The Wise Child (Hiatus!!)

34. Violent Hero

(Gang I was hit w the fanfic curse, I got in two car accidents one day apart, had an sat that I failed, had two tests in one day for the same class and failed them both, went to the hospital, etc. basically a lots been going on so a short chapter for a long wait hopefully things will cool off and I'll post again soon)

Throughout the years of my youth I had been sharpened into the perfect tool for my father. I knew the principles of any good fighting stance, and procured my knowledge of improvisation.

But I felt useless against the man, he identified himself as Osamu, and had bested me in every match. His stapled skin took every hit I could give like it was nothing. And without fail he would beat me in each and every sparring match. He barely even broke a sweat.
There was one answer for this.

He fought dirty. He wasn't above pulling hair, grabbing clothes, not even above attacking during my water breaks. Clearly he was a mad man. But there was something ingenious about his methods. It gave him the edge to win a fight, and if the fight was for good, then did it really matter how it was won?

I watched carefully as he sat down, right on the sparring mat, though the rundown gym manager was unlikely to care.

"Break." He said, waving his hand.

I looked at him carefully, never taking my eyes off him to make sure he didn't throw a punch for my gut while I wasn't paying attention.
It took a moment to find my water bottle without being able to twist my back and grab it, but I grinned at the sensation of cool liquid meshing with my system to give me  a small reprieve.

I allowed myself a moment to close my eyes and enjoy it before peeking through at him.
"Get up, we can spar again." He said, just as I let the last drop reach my tongue.

I nodded, stretching my arms before taking a fighting stance. I had barely a moment to breathe before he came at me with a fist to my face.

I was quick to take a step to the right, before ducking under his arm and moving to give him a gut punch. He dodged of course he did, and fell back on his arms balancing on them as he twirled to give a kick to my legs. I stumbled and fell on my back, the breath leaving my lungs fast and angry.

Blearily I saw him standing over me, and my eyes focussed. he offered a hand, which I took. As I stood up I noticed that for the first time that night his guard was down. He was standing slightly leaned over, and his legs were at an awkward angle. Without thinking I stepped back enough, waiting... waiting... and- I grimaced as I kneed him in the stomach, watching as he groaned, but feeling too little empathy not to take his legs out with another hit.

His head hit the ground and it was his turn to squint up at me.

I waited, unsure of what he would say. Maybe I had gone too far. If my father had seen that... Well, maybe it was better not to think about that.

But the man wasn't mad. At all. Instead he gave a low chuckle before pulling himself up to sit.

"I knew you'd catch on fast."

I blinked, unsure of what to say. It had been a full three hours before I won a single match, and it wasn't fair how I did so at all.

"You're vicious." I felt my stomach constrict. I knew it was true. But I didn't think he'd be so blunt about it. "It's a skill. Don't be ashamed of it. the myth about avoiding hitting an enemy when they're down, it's bullshit. No one out there is your friend. The whole world is fucked. So that's why you have to be meaner. That's the only way change comes. No one goes a different path if there's a humming bird, but a snake, a predator, that's what gets to them."

"Isn't that... Shouldn't we be pillars of hope? I thought that it was important to promote an image of heroism, not... not violence."

"Have you ever seen a nonviolent hero?"

***

"Yae?"

I took a halted breath, looking over my shoulder to see Yoayorozu. I felt like a teenager caught sneaking into their house late at night. Even though it was only the afternoon, and she just so happened to be in the hallway of our temporary rooms at the same time as myself.

"Where were you all day? Serpenta said that she was going to let you patrol again."

I shrugged, looking to the side. Osamu had said not to tell her he was training me because it looked like he was stealing an intern.

"I was training at a new gym."

Her face twisted into a frown, "Oh... Okay then."

I nodded, going to move past her into my room, but she grabbed my arm before I could. Instantly I drew back, unsure of what I should prepare for, but knowing protection was a necessity.

"Sorry," Momo spoke, frowning as she held her hand back to herself. "I just- can we talk? About yesterday?"

I blinked. I had been avoiding thinking about that. Part of me simply believed we would continue on pretending it hadn't happened.

She shifted awkwardly and looked down at the carpet, staring so hard I thought she might have been counting each strand. "I just wanted to apologize, my words came out wrong. Of course I care about you. I'm not worried about having to protect you, but, I just felt like you weren't worried about protecting yourself."

"Oh." What was I supposed to say? I wished Miss Megumi were there to tell me. She always knew what to do, how to act. And I was simply a fish attempting to climb a tree. "I... misunderstood. I assure you that I'll... be more careful. If it comforts you." I wouldn't. I didn't need to be more careful. But I also wanted her to be happy, and this felt like what would make her happiest. "I'm sorry too."

She gave a big sigh of relief, "Thank god. I was so worried. I really appreciate you, and I hate fighting."

I nodded as well, unsure of what else to say or do.

Momo looked just as uncomfortable, bouncing between her feet in a way that somehow felt elegant.

"Can I hug you?" She spoke fast, very fast, like she thought there was a timer on her voice.

I wasn't sure. I hadn't been hugged often. But her face, her eyes, I couldn't say no to them. "Okay."

She wrapped her arms tightly around me and suddenly all I could smell was something sweet, but refined, cherry mixed with a specific sort of herbal essence. It was nice.

Slowly, I allowed my arms to circle her, careful that I wouldn't squeeze too tight of anything of the sort. She giggled into my shoulder before saying, "You don't do this a lot do you?"

"Not really."

"It's okay, it just takes practice."

I wouldn't mind practicing with her.