Together

Ivan really couldn't resist this look in her eyes and so had no choice but to pull out his phone and make a call to his mentor.

"Hah, so you still know how to call?", his mentor bellowed at him.

Since the voice was too loud Ivan had no other choice but to remove the phone from his ear or he just might go deaf. Yes, it was his fault for forgetting that he had to meet him, but could anyone really blame him?

When Lara heard the voice voiced out in surprise, "Uncle?"

Her voice was loud enough for his mentor to hear and when he talked again his voice had completely changed, it was sweet and pampering, "Oho if it isn't my favorite niece. How come you are with this rascal?"

"What? You two are related?", Ivan really wouldn't have expected the two of them to be related. Wasn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?

Both of them ignored him.

"I'll explain later. I think it would be better to explain it in person. But how come you know him?"

"Then I'll come over alright?"

"Sure."

"See you in a bit then."

"Granduncle is coming over?", the little girl on his knees asked to makes sure that it was real.

"Yes Granduncle is coming over.", her mother assured her.

"Great, I haven't met him in a long time.", she then focused on Ivan and said seriously, "After granduncle comes over you better behave. Even though he often is fun to be around he can be quite strict."

Ivan thought back to the training and could only nod his head, "I know. I'll be sure to behave."

* Sadly it is already too late. He is already angry. *

Not even five minutes later someone rang the bell and when the door opened Van Bergen stood in front of it.

"You are here uncle fast.", Lara greeted him.

"Of course, how couldn't I hurry over if my favorite nice sounds so mysterious."

"Where did I sound mysterious."

Ivan's eyes nearly popped out. The contrast between her cold look before and the warm and sweet look was just too great but he had to admit that both looks looked good on her.

"Ivan, we are gonna talk about how you just didn't come to the meeting and not even called later."

"Yes, mentor.", Ivan couldn't help shuddering. He was sure that that conversation would end in him getting bellowed at and finally getting another horror training session.

After that, he was once again ignored and could only stand at the sideline as Lara explained what happened.

"Wow, I would never have expected that this rascal was this bas... guy back then."

Ivan didn't know what he wanted to call him, but he was sure it wasn't good since he did stop himself from using the word after remembering that there was a child in the room.

"Does your father know?"

"No, I didn't tell him yet."

"That's good or I would have lost my student."

This didn't sound good. It seemed like he wasn't really well-liked by that family. Well except for his daughter who still sat on his knees while looking at her granduncle.

"Don't tell him for now. I'll do it later."

"Ok. You said he is your student?"

"Yes. I had to go recruit some students and he was the only one I found at that shit school. So I had to take him in."

"No surprise.", she answered after thinking back to the school where she fetched that bastard.

"Well his talent is decent, so it is still alright. And creating training regiments is really fun."

Lara remembered the training regiments her uncle loved to design and got a bit happier now that she knew that he had been tortured quite a bit.

"So he also is a member of the Slaver Alliance?"

"Of course, what else could he be?"

"Just asking. You know the family rules."

"Um, to be honest, I completely forgot about it, but now that you mention it sure is a good thing he is a member. Anyway, what are you planning to do now?"

"Daddy is going to live with us.", for the first time after greeting her granduncle, Jane said something.

When he heard her, her granduncle who had just drunk a mouthful of tea sprayed it all over the table.

"What are you saying?", his voice had gone low and dark. It instilled a primal fear in Ivan and he hurriedly tried to stop Jane from repeating what she had said, but he was to late.

"Daddy is going to stay with us from now on. Isn't that great?", she innocently repeated.

Like a erupting volcano Van Bergens anger broke out and he once again bellowed at Ivan, "What? How dare you try to live with my nice and grandniece?"

After that, there was some more berating that Ivan could only endure. Finally, he calmed down and asked, "Whose idea was it?"

"Mine, mine", Jane seemed to have fun. It seemed like she was used to her granduncles fit of rages since she was able to ignore them.

Van Bergen shot a glare at Ivan before saying in a dark tone, "Luckily it wasn't you."

Ivan really didn't want to imagine what would have happened to him if he was the one who made the suggestion.

"So you agreed?", he then asked Lara.

"How couldn't I? You know I can't resist my cute daughter."

His mentor nodded. He too couldn't resist her begging eyes.

"Fine whatever. Just live together but if something happens make sure to call me and I'll make sure to give this rascal a good lesson."

"I will. Then about father?"

He sights. "I will talk to him, but make sure he doesn't find out you are living together. I think you can imagine what will happen if he does."

"Yeah. Did you hear darling? Don't talk to grandpa about living together with daddy for now."

"I won't, I won't", Jane hurriedly assented, now that she got her wish of living together.