Illusive Eden - He Pretends He's the Hero

"Stay here with Ace, I'll be back in a moment." Rhett says, glancing at his son safely seated on the backseat, hand on the steering wheel of the car.

Rhean about to unstrap the seatbelt pauses his motion, looking at Rhett opening the door and stepping out the Jeep.

"But, I want to go too." He mumbles to himself, which doesn't go unheard by Ace engaged with his cellphone.

Ace on the passenger's seat glances at the rectangular rearview mirror, the child's pouting face reflecting in it.

His lips curves up; he thinks Rhean's cute.

An adorable small version of his impossibly grumpy, scary leader Czar.

"Don't be sad little guy, your dad'll come back soon." He reasures, eyes glued to the bright screen again, his thumbs driving a diversion of adventure—not at rest, the clashing shooting sounds barely audible.

They were before Elk's classic white cape cod house, with a steep pitch roof made with cedar shingles—the colour grey frolicking a mosaic of the awning. But it looked black now, for the darkness had already succumbed the day, the sky bare of moon and stars.

The only illumination was the lights filtrating the surround, the grass in the lawn freshly mowed, looming large trees surrounding the area, a garden of plants well cherished.

Rhean's little fist grips the seatbelt, his big round eyes peering with anticipation at the entrance door. After he was found, he was taken straight to the hospital, but the old doctor with big, scruffy greying beard told him he was fine, and just a bit malnourished.

He freshened up, and put on new warm clothes, then he had dinner with his father, and his friend Ace. On the road to their hospital, sky had got off and took a cab to home. While Zoro was taken to a veterinary hospital for a check-up.

His legs dangling, moving back and forth restlessly, grazing the front seats, he finally peels off the seatbelt—and reaches for the door. He jumps down, only to splatter specks of mud on himself. Looking down, there was a sludge in the softened ground, water pooled from a heavy rain.

He purses his lips at the ruination of his new shoes and clothes.

Fisting up his pants, with long strides he heads to the house, his path a zig–zag, attempting to only step on the arider part.

"Yes!!" Ace yells, a hand holding the phone, the other gesturing a fist of cheer of win to himself.

His face bright, he looks over his shoulder to glance behind, his features instantly withdrawing to a frown at the empty space.

Frantic eyes searching through the window, he catches a glimpse of the short tiny frame peeking his head through the entrance door.

Ace huffs, scoffing after. "The kid dared to not listen to me?" Slipping the cellphone in his jeans—he steps out the car. "And that is why," he rebukes closing the door.

"I will always hate kids."

---

"It's good that you found him." Elk says, standing at the door of Rhean's room, his gaze on Rhett packing Rhean's clothes.

Rhett doesn't respond to him, and continues gathering the boy's clothes from the wardrobe, stuffing them down on the suitcase.

He scans the room—he goes on to get the toys, school supplies and every other necessities, until the suitcases are crammed and couldn't even be zipped up without force.

Elk sighs, "Look, I know I've let you down, but it's lame to move everything out. He'll have to come back after few days anyway."

"He's never coming back." Rhett remarks straightening up, he grips the luggages—and wheels them along the floor.

Elk forrows his brows, his face drawn in suspicion of his Agent. "What do you mean? Where would he stay if you go away for a mission?"

Rhett glances at him. "I won't be your little pet anymore. You'll get my resignation letter tomorrow." He says, towering before a befuddled Elk. "Move," he stares down at his stiff Boss blocking the way.

Elk ceasing his senses shifts away from the doorway, making route for Rhett.

With a distressed sigh out his mouth—he trails his gaze at Rhett heading for the stairs.

"Wait Czar!" Elk calls, following down the stairs to the living room, halting Rhett.

"You can't be in your right mind! Prepare for work by next week." He states in a rigid tone. "You'll hopefully gather your fanciful brains by then."

"Does it not get through your thick skull? Or are you shameless?" Rhett glances at him, his stare mocking.

Elk grits his teeth, fist clenched, his body trembling in rage—a blinding wave of hot dizziness through his head.

"Is it because I stopped the search of your wife who vanished from earth? You're just hoping for fruit in a dead tree Czar." A frustrated Elk rambles on crudely, his tongue sharp and slippery.

"You've had me only with your crooked pretense. Now that you've stopped acting and scorned my reason to stay, I'm out of your games." Rhett redicules him, calmly ambling ahead.

"I did not feign anything! You think you can find her without our resources? Get a hold of yourself before she destroys yo—" "Enough!" Rhett's patience erupts. His form shuddering, hands turning white at how hard he's clenching the grip on the luggages.

Elk scoffs at him, unbothered, bluffing as if he didn't flinch at his outburst.

"Not another word." He warns, bloodshot eyes glaring at Elk.

"Dada," a small, weak voice wafts through the strained air in the room. The two of the men looks at Rhean standing by the door, glancing between them worriedly—his legs tautened in scare.

Rhett let's out a sigh, his body loosening. "Come on, we're leaving." He motions with his gaze to tread out.

"I want to say goodbye to grandpa." He says, his gaze on the two large suitcases.

Whenever his father came home, they would spend time together on their apartment.

And there would never be too much baggage to pack, for most of the days he would be with grandpa and a caretaker when he's away.

"Be quick." Rhett returns, flowering a smile on Rhean's features. Softening his heart, his hardened stare.

"Okay." Rhean exclaims, fast little legs running towards a smiling Elk.

"Where did you go you cub?!" Elk scolds, arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm sorry Grandpa. I missed you." Rhean drawls, grinning innocently. Elk scoffs, then chuckles. "You little rascal," bending down, he pinches his chubby cheek—immediately taking him in his arms.

"Good gracious, you've lost a chunk of fat!" Elk exclaims, making Rhean giggle.

"Then next time you have to feed me this much strawberry ice–creams!" Rhean remarks, his arms spread about as far as he could go—describing how much he loves ice–creams.

"You're such a glutton!" Elk shakes his head. His smile turning shallow at a realisation.

His sweet giggles, his warm presence—would perhaps, will never adorn this house of life and colour anymore.

"It's getting late Rhean." Rhett declares, still holding the door open.

Ace came following behind Rhean, whom he had send back to the car with the luggages.

"Yes Dada." Rhean replies, shuffling his body to be put down. Elk reluctantly let's him on the floor, he bends down to his height and locks gaze with him, looks at him lovingly, yet strictly.

"Listen my child, don't you pull this trick ever again. You get me? You really had me killed by your father there." He puts forth, his voice serious, yet soft.

Rhean nods his head, regretting his reckless actions, chubby tiny fingers fiddling. He wonders; if his dissapearance was the reason his dada and grandpa fought, but he doesn't voice his ponders out.

"Good." Elk mutters, ruffling his hair.

The child looks up at him, a foolishly warm smile in his beautiful features.

"Now go. Don't stay up late." His eyes gestures at Rhett waiting, his features swirling grim and eyes dim at his shadowy frame.

"Bye–bye." Rhean walking towards his father looks back at him, waving at him.

"Bye-bye, my child." Elk whispers, waving back at the boy who was the only reason his home was warm. He gulps, heart aching, eyes blurry and throat searing, peering at the happy boy walking out of his home—holding his father's hand.

Czar had taken his revenge, he punished him with this numbness, hollowness in his soul. He was a tease, gifting him the sunshine for just a wishful wink of a dream.

But what do he do now.

Rhean felt his own; yet he could never rival against the sway over—the bond of blood and flesh a father has with his son.

So he just sniffs, tears he thought had dried decades ago, he let's a drop flow. Did he not have a heart? Stealing him without any mercy, when it was him who raised Rhean while he was—is still madly searching for a person who's presence was futile, hopeless. Czar is destroying himself, and his blessings—the loved ones he's left around with.

And this makes a sudden regret blacken his heart. Knowing Czar, Rhean will never be allowed here anymore.

He would, probably not even see him again.

As Rhett's securing the seatbelt on him—Rhean gasps in horror.

Glancing at him, he raises a brow at Rhean's saddened expression. "What's the matter?"

"I forgot to tell grandpa about Zoro." Rhean replies frowning, then he shakes his head. "I'll just surprise him with Zoro later." Saying he smiles at Rhett.

Pulling and checking the seatbelt to be sure it's well fitted, he glances at Rhean for the last time.

And without uttering anything else, he closes the door and settles on the driver's seat.

Rhean doesn't have to know, not tonight.

He won't ever be placing his foot on Elk's property anymore.