===========Joseph POV===========
Footsteps...
Hurried ones...
They seem to be approaching...
"Is someone running towards me?", was the first thing that came to my mind, and when this thought appeared... I panicked.
Joseph: NO! NOT AGAIN!
I woke up startled and immediately sat up looking around me to understand my situation. I still felt a little dazed, but I felt the need to quickly grasp my surroundings.
"Everything around me is familiar... I can see the basilica and the statues. Did I... Did I just blackout for a few seconds??", was my thought after analyzing my situation for some time.
Joseph: Damn! My back hurts! I definitely hit something after rolling on the ground...
I tried to get up, but the pain coming from my back made it almost impossible to move, every minuscule movement would result in a jolt of pain to go down through my spine.
On the bright side, though, the sudden spikes of pain helped me clear my mind faster allowing me to fully wake up from my dazed state - I suddenly felt my vision becoming clearer, my thoughts becoming less jumbled and my hearing becoming more sharper, which allowed me to hear something I had started to dread... Someone running towards me.
I looked down the path I had been walking and saw...My grandfather coming ever closer.
===========End of POV============
After the sudden attack on Joseph, the first person to react was Michael, who after catching a glance of the attacker and understanding who it was decided to ignore her, and immediately rushed towards Joseph location.
After reaching his grandson, Michael took a moment to study him looking for any signs of injury, and upon finding just minor wounds in the form of scratches and nothing more serious he moved to assess Joseph's mental state.
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): Kid, can you hear me? How are you feeling?
Being already focused on his grandfather, Joseph, upon hearing the question immediately gave an answer.
Joseph: Besides some back pain that fires up every time I try to get up, I think I am fine... Just a little dazed.
Michael frowned.
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): Back pain?
Joseph: Don't worry, I think it's nothing serious. I hit my back on something before losing conscious for a few seconds, but the pain is slowly receding.
Michael, hearing Joseph explain his condition, and evaluating it as nothing major, finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense expression finally softened... But only for an instant, because soon a scowl appeared on his face.
Judging that Joseph could not yet get up, Michael crouched in front of him and grabbed the collar of his shirt.
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): DAMN IT KID! MUST YOU STAIN MY REPUTATION EVERY TIME WE GO OUT!
Joseph: Wha...What?
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): THAT WAS EASILY DODGEABLE, YOU JUST NEEDED TO SIDESTEP. HOW MUCH SHAME DO YOU INTEND TO SHINE UPON OUR NAME.
While he was berating his grandson, Michael was also constantly pulling him towards his person followed by roughly shoving him back via the grip he had on the collar of his shirt.
After a few moments of being shaken around, Joseph, who had just recovered from his dazed state, started to feel like he couldn't bear any longer the sudden movements. Feeling sick, Joseph was just about ready to throw up, when a sudden scream reached his ears.
Beth (Joseph's Maternal Grandmother): LEAVE THE KID ALONE, YOU BRAINLESS BRUTE.
In the next moment, Joseph witnessed something that he would later describe as one of the most satisfactory moments of his life, he saw a kick connect with his grandfather's right flank, a kick so powerful that it sent his grandfather rolling across the floor, in much the same way he had.
However, in contrast to Joseph, Michael quickly got up after his rolling came to a stop and immediately looked in his grandson's direction.
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): GODS WOMAN! MUST YOU RESORT TO VIOLENCE EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Beth (Joseph's Maternal Grandmother): LOOK WHO'S TALKING! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING TO THE KID?!
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): TEACHING HIM A LESSON!
Beth (Joseph's Maternal Grandmother): BY SHOVING HIM AROUND?!
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): IT HELPS IN BUILDING CHARACTER!
Beth (Joseph's Maternal Grandmother): Oh really?! THEN LET ME HELP YOU DEVELOP YOURS TOO!
Michael (Joseph's Maternal Grandfather): COME AT ME WOMAN!
Joseph, still seated on the ground, watched as his grandmother left his side and started walking towards his grandfather while cracking her knuckles. In a short while, a fight ensued in the middle of the path to the basilica attracting the attention of the surrounding visitors and clergy.
Joseph: …
Clarissa (Joseph's Aunt): "sigh"
Hearing a sigh right beside him, Joseph turned to his side and saw that at some point his aunt and mother had come to be standing right next to him, but not just them… right next to his mother stood the girl he had caught glimpse of, before passing out, and this time she was wearing her veil looking like a proper nun…
Before he could formulate any other thoughts though, an open palm entered his field of view. He looked up and saw his aunt extending him a hand in order to help him get up.
Clarissa (Joseph's Aunt): I am guessing you didn't get to injured, given the fact father decided to impart to you one of his "lessons", so here, let me help you get up.
Joseph: Thanks aunt.
After getting up, Joseph dusted his pants, and locked eyes with the girl that had ambushed him. The two remained with their sights locked onto one another until the girl decided to break the silence:
Unknow girl (??): So, you are Anne's son. You are a bit scrawny, honestly you look like a stick actually, a really thin one… I thought you would be built like a monster given Mister's Michael's is your teacher and grandfather - Ahhh… You are so lucky…
Unknow girl (??): Oh, by the way, your reaction time sucks.
Joseph looked at the girl, perplexed. "Wow, didn't give me her name, and immediately started insulting me to my face… And didn't use honorifics? Who is this girl?!".
Anne, looking at her son and practically reading his thoughts through his facial expressions, decided to explain.
Anne (Joseph's Mother): Joseph, this is Rachel, a nun-in-training. She is an orphan adopted by the nuns of the basilica three years ago. I met her at about the same time she was adopted during one of my visits to the basilica and when she learned of my identity, she, well…
Rachel (Nun-in-training): I started pestering her to adopt me into her family as her daughter!. Said the Rachel with a proud face, completely unperturbed by the strange looks she was getting from Clarissa and Joseph.
Anne (Joseph's Mother): Well, yes, that's what happened more or less… Your grandfather and grandmother, also, later, met Rachel and she…
Rachel (Nun-in-training): Pestered them too, when I saw that Anne wouldn't budge with her "no" answer.
Anne (Joseph's Mother): "sigh"
Joseph: Right... So, quick question, if you want to join our family so much, why would you attack me out of nowhere?
Rachel (Nun-in-training): To see from what metal my brother was made of, of course! Though I expected a longer fight… I thought you would sidestep the blown and immediately try to counter-attack but... your reaction time was too slow…
Rachel (Nun-in-training): Hm… Well, on the bright side, you took that blow like a champ. It's incredible how you were able to get out of that strike with so little injuries! Nice job brother!
Joseph: Took it like a champ?! I AM LUCKY THAT THE ONLY THING I GOT OUT OF THAT WAS JUST A FEW SCRATCHES, I COULD HAVE BROKEN SOMETHING!
Anne (Joseph's Mother): Indeed, and if that had happened, I would have been so devastated I don't know what I would do… Maybe I would have broken each one of your limbs, to deal with my grief Rachel, and maybe just maybe if my son had suffered much horrifying wounds than just a broken arm or leg, I would have to do something…much… worse…
Clarissa and Joseph turned to look towards Anne with perplexed and horrified expressions.
Joseph: Mom… What the… What are you saying?
Rachel, however, after hearing Anne's declaration blinked a few times and immediately gave the three of them, her brightest smile since the conversation started.
Rachel (Nun-in-training): AHAHAHAH! That why I like you so much, mom!
Anne (Joseph's Mother): I am not your mother, sweetheart!
Hearing Rachel's response to the Anne's comments, Clarissa and Jospeh could only formulate one thought: "Great… Another weird person…"