Chapter 06 - Reign of brute force

Friday night was buzzing at Rodie's bar thanks to an agitated vocalist on stage. The night's setlist was cover bands from the eighties carrying nostalgia for the fans, who sang along raising their bottles and mugs.

The stage was too small, so Leonardo jumped from the stage to walk between the tables, interacting with the audience. The euphoria filled that crowded bar, with the voices rising up following the rhythm of the melody. The shouted lyrics seemed to give the vocalist the energy needed to continue his stroll among the crowd, before jumping back on stage.

The guitar solo, bass and followed by the drums also received the applause of the patrons.

It needed more.

A lot more.

His throat still didn't burn as he wished it would.

His lungs weren't panting enough.

It wasn't enough.

As the performance ended, the applause of the audience was music to his ears. Leonardo raised the microphone high, celebrating one more success in another part-time job.

― Do you want more? ― Laughed the young man sitting on the stage, looking to the audience that answered with shouts. ― What to do? We played our entire repertoire today. Should we get some unknown ones for you to enjoy?

The shout from the audience made Leonardo smile in satisfaction.

― Very good! Let's go with Cry Baby, Brazilian version.

Turning to his band mates, who nodded to his request, soon the new song came out of the chords. Usually they played known songs, but Leonardo wanted to sing this song. Brazilian version of the opening of one of his favourite anime, he loved the version that he always listened on youtube.

And it had what Leonardo most wanted to do at that moment.

"The brute force was what reigned, in the blow that knocked you down

After so much struggle, living the dreams no longer mattered.

Over the wounds came the rain, you tried to hide

Looking at me with a smile and telling me everything would be alright.

You never fought with anyone, how would this evil deserve?

Don't pretend to me that you're over it, I can see in your eyes how much you're suffering".

Jumping on stage, Leonardo stood on a crate facing the audience directly. It was as if the message was directly to them, pointing in their direction and telling them an undeniable truth.

The drums raised the sound and the rhythm accelerated so that Leonardo's voice could be heard by everybody. The chorus arrived with the vocalist showing his talent in reaching higher notes.

"Let the pain go away in tears, don't hold on to resentment

Free yourself, free yourself from torment

I'll give you comfort, if the heart can't take it

Don't give up, fight this cruel end

Even if the pain suffocates the will to live happy

You must go on with your life

It's through your smile, that I find the strength to move forward

Amidst the rain my cry will echo

I take an oath here

I'll have our revenge!

Revenge? Would that be the right word for what Leonardo felt at that moment?

Even though a week had passed since what had happened in Dreamland, Leonardo was unable to forget that incandescent rage he had felt when he punched that thug. Despite being a physically different person, what he saw was a mere shadow of his past.

A shadow of which he desperately wished to choke.

"I will be strong and I will fight back, that motive has taken me

That's what I need to move forward, only that way by my side you'll be

That sad day someone will remember, no matter how far I fall I'll get up

A voice in me, a voice in me tells me you must never give up

Why don't you fight back?

Tell me why don't you take revenge?

Tell me why don't you fight back?

Tell me why don't you even try?

Why?"

And it was at that moment, when his voice screamed into the microphone together with the guitar and the drums, that the climax of the performance was reached. The sound of Rafael's guitar was applauded by the audience, who stood up again to shout in euphoria for the song played.

The drums and the bass gave the final touch to that climax, and the rhythm decreased again to the entrance of the vocals. Leonardo held the microphone hiding his countenance in his long, dark fringes.

"Sweet words won't help me or shelter me from the storm that falls

Keeping kindness will not suffice

I can only heal the wounded heart if the weakness stays in the past."

A chuckle had escaped his throat at the electrifying feeling of seeing himself in those lyrics. Damn who translated the lyrics, for it had touched his soul and poked at his most painful wound.

Again the rhythm accelerated towards the end of the song. The public reacted excitedly having Leonardo interacting with them once again. That connection he felt once in a while always proved how pleasant it was to perform together with his friends.

"Let the pain go in tears don't hold on to bitterness

Free yourself, free yourself from torment

I'll give you comfort, if the heart can't take it

Don't give up, fight this cruel end

Even if the pain suffocates the will to live happy

You must go, go on with your life

It's through your smile that I find the strength to move forward

In the rain my cry will echo

I'll bring back what I lost, what time stole from me

The good times I've lived

I'll give it back, I swear to you

I'll have our revenge!"

The final cry echoed throughout the bar receiving the applause of the audience. Facing each one that applauded, Leonardo had the feeling that his pain was heard even if no one knew of its existence. And so a weight disappeared from his chest.

Although his little outburst was successfully done, the band had ignited the public's desire to hear more songs. Those boys were willing to play all night, since it was Friday. It wouldn't matter what time they left, as long as they didn't regret playing.

In that line of thought, the four young men left the stage at around two in the morning when hunger was already pressing and taking away their concentration. Coming down from the stage many people came to talk to them, especially Leonardo, applauding their energetic performance.

Berta had already prepared some snacks for the boys, and the drummer Gustavo was the only one to get away from the crowd and go to the bar.

― I'm alive! Wow, I'm dying.

― Decide whether you're going to live or die, kid. ― Laughed the barmaid, handing the drummer a bottle of water. ― I thought you guys had outdone yourselves last time, but now I see I was wrong. Anything good happen?

Gustavo shook his head as he took big sips of water and wiped the sweat from his face with his thin T-shirt.

― I don't know, I just felt I needed to follow Leo. He did seem to be shouting something at the top of his lungs.

― Did you feel... Hm. As long as they keep bringing me customers, I'm happy.

The drummer laughed at the bar owner, and went back to watching his band mates talk to the audience. Indeed that performance had been legendary for them.

...⋈...

In a secluded mansion, more specifically in a living room where a fireplace had been lit to warm the four subjects gathered there, a topic was being talked about.

Lightning flashed in the cloudy night sky announcing the storm about to fall. And it hadn't taken long for the first coarse drops of rain to fall against the window, ushering in another quiet night.

― Was that mess sorted out? ― Asked a short boy with blond hair, hugging a pillow. ― I heard it was a fight.

― But of course I resolved it, how could I let something like that go on for so long?

A white-haired, red-eyed man appeared behind Vicente, hugging him by the shoulders with a weak smile on his face.

― I hope you punished that little fellow for touching our Benjin. If you need me to make someone disappear like magic...

― Ray behave yourself. ― whispered Vincent, enjoying a cup of warm tea. ― It is a pity that Mr Brahan behaved like that, he was a great investor in Dreamland.

― We don't need him now, we are doing well financially. ― Announced the blond boy, shrugging into a large woolen coat. ― If the public finds out that their beloved Benjin was saved from being abused, some company will probably come along and offer something to improve our safety.

― Little boy, a wrinkle is growing in the middle of your forehead. ― Stammered Ray, pointing at the blonde, who made a disgusted face. ― It's not pretty on that ugly little face of yours.

― Jealousy kills you, you idiot. But I'm serious about this.

― Now, now, if our little genius sees a possibility, I must take it. ― Smile Vicente leaving the cup on the saucer silently.

― It is just an idea. There is concern on the part of the visitors too. It is a double-edged sword.

― Ah, so much bla bla bla, what a boring subject. Let's talk about what matters? ― Ray jumped on the upholstered couch, getting down on his knees, looking towards the window where a boy with grey-blue hair was hugging a coat ― Our little star has been walking around like a mummy for days.

Vincent and the blond boy also looked towards the window. The trapeze artist barely paid any attention to the conversation, he just kept hugging the coat that covered part of his face. Every now and then he inhaled the perfume stuck to him, his face flushing.

― What's he doing? Is he sick by any chance?

Vicente sighed, leaving his cup on the coffee table.

― He's just anxious.

― What happens if I take that coat off him?

A slap was slapped on the head by Ray, who pursed his lips as he looked back at the scolding look on the short blonde's face.

― Didn't you have to sew some clothes? Hurry up and stop tormenting Ben.

― Are you jealous, Aslan? ― joked the magician, jumping up to hug the short boy. However the blonde had dodged, making him hug the air. ― Ah, your icy love is charming.

― Go on, you pervert!

Completely ignoring the trivial discussion of those two, Vicente got up from the sofa and went to the window where the trapeze artist was sitting. He remained beside him observing his inebriated face, without letting go of the coat he had carried everywhere since that fateful day when it had been rested on his shoulders.

― Benjin, you're going to make yourself sick. You should at least rest properly.

― I finally found him, Vincent. ― whispered the boy, opening a wide smile and lowering his greenish eyes to the coat in his arms. ― My Leo will come back to me, finally.

Lightning lit up that romantic intoxication on the face of the trapeze artist. The thunder made the glass panes tremble as if they were the heart of that artist. Vicente fixed his glasses on his face, sighing defeated.

He had to find a way to make the young master return to his home.