Chapter 40 The Little Things (2/2)

Both men stared at the young man with a strange gaze for a moment, as though looking through him. Laz looked back at them and could feel the strong sense of killing intent from them for a few moments. It was only know that he understood that even if they didn't know what he did, they knew that he had done it. When someone has taken another's life for the first time, their aura changes. It becomes stronger, more dominate and isn't something a normal person would have.

Laz continued to look at them despite their killing intent with his deep blue eyes. He didn't waver in the slightest.

”You've already seen the reaper. You've felt his breath on your neck and heard his cries of death in your ears. You don't have to tell us what happened because we both trust you. Because of this, you are qualified to sit here and drink a few cups with us my boy,” Grandpa Crowe said, as though reciting an incantation.

He and Bill both raised their tin mugs to Laz and waited. Laz, knowing what they wanted, raised his own mug and all three men took a deep drink, finishing off whatever was in their cups.

Setting his mug down while looking out on the sunrise, Laz reflected for a moment before asking, ”Why now though?”

Laz had sensed the dissonance with Bill the last time he was here, although he didn't know it at the time. He just thought he was agitated by the old man due to the events that transpired. It was only now that he realized the same feeling was coming from his grandfather as well.

”Laz, I know you feel it. We all have the same feeling from each other.” Grandpa Crowe picked up the kettle and refilled everyone's cup. Laz could feel the warmth flowing through his system and knew that this stuff was rather strong. Despite his now somewhat powerful body, the alcohol was taking effect from the inside and causing him to not only be a bit warm, but it also made him a bit emotional.

”You, your grandfather and I are all the same. We are all being affected by this strange mutation. The problem is that both I and your grandfather are not young anymore. Not by a long shot. It's impacting us far harder than it is you, Laz.” Bill answer his question rather solemnly.

”Laz, my boy. I don't know where your parents are, nor do I know when they will be back. The last thing I heard, they were only suppose to be away for a year, but as you know, it's been more than two years now.” Grandpa Crowe looked straight at Laz when he said this.

”Your parents are two rather special people. I've already told Bill the details, but I can't tell you just yet. Just know though that they love you very much and they never would have left if they had a choice.”

Taking a deep breath, Laz's only response was to sigh ans say, ”I know.”

”My son and daughter in law are many things, but they were never the best parents. Despite that, they just wanted the best for you. But things are becoming more and more chaotic. And I...”

Laz waited for a moment, but his grandpa didn't continue.

”What is it?” He asked.

”I don't know how much longer I can continue waiting her with you for them. I might not be around anymore by the time they return...” Grandpa Crowe's voice broke at this confession. As a man who spent years hardening himself in battle, he almost couldn't voice these words. It wasn't because he was scared of death. It was because he couldn't bare to leave Laz alone without even a parent around.

”Your grandpa Bill here is going to help you out when you need it and ”The Shack” will also belong to you in the future, although he will hold it in his name until you are old enough. I know it's not much, but at least you will always have a home to go to.”

All three, one young man and two old men just sat there in silence and continued to drink the spiked coffee. The silence wasn't suffocating, but it was lingering. It was like a cloud had formed over them, making even the bright morning seem dull and colorless.

”Hey, grandpa, grandpa Bill. Have you even seen a woman hit herself in the face with her own boobs and knock herself unconscious?” Laz looked up and asked in all seriousness.

Both grown men, hardened by years of battle and decades of time, spit out their coffee at the same time, looking like a pair who had just been told they were were going to be fathers.

Coughing while trying to wipe his face, Bill was the first to respond.

”What? This is what you're asking about right now?” Bill looked at this small and somewhat innocent looking young man, wondering if his ears had gone bad.

”Hey, I figured with your guy's experience, you must have seen everything right?” Laz gave a half smile at them while they took a moment and looked at each other.

”Boy, I've obviously been too nice to you over the years. To think those dirty thoughts are going through your head.” Grandpa Crowe looked at Laz and scolded him, albeit playfully.

”Honestly, I was talking to this girl last night and asked her the same thing. I figured considering how big her's are, she could give me an answer, but she got mad instead.” Laz had put on his most innocent, child like face, as though wondering why he had been wronged.

Both men broke down in laughter yet again while Bill threw a sausage at Laz. With just this one question and the playful act, he had removed the sorrow from the air in one fell swoop. Everyone finally started feeling loads better and the morning looked quite a bit less gloomy.

”You kid, are too much. Just the fact that she even bothered saying anything to you after that means she doesn't have a bad opinion about you. She might not like you, but she doesn't hate you. Anyway, I've not seen it.” Bill said while taking another drink.

”Me either...” said Grandpa Crowe while taking a drink of his own with a smile. Laz, seeing the two men still drinking quickly, couldn't help but do the same.

”But your grandmother used to be able to crush beer cans with her giant set.”

This time, Laz was the one to spit out his coffee while choking as the two grown men fell down in laughter.