I sigh and lean eyes closed, back on the floor of the living room. The rest of the day had been uneventful, although compared to death dodgeball other things seem boring.
A familiar rumbling noise could be heard slowly getting closer. He stops in front of the door opening it and closing it behind him. The rumbling gets closer and closer until the light disappears.
"Rio."
"Hey Napoleon."
"You went too far."
I open my eyes and see that he looks more serious than usual.
"Hm?" I reply.
"The game. You should've just let them win."
I get up off the ground, dust myself off, and stare at him.
"And that would've benefited me,how?"
"So that a target isn't put on your back, So that you don't end up like-."
For the first time I see worry in his eyes. I chuckle.
"I couldn't just let them say that sh*t about you. Listen man, don't worry about me I'll be-."
"No. No you won't. I've seen that expression that the blonde kid had on."
He's… shaking. Visibly.
"Every time I've seen a padre make that face… Someone close to me suffers for it. You flew too close to the sun! You flew too close to the sun and now it's your turn to be shot down!" He's… quivering.
An odd noise starts coming out of Napoleon.
Could he be?
He's… crying.
I don't think about it. I don't need to.
I drag a chair over, hop on it, and put my arm around the guy.
"It's okay man, just let it all out."
— — —
I'm outside.
Or rather have been kicked out of the dorm for almost burning it down.
It's raining.
I hate it.
I hate it all.
I stand there my tears of flame mix with the tears of the sky. Sending tears of smoke back up.
I… miss you.
Mother.
I swear I won't let you be disrespected.
Never again.
A single frame pops into my mind like a curse. That scene. I bowl over in the middle of the street and puke it all out.
"Monsters. All of them!"
I cry there on that random street.
— — —
Unseen by Nero, I grin. Watching the blonded bastard puke and cry like a baby boy has healed me.
No.
It has healed the world.
I lean against the wall and cheer as I watch him stumble and go to his knees. Few things are holding me back from tearing up from joy. I watch as people surround him, concerned.
"No! My view!"
I race closer eager to get my close up.
I force my way through the crowd and stare at Ner- the Blonded brat with all three of my eyes.
Burning this sobbing, sniveling, slightly singed boy into my mind. Two other padre students, recognizing the mess, quickly covered it up, and wheel it off to the tras- the dorms.
"Well, all the action is over. Time to go!" I think.
"What a gift from the heavens that was! You know what, I don't even want revenge anymore. If I start going down that path, what's the difference between me and all of them?" I murmur going back into the alley from whence I came. May my parents rest in peace for once.
My eye on my chest hums a a joyful tune. And I sing along.
— — —
"Do you know what an oxymoron is?" A older voice asks.
"Isn't that that thing where you put two opposite ideas together?" replies a child.
"Good job son. So do you see the oxymoron here?" The older man asks.
After a moment of silence, the kid replies:
"Yeah… I think I do."