Exploring the neighborhood with a brick in my pocket (4)

James Clerr couldn't help but glance in terror at the young man sitting across from him carelessly tearing his way through another breakfast platter. He glanced in disbelief at the mountain of plates piled on the tables before glancing back at the young man.

"What are you looking at? Should I hit you one more time?" The boy glanced up at him with a disinterested expression, his golden eyes glowing.

"No sir." James Clerrr responded in a garbled voice. He immediately averted his gaze as quickly as he could, his swollen face, the back of his head, and arms pulsing with pain as he remembered the thud of that strange black object knocking him out.

Asani Martin.

He thought he knew this scrawny orphan who lived in a shabby apartment in an even shabbier neighborhood. The kid had suddenly appeared one day 4 years ago after being dropped off by a government worker. As was usual, he had proceeded to collect protection fees as he did with everyone who wasn't part of the gang. Even though the kid was scrawny, he remembered how the boy stared at him with vicious eyes. As If he would kill him if he could.

Of course, he had immediately beaten the kid. Not enough to kill or permanently disable him since he had to attend school, but enough to remind him who was in charge. Yet those vicious eyes had never gone away as the kid regularly challenged him while spouting nonsense so he continually beat him. If he couldn't do it, he would have one of the youths in the neighborhood beat him up. 

Still, the boy never fought back or reported them to the government worker who occasionally checked on him. He just glared as if memorizing each and every face and continued on with his life of going to school, studying, and coming back home. Everything had been proceeding as normal until two weeks ago when things had suddenly become quiet. 

Word from the street was that Asani had awakened and gained acceptance to First Magic High. Although he himself didn't believe the rumor since the kid was so young, he had gone over to check but Asani was nowhere to be found. Almost as if he were in hiding, nobody had seen him in days. 

The usual collections were missed and James had to make up for the difference with his own funds which pissed him off. He thought that Asani had run off until he saw him casually strolling the street as if he owned the place. Seeing that indifferent face as he whistled while confidently strolling around, James had felt his anger bubble up. This was a frequent occurrence with people who had just awakened. The rush they received from getting gifts and unlocking their abilities quickly had them feeling as if they were the king of the hill. 

He had planned to teach Asani a lesson he wouldn't forget. Even if he was a genius who awakened young or made it into a prestigious academy, he was still gutter trash from the street who would live and die by his whims. There was a difference between someone newly awakened and an adult like him who had his gifts for years. After all, it wasn't as if he was someone from the 9 families. Everything had been going as usual and he could see Asani shaking in fear.

Then his nightmare had begun.

Hit after hit after. He had been battered into unconsciousness repeatedly. Even when he tried to use his wind abilities, it had been easily avoided and he had been hit by an unbearably hard object. Although he knew his stats were on the lower side for an awakened individual, with his wind he could avoid most hits and he was stronger than the average adult male. It shouldn't be possible for a newly awakened individual to fight back much less a kid. And yet, even though he was bigger and older, he felt like a child trying to attack a full-grown adult.

 He didn't know what kind of gift the kid had unlocked. Even with his night vision, all he could see was a dim flash of black light held in his hands as Asani swung at him. Then he was unconscious. The cycle repeated itself for what seemed like days until James felt his spirit slowly breaking. Even when he had been trained or punished by the street boss, it was nothing close to what he was experiencing now. Every time Asani spoke, James could feel the threat of death hanging over him as he was struck unconscious before he could fight back. Even when he begged for his life, the result was the same. 

A cold voice would order him to be polite and then he would receive a hit to the back of his head that rattled his brain.

And it had repeated again and again until he woke up with unimaginable pain in his arms and his fingers were unable to move properly.

Golden eyes had glared down at him coldly and he heard the familiar voice command.

"Take me to eat at the center of town in a quiet spot."

As he carefully led Asani into a vehicle and quietly sat beside him, James couldn't help but think.

What the hell had happened to Asani in the two weeks he had been gone? The angry quiet kid had turned into somebody who viciously fought back while laughing. And what the hell was that black light in his hand?

He wanted to ask his questions but when he glanced over and saw the smirk on Asani's face as he gently caressed the thing in his hand, James could only shudder and look away.

He had then unwillingly led Asani to a 24-hour diner and had quietly sat for the past couple of hours watching him eat an ungodly amount of food. The sun was rising and he was exhausted yet the young man in front of him looked energetic as he cleaned the last bit of food on his plate. 

"Burp. Ah, that was delicious."

He looked at the young man happily patting his stomach before averting his gaze again.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Lean fingers slowly drummed on the table.

"James Clerr."

"Yes sir?" Unconsciously, James sat up straight.

"I need you to do several things for me. Once you're done I'll gladly release you so you can go terrorize the street like you usually do." 

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"I need money. And a ride to school. How can I do both?" Asani asked him with a cold expression.

"You should have an account accessible at any bank location, sir. You can also make one online. Credits can be transferred by phone. And there's a high-speed train that will take you anywhere." James respectfully responded although he wondered why Asani was asking him such basic information.

"Hmmmm." Asani thoughtfully stared at the man before him before smiling in a charming manner. He pulled the cell phone out of his pocket before unlocking it. 

"Bank app and password?"

James: "…"

"I don't like to repeat myself. Bank app and password?"

"…what do you plan to do…sir?"

"You don't want to tell me?" Asani gently stroked the brick placed next to him as he sipped his cup of coffee.

"…I can't." James shook his head and looked away. The money in the account wasn't his. Even at the threat of death he wouldn't release the information.

Rather than responding, Asani casually typed for several moments. He pulled up the bank account and held the phone to James Clerr's face for authentication. As James forced his mangled arms to reach for the phone, Asani casually held it away from him while staring at the scene.

Seeing the amount of money stored in the account, he couldn't help but whistle.

"You're loaded. Guess robbing kids is profitable huh?" Seeing as James paled before angrily bowing his head, Asani burst out laughing.

"Please don't. That's collections for the boss. I can give you some from my own personal stash." James pleaded.

Ignoring the man, Asani created a new account and transferred the entirety of the funds into his account. Finished with his work Asani got up and patted James' shoulder.

"Good work. Anyway, you're free now. Try to be a good person from now on."

"You're not giving me back my phone?" James tried to get up angrily but seeing the threatening smile on Asani's face as he hefted the brick, he reluctantly sat back down.

"Heh. I'll let that disrespect slide just this once. Have a good rest of your day Mister"

Asani threw on his hood and walked out. The nearest train station was a couple blocks away and he wanted to use the opportunity to scope out the environment.