#I’ve always had an absurdly high alcohol tolerance anyways.

[spiderman2-99]

Honestly you drink too much. Should you put that much pressure on your healing powers? Really?

Don’t you have better things to do than badger a grown man about what he does in private?

[treeofsalvation-blog]

Unexpected Bar Scene | Etrain Odyssey Untold 2 | Mythica x CtS Crew Crossover

Summary: A fic set to this CtS Prompt.

I actually did it. It’s not completely to my full satisfaction (and nothing probably ever will) but at least I wrote something. Yeah, a big ol’ fuck you to my overly critical self. Besides all that though this was honestly quite interesting to write. I can totally see why you, @theshatteredrose​, like GiDs so much. There’s a lot of potential for my characters to be complete intentional badasses. And it’s Gerald they’re saving, so that’s definitely a positive. I’m so weak for Gerald right now. He’s an absolutely beautiful character and I love him.

Leon's POV:

“Alright, bottom’s up, gents, its closing time!”

Noises of disappointment and acceptance echoes around the Stickleback and the sounds of chairs scrapping against the floor as explorers take to their feet soon follows. Typical noises that follows the orders of Barkeep Cass.

Leon finishes the rest of his drink before setting the mug atop of the table where he sits with four of his guilds. Kaiser, Thorne, Keyon, and Kendrix purposely take the rest of their drinks slowly to allow for the masses to depart before they stand. It’s not fun getting caught up in the crowd as drunks tend to stumble and accidentally bumping into someone, or heaven forbid cutting them off in some way usually results in a fight.

The fights are often short lived. Still quite annoying though. And it seems that the preferred “breaker up of fights” Axel of the Guardians isn’t at the bar tonight. So that usually means someone like Leon or Kendrix, both known for their solid builds, would be called upon to defuse the rowdy drunkards.

With the crowd now thinned out enough to allow a peaceful exit, Leon pushes back his chair and stands up. He digs his hand into his pocket to drop a few en on the table as a tip as his guildmates, still chatting freely amongst themselves also stand.

Leon takes a moment to eye off his teammates to ensure how sober (or not) they are. Thankfully they were not on the boarder of full drunkenness. Just on the verge of carefree enough and yet still coherent. He isn’t much of a drinker. Only an occasional one. Thankfully those with him are the same.

Kendrix, however, as an absurdly high alcohol tolerance. It’s almost beastly in a way. Can drink anyone under the table and appear perfectly sober afterwards. He is becoming quite legendary because of it.

“Evenin’, Gerald!” Cass calls out in greeting.

Out of sheer habit, Leon turns to look as well and watches as Gerald walks from one of the entrances and makes his way over to the bar where Cass is starting to wipe down.

“Or should that be goodnight?” Cass teases as Gerald stands before him.

Gerald gives the barkeep a wry smile. “Sorry, I would have been here sooner but Simmons got into a fight with a hedgehog and I just spent the last hour removing the spines from his back.”

“Haw haw haw! That kid is just like his old man!”

As long-time friends is it a common sight for Gerald of the Cosmos guild to stay behind after closing to chat with Cass while helping the barkeep to close up for the night. No doubt that Shiki will visit shortly to join them.

Gerald is a good guy. First impression is often that he’s a gruff guy who is always lamenting about the recklessness of his guildmates. But once you get to know him he’s pretty, well maternal in many ways. He has a soft spot for kids who are deemed ‘unusual’ or ‘misfortunate’. And very patient towards those who use alcohol as a form of escape.

Leon doesn’t truly know the story behind Gerald’s relationship with Shiki, only that they have been separated for a few years and are now back together. And nothing is going to pull them apart this time.

Despite Shiki’s eccentricities, they are a sweet couple. You can’t help but smile when you see the two walking down the street hand in hand.

“Night, Cass! Night, Gerald!” Leon calls out as he ushers his guildmates toward the exit.

“See yer tomorrow, fellas!”

As the move outside, Leon barely has the momentum to take a step to the side to avoid someone barrelling into him. He brushes past Kaiser and Thorne without a second glance, even as Kaiser spits “the fuck is your problem?” at him. Words that are usually a prelude to a brawl.

Not this time. The man, about Leon’s age and height, just barrels past them without a word, without a glance, and heads straight into the bar.

Though their interaction is nothing more than a passing glance, Leon frowns. Something doesn’t feel right. Not just because it’s beyond closing time and anyone familiar with the bar knows that. But because his steps were hasty and yet purposeful. His gaze gives the indication that he was a man on a mission.

And, though Leon isn’t a 100% sure, he appears to be carrying something tightly against his side. Holding it in a stance similar to that of a gunner who is ready to go on the offensive.

Perhaps it’s nothing. Perhaps he is simply over analysing things. The guy was likely nothing more than an impatient person (or asshole as Kaiser spits again) and wants to speak with Cass regarding a manner.

Still, Leon feels the need to slow his steps just a fraction.

The sound of a startled yelp and the sound of breaking glass cause Leon to immediately pause in his steps, the hair on the back of his neck standing up on end. Something is wrong!

 Pure instinct makes Leon immediately turn around and step back inside the bar.

What he finds is surprising. The man that brush past them so hastily and rudely only moments ago is now standing in the middle of the bar. One hand grips a single-handed gun while the arm of the other is wound tightly around Gerald’s neck, positioning him in front of him, Gerald’s back against his chest. Almost in the fashion of using him as a human shield.

And yet that doesn’t fit the situation.

The gunman must have made a direct beeline toward Gerald the moment he burst in. Making it pretty clear that he knew Gerald would be inside. So if one is to assume anything, Gerald is his main target.

Why doesn’t matter right now.

As his guildmates move to gather around him in order to see what is going on, Leon holds out an arm to stop them. “Get into positions,” is all he says to them as he keeps his gaze on the gunman and his unfortunate hostage, Gerald.

He hears the others hesitate. Confused by the situation. But they soon sink back into the darkness of the night outside the bar and the barest sound of feet scuffing on the ground can be heard.

This isn’t a battle they are used to. Nothing like that of those they frequently face in the labyrinth. But this was a battle nonetheless. Charging in without a plan of any kind is foolish. They don’t have room to be foolish. Not when someone else is a hostage.

Keeping Gerald close to him, the gunman barks something Leon doesn’t quite catch to Cass while slowly backing out. Toward the exit, one of several in the bar. Gerald stumbles over his feet slightly, tugging at the arm around his neck as he can do nothing but allow his captor to pull him along.

“Hey!” Leon calls out.

The gunman immediately whips around in his direction, dragging Gerald with him so that he is in front of him. He then raises the gun and presses the tip of the barrel against Gerald’s jaw, prompting him to tilt his head instinctively to the side.

“Get back!” the gunman orders.

Leon raises his hand in front of him, not in surrender but in hopes of pacifying the man. Keeping his hands up will show him that he is unarmed. And as long as the gunman keeps all his focus on him, the others will be able to get into the best possible position to initiate their rescue of Gerald.

He is fairly certain that the gunman won’t kill Gerald. If his theory is correct he is his main goal anyway. So though he won’t kill him, there is still a chance that he may hurt him. Impede any of his struggles so that he would meekly allow himself to be taken.

“Easy now,” Leon says as he takes a half step forward. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m willing to listen.”

The gunman’s eyes, a strange orange colour, narrow at him and his jaw clenches. “Ain’t nothing to listen to. I’ve got better things to do than talk to you. Important things.”

He punctuates those last words by shifting the barrel of the gun to under Gerald’s chin, forcing him to tilt his head back and revolting rest his head against the crook of his captor’s neck and shoulder. Gerald’s knuckles are white as he grips the gunman’s arm. And yet despite his obviously tight grip, the man’s hold around him doesn’t falter.

Leon keeps his full attention on the two men in front of him. He doesn’t glance over at Cass. And he certainly doesn’t try to locate his teammates. He trusts that they have found the locations needed for this rescue. So he won’t give anything away by looking for them. No, he wants the gunman to think he’s the only one trying to interfere.

“The gun is loaded so back the fuck off,” the gunman snaps.

“Oh, is it?” Leon questions as he takes another half step forward.

“I won’t fucking hesitate!” the man shouts and points the gun directly at Leon.

A sharp crack suddenly rings out. But that sound is not that of a gunshot. No, it is that of a whip crack. Kaiser had managed to position himself amongst the tables to the right of the gunman. The gunman yelps as the tip of Kaiser’s whip strikes his the tender skin of the inside of his wrist. Because of the sudden attack, the gunman lowers his gun and shoots at the floor in front of him.

Before the gunshot even has the chance to echo through the bar an arrow flies over Leon’s shoulder and embeds itself into the inner side of the gunman’s elbow.

The man releases a high pitched scream as his arm spasms and drops the gun completely against his will.

And at this moment of distraction, Leon springs forward to wrap his arms around Gerald’s waist and rip him from his captor’s grip. He pulls Gerald into his arms, the other man falling against him in surprise, and he jumps back. As he leans down to unceremoniously scoop Gerald into his arms to make their getaway easier, Thorne leaps over the bar and skids to stand in the exact spot Gerald had been in only seconds earlier.

With his lips twisting into an almost derange kind of smirk, Thorne grabs the man’s left arm to immobilise him before he ruthlessly punches the gunman’s side, right under the ribs.

Leon can’t stop himself from wincing when he hears the gunman gurgle a strange watery gasp after the sound of grinding bones. He doesn’t give it too much thought though as he carries Gerald to the safety of behind the bar where Cass still stands.

As Leon places a shaky and surprised Gerald back onto his feet, he looks up in time to witness Thorne step away from the staggering gunman. And for Kendrix to appear right behind him, his eyes narrow and his lips in a sneer.

“Not over yet,” he snaps as he grabs the gunman’s arm and with a single heave of exertion, throws him over his shoulder and pile drives him into the floor. The sound of splintering wood accompanies the sounds of breaking bones and gurgling gasps.

As Kendrix straightens his posture, the gunman releases a shallow gasp as his body goes limp and he slumps to the floor. And doesn’t move.

With his arm still around Gerald’s shoulder to support him, Leon utters a sigh of relief. It’s over. The gunman is subdued and Gerald is safe. Couldn’t ask for a better outcome.

Leon turns his attention to Gerald and gives him the habitual once over. “Are you all right?”

Gerald looks up at him, his face slightly pale, but nods his head. He appears stunned by what happened. “I, yeah, I’m fine. That was…unexpected.”

“Yes, I imagine it was,” Leon says with a small smile before a frown appears. “Who was that? Do you know them?”

Gerald shakes his head as he steps away from Leon. “No, I don’t. I honestly never seen him before in my life.”

Leon nods his head slowly, but keeps his frown. Though Gerald doesn’t appear to know him, he is certain that the gunman knows him. And that concerns him. Still, it probably doesn’t matter now. It’s been dealt with.

He’ll just address his concerns to Shiki later. He’ll be sure to keep a protective eye on Gerald after this.

Jumping from the rafters, Keyon jogs over to them as Kaiser, Thorne, and Kendrix keep a perimeter around the unmoving former agitator. Just as he reaches them, doors on the other side of the bar suddenly fly open and a certain grey-haired ronin is seen.

“Gerald? What’s going on here?”

Gerald winces before he turns and hurries his way over to Shiki, who is stalking through the bar towards him. “It’s fine now,” he insists as they meet each other half way. “It’s been defused.”

Shiki pulls Gerald into his arms and holds him close as he frowns. “What has? What’s going on?”

“Some asswipe tried to take Gerald hostage!” Cass seethes.

Shiki’s eyes narrow dangerously, even as his hold on Gerald tightens protective. “Is he still here?” he asks lowly.

Everyone except Gerald points directly at the clearly unconscious gunman. And take a step back as Shiki tries to approach the man, even as Gerald tries to hold him back by pressing himself against his chest.

From the understandable rage in Shiki’s eyes, this gunman won’t raise a gun to anyone ever again. He’ll be lucky to walk again, probably!