I am for you

Chapter 6. The Calm After the Storm

It seems that the case of Alfredo taught you to think better about your actions, not only his gang but also other gangs and criminals became more careful in their requests and wishes.

Laurent still painstakingly studied medicine and tried to get as many good grades and reviews as possible in school. Larry kept joking about his brother, about how smart-ass he was becoming. However, their friends and other people, after what Skitzo told them about Laurent, were afraid to make jokes. It wasn't that they were afraid of Laurent, it was just that if quiet Lo could get so mad about Larry, then what would Larry be capable of?

Larry had other problems with self-awareness. He began to notice more and more often that he did not like to cause physical harm, break into buildings or protect dubious organizations. He wanted something more. He also wanted to have a goal like Laurent's. Difficult, but achievable. Something that will help them survive, make money, and make this rotten world respect them, or at least respect their opinion.

And all he could think of was starting his gang. Laurent didn't appreciate the idea, just rolled his eyes and went back to another textbook. He still had to do his homework for the two of them.

Larry and the others who joined the gang thought about the name for three whole days, but all they could do was "Crime Crew". And as soon as their gang proclaimed themselves the peacemakers of several dangerous areas of Paris, Larry immediately попаgot into trouble. And while he dealt with the mess he'd made himself, Skitzo had to stay at home with Laurent, guarding him. Although in Schitzo's opinionСкитцо, Laurent didn't need to. It seems that this guy could handle all his troubles on his own.

Skitzo сsatsprawled on a tattered, world-old couch in the twins ' cheap apartment. Laurent was sitting down again, reading a thick book. Nothing was interesting on TV, and playing video games alone wasn't fun. Skitzo clicked the remote a little more for decency's sake, flipping through the channels, but when he found nothing interesting, he began to stare at Laurent intently.

- What's wrong with you? - Skitzo rolled onto his side and подеперcupped his cheek.

- What are you talking about? - Laurent didn't even look up from his book.

- Well, you and your brother are very strange. You don't like violence, but you're a great shot, and you seem like a much bigger nut to hurt than your brother. At the same time, Larry seems to have no boundaries at all. And you're the only one he listens to. Sometimes it feels like you're manipulating him. And with all this, you strive to become a doctor.

Laurent was watching intently at him carefully as if considering his words.

- It's hard to explain. We became adults too soon. Our father is a real asshole, he was a bad man who only respected power, drugs, and alcohol. Larry defended me without giving offense, he immediately found himself in aggressive mode, as soon as my father raised his hand to me. I was a more affectionate child, and Larry was rude and harsh. No one did anything about it. And we grew up like this.

- But you're different now. You can stand up for yourself. You're calm but domineering. And neither you nor Larry shows any fear, do you have any fear?

- I still despise the idea of violence or harm, which is rare. I always tried to isolate my father by throwing complicated phrases at him, confusing his mind, which infuriated him even more, but it gave Larry time to find me and save me. Manipulations and the desire to see the edge. So tempting.  We have nothing to lose aft of ourselves. It's like a curse. I do not know what will happen next to us in life, but now, if one of us is killed, the other will also die. Sometimes, the decisions made exclude the possibility of being afraid of something. We have only two choices: either we both survive, or we both die.

- You're so calm about it...You guys are scaring me.

- The main thing is that those who want to get rid of us are also afraid of us.

- Okay, but a doctor. Why him?

- Drugs, weapons, human trafficking... It's all disgusting and so cruel. It's taking lives, and I can't stop it, but we need money and security. One day I won't be around and Larry will kill someone. We need a guarantee that neither the gangs, nor the police, nor the cartels, nor anyone else will touch us.

- Is being a doctor a way out?

- Surprisingly, yes. This is already working. People who hang around in the criminal world, or who lead a double life, really appreciate doctors who know how to keep quiet. And oh, it turns out I have a medical gift. God's hands. While you're wiping away the snot of all the poor and deprived, I managed to get two very important people out of the world, and I took more than just money from them.

- What if Larry kills someone? What will you do? - Skitzo watched Laurent's expression carefully.

- Nothing. I'll help you hide the body and remove the evidence. And I'll call some people to help cover my tracks. Not for the first time.

- Has he killed someone yet? - the question was coming out of Skitzo's mouth Скитцоfaster than he knew it. But the calmness with which Laurent spoke made him unable to contain his curiosity.

- Yes, our father. Well, as killed. Slightly helped, so it's technically an accident. But if there were cameras in our house, Larry would have to answer a lot more unpleasant questions.

- Are you serious now? - Skitzo tried to keep the tremor out of his voice. He seems to have finally begun to understand these twins.

- Look, all we have is us. Me and Larry, there's no one else. Even you guys will abandon us one day. Larry and I might also go our separate ways for a while. But the difference is that we will always come back to each other. I won't always be around. And Larry's an asshole. I'm going to be a doctor soon. I need a license, if we want to survive in this world, I have to do everything right and get it. I need to work hard and know a lot. And we need a hell of a lot of money.