The First of the Last...

“…Do you think he’s gonna-”

BOOM.

‘Do you think he’s gonna pick a fight with the guys outside,’ Heath was going to ask, but from how the store rattled and the windows along the front all cracked? It was a likely ‘yes’.

“Of course he would. Please let’s just buy the groceries and leave, I’m certain Chuh Yoong-Nim will deal with it.”

‘Maybe that theory that we seem different than humans or you holds weight though, if Heath scared him off.“ Monty looked over the list one last time, but nodded as it was clearly done with.

“True…Well, I hope so, at least.”

BOOM.

Heath snorted. “Yeah, when Dad was poking around last week looking at houses for sale, some guy tried to mug him. It apparently didn’t end well for the other guy.”

“…I can’t believe I’m not more surprised at this.”

Monty sat in the cart, blinking. ‘Wait. That guy. …Heath, do you think that’s the guy that tried to rob Dad?’

“What?!”

“Let’s just finish up and go. Dad’s gonna want to know who that was, if he scared you so bad.” Heath grabbed the coffee brand listed there on the list, and set it in the cart.

But Heath didn’t get closer, just stood there as a ‘meat shield’. “…Look I know I’m dumb, but I’m not that dumb. Picking a fight where there’s tons of witnesses against somebody I’ve never seen before? He’s like twice as tall as I am, he could punt me through a wall!”

And then Monty nodded.

“…Not cool, bro.”

The guy in the hoodie just stared at them for a moment, before turning away and grabbing a bottle of cold coffee from the small refrigerator next to him.

//To his absolute relief, that guy decided to leave.//

Monty was glaring at the guy, who almost didn’t turn in time to spot them.

Heath immediately stepped between Maru and the new guy, looking unafraid but not giving the usual signals of a challenge with his body language.

“Ah- Heath wait, don’t go near him-!!”

And then Monty nodded.

"...Not cool, bro."

Because as they rounded the corner to get more coffee (for if MuYeong visited), a familiar figure in a purple hoodie was scanning the display of energy drinks in those shot bottles.

…Great.

//HIM?! HERE?! WHY?!? Oh his luck just HAD to be this terrible right when he has two precious darlings to protect right?!//

So off they went. The aisle there meant being obscured from sight of the window, but that was both advantage and otherwise.

“Do you think they’ll get bored and leave?”

“I sure hope so. It’d be nice to be able to go home without anything exciting happening.”

“Same here, Maru.” Heath stuck closer after that, helping whittle down the list.

//Maru kept Monty placed so that the child was always watching behind them, their first alert in case something happened. He picked out a few jars of kimchis, allowed Heath to snatch up sweets to take back, and finished the rounds at the deli, asking for a few steaks he’d dice up for the curry.//

Monty giggled, but signed back, ‘You’re my brother. I’m desensitized to the chaos by now.’

The boys gave subtle nods. “But… should we just keep shopping for now?”

“For now…But stay aware of them. I may not be able to teleport* like Hyeong-Nim, but I’ll do my best to keep you two safe.”

Monty giggled, but signed back, 'You're my brother. I'm desensitized to the chaos by now.'

Monty giggled, but signed back, 'You're my brother. I'm desensitized to the chaos by now.'

No sign of those guys who'd been following Maru, until he glanced out the front window and saw them across the street.

lostprogenitor‌:

“How do people even put up with me? Like, I can’t even put up with me.” Heath was trailing close behind Maru, Monty in the Chachaoong’s arms as they shopped.

Monty giggled, but signed back, ‘You’re my brother. I’m desensitized to the chaos by now.’

@shygunfire

Monty nodded sagely, while Heath consulted the list and trotted a short ways away to grab some apples on sale.

No sign of those guys who’d been following Maru, until he glanced out the front window and saw them across the street.

Heath stayed quiet, but scampered back. “Uh, Maru?” he nearly whispered. “We might have a problem.”

//Maru stiffened when he heard the whisper. Even among the chatter of the market’s regular shoppers, it was easy to pick out that uneasy tone.//

Monty giggled, but signed back, 'You're my brother. I'm desensitized to the chaos by now.'

No sign of those guys who'd been following Maru, until he glanced out the front window and saw them across the street.

Monty giggled, but signed back, 'You're my brother. I'm desensitized to the chaos by now.'

“Good.” Heath grinned, his lemon-lime eyes crinkling at the corners.

Groceries were easy enough to gather, and checking out was only slightly embarrassing. (Why did every old lady insisted on commenting about Maru having kids around him, meaning they had to correct them that the blonde was just babysitting? It got old really fast.)

“It’s silly, but I kind of enjoy the compliments.”

Monty giggled, but kept an eye on someone following them. 'Like a big brother?’

“Well, I suppose yes, that’s how I feel. I like being a big brother.”