Shattered

Chapter 3

-Ryder's POV-

I wasn't waiting long until I heard the back door open, revealing the dirty blond man walking, or more accurately, running. I had no idea why he was speeding out the door so fast. Maybe he was late for a family game night at home? Or possibly just saw an insect inside and was scared, so he ran away?

Simple thoughts such as these ran through my mind as he closed the door, quickly locking it. He didn't notice me because I was standing around the corner, in the darkness, out of sight. That is until I noticed a drunk older man on the opposite side of the alleyway, he was shorter than me, yet taller than the one I had been waiting for, having absolutely no hair on his shiny head. The drunk man stumbled a few times, making his enormous belly bounce, before eyeing what was mine-

'What?' I surprised myself, yet again. 'What the hell is this person doing to me?'

I was still pondering over what I had just thought, forgetting about the drunk man. At least until he started unsteadily sprinting towards the oblivious other, forcing the scent of alcohol to climb up my nose as he got closer to me and what was 'apparently' mine.

Of course, I began to get anxious, stepping out of the darkly shaded area into view, ready to attack the bald man. The drunk man had lunged himself at the shorter one, causing him to hit his head harshly against the brick wall and faint. It was evident that the pot belly man wasn't going to stop there.

He then began touching the cashier, first having his dirty hand climb inside the black sweatshirt, holding him into place, revealing even more cuts and grape colored bruises along his waist and ribs. I specifically noticed half a bruised handprint marked into his waist that was partially being covered, I needed to suppress myself, with this situation having nothing to do with me and would only annoy me if I got involved.

He then roughly used his free hand to jab down, under his own pair of grey sweatpants, hand violently moving inward and outward. The vermin started mumbling something under his breath while groaning. At this point, I didn't really care about the trouble it would cause me.

I charged towards the greasy man and threw him off the cashier, landing a punch straight on the nose. Hearing an ear-piercing crack, while feeling his cartilage snap into pieces under my knuckles, adding to my amusement before seeing him fall harshly to the ground. The old geezer unconsciously stood back up, revealing his now scarlet running nose and attempted to hit me back, but failed miserably. I effortlessly swung my shoulder backward, dodging his so-called attack, with him resulting in landing hard on the paved ground. He just laid there and eventually passed out after a few seconds.

I walked over to the shorter man and slapped his swollen face gently, trying and wake him up. He had passed out due to the connection of his head and the wall. Realizing that he wouldn't wake up and with nowhere else to take him, I gingerly picked his delicate body up, bridal style, and carried him back to my rather large home.

Still craving my cereal. 

-Present Time-

- Theo's POV-

I looked up and saw the same tall man that was at the convenience store. He shot me a questioning look, snapping back to reality, I sprung to my feet and took a few steps back. I looked around the room and spotted a sharpened object, I dashed to it. I grabbed the-

Wait...

 'What the hell is this?' I didn't know much about the metallic object I had just snatched, only perceiving it to be pointy and sharp. The milkman began walking towards me, I attempted to threaten him, waving it up in the air.

"Don't come any closer. I'm warning you!" I shouted.

"Is that what you say to the person who saved you?" The milkman retorted.

"What are you talking about?" Beginning to tighten the hold on, well, whatever I was holding.

"You don't remember?" Milkman asked, raising an eyebrow.

"REMEMBER WHAT?" I screeched.

"Geez, stop yelling and sit down,"  He ordered, running his long, slender fingers through his wine colored hair.

-No POV-

Theo reluctantly sat in one of the white chairs, followed by Ryder who also walked over and sat on the long, charcoal couch placed directly across from the chair Theo was placed in. There was a thick cloud of awkwardness in the room as the two sat and stared at each other until Ryder began to speak, causing Theo to straighten his posture.

"First off my name is Ryder King and yes I'm the 'Ryder King' you're thinking of. It seems that you don't remember what happened, so let me give you a break down of what occurred. You were attacked by a drunk man, slamming your head into a wall, and fainted. I came to your rescue and brought you here to my house. I changed your clothes and called my personal doctor to check you out. You're perfectly fine except..... for those marks on your body." Ryder said, emphasizing the word 'marks'

"We're currently in my room. I believe that covers everything, don't you?" Questioning Theo, giving him a knowing look. "I'll have you stay here for a while, get some rest." Ryder finished, standing up and sauntering to the door, giving Theo one last glance before shutting the door.

 Theo sat there trying to process what he had just been told. It was too much for him so he had decided to rest, just as Ryder had instructed.

-Time Skip-

It had been almost two days after the incident with Theo and his attacker, his father. He had been fed, clothed, and treated better by this stranger, rather than his own blood. Today was the day Theo would talk to Ryder since he was completely healed now. Even though he was shocked to find out his savior was the one and only Ryder King, who was portrayed as a heartless person and ruthless businessman. But to his own surprise, Theo wasn't afraid at all and instead for the first time in his life, he felt safe.

He was instructed to meet Ryder in the dining hall by one of the several maids in the house. Theo quietly followed the woman, leading him to his destination. In place of being frightened, Theo was anxious. He walked in the room, only to see Ryder sitting and waiting, tilting his head back, looking at the ceiling while having his arms propped behind his head, almost as if he was trying to gloat about his burly neck. 

He looked so serene, his features were softened but still toned. His jawline was so sharp I could feel it cutting into skin, he was a tanned god, his half-closed eyes were a hazy but a piercing caramel chocolate color. Red, no, burgundy. The shade of his hair was mystical and the way his waves were sprawled out, resting above his temples, made you feel as though you were on a sandy beach on a far-off island, watching a bloodied up sun sinking into the ground. Don't get me started on his voluminous muscles, slightly revealing through his vanilla-white v-neck shirt.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," Ryder said in a husky tone, motioning Theo to sit in the milky white chair, where he previously sat around two days ago.

That was enough to snap Theo out of his thoughts, practically running to his seat after mumbling an apology. All Ryder could do was chuckle at the sight playing in front of him.

"Let's talk, Theo."