Like Looking in a Mirror (Romeo Sin)

[Slot 15]

Onderon​

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Len wiped some of the sweat from his brow. It was a very hot summer day, with people lazily walking down the sidewalk. It was as if the sun made time itself almost stop completely.​

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As usual, hardly anyone purchased any of the partially spoiled tomatoes and cucumbers he'd gathered up this morning from the shabby garden in his back yard. He'd made a grand total of ten credits. Well, at least he'd be able to get something for him and his mother to eat tonight. Maybe even a little something for tomorrow morning.​

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Len looked at the credit chips in his hand, slipping them into the pocket of his ragged pants. He'd stay out just a little longer before closing up "shop" and heading home.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

There was a point Romeo thought it was okay to visit the capital of the Republic, and was now just walking the streets, admiring the beauty of Ossus. Though the place was crawling with people selling stuff, and buying stuff, Romeo's eyes were a stuck on a boy with red eyes, and jet black hair. Looking at him reminded him of himself when he was young, but not as poor looking.​

"Tsch."​

He walked over to the boy's shop, looking at the various foods.​

"What is editable right now? Anything sweet boy?"​

He said.​

 

[Slot 15]

A man walked up at the last minute. That was a first. Len quickly combed out his hair a little. Yeah, he was in rags and already looked dirty. It was nice to at least try looking like he cared about his appearance in public.​

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"Well, since the tomatoes are almost out of season, they taste a lot sweeter right now. Cucumbers are never sweet, though."​

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People didn't usually ask him about his produce. Probably because they didn't care.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[Slot 15]

(Double-post)

 

[The Red of Sinner]

Romeo nodded twice, then reached into his pocket.​

"I'll take a few of those then."​

It was a hundred credits in his hand.​

"Will this pay for it all? I have more."​

He asked, testing the boy. Romeo's eyes were blood red, and so were these boy's.​

It made Romeo wonder.​

"Are you flexible kid?"​

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[member="Len Sin"]​

 

[Slot 15]

Len's jaw dropped. He'd never seen that many credits in his life! That was enough to get meals for the next six months! And this guy said he had more??? Len took a minute to clear his throat.​

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"U-um... Sir? T-that's too much. I... I can't take that..."​

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He said carefully. He didn't think very much about charity. He'd never received any before. Then the man asked him about his flexibility. Okaaaaaay.... This was starting to feel a little weird.... ​

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"Flexible? I... Uh... A-are you going to take your tomatoes?"​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Romeo shook his head, tossed the credits at the boy, and with the force took the tomatoes. He placed one up to his mouth, sniffed, then took a bite. It wasnt too bad actually, a little acidic but pretty good.​

"Are you kid?"​

He looked at him with a intense look.​

"Yea, you are. I can see what you are. Vahla? Hmm, dont see too many of us around these days."​

He took another bite.​

"What that?"​

He pointed at another vegetable.​

 

[Slot 15]

Len caught the credits, careful not to let them hit the ground. He hesitantly slipped them in his pocket with the other credits, looking at the vegetable the man was referring to.​

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"That's cucumbers. I'd be selling potatoes too, but I ran out a few days ago."​

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More like they rotted from no one buying them. It was a typical thing for him. This man... This whole thing was starting to make him feel uncomfortable. How had he even gotten that tomato without using his hands? Len wasn't sure he wanted to know. He was about to sort of mention it when he heard some commotion coming from his left. There were people standing a ways down the street. It was a big crowd. But what were they staring.... That's when he noticed the black smoke rising above the other buildings. Oh no. That couldn't be....​

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Len's feet began moving before he could even finish the thought. He started sprinting down the sidewalk faster than he'd ever gone before.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Romeo nodded as he continued to snack on his vegi, listening to the little boy talk. From a few meters away, Romeo sensed a commotion, something was wrong, people were in danger. He did a mental shrug, till he realized the boy was now rushing towards the commotion. Ah, so he has something to do with it? Romeo smiled, and simply walked after him. Smoke? Smoke mean fire, a crowd meant less room to work, but more places to hide. Romeo calculated whether or not he should try helping the little boy, or watch what would happen.

 

[Slot 15]

The adrenaline filling his system allowed Len to make it to the the crowd. Oh God... It was his house. And his mom... He pushed people out of the way as he tried to run up to the porch. He couldn't tell how big the fire was. There was so much smoke!​

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"MOM!! MOM, CAN YOU HEAR ME??!!"​

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He yelled. No reply. He could feel his lungs start to seize up. He started coughing, putting a hand on his chest. No no no, not now! He couldn't have an attack now! He needed to get his mom out of there!!! But if he couldn't breathe out here, he wouldn't have a chance inside!​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Romeo was already in the crowd, watching the commotion aspire to needless pushing and comment. He sighed. Len, whom Romeo could see was having troubles breathing, certainly could not run in there. With one bound leap, Romeo placed himself at the front door, the force letting him down gently. He placed his hands in front of him, then slowly spread them apart as the fire listened to his command. Flames rushed out of the windows, and to his hands, only to die out. When all the fire was gone, he rushed in, searching for the little boy's mother. There she was, on the floor passed out. Romeo picked her up, taking her outside to fresh air. The crowd was mouth mesmerized by his command over the fire, and cheerful for his petty rescue. He sighed once again, something he did too much.

Walking to Len, he spoke softly. "She is safe."

 

[Slot 15]

Len was wheezing very badly. He took out his inhaler, taking three puffs as Romeo came out with his mother. He ran up to them immediately.​

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Serine was extremely dazed. Her eyes fell on Romeo... Tears came to her eyes. "I knew you'd come back.... I knew you wouldn't leave me.... Oh Crucix, I knew you'd return to me!" She suddenly hugged him and began weeping softly.​

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Len wasn't quite sure what to do. Trying to pry his mother away at this moment could garner a violent response. He didn't want her to hurt herself any more than she already had.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Romeo's eyes went wide as she called out his father's name. Crucix, who was dead, was his father. This mean, in Romeo's mind, that this woman had at one point been a romantic interest of Crucix. His eyes moved over to Len as his mother cried on Romeo's shoulder while embracing him.
"Len....your last name isn't Sin by any chance is it?"

 

[Slot 15]

"How... Did you know that?"​

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Len was confused. Who was this guy? He gently started trying to take her off of him.​

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"Mom... Let the man go, oka--!!"​

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Serine turned to slap Len across the face. "GO AWAY!! LEAVE US ALONE!!!"​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

He shook his head as the woman continued to see Romeo as his late father. "I am not my father." But she would not listen. "You are...probably my half-" Len attempted to remove his mother from his shoulder only to be smacked. Memories of his own father doing the same, beating him for failures and such. Anger surged over him as his hand reached around the woman's waist, pulled her off himself, and let her drop on the ground. "Smack your son again...and you will lose that hand."

 

[Slot 15]

Len managed to soften his mother's fall with a small gasp. He looked up and Romeo and glared slightly.​

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"Why did you do that?! She's obviously not in her right mind!"​

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Serine tried to fight off her son to get back to Romeo, squirming and kicking and hitting and starting to spout off nonsense. The crowd from before had started to watch the display. Len calmly grabbed his mother's wrists.​

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"Mom, calm down. I'm your son Len, remember? You're outside. Calm down..."​

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He had to repeat himself about eight times before it sank in for Serine.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Romeo was dumbfounded, he wasnt sure how to act on this, nor was his anger to being called by his father's name helping this. "Len?" He looked at him with a tilted head still trying to figure out what was the right thing to do. "Alright people, go away, nothing to see here. Get going on with your pathetic lives....before I end them for fun." Romeo spoke as he turned towards those watching and a fire started in his palm.

 

[Slot 15]

The crowd quickly dispersed. Len had to practically lift Serine off the ground. She was in no state to walk. But what was he supposed to do now? Their home was gone....​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Len Sin"]

Even though the fire was gone, the house was lost. There was no fixing it. He shook his head, and looked down at the little Len and his psycho mother and sighed. "You will be living with me for this day forward. Take your rightful place within the House of Sin Len."

 

[Slot 15]

"The House of Sin? What does that even mean? I don't even know you...." ​

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Len was extremely glad that Romeo had saved his mother. But he wasn't just going to move in with a stranger. Not only that, but he hated accepting charity. Despite having nothing, he still had his pride.​

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[member="Romeo Sin"]​