Kava's Manor of Misfits [ mxm+, Polyfidelity ]

o1

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Kava
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          Today went much differently than I was expecting it to. Evan and I were planning to meet a business friend at the local shopping district to discuss anything financial we might need to prepare in advance for tax season, but plans had been canceled last minute so we decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood instead.

"Do you think they're okay? It sounded quite urgent, and this is the third time they've rain checked when we were already out of the house." Evan spoke, bordering irritation and concern, looking intensely at the lines on the sidewalk. I tightened my arm that had been linked around his, rubbing his bicep.

"You know they're busy people, and this is why we plan far ahead of time. It'll be okay. Plus, we have Matteo."

"He is.. very good at what he does, I'm thankful we have him with the number of people breathing down our necks. I wish he would take up accounting, he could charge a fortune."

We usually don't take one-on-one walks together anymore but I felt inclined to today, and I'm glad we did. We had been talking, before I felt the hair rise on the back of my neck and stopped in my tracks. I turn my head towards a street that branches off of our usual roundabout walks.

"... Let's detour." I smiled up at him, offering to stop by the park around the corner.

He nodded, understanding that I occasionally feel pulled into random directions and he always follows. Usually, it's something like stray cats, an item I've been searching for, or an old friend around the corner... but typically nothing like this. Halfway down the street in the alleyway between a few empty buildings, we both heard the sound of running. 

I squinted curiously, and Evan placed himself a little in front of me the closer it sounded, but as soon as he did we saw a pair of grey baggy jeans swing around the corner as a familiar mop of dirty brown hair attempted to scurry up the corner of the building.

Both of us were too stunned to react before I split the silence.

".. East..on?" 

Evan, about to pull me away, snapped his head to me in confusion as I didn't dare take my gaze off of him.

I... knew this man, he was one of the homeless guys around here who I often see taking care of other homeless people. I've spoken to him many times in the past when I see him and have grown to look for him anytime we come into town. I grew fond of him, even if he was a bit closed off.

My eyes widened however, as a burly man snapped around the corner and threw him down onto the floor by his ankle like a medieval mace.. cursing him out and proceeding to beat the ever-living crap out of his winded, smaller body. The sounds he made as he made contact with the ground snapped me out of my daze, and I saw red instead.

I pushed Evan to the side harder than I intended to and grabbed the pipe along the wall before sprinting to the two. He hadn't realized I approached fast enough until I swung the pipe against his head with a cry, and the second he was off of him Evan took my place. I usually don't act so drastically, but everything in me told me this wasn't a normal scenario.

He continued for me, knowing I wasn't much of a fighter and I turned my attention immediately to the man on the floor, crawling and hyperventilating, clutching his bag to him like it was his firstborn.

I made my way over to East, trying to garner his attention and drag him away from the man while Evan... kept us safe, I'll say.

He was erratic but dazed and I even got a good punch to the gut, but I didn't hold it against him. I needed him to be calm enough so we could take him away from here.