Chapter 20

Onward!

Warning: OOC, random craziness, Error past dark abuse, many other troubles if mention, cursing, killing, dark themes, racism mention profanity, suicidal moments, sexual moments mentioned, violence, smoking, drugs, alcohol, guns mention, animal death, cringe, bullying, yandere, possible musical/singing moments and bad flirts.

Error/Moxxie speaking/thoughts

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"Striker. What are these?"

"I thought you can read."

"Striker." Maria tone change slightly and look these over. They were mostly blank expect Striker name. Along with another name.

Susie.

"Where you get these."

"Town hall. Still kept a few."

"Why you mom name on here." She wouldn't have sign these kinds.

"I got her sign it when she needed to sign her name for some school papers." She may have been very tired that night too.

"Moxxie."

"Want him to sign it after your signature was on next. Not be married immediate since will have to wait awhile."

Maria knew Striker was smart. But this was pushing in another direction.

"I'm not signing these." She look at Striker straight in the eyes. Striker staying eye contact with her too.

"You and Ma-"

"We were talking and joking about it Striker." Maria rubs her forehead and can already feel a headache coming up. First, the death of her friend. Now apparently the boy she sees like a nephew wants to be married to her own. While it was a talk about it wouldn't have happen that way. Susie hated marriage contracts since her father would pull that stunts and the suitors.

"I don't see the problem." Striker growled and hands shaken under the table. "I can take care of Moxxie. You know I can!"

"The problem is you want me to sign these papers without Moxxie choice and consent to this matter. Yes, you mother and I had talk about the idea if you two somehow ever dated. Even agreed if we still went the old same route would have done a marriage contract. But it was just talking about it. We wanted you both to have a choice who you want to be with. Not a piece of paper." She watches him closely but also carefully how he clutch the bottle. "Besides I want Moxxie to do what he wants. If he wants marriage than fine. But right now the answer is a flat out no. He wants to finish high school. He wants to do a lot of things."

"You don't think I'm good enough for them."

"No, one will never be good enough for my child. But you were one of the rare few I would have said yes too. Even with the choices of activities you picked lately." It was a subject she and Moxxie talk about. He wasn't ready, or feels ready, to find someone. Or the thought of anyone even want to date to him felt like nonexistent. She was fine with that. But still gave him a descriptive talk of any partners in the future. Even the possible one night stands. He had to throw her out the room. She didn't like it either but gotta make sure for safety.

"Oh wow! Apparently experimenting and having some fun illegal in fricken hell." His tone turning sarcastic. "I had my share of fun I'll admit and guess what no one hasn't satisfied me."

"Don't need to know who you bring in the bed or not. I really don't care since you weren't with him to begin with him." After all Maria had her fair share. Plus, with Susie job at the saloon. She pushed the papers back to him. "Right now you are in no right mind to make such a deal. I'm in no state of mind and patients to deal with this. My answer is no. You will respect that. If you keep pushing this idea in front of me or even force Moxxie in to an agreement. I will stop you Striker. So, drop it.

"Fight me." Striker stands up and stormed up to her.

"No."

"I sai-"

Striker neck was grab quickly with Maria tail. Her foot landed in the right spot so it won't have any movement.  Grab his two arms and slam him down on the table. His hat came off some point to see ringed eyes show range, anger and other emotions.

"No. Now drop it before I make a choice I will regret." Maria tone still serious as a protective mother bur she didn't want to hurt Striker.

"You two were fine with it!" Striker struggle and hissed out at her. He try to get out. He may have been able too but his body been close to shut down this past week. Plus, Maria at an advantage with experience.

Maria eyes soften but voice still the same. "We are because we like how Moxxie doesn't treat you badly. He treats you normal. Just like you treat him well in your own way. But I have to say no. I don't want you both regretting this. You Ma would have agreed with me too Striker."

Striker kept struggling and trying to move till he went slump. He panted and pressed his face again the table. Maria finally let go and take a step back. He fell on his knees and kept his face down. Body shaking as his tail rattle curling up around him. She wanted to comfort him. This was still the boy she helped raised with Susie. Her little adoptive nephew.

But he wouldn't appreciate it.

She walks over to grab the hat and place it down in front of him. Then picks up the contracts. "Maybe one day Striker but not this way."

She leaves him alone as she goes in the guest room. Glance at Moxxie passed out and not going to wake him up. She goes to her bag and open it. Sees the bottle she pack. Unpluck it and curled the paper up as he puts it inside it. This was an issue she will deal with later. Should destroy it. But for not will lock it up.

Moxxie notice how the next few days Maria and Striker were avoiding the other. Well besides the usual do their own things like Striker duties he was doing again like Susie was here. Just extra. Then Maria was dealing with Susie will that she left and Striker goes with her to take care of that situation. Moxxie stayed at the house and help out to cook. Just to keep himself distracted along with for them to not worry about. Everything just felt so wrong and tense between the pair.

Yet, act normal around him. He didn't know how he felt about it. But try to be like neutral party and do what he can for the other. He can't believe he even has this role!

"I really want them back to the way they are." Moxxie mumbled as he was cleaning Bombproof.

Bombproof neighs and nudge his face.

"Me too. I miss her too. Both them." Moxxie pat her snout and nuzzle her. "I'll try to visit a lot besides the phone calls. So, try to care of Rattles."

Bombproof neighs and stomp her hooves.

"Yeah, yeah he stubborn and pain in the ass. But you no better drama King."

Nip his horn.

"Just for that no blood cubes for you."

Bombproof kicked the bucket and Moxxie cursed out the smug horse. Whistler would be proud.

It was time for Maria and Moxxie to go back home. They been their close a month now. But everything seem to settle down now. Striker owns everything from the property and all that belong to his Ma. Maria was given money too that Susie left her. For all the years of helping. Maria wouldn't accept it and gave it to Striker. He just gave it back to her to give to Moxxie. A lot of back and forth till it was split in half. Moxxie was a bit surprise he was left some money too. He didn't want to take it. Felt wrong. Striker wouldn't take it back since his Ma wanted him to have it. Just put in into something he wants.

"You sure you don't want to stay." Maria looked at Striker as he was helping her bring stuff to the truck. It was still very tense with the pair. But Maria did want to make sure he was alright. While she has kept a close eye on him and around her son. She doesn't know where he been certain days. 

"I'm fine. I need to take of some stuff here. I've been missing too much working at the stables and may be getting another job soon." Striker tells her.

"In what?"

"Just some farmhand work in other parts of Wrath." He shrugged and glance at her. Then pulled an envelope out. "Here."

"If its money-"

"It's not." He rolled his eyes. "Just giving it to you since you and Ma were good friends."

Maria open it up to see it was old pictures of her and Susie as children going through their teen years. Back then you have to have decent amount of money or own work as photographer to get pictures. Maria didn't have that many pictures of herself as a kid. Besides a rare few with her folks and with Susie. But Susie was given a camera and they had lots of fun with it. Many memories. Only got a camera now just to get surprise picture of her boys or when they would come over. "Thank you Striker."

Striker shrugged slightly and turn back around.

"Striker."

"What?"

"Don't do anything whatever your planning."

Striker glance over and smirk a little. "Don't worry Aunty I'm going to take a step back. I got stuff to take care of. But like you said anything can happen. I'm still his buddy."

"Someone just now admit." Maria said but eyes stayed on him. She hope he really did think it over. But she was keeping his guard up. "Go get Moxxie for me."

"My pleasure."

Maria twitched and her tail slam the dirt ground when he was inside.

"Hey critter your mom waiting for you." Striker spots Moxxie by Bombproof as he pet his horse.

"Huh." Moxxie glance at him.

"You mom." Striker rolled his eyes and walk over to him. "A little slow today. Can't let your classmates see that."

"Like they actually pay attention to that."

"Well you might be surprise if they really like to hunt."

"Kind of focus on the rats." They both chuckle a bit on that. Moxxie been telling him about the rats at the school.

"May never knows." Ruffle his hair and get the usual smack.

"Yeah, yeah." Look at Bombproof and pet them. "Try to be good for him."

Bombproof neighs.

"I'll remember that." Striker snorted and the two walking out together. "I'm going to calling less for a while but if you need to chat-"

"I get it...Same with you too." Moxxie glance up at Striker. "Just call okay. Even just to talk about stupid things. Like those weird fans of yours throwing themselves at you for some reason. Or you bragging about some skill you learn-"

"My, my so you think about me." Striker snickered and got a tail shove.

"Nope. Never mind. My mind will now be on block mode about you."

"Haha!"

Moxxie rolled his eyes but inside please to get that laugh out him. Still the Striker he knows. He not stupid. There will be some change from this. He just hopes nothing to severe.

"Thanks Critter." Glance to see their close to the truck and pulled him in a hug. His tail wrapped around Moxxie. Just for a little bit and he'll let go.

Moxxie was stunned and fidget as it began to pick up. But force it down and hug back as quickly he can. Just do this for Striker. The phobia began to pick up along with his shortness of breath. Come on be normal a bit longer.

Striker let go when he felt him shake. Doesn't need him to pass out and screeched his head off.

The smaller imp calm down slightly and look at him. "No, problem Rattles."

Striker watches them leave in the truck. He thought he saw Moxxie head turn to look at him. He wave back anyway just in case. Once they were finally gone and couldn't see the dust he took a deep breathe. Turns around to walk back inside the house. Soon after went out the back with a bag. Goes to saddle Bombproof off and they rode off.

It was a far ride but the path was a bit blocked and covered. One of the rare areas with a few trees that covered the place. But hard to go through unless you tread lightly. Striker got off Bombproof to help lead him around till he found his destination. Look like a cave covered up so well. Striker t pat Bombproof and let him roam around. "Will be our last stop here for a while. So, get some food."

Bombproof neighs and began to look around.

The taller one watches and held his bag close. Turn around to go in the cave and move the material around. It was too block out sounds. Then next was a gate. Inside the gate was chained up scared and beaten up demon. They were terrified and scream behind the gag.

The demon that Striker hunted down who took his Ma away from him.

That he came to visit as much he can to torture them.

Striker smirked cruelly like a predator and sat the bag down. He pulled out a dagger.

"Congratulations it'll be over soon. Would like to continue this forever but even Ma would be disappointed I wasted so much time with a piece of filth like you." He shakes his head at the demon like he was a disappointed parent. The rage and anger still place in his eyes. Ready to kill. "She is right since you cried the first thirsty minutes when I crushed your feet and hands. So, pathetic. But don't worry."

The demon screamed louder and try to crawl away. Like they just knew their time is up.

"Now let me show you how to really use a blade."

The demon screams block off as Striker slam the cage door.

No, one can hear them. Besides Bombproof.

Never mind Bombproof to occupied eating some rats.

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Done!

Whelp you think Striker might have a chance in the future? Who knows anything can happen.

The demon dead.

Any questions?

Until next time.

Bye, bye!