Just a guy trying to prove himself
1040 Words
After the initial tremors, there was an explosion… no, there was meant to be one but nothing happened.
David remained silent for a moment, thinking it had been delayed only to look down at his chest.
Then he glanced at Vincent who was also looking at him with a perplexed look on his face.
"Was something supposed to happen?" He couldn't help but ask as an awkward silence reigned in the building.
David was about to reply when Marcus spoke up. "I'll explain."
Taking confident steps forward, Marcus soon arrived beside Vincent.
"Uhmm, my…"
"Vincent!" Diego quickly called out, worried that Vincent would end up spilling what he'd told him.
Vincent realized his oversight as he quickly composed himself but Marcus didn't seem to pay much heed to this as he stared intently at David, the latter staring back with an intense look.
"Are you curious why the poison pill within you didn't go off?"
"What?" Vincent exclaimed wide-eyed while Diego was left speechless.
Meanwhile, David looked on hatefully as he inquired. "How did you know?"
"It was easy to pick up after you brought me in here. I can't believe you've been engraving poison marks in this building. It's quite intriguing considering how much effort was put into it."
"Hehe, 10 years of effort, washed down the drain so easily." David shook his head as he spoke, dropping his head down to mutter something incoherent.
Marcus sighed. "It won't work. As long as I'm in proximity to you, I can prevent the trigger from being pulled."
"How?"
"A simple Qi suppression technique. If you try to forcibly detonate it, the poison mist would invade your body and leave you in a horrible state.
David stared at Marcus wordlessly for a brief moment before muttering coldly. "... You will regret this."
"I don't think I will."
"You…"
"... I have a question."
As the conversation between the two slowly progressed, the atmosphere in the room slowly grew tense, with Vincent recovering long enough to inform everyone present to leave.
Soon enough, it remained only Diego, Vincent, an angry David, and a curious Marcus.
"What?" David asked while fuming.
Marcus pursed his lips as he inquired. "Are you the one behind the masked men and also behind Mira's death?"
"You expect me to answer that?" David shot back.
Marcus didn't immediately respond, taking his time to study David's reaction before he asked another question.
"Why are you doing this?... Going after innocent lives with something as blessed as martial arts. Gramps always said that martial arts was not something to be used as a weapon against ordinary people. So why use it against them?"
David chuckled. "Maybe it's because of how naive you sound right now, but I feel inclined to tell you. Your gramps is right, martial arts is not a weapon… but it is capable of being used as a means for justice."
"Justice?" Marcus raised a brow.
"Do you not know anything?"
"... I'm sorry, I just arrived in Intercity so I'm not privy to the news." Marcus truthfully replied leaving David silent for a moment.
After a few seconds had passed, David replied. "You should stop getting involved in things that don't concern you. If you really are a newcomer, you can turn a blind eye and nothing would happen to you."
"... I don't think I can," Marcus muttered after briefly pondering David's words.
David clicked his tongue in annoyance as he inquired. "Why?"
"Because I can't turn a blind eye when I see martial arts being used for the wrong reasons and innocent people being punished as a result."
"What are you?... Some hero?" David spat coldly.
Marcus shook his head. "I'm just a guy trying to prove himself to his family."
"..." David remained silent, staring intently into Marcus's eyes before promptly looking away.
Seeing as David didn't plan on continuing the conversation, Marcus let out a sigh before rising to his feet.
"I have one last question."
"...What?"
"Why aren't you attacking me?"
"..."
"The spell I'm using to suppress the poison marks isn't that stable. So you attacking me would enable you to detonate the marks, so why?"
"... Because there's no need to sacrifice innocent people to take out a few scum."
"..." Marcus's eyes flashed with interest as he soon turned to leave, walking right by Vincent and Diego without bothering to acknowledge their presence any more than he already had.
Vincent and Diego exchanged looks with one another while David remained in his position, his head down and his eyes wet.
***
"Marcus!" Vera called out excitedly as she made her way toward him.
Accompanying her were two familiar faces, Ethan and Lucy.
Marcus feigned a smile as he remarked. "You guys."
"I was so worried. Did that do anything to you?" Vera inquired.
Marcus shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Do I look like I'm in a bad state?"
"Well, no… but."
"Come on, Vera. He said he's fine so he definitely is fine." Ethan remarked before turning to Marcus.
"Did you meet my dad?"
"Your dad?" Marcus raised a brow.
"Yeah, Vincent Ruthford."
"Your dad is the commissioner?"
"... Why do you sound so surprised?"
"Well, ahem… It's just that you guys don't look alike."
"What?"
"... Are you sure he is your biological dad?... I mean, are you sure?" Marcus asked, dialing his voice down a bit as though he were undertaking a conspiratorial conversation.
Ethan stared at the rascal briefly, restraining the urge to beat him. "... He is my stepdad."
"Ah, that explains it."
"Why you…"
***
After David was found out, he was promptly put into custody pending review while the poison marks he'd placed in the building were removed by Vincent and Diego working together.
Meanwhile, Marcus got the news from Ethan that a wake would be held for Mira tonight with her burial taking place tomorrow.
Naturally, Marcus decided to attend with Vera, the latter unwilling to attend due to several reasons.
In any case, after informing him of the time and venue for the event, Ethan entered the precinct to see his father with Lucy following after him.
"They seem pretty close," Marcus commented as he watched them leave.
- Writer
