La douleur est beauté (A Punch-Out!! Story)

.:Chapter 2 - All Alone Now:.

That night, Joe simply laid in bed, wrapping his arms around one of his pillows. His eyes were misty, but he dared not to cry. He just wanted to forget this ever happened. He wanted to forget he had ever heard any of this. Hearing that his beloved little sister had passed…and he had left her behind…

He was a monster. He wasn’t a brother, he wasn’t a compatriot, he was a terrible man who hurt those he loved and then left them. ‘Poor Amelie’ were the only words that seemed to circle in his head. He couldn’t stop thinking about what he could’ve done for her…for them. In his deep thought, he also began to wonder what would’ve happened to his other sisters, what of his poor father too? He couldn’t have given a rat’s ass about his mother, but everyone else? What became of them?

What was he gonna do now? What could he do? How could he help them? If they were still out there, there had to be a way he could help…right? He couldn’t let anyone he loved down…not again. He wanted to be there for them now. Just then, the door slowly creaked open. Joe shot up from the bed and quickly turned to the door, light slowly peeking in. Kaiser and Sandman had walked in, eyes drawn in worry as they looked at the state their friend was in. His hair was a scraggly mess compared to his usual updo, and his face was flustered. 

“Joseph” Kaiser began as he sat down on the bed next to him. Sandman kept standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He had a suspicion that if he sat down, he’d break the bed, so he’d rather not risk it. The older man placed a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder, “Are…are you ok?” he asked. Joe shot him a look, and Kaiser bit his lip realizing that was a stupid question. He sighed, “I just…zhis is a lot for you but…you seem more…I don't know zhe vord-"

"Broken?" Sandman interjected. Both men looked to the champ with narrowed eyes. “I…I suppose zhat’s the best vord for it at zhis stage” Kaiser said, clicking his tongue. Joe only sighed as he leaned backwards and fell onto the bed. “I can’t believe this has happened” Joe said, “I…I can’t believe I didn’t do anything sooner!” he brought his hands to his face and let out a small yell of annoyance. Mainly directed at himself. He brought his hands away and stared up at the ceiling. “Aran’s right…” he said softly, “...It’s all my fault…I am the one to blame…I didn’t stick around for them…if…if o-only I ha-a-ad-”

“You were scared, Joe,” Sandman interjected once again, “You didn’t want to be hurt by your mother again, no one’s gonna blame you for that…a-and the fact that Amelie still chose you to look after…whatever her name is-”

“Belle?”

“Yeah, yeah, Belle…the fact she still picked you obviously means something…it means she still loves you…” Sandman said, trying to lighten the mood. Joe sat back up and gave a weak smile before turning his gaze to the floor. Both men shared a worried look. It wasn’t out of it to see Joe be a little disappointed, but this was different. He truly looked miserable, disheveled…broken…

Just then, a cough was heard outside the door. Sandman turned his head to see Aran and a few others standing outside. The champion huffed and crossed his arms as he turned his body to face them, “Not now, Ryan” he growled. “Sorry, Mason, but Frenchie there owes me a story”, Aran replied as he tried to shove his way past, but Sandman stood in the way.

“Mason, MOVE!” Aran demanded. Sandman snarled, “No,” he said firmly, “He isn’t ready to talk”

“Well, I am ready to hear what that fecker ‘as to say!”

“VELL, TOO BAD!!” Kaiser shouted, shooting up from the bed and standing beside Sandman in the doorway, pointing a finger at the Irish rat’s face. “HE NEEDS TIME TO PROCESS VHAT HAS HAPPENED! OR DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW GRIEVING VORKS!? DUMKOPF!!”