ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴏᴡ

"son?" haru supposed it wasn't that unusual for someone around their age to have a child, but they barely felt capable of caring for themself most days. "you have a kid with you?" they couldn't remember the last time they'd seen a child — a living one, anyway. zombies came in every shape and size. they couldn't imagine being responsible for something so helpess, so fragile. "you must be scared all the time," haru murmured, peering at matt over their shoulder, "you must be scared leaving him alone."

 “Yeah,” Matt shrugged, unfazed by the surprise written all over Haru’s face. It wasn’t the first time he was met with surprise, and it wouldn’t be the last time, either. Surviving with a kid in tow was… difficult, to say the least. Especially when you were on your own. It was only thanks to Matt’s vast array of skills that he’d managed to make it as far as he had, all while keeping Lei alive and well. Then he let out a sigh, and nodded his head. “I am. Terrified, if you want me to be honest. But he’s safer holed up somewhere, than he is being by my side when I’m out and about. He knows not to go anywhere, and to stay quiet. I know it isn’t ideal, but…” He did his best, given the circumstances. That’s all anyone could ask of him, right?

 Having moved on to the next shelf, Matt was reading the different labels of the few bottles he’d managed to find. Hoping against hope he’d find something useful. “A community?” Taken aback, he set down the bottle he’d held in his hand, then turned to face Haru properly. Communities were few and far between, and getting into them? Nearly impossible—for good reason. New people were a risk, and a deadly risk at that. Leaning against the counter behind him, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and regarded the other in silence for a while. “I’m not in the habit of killing people in their sleep unless they’re a threat, no. But how can I be sure it isn’t you I have to afraid of? There’s some sick and twisted people out there, you know. And the danger is twice as great when you have a kid.” Was he being serious? Not entirely. But he was wary. They didn’t know each other, and yet they were inviting him to join a community? It rang all sorts of alarm bells in today’s day and age. Kindness didn’t exactly exist in abundance these days, and whatever kindness was shown to you usually came with a catch. Letting out a sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t get me wrong. I would love nothing more than safety for Lei. And that means I have to regard even the kindest of offers with a certain suspicion.”

The hand rubbing at his back is unwelcome in the moment as he sniffles, though he doesn't move away at all. Only half way listening to what Long Zhi has to say about the broken ribs, Blue cradles his arm against the ribs that were now broken, trying to squeeze them in an effort to stint them so they weren't hurting so bad every time he breathed. Not that it worked, but that didn't stop him from trying.

"I know how to take care of broken ribs, Long Zhi-" he speaks, not entirely unkindly, but certainly not nicely either. "-This isn't the first time I've had them and it probably won't be the last." He pauses then, regarding the man for a moment before his shoulders round and the defensiveness leaves him.

"...I think I'd like that drink. I'll hold you to it. You know who I am, you know how to find me I'm sure-" anybody in the line of work of hurting people knew exactly where to find people. Of that Blue was certain. "-Maybe next time I get to break something of yours," he adds with a crooked grin.

 “Alright, alright,” Long Zhi conceded, lifting his hands up in a gesture of peace. “Was just trying to help, that’s all.” Though he supposed it made sense, it was rather… annoying that the very man who’d just broken your ribs was also trying to help. Not to mention also confusing, he supposed. Wasn’t exactly normal protocol, was it? Then again, there wasn’t exactly anything normal about Long Zhi.

 Letting out a laugh, he shrugged his shoulders. “I did offer you an opportunity, didn’t I? You didn’t want to take it. But you’re welcome to try the next time we meet. But, uh… Fair warning: I’m a pretty good fighter.” Though Long Zhi genuinely hoped their next meeting would be a little less… antagonistic. And all they would have is a drink, rather than a fight.

 “Anyway, I should probably head out. Otherwise they might start to wonder what the hell I’m doing. Those dipshits out there should leave you alone, though. I’ll make sure of that on my way out.” Offering Blue a small bow, he exited the room and closed the door behind himself. Mostly so he could lay into his, uh, overeager men in private.

( ⚖️ ) : for our muses to get married at the courthouse.

( 💔 ) : for our muses to fight in a quiet corner of a crowded party.

( 🪞 ) : for our muses to get ready to go out in front of the same mirror.

( 📺 ) : for our muses to have a date at the drive-in.

( 🚬 ) : for our muses to meet outside a building during a smoke break.

( 🕯️ ) : for our muses to talk in a room lit only by candles.

( 🏚️ ) : for our muses to cross paths in an abandoned house.

( 🚓 ) : for our muses to meet outside the police department.

( 🧳 ) : for our muses to be at a bus terminal late at night.

( 🌧️ ) : for our muses to be stranded together in the rain.

( 🏨 ) : for our muses to stay in neighboring motel rooms.

( 🪑 ) : for our muses to sit beside each other in a waiting room.

( 📚 ) : for our muses to be in a quiet library aisle.

( 🕳️ ) : for our muses to encounter each other underground.

( 🎒 ) : for our muses to be paired together for an unwanted task.

( 🪦 ) : for our muses to meet up at a gravesite.

( 🕰️ ) : for our muses to be stuck waiting for something that never comes.

( 🚪 ) : for our muses to talk through a bathroom door.

( 🛏️ ) : for our muses to wake up in the same bed.

( 🍻 ) : for our muses to be at a bar just before closing.

( 🧼 ) : for our muses to clean up after a mess.

( 🪟 ) : for our muses to talk through a window.

( 🚿 ) : for our muses to shower or bathe together.

( 🧥 ) : for our muses to share a coat in the cold.

( 🛣️ ) : for our muses to be stranded on the side of the road.

( 🪵 ) : for our muses to gather at a dying campfire.

( 🎟️ ) : for our muses to be at a seasonal fair.

( 🧃 ) : for our muses to share a drink meant for one.

( 🏥 ) : for our muses to talk in a hospital hallway.

( 🩺 ) : for our muses to accompany each other during a medical emergency.

( 🧠 ) : for our muses to attend a therapy or counseling session together.

( 🖊️ ) : for our muses to discuss signing something important.

( 🏫 ) : for our muses to meet up in an empty school after hours.

( 🪖 ) : for our muses to be in a militarized zone.

( 🔫 ) : for our muses to meet at gunpoint.

( 🪓 ) : for our muses to prepare for a fight together.

( 🩻 ) : for our muses to meet up in the aftermath of brutality.

( 🛒 ) : for our muses to go shopping in a nearly empty grocery store.

( 🧾 ) : for our muses to argue over who owes what.

( 🛍️ ) : for our muses to shop for something intimate together.

( 🏕️ ) : for our muses to share a campsite overnight.

( 🌲 ) : for our muses to get lost in the woods together.

( 🐾 ) : for our muses to track something dangerous.

( 🏖️ ) : for our muses to meet up on an empty beach at dawn.

( 🌊 ) : for our muses to hang out at a community pool after hours.

( ✈️ ) : for our muses to sit beside each other on a turbulent flight.

( 🧭 ) : for our muses to disagree on which direction to go.

( 🗺️ ) : for our muses to be lost, sharing a map.

( 🏙️ ) : for our muses to meet up on a rooftop overlooking the city.

( 🌃 ) : for our muses to wander the city all night together.

( 🎁 ) : for our muses to exchange something small but meaningful.

( 🕊️ ) : for our muses to attempt a truce.

( ⚔️ ) : for our muses to meet on opposite sides of a conflict.

( 🪜 ) : for our muses to work together on a dangerous task.

( 🧗 ) : for our muses to rely on each other to survive a fall.

( 🧊 ) : for our muses to be trapped somewhere freezing.

( 🔥 ) : for our muses to be trapped somewhere burning.

( 🧵 ) : for our muses to fix something broken together.

( 🛠️ ) : for our muses to work side by side without talking.

( 🕶️ ) : for our muses to recognize each other too late.

( 🪪 ) : for our muses to meet under false identities.

( 📸 ) : for our muses to take a photograph together.

( 🖼️ ) : for our muses to meet in front of something symbolic.

( 🎧 ) : for our muses to share headphones.

( 🎶 ) : for our muses to bond over a song they both hate.

( 🧯 ) : for our muses to deal with an emergency together.

( 🚨 ) : for our muses to meet when alarms start going off.

( 🕯️ ) : for our muses to mourn the same loss.

( 🪦 ) : for our muses to grieve over the dead.

( 🚂 ) : for our muses to meet in a place meant to break them.

( 🫀 ) : for our muses to say something they can't take back.

( 🛌 ) : for our muses to share a night they won't discuss later.

"so let him!"

the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, spat out in frustration and fear over matt's situation. before she could even comprehend their heaviness on her tongue. yiseul had never been one to say things in anger —– if anything, she was overly cautious with her words for fear of lasting consequences. even with matt, though he let her speak freely, it was hard for her to break such an ingrained habit; and their current circumstances only made all that much harder.

but yiseul found that there was no part of her that wanted to take the words back, to instantly apologize for their impulsivity. instead, she let them linger, filling in the space between her and matt, becoming the very air they breathed.

"there's very little xiao dan can do to me that hasn't already been done, so why not let him see? to him, i'm a tool —– one he went through great lengths to retrieve. he needs me more than i need him, and he needs you more than you need him."

hands curling into tight fists, yiseul lifted her chin to look into matt's eyes, her gaze steady in spite of how watery it was.

"if he sees my hate for him or my care for you, it won't matter so long as my abilities aren't jeopardized. and they will become so if you're not allowed to rest. he can keep me prisoner, but i don't have to play his game."

yiseul shifted carefully off matt's lap, lifting up his shirt to examine the bandages for herself, needing visual confirmation that they were clean and properly in place. it was funny: all her life, she'd allowed herself to be reduced to a tool, dehumanizing herself for the sake of survival. but seeing matt being treated the same sparked a fire in her that couldn't be extinguished. that was her line in the sand, the thing she couldn't abide by: 'the boundary she'd topple this entire empire for.

"i don't want you to endure anymore. so you tell your grandfather that i won't eat unless you're given time to heal, and if i don't eat, my powers will wane." she smoothed his shirt back down, her lips falling into a stubborn cant.

"and —–" she hesitated for a moment, her conviction faltering before she took a deep breath to steel herself against her own words, "—– i don't want you straining yourself to come see me, even if that means we can't see each other at all. no more climbing up on rooftops and balconies just for the sake of being together."

 Throughout their entire time together, Matt had never seen Yiseul angry. Scared, panicked, worried, even stubborn, but never angry. It blindsided him, and although her anger lacked the same intimidation Xiao Dan's possessed, it terrified him more than his grandfather's anger ever had.

 Because he knew what it meant, what it hid between the lines: she had been pushed to a breaking point.

 It didn't matter that it wasn't him she was angry at, it hurt him just as much as if she were. He tried to shield her from those things, the same way he tried to shield Lei from them. But it seemed as though he failed the both of them, terrifying Lei in the process, and hurting her.

 "Yiseul," he said softly, grabbing a hold of both of her fists so he could press kisses on each of her knuckles. It was no use arguing; Matt knew she was right. There was no one else like Yiseul ( at least not anyone known, let alone readily available the way she was ), and finding a replacement for him? Well... There was none. Not a single man in the clan had been trained the way he had, molded into the heir and weapon Xiao Dan had always wanted. Lei would be the next best thing, but everyone knew that the Black Dragon's great leader didn't have another 20 years to repeat the process. They held all the cards—technically.

 Problem was... He couldn't afford risking it all, just because he was injured. He had to keep playing his part, and that meant enduring what he always had: pain, and indifference.

 When she moved off of his lap, Matt let out a sigh and averted his gaze. There was no move to stop her, though. Not this time. He knew it was useless and it would only serve to upset her even more. "I—I can't do that, Yiseul. He'll question why. Why you're so ready and willing to go to those length to make sure I'm alright. It's going to mess everything up, isn't it? He'll... He'll know."

 But then she dropped the real bombshell, and whatever color he had in his face drained. "No." Shaking his head so violently it nearly made him dizzy, Matt gathered all of his resolve. "No, you can't stop me. I don't care if you keep the door and window closed, I'll still show up." Would she really stop him? Would she? "Seeing you is the only thing that gets me through the day. You can't take that from me."

For Emma this was nothing. She had decided early on in their friendship (because that's what they were now to her), that this was a human worth knowing and a human she would protect. Even if it was from himself. She was quickly learning that Matt was a human that was fond of doing things himself, fond of doing things for others while putting himself last.

She would make sure that he gives himself the ample care that he needs from now on.

Unable to help the sound of laughter that rises at his antics, she shakes her head and looks over to him, a smile gracing her features that brightens the pale color of her eyes. "No, you're most certainly not. But not because of your baby whispering abilities. You're my friend. Its only natural for me to want to make sure you're alright," she declares boldly. Settling further on the couch, she stifles a yawn as she looks to the movie that was playing, not really paying much attention to it.

Instead her attention was on Matt. "Why don't you try to grab some sleep before I go to get Lei," she urges, looking at Matt from the corner of her eyes.

 "Hm..." Honestly, he didn't really need encouragement. His eyes were already halfway closed by the time she told him he should grab some sleep. But he was also stubborn, and kind of enjoyed her company a little too much to just... pass out. Besides, wasn't it kind of rude to sleep when you had a guest?

 "Did I ever tell you? That you have a really nice smile? Kind of lights up the room. It's nice." Matt wasn't really sure what prompted him to say that. Hell, he probably shouldn't be saying that. It was weird, wasn't it? Saying that to a friend? Problem was... He bring himself to care at the moment. Maybe he could blame it on the fever later.

 But for now... Despite his best efforts, he let his eyes fall closed, the resistance finally coming to an end. "And I like having you and Aubrey around. Even when I'm not sick. It's nice... Having someone. To talk to. To hang out with. I was kind of... lonely until you came around, I think."

After laying out his deal, Armand disappeared in vampiric speed. He wanted to do it right this time. No mind manipulation. No kidnapping. He wanted to see if this boy could make the right decision for himself.

And so twenty-four hours later, Armand sat on the roof right above the place he mentioned as a meeting place. His unnatural amber eyes observed every little movement, but seeing the mortal arriving with some of his important belongings had Armand smiling softly to himself.

Slowly, he slipped down from the edge of the roof. By using his Cloud Gift, he was elegantly flying down. Right in front of Long Zhi, Armand’s feet touched the ground. An almost fond little smile appeared on his lips.

❝I’m happy you came. For a few seconds I was worried you wouldn’t.❞  Armand held out his hand to the other. ❝Come. We shall leave before they go looking for you. I booked us plane tickets.❞ Armand nodded over to his black BMW not too far away. ❝Shall we? Don’t be scared. Are you scared?❞ 

 At this point, he should really be expecting just about anything. And yet, seeing Armand just... fly down from the rooftops caught him completely off-guard. Right. Right. Apparently vampires could fly, too. Was there anything they couldn't do?

 Clearing his throat, Long Zhi shook his head and pulled himself together. There were... Far more important matters at hand, weren't there? "Until about 30minutes ago, I wasn't so sure I would, either." No need denying it, was there?

 Then Armand offered his hand and he stood there for a long moment, unsure if the vampire intended for him to take it, or if it was simply meant as a gesture. Reaching for it hesitantly, Long Zhi averted his gaze in case he was making an embarrassment of himself, then shrugged his shoulders.

 "Of course, I'm scared, Armand." This was the first time he'd said the vampire's name out loud, wasn't it? Armand. "I'm practically running away with a stranger without knowing what's truly in store for me. You could turn around and make me your servant for all I know." But then again... That's what he was right now, wasn't it?

 Once they reached the car, he paused and let out a low chuckle. "Suppose you could always have me as a snack, too. But I assume you wouldn't have gone through all this trouble if that were the case. Nice car, by the way. Guess it pays off being a vampire." With that, he got in, tossing the small bag he'd brought along by his feet.

@feilien ⋮ POSITIVITY MEME » always accepting!!

Gush about my favorite person, you say??? Don't mind if I do 😌

One of the other things I love about you as a writer is that you're super creative, always thinking from different angles that would've likely never even crossed my mind. You've helped me step outside of things that are familiar and instead make various interactions wildly different. I always read whatever you got going on, not only because I just love Matt and love reading abt what he gets himself into ... I never know precisely what kinda situation or verse he's gonna be in. It makes his interactions so fun to read and it makes things fun, exciting and unpredictable to be apart of.

Aside from that ... Matt is just such an incredibly compelling character. His story is really unique and I'm always genuinely grateful that I've gotten to include Zane and other NPCs in such a damn good story and weave it along with you. It is our story now, but it began as yours and has unraveled into something so deep and intricate and I love it. The trauma Matt suffers and struggles to get himself out of, the things he has to eventually overcome, the way you write about his struggle with identity and trying to fit himself into a box that simply is not made for him ... ugh. It's heartwrenching and so fucking relatable honestly. Both Zane and I fucking adore him and I love the various different dynamics we're getting to explore with them two.

Lastly, I really don't have the words to describe just how much you've helped me grow as a writer and a person. You've helped me find my own voice when I spent most of my life struggling, believing I couldn't create something original. Zane and his story very likely would not even be here without you tbh. That's my incredibly sappy spiel and I adore you, that's all 🥰

another unplotted starter for @feilien ft. guiying the menace

"It's as simple as can be, truly." Her voice was deceptively calm as she carefully waves her hand to the maid that had opened the door to the other's room for her. She'd come because there was no one who would suspect her to be spending time in the room of a man like Long Zhi. He was a soldier and was close to her brother, that much she knows, but he is also quite an interesting person to talk to at the same time. She quite enjoyed bothering him on the daily but today's task had been of the utmost importance.

Thats why there was a three second delay from when she had herself announced and when she actually stepped into the chambers. "They've brought me some awful suitor who is at least half of my age....much closer to my father than me." She complains with true sadness in her voice before turning to the maid from before. "Please go and get us some tea and snacks to enjoy, we'll be here for quite a bit of time." She informs them before moving to the table that is set in the room and falling in a heap on one of the floor seats.

"Can you believe them? He's somehow managed to outlive at least two wives, both lost in childbirth, and now I'm expected to be a third? Certainly not...he has quite the bad luck." She offers in half gossip and half despair. They'd been trying to marry her off for the better part of five years and she had gotten extraordinarily good at either not being found or sabotaging the thing so the man would get spooked off. She didn't feel like acting today so she visited the other instead.

She quite liked his company, after all.

"I'm the Grand Imperial Princess...should I not have a say in these things?" Shoulders rise and fall in the sharp huff that she gives, resting her cheek against her hand as she looks to where the other had been. "So I'm going to hide out here....I think I'll be safe from their advances if it's you."

 Yunchang was busy with meetings—or whatever you wanted to call them—all day today, which meant he had no need for Long Zhi to hover by his side. Or rather, the others didn't want him around. Important business not meant for his ears, or some excuse like that. Not that he had a problem with that; quite the contrary. He despised those meetings. They were boring and, as far as he was concerned, completely pointless. They never really seemed to achieve anything at all.

 But... That did leave Long Zhi with very little to do. Other than lounging around on the bed in his room, snacking on a variety of fruits he still hadn't bothered to learn the names of. Fortunately, Guiying had decided to come visit him today, providing at least some relief to his boredom. Even though all she did was, well, vent.

 Raising his brows at her rather... dramatic display, he couldn't help but note just how similar her and Yunchang looked when they acted like that; it was impossible to deny their relation. Snickering quietly to himself, he leaned back while another piece of fruit disappeared in his mouth and let out an equally dramatic sigh to match her.

 "I believe you are familiar with my opinion on things by now." Which was probably the whole reason she felt so comfortable speaking her mind in front of him to begin with. Do so in front of the wrong person, and they'll use you as a stepping stone for their ambition. "You know," he started, trying to hide the mischievous ( though perhaps more sinister ) grin that snuck its way onto his features. "He could have a horrible hunting accident. Your reactions just aren't the same when you're so old."

       He couldn't deny that it was nice to hear an apology, even if none of it was Matt's fault. Perhaps it was the knowledge Zane had carried around with him all these years that the truth would most likely be met with resistance. Despite his romantic notions that Matt would be able to look into his eyes and simply know ... that just wasn’t the way it worked in real life. Not if Matt was still caught in a trap without knowing it was one.

       He knew now, though ... and it meant the world to Zane that he didn’t need to fight to be heard. He could finally speak the truth out loud, something he’d been silently carrying for over a decade ... and he could trust that his closest friend believed him. In a way, it was a relief and any lingering tension that had wound itself through his limbs seemed to slowly melt away. The panic still crackled through him as he tried to avoid the vivid flashes invoked by his speaking things aloud, but he could breathe through it. Matt understood.

       ❝Hey,❞ Zane prompted gently, giving Matt's shoulder a nudge with his own, hoping to catch his eye. ❝While I appreciate the sentiment, I don't blame you for any of it and you shouldn't, either. We were both kids, we didn't know any better, he orchestrated the whole damn thing … and without what you taught me? I wouldn't even fucking be here. Besides,❞ he glanced down and shook his head. ❝I've always been too sentimental to believe you had any intentional part in it. Seems I was right.❞ He didn’t say the words aloud, but they were tucked between the lines if one listened closely: There’s nothing to forgive.

       Then, it was Zane’s turn to quiet, his turn to simply listen. The mention of Matt gaining a little brother was a surprise and he couldn't help but wonder about him. What was he like? He could imagine Lei having Matt's heart of gold and he was glad to hear he'd been spared Matt's pain ... even though he hated that Matt had to sacrifice himself in that way.

       His eyes flickered to the ring as Matt produced it from beneath his shirt and he knew where the story was headed before he spoke. He saw it in the small smile that bloomed across Matt’s features as he studied the ring now resting in his palm. Of course, Zane had come into this with the suspicion — it seemed Matt was keeping things under wraps, and for good reason. He’d just toppled an empire and taken it over by force, after all. There were rumors, but it was all incredibly vague and Zane had taken it all with a grain of salt.

       Basically ... Matt had a wife and a child now, and if he tried to say his feelings were anything but complicated, Zane would be lying. Still ... more than anything, he was glad Matt found happiness after everything he’d been through. He fucking deserved it.

       ❝It sounds like ... you’re happy with them. And I'm glad,❞ he began, a faint smile curling at his lips. ❝Sometimes, it takes someone from the outside looking in to bring us to our senses. You escaped the destiny he outlined for you, which is no easy feat, Matt. You took your life back into your own hands and you saved those you love from a hell of a lot of pain. Now you can create something better ... for yourself, and for them.❞ He cast Matt a glance, empathetic melancholy churning in his dark eyes. ❝I know you never wanted any of this. Even back then, I could see it when you talked about it. But ... it might be different, now that it can actually be yours, you know? ❞

 Matt let out a quiet sigh at Zane's words, tilting his head back as his gaze disappeared within the vast horizon. "You're right that I had nothing to do with it, but I still played a part nonetheless. If it hadn't been for me, you would've never needed the skills I taught you. Even back then, I should've known that he'd never agree with it. Besides—" Dropping his head, he sucked his teeth and rubbed the back of his neck. "What's my excuse for everything else? For all the other things I've done? My hands are covered in blood, so what's a little more, right?"

 He'd always found ways to quiet his conscience—not enough, never enough—but with Xiao Dan now gone, it had become increasingly difficult. So instead, he'd forced himself to face all of the things he'd done, the damage he'd caused. Sure, it had always been under order of his grandfather, and sure, there'd been times he'd secretly disobeyed, but it didn't make up for any of it. It never could, and it never would.

 And that was just something he had to live with for the rest of his life.

 "I am," he said quietly, glad to latch on to that topic, rather than having to deal with the thoughts this whole meeting seemed to evoke. Clearing his throat, Matt carefully tucked the necklace away again, then turned his head to look at Zane. Studying him in silence for a moment, he couldn't help but wonder what he thought about all that, him having a wife and kid. Sure, their whole relationship had been more than a decade ago, and they had been nothing more than teenagers to boot, but Zane had obviously still cared enough to reach out nonetheless. And maybe he should just leave it at that. Maybe he should shut up and move on to the next topic, but... The other had been his best friend, above all. "You'd like her, I think. Yiseul, I mean. She's, uh... She's special in every conceivable way. Probably the purest and most innocent person I've ever met. And yet, she chose me, can you believe it? The Reaper of Chinatown, and his innocent little wife." Rolling his eyes at his own words, Matt let out a soft chuckle.

 "Lei, too. He's a handful, but I think he saved me in more ways than one. A bundle of energy and pure sunshine. Curious, too. Loves to ask you a million questions at the most inconvenient times. I hope... I hope you get to meet them sometime." And he meant it, too. Keeping his private life under close wrap was intentional and for the best, but it was also difficult when all you wanted was to tell someone about it. But there was no one he could tell—at least until now. Yeah, maybe he hadn't fully vetted Zane yet, and would probably have to do before he'd allow him close, but... At the same time, it was hard to imagine that the man he once ( and perhaps still ) called his best friend had any ill intentions.

 Falling silent for a while, Matt contemplated Zane's words. He also contemplated just how much he was willing to share. "That's the plan." The expression on his face turned serious now, eyes growing slightly unfocused. "I didn't just take over, I'm making it mine. I'm rebuilding the clan from the ground up. Get rid of the men that are in it for the wrong reasons, recruit others that want to improve, rather than destroy our community. Once I'm done with that, I'll tackle everything else. It's... A huge undertaking, and honestly? I don't know how successful I'll be. Hell, maybe I'll die in the process. But it's my responsibility to set things right, and fix all the damage we've done."

the kid looked tired. makara wasn't the nosy type, she valued her own privacy to the point of being borderline hermetic, but the kid next door looked so bone-tired. he had moved into her neighbour's old house a few weeks past with a much smaller boy in tow, maybe just school age. the kid was young enough that it struck her as odd that the two were alone, but she didn't dwell on it. why would she? it was none of her business. granny's house had been empty for months and she wasn't foolish enough to think it would remain empty forever — haunting her with chipping paint that, in her grief, sometimes mimicked tender glances across cups of tea.

granny would have enjoyed having some younger people in the house, anyway. makara settled herself with that thought. it was none of her business how their lives unfolded in a house that she knew every nook and cranny of.

but there was the matter of the rose bushes. the rose bushes, like the care of the cat, had been entrusted to her. for makara, promises made were promises kept, no exceptions. she could have knocked on the door and told the kid how to care for him — they were technically his rose bushes now — but he looked barely able to drag himself, the boy, and the groceries in most nights. it would be a burden. so she decided to wait, to come home a little earlier from the gym, to slip into granny's yard with her watering can in hand and the cat tucked under her arm. the cat would enjoy sniffing around familiar surroundings. they would be in and out. the kid would never notice.

 It had taken a long time for them to finally get settled somewhere. The better part of two years, really. Matt had been too paranoid, too scared, to stay anywhere for too long, so they'd moved from place to place, never remaining in one place for longer than maybe a couple of months at a time. It was exhausting, to say the least. And he knew that wasn't the kind of life he wanted for Lei, either. The whole reason Matt had grabbed him and left their old life behind was because he wanted Lei to have a normal childhood.

 So, he'd finally decided that it was time to settle. Not in the US, mind you. It hadn't been easy, but after a lot of back and forth with some black-market contacts, he'd managed to set up a new identity—solid and legit ( well, as legit as a new identity could be )—and left for Canada. There, he sought out an affordable house, and bought it with nearly all of the remaining money he'd had. It was a nice little place, even if it was in need of some repairs. But Matt had never learned any handyman skills, and there was no money left to pay anyone else. So... Things just were the way they were.

 Although they were now finally settled, it wasn't any less exhausting than all of the moving around had been. He was working a bunch of odd jobs until he could find something permanent, and was taking care of Lei on top of that. Sleep? Well... There wasn't much of it. Neither was there time to relax. It was all about survival and keeping his head above water.

 He'd just picked up Lei from daycare and had grabbed something to eat on the way home, and was looking forward to getting settled in and maybe watch a movie with him, when he was greeted with a stranger in his yard instead. Immediately on high alert, he hid his son behind him, ready to defend him with everything he had. But instead of being met with someone hostile, he was now facing his... neighbor? "Oh." Shoulders dropped as his tension melted away, and he let out a relieved sigh. "I see."

 Clearing his throat, Matt rubbed the back of his neck, as his gaze swept across the slightly neglected rose bushes. "Sorry about that. I've been... Kind of busy. Haven't really had a chance to, like... Do yard work. Or, well... Anything else, I guess," he muttered, his hand absentmindedly smoothing over Lei's hair. "I, uh... I promise I'll get around to it, though. I know no one wants an eyesore on their street. I'm sorry."