Vaughan had never in his life reacted with violence. 

He could easily hold true to this claim; throughout his years in attendance at boarding school it was common for boys to become devious against one another, often forming cliques and picking on those who didn't fit in. 

Vaughan had been one of the boys who never seemed to have fit in, but also had been one never to raise a hand against another. Words occasionally were thrown, though he found that the words in his head rarely left his mouth smoothly, and his rebuttal to insults became few. When it came to physical altercations, Vaughan would find himself in the habit of blocking, if running and hiding proved ineffective.

"Get your hands off my nephew!" Vaughan wasn't certain where the fierceness in his voice came from, and where the spirit sprouted to rush up to the man who, now that he was closer and seeing the movement seemed to have several other men with him that were moving closer when Vaughan dashed over hollering.

Xaviers terrified gaze tore from the man gripping him around the arm to his uncle while still trying to pull the iron grip off of him. The two other boys had jumped back upon his arrival, and Vaughan was distantly aware of the others having followed him joining.

But he took little notice aside for dark gaze the man pulled from his nephew to him with little concern to the knife he wielded.

"Ah. So 'you' are staying here," was all the man said, Vaughan stepped forward to be closer to his nephew.

Keaton and Elliot stopped their own struggle as he slid himself between them and the men, Vaughan realized there where 3 men in grey suits around the tall man in his red one, they began to spread out, two flanking either side of the man widely so if he wanted to keep an eye on them he would have to turn his head ever so slightly side to side to keep them in his sights.

"Let him go," he ground out, heart hammering as the man honestly looked as if he would say no.

But then something in his face changed, eyes flitting above Vaughans shoulder. 

"Drop the child," Amelias voice was a cold thread whipping through the group. The men on either side of Vaughan moved, though Vaughan refused to remove his gaze from his nephew keeping his eyes locked to the wide eyed boy who stared at him unmoving.

The third grey suit stepped between the red suit man and his nephew hand flying to his waist.

"You pull that," Bradly's voice also was altered, steeled instead of the normal gaiety ," And I will put a bullet through your fucking head before you can even pull the trigger."

The man froze, but his face didn't shift from its cool glare. Vaughan was quite horrified to see that it had been a gun at the mans hip that he had been reaching for, the black glint unnerving him even further.

The red suited man laughed, though, before any more moves could be made or Vaughan could try to process the situation and next thing he knew Xavier was flying at him and he had just enough time to drop the knife- a knife in a gun fight how useless- before he was on his knees grasping at the boys arms.

"Why what a greeting this is," the man in red was clasping his hands around a cane, dark eyes beady and sharping sliding across all who were present before landing on Vaughan and Xavier, his voice smooth" I have been trying to reach you for quite some time, Vaughan, and sadly it was extreme measures to be able to see you."

Vaughan wasn't certian what to say, if he could even say anything. He was shaking, as was Xavier, and found it easier to stare to the mans shining shoes rather than up at that sharp old face that seemed so twisted. 

Thankfully he didn't have to,  for Bradly took over," Mighty convenient that you just so seem to be dropping by when Myles is not here. Your business is with him and no one else."

"My business is with who I say it's with, boy, and I am not to be 'informed' otherwise," the mans face sharpened, those beady eyes flitting away from Vaughan to Bradly. Vaughan didn't dare move, just continued to hold Xavier unsure of what he could possibly do.

"And your business," snapped Amelia," Is not to be held at my home. Get out. Now. If you need dealings with the family you do it away from our home and-"

"Sorry," the red suit sneered," Who are you again? You're not Ishan, not Myles, not Kiber.  . .oh RIGHT there had been the sister."

He did a cruel once over and snorted," Thought you were dying or something. I have no use dealing with you."

Vaughan clenched his jaw. 

Standing suddenly with Xavier clutching to him still he growled," I do not know who you are. But you are NOT to speak to her like that. I have no business with you and that is 'my' say so. So you must leave, now. Go."

He forced his gaze to not pull from those sharp dark eyes as they tore through him, and a click over his shoulder told him that- surely- Bradly must be wielding a gun. 

"Go." Amelia was closer to Vaughan than she had been moments before. 

A distant rumbling sound turned all their attention to the entrance- the gates wide open still from whenever the men had arrived- and the leader of the group snorted.

"Come," he waved at the grey suites smirking over to the group," I was becoming bored regardless. BUT. This is a message. Dragana would like to speak with Vaughan. The Arya family claim holds no power to the matters at hand. It is up to the last of the McClellan to settle this."

He turned, heading to a nearby black car with the three men that Vaughan had not realized had been left idling, closing the door just as the cars Kiber and Morrowe were driving came down the drive, Myles jumping from the car Morrowe drove before it even stopped, gun in his hand pointed to the car.

Vaughans stomach twisted, heart stuttering as Amelia shouted," No Myles! It'll start an all out war!"

The finger on the trigger held, and the strangers car slipped off the driveway onto the green as they passed the car that both Myles and Kiber were now standing out of, guns pointed.

In the car, the man in red kept his eyes locked with Myles as they drove past, eventually picking up speed to peel out of the drive and onto the road squealing past the gate.

Myles didn't return the gun to its holster- with his suit jacket off in nothing but his suspenders, white shirt and white pants it was easy to see the black holster it lived in- but spun around and met his  sister and nephews half way as they passed by Vaughan to rush to him.

"Are you alright," Myles voice was fierce as he enveloped his sister in a hug. Vaughan realized she too had a gun, a small silver thing. Where had all these weapons come from?!?

"Yes," she squeezed him before he picked up Elliot and Kiber gave Keaton a one armed hug," We're fine. He - I don't know how he got in! The gate-"

"We will find out," Kiber said as they began to break apart," We where right. There's a snake."

"They had Xavier!" Elliot had pulled away, face shining with tears as he looked up to his uncle," I was scared the bad man would hurt him! You said that we were safe at home- you said the bad men didn't come here!"

His words broke down among the increased sobs and Myles finally looked to Vaughan and Xavier, Vaughan thankful Morrowe had come and put a settling hand on his shoulder because he felt sick and unsteady. 

"Inside," was all Myles said after a moment.

Everyone began moving, but Vaughan felt rooted to the spot, the unreal events leaving his mind racing but body still.

Morrowe gave his shoulder a squeeze when he made no move to join the group as they began to file in-more dark cars were coming down the drive and Vaughan recognized some of them as ones that had been in the driveway before. 

'The family is coming home' 

"Come on Vaughan," Morrowes voice was impossibly soft, and it irked him for some reason. 

Xavier was clinging to him, inhibiting his movement or response, so he held his ground and held his gaze to Myles, who continued to stare down at him now that he was close, Elliot still in his arms.

"Inside," he repeated. 

Vaughan smelled his spiced cologne, saw the muscles in his freshly shaved jaw flexing, couldn't stop staring at the fire that was burning in his coal eyes and the glint of the gun in his hand.

"N-no!" Vaughan squeezed Xavier when the boy flinched in his arms," You- what is going on here."

"Now is not the time, Vaughan," Myles voice dipped more and he stepped into Vaughan's personal space even more," inside."

Vaughan fought to hold his ground raising his chin squaring his shoulders while shaking off Morrowes pulling hand," Not until you explain- explain what is going on!"

Myles took another step, and Vaughan was forced to take one back.

"Inside," he repeated, flitting his eyes to the family that had stopped at the altercation before back down to Vaughan," we will explain inside. Where it is safe."

Xavier whimpered, and Vaughan felt any resistance leave him at once. 

Hugging the boy he turned, eyes wide to Bradly and Amelia who both held guns of their very own-even Graham had a long black metal weapon that Vaughan couldn't question fully where it had came from. 

He walked with his nephew in his arms, surrounded by the growing number of people-  family members he reminded himself- and the weapons he eyed as they made their way up the steps into the Arya estate wondering if it was as safe as they claimed.

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