***
{Inside The Projection}
Malik remained still before his... father, staring him down.
The bed housing Layla sat directly behind him, he, its shield.
He was what stood between it and a threat.
And yes, he saw the man whose blood ran in his veins as a definite 'threat,' simply waiting for him to bare his fangs so he could be justified in bearing his.
His father did the same, though only in self-defense, knowing that Malik cared not for their blood tie; he'd attack the very faction he suspected even a faint hint of attack.
So, that led them to studying each other for a long moment, scanning for weaknesses, making up strategies, and simulating possible scenarios, treating each other no different than sworn enemies.
Malik's entire life was a story about fathers and a son.
Yet now, when finally his actual father appeared...
This was the result.
...A wonderful reunion, wasn't it?
