2X

Creed

Laila helped Silver to his feet and took cover while Yuki, Yuno, and Ellie all took off towards one of the remaining two battles.

"Cain's fighting Jan alone and the same goes for Hei with Charlie. Who do we help first Yuki?"

"My brother can handle himself, our best bet is to try and find Cain first Ellie. Let's hope we aren't too late."

Jan and Cain were both covered in blood and breathing heavily while they struggled to stay on their feet.

"Have to admit, you're the first challenge I've had in a long time Cain. You have my respect and admiration."

"Two things that mean absolutely nothing coming from the likes of you."

"Now must you be so HOSTILE?!"

Jan jumped above Cain and clasped both his hands together, bringing them down in an attempt to cave his opponent's skull in but Cain blocked with an uppercut that sent Jan flying.

He landed on his ass and wiped the blood from his mouth and started cackling.

"What's so funny?"

"You my friend. Your scowl, your demeanor, your tactics. They mean nothing to me. All you're trying to do is intimidate me like I'm just a common thug in the streets. I'm not."

"No you're just a government sanctioned dog that barks and bites when his master tells him to."

"Oh absolutely. Be glad you're dealing with me and not him. He's quite the horse's arse if I do say so myself."

"Then why work for him?"

"Certain privileges of course. Like this little battle of ours, it's only gone on uninterrupted because of his influence. Had we not been involved, the entire military would've been after you by now. But because of who we are, we can enjoy things like this."

"Lucky you."

"Lucky us, you know you're enjoying this too. You think I don't know about you? Ex-military, craves death more than a fiend does substance. You're an addict just like myself."

"So you aren't the perfect English gentleman?"

"Of course not, this is just a persona of mine. I find that it keeps my opponents on their toes until I cut off their feet."

"Kinky."

"What?"

"I said kinky."

"I- alright then."

"So tell me, how does one such as yourself get involved in a life such as this?"

"It's a tragic tale really. One that involves an accident that could've been avoided and a choice that altered the course of two lives."

"...It was you. You killed your parents."

"It was a mistake at first but I couldn't leave any witnesses."

"What?"

"Allow me to take you back before you die. It was a long time ago and my father and I had got into one of our infamous arguments that went too far. He pushed me, I pushed back and he ended up falling and cracking his head open. Dear Zachary was somewhere playing at the time so he had no idea but mother just had to walk in. She was frantic and kept questioning me but I just sat there like I couldn't hear her, still in shock from what I'd just done. She ran to phone the authorities and that's when I made the choice to get rid of the witness. She was a lovely woman but I couldn't let her send me away from the one person I cared for."

"Zachary."

"Kids have a way of melting an ice cold heart you know. I wasn't about to let her take him away from me. So I made up a small fib and became his one and only. Not only had I kept my brother but I gained a loyal follower that would follow me to the ends of the earth without question."

"And that's how you became your government's dog."

"They covered it up, and in exchange I gave my life and servitude. That's why I have to succeed here. I won't lose him Cain. Not for you or anyone else."

"You're not the only one with something to lose."

Cain thought back to a time where he and Hei were still getting to know one another.

Kei had gotten incredibly sick but Cain had refused to take him to the hospital and even snapped at Hei and Haise before locking himself in his son's room.

Hei opened the door an hour later and sat next to him while he cradled his son's shivering body.

"How?"

"I'm an assassin, lock picking comes with the trade hun."

"Oh..."

"Cain he looks really bad, we need to take him."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because he's all I have Hei. What if I take him there and they think I'm an unfit parent and take him from me?"

"Now you're being stupid."

"How am I being stupid?!"

"You provide for this boy. You take care of this boy. He's fed. He's clothed. He has a stable living environment. The only one taking him from you is you. He won't make it through the night if we don't go now so either you come willingly or I'll knock you out and take him myself. So what's it gonna be?"

Cain could tell from the seriousness in his boyfriend's eyes that he wasn't kidding, he got up and they headed to the hospital as a family.

Kei had been diagnosed with pneumonia and had to immediately go into treatment before it was too late. Hei and Haise stayed with Cain the entire time.

When they were finally allowed in the room, Cain took Haise in while Hei stepped away to talk to the doctor.

When they returned, the doctor was sweating and pushing another bed into the room right next to Kei's.

Hei smiled and dismissed the doctor before shutting the door.

They'd pushed down the dividers and pushed the beds even closer to form one giant bed and climbed in.

That night they all slept together as a family of four, never wanting to let each other go.

That's what he was fighting for and that's why Jan couldn't be allowed to win.

"My husband. My sons. They're all waiting for me to come back and I didn't intend to let them down."

"No one ever intends to disappoint but it happens anyway. And it'll happen right here and now."

Jan pulled out a gun while Cain pulled out a handful of knives that Hei used to use.

"Take your best shot Cain."

Cain threw the knives in Jan's direction but missed completely and collapsed to his knees.

"Beautiful attempt but it was in vain. Goodbye Cain."

Jan pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

"What?!"

He looked at his gun and saw a senbon sticking out of the barrel.

He looked back at Cain who had his own pistol out and ready to fire.

"Well shit."

*BLAM*