Once Leon stepped into the stale hospital room, his attention was directed towards the sickly looking man laying on the bed. Images of his father raced through his mind as he now looked at the poor man, who wore a tattered suit and was slouched over on the bed propped up by hospital pillows.
Feelings of anger and disappointment filled Leon's chest as he walked over to his once proud looking father. After arriving a few steps away from the bed, Leon spoke in a charming and youthful voice that even he almost didn't recognize again.
"Dad how can you be in such a state? What would you have done if mother walked in and saw you like this?"
Once the frail man in the hospital bed heard these provoking words, he suddenly looked over and playfully cursed his son.
"Leon don't you have anything better to do than bother your old man? I thought you still had studying to do for the end of your high school career. Why waste your time coming here? I'll be discharged soon and will be coming back home to beat your ass again if you're still not properly studying!"
As his teasing seemed to have rekindled his father's strength, Leon was pleased to see his old man still could put on airs.
"Dad I've been studying much harder now that I don't have you to interfere with my studies."
Leon replied back enjoying the playful banter he used to have with his dad many years ago. However, after exchanging a few more snide remarks Leon became serious.
"Dad who would dare to offend you?"
His dad's expression became serious as well once hearing his son's words.
"It seems my boy is all grown up now to be able to understand the complicated and vicious thoughts of people in this society."
After sighing, his old man then responded with a thoughtful expression displayed in his eyes as he observed Leon again.
"Son there are some matters that must not be uttered outside of this room and I entrust that you will take it to heart. As you know, along with status and power comes the jealous hearts of the people surrounding you.
I had guessed that the other managers at the company were plotting something for my downfall, but I never expected it to happen so soon like this. If only I had been faster and more prepared... Then our family wouldn't have to be bullied to this state!"
After finishing, his father continued to watch Leon's expression thoughtfully with tired yet irritated eyes.
Leon had already impressed his father by keeping a calm composure to this point. However, a vengeful intent had already been formed in Leon's heart and his father's incident was just adding fuel to the flame.
"I will make sure that our family is never bullied like this again! I'll make sure you can proudly stand above those who plotted against you! But until then you must recuperate and regain your strength." Caringly commented Leon.
Seeing his father having his wealth and status taken from him reminded Leon of his previous misfortunes. Thus, it wasn't very difficult to for him to understand what emotions his father must be feeling right now.
'Whoever decides to pick a fight with my family doesn't deserve to exist in this world anymore!' He resolutely thought.
Leon began thinking again on how he must become stronger to protect the people around him and take vengeance on those who wished his family harm.
Suddenly the door that was locked to give the father and son some privacy was thrown open. The two men wearing all black suits from the elevator walked in and coldly glared at the father and son. Like they were nothing but specs of dust. A man in a navy suit then brushed past the two brutes and grinned as he saw the frail man in the hospital bed.
"Mr. Jackson what an unfortunate turn of events! If not for that accident you would have been the CEO in our company, such a shame..." Snidely stated the business man.
The man in the navy suit's grin became larger as he noticed Mr. Jackson's son was currently here as well.
"I heard that you would soon be discharged by tomorrow... Congratulations to the both of you! But sadly the only place you will be discharged to will be hell." Laughed the snobby looking business man with a wider and sinister grin.
The man in the navy suit turned and exited the room but made a slight gesture to the brutes next to him before departing.
"Kill the kid too. I don't want any witnesses." He said before exiting the hospital room.
Leon and his father glance at each other. His father showed a clear concern but was startled even more by his son's mocking expression.
"What a fucking stuck up prick! Only leaving two sorry ass looking dudes to deal with us." Laughed Leon to his father.
"W-What are you doing? Shut up and get out of here while you can! I'm probably done for cause of my injuries anyways, but I need you to still look after your brother and mother for me!" Exasperatedly pressed his father.
"Dad just calm down, alright. We aren't the ones in trouble here..."
After calming his father down, a devilish grin of his own appeared on Leon's face while he sat down in the chair next to his father. The two brutes tasked with this troublesome brat and father both looked at each other while laughing at the last performance of the father son duo before them.
One brute strutted towards the sickly father while the other slowly drew closer to Leon as he took out a small knife from his suit jacket. As the brute before Leon raised the knife in a motion to stab him, Leon slightly gripped the side of the small chair, and suddenly stood up swinging the it across the brutes face.
As the chair made contact with the brute's head, his body went limp. The man crumpled to the floor in an unconscious state and dropped the knife he had held in his left hand.
The other brute that had approached his father slowly looked towards where the brat should be in a puddle of blood by now, but was surprised by a small glimmer flashing across the room. Which raced towards his neck.
Before the brute could utter a single word, he was shocked as his hand found its way to his neck reflexively, and felt the warm gush of blood quickly running down his hand and suit.
After finding the knife the first goon had dropped, Leon had expertly thrown it at the one approaching his father. To Leon this was child's play, as he had ten years of experience with the weapons of the underground, and was pleased to see he still could perform some of his killing arts in this now frail and young body.
Although, his body did not have much strength compared to before, Leon was happy to discover that minor techniques he knew could still be effective.
In contrast, his father stared at the strange son in front of him, contemplating whether this was still indeed the foolish kid he once had known. As he looked at Leon from head to toe, his father could tell a great change had occurred. Gazing at the now cold and heartless expression his son displayed, he could only feel a sense of fear yet a growing proudness.
Thinking back to the words his son had previously promised him. He no longer saw them as the ramblings of a boy, but the promise of a man determined to protect and care for his family.
After the realization he was still only seen as a stupid kid to any onlookers. Leon quickly turned towards his father and addressed him with a serious glint in his eyes.
"Dad no matter what happened here today promise you will never mention such things to mother or Jesse."
Surprised by the sudden secretive request his son was burdening him with, his father understood and replied.
"Son some things in this world a man can only shoulder alone. However, always remember you have friends and family to rely on. That being said... There are some things your mother especially should never know."
Knowing the amount of ordeals his son must have gone through recently, his father's curiosity was peaked, but he didn't question Leon any further.
'Our son has finally become a dependable man!' He thought proudly as a warm feeling of relief surged up from the father's chest.
Due to all the excitement, Leon felt like his father had suddenly aged quite a bit from shock and contentment.
Since the incident was revealed to be a plot against his father and one of the main perpetrators had gone out of their way to finish the job. Leon decided he must settle the matter as soon as possible. After hugging his father and demanding his room be kept under close monitoring to one of the doctors wandering the corridor, Leon approached the front desk once again.
Upon seeing the familiar youth in front of her, the woman behind the desk let out a exasperated sigh and directed her attention to the brat leaning over the counter.
"How can I help you now?"
The desk clerk asked in a slightly annoyed manner. Leon, who was used to dealing with lower workers in his own company, paid no heed to the rude woman, and abruptly asked about the "visitors" who had kindly visited his father earlier.
After receiving the information on the man's alibi from the desk clerk, Leon walked out the hospital with this new lead and a fire that continued to grow in his chest. As the people rushing in and out of the hospital doors passed by Leon, a small fiery gaze could be noticed through his cold heartless demeanor.