Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

UGGGHGHHHG” was the sound that bounced inside the office. And there sitting in drowsiness and discomfort was a man with pasty white skin fairer than snow, hair black as tar, golden brown eyes that can be confused as drops of honey but blocked by black framed that’s being held by good faith and layers of tape. Dwight Fairfield is a 23-year-old who works and is the assistant manager of Pizzawhat. A pizza establishment that’s only a few miles from his apartment. As he leans back into his chair he begun to think of his past and still wonders how he got to this point in his life. He been working there for roughly 7-8 years starting at the age of 14 when he was a sophomore in high school, the job gave him some light in his future due to the fact he came from a poor family with strict spending rules. He didn’t come from a wealthy family like some kids did in his school. He was behind on current trends, devices and even jokes due to the lack of entertainment he had in his home thanks to the golden rule in his home. His parents made decent amount to keep them going but it was a struggle for all of them especially since Dwight had no idea what they even do for work, though he constantly wondered what they do, he minded his own business and didn’t pry for answers. “If it didn’t benefit the house in any way shape and or form don’t buy it!” Those words echoed in the child’s head but never stuck with him as he broke the rule numerous times again and again, with the money he earned from working he brought things like tv, a laptop and other stuff for himself so he can be like the other kids. All these things granted him joy and pleasure as he thrived in the new stuff he brought and being up to date like others, but those things couldn’t save him from his parents incoming confrontation.

“Dwight?” a soft but stern women voice shouted to the upper part of the house due to Dwight always having his door closed.

“Come down honey, we need to talk” was the words shouted at him. Even though he knows what they were going to talk about but he was still nervous and scared because he hates having these “talks” with his parents, the mere thought of it made his heart pump vigorously and sweat began to roll down his face. Regardless how he felt he got himself ready, closed his laptop he was on, left his phone on his bed so no one calls and interrupt them though he doesn’t expect anyone to call due to the lack of friends he has.

“Not like anyone gonna call” he muttered to himself as he releases a deep dishearten sigh and walked out of his bedroom door, straight downstairs and headed right to the dining room where his parents were sitting and waiting for him. He sat down at one end of the table as his parents sat on the side of it well his parents decided to keep a calm face so they won’t stress Dwight out, but he was already stressed out his mind before he even came downstairs.

“Dwight, we know you been enjoying what you had recently brought” his dad said with a calm but rugged voice.

“And that’s completely fine but son you kn- “

“I-I know the rule dad but”

“No buts Dwight” his mom said cutting him off mid-sentence “you know the house rule and you broke it!”

“Only because…” he paused well his dad raised a brow questioning his son pausing himself.

“Because?” he gave in return to Dwight”

“Because I thought if I can support myself we can cut me out of living expenses and have more money. Hell, I can even help with some stuff in the house too.” His dad rubbed his eyes in disappointment because he knew Dwight reason was half true but half lie as well. Minutes turned to hours and bickering turned to yelling at each other, but Dwight was determined to win this fight even if it takes him days or months. After hours of defending and justifying his parents caved in and gave up.

“ok Dwight…*sighs* you win, if you want to use your money to support the house then ok we won’t stop you from doing it but just remember you can stop any time”

“I know dad, but I have no problem helping, if I hard manage my money, divide it so I can have some for the house and save for college too. Trust me dad, I got this!” he said with an eager face.

“I don’t know Dwight, I’ve seen your math grades, so I’m worried about the dividing part.” He said as he began to laugh but Dwight wasn’t exactly amused by the comment and made a pouty face. They hugged it out and he immediately ran up the stairs to his room, shut his door, jumped on his bed and rolled around in excitement. The fact he can support his family now and potentially help change their lives gave him hope for him and his family, unfortunately, what he thought was a brand-new start was actually a blade readying itself to stab him in the back when he least expects it. Before the memory of the past continued loud obnoxious knocking stopped the current memory from playing and brought Dwight back into reality.

“Dwight! Hey Dwight!” A voice was shouted behind the locked office door, there was only one person in the store who can bring Dwight such a headache like so and like he guessed it was his slum boss Ace Visconti. Dwight first met Ace 7 years ago when he first started working at Pizzawhat, he was a recently transferred manager from another state which confused them as to why they grabbed a guy from another state instead of grabbing one from the branching stores. At first, Dwight didn’t have a problem with Ace and whenever Ace starts to be annoying with his weird charms Dwight just ignore him, but his coworkers were the ones laughing at him and saying “figured the new guy wouldn’t get it yet” which was confusing the poor uninformed boy. He still didn’t understand why no one likes Ace and only getting “you’ll learn soon enough” wasn’t helping him until one day he noticed something wrong. His hours weren’t matching his pay and thought it was a simple mistake until he checked older paycheck and saw they too were slightly off, wanting to ask about the checks he noticed that Ace hardly even comes in out all, almost like he doesn’t even work here. Anger and annoyed he wanted answers but all he got was disappointment and laughter from his fellow coworkers.

“We told you bro.”

“Was only a matter of time before you’ll figure it out.”

“He takes bits of each employee pay and add it to his and spends on god knows what.”

“Yea that’s why the person before you quit, they didn’t like the money they earned taken from them.”

“I heard he spends it on gambling but always loses it all.”

“Really? Cause I heard he goes to some brothel house and spends most of his time with some cheap whore.”

As his coworker continued to talk he felt hopeless and wonder if he should find another job, but with his lack skills finding a better job will prove difficult and no other places were hiring at the time so it was this or nothing for him. Being stuck between a rock and a hard place, he chose to stick with Pizzawhat, even if money is being taken from him he still determined to help his family through thick and thin. The regrettable memory was stopped when ace loud knocking snapped Dwight back to the present and causing him to open the door for his slum boss.

“Yo Dwighty boy.”

“Ace, don’t call me that.”

“Come on lighten up a little.”

“I would if you stop dumping the paperwork on me, ALL of the paperwork I should add”. The mere thought of him even being in his office was already irritating him but Ace being in the store either means he got more paperwork for him to do or make him stay late again.

“What do you want Ace? I’m busy with your shit.”

“With an attitude like that explains why you have so little friends…well from what I have seen, one friend.”

“Eerrrrrrrr”

“Relax, I was asking how the bonuses are going?”

“Of course, money…” around May the store become heavily busy and the extra money from deals and coupons tends to be high so its split the employees as bonus that get added to the next paycheck.

“Sooooooo what are we looking at?”

“Even though I should be the last person on earth to do any type math and number crunching but anyways me and …you are looking at 600 added well everyone else get 300 added”. As soon he told him the amount Ace began to rub his hands together with nothing but greed riddling in his mind, a thing Dwight seen way too much as it only leads to one thing and one thing only.

“Great so let’s take about 100 from each employee an- “

“Hold on Ace you can’t seriously be thinking of doing this? They work hard to earn their share and you did ja- “

“Ohhh Dwighty boy I can and will, you see I have stuff to settle and- “

“Then settle it with your own money not ours!”

“Oh, I am but I just need a little more coin ya know? Anyways just do it unless you want your next paycheck cut again.

Dwight rubbed his eyes and tried to calm himself, but Ace greed was too much to not get irritated by. He couldn’t afford to argue with him, Ace can easily get him fired which is something he doesn’t need especially since he barely can pay rent by himself.

“Also, todays night shift guy isn’t coming in today, so I need you to stay till closing again”

“Dude seriously? I already have plans wit- you know what nevermind, yeah I can do. I rather not have you be here destroying something.”

“Good boy, now go ahead and do what I asked and I seeeeeeeeeeeeee you later.” He closes the door leaving Dwight in his office who was furious to his core with the absurd request but with his hands being tied he couldn’t say no. He turned to the computer and went to the payroll section and did what he asked. There were only 12 employees plus him and Ace so 14 total but he be taking it from the 12 others he regrets doing, he paused for a bit after giving Ace a cold 1200 for doing nothing but he wasn’t going to let this slide. “No, I can salvage this, I can do something about this.” He scrolled down till he found his name and he gave each worker 50 dollars to them making them 250 instead of 200 but at the cause of his own bonus. He didn’t care, he was tired of Ace antics and his money laundering, so he did what he thought was right to him. After doing so he turned off the computer and leaned back into his chair and released a deep sigh and stared at the ceiling well rubbing his eyes, he was exhaust and tired of the antics he been dealing with for years but felt so powerless whenever he tries to fight back. Despite his eyes being against him he got up, did some stretches and headed out the office to the front to get an energy drink from the cooler. As he approaches the cooler he heard his name being called out and saw a teen with the Pizzawhat store apron on staring at him with an annoyed look on his face.

“Dwwwwwwwwwwwwwwight I told you those things are bad for you, especially since you drink wayyyy too much of them!” the boy claimed.

“Haha sorry Charlie but I actually need this, I didn’t get enough- “

“Enough sleep cause Ace made you stay late again or make you do his work at home, but Dwight those things are gross!” The boy having concerns for him warmed his heart and calmed his mind that was induced by Ace actions. Charlie was one of the two teens who work at Pizzawhat and the more energic one of the pair. He was a boy with fuzzy red hair, freckles going across his nose and eyes greener than an emerald who looks at Dwight like his older brother despite him scolding him with his energy drinks and coffee consumption.

“Easy Char-Char, save some scolding for my mom, I bet she gonna tear him apart once she finds out he is drinking too much of those again.” said the boy who has a smirk across his face behind the ordering counter.

“I thought my mom told you to chill on those Dwight?”

“… She did but-”

“But nothing, you know as well as I do when Char-Char makes the face around her she’s going to zoom over here and kick your ass again.” The boy begins to laugh as sweat from nervousness started to roll down his face just thinking of the boy’s mom scolding at him again. Luke was the other teen who works in Pizzawhat and like Charlie sees Dwight like an older brother but the only difference is that he’s more about teasing and irritating Dwight like what a younger sibling would do to their older counterpart. He was dark skin boy with a small black curly afro, chin stubble, eyes with the rare color of violet and is always seen chewing gum and blowing bubbles.

“Anyways you reaaalllyyy shouldn’t drink these! I heard a streamer died well drinking the same energy drinks and it was lived too! People thought he fell asleep, but he was live for 3 days straight without moving, I really don’t want that to happen to you Dwight!” The boy told him as he starts tearing up, but Dwight and Luke knew exactly what he was talking about, but it was clear that Charlie didn’t read the entire article. It was proven that it wasn’t the drinks he consumed, he came from a family with major health problems and was already experiencing the problems before his time of death but whenever Charlie makes the puppy dog eyes on him he can’t help but listen to the boy.

“Ok ok ok, look I take the one with less kick, is that ok for you?”

“NOPE!” Charlie replied with as he takes the drink from Dwight hands, putting it back into the store cooler and pulls out a water bottle and gave it to him.

“Here you go! Not only it doesn’t have the potential to kill you, but it’s also way healthier than the energy drink!”

“… *Sighs* ok Charlie I drink water instead of the energy drink” he said as he rubs his head and starts to walk to his office but not before Luke whispered to him that he sneak him a drink for him a bit later, Dwight nodded at him and smiled that he will have something to keep him up for the late night. Typing and writing away at his desk with paperwork left by Ace for him to complete by himself was tiring him quickly. The drink didn’t really help keep him up but was still thankful for Luke for bringing him one even though both of the teens shift ended about a couple hour ago, he looked at the clock at above his office door, “9:35pm” it showed and he leaned down on his desk and began to wonder if the boy’s made it home safe. Dwight normally uses the store car to quickly drop them off home, so their parents wouldn’t worry too much about them going home alone. Their parents are quite fond of Dwight and even met him in person and told him how much their sons talked about him after work and made his heart melt, he knew they look up to him but not in a manner to constantly being brought up to their family. Thoughts aside, he was drifting off into sleep because of his eyes being heavier than bags of sands but before he closes them he heard the store phone ringing and no one was picking up, he went out and answered it himself since the other worker was nowhere to be seen. He answered them and took the order since he assumed the other worker was having “lady” problems, after he took the order and asked for the address he was shocked because the address was past the outskirts of the city. Dwight didn’t know their store number even reached that far out but nonetheless he wrote it, started to make the order, took out one of the foldable boxes and once the order was down he placed it on the foldable, folded it up and put in the carrying bag. He left a note instructing her to just turn the power off and lock the door and him handling the rest when he returns, grabbed his keys and one of the spare store hats, went outside to find the puke green car with key scratches all over the driver’s door. As soon he got inside he put the bag on the passenger seat along with his wallet he left doing deliveries that day, he started the car and began to drive out the store parking lot and drove to the northern part of the city to the outskirts then reached a road that branches into two paths. He took the right path leading upwards to the woods and he continued driving down the single lane to the address with the help of the GPS on his phone. The night sky was clear as day without a single cloud to dim the bright moonlight shining up above, but exhaustion was ruining Dwight’s night as his eyes were against him and making him sleep. He looked up to the sky once more and saw a shooting star, he doesn’t really believe in wishful thinking, but it didn’t hurt him trying it it for once.

“i… I wish something different to happen, something I hate but love, get embarrassed but enjoy, regret but learn. What am I saying? Wishes don’t really come true just by asking.” he told himself but don’t realize his very wish is approaching him. He was trying to survive a battle of staying up but he was losing the fight, so he decided to pop in some music Jeff got him as a gift but not even the blasting heavy metal music couldn’t keep him awake, with his eyes opening and closing repeatedly and was losing track of both time and mind, he was determined to at least finish this delivery and head straight home afterwards. After 5 minutes of him trying to stay awake, he didn’t pay attention as he saw a person on the road ahead and immediately slammed on breaks to stop the car from hitting the person on the road.

“Oh shit, oh fuck, oh god did I hit him? I didn’t feel anything, b-but I don’t see the body. Oh fuck, oh fuck I’m so screwed.” Without a single thought, he turned off the car engine but keep the lights on so he can see and left out the car door in a hurry to see if the person he assumed he hit was alive or dead but when he got to the front of the car to inspect the body nothing was there. Turning and looking in all direction he was stomped that he didn’t find a body on the road, he rubbed his eyes and blamed them for playing tricks like that to him but before he started to head back to the car someone came behind him and quickly pinned the stomped delivery boy to the ground with great force that he couldn’t fight back.

“Do me a favor and stay down, do not get up until I leave.” was spoken to Dwight with a thick British accent, already tired and afraid, he listened to what the man said and stayed put. When the person pinning him let go he placed a stack of bills tied by a rubber band next to Dwight and walked to his car starting it up.

“Think of it of an apology gift!” the mystery man said as he drove away in the store car away from the pizza boy and as Dwight stood up and watch the car that wasn’t even his disappears before his very eyes he dropped to his knee and threw a fit that no heard but him.

“No way, NO FUCKING WAY THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! I'M SO FUCKED! That’s it then, I’m fired, there’s no way out of this. What am I going to do now, DAMMIT!” With all his screaming and flailing around, he saw that he kicked something light that didn’t sound like a rock or a stick but instead the stack of bills left by the man who took he car.

“Pfffft what’s this? Money? It's thick but it’s probably not a lot, especially since it looks like the amount Ace uses to wipe his ass with. Let’s see, 100, 300, 8-800, 1500, 5-5000, …no way this can't be right. I have to count this again!” He counted it 3 times and reached the same number of 100,00. Dwight’s head was spinning out of control and couldn’t grasp the situation at all and the light of an approaching car didn’t help either, the car was black as the night and as it stop a man stepped out and asked Dwight if a man came by here recently. With anxiety rattling in his head he stealthily put the money in his back pocket and nervously pointed in the direction he saw the mystery man gone to and the man went back to the car and drove in the direction the delivery boy pointed to. It wasn’t until after he realized he sent them the wrong way by accident, the black car went to the road going upwards well the man who stole his car went downward but either way he didn’t care, he was too exhausted to care that they’re going the wrong way and won’t catch him. They didn’t look like cops, but he decided to stay out of it and just pulled out his phone but felt that his wallet and keys were both missing, he must have left them both in the car that was stolen from him. Exhaustion gain a friend in his head and it name was distraught, he has a spare for his apartment behind his phone case but not one for the store but once again he didn’t care, he was going to fire once Ace finds out he lost the car. After a deep sigh he punched in his address and the GPS said he’s 4 hours away by foot, but he had no choice but walk as the distant howls of wolves echoed through the road surrounded by trees. Hungry, thirsty, exhausted, stressed, and feet in pain he made to the bridge that connects the suburb he lives in to the big city, as he stopped to take a break he looked at the time and sees that it’s 2:43am and with his body ready to stop soon from exhaustion, he quickly ran which turned into a slow jog across the bridge walkway to the other side as fast he could but the size of the bridge still took him a long time to get across. Body ready to give out, he finally reached his street his apartment complex was on, as he saw the complex and was ready to just sleep on his floor a parked car in front of him turned its head lights on and he was forced to block the blinding light with his hands. He positions his hands so he can see the car and saw that it was puke green car and when the driver’s side door open he saw key scratches on it, it was the car that was stolen from him a few hours ago. There was no doubt in his mind that it’s the same guy from before and now he’s in front of him unable to see the man due to the bright lights.

“Took you long enough mate, I was waiting for you to come back but I guess that’s my fault since I did took your car.”

“It’s not mine but I didn’t expect it to get stolen today, thanks for the added twist for my nightly story.”

“Ha yea, bet you’re not gonna forget that anytime soon huh bud? But can I ask you this though?”

“What?”

“I had some guys on my ass and I was planning to fake my death with ya car here but after a while I saw no one was behind me, care to explain?” He asked and Dwight simply answered him and the mystery man couldn’t help but laugh when he Dwight told him that he accidentally pointed them in the wrong direction. Well the man was laughing Dwight try to shift his hands so he can try to get a look at the person's face but was interrupted when the man began to speak again.

“Oh hey now, I wouldn’t do that mate”

“Huh?”

“I rather keep my dashing looks unknown, the less people know about me the better but if curiosity is beating ya head that hard, by all means, go right ahead and look but I’m going have to slug ya.” he told the exhausted delivery boy. He couldn’t tell if what he said was true or a bluff, but curiosity is craving for the shadowy man appearance so he starts from the ground and move up. He was wearing muddy black boots meaning he was somewhere wet before their encounter, he moved up to his pants next and he was wearing casual dark blue jean you see anyone wearing. He moves to the torso and arms, he was wearing a plain white button up shirt with the last button undone well wearing a tannish green Harrington jacket unzipped with the collar being red plaid on the inside and having his sleeves pushed up past his foreman revealing a lion tattoo on the right forearm. His chest was sticking out of his shirt a bit meaning he works out from time to time, same with his arms, they couldn’t be hidden by his jacket as they stick out just like his torso. After the torso examination, he moved to the head but all he got to see was a rugged jawline before a left hook came punching Dwight hard in the face knocking his glasses off and laying him flat on the street. With his vision blurring and can’t stop hearing a sharp ringing in his ear, he began to pass out due to not having any strength left in his body. But before he passed out he heard one thing, it was distorted but he still made it out.

“Sorry mate, let’s hope this won’t a happen.” was all he heard before giving out. After the delivery boy fell unconscious the man turned off the lights, took the cluster of keys with him, closed the door and walked up to the sleeping man on the street and crouched down near him as he took out a worn-out wallet and open it up as he began to read the ID inside.

“Dwight Fairfield hmmmm? From his birth year, he must be either 23 or 24.

Height: 5’11

Address: apartment complex 5 on West Arc Ave, apartment #106. Hmmmmm I didn’t hit him THAT hard did I? Hope I didn’t bu- oh he looks exhausted, that might explain why he dropped after one swing haha. Well I can’t leave him here, alright bud come on.” He picked up both the new cracked glasses and unconscious man and carried him to the apartment complex and went up the stairs to the top floor to his apartment, unlocked the door and brought the Dwight in his home and laid him down on his couch. He closed the door then turned on the lights and start to inspect the single room apartment. The living room takes the majority of the space, it contains a long light green couch with a decent length coffee table in front with empty cans of energy drinks and empty cartons of carry-out food and pizza boxes on top.

“I guess he uses this a table for anything, ignoring the empty stuff it's fairly clean in here,” the man told himself as he continues to look around. In front of the table was 40-inch tv sitting on top of a small black shelf with consoles with strange logos on them and tons of video games.

“Ha. I figured he be that type of guy,” he chuckled a bit and moved to the small bookshelf that holds both books and manga, more manga than actual books.

“Plays video games, reads, and an anime nerd, eh I figured this too.” After inspecting the living room he went to the kitchen which was the smallest part of the apartment, it can only fit about two people and it holds a large refrigerator, an oven, microwave and other things you find in any ordinary house kitchen. He looked in both the freezer and fridge compartments to find something to put on the unconscious man face to reduce the swelling but when he looked inside, there was barely anything in the to find.

“Add starving to the list, he is on the scrawnier side, but I didn’t think he wouldn’t have food.” The only thing he found that could help was a frozen pack of ground beef, with his hands tied with limited stuff in the apartment he went over and place the frozen beef pack the Dwight swelling right cheek. After placing it he felt a tug on his pants legs and looked down to see a black puppy with white paws was trying to attack him.

“Trying to protect ya owner ay? You going to be a great dog in the future.” he said as he began to rub the puppy and the fury the small puppy had turned into excitement and started to enjoy the built man presence. After a bit, he felt something else brushed his side to see a grey cat with black stripes on its back. Unlike the puppy, the cat instantly loved the man and pours whenever he rubbed it. He got up and started to walk down the hallway and saw two rooms, the one on the right was the bathroom well the one in front was the bedroom. He went into the bedroom to inspect it like the other parts of the apartment, there was a bed propped up against the corner with a window above it. On the far left holds a small dresser with paperwork spread out and a laptop with the same logo as the consoles in the small shelf in the living room, and next to the dresser was a small table with a desktop set up with crushed cans of energy drinks around it.

“If he keeps drinking these he’s going to keel over.” he said lifting the crushed can, after he inspected the room he took the blanket off the bed and carried it out to the living room and laid it over the sleeping man.

“Ok mate, you’re all set. Let’s hope this be the last time we meet, safer for the both of us” he softly told the man who clearly was sleeping. As he walked to the door he kicked something, the 100,000$ he gave him after taking the car, he picked it up and sat it at the table along with the glasses he cracked. “It’s all yours bud, it seem like you need it” the smiling man said as he exited out the door, went to the car and got inside and drove off to Pizzawhat to return the car, leaving the keys inside hoping the car won’t get stolen and start to walk into the city masking himself with the late night crowd until he was no longer spotted.

Daylight soon peeked through his living windows and Dwight started to wake up but immediately cupped his right cheek as it was still in pain, but the swelling was toned down as he looks down he saw a thawed ground beef pack on his floor and picked it up.

“Was this on my face? I don’t remember putting it on, wait how did I even get in my apartment? D-did he... carry me? No that can’t be right, maybe it was all a bad dre- “he stopped as grab his newly cracked glasses off the table and saw the money from last night sitting there in front of him.

“it…wasn’t a dream.” he sighs as he remembers that the car is missing and his already taped glasses are now cracked well his cheek still red and in pain, he looked at his phone and saw that ace called him 4 times and missed all of them. In a panic, he called him back to see what he wanted to say to him.

“Dwight? Dwighty boy where are you!?”

“Sorry Ace, I had a weird night and I’m still trying to process what happened.”

“Well I can tell what’s happening right now!” he sounded furious, he knows that the car is missing and going to fire him for it.

“You’re four hours late, like a WHOLE four hours dude.”

“I AM!? Shit I’m sorry about that Ace and I am really sorry the car too, I didn’t mean to- “

“Well I’m certainly ain’t happy about the car, the damn thing almost had no gas when I used it, I told you to fill her up before your shift ends.” He was confused that car was back at the store? How? When? He asked himself and thoughts started to flow in and out of his head but ignored them and continued the conversation with Ace.

“Wait the car is at the store?”

“Uhh duh? Where else where it be? You on the good shit too? I remember- “

“No, I’m not on any drugs! I just had a weird dream that’s all.”

“Well don’t bother coming in today, I’ll just take care of things here. Rest up and try not to let it happen again.” He hung up on him, he looked at the time and saw that it was 12:13pm June 1st, 4 hours late like Ace claimed. With the whole day to himself, he decided to message Claudette to see if she wants to come over make up for yesterday’s sudden bail.

“Yooooooo I got the day off, wanna come over once you’re finished?” He shot at her and less than a few seconds she instantly replied back.

“Sure ^-^, shop ends at 3 so I be there around 4ish.”

“Sweet I’ll wait for you till then, I had a crazy encounter last night that you won’t believe!”

“Dude I literally watched Meg shove a cactus up someone ass today because he was harassing us. She only didn’t get arrested cause it was in self-defense, I doubt anything gonna top that”

“Trust me it’s going to beat that story ass”

“The last time you said that your story was “crazy” it was that you saw Beyoncé in a Starbucks drive-thru and she saw you for .5 seconds”

“…Low blow Claud, low blow. Anyways I better get ready, see you soon”

“SEE YOU SOON TOO!” Their messaging stopped and he started to clean up his apartment to make it look nice for Claudette, as he tidies up a bit he put everything back in place and put the meat back into the fridge. He went to the bathroom, took off his work clothes and turned on the shower and began to clean himself. After 20 mins, he turned the shower off and got out, dried himself and wrapped the towel around his waist, stood in front of the mirror with a blow dryer and dried his hair. Soon after he went to his room dresser and took out his Batman boxer, a white t-shirt, and sweat pants and put them on and headed to his couch to flop on him and started playing video games until Claudette arrives. After marathoning video games for hours he heard someone knocking on his door, he paused the game and got up to open the door to see it was his best friend Claudette with bags of groceries in her hands that was clearly for him.

“Sorry I took so lon- OH MY GOD DWIGHT WHAT HAPPEN TO YOUR FACE!?” She screamed as she rushed in, closes the door, pull him to the couch and looked at his still swollen red cheek.

“Ha. Like I told you, it was crazy but before that why did you brought me food? I’m fine yo- “

“No, you are not! You know damn well you ain’t eating the proper amount and just chugging energy drinks and coffee down your throat.”

“Harsh Claud.”

“But its true Dwight! Look it’s not even a lot but it’s enough to get you by.” She got up and carried the bag to his fridge and he simply watched her put the stuff up as she scolds him on his eating habits. Claudette Morel was a dark skin woman who presence fills any room with warmth and love, like Dwight, she too wears black-framed glasses and hair was small dreads with some of it tied together with a rubber band, she’s often to be seen wearing a beret whenever she’s outside or sometimes working. Dwight first met her during his second month of sophomore year, she was the new student who came from Canada and quickly gained the attention of others who wanted her to be their friend but she either ignored or avoided him as she knows that it’s because she’s new. When second period arrived she was in her biology class, her very subject but she’s couldn’t enjoy due to everyone crowding around, only through the teacher the kids calmed down and got away from her. The teacher told her there’s isn’t any assigned seating so she can sit either at a desk or at the black table tops. She sat in the front and class begun, after a while the teacher announced that a project is coming up and they can either in a group of 3 max or do it alone and Claudette being new the kids desperately tried to get her to work with them.

“New kid new kid work with us!”

“Nah work with me and we can make a nice swirl.”

“With a comment like that there’s no way she’ll work with you!”

“Oh and you think cause you’re popular she gonna join you basic bitches?” The kids were arguing left and right and it was driving Claudette insane, she just wants to get away from all of them and find some peace and quiet. she turned her head behind her and she saw a pasty skinned boy with black framed glasses and short black hair sitting by himself at one of the tabletop in the back who looked like he was having trouble with something, she picked up her things and walked away from the screaming kids to the table the boy was sitting at.

“Ugh I been here for half a day and no one in this school don’t know what personal space mean!”

“*Chuckles* not easy being new huh? Normally people like to feel like the star of the show.”

“Guess I must not be normal then cause too much attention can be annoying at times.”

“Wish I can say I can relate but I really can’t, you get no attention if you’re not interesting enough here.”

“Oh baloney, that type of thinking is why people are trash 90% of the time!”

“Haha yeah, I guess you can say that.” The boy couldn’t help but laugh because of how true that statement was and when he was done, the girl hand stuck out across the top for him to shake.

“Claudette Morel.”

“Dwight Fairfield.” he answered back shaking her hand, afterward she looked at the paper he was having trouble on and easily helped with him and he was relieved that someone else besides the teacher helped with it. She pulled out her schedule to see her classrooms were at, Dwight looked at it and told her they have the same 2nd, 3rd, 4th and even lunch together and told her he gladly showed her where the classes are at. That meeting of the new girl and the outcast turned into an eight-year-long friendship, Dwight popped out of the sweet memory when she shouted his name and asked him was he even listening, he said he was listening to her even though she already knew he wasn’t. After she put up everything she brought, she came back around and sat on the other end of the couch and then asked what happened, he told her everything that happened last night and didn’t miss a single detail either.

“Dwight, that sounds like you met the Collector last night”

“The Collector?”

“Seriously Dwight? You’re on the internet as much me and you never heard of him?”

“Haha nope!”

“Ugh! Hold on a bit… annnnnndddd ok I find it.” She gave him her phone and scrolled through articles about the “Collector”

“He showed up five years ago, he’s a debt collector who sometimes takes other work and his employer never care how he handles things just as long the job was completed. I heard he kills anyone who knows a single thing that can give away his identity.”

“B-but why didn’t he kill me? He let me look him but his face before I got punched, he even carried me in here, put a blanket on me and even put something cold on my swollen face.”

“Yea but are we even sure it was him who put you back home?”

“He was the only one with my keys, so it had to be him.”

“Then I got nothing honestly, just got lucky I guess. Man this city been crazy lately with ever since he came, cops are out at night trying to pick up anything on him. Didn’t you say you saw everything but his face? What he looks like?”

“Uhhh he was really built, like jacked up kinda and wore a tannish green Harrington jacket with the inside of the color was red plaid. Oh he had a tattoo of a lion on his right forearm and had a thick British accent, everything else he wore you would find on anyone else honestly so it’s not worth saying.

“So we got accent, jacket, and tattoos too. We got more than cops would ever get.”

“I would tell them but…”

“Yea, you’re in a tight spot and telling the police is putting yourself at risk wouldn’t it?” After hours of gossip between the two they stopped because it was getting late and night already took control sky blanketing it with stars, Claudette picked up her things, hugged Dwight and mention that the carnival is here for the week and wants to go with him before the week ends. He told her he might not be able to but if he can he will, she hugged him again and left out the door and he sat on his couch looking at the time on his phone. “9:34pm” it showed him but before he turned it off he got a message from Feng.

“Yooooooo get on!”

“Don’t you think there’s a better way of saying it?”

“You’re right let me start over, hey bitch get on!”

“…” after replying he went to his room and came back with his laptop with Feng’s esports team logo on it, he turned it on and went on the game she wanted him to play and invited her. Grabbing a pair of headphones and plugging them in they started a voice chat to speak to each other.

“Took you long enough dude.”

“Kept you waiting huh?” he said with a deep rugged voice pretending to be someone else.

“I thought you was stuck on the third game? Eh don’t matter the match is loading up.

“I thought you said I was bad to play with?”

“You are but that what makes matches hard and challenging, carrying your ass feel nice, besides my job mates are annoying me and I rather have fun than to train and I only get that with you.”

“Aww sound just like a tsun- “

“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” As they start to play he couldn’t help but remember when he first met her even if it was mashed with a bad experience that almost happened if it wasn’t for her. It was his 4th month in sophomore year and the rumors of him being gay was spread throughout the school like the plague thanks to someone eavesdropping on him and Claudette conversation, eyes darted on him whenever he passes someone like he was some rodent on the streets. There were people like him at his school but unless you were one of the popular ones you become a disease to everyone and that what the kids saw him as. After the school day was over he wanted to just go to his house and never leave it again, Claudette was sick that so he packed his things since he didn’t have to wait for anyone but he took longer than he usually does and was the last one left in the class. As he walked out the door he saw some boys with devilish grins looking at him and started to walk to him, he ran from them to another hall with a different way down but there were boys waiting for him there too and like the others walked to towards him. Already in the state of panic, he was forced to use the staircase near the gym but as he ran down the steps and reached the 1st floor he saw even more boys to his right, he was force to run to the gym and use the emergency exit to school but there was more boys who were upperclassmen walking to him forcing him to locker room to hope to find the teacher but they weren’t there. The annual full staff meeting was today, delaying club activities by an hour and he turned around he saw the boys closed and locked the door.

“Sit tight Dwight!”

“We got something special in store for you in a bit!” The boys outside the door told him. Dwight was panicking, sweating and crying and just having a full-on breakdown. He watched gay films and they all ended the same and the fact he’s in a scenario like the films made him curl up and just cry relentlessly, begging for anything to just take him out of this situation and that’s exactly what he got.

“Pssshh, hey! Up here, HURRY!” a pair of arms were sticking out the removed tile from the ceiling reaching for him, without a single hesitation he jumped up to grab both of the arms and with the all the other person might they pulled him up and quickly put the tile back in place. They crawled over to the vent and peeked through it to see the boys looking around confused.

“I thought you said he was in here?”

“HE WAS, he must of escape like the diseased rodent he is!”

“Dammit we won’t get a chance like this ever, come on let’s just go.” The boys left and both Dwight and the unknown person in front of him exhaled in relief as they were able to escape a risky situation like that. The person shined their phone flashlight and told Dwight to follow them, after minutes of crawling lightly through the school ventilation ducts they exit out and came across a classroom Dwight never seen in the school.

“Hello MTV and welcome to my crib, anyways you’re safe here, they never find this place.”

“Where… are we? I never seen this room.”

“That because we are actually underneath the school, when they rebuild it they didn’t bother to touch this classroom for whatever reason, oh check this out.” The person ran to a switch and flipped it, turning on little Christmas lights that was hung around the classroom, the lights wasn’t too bright with gave the perfect middle lightening that they preferred. As they turned around he started to inspect their appearance. The person in front of him was a small Asian girl with long black hair tied in a ponytail with bangs in the front, she was wearing an oversized jacket with a cartoon lion on the front with ears on the hood and grey tights with black slip-on shoes.

“Isn’t it cool? This room have a bathroom and the plumbing is still working down here too, like this isn’t a half-assed job, it’s a straight fuck up and they don’t even know it!” Though excited to show him around the boy was still rubbing his red eyes and breathing heavily.

“Hey man calm down, you’re safe, 100% so stop crying ok?”

“I’m so-sorry, you’re right I should stop.”

“Hey don’t say it like that, it makes me sound like an ass, ugh nevermind that. My name is Feng Min, pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh I’m Dw- “

“Dwight Fairfield right? Yea it’s kinda impossible to not know who you are. You been the talk of the school for a while now, heard some fucker overheard your convo with a friend and spread it to everyone, the little asshole. That really blows man, having your shit told by some nosy fucker is super annoying li-WHY ARE YOU CRYING!?”

“No I-I-I-I just re-really happy th-that”

“Come on man, how many times I got to say it, you’re safe here!”

“I-I know but it was re-really scary what happened.” He wiped the tears from his red-stained eyes and the snot that was dropping from his nose and started to calm himself. Feng was right, there’s was no way anyone knows this classroom exist or the fact it’s under the school. After he relaxed himself Feng went to the mini fridge and pulled out two sodas and handed one to Dwight. After receiving the drink he began to look around the classroom, it was decked out with bean bag chairs, some tables, a tv, a small Wi-Fi box and more stuff only someone with money can get.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how are you able to afford all of this? Are your parents rich?”

“Rich? I’m middle class at best but hold on a sec, I’ll show you.” she said as she ran to a small closet and pulled out a cheap cartoon white lion mask and put it on her face.

“Yup it’s the one and only Shining Lion, go ahead and be amazed and awed”

“…”

“What? It’s me! The Shining Lion! Like hello?”

“…Who’s the Shining Lion? Is it an indie band or something?”

“Indie ba-, NO YOU BLOCK HEAD, ME! You know the famous streamer!?” After she thoroughly explained to him who she is online he explained to her that he only recently gotten a laptop and not up-to-date with the internet. After hearing what he said about his home she was horrified and described his old lifestyle before his tech as “primitive” and “barbaric” and she can never live like that. Hours passed and they soon picked up their things and Feng lead him to the Entrance/Exit, after walking down a long hallway they reached a reinforced metal door with custom keyhole lock. She took out a key and unlocked it and opened it up and they both walked outside finding themselves in the woods a bit away from the school.

“I took a walk out here and fall down into the overgrown bushes here and saw the door, the key was under a fake rock and I went inside and find the classroom with the lights and plumbing still working. Am I lucky or what?” She then showed him the way to back to the school and then showed him two ways to get to the door.

“If you’re certain no one is behind you take the normal way but if you have a hunch you’re being followed, run through the alternate by following the marking I set, they get lost by the time you find the door and just give and go.

“Ok I got it but just to be safe I’ll stick to using the alternate path since I can never really tell if someone is watching.

“Fine by me, try not to tell anyone about this but if you do make sure it’s someone you trust.” With that being said the two walked from their school to her Feng house and parted ways till the next day. As days and months go by Dwight showed the hidden classroom to Claudette and introduced her to Feng and the three began an inseparable friendship throughout their remaining school years. After graduation Feng was offered a position to an esport team and Claudette was got accepted in a top university in another state, after hugging it out and being proud of them and they said their goodbyes and he watched them leave as Dwight remained in the city unable to continue his dream.

“GOT DAMMIT DWIGHT, YOU MISSED ANOTHER ONE!” The scream snapped him out the dreaming trance and made him realized he was still in his match and causing his team to start losing. After several matches, they said their goodnights to each but before logging off she told him that she’s coming to visit him soon and will give an update when exactly, the news made him excited since the last time he seen her was at the esport tournament back in December. They both logged off then headed straight to his room and flopped on his bed and started to sleep, but as he closes his eyes he wonders why the Collector let him go like that so easily but before he gave it more thought he fell to sleep. Days passed by quick before both Dwight and Claudette realized it was Wednesday already, Claudette dealt with the same things with nothing interesting and same goes with Dwight, but Monday was tough considering Charlie saw his red cheek and started to worry and spaz out. When he woke up Thursday morning, he got a message from Ace saying he didn’t need to come today, after reading the message he called Claudette to tell her he’s free today but she told him she’s sick and was actually going to call him asking if he can help Meg with a request that was due today. He agreed to help and she told him to be by her store by 12pm, they hung up and went to the bathroom to freshen up and change out of his night clothes and put on another white t-shirt, tan shorts and his black flip-flops. After his morning routine, he went out and made breakfast, feed both Bell and Bucky, cleaned out Bell’s litterbox, let out Bucky so she can use the bathroom, called an Uber and left to the shop in the city. He reached Claudette shop, “The Blooming Start”, opened the door which ringed the small bell as he went inside.

“Dwight? Is that you?”

“Yeah it’s me, you ready?”

“Yeah just let me grab the forms for them to sign and we'll be all good.” Dwight doesn’t know much about Meg, she was more of Claudette friends than his but always enjoys being around her and hearing her stories of how she broke a guy’s arm at an auto store because he grabbed her bottom or when she dropped kicked another guy through a window at a McDonalds for flipping her skirt. She rolled out two dollies with large potted ferns on it. The request was an easy one, all they had to do is deliver the ferns to the location and make sure they sign the papers since they paid in advanced. They pushed the dollies out the door, turned off the store lights but left the green house lights on and locked the door behind them. The building wasn’t too far from the shop so it was an easy day for the both of them, a bit passed and Meg stopped to tie her shoe that became undone but Dwight not noticing kept walking on. Once she finished tying them she got up to push the dolly to catch up to Dwight but ended up bumping into a built man wearing a tannish green Harrington jacket unzipped with the inside color of the collar being red with plaid and has a tattoo of a lion on his right forearm.

“Oh I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there mister.”

“It’s all good love, mistakes happen all the time, but damn you’re kinda jacked. I bet you take a track straight to the face and walk it off like it’s nothing.” The tall built man said with a thick British accent.

“Thanks, I do workout when I can but you look like you can survive a meteor landing on top of you.”

“I’m honestly flattered by your comment but trust me these are just for show mostly, a good hit with a stick and I’m falling.”

“I think anyone being hit with a stick will get knocked down.”

“Haha I guess that’s true but man any guy would kill for a girl who can kick their ass, god knows I would.”

“Too bad for them, my shop is girls only.”

“Well whatever girl you find will be super lucky to have someone like you, anyways I’m heading to the park, I can use some R&R. Again sorry about that for bumping into ya love.”

“Oh it wasn’t a problem and yeah I have someone to do too, nice talking to you mister.”

“Pleasure was all mind.” They wave each other goodbye and she sprinted up the sidewalk and find Dwight at a crosswalk waiting for her, almost reaching their destination he started asked her what happened and why she was way behind.

“Yeah sorry, I stopped to tie my shoes and when I was done I accidentally bumped into a guy.”

“Oh? What he looked like?”

“Well for starters he was batshit insane to be wearing a jacket in this damn heat, like I know summer started already but damn it's June, lighten up a little with the heat.”

“Well depends on the color of the jacket, some colors absorb more heat than others. What was its color?”

“Ummmm I believe it was a tannish green one, he had his sleeves pushed up too.” Dwight's eyes widen and his head started to hurt.

“Meg…was the inside part of the collar was red?”

“Now that you mention it was red with plaid actually.” Sweat started to form on his face, he needs more info to see if it’s the same guy from before or happen to be a different person.

“Meg what else did you see on this guy?”

“Hmmmm majority of his head is a buzzcut except for the top, it still had brownish black hair. He was really built too, he must bench press cows or something, also he had an awesome ass lion tattoo on him right forearm too.” His body froze, his legs refused to move as his shirt started to get soaked with his sweat.

“M-Meg… did he…had an British accent too?”

“You ok dude? I thin- “

“ANSWER!”

“JESUS DUDE, yes he a had a real thick one, he said he was heading to the park to relax.” After hearing what she said his memory of that night reappeared and in a instant he left the dolly and Meg and bolted to in the direction to the park.

“DWIGHT! WHAT THE FUCK!? IM GOING TO KICK YOUR ASSSS!” She screamed at him leaving her to push the dollies, after some time his running turned to exhausted jogging but even though he was cover in sweat he made to the park side entrance. It was a large park with one big tree next to the knee-deep pond with some fish and ducks on top swimming, he scanned the park to find the man Meg described and he found him sitting on a bench that was in front of the tree. Despite being exhausted, he ran over to the man sitting down who fitted the description, the man sitting was deeply confused as why a sweaty guy is in front of him catching his breath. He tried handing the clearly exhaust man a bottle of water, but it was smacked away by Dwight’s sweaty hands, the rude jester raised a brow on the at sweaty man.

“*Pants* YOU!”

“Uhhhh you need something mate?”

“Don’t *pants* act dumb with me *pants*”

“O…k? Look have we met or something?”

“Have we-OF COURSE WE MET, YOU PUNCHED ME!” Dwight shouted at the man as he isn’t taking it serious and only giving laughter back in return.

“I think I’ll remember punching somebody mate, seriously what ya on about? Are you ok?”

“CUT THE SHIT!”

“Yikes, I see you got some fangs!”

“Look, I know it’s you from the other night, the one who took the car and crap. But you’re just gonna keep playing dumb huh? Well I got news for you jackass cause I know you’re the co- “ he stopped, the man gave a piercing gaze at Dwight petrifying with fear like he was about to be stabbed or being held at gunpoint.

“Look buddy, we see people who we think we know but it was just some stranger with similar looks. You shouldn’t go up to random strangers and start shouting at them cause you thought they was this person.” He formed his hand like a gun and fired it at Dwight’s head.

“BAM, dead because you like to run up on random people accusing them of harming you.” All of that was said with a smile that can make the devil himself squirm, Dwight wasn’t wrong on the man true identity and the smiling man know it which only made his sweating more intense, soaking his shirt making it a bit see-through.

“(Oh FUCK! Why did this? I can’t beat him, he knows me, My name, my address, my job, am I safe? Can I even hide? Where can I hide? I-I don’t want to die.)” So many thoughts flowed into his head and gave him a headache, he wanted to run but to where?

“DWIGHT YOU DICK!” A woman voice shouted from behind scaring the already panicking boy.

“WHY THE FUCK YOU LEFT!? I HAD TO DO AL- “she stopped as she saw that the guy in front of Dwight was the man from earlier.

“Dwight why are you bothering him!? Sir, I’m so sorry for him bothering you.”

“Oh it’s all good, he just confused me with someone else. Honestly I’m quite flattered considering my rugged looking face, anyways I better get going since I somehow freaked him out.” He patted Dwight’s back and walked away as Meg continued to yell at him for ditching her with the dollies, after she was done she told him to just go home because he was soaked and wrecks of sweat. He did what she said and walked to the entrance of the park but before he left he turned around and looked at the other entrance and colored drained from his body only leaving white behind, the man was looking straight at him with the same devilish smile from before.

“(Run, RUN!)” was the words that echoed in his head and out of desperation, running was what his legs were doing, he was pushing and knocking down people on the sidewalks as he tries to reach his home to locked himself and never leave again. He eventually made it to his apartment and once inside he closed and locked his door then pushed his back against the door and slid down, he couldn’t grasp what is happening to him right now. He wanted to call someone, anyone, he didn’t care who it was as long it was a person. He reached in his pocket to pull out his phone but as he’s pulling it out a balled-up piece of paper fell out too, he didn’t put anything in his pocket beside his keys and wallet, no paper. He picked it up, opened it up and start to read what was written on it.

“12:00am tonight, park, come alone and don’t be late. Signed by: The Collector.”

Dwight’s head spun out of control, he had no control over his thoughts which flowed intensely in and out again well he began to hyperventilate. He wanted to tell someone but who? He can’t with Meg because he thinks she’s still mad at him and Claudette is sick, so he doesn’t want to bother her. Feng isn’t even in the state yet and nor is Jeff, he had no one to rely on to help him in his time of need. After managing to somehow calm himself he just decided not to go at all, it was the only and safest option for him. He gave himself a little pep talk and went to his bathroom and showered his sweat-drenched body, dried himself once again he was finished and wore his light blue grayish jacket since he wasn’t bothering to wear a shirt, his white beanie with the red strip and a pair of gray sweat shorts and went to his living him and flopped on his couch. He played video games and played with his pets to help pass time and clear his head which was working for him at first but when the late night approached all type of comfort didn’t stop him thinking of the note. “11:29pm” his phone showed and he heard ticking noise in his head with a voice asking the same question over and over again, the simple question was too hard for him to answer as his life is potentially looking at death.

“(Tick tock Fairfield, will you stay or go? Tick tock Fairfield, tick…tock.)” Those words were on repeat without end, again and again with the imaginary clock ticking inside his head.

“Tick…tock, tick…tock, ti- “ the time turned to 11:30pm and Dwight jumped up off his couch in a panic and threw on his black flip-flop, grabbed his wallet and keys, called another Uber and left to the park. It didn’t take him long to reach the park, he actually arrived early with there being no traffic this late at night. He got out of the car and walked to the entrance of the park, the park light posts that followed along with the arced-walkway were on brightening the park making it easy to spot the only person sitting on the same bench from earlier today. He swallowed out of nervousness as he walked to where the man was sitting but sat at the other side of the bench, he avoided eye contact with the Collector by either just looking at the ground below or stare at the large tree a few feet in front away from them.

“Honestly? I didn’t think you would have come, kinda glad ya did though. Now I bet you’re thinking what I’m going to do to you hmm? Choke, drown, bury, beat up. Gun you down, man the list just goes on and on don’t it? The man was laughing hoping to lighten up the tense mood, but it did the exact opposite, it made Dwight sweat again and in attempt to clean some of it off with his jacket sleeve he knocked off his glasses by accident blurring his vision.

“Ok, let’s get this started shall we?” The built man said as he stood up and walked other to Dwight’s side of the bench and took something out his jacket pocket and was bringing closer to Dwight’s head, with his vision blurred he couldn’t make out what it was which only made his bladder build up and for sweat to fall even faster.

“(He g-gonna kill me right here in public!? Is this really how It ends!? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry everyone. I can’t be there for you guys anymore. Please, just please be safe everybody)”. With no control of his body, he released his bladder and wetted his side bench forcing the man to back up a bit, now Dwight wishes he was dead for doing something like this in public in front of someone.

“JESUS MATE! Christ man, uhhhh where are th- oh found them!” He picked up Dwight’s glasses of the ground, brushes them off a bit with what was in his hand and put it them back on Dwight’s face.

“Ok, now that you got ya glasses can you please look at what’s in my hand?” Slowly opening his eyes that were shut tight, he saw that the object in his hand was a small smooth gray rug with a rose stitched at the center. The man started to wipe the sweat off Dwight’s face and neck and then put the rug back in his pocket.

“Alright, that takes care of the sweat but what about the pee…oh! Wait right here ok?” The man ran off leaving Dwight alone on the urine-drenched bench, 10 minutes later he returned with a pair of blue Hawaiian swimming trunks and gave it to him.

“Sorry bud, this was all they had at the convenient store.”

“I-it’s ok but uhhh mind if you spot me?” The tall Man nodded and look out well Dwight started to quickly take off both his shorts and underwear and put on the swimming trunks he received. He put the wet clothes in the park trash bin then went to the other bench next to him and the man followed, they sat next to each other but neither was talking so the man decided to break the ice.

“Wasn’t trying to make you wet yourself, so much for first impression huh?

“I think you ruined your first impression when punched me and stole the car I was in!”

“Yikes, I see you ya still have your fangs from earlier, but you’re right, so let’s start over.”

“Start over?”

“Yeah why not? I don’t wanna give out my name yet but let’s start with yours.”

“Don’t you already know it?”

“Yea but proper introduction is always the first thing you should do right?”

“W-well I’m D-D-D”

“D-D-D, come on man, I have no intention of hurting you so just relax ok?” Though the man was trying to get Dwight to relax, his efforts were in vain because he couldn’t stop shaking and sweating, the man took out his rug again but instead of wiping the sweat he instead loaned it to him.

“Since I can’t get you to stop sweating at least take this for the night, you’re starting to wet your jacket a bit.”

“Oh I forgot, I never put on a shirt after I showered earlier today.” Being curious the tall man pulled back Dwight’s jacket a bit and looked down, the sudden act turned Dwight red and left stunned.

“Huh you weren’t lying, ya not as scrawny as I thought you was. I don’t know why I thought you would be hairy haha.” After coming back to himself he smacked the other man hand of his jacket.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?”

“Oh sorry, didn’t think you were the type who don’t like when peeps see their body.”

“I don’t have a problem with that, but you just don’t go and do that to people you just met!”

“Ok, ok I won’t do it again *chuckles*.” After simmering down his phone vibrated forcing him to check it and saw that Ace messaged him asking if he can move the empty file cabinet from Dwight’s office to his, the message was clearly for him in the morning but since he already out he chose to do it now.

“So, where we headed?”

“We?”

“Well for starters the name on ya phone was Ace, I assume it must be Ace Visconti?

“H-how?”

“He’s a little weasel that escaped from debt collectors all over. Once I get my hands on him I’ll- “

“NO! please no, I can’t have him go missing and getting the police involved.”

“Why? I HIGHLY doubt he’s that good of a boss.”

“He isn’t but… just know if he goes missing…something might happen to me, so please don’t ok?”

“I mean I wasn’t from the start but since you said that I definitely won’t, but if he becomes too much for you let me know, I handle him.” He nodded in agreement and started to walk to Dwight’s job and the man walked behind him, as they walk the built man started to whistle a tune to rid the silence that was taking hold of the night.

“So… have you ever killed someone?”

“Would you believe me if I said I haven’t killed anyone?”

“No.”

“Ouch, ya answered a little too fast but I don’t blame you for not believing me. Especially since I had it made that way.” The last sentence confused Dwight but he didn’t really think much of it. They made it to Pizzawhat and they went to unlock the door and went inside. He turned on the lights and started walking to his office.

“it shouldn’t take me long to move it, just don- “before he finished he saw the man already eating a pizza that was left in the oven that only God knows how long, he made a disappointed face and left to do Ace request. He moved the cabinet from his to Ace and then locked but doors, he started to walk back but heard children voices in the store so he rushed to the front and find both Luke and Charlie in the store talking the tall man.

“Why are you two are in the store? AT 12:10AM?”

“Chill Dwight, we were just on our way to the carnival and saw that the store lights were on, so we went to check it out.” Luke explained well blowing a bubble with his gum.

“Yeah but uhhh please don’t tell our parents please?”

“Seriously Char-Char, you be ready to break 3 guys arms but get scared when it comes to Dwight. He's not gonna rat us out.”

“Yeah you’re right but uhhh Dwight, who’s he?” he pointed at the man eating another slice of old oven pizza.

“Oh I’m his friend, nice to meet you kids.”

“We’re not friends!”

“Ouch man *sniffle* that kinda hurt.”

“Dwigggghhhhtt don’t be mean to him, he seems nice to be friend with!”

“Yeah man, you can actually use some.” That comment darted his eyes that was filled with annoyance at Luke as he gave a smile masked with gum in return, he then turned his head back and look at Charlie who was making the same puppy dog eyes to him but was spoiled due to the man doing the same face but with a mouth full of chewed pizza.

“I-I was joking, haha see? We are friends!”

“Really? Oh good, you really needed more Dwight!” Charlie had no intention to mock him but Dwight couldn’t help but get mad at the comment.

“I HAVE FRIENDS DAMMIT!”

“Sounds like something someone with no friends would say.” Luke told him well popping another bubble.

“Errrrrrr remember, I sign your paychecks!”

“Wow I’m so scared, please threaten me more with my paycheck that Ace also take his cut from.” He said as he rolls his eyes and annoying Dwight like a younger sibling would do.

“Anyways we are off to the carnival, bye-bye Dwight and his friend.”

“Wait you guys shou- and they’re gone.”

“Ha, rowdy duo I see.”

“They’re good kids, they kinda see me as their older brother, though Charlie scolds me more than any mother and Luke rips on me a lot (just like Feng).”

“Hey man, the fact they look up to you like that is great, be proud of that.” The man said and giving Dwight a pat on his back and started to smile a bit.

“HA! YOU SMILED! I feel like a winner now!” He shouted causing Dwight to laugh, they turned off the lights and locked the door after they exited. Now both are stomped as neither don’t know what to do next, Dwight wanted to go home and sleep but the night is young and the man is ready to do more but he doesn’t know what to do.

“So, where we go now?”

“*chuckles* we?” The man was clearly mocking him from earlier at the park, after some thinking, an idea popped up the man’s head and started leading the way. They reached a bar not too far from Pizzawhat and went inside, the smell of cigarettes filled the air but wasn’t thick enough to be a choking hazard and the room was of drinkers, smokers and game watchers. They walk up to the bar stand and sat on the stools in the middle next to eat other, a woman came over by the two and started to talk.

“Hmph must be my lucky day, not one but two handsome boys walked in today, what can I get you two fine gentlemen today?”

“I take a regular pint of beer please?”

“and you?”

“U-uh some water will do?”

“you’re not hungry? You can eat ya know?

“it’s fine I'm not re- “he was interrupted when his stomach started to growl loudly, the man smiled and pat Dwight’s head and continued the order.

“Can you throw in a plate of nachos too please, mild since I don’t know if he eats spicy stuff.”

“A glass of water, dead man juice and a plate of wet chips easy on the hell coming right up.” The woman left from behind the bar stand and into the doors leading to the back, as they wait Dwight took out his phone and saw no notifications as usual and sat his phone down. He rubs his head as he tries to grasp what is happening, he got off the stool started to walk to the doors leading outside telling the man he needs some air to think.

“Oh ok but listen dude, if I’m still making you that uncomfortable then you can always leave and I won’t bother you again.” Dwight only nodded and headed out the doors, as he left the man noticed his phone still on the bar stand. He picked it up and saw that it was still unlocked, he decided to look in well Dwight was outside getting some air. Once outside, Dwight rubbed his head trying to understand what’s going on tonight. He couldn’t decide if the man was acting nice to later attack him down the road or he was a nice guy who just do dirty jobs. He took in a deep breath and chose to continue the night with the man but only because he had questions that needed answers, he headed back inside and saw that their order on the table already being devoured by the built man destructive appetite.

“Everything is ok?” he asked with a mouth full of nachos.

“Yeah I’m ok, I see you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Try some and don’t say you’re not hungry cause we both already know that’s a lie.”

“Well I guess there’s no harm eating some.” They sat in silence stuffing their faces with cheesy nachos and their drinks. Once they were finished Dwight mustered up the courage to ask the man some questions.

“So… are you going to tell me your name?”

“Nope!”

“Wha? That’s not fair, you know mine!”

“Because I read ya ID in your wallet.”

“But you punched me!”

“And as an apology, I gave you money.”

“You took the car!”

“Which I returned to the store.”

“YOU GAVE ME A THREATENING LETTER!”

“And I just told ya you can leave at any time you want but here you are eating and drinking with me!”

“But-but!”

“Checkmate bud.” The man wiped his hands and mouth with the napkins and so did Dwight and both headed out the door so rid their noses of the cigarette polluted air. The time was 12:45, such little time passed and both are once again stomped on what to do next, Dwight doesn’t get out much but the places he normally goes were closed hours ago. After the bit, the man came up with the idea that they should go to the carnival since it ends in a few days, the idea would be great only if Dwight had an iron stomach. He told the man he can’t handle rides but he took his hand thinking he was lying and started to walk to the northern outskirts of the city where the carnival was at. After a good walk to the outskirts, they made it to the carnival that was shined more than the city itself, the man got them both unlimited ride passes and headed inside and got in lines for rides. The lines were short due to the time of night, so not a lot of people was roaming, they got on many rides and after one was done Dwight's stomach became more and more weak. After so many rides, his stomach gave in and made him sick, he left the man to find the nearest trash can for him to vomit to prevent himself on puking on the floor. Feeling guilty of not listening to him, the tall man went to the medical tent to get Dwight some tablets and then went to a vending machine to get a chilled bottle of water. After a bit, Dwight was able to find a trash bin but when he vomited he missed hitting himself and hitting a bystander who wasn’t happy with that vomit is on his clothes. He instantly apology to the man but he was blinded by anger and put his hands around neck holding him down ready to punch him but was stopped when a bottle of water was beamed at the bystander face.

“WHO THREW THIS!?”

“I did you asshole! You have five seconds to get ya hands of my fucking friend or else!” He glared at the man still holding on to Dwight then saw the man friend stepped in.

“Or else what? Fight both of us?”

“Oh yeah, I do love it when the odds are against me, if that’s how it gonna be then bring it!” The taunt got to the two men, they let go of Dwight and charged to the man at full force but soon learned that it was a terrible mistake. One man tried to swing at his face but was quickly dodged and was met with a hard-intense blow to the stomach causing him to vomit and fall to his knees, Dwight sat in awe and he saw his friend stopped a man with one punch like some superhero. The other guy tried to play dirty and hit him from behind with a blunt object but was met with two blows to the face, wasn’t ready to go down he charged at the man and but his attacks failed as the man blocked all and gave a punch to the stomach making him fall to his knees as well. The man didn’t like the cheap tactics, so he continued to bash him when the other guys had no strength to defend himself. He felt someone tug his arm and already enrage with the urge to continue the fight he instantly turned around to swing at the person behind him thinking it was another friend of the two men, but stopped himself just enough and saw that it was Dwight telling him they had enough.

“I-I think they had enough dude…”

“You guys are so fucking lucky I didn’t curb stomped you fucking asshole, anyways you ok Dwight?”

“I’m fine, my neck doesn’t hurt that much. though I wish I didn’t puke over my jacket."

“HEY WHAT HAPPENED HERE!?” A security officer came to the scene and they both explained to him what happened, despite it starting as an accident it escalated too far so all four were banned from the carnival and was forced to leave. Not wanting to cause any more trouble, the man picked up the bottle of water then they left the carnival and starting walking back into the city in the direction of his apartment, after a while they sat at a bus bench and relaxed. He handed him the tablets for his stomach and the bottle of water, he scarfed it down and like magic, they started to fix his upset stomach but was still disgusted with the vomit on his jacket.

“Ugh, I threw up some much on myself, the one time I didn’t wear a shirt too.”

“Hold on actually.” he took off his jacket and then told Dwight to take his off, he put his jacket on the shirtless boy and zipped it up.

“Well, how is it?”

“Big, very big. No one would believe that this is mine, but something is always better than nothing right?” He began to wave the sleeves like noodles in the oversize jacket having fun and the man was laughing at the playful pizzaboy. They reached his apartment before 2:30am hit and they turned to each other, the man was wearing a white button up like last time but wasn’t tucked in at all with the sleeves rolled up and him wearing the Collectors jacket like they were high school sweethearts.

“It’s not that far from being 3am, man I’m really tired.”

“Yeah sorry that I kept you up this late, I made work a bitch to deal with tomorrow huh?”

“*chuckles* don’t worry I can handle it, nothing a can of an energy drink and coffee can’t fix.”

“Keep drinking that stuff and you’ll keel over soon.”

“Everyone tells me that but I’m telling you its fine.”

“Haha whatever you say man, anyways I see you later and be safe.” He started to walk down the road leaving Dwight alone for the night, he did enjoy the night with the man and couldn’t wait to tell Claudette, but he realized he still was wearing the man’s jacket.

“HEYYY WHAT ABOUT YOUR JACKET!?” he shouted.

“KEEP IT, I HAVE ANOTHER ONE JUST LIKE IT.”

“WHAT ABOUT THE RAG!?”

“I'M TRUSTING YOU WITH!

“…H-HEY WAIT YOU DIDN’T TELL ME YOUR NAME YET!?”

“…IT’S DAVID!”

“DAVID WHAT!?” At first, he didn’t get nothing back and was a little sadden but a few seconds later he heard “KING” shouted in the air.

“Nice to meet you, David King.” Well smiling he headed to his apartment and went inside and went straight to his room and flopped into his bed and texted Claudette that he has another crazy story and started to close his eyes, but before he dreams took hold of his mind he got a message from an unknown number.

“I had fun tonight, thx for coming out even tho I screwed up my first impression.”

“David? How did you get my number?”

“You left your phone on the bar-stand and it was still unlocked, you probs should change it to 5 secs and not 30 secs. Anyways stay safe and don’t overdo it with the drinks you hear?” He read the message but tiredness took over and he began to sleep. The next day arrived but quickly ended as nothing out of the ordinary happened to either Dwight or Claudette but Saturday came around and Ace decided to give Dwight another random day-off, so he messaged Claudette to hang and as always she replied with a yes and set out after she closed her shop and once she was finished they met and decided to head to the mall passed the northern outskirts passed Dwight’s apartment complex. They did their usual of going to the bookstore, the movies and going FYE for whatever collectible that catches their attention. Well roaming between the stores, Dwight told her about what happened during Thursday night and though a little upset he went to the carnival without her, she couldn’t believe anything he said to her but he insisted it was all true. After hours spent at the mall miles away from their city, they hopped in the car since the sky was taken over by the night again symbolling that it's getting late for the duo. Driving down the empty road back to their city Claudette turned on the radio and her favorite song was playing, she was making the “face” to Dwight indicating she was about to start singing.

“Oh no, you’re making the face.”

“I’m gonna sing.”

“Claud no, don’t sin- “ he was stopped by her singing and soon joined her like it was some type infection she gave him, they was enjoying themselves on the ride home until a “POP, POP” noise that sounded like a gun came out of nowhere and Claudette lost control of the car but slammed on the breaks because she saw someone injured on the road.

“UNLOCK THE DOOR AND TURN OUT THE LIGHTS INSIDE!” The mystery man shouted, he opened the back doors of her car and climbed him, without any lights to see who he is they couldn’t make out his appearance. He shouted at them to drive and not wanting to get them two harmed she started to drive the road but at a much faster rate.

“Ok listen to me, I don’t want to harm either of ya, just do what I say and you won’t see me again ya hear?” Dwight remembers such a thick British accent and knew exactly who the man is.

“DDDDDDDDD-DAVID!?”

“Dwight? Is that you man?” he turned on the lights and saw the shaking pizza boy and he just as shock friend next to him, he gave him a pat on the shoulder with his bloody hand and sat back down.

“I haven’t seen you in a while man, how you been?”

“I-I-I-I”

“What about you Miss?”

“Uh-uh-uh” they both were caught off guard by the sudden gunfire and blood.

“UGH DAMMIT, those fucks got me good, say Miss, does this aughhh car have a sunroof?”

“Uh y-yea it does.”

“Mind opening it for me, looks like I got some pest to get rid of!” She did as he said and opened the roof and he stands up and stuck out his body and pulled out his gun, he fired two shots, one at the driver's arm and another one at the car tires making it lost control and drive into the field losing them.

“Ok th-UGH, that’s *pants* should take care of them.”

“Oh god your bleeding badly! Dwight go apply pressure on his wound!”

“B-but Claud you know I don’t li- “

“I know Dwight but he needs help, he’s your friend right!?” Hating how right she was he unbuckled his seat belt and climbed to the back and applied the pressure like she said. David gave her direction in her phone where to take the bleeding man at.

“That’s across the damn city, there’s no way we make it in time!”

“It *pants* fine, I c-can hold out.”

“No you can’t you’ll be dead by the time we get there! Dwight, we got to take him to your place and fix this ourselves!” Not arguing with her despite not liking the blood on his hands she drove to Dwight’s apartment complex and parked the car.

“Let’s hurry before anyone sees- DWIGHT DON’T DRAG HIM PICK HIM UP!”

“He’s really he- “

“DWIGHT!”

“OK JEEZ!” he hoists the man onto his back but he was heavier than anything he ever picked up at his job, he felt the blood soaking his shirt, grossing him out but rushes him to his apartment. Claudette took his keys and went in front of him as they climbed the stairs, when they made it to the third floor they heard a door being unlock meaning someone who's coming out. Claudette leaped the railed, wiped her finger on some of David’s blood and went to the opening door as she blocked the view of the staircase as she started talking to the lady at the door.

“Oh heeeey Mrs. Johns, how you’re doing?”

“Oh Claudette! Guessing you’re here to see Dwight?”

“Yeah you know me, always see my bestie even if it’s this late at night but say do you happen to have a bandage? See I cut my finger on something and I don’t won’t to freak Dwight out with the blood.”

“I swear a lot of things scares that boy, I believe I have some just wait right here.” She shut her door and the two bolted upstairs to Dwight’s door and unlocked it as Claudette went back to the person’s door to get the bandage so they won’t look suspicious. After locking his door he sat David bloody body on his coffee trouble and put one of his couch pillows under David’s head, Claudette grabbed a clean cloth and ran it in some water, unbutton David’s shirt and started to rid his torso of blood.

“How you’re holding up?”

“I’m ok but I think I do better without the bleeding!”

“I know some medical stuff so I can at least try to help, but you weren’t going to make it if I took you the place you mentioned.”

“I *pants* know I just didn’t want you guys to feel responsible for fixing me up!”

“I-I know I hate blood b-but we have to try, y-you are my friend after all!”

“Ok let me look at this wound, … good, it's not as bad as we think it is.”

“ How so!?”

“Bad part is that it did hit him good, the good part is that it hit nothing majorly important. Maybe a vein or two but he’ll live, plus judging from the wound he was shot from far away, you can even see the bullet in him.” He looked and saw that she was right, the bullet wasn’t in that deep and we still visible.

“Dwight listen to me, grab me your small med-kit, the thread and needle from the sewing kit I gave you, a knife and something to pull the bullet out.” He went to his bathroom to grab the medkit, his bedroom to get the thread and needle from his sewing kit, a steak knife from his kitchen drawers and the tweezers from top of his fridge.

“O-ok here’s everything you asked for”

“A steak knife? Don’t you have anything with a smoother blade?”

“N-no, not really...”

“OK, it's better than nothing, oh! Do you have anything that he can bite down on? He going to be in a lot of pain.” He went to the kitchen and pulled out a large metal spoon and headed it to her, both Claudette and David looked at him with confusion written over their faces. After Claudette yelled at him to grab something different he ran to drawer again and pulled out a wooden spoon, he came back to them and put the wooden spoon in David’s mouth and he bites down on it.

“Ok David listen, this is going to hurt…a lot. If you don’t endure it and do what I say, there’s a good chance you’ll die.” He nodded in agreement and ready himself for the upcoming pain.

“H-have you ever done this before?”

“Well I took some classes on the human body.”

“And how that go?”

“…anyways, go get us some rubber gloves.” Her ignoring the question made him even more nervous but he got up to grab the box of gloves and came back to her. They put on the gloves and she took the steak knife and began to cut the wound open so they can get ready to pry it but the pain from the rigged knife caused nothing but agony for David as he started to sweat immensely and grunt in pain.

“Look see?” She shined her phone flashlight on the wound and they saw the bullet.

“I was right, he was shot from the distance. Let’s be grateful that nothing important was hit but the hard part is coming. Dwight listen to me, you need to stretch the wound open slightly so I can pull the bullet out.” The idea itself was making him about to vomit, he’s not a fan of seeing actual blood and flesh.

“DWIGHT DON’T VOMIT, HE NEEDS US!”

“ok ok ok, breathe Dwight, breathe.”

“David listen, you need to endure the pain and try to not move, it can make the bullet go deeper. If it goes any deeper, we’re fucked!” Already in intense pain he nodded and told her to take it out as fast as she could.”

“Ok guys, here we go” Dwight open the wound which causes David to scream in pain well biting down on the wooden spoon to endure it, Claudette pulled the tweezers so they can wide enough to grab the bullet. Dwight trying to steel himself so he wouldn’t vomit and the threats Claudette were making at him wasn’t helping.

“WOULD YOU HURRY THE FUCK UP!?”

“IF YOU WON’T SHUT THE FUCK UP I’LL SHOVE MY FIST IN AND PULL OUT MORE THAN JUST THE BULLET BUDDY!” Her screaming scared David and he did, in fact, shut up and endured the pain of his bullet wound being stretch opened as she was able to pull the bullet out of David with the tweezers. Once the bullet was out she took the thread and needle and started to stitch the wound up, once stitched they took the bandages out of the small med kit and wrapped up the wound. David still breathing heavily the table, Dwight ran to his bathroom to vomit and Claudette resting on the floor breathing just as heavy as the injured man. David slowly moved off the coffee table and grabbed his jacket and pulled out some pain killers to help with his pain and sat down next to Claudette and swallowed the pills, Dwight came back from the bathroom and sat next to Claudette as well. The duo was left stunned by what just happened and their faces were in shock for the rest of the night.

“Man that *pants* was crazy huh guys?”

“uh...”

“uh…”

“Seriously though I would have been screwed without you two, thank you both!”

“uh…”

“uh…”

“Oh Miss I never caught your name.”

“Clau…dette.”

“Nice to meet you Claudette, I’m David.” She didn’t reply at all, she only got up, went to Dwight’s room and shut the door.

“Guessing she must be sleeping in there for the night, meaning we’re bunking on the couch?”

“it’s… a pull-out.” David got up, moved the coffee table near the window and pulled out the bed from the couch. He wanted to stay up a bit more and talk to both of them, but he knew they wasn’t in no shape for any conversation, so he laid down on one side of the bed well Dwight went to his room closet to grab the spare blankets and went to lay down on the other end of bed. He rubbed Bucky and Bell and didn’t bother with the lights, they both fell asleep ending the unforgettable night the three had. Morning soon raised and the smell of food being cooked filled the apartment, the aroma woke the sleeping duo and they went to check who’s cooking. They came to the kitchen to see it’s David making a large breakfast for the both of them despite recovering from last night amateur surgery, they were stunned by the food as their stomach growled catching David’s attention. He greeted them both with smiles and handed them their plates as he started to clean up the mess he made so he can join them, once finished with cooking and cleaning they all sat down on the couch that was folded back with the blankets neatly folded and the blood that was on the floor gone.

“Wow that was delicious David, I didn’t know you was such a great cook!”

“Thanks Claud, there’s plenty of things I can do just haven’t shown ya.”

“You even clean the blood off my floor and folded up the blankets, I didn’t even feel myself getting picked up.”

“Well you was shocked from yesterday, so I guess your body made you sleep like a rock, I also cleaned the blood in your car Claud.”

“Oh thank you, you didn’t have to though.”

“Dude it was my blood so I had to clean it up, anyways I think I might of overstayed my welcome. Best to get out of you guys hair.”

“Wait you’re leaving? But you’re not done recovering yet!”

“Well true but I’ll be ok.”

“David! I’m no nurse but you shouldn’t be going out right now, you need to rest!” They both argued on rather if he should stay and rest or if he should go about his way, she doesn’t want him to go out with his wound like that and he claimed he can go to the black-market doctor and be find, so Dwight came up with an idea which him himself was caught off guard by.

“…well Claud doesn’t want you outside cause theirs no one watching you right?”

“No Dwight, not in the slightest! What you just said didn’t match what i said at all!”

“Well how about this, David where you even stay at?”

“Just at some cheap motels, whenever I want to be fancy I go to the more expensive ones, why?”

“Before that, Claudette, you want him to wait till he recovers right?”

“Well yes, we can keep an eye on for him.”

“Well… you can stay here if you like? I don’t really mind, just make sure no one is following you.” Both Claudette and David were shocked with the idea but more shocked it was Dwight was the one who suggested it.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to bother you or anything.”

“No it’s fine really.”

“Well I still want to go to the doc to check the wound properly and once I take care of some stuff I'll come back here, sound like something we can agree on?” He stares at them looking for approval, Dwight nervously gave him a yes and despite not wanting him to go outside, Claudette agreed but she wants proof that he’s at Dwight’s apartment safe and sound. Dwight offered him a shower so he gets rid of the smell of blood around him, he happily accepted it and hopped In well Dwight went in his room to get the pair of sweats, shirt with the logo of Feng’s esports team that was 3x Dwight size and the jacket David gave him Thursday and laid them in the bathroom for him. Once he was done and put the clothes on he asked Dwight why he had so much stuff with the same logo, he told him he has a friend in an esport team who gifts him stuff with their team logo on it. After the small talk, Claudette decided to take David and drop him off to a place that’s near the specific doctor he mentioned but before they left David written down something on two notes gave them to both Dwight and Claudette.

“Here, on Tuesday be at this location at 8pm on the dot, it’s going to be my way of saying thanks to you both.”

“O-oh ok, well we can come early if you want?”

“I mean you can come early but I wouldn’t recommend it, but if curious then sure, come.” They looked at each other in confusion as in why he suggested that they shouldn’t come early but in the end, they chose to come early. They both rubbed the pets and said their goodbye and left out his door leaving him alone by himself in his home, as he sat down on the couch he pulled out his phone to tell Feng about his crazy night but her amazing foresight predicted such a thing would happen and mocked him by saying that she “saw it coming from miles away”. The day quickly turned into night but he didn’t bother to not come into work during the time, he didn’t care if it upset Ace but he didn’t like how he’s going to get a mouthful from Charlie for leaving him and Luke with Ace again. He turned on his phone for the time and it was 10:45pm, David still haven’t returned yet and it was worrying him because he knows Claudette is going to be irritated that she doesn’t have proof that he’s in the apartment. He opened his window and stuck his head out leaning it on his hand and his glass of water in the other looking up at the night that was once again clear and blanketed with stars, 20 minutes passed and still no signs of David but he decided to give it 5 more minutes before calling it for the night. 5 minutes passed and he was getting out of his window until he heard a strange noise like something heavy was being removed, he looked around from his window and saw that the manhole in the middle of the street was moving. The cover was removed and he saw two duffel bags being pushed out then saw a man came out soon after, he wiped his glasses and saw that it was David who came out of the manhole like a rat and the mere sight of it made him drop his drink from his window as David waves to him letting him know he’s coming up. After a bit, he let him in but hold his nose in case he stinks from walking in the sewers. Dwight instantly pointed him to the bathroom before David even said anything. After the quick shower and putting on a sleeveless shirt that exposed his arm muscles that Dwight couldn’t help but to stare at for a bit then stopping to not look weird, grey sweats and he sat down next to Dwight refreshed and took a picture with Dwight’s phone so he can send it to Claudette.

“Ok number 1, WHY THE FUCK YOU CAME HERE FROM THE SEWERS!?”

“You were the one who told me to make sure I’m wasn’t being followed when I come here.”

“B-but how? The sewage waterways don’t even run to the city because of the bridge!”

“I used the small catwalk under the bridge which lead me the gate into the sewers, I uh... unlocked it and used my GPS to find your apartment.”

“I’m not even going to ask about the unlocked part, though I will admit I was getting a bit worried, I’m sure it wasn’t safe for you to be walking around in the sewers with your bullet wound.”

“No need to worry about it now, Doc took care of it properly so I’m good as new, anyways we should get ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“The delivery man will be here any minute with the groceries I ordered.” Dwight doesn’t like the idea of anyone gifting or giving him food despite him having money troubles.

“David I don’t ne- “

“That’s horseshit and you know it so come on!” David was already aware that Dwight doesn’t eat properly, he didn’t want to only get food for himself and he didn’t mind buying some for Dwight since they’re friends after all. David went into his duffel bag and grabbed a pair of cheap sandals and headed out the door, Dwight with no other option but to help put his black flip-flops on and followed. After many trips of going up and down the steps to grab the bags they shut the door and David started to put stuff up in the empty cabinets, he opened one of the small kitchen drawer and found the 100,00$ he gave him a week ago.

“You didn’t use the money I gave you?”

“Oh no, something…is telling me to keep it safe for later.” He shrugged his shoulders not arguing with him and close the drawer, once done he asked what he wanted for dinner but Dwight’s indecisiveness made it hard for him to choose.

“I…actually don’t know what I want, to be honest.”

“Hmmmmm ok how about this, whenever you don’t know what to eat just asked for the “chef special” and I’ll just cook what comes to mind ok?”

“Uh sure, why not?”

“One chef special coming up!” He shouted as he pulled out stuff to make tonight’s dinner, after an hour of cooking then followed by eating and cleaning David set down on the couch with his belly full of food rubbing both Bucky and Bell who was both delighted to see him again. With midnight approaching Dwight grabbed the spare blankets again and handed him to and told him if he needs anything like toothbrushes or pillows just ask, he told him he was good and wished him a good night and started to sleep. Dwight wished a good night as well and went to his room to sleep, before his eyes close he was wondering what his life going to be like since now David is added in his. Slumber quickly took control of his eyes, forcing him to remove his glasses and put them on the window stand and fall asleep. Morning brought about a new day but the sounding alarm clock ruined the morning quiet arrival, Dwight got up and went on to the living room but saw that David was gone. The blankets and the couch were folded up neatly again, there was no note or anything written telling him where he went off to but he shrugged it off and did his morning routine and headed off to work. As the day went on for the duo nothing really changed for them, for Dwight he dealt with Charlie nagging and Luke’s antics well Claudette dealt with the plants and watching Meg injured another harassing man. After their work hours passed and Dwight dropping the kids off to their homes, they both ready themselves as they begin to change out of their work clothes to casuals clothing. Dwight only changed his work shirt to a plain blue t-shirt well Claudette did a whole outfit change since her home isn’t too far from where she lives. She picked up Dwight at his job and drove to the location which wasn’t far from the park, she parked at a parking garage and they began to walk into the empty streets until they reached an alley way.

“Is this the right spot?”

“That’s what it says on the paper, let’s look around.”

“IN A ALLEY WAY CLAUD!?”

“Come on Dwight, no is around, I doubt we'll get mugged.” He nodded in agreement and started walking around the alleyways but they got lost, the alleys was like a labyrinth, they searched and walked but always ended up back where they started. After a while, they reached a dead end or so they thought they did, the turned to their right and saw a long pitch-black path with a small light at the end.

“Is the path going down? The light is below us.”

“Only one way to find out right?” she said well taking the lead. They hugged the wall and went down what felt like stairs to the light that grew bigger and brighter with each step, they reached a door with a small dim light next to it making it almost impossible to spot without actually trying. Claudette knocked on the rusted metal door and waited for someone to come, after a bit a little slot with a pair of eyes peeping through were shown and a deep voice man started to talk to them.

“Who is it?”

“Hello! We were told to come here from a friend.” The man looked at the odd duo in suspicion, the two doesn’t remotely look like they even belong here.

“Password?”

“Knuckle… buster right?” she asked but her questioning made them even more suspicious but he opened the door for them and also revealing himself as a big man with an overwhelming presence that neither of them can fathom. They walked inside to see a club full of brutes who’s ready to commit a crime just for fun, the sere number of brutes frightened both of them which caused Dwight to start biting his nails.

“GROSS DWIGHT! I thought you said you stopped biting your nails!?”

“I-I-I did b-but this p-place isn’t exactly family friendly.”

“Look it’s fi-“

“WHAT THE FUCK YOU SAY TO ME!?” Was shouted followed by a sound of glass being broken and a man with blood from his head fell to the ground. Dwight instantly hid behind Claudette’s back and bit his nails again. They turned around and tried to leave but the big man wouldn’t let them, the rule was upon entry you must stay at least 30 minutes before leaving. Both wasn’t enjoying the idea of staying in there for another minute but they have no choice but to stay in for the time being.

“I-I don’t want b-be here C-Claud!”

“I don’t want to be in here either but remember David will be here soon, we just have to hold out till he gets here. Look, there’s a bar stand with stools lets go there.” They walk to the stools and a lady with tattoos all up her arms came by them behind the stand.

“What are you guys are having?” she asked, Claudette skimmed the shelf but only found hard-hitting liquors on it.

“Um you happened to have anything light for us?” she asked the lady but she raised a brow and took out a bottle with no label on it and pour some in two glasses. Dwight smelled the mysterious liquor and gagged as the aroma it gave off almost made him passed out, his reaction frightened Claudette making her slowly push the drink away.

“THIS STUFF CAN KNOCK OUT AN ELEPHANT!”

“Quit your exaggeration, it can knock out a gorilla at best.”

“Uhh do you maybe have some water?” The woman smiled and pointed to the bathroom.

“T-the bathroom sink?”

“No the toilets, better hope it’s clean today girly.” She nodded and just ignore having a drink altogether, they try to wait for David but he was still nowhere to be seen. A bit passed and another large man picked up Dwight by his shirt and moved him to the stool next to him as the large man sat between him and Claudette. He looked at Dwight and saw that he was easier prey than Claudette, he pulled out a gun and sat it on the stand staring at Dwight sweaty and nervous self.

“You look like fun boy, how about a little game of Russian roulette?”

“W-well we will b-be using b-b-blanks right?” he asked the large man but all he did was laugh and tilt his head in a direction of an open door and they all saw a man with a bullet hole through his head bringing dragged out freaking both Claudette and Dwight out.

“Yea they’re blanks.” He picked up the gun and spun the chamber and handed it to him, Dwight was sweating once again as his hands shake well he picked up the gun and putting it near his head. He wanted to cry as he felt trapped well Claudette not looking as she can’t do anything against the man, the gun near his head now and his finger was about to pull the trigger until he felt another hand lowering it down back on the stand.

“Sorry, he isn’t into to those kind of games bud. Plus you know the rule, games involving death must be agreed by both participants and hosted in the dead room. Not by using once dominate presence to force them to play.” He knows that accent anywhere, it was David with his shirt off rescuing the freighted pair. The man gave me David a mean look but left them alone as he went to what David called the dead room, both sighing in relief knowing that they can relax a little now that David was here and was able to find them before Dwight pulled the trigger.

“See why I told you guys to not come early?”

“You could have told us it was some kind of brutal fight club!”

“Yea but again you should have listened and came at the time I told you, anyways we better move cause the match going to start soon.”

“Match?”

“Yeah, I’m fighting tonight and you going to see it live.”

“Honestly the sooner it’s over and done with the faster we’re out of here but before we go where can I get some water?” She asked him and David pointed to the bathrooms like the lady behind the bar stand did.

“F-from the toilets?”

“The toil-NO FROM THE SINK! WHY YOU THOUGHT OF THE TOILET!?” He didn’t understand why she suggested it well the lady behind the stand was laughing at the gullible Claudette, David soon lead then to a large caged ring with no top and only one door in. He sat them down in the middle row and left since he got to get ready, the sits began to fill up and the air was drowned with violence as only the duo were silent.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SEE A GOOD FIGHT WITH BLOOD AND SWEAT, ON ONE END WE HAVE DAVID KING AND AT THE OTHER ENDE WE HAVE THE RIPPER!”

*Roaring audience*

“3…2…1…FIGHT!” Both David and the ripper ran to each other locking arms, the man lifted David up like a doll and tried to slam him but he caught himself and used the momentum to slam the Ripper instead. David got two punches to the face in but was pushed off and was grabbed by the legs and thrown against the cage and met with a swift round house kick to his right side of his head. He quickly got up and tackled the Ripper and rammed his head against the Rippers, he tried to throw another punch but was kicked off, both men have blood running down their foreheads but only the Ripper was acting funny to the injury. David dash to him and delivered a punch to the Ripper stomach but in return was met with a knee to his jaw, the hit threw David out of balance but he shook it off and went back into action. Exchanging blows after blows the Ripper was starting fall as David was still standing ready for more, Claudette and Dwight were in awe as they saw how much damage David can soak up before he even thinks of yielding. One last blow to the face and the Ripper fell and David was victorious and boasting the crowd of his victory, there was more boos than applause as many people had betted that David was going to lose and was violently upset that they lost money. Both Dwight and Claudette ran up to David but he was met with scolding and worry and not applause and cheeriness, as Claudette took David to the somewhat of a medical room Dwight stood in the empty waiting for the both of them to return since he saw it as a safe spot to be at. As he waits one of the large man who lost a bet came up to him since he saw him talking to David and started to harass Dwight, he was pushed down and started to crawl backwards as the man was complaining and getting closer. In an attempt to protect himself he struck the man with a blunt object from the ground causing the man to scream in pain, the sound alerted others and his friends.

“Oh man you just made a HUGE mistake!”

“I-I was only…”

“Dwight you ok?” Claudette and David came through the crowd and rushes over to him.

“WHAT YOU DO ASSHOLE!?”

“Nothing to get hit like I did but you know the rules don’t you King?”

“…Dammit.”

“Rule? There’s more rules to this stupid place!?”

“Yes unfortunately, if you attack a person with an item that can potential do great harm you and said person must fight within 3 days.”

“B-but I was only defending myself, that’s not fair at all!”

“…down here, what’s unfair is fair Dwight, come on we gotta get out of here.” With his hands tied behind their backs Dwight must fight and be prepared for it on Friday but he claims he can’t take on someone like that man but he has no choice, they drive back to his apartment and tried to sort of the situation at hand. Unfortunately Dwight passed out from being scared and overwhelmed by everything that’s going on, David carry him to his room, laid him down and pulled the blanket over him.

“Ok, he’s in bed, I’m sorry for all this.”

“W-well I did enjoy your match but I didn’t think we manage to get Dwight a cage match, not the best twist and turns we encountered so far.”

“Well best I can do is train him but with his job in the way it’s going to be a bit hard, we might only be able to train for one day honestly.”

“Can’t he just not fight?”

“He can but he better just move out of the state cause they can find anyone in this city, they found “no nose Bob” when he tried to hide and not fight, they cut his nose off, poor bastard.” They both sighed but he promised Claudette that he’ll see if he can lighten the situation for them, they hugged it out and she left out the door leaving them alone to sleep off the unpredicted night. Morning renewed and as usual the ray of light peep through the blinds and hit Dwight’s face waking him up, but instantly remembered the events of last night and didn’t even want to bother going to work with his mind already stressing out. The sound of his alarm spooked him as David came into his room to give him a good morning but he wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

“Look, I know you’re not happy with the situation you’re in but don’t worry, I’m going to train you a bit well looking for a way to get you out of the fight.”

“I don’t want to fight in general, why can’t I just not show up?”

“Unless you go away somewhere far they’ll find you if you don’t show, you do still have the money I gave ya why, won’t you use that if you really want to avoid fighting.” Dwight looked down at his floor knowing that David was right, he got the money to leave but his heart doesn’t want him to suddenly up and go.

“I… don’t want to use the money, something telling to use it for another time so no, I won’t use it. But I guess that leaves me with only one choice huh?” He took his phone and messaged Ace that he’s going to be running the store again today and did his morning usual and headed to the gym with David. Once inside they saw many people working out with ripped bodies and shredded muscle which made Dwight a little insecure of himself but a small pep talk from David washed the thoughts in his head away. They did some warm-ups that unfortunately Dwight struggled to do for not being physically fit but after the warm-ups David went to the real part of their training, hand to hand combat. He taught him all types of moves from evasive to relentless to quick attack and surprisingly Dwight picked up fast but the damage he got from sparring with David left him with sore that he hid with long sleeved clothing. They trained for the whole day and slept for the night even though David didn’t want him to sleep on an empty stomach but Dwight was too tired to bother to eat, sleeping was rough given the sores on his body but he was able to sleep after trying for so long. Next day plan was him to do night training right after work, so he went straight to the gym once his shifted ended and met up with David again. They repeated the same things from yesterday though Dwight was a bit more sluggish than before he still showed off what he learned by pinning David down which was a small victory in his book. After training Dwight wanted to shower at home for “reasons” and David didn’t argue or asked why, he just went with it respecting his decision. They made but home and Dwight told David he can go first well he waits his turn for the shower. Once David was done Dwight grabbed a long-sleeved shirt and his grey sweats and got to the shower, once he was in he removed his clothing and revealed that he was cover in sore and small bruises from head to toe which wasn’t a good combination with hot water beaming down on his body. Once he was done, he dried himself and put on the clothes he brought so David wouldn’t notices the sores his body.

“Ya match is tomorrow, how you’re holding?”

“Honestly? not so well, on a scale to 1 to 10 how well I look black and blue?”

“Still be a 10 by me, don’t worry, if it gets too tough just stand down when you get knocked down ok?” Dwight nodded and went to his room wishing David a good night and he returned the same words back at him, he laid down on his bed but it took a while to sleep due to his sores aching his body in pain. The day of the match came to and Dwight was at work bouncing his leg trying to calm himself, he never been in a fight before but was thankful David teaching him some tricks even if it caused the sores and aches on his body. He was thinking what David said about him standing down when he gets knocked on the floor, for whatever reason he didn’t like that suggestion which he questions himself as why he isn’t taking the easy way out. The day turned to night and he left his office and out the store where he saw Claudette and David with worried expression smeared on their faces, they got in Claudette car and she started driving in the direction of the underground fight club and the closer that got the more severe his leg bounces. They walked through the alleyways to the club and once inside, they were greeted with crooked smiles and fingers going across their necks. Claudette and David weren’t allowed in the changing rooms pre-match so they hugged Dwight and left for the seats.

“Remember, just stay down for 5 secs without moving a single thing and it's over.” David told him before leaving Dwight by himself but again he didn’t understand why he hated taking the easy way out, he kept his long sleeve shirt on to cover the sores and wore long socks to cover the sores on his leg since he changed in to gym shorts but before he can ready himself someone came to him and told to start heading for the ring. As he got to the caged ring, he went through the door and waited on the other side across from the large man from before. Claudette's eyes start tearing up as she felt useless and can’t do anything but David reassured her that as long he stay down for 5 seconds after being knocked down the match would be over and he can leave. The lights dimmed and the announcer grabbed his mic and started to speak his piece.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY WE HAVE THE LONG-AWAITED MATCH OF THE DAY.

ON ONE SIDE WE HAVE THE SMALL AND FRAIL DWIGHT FAIRFIELD!”

“(H-how they know my name!?)”

“AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WE HAVE THE BIG AND BAD MR. WOLF! RULES ARE SIMPLE, YOUR OPPONENT HAVE TO STAY DOWN WITHOUT YOUR BODY ON TOP OF THEIRS FOR 5 SECONDS TO WIN! NOW GET READY THE BOTH OF YOU!” Dwight ready himself well the man started to chuckle at him thinking how easy this match would be.

“3...2…1…FIGHT!” Wolf charges at Dwight to throw a straight punch but Dwight being smaller he gains the evasive advantage, Dwight flew a kick at him but it was slowed down from the pain and was caught and he was lifted up and slammed to the ground knocking his glasses off his face. He was already on the ground and the sores double the damage he receives making it unbearable, Claudette and David were screaming at him to stay down but he did the exact opposite.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING DWIGHT!? I TOLD YOU TO STAY DOWN!”

“STOP FIGHTING HIM, DWIGHT!” they were shouting at him but he didn’t listen, he put his glasses back on his face and he ready himself again. The man aimed for Dwight’s stomach but he dodged but not fast enough, Wolf caught his shirt and pulled him in and gave him to blows to the stomach then threw him with massive force causing his shirt to rip off his body.

“Well, well, well what do we have here?” the sore all over his body were exposed to everyone even to his friends. Wolf saw this as a chance to abuse him and went for it, blows after blows wolf was knocking Dwight around like a ragdoll knocking him down again and losing his glasses. He was in agonizing pain and the taste of blood was ravaging his mouth well a sharp ringing took control of his hearing, but he didn’t stay down again he kept getting up and readying himself.

“DWIGHT *sniffles* PLEASE STAY DOWN!” Claudette begged and plead but Again he didn’t listen but the pain stunned him and he endure a hard kick to his body sending him fly to the cage wall, Wolf laughs and walk towards him but stopped as Dwight got back up again.

“N-no Dwight please no, David isn- “she stopped talking as she saw that David was taking of his clothes and had nothing but camo boxer briefs on.

“The fuck you think you’re doing King!?”

“This is a 1v1 match, you can’t join, it wouldn’t be fair!”

“I THINK YOU FORGOT THE GOLDEN RULE, WHAT’S UNFAIR IS FAIR HERE!” he shouted at them, one man tried to stop him but was met with a fist into the face and knocked down well the other man backed up in fear. He got to the cage and start climbing it to the top since it was the only way for him to get in, once at the top he jumped down and grabbed Wolf throwing him away from Dwight. David and Wolf went hard at each other exchanging blows to the face and body but the man being bigger than David made his efforts started to look in vain. Both heavily damage David fell on one knee breathing heavy but was kicked to the caged walls, Wolf was exhausted too but he got David pinned down and one more blow will do it for him.

“Looks like your little rescue attempt was a bust King! I always wanted to put your smug ass down and now I can in front of all these people. STAY GOOD NIGHT KI-“a hard swift kick to Wolf’s head interrupted him and knocking him down but it wasn’t from David it was from Dwight.

“If *pants* you paid attention to it being a 2v1 you *pants* would have known that I was still around!” He walked to David and started to fall but David caught him and help stood him up by letting Dwight lean on him.

“5...4…3…2…1, AND THE WINNERS ARE DAVID AND DWIGHT!" The crowd wasn’t the happiest since 90% of them bet against Dwight, once out of the cage, Claudette ran up to them but as usual she scolded at David for getting himself hurt that bad and scolded at Dwight for not staying down but in the end she was happy that both them were out of the match with everything in place. They grabbed David’s clothes from the seats and Dwight thing from the changing room and left for Claudette’s car and drove to Dwight’s apartment since they don’t want to risk being seen in the city well going to Claudette’s. Once inside, David gently laid Dwight in his beds and pulled up a chair to sit next to him, both inspected his body and knows it’s going to take days for these sores and bruises to go away.

“You’re one insane dude to keep fighting like that, but why didn’t you stay down?”

“It…didn’t felt right for me to give up so easily, I wanted to try for something different. I’m not a fighter but if I keep taking the easy way out how I'll be able to protect anyone when the easy option not a choice? I wanted to prove to myself, so I fought against the odds even if it meant me getting bruised up.

“You did all of that just to prove to yourself? Yeah, you’re definitely insane.”

“Jokes aside, you need lot's of rest Dwight, knowing you I bet you’re planning to work, aren’t you? Please just avoid the heavy stuff, that’s all I ask.” He agreed to an easy requested and drifted off to sleep due to exhaustion and the other two left out his room and let him sleep, David hugged Claudette and told her everything will be fine as she left the door. With David himself exhausted, he didn’t pull out the bed. He just slept on the couch and drifted off to sleep, the two slept the remainder of the night away, knowing that their first hardship is now gone but soon rises a new one. Dwight awakes to his alarm and again didn’t see David in the living room when he walked out, he did what he usual do in the mornings and went to work regardless of his aching body telling him not to. He reached his workplace and greeted everyone currently working and even David who was behind the counter, he closes his office door but realized David was here and rushes to him questioning him.

“DAVID, WHY ARE YOU HERE!?”

“Well like Claud said, she didn’t want you do any heavy lifting with those injuries so I’m here to do them.”

“B-but we don’t have a volunteer program here!”

“Well you do now cause I'm not leaving.” He grabbed one of those store spare hats and aprons and went to the counters and started taking orders, Dwight in no way shape or form can fight back, so he just let it happened and headed to his office to do the paperwork Ace left him. Hours passed and both Charlie and Luke shift started but was shocked to see David being at the counter, David caught the boys up to speed well leaving some stuff out and they didn’t care that much, they just like being around David. After a bit a familiar knocking was heard at the exit door in his office, he opened knowing exactly who it was and it was Nea.

“The fuck happened to you man?”

“Long story but one sec.” he went to grab a whole box a pizza from the front and took it back his office and gave to Nea, she was his little trouble makers and whenever Ace pisses Dwight off he sends Nea to spray his stuff and all just for a free box of pizza. He didn’t know much of Nea but he trusts her despite knowing so little of her. But like the devil himself was listening they heard loud footsteps like someone was running and saw Ace was being chased by two guys, he ran in Dwight’s door and tried to close it but they men caught it and went it closes it themselves. Nea shrugged her shoulders and walked off but Dwight and Ace don’t have that luxury right now, the men were debt collectors sent after Ace for the money he owed. Dwight tried to intervene to lighten the situation but was pushed down to the ground making a loud noise and started to curl up from the pain of his bruises.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know but it sounded like it came from Dwight’s office.”

“You kids stay here, I’ll go check it out.” He removed his apron and hat and went in the office door that Dwight forgot to lock when he grabbed the pizza for Nea, once inside and closes the door, he saw Dwight on the for in pain and two men near Ace.

“Get out of here King!”

“This on is ours, so just le- “David pulled one of them to him and punched him in the face and snapped his arm like twig, then proceed to slam the man head through the window that’s connects Dwight’s and Ace’s offices and threw him through the window by the door. Charlie and Luke unplugged the store phone so they won’t get any calls and looked at the injured man with a snapped arm and cuts all over his face. The other man tried to attack David but was met to two blows to the stomachs, a headbutt, being thrown to the office door and hit with an intense dropkick that sent the man and the door flying. Lucky the door didn’t hit any of the equipment or the boys who was watching the entire fight.

“L-look King, w-we won’t mess with Ace anymore ok!?”

“Y-yeah, he is all yours!”

“Yeah with this man here you better think before messing with me again!”

“What? I don’t give a rat’s ass about Ace.” They all were confused as why he even attacked them if it wasn’t for Ace. Dwight slowly walked out the office holding onto the wall for support and David pointed at him.

“That’s the one I’m caring about, if I ever see you guys touch him again, you’ll lose more than an arm!”

“S-so, we can have Ace?”

“No shit! Actually to make it easier for you guys.” He turned and kicked Ace’s leg causing him to now limp, he ran out the store as the debt collectors chase him again despite being injured. Dwight closed the store since it was a mess with two broken windows and a door, David offered to pay for it which helped out a lot for Dwight so he didn’t have to use the stores money to pay for repairs. Charlie and Luke ran off to somewhere leaving the two by themselves, David decided they need some air, so he helped Dwight walked to the park and soon they did and sat at the middle bench being the tall tree. What soon was some nice R&R turned to a hold up as some guys started to surround the pair, David recognized them, they are friends with Wolf who didn’t like the 2v1.

“What are you guys doing here!”

“We just thought we give a little payback from that 2v1”

“Hope you like a 5v2!”

“W-what you’re going to attack us in broad daylight!?”

“Dwight there’s no on around us, they locked this place down I’m assuming.” The men all laugh and got closer to the duo, David don’t mind fighting more than one person, but Dwight’s injuries weren’t even close to being healed which made the matter worst. David started to think of a plan to at least get Dwight out of this but he’s too sluggish to even run, as they drew closer his thinking became more unclear on what to do. Then suddenly something jumped in the air and briefly covered the sun then let out a furious scream, one of the men looked up but met a flying kick directly in the face sending the man flying and tumbling on the ground. None of them didn’t understand what just happened or how someone can reach that high, but before they even begin to process what happened after a man was flipped to the ground and had his arm dislocated. That’s two men down and still no one doesn’t know what’s happening, only seeing flashes of red when the two men were taken down. Then what sounded like a skateboard was heading their way and on it was a kid blowing bubbles, it was Luke meaning the other guy here attacking the men must be Charlie.

“HEADS UP!” Luke shouted as he kicked his skateboard beaming it to the third man’s head knocking him out instantly, he then approached the fourth man with a metal bat he recently found and swung it at the fourth man torso, arm and lastly head. The fifth one was scared and chose to run off leaving them alone.

“All yours Charlie!” He said as he threw the bat into the air and Charlie jumped off a bench and kicked it to the running me and hitting the head knocking him out like the rest.

“I am not FUCKING with these kids, I think they be the death of me....”

“Haha yeah, but they’re…good kids.”

“Yeah, good at sending people to the hospital, what are these kids?”

“I’ll explain another time.” Overall both were thankful and impressed by the kid’s action and asked how they knew they were in trouble.

“We didn’t, we were just passing by and saw these men around you guys so we stepped in.”

“Anyways, we going to our hideout, see Dwight and David!” Luke picked up the skateboard as Charlie picked up the bat and walked off away from the pair. They returned home and Dwight ordered the chef special again and David cooked whatever came to mind, after cleaning and bathing, the two fell asleep ridding the night once again. It is now July and David been living with Dwight for a little over a month and he gotten used to David living with him. He help pas the rent, cooks and even told Dwight about some of his odd jobs he took in the debt collecting business. The more time passed he saw David less of and collector and more of an actual friend he likes to be around with, they play games, tell jokes, dance with his pets, see movies with Claudette or just the two of them and even started referring his apartment as “their apartment”. One day, the three decided to go to this café that just opened up in the city and even have a karaoke machine, as they venture the city Dwight heard a familiar voice called out his name. it was a small girl with pink hair and wearing a thin gray hoodie with a red skirt and black leggings.

“Dwight!? I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“Oh Susie! Yes, it has been some time hasn’t it?”

“Where you guys heading off to?”

“We were heading to the new café that just opened up to try it out.” Susie mention she was heading to the same place so the three tagged her along, the made it to the said place and took a table in the back near a window. They all place their drink order and waited for them to come, once drinks were delivered, they looked around the beautiful café and enjoy the peace and quiet it gave. The Karaoke machine was about to play but the four wasn’t paying attention to the singer, when they about take a sip from their drinks loud death metal music filled the café with dread and violence as Dwight flops from his sit, Susie spilled her drink, Claudette covered her ear and David wiping the spilled liquid off this table. Once the song was over everyone but Dwight had their ears covered, when they asked how can he bare the sudden loud noise he told them there was only one person he knows that blast death metal that loud in quiet places and started to wave at the singer. The singer saw who was waving at him and rushes over to Dwight and gave him a huge hug, the man was hugging him was his friend Jeff Johanson.

“Ooooooooooooooooh I missed you so much Dwight, look at how big you got since I last saw you, holy shit Claudette is that you too!?”

“Hey Jeff long time no se-uggghhhhhh” He grabbed her and squeezed the both of them in the deathly bear hug, Susie was awe struck well David was a bit suspicious why a man who looks way older than the two knows them. Jeff took a sit with them and introduced himself to the Susie and David, he told them how they met and such and how they often message each other.

“I first met Dwight when he was a freshman and I was already in my second year of college, I was selected with a mentor art program that Dwight was and that’s how we met. I was the one who suggested he tries something else since he wasn’t that good at art and he was disheartened at first but came around it, afterward we became friends and around his sophomore year he introduced me to Claudette and Feng. Unfortunately, around that time I had to fly back to my hometown to finish my studies and other stuff but I gave him my contact info before I left and now here we are, still friends and now seeing each other again.” Jeff was a tall burly man with a semi-medium length black hair, a thick beard and a scar on his left eye from a bad fight at a concert he attended to.

“Jeff here is an artist, he works on designs for company that make covers for albums and other stuff.”

“Nice to meet you two, er…”

“Oh, I’m David.”

“And I’m Susie, nice to meet you Jeff.”

“Oh so no warm welcomes to me?” The group turned as they saw a small Asian girl with short hair wearing a thin blue sweater, black tights and a gray shirt with an annoyed facial expression, it was Feng Min, the girl Dwight forgot to meet up with ever since he got used to being around David.

“So this is the guy you ditched me with huh?”

“N-no, I just forgot that’s all, sorry Feng…”

“It’s whatever, I know you’ll make it up with something as usual. Anyways, nice to see you Jeff and Claudette.”

“Nice seeing you too Feng! I know when we first met you it was brief but nice to see you’re kicking!”

“Thank you both and you must be David right? Dwight told me what happened in June and god that was a mess.” Both Susie and Jeff raised a brow not knowing what they were talking about but Dwight told Jeff he talk about it later, as for Susie he chose to keep it secret from her. They all caught up with each other but Jeff ended it with him telling them that he recently moved here a few days ago so they can drop by anytime, after their talk Claudette and Feng went to her hotel to grab her things and bring it to Claudette’s apartment since she instituted on her staying at her place. Jeff still had some unpacking to do and Susie had some school work to attend to and David got a collection call, leaving Dwight by himself and told him he’ll see him back at their apartment. Dwight didn’t mind everyone else leaving but for whatever reason he was a little sad that David had to leave to, he didn’t know what to do until he remembers that he was supposed to get a bike. so he headed to the bike shop and brought a red and black and started to ride it. He was enjoying the wind hitting his face well riding on the bike as it cools him down from the summer heat, with his mind in the clouds he didn’t pay attention to what was in front of him and hit a crate with his brand-new bike and was sent flying into a stranger. The impact made a random person drop throw their papers in the air and float down to the ground.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry!”

“I-it’s ok, I don’t think you did any real damage. Are you ok?”

“I’m fine, here let me help pick up your papers!” He helped picked up the unfortunate person papers handed it to them, it was an Asian girl with long black hair wearing a light blue shirt with a hood and a white skirt. Before apologizing again, she introduced herself as Rin and he told her his name as well, they had a brief conversation before she left him alone back to her destination. After picking up his bike, he rode back home and like usual wait for David, he doesn’t know why him waiting for David to return like a dog waiting for his owner to come back but he gets happy whenever he returns. The fresh night became old when it started to become late and he began to get worried until the door unlocked and David came inside injured but not like the bullet wound, Dwight panicked for a bit but stopped when David told him it’s just some punches he endured and even removed his shirt to show proof. Of course, Dwight freaked out but not from the injuries he suffered but from his rippling muscled torso that was suddenly shown to him flashing Dwight red. He told David he believes him so he can put it back on. He put it back on and went to the kitchen to start dinner but Dwight mind wasn’t in food, he couldn’t stop thinking of David’s body and for whatever reason wants to see it again. Days passed and David been returning home with minor to major injuries and Dwight was having enough of it, he didn’t like that his friend is coming back like this and love to see a day when he isn’t in pain. He hates invading people privacy but if it’s to protect David he’ll do it, he messaged Luke since asking him for help since he knows that he can hack to people stuff easily.

“Luke, I need your help, David was messaging someone on his phone after a call. Think you can help me tell what he sent?”

“Ummm do you have anything that I can reach him with to make it a little easier?”

“Will his number work?”

“Yeah that should do, more would be helpful but it shouldn’t be a problem. Ok give a few and I’ll analyze it”

“Ok sending it now.”

“Ok got it.

…

…

Wow his phone is locked tight, phones are like open doors when comes to security but his like an actual combination lock. Regardless I got through it and he’s heading into the park around 8 to be given something.”

“Thanks Luke, you’re the best!” He hung up and waited till David left the apartment, it was 6:50 when he left the house so Dwight decided to wait until 7 to follow but before he left he put on any black clothing he had and left out the door. He took out his bike and rode to the city but stopped by a secret spot to meet up with Nea and told her to take his bike back to his apartment for 2 boxes of pizzas and a cola. He walked to the park and saw David in a change of clothes that consist of a black hat, button up long sleeve shirt, pants and boots and began to walk down the street. Dwight made sure to stay a certain distance away from so he won’t get spotted by him, after walking for an hour he was at the shipping ward in the northwest side of the city. Dwight had to stop walking as he saw David walk in looking like one of the workers and just slip by them, Dwight looked for another way and saw a fenced gate was slightly lifted a bit and he crawled under it and continued sneaking around the ward to find David. He found him and saw he was heading into the main warehouse, he tried to follow him but was spot and forced to run as fast as he could as guards were chasing him. He hid in a what he thought was a container but instead was a shoot that leads down to the basement level of one of the warehouse. He landed on top of carboard boxes and some packing foam that cushioned his fall, he looked around and saw that the lights were off so he turned on his phone and looked for a way out. He caused an uproar for the night guards since he was spotted, so now he must be extra careful when looking for David. He exited the warehouse and snuck his way to the main warehouse where David was but the entrance was locked, he looked around for another way in and saw a window was open but not the rest which made him wonder if that was the way David came in or planned to escape out of. After struggling to lift himself up he climbed into the window but fell on his bottom on the catwalk, the warehouse was quiet and lights were off except for the office lights but the silence was broken by gun fire with David busting the door office door open and ran out. Sweating from what he heard he slowly climbed down to the from the third-floor catwalk to the first floor so he can hear what the man with the gun was shouting without being seen.

“GIVE IT BACK YOU RAT! I DON’T CARE WHAT I OWE, YOU AIN’T TAKING IT.”

“DIDN’T PAY WHAT YOU OWE, WE TAKE WHAT WE WANT!” David shouted back at the middle-aged man but gunshots were the only things fired back, not trying to let him escape the main went to the office and turned the warehouse lights on and saw David who was trying to blend with the darkness. He shot at him and missed but a bullet bounced and grazed David’s hand making him drop the item he was carrying, Dwight was below them and he caught what was dropped but the man saw him and didn’t understand why the boy was there but it didn’t stop him from firing. Dwight hid behind a converter belt so he wouldn’t get shot well David grabbed the man and tackled him and himself off the current floor to the ground floor. Dwight quietly ran up the stairs to the second-floor catwalk and crouch down, David in pain tried to get up but a foot was holding him down with a gun in his face. Dwight was petrified, David was about to be killed in front of his eyes and there’s nothing for him to do to save him or so he thought. He saw some rope with a hook at the end so he threw the hook end to a support beam above and swung in to kick the man off of David, unfortunately, Dwight missed and instead rammed himself into a standing beam that holds up the catwalk, curled up and holding himself because of the pain. That was enough to distract the man so David can grab the nearest blunt object and threw it at the man’s head knocking him out and getting up, he picked up both Dwight and the item he was told to get and ran out of the warehouse and out of the ward regardless who sees him. After some time passed and checking if they were being followed they made it back home but David wasn’t happy with Dwight intervening with his job, his face was redder than a tomato with veins popping out of his hand.

“D-David I- “

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU COULD HAVE DIED DWIGHT!”

“I-I know but- “

“BUT NOTHING! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU GET HURT, SO DON’T EVER STICK YOUR NOSE IN MY WORK AGAIN OK!?” He was furious and he felt his frustration and felt guilty but he didn’t regret what he did, David told him he made the job a lot more difficult than it had to be but he argued that he was getting shot at before he even did anything. Bickering at each other like an old couple David sat down on the couch with his face still red and his hands on his head to collect his thoughts, Dwight felt terrible for his action but he didn’t care. If it meant helping David he will do it again and again even if his main objective was a failure. He went to the kitchen and whipped up something to eat for him and David and served it to him, he gave what he cooked and sat down next to him and as usual David devoured his food.

“Better?”

“Not by a mile but my stomach is settled at least, *sighs* Dwight why were you there? How did you even know I was going there?”

“I asked Luke for help with where you were going and I…got tired of seeing you hurt. You kept coming home more injured than the last and I was getting worried, so I thought if I can help you on this one you wouldn’t come back harmed but… I fucked up.”

“Yeah you did! I had everything under contro- …well actually the gun part was a surprise, I… probably would have gotten shot again. I… probably wouldn’t make it back without your little distraction, so thank you Dwight, you really did helped me.” David places his hand on top of Dwight’s head and rubbed it, he got a little embarrassed by it and blushed a bit before realizing he was getting way into his touch and quickly got up and rushes to his room wishing him a good night without waiting for him to say it back. He hid under the blankets thinking of David’s touch and confused why he was enjoying it, it was rough but firm, rugged but gentle and he wanted more but he put it out of his head and went to sleep but he wondered how it would feel to sleep next to him. Days went by and before they knew it they were in the middle of July but the sun wasn’t the only thing giving off heat, David was absolutely furious with Dwight as he followed him again a job that was more dangerous than at the shipping ward. The job involved him to out to up in the nearby mountains to a house to find a man named Evan and another one named Max, when he investigates the small home he heard what sound like a bear trap go off. He looked through the window and saw that Dwight was the one caught in it well a truck pulled up with the two men who were looking for coming out the truck, luckily is was a “dummy” trap so it wasn’t meant to catch large prey but clumps still bruises and pierced Dwight leg well a shotgun Max took out the truck was aimed at his head. David was giving a choice but he didn’t bother hearing the second option because he instantly chose Dwight safety over some item his job wanted, Max told him that if he comes back there won’t be a choice next time and should count themselves lucky. Once back home David took Dwight by his arms and lifted him up shaking and screaming at him.

“DO YOU WANT TO DIE!? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO!? I CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN!? WHY CAN’T YOU LISTEN TO ME AND STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!?” Dwight was speechless, David hands that were gripping tightly around his arms started to hurt him as David continued to scream at him and shaking Dwight even more.

“I DON’T WANT YOU TO GET HURT! PLEASE JUST STOP, I DON’T STAIN YOUR HANDS…with my work Dwight! You don’t have to get involved in what I do, ok!?” David let go of Dwight and sat on the couch again with his head in his hands realizing he went too far with his anger and started to violently sweat, Dwight felt absolutely guilty and started to walk slowly to his room but something told him no. Something told him to go to David side and not just run because he made a mistake again, he turned around and took out the rug David gave him a month ago but this time it was Dwight wiping off David sweat. At first, David threatened Dwight to not get close to him but didn’t listen as he set down at the other end and watched David took a pillowed and screamed into freaking Dwight out of bit.

“David…I’m sorry, I-I just don’t like seeing you coming back with those injuries that can put an average man in a hospital and if I know I can do something about it I will act on it. I-I know it's selfish of me acting for myself well disregarding what you want but *sniffle* I hate seeing you like that, I just fucking hate it! So I will continue to help you until you learn to come back home without a single scratch!” David stopped turning red and breathe in and out and regain his thoughts.

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this but…if you want to keep helping me…I won’t stop you.”

“David?”

“But and I mean but Dwight! You must follow and do what I say. No ifs, no what’s, no maybes, you listen to me and only me got it!?”

“YES! Listen to you and you only!”

“…Don’t say it like that, make it sound weird, look basically just be right next to me ok?” Dwight instantly agreed to what he said, he already intends to not keep intervening with David’s work but happy that he can watch his back even if it something David didn’t want. Dwight doesn’t always join David on his job calls which actually calms David’s mind a bit and whenever they come home Dwight is usually the one patching David up but for some reason, he’s enjoying it. He loved feeling David’s arms when he rubs ornament on them, looking at his back to check for bruises, bandaging his bare chest when he gets cuts. He couldn’t stop looking at the injured man, he couldn’t advert his eyes, they were glued to David’s body and couldn’t take them off. He doesn’t know why he keeps doing it but it happens again and again only stopping when David turns to Dwight’s direction flashing him red to which David raised a question.

“Is everything ok? You seem a bit red, wait did you get hurt too!?”

“I-I’m fine David r-really! B-b-but boy it’s late I-isn’t it? Better g-get to b-bed”

“You don’t want to eat dinner first? I’m ok enough to co- “

“NOPE! I-I mean I’m good, I’m not really hungry right now.”

“But we been gone all day, you should at le- “

“ANYWAYS GOOD NIGHT!” he shouted as he rushed to his room closing his room and hiding under his blankets again, time passed and David eventually fell asleep but Dwight was still up. His heart was pounding intensely as his mind was corrupted with thoughts of David’s body, after fighting the thoughts he started to drift into slumber but before his eyes close for the night he wondered again how it would feel to sleep next to David, even if it just for a second. He wakes up in the morning late since it was his off day and the first thing he went to do was check on David and saw he was gone, he hoped it wasn’t for another job call but he brushed it off as David is able to take care of himself. After a quick shower and putting on his old orange Pizzawhat shirt, tan shorts, black flip-flops and he rode his bike to the city to get it checked for a problem he been experiencing. He biked into the city and rode by the park but got sidetracked as he saw David jogging with Meg shirtless, he couldn’t stop watching his pecs that bounce with each step and how he wanted to put his face in between them. The sweat dripping down his body made it even more attractive to look at as David turn around and Dwight saw his intense back muscles which also had sweat glossing over it more them which just took his eyes attention if it hadn’t already. Without his eyes looking ahead, his bike hit a fire hygiene and sent him flying at a random stranger on the sidewalk, he landed on the person and papers went flying into the air and gently float down. He apologizes to the person and as he looked up he saw that it was the same girl he met days ago, of course, he helped her pick up the papers and handed it to her like before.

“R-Rin right? I’m so sorry this happened again, I didn’t mean to hit you again.”

“I-I’m fine, it didn’t hurt as much as last time. Dwight right? Nice to see you again but I didn’t expect it to run- well for you to fly into me like this again.”

“Yoo Dwight, you ok? I saw what happened and came to check on you.” David came up to him with his body cover is sweat turning Dwight red and turning him away, David helped them pick up the papers and handed it to Rin.

“Ok this should be the last of them, sorry if they’re a bit wet.”

“With this heat I bet it’ll dry before I get back to the dorms.”

“Oh you go to the college in the outskirts in the east?”

“Yes, I just recently got here from Japan to continue on some studies of mine. I’m sorry to cut this short on you guys but I should get going, good seeing you again Dwight errr…”

“Fairfield.”

“Yamaoka.”

“Nice to meet you Ms. Yamaoka, I go by David just to let you know.”

“(So she wasn’t wrong about him being here.) Nice to meet you, anyways I see you around David and Dwight.” She walked off into the distance blending into the crowd as David went and picked up the bike and handed it to Dwight, still red and turning his face away he left David so he can resume his jogging well Dwight get his bike fixed. When his bike was done being looked at he left it at the shop and returned home where David already started making lunch for the both them and within the passing hours the two stood inside with no job calls, just playing video games, watching cheesy horror films and even sung together well cleaning before the two wished each other a good night like usual and headed off to bed. Days and days passed and before realizing it was already the last week of august, but it was also David’s last week living with Dwight. David things were packed and he was ready to leave by Sunday morning, Dwight's heart ached as he watched David get his things ready despite it being only Monday. With each passing day Dwight became more distanced with David by avoiding him a bit to hide what he was feeling on his soon to be departure, Claudette heard of David leaving soon so she wanted to throw a party Friday for him. She only invited a few people aka Feng, Meg, Jeff and even Susie to the party but that’s how she wanted to be, just between friends. Friday night soon came and Dwight hardly talked to David during the past days other than good mornings and brief small talk, when the two arrived everyone was already in party mode with Meg and Jeff on their third drink. After about two hours, everyone was already by then were drunk but Dwight who pretend to be drunk since he doesn’t want to repeat his 21st birthday accident. Feng suggests they play a game of spin the bottle and with everyone drunk out their mind they all said yes to the idea.

“RulES arE SimpLE *hic*, We gO aRouND onCe *hic* and WE eaCh sPIn thE bottle and whOEveR it laNds on muST do a daRe of the spInnErs choice. If it inVoLves tWo or morE peOple spin the again to seLEct tHe seCoNd pErSon Ok?” They all agreed and started spinning, David started it off with his dare then went from Claudette, Susie, Dwight, Jeff, Meg and then to Feng who spiced up the game a bit with kissing.

“PucKer up gUYs cAuse twO of yOu ArE kisSing, I dARe…DAviD to kIss!” The bottle spin and spin until it slowed down and landed on Dwight, everyone was chanting “kiss” repeatedly as David drunk self started to get closer to the sober pizza boy. Dwight was turning red and started to sweat again as David was getting closer to steal a kiss, not just any kiss but his first kiss. Dwight fell down on his back as David was on top of him leaning down locking his lips on to Dwight’s, he didn’t fight back at all he just letting it happen but he doesn’t mind it but why? Is it because he also wanted to be kissed? No, his heart was telling him something else but what was it saying? He couldn’t hear it, he was enjoying the tenderness of David’s lips as his stubble brushed against Dwight's face. He wanted more, more of the kiss, more of David, he wanted to whimper from experiencing such pleasure but didn’t want to alert anyone that he wasn’t drunk. David still intoxicated got up and started to laugh as he had no idea what’s going on and nor does anyone else but Dwight.

“Hey DWigHt wAs I a goOd kIsSer or whAt?” He gave them a cheap answer and the group laughed as they started to drink more alcohol, it was now midnight and everyone was passed out sleeping on the floor of Claudette apartment with the lights all off. Dwight laid down next to David who was passed out from drinking too much like the rest, he moved closer to him and started to rub his head then his face wishing he could have something more than a drunk kiss that meant nothing. He stopped touching when David stopped snoring which was Dwight only way to tell if he was actually asleep or not, he went to sleep with his back turned to David hoping no one saw nothing but someone did, Susie saw what he was doing and it angered her as nothing but pure malice filled the quiet room.

“David King… YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!” She muttered to herself as she went to sleep. The next day came and Dwight woke up in his bed somehow and a message from Ace saying he didn’t need to come in today, he sat up from his bed and remembered last night kiss. He didn’t care if it was a drunk kiss, it still made him feel something that he can’t explain, his heart ached when he remembered today is his last day here but he doesn’t want him to leave, not yet, not now. He needs to talk to someone but everyone was either busy or recovering from their hangover, the only person he can think of was Jeff since he drunk the most out of the party and wasn’t as nearly intoxicated as everyone else. He put on a red shirt and black shirts with his usual flip-flips, took his repaired bike and paddled quickly to Jeff’s Apartment, he reached Jeff’s home and rushed up the stairs and started to rapidly bang at his door shouting his name. Jeff opens the door and sees a sweaty Dwight in front of him with confusion riddling all over his face, Jeff let him in and sat him down but when he asked him what was wrong Dwight started to talk really fast and mixing up his words. Once Jeff calmed him down Dwight began to explain why he’s acting like this but he spoke for a long time, Jeff resumed his work well Dwight rants his heart out about David and wouldn’t stop. As he drew he kept hearing David’s name being said over and over again with no end in sight, he paused his drawing and turned to Dwight who’s still having a crisis.

“Jeff I don’t know, I just don’t know!”

“Well you do actually know but you won’t admit it, Dwight.”

“Huh? Admit what?”

“Your little crush on David.”

“Wha- I DON’T HAVE ONE HIM!”

“For the love of- ok, since we gonna play stupid let me ask you this, tell me how you see Claudette?”

“She’s like family, a sister you can say. We complete each other and have each other backs no matter what. What else is there to say?”

“Ok now how do you see David?” Dwight went on and on for hours about David and listing his ups and downs, Jeff knowing it going to take a while until he finished resumed his drawing as Dwight continued his ranting. For whatever of a reason Dwight talked so much about David, the sky turned dark and Jeff already finished two drawings during the rant.

“And cause of that is why he…is cause he… oh my god, Jeff… I think I have a crush on David, l-like an actual crush!”

“Wow, you could have fooled me.”

“But I don’t know if he even swings that way, I mean we kissed but he was drunk, so it doesn’t count I guess?

“Oh yeah, he did kissed you, weird no one seems to remember it when I asked.”

“Point is that I don’t know what do about this Jeff. Should I tell him? What if he hates me or doesn’t want to be arou- “

“Ok before you blow another fuse let me tell you this, calm the fuck down and I can’t answer that for you, Dwight.”

“But I-I-I”

“Look, you having a crush on him isn’t the main issue, it’s him leaving right? So you either have two choices, Choice A which is letting him leave and be swallowed by regret or choice B which is telling him you feel on him leaving and hopes he stays.

“But both choices have a chance of him leaving Jeff!”

“Yes but one is a 50/50 but it’s up to you if you want to gamble it, also you somehow ranted for hours and now it's 8:30 pm so time is short my friend. Dwight looked outside Jeff’s window and saw that night took over the sky again and he left Jeff house in a panic, hopped on his bike and paddled through the city to their apartment. He locked up his bike but didn’t move at all, he fell to his knees crying in front of his complex and holding himself well the tears and snot hit the pavement under him.

“I can’t *sniffle* I-I just can’t tell him, I’m sorry for being so weak David.” He kept saying to himself over and over until he finally rubbed his eyes and headed to their apartment, he saw David sitting on the couch waiting for Dwight with his duffel bags and other things next to him but Dwight didn’t even look at him. Before David could offer their last dinner together Dwight just went to his room and closed it, David could tell he didn’t want to be bothered especially since he been avoiding so he left him alone and decided to sleep without talking to Dwight on his final day. Midnight came and David was woken up by shouting from Dwight’s room, he got up and saw a pale light from underneath the door and as he opened it up he saw Dwight playing some online game on his laptop. David told him he needs to sleep since he got work tomorrow but Dwight ignores him continued playing. After calling his name several times and Dwight choosing to ignore him, he went over and close the laptop himself and dragged Dwight to the pull-out bed David was sleeping on to watch him so he wouldn’t go back on the game. His heart started to pound again since he was next to David, he could hear the thud in his head with each pump and the sweat beaming down his face.

“Hey…David are you awake?” David was, in fact, awake but chose to snore to make Dwight think he as actually asleep.

“Oh you’re actually asleep, but it’s for the best honestly. David, I know you can’t hear this but I’m… so so *sniffle* so sorry of how I been acting around you, I got so used to you being here in my…our apartment and it pains me to see you go. I don’t want you to go, I want you to stay! But I can’t force you to stay, can I? Even now, I’m too much of a coward to even tell it to you when you were awake but now look, I’m telling you all of this and you won’t wake to remember a single word I just said. *sniffle* just be safe wherever you go ok?” Dwight laid down and cried himself to sleep thinking everything he just said didn’t matter well David was wide awake and was moved by what he just heard, he hatched a planned for tomorrow and went to sleep. Sunday, the day Dwight dread came when he found himself woken up by his alarm clock and was in his bed and not the pulled out, he rushed out and saw that the pull out was folded back and so were the blankets but no David in sight. He started to cry and fell to the floor well Bucky was trying to cheer him up, he rubbed her and fed both Bucky and Bell but he didn’t bother to shower at all. His shirt wasn’t tucked in, hair was still a mess, had the bad case of morning breath and didn’t bother feeding himself because nothing going to feel right without David being there. He took his bike and rode into the city recklessly not caring if he gets hit or not, once inside he went straight to his office and locked it so no one can bother at all for the day. Far passed the university on the east outskirts of the was a small town with a large house right in the center, David walks in and goes to the man at the desk to talk to him about something.

“Oh King you’re here, the rest of your things are in the other room and I ha- “

“I won’t be needing the ticket actually, I’m planning to stay a little bit longer. I’m sure you still have work for me here right?”

“Well of course, when one person is out of debt another one is in debt. Quite tiring to see if you ask me, anyways so you’re staying here longer correct? Then I won’t bore you with the details then, we call if there’s something need to be done and it’s up to you if you want to accept it or not as usual.”

“Thank you I appreciate it.”

“So who is it this time? They must be a lucky person am I right? Unless they become unlucky just like her.”

“THAT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN! I refuse to let it again; this time will be different but provoke me again and we’ll see if you’ll still be talking afterward!” David wanted to hop over the desk and attack the man behind but causing violence will only get him killed in the place this in, he picked up his things and caught a ride back to his apartment and once inside he put his things in Dwight’s room and waited for him to return from work like he usually does. Dwight work day was sluggish and painful as he couldn’t stop thinking how he missed his chance with David and hated how he chose to be distance to him when he did nothing wrong, Charlie and Luke tried to cheer him up with their childish antics but was a failure as it only annoyed Dwight at the time so they decided to leave him alone. The workday was over and Dwight took the boys home before returning the car and paddling back home, he reached his apartment and went inside and saw no one greeting him like he been used it when David was still around. He didn’t want to eat despite he stomach saying else wise, he went to his room to lay down but he tripped over something and as he looked behind him he saw two duffel bags, David’s duffel bags. He then heard a noise coming from his bathroom, so he got up and rushed over and opened the door to see David wearing his white button-up shirt with his sleeves rolled up trying to wash Bucky who was cover in dirt.

“Bucky come on, I know you hate baths but I got to get you clean before- “

“David!?”

“Oh hey there Dwight, um one sec.” He finished cleaning Bucky and grabbed a towel to dry her off with and took her to the living room and laid her down on the couch with the towel still wrapped around her.

“There you go, all nice and clean.”

“D-David, I thought you left!?”

“Apparently there was still work needed to be done here…so I offered to stay a bit more to help them out, so I guess you’re stuck with me for a bit mo- *sniffs* JESUS DUDE YOU SMELL, WAIT WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE THAT!? DOESN’T MATTER, GO SHOWER!” Dwight sniffed himself and David was right, he does stink. He hopped in the shower and took longer to make up for this morning. He got out the shower and was wearing the light blue grey hoodie with no shirt underneath and sweat pants and sat next to David, he was now calm knowing that David didn’t leave yet and to celebrate he popped in some cheesy horror films on and the two mocked the actors by talking over them and saying stuff that wasn’t originally spoken in the film. Dwight got a message from Charlie saying that there was a gas leak at their school so they have an extra day of summer and wondered if him and David can take him and Luke to the beach since their parents can’t, he asked David and he said yes and told Charlie they will take them and turned off his phone and resume with the films. Dwight ended up falling asleep on David but he didn’t mind Dwight sleeping next to him but after he turned off the tv he looked out the window into the night sky, something bad was coming and he can feel it but just doesn’t know what was heading their way. The city was teeming with lights and tall building were sleeping but something was about to wake it up and it starts with a girl with a mask on her face with no eye holes but can clearly see through it resting atop of one of the tall beings.

“The city is so peaceful when it sleeps isn’t it? Never wakes to anything that’s thrown at it but tonight it will wake up, what do you think?” The girl in the mask asked well resting on the edge of the building turning her head and saw another figure looking down into the city streets, the figure was wearing a red oni mask and dressed in black garbs holding a long-sheathed blade.

“Like people, it won’t be happy to be woken from its slumber and yet you know that won’t stop you pink one?”

“Of course It won’t but I want it to be awake to see the start of carnage that will soon come but first I must ask you this, which side will you choose?”

“Definitely not joining your serial killing cult for sure, I only kill those who do corrupt things and to find him…”

“So let me ask this then, why didn’t you kill Dwight? I’m sure you’re aware of the money laundering he’s doing.”

“He was forced into money laundering, he didn’t do it on his own will.”

“And David?”

“Simple, he’s a waste of time.”

“Just like your little revenge search for you fath- “the figure unsheathes her blade to strike the masked girl but was too slow as she blocked it with a knife, almost like she expected the figure to attack her.

“Like they said, you’re a quick one…Susie.” The figure sheathed her blade and the girl removed her masked to be shown it was, in fact, Susie who was smiling.

“You’re no sloth either Rin if I wasn’t careful I probably would have died,” Susie said as the figure took off their mask and was revealed to be Rin.

“Keep provoking me and you will die by my hands soon enough.”

“Oh? Then how would you ever find your father? He is in the city but with no connections, you have no choice but to work with me.”

“I will not be swayed into your darkness, do what you promised and I’ll do mine.”

“Yeah I know jeez relax and feel the breeze won’t you.”

“If you don’t mind me asking what’s your obsession with Fairfield? You can kill him anytime but you let him walk around freely?”

“I like to destroy lights but not just any lights, they need to brighten other people lives too. Once they brighten others they shine brighter than a star, I want extinguish it and once their source of hope is gone the rest will fall and they will either tear each other or themselves apart.”

“You’re sick!”

“Yet here you are asking for my help Rin, ironic right?”

“You’re wasting my time Susie, just tell me what you want me to do.” Susie snapped her fingers and two gloved men in black clothing wearing masks were carrying a man with his mouth taped shut, hands tied with rope and tears in his eyes.

“Simple, I want to see how cold your revenge quest can make you, kill this man and- “ she didn’t even finished her sentence before Rin unsheathe her blade again and struck the man across his chest causing him to bleed out, the last thing the dying man saw was Rin looking down on him with eyes deader than fish. No signs of life were shown in her eyes and Susie was awestruck to see the eyes of a cold-hearted killer, the two gloved men threw the body off the tall building as they all watch it splatter on the street causing chaos for the people and cars below. The men gave Susie and Rin a change of clothes that match what the employees of the building were wearing, put their old ones inside a small bag and Rin’s blade under a cart they were pushing, went through the roof door and made their way down to the first floor and exited out without suspicion. The two men left to somewhere else as Rin and Susie were at the park.

“That will sure to wake the city up, now it will be awake for the misery doomed to come.”

“Can’t say anything that doesn’t sound like a shirt logo from hot topic huh? Anyways before I take my leave what happened to your friends Susie? There was four of you wasn’t it?

“Joey was an annoying little shit so killing him was a blessing, Frank forcing us to do things because “we were in it together” pissed me off so I used what he taught me on him and Jules… she’s in a better place.” This was the first time this night Rin heard the sorrow in Susie's voice but it didn’t matter to her, Susie told her what she knows about Rin’s father and will contact her if anymore pops up. Rin took her leave and Susie sat on the bench and balled up and started to cry, she was holding a bracelet she made for Julie, the last memento of her.

“I’m sorry Julie, please… forgive.” She continued to sob as the sound of sirens roared the city masking her cries, the city was awake like Susie wanted but how much will it watch she wondered as she walked off into the crowd and blending in not to be seen.