Return Of The Lost Dragon

A Friend In Need:

" You're also fired, John!" Came a loud, authoritative voice behind them.

They all spun around to stare at a mean looking face, whose eyes filled with fury and anger stared straight at John, who gulped down nothing, looking astonished.

"Me…Fired? Why sir?" John stuttered, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Your services are no longer needed here so I would advise you to leave to avoid getting kicked out forcefully."

A smirk crept up on Leonard's lips.

'Now look who's going to stay on the streets,' he thought, his smirk widening.

"Please sir, you can't do that to me!" He cried out loudly.

"John, please leave," the manager said, gesturing towards the door. "Leave or I will send for the security."

At the mention of security, John's eyes widened. He clasped his palms together and went on his knees.

"Please sir!" 

"Security!" The manager yelled, ignoring his pleads.

Two men walked into the restaurant and looked sternly at the manager with respect.

"Throw this fool outside," he said to them.

Jerking him up, they dragged him outside despite his cries and pleas which fell on deaf ears.

Keith watched the scenario playing before him with mixed reactions.

One minute, Leonard was getting fired and the next minute, John was being fired.

'John must have done something bad to cause loss to the restaurant,' he thought. 'I and Leonard must leave here soon before we get caught up in this mess.'

Stretching forth his hand, he clutched Leonard's wrist making Leonard give him a questioning gaze.

"We need to leave here now to avoid getting involved in the punishment," Keith whispered.

Leonard smiled at his ignorance.

" Calm down, Keith. Nothing bad is going to happen to us as long as you're with me," he assured him before turning to look at the manager.

"You came at the right time. I was wondering if you could give us our salaries for this month."

The manager bowed slightly.

" I am really sorry about what happened, I didn't know John to be such a fool, I wouldn't have employed him. I promise that you both will be paid before the end of today. I am truly sorry sir," the manager said respectfully, bowing again.

Keith stared at the duo, wide eyed, mouth opened wide with shock and confusion.

As the manager walked away from them back to his office, after exchanging handshakes with them, Keith said,

"What just happened?"

Leonard giggled.

"C'mon let's go buddy," he replied, hitting Keith's arm playfully.

Stepping out, Leonard saw his bag in the garbage can and shrugged.

He wouldn't need those clothes anymore, with the amount he has, he would be able to buy lots of clothes for himself.

"Are you going home?" Keith said, diverting him away from his thoughts.

Leonard smiled sadly.

"I have no home, Keith. I have no home," he sighed.

Keith furrowed his brows at his statement.

" You're getting me confused, Leonard. Strange things have been happening lately. What's going on?" 

" I recently got divorced," Leonard looked down at the marble pavement, kicking the stone he saw into the main road before something caught his eyes.

"I'm…" Before Keith could complete his statement, Leonard suddenly pushed him away.

A red car was brought to a halt with a sharp noise beside them.

"Hey! Are you blind?! Can't you see a man in front of you?!" Leonard barked at the car.

A blonde furious looking woman came down from it, screaming as she walked towards them.

"What the fuck?! Look at what you've caused! My car has been scratched by these tree branches all because of you! " She yelled, her hair bouncing on her shoulders.

Leonard stares intensely at the woman with anger and bewilderment.

Her voice sounded familiar, where could he have known her from?

Her blonde hair was covering her face as she yelled at the child's face.

"Hey! It's your fault! " Keith said to her, standing up from the ground, making her turn to look at them.

“Shut up,asshole!” The woman slapped Keith hard and his cheek got red immediately.

" Cordelia!" Leonard called out.

"Oh, and if it's not my dearest sister's good-for-nothing husband, Leonard, trying to play a hero. What did you gain if I may ask? Hanging around with a stupid being just like you are," she said, staring at Keith in a disgusted manner. " I wonder what my sister, Trisha, had seen in you and gotten married to you in the first place, Gosh!"

Leonard curled up his fist in anger, gritting his teeth against his chin.

"Cordelia," he called, trying to keep his cool. "Apologize to my friend!"

"Are you ordering me around now? Seriously?" She raised her brow, laughing mockingly. " It's not my fault, if he had died, it's none of my business. It's his bad luck.Brought by you! "

Leonard stared sharply at her, feeling his anger working its way up to his head. Something deep inside him started to wake up and he was no longer that weak son-in-law who could be trampled by anyone.

Cordelia could sense a dark aura emitting from him and the look in his red eyes was deadly. She felt something dangerous,her breathing becoming hitchy.

 "W...what are you doing? "

She took some steps backwards towards her car.

"Say it again and you'll regret being born." Leonard said coldly, stepping towards her slowly. 

"How dare you talk to me like that! You piece of shit!" Cordelia raised her hand and tried to slap Leonard,but before she could touch him,her hand was firmly held by him.

"You're playing with fire." Leonard said with an emotionless tone as he squeezed her hand harder and made her yelled.

"Leonard,it's okay. I'm fine."Keith patted Leonard on the shoulder, trying to calm him down.

Somehow,the man in front of even made him scared.

But he liked how he was now!

He had heard how Leonard was bullied by his family-in-law.They had gone too far and they deserved some punishment.

"You... you're just a trash! Stop pretending!I've got business to do and you don't deserve my time!" She yelled at them,trotted back to her car in a hurry as Leonard loosened his hand and drove away immediately.

"Hahaha,coward! She's afraid of you,Leonard! Well done! " Keith laughed with satisfaction. Finally,it's not them being bullied by others.

Leonard stared at the car till it was out of sight. He could still feel his anger rising, he breathed in deeply trying to cool his temper.

 Hearing what Keith said,he forced a wryly smile,didn't know how to tell him how he felt just now. But anyway,he had changed,and he would no longer let anyone bully him or his friend!

"I have to leave now, Leonard. To find a new job. "Keith seemed like remembering something,his smile disappeared. He paused and sighed,"My son has been ill for a long time now and needs medical treatment. That's a lot of money. I need to find another job as soon as possible so I could make money and fund his treatment," Keith said with a sad smile.

Leonard stared at him with pity. Keith was the only friend he had ever since he started working at the restaurant.

Seeing the way Keith stood up for him, risking himself being fired, sent a warm feeling to Leonard's heart.

"Maybe I can give you the funds."