Red Strings

Red Strings : The theory

He saw the subtle fear on the man's face, the deep-set lines of exhaustion and the uncontrolled frustration that was now being directed at a defenseless child. Daniel had seen the Blue String of potential connecting them, but it was frayed, strained by the father's actions.

"Don't touch me," Daniel commanded, his voice a low, terrifying growl that carried the effortless authority of someone who knew exactly how much damage he could inflict. "And don't touch her."

"I'm her father, you brat! Get out of the way!" the man spluttered, fear giving way to indignant fury.

Daniel's gaze narrowed, radiating the pure, controlled menace of someone who had faced down genuine violence and won. He didn't need to fight; his perfect body and intent alone were enough to silence the man.

"A father is supposed to protect, not terrify," Daniel said, his voice dropping to a final, absolute whisper. "Go inside. Now. Or you'll regret ever stepping out here."

The father, recognizing the cold threat and shaken by the absolute immovability of Daniel's stance, took an involuntary step back, his anger momentarily overridden by a primal fear. He hesitated, glanced at his weeping daughter still hidden behind Daniel, and finally, sullenly, turned and stomped back toward the darkness of the apartment building entrance.

The father, recognizing the cold threat and shaken by the absolute immovability of Daniel's stance, took an involuntary step back. His anger, however, quickly flared back into indignant rage. He couldn't stand being humiliated by a teenager in front of his own daughter.

"You think you can tell me what to do with my own kid?" the man roared, abandoning all caution. He lunged forward, not in a practiced attack, but in a wild, furious rush, aiming to grab Daniel's shoulders and violently throw him aside.

Daniel didn't panic. The moment the father committed to the aggressive movement, the Red Line of physical threat briefly overlaid the Blue String of family. Daniel's reaction was instantaneous and completely indifferent.

With the girl still tucked safely behind his legs, Daniel simply took a minuscule step to the side, allowing the majority of the man's weight and momentum to pass harmlessly by his left shoulder. As the man rushed past, Daniel's right hand shot out with blinding speed and tapped the back of the man's knee in a perfect, nonchalant pressure point strike.

The effect was immediate and total.

The man's leg buckled instantly, his forward momentum converting into a catastrophic downward spiral. He didn't even have time to shout as he hit the cold, unforgiving asphalt with a heavy, humiliating thud. He lay there, winded and sprawled out, completely defeated by a move that looked less like fighting and more like Daniel casually checking his watch.

Daniel stood over him, his breathing completely even. He didn't look down at the groaning figure. He only focused on the small, trembling weight clinging to his legs.

The Blue String was still there, connecting the fallen father and the frightened daughter, but the violent fraying had stopped.

Daniel slowly crouched down, turning his back completely on the defeated man. He gently peeled the girl away from his legs and looked into her tear-streaked face, his own eyes having softened from cold menace back to genuine, weary concern.

"It's okay," Daniel whispered. "He's not going to hurt you. You're safe."

-

Daniel didn't wait for the father to recover. He made a calm, precise call to emergency services, and soon, the dark street was illuminated by the flashing blue and red lights of a police cruiser.