Jim was fumbling hopelessly with tying his tie, losing his train of thought and grunting with frustration

James sighed and looked up into the web-cracked mirror of the bathroom we shared with Blitz in Carl's house. Blitz had supposedly cracked the mirror by trying to swat a fly on it, but I think it more likely she was just showing off to herself.

“Fucken’ bullshit...”

I told you to just leave it tied.

“I barely fucken’ touched it!”

Jim yelled, angrily tossing the tie into the sink, which had a chunk missing from the time Blitz supposedly leaned on it without thinking. There was mold around the faucet that matched perfectly with the mold set deep in the few remaining tiles of the shower.

“Problem there, son?” Carl asked, leaning in the doorway, grinning.

           Yes. He was born an idiot. Please help him.

“Shut up.” Jim snapped, turning to where I sat on the edge of the shower.

“Wow. Haven’t seen you scream at it in years. You stressed?” He asked.

Understatement of the century!

“Uh, I guess...” He said, rubbing his neck awkwardly, embarrassed. “I’m not that great at...this.” He gestured to the suit that Eddy lent him for the Gala tonight. Somehow it fit him perfectly.

Carl smiled, grabbing the tie from the sink and wrapping it around Jim’s neck. “James, it’s important for every man to know how to tie a tie.” He said kindly, while tying it. “Now remember, The fox chases the rabbit around the tree, and then down the rabbit hole. There.” He smiled, satisfied. “Perfect.”

             Don’t touch it this time.

Blow me. I’m never wearing a tie again.

“On your way to Pride Rock,” Carl said, as we followed him out of the bathroom. “Try not to worry about the the rich people too much, but more importantly, remember that you're in a King’s territory.”

“The Pride, Yeah.” Jim agreed.

The Pride was one of three gangs owned by one of three “kings” of Krymehaven. These kings had actual power, nothing like the posers and try-hards that fucked around in no-man's-land, they could parade around openly, and were treated as upstanding community members, because they were. They sponsored fairs, soup kitchens, YMCAs, donation drives, and all kinds of community projects. Krymehaven protected it’s criminals, because they protected Krymehaven.

“You bet.” Carl lectured. “If it’s a party run by Safi Industries, then you know that the Lion will be represented in some way.” The two of them sat at the small kitchen table and Carl passed Jim a cigarette. “I’ve been all over the place, James. And in all my years, I haven’t seen cruelty quite like that from the Kings of Krymehaven. Be on your toes and keep your head on a swivel. And most importantly,” Carl pulled out a pistol from under the table and passed it to Jim. “Be armed.”

Jim tentatively picked it up, as if it would bite him at any second. “But you said to never touch a gun again or I’d shoot myself in the face.”

“True enough!” He laughed his booming laugh that filled the house and shook its foundations. “There's a reason I taught you to make explosives, son. Win the fight-”

“Before it starts.” Jim finished.

“Exactly. But a man who relies on one weapon is a fool and a deadman.” Carl grinned. “And you are going to be in The Lion's Den tonight.”

“Don’t worry, Dad.” Blitz said, coming down the hallway. “I’ll protect Jimmy.”

She was wearing a silver ball gown that flowed around her elegantly. It was cut off at her shoulders, revealing two angel wings tattooed on her shoulders and a heart design going down her chest. Up her entire left arm was a spiral of thorns opening up to a rose with the words James Arthur McAllister surrounding the center. On her right arm, only her shoulder was tattooed. A blank tower shield with two pikes crossing it. Her makeup was applied lightly, making her ice blue eyes and the orange flakes within pop. When she noticed Jim gazing at her in awe, she blushed, smiling shyly.

“You look beautiful, dear.” Carl commented, standing to embrace his daughter.

“Thanks dad.” She said, hugging him. “And we’re going to be fine, I promise.”

“Oh I don’t doubt it.” He said, holding her at arm's length. “My darling little warrior. Her father's strength and her mother's fire. You'll burn down the world one day but maybe we don’t start day today, darling?”

“Spoilsport.” Blitz pretended to pout.

“Still! Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan for the worst does it? Now where did I...ah!” Carl made his way around the counter and into the kitchen and pulled a set of floorboards away from the rest of the floor and took out a black box from the hole the panels were hiding. “This belonged to your mother.” He said, pulling out a black colt. “Haha...she actually pointed it at me when we first met.” He reminisced, pulling back on the slider, before tossing it to Blitz. “I think it’s about time you had it.”

“Thanks dad. But uhm...how am I supposed to carry it?”

Carl grinned at this and tossed Blitz a leg holster. “Never stopped her.”

         Why on earth...

But Jim just smiled, walking towards Blitz who was happily strapping her mother's colt to her leg.

“Ready to go?”

Blitz grinned at him. “Forgetting something?” Carl laughed, handing Jim his coat and the gun.

“Oh fuck.” He stumbled, throwing on his coat and reaching for the glock, but hesitating.

You know what our chances are once you take that.

Jim grabbed the gun, pulled back the slider, and put it in the back of his pants, hiding it with the jacket. “Let’s go, hon.”

Blitz gives Carl a quick kiss on the cheek. “Have a good night, Dad!”

Carl grinned. “I’ll try my best, dear.”

He watched the two leave and sighed. He walked to the fridge, pulled out a beer, flopped onto his couch, and used the coffee table, with five distinct knife marks finger length apart from each other, to open the bottle, placing the cap at the edge, and slapping the neck swiftly with the palm of his hand. He lied back on the couch, resting his feet and head on the arms. “And, just like that...silence.” Sirens and car alarms both distant and nearby filled the night air, causing him to smile to himself. “Well, close enough.”