One Step

If dreams came true.. Would life be a nightmare

(Rat POV)
Two months. I looked down at the sleeping boy beside me. His face so calm. The worry lines eased. No more tension in his shoulders. I wasn’t sure what was up with him. At first our friendship had been a great thing. He was free. He laughed. He even began to talk to others.
Chuckling I thought about how he had yelled at me when he found I was failing nearly all of my classes. Shion had set up study sessions so I could pass. He hit me when he realized I was only failing because I didn’t care. I knew the stuff. I was smart enough. But Shion was another level smart.
I smiled at the boy as he twitched slightly in his sleep. Reaching out I rubbed small circles in his back. It helped him to settle back down. One long thin fingered hand reaching for mine. When it found it the fingers curled around, a small smile came to those perfect lips. He rubbed his face slowly across the back of my hand. Then he relaxed again back into his dream.
Shion. What was it about him? I hated this place I lived in. It was no surprise to anyone. Yet this one little figure had turned my life upside down. He still didn’t know where I went to on weekend nights. I had told him if he could keep his secrets I could have those two nights. Surprising me he had agreed. He had never asked me again, nor did he try to follow.
Something big was coming in his life. It caused him to withdrawal from most of the world. It had started two weeks ago, this change back. Slowly he stopped talking in class. Next to the friends he forced me to sit with during lunch. Our time together had been filled with laughter and wonder, now we sat in near silence as Shion snuggled into my side. Sometimes he would cry, other times he sat like a zombie just staring into space. All I knew was that tomorrow was the big day.
Shion had asked that I spend the night with him. It was something I did most nights anyway. He would leave his bedroom window unlocked for me to crawl into when I got done with my weekend activities. Or during the week if he couldn’t sleep he would hang a red scarf out the window. When I saw it I would know he needed me to come over.
Yet last night he had asked his aunt and uncle if I could spend the night. They had been hesitant due to whatever tomorrow was going to bring. Shion begged them. They caved into those pleading eyes. For the first time I came in through the front door with all my stuff to sleep over.  A part of me wondered if Shion guessed this was my first official sleep over.
I didn’t think so, nor did I care to tell him. His eyes roamed behind his closed lids. What was he looking for? His mouth opened. “Rat?” he breathed my name. I touched the scar on his face.
“I’m right here. You’re safe Shion.” I told him.
“Don’t leave me.” He pleaded. I kissed his brow, trailing my lips along his cheek.
“Never.” I whispered into his ear. His thin arms reached up to curl around my neck. I hugged him, pulling him closer into me. The blanket slipped from his thin shoulders. I pulled it back up. I wondered if he was even eating. He was so skinny. Kissing the top of his head he snuggled into my arms.
The next thing I knew there was a loud banging on the door. “Shion why is this door locked?” His aunt cried. Shion sprang from my arms. He kicked at the blankets on the floor to make them look messed up. Slowly I sat up in bed when he turned those eyes to me. I rolled mine. Standing I went to lean on his desk.
“I uh, sorry I must have bumped the lock.” He called out. He opened the door. The aunt gave the room a once over. Seeing me far from the bed she nodded.
“You need to get ready. Rat should leave soon.” She added.
“He can stay for breakfast.” Shion nearly whined. I saw her lips tighten.
“Fine.” She gave me an ugly look before closing the door.
“I don’t think she likes me much.” I said rubbing at my chin. Shion snorted.
“I don’t think she likes me much either.” We looked at each other before collapsing onto the bed laughing.
Shion let me use the bathroom first. He took his time. I think it was more so I would be there longer. Finally, after the aunt had called up to us four times, Shion lead the way downstairs. We had just reached the front hall when the door opened. Turning I felt my mouth fall open.
“Hey Jeff.” Shion said. There was a note in his voice I had never heard before. It was close to fear.
“Jeff?” I said looking at the man that had just stepped in out of the rain. His eyes narrowed at me. I watched as they racked over my face. Sliding down my body.
“What are you doing here?” he hissed.
“This is Shion’s friend Rat. He insisted on having him spend the night last night.” The aunt had come into the hall. Shion glanced between us.
“Do you know each other?” He asked. I could lie to anyone but him.
“Yes.” I said at the same time Jeff said no. They looked at us confused.
“I’m not going to lie to Shion for you.” I told him.
“You lie to everyone else.” He pointed out. I shrugged.
“Not him.” I stated as I folded my arms across my chest looking up at Jeff. I leaned back against the banister to the stairs.
“Why are you here?” I asked squinting my eyes at him. I was trying to remember. He had told me once what his job was.
“I’m here to support Shion. A friend of the family.” He said trying to push past me down the hall to get into the  kitchen.
A memory surfaced, ‘We call our selves “Friends of the family” to avoid suspicion. People are gullible.’  Spinning I caught his arm stopping him from going into the kitchen. Shion and his aunt were still behind me.
“Shion is in wit sec.” I said daring him to deny it. He growled down at me.
“I wish you hadn’t remembered that.” He spat. “Now I will have to relocate him.” He was reaching for his phone. I snagged it out of his hand.
“You’re not taking him from me.” I snarled.
“Give that back you little brat.” He yelled lunging at me. I jumped over the banister to land on the stairs.
“You move Shion I send the videos I have of you.” I threatened him. He froze below me. Looking up at me I saw his face pale.
“You, you’re lying.” He pointed a finger at me. I smirked.
“It’s funny how small camera’s can be these days.” He gripped the railing.
“What do you want, Rat.” He spat my name. I smirked.
“Shion.” I said not looking past the face glaring up at me in horror.  He was breathing hard. I waited twirling the phone around in my hand.
“You won’t give out his location?” He was stalling.
“Of course not.” What did he think I was? “He’s my friend. I want to protect him.” Jeff straighten up.
“With a friend like you he wouldn’t need enemies.” He glared at me. I smirked.
“Or your protection. If you had told me sooner I could have been working with you.” I pointed out. He tossed his hands in the air.
“Like I knew you even knew him. You’re a little snake.” He shouted pointing a finger at me. I laughed.
“Rat, duh.” I laughed at him.
“Look we can work together now. If Shion agrees.” He added. For the first time we both turned to look at the other people in the hall. Shion stood at the bottom of the stairs arms at his side hands balled into fists. The look on his face shocked me. I didn’t even look at the aunt.
“I never lied to you Shion.” I whispered. “I let you have your secrets and you left me mine.” I said moving two steps closer to him. He backed up one.
“What are you?” He asked. His red eyes swimming. I sighed.
“A rat.” I said. “I spy on people get tips give them to the police.” I paused. Should I tell him everything. I stepped down another step. Shion didn’t move.
“I dance, and sing…” I dropped my voice. Shion’s mouth had fallen open.
“You sang to me when I was having a nightmare. I thought it was a dream.” He whispered. I smiled, nodding.
“Yeah. You see I will be eighteen in less than a month. I have been working in this really seedy club. People have lose lips when they’re drunk and horny.” I pointed out.
“Did you?” the blush swept over his face. I chuckled. I was right before him now.
“I never had sex for money. That doesn’t mean I never had sex.” I pointed out when he looked hopeful. “Sometimes, before I met you, I would do it just to get the information I needed.” I said not looking at him.
“Since you met me?” There it was, something in his tone. It only appeared in moments when he was trying to find out more about me. I shook my head no.
“I couldn’t do that when it was you I wanted.”  I whispered to him reaching out. I wanted to touch his face but I was afraid he would pull away. I started to let my hand drop. He caught it bringing my palm up to cup his cheek. He smiled softly at me.
“Good.”
“That’s not all he does.” Fucking Jeff. I grumbled to myself.
“What else can he do?” the aunt looked horrified. I wasn’t sure if it was my confession or seeing Shion snuggling my hand.
“I fight.” I said with a shrug.
“He’s good. We have used him as a body guard for some of our younger clients.” Jeff cleared his throat. He had never used me that way. In fact he had never been my handler for any police investigation. That would have changed our relationship drastically.
“So he can come to court with me. He can be my body guard.” Shion beamed up to Jeff.
“Well um, you see….” He trailed away.
“I will do it for free. It’s Shion.” I said. Jeff blinked at me. I had never offered my services for free. I needed the money.
“I will see what I can do to get you paid.”
“But he’s coming with us, no matter what.” Shion stood his ground.
“I , um I will see if I can clear it.” Jeff side tracked Shion’s demand. Shion glared at him.
“Rat comes with me or I don’t testify.” He threatened.
“Shion if you don’t testify you will be kicked out of the program.” I warned.
“So.” He said glaring at Jeff. I sighed. I still held Jeff’s phone in my hand. Spinning it I dialed a number.
“Adam, it’s Eve.”  I said into the phone.
“How did you get this phone?” the angry voice demanded. I chuckled.
“You know I’m better than that right?” I snorted
“Your with that white haired kid aren’t you?” He was to the point had to admit that.
“Yes. I want to accompany him to trial.” I said. There was a long pause on the other end. I waited. This wasn’t to unusual.
“Alright, let me talk to Jeff.” I gave Shion a nod as I held out the phone to Jeff. He took it glaring at me. He walked away into the kitchen.
“You can come.” He asked looking up to me hopefully.
“Yeah.” I said he threw himself into my arms.
“Who are you?” the aunt looked at me for the first time. I smirked.
“Shion’s friend.” I said.
“Best friend.” He mumbled into my neck. I hugged him tighter.
“Best friend.” I agreed.
“Boyfriend?” He asked pulling back slightly. My mouth fell open. I stared at those eyes as he looked up at me. No color flushed his cheeks. Was he serious? He smirked at me slowly.
“I wanted to wait until I knew you would be kept safe. But now I know you can save us both. I like you, a lot.” His grin split his face making his eyes squint. I couldn’t help it. I yanked him to me, pressing our lips together.