(Trigger Warning: Gunshots, Drive-By Shooting, and Swear Words)

Pax's POV

Penny and I are outside playing with our friends like usual, since my parents are talking to their parents as well.

Yorick: Nothing can beat the game of tag!

Naomi: Can we try something else? It's boring...

Penny: She's right, you know. Trying something new can level up our fun.

Yorick: Aw... You're no fun...

While we were outside deciding on what games to play outside my backyard, we heard the gunshots and the car moving.

Naomi: !

Yorick: !

Pax: !

Penny: !

Saylor: !

Mysterious Guy: What the fuck!?

I covered Penny's ears since I know it's a bad word that my dad said all the time. My mom scolded him since I might have heard what he said and said the same thing.

Then we heard another gunshot. The car didn't crash, and it just left after the assault.

And we heard the sirens which the police were going inside our neighborhood.

Zavier: Guys, was it another drive-by!?

Police 1: Pretty much. Damn gang members, doing all of this in the streets.

Police 2: Ey! Those guys are dead! Look at the tattoos!

Zavier: It's an 88!

Police 2: Damn 88s and 95s!

Police 1: How many are they!?

Zavier: We can't avoid them. They're gang members. We're going to get an ambulance because they need medical attention.

Police 1: Requesting medical personnel on the scene. We have 5 injured gang members on the side.

Responder 1: Copy that.

What is going on? There is a police outside... I don't want bad things to happen to my friends, my sister, and my parents...

We heard the man run away, and we decided to see what happened.

Mysterious Guy: Damn... Those 95s are good... They have so many guns with them... They even killed the others! Fucking shit!

Then my instincts kicked in.

Pax: Let's get inside. I don't want to stay here a bit longer...

We went inside the house where my friends decided to go home with their parents. It's only the two of us.

End of Pax's POV

At Dinner

The family is eating dinner, which is mostly garlic and broccoli. I'm used to those foods, while Penny is not really used to them.

Flynn: Eat your greens Penny...

Penny: I don't want to...

Pax: Mom, what's a 95?

Oakley: ! (What did I tell him? It's a gang!)

Flynn: Son, where did you learn this?

Pax: The police?

Flynn: Another gang war, huh?

Oakley: Not in front of our son!

Then they heard the news playing on the TV.

Breaking News
88 gang members got killed by the 95 gang members in a drive-by.

Flynn: Perfect timing, huh?

Then the CCTV footage plays off the 95 gang members killing the 88s in the drive-by.

Oakley: *covers the kids' eyes* Kids, don't look...

Flynn: It's blurred anyway, so... there's no problem.

Pax + Penny: What's a drive-by?

Flynn: Oh no... That is not good... (I'm cooked...)

Penny: Mom, what's a drive-by?

Oakley: I don't know sweetie...

Flynn: What are we going to do with the kids?

Oakley: Kids, go to bed, I'll talk with your father.

Penny: *sighs* Okay...

Pax: Okay mom and dad...

Then they went to their bedrooms while the parents were in the living room.

Oakley: Great... our kids let their curiosity get the best of them...

Flynn: Why is there a gang war here!? I thought they were in a big city!

Oakley: Honey, gang wars happen everywhere. We don't know if there's another one afterward...

Flynn: But still! They're still investigating it!

Oakley: Let's go to sleep and hope for the best for everyone's safety...

Flynn: Alright dear... It's been a tough day...

They went to their bedroom before they slept for the night.

The Next Day

Penny and Pax woke up when they went to the dining table.

Oakley: Kids, your father and I have something to tell you.

Pax: What is it mom?

Oakley: You guys have a neighbor next door. I think he's older than both of you.

Pax + Penny: ! WAIT WHAT!?

Oakley: Yeah... but he's an introvert.

Pax: What's an introvert?

Flynn: They're not a fan of making friends and prefer to stay inside the house.

Pax: Even if they're the only child?

Flynn: Possibly. But there are all kinds of Introverts.

(Hint: It's a quote from Detective Pikachu.)

Penny: ! Bolts of Brilliance!!!

Ryker: Correct!

Ryker opens the door and Pax and Penny go inside.

Ryker: Welcome to my lair... Sorry if my room is messy with papers and books.

Penny: It's okay... So, what do you do here? Do you go out to meet others?

Ryker: Uh... not yet... I'll do it tomorrow since my mom might have guests later... That's why I'm staying inside here, since I'm not a fan of meeting guests.

Penny: So that's why you consider this place as a safe zone for avoiding guests?

Ryker: Yes...

They decided to draw whatever they have in their ideas mostly on paper. It's thanks to Ryker's mom, who spoiled him with coloring materials and bond paper.

While drawing, Ryker got his arm hurt by a paper cut.

Ryker: Ow!!! What was that!?

Pax: Damn, that's going to hurt... You okay Rye?

Ryker: It's not that bad honestly... A paper cut... OW!

Penny: What do we do?

Pax: Uh... I don't know...

Penny: Give him a bandaid.

Pax: Okay...

Pax puts a bandaid on the part that has a paper cut.

Pax: There we go. I tried...

Ryker: It's actually better. I don't have to use rubbing alcohol or sanitizer because it adds more pain.

Pax: Wait really? *grabs a bottle of sanitizer*

Ryker: ! What the fuck are you thinking!?

Ryker's Mom: Language!

Ryker: Sorry ma!

Pax: Sorry...

Ryker: It's okay...

Penny: Now you know.

They continued to spend time with Ryker before they went home to end the day.