Bad Guys?

Part 0.4: Troublesome Trio

August 19 2017

9:45 PM. Thomas' Apartment

     "Who the hell is this?!" Thomas' shouting made Nathan's heart tremble with fear. Thomas was his whole world, and he never would want him upset with him.

      "She's a... friend. She needs our help." Nathan's voice was uneasy, and his eyes felt like they were burning. 

      "Nathan, she can have our help tomorrow. It's almost 10, you know we have school tomorrow."

     "School? I thought you guys were adults, where are your parents?" El asked, leaning against the wall and raising an eyebrow. 

    "Dead."  "On Holiday." Both Nathan and Thomas talked at the same time, their voices in sync. 

    "Oh." El dropped her head, noticing the rather sensitive subject. "Sorry."
   
     "It's fine. Nathan, usually I would be fine with helping someone, but our plate is kinda full right now. You know?"

      "Yeah. You're right. However-" Nathan was interrupted by Thomas, who clearly just wanted to go to bed at this point.
       "No. Not however. We can help her tomorrow, I'm going to bed." Without saying goodnight, Thomas walked into the bedroom, shutting the door lightly.
          That was the most angry Nathan had ever seen Thomas, and it was probably due to the added stress. Nathan couldn't go back home, since that lady Scalder hired was probably waiting for him, that or she rigged a bomb or something. Nathan had been sleeping in the guest bed, but now that El was here he wasn't sure what to do.
        "Sorry about that. There's a guest room next to the bathroom, you can stay here for the night."
          "You're willing to let me stay? Even after I nearly stabbed you and tried to rob you? You're just going to let some homeless girl stay at your place?"
          "Yeah. After all, you're my new client. Make yourself at home." Nathan watched as the girl went into the guest room, shutting the door. He could hear her on the other side, creating a deep sigh.
          Nathan stumbled over onto the couch, taking off his crimson jacket and using it as a blanket as he laid down. He shut his eyes, trying to drain out the noise of cars and people outside. He lay awake for a while, letting thoughts run through his mind. His life was getting weirder. He was used to be a mercenary, taking contracts and killing people. But the whole mystery thing, all of this stuff to seek revenge. He wondered if it was really worth it? All of this trouble just to kill some doctor? Hell, for all Nathan knew this doctor could be saving plenty of lives. The exact opposite thing Nathan did. Everything he touched had crumbled in his hands. The door on the other side of the couch opened. Thomas stood in the doorway, looking down at the white haired boy.
        "Hey Natey, would you like to come sleep in my bed? I won't bite. It's nicer than that stupid couch."
       Holy shit. Did Thomas just ask him to go sleep in the same bed as him? Nathan's face was blushing a bright red and he had no idea how to respond.
      "Yeah. Sure. Give me a second."
Alarms were blaring in Nathan's head. This was actually happening. Nathan sat up, taking the coat off of him and laying it on the arm of the couch walking into Thomas' bedroom. Thomas was standing at the end of the bed, taking his shirt off, revealing the muscular back. He rolled his shoulders and then stretched, which gave Nathan a million butterflies that flittered in his stomach.
       "Sorry, I get hot in my sleep sometimes."
       Nathan wanted to respond with 'You're hot all the time.' But instead, he decided to nod his head and get under the covers. Thomas got under next to him, his body facing towards Nathan. Thomas touched Nathan's arm, in order to flip him over to face him. At the touch, Nathan's hairs stood up as if he was in a -50° room.
      "Hey Nate, I'm sorry that I yelled earlier. I'm just a little stressed right now."
       "Yeah, it's okay. I'm stressed too. El's parents were killed in a fire when she was 13. Nobody would hire her, so she's been homeless ever since. Poor girl had to rob people just to get by. She tried to mug me, but when she realized I was a mercenary she asked for my help. She wants us to find her parent's killer."
         "I'm feeling more like a detective than a merc at this point."
          "I feel that. This whole Scalder thing is so fucked. I wish it could be easier, you know?"
            "Yeah. Just try to get some sleep, okay?"
              Nathan rolled over in the bed, staring out the window at the balcony. Street lights and stats illuminated against his blue eyes. It was a colder night than usual, and the breeze coming from the vent next to the bed didn't help. It was okay though, since Thomas liked his apartment cold. Nathan loosened his shoulders, his body ached with pain. It was all the stress. It was only gonna hurt worse, since he needed to work out tomorrow anyway. Nathan was so tired, but he couldn't sleep. He had only been getting about 3 hours sleep or less since his mom's death. She was so positive. She always had some hopeful outlook on the world, and she would always talk about how great his father was. She was so full of life. He missed her. Nathan didn't want to be awake. He wished this was all a dream. Something he could just splash away with a little water, and when he woke up he would be telling his mom all about the little adventures he and Thomas went on. But Nathan knew, this was all real. It would always be real. There was nothing he could do to change it. He had only two jobs at this moment: Live, and kill Scalder. He lay awake for some time longer, staring into the darkness as lights faded away in the distance. He almost drifted into sleep, until he felt hands around his torso. He took a sharp breath and then looked over his shoulder.