How Are They?

Giving him time to get up, Arthur watched David. That pale, average face, with some factory defects. Dirty, greasy hair, in dire need of a cut. He wasn't sure whether to feel anger or pity.

"What the fuck was that, man?" In an ordinary voice, neither thick nor thin, David looked at Arthur in confusion. He was still a little dizzy from the punch, so he was just leaning on the car to get to his feet.

Arthur slapped his hand and then pushed him into the wall.

"Your promises aren't worth shit, are they, David? I really fucking want to end up with your face!" Walking back and forth to try to control himself, Arthur's hands shook a little. He hurriedly took out a chocolate and bit a piece.

"You know me from where, bro? I don't even know who you are!" Getting up off the floor again, but this time with his hand behind his back, David almost yelled at Arthur.

"Of course you don't know who I am, you fucking junkie!" Arthur couldn't take it anymore. He activated training mode and set gravity to 30x. His body immediately became so heavy that he could barely move. But even so, he still punched David in the stomach.

Blurgh!

David flew to the wall again, throwing up some of what was in his stomach. He could see from the contents that only gastric acid came out.

"I fucked myself up to see if you guys had a new life, and when I least expect it you're in the same shit." Arthur lifted David by the neck and kneed him in the stomach again. "Am I some kind of clown to you, you fucking jackass?" Arthur threw him against the wall again, afraid that he might destabilize and end up injuring him seriously.

Blurgh! Cof!

More vomit came out of David's mouth before he coughed to steady himself.

"Hahahaha! I do not believe this. You haven't called me that in a while, huh..." He looked at Arthur as he spit out some of the blood he had in his mouth. "Look at the lover over there, the holy savior Arthur! Hahahah!"

"Don't laugh, you stupid bitch! Do I look like I want to laugh?" Arthur opened the trunk of the car. He took some clothes from inside and threw them to David. He threw in a health potion too while saying, "Get dressed, you shit! Take that crap over there too."

"Got angry!? Fuck it up your ass! How did you get so strong, you piece of shit? Felt heavy, huh!" Rubbing his stomach, David was still holding back a little as he laughed. Without hesitation, he drank what Arthur handed him and began to undress. "Are you really going to watch, man? Did you change sides in that time you were alone?"

"Who wants to look at that little thing of yours? Get dressed and get in the car." Arthur was struggling not to grab a knife and went straight to the car.

After a while, David appeared on the other side and opened the door as he entered. On his face was a slightly shocked look to see Arthur behind the wheel of such an impressive car.

"Got rich, man? Did you sell a kidney or something? Don't tell me you were giving your as- Fuck, do you have a gun??" David almost burst out laughing when he saw Arthur pull out a gun and point it right in his face. "Where did you get that kid's toy?" He took it directly from Arthur's hand.

"Give it back! Hold still, I'll take you out to eat and see if I can fix that fucking beggar face you have!" Arthur only touched the pistol before it magically disappeared.

"Not only did you become rich, but you became a magician too?" David punched Arthur on the shoulder as he relaxed into the comfortable seat. "That damn thing you gave me makes a hell of a lot of effect, huh!"

"Just shut up!" Stepping on the gas, Arthur started to leave in search of some random restaurant.

***

When he finished eating the third plate of lunch, David burped a little because of the soda. He looked directly at Arthur, with a slightly worried expression.

"Come on, open the game! Where did you get so much money, man? You're not doing anything wrong, are you? I'll tell Lis." He looked different from the guy Arthur had been beating until just now. He was even a little happy to have this conversation.

"How are they?" Arthur just watched David eat the entire time and didn't touch his food.

"Who do you want to know?" An amused expression appeared on David's face as he noticed Arthur's dodging.

"All!"

"Everything is fine. João and Hiago left for São Paulo, to see if they could try a new life. The rest of us... hid. We didn't want to spoil what you did, so we haven't raised much suspicion so far. But you know how it is. We have to work to not starve to death. I ended up working at a nightclub and now I'm the boss, can you believe it? Ezequiel and Bart are working as security there after I took over. Santino is in the kitchen while I trusted Douglas to run it with me. The girls... they are waiting..."

"Waiting for what?" Arthur's teeth clenched as his grip on the arm of the chair tightened.

"You." David had a kind of melancholy look on his face, as if he was remembering a lot of things.

"Did you take care of them?" Arthur's eyes were almost trembling, as if he might explode at any moment.

"Safer than ever." David tossed a piece of rice into his mouth.

"Is everyone in town?" He was finally starting to calm down on hearing news from them.

"Lis went to college while Ella went to high school now. Shouldn't you even be studying? Or got into shit again?"

"Why the fuck were you in the operation? What the fuck were you doing there?" Arthur finally sat up in his seat and rested his chin in his hand as he looked into David's eyes. He immediately changed the subject to David's arrest.

"I work at a nightclub. What did you expect? That they would get high on mixed soda? And I was only in the meeting because of contacts, I had practically no voice there. And how the fuck do you know?" It wasn't until he'd said so much that David realized he'd answered without noticing this point.

"You do not need to know. Just know that you are free. What are you going to do now?" Arthur had already got up and asked for the bill. He had the food put in a lunch box and brought a can of soda.

"You really didn't look anything like the Arthur of old. Even the piss stench is gone!" David ruffled Arthur's hair as he stood up too. "But seriously. How did you get so much money? Even I'll find a way to beat you up if you answer wrong!"

The two were already walking along the sidewalk. Since they were in the shopping center, everything they needed was close by and there was no need to drive such a fancy car all over the place.

Arthur handed his lunch box to a beggar along with the soda can. He also threw him a R$100 bill before walking away, ignoring all of the guy's thanks. He remembered that he had seen this beggar many times when he was going to and from the Guild.

"Almost dying for it. Satisfied?" Arthur shrugged. He couldn't reveal it, but he didn't mind telling a little either.

"Who knew Dad would actually work himself to death. Mom would be really sad... I mean, more, huh..." David looked at Arthur before looking away.

"I'll kill you if you open your mouth again!" Arthur continued to stare straight ahead, his heart almost breaking as he heard what he said, but he couldn't let himself be carried away by that emotion.

They then went into a barbershop and worked on David's hair and beard, which was almost non-existent, before going to shop for clothes at Nautilus. They were greeted by Jorge with enthusiasm.

This let David know that Arthur's wealth was not new. 'Did this boy receive the long-awaited inheritance of some European principality?'

After 3 hours, David looked like a completely different person. Thanks to Arthur's potion, and also he was very weak, his skin was healthier and the dark circles in the eyes were gone. His clothes were more fashionable and his hair was neatly cut, his face smooth and clean-shaven.

"What are you thinking about getting me out of jail, man? You know I've been there before, it wasn't so dangerous to have gone a second time. I have some connections." David and Arthur were talking at that moment near the car. They were standing in front of the parking lot and admiring the distant beauty of the Shelby GT500.

"I do not know. I missed everyone... It would be the most sincere answer. "Arthur couldn't seem to lie. His gaze was distant too, thinking about other things.

"Missing us? Or miss her?" David took a piece of gum out of his pocket and started to chew. He didn't even dare meet Arthur's eyes.

Silence was what came in response, as Arthur continued to stare at the car. With his good eyesight, he could see his own reflection thanks to the polished quality he gave.

"If I'm acquitted of this case, I'll throw a party at the nightclub. You MUST attend. She will be there." David got up and wiped his ass. After so much talk, he was ready to leave. What should have been said is gone, and the rest he saved for later.

Arthur remained silent, but threw a key to David. Looking at the key, he could see an H in the key. Arthur nodded his head slightly away, the spot where a brand new metallic gray Honda Civic sat.

David just smiled as he looked at it. He turned to Arthur and pulled him into a hug. Patting Arthur lightly on the back, in a masculine hug, he said: "We really fucking miss you too! Come over there... Dad! Mom is waiting for you!"

Tousling Arthur's hair again, the two parted ways. He watched as David started the car and drove off in a random direction.

Taking some more time to observe the movement of the streets, Arthur was lost in his thoughts. The twilight sun lit up his face, passing into the faint moonlight.

By the time he realized it, 5 hours had passed, in which he lost himself in memories he swore to bury for her sake.

Looking at his right arm, Arthur's hand curled into a fist and began to squeeze. Veins began to appear and the muscles stretched the skin even more.

"Why power if not to protect those you love?..."

Arthur's not fully clenched fist closed for good, causing a loud crack. This was the sound of a gunshot caused by the sudden compression of a space.

"Now i have the power!"

With eyes that could bring the world down, Arthur's conviction of his own existence began to change. With all the recent events, he knew that the path he was being forced on was the only one he was suited to right now.

That was the path of Power, and he would pass through countless enemies if it were to protect those he loved. Many things have already happened because of his weakness, and that was enough to drag him to the bottom of the well. Now that he was out, it was time to fly higher.

The bright green eyes were mixed with a sudden wave of gold before returning to normal.

___

Author Note: The headache is gone and everything is fine now. I think it was hunger... :)

Good Reading!