“Oh god… I didn’t mean to kill him…” Alex stammered weakly.

“Um…” Torrent mumbled, scratching his chin in thought.

“Wh… what do we do?” Alex said shakily. “Oh god we… we have to tell Cecil I killed his brother.”

“No… I’ll take the blame for it…” Torrent said, “We just need t-” He stopped and his eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked.

“So chivalrous, protecting your younger brother. You sure you haven’t been spending too much time with Cecil?” Nicholas said.

Alex twisted around and stared in horror at Nicholas, seeing he was awake and sitting up, the rapier still pierced through his chest.

“H… h… holy shit…” Torrent mumbled.

Alex and Torrent heard a loud cracking as they saw Nicholas’ ankle shifting and healing. He stood up and slowly pulled the rapier from his chest. The blood that had been running down his chest turned a grayish color and started running in reverse back into the wound. The skin around the stab had turned almost the same grayish color and reformed, making his chest look undamaged before turning back to the normal color of his skin.

Torrent silently stared at Nicholas, the fear clear on his face.

Nicholas looked at the rapier and chuckled. “If I had a heart I would have been fucked. Fortunately I don’t, at least… I think I don’t.” He shrugged.

“Oh my god…” Alex mumbled, the shock still overwhelming him.

“Thanks for proving a theory though… I actually expected you to aim for the head. Although I’m not to keen on losing an eye. I have no idea what can heal.” Nicholas scratched his head.

Alex just silently stared at Nicholas.

Torrent threw a glass vial at Nicholas, its contents managing to cover him.

Nicholas blinked a few times before looking at the water staining his clothes. “Okay then. Am I about to spontaneously combust?” He asked.

Torrent just fell onto his knees.

Nicholas walked towards Torrent, rapier still in hand.

Torrent scrambled to his feet and stayed back from Nicholas.

A smirk grew on Nicholas’ face. “Well now that you know the truth, you have to die.” He said.

Torrent managed to kick the scimitar up and barely caught it.

Nicholas turned and returned to his earlier stance, but this time pointing the rapier directly at Torrent.

Torrent withdrew a small dagger from under the coat he was wearing.

“Come on then.” Nicholas said.

Torrent slipped the sword slightly away making a small opening in his guard.

Nicholas lunged forward and attempted to strike at the opening, only for his weapon to be hit away. He stepped back quickly just before Torrent’s weapon came in contact with his neck. Torrent quickly jumped back out of Nicholas’ reach.

“I’m not a simple opponent.” Torrent said, shifting his guard with every movement.

“Neither am I.” Nicholas said, stabbing repeatedly at Torrent.

Torrent parried or blocked each stab, not letting one slip through his guard.

Nicholas smiled and dropped his weapon. As it fell, Torrent’s eyes shifted and watched it. Nicholas rushed forward and grabbed both his hands, slamming them against the wall as he pinned him against it.

Torrent’s knee came up hard against Nicholas’ crotch.

Nicholas’ eye twitched. “Cheap…” He grunted, releasing his hands and falling to his knees gripping his crotch. A moment later he leaned back and headbutted Torrent’s crotch.

“Gah… fu…” Torrent muttered as he fell onto his knees holding his own crotch.

“Wow.” Alex said.

“First rule of fighting… never go… for the dick. It’s just rude…” Nicholas mumbled in a strained tone, falling to his side.

“No… first… rule is… never let your guard down…” Torrent muttered before swallowing back some rising bile.

“Alex… ice… now…” Nicholas said.

“Um…” Alex mumbled.

“Alex… do it… now…” Torrent said.

Alex glanced between the two of them. “Yeah… my shoulder still hurts from getting stabbed.” He said.

“I can still… kick your ass…” Nicholas mumbled, standing up shakily.

Alex picked up the rapier and slammed the hilt into Nicholas’ crotch.

Nicholas closed his eyes tightly and fell back to the floor, curling up in a fetal position.

“Be… be glad… he didn’t get Rose… we’d both be neutered for this…” Torrent muttered.

“Our training… isn’t hindered by this…” Nicholas said.

“I’m going to go get some ice cream.” Alex said as he walked away from the two.

“I will… poison… your face…” Nicholas said, falling face first into the floor as he attempted to get up.

Alex just walked outside without another word.

“Fuck…” Torrent muttered as he managed to push himself up. “I’ll… get the ice…”

“Thnk yu…” Nicholas mumbled.

-------------------------------------

“I need to get these removed… they are evil.” Nicholas said as he added a second ice pack to his crotch.

“I’m sure my wife would do it for free…” Torrent said.

“I’m sure mine would just kill me and get it over with.” Nicholas said.

“Yeah… that won’t be happening.” Torrent said.

“Sorry about the… headbutt.” Nicholas said apologetically.

“Yeah… I’m sorry about kneeing you in the dick.” Torrent nodded.

“So do you think Alex is going to come back?” Nicholas asked.

“Yeah. Just not for training.” Torrent said.

“If he quits now…” Nicholas started.

“He was about ready to murder you. I think he’s done for now.” Torrent said.

“Well that’s just peachy…” Nicholas sighed.

“And it’s not like stabbing him in the shoulder helps that much, that’ll take a while to heal.” Torrent said.

“Oh wahhh I got hurt boo hoo.” Nicholas groaned.

“Yeah. Sure make fun of him.” Torrent sighed.

“You know if he can’t take a hit then what’s the point. I don’t know what your friend is teaching him, but a wooden sword is not exactly practical.” Nicholas stated.

“Wooden? Oh you’re talking about the bamboo sheath.” Torrent said. “They train with real weapons. It’s just they don’t attempt to kill each other. And R’yotta doesn’t expect Alex to know everything right off the bat.”

“If I wanted to kill him he’d be dead. Nothing that can’t heal.” Nicholas said calmly.

“You do know what we both went through under our parents ‘guidance’ right?” Torrent questioned.

“Yes your brother told me about it, and I didn’t mean anything. But letting people live that are trying to kill you doesn’t always turn out very well. If I were in Alex’s shoes, I would have stabbed him through the neck, heart, and eyes.” Nicholas said.

“Oh? So you know what it’s like being completely powerless and helpless?” Torrent questioned. “So you know how to accomplish that while being held down over your own bed? Or while being out numbered?”

“He wasn’t really outnumbered a few minutes ago when I was helpless on the floor.” Nicholas said.

Torrent just shook his head.

“I’m glad he stabbed me… he’s learning.” Nicholas said, leaning back in the chair he was sitting in.

“Did you stop to think that maybe he’s not out for blood and doesn’t want to learn to kill?” Torrent questioned.

“Mm… nope.” Nicholas chuckled.

“Yeah… of course you didn’t.” Torrent said.

“Mercy is nice… but again, impractical in the real world.” Nicholas said seriously. “It only makes your enemies angier, and when they’re angry they want revenge.”

“It takes a stronger person to not deal the killing blow and leave it to the hand of fate to deal the last card.” Torrent said.

“Oh my apologies Master Yoda, teach me more about the ways of the force.” Nicholas laughed.

“Get out of my house.” Torrent said.

“I’m joking…” Nicholas said.

“Yes and I’m not.” Torrent said. “I won’t allow you to turn my brother into a killer.”

“Okay listen… Please just let me train him… I won’t hurt him any more than he would with R’yotta, and I won’t be as… myself. I just... don’t want to see him get killed.” Nicholas said sincerely.

Torrent remained silent for a moment, “Alright…” He said.

“Oh great I’m happy you said that because I ordered a pizza awhile ago and would be upset if I was kicked out before we ate.” Nicholas joked.

Torrent sighed and put his head in his hands.

“Hey hey…” Nicholas said quietly, putting an arm around Torrent. “I got all topping don’t worry… You can just pick off what you don’t like.”

Torrent gave a dry laugh.

“So what have YOU been up to lately? I know a lot about your brother but not you.” Nicholas said.

“And why would you be so interested in what a priest does with his time?” Torrent asked.

“I find it a hobby to watch what the ants do in their hill.” Nicholas joked.

“Well I make it a hobby of mine to crack the glass in an effort to escape.” Torrent said.

“Excuse me?” Nicholas asked curiously.

Torrent chuckled. “Nothing.” He said.

“No really tell me…” Nicholas said, scooting his chair closer.

“You know when you said I was a cult leader when we first met… you weren’t too far off…” Torrent said calmly.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes and stared at him. “Um… does Rose have the babies right now?” He asked, realizing he hadn’t heard a peep from them all day.

“No.” Torrent said. “They’re both down in the basement.”

“Why are they in the basement?” Nicholas asked coldly.

“For a specific reason that shall remain unknown to you.” Torrent said with a widening smile.

Nicholas slowly reached into his coat pocket.

“Woah… I wouldn’t kill my kids… just go peek down the basement steps…” Torrent said quickly, motioning to a door near the dining room.

Nicholas eyed him, keeping his hand in his pocket as he stood up and walked to the door, opening it and seeing a play area down in the basement. Tulip and Petal were both calmly sleeping against a large stuffed tiger that sat in the middle of the room.

Nicholas attempted to walk down the stairs and was instantly thrown back by a grey aura. The door closed shortly after and there was a soft click as it locked.

“The hell was that?” Nicholas asked.

“Their godfather.” Torrent said calmly.

“They have a godfather.” Nicholas said bluntly.

“Yes. And you’ve already met him.” Torrent nodded.

There was a flash in the kitchen, “Torrent where’s the milk?” A male voice called from inside.

“Should be in the cooler.” Torrent said.

“Ah! Now to heat it up.” The voice said.

Nicholas stood up and walked into the kitchen. He saw Emery standing in front of the microwave.

“Oh so you’re keeping me from them are you?” Nicholas questioned.

“You were the one who woke those two little angels up?” Emery asked, glancing back at Nicholas.

“I don’t recall.” Nicholas said.

“Mmm never mind it’s not important.” Emery said as the microwave dinged. “It’s time for their breakfast anyway.” He popped open the microwave.

“Okay…” Nicholas mumbled. He looked at the two bottles at Emery took them from the microwave and noticed the milk in each was colored differently. “Should I ask?”

“Petal likes strawberry milk and Tulip likes chocolate.” Emery said.

“You’re giving them… okay whatever, won’t question your parenting.” Nicholas said.

Emery walked past Nicholas and magically unlocked the door. Both babies zoomed out past his feet and went in opposite directions.

Nicholas’ lip quivered as he held back a laugh. “I guess they’re not so upset.” He joked.

Tulip went under the kitchen table and vanished out of sight.

Petal crawled over to Nicholas’ feet and stared up at him.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow and sat down on the floor. “What?” He asked.

Petal looked at his hand and tilted her head curiously before reaching for it.

Nicholas held his hand out closer to her.

Petal quickly grabbed his hand and roughly tugged it into her mouth before chewing on it.

“TULIP!” Emery shouted.

Tulip had climbed onto the table and fell down onto Nicholas’ head clinging tightly to it as she started chewing on his nose.

“Mmpghm!” Nicholas grunted. He reached his other hand up and started tickling Tulip.

Tulip wildly flailed her arms and legs as she giggled. She immediately fell off Nicholas and into the arm that was tickling her. “I think it’s time for some payback.” He smirked, bringing her closer to his face again, pressing his mouth to her stomach and blowing.

Tulip screamed before her giggling grew even louder.

Petal grabbed Nicholas’ finger and bit down on it.

Nicholas used his other fingers to tickle Petal’s neck.

Petal started thrashing about.

“You two are just asking for this.” Nicholas smiled as he continued to tickle them all over.

Both of them started kicking even harder as their giggling grew louder.

“I don’t know if I can tickle to you death, but I’ll find out later. You two need some food.” Nicholas laughed, picking the two of them up and carrying them over to the kitchen table and sitting down. “Hey you got those bottles? I’m sure they’re getting cold.”

Emery shrugged and handed the bottles to Nicholas. He set the babies onto the table and took the bottles, tipping the strawberry one into Petal’s mouth and the chocolate into Tulip’s. “Now drink up before I decide I need to punish you again.” Nicholas smiled a little wider.

Both of them started suckling on the bottles.

“So you like children?” Torrent asked with a smile.

“Yeah they’re just… so fragile.” Nicholas said.

Torrent and Emery stared at Nicholas intently.

“They can’t take care of themselves, they break so easily… I don’t think I could live with myself if I hurt them.” Nicholas said quietly. “I guess that’s a reason I never had any of my own.”

Torrent’s smile returned.”You know if you wanted to spend time with my children you can… it’s just… they’re a little stronger than they look.” He said.

“Don’t remind me of that… I still have to get that gate fixed…” Emery sighed.

“Mm… maybe I should come over more often.” Nicholas said as they finished their bottles. He set the bottles down and looked at them. “Oh no he’s back!” He said before tickling the two again.