Calloused

2

"Why are you here?" I grumbled, brushing past him and towards the back door.

"I'm stepping out back for a smoke, I'll be back in 15!" I called to Bruce. He waved me off, continuing to look through the ordering catalogs.

Once I was out back, I fished my pack of smokes out from my pocket. I pulled one out then shoved the pack back into my jean pocket. I tucked the stick between my lips before reaching into my pocket again and retrieving the lighter. I lit the end and puffed on it. I took a few drags before I turned back to Niall.

"Well?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"When did you start smoking?" He questioned me. I huffed out a frustrated sigh at the face he was giving me.

"Doesn't matter. Would you please tell me why the fuck you've decided to pop up?" I growled, taking another puff of poison.

"There's been some reports, about Vincent. He came to your father's house looking for you. We think he's after you." Niall shrugged. He pulled out his own pack of smokes, lighting one up.

"So what? It's not like he can trace me here. He's not that bright of a guy. Or even has the connections to do so." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, there is another reason for my visit." He dragged on. I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

"There's this really big heist going down. And we need another body to pull it off." I stiffened at his words.

Another body.

"Doesn't my father have half the city under his control? Why couldn't you have just gotten another person? Why involve me?" I squinted at him.

"Well, we need someone with your skill set. And size." He said, taking another pull from his cigarette.

"So you need me because I'm tiny?" I scowled, fighting back the venomous words I wanted to spit at him.

"No, not that at all. Your father requested I approach you about it. He doesn't trust anyone else for the job besides you." I swallowed hard.

My father, needed me.

"I know why you left." Niall said quietly. I looked up.
"You couldn't handle the aftermath of what happened. You knew you wouldn't of been able to see him after everything happened. Even if you wanted to stay, you couldn't." I felt my eyes sting after hearing what Niall had concluded. He wasn't completely wrong.

It left me unbearably broken, the night we had put Vincent's gang to rest. We had wiped out a hundred people. It was a war that had been going on for decades until we ended it all. To leave the only person who truly knew me just buried me deeper. He was the sun that revolved around my very being. He was my partner. He was supposed to be my first and my last.

He was my everything.

"I couldn't handle it, you're right. I couldn't stand myself, I needed  to leave. I hated how we celebrated the death of those people so carelessly. They were human beings too." I gritted my teeth together, trying my best not to cry or show weakness.
"You know why I can't come back home. I don't deserve it." I shook my head, tossing my cigarette on the ground and stepping in it.

"I have to get back to work, it was nice seeing you. Tell my father I'm sorry but I have to refuse the offer." I added, heading back inside.

"You have my number, use it if you ever need anything." Niall called after me. I paused for a second before closing the door.

If only you knew the truth, old friend.

I sighed, grabbing the same clipboard I had before and continued to work. I didn't need anything from anyone, I had myself.