Puppet-Master

4- Typical Dinner

Andrew sighed, sinking into the familiar embrace of his beloved bed, relishing the softness of the sheets and the gentle caress of the pillow against his tired head. "What's up, boys..." he whispered to himself, his voice carrying the weariness of the day, "It's your boy, Andrew Lapis. And, I finally defeated today's foe, so I can enjoy the calm after the storm..."

His moment of tranquility was shattered by Lesli's piercing scream from the floor below, a sound that seemed to pierce through his very soul. "Andrew!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the house. "Andrew, you need to come down. Dinner is ready!" The urgency in her tone forced Andrew to reluctantly peel himself away from his sanctuary.

"Or maybe..." Andrew muttered, irritation evident in his half-opened eyes, "just maybe, the storm didn't really pass..." He covered his face with his hands, feeling the weight of exhaustion and frustration settling upon him. "God... Please, I just want to rest..."

"Andrew, get down here already!" Lesli's voice rang out again, sharper this time, cutting through Andrew's thoughts like a knife.

"I just can't catch a break, can I?" Andrew sighed, his shoulders slumping as he stood up, finally resigning himself to the inevitable. With a heavy heart, he left his room, the sanctuary he longed to return to, and descended to the dining room, where his family awaited him, "Finally!" Lesli exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she spotted her big brother, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil within him.

"Hello, Andrew," Nadine greeted warmly said, still standing as she carefully placed the plates on the table, concern evident in her eyes. "What took you so long to get down? You're not feeling well?" She asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a motherly gesture.

"No, I'm alright," Andrew sighed, finally taking the vacant seat beside his dad. His hand absently scratched the back of his neck as he spoke. "I was just locked in battle with one of humanity's greatest enemies..."

"You were fighting demons?!" Rin, seated right across from Andrew, exclaimed with wide-eyed admiration, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Andrew with awe.

"No," Andrew replied nonchalantly, accepting the plate Nadine offered. Rin's excitement dimmed slightly. "Laziness," Andrew continued, his tone light, "I was merely fighting laziness, my young apprentice."

"And who emerged victorious?" his father inquired, a hint of amusement in his eyes. The rest of the family, except Andrew, shared warm giggles.

"Laziness, of course," Andrew admitted, waiting patiently for Nadine to take her seat before delving into his pasta. "I'm no match for laziness," he added, his voice carrying a mix of resignation and humor, drawing smiles from his family members.

"Well, since you're that lazy..." Marcus began, lifting a forkful of pasta to his mouth, his tone teasing, "Why don't you stay the night with us for once, instead of hitting the coffeeshop with your friends?"

"I agree with Marcus," Nadine added softly as she nodded, her voice filled with genuine concern as she wiped sauce from Rin's cheek with a handkerchief. She looked at Andrew, her blue eyes filled with curiosity. "It's been seven years since we became a family, but it feels like I don't know that much about you. I want to know you better, to be honest."

"I see..." Andrew murmured, his fork hanging in the air as he met Nadine's soft gaze. Sensing Lesli watching him too, he tenderly patted her head before continuing, "Wanna hit the coffeeshop with me then?" he asked, resuming his meal, which irked Marcus slightly.

"That's out of line, young man!" Marcus retorted, his tone sharp, clearly annoyed. He stared at Andrew, his frustration evident, and slammed his fist on the table, shattering the peaceful atmosphere, “I have no wife or children that stay the night hitting dark roads with other hoodlums and wasting valuable time by playing those card games, understood?”

"Honey..." Nadine whispered to her husband, trying to calm him down. She placed her hand on his shoulder as she spoke, her touch meant to soothe his anger. "He didn't mean it, he was just kidding."

"But what's wrong with card games?" chimed in little Rin, his smile faltering as he looked at his father. "I want Andrew to teach me how to play them..."

"He's not teaching you a thing!" Marcus shouted, his words laced with anger, instilling fear in Lesli's heart, and causing Rin to burst into tears. Instinctively, Nadine gathered Rin into her arms, attempting to comfort him. Meanwhile, Andrew, wearing a warm smile, continued to gently pat Lesli's head, their eye contact slowly easing her distress.

"Dad, had a hard time at work, or what?" Andrew asked calmly, still watching over his little sister. Surprisingly, Marcus fell silent, realizing he had gone too far.

"You can get mad at me all you want, I'm used to it," Andrew continued, stopping his comforting gestures toward Lesli and shifting his gaze to Marcus, who looked taken aback. "But there was no need to drag the little ones into this, was there?" With that, Andrew stood up, sighing lightly as he walked away from the table, heading toward the door.

"Andrew?" Nadine's voice was soft, almost a whisper, making Andrew pause in his tracks. He turned his head slightly to look back at them. "Where are you going without finishing your dinner?" Her worry for the boy was evident in her eyes and trembling voice.

With a teasing smile that hid deeper emotions, Andrew didn't hesitate to respond to her question. "The usual routine," he said, his tone edged with sarcasm, casting a sidelong glance at his father. "I'll be staying the night, hitting dark roads with other hoodlums and wasting valuable time by playing those card games, right, Dad?" The room fell silent as Andrew's words hung in the air. Marcus dropped his head immediately, unable to meet anyone's gaze.

"Thought so…" Andrew muttered, his tone a mixture of resignation and defiance. He finally turned his back to them, leaving the house without looking back. The door closed behind him, echoing the heavy atmosphere left in the wake of his departure.

Rin, still enveloped in his mother's comforting embrace, lifted his tear-streaked face to meet Nadine's gaze, clearly unsettled by the way his older brother had left the house. Nadine, displaying the nurturing warmth of a caring mother, pressed a tender kiss to his forehead. "Finish your dinner, okay?" she said, her voice gentle and reassuring, her eyes shifting to Lesli, silently urging her to do the same.

As her children got back to their dinner, Nadine then redirected her attention to Marcus, finding him still with his head bowed, his hand resting wearily on his forehead. Her brows furrowed with concern as she spoke, her voice soft but firm, "You did go a little too far, Marcus..." Her worry for her husband was palpable in her words and the creases on her forehead. Finally, Marcus raised his head, releasing a heavy sigh, his face etched with regret. "I know," he admitted, his voice laden with guilt. "I know, I just... I..." He trailed off, his words disjointed, his mind in turmoil. After a moment of internal struggle, he decided to cease the self-recrimination, recognizing that he was only tormenting himself further.

The cold night pressed in around Andrew as he walked the lonely road toward the coffeeshop, his arms wrapped tightly around himself in an attempt to ward off the biting chill. "Oh..." he muttered, his teeth chattering from the cold, "It's quite cold... And I didn't even get the chance to grab a coat... That stupid geezer just didn't find the time to get into a fight..."

His steps echoed softly on the empty street, the darkness intensifying the feeling of isolation. As he continued muttering to himself, a mysterious figure emerged from the shadows, walking directly toward him. The obsidian night concealed the man's face, yet Andrew keenly observed his attire—a heavy coat, a hat pulled low, and a turtleneck. Just the sight of those clothes offered a semblance of warmth, a stark contrast to Andrew's shivering form.

"I recognize that dude, I think?" Andrew pondered inwardly, their paths intersecting without a word exchanged. "It's been a while since I started seeing him in the neighborhood, only at night though..."

The encounter with the enigmatic stranger added an eerie layer to the already palpable atmosphere, leaving Andrew with a sense of intrigue mixed with apprehension. The night seemed to hold secrets, and Andrew couldn't help but feel a curious pull toward unraveling them, even amidst the biting cold that surrounded him.

Suddenly, Andrew jolted, his body tensing as something heavy settled on his fragile frame. His eyes widened in surprise, his hands reaching out to touch the unexpected weight on his back. "A... A coat?" he stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief as he examined the garment with his eyes, clearly taken aback by the sudden act of kindness.

"It looked like you needed one," the man who had crossed paths with Andrew remarked, prompting the boy to raise his head in an attempt to scrutinize his features, yet he found only shadows. "You don't want to go and catch a cold out there, would you?" the man continued, his laughter light and easy, the sound carrying a sense of camaraderie.

"No, I certainly don't want to," Andrew replied, still baffled by the unexpected gesture. "And I don't think you want to catch a cold either, right? The Wanderer?"

"Nah, don't worry about me," the man said, lifting one hand to grasp the collar of the coat he wore. "I was wearing two coats; it was getting a bit too hot, you know! So what's the harm in lending you one?"

"Did you call me a wanderer, though?" the man asked, observing as Andrew readily wore the coat he had provided.

"Yes, I did!" Andrew replied, finally wrapped in the warmth of the coat on the freezing night. "I mean, you're quite famous in this area, man."

"I only see at night..." Andrew continued, scratching the back of his head as he squinted, trying to discern the man's features. "From 8 pm to 12 am, I think. Yet, you don’t live here, and you keep wandering in this exact location for those four hours. Or maybe for only the moments I pass by."

"Oh, I just enjoy staying here when I'm alone," the man said, his head tilting slightly as he laughed again, his face still concealed.

"I encounter you twice a day," Andrew persisted, his tone growing serious, silencing the man's laughter. "Around this time, when I'm on my way to a certain place," he paused, yawning to dispel his tiredness, his hands tucked in the coat's pockets, "and the second time when I'm returning from that certain place."

"It's as if you're waiting for me..." With those words, Andrew continued walking toward the coffeeshop, his back turned to the man. "It's not like I care, though. Take care! Oh, and thanks for the coat. I'll make sure to give it back to you."

"Yeah, yeah, of course! Anytime!" the man hurriedly replied, laughing for the third time as they both walked away. Despite his laughter, his eyes told a different story. "He got me..." the man muttered to himself, his masked face buried in his coat.

"That boy, he's just what we need."