Short Stories: 10-31-18

What Have You Done?

   For a criminal in a courtroom, it's hard to convince everybody you're innocent when you've sworn to tell the truth. The whole truth. However, as bad as it is, sometimes you must lie to survive. You lie, you try to pursue them, and most importantly, don't lose your cool.
    "So, Derrick, what do you do for a living?"
    For Derrick Forex, this way of living came naturally to him: "Oh, well I'm a security guard at Winry's Bar."
    Only half true. He didn't just work as security, but also as a hunter. He was a demonic bounty hunter, looking for demons and ghouls who are on the run. He hunts them down and slaughters anyone who disobeys him. But for obvious reasons, he can't say that to his boyfriend's parents.
    His boyfriend Trevor looked a lot like his mom: strawberry blonde hair, somewhat long face, splattered freckles, bright green eyes. Even their smiles were quite similar. They both seemed like joyous and bright people.
    Trevor's dad, however, looked like he killed a guy and dragged him outside of a bar to kick the corpse around. His grey eyes were melted steel, and his black beard matched his soul, Derrick thought.
    Derrick wasn't excited to meet Trevor's parents after an incident five months ago, but Trevor insisted that he would at least try.
    The Erickson Family sat with Derrick at a large mahogany table with a maroon cover that could sit at most fifteen people. The yellow tinted walls showed some old family pictures from when Trevor was a kid. Across the table were multiple food items; a large chicken with seasonings spread around it, two salad bowls, a small bowl of vegetables, a plate of roast beef, and medium sized bowls of soup. Mrs. Erickson really wanted dinner to be special.
    Derrick sipped his gin as he glanced at Trevor. He seemed on edge, as he looks at his glass of champagne. Mrs. Erickson filled her fancy glass with some more wine, and her husband grabbed what appeared to be his fourth can of beer.
    "So, Forex," Mr. Erickson said in a low gruff voice. "Had any trouble with guarding Winry's?"
    Derrick shook his head.
    "So no one tried to kill each other yet?"
    Mrs. Erickson laughed a little, although it sounded nervous. "Ben, dear, isn't that a little blunt? Why must someone get killed?"
    Trevor watched his cup as his drink swirled slightly. "Well, you know the saying, 'If you go to a bar, prepare for possible death.'"
    Derrick chuckled a little as he eats a piece of his chicken. Mrs. Erickson sighs at her son. "Trevor, why are you like this?" Trevor smiles and laughs a little, his dimples popping out. Man, those dimples were one of the things that drove Derrick crazy about Trevor.
    Mr. Erickson then cleared his throat. "Anyways, Forex," he began. "I gotta ask, what else do you do besides guarding? Or is that where you sleep and piss and shit all your life?"
    "Ben! No swearing at the table," Mrs. Erickson scolds.
    Derrick started to think of other things to tell these folks.
    "Well sir, besides guarding, I usually don't do much," I say confidently. "Sometimes I help my brother with his karate students, and sometimes I help my sister tutor children."
    Not entirely wrong, not entirely true. His brother, Aelchard or "Alec" trains lower level demonic children how to use their powers properly, and his sister Hadenla or "Hayden" uses spell books to teach future witches and psychics. (Heads up, his real name is Derishando. His parents were creative, supposedly.)
    "And how on earth do you find the time for all of that?" Mr. Erickson stated.
     "Oh, there's usually a schedule," he replied. "My sister only tutors in the afternoon Monday thru Wednesday, and my brother works from Thursday to Sunday. As for the bar, that opens up at night."
    Mr. Erickson gave Derrick a doubtful look. It was like he knew something. "Sounds like a busy schedule, Forex. That would take a lot of time away from you hanging with my son, wouldn't it? And what happened to 'not doing much'"
    Derrick gulped, not sure why. He wasn't trying to be nervous, but something about Mr. Erickson made him uneasy. And this was the same guy who has killed a demon by twisting his head 360°!
    Mrs. Erickson cleared her throat and picked up her dishes. "I'm going to start the dishwasher, anybody have anything they want me to clean?"
    "Oh mom," Trevor replies. "You don't have to do the dishes by yourself. Let me help."
    Somehow, Derrick had his dishes taken care of, and he was stuck with Mr. Erickson, who was sitting in the living room. He gave Trevor an uneasy glance, but Trevor smiled reassuringly.
    He sat quietly on the couch as Mr. Erickson sat on his lounger.
    Silence. A somewhat angry silence.
    "Just be aware Forex," Mr. Erickson said in a stern voice. "Nothing you'll do will make me like you. I know the real you. I know you're no good for my son. Just remember that."
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    Trevor and Derrick stayed in Trevor's old bedroom, which was three doors away from his parents room. Trevor was shoving  their suitcases under the bed. Derrick sat at Trevor's old desk, thinking too much.

You're no good for my son.
Nothing you'll do will make me like you.
I know the real you.

    Derrick felt uncomfortable. Did he really know him? And was he really that bad? Trevor walked towards him and kissed him on the cheek. Derrick looked at him and smiled a little.
    "You know, if you don't want to stay in human form," Trevor began. "We could sit on the roof."
    Derrick shook his head. "I don't want to scare you. And what if we get caught?"
    "Hon, we wont get caught. And besides, I'm not scared of much anymore."
    "Pennywise?"
    "Hey! I barely screamed during that movie!"
     "Sure, but my arm's still bruised from you clinging on too tight."
    Trevor hit him on the arm, and Derrick chuckled. Eventually after some coaxing, Derrick and Trevor sat on the rooftop, Trevor in his arms. Derrick was in his demon form, however he didn't think he liked it much. He was taller now, maybe seven feet. He owned a pair of black horns with matching black eyes and black bat like wings. His finger nails became sharper, which made him more cautious towards holding Trevor.
    Trevor didn't seem to mind. He curled up against Derrick, completely relaxed. He held one of his hands, and had the other wrapped around him.
     "Hey, Trev?"
     "Yeah?"
     "What would you do if you haven't met me?"
     Trevor gave him a questioning face, then started to think. He shrugged. "Probably not much," he replied. "Probably the same boring job and stuff."
     Derrick smiled a little, but he still wasn't that reassured. He looks towards the street.
     "Why do you ask anyways?" Trevor looked at him, concerned. Derrick looked at him, then back at the street. "No reason, just curious." He replied.
     "Did my dad say something?"
      "What made you assume that?"
     "Anytime he talks to anyone I know, they act awkward around me."
      "I'm not acting awkward."
      "You're acting awkward. What'd he tell you?"
     Derrick sighed in defeat. "Truth is, he didn't say much. Only that he'll never like me, that he knew who I truly was, and that  I'm no good for you."
     Trevor sighed to himself. "I'm really sorry about him. He's jus...protective. You know how it was after-" Trevor stopped mid sentence.
      Derrick knew what he would say. Matt. His brother Matt. He died five months ago during one of Derrick's hunting trips. He remembers that day too well. He didn't kill him, but he felt responsible. It was especially after what Mr. Erickson said:
What have you done?! My son, MY SON! MATTHEW!!!
     Derrick didn't realize he had a tear running down his face. Trevor wiped it away gently, causing Derrick to look at him. Trevor smiles and kisses his cheek. "It wasn't your fault babe. My father wouldn't know either. Try not to think about it, okay?"
     "Aren't you mad? He was your brother."
     "You didn't kill him. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the demon that did it. And you killed him. So therefore, you deserve a reward: happiness."
     Derrick sniffles a little and kisses Trevor's head. He knows Mr. Erickson will never like him, but at least Trevor does. That's all that matters.