Even With My Dark Side.

"Don't shoot!"

It was all I heard before I saw something go flying off the edge of a building, the echo of a gun sounding not a second before. I realized that it was a person a moment later. Damn it, there went my job and my pay. I jumped out from my hiding place beneath a broken down bridge and lurched for the body not seconds before it was to hit the ground and shatter every bone like glass.

The soft, pained sound that erupted from pale lips as I hit the ground made me wince. Damn it, I'd known that catch would be a bit rough. After all, I hadn't expected to catch my latest assassination falling off a four story building, now had I? But my victim was passed out now. Probably a good thing, the way wasn't going to get any smoother from here.

I flitted from low building to low building, keeping in the alleys and atop the roofs to evade detection. Usually, my shape-shifting would have handled the whole evasion thing just dandy. But with an injured and bloody body in your arms, anyone would look suspicious. So, old school stealth it was.

I paused under the overhang of an arched pathway, shaking my head hard. Water droplets flew in all directions, my hair slapping around my head like the thick main of a wet dog. Or a lion. I preferred the lion analogy. Sounded cooler.

Under the covered path, I paused for a quick break. The soldiers were probably still gaping at the street anyway, and the building was a good mile or so back now. I smirked smugly; I was a fast one, after all.

I laid the body down, making a quick inspection of it. The only wound was the gunshot to the left shoulder. I made a face. An inch or two down and to the left and bye bye, handsome. Wait-what?

I took the dark blue jacket off carefully, noticing that there were no rank marks. So, he wasn't even really in the military. A glance at the nametag revealed a feminine name; at complete odds with the thin, yet obviously male body I'd cradled close thus far. This wasn't his jacket. Interesting...

I had no remorse over tearing the indigo linen on the skort I wore, quickly wrapping the injured shoulder. It was crude at best, but it would hold until real treatment was to be had. I knew an old man who was a doctor. I had no doubts the old guy would help. The poor sap thought I was some long-lost relative, but why sweat the details?

Gently hefting the boy back into my arms, I took off again.

~~~

"C'mon old man! I'm beat!" I whined.

"No," the old doctor, Edwards, scolded. "You brought him here in this condition; you're going to help fix him up again."

The doctor was named Eddie Ed Edwards. I couldn't help but think the man had truly sick parents. The poor, poor sap.

"But I carried him all the way from Central-in the rain!" I waved my hands wildly, trying to emphasize my point. "And the thunder! And lightning! And rain! Did I mention rain?"

"Yes, you did," Edwards said, and I saw that his focus was on removing the shoddy tourniquet. "And after so long roaming around my house you should have at least picked up on how to make a decent field bandage."

I glowered at the man, giving a pout that would rival any two-year-old. "Who cares 'bout all that boring stuff anyway?" I muttered darkly.

Edwards sent me a quelling look, and quickly stripped off the uniform top and undershirt. I sputtered a bit in protest, but was silenced by another of the doctor's looks.

Edwards was well into his early fifties. He had little care for such a young boy-aside from his age and the fact that he was far from gay, or bisexual. I, however, was not so controlled. I did nothing to hide my sudden, avid interest. I didn't care who it was, or what it was-if they looked interesting, I was interested.