Protector, Protector (BL)

Chapter 7- Part 2

Azame paused mid-thought, realizing he hadn’t answered Isaac. He cleared his throat as they trekked upwards. “My family. We always went to the beaches and we always hiked and found waterfalls and stuff… so, I just try to find one wherever I am so I can pretend they’re still here.”

He glanced back at Isaac, but their eyes didn’t meet. Isaac had glanced away, but it felt like he was saying continue. So Azame did, without truly realizing what he was saying. “The other kids here get to go home to their families during the summer, but I...I haven’t even seen my old house in years. The day after that happened, I was just plucked up by the system and thrown whichever way I could be caught, but no one had ever even raised up their gloves. It was clear they didn’t want me.”

“Your guardian now, though? They wanted you?” Isaac stated and it almost shocked Azame. He paused and turned around only to almost have Isaac slam into him.

“Not really,” Azame stated. “They had to take me if they didn’t… I would have died probably. Whatever came through the front door that night and butchered my family… they were never caught so I know he’s still out there, waiting to finish what he started. I was supposed to be in witness protection… but that was overruled.”

Azame took a deep breath, that should be believable enough. He couldn't just outright say the truth that a Shadow had busted through his front door and devoured everyone Azame held close and dear, because when Humans got too close to their world, they ended up dead too. Shadows enjoyed eating Sirens, this was a known fact. But that doesn't mean a Shadow would overlook an unsuspecting human if their stomach was rumbling and they needed energy. Humans had it easy, they could just chalk up as some lone psychopath running the neighborhood. At least, they slept better at night when it was just that. 

And not those blood-red eyes that looked back at you,  slithering out of the darkness. 

Isaac pushed past him awkwardly. “You seem overly confident that you’re safe.”

“I’m not,” Azame answered, catching up to him so they could walk side by side. “My whole life is a waiting game. My best friend knows what happened that night so he stays close just in case, but will I even be able to spot him after all these years? He could already be in this school and I wouldn’t know until he kills me. And I honestly don’t want to die like that. Not the way my mom did at least. She was alive while he was tearing her heart out and all I could do was cry.”

He trusted Ajax, though, to know when one was too close. They could change their faces whenever they wanted, there wasn't anything to stop them from becoming the monsters that they were. How many Sirens had trusted a friend they'd just met, in the middle of the schoolyard only to become the torn apart corpses that Shadows left behind mere hours later? That thing that had come after him that night could become anyone it ever wanted to be, but Azame was lucky because that being radiated more energy than any other known Shadow. That meant, once he got too close to the pair, Ajax would know. But, it was a waiting game and once one knew where Azame was they would come. It was terrifying. It kept him awake some nights, waiting for the inevitable future of his death. Because it would come, as it came for all the others who had gotten too comfortable. Even though he felt safe, even though he felt completely secluded from the world in general thanks to Ajax's thinking 'hide in plain sight', it never meant he was safe. 

Isaac had it easy. All he had to worry about was school and assignments. Girls and relationships. But Azame had to be ready, he had to be cautious. All it took was one mistake that could spell disaster. Most Sirens and Protector pairs fled to the most secluded places on Earth, only to meet what awaited them in the safety of their own home. But for Azame, Ajax was smarter than most Protectors. And that meant he put him in a school, a big private school that kept them safe. At least, that is what Azame hoped. 

Azame shook his head miserably. “f**k, I shouldn’t even be telling you, of all people, this.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“Why? So you can spread it through the whole dormitory?” Azame’s shoulders slumped down. “Honestly, I don’t care if you do… I’m already the school’s crazy, what more could they tack on my shoulders?”

“I’m not as big of an asshole as you think I am,” Isaac replied. “At least, when I’m alone.”

“Your friends don’t define whether you’re an asshole or not. You’re a pretty big one.”

“My friends aren’t really my friends,” Isaac stated honestly. He glanced over at Azame briefly before returning his attention back to where they were going. “In fact, you're more of a friend than any of the others combined. I hate them sometimes. Well, most of the time.”

Isaac and Azame being friends? Preposterous, they weren’t anything like that. Sure, they didn’t fight as bad as they used to and they’d gotten a mutual understanding of each other, but the barbs were still there. Isaac would say some cruel thing that upset Azame and then they’d fight and history would repeat itself. As far as Azame was concerned, they weren’t friends. Just acquaintances. Mortal enemies.

“Then why do you still hang out with them? Isaac, if you hate them, then drop them.”

“It’s a little harder than that… our families are friends, fathers, and stuff… so I can’t.”

“You can, something I’ve found out in my years is that you can do anything, you can turn anything in your favor. You just have to try. If you’re really ‘not the asshole’ you believe you are, then you’d drop your friends despite what it means,” Azame answered before pulling ahead. He started to climb up the steep, rocky incline that led back up to the original path.

“Things aren’t necessarily that easy,” Isaac commented dryly.

Azame stopped and turned around. “What do you mean?”

“Well, since you shared something I’ll give you something back. Ok, well I’m the youngest of six children. Fun fact, and I’m also the only one with a different mom. My dad f****d a secretary and look, here I am,” Isaac stated crudely. “His wife can’t stand my face, my brothers and older sister can’t stand me. So I’m here, waiting for my time until my dad discovers my worth or some shit.”

“I’m sorry,” Azame admitted honestly. “So you’re what, stuck trying to please him or something?”

Isaac sighed. “Yep.”

“You could turn over a new leaf here, you know?” Azame offered. “I mean, I grew up without parents so I may be overstepping my boundaries here but your father shouldn’t control your worth? I mean, we’re just kids.”

That statement alone tore Azame’s heart out from the inside. He’d prayed for someone to notice his own struggles and tell him that what he faced wasn’t his responsibility. He was just a kid with too much on his shoulders, and Azame knew that Isaac needed to hear it just as much as he did. Rivalry aside.

“Yeah,” Isaac breathed. “Just kids.”

“I believe everyone has a destiny, Isaac, something the heavens or whatever up there preset the day we were born. And for some reason, imagining you in a cushy office, biding to everything your father demands isn’t you,” Azame stated honestly. "You could do some pretty great things, I think." 

“My father doesn’t think highly of me,” Isaac replied simply. “But you… what do you think about me? And you can’t say asshole, I already know that.”

What did Azame think about Isaac? He didn’t hate the kid, not really. As much as he wanted to fool himself to believe that he did. Isaac was hard, he was confusing. When Azame had first started school, he’d seen a good part of the guy. A kind side to him that, at the time, had transfixed Azame. How could someone so attractive be so kind? But then his true nature had started to show as soon as he noticed Azame looking.

“I don’t know Isaac, I think there’s not a single soul alive who knows the real you,” Azame answered. “But I can understand that need to hide. Eventually, you have to embrace yourself or you’ll never be happy.”

“Like your relationship with Ajax?” Isaac stated coldly and Azame stood still for a second.

“Oh, my GOD, for the last time there is nothing going on between Ajax and me. Were best friends. Anyway, Ajax is pansexual and his eyes definitely aren’t on me,” Azame sighed. “You’re a f*****g idiot.”

“Takes one to know one,” Isaac snapped and Azame glared at him. “But anyway, good. I’m glad.”

“You’re f*****g weird,” Azame cursed before he whirled around and started to climb once more. He reached up towards one of the rocky ledges and watched it crumble away in his hands. “Fuck.”

He fell backward like some dramatic drama scene only to fall into Isaac’s waiting arms. Isaac wasn’t able to cradle him in his arms though. He fell backward and landed heavily against the rocky ground with a thud. Azame slammed into his chest roughly and his head spun. He sat up, using his hands to push himself up against Isaac’s chest. He was all too aware of how warm and solid Isaac was beneath him, and his face was starting to go red.

“What the actual f**k, what kind of catch was that?” Azame cursed miserably, making to slap Isaac across the face. He paused though. “Bad!”

Beneath him, Isaac was quiet as he peered up at Azame. His eyes were stormy and deep like he was deep in thought. His lips trembled before turning up into a smile. “You’re really trying to jump my bones. Scandalous!”

And then he laughed, deep and surreal. His hands came up around Azame’s waist and stayed there. Azame sighed before smacking his hands away and getting up, patting his reddening cheeks.

“AS IF! You’re gross,” Azame cursed before reaching into his pocket. It felt oddly light.

Behind Isaac seemed to get up effortlessly and slink towards the ledge. Where was Azame’s phone? He lost it? Azame looked towards the water desperately, where the f**k was it? Ah!

“Hey shithead,” Isaac shouted from the top of the ledge. He tossed Azame’s phone down towards him and the boy caught it in shock. “Nice lock screen.”

Azame’s hands trembled as he turned the phone on and saw the horrifying photo that greeted him. When had Isaac had time to take a selfie and put it on his f*****g lock screen? Next time he’d put a lock on it for sure so the son of a b***h couldn’t get into it. But with Azame’s bad memory, he’d end up locking himself out of it.

Oh f**k, his blackmail material. He pulled up his gallery and just as he thought, every single photo he had of Isaac with that blonde-haired girl was gone. In their place were a few photos of Isaac himself, smiling blindingly into the camera lens. FUCKER!

“GET BACK HERE YOU PIECE OF s**t!”

Azame could hear the little s**t laughing from somewhere up the path.