章 5: 1337 Gamer
Three weeks later :
"And... I think that will do for now. Everything's looking good, but I'll need to be back in a week to check on things." Susan, the child services handler says as she tucks her clipboard under her arm and walks to the door.
"So soon? We still have tea left." Tieu says.
"Ah-no, sorry but I've got other cases that need my attention. You two seem like you have everything handled, you have a beautiful home by the way..." she coughs into her fist, "As for schooling, Kieu would end up joining halfway through the academic term which is not ideal, homeschooling or tutoring is also an option... With how intelligent Kieu is, I'd recommend accelerating his education though, as it would allow him to start fresh and make some friends."
Tieu glances at me and nods consideringly, "How would we accelerate his education? Is there a test or...?"
"Just that, it would be an online test so you'd have to participate at the local library. Nothing too difficult, you'd be graded on basic subjects like Maths, History, English, Science, etc."
"Which school would I go to?" I ask from where I was still sitting. There were a couple high schools in Brockton Bay, but two stuck out the most. The first, and closest to where he now lived was Winslow High, which was apparently a terrarium mirroring the city, with gang member students representing their respective factions inside the premises. I wasn't sure how willing I'd be to enter a school where nazis and Asian supremacists coexisted...
The other was called Arcadia High, the 'premier' school that everyone wanted to go to. Rumour has it though that it's just a front used by the PRT to help hide the identities of the Wards, who would still be in school despite working as capes.
"It all depends on how well you do and preference. Show you have the drive and talent, and a scholarship for Arcadia wouldn't be out of the question."
"Hear that Kieu? There's a scholarship with your name on it." Tieu coos at me which I respond to with a glare.
"They're always so rebellious in their teens." Susan chuckles, "Well, I'll be going now. Call me if anything turns up or you make your decision. Bye!"
"Tạm biệt!""Taam biat!" Tieu and I simultaneously say, waving her off. Apparently it meant goodbye in Vietnamese, which was part of the role we were taking on. After all, a 'halfy' like myself would know how to speak a bit of the language.
With the door shut I slump in my chair and let out a long yawn, "Thank god it's finally over. There's only so much smiling and ass-kissing I can do before I start pulling my hair out." I say, not mentioning the fact that I was only trading one act for another... The dutiful child I portray for the social worker to the manipulative yet kind-hearted orphan for Tieu.
"You did well, she doesn't suspect a thing." she praises.
"Do you think I should go for it, skipping a year, I mean?"
"A good boy would look to his future." she responds, pouring herself another drink.
"The government might have something to say about having a 'good boy' work the stall for most of the day..."
"Well, the government isn't in the business of parenting."
"And you are?" I can't help but retort.
Her lips thin in response, "For you? The answer would be yes."
"Can I at least get some more time in Downtown? Busking makes almost as much as you earn with your stall. It's not like I'm learning anything either, right now I think I could make a bahn mi with my eyes closed..." I ask. Now that I had an official identity I could play as much as I wanted without the cops being able to stop me... Of course, that also meant Tieu was getting called by every talent agency that wanted me.
Hearing Tieu rip into the agents over the phone was one of the funnier moments I can recall during our time together.
She rests her face on her fist and taps her cheek with a finger, "I don't know. Will you tell me what you do every night in your room?" she questions with a smirk.
Ah... She heard that did she?
I couldn't exactly leave the apartment to go out exercising like I usually did, so I was stuck doing pushups, squats, and shit some dumbells all night. I tried to keep the noise down but evidently, something got out. I'm also embarrassed to admit how much time I spent in front of the mirror now that the efforts of my labour were beginning to show on my lanky body.
Not much muscle mass was gained but the definition was there. Visibly muscular arms, abdominal muscles somewhat present, and if I would be so bold, a sexy pair of legs... Was that weird to say considering I was a mid-twenties bloke in the body of a child?
...
"Kieu?" Tieu questions at my loss of focus.
"Do you really want to know what a teenage boy in puberty is doing to make noise in the middle of the night...?" I dryly remark.
"Hm... If you put it that way." she relents.
*Knock-Knock-Knock*
"Who is it?" Tieu calls out.
"It's Takeshita, Miss Tieu!" the neighbour calls out.
"Go let our guest in, 'son'."
"Aight..." I open the door and find Takeshita and Mr Hotaro standing in the hallway. Amongst the people in the neighbourhood that Tieu had introduced me to, these two were the most commonly encountered, primarily due to them living opposite our apartment. Mr Hotaro had even asked me to give Takeshita guitar lessons after he heard me playing through the walls... I wasn't really in a position to say no after Tieu accepted it on my behalf.
The fact the girl wasn't the biggest pain in my ass eased my burdens somewhat.
I spy the huge grin on the girl's face and quirk a brow, "Something the matter?"
"Shita-chan here wanted to ask-" The Wards are doing a big fundraiser in town and I wanted to ask if you wanna go!?" the girl hurriedly explains.
"Fundraiser...?" I parrot, unaware of it.
She strongly nods, "For people hurt in cape battles! Kid Win's even gonna be there!"
"The new guy? Tinker or something?"
"Yeah! He's got a hoverboard and everything! It's so cool!" she chirps.
"Ah, as much as I'd like to go I've got-," I glance at Tieu, "Other things to do, the stall needs to be set up, I need to study for my placement, and-"
"We're taking a break today, go ahead and have fun." Tieu waves me off with a shooing gesture.
My eye twitches at her, can't she just give me this one thing? Damn sadist. I wouldn't be surprised if she was scheming to have me blow my own brains out. Maybe I could report her for being a devious schemer, not unlike the Simurgh?
"Yes! Let's go Kieu!" Takeshita shouts, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me out the door.
"Wait! At least let me get some shoes on!?"
--------------------------
"Do you like heroes, Kieu?"
...
"Yeah, sure." I blandly reply, walking down the road towards the event.
"Who's your favourite? Mine's Armsmaster."
"Panacea."
"Oh? She's my fourth favourite! Just behind Gallant!"
"What about Alexandria?" I asks, more to keep her talking so I wouldn't have to. Mr Hotaro's presence behind us as he escorted us forced me to 'play nice'.
"Ah, she's on a different list. Local heroes are different to them after all." she says as if it was only obvious.
"Uh-huh... What about you gramps? Got a favourite hero?" I drawl.
"None I would care to mention." he offers with a squint, disliking my way of calling him.
"Ojisan's favourite is-was, Hero." she says, referring to the guy who helped found the PRT... Y'know, until he got cut in half by the Siberian.
"A terrible loss by all accounts." Mr Hotaro solemnly says.
...
"You hear that...?" I ask, hearing something odd approaching on the wind.
"No...?" says my companions.
I tilt my head, "It kinda sounds like... Rap?" I mutter, wondering who is insane enough to play that in the centre of ABB territory.
My confusion doesn't last long as an old tricked-out Chevrolet drifts around a corner, blaring 'Fuck the Police' at top volume over their stereo, before eventually skidding to a halt in front of a bus stop.
Two guys hopped out from it, one wearing blackface, a durag, and a white wife-beater tank top. The other had a full blue tracksuit on, one you'd see those 'not-Russians' wearing. Both had domino masks concealing their features, somehow...?
Following them was what looked like a golden snitch from Harry Potter flying behind them. Everyone was watching them dumbfounded, at least until they went to their boot and retrieved a baseball bat and what looked to be a fucking flamethrower.
"Run!" someone shouts, the crowd of people fleeing as fast as they can. Unfortunately, one of the prostitutes that'd been standing nearby the bus stop had been wearing heels, causing her to trip over.
"What the fuck is even happening?" I ask as the two men approach the woman, who seems to have twisted her ankle.
"T-that's Über and Leet, they're villains who go around doing 'game-themed crimes." Takeshita says before tugging on my sleeve, "We should go..."
"Watashi o hottoite!" the woman screams as they finally reach her, the larger one in a tracksuit bouncing the bat in his hands, "Dumb hooker-bitch, this'll teach you to fuck with my cousin!"
"Get her for Nico! She should've known not to walk-, like, at all!"
He raises the bat and brings it down on her leg, not quite breaking it but definitely bruising it. The woman shouts and tries to fend them off with her heel but Über knocks it into the distance like a homerun, likely breaking a couple of fingers in the process.
"Is no one gonna fucking do something? I thought the ABB owned this place?" I growl as they continue the senseless beating. I recognised the game they were referencing, Grand Theft Auto, but that didn't make this shit any better!
"They're capes, which calls for other capes or proper weapons." Mr Hotaro says, looking away in disgust and trying to prompt me and Takeshita to follow.
"Fuck this." I spit, leaving my companions shocked as I make my way towards the cunt-duo. One only had a baseball bat, which wasn't that big of a threat, but the other was wielding a replica of the flamethrower used in GTA, yeah, I wasn't gonna risk getting close to them. But who said I had to?
"HEY! FUCK-FACE!" I shout, causing them to turn towards me just as I throw the 'back-up hammer' I'd been hiding in my waistband.
It does an arc through the air, everyone following it as it comes down... Landing directly on the dude in blackface, Leet's head.
*Crack!*
He goes down instantly, the frail domino mask providing no protection for the heavy object that just shattered his cheekbone.
"LEET!?" Über exclaims, shocked that some civie would try to fight them.
My actions, surprisingly, brought forth a chain reaction. Nearby civilians started to pick up nearby objects to hurl at the capes. Rocks, sodas, some even tossing their shoes.
"THIS ISN'T EVEN FIVE STARS YET! DID SOMEONE ENTER A CHEAT CODE!?" Über shouts before tossing his friend in the back of the car and speeding away.
...
"You alright?" I ask the beaten woman.
"N-no..." she whimpers.
"Kieu, what did you do...?" an ashen Mr Hotaro mutters.
"Taught those assholes a lesson."
"Y-you've made a target of yourself..." he admonishes.
"THAT WAS SO COOL! GOOD JOB KIEU!" Takeshita cheers, eagerly patting me on the shoulder. "But... Why did you have a hammer?"
"I like hammers?" I shrug, "We should probably go." I add, seeing people nearby start taking photos. "The PRT event's probably still on, right?"
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Niggross
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