Brandon's arm shot up, a silent command that echoed louder than any shouted order.
The battalion of enlightened ones, an imposing force of power and discipline, halted abruptly.
Even as chaos reigned, their loyalty and obedience to Brandon was unwavering.
*THUD*
Tossing Devon aside like a discarded toy, Brandon stepped forward, placing the heel of his boot on Devon's chest, pinning him.
The younger Winchester gasped for breath, but his pride kept him from crying out.
Crystal, her eyes swollen and red, tears carving trails down her dirt-smeared face, took a trembling step forward.
"Brandon…"
She began, her voice quivering with fear and desperation,
"Please... spare him."
He tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips.
"And why should I?"
She swallowed hard, her gaze darting to the still form of her grandfather, then back to Brandon.
"Because..."
His eyes narrowed, impatience evident.
"Out with it, girl."
"Because," she hesitated, taking a shaky breath, "he's the uncle… of… of… our children."
Brandon's foot, which had been resting on Devon's chest, twitched slightly.
His gaze, locked onto Crystal, was inscrutable.
The world seemed to wait, the impending storm evident in the charged silence.
The revelation hung heavy in the air.
Sir Adam's eyes, already wide from his previous ordeal, widened further in shock.
The lines on his face seemed to deepen, every wrinkle telling a story of surprise and shock.
Beside Brandon, Baph exclaimed,
"WH—WHAT??!!"
He staggered slightly, disbelief causing him to lose his footing for a split second.
Asmo, always quick with a retort or a smirk, stood rooted.
His usually sharp eyes were wide, and his mouth hung agape, a rare moment where words failed him.
And then there was Brandon.
The man who seemed to always be in control, who commanded armies and struck fear into the hearts of his enemies, twitched at the revelation.
He stepped on and over Devon, who lay forgotten for the moment, and approached Crystal with predatory grace.
Reaching out, he lifted her chin with a rough finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Their faces inches apart, he scrutinized her, searching her eyes for any sign of deceit, scanning her face for any sense of familiarity…
And then…
His eyes widened…
Brandon's voice, when he finally spoke, was a mix of incredulity and realization.
"You… Black desert… Special Ops soldier?"
The weight of recognition settled between them, the memories of a distant past threatening to resurface.
==========
<< Black Sand Hotel Bar — 4 years ago >>
The hotel bar in the Black Desert was unlike any other.
It was a place of refuge for outcasts, renegades, and those seeking oblivion.
The room was dimly lit, the flicker of lanterns casting eerie shadows on the rough-hewn walls.
Laughter, arguments, and the occasional drunken brawl were par for the course.
Tonight was no exception.
Crystal, wearing a form-fitting leather ensemble, entered the bar, drawing eyes from all corners.
She threaded her way through the mismatched tables, her posture exuding confidence that belied her youthful picturesque face.
A few feet away from the bar, a burly man with a scruffy beard and predatory grin stepped in her path.
"Hahaha! Hey there sexy. Fancy buying me a drink?"
His voice was a low growl, filled with a mix of amusement and something more sinister.
Before Crystal could respond, the man lunged at her, aiming to seize her by the waist.
But just as his fingers were about to close around her, a glass of whiskey shot through the air, crashing into the side of his head.
The amber liquid splashed over his face, stinging his eyes.
Crystal peered around the now staggering man, catching sight of Brandon and giving him a knowing nod of thanks.
But she wasn't one to let someone else fight her battles.
With agility that belied her size, she pivoted on her heel, delivering a swift kick between the burly man's legs.
"Owww!!"
His howl echoed through the bar, drawing even more attention to the unfolding scene.
Seeing an opportunity, two of the burly man's comrades lunged at Crystal from behind, aiming to restrain her.
"You Bitch !!!"
With a dancer's grace, she sidestepped one and delivered a spinning elbow to the other, connecting solidly with his temple.
*Bannggg*
The room was a whirlwind of motion, the roughnecks trying to take advantage of the chaos to land a blow on the agile woman.
But Crystal was a force of nature.
One assailant found himself flipping through the air, crashing into a table.
Another received a sharp jab to the throat, causing him to crumple, gasping for breath.
The original burly man, recovering from the initial surprise, charged at Crystal, roaring in anger.
She sidestepped his lumbering form, grabbing his outstretched arm and using his momentum to twist it behind his back.
With a swift, calculated move, she drove his face into the jagged remnants of the shattered whiskey glass.
*CRRSSSHHH*
The crunch was sickening, and the man went limp, blood mingling with the spilled whiskey.
The bar, which had been in an uproar moments before, fell silent, all eyes on the woman who had effortlessly taken down three men.
Crystal arched her back, stretching with the graceful ease of a feline.
A stray wisp of white hair fell across her face, and she flicked it away with a smooth flick of her wrist.
Her icy blue eyes, so vivid against her skin, met Brandon's gaze, lingering, challenging, inviting.
A playful smirk played on her lips,
"Thanks for the drink,"
She drawled, her voice a seductive purr that reverberated through the clamor of the bar.
She sauntered over to Brandon with a predatory grace, the leather suit she donned clinging to her curves like a second skin, with only her pearlesque ample cleavage threatening to burst out.
"But next time, save it for me."
Brandon watched her approach, an unreadable expression on his face.
His eyes - dark and probing - took in her every move, lingering on the curve of her hips, the sway of her hair, the teasing glint in her eyes
"Impressive,"
He remarked, his voice low, husky.
"Though I must admit, I enjoyed watching you work."
He motioned for the bartender, eyes never leaving hers, and ordered two more whiskeys.
The clinking glasses seemed distant, muted, as if the world was filtering out everything but the two of them.
Sliding onto the stool beside him, Crystal's thigh brushed his.
It was a fleeting touch, yet it sent sparks that crackled in the space between them.
As she leaned in slightly, the porcelain perfection of her skin contrasted sharply with the dark leather.
Those same eyes that had held his gaze now gleamed with a heady mix of innocence and desire.
Behind those eyes, tales of battles and passions lurked, giving her an air of mystique far beyond her youth.
Captivating him further, her full lips curled into a sultry smile, beckoning, daring him to venture closer.
The bar's ambiance, already subdued by the Black Desert's chaotic nature, seemed to hush even more, the world holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.
She leaned in, her voice a soft caress, brushing against his ear,
"So… What does my hero want in return for saving my life?"