“Shit, I know, Malcolm,” said Danny. He sighed and looked away. “Look, can I come in for a bit? So we have a chance to sit down and you know… talk?”
“Why would you think that I’d just… let you into my apartment?” asked Malcolm. “After everything that you’ve done.”
Danny shrugged.
“I don’t know,” said Danny. “I guess cause… you’re my brother. My memory is all fucked up, but I remember things about you. About how you were to people. To me. And how many times you gave me another chance.”
Malcolm started to shake his head no. Danny held up a finger.
“Also, I brought beer,” he said, holding up a cheap six pack he’d been hiding behind his back.
“Oh goody,” said Malcolm, rolling his eyes. “That certainly changes everything.”
He stepped to the side and gestured for Danny to come in, even as most of his instincts screamed out in warning or anger. Trusting his brother again, in any capacity, was somewhere between a bad idea and the worst idea. Danny was a killer, and not just an accidental one, either.
He murdered people in cold blood during our last fight.
Danny held a beer out to him. Malcolm hesitated for a second, and then accepted it.
“I’m sorry,” said Danny, his voice coming out raspy, and whispered. “Malcolm, I am so fucking sorry. I remember the things I’ve done. And…”
Danny closed his eyes. He took his own beer and pressed it against his forehead, as though the cold perspiration of the glass bottle could counteract all the damage he’d done with his powers.
“Danny…” Malcolm shook his head, wanting to scream and yell, but forcing himself to hold back. His brother’s apology changed nothing. But, it was a step up from having him rampage around the city, blowing up houses and torching traffic.
The two of them drank in silence for a minute, Danny finishing his first beer and opening a second. Malcolm hadn’t forgiven his brother, and still felt an enormous amount of rage. Now, it just felt like there was nowhere for it to go. He didn’t hate Danny anymore. He pitied him.
“I saw one of your girlfriends the other day,” said Danny.
Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“The shadow spryte,” said Danny. “She’s working with other monsters now, Malcolm. They’re led by some dreadlock punk named Rain Dancer.”
Malcolm exhaled through his teeth and sipped his beer. Danny was talking about Rose, the mysterious and beautiful spryte who’d entered his life and left it just as quickly. Malcolm knew she’d formed an alliance with Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden, the two de facto rulers of the monsters in the area, now that the Champion Authority’s base had been destroyed. It wasn’t something he liked to think about.
“When?” asked Malcolm. “And… where?”
“They captured me,” said Danny. “Held me somewhere underground. Fucking idiots thought that they could get me to work with them or something. It sounds like they’ve worked out their own crazy philosophy thing. Not my cup of tea!”
“Do you remember where their base was?” asked Malcolm.
“In the sewers, somewhere,” said Danny. “I didn’t pay much attention. Too pissed off about the smell on my way out.”
Malcolm shook his head, unsure of what to make of that. The last couple of days had been hell for him and the rest of the champions in Vanderbrook.
Multi, the leader of the Vanderbrook champions, had been taken prisoner by Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden. To make matters worse, the growing “monster rights” movement that had sprung up on the internet had turned Vanderbrook into a place where sprytes and demons walked freely through the city without concern for repercussion.
The police tended to look the other way, when to do otherwise often meant certain death. It was only a small comfort to know that his brother had refused to work with the enemy, given that it also meant that Rain Dancer was still actively recruiting.
“Danny, why did you come here?” asked Malcolm.
“To apologize,” said Danny.
Malcolm stared at him.
“You’re my brother, Danny,” he said. “I know you. If you just wanted to apologize, you would have done that and then left. Tell me what you want.”
Malcolm felt an edge entering his voice. He was still mad at Danny, and fully aware of just how much blood his brother had on his hands. Malcolm would listen to what he had to say, since he was technically still his brother, and had come in peace. But that was it.
Sure. Just like with Rose, and how I only helped her back on her feet. Right…
“You’re really mad at me, aren’t you?” asked Danny.
Malcolm didn’t feel the need to answer that question.
“Reminds me of the time that I banged Cynthia Wheeler,” said Danny. “Remember that shit? You were in love with her little sister, Maggie?”
“I wasn’t…” Malcolm scowled and rolled his eyes. “I had a crush on her, that’s it.”
“You were obsessed with her,” said Danny, grinning. “And then I went and fucked things up by breaking her older sister’s heart. Their whole family turned against us… not really fair for you.”
“Danny, that was half a decade ago,” said Malcolm.
“I know.” Danny glanced to the side, and then leaned in conspiratorially. “Just so you know… You didn’t miss out on much. Cynthia had really weird nipples. Probably her little sister did, too. That shit runs in the family.”
Malcolm had to fight to keep from smiling. He shook his head.
“Enough,” he said. “Why are you here, Danny? Get to the point.”
Danny shifted uncomfortably on the couch. He picked up another beer and offered it to Malcolm, who refused.
“I… need money,” said Danny.
Malcolm blinked.
Time is a flat circle.
CHAPTER 2
“You have got to be kidding me,” said Malcolm.
“Look, just hear me out,” said Danny. “With the way things are right now… I might have a chance.”
“A chance for what?” Malcolm paced the floor of his living room, feeling his annoyance build. “To fleece your little brother out of a few hundred dollars? You’re like… a caricature of yourself, Danny!”
“It’d be closer to a thousand,” said Danny, quietly. “But hold on, just listen for a second.”
He reached down and lifted the six pack, wiggling it in the air. Malcolm shook his head.
“Am I supposed to guess your meaning from this?” he asked. “Beer? You’re planning on… investing in beer?”
“I have beer,” said Danny. “I was able to go into a store and buy beer. One of the small Korean owned convenience stores on Denlaw Street. My point is, look at the way the city is right now.”
“It’s chaos,” said Malcolm. “People are scared, Danny. Monsters are running around in broad daylight, and nobody can do a thing about it.”
He scowled, sipping on his beer and remembering how easily Rain Dancer had trashed the Champion Authority HQ.
“Fuck, Malcolm,” said Danny. “I don’t disagree with that. But, this is also a chance for me. I could maybe get away from all this. I found someone willing to rent me a cabin, more of a shack, really. Outside of town, away from people.”
Malcolm paused.
Away from people. Where he hopefully wouldn’t hurt anyone if he had an episode.
“Why do you deserve a second chance?” asked Malcolm.
“I don’t.” Danny chuckled like it was a joke. “I don’t know… It’s either this or nothing. Or I guess, if you really don’t think I deserve a second chance, then you could still give me the money and I could just drink myself to death?”