Tim punched little Noah to the face. From the impact, Noah went tumbling to the floor. Noah winced in agony as he tried to get up. He climbed to his knees, and hands, as if a four-legged animal. Tim used this as an opportunity to kick him to the stomach. "Ack!" Noah groaned again.Tim furrowed his brows. The stab Noah had given him was losing him a lot of blood. "Little Noah …." He said, "just why are you here?"Noah climbed to his feet, backing away from Tim, holding his stomach. "I'm here … to protect my family. You're uncle Tim … aren't you?"Tim glared at him. "You guessed right." He walked, limping, Noah's knife at his side. Noah shook his head. "No … this can't be right. I just don't get it. I thought you liked Uncle Ash." Noah retained a serious look. "I admired him. But all he did in return was take everything from me," Tim uttered "what is there to like about him now?" He continued walking menacingly. Noah's back had finally met a wall. "You know, uncle Tim, I've always wanted to be like uncle Ash too."Tim glared at him, still approaching slowly. "I still want to be like him. He went from the man I hated the most, to the man I adore. Uncle Ash singlehandedly became one of the greatest in this dome, without any power. It inspires me. Though he's changed, he's a good man, uncle Tim."Tim scowled. "Would a good man treat me like dirt?""If he has his reasons," Noah said, "he will. You know sometimes I think uncle Ash hates it when people admire him, and want to be just like him," Noah averted his eyes, "every time I mention the mafia, there is a nuance on his face."Tim stopped in front of Ash, frowning. "He tried to fire me in thousands of times. I just don't get why. Was it because I had a family? I don't see what that's got to do with anything. So that's unlikely."Noah looked up at Tim, smiling. "Doesn't Ash regret being in the mafia because of his family? How would he feel to know that someone is following in his footsteps, obsessively doing everything he's done. Like, of course," Noah peered into his eyes, "leaving family uncared for when in the mafia. Leaving them in a world with so many bad guys running around." Tim looked at Noah. Then, he slowly looked away. Guilt manifested on his countenance. "That can't … be." He dropped the knife, scratching his head. "No way that's true. It just can't be." He began pulling out his hair. "I won't accept

that. Ash hated me!" He snapped.

A multitude of thoughts flooded his mind. 

Silence, Tim, for crying out loud, I'm trying to think.

Tim, why don't you leave that up to the boys and go home to your family for the night.

Tim, I heard you risked your life to take down a group without waiting for the rest of the gang. Just how stupid are you?

I'm beginning to dislike your ways, Tim! Why are you being like this?

Tim, I don't want to see you here for two weeks. I'm tired of that sad face of yours.

Tim ... 

Tim ... 

Tim ... 

"I CAN'T TAKE THIS!" Tim launched a fist into Noah's eye with all his mustered might, and rage while in his undetainable frenzy.

Noah's head crashed into the wall. He groaned and whined and moaned and screamed in pain. He writhed on the floor, squirming about relentlessly. "MY EYE! MY EYEEE!"

A nuance took Tim's face. "L-little Noah ... I'm sorry," tears ran down his cheeks. "I didn't mean to do that. Y-you helped me get calm. But then I ... I lost it again. I'm sorry ..." he sniffled. 

"Little Noah ..." 

"Little Noah ..." 

He sobbed. "Why me? Why me? WHY ME! WHYYY MEEEEE!"

"Noah, I didn't mean it. I didn't want any of this at all ..."

Suddenly, the door opened. Briskly, a daunting lean figure walked, bat dangling at his side. Without a shirt, his tattoed torso was revealed. A menacingly glare remained in his eyes. 

Tim backed away. "A-Ash ... I uh ... didn't mean to ... I'm ..."

Ash walked quickly. Without hesistation, he raised his bat. 

"I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your family! Please for-"

Ash hurled his metal bat at him. The bat crashed into his face, and bounced off. Ash bolted in, grabbing the bag before it could even fall. He was too close to swing again. He elbowed Tim to the nose. Tim was knocked back, staggering. He stood wobbling, and leaning as though he was going to fall. Ash swung with a single hand. The bat destroyed Tim's face. Tim still hadn't fallen yet. 

Ash hit him blows after blows. His body was being pitched and knocked away constantly. Bones constantly fractured, blood was constantly drawn. Whack after whack. Tim still kept his ground, his eyes covered in swollen skin. 

Ash furrowed his brows. He clutched both his hands to the metal bat. Then, he raised the bat as high as possible. He then dashed in, and swung. The bat sunk into Tim's face, breaking his neck. He collapsed, groaning in pain. He still hadn't died!

Ash towered over him. He raised the bat over his head.

Noah slumped against a wall, covering his right eye with his hand. "Uncle ... uncle stop ..."

Ash bashed the bat into Tim's face. A loud squishing sounded, blood splattering. Then, Ash raised the bat again. 

Noah called again, this time even louder. "Uncle ... please ... uncle you need to stop ..."

Ash slammed the metal bat into Tim's head. Blood splattered, getting on his face. Ash raised his bat again.

"UNCLE STOP IT!!!"

Ash's bat hurtled through the air, but had stopped midway. He panted heavily. His chest rose and fell. Slowly, he lowered the bat. Then, he stood again. He turned to Noah. First, serious. But then, having seen his nephew, sorrow took his face. A tear ran down his cheek.

Noah's lips parted. His eye faintly widened. It was the first time he had seen Ash shed a tear.