Chapter 4

The concept of a good night sleep was an alien ideal from the Southern born boy. Due to the constant danger he adapted to having short 4 hour sleep out of fear. Fear that one day he would wake up and his family would be gone. But all that worrying, all that stress was eliminated by one simple pillow. A pillow that made Mohammed feel as if he was sleeping on clouds, a blanket that felt like he was being brushed by the sun's gentle rays, a bed that made him feel like he was floating in a vast and still ocean.

His eyes fluttered open and he could instantly tell that he was not at home. The ceiling was made of light brown wood and the walls were a plain white. He sat up in order to get a better view of the room he was in. He noticed that he was somehow shirtless, and he struggled to remember as to why he was like that.

[Whose house is this] He thought before feeling someone next to him shift under the sheets. He was not alone.

He reflexively jumped out of bed with the grace of a cat that had just been sprayed with water. He watched as the person slowly emerged from the sheets and his jaw dropped when he realized who it was.

With long brown hair and a petite face. The morning light illuminated her pale naked skin. Their eyes locked on to each other as they stared at each other for a good minute. Once the girl came to her senses, she let out a panicked scream that startled Mohammed.

"Looks like you two are up bright and early. I made breakfast so come downstairs and eat." Nami said. Standing in the door frame with an amused look on her face.

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<Last Night>

Moe walked into Nami's house with May hanging on him for support. He walked shirtless unfortunately, due to him burning his shirt by accident when he set himself alight. May was so drunk that she couldn't walk to save her life. She was extremely close to passing out only being helped by Moe moving her around so much. Nami went upstairs to prepare a room for the two and chose a room without voice command. There was only one bed in the room but in the state they were in they wouldn't mind. She climbed back down the stairs to check on them and saw Moe had laid her down on one of the couches.

"There is a room waiting for you upstairs. It's the only room with a wooden door to the left so you won't miss it." Nami said noticing how exhausted Moe was. He was really close to passing out. Moe placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks for not asking." He said as he walked past her towards the stairs. Nami followed behind him and just as he stepped on the third step his body fell back. Nami caught him before he could injure himself and threw his arm over her shoulders.

"C'mon buddy we're almost there." She walked him upstairs and to the room in which he threw himself on the bed and immediately passed out. Nami giggled at how vulnerable he was at that moment. Moe didn't seem like the type to let his guard down. Even when they walked together, she noticed how he'd constantly scan the streets. Now he was as vulnerable as a newborn baby. She left the room and went back downstairs to get the girl Moe brought with him. Moe went back for her after the incident in the alleyway. She wasn't comfortable about letting her into Aldred's house, but Moe looked like he wouldn't leave without her.

[Her Name was May, right?] Nami thought as she went to go help the grown woman up. They were able to make it upstairs with only minimal missteps, but their good fortune ran out the second she spewed out her stomach all over Nami's floor. The smell itself was enough to make Nami nauseous but it had an addition of undigested food making the yellow liquid look chunky. Nami looked away and slowly made her way around it with May. She entered the main bathroom with May and sat her down on the toilet.

"My head hurts." May mumbled in a drunken slur.

Nami first had to get her clean and put her to bed before anything else. Cause she knew nobody would be sleeping in a bed that smelled like puke. She also didn't want any trouble with Aldred. With a loud sigh and groan she began to undress the drunken lady. She didn't know whether to call it lucky or unlucky that she was only wearing an easy to remove dress...with nothing underneath.

[She wanted to get boned tonight.] Nami thought grimacing as her opinion on the female drastically dropped.

She put the dress in the washing machine and readied May for a shower. She was considering just hosing her down with some cold water but that would be too cruel even for her.

She helped May to the shower and sat her down inside it. She removed the shower head from its holder and began hosing her down with some warm water.

"No mama, I don't wanna take a shower don't force me." May cried trying to crawl out of the shower. Nami pushed her back in but May stood up and grabbed Nami causing them both to fall and Nami to get wet.

[Perfect, Just fucking Perfect!] Nami thought in frustration. Dealing with drunk people was not how she wanted to end such a goodnight.

[Aldred would flip if he knew I brought people over. I better make sure She doesn't do any further damage.] Nami thought.

After that whole ordeal she covered May in a towel and took a mop to go clean the mess she made. To her luck one of Aldred's robots took care of the task for her. The floor was spotless again.

She went to go get May and bring her to the room she slept in since she felt she couldn't let the woman out of her sight. But just as they were passing the room Moe slept in, she stopped and if completely sober she said.

"I'll sleep here tonight." She walked into the room without a second word and got under the blankets with Moe.

[Should I do something...Nah, she's Moe's problem now.] She closed the door and went straight into her room afterwards.

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<Present day>

Nami was in the kitchen preparing some breakfast for the two who sat awkwardly at the dinner table. Ever since they woke up, they hadn't uttered a single word to each other. May borrowed one of Aldred's shirts for the meantime as she was waiting for her dress to dry. It was one of Aldred's lumberjack shirts, but it was big enough to serve as a dress for May. Moe borrowed one of Nami's black turtleneck to hide his scars. Nami served them the breakfast she was making. She made pancakes with some French toast, scrambled eggs, and some sausage fingers.

"So since you two are too awkward to sort out your mess tell me what happened last night at the party." Nami said sitting down across from them. The two looked down in embarrassment which only poked Nami's curiosity.

"Did Moe feel you up the wrong way and then your boyfriend got pissed or what?" Nami asked, throwing a suggestion in the air.

"How low do you think I am?" Moe asked feeling unfairly targeted, which only made Nami giggle in response.

May sighed and said.

"I can't believe I'm acting like a stupid high school girl. We are all adults here so I should at least act like one." Moe looked at Nami who gave him a glare that said.

[Shut the Hell up!]

"So are you gonna tell me what happened?" Nami asked. May looked at Moe who gave her a nod and sighed.

"Well we were in the bathroom getting...."busy" and I was about to... y'know..."pleasure Moe" and....." Nami was turning beat red hearing the story. She always felt awkward when the subject of intercourse would come up. But she played a brave face to hide her immaturity.

"She vomited all over my new shirt." Moe said, still feeling a bit sour about that part. May immediately turned red from embarrassment and tried to hide her face by placing her head on the table and covering it with her arms.

"I'm so sorry." She apologized in a high-pitched tone. Moe forgave her and continued with the rest of the story.

"After that some asshole walked in on us and went to go report it to his boss or something. Next thing I know some big guy is picking a fight with me and I socked him in the face. Then this big dude from our school kicked me out." Moe concluded from his side of the story. Apparently May had forgotten everything that happened after she vomited. She didn't even remember getting into bed with Moe.

"I'll make sure to give Brian a piece of my mind when we're in Combat next week." Nami said. (Combat= The Combat club)

"Now eat up. Your food is getting cold." Nami said as she stood up to leave.

"Where are you going?" Moe asked.

"I went for a jog earlier, so I need to go shower." Nami said while ascending the stairs. Leaving the two alone together.

.

.

.

"I really am sorry about your shirt." May apologized after a brief silence.

"It's fine, I'm not gonna hold you to it." Moe said.

"Gimme your number so I can call you when I'm free." May said as she took out her phone from her purse.

"Uhm sure, but do you really want your free time to be spent with someone like me?" Moe asked.

"I owe you a shirt so we should go shopping this weekend." May suggested.

"I said I forgive you, so you really don't have to."

"I don't have to but, I want to, I just want to have a clear conscious is all."Moe smirked and began eating his homemade breakfast.

"You should taste the food. Nami is an excellent cook." Moe said with a mouth full of pancakes.

May took a bite of her pancake and liked it immediately. She wrapped up a sausage finger with a pancake and chomped down on it. She soon found herself wolfing down the entire meal. Moe watched the pure animosity that was happening right next to him and marveled at how a small little thing like her had such an enormous appetite. Moe finally had a proper look at her as it was really difficult to do so the previous night.

She had straight brown hair that stretched to her shoulder blades and muddy green eyes. Her skin was a pale tan, and some light brown freckles were prevalent on her face. She was beautiful despite having a mouth full of food. Moe soon caught himself staring. Watching her wolf down her entire meal.

"Ahh that was gooddd!" She said gleefully. She noticed Moe staring and instantly got embarrassed.

"Hey! Stop staring!" She said giving Moe a light push.

"I'm sorry, I just can't help it." May eyes went wide as her blush deepened.

"I'd tell you guys to get a room, but I'm afraid you've overstayed your visit." Nami said, making her way down the stairs. She had a towel she used to wipe her wet hair and wore a baggy tracksuit, showing she was fresh out the shower.

"An Uber will be coming to fetch you soon May, so be ready. Your dress is dry by now. I'll get it for you." Nami said going back upstairs.

"Uhm Moe, I don't mean to be invasive but are you two dating?" May asked. Moe gave her a questioning look.

"No, we are just friends. Why do you ask?"

"Ohhh no reason... it's just you two seem really close."

"Pssh, I wish, I would never date a girl who beats me up casually. She might have a better chance with a gorilla if you'd ask me." May laughed at his statement.

"She's so small though. I can't imagine someone like her doing any damage." May said.

"Looks can be deceiving especially hers." Moe stated.

"My dad used to say that if you marry a strong woman, then you are bound to have strong kids." May said.

"Your dad sounds wise, but I'd prefer to stay alive."

"Aren't all dads wise though?"

"Pssh, I wish."

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<Newark South>

Nami had decided to come along with Moe to his side of Newark out of genuine curiosity. Rumors of this place having a high crime rate and high mortality rate intrigued Nami as she wanted to see it for herself.

Moe wasn't big on the idea though. He knew what type of people roamed the streets of Newark South. He worried for Nami, but he couldn't say no to her.

The bus they took dropped them off at the border of the South. They passed the gates where heavily armed men stood guard. After a bit of walking, they passed a sign. Nami's eyes fixed themselves on the mural of a man with wings of fire on his back. The mural was extremely detailed as she could see the man was wearing a grey suit of a certain brand and a black shirt with a white tie. The look on the man in the mural was one of dominance and pride as he looked down on the two of them.

"Woah." Was all Nami could say as she marveled at the Mural's artistry.

"That's a mural of the person who runs the South. Like a Mayor or president or whatever. The mural was made in his honor." Moe explained. He expected a negative reaction from her but was surprised when she asked. "Can I take a picture?" That's when Moe saw the look of admiration on her face.

"Do you know who this is?" Moe asked, feeling like she was oblivious to the situation but was proven wrong when she responded.

"Ahamed Rajesh Binyam. The ultimate crime lord in the south and one who has a continentwide reputation. He is also your dad." Nami looked at him for a response and noticed that he actually froze on the spot.

"You knew this whole time?" He asked hesitantly.

"Not really the whole time. I thought about it the day you came over to my place and after what happened at the party, I was able to confirm it." Nami said.

"I know you didn't want me to find out, but either way I won't see you any different because of it and as stated in our vow I won't tell anyone about it too." Moe sighed in partial relief; he still couldn't get over the fact that he was that easy to see through.

"Mohammed....stop dazing off you still have to take me to your place and cook for me." Nami said, snapping him out of his thoughts. Moe smiled.

"Namibia. Thank you." Nami was taken aback at first but smiled hearing him use her full name.

"Secondly who the fuck said I'm cooking for you?" He asked, sparking up a conversation between them. "It's only fair since I cooked for you this morning." Nami snapped back.

"Breakfast is a necessary meal for the human body so it doesn't count."

"I've never in my life heard of a free breakfast though."

"Would you have preferred I die?"

"Argh now your being dramatic." The two eventually took a Taxi that led deeper into the South. The sight of people riddled with poverty made Nami feel sympathetic, but Moe was there to snap her out of it. After a little while they reached Moe's neighborhood. The two got off and Moe paid the Taxi driver his fare.

"Come on we still got a way to go." Moe said as he walked ahead of Nami.

"Why didn't we stop by your house? Wouldn't that have made things easier?" Nami asked. Moe chuckled before answering.

"In the South, the fewer people who know where you live the better. The Taxi driver is affiliated with a rival gang in Zone 3. So, it's best he let us off here than my house." Moe explained.

He kept his guard up knowing that the residents of the south loved to prey on fresh faces. That's when he noticed a large group of people following them from behind. Then he caught sight of a bunch of people gathering up in front of them. He knew what they were trying to do, so he kept his cool. The man leading the group in front walked towards them and stood in their path.

"Wassup Moe. I see you've been keeping yourself well." The guy was the same height as Nami, and he wore a black mask that covered about half his face. He had a very prominent scar on his right eyebrow.

"Let us pass. We have no business with you lot." Moe said in a calm manner.

"Don't be like that big bro. I was just a bit curious about how your day was. And maybe you could introduce me to your little lady friend right here?" The boy said giving Nami a look which made Nami cringe.

"Let us pass or else you're gonna get hurt." Moe threatened.

"Oh no big bro you can go through any time you like but your friend here needs to introduce herself to the rest of the group."

"I'm sorry, but I will not bless you low lives with my name. Either you let us through, or you lose a tooth." It was Nami's turn to threaten the lad.

"What did you say!?" Asked the guy as he pushed Moe out of his way to give Nami an intense stare.

She stood there and stared back at him. Waiting for him to make a move. The rest of the group began to close in on the two. Blocking any chance of escape. The boy groaned loudly before he began to laugh.

"Yo bro where did you find this beast?" The boy asked Moe who was just looking at them with bored eyes.

"I was wondering when you were gonna stop playing gangster Hassan. You know this is not what you're supposed to do." Moe lectured the boy named Hassan.

"We can't just sit down all day doing nothing big bro it gets boring." Hassan complained.

"So you thought terrorizing my friend would've been any fun?" Moe asked rhetorically.

"I wanted to see if the friends you were making in The North were softies, never knew your girlfriend would be a badass though." Hassan said in admiration. "I'm right here y'know." Nami said feeling excluded in a conversation about her.

"Everyone return to your posts! There is absolutely nothing to see here!" Moe called out to the rest of the gang. They all obeyed his instruction.

"Where is your sister?" Moe asked sounding extremely serious. "She is at home. So there is no need to worry."

</Arabic/>

"So big bro, have you done the deed with this one, she looks really pretty."

"Hassan you're still too young to be asking those questions."

"C'mon big bro I'm 14 so of course I will be curious."

"We are just friends nothing more nothing less."

"You're being a bitch big bro."

"Have you been hanging with Nathaniel!?"

"I have and he opened my eyes more than you ever have big bro. You see me and you are not the same."

"I swear Imma kick the shit out of you, you little punk." Moe grabs him by the collar.

"If I were you big bro, I would've clapped the cheeks the day I met her."

"You wish you had a girl as fine as me." Nami said looking at the two who looked confused.

"Speaking Arabic so no one understands you only works if the person you're talking about doesn't understand." Nami said looking at the two as they looked dumbfounded.

</English/>

"You can speak Arabic?" Moe asked.

"And a lot of other languages, so don't even try to talk behind my back." Nami said crossing her arms. The two brothers looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

"So, miss, where are you going with my brother? This place is not really ideal for a date." Hassan said which got him a slap on the back of the head from Moe.

"Firstly, where we go is none of your business. Secondly, we are not on a date!" Moe exclaimed.

"Oh, we aren't on a date. Well, why didn't you say so?" Nami asked teasingly.

"Stop entertaining him!" Moe shouted, which got Nami laughing.

"If you still want me to cook for you, you better behave." Moe reprimanded which got Nami to stop laughing.

"I regret making myself hungry for your meal. Fine then I'll behave but make sure your cooking is worthwhile."

The two continued on their way leaving Hassan behind. The boy watched as they bickered with each other and remembered something.

"Big bro! Jumbo wanted me to call you for him. He said you two need to talk." Moe stopped dead in his tracks as he heard the name Jumbo be mentioned. The sudden change in atmosphere was enough to even get Nami worried.

"What does he want?" Moe asked in a colder tone.

"I don't know big bro, but he sounded serious, and you know how uncle Jumbo is when he's serious." Hassan said in an oddly serious tone.

"Is everything alright?" Nami asked feeling worried.

"Can we postpone our little outing for later. Some business just popped up." Moe said sounding as disappointed as Nami was feeling.

"Should I call an Uber for you?" Moe asked wanting to exclude Nami from his business.

"Uhm...Yea sure, we can leave this for next time I guess." Nami said awkwardly. She honestly wanted to spend the day getting to know a little more about her friend, but she was not one to interfere with family business.

"I am really sorry Nami I swear next time I'll make it special." Moe said flashing her a small smile.

"Imma hold you to it." Nami said smiling through the disappointment.

"Hassan, stay with her until the Uber arrives."

"Yes sir." Hassan saluted.

Nami watched as Moe continued the road they were walking on his own.

"Will he be okay?" Nami asked out of worry.

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<Jumbo factory>

An abandoned factory that used to process mana crystals in the First Great War, was now a base of operations for the Ruyat Jadida gang. The biggest gang of the south.

Moe stood at the entrance of the Factory having his path blocked by two guards. "Sorry to do this to you Moe, It's standard procedure." Guard 1 said as he approached Moe.

"It's fine I understand." Moe said as he raised his arms for a pat down search. Once that was done, he walked in without any issue.

He arrived in front of Jumbo's work office and raised his hand to knock.

"Come in." Jumbo said in his rough beat-up voice.

Moe stepped in and saw Jumbo packing a fresh batch of cocaine into a clear plastic bag.

Jumbo wasn't related to him by blood. He was only his uncle because he was his dad's best friend and most trusted ally. Despite him being called Jumbo he was actually bone thin. His skin was always pale, and his eyes always looked tired and hollow. His hair was blonde, and he had a lot missing due to balding. He looked at the verge of death most of the time, but he demanded respect. He was known as a cold-hearted killer and torturer in the south, so no one dared to mess with him. Even his own subordinates weren't safe if they showed the slightest sign of insubordination.

He greeted Moe with a smile and told him to sit down.

"You know as well as I do that I don't want to be here Jumbo."

"And yet here you are. You could've just ignored me."

"Hassan told me it was important. So please don't waste my time with your kind gestures."

"You are gonna wanna sit down for this though but suit yourself." Moe just glared at him.

"Y'know your dad has been in Locklehome for a few months now. Everyone else in your family has visited him. So why haven't you?"

Moe's eyes darkened at the mention of his father.

"After I talked to him, I noticed something different. Only natural since he went to Arlom. But when I looked him in the eyes, I noticed that he was an entirely different man than the one I knew 8 years ago." Jumbo said looking at his reflection on the blade in his hand.

"So, what do I care?" Moe asked.

"He is a changed man, Mohammed. I know you have a rough relationship with the man, but---"

"You people are sick. All of you are sick! You are telling me to forgive the same man who used my mom as a personal punching bag! The same monster who didn't even bat an eye when he Personally hospitalized his OWN SON!" Moe was enraged by how such a monster could be forgiven so easily.

"You wanna know why I never visited him! I feared if I saw that man for even a second...I Would kill him on the spot." Passionate tears of hate formed in of his eyes.

"I understand how you feel. My old man was a dick to me too when I was growing up. He is the entire reason why I'm like this today." Jumbo said gesturing to his bony body.

Moe ran up to him, grabbed him by the collar, and pinned him against the wall.

"Then why didn't you stop him!?" Moe said in a whispering rage.

"You see the reason I killed my old man was because when he'd beat me senseless, he would do it just to relieve his own frustration. When your dad used to whip you all those times, I noticed what he was trying to do. He was molding you Moe. He had a vision of what he wanted you to become, and I could see it." Jumbo said with an overjoyed look in his eyes. Moe raised a fist and punched him, but he just laughed it off.

He threw him on the floor and aimed for another, but with a quick roll Moe found himself pinned under Jumbo. He struggled to get up until Jumbo put a knife to his neck.

"I looked up to your father Mohammed. Heck, I still do even today. He was a monster one with the power to unite the South and dreams of taking over Newark. But he himself knew that he was not strong enough. So he molded you Mohammed, into something that could finally make his dream a reality. Unfortunately, he was taken away before he could finish with you." Moe tried to escape his grip, but he just pushed the blade against his skin, drawing some blood.

"You are missing one clear ingredient to make you what your father dreamed you to be. When you me pinned you could've burned me alive right then and there, but you're afraid Mohammed! YOU LACK RESOLVE MOHAMMED!" He screamed in his ear to get his point across.

Moe calmed down and Jumbo got off of him.

"Now get out of my sight. Do anything funny and I blow your freakin arm off." Jumbo said pulling out a gun on Mohammed.

Moe stood up and left without a back glance.

"I'm not finished with you Moe! You are the Prince of Ruyat Jadida! The future looks bright in your hands my boy!" Jumbo called out as Moe continued his slow walk out of the factory.

_______________________________

Moe walked home with Jumbo's words repeating in his mind. After his father was arrested, he made it his sworn duty to rebuild his family. His mother was devastated, but she began to come back to herself after a few months. The twins were both too young to understand what was going on, so they were barely affected. Times were tough, but somehow, they made it through.

[Now Jumbo expects me to lead the gang my dad left.] Moe thought as he clenched his fists.

[I'll never become like him.]

He approached his front door and calmed himself. He stepped inside his house to see a reason to forget about everything that transpired. The twins slept on the couch together. Moe never realized how late it had become, mostly because his mind had been kept busy for a good duration of the time he was walking.

Hassan had an arm over Greshme as she cuddled in his chest. The two twins fought constantly but they were extremely cute when they weren't fighting. Moe took a photo of the two and put away his phone. He first started by picking up Greshme who was reluctant to move out of her current position, eventually he was able to pry her off her brother. He carried her bridal style and went to go place her on her bed. Hassan woke himself up and made his way onto his bed on his own and Moe tucked both in.

As Moe was turning to leave, He felt a tug on his...Nami's shirt. He had to return it soon. He looked at who was trying to get his attention and saw that Greshme had woken up.

"Don't leave me, Brother." She pleaded in a tired tone.

"I'm not going anywhere Gresh so no need to worry." He said, turning to pat her head.

"It's cold." She said wrapping herself in the thin blanket She had.

"I'll warm you up." He said as his palm glowed a bright orange till an orange ball of light sprouted from it. He repeated this a few times until the orange balls surrounded her. They were warm and felt like she was warmed by a light summer sun.

Moe pecked her on the forehead.

"Goodnight." He said as he turned to leave.

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