The Animal of The City

III

The Last Dragon Pub, a coastline pub they hung out at, watching the boats come and go. This pub was one they held close, a friendship unbroken started and grew at this pub. He parked his mustang in the parking lot,and shut the engine off. James hopped out first and took a deep breath of the sea air, the north atlantic ocean air to be precise. Aerith sighed softly before he stepped out, taking a whiff of the air he remembered, it made him smile softly as him and james pushed the old style pub doors open, looking at all of the members. They took two seats upon the bar, and ordered a round for the house, they had the cash to do so. Something surprised James though, as Aerith only ordered hard liquors. Vodka, rum, brandy, whiskey. It caused james to scratch his chin, but he watched Aerith scarf down the small burger he brought, and chugged the alcohol like it was water!.

    “Rith, you alright? I know you’re a heavyweight, but that many might not do ya good on the road..” James addressed as Rith turned to look at his friend..

    “Yeah.. just some old war flashbacks.. Reason I was late to the crime scene, I found a old squad member by the name Crowblood traveling in the street with a bloody hand. PTSD hit him hard, he was driving my old squadron humvee.. Punched a window out. Didn’t remember who I was luckily enough.. But, I-Nevermind” Aerith retorted, the anger and mix of painful emotions came back somewhat, but he took another swig of his drink, getting off the stool to get the next round of pool. James stayed at the bar, thinking as he munched on a burger, that was surprisingly good for a pub that was about to hit 200 years old. “If Crowblood is truly alive.. Then he might know what happened to cause rith to go MIA! But.. I can also get his side of the story..” James pondered to himself, as he finished up his burger, and shot of scotch that he got for himself. He wandered over to where Rith sat, and looked at the game being played.

“Ya know? Remember when we used to bet on a pool game, who ever one won somethin, a shot of scotch? I forget” James pushed Rith in the shoulder, trying to lighten up his mood. Aerith let out a smile though, and looked down at james with a grin, a grin that could be seen on the young teenager before he went into the military.

    “You’re on, but I’m makin it better. Whoever loses has to do five pure hell shots, pure grain rum, tabasco hot sauce, lit on fire, and whoever wins has to do only one” Aerith grinned, taking james’s hand into his to signify the deal. James surprisingly nodded in agreement as the game finished, and it was up to them. They readied their pool sticks and began to set up, as a few others wanted to do the same bet, amazed at the fact anyone would suggest them. Aerith set up the pool balls, and pulled the triangle away, to a loud crack as they rolled apart. The game began.

    James did not last after one shot, he had won against aerith, but he was cursing his friends name after he took the shot. Aerith shrugged them off, as he started to play against others, who won and suffered like james, Aerith continued to shrugged the shots off, smiling as he was starting to earn a small stack of cash, fifties, hundreds, as people only wondered how could a man handle the heat. Aerith could laugh, He lived in hell once, he gotten used to the heat