The Custodes

Chapter 18 - Zuro Arc Part 2

Charon and Hadi had returned to the study, where Dolion had arranged to meet them after the rally. Charon likely would have enjoyed staying around after his grand speech, but Hadi wanted nothing more than to retire for the day. After the chanting had starting to die down Leona urged both boys off the stage and out one of the back doors, where they found themselves in a recognisable section of the underground facility. As they were heading out they heard Dolion begin to talk to the crowd again, but Hadi was already making his way to the study when Charon started to pitch the idea of staying to listen. Reluctantly the other boy followed, managing to grab a spare change of clothing from one of the storage rooms and changing into them once out of his true form. They were loose and droopy, and made of stained rags, but since it was far better than being stark naked he didn't complain. Once they'd entered the study, Hadi immediately collapsed onto a chair and let out an exasperated sigh. Charon expected him to talk but he seemed somewhat lost in his own thoughts, so instead decided to lounge across one of the couches. A rare silence fell between them, and for the first time in a while neither knew what the other was thinking. After what felt like hours Hadi spoke, looking across the room at Charon "Are we going to discuss this?" "You tell me." Charon responded almost right away, looking up at the ceiling as his head leaned back against the armrest "You're the one who practically ran away from the rally in a panic." "I wasn't in a panic." Hadi defended, frowning in distaste "And I seem to remember it being you who started all that Zuro shit. I just didn't want to be around when the rally ended." As he spoke Charon's head turned to face him, a look of irritated disbelief on his features. "Listen Hadi, standing on a stage in silence isn't how you lead a fucking revolution." He said, an aggressive tone lining the words towards his brother. "I didn't ask to lead it." Hadi replied absentmindedly, which is when Charon shot to an upwards sitting position on the couch "But you agreed to! You knew what was being asked of you and you went forward with your training anyway!" "I was a child back then." Hadi muttered, looking down at the floor as he ran his hands through his hair and kept them there "It's bigger than I realised. It's too much, Charon, I can't do it. It doesn't feel right, I can't just make it feel right." Charon watched his brother for a second, then walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking down at him "Relax, Hadi. You're not alone. You're the face of the revolution, yeah, but all that means is you inspire hope in the rest of them. I'll be by your side, we'll tackle everything together. You can do what's expected of you. The only person who doubts that is you." Hadi looked up and met Charon's gaze for a second, opening his mouth to respond, but at that very minute the door to the study opened and Dolion glanced between both sons "My boys. Walk with me."

Dolion walked down one of the wide corridors, with Charon and Hadi on either side of him. The twins had to actively slow their pace in order to not pull ahead of their father, but both waited and watched him patiently in anticipation of what he had to tell them. Eventually he cleared his throat, yet still didn't turn to look at them. "I'm proud." He said gruffly, causing both boy's eyes to widen in surprise. Praise from their father was rare, and it was strange that it was the first thing that came out his mouth. "Thank you, father." They both said in accidental unison, though Dolion hardly seemed to even hear them. "I'm proud to see what you have become, Hadi. Your skills with your powers have reached heights I never thought you would ever achieve. There is no one more suited to carry the honour you do - to bear the name Zuro, as your brother put it." Hadi smiled slightly as his father spared a glance at him, though underneath it was filled with a bitterness that he could not escape. Despite receiving praise, he felt the exact same way he did up on the stage. Charon didn't notice the way his brother was feeling at that moment, as his gaze had fallen down to the ground in hearing Hadi's praise. He was used to it, of course, but at this time it felt almost patronising considering his father wanted him to be dragged along. He was so caught up in his irritation that he almost missed what his father said. "And you, Charon. I feel I could not be prouder of how you have turned out." Dolion said, still looking forward as though there were some unseen obstacles along the smooth obalk floors that may be out to get him. "I'm sorry, father?" Charon said on impulse, not quite believing what he was hearing. "You heard me boy, do not ponder any ulterior meaning behind my words." Dolion chided, while Charon simply stared at him in half shock. He quickly gathered his wits though, not wanting to give his father any words to revoke his statement "I don't understand. Why all of a sudden? You know as well I as do that you've never given me a hint of appreciation my entire life." Dolion looked at Charon, a feigned look of offence on his face "I wanted you to achieve your goals for your own reasons." "Bullshit." His father watched him for a second, then let out a small, almost silent sigh "Its pointless to try and deceive you at the stage you're at in life. I had no hopes for you Charon, is that what you wanted to hear? I set you up to fail from the start. Yes, you were red skinned but that hardly meant anything to me. All I needed was Hadi, he was enough for the revolution to go ahead, you were simply a tag along. A drifter, who's fate was undecided but had a predictable futility lining it." Charon stared at Dolion, his fist clenching at his side, and even Hadi looked somewhat shocked at what was coming out of his father's mouth "Old man, you're fucking-" "But that's different now." Dolion didn't seem the least bit threatened by Charon, still walking at the same pace he always had been "The dedication you've displayed - the drive you've had to become the best despite knowing the futility. That is what I am most impressed with. And so, I wished for you to stand on a podium equal to Hadi, not below him. That's what happened at the rally, yet you still-" "I still gave all the glory to him." Charon finished, unclenching his fist and instead shoving his hands in his pockets heavily "I won't be deceived by any pretence that I'm as useful to the resistance as he is. But trust me, father, I will be recognised in my own way. By you, and by the resistance." "Yes...I believe that is what I am beginning to understand." Dolion said, with yet again the small fragments of a smile finding their way onto his face. Hadi looked at him, seeing the way he actually, genuinely did seem proud, as well as Charon positively glowing beside him, with his own sense of pride and righteousness exuding from him. All his life he'd aimed for his father's respect, yet it seemed like such a faraway goal in his later years that it'd become much less prominent. Now that he was receiving it, he had a full renewal of hope and faith, which would likely fuel his efforts in whatever came next in life. The three of them turned a corner, finding Leona standing in front of a lone, walled off staircase at the end of the corridor with two black, long cases beside her. She wore the basic, bronzed armour Charon and Hadi had only ever seen her in, a full body set with a large spiked shoulder plate and a circle of jewels contained within to serve as a symbol of her importance in the resistance. Having been entirely engrossed in the conversation, Hadi and Charon failed to notice that Dolion had led them to a section of the underground base they'd never once stepped foot in, yet both of them had already guessed exactly where the staircase left. "Father, why have you taken us here?" Hadi said in disbelief, staring at the staircase as though it itself was intimidating him "Surely you don't mean to-..." He seemed almost unable to finish the sentence, like the thought he was trying to verbalise was almost unspeakable. "Cease your blubbering like a fool. Did you think the day would never come that I would show you the world above? How do you suppose we fight a war while holed up in these despicable caves I wonder?" Dolion kept walking as Hadi locked eyes with Charon, seeing his brother was just as surprised as he was though much less vocal about it. They knew they'd have to leave the caves eventually of course but neither suspected that it would be this soon, or that their father would take them without so much as a word of warning. Their father reached Leona, then said a few quiet words to her before she nodded and picked up the cases, holding them in her arms carefully and patiently as Dolion turned back to his sons "Come, we have much to discuss." With that he turned and began to ascend the stairs, Leona flashing the twins a single emotionless glance before following close behind him. "This is it, Charon. What we've been waiting for." Hadi said, unable to hide the almost child-like excitement in his voice. "You and I have been waiting for very different things, Hadi. Don't get too attached to what you're about to see. We're fighting to get rid of this world and create a better one in its place, remember?" Charon told him almost condescendingly, before heading up the stairs too. Hadi's expression faltered slightly, before he inhaled deeply and walked after his brother.