EA-LEC AU: For Want Of Revenge

The city of Belcazzar was a grand place to be in. There were multiple things for people to pass the time and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a complete happy city. Just like every other place, it had its good share of bad people.

Like gangsters. People who live for causing trouble for anyone who even looked at them funnily. Some were infamous for causing a lot of fights in the darker parts of Belcazzar causing a lot of people to be injured whether they were involved or not.

Two of said gangsters were hanging around in an alley. There weren’t doing anything at the moment except loitering around talking to each other. One of them was a human with dirty blonde hair while the other one was an anthro bat with fur as black as coal. The human impatiently paced back and forth with his hands in his pockets with that squatting on top of the lid of a garbage can while smoking a cigarette.

“Dude, stop pacing around! You are starting to get me dizzy!” The bat snapped.

The human glared at the bat. “Are you kidding me, man!? Aren’t you even worried about the disappearance of several gangs!?”

This made the anthro’s eyes widened in realization. Indeed, they had been recent events with several gang members being found unconscious on their home turf or worse, dead. Nobody knew what happened to these gangsters.

Some had guessed it was some kind of vigilante who intends to bring down the gangs by any means possible to bring them to justice. The very thought about that they would be the next target made them shudder in their spot.

The two were about to continue the conversation until they heard a noise. Turning their heads, they looked in the direction of the voice.

They saw a man dressed entirely in black with raven hair stepping forward. Also, what replaced his right arm was some kind of blood red hump of flesh with a sharp claw attached to the end. The blonde man and the bat looked completely unfazed by this.

What did catch their attention was that the claw was wrapping itself around the chest of a woman who looked like she was desperately trying to escape. She was an anthro white tiger trying desperately to escape.

The blonde man and the bat immediately forget about their conversation and stood up straight.

“What do you have, boss?” The bat asked.

The clawed man merely paused for speaking up. “Boys, take a look at my jacket.”

The two gangsters looked at each other before looking back at their boss and the white tiger. They quickly noticed a large brown stain on his jacket and immediately figured out what had happened.

“Ooh… Say no more, boss!” The blond man said with a smirk.

The gang leader returned the smirk. “Good.”

With that, he shoved the tiger forward sending her on her hand and knees. The woman lets out a growl before looking behind her to glare at the gangster.

“What is wrong with you!? All I did was bump into you and spill coffee on your jacket!” The tiger demanded.

The gang leader narrowed his eyes. “That is all I needed.”

“Yeah! No one messes with the leader of the Death Claws and get away with it!” The blond man smirked punching his fist into his palm.

“Though you are pretty cute. Maybe we could have some “fun” with you afterwards.” The bat said with his smirk getting larger.

The tiger’s eyes widened as she looked around. She was trapped between three horrible men who were about to beat her up despite she was completely defenseless. She looked around with tears of fear forming in her eyes as the gangsters continue to advance with devilish smirks on their faces with the leader ready to make the first move.

“Hey!”

Everyone’s eyes widened before they looked in the direction of the voice to see a figure stomping forward.

“What is your deal? You LIKE beating on defenseless women!?” The figure demanded.

The gang leader immediately narrowed his eyes. “And who the hell are you?”

“A guy who doesn’t like to see the innocent bullied!” The figure said, crossing his arms. “What has that poor woman ever done to you!?”

The gang leader just crossed his arms (which looked strange when said arms were mismatched). “If you really must know, this bitch had spilt coffee all over my jacket!”

The figure’s eyes widened in shock and anger. “THAT’S why you were going to attack that poor woman!”

“Damn straight!” The bat said, punching his palm into his fist. “Nobody messes with the Death Claws!”

“Yeah, well, I am not going to let you do what you want!” The figure said, cracking his knuckles.

The blonde man lets out a mirthless laugh. “You want to play hero? Fine! But just remember! This is the real world!”

“That’s right.” The gang leader said, stepping forward. “And in the real world, heroes die!”

The figure paused before narrowing his eyes and crossing.

“Who said that I will be doing the battling?”

The three gangsters all looked in confusion when they heard this. By this time, the white tiger took advantage of the three’s confusion and ran off towards the figure.

Then, they all heard loud sirens. They jumped before looking around in shock as they saw several people, both from different sides of the alley. Half of them were wearing police uniforms.

“You there!” A police officer said, pointing his gun out. “Put your hands in the air!”

The blonde man and the bat had immediately put their hands in the air. The gang leader just growled as he glared at the two.

“Cowards! Do you think that the Death Claws would be intimidated?” The gang leader scolded.

“But… But we are outnumbered!” The blond man insisted.

“So we just…” The gang leader started.

That was when a lightning bolt had struck him in the back by a man, causing him to cry out in pain and collapse on one knee.

“The man said put your hands in the air!” The man roared.

The gang leader growled before raising up his arms in the air. Lupin just smirked before crossing his arms while several police officers approached.

The figure then looked down at the white tiger. He was a well-built anthro wolf with grey fur. His clothing was simple with a brown newsboy cap, a white dress shirt, brown suspenders and dull grey jeans.

“Are you okay, Miss?” The wolf said, offering a hand.

The tiger looked up and it was then the wolf’s eyes widened as she looked into his face.

“Um, y-yeah…” The tiger said, softly. “Those assholes took me off-guard!”

“W-Well, you are safe now…” The wolf said, looking down at his paw.

The tiger then looked up and noticed his stunned face. “Um, what’s wrong?”

“H-Huh? Oh, nothing…” The wolf said, looking away with a large blush.

/-/-/-/-/-/

The wolf sat down at a table, remembering what had recently happened with him and the Death Claws. Particularly the white tiger who was attacked. Even now, he just couldn’t forget her face. How similar it was to HER. Perhaps…

No, it couldn’t be. He was in another world. And she clearly didn’t recognize him.

“Um, Uncle Lupin?”

The wolf’s eyes widened before looking up to see two more wolves looking concerned. The first one was a well-built teenager with a red cap, a white shirt, a red and white plaid jacket, a blue bandana and blue jeans. The second was a young cub with a blue hoodie jacket, a light grey shirt and black shorts.

“Are you okay, Unc?” The older one asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lupin then chuckled nervously. “Ah-ha-ha. I am okay, Fenrir. I was just lost in thought.”

Fenrir then smirked. “Heh. Being a hero is something that’s taken you off-guard, eh?”

“I always told you that it was not like that.” Lupin scolded. “I was just the first one to stop those creeps.”

“Still, from what I had heard, those guys are some of the worst!” Fenrir pointed out. “You had made the streets safer because of it!”

“Aw, come now.” Lupin insisted. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

The younger one rolled his eyes. “Overly-humble as always, eh, Uncle Lupin?”

“That’s right, Uncle Lupin! Can’t you accept ANY kind of positive feedback?” Fenrir whined.

Lupin just chuckled and shrugged. “What do you want me to say, kids? I am just an uncle.”

Fenrir just frowned as Remus shook his head. Unknown to the three wolves, two figures were approaching them.

“Hey, Lupin?”

The adult wolf turned his head. “Yeah, Al?”

His eyes then bugged out at the two figures. The first one was a black-scaled alligator in a waiter’s outfit. However, it was the second one who got his attention. It was the white tiger from before.

“You…” Lupin gasped.

“Yes…” The white tiger said, scratching the back of her head. “Listen, I had never actually thanked you for saving my life back there!”

“M-Me?” Lupin asked in disbelief. “I-I was just there at the time!”

“Regardless, if you still came to my defense, so thank you…” The white tiger said, holding her arm.

Lupin paused before scratching the back of his head. “Um, well, it is no problem…”

Fenrir looked back and forth between the two for a moment.

“But still…”

The wolves and Al looked at the tiger.

“I just wanted you to know that I could have gotten out on my own.” The tiger spat. “I was just… Taken off-guard.”

The three paused.

Remus then crossed his arms. “That’s not what I heard. Apparently, you immediately ran to Uncle Lupin’s side the moment those guys were distracted!”

The white tiger winced. “I-It’s not my fault! It was a warm day that day!”

The three wolves and Al looked on in disbelief.

“It was…” Al started. “...A warm day?”

Remus rolled his eyes. “Wow, way mature!”

“Remus!” Lupin scolded before looking at the tiger. “Sorry about him, he is a good kid. But goodness, he could have a mouth at times!”

The tiger just growled. “It’s fine. Listen, as long as you are here, can I buy you a drink?”

Lupin paused. “You don’t have to go…”

“Yes, he would!” Fenrir grinned.

Lupin jumped before looking at his nephew. “F-Fenrir!”

“In fact, a simple drink may not be enough, how about a date?” The teenaged wolf grinned.

Lupin and the tiger’s eyes widened at this.

“E-Excuse me?” The tiger asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, my uncle hasn’t had one for a long time!” Fenrir grinned.

“F-Fenrir!” Lupin scolded with a blush.

The white tiger paused, rubbing her chin. “I… I suppose one single date wouldn’t hurt!”

Lupin’s eyes widened before looking at her. “W-What?”

“I mean don’t misunderstand. Your nephew is right.” The white tiger said. “I owe you at least that much.”

“You…” Lupin started.

“Great, then it’s a date!” Fenrir grinned.

Lupin glared at Fenrir. “Could you at least let me speak for myself!?”

Remus just smirked. “You know the answer to that.”

Al chuckled while the white tiger shook her head.

“Ooh, I have to go tell my bestie!” Fenrir said, getting up his seat and running off.

“Say best friend.” Remus scolded even though he ran out of hearing range. “Saying bestie makes you some like a valley girl.”

Lupin and the white tiger paused before looking at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

Meanwhile, Fenrir ran up a flight of stairs and ran over to one particular door. He then slammed his fist on it a few times.

“Ugh, I am coming, I am coming!”

Soon, the door opened up to see an anthro man. He was a well-built kangaroo with tan fur and wore nothing, but boxer shorts.

“Mate, what the hell?” The kangaroo grumbled in an Australian accent, rubbing his eyes. “Ya know that Ah had a large fight yesterday and Ah am bushed!”

“Wally, big news!” Fenrir said, clenching his fists together.

“What?” The kangaroo muttered.

“My uncle is going on a date!” Fenrir exclaimed.

Wally’s eyes bugged out at this. “Get out!”

“I won’t!” Fenrir scolded. “It happened after he saved her life from a dangerous gang!”

Almost immediately, the kangaroo had changed his tune. “Is she cute?”

“Very!” Fenrir grinned.

Wally’s eyes lit up at this. “Oh wow! Ah can’t believe yer uncle had actually scored a cute one!”

“I can!” Fenrir exclaimed. “I just wonder why he didn’t do so sooner!”

“Well, he mostly just content with yer guys.” Wally said, scratching the back of his head.

Fenrir’s grin vanished. “That’s the problem. He is so content with having us as his whole world that he thinks nothing else matters.”

Wally’s ears droop when he heard this.

“I want to show that there is more to living than just me and Remus.” Fenrir said, softly. “I don’t want another incident like that to happen again.”

“Definitely. I knew that he loved you guys… But to go that far…” Wally said, looking to the side.

“That is why this date has to go perfect! If he has a girlfriend, maybe he realizes that there is more to living beside us.” Fenrir said.

Wally paused. “Oi, can Ah ask a question?”

Fenrir raised an eyebrow. “Sure, man, what is it?”

“Why is yer uncle so intent of having his entire world revolve around you two?” Wally asked. “Ah mean he wasn’t obviously always your guardian so what happened?”

Fenrir shook his head. “I-I don’t know… I just know that my uncle changed when my father died…”

/-/-/-/-/-/

Lupin and the white tiger were exiting the Heroes’ Hideout. However, said white tiger looked extremely annoyed as laughter could be heard inside.

“I counted just two hyenas like them and yet you would think that the entire tavern would be full of them.” She muttered.

“Sorry about that…” Lupin said before glaring back. “You would have thought that people would be more mature than that, Christmas.”

“Yeah, you think?” The white tiger said, rolling her eyes. “So shall I meet you here tomorrow?”

“Y-Yes, that would be great.” Lupin nodded.

Christmas returned the nod before turning around and walking off. Lupin watched her leave in awe.

“Dang… Even the attitude is the same… Just like…” Lupin said, softly.

However, he shook his head.

“Wait a minute… What am I doing?” Lupin asked in disbelief. “The past is the past. There is nothing I could do to change that…”

He then lowered his head before making his way back inside.

“Besides, I don’t deserve a happy future. Not after what I had done.”