Chapter 29: One Happy Family

“Never betray your own. It’s not a good look.”

-The Prince of Rogues, date unknown.

Yin shouldered into the clinic, Stephan still in her arms. His head lolled, eyelids flickering, heartbeat uneven against her chest. The doctor met them with her usual languor, and did not pick up the pace even when threatened with violence.

She checked Stephan over, confirming that there was no spinal damage, but discovering significant internal bleeding. She wheeled out a large, clunky device, big as a person, tubes and wires hooked up to it. She used the foggy screen on the device to look inside Stephan’s stomach, and identified the problem areas. She closed up the internal bleeding with a vitagun, drained any excess fluids, and gave him an intravenous treatment for sepsis.

“That’s him,” Prixis declared, spitting her sixth cigarette into a tray. “By the Deep Gods, what happened to this man?”

Yin hesitated, looking down at her unconscious father. He looked almost at peace, like he was just taking an afternoon nap. “I kind of… punched him.”

The dark-skinned woman shot her a prodding glance. “You did this?”

“You can keep the obligatory comment about how I’m a monster and should feel ashamed to yourself.”

“I wasn’t saying that.”

“You were about to.”

Prixis shrugged. “I really don’t care. Caring is extra.”

“Will he be okay?” Yin asked, changing tracks.

“Probably.”

“Probably?”

“I’ve done everything I can. If he croaks, it’s not on me.”

“What about permanent damage?”

“He’ll probably shit funny for a couple months. I’ll give him a stool softener to help with that.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Should’ve thought of that before you… punched him.” Prixis looked down at Yin’s skinny arms with some skepticism.

“It wasn’t my fault. He was… He… You wouldn’t understand, alright?”

“You’re right on that.” Prixis turned and began to walk off. “I’ll give you two some privacy. Shout me if he starts doing worse.”

Yin nodded and slipped into a chair next to her father’s bed. There was no movement for hours, aside from the doctor’s assistant changing the sheets on all the other beds, and a gang member coming in who’d had his ear blown off.

Dipping forward, she eventually started to fall asleep against Stephan’s arm. She’d missed him. Most of all, how he made her feel safe. Like he was a barrier against the world that nothing would ever get through. Even in this state, even knowing how easily she had almost killed him, she felt it.

“Hi, sweet pea…” croaked a most welcome voice.

Yin shot up. Stephan had opened his eyes, and was looking blearily at her. He smacked his lips. “Any water?”

Yin got a pitcher from the nightstand next to the bed and filled a cup. She held it out to him, but he couldn’t take it, movements restricted by his injuries. Instead, she held the cup to his mouth, and he sipped gingerly until he was satisfied.

“Don’t think I’m not mad at you,” Yin said.

“As you should be.”

“I… What?”

“I ruined your plans. I was harsh about it. Of course you’d be upset.” Stephan’s gaze hardened, became needle-sharp. “But I don’t regret it. You needed a wake-up call.”

“You think of me the same as everyone else. You think I’m a monster.”

“You know that’s not true. I said what you’re doing isn’t heroic. Big difference. Can you really argue that engaging in meaningless fights for the enjoyment of others makes you a hero?”

“If I inspire people, then…”

Stephan reached up, wincing, and caught Yin by the back of the head. He brought her close. “Yin, listen to me. You’ve never been in this position before. You’re lost. All you’ve ever known is violence, so that’s what you’re returning to, and you’re trying to justify it to me and everyone else.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Let it go, Yin. You have so much more to offer the world. You can even be a real hero, if you want. It’s my wish to give you that opportunity. I’d hate to see you squander it.”

“I like fighting, though,” Yin insisted. “It’s fun, and I feel like I can make a difference.”

“Does it make you happy?”

“Yeah, I mean…” Yin tried to form the words, but what Stephan said stuck inside her head.

Does it make you happy?

She thought back to her powerbrawl fights, the crowd chanting her name, the rush of it all. And the bitter shame and guilt that came between. The feelings she had to drown out with more fighting, more adoration. The feelings she kept at bay by convincing herself that she was hurting people for the right reasons.

Yin’s composure broke, and she started crying. Stephan pulled her into a soft hug, her face against his chest.

“What should I do, Dad?” she asked, words cut up by violent sobs. “It’s so hard. I don’t know… I don’t know who I am. I don’t know if I’m anyone at all.”

“We can find out together. You’re just a kid. You have plenty of time.”

“I’m not—”

“Yes, you are. You’re a kid. It’s time you started acting like it.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you get to have fun, while your old man takes care of the heavy stuff.”

Yin wiped snot on the back of her hand. She giggled. “Sounds unfair.”

Stephan chuckled. “It is, isn’t it? Which is why you shouldn’t give it up so easily.”

“Okay,” Yin said.

“Good,” Stephan said.

She pulled back and composed herself. “When did you become such a good fighter? You were moving better in the ring than most powerbrawlers I’ve seen.”

“Just a trick, sadly. My glasses tipped me off to your moves before you made them. Besides, I know you. You’re like an open book to me.”

“That’s cheating.”

“Well, I wasn’t about to fight fair, was I?”

Yin gave his arm a playful slap.

*****

The pock-faced man greeted them outside his door, a straw hat shading his face from the worst of the midday sun.

Stephan greeted the man with a stiff handshake. His grip was firm, but not crushingly so. Stephan was hopped up on painkillers, but he struggled to keep the pain from showing on his face. A few days after his bout with Yin, his stomach still wasn’t quite right.

“You’re Lax, is that right?” Stephan asked.

The man nodded. “And you’re the girl’s father.”

Yin stood apart from both of them, looking a little sheepish.

“Yin told me you and your family took good care of her,” Stephan continued.

“All told, it wasn’t much. Just food and a bed. We did what we could, though. I would’ve hauled her back to you, but she wouldn’t tell me anything about you.”

“Thank you. I am ever grateful.”

Lax grinned and hiked up his hat with a thumb. “You sound like some fancy city boy. Look like one, too. Is that why they call you the Gentleman?”

“Probably.”

“So, you some kinda gang lord?”

“Information broker.”

“But you work with the gangs?”

“I do.”

Lax eyed him closely, head to heel, and spat over his shoulder. “You sure it’s a good idea to raise a little girl in that kind of environment? No offense.”

“I’m right here, shitface,” Yin said. “Why don’t you ask me what I think?”

Stephan raised a hand for Yin to let him talk. “None taken. But yeah, I’m sure.”

“Either way, I wouldn’t mind keeping her around here a bit longer. My kids get along with her great, and Aella’s taken a real shine to her lately, so it’s not a problem.”

“I appreciate the offer, but she’s my daughter. I’m not letting her out of my sight again. I’ll keep her safe.”

Stephan and Lax shared a long look. Each sizing up the other. He could tell that Lax cared about his daughter, and that warmed his heart. But he wouldn’t let the man overstep. Yin was his daughter. His responsibility.

Finally, Lax nodded. “Fair enough.”

Stephan brought out his focus. “I’ll have to pay you for all your help. Tell me what sounds reasonable to you.”

Lax shook his head firmly. “I won’t take your money, fancy pants. Your daughter already paid us, and what she gave was already too much.”

Stephan shrugged. “What about a job, then?”

“What kind of job?”

“You work for Darling. He’s a major player in the city. Let me know what he knows, and there’ll be plenty of money in it for you.”

“Dad, quit networking,” Yin complained. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“What if I get found out?” Lax asked. “Darling has no qualms arranging a ‘tragic accident’ or two.”

“I hold sway with the gangs. That protection extends to those working for me. If you get caught, I’ll get you out of there. Set you up someplace else.”

Lax considered it for a moment, sucking on his teeth, then extended his hand for another handshake. “Alright, fancy pants. Can’t say I couldn’t use the extra cash.”