Night Angel

What to expect

Nezumi POV
Leaning against the building I waited. With the stone structure at my back, a dumpster beside me, there was only two ways they could come at me easily. Tonight I had told Shion my deepest secret, I gave him my sister. Once he was asleep I made contact. There was no way I was hurting him now, I had to make that clear.
A car pulled up alongside the alley I waited in. “Nezumi?” the voice asked through a tinted window. When I nodded, the back door clicked open. “Get in.” This could be bad, but I fought my way out of worse. Shoving off of the building I nonchalantly walked to the car. Sliding in I slammed the door.
No sooner had it closed then the car moved, pulling back out into the empty street. “Why did you want to meet?” the man asked. The interior was dark. That was fine with me, half my life I lived in the dark.
“What is your purpose for me getting close to Shion?” I demanded.
“That is my business.” The man said.
“I won’t hurt him. Not gonna kill him either.” I stated. He said nothing. “You know I’m the best, so whoever else you send after him, know one thing…” I paused, my hand on the handle of the door. “…I will protect him.” Before I could open the door I heard the unmistakable click of it locking. I chuckled. Of course they had taken out any means for me to unlock it from back here.
“Nezumi, I do not wish Shion harmed. In fact just the opposite. My need is for you to watch over him, well that is my business, but I will tell you this, there was a reason his mother kept him secreted away.” I frowned I didn’t like this.
Long ago I heard of kids going missing from the streets. Most of it was just talk, but there were some strange instances. Large vans coming to take as many kids or teens as they could. Many of these kids reappeared. Hell even Dogkeeper had been one. When I asked her about it all she was able to tell me was they went to a warehouse. Someone ran some tests on their DNA then they woke up near where they had been taken from.
“You were looking for him? Back then?” I knew he would understand.
“Again it is my business, you don’t need to know the reasons. Just know I hired you because you were the best. The best at protecting my son.” The car filled with smoke, I couldn’t see or breathe. For a moment I was back in the flames. Maybe since I had told the story to Shion just a few hours prior it was still fresh in my mind. The horror was filling me when I heard the door unlock.
Yanking it open I dove from the slow moving car. Rolling into the grass. When I was able to breathe again, I had to wipe the sting from my eyes. Sitting up I saw no trace of the car. What scared me even more, I was sitting across the street from Shion's place. These people knew where he lived.
His son, Shion? My eyes darted up to the darkened windows. Was his mother hiding him from his father? Or did his father have bigger enemies then him? Whatever the answer, my body was screaming one thing, I needed to check that Shion was safe.
Darting across the road, I sprinted into the building. Taking the stairs two at a time I dashed up to Shion's… no our place. Getting the key into the lock with shaking fingers took some time, but I managed it finally. Moving in the darkness to push open the thin curtain that hid Shion's bed, my heart hammered in my chest.
His usual curled form wasn’t there. I began to panic as I stood there staring at the empty bed. A sound made its way to my ears. Spinning I flicked a glance across the space, a light bloomed off to one side. I tossed my arm up to shield my face.
“Rat!” Shion's voice called from the blurry depths of light. “I was wondering if you were coming home tonight.” As my vision cleared, I saw his smile. He placed several brown wrapped packages on the counter.
“Where did you go, Shion?” I asked trying to hide how fast my heart was pounding.
“Just making my rounds. Look what I got us!” he held up one package half opened. A roast. I smiled.
“Good job.” I ruffled his hair. In that one instant I wanted nothing more than to drag him into my arms. To feel those soft warm lips on mine, but how could I do that to him? It would pull him further into my world.
‘What if it ready is his world?’ Eve's voice echoed in my head. Oh Shion, your mother's death in the fire, had they been after you? Did she give her life to protect you? My arms moved on their own. With my hand still on his head I pulled him toward me. He didn’t resist. Slipping into my body as if we had once been a whole being. They way he fit against me…
I couldn’t let myself think that far ahead. Think ahead to the day I may be able to break free and find my own paradise. It was lost to me a long time ago. Pressing my lips to the top of his soft white hair I chuckled.
“You're something else, Shion.” I shoved him away while I still had the ability to do so.
“Rat?” he asked quietly as he moved to take care of his purchases.
“Yes, Shion?” I asked leaning back against the wall rubbing the apple on my sleeve. It wasn’t until after I took a bite that he spoke. His head in the fridge as he found the right places to store everything.
“I don’t sleep so well, alone…” his voice trailed off. I heard something about the cold. Yet my brain had froze on sleeping alone. I tried to sound causal, but even I heard the catch in my voice.
“Would you like it if I slept with you? Share our body heat?” I asked. My pounding heart throbbing in my ears as I tried to hear what his answer would be. I didn’t need to hear, only to see. His white head rose up then fell back as he nodded. The door to the fridge was closed, the counter cleared.
Stilling the shaking in my hands, I reached out for him. Oi, Shion, you will be my downfall. I thought as I tugged him forward. Getting his jacket off of him, I hung it next to mine in the small space provided. Then I took his hand. Without a word he followed behind me like a sleepy child. I dragged him into his ‘room.’ The bed was hardly big enough for both of us.
Laying down I pulled him with me. Once he was curled up, his back to my chest, I flung the thin shell of a blanket over us. I buried my face in the back of his head as I surrounded him with my arms. Holding tightly I pulled his thin frame as tight to me as I could. His small elegant hand slipped on top of mine. Those pearl fingers separating mine to lace with them. My Shion. I thought.
I laid there listening to his breathing, hearing his heartbeat, once fast, now smooth out. It slowed to a steady thump, thump. Controlling my breathing I counted my breaths. Forcing myself to relax. I began to drift in the sea of night and dreams.
The dream was real, but unreal. Shion a prince locked in a tower, and I the knight to save him. It was a story as old as time. Even so, the reality of it was there. No matter what happened to me, I needed to protect the boy in my arms. That was what I did when I heard the metal door begin to creek open.
My eyes opened to slits at first. Morning light was coming in through the large window, I could see it through a crack in the curtain. Inching my hand away from Shion, I curled my fingers around the handle of the knife I always kept with me.
“Shion, are you aw…” Safu's head appeared between the curtains. We looked at each other. Who could tell which of us was more shocked at what we saw. Behind her stood a man I knew all too well, one I had vowed to destroy.
“There you are you little rodent!” he flung the girl aside. Shion startled in my arms. I pressed him into the mattress as I sprang up on the bed. The knife in my hand flashed in the sunlight as I sliced at the arm reaching for me. Kicking out I caught him in the jaw. He staggered back. Spinning I kicked again at his head. He dodged this one. Being on the bed was a hindrance as it required more concentration to keep my balance.
“Slimy shit!” he yelled trying to grab at me. Shielding Shion with my body I dragged him out of the small space.
“Get Safu and run!” I yelled at him as I felt a slash at my face. Blood trickled from the wound, I had no time to make sure Shion listened. Spinning I faced the hulking menace. The goon had at least four inches on me about a hundred pounds heavier. This made him slower, but if he got his hands on me he could crush me. I dodged another blow.
Rolling across the floor I saw Shion shoving Safu into the door that led to his greenhouse. Good he was out of the fighting arena. My eyes on him for just a brief moment I had to look away from the goon.
“RAT!” Shion screamed. It was worse than I feared. The giant thug managed to pin my arms to my sides. The pressure was causing my hands to go numb. If I dropped the knife, the only weapon I would have left was my body. I smashed my head back. Fuck, he ducked his in between my shoulder blades. He was smart, keeping my feet away from anything I could use as leverage. It was getting harder to breath. Shion. I gasped trying to think.
Suddenly I felt the guy jerk. His body spasmed losing his hold on my. Air came rushing into my lungs. I twisted in his arms. My arms were still tingling but I could move them. I slammed my cupped hands onto his ears. He roared with the pain of his eardrums rupturing. My hand shot out to grab Shion's.
“Come on!” I dragged him over the howling lump on the floor. As I turned toward the greenhouse three more thugs pressed into the room, spinning I tried for the front door. Even more were spilling in. What to do? I thought as I pulled Shion behind me.
“You alright Shion?” one of the guys by the front door asked. Another moved to check on the man on the floor. He looked up at me.
“For a scrawny dude you sure can fight!”
“I’m fine.” Shion answered. “Where's Safu?” he asked looking toward the door he had pushed her through.
“She's fine. We got her outside.” One of them answered. Marty. The name sang in my head. These were Shion's friends. I felt the tension ease from my shoulders. The man stood eyeing me.
“Why are you fighting for him?” the one that appeared to be the leader asked. Should I tell them? I could use the help guarding Shion. I glanced among them.
“I was hired to watch Shion. Someone maybe after him. I don’t know much, all I was told was to protect him.” I stated.  My hand was still holding Shion against my back.
One of the guys from the green house walked over to the leader. He whispered something. I waited.
“Why would Shion call you Rat?” he demanded. Yeah, that name. It had sounded better than using my real name. Something to give people pause. I hadn’t told Shion it was the name I went by to get jobs other than acting.
“Because, its one of the names I go by.” I stated.
“The Rat is suppose to be the best. He doesn’t get seen or caught.” They added. My eyes narrowed.
“Never said I was caught.” I stated. He laughed.
“The celling, you think you could get Shion through that hole, as well as yourself before we got you?” he demanded. I chuckled.
“A rat always has more than one escape plan.” I said. The others laughed.
“Well we will be around if you need us, just yell.” They left quickly. I slumped slightly.
“I think there is more to your story.” Shion said. I snorted.
“Same goes for you.” We looked at each other until I couldn’t take it, I hugged him to me.