Nathaniel's eyes burned with fury as he stormed into his father's apartment after hearing the news that August had taken his place in the Apex Games. He held nothing back as he let out a torrent of anger and frustration, blasting his father for his selfishness and his complete disregard for anyone else's feelings but his own.
"You have no right to do this, Dad," Nathaniel spat out, hands balled into fists at his sides. "After all these years, you still can't get over yourself and your own insecurities. You still need to prove to everyone how good you are, at the expense of everyone else around you."
August stood there, arms crossed, a look of hardened resolve on his face. He wasn't going to back down now, not after coming this far and sacrificing so much to be in the Apex Games. "I didn't do this to hurt you, Nathaniel," he said calmly. "I did this because I want to win for both of us, to show you that I can still make a difference in this world."
"To hell with that," Nathaniel growled. "You only care about your own glory and your own damn ego. You don't care about what I want, what I need, what we could have together. You just want to use me as your pawn, to make yourself feel good about yourself."
"That's not true," August said, raising his voice. "You know how much this means to me, how much I want to do this. I've sacrificed everything to make this happen, and I won't let you stand in the way."
"Sacrificed? You've sacrificed nothing," Nathaniel shot back. "You've been holed up in your apartment for the past twenty years, wallowing in your own self-pity and guilt. You've done nothing to make it up to me or Mom or anyone else. And now you think that just because you show up and take my spot in the Apex Games, all is forgiven?"
August clenched his jaw, his fists tightening by his sides. "I did this for your own good, Nathaniel. You weren't ready for the dangers of the Apex Games, but I am."
Nathaniel shook his head in disbelief. "You really don't get it, do you? This isn't about who's ready or not. It's about you taking away my chance to prove myself, taking away my chance to live my life on my own terms. You don't care about me or what I want, you only care about yourself and your own damn ego."
August took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "You watch your tone, young man. I won't have you speak to me that way."
Nathaniel took a step forward, his chest heaving with rage. "No, Dad. You listen to me. You've had your chance, you've had your time in the spotlight. Now it's my turn. It's my turn to show the world what I can do, my turn to make a name for myself. And you won't rob me of that, not without a fight."
August's face hardened, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Then it's a fight you'll have, Nathaniel. Because I won't let you stand in the way of my dreams, no matter what it takes."
Nathaniel stepped back, his fists slowly unclenching. "Fine, Dad. You want a fight? You got it. But just remember, this won't be about who wins or loses. It'll be about whether or not we can find a way to coexist, as father and son, without destroying each other in the process."
August nodded, a small hint of a smile on his lips. "I'll remember that, Nathaniel. And just know, I'll be fighting for both of us, whether you like it or not."
With that, the two men turned and headed in opposite directions, both preparing for the inevitable showdown that was coming their way. But in the end, only one of them would emerge victorious, and the wounds from the battle would be hard to heal.