As Uncle said that a man walked into the room. He was familiar looking, he had some mask on that had a long nose and red and blue eyes. He also was wearing a brimmed hat, and a nice vest.
"You're here!"
"I am very much here."
"Well, I don't think I formally introduced my right and left hands, to you Z."
"You're going to talk about your hands?" Uncle just talks about anything I guess.
"No! People! Like, people, I can depend on."
"Oh, I see."
29Please respect copyright.PENANAUIXBK8Fi8D
CHAPTER 49: Reunion
29Please respect copyright.PENANAVbLuHvxMbd
"Well anyways, the girl who was checking on your vitals and making sure you were living was Gwen. She is very smart, and is really strong. She can beat someone down and also do medical treatment to them. I should know."
"Hi, Gwen!"
"Hi!" She said, smiling at me.
"The one who just walked in and looks scary, he's J- Double X. He used to work with me as one of the Dogs. If that's what they're calling it." Double X
That's right. Apollo did say something about that.
Nowadays I've only seen one of the Otherside members, he goes by Double X, the X's being your eyes if you do the wrong thing." Apollo said with a sigh and a stretch.
"Wait a second. Didn't Double X work for the Otherside?"
"Yes and no."
"I don't follow."
"Yes, because he did. No, because he was working undercover. We had to take him out because he was found out. So, the cover was totally blown due to some rats. Or we're we the rats?"
"We were definitely the rats." Double X said coldly.
"Right. Anyways that's those two. Now more members are either not here now or aren't important as of now."
"Oh, well I can't wait to meet them! These two seem like good people already!"
"Speaking of good people, do you guys want to go back to Alfred's summer home? Some people are about to murder me from there If I don't bring him soon."
"No, you two go home and be with your family. We have some things to discuss over here that you would find boring anyways. Is he all good, Gwen?"
"All set."
"Well you heard her, you're free to go kid."
"Thanks... Uncle."
"Anytime." We then started to walk about and behind me, all I could hear was someone screaming in excitement.
"You heard that guys, he called me Uncle. I feel so... Happy!"
"Happy for you." I heard Double X say.
"Wait right here," Apollo said, slipping into a room for a second.
I needed this. A break. From everyone and everything even if it is just for a second. If this was me, two months ago I would have been happy to hear about the family I got. Now, I already have a family so now it's just cool to know. That's right, I have my family already... Or would it be five months since I saw them? Doesn't matter, I can't wait to see them!
"Z! Come here!" I heard Apollo say in the room so I followed.
Once I entered I saw Apollo on a stool and Alfred laying in a medical bed.
"What's wrong with him?"
"We have... no idea. It's been like this ever since Ground 0. We thought you and Alfred were having the same problem but that can't be it now that you're up. I wonder what's going on?" Apollo said his mood staying the same, sad and gloomy.
To be honest, ever since our mission... No, coming back to the agency. Ever since that day, Apollo's mood has been different. I don't blame him, now that I think of it, when Apollo saved me he was with Alfred. Even if it was ridiculous Apollo stayed by Alfred's side, even when Alfred wanted him to carry him. So that means they already had a great friendship, so that must have taken a lot from Apollo to keep a face. But why was he keeping a face? Was it because of Dion? Everyone else? Me?
"I just hope, due in time. He'll actually wake up." Apollo said getting up from the stool.
"Anyways I just wanted to show you your grandfather... That's still a little weird to me but I'll get used to it." Apollo then walked out of the room and I just looked at Alfred. Then I walked out as well. Closing the door, and turning off the light.
We then started our walk back to the house, and it was already late, we were in for a long walk. I could feel it. Speaking of feeling, I could feel the pain from walking. I know she said I was fine but there was this nagging pain that I didn't want to bring up. I didn't want to worry anyone.
"Z? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing more than some slight pain."
"Pain?"
"Yeah, nothing much." That's when Apollo turned into his wolf form, however, the moon wasn't out yet.
"Wait. Did you?"
"I did."
"That's so cool!"
"Hop on." I usually would have said I'm fine and I don't need the help. However, yet again I needed the help. So I got on his back and we started to go again. This felt familiar, this gentle calm, a gentle breeze. I could almost fall asleep...
...
"Z. We're here."
"Wha-" I looked around forgetting what happened until everything hit me all at once. I looked up at where we were and was immediately taken aback.
"Who's- What? Where?"
"This is Alfred's house. Well, one of them."
"I forgot Alfred's rich."
"You get used to it after a while."
Apollo then knocked on the door super hard to the point I felt him vibrate from knocking. It was super late, at least 10 o'clock so I understand him wanting to get outside, since it was so cold out. It shouldn't be this cold either, considering it should now be summer.
That's when we heard a lot of footsteps and yelling in excitement, then the door opened.
"Z! Wait, where is he?" Kingsley said looking around that's when Apollo turned around and I got off his back.
"Kingsley!"
"Z! I miss you, man! I'm so glad you're alive!"
"Same to you! I haven't seen you in... well for me it feels like hours but still!"
"It felt like months for us!"
"That's because it was months."
"Quiet, Apollo. You're ruining the moment."
"Where's everyone else? I thought I heard them."
"Nope. They're all asleep."
"That's a bummer. Well, I'll see them when they wake up."
"Right, come on in."
"That was oddly formal."
"Now! He is in too deep!"
"Dogpile him!" I heard Aza scream then I saw Kingsley jump at me at the same time
"What's goin- what's going on? Wait! Aza!"
"Z! How's it going!?"
"Great, I took a nice long nap!"
"I made a hat for you."
"Really!?"
"Yup! Come on, I want you to wear it already!"
"Sur-"
"Wait."
"What's wrong Apollo? Why can't I wear the hat?"
"Yeah! Why can't he?"
"There's something I need to discuss with you guys. Where's everyone else?"
"Well, Phoenix watched us dogpile Z."
"Phoenix? Right! Phoenix! I remember you now! How's it going?"
"Eh- Better than normal."
"Nice. Speaking of people, where's Koji? Last time I saw him he... wasn't looking so good."
"Oh- Koji..."
"What happened to Koji!? He's not hurt, right!? Don't tell me he... No!"
"What? No, he's just up the stairs."
"Then why did you and Aza make it seem like he was hurt!?"
"I did?"
"Yes!"
"Oops, my bad."
"Jeez, Kingsley. Don't scare me like that. You too Aza."
"Our bad."
"Z!"
"That sounds like... Koj-"
Now I've been out for a while but, I'm pretty sure when people see each other they don't just stomp over to grab your collar and look at you like you want them to die.
"Koji...?"
"You- You died on me at Ground 0. You died and left with regrets. Even with that smile. I know you did."
"What are you saying Koji?"
"I'm saying. Don't you ever die on me again. Don't you ever die with regrets again."
"I... I promise."
"You also stated something about taking over your dream to become the strongest, correct?"
"Y- Yeah."
"Well, I'll also be chasing that dream so don't think I'm doing it because you asked me to."
"Never would have!"
"Why are you taking this lightly! This makes us rivals!"
"It does, doesn't it?"
"It does. I'll see you once I'm past the top."
"That's weird because... I was going to say the same thing."
"That's more like it. Alright, do we need everyone here Apollo?"
"We do. Gather them and bring them to this circle."
"Circle? What circle?"
"Well, when you all sit down on the floor in one we'll have one."
"Right, I see. Okay then."
"So, I have to wait to show Z his hat?"
"Yes."
"This better be important."
"It is. I'm finally going to explain your house arrest that I sort of put you on."
"Everyone sit down! He's going to explain why I couldn't get new nails yet he can leave at night for hours!"
"It really doesn't take Aza long to be convinced." I heard Kingsley whisper to me
"Right," I whispered back to him.
"I heard that!" Aza screamed at us, making us jump.
"The God himself! Erebos is here! Why have I been summoned?"
"All right everyone sits down and listens to this. It's a doozy."
"No one says doozy and doesn't mean it, now I have to hear this," Hestia said with a smile as she and Jano sat down.
"Alright. Are you ready to hear this news?"
"Yes! We've been waiting for this!" Everyone said in an urgent voice. They must have been really waiting.
"Alright... Let me go grab them. There is Alfred's desk ever since I saw them
"Aww come on!" Apollo never fails to make something so anticlimactic.
"With the free time we have. What do you think it is?" Koji said in a very tired voice.
"Maybe it's the best cupcakes in the world!"
"Mmm. Cupcakes." Everyone says excerpt Koji.
"Right?"
"I like Hesita's idea of the cupcakes!" Kingsley rubbing his stomach in circles said.
"Well hate to break your bubbles but this has been going on for months. So, no cupcakes because they are old."
"No! Koji you jinxed it! Now's there are no cupcakes!"
"Huh!? Even if there were cupcakes they would be stale! What were you going to do!? Eat stale cupcakes!?"
"Yes, Koji! Yes!"
"You're- You're crazy Kingsley!"
"You call it crazy, I call it being appreciative."
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"I have one! I have one!"
"What Erebos?"
"He's secretly a spy experimenting on all of us. So the reason he's taking so long is because he's going to get collars that can make us pass out in a matter of seconds. It's the perfect time, we're all gathered around." That's when Kingsley stood up in utter shock and then slammed his hand on the table.
"Kingsley...?"
"This has to be... the best theory so far! You're a genius Erebos!"
"Thank you. Thank you. Finally, somebody notices a literal genius in front of your eyes."
"I thought you were a god!?"
"I am. I can be a genius as well!"
"Wait, so theoretically who is he trying to kill first?"
"Probably you, Aza."
"What!? Why me?"
"I don't know, however, he didn't let you go grab that hat when there was plenty of time."
"Oh my god. You're right! What should I do!?"
"We can jump at him. He won't expect that we know."
"Yeah, he probably thinks we're stupid monkeys!"
"Yeah, he probably thinks we're stupid monkeys!"
"Thank you guys, I need your help! I need all the stupid monkeys I can get."
"Ooooh ooooh aaaah aaaah"
"Ooooh ooooh aaaah aaaah"
"Aren't you proving his point that you're stupid monkeys if you make monkey noises?"
"No, we're embracing it. See Golden hair here learns from his previous mistakes and becomes custom to himself like a god like me. It doesn't matter what he calls us, we're still gods at the end. Well, one of us anyway."
"I'm back! What was everyone talking about?"
"Quiet you traitor! We know it's you!"
"Dogpile him!"
"He's going to put collars on us to get him!"
"Cheese and cr-" Once Aza, Erebos, and Kingsley tackled Apollo papers flew out his hand and around the room, and one floated down gracefully right for my own vision.
"You kept a secret from them for months just to hide some pieces of papers."
Seriously, how goofy is that!?
"Let's see what it sa- Hey it's me! Wait a second... Wait a second! What!?"
Yeah. I take it back.
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