Chapter 97: The Price Of A Friend

---Chapter 97--

Victoria lifted her silver hair with utmost care while she angled her body giving Dean a clearer view.

But what Dean saw was definitely nothing he’d expected from her sudden change in posture.

Near the back of the tiny girl’s head was a large scar. It looked red and ominous but definitely healed. Even though he felt terrible was a precise way to define it.

"What am I looking at?" Dean asked, his expression changing from shock to blandness, regaining his composure.

"It’s a long story Dean Gray." Vicky said as she let her loose silver hair cover the side of her head again.

"We were little lads, six or so... when it happened," she said in a low tone. "We were playing tag and he lost control of it."

Dean remained silent. Eyes narrowed with his brows raised waiting for her to get to the point already.

"He lost control of his strength and accidentally did that to me."

’His strength?’

It actually made sense. He’d suspected it prior after the boy had accidentally punched him before.

Though even then, Dean believed it was just his size in play. The boy was a giant after all, it only made sense he would hit like a truck.

But Vicky’s words made it seem like there was more to it than what meets the eye.

This wasn’t just a matter of size, the gentle giant had a past and this girl who claimed to be his sister was willing to tell him.

The why? He was yet to determine...

Weirdly enough, an unexpected silence sneaked into their midst. Dean waited for more while Vicky was expecting a reaction from him. Any reaction at all.

Neither got what they wanted in that moment so Vicky broke the silence again. Lowering her head much to the annoyance of the dark, gloomy and imposing presence behind her. Who growled openly.

Continuing with the same soft tone, she spoke.

"Since that day... My idiot brother has decided to become a punching bag to every other idiot. Swearing never to hurt anyone ever again."

Dean sighed. Nodding slowly. With a clearer level of understanding.

Most of it made sense now. The annoying passiveness that always got under his skin. The hesitation that the boy showed when being confronted.

It actually turned out Olsen didn’t shrink himself because he was afraid despite his imposing stature and strength.

Actually, fear did play a role but it wasn’t him dealing with it personally.

"So he is afraid of losing control again and hurting others?" Dean realized.

The tiny girl simply stepped forward and nodded in affirmation.

"He still blames himself for something that happened since we were just lads."

With eyes drifting towards Olsen’s side of the room again. Dean’s mind couldn’t help but muse at how the gentle giant carried such a burden with such grace and an ever brimming light in his eyes.

’He is a strong kid.’ Dean thought. It took another level of strength to let others walk over you when you have the power to just crush them.

And at this point, he wasn’t talking about Olsen’s physical strength any more but also his family’s wealth and reach.

Holding back to that level, when he wasn’t planning anything more diabolical ahead, was a strength Dean had to admit was truly astounding.

However, while he mused, Vicky had moved closer to him. Her fingers tracing her silver hair.

"With that blame in his heart, my brother allows others that should be beneath his feet to trample on him."

Vicky continued after a deep sigh. "He is too kind in a world that rewards sharks and that scares me."

Understanding her plight and worry, Dean nodded while he approached her..

"What do you want to do then? Olsen is..." Dean paused mid sentence. He didn’t want to act like he fully knew the boy or something.

"He is my brother..." Vicky completed and reached into her coat again. And pulled out a piece of paper.

Stretching it forward towards Dean, her lips arched in a knowing smile.

"This is three million quids Gray."

Dean tried tilting his neck but it seemed like it froze in place. His eyes twitched and blinked on their own.

What was this girl trying to do at this point? Was she trying to buy his soul or something?

"So there’s more?" his cracked voice filled the room, as he tried and failed to control the rising pitch.

"This one is real..."

"And the other one wasn’t?" Dean retorted instantly. His eyes were stable again. His more induced stupor had disappeared quickly.

"It was..." she admitted after clearing her throat.

"That was from my father." She stretched her tiny hand further forward. "This is from me and why I am here."

"So what exactly do you want then?" Dean asked as he locked eyes with her momentarily.

"I want..." she paused, her expression softening. "I need you to protect him while he’s here."

She looked down for a moment.

"And if you can... teach him that fighting back doesn’t make him the same person he was that day."

’And you think I am the man for that job. I am a monster myself.’ Dean shook his head internally.

Luckily though, he was changing as well right ? And secondly he wouldn’t survive his own mental breakdown if he allowed three million quids to escape his grasp.

"You do know he would find out about all this?" Dean said. His eyes observing the slip in Victoria’s hand.

"Eventually..."

"I am guessing that doesn’t apply to the first offer."

"Of course not..."

"And why?" Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Because a friend who chose him over a million quids is worth more than money to someone like my brother."

’Talk about fluffing my wings.’ Dean smiled. That answer struck something in him...but it was definitely accurate.

"If that’s–"

"I also think you won’t tell him anyway," Vicky cut in again.

Dean chuckled. "And why would you think that?"

"Because you don’t seem like someone he needs credit for doing the right thing."

’Ahhhh..’

Dean snickered openly. His eyes still focused on her before moving to the giant behind her.

"That’s a great way to manipulate people..!"

"It’s working isn’t it?"

"Indeed," Dean retorted and took the slip from her hand. It looked like a bank slip with her name and the amount boldly written.

"And where do I take..."

"Any Reed establishment will do. I am the chief operating manager."

"Alright ..." Dean nodded and placed the slip into his pocket.

After a moment of silence between them, they finally shook hands.

Victoria’s grip was light, almost fragile, but there was certainty behind it.

She turned toward the door, the enormous figure behind her moving the moment she did. The giant had remained silent throughout the entire conversation, acting more like a wall than a person.

Just before leaving, Victoria stopped.

She looked back at Dean and then at the little slime peeking from behind his shoulder.

"Take care of my brother, Gray."

Dean looked at her for a moment before a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I plan to."

The giant behind Vicky stepped forward. For a brief instant, Dean felt the surrounding air shift.

And then the massive figure seemed to swallow Victoria completely, his body obscuring her from view.

Then both of them were simply gone. Leaving Dean staring blankly at the empty space.

’Teleportation?’

He stood there for another second before twisting on the knob of the door to make sure it was shut.

In their absence, the room became more quiet than usual.

Ash slid down from his shoulder and landed softly on the bed before bouncing once toward the door.

The little slime looked around the room before turning back to Dean, almost as if it was checking whether the strange visitors had really left.

"They’re gone," Dean muttered.

Ash bounced again before happily flopping onto the pillow. Dean walked over and sat on the edge of his bed.

One million quids to walk away. Three million to stay...

He let out a quiet laugh.

"What kind of ridiculous family tries to solve everything with money?"

Ash stretched a tiny pseudopod upward.

Dean looked at the little creature before shaking his head.

"I know... I know."

The truth was, the first offer had tempted him. One million quids would have solved more problems than he wanted to think about.

And yet... The moment Victoria had made the offer, his answer had already been decided.

Olsen was annoying... Yes!

Trusted too easily and had the survival instincts of a sheep wandering into a wolf den.

But he was also the first person in this world who had wanted absolutely nothing from him.

He wasn’t around because of politics or some scheme. Just friendship.

Dean leaned back slightly and stared at the ceiling.

Three million quids.

Honestly...

He probably would have done it for free.

The dormitory door suddenly opened.

"Oy, mate!"

Dean looked up as Olsen walked inside carrying a toolbox almost as large as a wardrobe, his oversized backpack hanging from one shoulder. Grease stained one side of his shirt and his silver-white hair looked even messier than usual.

The giant stopped after seeing Dean.

"You alright?" Olsen asked, with a sharp stare. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Dean looked at him quietly. Now that he knew the story behind that ridiculous smile and endless patience, the giant somehow looked even more absurd.

He let out a small breath.

"Nah."

Olsen tilted his head.

"I just figured out you’re an idiot."

The giant blinked twice. "...Thanks?"

Dean couldn’t help it. He laughed.

Olsen stared at him for another second before shrugging and walking over to his workbench, already pulling strange metal parts and half-finished gadgets from his bag.

Ash bounced across the bed and immediately attached itself to Olsen’s shoulder.

The giant smiled and scratched the slime absent-mindedly while continuing his work.

Dean watched them for a long moment.

Then he leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes.

Some things were apparently worth a lot more than money.

–End of Chapter –