Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 36 - Roads

 – ...So yer tryin' to tell me ya used a prostitution scam on that Minsu-something guy to extort him half a million?

– B-basically, yes...

Standing in the middle of Blaze's living room, Fang was less bold than he was some minutes ago, when his brother was still nowhere to be found. Claw had reappeared all of a sudden in the middle of the night, and the young woman immediately repeated him everything the younger told her. This time, there was no way out; he couldn't run away, and he couldn't dodge. He was stuck. And his sibling was scarier than every other mercenaries. The older took a deep breath; he was already bothered by how things went with Dove, but this was something even harder to tolerate. He exhaled, almost in a growl, and observed him.

– Last question. Where's Cassie?

This name acted like an electroshock to Fang, and he seized his phone, shivering. How could he have forgotten about her? What was happening to his mind? Seeing his desperate move, Claw clenched his fists; if he answered him wrong, he could hurt him.

– Fuckin' answer, where's Cassie?

– I-I've let her with Sarah and Itta, s-she should be fine and-...

– You let your daughter to these whores?!

Claw's knuckle landed into his face in a move so fast he couldn't block nor dodge it; even if he could, he wasn't sure he wanted to avoid it. Yes, he deserved it. Maybe he deserved worse than a punch for being such a bad father. Maybe Claw had been right all the time; he was a piece of shit. He fell down backwards, hitting the couch and letting go off his cellphone in the process, and at this moment, Claw wanted to end him. However, Blaze stopped him, a hand on his shoulder.

– He won't be any better if you knock him out, she sighed. I'll call the girls and ask them to bring her, they're good ones, Claw. They'd never put Cassie in danger.

– But this bastard does!

– That's why he needs to come back. He needs help, Claw, not punches.

– No! I won't come back!

At her phrase, Fang had let out a panicked yell, and was up in a blink, pointing his gun at them once again, to which his brother frowned more.

– I'm going to get my daughter back and disappear, do you hear me?!

– I'm not lettin' ya off the hook, ya brat! I told ya, Fang. I told you that if you kept that up, I'll take her away from you.

– You don't have the right! I'm her dad, I'm her fuckin' dad! You won't separate us!

– Separate what? Ya don't even know where she is, right now. Even our father raised us better.

– ... Don't you dare talk of him, Claw. Don't cross that line.

With tears in his eyes, the younger put his gun back behind his belt, hands shaking from the pain of remembering it all. How could Claw tell him such a thing, after the hell they lived? After what they've gone through, together? He headed to the exit with a heavy heart, stopping when he reached the door.

– Cassiopeia is my daughter, Claw, and I love her. And this, you'll never take away.

__________

Coming back to university together after everything that happened yesterday somehow felt strange to the both of them, but being there, walking along the corridors while holding hands under the surprised glances of other students, also felt reassuring. Adjusting their morning routine to that unplanned situation had been weird, but now that they were settled up for the day, they could enjoy it serenely. They entered their classroom, and intended to take their usual seats, but frowned when they saw they were taken... By Jun and his friends. Fuck, she thought, they're back... Sphinx tightened his grip around her hand, but while she thought he would lead her away, he went straight forward, facing the blue-haired boy with a daring smirk on his lips.

– Hey, Jun, he snickered, finally got rid of that marker, huh? Oh crap, you still got some there!

His fingers approached Jun's forehead, and smacked on it, pushing him backwards. At the bully's raging shout, Dove flinched; this was going to degenerate. She tugged on her boyfriend's arm, nervously.

– Come on, let's move, she whispered, don't pick up a fight like that.

– That shithead had been sayin' shit on you, Dove.

– I know, I don't care. Let's just move, Sphinx. Please.

He ultimately nodded and after a wave at them, he swung around with her by his side. But as soon as he turned his back to him, Jun leaped from his chair, aiming a punch at his neck. Nevertheless, Dove had been faster, and although she didn't have enough free space to catch his wrist, she stopped it with her foot, leg lifted up in the air and pushing onto his forearm.

– Don't push your luck, Jun, she growled.

–...One day, I'll be killin' you two.

– M'aw, I wouldn't count on that if I were you.

This unexpected voice almost made her stand at attention as she straightened her posture, and so did Sphinx; Venom had entered the room, dressed in a black suit-and-tie, chatting again with the teacher as if nothing at all happened.

– By the way, thank you again for your generous donation, Mister Makarov, cheerfully said the professor.

– It's only logical for me to repay you for your kindness towards the kids, right?

The blonde showed the older man a smirk that Dove instantly understood. She was about to murmur to Sphinx, but Venom gestured at them to come.

– Anyways, they have family matters to attend, Mister, he explained. They should be back by Friday, do not worry.

– With such good results, there's no concern to have! Travel safely, kids.

The sudden niceness of their teacher astonished the duo, but they did not say a word, bowing at him before following Venom into the hallway. As he was leading them outside of the building, they stared at him with widened eyes. The young woman was the first to talk:

– ...So the reason why we aren't expelled yet is because you're paying the school?

– Kinda, yes, replied the blonde. It's not cheap, but I believe it's a righteous investment.

– Hey, why did you get us out? Asked the mint-haired one.

– Well, you need a day off, kiddos...

He grinned at them, apparently quite amused from the situation.

– Because tonight, we are going at war.