Unreality

11. Unconditional Love

'Y-your brother?' Umbra asked Virgil in shock, 'Then... those really were your memories... which means that the blonde boy who saved you was...'

'Yours truly, of course,' completed Victor with a wry smile. 'I mean, who else would come to this selfish bastard's aid other than his dear old brother? It's tough work, you know, having to look after such a helpless—'

'Enough!' Virgil screamed out suddenly, startling Umbra in the process, 'Just tell me what the hell you want now, Victor! Is this your unreality?! Since when do you—'

'Unreality?' interjected Victor curiously, 'You mean places like this? That's what you call 'em?'

'...Don't play dumb — it's obvious you planned this... you must've somehow found out what I do for a living and decided to try and lure me out, didn't you?' asked a simmering Virgil, causing his brother to start snickering, 'Just like two years ago, you couldn't just let me be — no, you had to come and invade my life yet again... Well, what's it gonna take?! What's it gonna take for you to leave me the fu—'

But Virgil's crescendo of rage — which had left Umbra aghast — was cut short when his brother's snickering developed into full-blown laughter, which easily smothered the senior agent's voice before echoing throughout the whole of the town square.

Victor's deafening euphoria left Virgil all the more incensed, while Umbra felt a chill run up her spine. Consumed by uncontrollable glee, the blonde cyborg soon let go of Joshua — the droid just barely rolled off the monument's stone platform and Umbra carefully picked it up — and brought his right hand to his mouth instead, seemingly attempting to smother his own fit of laughter.

'Aaah... ah...' he breathed out, attempting to relax the muscles in his face, 'I swear, this tic is gonna be the death of me someday...'

And then, all of a sudden, Victor appeared to sober up instantly, opening his sleeveless jacket and exposing his torso, which was well built but unpleasant to look at, for it was covered in rather unsightly scars.

As Umbra cringed, the blonde cyborg — staring down his brother — used his mechanical index finger to point towards a particular portion of jagged tissue on the left side of his abdomen, which appeared to be the remains of a bullet wound.

'See this?' he questioned somberly, but Virgil remained silent, although his resentful eyes appeared to understand what his brother was getting at, 'That's the stigma you left me with two years ago. A memento of my dear little brother, carved upon my skin and imprinted on my being.'

Virgil breathed in deeply, after which he spoke in a decidedly unsympathetic tone.

'So... it's revenge then?'

But Victor merely laughed sardonically, before replying in an almost disappointed voice.

'You insult me, brother — that is a simpleton's motive.'

'Then what?' demanded Virgil, 'Just tell me already so we can settle this once and for all!'

'...What makes you think I want to settle anything? No, no, no, no... that's your territory, brother — I like to make things last,' explained Victor, before adding with amusement, 'but fine, I'll tell you what I'm here for.'

Umbra gulped silently as she watched and listened expectantly.

'You should already know, 'cause it hasn't changed one bit since the last time we met, but here goes,' said Victor, before putting on a preposterous affectionate smile, 'I'm here... to protect you.'