The Protector

“Stop it!” Matthew howled, Hawkins’s spell abruptly shoving them back to the present. Green sparks sputtered and died, making Hawkins stagger.

“Stop it, stop it, stop it!” Matthew’s face was drained of color, drenched in sweat, “I can't- I can't remember this!”

Hawkins towered over Matthew’s shivering form, anger flickering in his eyes. “Did that even mean anything to you? You were a brother to me, Jürgen. I loved you. Was everything I did for you for nothing?”

“Mr. Matthew,” Esper rasped, leaning towards Matthew, “Please-”

Matthew jerked away, his eyes glassy. He made no other noise than choked whimpering.

“Say something. Anything,” Hawkins said, growing more frantic with every word, “Do you even care?”

Hawkins slammed his foot between Matthew’s ribs, making him gasp for breath. “Come on! Jürgen, talk to me!” Another hit, this time across the jaw. Matthew was limp on the floor, blood gushing between his teeth.

Hawkins reared his fist, clenching bruised knuckles, preparing a strike.

“Don't touch him!” Esper screamed, snapping out of his restraints. Hawkins’s seal on his magic had faded, and pink energy flowed between his fingers. Vines tore from the ground, slapping Hawkins to the concrete.

Esper clenched his fist, his teeth shifted to small fangs. “I won't let you hurt my father.”

Hawkins pulled himself to his feet, rubbing his shoulder. “Back off. I don't want to fight some kid.”

“I'm not just ‘some kid,’” Esper spat, a nervous tremble in his voice, “I'm more powerful than that.”

Vines whipped around Esper, snaking out to strike Hawkins. Hawkins rolled to dodge, closing in on Esper and punching him in the gut. Esper heaved and fell back, mindlessly waving his hand to lash out at Hawkins. A vine cut Hawkins across the face, blood dripping down his neck and chin.

“Hawkins!” Pilate said, running to meet him, shoving his hands into his pockets, “I'll help you!”

“No!” Hawkins barked, narrowly missing a blow to the neck by Esper, “Get out of here!”

Pilate’s eyes widened, taking his statement as a challenge. He threw a piece of paper in the air, a giant eagle bursting from the page. It dove at Esper, who slashed at it with a vine.

Hawkins took advantage of Esper’s distraction, delivering a devastating blow to the head. Esper crumbled to the ground, twitching as his skull reconstructed itself. He sprung up within seconds, flinging himself at Hawkins.

With a firm hand, he flung Esper back to the ground, the bandages on his face slipping between his fingers. The upper portion of his face was exposed, causing Hawkins to reel back in horror as he gawked at the thick, raw blisters that covered his eye sockets.

Esper pulled himself to his feet, clenching his teeth as another vine rose above him.

He screamed as a clawed fist drove itself through his torso, blood spurting from his mouth. Pilate stood behind the creature he had summoned, a bipedal feline, hands trembling as he fought to meet eyes with Hawkins.

Esper fell to his knees, clutching his gut as flesh slowly replenished. He was growing tired, the severe wounds his body was healing taxing heavily on his energy.

Pilate jumped to attack, drawing a knife from his belt. The blade immediately plunged into his ribcage, shredding what had just been healed. Vision growing spotty, he flung the knife across the floor, summoning another vine to his aid. He snatched Pilate by the neck, causing him to squirm and gasp for breath.

Pilate’s eyes suddenly widened, a red stain bleeding through the material of his sweater. For a second, Esper was stunned, the smell of blood sending him for a loop. He hadn't stabbed him.

“Hawkins! Please!” Pilate wailed, a bluish tint in his skin.

“Pilate!” Hawkins shouted, scrambling for his gun, “Hold on, kid!”

Esper heard the sound of two gunshots, and then felt the searing pain in his calf. He crumpled immediately, the vine vanishing and dropping Pilate like a ragdoll.

His heart went haywire as more blood seeped between his fingers. The wound wasn't healing. He was too weak.

A crack of wind flew over Esper’s head, flinging Hawkins across the room.

Matthew stood, posture ragged and face grim. He lifted his head, pure rage flashing in his eyes.

“No one touches my son and lives.”

Author's Note- sorry if the ending of this is a lil wonky. im coming down with something and the fever finally let up lolol