At Cain's adamant request, the two of them headed straight to the organisation's base in the city. It was a relatively unassuming apartment that fitted in with the rest of the other apartments in the area. Cain had basically smuggled Albert in and borrowed a shirt from the shared closet. Apparently, they would often rip them or get them bloody so the company mass produced the uniform suits they wore. It was very convenient to not have to purchase themselves, Cain commented.
Shoved into the shower room and left alone with his thoughts, Albert once more sunk into the world of doubt. He felt like he was that hapless child stuck in that small room once again. Afraid and unaware.
"Cain?" Albert called out to the dark room. He had finished showering and was wearing the oversized shirt but Cain was nowhere to be found. Albert wandered the living room in search of the bodyguard but couldn't see him anywhere.
Suddenly he heard footsteps from behind. Fast. The person was right behind him. Crap. He heard a metallic clang.
Albert flipped around. His tense arms shot forward in an upward motion. The person caught his hand with a startle. Damn it. Was he going to be kidnapped again? Despair flickered through Albert's eyes.
"Wowowowow. What's wrong, young master?" Cain asked, eyes widened with surprise. Though the room was dark, thanks to his passive ability, Cain could see the cold sweat forming on the boy's forehead. His eyes were shaking with clear fear and breath quickened from panic.
"O-oh, it's you, Cain." Almost instantly, Albert calmed down. "Sorry about that, I'm a bit sensitive lately." He apologised in a soft, feeble voice.
"Here, I made some hot cocoa, it'll calm you down." Cain flashed a smile at Albert, hoping to reassure him.
"Why'd you leave all the lights off." It was clearly effective. As soon as Albert received the drink, he grumbled and directed his complaints to Cain.
"I was in the kitchen so...ahahaha." Cain's eyes wandered and he noticed the water dripping from Albert's hair. It turns out that the moisture on his forehead wasn't sweat but in actuality, water. "You really should learn to dry your hair yourself, young master."
"It'll dry by itself." Albert looked away.
Hahhh, Cain sighed and grabbed a new towel. "I'll dry it for you."
Whenever he showered, Albert would walk out with wet hair. At first, the family paid it no heed but after his cold episode a while back, they would chide him for his bad habits. Still, Albert refused to use the hair dryer. Cain suspected that it was the heat. He never did well with heat, he noted. Well, Albert didn't like the cold setting on the dryer either so he might've just been fussy, Cain thought to himself.
Anyhow, the twins in particular didn't want Albert to be sick again so they would force him to sit and dry his hair for him. Watching as the twins rub their little hands over the towel on Albert's head to help him at least get it to just damp was really quite adorable. Well, Boss would finish it off by dissipating the remaining water with his ability so it was kind of unnecessary. The twins seemed to enjoy it though.
"Cain." Albert called out softly after sipping on his chocolate beverage.
"Hmm?" Cain hummed from behind.
"You know, when I was kidnapped, I really hated all villains."
Cain didn't say anything in return. Albert was kidnapped by the A-class sadist Houston, of course he wouldn't have had a pleasant time. Cain could still remember seeing the child for the first time. His feeble body was riddled with scars and stained with blood. The numerous burns and gashes weren't a pretty sight to see.
"I prayed and prayed that a hero would come to save me...but they never came."
That wasn't true. They came straight afterwards. Even if Boss hadn't been there, Albert would have been rescued by the heroes and he wouldn't have been a villain's child...
"Well, I know that they were there straight after Father. But, Father is still the one that took me out of that place. He gave me a home to stay and a family to love. So, even though he's a villain, I don't really care? I know all the horrible things he's done and will do but I honestly could not care less."
"...I think it's because he's nice to me and he loves me. So even though I was angry when Houston killed my friends and sold them off, I don't care when Father does the same thing.
I think I'm really hypocritical. Even today, I killed a man because I was in a bad mood. Whether he has a family or not, I didn't care...….I feel like I've become exactly like Houston and I'm scared."
Cain felt the boy trembling under his hands. Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak. "Listen, Albert. You don't have to think too deeply about things like this. Just do as your heart desires. If you like something, get it. If you don't like something, destroy it. All you need to concern yourself with is things you care about. Everything else is just extras, they don't matter. Look, we're all villains, yeah? Do villains think about morals? No, that's what heroes do. So just be selfish or hypocritical or whatever. I mean, who cares about what others think. As long as you yourself am satisfied, that's all that matters."
"Pfttttt." Albert burst into laughter. Cain's speech was full of mixed messages and he repeated himself a few times. But he was right, who cares about those petty stuff? "You're right. Fuck Houston, I'm just doing whatever I want."
____
"You're back?" Kin was standing in front of the door when Cain had opened it. From behind him, Albert could see the man's solemn gaze falling on him and could not help but to shrink back in guilt.
"I-I'm sorry." Albert apologised.
A warm hand was placed upon his head. "You're a sensible child so it must've been important to you but I want you to say something beforehand next time. I don't want to hear it from Cain."
"Yes Father." Albert's voice sounded a little defeated but there was a part of him that felt warm from the trust and care Kin showed for him. His father may have had a non-expressive face but his heart was warmer than anyone he knew, well, at least, when it came to his family. "Good night, Father."
"...Yeah, good night." Kin gave Albert one last pat and went back to bed.
Albert watched his father make his way through the dark halls, up the stairs and out of view. Only then did he turn to face Cain, an accusatory glare thrusted upon the bodyguard. "You told him when you got changed."
It wasn't a question but a statement.
Cain scratched his cheek in avoidance. "Aha ha ha...If Boss found out that you left in the middle of the night, he would have been worried so I...haha."
"Right, where did you keep the plushies again?"
"Ah, I gave it to Steph to hold for now. Should I tell her to bring it over?"
"Mmm, wash them and give it to the kids tomorrow." Albert ordered and went to his room quietly in order to wake Ian up.