Reaper

Chapter 9 -Evander

He was panicking the second Kouzen indicated to go into the building. Real gangs ran the area and this is where they often peddled drugs. The i***t could run straight into a drug dealer and then what? He could be kidnapped, he was a prince after all. It’d be all Evander’s fault in the end too, he’d end up in prison for sure if he got hurt.

He tried to convince himself he didn’t care as he ran after him. The fucker was fast but he assumed that was his fault too, if he’d never chased the kid he’d never have learned how to outrun him. The real problems came when he shoved his hand over his mouth, he was tempted to lick his fingers, furious he’d been shut up but then the way he grabbed his hand shut him up just as effectively.

Soft and warm, they curled around his hand and gently tugged him to that room. He didn’t want to go in but the way Kouzen’s voice insisted he felt like he had to, too. That f*****g addict made him uncomfortable, he may be a punk but he’d never indulged nor wanted to indulge in drugs. He watched enraptured as those tendrils drew patterns over the guy’s skin and then cringed as they delved into his mouth.

His hand shook but he didn’t think Kouzen noticed, he was so focused on the guy in front of him. The tendrils retreated and the pulled out a little sphere, just like his stolen marble hanging in the club house. The colors swirled inside like billowing puffs of his smoke had been captured inside. He reached for it and the second he let go of the freak it disappeared.

It broke him when he took his hand again and confirmed he could see it, hearing the tremble in his voice. It was the hardest to deny his feelings when his nose pressed against his chest, his dragon was so incredibly pleased. The horns he’d ridiculed him for rested on either side of his chin, pointed tips rounding back around to poke gently against his shirt. The smell of his tears had always given him some form of satisfaction but he felt him breaking down for a completely different reason and it made him uncomfortable.

Now he was walking him to the clubhouse, his body tucked in his arms. His knees squeezed his hips as his lower legs dangled trying to help with the weight. The pearl was still in his palm, he hadn’t looked up once since they left. It kept glinting in the corner of his eye and he was more amazed with the brat the more he looked at it. He wanted to drop him like deadweight and walk away the more that feeling set in.

He walked into the entrance, a door on the side tucked into an alley. It was the best way to avoid anyone seeing their comings and goings, “Stats, come help me man!”

Stats was always at the clubhouse. His parents were constantly not home and he preferred to spend his time in his own place. He came slowly down the stairs, expecting to see his friend with a case of beer and balked at Evander. Evander shook his head, not wanting to talk about it, “This fuckface is heavy. Can you take him up the stairs? My arms f*****g hurt.”

Kouzen really wasn’t that heavy but he’d carried him a long way. He was almost jealous as his friend awkwardly maneuvered him against his own body. He’d asked for his help so he kept himself in check, shaking his arms out. He was even more furious as he saw Kouzen was asleep, long black lashes resting on his cheeks as his arms snaked around Stats’ shoulders for support, “hm, dum-ass.”

Stats snorted, “sounds like he’s dreaming about you, dumbass.”

“Not funny,” Evander grumbled and watched Stats set him on one of the sofas. He immediately went and got a beer, popping it open and taking one long drink. Stats was staring at him, arms folded across his chest as he waited for Evander to explain himself. After a good long minute he told him all about going into the old building several blocks over.

“A marble?” Stats looked down at Kouzen’s fist holding onto something he couldn’t see so tightly his knuckles were white. He shook his head as he looked at Evander.

“Hold his hand and then look in his other hand,” Evander pointed, taking another drink of his beer. Stats did as he was told and then blinked a few times, leaning to pry the object from Kouzen’s hand. Kouzen’s eyes shot open and he headbutted him away.

“Ow! f**k!” Stats was knocked backwards, toppling over a coffee table as he held his head. Kouzen looked around in a panic, grasping the object tightly to his chest. Evander stared at the scene before laughing so hard his legs buckled, “I’m going to f*****g kill you, you dragon prick!”

“Where am I? Did you kidnap me, Evander?! Who is—Malcolm?” He calmed down slowly, Evander watching the rise and fall of his chest. He was like a cornered animal, pressed tightly against the back of the sofa. Stats marched over to him once he was recovered and kicked him in the ribs before diving down onto him in anger.

They wrestled a minute, Kouzen watching them confused as he coveted the marble like a certain character out of Lord of the Rings. Evander pinned his friend, pulling him into a headlock, “I didn’t know he’d freak out, say Uncle, dickhead! That kick really hurt!”

“Ow! Uncle! Gods damn,” Stats rubbed at his throat as he was released. They growled at each other before Evander fully got up from the ground. He walked over to Kouzen and peered down at him, frowning as he put all his defenses up, scowling up at him.

“I didn’t kidnap you. You took that thing from that guy and then I carried you here. You fell asleep,” Evander rolled his eyes, glowering down at him. He had the sense to look ashamed after a second, looking over at Stats.

“Sorry… and sorry for the, ya know,” Kouzen motioned at his forehead as he looked around at Stats. Stats grumbled, waving him off.

“I shouldn’t have scared you. I’m going to go get a pizza, call it a peace offering, horns. What kind of pizza do you like?” Stats unlocked a cabinet in the kitchenette, moved an old cereal box and unlocked a safe. Kouzen tilted his head to watch and Evander blocked his view.

“Club secrets, quit gawking,” He leaned down so his face was in Kouzen’s. The demon boy regarded him with annoyance, settling back on the couch.

“I don’t need your money, I have my own. Malcolm, I’ll eat anything, I’m not picky. Whatever you guys normally eat I’m sure will be fine,” He pulled his knees up again like he’d done on the bench, cheek resting down on the tops of them. He looked so tired and Evander quickly walked away to avoid his feelings kicking in any further. Stats chuckled at him as he stuffed the cash in his pocket and walked past.

“Have fun guys, I’ll be back in probably like 45 minutes,” He smirked and Evander flipped him off, smoke swirling out of his lips as he mouthed ‘f**k you’ at him. He looked back to Kouzen sitting on the couch, this day hadn’t gone at all how he’d thought it would. He thought he’d bring him here, figure out what the black vines were and rough him up a little. Now he just had more questions.

He went to sit in his recliner and as his eyes connected with Kouzen he pictured the porn they’d watched. He saw the black haired effeminate boy, he pictured grabbing those horns and the screams. He quickly abandoned his recliner, sitting on a different sofa, his face red.

“I still hate you,” Kouzen’s voice carried to him, throwing his thoughts off. He stared at him for a long moment, he looked so at ease right now.

“I still hate you too. Glad we could establish that,” Kouzen snorted, his arms wrapping around his legs now too, marble still presumably in his hand based on the way one was still curled into a fist. Evander waited a moment before sighing, “What is the marble?”

“I call it a pearl… but I think it’s a soul. The first one I got was all dark and I was able to see the guy I pulled it out of. We watched all these memories together and then I told him he was a bad guy and I hoped he had went to hell. The floor opened out and I saw some flames and he just got sucked through,” Kouzen relayed the information factually, avoiding looking at Evander until the end. He nodded a little, soaking the information in like a sponge.

“Have you… always been able to do it?” Evander clasped his hands together.

“No, it happened for the first time two weeks ago. Can I trust you enough not to tell anyone what triggered it? It involves my dad and he’s very secretive about what he does,” Kouzen’s golden eyes were nothing how he’d seen them before. They were always angry, guarded, tired or bored when he looked at him. They were asking him for trust despite his earlier words, almost at the point of puppy dog eyes.

“Who the hell am I going to tell?” He scoffed, leaning back onto the couch cooly.

“I’m serious, it’s very important that what I tell you literally no one ever finds out about,” Kouzen’s legs lowered to the floor. Evander rolled his eyes, impatiently waving his hand to indicate he understood. Kouzen told him all about the convenience store and he slowly got angry that anyone else would put his hands on his prey.

Kouzen stopped talking about it in the middle of the story, tilting his head, “What else happened? You can’t just stop telling it right there. You didn’t even tell me how it happened.”

“You were growling,” Kouzen said it softly, confused.

“Just keep telling the gods damned story,” He hadn’t even realized he’d been growling he was so enraptured in all the things he’d do if the freak ever ran into them again with him nearby. Kouzen nodded and finished the story, his eyes growing wide at the end hearing how he’d gotten the pearl. Evander had done a lot of things but he’d never killed a guy.

They sat in silence, Kouzen fidgeting uncomfortably under his gaze. He was surprised but still livid. Someone had touched his prey, someone had tried to hurt his prey. A small amount of smoke billowed from his nostrils, “Uh… calling all asshats. Why are you just staring at me?”

“He touched you?” Evander stated it quietly, glowering in his direction. He hoped Kouzen could tell it wasn’t aimed at him for once.

“Yeah. That’s why I killed him,” Kouzen stated it plainly without emotion, tilting his head in confusion.

“Good. You’re MY prey. Anyone touches you again I’ll rip them to pieces,” he was off the couch and in front of him, angrily looking down at him. Kouzen’s cheeks turned pink and he let a soft rumble out, grabbing one of his horns and pulling him up off the couch. Kouzen stood groggily, shoving the object in his pocket.

He pulled his horn backwards, forcing his head to tilt and stared into his eyes, anger swirling in them, “Now you know how I felt watching you hit that kid.”

He hummed, both of them reflecting anger at the other in their jealousy. Evander moved in just a little, standing nose to nose with him as he’d done so often when he was screaming at him. He could feel Kouzen’s breath on his lips, focusing on it for once. He leaned in just a bit closer before Mack’s voice rang out from the doorway, “Whoa! What the f**k?”

Kouzen grunted as Evander yanked his head further back in surprise, kicking him in reaction to the pain. Evander’s eyes lit up with rage and he tossed Kouzen back down on the couch. He decided horns wasn’t worth it and moved his eyes to his real target. Mack quickly tried to remedy the situation but he was on him in seconds, punching him in the gut for ruining the moment.

Stats came with pizza within a minute of that and quickly separated them. Mack was yelling about how it wasn’t a big deal but Stats tossed the food to the side, forcing Evander’s hands down. When the chaos finally subsided, he grabbed the pizza and turned to offer some to Kouzen. His prey was gone, he’d slipped out during the fight. He glared at Mack who cowered and grabbed a slice of pizza, heading to a spot far away from him.