A/N: Credit to Renowned-Wolf for giving me some suggestions for this chapter.

The Morning after the Harvest Moon Festival

Your mother, Thorn, is shown in the kitchen when you enter, carrying Dusk.

Thorn: Hey you two, how was the...

She cuts herself off when she sees you missing the tip of your ear and the small gash on Dusk's cheek.

Thorn: By Satan...what happened?!

You don't respond. You just have a thousand yard stare. Your mother places a paw on your shoulder.

Thorn: Y/N. What happened?

Y/N: ...I found him.

Thorn: What? Found who?

Y/N: The son of a bitch who killed dad.

Thorn: Oh come on, don't pull this shi...

She notices your intense expression and starts tearing up

Thorn: By Satan...you're serious.

Y/N: He tried to kill Dusk. I had him....I fucking had him! That bastard slipped right through my fingers! (Tearing up) I'm so sorry, mom. I failed. I failed you, I failed dad-

Thorn: (embracing you) No baby, no. What matters is you and your sister are safe.

Y/N: I wasn't strong enough, fast enough, or good enough. Striker is still out there-

Dusk also hugs you.

Dusk: Don't say that! You're the best big brother ever, I wouldn't change you for anything!

Thorn: Your sister's right, you protected her and you survived, that's what matters.

You hug the two of them and let the tears fall.

Cut to the Goetia Mansion where Octavia is in her room admiring Weird Taxidermy.

Stella: (Knocking) Octavia? May I come in?

Octavia: Uh...sure, mum.

Stella enters and hugs her daughter tightly.

Octavia: Uh, mum?

Stella: I'm so glad you're alright, sweetheart. I heard about what happened at the Festival.

Octavia: I'm fine mum. I told you, our bodyguards fought that assassin off.

Stella: (under her breath) Well, at least they're good for something.

Octavia: Mum, can I ask you a hypothetical question?

Stella: Of course, dear.

Octavia: Suppose there's a man you really like. And there's a lot of good qualities about him; he's professional, he doesn't put up with anyone's non-sense, he looks out for his family, he's incredibly attractive-

Stella chuckles at the last bit while Octavia blushes.

Octavia: But he's cynical towards the idea of love because of numerous failed relationships and is convinced that anyone who's genuinely interested in him is just going to break his heart again. How should I go forward?

Stella: Well, love is complicated, Via. If he's been hurt this badly, chances are it would take him a very long time even consider giving love another chance. We can't change someone's opinion on relationships. (Under her breath) Even if you make it vehemently clear to your parents that you feel no attraction to some embarrassment with an Imp fetish.

Octavia: What?

Stella: Nevermind. The important thing to remember is that you can't force him to have feelings for you, even if your feeling are genuine and you have no ill-intentions. The best you can do is continue to do what you're doing and...hope for the best.

Octavia: Right...thanks, mum.

Stella leaves and Octavia flops on her bed.

A few days later...

IMP are meeting with Verosika's crew in her office. The only one that isn't there is you.

Verosika: So...are we just not gonna talk about the Elephant in the room?

Blitzo looks around.

Moxxie: It's an expression, sir.

Millie: Okay so what did you want to talk about?

Kiki: You know what. How Y/N has barely said anything these past few days?

Kat: How he has dark circles under his eyes like he hasn't been sleeping?

Coco:  And don't act like we haven't noticed that part of his ear is missing.

I.M.P: Uhhhhh...

Flashback to two days ago. I.M.P is in a meeting while you are shown guzzling Coffee straight from the pot.

Flashback to yesterday. The group had been hired to assassinate a corrupt General who was about to sell military-grade weapons to the highest bidder. You were shown in the catwalk in a warehouse, sound asleep with your head resting on the railing while your finger was lazily wrapped around the trigger of a sniper rifle.

Blitzo: (over earpiece) Y/N. Y/N, come in.

Y/N: ZZZZZZZZ...

Blitzo: Y/N!

You startle awake with a yelp and fall on your back while pulling the trigger. The bullet strikes the General right through the heart, causing his henchmen and potential buyers to turn their weapons on each other out of paranoia.

Cut back to the present. 

Verosika: Well...that's concerning.

Blitzo: (standing up) Oh, sure. It's concerning that he's really not in the mood for you to try to fuck him.

Verosika: How dare you?!

She slaps Blitzo with enough force to send him reeling back on to the couch

Verosika: Did it ever occur to you that I can care about someone without wanting to fuck them? You know, this is one of the many reasons why I broke up with you!

Awkward silence

Vortex: So...does anyone have an idea where Y/N is?

Loona: I saw him in the workout room...where he seems to be spending all of his time these days.

Cut to the workout room, where you are shown sprinting on a treadmill, sweating profusely, having flashbacks to your fight with Striker. How he held Dusk at gunpoint, how he admitted to killing your father, and his smug grin as he rode off on his horse.

Y/N: That fucker...I swear to all that is unholy, I'll kill him. If it's the last thing I do.

You continue to run faster, feeling the burning sensation in your legs until it becomes almost unbearable. You shut the treadmill off and walk over to a punching bag in the middle of a room, trying out a variety of fast paced moves and dodges, not caring that your knuckles had already become split and bloody due to the routine going on for several days of you hitting the bag for several hours with no breaks.

You attempt to do a backflip dodge maneuver but end up slipping in a puddle of sweat, causing you flip in the air and fall flat on your face. Unknown to you, this was observed by everyone else looking through a window. Some of them end up turning away after seeing you face plant.

Blitzo: This is just sad.

Moxxie: It's disturbing, is what it is.

Before anyone can stop him, Vortex opens the door to the workout room to confront you.

Vortex: Y/N, you have to stop this, you're going to kill yourself!

Y/N: No! I have to be ready for that slippery son of a bitch! If I ever see Striker again, I'm going to tear him limb from limb!

Vortex: (Getting in your way) That won't matter if you can't even stand up.

Y/N: Get the fuck out of the way, Tex!

Vortex: Not until you calm down and rest! For Satan's sake, you've been at this for days!

Y/N: I said "move"! 

The two of you get in each other's faces, growling and snarling.

Vortex: You think you're in any shape for a fight? Fine. Pretend I'm a target. Try to take me down.

He stretches his arms out. 

Vortex: I'm wide open.

Y/N: Just remember...you asked for this.

You take a swing at him. However, due to exhaustion and not being in the right state of mind, the punch is overeager and sloppy. Vortex easily dodges while you stumble past him.

Vortex: If I was one of your targets, you'd probably be dead by now.

You snarl and throw a few more punches and kicks, which he easily blocks or dodges. You throw another punch which doesn't even come close to hitting him due to sweat getting in your eyes and blinding you.

Vortex then wrenches your arm behind your back and pins you to the ground.

Vortex: You calmed down?

You nod.

Vortex: Ready to talk like a rational individual?

You nod again and he releases you. You stand up, grab a bottle of water, and sit down, the room seemingly spinning.

Vortex: Alright, talk to me. What's going on?

Y/N: Striker's the son of the bitch who killed my father three years ago.

Vortex doesn't say anything. He just stares at you in shock. Unknown to you, he had left the door partially open, allowing everyone else to hear what you were saying

Y/N: (tears threatening to pour) It was the day I told him I was hired here, said he couldn't be prouder. That day he had to be a bodyguard for the overlord Rosie, he never came home. (tears trickling down) Rosie showed up to tell us and to personally deliver my father's payment as per their agreement. My mother and Dusk were devastated, I was up all night comforting them. Dusk was only five years old. (more tears run down your face) Mom does all she can but I've been providing for them ever since. Striker's the reason my mom works herself to the bone. The reason why Dusk has to grow up without a father. (Voice cracking) There are so many times where it feels like I can't...I can't-

Vortex wraps you in a brotherly hug. You stiffen before returning the hug and completely break down.

Camera pans to show everyone else on the verge of tears.

Loona's breath catches in her throat, she had to fend for herself most of her life and couldn't comprehend losing a beloved parent and having to take on so much responsibility.

Verosika is wide-eyed and has her hands over her mouth with tears streaming down her face, wondering how someone could keep going after everything you went through.

Millie is fighting back tears, she loves her father and didn't want to think what would it be like without him.

Kiki, Milky, and Kat are leaning on each other for physical and emotional support.

Apple and Coco are hugging each other with tears tricking down from shut eyes.

Josh's eyes are closed and he's leaning on Ace's shoulder who gives him a comforting embrace.

Moxxie was shocked by the revelation but had a newfound respect and admiration for you persevering through so much.

Blitzo was silent, standing with his arms crossed and taking glances at you. Despite not knowing how to put it into words, he respected you for looking out for your family and felt bad that you had to fill the role as both Dusk's brother and father figure.

You gave in to exhaustion and collapsed in Vortex's arms.

Scene cuts to IMP's office where you are shown sleeping on the couch in IMP's office. 

Millie: Do you think it's okay to leave him like this?

Vortex: He's a tough dude, he'll pull through. Right now, we should just let him rest.

One by one, they file out of the room. Loona stops, her eyes darting between you and door before walking back and giving you a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Loona: (teary eyed) I'm so sorry, Y/N.

She lets out a shuddering breath before turning the light off and exiting the office.

End of Chapter. Next; Truth Seekers.