Absence of Peace

Part 2

Xavier Ryker was not a happy man. He never smiled and there were rumors that he could not physically laugh.

Growing up wasn't easy for Xavier. From the moment he was able to walk, he was trained to take over the Riders from his father. In his life, there is nothing more important than the Riders.

Wait. That's not true.

There was one person who was more important to Xavier than the Riders, Irene Kim.

She was the only person he could talk to and not feel judged. Whenever he as around her, he felt safe. She was a little sister to him, one he never had. Being the only child ensured his role and cemented him as the rightful heir to the Riders.

The first day he met Irene, he knew that he would do anything to protect her. She stood up to him when the older kids were bullying him, unaware that the kid they were bullying would soon be the leader of one of the most feared gangs in West Corner. He vowed right then and there that he would protect her no matter what. There was nothing she could do for him to break that loyalty, even when she became friends with Andre.

That bastard.

It was hard for Xavier to share Irene, but she has this aura about her that let him know that she was always gonna be there for him. Especially when he needed her the most.

Like in front of her door, bleeding.

***

Xavier was patrolling the area with Liam.

"The shipment was successful."

Xavier nodded his head. They continued walking.

"Kyle said that Irene made it home ok."

"Good."

"Also said that Ricky was there."

He stopped, turned to him.

"She is to be protected at all cost. Even from those Serpent bastards."

Liam nodded his head and continued the walk. They had about 30 minutes till the next pair were due to switch them out.

They made it to the corner when they were jumped. 6 attackers came out from behind them and it became 3 against 1.

They didn't even see it coming.

***

"Xavier, what happened?!?"

He only grunted as he walked in.

"Just help me."

She gave him a look.

"Please."

Irene sighed and brought him to her dining table. She ran into her bathroom to grab her first-aid kit and started to work on his wounds.

"You know, there's gonna be a time where I won't be there."

"Then we will wait for that day to come."

"You can't keep doing this to yourselves. You and Andre need to stop this."

Xavier doesn't respond to that. Knowing Xavier, he will never respond to that. Silence filled the room as Irene continued to treat Xavier's wounds.

Xavier looks around Irene's apartment but settles on the photos of him and his boys along with Andre and his crew. Looking at Andre's picture on Irene's wall caused his anger to slowly boil.

Son of a Bitch

"THE HELL?!"

"Sorry, but this cut is really deep. Plus it's gonna hurt with the alcohol. You got yourself into this mess so deal with the consequences."

"Fine."

Irene spent the next hour tending to his injuries. Finally she set up her couch for her to sleep in while he took her bed.

"Hell no. Irene sleep in your own bed."

"No. Xavier you are injured. Plus you can barely stand up. Go to bed."

She grabbed some clothes that she stole from the boys and gave it to him to sleep in. Xavier was swaying side to side until Irene pushed him over onto her bed.

***

Irene woke up in her couch, feeling sore in her shoulders. I guess that's what happens when you sleep on a small couch. She got up and looked at the clock on her oven. She had about an hour and a half to get ready for work.

She got up and saw Xavier still on her bed, sleeping soundly. She smiled to herself and spotted his clothes on her floor. She picked them up and threw them in the washing machine. Then she got ready in her uniform and made breakfast for the both of them. She placed Xavier's breakfast in the microwave and wrote a note on the fridge telling him where his breakfast is.

By the time she was done and about to head out for work, his clothes were done. So she folded them and left them on her table. She then headed out the door and went off to work.

***

It was about noon when Xavier woke up. His whole body protested him moving any which way. The injuries from last night seem worse now than they did yesterday. Getting out of bed took a whole 30 minutes.

Xavier looked around and saw the Irene wasn't there.

'Probably at work.'

He nodded to himself but saw his clothes on the table. He walked over to his clothes but saw the note on the fridge.

"Hey! I didn't want to wake you up but I wanted to let you know that I made you breakfast and it's in the microwave. All you need to do is heat it up and eat!

Hope you feel better!

-Irene

p.s. your favorite person ever!!!"

Xavier smiled. She always seems to make Xavier smile, even if she isn't there with him.

He heated up his food and sat at her table and ate his food.

This small gesture means everything too Xavier. Growing up, he was taught to fend for himself and to do everything for himself. So the fact that Irene took care of him isn't something that he was used.

He washed his dishes, made the bed, and put his clean clothes on. Before he left through that door, her house was clean.

Xavier lingered by the door. He didn't want to leave. He loved being here. He felt safe here. He felt a sense of peace, something that he wasn't used to. His life is chaotic ever since he was old enough for his father to take over everything.

He took one last look at her photos on her walls and left.