VBL

Javier opens his eyes. The dark private room he was previously in is now the bust crosswalk of Central square. Cars honk at each other, NPC’s walk up and down the street, and Police seem to have already created a perimeter that is surrounding both players. He jumps up and down. Pumping himself up. Javier has a Spartan helmet on, no shirt, Trojan under armor, followed by modern day boxer’s boots. Brian stretches his neck and shoulders before summoning his weapon. The Demon short sword. Brian isn’t wearing any special outfits, instead wearing his real-life clothes. Javier summons his Titan gauntlets and takes his stance (like a boxer’s stance, but he moves his legs freely).

Brian is the first one to make a move. Charging toward Javier. Javier stands there waiting. As Brian swipes at him, Javier parries every blow that comes.

Javier inner thoughts: Something isn’t right. Brian is a lot of things, but predictable was never one of them. What is he planning?

At that moment Brian blitzes behind Javier. Which Javier predicts, and attempts to kick Brian, until Brian evades his kick. Ducking right in Javier’s blind spot.

**

Nora is surprised to see Brian’s fighting style. It’s almost like he doesn’t think of his next move until he has too. Ren is scrolling through his phone.

“I didn’t even know you could speed blitz twice in a row. But something doesn’t feel right. Just like when I fought Javier. Is that Brian guy taking this seriously?” Nora asks.

“Huh? I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” Ren says while not looking away from his phone.

“Never mind…” Nora says. She turns back to the monitor, frowning.

Nora inner thoughts: He wasn’t kidding when he said he has no interest in video games.

**

Javier flips away from Brian, after not being attacked. To Javier’s surprise, and despite Brian having the jump on him, he didn’t attack.

Javier inner thoughts: There was a clear moment there where he had the opportunity on me for an attack. So how come he didn’t attack me? Is he?

Javier places his guard up.

“Hey old man?” Javier asks.

“I’m not old.” Brian responds.

“Okay. Are you… drunk?” Javier asks.

“What?! No! It’s like 4 pm, why would I get drunk before coming to public place with kids around? What type of adult do you think I am?!” Brian yells.

“I don’t bother asking adults about their free time. I just assumed all adults liked getting drunk!” Javier responds.

“Well, you’re not wrong. A lot of my colleagues are always talking about how they got drunk the night before. That’s not me though. I only allow myself to unwind after finishing all my work for the day. When I let loose, I want work to be the last thing that comes into my mind when I drink.” Brian says.

“I see. Guess I was wrong about you old- I mean middle aged man.” Javier corrects himself.

“You’re killing me with that. Just call me Brian from now on, kid.” Brian directs.

Brian relaxes himself as he takes a laxer stance. Javier smiles.

Javier inner thoughts: That’s more like it. I don’t know what was on his mind, but he wasn’t being himself. Come on true king, show me something!

This time Javier runs toward Brian, but Brian doesn’t react, instead allowing him to get right in front of him. Javier unleashes a few punches and kicks, but Brian dodges each strike, parries his last kick, and slashes Javier’s abdomen. Pushing Javier a few feet back. This doesn’t stop Javier though, who charges back in. Attempting an upper cut. Which Brian catches, and Jiujutsu flips Javier over his shoulders. Javier maneuvers himself to fall on his feet, still holding on to his opponent. Then Brian suddenly blitzes in front of Javier. Allowing Javier to fall backward on his butt. As he looks up, Brian is already in mid swing. Cutting Javier right on his face.

The force of the strike carries Javier off the ground. Brian seizes the opportunity and delivers a few upward slashes, juggling Javier in the air.

Javier inner thoughts: Damn it!

Javier steadies himself fast enough to dish out his own attack.

“Titan Hammer!” Javier yells.

The attack doesn’t faze Brian, who instead chooses to stare the attack in the face.

“Wall.” Brian says calmly.

The checkered wall appears in front of Brian, absorbing the attack entirely and causing Javier to bounce back from the recoil.

Javier inner thought: How the hell was he able to react that fast to my attacks? I swear it’s like he’s always one step ahead. No matter. Guess I’ll try have to try “that”.

Brian stands there. Staring down Javier.

**

Nora is standing at attention, completely enamored with the match she is seeing.

Nora inner thoughts: Javier is completely out classed in this match up. It’s completely different from when we fought. I love it! The more I see, the more in love I fall with this game!

**

Inside Faith’s family home. Faith is sitting on the couch, in her pajamas. She’s eating a tub of ice cream while watching a new episode of Pet Rent (Her current favorite show). Until her older brother Demitri walks by the living room. Then suddenly stops himself once he sees the condition Faith is in. Demitri then walks inside the living room.

“Is that chocolate or cookies and cream?” Demitri asks.

“Cookies and cream.” Faith verbalizes.

“Okay. What’s wrong?” Demitri asks.

Demitri mentally places his plans on pause and sits on the couch, next to his sister. Faith scoots over to make room.

“What makes you think something is wrong?” Faith asks.

“I’m your brother. You think I don’t know the last time you were eating cookies and cream, was when you found out Eddie Guerrero died.” Demitri states.

“Well…” Faith stammers.

Faith inner thoughts: I can’t tell Demitri what I did to Nora. What would he think? Of course, he’ll still love me but then he’ll think I’m an asshole… I mean. Am I?

“Hey, D.” Faith says.

“Yeah?” Demitri answers.

“What would you do if you fucked someone over?” Faith asks.

“Hmm, it depends on how bad the situation was.”

“It was pretty bad.”

“Did you mean to?” Demitri asks.

“I mean. Sort of.” Faith admits.

“’Do you feel like shit for it?”

“Yeah.”

“Well good. That shows that you still have a conscious. It would be worst if you didn’t feel anything at all.” Demitri reveals.

“Would that make me a bad person?”

“I think you know the answer to that sis. But to answer your question. When I wronged someone in my life, and there have been a few. I made sure that person knew I was sorry. If I owed them any money, I made sure to pay it back.”

“But how would I do that?”

“You idiot. You apologize.”

“What if she doesn’t accept it?” Faith asks.

“Well, if you wronged her first then she has every right to accept it or not. Either way, you must respect her decision.” Demitri says.

“And then?”

“Then you move on. Look Faith. What’s done is done. All you can do is learn from your mistake and try to be better. That’s all anyone of us can do.” Demitri continues.

“I guess you’re right. I’d be a real bitch if I didn’t at least apologize.” Faith says.

“Well then you’d be mom.”

Faith never felt comfortable when Demetri talked like that about their mother. Although she never caught herself correcting him. Especially after everything her mother did to her siblings. Demitri sees that his comment made Faith uncomfortable and pats her on the shoulder.

“Whatever it is Faithy. You must take the first step to right your own wrongs. Just have “Faith.” Demitri says.

Faith feels the warmth from her brother and smiles at him. Signaling that she’s feeling better. She was annoyed when people would use her name as a pun. Except when her brothers did it.

“Okay I got to go. I’m meeting friends downtown.” Demitri states.

“Joe’s or Baby K’s?” Faith asks.

“Joe’s. I stopped going to Baby Ks after the police raided it last month. Also, if you see Isiah tell him I want my Nujubes record back.” Demitri says.

“Which album does he have?” Faith asks.

“Modal Soul.”

“Oh hell. I’ll let him know if I see him.” Faith says.

“Bet.” Demitri says.

Demitri goes to walk out of the living room.

“Hey, D.” Faith says.

“Yeah?” Demitri asks.

“Thank you.”

Demitri simply smiles at her and makes his exit. Leaving Faith to look at the T.V in silence as she places the tub of ice cream down on the floor.