Redemption |ShadowPeach|

Old Path, New Oath

TW//; mentions of human trafficking ahead! Please read with caution!

| Wukong |
| Three years earlier. . |

Why was it so hard to do at least anything worth my time? Everything involved so many responsibilities. Why couldn't I just be lazy and relax? Because every little thing I did always had consequences behind it. Looking out my window from where my small apartment was kept.

I heard people laughing and chatting like birds would when the day was just beginning, and sighing briefly. At the same time, digging through a bag of crisps. Eating through at least two to three bags. Although it didn't matter. I was fine. I was happy where I was, and I was-- well fed?

Well, sort of. If you consider eating crisps as being well fed-- you get it. Oh, who am I kidding? Everything I do has to have responsibilities behind it. I work a job at a gas station, and they don't pay very well. I've asked several times for a raise. The only days I work are during the week. And get paid about 10 an hour. So, tell me that isn't cruddy.

Hence, why it is! But I have enough determination to push myself through this hell just to have a place to stay and get at least a little money together to be able to feed myself and keep a roof over my head. Or- so far it's a roof from what I can tell anyway. I wasn't homeless, which was a start. But the apartment had a little bit of leaks whenever it rained here and there. Causing me to set pots and pans around just to prevent the rain from soaking the already not-so-well-kept carpet. It was becoming dingy brown, which I didn't complain but every time I had anyone come over, they would make fun of my living condition. And to be honest, I didn't care much. (WHICH I really should, but I don't).

I'm pretty lazy, but I know when to get off my ass even if I don't want to. I heard my phone vibrating and spotted a notification that popped up with a message that was from MK, a good friend of mine who was still in middle school. He hadn't even started high school yet. He saw me like a big brother figure, though I probably would suck if I was a big brother to anyone. Shrugging and grabbing my phone to read his text;

MK: Wukong! I'm being bullied at school... What do I do??

His text came in so clearly that I felt my left eyebrow twitch by only hearing about this 'bully' he speaks of to me. He's said he's been bullied several times by the same kid who was in at least a higher grade than him. I sighed deeply and responded with;

Wukong: The enemy of my enemy is my friend, remember?

Sending it in question, as I chuckle. "He probably forgot about that," I said to myself. Soon, I heard the commotion outside my slightly run-down building. Guns were shooting, and eventually, people were screaming out for someone to help.

MK: Oh yeah! That helps. Thanks! I forgot about that! But.. It doesn't work all too well.

Wukong: Kid. You're gonna have to fight back one of these days. Defend yourself. And I don't mean with a knife, your words are the weapon. Remember that. I gotta go, bud. There's some commotion going on over here, across the town where I am staying. Also, shouldn't you be in class?

MK: It's a Saturday. LMFAO

When I realized this, I burst out in laughter at how I forgot. Explains why I didn't go to work, but even though I still get paid by check on the weekends. Thank god.

Was it weird? Maybe.

| Nezha |

We were running out of time. We had no one else on our task force to do the job that was severely needed to be done.

Cars were being shot at or blown up, our squad was down for the count. Making it harder for us to keep our position to take down the shooter who was holding about six to seven people hostage. This town was a bit run down, ruined even; the buildings didn't even look like they'd seen the sunlight in what felt like weeks. This part of town was where a few of the mob ran their trade roots. Crime was all over the place. People were being killed left and right. Human trafficking was getting out of control. So many missing people signs were up, but none of those people were ever found. Most of those who were missing ended up being found by the detectives and were claimed as 'dead'.

I growled under my breath to yell the words, "Someone get me a bullhorn!" loud enough for a man by the name of Pigsy had do as I commanded and tossed it to me from the back of the squad vehicle, from where he stayed.

I turned it on, and it made my voice come out louder. "Give it up. There is no use in killing innocent lives anymore." I spoke. The criminal who was keeping the captives close pointed his gun toward me. "And who says you make such a demand, eh?"

Came the gunman's gruff voice loudly in response.

"We can do this the easy or the hard way. Just let the innocent civilians go, and we can figure this all out when you come downtown with-"

"I ain't goin' nowhere with you, pig!" Said the gunman, narrowing his neon green eyes. Glaring at me from afar. This man, whose name was Strong Spider. I knew of him because of who he works for. She is someone of high-level crime. One of the high crime mistresses, seemingly known as Spider Queen. Her true name is yet to be known. She hides her true identity very well and could be anywhere if we weren't careful.

That explains-

"Hey!" Spoke up a new voice from afar. "You go no further! I mean, seriously, guy, they did nothing to you. So let them go." Says a guy with lightly browned hair and big ears. If I didn't know any better. He looked a little too much like a monkey. Which was amusing, to say the least. But whoever he was. He was distracting Strong Spider and leading him away from the hostages.

Those poor people were tied up, and their mouths were duct-taped shut. I could tell that this newcomer, whatever his name was. He was doing this on purpose.

"If only you knew."

"C'mon, bud, just calm down. Maybe we can talk about this over some crisps and dip."

I could hear their conversation from the other side of where the light brown haired man came. He was leading Strong Spider away. Excellent. But there had to be something that the other wanted for him to fall that low.

I began turning the bullhorn off and signaling Ao Lee forward. He was known as the jade dragon. Stealth was his main focus. And as soon as he got over to the captives without being noticed, he put his finger to his lips to keep them silent when he managed to get the duct tape off each of their mouths. Somehow, he always manages to do it without making a sound. 'Do not speak a word unless you do not value your life. He signaled them through his sudden sign language. He was often very quiet while doing his work. So silent that it was merely dangerous. Which is why he was suitable to be on the task force.

| Wukong |

I didn't know what I was doing. All of a sudden, I was talking to MK about his bully, giving him advice, and then I heard commotion outside and saw a bunch of SWAT and FBI vehicles pull up and block both sides of the road.

And--? Here I was. Leading away a very, very dangerous criminal back elsewhere away from the hostages. Walking down the street into an alleyway, which I didn't think through very well, now did I? Here I was being cornered by this so-called 'Strong Spider'. I don't know why he was given that nickname as a kid. But what I did know was that this was about to escalate, and I was the man without a plan. Just leading him away was my only goal.

I mentally and physically prepared myself for when he thought to attack. "You think you can cut yourself in with our business and get away with it? Do you have a death wish, kid?" He asked me. He cornered me further, glaring at me and pointing his gun at my torso.

"Depends. I live for death. For I fear nothing." I said nonchalantly.

I waited. Waited. And waited. He was about to pull the trigger, and eventually, the task forces swatted the alley where I misled 'Strong Spider'.

He thought he had it all figured out when I led him, only to make him believe I was the one who would be held captive.

When it turned to become something more. He was now held captive by the FBI. With cuffs on his wrists, and now he had a muzzle around his face. He was struggling so hard that he growled and glared at me straight in the eye. Almost as if he were saying, 'You will pay for this. ' In which, I already paid my consequence fee for even bothering to do this responsible thing to begin with. But it was just something about those people that took me back to my youth. Being an orphan. Staying at a foster home. Not having a true purpose. Being held captive there and treated like dirt just so others could feel better.

They didn't deserve that. No. I DIDN'T deserve that. And I still don't get why I haven't quit that one job I mentioned earlier. Maybe it was time for a new path.

A new oath.