Edd hangs up his coat and let the young boy put the gun back on wall while his father goes to the dining room to bring the rest of the food onto the table. He doesn't want to pester the boy with questions ,at least not yet but knwong his father , he mostly have a good reason to have him around , may be a new helper to assist on the farm but he is too tired and hungry to even try . Taking a seat at the table , his father is just ready to make his prayer and the new boy also join in.
Mr. Vincent : Before we begin , let offer our prayer to our Lord and Savior for this feast .
He gestures the boys to do the same and they do . Edd is not full religious but he isn't the type to be disrespectful towards people faith unless he has extremly good reason for it. The boy also lower his head onto his joined hands to make his prayers . Everyone stays silent during the prayers , Edd also makes his prayers but it's still for the same thing since he first left the town . It's something that haunted him for every waking moments of his existence .
Mr. Vincent : Amen.
The others follow and the diner begins. Edd waits for his father to take the first bite and when he does , he does also . The young boy keep making glances at Edd out of curiosity and Edd doesn't mind cause even if he is Mr. Vincent's blood son . It has been so long since anyone has saw him and he doesn't resemble much of someone that would be the son of the town famous rough and tough cattle farmer .
Edd : If you want to know me better, you can just ask but i don't think talking with your mouth full is good table manner .
He doesn't even look at the young boy .
Mr. Vincent : True to that , if you have any question just ask ,no need to stare . I dont have to turn my head to see the curiosity .
The old man continue with his diner like before ,and the boy see both the old man and his son seems to be understanding towards one another so he drops it for now. After dinner and everything is cleaned up , the old man return to the comfort of his sofa in the living room , enjoying some country music and activities on TV to spend the laxing hours of the day while Edd is outside , running some checks with his car and getting everything out of trunk .
? : Nice ride man, couldnt really take my eyes off it .
The young boys compliments Edd's car while he carries a tray of lemonade towards him.
Edd : It took me a while but nothing is impossible with a little bit of elbow grease .
Edd continues on the car computer network ,doesn't even dart an eye away from his work.
? : I will just ,put it here then.
Carefully put the tray down on the porch as he walks down to get closer , a bit nervous as Edd is seems so cold and calculated ,unlike the old man cold and stern approach to everything .
Edd : How did he find you ?
Edd types in the final commands before closing the door. Wiping his hands with a small towel , as he rest by leaning back on his car .
? : My folks got into big trouble with the bad crowd , i got left behind and was hunted down by them until the old man stepped in .
Edd chuckled a bit.
Edd : yeah ,he is like that. So he is your guardian ?
? : Yeah .( saying it with a nod )
Edd : May be it was for the best , he could need some extra help around here anyway .
? : For real , i got really into shape just after one month around here and it has been fun to be honest , focus on working and building something for yourself .
Edd : Still go to school ?
Edd puts the towel down on the rearview mirror as the boy feel comfortable enough to approach Edd .
? : yeah , junior year now . Still doing good enough to get into trouble .
Edd : Why not better ?
? : I actually didn't want to continue with school but pop insist i at least finish with highschool.
Edd : Listen to him by the way , you don't want the one to be blindsided by fancy words when you are the younger one.
? : Like i understand but ..
Edd : No buts, finish highschool ,it's the least you can do .
Edd sounds strong and stern like the old man , making sure his words are branded into the boy brain.
Edd : Here , his words are laws so better man up and follow them , don't let petty shit cloud your judgement on somthing is obvious like finishing basic education.
The boy seem disappointed that Edd doesn't understand his reasons or even want to listen to them for some reasons.
Edd : Think some basic drama and classroom struggles are the end of the world. Please , we did more crazier shit here before you were born and if you have any problem at school , i will deal with it .
The boy is taken back by it.
? : wait ,what ? Like ,yeah i appreciate the helping hand but i can't just come in crying for help at school or be holding hands with someone to prevent the bad man from doing bad things to me.
Edd stands up then walk up to him with such strength and composure , the aura of confident just overwhelm him when Edd is within reach of the boy.
Edd : Swing at me .
The boy doesn't have much to say or even the courage to say anything now with Edd standing in front of him .
Edd : Come on , you don't need a helping hand , you are a man now , swing .
He keep pressuring the boy , pestering him over and over till.
Edd : Guess you aren't strong enough to be here then , i'll tell the old man to ditch you .
He is about to turn around then , the boy swing but he sees it coming so he dodges it ,causing the boy to lose his balance , landing with one knee on the ground . Edd looks from his position as the boy looks up and get one punch in the fight .
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.
The boy eats dirts as he hit the ground from how hard the punch was , making sure to let him know Edd is not playing and the stinging sensation on his face reinforce that notion. He picks himself up and arms lock in as Edd also lock in .
Edd : You think some petty drama , hurt feelings are the end of world .
Edd fakes his jab as he makes the boy guard up his left only to get uppercut onto ground , landing on his back.
Edd : you are scared of the crime of your parents .
He yells at the boy at he picks him up by the collar .
Edd : You are scared of the future .
He gives him a left to make it even all on side . The poor lad starts crying as he can't muster up any words to defend himself.
Edd : Good , cry . Cry and coward away from the world cause that is what you are doing, you aren't living . You are hiding and that ,is worst than death for you.
He pulls the boy up back onto his feets ,holding him up by his collar once again .
Edd : You have to chose boys , be man ... ( then one punch into the stomach causing him to be on his knees ) or a coward.
Edd takes a step away then toss his pistol on the ground in front of the boy .
Edd : Chose then , be a man ,stands back up and fights . Or , chose the easy way out and shoot me .
The boy ,bleeding from the cuts on his face and still clutching his midsection ,seeing the gun in front of him ,start having urges to release his anger by just shoot Edd and get it over with . Succuming to his urges, grabbing the gun on the hand when the other help himself get back of it .
Edd : that's right ,come on , be a coward and shoot me . Come on .
He yells at the shaking boy and every cells in his body keep yelling to shot Edd but then something comes through , making him through away the gun and rush at Edd full speeds and swing with blinding rage. He connects with something as he makes contact with Edd before falling onto back on the ground once again. The poor lad flops on the ground , exhausted from the emotion rollercoaster and pain from his wounds . Trying to regain himself before seeing an open hand over him as Edd is offering him his help .
? : are you gonna punch me ,again ?
Edd chuckle .
Edd : and risk CPS coming for my ass , no . Training over . Get up
The boy let out a big sigh before catching his hand to pull himself up .
? : could you have done that without messing me up so much , i still have summer school you know ?
Edd pulls the boy back onto his feets , dusting him off a bit .
Edd : Please , girls in summer school dig bad boys , not that you are one but there isn't anything wrong with some practice before school start .
He shoots a smerky glance at him and the boy immediately understand .
? : oh , if i get any girl number from this , i buy us some wings from the worldcup game .
Edd : Better keep your words cause i can really eat.
The 2 share a good laugh before Edd guides him back inside to patch him up and finds the old man ,standing by the door.
Mr. Vincent : I see you two have sorted things out .
The boy smile and nod with his bloody face while Edd just smirk.
Mr . Vincent : I have the medkit on the table , also you will be driving him to school tomorrow at 7 so get some sleep when you are done stiching him up .
Edd : Sure dad .
The old man heads off to his room as Edd have the boy go take a quick shower to clean off the dirt before meet him back at the table ,waiting for his meds . Edd checks to make sure he has everything he needs before treating the young lad he just beat up .
Edd : At least he has been keeping up with his meds and everything around the house or you will be sleeping with those wounds. I remember all the time had my knuckles bleeding out and slept through them .
? : I didn't know the old man was that cold .
Edd laughs a bit .
Edd : No , he wasn't . I just didn't tell and i barely felt anything to be honest , just rub it with some wisky and slept like a rock was what i did.
He prepares some cotton with disinfectant as the boy steady himself .
Edd : Ready ?
Smirking at the fact he knows the boy will struggle against the pain .
? : Hit me.
Taking a big breath before letting the cotton hit . He jolts at every direction everytime Edd hit the cotton on the open found .
Edd : Jesus ,it's almost done . No need to be dramatic.
? : I don't see you rubbing fire onto your skin.
Edd : Your grammar is quite bad , no wonder you can pull any girl.
Applying patches and gauses to cover all the wounds then he opens a few bottles .
Edd : these will help you sleep with the pain , take these before bed . In the morning you should be good enough to not wine like a girl. Also , what is your name again ?
Rick : Rick .
Edd : Goodnight , Rick . Make sure to get a good night rest .