Family Problems

Kaz flicked the end of his cigarette out, staring at his hands. Whose hands were they? What was he doing? The girl had contacted him first. Kiko. He had tried rolling Date around in his mouth, but both it and Kiko felt strange. Daughter, was just as foreign, he decided, trying it in the languages he knew. None of them expressed how he really felt. Awful? Tired? Sorry that he had been tracked and found out? Probably all of the above.

She stood a head taller than most of the other people in the crowded streets. She walked with a small hesitation in her step, her eyes locked onto Kaz. She had her mother’s eyes, he dimly realized, flicking his cigarette away. But she was paler than her family. The focused, almost hunting look on her face reminded Kaz of himself. He wished she didn't remind him of that as she stopped a few feet from him, staring at his face.

“So. It was between you and someone else, but you’re winning by a large margin. Mostly because there are actual records of you existing as an adult when I was born.” The young woman sighed, staring at the man. “I've always wondered about it, how was I going to confront you? How would you react? But now I've done it, I feel a little… Spent. Does that make any sense at all?”

“Yeah. I think it does.” He threw the cigarette to the side. After so long of what he assumed was depression, he felt a familiar tingling in his bones. Something strong was in front of him. She was on the cusp of adulthood, but he could feel it radiating off of her, just like he could with his son. He wondered if she felt the same thing.

“So, are you? Are you my father?"

“Did no one tell you that you lack tact? Aren’t we supposed to discuss this sort of thing over dinner or something?” Kaz grinned as he spoke.

“It’s a simple question! I’d prefer to not beat around the bush with this stuff. If you are, maybe THEN we can have whatever dumb shit you want.”

“Yeah. You are. You’re definitely my daughter. I pegged it on you as soon as I saw you for the first time. I heard you survived in the 12 Dimensions for nearly two years. I don’t think your brother could have done that at his age. Then again, he was always full of surprises…”

“I got some questions then! Don’t go talking like it’s all okay, because it’s NOT.” She snarled. “Where the hell have you been? Or did you not even know I existed until I came for you?”

“Didn’t know you existed. I remember your mom, she swore up and down that there was no chance of a kid. So either something took that as a challenge or she was lying to me. I didn’t think you existed until you appeared at the academy, and even then? I wasn’t sure. But now, I’m positive.”

Kiko looked the ogre up and down, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. “So, I knew my mom had some weird things and for a little while, I thought I was a mutation, like a shark to her mermaid. But now I know it’s your stupid genetics. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome kid.” God, he wanted to test her, to fight her. Only someone who could put up a good enough fight would have the right to call herself his daughter. He paused, grabbing the box at his feet. ‘Hey, uh. Since I knew what the outcome was going to be, here. I got you a gift.”

The girl’s frown deepened, but she opened it, the frown slowly disappearing. The D-pad inside looked like one she had made on a website, with the way it all looked like a serpent’s tail, the scales…

“Everyone said you were a bum! How the hell are you even affording this shit? How did you even know?”

“Public wish lists have made gift giving very very easy.” The older man grinned sardonically, then waved his hand. “Look, it’s yours. If you want to hang out and do things and try and connect, great. If you’re not comfortable with that? That’s also fine, I don’t want to force it.”

“…Give me a few days. Maybe this weekend. It’s a big commitment if I’m going to skip classes to come to Domino or miss out on precious homework time.” She crossed her arms, trying to not look delighted with the small gift. The man in front of her seemed uncomfortable now, his red-brown eyes now cast towards the ground.

“So, I have a brother too?”

“Yeah. Geo Briar? He’s the guy who runs the Flamvell bar and Grill. He and his fiancé met doing their hero work at the academy.”

"So he’s strong? Is he as strong as you?” Kiko leaned forward, feeling the smile creeping across her face. “I don’t want to fight YOU yet, but I think I wouldn’t mind testing HIM out.”

“Hard to say. He used to be on par with some of the big wig kids, but I think he stopped doing hero work. Don’t know if the flame with him went out or if it’s just cooled.”

She didn’t need to hear anything else as she turned around.  Kiko had marked the bar when she first came back, but for different reasons. What did Suguru even see in that idiot? “We’ll do dinner this weekend father. Maybe even a duel! I’d love to catch up.”

“Hoo boy. Alright. Don’t hurt anyone, kid. Or get hurt yourself.”

*                               *

Geo Briar had almost everything set-up. Orders had gone in, they would fare well with Kurochi at the helm for a month. Or a month and a half, he mused. Two months of just he and Suguru, with no wacky supernatural happenings, no worrying about his restaurant. Sight-seeing, having fun… And then the door swung open fifteen minutes before they were going to open.

“I heard you were some kind of bad ass, Briar!” The young woman at the door shouted, her face in a snarl. “I heard you kicked ass at the academy.” Oh. It was the girl who was probably his sister. Definitely his sister, with the face she was making. It reminded him of his father, if he got carried away.

“I guess.” He shrugged. “It’s not like I do it much anymore. There’s no big things. At this point, I think it’s all of our pasts coming back to haunt us. And that? I can deal with. I didn’t leave any unfinished business.” He grinned at her.

“Well. I demand a duel, brother!”

“I’m about to open.” He was nonplussed by the reveal she clearly thought would hit harder. “Actually tell you what, I can open late one day.”

“Sweet!”

The open air parking lot was a little chilly, and Geo cursed himself for leaving his suit jacket inside. The girl didn’t seem to be very bothered.

 “So, no limiters? Full force attacks? Or can you even take it?”

“Fine by me.” Something in his blood boiled now as he looked at her. This girl thought it was cute to crash into his bar, probably even thought she’d prove something to Suguru by beating him. It stopped here.

 Duel here

Geo was sent flying by the dual assault of the two massive sea serpents, his shirt torn and his pants tattered. He groaned from his position and sat up, laughing in spite of himself.

Kiko tapped on her pad, grinning. “Looks like you can still open in time.” She gave a small wave as she walked off, leaving her brother on the ground.

“I’ll take a rematch soon, sis!”

“Anytime you want your ass kicked, Briar come see me. I'll be happy to trounce you again and again."