Rainy Day

I HAD been walking all morning, under the rain. My gray T-shirt had long turned a darker shade. My hair had already been tangled as I pushed the double glass doors of a Ma and Pa restaurant at the limits of Whitelock town.

I slid over the booth at the back corner. I wanted to go as unnoticed as possible, though with my appearance, it was futile. A lady, at the doors of her 50's and with a warm welcoming smile walked toward me.

"Here's the menu, take your time"

I only looked back at her and nodded, that should be enough of an answer for her, I thought.

I was right, she just widened her smile, turned around then walked away, to behind the long counter. I went through the menu, it only had two pages but everything seemed delicious, definitely a Ma and Pa's home cooking.

These weren't the dishes made in a big city, they weren't touched by the pollution of such cities, not to forget the excessive seasoning, or not seasoning at all. The business was probably run by a couple of elders.

After 2 minutes of reading the menu, I picked and the lady took the menu with her as she went around the counter and into the kitchen at the back.

Ding!

The bell sound took me out of my thoughts. Two young men, probably my age entered nonchalantly as if they just came into their house.

I couldn't help but notice the glances they were receiving from the other clientele. I've always been attentive to small details, they made up the big picture after all.

They're trouble. Not just the kind of trouble that is easily solved by a few words, but the type to require the intervention of the authorities.

"KJ, what can I help you with today?"

Judging by how the same lady that attended me was addressing the guy, she must not want trouble with him.

"Give me the regular, one for each"

He said "the regular", he must be a frequent trouble maker. The lady then proceeded to head back to the kitchen again, in a hurried manner. After a few minutes of wait, she came back with 4 apple pies.

"Here"

"KJ, we really need the money right now, can you wait a bit more?"

'Extortion?' I thought.

"C'mon Mrs. Brown"

"You know we can't do that" he said, with a menacing tone, he didn't want to hide his intentions. Probably because he knew nobody would dare to confront him.

Snap!

He signaled and everyone started to head out. Everyone just looked at the lady with gazes that yelled "sorry".

"I-I, please, you know that our business is getting affected by the in-town new restaurants. We can't meet your quota." She was trembling, a lady her age shouldn't go through such emotional turmoils

"But, you do know that we don't do it for free, right?" This 'KJ' was really getting on my nerves, it wasn't my problem. I knew that yet for some reason his way of talking annoyed me. Things seemed crystal clear now, he and his goons were 'hired' to protect the place from some other scum. But the couple of this place never agreed so they were forced.

They probably threatened with destroying their place if they didn't accept their forced protection from probably nothing since no gang, no matter how eager for a few bucks, would go for this run down place, which barely received a few clients a day. Enough to keep it going.

It just wasn't worth it, yet this KJ wasn't doing it for money, but for fun. He probably enjoys taking advantage of weaker individuals, like the elderly. True scum.

KJ looked over to me, who hasn't moved an inch unlike the others that almost sprinted out of here. The condescending tone of his look pissed me off even more.

He then changed targets with his gaze and looked over to his friend beside him, a skinny white guy with a shaved head and a cocky look. He started walking towards me, I knew it was bound to happen, but what can I say. I am a stubborn person. I hadn't eaten all morning and my stomach demanded some pancakes with honey.

"Friend, you should get out before it gets rough" He said. I just looked at him and then at the lady. That line was fucking cringy.

"Go to the back and bring me my pancakes, please" I said to her. She did a small nod and then hurried to the kitchen. It seems like she caught on quickly enough.

"Hey, bitch, what do you think you're doing?" The same shaved, ugly guy standing in front of me spoke yet again with his seemingly mouthwash muddled up with dog piss. I could smell it since he leaned a bit closer to me, probably to intimidate me.

I didn't say anything back. I just stared at him, expecting something. It didn't take very long for what I yearned for to happen.

He swung forward as if to grab me by the hair but that was a mistake. I didn't like people touching me.

I tilted my head slightly to the right, making him miss by a few inches. I took the opportunity to grab his arm with my left hand to lock him before pulling.

He didn't expect it, which gave me the chance to deal a good blow with my right elbow to his face. I followed with a quick grab to the back of his neck with both hands as I brought it straight down, striking the table. A bit of blood was spilled.

I slid his now unconscious body to the side to properly clean the table with a few napkins from the napkins holder at the center of that same table.

There were 4 goons, including KJ, two of them outside guarding the door like the obedient dogs they are and KJ along with the now unconcious guy who stayed inside.

"That's one"

I look over to KJ who seems stunned, but not for long as he made some noise and the two dogs from outside came in.

They looked around and immediately understood what the problem was when they saw the unconscious body of the guy I had just knocked. They both wore black leather jackets with a Serpent on the back. A gang.

"Tsk" I really hoped for a quick retreat but it seemed like they didn't have the brains to understand at what level they were.

Both of them were level 3. A bit above an average human.

They both approached with long steps while at the same time I stood, interlocked my fingers and cracked my knuckles.

The first one, bang, a quick jab to the chin. He didn't even see it coming as he slipped forward while falling down and hitting his head.

The second was now much prepared and aware of me. He took a boxing stance. Both arms raised in a defensive way, covering his face.

4 feet away from me and he went for it! A right hook. Not much power but the speed wasn't bad.

I raised my left arm to block. He took a step back and I took one forward.

I ducked and went for a front sweep kick, to which he responded by jumping yet he didn't expect me to quickly retract my right leg with which I performed the last move and kicked in a diagonal angle. It was aimed at his torso.

There were too many rules to boxing. I preferred to learn different kinds of martial arts, albeit I am not exceptionally good at them. These guys are just worse.

He was sent flying a bit more than a meter away, arriving at KJ's feet.

He wasn't knocked, still conscious enough to see KJ's foot kick his chin while sending him to the side. He definitely didn't like his man's failure.

He was pissed, and I took pleasure in that. His previous cocky look had faded, I also liked that. Bringing people who are too high above the clouds straight to the ground was exhilarating.

"You wanna go at it as well?"

"Tsk" He didn't run, which meant that he wanted to go at it. He took a fighting stance as he took a deep breath.

"Fuuhh!" He exhaled and his eyes turned gold, his hair white and his body pitch black. It was as if he was a custom character out of a game.

'Close quarter fighter and a Noir one at that.' It didn't take much to realize he wasn't a simple street kid. He had a good Metamorphosis, probably a kid from a good family playing gangster.

I also took a deep breath, and exhaled! But my appearance didn't change, it was only to ease my mind.