[@Zelosse][@DestinyStar][@BlackPanther][@Tracyarmav]

Smarter'n'me
Lvl 15/Day 17/Afternoon
[b][HP][/b][i]98%[/i][color=007236]/////////[/color][b][][/b]

Smart was actually almost done.  He could tell that the boy under him hadn't taken advantage, he would have been far more embarrassed if he had.  Though, biting was a bit too desperate a move, in Smart's opinion, for a safe zone fight.  Still, he was about to jump off and take stock when he suddenly heard a decisive clang followed by a crash.  Scarlet was screaming.

Then everything went black for a little while.

When his eyes opened he was hanging halfway out of one of the back windows with an uninspiring view of the back of the next building in line.  He blinked.  They were talking, something that hardly ever happened at the house.  He pulled himself back inside and crouched there below the broken window.  Listening hurt.  Seeing her eye hurt worse.

So, these two had saved her life, behaved themselves, and formed a party with her.  He looked piercingly at the two boys.  The older was keeping a respectful distance from the conversation.  His level of maturity was actually impressive for one so young yet.  The other was both honest and decent.  At least, that's what it had felt like while he was beating him.  But, all of this brought about two important conclusions.

First, he owed Scarlet and the boys an apology.  But, after following Dimitri on such a fools mission, he couldn't think of a way to do it.  His eyes grew sad and hard and his bearded chin drooped toward the floor.  It might not be too late for those two to fix things but, in the end, Smart wasn't anything but her grandpa's housemate.

"Boys."  He said at last, turning his grieved gaze on the two victims of their assault.  "Thank you for saving her.  And, sorry."  His voice was serious and flat, the same voice he used to use in court.  The voice he hadn't used in almost twenty years.

He turned the same look toward Scarlet.  "I'm sorry, Scarlet."  Then he started walking slowly toward one of the undamaged tables that still had undisturbed chairs.  It happened to be in a far corner.  On his way, he looked at Dom.

"Scarlet slept in a room with a couple of boys, they are in for a world of hurt."  He quoted cooly.  That was all he said to his friend.  His head still rang and his eyes just didn't want to focus well.  He stumbled once on the way to a chair and missed it with his hand on his first try, sinking onto it exhaustedly.  Once again, he was on the fish-butt-end of a situation and he wasn't even getting yelled at.  Just like at the house.  It really made him feel... expendable.