Level Up, Mecha Mage!

"Jamie, hold on!" 

David ran across the paved street, calling after Jamie, who pretended not to hear him. He ran faster, overtaking Jamie and turning around, blocking his path.

"Do you want something?" Jamie said deadpan, noticing David's lip trembling a little.

"I wanted to apologize…" David spoke, his voice small.

"What did you say?" Jamie tilted his head, taking a step closer.

"I wanted to say-"

"Hmm?"

"I want to-"

"Huh?"

"I'M SORRY!" David finally yelled, causing more than a few pairs of eyes from the passerby to look in their direction.

Jamie stayed silent, waiting for David to continue. David took a deep breath before speaking further, his voice now stable.

"I don't want to think that I'm only sorry because you found out who I am, or that I'm too shameless to own up to my mistakes."

He looked Jamie in the eyes, his expression serious.

"I truly regret how I used to act, how I treated you and everyone else. I've always wanted to apologize, but when we were finally face to face…" David looked away, shame written all over his face.

"I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm so ashamed of myself, I really am, but I've changed since then. Terry showed me the right path, and now I have people that really care about me, people that I equally care about."

David fell to his knees in front of Jamie, bowing until his forehead hit the floor. He prostrated himself before Jamie as his voice cracked.

"I-I don't know what to say anymore, but please," He sharply drew a breath in.

"Please forgive me."

"..."

Jamie frowned at David, lost for words. He could tell that David was no longer the same bully he was from 6 years ago, but this much of a change was unprecedented. It actually felt… sincere. Like the man in front of him truly wanted to repent.

'Ahh, Goddamnit.'

After what felt like an eternity for David, Jamie broke the silence with a sigh.

"Get up, man."

Jamie waited for David to stand up and look at him once more before continuing, scratching the back of his head.

"Look, I'm not denying your change or your sincerity. I can tell your feelings are genuine, but!" He interjected upon seeing David's expression light up. "I'm not the one you need to apologize to, despite no longer having any animosity between us."

He looked at David seriously, the latter immediately understanding what he meant, looking downwards in deep thought. Not having anything else to say, Jamie walked past him, patting David on the shoulder as he said one last thing. 

"You know where to find us." Leaving the remorseful Agent standing there, Jamie continued on his way, hands in his pockets. 

The streets were full of people walking around casually just like him, decorated carefully with lampposts, public benches, lush trees and greenery, and more. The chatter of happy citizens, animals, and even Dynamos officers were everywhere. The skies were gray today, but the streetside shops and buildings had enough sounds and fluorescent lights to keep the atmosphere happy. 

"Hmm, looks like it might rain today. Dynamos really designed this place well." Jamie said to himself as he looked up.

The middle class sector really was peaceful.

******

"Stupid school…"

At the end of a certain street past an intersection, a wide school stood with a sandy courtyard in front, separating the main building from the gates that led to the street. On the opened metal gates, "DYNAMOS PUBLIC SCHOOL" was written in big brass letters that were attached onto the gate's bars.

Leaning against the gate stood a short, 10-year-old boy that wore an untidy uniform with a faded backpack slung over his shoulder. His messy black hair had some sand in between the strands, while his red eyes glared at the ground. 

The boy sported a black eye and a bruise near his chin, grunting occasionally as he kicked around a rock.

"How much longer do I have to wait, Jamie?" Aiden looked up with a groan only to see the person he just mentioned walking down the street towards him. "Speak of the devil…"

After a minute or two, Aiden was able to glare at the person that arrived to pick him up, kicking the rock at them.

"Hey Aiden - ow!" 

Jamie exclaimed as the rock connected with his shin, making him wince. He turned to Aiden with a frown, only to be alerted by the state of his brother's face. He grabbed his chin to take a closer look.

"What happened? Who did this to you?"

"Leave it, I'm fine!" Aiden swatted Jamie's hand away and sighed. "Some assholes were beating on me, but that cop showed up again to help me."

"Language - ahem," Jamie coughed upon seeing Aiden's tired gaze. "I mean, again? You meet this cop a lot?"

"Can we go home first? I can just tell you and Amanda about it over dinner." Aiden whined, beginning to walk off on his own.

'I forgot about dinner!' Jamie facepalmed internally. 'If I go home with Aiden, I'll be busy with them all night! I won't have the chance to meet with Terry in that forest.'

The words Terry whispered to him appeared in his mind once more. Almost immediately, Jamie came up with a way to divert Aiden.

"Or…" He ran up to his little brother and slung his arm around his shoulder. "We get some ice cream, and you tell me all about it while we walk home."

"...I want a sundae." 

"Ask and ye shall receive, little bro."

A pat on the back and a short trek to an ice cream parlor later, the duo were back on Blue Avenue, each of their cups holding different flavors. 

"Alright, so, who's this cop that's your new friend?" Jamie asked. "And no hiding. I just let you have cookies and cream before dinner."

"I don't know, he just showed up one day." Aiden shrugged, spooning some ice cream into his mouth. "He stopped some guys from picking on me. Now he comes around every few days, checks on me and all that. Mostly just gives me advice on how to fight and whatnot."

'So far, sounds like a normal guy.' 

Jamie licked his own ice cream. "What did he look like?"

"He had black hair." Aiden stopped there, but hurriedly continued after feeling a sharp glare fall on his head. "Uh, he wore one of those all white coats."

'An Agent?' Jamie furrowed his brows. 

"Anything else? Scars, eye color, any other discerning features?"

"None that I remember." Aiden scratched his head. "I don't really look up at him every time he comes around. I mostly just glare at the dirt."

"Well, just remember to be careful." Jamie sighed and patted Aiden's head. "You never know what those guys can be up to. Don't forget this is still Dynamos."

"Yeah, I won't." Aiden didn't swat away the head pat, which made Jamie smile.

"Alright, now go on home. Make sure you dump your ice cream cup before Amanda sees you!"

"Huh?" Aiden turned to see the retreating figure of Jamie, spoon in mouth. "You're not coming?"

"I just remembered I left something!" Jamie called back while waving. "I might take a while, so let everyone else know!"

"Okay…" Aiden frowned upon seeing his older brother run off, but didn't linger on it. After a few seconds, he went back on his way to the mechanic shop.

'Good, he finally went home.'

Already a couple streets away, Jamie hurried his pace as he headed for the meetup point, Barrick Forest. Tossing his half-eaten cone over his shoulder, he ignored the yell of a random passerby and licked his lips.

"Let's see what Terry's got to say."