The Patron Quadrilogy: The Legend Begins

Chapter 8

Friday, October 13th, 9:30 pm, 2018
Brimstone Pub
Brendan and Ash landed in front of Brimstone, just before a torrential downpour started.
"Well, I guess I'll see you and your other friends tomorrow?" Brendan asked.
"Yeah," Ash replied. "Hopefully, this rain will clear up by then."
They heard laughter from inside the Pub.
"That sounds like an uneasy laugh."
"Sounds like your friends are inside. C'mon, we shouldn't keep them waiting."
They went inside, seeing everyone arguing. Brendan could sense the tension in the air, and he could tell that his Team was getting annoyed. He saw May's friends glaring at them. May was just leaning against a wall, her head in her hand. Brendan could sense Claire was upstairs.
"Guess I need to intervene, before May's friends are sent to the hospital," he thought with an annoyed sigh.
"What's going on here?" Brendan demanded. "The tension in this room is so thick I can see it."
"The blunette is just out of line is all," Giri growled, glaring at Dawn and her friends. "She's saying that we're freaks, we shouldn't have these powers if we won't help people, y'know, shit like that."
"Oh, for the love of Arceus, please, not this bullshit all over again. Please."
"Look, I told you earlier, that's not how we do things here. Now, lay off," He said, glaring at Dawn.
"No," she retorted. "Have you forgot about Claire? What message are you teaching her, not helping-"
"Leave Claire out of this," Brendan snarled, eyes glowing. Wally also stepped forward, fire glowing from his hands. The Twins, Damian, and Giri also stepped forward.
May looked on, uncertainty showing in her eyes. Indeed, Dawn had certainly gone too far.
Dawn stood her ground, but the others took a step back.
"Let's get one thing straight here," Brendan growled. "None of us want to intervene in society, because we couldn't give a flying fuck. It's not our job to tell people who they can and can't kill, rob, or fight. Let the law do their job. The only people we care about are each other, and the few friends and family we have outside of this Team. I don't know why you fail to understand this."
"And if you have a problem with us, then say so to us. Never talk about Claire like she's naive. She's as smart as us. She can tell right from wrong."
"And we'll kick anyone's ass who says otherwise," Damian added.
"We'll protect her, no matter what," Giri growled. "You mess with her, you mess with all of us."
"All of you are jaded," Dawn muttered. "You can't see what this world needs. Heroes."
"If you keep saying that, I'll personally give you a burn to think about," Brendan thought.
"No, Dawn," Brendan growled. "You're the one who's jaded. Any person could step up and fight for the right cause. But, nobody does. So, why should we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders?"
"Because it's the right thing to do."
"Ha. The right thing to do would be to do nothing, and let people sort out their own messes. There's a phrase, "All the suffering in the world is born from an individual's incompetence." There is wisdom in those words, Dawn. Before someone goes and asks for help in this world, because of a mess he or she made, he or she should first try to get themselves out of it on their own. People learn no other way."
"But that path just leads to more suffering!"
"And, what's your point? Life is harsh, and, sometimes you've got to sacrifice something to save something. Because that's the way the world works."
"What would your parents say if they knew that's how you think?" Dawn's question made his gaze darken.
"My parents died three years ago," Brendan growled. "My mother died because she had a stroke outside of a store. Nobody helped her, not until it was too late. My family exploded, my mom's side of the family began fighting with my Dad and his side of the family. The shock of her death drove my father over the edge. He quit being a Professor, became an alcoholic, and had to undergo kidney and liver transplants. One day, I just came home and found him dead, with a gun in his hand. His last words were an apology, but my mother's death drove him over the edge. May, her parents, a few of his relatives who were free, and I were the only ones who attended the funeral. I had to tell my Mom's side of the family to go to hell because they didn't want him buried near her, or in the same cemetery, for that matter." Brendan paused, eyes blazing. "So, tell me why nobody stepped up then, when my mother had a stroke? Why didn't anyone call an ambulance?"
"So, you think you should sink down to the level of your Father?"
A gout of flame shot straight towards Dawn, missing her on purpose, but close enough so she could feel the scorching flames. The fire hit the window, where it dissolved.
"How dare you say that," Brendan snarled, trying to ignore the look of horror on May's face, and the looks of shock on the faces of his Team. "My Father was a great man, but his wife's death broke him. A death that, even if it couldn't have been prevented, wouldn't have been as hard if she passed away in the hospital. If we'd had enough time to say goodbye."
"Are you fucking insane!?" Dawn snapped. "You almost killed me!"
"I missed on purpose," he answered coldly. "You should've just dropped the conversation back on Route 103. Consider that a warning. Now, get-" he was interrupted by Brock, who threw a punch at Brendan, hitting him in the stomach. Brendan dropped to a knee, and spat out blood.
"That... was... a... fucking stupid mistake," he said between gasps.
Wally punched Brock in the side of the head, sending him back into Dawn her other friends.
"Get the fuck out of my Pub before we kick you out," Wally snapped. "This isn't a place for a fight."
Dawn and the others grabbed Brock, before leaving, giving Brendan and Team Brimstone one last glare before exiting the pub.
Friday, October 13th, 11:50 pm, 2018
Brimstone Pub
"You know they'll probably call the police?" Wally sighed, giving Brendan a hand. "Did you really have to go that far, boss?"
"She shouldn't have said what she said," Brendan replied simply, hand on his stomach, and anger still present in his voice.
May grabbed his shoulder.
"I'm going upstairs," She said, disappointment in her tone, and sadness in her eyes. "I want to talk to you. Privately. Come find me after you're done down here."
"May, I-"
"I don't want to hear it."
Brendan watched her go upstairs, sighing.
"I guess I went a bit too far. I didn't want to," he thought.
"To tell ya the truth boss," Damian said, walking up to him. "I don't think I've ever seen you get that mad at anyone. And, I mean, don't get me wrong, we all thought the blunette was asking for trouble. But, I don't think any of us expected what you did. May especially."
"It's rare for you to use your powers on people who aren't Patrons," Giri said. "But, honestly, I'm glad you did. She was out of line."
"I know," Brendan sighed, taking a seat. "However, I also know shouldn't have done that. I was out of line as well. I didn't want to, but when she mentioned Claire, and then my parents, I just couldn't control myself. I hope Claire didn't hear anything that happened. But, most of all, I want to apologize to you guys. I shouldn't have let my emotions take over like that."
"You don't have anything to apologize for," Wally replied. "That girl was out of line. Now, back to business, does anyone want a drink?"
"Sure," Damian replied. "But, I'm heading out on patrol soon, so not too much, my friend."
"Why not," Giri agreed. "A quick drink before night patrol."
"Just worry about patrolling the next two blocks tonight," Brendan told them. "I doubt we'll have any more trouble tonight."
"Yes, sir, boss."
"What about you, Brendan?" Wally asked. "Want a drink?"
"No, thanks, Wally," Brendan told him. "Not tonight. Too much is on my mind at the moment. And anyways, I have to talk with May."
"Well, good luck, my friend."
Saturday, October 14th, 12:00, 2018
Brimstone Pub
As Brendan walked up to the room, he could sense that May was upset about something.
"Or a lot of things," Groudon spoke. "You did mess up quite a lot today."
"Thanks," Brendan responded, his thought filled with sarcasm.
He walked up to the door.
"Can I come in?" He asked, knocking on the door.
He heard the door unlock, and May gently opened the door. She was wearing her nightclothes. After a moment, she gestured him inside. She closed the door behind him.
"May, about what happened earlier today," He began. "I'm sorry I broke the promise I made you. I know you didn't want them to know about the Patrons. But, I didn't have any choice. Drew attacked me, after trying to threaten me into leaving you alone. But, I didn't tell them that you were one of us, May."
"That's not what I'm upset about," she told him.
"Is this about what I did downstairs?"
"Partly. Don't get me wrong, Dawn certainly was out of line. I know how much Claire, and the rest of your Team mean to you. I also know that it was rough for you, when your parents died. I'm not even upset about how you reacted,"Her sapphire blue eyes his. "But, it showed me something about you, Brendan. I want you to be honest with me. Did you ever actually grieve for your mother, and father?" He hesitated.
"No," he admitted after a few moments. "After the funeral, when mother's side failed to prevent us from burying my dad next to her, they made it a point to stop us from going to the graveyard altogether. It wasn't too difficult for them to do that; my aunt worked on the same street as the cemetery. She would always shout obscenities at us, or, in one case, she had one of my relatives rip the flowers I tried to place on my father's grave apart. They even prevented me from placing anything at my mother's grave. Since then, I just gave up. I knew they'd stop at nothing to prevent us from getting any closure. So, I suppressed my grief, and honestly, I just stopped crying. I learned that day that life is just filled with pain, and I just accepted it as a truth."
"Oh, Brendan," she whispered, holding him close. "I wish you'd told me sooner."
"It's not like it would've helped," he sighed, his cheeks turning light red. "If anything, they'd just start bothering you, as well. But, thanks for listening. It felt good to get that off of my chest."
"Any time, Brendan," she replied, still holding him, resting her head against his chest.
"But, I trust you wanted to talk about something else?" He asked her, surprised.
"What all did April and Steven say about Harley?" She asked him.
"They've never heard of a Shadow Patron. But, they said its entirely possible that one could exist. We won't know for sure until we can talk with Erika's Team. So, currently, all we can do is wait, and hope that nothing happens from now until the Solstice. And, if Harley does try to harm you, I'll burn him to ashes. Even if he isn't a Patron."
"Brendan," she whispered, looking at him. "Is there a reason that you're doing all of this for me? First, you give me your room so that nothing bad will happen to me, and now you're doing everything you can to protect me. Why?"
"Do you really need to ask that?" he whispered back into her ear. "You're my best friend, May. But, above all of that, I love you. With all of my heart. You were there for me after my parents died. When I considered suicide. You saved my life, May. I-" Brendan was cut off by May's lips, pressing against his.
"You could have told me earlier," she whispered after the kiss. "Because I love you too, Brendan. With all of my heart." They held each other close, eyes closed. After a few moments, May's eyes flitted to the bed. Brendan noticed the familiar mischievous grin that appeared on her face.
"May, you've got that look in your eyes again," Brendan noted. "It's been a while since I've seen that look. What are you planning?"
"Do you know what I'm thinking?"
"I can take a guess."
"And?"
"Hell yeah!" He grinned.
Alright, so I'm not that great at sex scenes, so use your imagination. Next chapter will be the day after whatever you think happened over night.
•_-
Sorry for that inconvenience.
Anyways, sorry for the delay, I've been watching lots of anime (Mostly Hellsing, Naruto (if my streaming app decides to let the videos for this one fucking work), and Yu-Gi-Oh) and life is hectic at the moment.
Next chapter will be up sooner, hopefully.
Can't really promise anything because life is unpredictable, but I'll try.
-A Mystical Cat
-I remember back when I was a Librarian.... XD.