“If that fucker ever tells you to jump off a fucking cliff again, you’re going to tell us right away, you hear?”
“Uh…”
“Kenji!”
“Y-Yes,” he responds, looking surprised. “B-But…”
“NO,” Kai yells, silencing the room. “There’s no fucking buts. There are no damn excuses! You don’t think your life is fucking essential in this fucked up world?!”
I can see the way Kenji swallows, his Adam’s apple moving up and down.
“You’re important to ME! You are the reason why I fight fucking hard every damn day, despite the crazy fuckery I deal with just because I was born into a family of killers. You ran into a burning building and helped me save the pack of dogs who bring joy into my life. You constantly uplift me. Understand my silence when most people think I’m some stupid mute who has nothing good to offer. YOU have meaning in my life, just like youhave an impact on so many others. The way you drum with so much fucking passion that so many kids around the world are getting drum sets just to get a glimpse of the joy you deliver in the few performances they’ve witnessed from you. That doesn’t even include all the other talents you have. How you can sing such beautiful melodies or the way you quietly play guitar in the middle of the night like a fucking lullaby.”
I don’t realize the way my eyes are blurring with tears until I feel the droplets shed down my cheeks.
Kenji looks just as surprised and emotionally moved, his eyes growing glassy by the second.
“The fact anyone can dare say anything bad about you with their big chest grinds my fucking gears. It makes me want to take the power into my hands and DO something about it, and the only reason why I haven’t is because I want a future where you’re still here,” Kai declares. “A future where Astraea is our Omega, and I just enjoy watching you guys tour and live your passions and dreams.”
He lets out a huff, sounding out of breath after saying his truth.
“So if anyone dares try to belittle your existence again, I’ll do something about it. I don’t care if that lands me in fucking jail or exile, and you, of all people, know I won’t hesitate to do it. I won’t be a coward like so many fucking people in this world and let your flame flicker away when you have so much to offer. So much to live for.”
He turns away.
“I’m going for a smoke.”
He’s gone before anyone can say a word, leaving an eerie silence behind.
Kenji wipes at his tears before he quickly mutters, “I’m gonna make sure he’s good.”
He doesn’t need our permission. He’s already leaving after the man who just confessed just how important Kenji is to him.
When they’re gone, I feel the tender touch of thumbs brushing my tears away.
Glancing up to see Nathaníel observing me carefully, he doesn’t say anything. He simply pulls me into a hug and lets me relax against him. I’m shedding tears because my heart is heavy, but no sounds leave me. It’s as if I need to silently mourn the truth and potential sacrifice that could have been bestowed on us and this pack if things had gone differently.
If I hadn’t taken violence as the option to tackle this dilemma, what would have happened? Would Kenji still be here tonight? Would Kai be able to control the urge for vengeance? What would happen to Icarus and Nathaníel?
What’s most frightening is Nate Jr. waking up and probably not even grasping the significant pain and disturbance he’s laid on those he’s supposed to love.
Until he grasps and acknowledges just how lucky he was to avoid catastrophe, he’s going to be the same addict who couldn’t care about anyone else’s dreams but his own.
We can no longer allow that.
“So…” Dr. Malcom speaks up. “I’m going to assume your Omega does kickboxing.”
The comment has me slowly leaning back from Nathaníel’s comforting hug to looking at the doctor in surprise.
“How did you know? Is it obvious?” I ask.
He chuckles and brushes through his navy blue shoulder-length hair.
“I know a Knox punch when I see it,” he declares with pride, watching the way my eyes widen in surprise. “He trained you well. Not too much force to completely damage the target but enough to make a mark that will heal in a short period of time.”
“So… breaking his finger, kicking his balls, and punching his face was fair,” Nathaníel concludes. “From the Doc’s observation.”
Dr. Malcom grins, clearly amused.