Something was wrong.

Everyone saw the shocking scene of two of the most fierce and respected characters in the university have an emotional breakdown.

The once bustling and excited atmosphere had fallen mostly silent.

No one approached out of respect or fear and so no one knew what Nicole and Tiana had said to Jun. The amount of tears shed and the looks of distress on the faces of the two women that prided themselves at never showing weakness was incredibly unnerving to those who knew them.

Davie couldn't see what was going on since he was too busy trying to set up the new streaming account. He wasn't normally mentally equipped for tasks like this, but knowing how important the event was for his bro had given him an unprecedented focus. As he entered the last confirmation key, he was feeling pretty good about himself as he checked the time.

He was so happy as he was running back that he didn't notice the strange atmosphere till he was standing right behind his bro and slapped his back. Then he froze.

He too knew the identities of the two girls that were now weeping into his bro's arms.

'Okay, what the hell?'

Then Jun turned around.

“Is everything ready?”

“Ye-ye-yes. Yeah, just say when and drones are up.” Davie stuttered. Jun's eyes.

“Great Davie. Thank you for that. Start it up now and start the presentation now too. I'll be inside. I'd like a few minutes for myself in there thanks.” Jun said as he gently disengaged from a snot-nosed Nicole and Tiana, which was enough to fuck with Davie's brain except Jun's eyes...

“What happened bro? What's going on?” Davie had finally asked.

“...They can tell you. I think. In a bit maybe. It's a crazy story.” Jun tried to joke with a small smile but his eyes were still....

“We have to start now.” Jun said again patting Davie on the shoulder without any strength. “Let Aunty and Uncle hear it too. They should know.”

He walked away nodding politely to those concerned saying the presentation was about to start. He looked back at Davie again and smiled, nodding, before disappearing around the corner opposite where his Aunt and Lily were waiting with the professors. Jun's eyes...

They were eyes that Davie would never forget.

Eight years ago, it had been Lily that had discovered a filthy and injured child sitting in the park they had favored for after school games for its relative solitude. No one else played there so it felt like their personal play heaven. Davie had been late in meeting with Lily at their regular place to find her sitting quietly, comforting a little monster. At least that's what he thought it was at first.

The memory still sent chills down his spine.

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Covered in filthy rags and animal furs, it was also heavily injured. Dirty bandages, dyed black in dried blood, had been roughly applied, probably by itself, on almost every inch of his body.

It’s hair was long and tied into ropes like a black snake that wrapped around its neck and lower face. But the reason Davie thought it a monster was because of its eyes.

They looked into space and at nothing and had an emptiness that the little eight-year-old Davie had never encountered. He didn't know humans could have such lifeless eyes. It terrified him. He didn't want those eyes to look at him. He was afraid of losing his own soul to fill the void in the monster.

It was only when Lily's little voice registered that he awoke from his terror induced stupor.

The eight-year-old Lily, in her little blue sundress, sat as closely as she could without touching him. Her hands were clutching her dress tightly in anxiety. She spoke softly and earnestly.

“Does it hurt? My mom said it's a light to cry when it hurts. It's not good to keep it in. I think she means the tears. I guess it's not good for your eyes to keep your tears in, so if you want to you should. I won't tell anyone you cried, I promise.”

It was this final plea that brought a change.

The monster's eyes became a little bit human. Lost and confused, but human.

It slowly turned to look at Lily, and after another pause, it shook. It was a little at first, but then it trembled. The little monster began to cry. Its eyes looked so lonely then.

A soft little hand gently reached out and rested on the dirty, blood-stained hands of a monster that turned into a boy.

To the boy it was so warm. He remembered another hand that used to give him warmth. The hand that was lost to him twice. The boy tentatively brought his free hand and laid it atop the little girls.

Gratitude and warmth had filled a bit of the void, and he was thankful.

This had been a private memory for Davie, Lily, and Jun that bonded them more closely than even Danny and Desi, who had never seen Jun at his lowest. They were Jun's saviors and he loved them and had been their fierce protector ever since.

Danny and Desi had come home from a class trip to find that there was a new, odd addition to their family.

The official story had been that Jun was the son of a family friend that had died in an accident that left Jun with his injuries. He had nowhere else to go and out of gratitude for a past favor from Jun's mother, Mary decided that Jun should live with the Guards boys. Davie and Lily never contradicted and Danny and Desi had never asked.

Jun's transformation into a proper human was an experience in itself. Davie and Lily loved their creative and over protective big brother, but they never forgot those eyes.

The eyes he had now.

Aunt Mary and Lily were rushing over as Davie input the commands to start. The stream officially began as dozens of tiny drones arose from their containers. Some began projecting lights and images onto the white surfaces of the giant cube, bringing it alive with colors and brightness, while others lit the audience and surroundings. Many began to play music that filled the space with a festive energy.

As attentions were drawn to the visually and audibly impressive presentation, no one else but a few paid any attention to the gathering of emotions in the back corner. So distraught were the gathered family members that they didn’t notice a few overly curious onlookers stand a little too close.

Juan Guard had arrived in time to join his son and his best friend and her littlest daughter to hear the worst thing he'd heard since his wife left him and their children with Tony.

He couldn't believe the things that these two daughters of S-Rank families were telling them. If they weren't so obviously distraught, he would have thought, hoped, they were messing with them as some sick joke of the wealthy.

He supported Mary, who looked like she might faint. His heart hurt for her as well. She was devastated. She had been destroyed by her husband's betrayal but held on for the love of her children. Now this.

He looked over and saw lil Davie doing the same for lil Lily, who was crying into her hands as Davie rocked her comfortingly in his arms. Even in his grief, he was proud of his remaining son when he saw how he controlled his rage to be gentle. He could see it building in his eyes, but Davie had such a brave hold on it. His obvious concern and care for his family as he gently held Lily in his embrace was strong enough to tame even this. Good boy.

But was he strong enough? Would he be strong enough to face Jun?