“Wouldn’t it just die down if we laid low long enough?”
Pyro frowned, shaking his head. “And what? Live on our savings for months while we’re in our prime and can earn most money for the future? No. We need a plan.”
Boar snorted. “Since when do you plan anything?”
Pyro spread his arms. “Since it matters, okay?”
Drake’s arm tightened on Clover’s shoulders, his other hand tapping the pocket where he kept his cigarettes. “If not him, then they’re gonna settle on another pretty albino boy. Is that how easy it is for you? You’re perfectly fine leaving this issue be as long as Clover’s safe?”
Tank harrumphed, resting both arms on his hips, as if he wanted to present the size of his torso. “So what, we’ll selectively stop the trafficking of people who look like our boy because it hits close to home? You know as well as I do that this is a giant international machine. We can only do so much.”
Boar stroked Clover’s hair. “Yeah, we’re doing some good, some bad. We’re no superheroes. If we got to Tank’s safe house undetected, Clover could stay there in peace as long as needed.”
Rusty cogs moved in Clover’s brain. “Wait. What? I can’t just sit in a house for years. Drake’s right. We need to hunt down who is after me and deal with them.”
Tank squinted at him. “We?”
Pyro stepped closer, as if he wanted to physically manifest his support for Drake’s idea. “I agree. Someone would have to stay with him every time, too.”
Cliver blinked. Was no one listening to him? “I will not just stay in some house forev—”
Drake cut him off by placing his tobacco-scented hand over Clover’s lips. He looked straight at Tank. “You really think he could hang around us indefinitely without proper training? He should know how to defend himself at least.”
Clover’s cheeks flushed, but he couldn’t find it in himself to fight Drake’s hold.
Tank shook his head with a sneer. “The fuck are you saying? The boy doesn’t have the stomach for our line of work, so yes, Clover, if it’s necessary, you’ll do as you’re told and stay in the house.”
Pyro spread his arms. “I know you’re his ‘Daddy’ and all that, but that’s not exactly fair, is it? The boy’s gotta learn the basics.”
Boar was slightly pale when he stepped back, arms crossed as if he wanted to create a physical barrier between himself and the growing conflict, but in the end he met Clover’s gaze. “Is that what you want, Clover?”
Tank rolled his eyes. “Why are you asking him? He doesn’t have any idea what our work really entails.”
“He can learn,” Drake said and let go of Clover, finally succumbing to his nicotine cravings.
Clover wished he could reach for Tank’s hand, so he took a step forward and put his forehead against Daddy’s chest instead. It was so solid, and its fresh scent evoked a sense of safety. “Please? I can do it. I don’t want to be helpless when someone comes for me.”
Tank exhaled, and while Clover didn’t look up, he suspected there was a battle of wills going on in the silence above his head.
“I will train him,” Drake said in the end.
Tank put his hand on Clover’s nape, as if he wanted to point out how much he had to say in this matter. “He stands out too much and has poor eyesight. This isn’t gonna end well. I can protect him.”
Clover frowned. “I’m not ungrateful, I appreciate it, but I want to train. So I’ll never have your muscle, but I can learn. I can wear contacts. I can be fast, I can learn where to hit, and they won’t see me coming because I’m so unassuming.”
Pyro snorted. “Look at him. Baby boy all grown up.”
The scent of cigarette grew more pronounced despite there being no wind, and if it weren’t for that fact, Clover would have had no indication of Drake approaching. He made no sound, and it was a skill Clover desperately needed to learn.
“His body is similar to mine when I was younger. With enough determination he can develop so that he doesn’t have to rely on anybody. Even if he doesn’t grow any taller. There are things he can do. He can make use of his agility and free himself from a potential abductor, if he knows the right way to do it.”
Boar nodded. “As much as my heart doesn’t want to put Clover in danger, I agree that keeping him in a golden cage just won’t be optimal in the long run.”
“Plus, when we move, we can’t constantly have to protect one of us. Such distractions will get someone killed,” Pyro added.
Tank groaned, kneading Clover’s shoulders with a pained expression. “Fine. But I’ll be watching over the training, too. No more sleeping ‘till midday. You’ll be running with me in the morning, boy. If you’re to put yourself at risk, I need to know I’ve done my best to prepare you.”