Ohio's Choice - Choosing Felix [Felix x Ohio]

{4} The Anger of an Abandoned Child

The young man stands on the edge of his porch
The days were short and the father was gone
There was no one in the town and no one in the field
This dusty barren land had given all it could yield

"Talia.... He's your father-" Felix started but one word made her quick to respond. "He's not my father! Mr. Knox was more of father to me than that poor excuse of a bastard will ever be!" Ohio snapped at him. "Oh really? So that's why you keep calling him 'Mr. Knox' and not 'dad' or even his first name." Felix questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I call him that for security reasons..." Ohio mumbled angrily. Felix shook his head before realising something. "Was Knox the surgeon you lived with before we moved in together?" he asked and Ohio nodded. "I thought he was your dad... I asked him for your hand..." Felix muttered and Ohio laughed slightly. "I know and speaking of him... You're never gonna see the old man again..." she told him and Felix's gaze turned sad. "Is he...?" he asked without actually saying the word. "Oh god, no!" Ohio exclaimed making Felix frown. "It's not easy to kill him off, and he's not that old. No he just wants to rip your head off." Ohio answered casually with a shrug. "Oh... because of... oh..." Felix said and pursued his lips. "But still..." Felix continued, his gaze once again turning serious. "About your dad-..." he started but Ohio cut him off again. "Not my dad!" she snapped. "Fine, Trace, whatever..."

I've been kicked off my land at the age of sixteen
And I have no idea where else my heart could have been
I placed all my trust at the foot of this hill
And now I am sure my heart can never be still

So collect your courage and collect your horse
And pray you never feel this same kind of remorse

"I know I've heard that name before and I think we should make an effort to find him." Felix said and Ohio just started at him. "Look, if it's like you said and he was developing experimental technology for the military then we might be able to use him..." Felix suggested but Ohio just shook her head. "No! I don't ever want to see his face ever again! I don't want to know where he is! He abandoned me! He's the reason they died! My mother! My brother! He doesn't care! And I never want to see him!" She told him, voice raising at the end until she was almost yelling in his face. Felix clenched his jaw. "This isn't just about you. We, all of us could use him. With his help, there's no question if we'll win, then it'll be a guarantee. I'm gonna talk to Locus and see if we can locate him. I know I recognize the name so he might be on Chorus..." he mumbled at the end but was cut off by Ohio's hand connecting with his cheek.

"Did you just slap me?" he asked with a frown, holding his cheek, and Ohio nodded. "Yes. Don't you dare try to contact him. If I see him, I'll kill him on sight. I...I-..." Ohio said before she felt the tears rise in her eyes. "You won't kill him... " Felix tried but she just looked at him stubbornly while tears flowed freely from her eyes. "Your dad-..." He started and Ohio went to slap him again but this time he caught her wrist, squeezing it painfully hard. "Don't." he warned her, squeezing harder, making Ohio let out a quiet, pained cry. "Just because you deny it, doesn't mean he's not your father. Doesn't matter if he was a shitty one, or if he left or whatever. He is your father. I will try to contact him" Felix said, releasing her wrist and standing up. "You'll stay here." He said, anger boiling inside of him. "Felix..." she tried but he just turned his back and walked away, leaving her alone and crying. 

Seal my heart and break my pride
I've nowhere to stand and now nowhere to hid

Align my heart, my body, my mind
To face what I've done and do my time

"Locus!" Felix called as he walked into the training room. "Yes?" Locus asked, annoyed. "There's someone we need to track down." Felix explained and locus frowned. None of them was wearing their helmets, so communicating with facial expressions was easier than usual. Felix sighed. "A guy. Named Oliver Trace. Might go by a different last name be-..." he started but was cut off by one of the Space Pirates "Hi boss, I couldn't help but overhear." The Space Pirate started. "Not now James... " Felix said before turning back to Locus. "It's Jimmy" he corrected him, which he often had to do. "Yeah whatever. I'm trying to fin-..." Felix started but was once again cut off by Jimmy the Space Pirate. "I know you're trying to find someone. I thought I'd be helpful." Jimmy said with a smile making Felix sigh. "Why is the only empty brained Space Pirate following me around like a lost puppy?" Felix said in his frustration. Jimmy looked at him, slightly hurt. "Look sir, I don't know no Oliver Trace, but I know the last name. We've a Pirate in Block 3 who goes by the name Edward Trace. Just though you ought to know." Jimmy said before he turned to leave. He had always looked up to Felix, and he thought it was unfair that he called him 'empty headed'. Felix sighed before he realized what had been said. "Hang on, Jimmy was it?" Felix said and Jimmy turned back, happy that he seemed to remember his name. "Yes sir?" he replied. "Would you like to do me a favour?"

Well you are my accuser, now look in my face
Your oppression reeks of your greed and disgrace

So one man has and another has not
How can you love what it is you have got

When you took it all from the weak hands of the poor?
Liars and thieves you know not what is in store
There will come a time I will look in your eye
You will pray to the God that you've always denied

Then I'll go out back and I'll get my gun
I'll say, "You haven't met me, I am the only son"

"You asked to see me sir?" the Space Pirate said as he walked in the door of Felix's makeshift office. Felix spun around in his chair, chuckling softly. "I almost felt like a proper boss right then" He said with a smile before lacing his fingers together, resting his elbows on his desk, and resting his chin on his laced fingers. "You're the one they call Trace, right?" he asked the Space Pirate, who nodded. "Good. Take off your helmet." Felix said leaning back in his chair. Hesitantly, the Space Pirate obeyed, taking his helmet off to show his medium length, blond hair in a braid, and his almost golden eyes. "Oh this is perfect. That means you're Trace's son. I met another one of his kids-..." Felix said, almost giddily. "I think you're mistaken sir. I'm an only child." Ed cut him off making Felix laugh. "I think you misunderstand. I know you're not an only child. I've met his daughter." Felix said with a smirk, seeing Ed's eyes go wide. "Talia....? She's alive?" He whispered and Felix nodded. "She's here on Chorus. And I need your help with something." Felix said and Ed swallowed. "With all due respect sir, I would like to see her before I do anything else. Make sure it's really her." Ed said. "Oh you're on your way to see her, alright. But I just need a teeny tiny favour. Get her to forgive me. And convince her to seek out your father." Felix said and Ed thought about it. "Alright. I want to see my father again and I think we need her help. I don't know what she's been up too these years but I'll do my best."

"Good, good. One more question." Felix said and Ed nodded, as if telling him to go on. "Why are you here, of all places?" Felix asked and Ed sighed. "I killed someone. Someone important and this was the only way I could stay alive. There was a man, looking for my father. He said he'd talked to my brother and that he had told him that I'd help him out. I told him to stay put. I got my gun and put it against his head. I told him 'You haven't met me. I' the only son'. Then I pulled the trigger, he's dead, and now I'm here. Can I see my sister now?" Ed said and Felix nodded. "I'll take you to her."

Seal my heart and break my pride
I've nowhere to stand and now nowhere to hide
Align my heart, my body, my mind
To face what I've done and do my time

Well, yes sir, yes sir, yes, it was me
I know what I've done, 'cause I know what I've seen
I went out back and I got my gun
I said, "You haven't met me, I am the only son"