Apocrypha ✔️

Chapter 42

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

AN OLD FRIEND had just shown himself to Alcibiades.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. His old friend still pointed his gun but had loosened his grip.

"I, I should be asking you that." Ventidius replied.

After a bit of staring, Ventidius lowered his gun and the two hugged one another. Laughter came from both of them.

"What's going on?" Timon asked.

Gabriel and Lysander shrugged. "I guess old friends." The blonde one replied.

After a while, the two friends let go.

"What are you doing here in Detroit?" Ventidius asked.

"Uh," Alcibiades stuttered, his eyes glancing at Gabriel. Ventidius remembered the news articles about Gabriel allegedly being found and his past friend being one of the ones who lived with him.

"Right," He muttered.

"So, why are you here?" Alcibiades asked.

"Uh, cadet training. They want me to train the next class before being sent off to fight in Australia."

"Cadet training?" Alcibiades said with a chuckle. "Are you making them mow the lawns with nail clippers?"

Ventidius then also laughed. "I've got them cooking eggs in the sun for breakfast, just like what our commander made us do in our training."

Kari stepped forward into the kitchen. "I hate to break this... touching reunion, but we have no idea who you are. Nevertheless, if we should be worried right now."

"Ah," Alcibiades sighed loudly. "You won't tell anyone, right?"

It was a decision Ventidius had to face. Be loyal to his country, or his friend. He glanced at his old friend and their friends. The one that stood out the most was Gabriel, the most wanted man. He was right in his view.

All he had to do was click the red button on his communicator and he'd be awarded the Medal of Washington.

But this was his friend. The man that was with him during training, who were both deployed in Oregon to quell secessionists. He knew that his friendship would overpass the many riches and accolades he would receive.

"I won't tell anyone." Ventidius said, putting his weapon away. "But, if someone else catches you, it's out of my control."

Alcibiades gave him an affirming nod.

"So, why are you here specifically?" He asked.

"The residents here pay for security. Apparently, thieves have increased their presence here."

"I guess it must pay well."

"It does." Ventidius replied.

They smirked at each other, already reliving their past memories of their time at training.

Mamillius had slowly walked up to Alcibiades and tapped him on the leg. He turned and saw the boy looking at him, then at his friend wearily.

"Oh, Mamillius." He said. "Uh, don't be afraid. This is an old friend of mine."

The boy glanced at the man. If Alcibiades trusted him, then so could he.

"Hey," Ventidius said, acknowledging the scared boy. "Alcibiades and I are brothers."

Brothers. He had never used that word before, the boy thought. No other kids were close enough for him to refer to them as friends, let alone a brother. All the men in his life were either guardians, models, or in the case of Alcibiades, a father.