"When I was a boy... I met a fellah, namah Jim Harper. Black boy. Small southern town in Tennessee. Now a place like that, everyone knows everyone, what you do, where you were, who you were with. Nothin private in a small town. I was the bastard boy, picked in the side of the road. Jim Harper was the black fellah no one wanted, him or his family. So we stuck together and helped each other. Soon we were like brother. Eli where's that new jacket I just got you? Jim has it momma he ain't got no jacket. Eli where those new shoes I bought you. Jim has em momma, his shoes done fell apart. Jim why's that white boy in my house? Cause his momma's working and he ain't no place to go." Eli was far past the point of hiding his accent.

"Before long our family were close. Spent the holidays and birthdays together. People around town found out, soon no one wanted my momma around either. She didn't care. She'd just say go on boy, go see your people son. Jim's momma said the same."_ Eli took another drink ot his Bourbon.

"I remember one time I got into a fight with some rich kids. Me and Jim got tore up pretty bad. We hung out heads in shame. By the time we got back to his house his momma had found was pissed. I mean she was a steaming." Eli let out a chuckle, he couldn't help it. "She beat us in top of the ass whippin we just took! Threw us in the car and drove us to the those rich kids home. The beauty fill, I never knew people could like that. That woman drug us out car marched us on the front steps of that house, knocked on the door and when they answered they never could have seen the hell coming. She let them have boy. She said you ever let those boys touch my kids I'll the sheriff and then imma come over here and break my foot off in your Jon Brown hind parts. Off we went back home not a word spoken. When she took me home that woman took her shoe off and beat us again, tears just a pour outta her. She said I ever see you bow your head in shame again I'll beat you to death. My boys don't bow down to no one you hear me!?"

"About ten years later, we off in the war and we get hit with an IED. Me and Jim get hit, my shoulder is shredded, his head is busted opened and there's blood, just blood everywhere. Now Jim is married and has a kid. Last week of our last tour. We were gonna get out and mead normal lives. Yet here I am hold my brothers skull together. Hold me close Eli he says, I'm scared, I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die like this. I'm bleeding out and can't feel anything on my left side. About as bad is it could get. Anyhow we get out alive and some months later we're back home and Jim is in a bad way, brain so fucked up he can hardly think. Starts doing stupid shit and his wife is raising a kid and she hates my ass. I don't say nothing but I keep helping all I can. Mans my brother, he's earned that much from me." Eli poured himself another drink and downed it one go.

"One day he just wants be a Dad. Nearly kills his own son by giving him a bath. It wasn't trmhe first time it. He's a just a mess for the next few days and it's killing me.  I just wanna see my brother smile again, laugh like he used to." Eli took in a deep breath before going on. "A week or two later we camping, huntin out the hills. A day into our trip he says I almost killed my boy Eli. I just wanna hold him and take care of him but I can't. I can't do this no more he says to me. Wants to kill himself, too much a coward to do it he says. Asks me... To kill him. We cry and I try to talk him out of it but he won't have it... One night he comes at me with a knife... And I do it. I killed that poor bastard bless his heart. I killed him."

"I go back to town and look his wife and mother in the eyes and tell them what I'd done. His wife screamed at me so baddly I broke down and lost it. Tears rolling my down my eyes, my hung low." Eli stopped for a moment to compose himself. "His momma, our momma took her shoe off and started slapping me. Don't you hang that head low boy. I lost my baby but you lost your brother. I dun told once not hang your head low... Sometime soon I'm gonna have to tell Jim's son what happened, and your asking me to much the same and yeah I'll do it tree baby or whatever the hell you name it will be looked after just like Jim's boy. Gentlemen's agreement. But, I'm telling you now, I'm coming for you and Lancaster, and Hell's fire is coming with me." 

Eli quickly drew his handgun and ejected a single round. Like a dart, Eli threw the round at Jaden, hitting him the chest. "This is were I tell I you the next one is coming faster, and the next time we have a conversation, ain't gonna be no talking. Savy?"

[@Raijinslayer]