At one in the morning, the regular shops were closed, and the only open places were dance clubs and bars - which was where Callum was headed - though this one in particular was called Murder Club was not your average bar.
When Caulml arrived at the doors, the man stationed there spotted him and waved merrily.
"Hey, Kiddo! I was wondering when you'd show!" his face fell slightly at Callum's face. "How's your pop doing?"
Callum chuckled but the sound held no humor. "Hey, Matt. My dad's..doing alright."
"Is everything alright at home?"
Home. That ratty apartment would be 'home' for another week.
"Yeah."
Matt narrowed his eyes but didn't press the issue. "Alright. Whatcha' got for me?"
Callum pressed his palms together, released a breath, then slowly spread his hands. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he focused on his creation.
In a flash, a small glittering dagger fell into Callum's upturned palms. A triumphant smile lit up his face as he held out the weapon. "The Eternal Blade. It will never melt when exposed to heat and can cut through nearly anything."
Matt took the blade, wincing. He tossed it back and forth between his hands until he got used to the cold. "This is neat, Cal."
Callum grinned and Matt waved him through the doors where he was slapped in the face with an array of cooking food: chicken, fried fish, bis uts, and the faint whiff of an apple pie.
Over in the corner met sat in the booths drinking and eating themselves sick, a long line was at the order window where people were chatting excitedly, occasionally stealing glances at the fighting mat in the middle of the room.
His stomach growled loudly and he tried unsuccessfully to muffle the sound, but a boy in a booth whirled around to look him up and down.
Worried he'd done something wrong he took a step back. The boy jumped up and Callum blinked at his glossy blonde hair, blue eyes, and pressed suit. He looked... successful.
It was the only way Callum could think to describe him.
"I've never seen another kid here!" he exclaimed, grabbing Callum's wrist to pull him to the booth with what Callum guessed was his father. "This is my dad. Oh! Silly me, I'm sure you're wondering who I am and why I just dragged you over here like a ragdoll!!"
Callum just blinked at the boy.
"Anyway. I'm Vic." he pulled him down to sit beside him.
Callum swallowed as his gaze locked on a plate of nachos and fried cheese sandwiches.
Vic's father chuckled. "Dig in, kiddo. I never caught your name."
"Callum, sir."
"Pleasure, and please, Mr. Ramirez will do."
Vic stopped sipping at his soda to cut his dad a look. Then he groaned and swiped up a sandwich, biting it in half.
"Of-of course Mr. Ramirez," Callum replied.
Mr. Ramirez stood beaming down at them He reached over and ruffled Vic's hair. "I'm going to go see when the fighting starts."
When he was out of sight, Vic's hands ran through his hair in an effort to flatten it out again but it stuck back up in the air. "I hate when he does that," Vic grumbled, giving up on his hair. "So...who's your dad fighting? What's his ability?"
He can drink a case of beer in one sitting and still manage to stand. Callum thought sourly.
To buy time, he grabbed a sandwich and bit into it. "My dad's not here."
"Your mum?"
Callum finished the rest of his food. "Her either."
Vic gasped so loudly that Callum nearly slipped out of the booth. "So you're telling me that you're here...alone?"
"Yea?"
"That is so cool!" Vic leaned forward, chin in hand. "How long have you been coming? This is the first time I've seen you here."
Callum wiped his greasy fingers on a napkin. "Just a couple of months."
"Oh. So are you here to have fun or what?"
"I suppose."
Vic sat back putting a hand on his chest, his eyes were wide, and with his hair sticking up he looked like a rooster. Then he shot forward, lip quirked, "Do tell."
Before Callum could respond, Mr. Ramirez slid back into the booth. His eyes were lit up with what Callum guessed was excitement. "The fighting will start in five minutes. Victor, you remember that fighter I told you about?"
Vic leaned back and tapped his chin. "Flamethrower?"
"No."
"Poison Ivy?"
"Wrong again."
Giving up, Vic rolled his eyes. "I don't remember, pops."
"Frostbite."
Vic stood up in the booth and looked around wildly. "Where? Is he here?"
"Yes! He's the first fight of the night!"
Vic plopped down. "Can you believe this? Frostbite is...like...my role model." he clasped his hands in front of him. "My friends are going to be so jealous!"
"Bathroom." Callum stood. "I'll be back."
Callum hurried to the back where Matt was standing with his mask. "Good luck today, kiddo."
"I'll need it."
Callum slipped the mask on just in time for an announcement to be heard:
"Will Frostbite and Thorn approach the mat?"