3rd CARD › “King”
One week had passed since Gio ‘defeated’ Victor Ferris, The Diamond King, and today would be the first time Gio and Sera returned to their home. For a number of days they stayed with Ridge, avoiding any potential retaliations, but now they felt confident enough to return.
Returning back home to the slums of Thirteen.
The Thirteenth District was notorious for being mostly slums and shady business practices. Four years ago was a different story, but ever since the disaster of a Fall From Grace befell the district it was essentially abandoned. New Eden personnel, the Houses, rarely ventured to it.
That was great for someone like Giotto Jaeger, who made the district his home. Moving into an abandoned building was easy enough and fixing it up required little effort. It was here that he setup his business, Wild Card, and was thus where he took most potential jobs.
If someone was desperate enough to come there for help it was obviously a dire situation – and those were the jobs that Gio felt he was responsible for. It was his duty to help. At least when he wasn’t drowning his worries in a sea of premium whiskey.
Even though official records all claimed Gio as being dead, even though it was no longer a responsibility of his, he still wanted to help this city he called his home. He would continue to help despite being listed as KIA – killed in action – during the exact same event that left District Thirteen in the sorry shape it was.
Luckily, for the most part, he rarely had run-ins with the Houses.
Unfortunately, his run of good luck had recently come to an end.
“Step lively, pond scum! We’re not going to slack around no more, you got it?!” Sera was fired up already and it wasn’t even ten in the morning.
Still far too early for Gio.
She was already washing up the dishes that she just made use of for breakfast. The haunting aroma of burnt toast, overcooked eggs, and practically raw bacon, was overpowering. It filtered through the small kitchen and through the entirety on their home sweet home.
Despite the rundown areas of the district it appeared the renovations here in Wild Card were actually pretty top notch. Thanks to the interior of the original building remaining mostly intact.
It housed a state of the art kitchen, comfy little breakfast bar, and a small living room just beside it with some lightly worn furniture. The main draw was the older brown sofa, worn but in great condition given its age. Mismatched recliners lay off to the sides with a rectangular glass coffee table in the center. The glass was slightly cracked on one of the corners, as if someone had head butt it some time ago.
It was a vast improvement over the other homes and buildings nearby. It seemed Gio at least cared enough to make his home presentable and hospitable – but he in fact had little to do with it.
Sera was the one who did most of the renovating.
Gio’s slumped corpse on the living room couch was about as good a response as Sera would be getting to her early morning eagerness, but he decided to indulge her at least a little.
“.. What’s up your butt? We just got back last night, you know… I’m going to sleep for a couple days.” Gio’s dulled pitch served as his case to remain asleep. He was visibly exhausted.
The sudden swig of whiskey from his trusty silver flask had Sera back on the offensive.
“Sleep, huh? I don’t think you’ll be needing THIS then, right?” She dove across the breakfast bar as if carried by the wings of angels, hand standing and twirling over the couch, grabbing said flask in a flash, and finished by landing in a roll to bounce back on her feet.
Sera was far too much of a freak when it came to physical ability.
“H-Hey! That’s mine, mosquito!”
Gio was on his feet, grabbing for the flask, but Sera swiftly spun away and ran back into the kitchen. Gio could barely even follow her from behind those shades of his. His head was pounding and his body was heavy – not from exhaustion as he might have claimed, but from a hangover.
“The reason you’re so against getting any work done is because you were drinking this crud like water all night. I won’t be letting that continue into the day, too.” Sera spoke as she poured the remnants of the flask down the sink.
He looked on in sorrow as his prized drink drained away.
“.. Yeah, well, don’t expect me to get all chipper just because you threw out my supply.” Gio flopped back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
Sera’s feisty expression faded away as she set the flask down on the counter. She seemed slightly defeated, nearly depressed. It was obvious that Gio’s drinking was a problem but not even she could get him to realize that. They had been a team for nearly a year and it was sometimes as if little had changed.
Her thoughts were soon knocked away by a subtle tap on the front doors of their little establishment.
“Oi, look lively, Gio! Already got a customer.” Sera brightened up at the thought of a job, prancing over to the door with much haste.
A job would be just the thing to get them focused again.
She grabbed the handles and pulled open the double doors with a smile on her face for their new customer – but the sudden sight before her made her cringe in disgust.
“.. Oh, it’s you.” She spoke with a malicious spark.
“Nice to see you too, Sera. How’s Gio doing?” The soft spoken voice of a young man caught the ear of Gio across the room.
The man at the door entered, revealing bright orange shaggy hair that was recently combed and a kind gaze resting upon Sera with hazel colored eyes. His smile was subtle and pleasant. The overall look, though, was one of notoriety – a mostly white uniform, clean cut, with various black and golden stripes along it. On the front, just above his chest on his left, was the golden mark of Spades.
This customer was a member of the House of Spades, one of the four Houses.
In fact, he was none other than the King of Spades – Leon Kruger.
“Leon! The heck are you doing in these parts at this time of day, huh?” Gio jumped to his feet, wobbled a moment, then caught himself. The hangover was strong in this one.
Leon gave a wave and slight laugh, stepping into the living room as Sera slammed shut the doors behind him.
“You look about as I’d expect, Gio. Still a fan of the hard stuff, hm?” Leon raised his fist to the air as he neared Gio, and the two shared a fist bump as a sign of both respect and their obvious friendship.
“Well, you know me all too well. Just got back home last night, too. Been a rough week.” Gio sat back down on the couch as Leon took the chance to sit in the recliner to the side of him. “.. Though even so, I doubt you came all this way to catch up.”
The orange haired King couldn’t help but give a nervous laugh. It wasn’t hard for Gio to figure out there was more to his visit than simply catching up.
“That’s so quick! I expected we could have chatted a bit first, but, I suppose you’re right.” Leon smiled again, despite the sudden death glare from Sera reaching him from the kitchen.
Leon took a deep breath and allowed his expression to become more focused.
“.. It’s about a job, of course. Something I can’t act on myself.”
A loud thump could be heard from the kitchen as Sera kneed the cabinet doors under the sink. Wood chips clattered against the kitchen floor.
“What job could a King of New Eden possibly need us to do?! I would think you and your precious Espers are more than capable!” Sera shouted. Her obvious discontent with Leon radiated through the room.
Another nervous laugh from Leon was his immediate response. Gio, however, was intrigued.
“.. So what’s the job? I have to admit, it’s pretty rare you need me to do something these days.”
Gio nonchalantly took a small book from the living room table and chucked it behind him at Sera, but she skillfully dodged and stuck her tongue out in response.
“It’s a job that I can’t get involved with directly… in fact, it’s not far from here. In the underground slums, there’s been some recent disappearances.” Leon trailed off slightly, as if unsure how to continue, but Gio gave him a reassuring nod. He continued, “.. You see, underground fight clubs have always been an issue in New Eden. They’re somewhat tame, though, and have never had a dire need to be stopped… but lately, we’ve received reports of a new kind of underground fighting.”
Gio lowered his sunglasses ever so slightly, staring clearly back at Leon.
“Don’t treat me like some patient you’re consoling. Out with it, man. Rip off the band-aid.”
Leon hesitated, but nodded in agreement.
“This new type of fight club involves both Normals and Espers alike, though they aren’t fighting amongst themselves – they’re being pitted against Chaotics. To the death. For the sport of some wealthy patrons of the inner districts.”
Gio’s expression barely changed, as if he wasn’t fazed much by that news. However, it was without a doubt a big deal.
Chaotics were wild, monstrous beings, not meant to be controlled or rounded up for sport. They were beasts meant to be put down. Putting a Chaotic up against Espers, or even worse, Normals – those with no powers – was ludicrous.
Then there was the inevitable outcome that the monsters themselves would hardly remain someone’s prisoner for long.
Leon continued, but it was clear the conversation was a strained one.
“What makes it worse, Gio… is they’re using mostly kids. Teenagers you could say, but still, they’re using those who don’t have any other option. They’re taking advantage of the people living in the slums for gambling.” Leon’s typically soft spoken voice began to grow rough, grainy.
He was becoming visibly angry and so was Gio.
Sera, however, seemed to be further annoyed that Leon came to them with this job. A job she felt strongly that the Houses themselves could easily handle.
“If it’s so bad Mr. King, why won’t the Houses intervene? You’re supposed to be the protectors of this city, aren’t you?! So how about get out there and do your jo—”
Gio held up his hand to try and quell Sera’s annoyance. He knew what the reasons were and why Leon came to him about this.
So, with a heavy heart, he explained.
“If it’s in the slums, that means no House holds jurisdiction. The Houses mostly leave the slums to the dogs… and stepping into the slums is akin to attempting to expand your territory forcefully. It’s a stupid reason, but, the Houses have a weird way of going about things sometimes. Then, of course, the Houses don’t want to go pissing off the one percent…”
Gio trailed off. His own concern, or rather anger, was obvious.
After all, four years ago Gio attempted to reform the slums. He and Leon worked to rebuild the Thirteenth District, of which they did a hell of a job. It then ended up being the House of Hearts – Gio’s House – that gained jurisdiction over it. At the time, anyway.
That didn’t sit well with some members of other Houses. It caused friction among the Espers throughout New Eden and made some of the more powerful and influential members speak out against it. Eventually, even most Jacks and Queens were looking to their King to speak up.
Despite the backlash, they let it be.
It wasn’t until Gio’s fall, which greatly damaged much of the work done in the District, that they were able to once again abandon the slums and the District as a whole. District Thirteen was nothing more than a forgotten page passed over in the book of New Eden.
That explanation didn’t really mean much in the mind of Sera.
“But Gio! That’s all the more reason for the Houses to actually step up now and do some—”
“—We’ll take the job, Leon.” Gio cut off her attempt to reason with him.
Sera’s fist slamming into the counter showed her obvious distress.
Leon was, meanwhile, quick to show his appreciation.
“Thank you, Gio. I know it goes without saying, but we’ll keep this one off the books. As usual I’ll have your fee upon completion… and again, Gio, thank you.” Leon smiled as both men stood.
The hangover which plagued the shade wearer seemed to have subsided for at least a moment.
“Alrighty then. Sera, let’s get a move—”
“—Just hold on right there! You’re really just going along with this?! The Houses could easily—” Sera was cut off once again, this time by a mere gaze from Gio. His eyes peered out from behind those shades and made her freeze, if only for a second.
“.. We’re doing this, mosquito.” His voice was calm and commanding. Not the typical Gio.
Sera could only grumble. She was typically the alpha dog in these situations, forcing Gio to do jobs, but this time was different. Gio accepted the job without an ounce of hesitation. What would normally call for Gio to drag his feet, kicking and screaming, was now like second nature to him.
It could only be attributed to his friendship with Leon. After all, the two were best friends since childhood. They were together through thick and thin.
“Fine, idiot. Let’s get it over with.” Sera walked out from behind the counter, grabbing a red bandana from atop the breakfast bar. She tied her hair back with it as she glared towards Leon once more. “I’m expecting one hell of a payday for this one, Mr. King. Three times the going rate! Plus expenses!”
The double doors of Wild Card were pried open as Sera stormed out, Gio following closely behind as Leon gave a reassuring nod and wave. The doors then closed and Leon was left to wait for them to return – of which he seemed certain they would successfully.
“You’ve changed a lot, Gio… and yet you haven’t changed. You’re still the King I remember at heart. Still the King that joined me in trying to bring change to this city…” Leon smiled, reaching into his back pocket to reveal a worn and torn black wallet.
Among the series of cards and pictures stuffed inside, there was one far more crinkled than the rest. It had obviously been one Leon had kept close for many years. It was one he looked at frequently and as such it had become somewhat fragile.
In it stood three figures; himself, albeit younger and dawning similar clothes to now, Gio, also younger and dawning a similar uniform but in black, and a third. The third was a fair-skinned woman with long flowing black hair and sparkling big blue eyes, in between Gio and Leon. The three of them were smiling with arms intertwined.
“.. Seven years, Giotto. Seven years since we stepped into the realm of Kings together. I wonder what she would say about our present situation, hm? After all that’s happened…”
« — »
Seven years ago was a completely different story from today. No battles amongst current or former Kings. No hiding from a city’s worth of seekers.
The Espers Giotto ‘Gio’ Jaeger and Leon Kruger had just burst onto the scene as elites. At an unprecedented time when the Kings of two Houses were stepping down, few thought that a pair of rookies would be the ones to take up the crowns.
Alas, both Gio and Leon, only seventeen at the time, achieved what none other had before them – they became the youngest Kings in history before ever having even joined a House. Such an event had never occurred.
“Boy, would you look at you two! Genuine pair of celebrities on our hands!” A young girl squealed with delight, with pure joy, eyeing up the two before her. “Don’t you two clean up well, hmm?”
She smiled and leaned in closer to get a good look at them both, a light breeze blowing her long, silky black hair about.
Those sparkling blue eyes were firmly planted on both young men before her. Much like her they were both wearing important looking uniforms. Her own and Gio’s were of similar colors, a mostly black palate with red detailing and a symbol for Hearts just above their top breast pocket. Leon’s, meanwhile, was identical to his present day attire of white with gold detailing.
“Come on, Faye. Don’t go talking like that… there’s others around, you know?” The somewhat flustered Gio seemed far too innocent for the present day version, but his reaction garnered a cheerful laugh from Faye.
Leon seemed rather embarrassed as well, but he couldn’t help but laugh at the two beside him.
“You two sure never change. Though even with Gio as a King, I hardly expected him to be able to stand against you, Faye. Make sure you keep him in line over in Hearts, alright?” Leon smirked as Gio gave him a death stare, which only made the smirk grow.
“Oh, you know it Lil’ Leo! I’ll have him running laps soon enough. Such is the art of being a Queen, the true ruler of any great nation.” She laughed and placed her left hand on the Gio’s cheek, smiling the whole time.
A silver ring around her left ring finger glistened in the shining sun overhead. Gio’s own left hand, reaching up to hold hers, showed a matching silver band around his own ring finger.
Engagement rings for the happy couple of Faye Star and Gio Jaeger – the newest Queen and King of Hearts.
Even with the craziness of the entire event it felt like they could find their own world to pull away to. It was something that the two of them never bothered to explain. When they were together, when the world around them grew intense and overwhelming, they would lose themselves in each other. Instantly the buzz around them would cease. To them, the entirety of the world was the space between them and nothing else.
“Now then, my King, shouldn’t we commemorate this occasion?” Her voice softened as she gave a comforting smile, washing away the uneasiness from Gio like an autumn breeze clearing the fallen leaves.
He smiled in turn, the likes of which the Gio of today seemed impossible of giving. It was a smile that remained in the distant past. A genuine smile, a smile free of worry and doubt. It was a smile that only Faye seemed capable of bringing out in the newly crowned King.
To be fair, the same could be said for all three. Friends since early childhood, having gone through the loss of their parents and the awakening of their powers, together as a new family. The connections between them were an unbreakable bond. In fact, it was perhaps thanks to their ties to each other that they were able to grow so quickly while climbing so high – they were leaders of New Eden because of their lives together.
His mind was finally at peace, so Gio nodded and glanced to the various people whom he had never seen before. The same people that now flocked to be around them.
It was the event of the century, or so some covering the spectacle would call it. This was the crowning of not just a single King of New Eden, but two. On top of that once in a lifetime opportunity a new Queen was also rising to the throne.
This was something that hadn’t been done in nearly a generation.
Thousands flocked to the Grand Theatre, a place reserved for only the greatest of events. The Great Theatre, located right across from Central Tower, was almost never in use – but for this it was filled to capacity.
What would have normally only held about twenty thousand or so, was pushing it to practically thirty.
Citizens from New Eden whom were lucky enough to get standing-room-only tickets lined the aisles and boundaries. Espers from all four Houses were present, separated in the crowd by the House in which they belonged. Reporters and photographers of all kinds, from professional papers to small student magazines, were scattered amongst the swarm. Each and every one of them were hoping to catch the best shot once the ceremony began.
Not to mention, perhaps the most important attendees – the Kings of both Club and Diamond, all set to welcome their new comrades into the fold. They, however, had yet to make their official appearance. Though like tradition, they would be on stage to personally welcome their fellow Kings as their Marks of The House were given.
For the moment, Gio wanted to make sure they had something beyond the flashing lights to have as a keepsake for the event. Faye was right that they needed to commemorate the spectacle with their own personal touch.
Gio seemed a bit disheartened as he peered around from their place backstage, still out of view from the crowds. He wanted to try and motion for a photographer of some kind to come over, but they were all preparing their equipment. Somewhat ironically the three that all of the people were here to see couldn’t get the attention of a single cameraman.
Of course, him trying to get the attention of a single photographer without alerting the horde was most likely impossible anyway.
“No one’s… hmm.” He was pondering what to do, but a familiar presence soon appeared behind the trio.
The haunting aroma of stale beer poorly hidden by cologne couldn’t help but catch their noses and they instantly recognized one of their personal guests had arrived.
“You three are looking great! I hardly recognized you boys, but Faye is as lovely as ever.” The hearty voice belonged to none other than Ridge, the same man who had been like an uncle to Faye, Gio, and Leon their entire lives.
Even on this day he looked about the same as he always did. Still looking like he snuck more than his fair share of cookies from the top shelf and still with more hair on his arms than on his head.
He was, however, wearing a rather stylish black suit with platinum cufflinks that screamed mid-life crisis. Gio and Leon must have picked it out for him in jest.
“Ridge!” Faye quickly spun the two young men around to face him, giving little to no time for Gio or Leon to react.
She then quickly looped her arms with theirs, pulling them in close.
“Picture! Picture!” Faye’s charismatic laughter and smile got both of her best friends to give widening grins of their own.
She kicked their nerves to the curb in a hurry.
“Bwahahahaha! Energetic as always, Faye. You got it—” Ridge had a small digital camera tucked safely away in his suit vest’s front pocket. He quickly pulled it out, fumbling with it for only a few moments before raising it up to face the three friends. “Now then, on three, let me hear you say King!”
The two boys couldn’t keep a straight face with that one.
“Really Ridge? King? That’s a bit cheesy, don’t you think?”
Leon let his snicker subside as he nodded with Gio in agreement.
“Yeah, Ridge. Maybe we could pick something a bit more—”
Faye swiftly grabbed the two boys by the ears, conforming her interlocked arms with quite the showing of flexibility. Both of them were instantaneously subdued.
“Cheese is great you two, now let’s get this photo – we’re on in just a couple minutes, ya know?” Faye’s command had them shaping up in a jiffy.
This was a perfect moment. This was a perfect memory. If ever a time came when things were dark, this would be a shining light.
“One…!”
Amidst the chaos of the world this was a single cherished memento. Three best friends, arm in arm.
“Two…!”
All of whom had grown up together through good times and bad. All of whom reached unthinkable heights – together.
“Three…!”
And who cared if such an unforgettable moment was sprinkled with a bit of cheddar?
In unison, they breathed in with all of their heart. They had their entire lives ahead of them and nothing but happiness to come… and so they belted out with a smile the word that would pave the way to the future, being silly on their day of celebration—
“KING!!”
It never even began to sneak into their minds that it would all come crashing down around them in practically no time at all.
A seemingly unavoidable fate that had drawn them in since before they were even born. A destiny that not even their cheerful laughter or cheesy lines could hope to stand against.
Faye Star, Gio Jaeger, and Leon Kruger – a trio only preserved in the present day by a worn photograph.
~ END 3RD CARD ~