Both crystal and amanda where silently looking around it didn't smell nasty or what they thought a man's room may smell like.
"We have a home now...."
"Yeah..."
Amanda spoke first as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"His room looks so plain"
Crystal pointed out disappointed then her face lit up thinking about something a grin appearing across her face.
"You think our new father, katogori-hyeong has porn mags?"
"W-What!?....That's invasion of privacy Cystal"
"Yeah but aren't you curious?"
"No but....look"
Amanda pointed at a photo of what it seemed to be Leon. In uniform having a group picture with a bunch of bearded looking guys. They looked tough and mean but gentle at the same time. Then you see Leon with no beard out of the whole group.
He looked young, handsome and very well built. That their eyes were drawn in him.
"That's him....he looks young here"
Amanda commented on the picture.
"You think he has it rough now it kind of seem like our new adoptive father is quite....sad?"
Crystal noted watching Leon for a bit but he seem to always keep his composure. But when he looked at his phone she noticed in a moment his expression changed.
"You sure?"
"Who knows maybe i'm wrong well I hope he isn't someone with ulterior motives"
"Don't say that...!"
Amanda didn't want to have that sort of opinion on Leon but wanting to trust him.
"Just saying"
Crystal shrugged as she got comfortable in his bed.
"At least this is nice and comfy i'm tired"
Crystal fell asleep and Amanda sighed seeing her already this relaxed. Even though they were in another persons house.
She still fell asleep now finally having a home. Both suffering from abandonment and abuse from their mother. Luckily their father never did abuse them but he also left their mom with debt. As he was an alcoholic after loosing from gambling. Then you had their mother who became just like him beating them luckily she wasn't to strong.
Though both had no scars it did scar their mental. Denying others from adopting them separately but some seemed shady trying to get both of them. For some reason they went with Leon and they had a feeling instinctual.
*
*
*
Waking up middle of the night.
"It pains me to see that happen to you two"
Crystal and Amanda told their story even though I told them it was fine they continued to tell their story.
Everyone would be curious about one's story but it's always about respect to those that suffer in many ways to not pry as it could make them resurface. Especially if they're doing some sort of action mid way. Then they freeze because of that bad memory.
Crystal even showed a pained look it was hard but wouldn't it be best to have him feel bad for them not sort of a bad way. More like caring for them more but it sounded bad.
"Look as long as you're with me I'll take care of you girls....a goal I give myself now in this life"
I patted them both they were still young kids growing. Except *cough* their bodies but other than that they need a home to mature in better. They seem to feel different like somehow the gesture that touch on their heads made them feel.
Better...
"Wow you really already acting like our papa.....well then katogori-san thanks for listening to us"
Crystal was enjoying the gentle touch on her head not pushing it away. Same with Amanda as it even made her face flush.
"What about you? Mind telling us yours?"
Crystal was curious and if they're going to be family a story and more known information about each other is needed for a better relationship to be built upon on.
"That...."
It was a sore spot something, I never tell anyone.
I....It reminds me a bit about my past life and I didn't have PTSD.
I just became depressed remembering my brothers in arms faces as they die from being surrounded. Only for the higher ranking officials to not send aid leaving us to die for a bit. Then finally sending help.
It pains me.....so much,, so much, so much, so much
"I-It's ok you don't have to say yours!"
"Hey! He should as it's always something does when another person tells their heartbreaking story"
Amanda seeing his face become dark that Crystal didn't notice until now.
"Uh....on second thought katogori-san it's fine I guess you have your story"
Seeing them stop me from speaking my side of the story. My life, background and the things I done. It made me smile taking me out of my thoughts.
They deserve to know at least some of me even if not completely. Sure I would say I suffered more shot to the arm and chest. Almost dying but that didn't mean that I could dismiss their suffering. We three suffered in our own way.
"It's fine girls....if you're going to live with me it's better to know of their history and life"
I got up and went to my room to retrieve a binder of pictures of me in my military days. Crystal looked at Amanda who sighed at her.
"I know it now seems a bad idea.....it's to late now he's going to tell us"
Amanda shook her head how her sister worked.
"Alright then...."
I came back with my binder in hand and gave it to them.
"Have a look"
"Let me see!"
Crystal snatched it eagerly to see pictures of him.
"W-Wow you were in the military uncle?"
"Uncle now?"
"I mean quicker to say on the tongue right Amanda sis?"
Amanda didn't say anything but if she would say something it was agreement. I didn't really care what they call me as long as they feel comfortable with me.
"Call me as you please"
"Alright uncle then this!"
Seeing me in uniform my first year in the marines.
"What branch where you in?"
She didn't know what branch I was in.
"Marines"
"That's so cool~!"
"You look so young here"
Amanda commented and I say she hit the nail on the mark.
"First year in the marines"
"This?"
"Four years"
Showing another picture with a beard.
"Wow you looked....handsome"
Then both saw how he was handsome even with a shaved head. Then with hair it enhanced his looks he was that type of handsome. Being in the military giving him a rough edge on looks. Then they turned to see him holding weapons with a bunch of other guys and some by himself.
From military uniforms with their special ops gear or civilians. Posing and having a laughter in the picture filled with life.
"Wow....you look badass and handsome"
She even felt like she would have a crush on him. Just his stance, demeanor and confidence you see in the pictures. He looked like one heck of man not afraid of nothing. Amanda couldn't help but feel attracted to the picture.
As they looked at him again he had a huge beard and long bangs covering his face now. They didn't see any of that handsomeness.
"What?"
"Uncle you need a makeover!"
"A what..?"
Seeing her eyes sparkle with determination, I didn't know what they meant. Until they saw what they were seeing.
"I think i'm fine?"
I didn't see nothing wrong with me.
Crystal blinked her mesmerizing eyes at Leon and scoffed.
"Sis doesn't he need a makeover!"
Amanda couldn't help but agree with a nod as young girls in puberty they wanted to see that handsome face. When everything is gone from his scruff appearance. They could even see how well built he was. His shirt tightening around his muscles on his body.
"Tomorrow we will cut all of that! While buying us some clothes"
Crystal made her intentions clear and I just went with the flow. They needed this so I wanted to make them happy.
"Honestly....Katogori-hyeong I agree with sis lets cut all that long hair you don't need"
"You too?"
I was bothered but they were already making decision on me. I didn't cut my hair or beard not really caring.
"Yeah you look like an old geezer having all that"
Then they saw more pictures and were happily questioning his adventures going to different countries. Until one picture they pointed at hit a sore spot.
"What about this?.....it feels like you're in the desert"
"Iraq...."
It was me and some buddies of mine on an armored vehicle. But that was the day I lost all of them. Not in one place where they died. But after that mission everyone had a sort of PTSD. Some came back home with cheating wives.
I tried to help, I was there where the system wasn't. I wanted to give them a helping hand. But they all either died by suicide or committing a crime. It became nightmares and I started to blame myself for not helping them enough.
It hurts.....
Remembering it....it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much....
I bit my lip and my nails dug into my palm the pain remembering that. I can't help but be angry at myself.
Both of them saw my reaction and instantly felt a shiver down their spines. A flicker of fear an ugly side of me in front of these girls already was showing. I didn't want that not now....not never.
"Sorry girls you had to see that.....that is it for story telling"
They were silent as they saw me calm down but not saying a word to console him.
"Go sleep we'll go shopping tomorrow and...enjoy your night"
They saw him leave the room as he close the door softly.
"I think we really shouldn't have asked that...."
"You think?"
Amanda felt worried even though that expression was scary they couldn't help worry for him. Pain he was showing, anger with regret mixed in. Amanda knocked on her head.
"Ow! What was that for!?"
"Lets not dig in deeper I think this is enough to know of him....I don't want to see him look like that"
"Your right.....uncle has stories he already looked like he went through more than us.....which he still adopted us....so I guess we're lucky to have a badass father"
Father a word slipped from crystal's mouth if he was that type of guy. She didn't mind him being her new father.
"Well that makes us three with unfortunate stories"
"Lets just not mention that anymore....I want this family to work out"
Crystal saw amanda's regretful face and worried even she was too.
"Can't bother with whats already been spilled"
Both knew they had to move on and so they did.
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Omelet