Hunter's family

[StDH]

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Shadow crossed his arms as he leaned to the wall next to Sebastian.

"Fine, *he smiled* But know this. The path Hunter chose to follow was to overthrow Corin Frei and from what i saw, he was willing to ally with Hackers, Gaians, Harmony and some random freelancers. Sebastian here resembled the same behaviour when he saw the record between me and Hunter. The last information i have about Hunter is him visiting Unioner battleship to pursue the commander the join his side. And last Sebastian's words were about me giving him a ship and finding people to revenge Hunter. Oh, and maybe i should've told you that he let his emotions off and struck me first. What i did never endangered Sebastian's life, but, if you want him dead, because of the anger that is filling him. Then i will gladly buy him ship and watch his shuttle tear apart even before he enters Bering. Or do it yourselves, same fire that raged in Hunter's eyes now lighted up in Sebastian's. And given he fell down after few hits, you better take the six weeks recovery time and speak with him."

He said with complete trust in his words and making sure noone does anything stupid.

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[Aaron_Cianci]

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Emilia was about to speak again, but Thomas reached out and gripped her shoulder, squeezing it gently. She stopped and nodded, acknowledging Thomas's place in her son's life. Thomas stepped up near the edge of Shadowwalker's personal space, not violating it, but not standing down from the Maltese. "I don't care what he did, Shadowwalker, or what he said. There is absolutely no excuse for physically assaulting him. Sebastian, for all his faults, is a gentle soul. I love him. And for you to hurt him, even to protect him, is absolutely unacceptable." Thomas turned away for a moment, walking to a wall and finally setting down the weapon in his hand.

Emilia had moved to the edge of the bed, was sitting on it and holding Sebastian's hand as he rested. Thomas moved to the opposite side, and they both surrounded the blonde boy. Thomas ran his fingers through Sebastian's hair, then cupped his cheek. "Sebastian is my responsibility to protect, not yours. And because of you, I failed in that. That is also unacceptable, especially when he trusted you. And I know damn well Sebastian isn't strong enough to hurt you. He was doing what he does - lashing out because of his emotions. You are an adult. You should know better than to respond to that with physical violence."

Thomas let out a sigh, then leaned over to kiss Sebastian's forehead. The boy lying in the bed coughed suddenly, his body seizing and a drop of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Emilia fretted and wiped it, and held onto her son until he stilled. Thomas just stood and met Shadowwalker's eyes again. "I want Sebastian's ribs wrapped and whatever else needs done for him to travel. We are not staying here." Eventually, Thomas would figure out how to get Sebastian to calm down and forget ideas of revenge. For now, he would have to be content with making sure Sebastian survived the next few weeks.

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[StDH]

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He lookeed at the family gathered around Sebastian, never changing his pose. Only thinking how fast they forgot about Hunter, and caring about someone who is far from dying.

"Sometimes you must hurt in order to know, fall in order to grow, loose in order to gain, because life's greatest lessons are learned through pain. Which you two still fail to understand. Maltese are Warriors, yet life is sacred here and in the heat of battle we protect everyone no matter the relations. Sebastian is not hurt in any major way, but you purposely ignore those parts. I will awaken Sebastian then, and give him sedatives so he won't feel any pain. If he decides to leave, you're all free to go. If you want to leave so badly."

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[Aaron_Cianci]

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Thomas's rage grew at Shadowwalker's words. He let go of Sebastian's hand and stood up, stalking over to the man again. This time, he did get in his personal space. "You beat a 16-year-old! What kind of lesson is that, you freak!?!" Thomas yelled. Unlike his boyfriend, Thomas wasn't well educated. He didn't know the nature of the Maltese, or the importance of combat and violence in their society. Thomas only had his childhood and young adulthood in the Union to use for comparison, where such an act would be considered an atrocity, even to an enemy. He also would do anything to protect Sebastian.

Emilia's voice eventually came from the bedside, where she still clung to Sebastian's hand. "Please," she said, turning her head toward Shadowwalker. Her voice wasn't angry. It was desperate. "Sebastian is not like his brother, as much as he loved him." Her chest heaved with her breathing, and tears still stained her cheeks. "Hunter is...," and then she paused for a moment, letting out a hiccuped sob, before continuing, "...Hunter was a good man. A good son. He wanted what was best for his people. But that isn't Sebastian." She turned away from the Maltese, and stared down at Sebastian's face. "Sebastian is a gentle boy. A loving boy. He'd never be able to hurt anyone. Not a soul. Not willingly."

Thomas's gaze shifted back and forth between his unconscious boyfriend, Emilia and Shadowwalker. His lips pursed and his brow furrowed as he thought. Eventually, he stepped back from Shadowwalker, but met the other man's gaze again. "I don't care for your customs. You hurt Sebastian, someone I love. And you did it when he was no threat to you. That is unforgivable to me," he said. He turned away and walked back to the bedside, taking the blonde's hand again and entwining their fingers. "Wake him," Thomas said, his voice still an angry growl. "I want to talk to him. I will convince him that revenge isn't the life for him, and then we will go."

Emotion blinded Thomas. He didn't even bother to look up again, but kept staring at Sebastian. "If the only lesson you have to teach him is violence, then he has nothing to learn from you."

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[StDH]

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Thomas's words only awakened a true demon. Shadow smiled and silenced his laugh from inside him. Yet he kept completely calm.

"Soooo, this was far from violence Thomas. We're Warriors because you can't have peace without everyone having the same training equally and knowing what will happen when you break the law. People carry guns and have military training, yet almost no crimes are done. Those cute maids you see everywhere around have been through worse than Sebastian right now, and from younger age, like my sister. I was personally trained by my father's best soldiers since i was a child, to point where i could not move anymore sometimes. It was harsh, but they took great effort to let me heal properly without leaving any scars and i felt they really care about me. Your affection towards Sebastian is less than Sebastian's affection for his Brother with whom he was raised. And Maltese were raised alone, only relying on their own. The weight of friendship and family means much more here, than anywhere else."

Ever since Shadow was a child, he wanted to raise to his father's expectations. While his father Moonwalker never told him directly to reach a certain level, Shadow knew he has to surpass them in every way imaginable. Therefore he trained day and night, rain or snow, cold or hot, ever since his childhood. And nowadays, honored to be a Maltese Guard.

With those words, Shadow kept leaning on the wall and called maid to wake Sebastian up, awaiting any kind of hostilities from those two. He wouldn't let them do anything to the maid, nor maid would let them attack Shadow, even after what she saw before. But, he never wanted them to feel threatened.

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[Aaron_Cianci]

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Emilia and Thomas silently stood watch over the maid as she took the steps needed to awaken Sebastian. As the blonde stirred, he licked his dried-out lips and grimaced in pain. His head felt groggy and his chest ached. He rasped when he breathed. When he finally opened his eyes, he looked up to see his mother and Thomas both leaning over him, looking hopeful. Despite the pain, he smiled at them both. As awareness returned to him, he noticed he was lying on a soft surface. He felt his hands held on either side by those he loved. He whimpered slightly, coughed, and then looked around the room.

When Sebastian noticed Shadowwalker standing there, he grimaced. He didn't manifest Emilia's grief or sadness, nor did he emulate Thomas's anger. Sebastian's reaction to the side of the Maltese was fear. He looked terrified, and let out a strangled whimper. Sebastian didn't cry, but he did lean into Thomas's taller, stronger body and hid himself behind his boyfriend. Whatever had been going through his head right before he'd been struck, the young Rheinlander had clearly never imagined the Maltese would hit him. And now that he knew such a thing was possible, Sebastian had no idea what to expect from Shadowwalker going forward. He was afraid.

Unable to speak for the moment, Thomas gripped Sebastian's shoulder and squeezed it. "I'll protect you, love. I promise." He leaned in and gave Sebastian a kiss on the lips, then let go of his hand and stood up. He turned back toward their host again, frowning. "That's what happens when you attack a gentle soul, Shadowwalker. They fear you." Thomas sounded more disappointed than anything as he stood, moving across the room. "I need to get Sebastian some water. Where can I find some, and a glass for him? Perhaps some towels?" The dark-haired man was in caretaker mode now, focused only on making sure Sebastian was okay.

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[StDH]

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"Follow her, she will give you anything you need"

Shadow pointed his finger at the maid. Feeling mildly better about Thomas leaving the room. He took a peek on Sebastian and his body before saying.

"If you want to revenge your brother. Then this is what you would have to handle in real combat. And don't worry, no long term signs of this will be left on you. Your family here is worried about you, you better listen to them."

Disappointed from Sebastian's glance, Shadow looked at him to observe the bruises. But in the end, he thought Hunter's brother would take up the challenge, so he would teach someone himself.

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