Sugarcoat (Benjamin Burnley x Keith Wallen)

5

I walked alone, in the gloomy night. I felt uncomfortable, something I hadn't felt in a while. I usually never got scared of walking alone at night. I was used to it, and I always carried my dagger with me. But for some reason, tonight was different. Maybe it was just the feel that Aurora gave me. Knowing that at the moment, I could he walking amongst a thousand monsters at once. I wasn't frightened, but I felt really tense. As I walked further down the path, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched.

The moonlight lead my path as I walked towards the house, but suddenly, I stopped in my tracks.

I could of sworn there was a noise, almost a scream in the distance.

I looked over towards the sound's direction, and of course, it was in the woods.

"Shit." I exclaimed. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to keep walking home, but as a part of the agency, I thought that was the wrong thing to do. I couldn't live with the guilt of someone's death or something for the rest of my life.

I groaned as I started to walk towards the noise. What was I doing? I shouldn't be the one dealing with this.

A few steps in the woods, I hear yet another scream.. I guess that's what it was. It was strange. Almost inhuman. I then start to panic as my steps quicken. "Hello??" I yell.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling goes silent.

I stop in my tracks. Something noticed me. There was something here.

Then, out from behind a tree, comes a silhouette of a man.

A tall, toned body of a man. He towered over me even in the distance.

"W-who the-" I quickly grab my dagger out of its holster. "What are you doing out in the woods??"

The man just starts walking towards me.

I start to step back, but a fucking twig trips me, and I fall right on my back. I yell out in pain. There was no help for me. I was screwed.

The man emerged out from his silhouette, revealing himself in the moonlight as he looked down at me.

His hair was a raven black, short and nicely kept. His face was round, but his jawline was sharp. And his eyes were the color of the leaves in the fall. He was wearing all black; a trenchcoat and a pair of combat boots.

"What do you think you're doing??" The man asked, his voice was deep and a little raw.

That made my heart skip a beat.

"I- uh.. I'm sorry. Who are you??" I asked, almost speechless, even though I had so many questions rushing through my mind as I laid on the forest floor underneath this man.

"You didn't answer my question." His tone was confused, with a hint of annoyance.

"Just.. looking to see what was going on. What are you doing?" I ask, extremely suspicious of this man.

"I was doing the same thing. Being the protector of this place and all. It's kind of my responsibility." He was obviously sarcastic. He reached a hand out, offering to help me up.

"Oh.. so you're Ben?" I took his hand.

The man simply pulled me back up to my feet. "Benjamin Burnley." He looked down at me, "And you are?"

"I'm Keith... Keith Wallen. Part of the agency." I stand up, still stiff in my stance as I look up at him.

"Ah. I see. So you're new around here." He chuckled, "You got a lot comin to you."

"Oh, trust me. I know."

I started to shift out of my weird stance, but suddenly a sharp pain shot up my leg. "Ah!" I reached for my leg.

Ben looked at me with sudden empathy. "Woa, you good?" He slightly reached for me, to make sure I didn't fall.

"Uh, I don't think so." I gritted my teeth. This was a great first impression. Wasn't it?

"We better get you out of the woods." Ben swiftly wrapped his arm around mine, helping me stay stable.

I had so many questions running through my head, but I literally couldn't say any of them.

He started to walk me back towards town, but this time, not towards my house. It was towards the back of the town, right beside the forest.

"Where are we going?" I asked, confused.

"To my house." He simply said, seeming careless that he's just going to bring a stranger into his house to mend him.

Eventually we walk into his house. He removed his trenchcoat and hooked it on the coat rack. He sat me down beside him with a box of medical equipment. He seemed abnormally calm for all of this to be happening.

"So, how's the life of an agent?" He asked me, trying to spark conversation I assumed.

"Eh.. not glorious. Not glorious at all.." I sighed. My leg was burning. I was positive there must of been a cut or something.

Ben pulled out a bandage and a tube of cream, then started to roll up my pant leg. It was a huge cut down my calf, and it was covered in blood. His hands were shaky as he started to clean the wound. "Ah. Being a protector isn't too fun either." His voice was tense. My leg started to burn as he poured alcohol onto the wound.

"S-sorry about that.." I looked at him. He seemed super nervous all of a sudden. This man was being really suspicious.. but so kind to me. I didn't understand.

Ben seemed so majestic. His movements were super swift and his voice was soothing.. too soothing. To the point where I found it kind of unsettling. I got goosebumps practically every time he talked.

"Sorry about what? Trying to kill me with that dagger of yours out there?" He chuckled again, quickly putting the ointment on the wound and bandaging it. He seemed super focused on something. Almost worried. "It's fine. I get it."

I blushed a little bit, embarrassed as I pull down my pant leg again.

"Say, why are you 'inactive' during the day? We went in to talk to you today, and you weren't there." I looked at him, curious.

"Well.. it's a long story." He sighed. "You'll know some day."

That got me wondering even more. Why would he say such thing?

"What do you mean?"

"You're such a curious one, aren't you? Be patient." He seemed to be getting annoyed again.

I shook it off as awkward silence started to fill the room.

"You should probably get going home.. your other agents are probably worried about you." Ben simply said as he stood back up, suggesting me to do the same.

"Oh, don't worry. You can stand now. It won't hurt to try." He smirked a devilish smirk, which gave me a strange, anxious feeling.

I did as told, standing up. No pain whatsoever shot up my leg. It was almost as if the wound had vanished. I was surprised. It was a deep cut, too.

"Well.. thank you, sir." I started to head toward the door.

"Hold on, now! Let me get my coat on. I can't just let you go out on your way so late at night. You never know what you'll find." Ben was right behind me.

He seemed so kind, like a genuinely good person. But at the same time.. it all seemed so out of place. Something was odd. And I couldn't quite see what exactly it was.

"Alright." He buttoned the last button of his coat and grabbed ahold of the door knob, opening it.

"Let's get you home."