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He swore on his mother's grave, but then again.. he swore on just about everything. Did it really matter anymore if he swore on everything, even if it was his mother's grave? He didn't know anymore, didn't really care anymore. He could've lived a normal life with his Pops and sister in that dingy old house that hardly fit one person. He could've kept himself out of harms way, but instead decided he may as well get his anger out somehow. He had approached the lobby, but not after buying some orange pistol from the weapons shop. He knew it was an N-Zap, just wasn't sure of the name anymore. He had also purchased some black and red gear, which he preferred over almost everything else because of his aesthetic. It was a Zekko hoodie, which made him pretty much invisible inside his own ink, some cherry punks and a red visor. The boots and headgear were not needed, but looked good together.He went in that lobby.. and he waited. He grit his teeth, sliding his tongue over his canines just to get that feeling of pain. He didn't know why he felt so guilty.. maybe the fact he brushed off her death so easily. Maybe it was the fact he came here to spite her and get rid of the pain. He'd already say within this same lobby millions of times, but never with this intent. Under normal circumstances, he'd get a homemade lunch from his mother to eat after a few rounds facing off with a few other teams.. but that's all different, if it wasn't obvious. In truth, he didn't know how to cope with it. If he could buy new gear and a new weapon, maybe he would be a new person. Maybe he could trick himself that in this gear, he isn't Hero. In this gear.. maybe he could be Zekko, someone happy and cheerful.. someone with a happy life. Of course that could never be true, that's a pipe dream.. but it's nice to imagine. He sat there for a few moments, not even really caring for the people around him. His team was meant to be here ages ago, but it seems they might've ditched him. He almost thought he may as well leave, but heard someone cough behind him, trying to get his attention. It wasn't like.. a sickly cough, just something to get his attention. He contemplated the possibility of it being maybe one of his squad members but also knew that if it WAS one of them, they'd just come up to him and say hi. With this in mind, he turned around more slowly and hesitantly. "Need something?" It was an inkling with somewhat messy hair and he might even say it looks like a bowl cut. It's sort of teal or aqua with some red on the tips. He's never seen anyone's hair two different colors but.. it's not a bad mix. "Are you an inkling by the name Herro?" He bit his tongue from saying yes by accident, instead averting his gaze. There was something really odd about this guy.. he just couldn't tell why. They were familiar, like he'd seen them before, and while he said that about all sorts of people, he likely wouldn't a red and blue haired guy. He couldn't formulate any sort of answer and knew it's suspicious he'd just staying silent but he also knows his voice would waver if he answered. "..Who's asking?"
The inkling laughed, smothering himself with his hand. "I heard you were a grouch, but also paranoid? What else could I have expected.. I hear you're working with so many weaklings.. why? You could join us, yet you don't?" "...I.. I am not who you think I—" "Not who I think you are? I hope you know that your rank is on display for all to see.. so it was so obvious and easy to find you." He bites harder on his tongue, spitting some blood out onto the ground. Fuck that hurt. He could tell it was obvious to them now that he was who they are looking for. "I.. I don't know what you mean.. my name is-" "I know you also mean to go by Zekko... that won't work on me, Hero. Why don't we go get something to drink at the cafe?" Begrudgingly, they ended up inside a cafe. He already hated every single thing about this man.. and it somehow seems like they know everything about him. His real name, his fake name, his rank(he knew he put a fake rank..) and even his team. "So how much do you even know about me?" They take a swig of something that looks like shit in a cup. "Well. I have a database.. specifically for all the X-Ranks. There are very few of us, you know..." "I don't care. I don't care if this is some sort way to tell me to join X-Blood. I don't want to join and I will crush you all if you try to harm my friends.." He slammed his fist down on the table and subconsciously slid back when people looked over. "Oh please.. I don't need you threatening me, Hero. Besides, we already did that." "You WHAT?!" He said from his chair, glaring down at the man he was now 100000% certain was Vintage. "They're weaklings, Hero.. you don't need them because they'll only drag you down.."
"Vintage, you just want power! You want power so badly you don't even know where to draw the line! You harm innocent people just for being in association with me. Do you think killing my friends will change my mind?!" "Oh no.. not kill them. We'll just have a little fun with them until you see reason." "Why..? Why are you taking this so far?! Why can't you just be fucking.. satisfied with what you already have?!"He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, not just out of anger but also fear. Vintage has officially lost his fucking mind.. And he hopes the rest of X-Blood hasn't. "You're fucking insane.. a fucking lunatic!" He's attracting attention, along with people whispering. To everyone else.. he is nothing more than a B rank.. but Vintage sees through the facade. It's also possible that due to this argument.. people will find out this identity isn't really Zekko. "I'm leaving. I'm not joining you and you leave my team the fuck alone. Got it? Leave them alone or we'll have fucking issues, Vintage." He immediately leaves the cafe, both panicking and enraged. They've lost their fucking mind.. and he knows that they aren't joking when they say they'll gladly torture his teammates. Just as Vintage has already lost it, he's about ready to lose it as well. Moray Towers is being cleaned for the time being, but he's given sort of.. special privileges. He would assume it's due to rank, but he doesn't really know, maybe anyone's allowed here. He sits on one of the edges and starts stress eating a thing of Ritz crackers. They're not too dry and they're kinda good... And it's the only thing he picked with him. At some point, he lets the tears fall freely, knowing that all that's around him are stupid robots cleaning from last night's fights. He tried his phone.. And none of the three picked up. Not one of them picked up and it sent him immediately to their voice mail. He contemplated throwing the phone off the tower and letting it shatter, but also didn't wanna have to buy another damn phone.. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He was spouting random nonsense and felt heat rise to his cheeks.. someone was here? For how fucking long?! He looks at them with tear stained cheeks and the meanest scowl he can give while crying. "T.. the hell you want? M.... Make fun of me?" He swats at them, balling up his sleeve and wiping away some tears. "I actually didn't. I was lost and stumbled here.. and then I saw you crying. I didn't mean to intrude but.. what's a B rank like you up here?"
He tilts his head back and gives a dry laugh. "So you S ranked can't see past it but Vin can... as you likely know, X Ranks can change their rank to appear different to others. I wanted people to stop bugging me.. and to have a new start. I can easily change it back if you don't believe me."He leans back, popping a Ritz cracker into his mouth. The S rank seemed nice enough to him and they were also quiet. Not annoying or loud or threatening his friends.. just nice. ".. So what got you so down?" He looks up at them and pats the spot next to him. "This'll be a long story, might wanna sit down for this one." He runs a hand through his hair before eating another salty cracker. "..My ma passed away last night. I didn't know how to deal with it.. it was all so sudden. I bought new accessories and everything.. anything to try and become someone I wasn't so I could move away from the truth. I was going to cope.. by fighting against people in the lobby. Vintage.. specifically from X-Blood, showed up. Other X Ranks can see my real rank, who knew... and so he started bugging me... and wanted me to join X-Blood."He pops another Ritz cracker. "And... and then he starts threatening my friends.. and they won't answer their phones... so I think he wasn't lying.. my friends could be dead tomorrow.."
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This whole while, Skull is nodding his head slowly. "I understand completely.. what you're saying is Vintage has lost his marbles finally over.. power. I knew he hated low ranks.. but so much as to try to kill them to get you to join.." Skull leans back on his elbows with a sigh. "I could try to snap some sense into him.. because while I may not be an X-Rank, he does listen to me more than most X-Ranks. I can't even guarantee to you that I can make him see some sense to all this.. but I know he'll at least take me into consideration." The small X-Rank nods and stands with a sigh. In truth, they're the smallest inkling he thinks he's ever seen. He knows they're not any younger than him, no way.. but they're so short.. "Thank you for that.. I don't know why he would go this far just for me to join him.. he's insane.." He nods slowly. "Mm.. I agree with you there. I'll do what I can." Not being one for conversations or even being around people, he quickly leaves the scene. He ducks behind a wall before popping a couple candies into his mouth. He would have to talk to Vintage.. and as soon as possible as well. He never imagined that Vintage would actually do something as heinous as this, but when they want something they'll do anything to get it. He knows that very well.. He pops into the main shops within the square and finds that he already has all the thing currently for sale, including all the weapons. He went on a shopping spree, he could say... in order to get basically everything possible. He doesn't use or wear half the shit he got, but it's a reason to use his money. Skull then goes on to put on something far more comfortable like a hoodie. Obviously, the mask is staying, 100000%. He's already on his way to Vintage's when his phone rings.. it's Army. He never really cared for people calling him or asking him what he's doing, but he knows that if he doesn't answer, Army will be pissed in the morning. He picks up his phone and sits on a nearby bench. "What's up, Army?" "I swear I heard yelling from Vintage's." "Mm??" "If you're not already heading over, I suggest going over there." He hangs up before he even lets them say bye, shoving his phone into his pocket. This is gonna be a long fucking day...
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Skull had already gotten two different requests to go check up on Vintage. Why him? He didn't really know, probably because he's the only one Vintage actually respects and listens to. That and he's the only one that's actually allowed inside Vintage's house other than the other X-Blood's. He also questioned the X-Rank he had encountered earlier. Why were they disguising themselves as a B-Rank?He also questioned the very existence of an X-Rank that wouldn't immediately agree to team up with Vintage and instead stick with a bunch of C and B-Ranks. There's also the possibility of simply not seeking the competition.. and instead seeking a less competitive battle. He just couldn't wrap his head around it.. if they're so against competition, how did they even gain X-Rank? Why are they not proud of their rank? He sighed, hauling himself up the slope to Vintage's house. It wasn't shabby or anything, it was actually quite nice, fitting of an X-Blood. It had freshly painted walls with nice wooden walls and it wasn't a very large house either. From how many times he's been over, he remembered it being about a three bedroom two bathroom house, two guest rooms and Vintage's room. Vintage wasn't really the guy to keep guests or host parties but he would allow his friends to stay overnight if they chose. He knocked on the basic door, which had a nice wreath on it. He hadn't realized it, but Christmas was rolling around really soon and he got word of Marina and Pearl doing a splatfest in order to celebrate. It was a sort of traditional thing for them to do, a sort of way for celebration. He's been getting ready, buying new weapons but hasn't really thought of an outfit to wear. Some of the others had been nagging him to finally dress up this Christmas in red and green. He figured he would go shopping after this, if everything is to go smoothly as he plans. He got no answer and he realized he'd been standing at the door for probably three minutes just staring blankly at it. He could tell the light were obviously on, despite the lack of response, and so he knocked again. He got the same lack of an answer.. and that's when he really started getting annoyed. He could hear.. noises. They weren't any normal noises, that's for sure. He couldn't really tell, but he swore he could hear noises coming from the very ground he stands upon. He assumed something was going on in Vintage's basement.. and he didn't even remember Vintage having a basement. He went around the house towards the back and even tried to force himself through one of the windows. He didn't know why that would work and found that all the ones he tried were locked shut. It was expected and for some reason, he expected it to be unlocked.. at least one. Alas, he figured he would try the back door, which actually was unlocked. Vintage had told him a long time ago that if he ever needed somewhere to stay or chill, the back door would always be unlocked. He saw that wasn't just a half lie, it was still unlocked. He slipped inside through the door. It squealed gently behind him as he snuck inside, slipping it closed behind him with a gentle pop. He found himself inside what he would call a laundry room, having a standard washing machine and a dryer. There was also a shelf above the two machines, which had various products on it like drier sheets and tide pods. One would assume they would never need to wash their things because they're squids, but his clothing often does get dirty during turf wars or even ranked battles. The next room over, he found himself inside a kitchen but smelt like a butchery. It reeked of blood with the iconic trail of blood leading down and equally creepy set of wooden stairs. The air inside the house was murky and humid, smelling of fresh blood. He stepped over the blood trail, feeling like he was in some sort of murder scene.If he was Aviators, he would've made the genius ideas to phone the cops.. but instead phoned Army. "Can you.. phone the cops for me? I think I'm about to hurl.." "What's going on in there, dude? I only heard some noises.. but he didn't answer when I knocked." Army seemed concerned, he'd rarely heard this tone of voice from someone as uncaring as them. "There's fucking blood everywhere.. I can't speak too loud, I think he might hear me if I do.. but I think I'm in a fucking murder scene.. or at least one in the making." His head felt heavy from the smell of iron in the air. It was making him really dizzy.. maybe the shock of it all was the cause, he couldn't tell. "You might wanna get out of there, man.. I'll call the cops or something, just get out of there before he sees you." "Oh shit, I hear him coming up the stairs.." He swore he heard something.. and he made a dash for the door. He knocked over a lamp on the way out, bumping hard into the table behind the couch. Sure, he wasn't too focused on it, but the table had these nice wicker baskets instead of shelves. He unlocked the door as fast as he could and caught a glimpse of Vintage before he leapt through the doorway. He knew that they'd likely run after him, but he didn't really care. He ran as fast as his legs would take him. He could hear Vintage screaming behind him, he couldn't really tell what, didn't really care what.. Vintage is a fucking murderer is all he fucking knows! He ran to get in his car and zoomed off, but he obviously made sure he didn't crash into anything like a good citizen. Sure, he's freaked out but he doesn't want to make a scene. He ended up driving to Army's place and collapsing on their couch. He didn't get why this was happening to him and why he had to find Vintage's house in that state.. why did he have to be nosy? Why couldn't he have just been happy with knocking and getting no answer? He just had to break in through the backdoor and see what was going on.. but at least that eased the worry about the X-Rank's friends being kidnapped. They were definitely kidnapped and possibly dead, who knows! He doesn't but he also feels horrible that he'll have to eventually report his findings to them. Army was nosy to try and get as much information out of him as they could and he honestly couldn't tell them much. "Well.. I saw the classic horror movie trail of blood leading into the basement.. and then I started to hear footsteps coming up the steps when we were calling. I knocked over his lamp and he chased me all the way to my car.. but I don't think he would come this far to pursue me. If he did, we might both be fucked, man.." He sighed, leaning his head back. He was so done with today and his head still felt sickly heavy from the amount of blood in that house. It was like Vintage's house became a butchery shop, except they cut all the meat in the basement and never sanitized so all the old blood just stayed. Army already ended up calling the cops after he hung up.. and he bet they probably heard him break the damn lamp. He's not normally clumsy, but he definitely intruded on something he wasn't meant to. He sighed, leaning back into the soft pillows specifically meant to be on the couch. "You good with me staying here, even if just a day? Vintage knows I know what he did, so.. if he's gonna look anywhere for me, it's gonna be my house." "Yeah, whatever you need, Skull. I'll be here and.. I think you'll be safer around people. You're welcome to chill in my room or whatever if you feel nervous being out here alone. We can binge movie all night if you're scared of falling asleep too." That response brought a smile to his face.. that's the Army he knows and loves. Always putting up an uptight and serious front but always being so caring and sweet underneath the facade. "Thanks a ton, again. I know a lot of the others would pussy out and probably make me leave their house.. but I doubt Vintage even remembers you exist to come here, no offense.. he's just that kind of guy." Army gives a soft laugh, nodding. "Yeah, yeah.. same old.. uncaring and not really giving a fuck about people or even rules, apparently." He stands up and heads into Army's room, which smells faintly like cinnamon and a hint of coffee. He always loved that smell and he could always smell it coming off of Army.. not that he likes Army, just that they're a real one for doing this for him. He wasn't lying when he said the others would pussy out. He took some blankets from a closet, which Army told him was specifically for blankets and such. He made a sort of blanket fort on the ground.. before Army laughed at him. "You're gonna sleep on the floor? If I knew that, I'd have opted for the floor instead.." Skull felt like an idiot, face flushing bright red underneath his mask. "You expected me to sleep in the same bed as you?! I.. isn't that taking kissing the homies goodnight too far?" Army practically hauls him onto the bed, seeing as they're honestly a lot bulkier than him in body shape. He doesn't really mind this all too much, but also feels awkward as hell. This isn't kissing the homies anymore, this is full on cuddling with the homies. "Okay, what you wanna watch?? We got the new Doctor Strange.. we got some other stuff.. yeah." He shrugs, trying to get comfy. Comfy turns into sleep and before he knows it, he's passed out on top of Army.