"Alright, headcount! One…two, three…we're one short. Who's not accounted for?" Chloe waves a hand, gaining Ethan's attention.
"Adam's not back yet!" Ethan sighs, every single time. "Okay, where is he?" Eric speaks up, "He's walking the dog." Before anyone can say anything, Adam and their dog, a white Siberian Husky named Maverick run up the driveway. "I'm here! Sorry, I was talking to my friend."
"Perfect timing bud." Adam gives a thumbs-up and guides Maverick inside. "See ya later, Mav!"
——————
"Hey slowpokes, you get lost or something?" Ethan throws his hands up, "Don't look at me! Besides, you said six-thirty." Brandt taps his watch. "Yeah cool, you can tell time. Very good, Will. Very good." Benji smiles, "Mind-blowing."
"Yay! Everyone's here, can order now, Dad? I'm starving." Nate blows his straw wrapper at his little brother. "Sucks for you, Cooper." Will, in turn, blows his wrapper at Nate, "Hey, be nice to your brother." Cooper elbows his brother, "Haha!" Nate quickly shrugs him off, as Katie scoffs at her brothers, "You're such losers. It's impressive, honestly."
Will huffs, ignoring them and turning his attention back to Ethan. "Nice to see nothing's changed." Julia gestures to the four kids. "See, this is why I only have two kids." Jane shrugs, "Eh, you get used to it. Eventually."
——————
After the chatbox kids finally calm down a bit, they get their food; Boneless wings and potato wedges.
It doesn't take long for the kids to rile each other up again though, which is why they're all on one end of the table, with the adults on the other end. "So, you're on vacation? Because I didn't know we got vacation time during May." Luther nods, "We don't, but technically we're still working on the assignment, just not at the moment." Ethan nods, "It's these moments that I wasn't planning to retire. It's always fun pissing off the Secretary. But then kids and everything…" Benji rolls his eyes.
"Those times were my idea so, you're welcome." Ethan frowns. "Realy, 'cause that's not how I recall it. I recall that those times were my ideas, and you just went along with them. So, you're welcome."
"No, that was my idea, your ideas always involved a near-death experience, which is odd because at first, I had to convince you. Like when we parachuted into Paris, and you thought I was insane. I mean, you wouldn't have been able to if I hadn't basically dragged you along with me." Ethan deadpans, "I don't remember that." Brandt cuts in, "I don't miss that."
"Of all the reasons you had to retire, I never would've guessed that you, Willian Brandt, would do it because you have four kids to take care of." Will shrugs, "Why is that so hard to comprehend? I mean, Ethan retired because of the kids too, and no one's making a big deal of it." Brandt objects. "Well, he's Ethan. And you, ya know…" Will waits, "And…" Luther gives him an answer instead. "Well, you didn't seem to like a guy who wanted kids. Much less four." Brandt scoffs, "Wh-What did I do to suggest that I didn't want or like kids?" Luther administers a pensive expression.
"It's not as much liking or not liking them as it is about your personality. I mean, you just didn't seem responsible enough I guess." Brandt retorts with a slight sowl, "Wow, thanks, friend." Luther shrugs dismissively, "Just sayin'." Benji nods in agreement, "He's got a point." Will huffs, "Oh shut up. We're here to have dinner, not play psychologist. Can we stop?"
"You're not wrong," Luther replies with a smile, "but can you really sit here and say your personality is responsible?" Brandt rolls his eyes again. "Hey, screw you! I'm responsible!"
——————
Julia grins at the guy's idiotic bickering, turning back to Jane, "So what about you? Anything interesting happening?" Jane shakes her head, "Mmm, not really. But with the kids, it's always quite the spectacle. They always get into something." Julia chuckles as Jane continues, "Yeah, there's never a dull moment with four kids around. And it doesn't seem to be getting any better now that they're older. They just get into more trouble." Julia nods, "Once again, two kids instead of four."
"What about Erick? Doesn't he count?" Erick gives Jane a light elbow. "Depending on the day, Oh, he definitely counts. In some ways, he acts worse than the kids!" Julia laughs as Jane nods in agreement.
——————
The conversation dies down for a moment, a pause that feels heavier than before. Eventually, Jane clears her throat and speaks up to break the silence. "So…what's been going on in your guys' lives?" Julia shrugs a little, "Nothing new really. Chloe's definitely a teenager. Adam, well, he's gettin' there."
"It's fun, isn't it?" Jane muses sarcastically. "Yeah, it's a lot of fun," Julia replies with a light sigh. "I find it amusing how quickly kids grow up." Chloe shifts to face her. "Oh, Come on, Mom! Am I really that bad?"
"Oh no," Julia rolls her eyes, "You've only been caught cheating on your homework three times this week." Chloe groans at the sarcasm. "I swear it's because the work is so stupid. I could teach the class better." Lila, the youngest of Brandt's kids at six years old, can't contain her laughter. "You really think you're smarter than a grown-up?" She snorts, "Yeah right. You probably don't even know how to do math."
"Hey," Chloe pouts, "I know about calculus. It's just stupid. Like, why do I need to know how to solve calculus problems? I'm never going to use them in my life." Brandt points a finger at her, "See! Someone who gets it. Finally." Brandt and Chloe exchange a quick high-five as Nate peers at Adam, who simply shakes his head.
——————
The next day, back at home, Ethan's head is spinning with worried tension. "Why didn't you think to tell me that your new friend happens to be an adult?" Adam sits on the couch dismissively, "What's the problem, Dad? He's nice, and he always gives Maverick a treat when we walk by. I mean, it's not like I go inside his house! I-I don't even go into his yard! Dad, I know about Stranger Danger!" Ethan takes a breath and lowers his voice a bit. "Okay, what do you guys talk about exactly?"
Adam sighs in irritation, "How we're doing, how our day was. Ya know, stuff literally everyone talks about. Besides, Maverick's always right there with me, and he never once growled at the guy." Ethan grits his teeth sharply. "And why do you think that is? Maybe because your 'friend' gives him treats all the time, huh?"
"Oh come on, Maverick's not that dumb!" Ethan's hands ball into fists at his sides, "That's not the point, Adam! There's a big difference when you're friends with a kid and when you're friends with an adult." Adam rolls his eyes, "Dad, he's not some creepy old dude with, like, snakes or something. He's 23! His name's Nick, he has a kid! See, we're not strangers!" His eyes narrow in surprise, "He has a kid? How old?" Adam huffs, "Kids thirteen, his name's Max."
"Where is this kid?" Adam shrugs in a not-impressed manner. "Max doesn't live with him, he lives with his Mom." Ethan raises his eyebrows in confusion, "He's 23 and he has a thirteen-year-old kid? The kid's his biological child right?" Adam nods. "Adam, if Max is thirteen, that means that Nick would've had him when he was ten! That's not possible! How much did you tell him, Adam?" It finally seems to click for Adam as sits up straight, his eyes widening into saucers, "Dad, I didn't tell him my last name, what school I go to, or our address, okay? Even if he is lying, he can't do anything if I don't walk by his house anymore."
Ethan sighs, releasing some tension in his shoulders."Okay fine. Fine, but I want you to promise me one thing, okay? Promise me that you won't walk by that house anymore?" Adam nods, "I promise, Dad."
Ethan breathes a big sigh of relief. "Dad, I'm really sorry. I just wasn't thinking I guess. I should've-" Ethan shakes his head, resting his hands on Adam's shoulders. "Hey, I'm not mad, okay? It's okay." Adam looks down. "I know you're not, but still…I'm sorry, I guess I should've known better, huh?" Ethan nods, "I'm just glad you're safe is all. That's all that matters to me." Adam chuckles, "You're more worried about me than I am about me."
"That's my job. My job is to always worry about you. I don't care how old you are or how annoying it might be."
"And my job is to always make sure I annoy you with the stupidest things," Adam jokes with a smirk. Ethan leans in and hugs Adam, "Love you, kiddo." Adam nods as Ethan stands up again and heads to the door.
"Where are you going?" Ethan opened the door, "I'm gonna go find your friend." Adam smiles as Ethan leaves.
——————
It merely takes two turns of corners for Ethan to sense a presence following him. As Ethan continues walking, he feels a sense of unease wash over him. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up, giving him the feeling of being "watched". He looks around, but can't see anyone. He frowns and keeps going.
As Ethan continues walking, the feeling of being watched intensifies. Every step seems to echo loudly in the silence of the deserted street, heightening his senses.
Glancing over his shoulder, he sees nothing but the empty road stretching out behind him, bathed in the soft glow of the sunlight.
Despite the nagging feeling of apprehension, Ethan presses on, keeping a steady pace. Now he's sure someone's trailing him, staying far enough away so as to not be seen. He's a professional. Ethan stops, standing completely still for a solid three seconds.
The person who's following him stops as well. Ethan starts moving again, as does the lurking presence. Yep, a professional. That means he's got a target on his back. By who though? Ethan drifts toward the woods, the leaves crunching under his feet.
His pursuer moves swiftly, mirroring Ethan's own. Smart. Ethan stops sharply, his ears nearly perking up like an animal sensing its hunter. A light crunch behind him and Ethan freezes in place.
The air stands silent for a forebodingly long few seconds. Neither the hunter nor the prey move. They wait, listening for any sound so they can take their cue to strike. One…The air is still and quiet. Two .… The only sound reverberating around them is the bird's chatter and the small brook that flows through the rocks, making a small Cathunk! when they crash into the dry earth surrounding it. Three…. snap.
Ethan's head swivels curtly as he turns on his heel, squinting behind him just in time to dodge the thick silver flash of a blade grazing his neck.
Ethan shifts his weight to his back foot to steer himself backward while maintaining his footing. At the same time, Ethan assesses his attacker: a slim man a few inches taller than him, sporting a blue shirt, a black light jacket, and dark gray pants slightly covered by his heavy army-like black boots, wielding a switchblade in one hand.
Ethan lets the man make the first move. Instead of lashing his blade at him, the man takes Ethan's feet out from under him in one precise leg sweep causing Ethan to lose his balance and stumble backward into a tree.
The man takes the opportunity and crosses his right arm against Ethan's collarbone, gripping his shoulder as he leans his weight against his chest, the switchable coming up to press against his jugular locking him in place. A few seconds of silence is shattered by the man's calm tone of voice. "Good to finally meet you, Mr. Hunt."
Ethan's free hand flies up to the man's face like a leach clinging onto a fish, his fingers digging deep into the man's right dilated pupil pushing his thumb deeper into his eyelid. The quick motion forces the knife wielder to stagger back, releasing his mark. Ethan doesn't waste a second to kick just under the man's kneecap and wallop him in the jaw, his head snapping back as Ethan hooks his arm around the attacker's neck, trapping him in a headlock. "Who the hell are you?" The man catches his breath and speaks with not an ounce of fear in his voice.
"A-ask your son." Ethan's blood runs ice-cold as the man, Nick, manages a tight-lipped smile. "Who sent you, Nick?" Nick's smile tightens as he forces out a stiff laugh "Take a guess."
"Who sent you!" A split second later Nick's body goes limp in Ethan's arms.
Releasing his grasp, Ethan lets Nick's corpse fall to the ground with a dull thud. Taking a step back, Ethan stares at Nick's blood-soaked clothes and shudders, feeling the all-too-familiar feeling of blood staining his clothes. At least this time it isn't his fault. But why? Why the hell did Nick slit his own throat? Willingly? As Ethan stands over Nick's lifeless body, a chilling realization washes over him. The man he had just confronted, Nick, had willingly taken his own life rather than reveal the identity of his employer.
Ethan's mind races with questions, his thoughts spinning in a whirlwind of confusion and apprehension. He certainly could comprehend why someone would choose death over divulging information. The implications of Nick's actions sent a shiver down Ethan's spine, raising more questions than answers. Grimacing at the sight of Nick's blood-soaked clothes, the metallic scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the musty scent of the forest.
He takes a step back, his mind reeling with the weight of what had just transpired. "What the fuck?"