The Moon Shines when the Sun Isn't Around

Part 45 (Filler)

Hey, King," Oreo called out, her voice a welcome break from the schoolyard's din. King looked up from his sketchbook, the sun glinting off his glasses. He'd been drawing again, a habit that had become a safe haven for his swirling thoughts. "What's up?" he replied, his tone a blend of curiosity and wariness.

Oreo stepped closer, her eyes scanning the pages filled with intricate sketches. "When did you get so good at this?" she asked, her voice tinged with admiration. King shrugged nonchalantly, his cheeks flushing slightly under the scrutiny. "I don't know, I just started doodling when Raina got sick." The simplicity of his answer belied the depth of emotion behind it. His art had been a silent companion through the long, lonely nights in the hospital waiting room, a way to channel the fear and anger that had bubbled within him.

Raina's footsteps approached, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor. "King," she began, her voice low and urgent, "there's something happening outside." Her eyes darted to the open doors leading to the schoolyard. The air grew heavier as she spoke, the weight of her words settling over them like a shroud. "Some of the freshmen are getting bullied by those guys from the football team." King's grip on his pencil tightened, the muscles in his forearms tensing. He knew those guys, the ones who thought power was the currency of high school.

: Oreo approaches King, noticing his improved art skills. King's art is a coping mechanism from the time Raina was ill. Raina informs them of freshmen being bullied by football players, and King's protective instincts are triggered.

He looked up at Raina, her eyes a mirror of his own concerns. "You need to go out there," she said firmly. "Switch to that mode, you know, the one that protected me." Her voice was a gentle nudge, but it was enough to stir something within him. He took a deep breath and closed his sketchbook with a soft thud. The protective instinct that had laid dormant since the incident with her bullies now roared back to life. The aggressive, no-nonsense version of himself that had emerged that day was exactly what the situation required.

King pushed open the doors and stepped into the schoolyard. The laughter of the football players abruptly ceased. The freshmen, huddled together, visibly trembled as they caught sight of him. The bullies turned to face him, their smirks fading into fearful expressions. His presence had that effect on people now—like a dark storm cloud looming on the horizon, warning of an impending tempest. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. The same rage that had fueled his actions before bubbled to the surface, demanding justice.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice steady and cold. The bullies exchanged nervous glances, their bravado dissipating in the face of the school's newly appointed guardian. One of them, the largest and most brutish, took a step back. "It's nothing," he mumbled, his voice cracking like a whip in the still air. "Just a little fun."

King's gaze remained unflinching, his eyes piercing through their facade. He knew that look, the one that said they enjoyed the power trip. The same look had been directed at Raina, and it had nearly broken her. He took a step forward, his shadow looming over them. "Is that right?" he said, his tone deceptively calm. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're picking on someone who can't fight back."

The bullies shifted uncomfortably, the fear in their eyes growing. They knew King's reputation, the whispers of his fierce protection of his sister, the way he'd single-handedly changed the school's power dynamics. They had seen the consequences of crossing him. The largest one swallowed hard, trying to regain some semblance of control. "It's just a joke, man. No hard feelings." His voice was shaky, betraying his bravado.

King took another step closer, his shadow stretching across the ground like an ominous portent. "Jokes are funny," he said, his voice low and menacing. "This isn't funny. It's pathetic." The freshmen watched, a mix of hope and terror playing across their faces. They had never seen anyone stand up to the bullies like this before. "I'm giving you one chance to walk away," King continued, his eyes never leaving the bullies. "If I see you do this again, you'll wish you had."