Ch 2: Grief

Today was going to be a busy day. Today Crow was going to go to Sector Security to get Trudges help regarding Pearson's death. He can remember what the monster in his vision looked like. He figured a good enough description would be enough for the case to be looked into.

"Crow!"

The ginger snapped back to reality and looked over to his brothers.

"What?"

"You seem out of it." Jack said.

"I just… found out something weird." Crow answered.

Jack was gearing up for a snarky comment from his youngest brother, but he was deflated at what he got. He could tell something was bothering Crow. Even he knew when not to push his buttons.

"Oh, right. I met an old friend and he offered to back the team." Crow said like it was an offhand comment. "New engines and everything…."

"That fixes our financial issues." Jack said, elated. To which Crow gave him a glare.

"And what would you of all people would know about our financial issues." Crow grumbled.

"Stop! It is way too early for that." Yusei was used to his squabbling brothers. But arguing this early in the day was too much. "I have no problem with this. If you trust him, I trust him."

"This makes things easier." Jack shrugs.

Crow was happy his brothers agreed to the setup. He couldn't wait to approve things with Bolton. Without thinking he placed a hand over his signer mark. This did not go unnoticed by Yusei.

"Something else on your mind?"

"Oh! Nothing…." Crow hurried out the apartment building.

Arriving at Sector Security, he asked to see Trudge and Mina. Thankfully, the duo was in the building at the time. Just in time before Trudge went on patrol. Crow was escorted up to Mins's office to talk to them.

"I need your help to look into the death of someone named Robert Pearson." Crow asked. "I don't think his death was all it seems."

He goes on to explain what the card looks likes and how it effects reality.

"We can look into it but…," Trudge was uncertain of Crow's story. "Dreams? Crow are you sure it's not your grief."

This earned him a swift jab from Mina.

"I wouldn't play around with something like this." Crow pleaded as he pointed to his arm. "My mark kickstarted this whole thing. So something about his death is fishy."

"We will look into it." Mina said. "We will get back to you as soon as possible."

Crow thanked them and left the building. In the meantime he threw himself into his work. So work he did.

And work. And work. And work. Crow only focused on work for the next few days. It was starting to worry his brothers. Crow came in late and left early. It was like he was on autopilot. At one point, he didn't even want to look at or use Blackbird for his deliveries one day. At some point his brothers began to notice Crow's isolation. The older duo only saw him in passing.

Crow's sleep schedule became a mess to say the least. No matter what he could not sleep properly. He was too afraid to relive the memory in his dreams. But he needed to sleep. He closed his eyes hoping to get some rest, only to end up not feeling rested at all.

Another restless night for Crow. He spent most of the night tossing and turning in bed. He just wanted to sleep. A reprieve from this void feeling he has. It reminds him of the in-between time of when he left team Satisfaction and met Pearson. That same void feeling hit again when Pearson died. It was a feeling he ignored and hoped to never address. For now he will focus on his work while he waits for Trudge and Mina to give him an update.

The morning was not kind to Crow. He had dark circles under his eyes and his Skin was much paler. He made himself look presentable as possible for work and headed downstairs.

Though, he was being prevented from going outside by his towering blond brother.

"Move Jack." Crow said.

"I don't think I will." Jack shrugged. "You look horrible by the way." Crow had no time for this. There were other ways out of the building. His steps were uneven as he ran into Yusei.

"You can't even walk straight. As if we are letting you on a duel runner." Jack said crossing his arms.

"Then someone else do my job! No volunteers. Then I guess I have to do it myself." Crow attempts to get past Jack. In his sleep deprived state he was no match for him. "Seriously, what is your problem! Yusei do something!"

"Clearly you are the one with a problem." Jack scoffs.

"Ugh, move!"

"No!" Jack was firm in being a wall to Crow. "The tournament is close and the last thing we need is you holding us back!"

"I am fine. I am rested enough. Stop treating me like a kid." Crow said.

"Then stop acting like one!"

"Okay." Yusei finally chimes in. "Crow, you have been looking sick lately. We are just worried about you."

"Thank you. I am fine." Crow responded more favorably to Yusei.

"Why are you so opposed to resting?" Yusei asked.

"Because resting means I have to think about stuff I don't want to think about." Crow absolutely did not want to be left alone with his own thoughts. He knew exactly were his mind would wonder and wanted to stay away from that part of his mind. "I-I…. I don't want to think about how I failed Pearson. How I wasted his legacy. I don't want to feel nothing again."

Crow was close to tears. He over to lay down on the couch, turning his back to his brothers. It was silent between the trio. The older duo made themselves comfortable and waited for Crow to continue. If he wanted too.

"This whole situation made me realize what a complete failure I am. Life in Satellite is just waiting to be chewed out and spat out. After I left team Satisfaction, I was by myself for a while. The entire time I felt nothing. Just going on without a purpose. Taking care of kids. Then one night, Pearson and Bolton show up to stop a scuffle. I soon learned that he wanted to teach kids skills to fulfill their dreams. Then one night the warehouse we used caught fire. I tried to save him, but it was too late. Pearson entrusted me with his deck, and I got out not being able to help. His last words to me were to take care of the kids."

Crow paused for some time. Yusei and Jack waited before responding, not wanting to interrupt.

"So why are you moping around instead of at Martha's playing with the rugrats?" Jack had all the tack of a bull in a glass shop. Crow ignored him.

"You didn't fail Pearson Crow." Yusei said in a comforting voice.

"I couldn't protect them! They died because I couldn't protect them!" Crow shouted.

"Crow, you can't blame yourself for that! That was all the doing of the dark signers!" Yusei was trying to keep calm. But he was shocked that Crow would somehow getting twisted that he was at fault for the orphans dying. He wasn't going to let Crow blame himself. "We are going to Martha's. That is final."

Crow huffed and stormed to his room. The sound of the door slamming rung throughout the complex.

Since his brothers refused to let him do anything productive today, he had no choice but to hole himself in his room.