Reaper

Chapter 7 -Evander

His mind was reeling as he watched the SUV containing Kouzen pull out of the parking lot. He’d thought it would be fun to torture him outside the school, let him let his guard down and pounce. Instead, he’d followed the freak all the way to a street off the school grounds. He’d watched him from around the corner, kneeling down and touching that injured woman.

He saw dark whisps of smoke trace along her skin and down into her shirt. Initially he thought he was groping a hurt woman but then she stopped breathing and he saw the whisps crawl back to him. One of them was curled, and he saw him take something from it and tuck it into his pocket with a slight of hand a magician would be proud of.

He had looked unsettled for only a split before getting up and as Evander came out to f**k with him, he smacked into his chest. A deep part of him purred as it remembered his face pressed into his chest. He wanted to beat the s**t out of him but on the other hand his dragon wanted to hold him against him and hiss at anyone that got near. He briefly wondered if that’s what Kouzen had felt watching him beat up that other kid.

His dad wasn’t picking him up today and having missed the bus to f**k with the wimp he realized he’d need to walk. It was a long walk but it would allow him to clear his mind. He started towards home then changed his mind as he got closer, heading into the clubhouse instead.

Stats was there, he greeted him with a fist bump before pulling out their books and running through the numbers. He raised an eyebrow, “I think we’re officially a gang. I didn’t know we had books.”

“You’re the leader of our ‘gang’ and you didn’t know I kept books? Someone’s gotta make sure we don’t gamble away all of the other kids’ money. Plus we have snack expenses, party expenses, booze expenses. Someone has to keep it all running smoothly,” Stats smirked, picking up a soda he’d brought and taking a drink.

Evander hummed and sat in his recliner. He briefly was reminded of stroking himself off to Kouzen and frowned. He rocked in the chair a moment before looking at Stats, “Hey, Malcolm. You’re my best friend, right?”

Stats froze. They’d known each other since kindergarten, and had been gleefully teasing and scamming kids together since second grade. They had a shadowbox frame hanging up with the first thing they’d ever scammed from another kid: A tiger eye marble Julius Frazier had brought in for show and tell. “It’s been so long since you’ve used my name, I thought I was having a stroke. You know we’re like brothers.”

“I’m gonna say something and I need you to shut the f**k up until I’m done talking,” He looked at his friend and shifted uncomfortably as Stats agreed, “That wimp told me I was his bully and told me not to hit other kids the other day. He totally knocked the air out of me and he was covered in this black smoke, scared the piss out of me. He’s been in my head ever since and I want to beat the ever loving f**k out of him but… I can’t get him off my mind in another way either.”

Stats was quiet for a long time making him nervous. He stared at him, waiting for his reaction. Finally he licked his lips hesitantly and frowned, “Like, a crush?”

Evander growled at him making Stats hold his hands up in surrender. Evander thought about it though as Stats returned to the books. Was it a crush? His palms began to sweat and he felt his mind spiraling at the idea, dating Kouzen seemed out of the question. He wanted to pummel him until he was nothing. On the other hand, he also wanted to kiss the bruises he put on him afterwards. His chest rumbled again, and Stats laughed at him.

“If that noise was your dragon, it’s definitely a crush,” he shot him a look and Stats just kept laughing.

Evander shut his eyes as he waited for his friend to get it out of his system. He finally settled and started doing the books before laughing again in a second burst of amusement. He got up and got himself a soda from the mini fridge and sat back in his recliner. Mack came wandering in and looked between them, “What’re you fuckfaces laughing about?”

“Nothing man, how’s it going?” Stats grinned to him, letting Evander sulk and fester in his feelings. He didn’t bother pointing out he himself wasn’t laughing and neither did Stats. Stats just kept him distracted, tossing him a wink when Mack wasn’t looking. He was so thankful for his best friend.

Evander left with just enough time to get home before dinner. He walked into the house and his dad stopped him in the entryway. His face was rough and he ran his hand along his whiskered jaw. He didn’t talk for a long moment, just studying him before sighing, “Where’ve you been? You were supposed to come home after detention.”

“I went to Malcolm’s house for a bit,” he frowned. Since when did it matter if he didn’t come home right away? His dad nodded a little and patted his shoulder briefly.

“Mr. Tarasov called, said you were holding onto his son and left bruises on his wrists,” his gaze became fierce and Evander swallowed thickly. He wanted to be mad at Kouzen, truly but the ass hadn’t even told on him. He’d gotten caught red handed. He wasn’t even mad at Kouzen in that moment, just wanting to understand.

“Yeah, he tried to hit me so I grabbed him so he wouldn’t hit me,” Evander told half the truth, watching his dad’s eyes swim with anger at the unfairness. He couldn’t blame the asshole this time though, it made his stomach churn that he’d get that brat in trouble unfairly for the first time in his life, “It was my fault though. He told me to leave him alone and I kept pestering him. He tried to hit me because I wouldn’t let him be.”

His dad’s anger switched gears and focused on him, “Gods dammit Evander, leave that boy alone! Mr. Tarasov said he’s pressing charges next time, enough is enough! He’s tired of mending his kid back up and I can’t blame him. If it were the other way around I’d of sued the pants off of him already. Do you understand yet?”

“Yeah, I do,” Evander hung his head a little. He still wanted to beat the s**t out of the horned psycho for getting in trouble but he felt a bit mature accepting responsibility for once. He wasn’t about to leave him alone either, oh no, he was about to insert himself into his way more. He understood what his dad was saying, but they couldn’t press charges if they couldn’t catch him doing it. He already knew his prey wouldn’t tell.

He left him alone during the school day the next day, avoiding his path until detention. He didn’t bother harassing him, staring out the window during the hour. He could feel suspicious eyes on him and couldn’t help the smirk on his face each time his hair stood on end to tell him he was being watched. Oh how his little prey had no idea what was on his mind. He always waited for Evander to leave first and he took great joy in knowing that as everyone filtered out at the end, he was bugging him just by sitting in his seat.

The monitor stared at them impatiently before huffing, “Evander Alfson, Kouzen Tarasov, it’s time to go, I would like to go home sometime this afternoon.”

Kouzen waited another minute before slowly standing and then hustling out of the room. Evander laughed under his breath, standing and following him. The monitor stopped him, giving him a dirty look as a warning before letting him leave. He rolled his eyes, he was used to stalking his prey from a distance, he hadn’t ruined any of the plans he thought he knew about.

He covered the distance to the front of the school in record time, watching the horns he’d hated so long bounce down the stairs with each step. He slowed, following him down as silently as possible and waited at the midpoint, checking to see if Kouzen’s ride was there yet. He sat on the bench confirming he was waiting for someone. Perfect.

Evander swooped in, sitting casually on the bench. He folded his arms behind his head, leaning back and stretching his long legs out. Kouzen let out an irritated sigh, “What?”

“Nothing. Can’t a guy just sit?” He looked over into angry amber eyes. His lips were downturned into the biggest frown and he took so much pleasure in being the reason he was pissed.

“Not you. Not here. Go find another bench,” Kouzen ground the words out at him. He folded his arms and Evander ran his eyes over them. He was so lean when it came to muscle, he doubted he had much strength at all. He’d fail as a dragon male, no way he’d protect anyone let alone his female. His dragon rumbled inside, Evander could protect this effeminate though. Evander scowled at the inner voice then slowly acquiesced: He could protect him from anyone but himself.

“I have an idea, why don’t you come with me today. I have something I want to show you,” Evander tried to lay a truce down, studying Kouzen’s face for any indication he was willing to accept the proposal. He received a look so laden with suspicion he could see the wheels working overtime in the demon’s eyes.

“Why?” He deserved it. He’d been beating this kid up since he was 6 years old.

“I want to know more about that thing you did yesterday. I felt it touch me…inside. Like not my insides but…I don’t know how to explain it. I want to know how you did it,” He eyed Kouzen, hoping he’d take the bait. Kouzen tapped his claws on his thighs a second before slowly pulling his phone out and shooting a text. Evander’s heart raced, he could have him arrested with one text at this point.

“You do anything I don’t want you to do, I will call my parents so f*****g fast. I know my mom called and threatened to have charges pressed against you. We’re both 18, you know the consequences will be worse if you do something stupid,” Kouzen ground the knowledge into him like someone puts a cigarette out with the heel of their shoe. He nodded, agreeing and Kouzen finished his text message.

“Who’d you text?” He stood up, honestly curious.

“My dad. He keeps telling me to get a friend… I told him I’m going to a friend’s house. Don’t make me regret lying for you,” Kouzen scowled, standing up too. He looked around before glancing at Evander to see where to go.

“My dad can’t pick me up after detention and we missed the bus already. We will be walking unless you want me to shift. Gotta carry my clothes for that though,” He smirked to the horned boy.

“That’s s****l harassment. I will call someone, don’t f*****g tempt me,” Kouzen growled at him. Evander wasn’t sure if he imagined the pink on his cheeks but he had to laugh at the nutcase.

“Carrying my clothes isn’t s****l harassment. Shaking my d**k at you would be s****l harassment,” He was walking away already and he heard him following.

“I have reason to believe you’d do it just to piss me off and yours is the last d**k I’d ever want to see. Walking is fine,” the grumbling behind him only secured the idea that he’d trapped his prey in his snare. He had plenty of time to try and come up with a reason the freak would be at the hideout with him.