Dragons

Pirates

A vase flew across the room. Their right ear exploded with pain. Tears ran down their face as they held up their arms for protection. They yelled for her to stop, but she kept on yelling.

Her face red with rage "YOU ARE SO USELESS!" she shrieked "YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT! LOOK AT YOURSELF!" she reached for their hair and pulled them off the ground by it.

Her rotten breath filled their nose. They tried fight back the tears welling up behind their eyes, but lost. They couldn't even hold tears back, they couldn't do anything right.

She threw them on the ground, "WHEN I COME BACK THIS PLACE BETTER BE SPOTLESS...and dress yourself properly!" she crouched down to their level. "Look honey, if you dressed like I told you, I wouldn't have to do this." she held up their chin, "Now smile, you know I like it when you smile" she smiled sweetly.

They smiled back and nodded, "okay, I will do better from now on" they looked down, their eyes flitting from left to right. She lifted their chin up, "I love you."

They looked up at her, "I love you too" they smiled wider and wiped their tears. She got up and left the apartment. There was a tap on the window. They jumped and sat up. They looked around, on the fire escape right outside the window was a guy. He was crouching on the railing. He slowly got down and walked over to the window he started talking but they couldn't hear them. They slowly walked over to the window, plants blocked the way, they struggled to open the window, but eventually they did.

He smiled and waved "hey, I was gonna rob you but...I think you've already got enough shit to deal with." they looked behind them, checking the door.

They looked back at him, "can I come in?" he impatiently asked, eyes flashing from left to right.

They stepped back "I can't she doesn't let anyone she doesn't know well come in" they reached for the window.

He held the window open "well, she isn't here...I need your permission, no hers" he looked into their eyes. They stared back.

They looked away, and at the wall, "so...can I come in?" he asked quietly. They looked at him and nodded.

He smiled and jumped through the window and over the plants, rolled and stood up. He was about a foot taller than they were, and quite muscular. They were the exact opposite, small and thin. Both stood in silence for a moment, they looked him up and down.

He looked around the room and then back at them, "what'ya say, wanna come with me?" They looked up at them, "go where?"

He smiled with a warmth that could heat a room in winter, "anywhere, absolutely anywhere you wanna go," he leaned over to the side to meet their gaze, "and I think...anywhere is better than here."

He was right, they hated it here, "but I love her, and she loves me...what would she do if she knew I was gone?" they slouched, and crossed their arms.

He frowned, "you deserve better than her, hell anyone is better than that fucknut" he smiled. "She hits you, and abuses you, that is not what love is."

He reached out and put his hand on their shoulder "you deserve better" they uncrossed their arms and stood up straight. They looked up at him, and then at their feet"but she said I was lucky that she loves me, and that no one ever would."

They looked up him again, "she is the one that's lucky, someone like her doesn't deserve someone like you, I bet you're amazing," he smiled, "and I've only known you for, what, five minutes?" they smiled and rubbed their eyes.

He bent down to meet their eyes, "so, do you want to come with me, or do you want to stay?" he held out his hand.

They reached out for their hand. The door swung open, they both looked at the door. Fear filled their face, they retracted their hand. She stumbled in "what the fuck is he doing in here! I told you I don't like people I don't know in my apartment!" she threw an empty bottle at them.

They jumped out of the way, they shrunk as she came closer, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry it was all my fault, I let him in!" they put up their hands up over their face.

He grabbed them and picked them up. She kicked, and slapped him crying out bloody murder. He grabbed her and threw her down.

He put them down and extended their hand "do you want to come? It's now or never" an uncertain look flashed across his face, would they take their hand?

A split second decision, they turned to look at her and then back at him, they took his hand. He pulled them with him out the window. Out onto the fire escape. They jumped and landed on his ship, it flew over the abandoned streets and buildings below.