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

.:Chapter 3 - Gone:.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY ON THIS CHAPTER, JESUS. I didn't mean for it to take so long, but prep for Uni and life in general really did wear me down. Anyways! Here is the new chapter! Enjoy!

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"How is he?" Desire asked, walking over to the Minor Circuit grouped at one of the tables. They didn't answer right away. Instead, they shared a concerned look with each other before Kaiser gave a sigh, "Eh...not vell" he confessed, "He hasn't left his room all morning"

"I've even tried calling asking if he wanted to train..." Disco added. Desire raised an eyebrow, "And?" The younger boy shook his head, "Nothing...I'm worried about him"

"We all are," Desire said, "Myself and Mr Dupont are trying to arrange for him to go and pick his niece up or bring her here, we just needed to confirm a few things with Joseph before we finalize everything," he said, clicking his tongue and bringing his hands to his hips in a huff. "The sooner we do, the sooner I think he'll come around...that missing piece of a family might be what he needs to get him back on track"

"Amen to that" Disco said, turning around again. Desire pat the boy on his shoulder with a laugh before he made his way out of the cafeteria. Kaiser sighed, he hated that this was happening. Last month's Kid Quick Fiasco' was tiresome, and this was only proving to be more so. He wanted to help, but Joe closing himself off to help made it hard to. Suddenly, a low grunt was heard. Kaiser lifted his head and turned to face King Hippo, who was shaking his head in worry. Disco gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry" he said, "He'll come 'round soon...I-I know it..."

"I hope he does...sooner razher zhan later..." Kaiser grumbled under his breath, "I've never seen him zhis vorked up!"

"Well, it's a big shock to him!" Disco pointed out, taking another sip of his drink, "I mean, remember what happened to me?"

The older man groaned as he remembered the chaos unfolding with the grand reveal of Disco's true father. The absolute shitstorm of disruption that week, the number of tears, the drama. Honestly, as much as he loved that Dean had returned to everyone, and Disco finally found his little brother, everything that came before that point was NOT worth it.

He did see what Disco meant, however. How confused, angry but more so shocked he was over this revelation. The aggression he showed towards others, and the constant pursuit of answers. He painfully remembered the immense feeling of sadness Disco felt when he thought he had lost his brother forever. When he watched a woman lay dead right in front of him. The tears that stained his usually smiling face never failed to make Kaiser misty-eyed when he thought of it.

He understood the feelings that were swirling around this event. Joe couldn't be there for his family, and he was now facing the consequences of his brash decision.

But Kaiser's concern kept shifting to one key element.

The young girl.

What was going to happen to her if Joey couldn't pull through?

Would she have to be put in an orphanage?

Would she get taken in by another uncaring family and face the same cycle as her mother did?

What could be done?

As a father himself, he hated the idea of a child being without any family. He knew what it felt like to lose a child himself...it plagued him every night.

"He should go," Kaiser said suddenly breaking the silence. The younger two looked at him, eyes showing confusion. "You want him to go back?" Disco asked. Kaiser nodded.

"I understand zhe pain it vill cause him...but at zhe end of zhe day, he has a job to do...he needs to get his niece out of zhere and get her somevhere safe!"