale yelled. "Why do you have Headmistress Amzy's stuff. Pervert! What the hell is wrong with you!"
"Dude!" José yelled. "Have you no shame?"
"This coming from you?" Gale asked. "Mr. Ladies man?"
"Hey! I don't take their underwear or swimsuits."
"You might want to get going." Scott said. "Ya know, before Headmistress Amzy starts searching."
Brad glared at Gale before running for the school.
"Well." Scott said. "Let's finish up here and go watch Gale devastate the track team."
Later that day
Gale was at the track field, stretching, when track team came up to him.
"So." One of the track-letes said. "I heard that you'd be joining us for the next meet."
"You heard wrong Gary." Gale said. "The rumor I heard said that you'd all be wearing bikinis to the next meet."
"Wait. What?" Another kid asked.
"I can see that Brad didn't tell you guys, but rules are rules. Sorry."
"You aren't winning this race." Another kid said.
"Really?" Gale asked. "Want to up the ante?"
"Sure. When we win you have to wear a bright yellow bikini with red polka dots."
"Fine, but when I win you, guys have to sing the other schools fight song while running in your white bikinis with red polka hearts on them."
"Deal!" Brad said reaching for Gale's hand.
Scott walked up and crossed his arms. "Just making sure you don't try anything funny." He spoke.
Brad glared at Scott but shook Gale's hand without incident.
The runners started on the track and waited for the starters gun.
The runners started running, but Gale waited for the starters gun. When it went off Gale took in a breath and shot off like a gun. He caught up with the stragglers in three seconds, the middle of the group in five seconds, and was up next to Brad in ten seconds.
Brad tried shoulder checking him, but Gale jumped, vaulted over Brad, and kicked him in the face knocking him down before he tucked and rolled to his feet and kept running. He was about to hit the second curve on the track when he saw something move beside him. He looked over and saw José jump in front of him and jolt before he kept pace with him running sideways.
"You okay buddy?"
"Keep running Irmano." José said in a clipped tone.
They ran to the finish line and saw Scott holding Brad in a chokehold. Gale walked around José to see that he was bleeding from his hands and face. "What happened?" He asked.
"They started throwing rocks at you Irmano."
Gale stalked up to Brad and glared at him. "I won even though you cheated. How does that make you feel?"
"We won't accept this as a win. You lost. Welcome to the track team." Brad snarled before spitting in Gale's face.
Scott tightened his hold on Brad before he let go, grabbed him, and suplexed him into the ground. Gale just wiped Brad's spit from his face on his sleeve. "Thought so." He said before taking out his Scroll and sending something. "Hope you like whatever Headmistress Amzy has in store for you." He said before leaving.
Scott and José walked off the field while Geoff was leading Headmistress Amzy to the field. When she got to the field her face was as red as a tomato and her Scroll was held so tightly that the trio thought it was going to break.
"Senhor Salamao." Headmistress Amzy asked in a concerned tone.
José told her what happened and to say that she was just a little bit absolutely livid was an understatement.
"Take him to the infirmary." She spoke. "I have some thieves and sore losers to take care of."
With that they walked to the infirmary.
"No way!" San shouted. "There is no way that's what actually happened."
"Oh no." Gale challenged holding up his Scroll to show pictures of the Track team wearing various bikinis. "Headmistress Amzy made them wear the Bikinis they "stole" from her room to every track meet for the rest of the year. Ya know. For someone who doesn't get embarrassed easily she was really embarrassed to have people find out that she wore bikinis at her age."
"Are you kidding?" Scott asked. "With as old as she was. I wouldn't want anyone knowing that either."
The trio shuddered at the thought.
"So, what happened to Geoff?" Hel asked.
"I can tell that story." José said.
It was the brothers third year at the boarding school, and they were waiting for Geoff so they could go into town. They had found a comic shop that sold really cool, old comics. Gale had taken a liking to Deadpool, Batman, and Spider-Man. Scott to Batman, Daredevil, and Superman. José to Batman, Green Arrow, and Spider-Man, and Geoff who liked Green Lantern, Iron Man, and X-Men. They had been waiting ten minutes when Geoff finally showed up with a girl from their class with her arm looped through his elbow.
"Hey lads." He spoke. "This is Trixie. We're gonna be studying today so I won't be able ta go wit' ya, but ye go and enjoy Yerselves."
"Geoff?" Scott asked. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"What do ye mean?"
"Can you excuse us Trixie." Scott asked.
"Oh sure." Trixie said in a stuck up, preppy voice. "Yeah. Totally."
When they were alone Scott looked at the others before looking at Geoff. "She's a Trollop." He spoke.
"What? No, she is not!" Geoff defended her.
"Yeah, she is." Gale said. "She's only using you to pass the classes she wants your help with, and then she's going to dump you like day old gosh and chips."
"No, she won't. I think she actually likes me."
"No Irmano." José said. "She likes your grades. She's not interested in you, your D, or your feelings. She just wants to get her grades from Ds to A's. Then she'll dump you so fast that you'll get whiplash and we'll be saying I told you so."
"No. I refuse to believe it."
"Then ask her to the dance you thick headed nerd." Gale said. "She'll show her true colors then."
"Fine. I will." Geoff said stalking away.
"Well." Scott said. "I'm not wasting anymore time here. I'm going to the Uncle Ben's."
"That is a terrible name for a comic shop." Gale said.
"Sim, Irmano." José agreed. "Who names their comic shop after a character who always dies?"
"Uncle Ben's, apparently." Scott said as they left.
When they got back from Uncle Ben's comic shop they went back to their dorm. When they walked into their dorm, they saw Geoff sitting at the desk trying to explain Engineering to Trixie who was looking at him like he was sick. Gale took out his Scroll to take a picture, but she looked at them, smiled, and got in close to Geoff and put her arm around him.
"Bloody Trollop!" Scott yelled walking over to them.
"Back off Scott!" Geoff yelled getting in Scott's face.
Scott looked down at Geoff before he turned around and left the room, but not before dropping the bag of comics on his way out. José and Gale looked at Geoff before they looked at each other and left.
"Well." Trixie said. "I should probably go Geoff. Hey. Before I forget do you want to go to the dance this Friday night?"
"Do ye really want ta go wit' me lass?"
"Of course, Geoffrey." She said walking towards him seductively before wrapping her arms around his neck and nipped at his ear before kissing his neck. She moved onto his cheek, and finally onto his lips. She kissed his with so much passion that he nearly passed out. "Does that answer your question?"
"Aye lass." He spoke.
"Good. Then I'll see you Friday night."
"See ya Friday night lass."
Trixie ruffled his hair and scratched under his chin before leaving.
Geoff looked around his empty dorm and felt... empty. Maybe he should apologize to Scott. He remembered what Scott had called Trixie and decided against it until Scott apologized to her. He would have his chance at the dance.
Friday night.
Geoff was waiting for Trixie outside the ballroom when the others walked up. José had a girl on each arm, classic. Gale was standing next to a girl with his hands in his pockets and her arm snaked through his elbow; and Scott was nowhere to be seen.
"I guess tha' Scott won't be coming tonight?" He asked.
"No." Gale said. "He said that he might show up later, but he's still deciding."
"I see. Why can't he just be happy fer me?"
"You don't get it Irmano." José said. "He wants you to be happy, but thanks to his parents he can read people, and he knows that Trixie is bad news."
"No. He just doesn't know her like I do."
"Dude!" Gale said. "You have known her for a week! What the hell could you possibly know about her?"
"I'll prove it!" Geoff yelled walking into the ballroom.
Gale and José cringed as they watched him walk up to the group of popular girls.
"He's going to need our help." Gale said.
"Senhoras." José said. "I would love to spend the rest of the evening with you, but I might need to take a raincheck."
"Okay José." The girls said in unison.
"Twins?" Gale asked.
"Sim Irmano."
"Nice." He said with a fist bump. He looked over at the girl on his arm. "Sorry babe, but we might have to call it quits."
"Good." She spoke. "The twins are better company than you."
"Wait. What?"
They were interrupted by sounds of laughter and looked into the ballroom to see Geoff drenched in punch.
"Oh! I think he's going to cry!" One of the popular guys yelled.
"Then you guys have something in common." A thick Russian accent said.
A tall 6' 4" figure walked up behind the guy and Trixie and dumped punch on them before picking the guy up and throwing him at the food table causing him to land on the buffet in the eclairs. He picked Trixie up and slammed her into the cake before smearing her into it.
"Енйоы тхе цале битч.(Enjoy the cake bitch)." He said before walking over to Geoff.
José and Gale walked up to them, and the group walked back to their dorm. As they walked out Headmistress Amzy walked in. "What happened!" She yelled.
The dorm
When the group got back to their dorm, they grabbed Geoff's shower gear and gave it to him and waited while he showered. When he was done, he came back into the dorm and sat on his bed. They sat in silence for half an hour while Geoff gathered himself.
"I'm sorry lads." He spoke.
"I forgive you Irmano." José said.
"Same." Gale said.
They looked at Scott. Geoff looked at Scott, pleading with his eyes.
"And why do we fall down?" He asked.
"Seriously!?" Gale asked. "You are seriously quoting Alfred Pennyworth! How much more British can you get!?"
"Why do we fall down?" Scott asked again.
"So, we can learn ta pick ourselves back up." Geoff answered.
"That's right, and have you learned from your mistake?"
"Aye."
"Then I forgive you."
Geoff started crying. "Ye all fergave me after I acted like a Gobshite."
"We're brothers." Gale said. "It's what we do."
"Yeah." Scott said tossing him a bag. "Enjoy."
Geoff opened the bag to see the newest issues of Green Lantern, Iron Man, and X-Men. Geoff dropped the comics and sobbed.
"I can't believe someone did that." Hel said covering her mouth.
"Here." Gale said handing her his Scroll to show her a picture of Trixie covered from her head to her thighs in cake. "I call this one... Karma."
They passed his Scroll around, and when Gale got it back, he found another photo and passed it around. This one was a picture of a guy with eclairs all over his butt. "I call this one... 'Ah shit'." He passed it around and got a chuckle from everyone.
"I wasn't even aiming for the eclairs." Scott said.
"Really?" José asked. "What were you aiming for?"
"The mini quiches."
"Dude." Gale said. "You really need to work on your aim. You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn."
"Really, because the way that I see it is that I don't need a gun to defend myself."
"What are you going to do, punch a bullet?"
"No. I'd use my Semblance to get out of the way and punch the attacker."
"Muscle for brains moron."
"You said that you were going to tell us about the guy you almost killed." San said. "Why did he deserve it?"
"Okay." Scott said. "We had just finished our third year of school and we were out for the break..."
"Hey guys." Scott said coming up to the group. "Want some tickets to my dad's match? It's his last match before he retires."
"I'd love ta Scott." Geoff said. "But my family is going on vacation, but if we get back in time, I'll make sure ta come see it."
"Cool. What about you two?"
"I'll check with Abby, but I should be able to."
"I'll be there Irmano." José said taking one of the tickets.
"I'll make sure the ticket booth keeps these for you guys if you show up." Scott said putting the other tickets in his pocket.
"Sounds like a plan." Gale said.
With that, the brothers went their separate ways.
Fight night
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" The announcer said into his microphone. "Tonight, do we have a fight for you! Tonight, is Harrison "The Hitman" Allen's final fight before he retires!"
The crowd burst into applause.
"And his opponent!" The announcer yelled. "Is the rookie fighter, Arthur Mayweather!"
There was a modest applause for Arthur.
"Now. Give it up for HARRISON "THE HITMAN" ALLEN!"
The crowd burst into applause as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult started playing, and Harrison Allen ran to the cage with his fists raised high, and a smile on his face. When he stepped into the cage he smiled at the crowd and twirled his curly Q mustache. The crowd ate it up and erupted in applause.
"And now! Let's hear it for ARTHUR MAYWEATHER!"
The applause wasn't as loud, but a young kid ran up to the cage as "Indestructible" by Disturbed played. He entered the cage and looked at Harrison.
Scott watched with his friends and family in the stands. "Kick his ass dad!" He yelled.
"Go dad!" Catherine and Lisa, his sisters yelled in unison.
"Break his legs, Harrison!" Grace yelled.
"Don't kill him dad!" Gregor, his brother yelled.
"Okay. Let's get started! In three! Two! One! Fight!"
Harrison waited for Arthur to come up to him before reacting. Arthur threw a flurry of piston like punches that Harrison easily dodged before kicking out at Arthur, kicking him in the shin, and knocking him into his knee before grabbing him and throwing him over his shoulder into the mat.
Arthur got to his knees and brushed himself off. "Not bad old man, but I'm going to win this fight."
"Not by cheating you won't." Harrison responded.
"What? No. I'm a serious fighter. I'm going to win by beating you fair and square."
"Time." The announcer said. "The first match goes to HARRISON "THE HITMAN" ALLEN!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
"Now! Onto round two!"
As the night progressed the arena was getting hot with the fight heating up, and the spectators began drinking more water. Harrison and Arthur were also drinking more water.
"With the score tied at two to two we are onto the final round. Whoever wins this next point wins the title! Who will it be? Will HARRISON "THE HITMAN" ALLEN win his sixth consecutive title win?" The crowd erupted into applause. "Orr... will ARTHUR "THE PISTON" MAYWEATHER win this fight and claim the title from Allen!" The applause was a bit louder than it was in the beginning, so he had some new fans.
Harrison and Arthur fist bumped in the center of the cage before going to their corners. Harrison took a swig from his water bottle before putting his mouth guard in. He started feeling lightheaded but shook it off as the heat of the night.
"Ready, start!" The announcer yelled.
Harrison and Arthur began fighting.
In the stands.
Scott was watching the fight when he noticed something. "Something's wrong." He said getting up.
"What is it?" Gale asked.
"My dad's been drugged!" He yelled jumping up and running to the cage. On his way he was stopped by two guards.
"Stop it kid." One of them said. "The fights not over yet!"
"Let me go!" Scott yelled. "MY dad's been drugged! You need to stop the fight!"
"Yeah right!" The other guard said. "You're just pissed that your dad won't retire the champ."
"NO! Look at him! Does that look like someone who's fighting at his best! He's barely taken any hits, but he's acting like he's barely holding it together! Something is wrong, and my money said that his water's been drugged!"
The guards looked up to see that Harrison was swaying and throwing punches haphazardly and erratically. Then Arthur came in with his newly christened "Piston Punches" and began destroying Harrison.
"DAD!" Scott yelled reaching for him. He saw red. His dad had been drugged, his dad was in trouble, these useless ass guards were keeping him from his dad. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!" He yelled grabbing the guards and throwing them to the side before running to the cage and ripping it open. When he got to his dad, he found him unconscious on the floor with the ref pushing Arthur back.
"You poisoned my dad!" He yelled at Arthur. "You fucking poisoned my dad, and for what! A FUCKING TITLE! I'LL FUCKING END YOU!" He yelled lunging at Arthur only to be grabbed from behind by the guards. "LET ME GO!" He yelled.
With the commotion no one noticed a shorter than average man with a buzzcut, beer belly, and large beefy arms replace Harrison's water bottle with an untainted one.
"No!" San yelled. "They didn't! Did they actually drug your dad!"
"Yeah." Scott said. "I found out later that the manager, an ass hole by the name of Pierce Rodgers, had been drugging fighters in order to keep an illegal betting pool going. He would get ten percent from every pot and didn't care who got hurt in the process."
"Well, what happened?"
Two years later.
Scott was just finishing up a day at the gym when he felt like he was being watched. He spun around and dropping into a fighting stance, ready to beat the hell out of anyone who tried attacking him.
"You okay son?" Harrison asked wheeling up to him in his wheelchair.
"Oh, dad, sorry. I didn't know you were coming by today."
"Why wouldn't I come by? It is my gym after all."
"Sorry. I'm just nervous about the upcoming fight."
"You really think that I was drugged, don't you?"
"You were drugged dad. They found blood thinners in your urine samples. That ass hole drugged you so he could claim your title."
"Son. I know how much this means to you, but it's just the title..."
"It's not about the fucking title dad! HE PARALYZED YOU! DON'T YOU GET THAT! YOU CAN MOVE YOUR HEAD, AND YOUR ARMS! YOU CAN ONLY MOVE YOUR ARMS HALFWAY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID! SO, STOP TELLING ME THAT I'M PISSED BECAUSE YOU LOST YOUR TITLE! Everyone does that enough as it is."
"I had no idea that you were keeping all of that pent up." Harrison said.
"I have a lot of time on my hands now that I run the gym." Scott said. "Every day I have people tell me that you lost that fight fair and square and that I should learn to let go."
"Why do they do that?"
"The UFC initiation is coming up in a few weeks, and I'm planning on taking Arthur Mayweather down."
"No! I forbid you from fighting for revenge!"
"I'm not fighting for revenge. I'm going to take the title away from him. He's going on his third year defending it. I'm going to take it away from him. He doesn't deserve it."
"BE THAT AS IT MAY I WON'T LET YOU FIGHT IF YOU HAVE A VENDETTA AGAINST HIM!"
"I don't have a vendetta. This is the right thing to do, and you and mom taught me to always do what's right."
"Damn it Scott! Listen to me!"
"I am listening to you, and I'm going to make this right."
Two weeks later
Scott was in his locker room when someone came in.
"Mr. Allen." He spoke.
"What is it?" Scott asked.
"I work for some very influential people, and they want you to throw the fight."
"Tell them that they can suck my dick, and to fuck off." Scott growled.
"They can make your life very difficult."
"I can make life difficult for them. I'm not throwing this fight."
"Very well. It's your funeral."
Scott flipped the guy off before the guy left. He waited until he was called out for the fight.
"Welcome back folks!" The announcer yelled. "Do we have a fight for you tonight! Scotland Allen is going to be fighting Arthur "The Piston" Mayweather. Many of you may remember a similar fight between Allen and Mayweather two years ago, but now we have Hamilton "The Hitman" Allen's son fighting Arthur "The Piston" Mayweather!"
The crowd broke into applause.
"Let's get started! Ready! Set! Fight!"
Scott didn't even give Arthur a chance before he was moving. He ran at Arthur and jumped before delivering a devastating "Superman Punch "to Mayweather who fell to the floor. The ref ran in front of Scott to stop him from attacking Mayweather while he was down.
Mayweather stood up and nodded at the ref. The ref moved and the two were allowed to continue the fight. Mayweather ran at Scott and started his signature "Piston Punches", but Scott knew about them, and had planned for that. He threw a startlingly fast punch into Mayweather's Solar Plexus dropping him before kneeing him onto his back. The ref blocked Scott's path again pushed him into his corner since the round was finished.
"Well folks." The announcer said. "It looks like Mayweather wasn't prepared for what Allen has in store for him. Allen has been busy these last two years considering he had counters for Mayweather. Mayweather must be taking it easy or something."
This enraged Scott to no end. 'Is he seriously taking it easy on me! I'll make him regret it!'
In the stands
"Seriously?!" Gale asked. "Seriously!? Is the ref trying to get Mayweather killed?! Because it sure seems like it!"
"I can't believe it either." Geoff said. "Telling Scott that someone isn't taking him seriously is ludicrous."
"Sim Irmano." José added.
"Kick this loser's ass!" Gregor yelled.
"Hey kid." Another patron said turning around to look at Scott's brother. "Just because this guy beat your dad doesn't mean he's a bad guy. You've got to let go of that already."
"I'm rooting for my brother you Bloody Tosser!" Gregor yelled at the man.
Scott's mother, father, and sisters had decided to watch the fight from home. Grace couldn't handle it if anything happened to her son, his sisters didn't want to see their brother get hurt, and Harrison didn't want to watch his son kill his opponent out of revenge.
Back in the cage.
"Okay!" The announcer yelled. "Who's ready for ROUND TWO!?"
The crowd erupted in applause.
The bell sounded and Scott stalked towards Arthur with purpose. Arthur began circling Scott until he found the right moment and struck out with a kick that Scott caught and pulled swinging him into the cage. Arthur bounced up and down a few times to check his leg, and when he was good to go, he ran at Scott and hit him with a flurry of punches that actually drove Scott back. He increased the pace of his punches until they were his signature "Piston Punches".
Scott was pushed into the cage and beat with an intensity Arthur was missing in the last match. It excited him. This meant that he didn't have to hold back.
"Time!" The ref called.
"And it looks like it's a tie!" The announcer called out. "The next match will determine the winner!"
Scott looked around to see that everyone in the stands were beginning to drink more water. He looked at his own water bottle but paid it no mind. This is what happened with his dad in his final round. It wouldn't happen to him.
In the stands.
"Why isn't he drinking water?" Geoff asked. "He's going ta get dehydrated."
"I'll be right back." Gale said before leaving. He snuck around the cage and switched Arthur's water bottle with Scott's and grabbed a fresh Dasani water bottle from a cart. "HEY ALLEN!" He yelled. Scott looked at him, and he tossed him the Dasani. Scott opened it and downed the contents before tossing it back nodding. Gale nodded back before walking back to his seat.
"What did ye do?" Geoff asked.
"I took care of it."
"I don't get how ye are practically invisible ta people."
"It's a talent."
Back in the cage.
"And here we go for round three!" The announcer yelled. "It could go either way! Who's it going to be? Scotland Allen! Or Arthur "The Piston" Mayweather!"
The crowed broke into applause and shouted. The crowd's cheers were split between Scott and Arthur.
The bell sounded and Scott ran at Arthur. He threw his arm out at the last second to clothesline him, but Arthur ducked under his arm, and punched him in the kidney. Scott spun around and slammed his fist into Arthur's ear, rupturing his eardrum before spartan kicking him away and ran at him before grabbing him and throwing him over his shoulder and slamming him down on the ground before the ref pushed him away. Scott watched the ref lean down to listen to Arthur's chest.
"Medic!" The ref yelled. "He's barely breathing!"
The medics ran into the cage and past Scott. They sat down next to Arthur and began checking him over. Scott watched as they began doing CPR. When they were able to bring him around, they put him on a stretcher and carried him out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" The announcer yelled. "Scotland Allen is the winner of tonight's fight! Do you have anything to say to the viewers?" The announcer asked.
"Yes. I won this fight because for the last two years I trained past my limits to make myself strong enough to win this fight."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to take over my dad's gym to teach others how to defend themselves, stand up for themselves, and gain confidence in themselves and their abilities."
"And what about future fights?"
"I'll be there."
"Do you have anything ese to say?"
"Just that I dedicate this win to my family, especially my father."
"There you have it folks!"
The crowd erupted into applause, and Scott walked out of the cage and to his locker room. When he got there, he found Pierce Rodgers waiting for him.
"What do you want?" He asked knowing that the disrespect would piss him off more than anything else.
"You almost killed him!" Rodgers demanded.
"Bite me."
"I could disbar you from the UFC you know."
"I have collected enough evidence on you to have your license taken away, you thrown in prison, and by far worse than any cop could ever do to you."
"You have no proof." Rodgers said.
"You have tampered with matches, and drugged fighters to make more money by rigging fights and taking ten percent from the pot."
"H-how do you know that?" Rodgers asked.
"I'm not all muscle for brains, and I have friends who can figure stuff out that I can't. So, you will either retire or I will leak what I know to public, and you will be destroyed."
"And so, he retired, and that was the end of it." Scott finished his story.
"So, he just up and left?" San asked.
"Yeah. I was the son of a fighter and a police officer. I knew how to hide a body and evidence."
"Yeah." Pardus said. "Because that's not fucking ominous. Oh, I have a Semblance that can stop time so I can do whatever I want, and no one can stop me. Then I can bury the body and hide the evidence."
"Shut the fuck up!" Yang yelled jumping to Scott's defense. "You know, just because one person treated you badly doesn't mean that you need to act like a total bitch to everyone else..."
"Yang." Scott said.
"NO!" She yelled back. "You may be willing to take her bullshit, but I'm not!" She turned to Pardus. "You think that just because he has a certain Semblance makes him a bad person, why don't you take a look in the mirror next time! You are turning out just like the humans you hate so much!"
Pardus had, had enough. She grabbed 'Tsas' and swung it at Yang with lightning-fast reflexes. There was a flash and the slicing of metal through flesh before a grunt, and a scream. It wasn't the scream Pardus expected to hear though.
"SCOTT!" Yang yelled as Scott fell backwards with a cut through his shoulder, and a spray of blood.
When everything came back into focus the group looked to see Yang holding Scott as he lay on the floor bleeding, and Pardus looking horrified at him. He'd jumped in front of Yang to save her. What had just happened? Someone pushed past her, and Scott was eventually surrounded in a warm sandstone orange light followed by a grunt in pain from San.
"Pardus!" Ebon yelled. "What were you thinking! You can't solve an argument like that! These are not the kind of people we hunt! They are our friends now!"
Pardus noticed that everyone was looking at her. Hel had a horrified look on her face, Ebon looked disappointed, and San wouldn't look at her. Yang was crying and holding Scott, José was holding Hel and alternated between looking at Scott in horror, and her in rage. Gale was glaring at her, and Loki was glowing black.
Pardus snapped out of it.
"Okay." Loki said. "Now that I have everyone's attention. I think we should go to bed before we do something we regret. Now. Let's get some sleep and have a great day tomorrow. Okay."
"Fine." Yang said before leaving the fire it with Scott in tow.
Everyone went their separate ways and went to their respective tents. Yang and Scott went to their tent, Hel and José went to their tent, San, Pardus, and Lily went to their tent, Gale rolled out his sleeping bag next to the fire, and Loki and Ebon decided who would take first watch.
"Kal?" Pardus asked in a meek tone.
"Yeah?" San replied.
"Why do people kiss each other differently?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well Scott and Yang kiss on their lips, but you kiss me on my head. Are there different kinds of kisses?"
"Yes. There are different kinds of kisses. Kissing is a way to show affection, most of the time."
"What do you mean?"
"Most of the time people kiss to show their affection to a person. Like how Scott and Yang kiss. That kind of a kiss is a symbol for their love to each other. A kiss on the cheek could mean that one of them did something that the other liked or to show interest in that person. A kiss on the forehead means that they care about you and want you to feel better."
"What about the way you kiss me?"
"That's a show of affection. I see you like a little sister, and so I show you that by kissing the top of your head. Parents and older siblings tend to give those kinds of kisses to their children or younger siblings."
"Then what's the bad kind of kissing?"
"That is kissing to show a power play. So, if someone were to kiss someone who didn't want to be kissed, that could be out of ignorance, or they are trying to establish dominance. It's a form of abuse."
Pardus growled at that, followed by Lily.
"Yeah, but like I said. For the most part kissing is a form of affection that two people show each other."
"Is it like sex?"
"Not really. Think of kissing as a way for two people to tell each other they love each other without making love. Making love is the highest form of saying "I love you." But kissing is a way that you can say it without making love."
"I guess that I won't understand until I fall in love." Pardus said sadly.
"You will find someone someday." San said.
'What if I want you?' She thought as she drifted off to sleep.
AN: So, a lot happened in this chapter. A lot. The group is walking and have some mature, adult discussions. They stop for lunch and Scott gets two mysterious swords from a mysterious stranger, and the stranger disappears. The group gets to camp and they set to their tasks, and when they come back to camp Scott startles Pardus with his Semblance. Gale, Jose, and Scott tell Team SAPH's backstories. Hope you like it enjoy.