After being briefed by the doctor, the family, with pockets full of medication, finally left the hospital.
Turning towards his friend, Max flashed his usual upbeat grin. "Friend Jiro, we shall meet again after I have claimed my blade."
Jiro rolled her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh, "Doofus, we have school tomorrow. You'll meet me in twelve hours"
"Oh." His face quickly turned beet red as he let out a chuckle, his hand finding its way to the back of his head.
Beside them, Shizuka watched the two interactions with a knowing smile on her face. While Julius offered an awkward chuckle that did little to hide his own amusement.
With a final wave to Jiro, the Kincaids made their way towards their car, finally going home.
***
The journey was quiet, the roads dotted by just a few cars at this time of the day. Shizuka glanced back at her son, her brows creased in worry. She exchanged a heavy look with her husband, who nodded back grimly.
"Max," Shizuka spoke, her voice cutting through the silence "We need to talk about today."
Max's throat went dry. He opened his mouth to speak, but his mothers voice pinned the words before they could form.
"Max, why should we let you become a hero? Every time you step outside, the chance of you never coming home increases. Now tell me why I should let you become a hero knowing that. If you can't give me a real answer, I'll never let you no matter what."
Max's gaze dropped down. His fists were clenched tightly on his laps, his eyes unknowingly igniting with a faint golden color. He had been anticipating this conversation for a long time. His mother never joked about anything she said, so he knew she was serious. But, Max always had the answer to this question since he was little.
"The risk is there, Mother, I know that. I could fall in battle, I've always been aware since I had this dream." his eyes lifted up as he looked her straight in the eye, "But knowing I have the power to do something, to help people, and not doing anything about it. I couldn't leave with myself. I'm sorry mother. I've thought over this and I'm sure this is what I want. I want to help people, give them hope….That's what I want to do."
The car fell into a hushed silence at the declaration. Shizuka stared at her son, really stared at him. Julius watched him through the rearview mirror, his grip on the steering wheel loosening. Finally, small, proud smiles broke across their faces.
"Well…if you're going to be that stubborn" Shizuka chuckled, "Then we'll just have to make sure you're the strongest hero there is."
Max smiled, releasing a breath as the tension left his body . Truth be told he hadn't expected his mother to agree so easily. But either way, he was happy she did in the end.
"But." Shizuka added, her eyes gleaming with a sudden, mischievous glint. "That means your training is increasing twofold from now on, make sure you're strong enough to inspire people." she continued,
The daring grin on Max's face faltered slightly at the statement. His stomach twisting in loops. Twofold? He was already crawling from just regular training, what would double that look like.
Max felt an involuntary shiver down his spine at his mom's innocent smile. 'It can't be that bad…right?
Julius glanced at the two of them. His hands gripped the steering will tightly, a silent promise echoing in him to make Max strong enough to fulfill his dreams and overcome the challenges further to come.
***
Moments later, they had reached their home.
Opening the gates, the family drove into their house. "Okay, a hero needs their own sword. Right max?" Julius said as they stepped out of the car.
Immediately, a giddy expression lit up Max's face. And one couldn't blame him, he was receiving his sword…today!
"Calm down Max, it's not going to go anyway." His mother's chuckle rang from behind him, but Max was too excited.
Almost leaping across each step, Max fumbled with the keys as he opened the door. He paused at the figure inside the house.
"Max, what's wrong…?" His father's voice approached from behind, then cut shut abruptly.
A heavy hand clamped unto Max's shoulder. The grip wasn't meant to hurt, but the suddenness and the pressure from it sent a wave of alarm through Max. Something was wrong.
The man sat in the living room. He appeared relaxed, unbothered even. Like he was simply a guest coming to visit.
He wasn't someone Max was familiar with, but for some reason he felt he was. He didn't know or could really explain why.
Purple eyes shifted through the family. Max couldn't help but shiver as the man paused on him for a few moments, a small, polite smile broke onto his face. "Oh welcome back, family. It is truly splendid to see you all."
Julius's grip tightened on Max. It seemed his father also realized as the pressure eased, but his hand still remained on his shoulder.
"Max," his father whispered, "Follow your mother and don't look back." His eyes never leaving the man.
"But Father—"
"Go Max! Now." His father shoved him gently but firmly towards Shizuka.
As his mother's hands took him by the shoulder, Max glanced back at the diminishing figure of his father. He didn't know that would be the last time he had a chance to hear his voice.
***
Julius waited until Shizuka and Max were towards the safe zone. The moment they were gone, he flared his eyes, a familiar but deeper golden hue that sent a silent pulse through the house and across the neighborhood and more.
'No other unknown signatures. He's alone.' But Julius didn't relax at the data. His instincts were screaming like an alarm. 'How did he bypass the defenses?' he killed the thought before it could distract him. There was no time for questions.
The man's gaze lingered on the door from where the Shizuka and Max has disappeared from view. Julius stepped in front of his view.
"Hmm, so that must be Maxwell. He's grown since the last time I saw him." The man chuckled fondly, but to Julius it was the most ear-itching sound whenever heard. "He really took after you"
"What are you doing here, Raphael?" Julius had no time for his pleasantries. Raphael being here meant they were in trouble.
Raphael chuckled, "Me. Well, I just came to visit an old friend, that's all."
"Pleasantries are beneath you and me at this point, Raphael." Julius's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
He took a slow sip of his tea. He looked like a man who had nothing to fear at all, which only made Julius even more wary.
The tea settled down on its platter with an uneven clang, breaking the silence. The air chilled to a sudden low as Raphael's eyes hummed lightly with a purple sheen. "Where is it Julius? The stone. That's the only reason I am here."
'Of course that's why.' his arms folded across his chest. "You already know my answer."
"Julius, think of your fami—"
"Don't you dare bring them into this." Julius snarled, taking a deep step forward. "Your business is with me…and me alone. No one else"
"Then let's not make this difficult anymore than it has to, Julius." Raphael stood up, "Just give me its location, you live in peace with your family and you can watch your son grow up to be a Hero he had always dreamed of." he circled around him, finally stopping in front of him as he stared straight at. "Don't you want that."
Those purple eyes. Those same purple eyes that always seemed to unnerve him no matter what. Whether now or then. But now it was different.
Julius' eyes sparked golden in opposition to Raphael's purple. "That won't be happening like then. Not now. And not ever."
Silence permeated the room as the two men, once comrades and friends, now stared at each other with distant gazes
"Well I'm afraid my friend this may very well be the last time we will have this conversation."
Then the world exploded