The Liberal Assassin

It was dark and everything felt heavy.

My eyelids wouldn't open but I could hear footsteps of someone pacing the room.

"Sit down! Walking around won't help him regain consciousness any faster."

I heard a grunt followed by a voice that grated on my ears. "Don't tell me what to do! Besides, you said that he'll be awake any moment now."

"Well," a weary voice explained, "I'm a scientist and not a doctor. Truthfully, he should be in the medical unit. But if I let Ignacio do that, his identity as the Night Walker would be compromised."

I heard another grunt from the same old man but the pacing stopped. The bed dipped and I felt a warm hand on my forehead.

"Stupid brat, taking on more than he can handle…" This shouldn't be happening. Nash should be angry and yell at my mistakes like always. Why would he sound so worried?

Though semi-conscious, I was finding it easier to focus as their voices became clearer. "Don't worry too much. You got him to me in time. I don't know how that Yankee did it but we have to give him credit. Without his speed trash of an invention, he would have returned to Spxtro."

Come on, Titus! You can do it, just open your eyes. Although I was still muddled over what was happening, I deduced from their conversation that I was more or less unconscious for several days. There was a nagging feeling at the back of my mind reminding me of some unfinished business, urging me to wake up.

After a few more attempts, my dark world was sliced apart by a crack of light. The light that greeted me wasn't harsh but still, my eyes hurt. On instinct, I attempted to move away from the source of discomfort. It was that attempt of movement that triggered it. Every part of my body started aching at once as if every single cell had been damaged and brought back to life once more. My head throbbed badly and I couldn't feel my limbs. Everything was heavy, including the sound of my heart in my ears. A sharp jab of pain would accompany every inhale and exhale until there was no telling which part of me hurt more.

It wasn't clear what happened but my world tilted on an axis when someone supported me and pressed a glass to my lips. A long draught of water later, I tested my vocals.

"What happened?"

Nash looked ready to cry but Khronos jumped the line before the ex-hitman could launch into a serious sermon.

"You were out cold for five days. The most severe of your injuries nearly killed you but thank goodness for your Yankee friend, we managed to wrestle you back from the beyond. If it weren't for his speed monster, you would have bled out."

"How serious was it?"

"Oh, you mean other than the severed artery, punctured right lung and a fractured coccyx? It's nothing serious, some shattered and broken bones, multiple bruises and cuts, lacerations and plenty of internal bleeding but nothing serious at all, not even the burns."

I grimaced at Khronos' obvious disdain. Nash was deathly still but the knuckles that clutched at the sheets were white.

"I'm sorry."

"Damn straight you are! I didn't raise you to be a suicidal assassin! Why didn't you assess the situation? Did all those victories against Spencer make your head swollen? Did you think that Luna Security is on the same level as all the other premises you broke into?"

There was nothing I could do but listen to Nash's crescendo yelling. All his frustration, worry and concern about finding me dead at his doorstep made me cringe. In all honesty, he had a valid point and I've definitely learnt my lesson.

"You idiot! Is the mission more important than your life? It's meaningless to take on a mission if you can't see it to the end!"

Now that was a low blow. It wasn't as if I never tried.

"What's the point?" I stared into forest green eyes. "It's not going to be any different in the end. I'm not a hero, I'm an assassin! A murderer! Even if I took down the Parliament, there is no way for me to walk innocently under Pyros like everyone else. Ever since the beginning I was prepared to go down with the Parliament. This cycle of blood must end and it ends with me."

Feeling the strain of talking after several days of bed rest, I didn't register the pain immediately. I did hear a loud slap resounding and some ringing in my left ear that stunned me.

"Stop deluding yourself. Do you think you're the only one bearing the burden of this? Open your eyes! Look carefully! Aren't we assisting you? We're guilty as well! It's too late for this kind of thing."

It's too late for this kind of thing … That's right. I've forgotten.

Before I could fall into a cycle of self-hatred, Nash pulled me by my shirt to eye level.

"Listen here, Titus Crowley. Don't even think about it."

I wanted to retort but the ferocity of his glare made my voice falter. Nash never looked so serious in the time I knew him, not even when I accidentally stabbed myself with a poisoned dagger during practice. It's not the kind of serious that meant a training session full of pain. It's also not the kind of serious that meant I was in trouble.

"We knew what we were getting into long before you did. No, we won't be heroes and no, we don't want to. We're just doing it because this is what we think is right. We are helping you because we want to. True, you may be stupid, arrogant, imm.a.t.u.r.e, vain and showy but that's just part of who you are and we've accepted it."

Was this how they really thought? What have I been doing this whole time?

"Don't carry the burden by yourself. You're not a hero so don't you dare act like one! Stop making the decisions for us, we're your partners in crime and not your slaves. As much as you want to deny it, we're a family and caring for each other is what families do."

With such a sincere speech, there was nowhere left to run or hide.

"I can't… I need to do this alone. You've done so much for me, I can't drag anyone else into this."

My neck hurt at the awkward angle as Nash leaned in so close that our foreheads locked together.

"Don't underestimate the love a parent has for their child. I may not have sired you but I raised you as if I did."

I flopped bonelessly onto the bed as Nash released his hold and walked out. Khronos came over to ease me back into my linen confinement without another word, leaving me to my thoughts.

The door shut once more, leaving me entirely alone in a big empty room. It was overly huge and cold. Exhausted, in pain and thoroughly confused, I felt like laughing at how ridiculous everything turned out. It hurt so much to laugh but I couldn't stop. Despite the giggles, tears were streaming down my face continuously. The truth is often hilarious and life is one horrible joke.

Who knew that my dream for a family would really come true? Now I know why they say be careful of what you wish for.