Saving the Villain

[ FLASHBACK TO ONE YEAR AGO ]

Maxen grunted after getting kicked in the gut, hunching in on the ground with his arms on it. Right now, Remo and his gang dragged him into a fight against another gang from another district. He didn't have a choice but to fight back since he came with Remo, even if it was against his will. The enemy would attack him.

Maxen had already inflicted punches and kicks, and he had also thrown his fist randomly. It was just… chaos. But the kick he received now took his breath away. As he gasped for air and tighten his stomach, his eyes moved in a direction.

Everyone was still fighting. He was lucky no one was kicking him right now, unlike others who were still getting beaten even when they were already on the ground.

'Help…' he called inwardly as his vision shook. Maxen blinked ever so weakly, and through the young lads engaged in a brawl, he caught multiple figures standing in the corner. He narrowed his eyes to see clearer, seeing three clear figures in a suit.

The one on the side was holding an umbrella to shield the man in the middle from the pouring rain. The other man standing on the other side of the man in the middle stood motionless, taking out a lighter to light up the cigarette on the man in the middle. It was obvious the two were working for that man.

'What are they doing here?' Maxen wondered, recognizing their familiar faces.

When Maxen blinked slowly, he saw the man in the middle wave as he turned around to leave. The other man in a suit followed as he held the umbrella. Meanwhile, the other one stayed after bowing to the other man.

Maxen narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man who stayed. The latter slowly turned on his heel, and his eyes instantly fell on Maxen. When he took a step forward, he slipped his hand inside his suit. A glint flashed in Maxen's eyes the second the man took out his hand, revealing a switchblade knife.

Maxen's eyes instantly went wide, seeing the man approach a gang member. To know his exact target, Maxen followed where the man was staring, and his heart stopped for a moment.

'That guy…' Maxen's breath hitched, realizing that man was approaching the person who kicked Maxen. 'No!'

Adrenaline rushed through Maxen's body as the pain in his stomach slightly subsided. He pushed himself up, hastily squeezing himself through the crowd to stop the man from doing what he assumed he would.

Little did Maxen know, Remo, who just downed someone with his strong fist, saw Maxen dragging his feet towards someone. His brows knitted when Maxen lurched forward, almost throwing himself toward a gang member of the enemy.

"That fucking —" Remo ground his teeth, taking a step, only to stop.

The one that Maxen approached leaned against Maxen as he slowly dropped slid from Maxen's weak grip. Remo's eyes slowly dilated when he caught the knife plunged into the man's stomach. Time seemed to have slowed down for Remo and Maxen while the shouts and grunts in the air slightly subsided.

Remo watched Maxen crawl his way towards the guy, taking out the knife, only to freeze at the blood in his hands. Remo then caught a man in a suit standing on the side, looking down at Maxen coldly. The man didn't say anything as he simply walked away as if his hand wasn't bleeding.

For a moment, Remo tried to understand the situation. He wasn't dumb to put two and two together. Maxen might be rebellious and often get in trouble by not knowing when to submit. However, it would make more sense if Maxen stab Remo for all the bullying instead of stabbing a random gang he just fought for the first time.

The sound of a siren snapped Remo back to his senses. He looked away, seeing red and blue flashes from a distance.

"Shit!" he cursed, and before he could think, Remo sprinted towards Maxen. The second he reached Maxen's vantage point, he ground his teeth, seeing that the latter went blank. He grabbed Maxen's back collar, shouting at him to snap him back to his senses.

It was Remo who saved Maxen, ironically. Remo dragged him out of there, threatening him, and only stopped when Maxen fled out of instinct. Remo thought Maxen didn't look back. He did. When Maxen looked back, he saw Remo pick up the knife, wiping the handle with his shirt.

Back then, Maxen didn't know why Remo did such a thing. He was too mind-boggled to even make sense of the situation. Only one year later did Maxen realize why Remo picked up the knife and wiped the handle.

Remo… wiped Maxen's fingerprints. Whatever Remo's true reason was, Maxen didn't know. But what Maxen was certain of was that Remo… saved him from going into prison.

*****

[ PRESENT TIME ]

Cosette was sitting on the chair in front of her study desk, reclining on it, hands on the surface of the desk. She was silent, tapping the desk with her fingertips. Maxen had confessed what happened in the gang fight one year ago.

Although Maxen wasn't the person who stabbed that guy, he still felt responsible. He believed the young gangster died because he kicked Maxen, and those who claimed to be Maxen's family taught him a lesson. It may sound like an act of revenge for bullying their family, but Maxen knew the real meaning behind that.

They stabbed the guy because… it hurt their pride since they expected more from Maxen. It was also their way to teach Maxen their way. Cruel… was an understatement. Cosette was aware they could do worse than just stab someone and let him bleed to death.

"So he knew about the Devilsin…" Cosette mumbled, fluttering her eyelashes ever so slowly while a glint flickered across her eyes. She stretched her neck from one side to the other, arching her back, before planting her hands on the desk to push herself up.

"Those guys... did they plan to ruin Maxen by making him feel responsible for someone's death? I'm going to kill them."