The Calm Before The Storm

Standing outside the door of his own home, Bazel waved goodbye to Neto before taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Unlocking and opening the door, he walked in and looked around for Lily. Since in total he had spent just over half the day dealing the school and related problems, which means that though some time had passed there will still a lot of the evening hours to burn through.

Walking over to the couch, the very same that he had last seen Lily on, he saw her still there. Except, she was fast asleep and shivering all the while.

"So focused on the goal ahead that I lost sight on that which was around me, the reason for the goal to even exist in the first place. I should know better than anyone how messed up this world is. If all of the criminals and psychopaths I help convict on a monthly basis didn't teach me the truth of reality then I do not know what would have...but at least I was not too late. Where there is life, there is time and when there is time there is the possibility for change" thought Bazel as went over and grabbed a blanket, covering her in it and scooping her up gently.

Carrying her up the stairs, as slowly and quietly as he could, he paid no attention to his groaning muscles or aching legs from taking several minutes to do a job that should have been complete in one.

Setting her down on the bed, he took a seat on the only chair in the room and sat down, intending to watch over his one and only family member from a new intense anxiety he now harbored.

Time passed, enough time so that day began to turn into night, when finally the sleeping beauty began to stir. Sitting up slowly, she heaved an audible sigh with a downcast expression as she fully became aware of her surroundings. Shocked at the sudden change in her location, panic began to ensue as she was reminded of everything that had happened not too long ago, all the way up until a familiar figure appeared in front of her with a look of compassion and sorrow.

"Good morning, or rather, good evening young miss. Are you hungry? This humble one shall go fetch you a meal worthy of the gods themselves, if you so desire" began Bazel, using comedy to try to mask the guilt and shame he felt within.

A peal of laughter erupted from Lily, as she mostly reverted to her usual self.

"I am a bit peckish, you are allowed to fetch me such a meal" replied Lily, doing her best to imitate an arrogant and wilful young miss.

Bazel could not help but crack a smile at that, failing to fully suppress the laughter within causing it to spread to Lily once more like a contagion as they both laughed their sorrows and pain away for as long as they could.

Upon calming down, Bazel scooped up Lily once more fully intending to bring her downstairs for a meal.

"Now that I think about it, she is extremely light compared to in the past. Has she not been eating enough...I guess it's not a stretch to imagine with all that has been going on...damn it" thought Bazel within, trying his best to not let his thoughts strangle him once again.

"B-Bro I am not a kid anymore, you don't need to whisk me away to everywhere. I thought you got rid of that bad habit a while ago" half spoke half mumbled Lily from within Bazel's arms, her face flushed from perhaps being suddenly carried 'princess' style.

"It seems we are still both rather childish and naive. One not confiding in her older brother the true nature of the troubles she was suffering and the other failing to notice the obvious signs due to being too focused on the big picture. These are things that we would expect children to do, but here we are one adult and one soon to be adult yet look at how we fail at acting in a mature manner. Therefore I might as well act as if we are still kids, no?"

"That logic..." mumbled Lily, who just turned her head away to hide her face.

Eventually they arrived at the dining room once more, where he sat her down and even pinched her cheek much to Lily's dismay.

Quickly retreating to the kitchen before the kitten decided to scratch at him, he began to fix up a quick meal with what ingredients they had in stock.

A period of time that was not long nor short, he exited the kitchen carrying two bowls of mushroom soup with a plate of crisp fresh bread. After setting the table and disappearing into the kitchen once more, he came back with two cups of milk this time.

He then sat down across from the baffled Lily and began to eat.

"Hey...aren't you a little too into this act" grumbled Lily as she eyed the food in front of her.

"Even recreating a meal we often ate as kids...milk for dinner too."

Bazel simply spooned more of the soup into his mouth, enjoying the nostalgic taste before finally answering.

"It's good though, right?"

Lily, not being one to waste food apparently, picked up a spoonful of the soup and carefully blew on it to cool it down. Taking a bite and tasting the flavor, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"It's good..."

"Then there should be no complaints" declared Bazel, intent on devouring the meal in front of him.

For awhile all that could be heard was the sounds of spoons entering the soup bowl or of bread being crunched. After the two had finished, Bazel knew he could delay the following talk no longer despite the odd sudden anxiety that filled him.

"A lot happened today when I paid a visit to your school. For starters, I learned everything about your situation" began Bazel.

Lily looked down to avoid his gaze, shaking slightly from an unknown emotion.

"I have to say, I was not pleased to say the least....look at me in the eyes Lily."

Reluctantly she met his gaze, allowing him to fully peer into the depths of her mood.

"Worry, extremely worried but her posture is of one who is hiding something still" thought Bazel, so used to profiling people that he did so automatically.

"I will be contacting every single parent involved, but not McGrath's" began Bazel slowly, looking at the mix of confusion and relief emanating from Lily.

"No way..." thought Bazel as an uncomfortable theory surfaced within his mind.

"Because I have no need to contact them, since I will be directly visiting their home tomorrow" said Bazel after a moment, weighing the guilt of bending the truth against understanding what his sister was thinking.

Shock and surprise, alongside thinly veiled worry and fear, Lily stood up in her said and nearly screamed:

"You can't!"

Not amused in the slightest, for his fears were practically confirmed at this point, Bazel snapped back,

"Oh? Why can I not? My only family member, my closest friend, the one whom I would do anything for was subjected to months of constant torture for months on end all because of this one egotistical arrogant piece of trash. Of course I will visit their home!"

"It's too dangerous, Bazel, you do not understand what they are capable of. Do not get involved, please" pleaded Lily.

Leaning back in his seat, his anger starting to simmer and broil, Bazel responded plainly and without tone,

"I know what they are capable of."

Surprise, Shock, confusion.

"They are tied to the Irish Mafia, closely enough so that this McGrath can order around their members like she is some kind of small time mob boss."

Confusion, and then relief.

"If you know that then you should not go there Bazel. I know this may sound harsh, but you are just a prosecutor not some kind of vigilante hero. You got lucky when you rescued me alone, but honestly you should have left that to the police" chided Lily, fully regaining her calm.

Bazel was not taken in by the advice to say the least, instead he felt more like smashing the table in front of him, but he controlled himself as he stood up and stalked towards Lily.

Towering above her, he asked

"Little sister of mine, what are you hiding? I know you are no fool, who knows us best on this planet? The one that is standing across from us, right now. Why were you relieved when I said that they were the Irish Mafia, as if that was the better outcome as opposed to some other kind of truth...something more terrible than that? While I cannot imagine what could be worse than that, I don't care what god or demon stands behind them I will have them pay for what they did to you."

Lily, realizing that she was read like a book, froze for a moment before looking away in an attempt to hide her feelings.

"I...I will not say" was all that she replied with.

"Having your clothes destroyed, your uniforms destroyed, school materials destroyed, poured water on regarly, literally spat on by your school mates, your name scorned by all, harassed by the staff and forgotten by the principle. You lived your life as if it were a living hell on a daily basis...all because you did not want to get me involved with whatever is behind McGrath?!" said Bazel, practically yelling at this point.

"Yes, you are right!" yelled back Lily, who turned around and stood up to meet face to face with Bazel. Well more like face to chin due to the height difference.

"Whatever I experienced was NOTHING compared to what my life would be like if I lost you. I can bear any pain and any suffering, so long as I have a family and home to return to at the end of the day. Who is my family? Where is my home? You, and wherever you are. I will NOT lose you" cried Lily, tears dripping down her face like niagra falls.

His anger still ever present, but his compassion and love for his family outweighing it by a mile, he pulled in Lily for a hug who returned the action in full.

"Will you tell me what you know?" asked Bazel, despite knowing the answer of his stubborn sister.

"No, I will not let you go. Even if I have to cling onto you like this for the rest of the day" cried Lily, tightening her grip as much as she could.

Bazel sighed at such an action, walking slowly with a koala attached to him towards the couch. Any further attempts at starving a conversation, or prodding into whatever she was keeping a secret, turned out to be a lost cause as all she would do was tighten her grip and keep her eyes closed.

"I suppose I can allow her to be wilful for now, but I will not cease in my actions...tomorrow, a storm will come" thought Bazel, wondering how to separate himself from the second head he now had in the form of a cute younger sister.