Souls of the Fallen

Blunders

The crowd in the bar seems unamused by the gun-toting chef. It's his diner and he does what he pleases. He tucks it away as our boys watch him with fear still dancing in their eyes. Well... Except, Reno. He's more into the menu.

"What do you think they ordered?" he asks. "Breakfast or lunch?"

"Mom was a sucker for a good burger. I'm sure she picked that with a lemonade." Riku smiles as he shows that option on the menu to Reno. He slides the laminated paper across the table and taps on the glorious image of the burger.

Lucas, sitting next to Reno, turns to the outside of the booth. He peeks down the aisle at their waitress. "You think she's single, Riku?" Sliding back into the booth, he's met by an angry glare from Reno. "What? She's not out of the league of being a bed buddy. She has a weird skin condition! Did you see it?"

"Your dick is going to fall off one day," Reno says as he returns his attention to the menu. "Leave the girl alone if you are that shallow. Karma is a real thing, dummy."

"You telling me you wouldn't smash?"

Reno slams the menu on the table. "Are you stupid?" he snaps at his friend. "I don't immediately start thinking with my other head when I see a girl. Get a hold of yourself. You're the biggest manslut I've ever met, and you're barely twenty yet!"

"So, I take that as a no..."

Riku laughs at their argument. "Quiet down, idiots. She's coming back."

Akira carefully places the drinks they ordered before them while calling out what it is. "Okie dokie! By chance do you boys know what you would like to order?"

Riku perks up. "Yes, please! I wanna try the Henny Burger, no cheese. Fries and more fries for my sides! And... That'll be it for me." The waitress nods as she jots notes on her pad. She looks up at Reno and smiles. Her curly hair is still covering the right side of her face.

"I'll try the burger too. Keep the cheese and I'll have a baked potato with broccoli." Reno grabs Riku's menu and reaches them to her.

"Why not get the fries? The baked potato is just flavorless fries anyway," Riku says.

"Because I'm not a kid." Reno nudges Lucas to get him to order.

"Oh! Yeah, I... I didn't see you on the menu. I was wondering if you were available?" An audible sigh comes from Reno as he looks out the window to avoid glaring at Lucas. Riku smirks and watches Akira to see what response she has for him.

Akira tries her best to not appear disturbed by Lucas' advance. "Sorry, sir. I'm not edible."

"I could prove you wrong." Lucas winks at her. Riku's eyes get big from hearing that bold comment. "You seem innocent enough. I could show you a thing or two."

"Is he always like this?" Disgust can be heard in her voice.

Riku shakes his head. "Not while he's sleeping."

"I'm going to ask that you order or I'll have to move on to another booth until you figure it out, sir." She nervously taps on her notepad. "I recommend the strips. They're really good..." The energy she had at the beginning of the visit has faded and she visibly is trying her best to eject herself from this meeting.

Lucas grins as he plans to make the conversation worse. "I wouldn't mind a strip. Especially if you're the one doing it."

"Okay, strips it is! I'll be sure to wipe the on the toilet seat to match your humor, sir." Akira snatches his menu from him. Her abrupt movement exposes the side of her face that her hair covers. More discolored skin that is as pale as his and something odd about her eye that he is unable to make out. She leaves the table in a bad mood.

"That was kinda pushing it, dude," Riku says. "I wouldn't be surprised if she actually dunks your strips in the toilet water."

"Yo..." Reno interrupts. He nudges Lucas again and taps on the window a few time. "Does that guy look familiar to you?"

Lucas leans in to get a better look. He spots the drunk from earlier in a group of four. They're standing near the busy sidewalk pointing at the diner and discussing something. "Yeah. Looks like the guy that threatened to come back with friends. He's back with friends... Do we leave or hide?"

"Neither, you wimp! Excuse me, Hendrix?" Reno stands as best as he can in the booth. He catches the attention of most of the patrons in the restaurant and Hendrix. "Your drunk friend is outside with his crew."

"No way," the chubby man wearing a blue apron and a dirty, white undershirt. "The little asshole actually wants to play. AKIRA! Lock the door behind me!" He grabs his shotgun and pumps it while walking from behind the bar.

"Can we help, sir?" Reno asks.

"We?" Lucas whispers. Reno frowns at his cowardice.

"I appreciate the offer, bud, but I don't think you can handle a gun fight."

"We're the ones responsible for liberating Warren. I think we can handle a few thugs." Reno waits for the chef to acknowledge his claim. He freezes with one hand on the door while staring at Reno. "Let us help..."

Hendrix smiles. "Protect my people if they make past me."

"I need you alive, Mr. Hendrix... I have questions about my parents that I think you can answer." Hendrix opens the door without breaking eye contact with Reno. He nods his head towards the opening of the door and walks out. Reno steps over Lucas and walks towards the door. He passes Akira and pauses. Reno points to Lucas. "You, with me... I can't trust you alone with this woman."

"You're saying that like I'm some kind of rapist," Lucas complains but follows anyway.

"What about me, bro?"

"Stay with Akira and keep these people safe and calm," Reno says as he walks out. Lucas gives Riku a shrug and follows Reno out, closing the door behind himself.

"AY! You scrawny bastards better take your shit somewhere else before I get angry!" He holds the shotgun across his chest. The crew that came with the angry drunk whisper amongst each other. "Go on! Get out of here!"

One of the thugs, lifts his shirt and pulls out a handgun. The crowd near the street sees the fight building up and the flow of movement near it halts as people scatter and back away from the scene. "I'm glad your fat ass came outside. Now we don't have to kill your customers." He points the handgun at Hendrix and the chef points his shotgun at the man aiming at him.

Reno activates his shard. The skin around his left hand has a thick layer of ice that crackles and flakes off into a snowy mist as he moves his fingers. "I don't think you want to try that. Go back to your holes and live to see another day."

The drunk hoodlum wobbles forward. "Gimme that! I'll do it!" He slaps the gun instead of grabbing it. The firearm goes off. Reno thinks ahead and creates a mist in front of Hendrix. The bullet passes through the cloud and freezes. It makes contact with Hendrix's forehead as an ice cube. The large man drops the shotgun as he holds his face from the impact of the frozen bullet. The large firearm goes off as well once it bounces from the ground. The scattershot has a similar reaction as they pass the icy mist. Multiple cubes of ice peck at the thugs. They buckle from the pain as each pellet tags them. Lucas blows the mist towards the group. The ground becomes extremely slick as it travels low to the ground.

Once it reaches, the thugs it's a little weaker but is still strong enough to stiffen their clothes and hair. The drunk pukes immediately from the harsh change in temperature. They panic after the unexpected misfires. Each on assists the other while they attempt to escape the area. After sliding and slipping for a long, awkward moment, they eventually make it out of sight.

Reno turns his attention to the chef that is down on one knee, still holding his head with one hand. "That's the farthest they've ever gone..." he says.

"Regina and Kendrick Malik... have you heard these name before?" Reno asks as he reaches out to Hendrix to help him up.