17 Ah, you’ve done it now, Benjamin!

Jin and Flint sat on the same couch, peering at each other.

Flint looked the same as earlier, but this time, his clothes were dried, and he wore a black jacket with red accent colors. Jin also noticed quite a number of piercings on his ears.

"What brings you here?"

"I asked you if I could pass by now that I know where you live; you gave me the permission—so," he drawled, "I passed by."

Jin narrowed his eyes, "On the same day?"

"That a problem?" he smirked, slouching on the couch and sitting like a lazy but powerful king.

"No, not at all."

Flint roved around, "You live here all by yourself?" His eyes sweeping the room.

"No, my grandmother's upstairs…"

"Can I," he looked at Jin, "Meet her?"

"Why would you want to meet my grandma?"

"I mean, it isn't your house so technically I'm in a house without the owner's permission…"

"Ohh," Jin looked away, "Grandma's sick so you can't see her now. You don't have to leave though…"

"She's sick? Does the weather have anything to do with it?"

"No," blurted Jin, "I don't think so…"

"The rain's not stopping for nothing. It rained all day, and only stopped about an hour ago. I bet it's gonna resume soon."

"It will resume alright," said Jin, folding his arms.

"So Jin…what do you do here in this house all day?"

Jin glanced at him, "I uh…I kinda chill in my room all day. Nothing much."

"Must be boring. You don't really get out, don't you?"

"You're right. As I told you before, I'm a dweeb…"

"Then you're one cool dweeb." He smile took his face.

"Not."

"You are, I know what I'm telling you…"

Suddenly, Benjamin came running into the living room. It started aggressively snarling and barking at Flint like a bat out of hell.

It didn't attack, it cowardly kept its distance. However, its barking wasn't stopping for nothing.

Flint peered at Jin, "Your dog?"

"Benjamin, stop being such a pussy," he looked at Flint, "Yeah, he's my dog. I've never seen him bark at someone like this before."

The dog continued to growl, and bark loudly at Flint.

"Actually, Benjamin's never barked at anyone before. Sure, we don't get many visitors here, but when we had visitors in the past, Benjamin's barking was still only heard when he was asking for food."

"Benjamin, shut the fuck up!" Jin snarled.

The dog continued to bark excessively. There was no stopping it. Not with verbal commands. It growled, snarled, and barked at Flint perpetually; not taking a minute to breathe.

Jin stood, "Stop it, Benjamin! What the fuck's gotten into you today!"

The dog continued to bark like there was no tomorrow. Jin was sure that even his grandmother had awoken after hearing its extremely loud barking.

"Benjamin," Jin approached the dog, "You're gonna wake up grandma! You little—" his voice trailed off as his body charged in action.

Quickly, He then raised a leg a bit, and malevolently launched his foot into the dog's body.

When suddenly, the dog snarled, and promptly sunk its teeth into his leg. As the leg spasmed from the agony, the dog continued to sink its teeth into his flesh.

[HP: 9/10]

"Ah, you've done it now, Benjamin!"

It had only lost grip after Jin kicked it away from him. It whined loudly in agony as it went pitching away.

Jin looked down at his foot as blood trickled down his limb. He could see the bite mark clearly. He tinged in boiling rage, and gritted his teeth uncontrollably.

"You bit me! I can't believe you bit me, Benjamin! You fucking greedy shit. You're useless garbage—trash! I should've gotten myself a husky instead."

"You're a good-for-nothing. All you do is eat all the food in the house—like that piece of meat you stole from on the countertop! The piece of meat that was supposed to be for grandma!"

"You greedy shit," Jin scowled, "You're so greedy that you're eating your owner's legs now, Benjamin? Is that what you're doing?"

"Why don't you just go eat until you kill yourself or something? Because apparently, you're never full! You're never full!"

Suddenly, Jin's violent eyes started to glow green.

He stood there breathing loudly as he peered at the silenced dog. Then, he sighed loudly, and softened his face. He turned around, and walked up to the couch again.

Then, he plopped down on it, rocking his legs while the anger that resided within him only festered.

The glowing dwindled away.

Flint looked at him, "You wanna go out?"

"Why?"

"Apparently a certain someone doesn't want me here," a shamming frown took his face.

"I don't know, man…my grandma's—"

"Sleeping," he interjected, "Didn't you tell Benjamin that he's gonna wake her up?"

"Yeah, I guess…."

"Then it's decided," he stood, "We're leaving for a few minutes—a little stroll. To clear your mind a bit. Besides, the rain's stopped."

"Uhm, okay…can I just change into some clothes quickly?"

Flint folded his arms, "Sure…"

***

Jin and Flint left the house, walking alongside each other.

"Fresh air, Jin, fresh air…"

"Yeah…"

"Jin," Flint gazed at him, "Are you interested in magic?"

Jin looked up at the sky as he walked upon the pavements, "I am. Just nowhere near as much as before. I used to love magic. I liked the fact that they use it in technology, pills, jobs, and all that jazz."

"I even wanted to be a soldier before I was crippled…"

Jin noticed what had escaped his lips.

Flint grimaced, "Crippled? You didn't tell me you were crippled…"

'I can't just go around telling people I'm healed after being a crippled for years—so…'

"It was a joke."

"Anyway, continuing. As I said, I liked how they used magic to practically change the way we live. I was younger than ten at the time. And when I was younger than eight years old—as ridiculous as it sounds—I wanted a superhero."

Flint smiled, "Why?"

"I don't really know. I was just a kid with a wild imagination at the time. The time when I believed in superheroes."

Flint looked up at the sky, "I guess you must've learned that Super heroes don't exist in this world, and never will…."

"Yeah. You're right; I learned the harsh truth in a harsh way."

Flint looked at him, "There are only villains out here, Jin. Everyone's a villain in their own ways—whether they like it or not. Can't change that. We're born to sin."

"I think I understand what you're saying," a sigh trailed Jin's voice, "We really are villains. It doesn't mean that someone who sins can't be superheroes though. People just aren't so self-less to be this kind of hero."

"Yeah. That's why there are billions of villains, and so few heroes. No superheroes whatsoever. Only the heroes you would find anywhere; like doctors. They're heroes. Just not the super ones…"

"You're right again."

"What are your thoughts about the Government, Jin? Do you like what they do?"

"No way," Jin scowled, "I hate what they do. They fuck up the world; that's one of the many horrible things they do."

Flint smirked, "Whaddya mean 'fuck up the world'? Elaborate."

"Any normal person in this world, regardless of his or her age, would know exactly what I'm talking about…"

"Yeah, I'm one of these normal people, so I understand. Do you really believe that the Government managed to wipe out all dangerous races for interracial peace?"

He continued, "The races like the vampires, dragons, giants, liches, ghouls, and whatnot? Do you really believe they were able to pull off something crazy like that?"

Jin peered at him, "Yeah. I'm pretty sure it's scientifically proven too. I just find myself wondering about how powerful the Government and their servants must be to take down creatures like vampires who can single-handedly bring armies to their knees."

"Yeah, me too. Also, if everyone gets Abilities right now, what kind of ability would you want?"

Jin started tapping a finger upon his lower lip, "Uhmmm…let's see," he looked up at the grey sky, "I'd say the ability to rewind and skip time…"

"Why would you want that kind of ability?"

"Because with an ability to control time, I'd go back and fix my fucked up mistakes, relive my greatest moments, and I'll speed time up a notch when I'm really bored. For instance, when my teachers are blabbering all day."

Jin looked at Flint, "What about you, Flint? What kind of Ability would you want?"

He looked at Jin, "I'll want an ability that allows me to manipulate others; and sovereign over it all. Force others into doing my bidding, and ensure that there is not a single person who could stand in my way," he smiled softly.

Jin looked away, "Intense…"

He tittered, "It isn't."

"Whatever you say, Flint, the Monarch of the World."

"Alright, Jin, Kronos, the God of time…"

Jin smiled.

"Alright, Jin, my guy, we're exactly where I wanted us to be…"

"And that is?"

Flint stopped and looked at two girls, sitting on a bench, who Jin thought they were going to simply walk past.

Flint then pointed at Jin, "Hey, ladies…"

"What took you so fucking long, Flint? I'm sitting on a wet bench right now…"

"Hey, Flint…"

He smirked, "You guys remember the really nice guy I was telling you about?"

"Yeah…the person who you dragged me into meeting?"

"Your crush? Of course."

He raised a middle finger at them both.

"Well," he outstretched hands to present Jin to them, "Here he is. Your friendly neighborhood Jin…"