It was a morning like many others, sunlight shone down at the neon lit streets of Primus.
The Iron Wolves's mansion was similarly basked in sunlight, further amplifying it's beauty.
As Ash sat at the corner of his bed deep in thought.
Soon his hand ran through his long hair before sighing and eventually standing up.
A decision had been made.
Leaving his room, he headed straight for where Caesar resigned.
Arriving before the room he was welcomed by two guards standing before the door.
"Is Ceasar up?"
"He's already out, you won't find him here."
One of the guards answered.
Hearing this a weird tickling feeling ran through Ash, before a voice came from inside.
"It's fine, let him in."
Hearing this the two guards stepped to the side letting Ash enter the room.
Opening it Ash was almost blinded for a moment by the sheer "shine" of the room.
Marbles, gold, diamonds all sort of shiny expensive thing littered the room. It was to the point where it felt too much, so beautiful and shinning that it became ugly.
Still Ash couldn't deny that this room fit the owner to a T. It was gaudy, shiny and expensive.
Ash's eyes soon landed on Caesar who sat on his bed with his shirt still missing.
"Am I too early?"
"It's fine I'm mostly dressed anyways."
While saying this Caesar put his suit on, buttoning it up while continuing to speak.
"I'm guessing you've come to a decision then."
"Yes, I have."
"...and...?"
"I'll do it."
"Do what?"
"...You know what."
"Do I really?"
Ash's face turned red, but in the end he got to saying it.
"I'll became your son, OK!?"
Ash shouted so loud that the guards standing by the door were able to hear it too.
"Great, then we'll get things done today."
"What things?"
"Everything, getting you an ID, adoption stuff and also all the other govermental things you'll need to properly enroll in Icarus."
Caesar stood up now with his suit fully buttoned up.
"Also don't forget what I've said you still need to win the tournament."
Ash nodded knowing full well what their deal was.
"This will take long, we should start now. Especially since you still have a match in the afternoon."
As the two left the room Ash could clearly see it, the face of the guards now filled with shame and regret.
'Being the boss's son certainly has it's merits.'
...
Sitting in the limousine, Ash sat face to face with his soon to be adoptive father Caesar.
Caesar noticing Ash's gaze spoke up.
"Having second thoughts?"
"Not really... still this whole family thing... it feels a bit weird."
"Ehhh, you'll get used to it."
Ash gazed out of the window at the streets they were passing through.
"I forgot to ask something important."
"Huh?"
"Your full name... since I'll take on it I'm kinda interested."
"Oh yeah I never told you, my bad."
Caesar paused for a moment before looking in the distance at some distant mountains.
"It's Caesar Lucchasi."
Hearing the name Ash thought for a moment.
'Ash Lucchasi...'
Ash looked at Caesar before smiling.
"Not too bad, I guess it'll work."
"Hahaha. You are funny kid."
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, nothing it's just a reaction I didn't expect. Though you are a wastelander so it makes sense."
Ash showed a slightly confused expression, which was quickly caught by Caesar.
"Lucchasi Motor... it's one of the bigger corporations around. I was heir at one point."
"An heir? Why aren't you anymore?"
"Ahh that... I pulled out. While I have no trouble with killing people, I didn't feel like doing it within family. So I simply pulled out, came out here bought some property from the money I got from my brothers and founded this gang."
Ash was in thought digesting the information.
"Why a gang?"
"It seemed fun. And it's barely even a gang anymore. We had some fight against other gangs, but I'd say we are closer to landlords or mayors than gangsters these days."
Soon the vehicle stopped before the very same building Ash had been to a few days prior.
Entering it, Ash was shocked to see them not needing to wait as they were able to pretty much cut through the line of people waiting. Another advantage that came with being the "Boss" in these parts.
And then came all the official to-dos. Paperwork, documents, portraits everything one may expect.
In the end they were done with it all in about two and a half hours.
By the end of it both of them were tired of the bureaucratic procedures.
Still the end result was evident as Ash helf his ID in hand.
Ash Lucchesi. For the first time in his life Ash had a name that went beyond just Ash.
Slowly tilting his head in Caesar's direction Ash asked.
"Won't the main family have problems with this?"
"Nah, I dropped out, severed ties. I have no right to anything and neither do you. Are you dissapointed?"
"Why would I be?"
"Maybe you wanted some of that corporate money?"
"No way I'm not thaaat greedy."
"Sure kiddo."
Ash finding the opportunity, quickly answered.
"Thanks, dad."
"Bleaugh... maybe keep that one for later, okay?"
With their business finished the two headed to The Arena, both of them having work there still waiting for them.
Arriving at The Arena the clashing of iron could still be heard throughout the whole structure.
The accompanying shouts and cheers just further added to the atmosphere of The Arena.
Ash hurried to the changing room, while Caesar strolled up to his office in the upper level.
Arriving the changing room carried the smell of sweat and metal.
Ash sat there slowly sharpening his sword.
'If you asked me a few days ago I would have never guessed I'd have a family in just another few days, but here we are.'
Ash's mind was still preoccupied with the same thing as yesterday night.
Family.
Even though he'd gone through with it, his worries and attitude towards the word didn't change.
It still felt just as foreign as it did prior. Maybe some documents were filled, but in truth nothing has changed.
Ash knew this, but he also knew another thing, that relationships were meant to grow over time. It may feel foreign now, but it will feel less so in a few days, weeks, months or years. Eventually it was bound to become natural, something he was used to, something that was no longer as foreign as it was now.
"ASH!"
Hearing his name being called out, he got up and started walking towards the arena grounds.
'Maybe one day I'll be able to call him dad or father without cringing or being ironic.'
His foot slowly stepped onto the sandy grounds of the arena, with his opponent following in suit.
'Yeah, maybe someday. Still for now I should focus on the present.'
...
The fight wrapped up quickly, Ash's opponent proving to barely be a challange.
Still Ash had a feeling it wouldn't last as he approached the finals which weren't too far by now.
Ash left The Arena arriving before the limousine, where a man stood opening the door for Ash.
"Young master."
'Did I really become the young master?'
Ash didn't say anything and simply sat in the car.
'I guess the everyone already knows. Was it Caesar or those guards?'
Ash didn't bother thinking about it too deeply and just looked out at the streets as they passed them.
Slowly the sight of the mansion in the distance became closer and closer, before finally arriving.
Arriving at his destination Ash was welcomes by a much familiar sight, one he had seen during his first time at the mansion.
All the gangsters lining up the same way they did when they welcomed Caesar.
'I don't like where this is going.'
As Ash stepped out of the limousine all the men around started shouting.
"WELCOME BACK YOUNG MASTER!"
Ash's hand couldn't have hit his forehead any faster than it did in that moment.
"D...n...t...s...an...more"
Ash spoke in barely a whisper.
"Sorry young master we couldn't hear you."
One of the gansters spoke to Ash.
"I said DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE. NO young master bullshit, NO grand welcoming. Just be normal."
The people looked at each other before looking back at Ash.
"Understood young master."
'...You clearly didn't...'
Giving up Ash decided to just head in.
As he stepped in a butler walked up to him.
"Let me show you to your room."
"But I already..."
'...Whatever.'
Ash was lead to the upper floor right to where Caesar's room was, before the butler turned towards the room directly next to it.
"This would be your new room young master."
Opening the door Ash was once again blinded by a scene very familiar to the one he had just seen in the morning, the room was almost a carbon copy of the one Caesar had.
That was when the opening of a door was heard, followes by footsteps from behind Ash.
"I don't know your tastes, so I just made it like mine. So what do you think."
"...What a waste of money."
Ash couldn't lie, looking at the room the word wasteful was the only thing that came to mind.
"Why would you say that, I think it looks good."
"...It's just... too much."
"Fine, have it your way, I'll call a furnisher. Just tell them what you want, don't worry about the money."
Hearing the sentence "don't worry about the money" being uttered Ash couldn't deny it anymore.
'...It seems I've truly become a young master.'