The loud banging on the door brought Zavry back to reality as he straightened up, his face almost in shock. Who knew just a single pack of tasteless noodles could make him lose his apartment?
The place had become scorching hot, and the smell of burning woods Zavry cough lightly.
At this point, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This wasn't what he had expected. Now, he was practically homeless. He moved slowly, making sure to look as stranded and even as traumatized as possible as he knew he would raise suspicions looking normal.
Just then, the door finally opened, and firefighters rushed in. One of the men hurried over and spoke.
"You don't have to worry, boy. We're here, and we'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Zavry couldn't understand why the man decided to give a whole life-story introduction instead of simply leading him out.
Another firefighter rushed over.
"Take him out… I think he's traumatized," the man said. The other nodded calmly and began leading Zavry out, and Zavry followed.
'Traumatized, my ass'
At this point, he didn't care what anyone said. He was just trying to figure out his life, because he genuinely didn't know what to do anymore.
'Oh, how will I pay for all of this…all because of some useless noodles?'
'Now you're calling it useless? You were the same one who ate it like your life depended on it, and now you're calling it useless,' Rune reminded.
'And no one asked you for your motivational speech,' Zavry deadpanned.
'How about you steal money?' Rune suggested.
Zavry halted, and the man leading him up the stairs stopped too, noticing how the boy was just standing there, staring into thin air like he was deep in thought he could not help but pity the boy it seems like he really was traumatized but only if he knew.
'You have to be kidding me,' Zavry replied.
Rune continued.
'You're on a mission to kill people…villains or heroes, innocent or not—so compared to that, stealing's nothing. Honestly, if I were to compare, stealing is better. Or, how about you steal and pay back when you get money?'
"I can see the only thing you have in you is stupidity and—"
"Hello? Boy, are you okay? Hello?" Zavry snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of the firefighter's voice.
Rune almost gave him away, but Zavry quickly nodded at the man, then continued up the stairs. As they walked, Zavry noticed other firefighters rushing downward. Since the fire had started underground, extinguishing it wouldn't be easy, though it wasn't impossible.
They made it through the hallway and pushed the door open—fresh air welcomed them, and the morning breeze blew through Zavry's hair. His eyes stared in slight suprise when he saw Leon.
A guy approached, buzz cut dyed white, lean and tall, wearing a baggy pair of jeans and a loose shirt. The city buzzed around them…it was the modern day, after all.
"Bro, thank goodness you're okay! I was already wondering how I'd come up with a funeral speech for you," he chuckled, punching Zavry lightly on the arm.
Zavry remained calm as Leon looked at him.
"You never change, man. What's with that face? Why are you always frowning, huh?" he asked, watching the chaos around them.
Zavry was trying to dodge this interaction. He didn't want to stay with Leon. Knowing his lifestyle, he simply didn't want to be around him at all.
"I won't even bother asking what caused the fire…you're usually weak and dumb anyway," Leon said mockingly but Zavry still remained calm.
"By the way, bro, I called an ambulance just in case," Leon said, clearly knowing that would annoy Zavry. And just as expected, Zavry's face twisted in irritation. He turned to hike up his hands and signed sharply.
Leon was good with sign language so he could understand.
"Bro, tell them to go back. As you can see, I can walk. Don't be stupid," Zavry signed. He knew if the ambulance came, the news would somehow get out, and people would become curious—and that was something he wanted to avoid.
"You have nowhere to go. Take this as me doing you a favor. At least you'd sleep in the hospital…better than being a homeless beggar," Leon added.
Zavry frowned, and Leon's lips curled into a grin.
"Fine, I'll cancel the ambulance—on one condition. You come stay with me. We could play that new game, 'Siren Lish.' Bro, that game cost a lot of pounds!" he added excitedly.
Zavry raised his hands and signed,
'Fine.'
'You've got pride for someone with nowhere to stay. Someone is begging you to stay with them… beggar with options,' Rune muttered.
'I will put you to sle—'
'I apologize!' Rune quickly interrupted, clamping his metaphorical mouth shut. At this point, he didn't want to take any risks.
But Zavry had his reasons. He didn't want to stay with Leon..not only was the guy rich, he was also…
"Bro, the latest club just opened. It's quite cheap—just a hundred thousand pounds a night," Leon said.
Zavry's eyes turned dull with boredom.
'And here I am, struggling to pay just twenty dollars and two coins,' he muttered to himself. This was exactly why he didn't like Leon—he was fond of all those materialistic things, always saying, 'You only live once.' But to Zavry, clubs, women, are everything that made a man act foolish and desperate.
"So, bro, are you coming?" Leon asked, only for his eyes to widen when Zavry smiled and slowly raised his hands to sign,
'NO.'
Leon's face fell.
"Oh, must you always be boring? There'll be lots of ladies… Sometimes I wonder if you're trying to make yourself some kind of historical virgin or something," he muttered, annoyed, as he turned to walk toward one of the men.
'Fuck off,' Zavry muttered to himself.
It was then that he noticed a figure approaching—his landlord, heading straight toward him.
Now he was sure, he wouldn't just be paying back twenty dollars anymore. He had destroyed someone's home he would have to pay more than that.