Putz12 Plus One

TEN | DON'T SWEAT THE SWEATER

The walls echoed with "My friend is safe! My friend is safe!" until even Octofro of all people was sick of it. 

Never had they seen anyone, not even Octofro on hotdog night run toward something so fast. And though the entire sector was on guard, she pranced right through them and gave him a hug, forcing him to twirl her around with the way she moved. He was dizzy and muscles ached, and though she kept trying to hug him he pushed her off.

"Enough." Derek emerged from the shadows and all went quiet. It wasn't until he came out that the gun in his hand glared from the blue light of the den. Sector Five froze and he locked eyes with Putz.

"Whoa!" Putz backed up, grabbing Iza's hand so tight it felt it'd fall off. "There's no need for that!"

"Why should we trust these guys? He said it himself, he's from The Order."

It was hard to breathe, Jedd's chest felt like it would crush into bits. "Drop the gun." He forced himself to say. He never expected confrontation at all since they'd been hiding there. But Derek didn't let go and stood under the entrance.

Iza didn't think she could do it but somehow clenched his hand even harder and yanked him behind her. She was now standing in front of him, her eyes fearless, her frown straight and firm. Derek smirked.

"You think that's gonna do anything? What, protect your boy toy?"

"Hey! I'm not anything of hers but a guide to make sure she doesn't kill herself! I mean just look at her, she's even looks fuckin' stupid!"

Ouch. She wanted to let go but their fingers were intertwined already. At least she had no more tears in her eyes anymore. His hands grew cold, and he was trembling.

I don't understand why you're afraid. I don't understand how a person who handles weapons is more cowardly than I. Why do you look at that thing like I first looked at you? 

The trail of thoughts stopped when Jedd drop kicked him and he fell to the floor. Putz screamed upon the impact and opened his eyes to see the octoling lying on the ground, not him. Everyone stared at him and for a moment there was silence. The heartbeat threatened him in the eerie quietness, until the hysterical laughter projected from their mouths.

"Yeah, this guy is definitely not from The Order!" Sera and Octofro were in hysterics, kneeling over to catch their breaths. Jedd had the weapon now and didn't look like he'd be letting go any time soon. Fifty-Two was on the floor, pissed, and Felix was restraining him.

"I'm not into that pervy squit, you disgrace." He muttered to the floor.

Putz backed into a corner. His chest expanding and contracting obviously with every breath. His eyes were small and he gripped the wall as if there was anything to grip. His eyes looked right at Derek but didn't seem to register movement.

"Hey," Iza approached him slowly, careful not to say his nickname. "Are you alright?"

But he didn't move. He didn't speak. He couldn't, he wanted to. He wanted to pummel him even more into the ground, to beat him into an inky pulp, but nothing. His body was of no use anymore.

"I think you need to lie down, friend." How much she wanted to hug him, but he was too rigid.

"And shower!" Octofro was smiling, holding a towel and some clothes in a stack. "Boy, do you smell worse than I do after a nice karate session!"

Guess that was all it took to break him out of that spell. He released himself from the wall and snatched the towels. "These better not be laced with poison powder or some squit."

"It's not." He smiled a big trustworthy smile, but all Putz did was squint right back at him.

Iza's hand met Octofro's as Putz trailed off. "May we stay?" He frowned at her question. She thought her voice was sweet as she could make it.