Aquila was making his way through the streets. Moving through with the sabers on his hip, people kept his distance. The sight of the pin from Gambit was enough to make them feel fear. The Ace of Spades. Most of the gangs in his territory were hiding. Trying to avoid his gaze. The Twinhead Enforcer, named after the Red Wing and Blue Wing sabers he used. To the eyes of his foes, the pair of sabers seemed like a pair of wolves that were going to attack.

Though civilians and law enforcement were greeting him like a celebrity. Perhaps this must be due to Raven's influence. For Aquila, his only thoughts were just to make sure the streets were safe. Nothing more, nothing less. His mind weighed down by the idea that his parents along with Dolores's parents were alive. A glimmer of hope. Yet, Aquila couldn't help but feel like the darkness had sunken in and made its home in his heart.

The memories of the other Aquila and his current self. There was a discord of sorts. Like a bird with broken wings, he wasn't able to fly or soar anywhere. Yet, Raven seemed to be flying where ever he wished. And the whole revelation of Raven being the War God was difficult to swallow. It hasn't sunken in. Despite the many things. All that Aquila remembered was that he had done his best as a brother but, the question still popped every now and then.

Was I really a good brother?

Was the idea of keeping him away so he'd be safe the smartest play?

Was it necessary to be so cold to him previously?

His thoughts were focused but a rumbling stomach? That meant he needed food. He had money for a luxury restaurant but burgers? Burgers were a sweet spot. Something he had for everything in the past. Eyes spotting a stall that had a set of tables and chairs by the side. Ran by an elderly couple. Their sweet way of calling him 'Dear' or 'Sweetie'. The classic sweet elderly couple talk. The woman was Judy and the man was Doug. His thoughts were on the 'Doug Special' which was literally for a cheap cheap price of 2 dollars.

"So champ, how many patties?"

"Two."

"Cheese?"

"Two slices, please."

"Sauce?"

"I'll leave it to you." Doug grinned as he prepared the order. Making the Doug Special which was essentially a patties that had an egg wrapped around it. Judy on the other hand was preparing the set of fries for him, mixing the soda and fruit punch.

"Pardon me, dear. But are you related to the previous Enforcer?"

"My kid brother, ma'am. Why?"

"Well, I guess the two brothers have the same taste. Don't you think, honey?" Aquila was a little surprised to their words.

"Your kid brother, back when he was just a member of Gambit? He'd always come here and eat. Even when he became an Enforcer he'd always eat here with his crew. That's why we asked, champ."

"I appreciate knowing that sir. I didn't know much about my brother since he was here. And I was elsewhere."

"Don't look too glum, young man. Your brother helped this neighborhood. Our son was held hostage because they thought we were his family. I remembered crying here and he just told me that he'd take care of it. He came back with our son. My wife was worried because he had so much wounds but he just asked us if we could give him his usual." The old man chuckled as he flipped the burger patties with precision. Toasting the buns on the grill, seeing Aquila just smiling to those thoughts.

"Yeah and I hope I can help out too since he's not here."

"He talked a lot about his four brothers and his sister in law. Said that his eldest brother must've been tired from shouldering everything since you lost your parents. Just looking at those eyes of yours, you must've felt a little tired from all that work." Doug's words struck a nerve. Not in a bad way but in a way that was true.

"What else did he say?"

"Said that his oldest brother was the man who was caring and loving. Spoiling him often when he was younger. Something about fish and chips, I think?" Martha added as she served the fries and the soda mixed with fruit punch.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, dear." Judy smiled as she went to take her seat beside Doug.

"Sometimes. The best you can do is what you can. The now is more important than the future and the past. Looking at those eyes of yours, you seem to be in regret. Was it cause you left and never got to say goodbye to him?"

"Something like that, sir."

"Yeah. I could tell. Been there, done that. Take it from me, always tell your family you love them. Even if it's out of the blue. You never know when that might be your last." Doug's advice came with his special burger that had Aquila salivating. One bite was all it took to wake his senses to overdrive. The juiciness of the beef patties, flowing into his tongue. The perfect balances of black pepper, mustard and ranch sauce. Then a sip of that soda mix? The sweet and carbonated drink that woke up his mind. Fries that were golden, crunchy as his teeth mowed them down.

By the end of that meal, Aquila turned to Doug.

"Thanks for the advice, sir."

"Anytime. Next time bring the others over. I could enjoy telling them the stories of your brother and what he said about you. Have a good day now." Giving them a two hundred dollar tip rather than the simple price.

"Hey this is a little too much, dear."

"No ma'am. It's worth the price. I got some good advice and you made me think of my brother. Helped me think a bit about him. Thanks for taking care of him during those years."

"Then we'll take it. We're also grateful."

Aquila left as he dialed Raven's number.

"Hey, Raven."

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"What's up? Got into trouble?"

"No. No. Just... Just wanted to call."

"What? Feeling nostalgic already?"

"Yeah. I ate some burgers by this elderly couple."

"Oh, Doug and Judy? How are they?"

"Good. Had a burger from there, the Doug special."

"It's real good right?" Aquila was trying to think of the words. Trying to figure out what to say. Something he wanted to say to his brother for so long. This conversation's going nowhere.

"Yeah it is, but that's not why I called you."

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry." Aquila spoke as he sat by a chair, eyes reddening as his mind found the words.

"What for?"

"I wasn't a good brother to you was I? I abandoned you in the past. I argued with you and... And."

"Aquila." Just the way Raven called his name, it stopped Aquila mid way.

"You weren't the best brother, but you tried. You abandoned me because you knew how much danger I was in. We just... We just didn't talk properly. We haven't been able to communicate our thoughts cause... You know, we suck at talking about our feelings."

"Yeah. All four of us suck in that department."

"Still amazes me how you landed Dolores though, somehow we're just four birds that are like walls and don't speak all too well."Aquila was chuckling to that remark, something the other two siblings spoke up.

"Look after all this is done, think we can have another day where all four of us can just sit down and talk? Like as a family?"

"Sure, but just know I'm getting engaged and then most likely will be married."

"Whoa!! Whoa?!" Aquila was taken aback.

"Hold the phone, who is it?"

"Princess Caroline Bilwurst."

"I thought you hated nobles?!"

"Caroline was the person who defended me during the trial and she's also the one called the Everlasting Dream. In terms of power, she's not on War God level but she's got my Persona system too."

"Wait, how did that happen?" Aquila's surprise was normal because Raven never talked about it.

"End of the world, found a clue to fix it. So I followed the clue, then got through that. She had feelings for me but the world was ending so I was too focused. She died in my arms before I went on my rampage of destroying worlds."

"Sheesh.. Way to drop a bomb when I was about to pour out my emotions."

"Just how it is, I mean I didn't remember who she was until recently. She's still in a coma. Needs true love's kiss and I'm making a ring for her."

"True love's kiss? Isn't that a bit cliche? And what kind of ring? Want to use mine for reference?"

"Yeah, no. I lose those rings and Dolores will kill me. To answer your question, yeah. It's the requirement." The pair laughed at those words.

"We're a mess aren't we?"

"That we are but we still got each other. I got you guys back, so that means we can get everything fixed once again. Besides, I plan to only get married with her when we find our parents. And also making sure Falco gets his happy ending."

"What happy ending?"

"Laura. She's alive. I don't know where or what Causality. But Falco will know her when he sees her."

"You got us back, Raven. Isn't that enough?"

"No. We all deserve our happy endings. You got yours, Dolores and Ivona. Falco lost Laura and he's been grieving. But the four of us can't cope with our emotions, we just bury ourselves in work and don't know how to deal with it."

"That's..." Aquila paused as his mind was recalling the moments. Unfortunately, there was no rebuttal.

"Yeah. You're right. We don't know how to deal with our emotions. When mom and dad died, we just... We just continued with our lives and had no idea what to do next."

"Exactly. If we can get it done by your anniversary. Maybe then, we can get mom and dad at your wedding. Only Dolores's parents were there. This time, mom and dad can see you in that moment. If you can't fit in your tux, just let me know. I'm good with needles too."

"What, you sew?"

"I learned a whole lot of things but I'll be honest with you? I can't relax."

"Really? You of all the people can't relax?"

"I didn't come out of whatever I went through unscathed Aquila. One of the Sovereigns brought your bodies back from the dead, intact with all the memories and things you used to say. I had to put you down. That broke me. Why do you think I'm considered insane by most?"

"Fair. You went ballistic when Ivona got kidnapped."

"I can't show mercy to my enemies. I've seen what happens when I do. When I was Shady Enforcer, I let an enemy go and they killed my neighbors. A 12 year old kid who called me his big brother. Can you just imagine what that's like? Just a kid and his family gunned down in a restaurant. That's why I stopped showing mercy. Maybe that's the lesson you guys have to learn in that world. Unlike regular people, they're willing to take hostages. They're willing to do whatever it takes to get you."

"Back to reality already huh? Here I thought we could have an emotional moment."

"We are. I'm just telling you as it is. I don't know who can be my therapist with all that I've got in my head. It's hell incarnate. I mean... Some of the Causalities broke me. I lost people I loved and cared. I lost everything in those worlds. Some nights, I don't even sleep because sleep lost its appeal. Sometimes food tastes like slop. I'm still living in the past, even if I know I'm in the present."

"Then live in the present. The past is over right?"

"Easy for you to say, smartass. You didn't get your head fucked with by Sovereigns."

"Touche." Aquila was thinking about what else to say.

"Hey. I love you. You know that right?"

"I do. I don't say it cause in a way. A part of me knows that the road that I took for us to be back? It's paved with enough blood and it makes me guilty sometimes. I mean, just looking at Ivona growing up happy? That's a present in its own right. Seeing the family back together. Maybe I'm desperate. I want my family back."

"Me too, brother. I want mom and dad back with us."

"Look, I gotta go. I'm still trying to figure out what's going on here. But when I do, I'll come back. In that world, Aquila. Be as ruthless as you need to be but remain gentle. We don't need all that bravado to prove we're strong, our kindness should stay."

"You're right. Take care."

"Love you, brother." The phone hung up, with Aquila just taking a moment. He finally heard something from Raven. Even if it's just a portion of it, maybe the tip of the iceberg. But at least, he could hear what Raven was thinking. Instead of guessing games or any sort of miscommunication. The level of absurdity and his sudden plans? Those were different. He didn't understand it.

"Yo." Glancing at Falco, Dolores and Stervy who came to join him by the bench. Dolores went to give him a kiss on the cheek, then hugging him. Aquila craned his head to hers, just taking a moment to remember. That they were alive in this moment. It wasn't their world but this Causality was part of the path that Raven walked. A glimpse into what he had gone through.

"Who was that on the phone?"

"Just... Raven. I called him. Asked if I was a good brother, he just told me I wasn't but I tried my best. And... He's getting engaged then getting married." Dolores pulled back from the hug, holding Aquila by the shoulders with her eyes gleaming in joy.

"Who's the lucky lady?"

"Princess Caroline Bilwurst. He didn't say the details, but apparently he has to wake her up from her coma. Then he's making a ring for her. Getting engaged to her. Then only getting married when mom and dad are back with us."

"Holy shit. He's getting married? Can't wait to give him the congratulations. But... Isn't it... Tedious?"

"Knowing him, he'll bypass protocols and all. But Falco. Laura's alive." Falco held Aquila by the shoulder.

"You're not lying right? Please, brother. Don't give me false hope like that."

"Raven told me. Princess Caroline confirmed it. Saying she's in a Causality. When you find her, you will recognize her immediately."

"What if I'm late? What if she's with someone else? What if she's..."

"Falco, calm down. We don't know. We'll figure it out when it happens." Falco's tears fell as he clenched his fists, then getting a hug from Aquila and Stervy. Dolores could only watch from the sidelines, seeing Falco who was a stoic. A facade that broke to pieces. Trying to figure out what was their plans from here on out. But with the information they gained from Raven?

It was something that no money could buy. They had their resolves strengthened.

"Raven said in this world we'll need to be as ruthless as we can be, but remain kind. So that's what we'll do."

"Business as usual, then." Falco said as his stomach rumbled.

"You guys want to grab some burgers?"

"Sounds great." Heading over to Doug and Judy's stall where they were greeted with a smile. Hearing tales of Raven's exploits and what he was like. This helped them see the path that Raven walked. Not from him but from the words of those who had seen him.