Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will included m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
Note: This story is from the recess of my mind, but a few elements of this world have been borrowed from another story with permission from the author. His work has been an inspiration to me and I would recommend it to anyone. please visit jaygordonstories.com for his stories, its free to join and there are chapters and stories only available to members.
Edited with help from Jason Gordon and MommaB, Thanks guys :-)
Angel in Black, Chapter 2
Familiar Pain
Alex woke the day after his almost beating, and fear hit him for a moment then he remembered his angel...Marcos. He hadn't seen his hero's face, but he heard the kind words and knew he was safe. Somehow he just knew he didn't have to be scared. He always was, when he went to school, the mall--he hated going to the movies, he avoided that like the plague--but today he felt safe. He just knew he was being looked after...
His school was a normal primary school, too many kids and not enough teachers. There were bullies, nerds, shy kids, loud kids, and then there was him. He didn't care who he hung with. No one seemed to want him around, so most times he ended up wondering the school grounds by him self, or in the school library. Maybe that's why Tommy had decided Alex was his latest target. He didn't know, but he knew Tommy wasn't going to bother him after yesterday. The way he looked at Alex's angel, Alex could tell Tommy was scared. Almost to death...
Tommy came up to Alex during recess, not angry, no malice, not wanting to hurt him. Tommy hung his head and quietly said, "I'm sorry for what I said and for what I was going to do Alex." Alex looked at Tommy for a minute; he wondered what Tommy was doing.
"Tommy, why are you saying sorry? Yesterday you looked like you were really gonna hurt me," Alex said confused.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me, th...tha...that...man he said not to or he would come back and he said he wouldn't be nice," Tommy stammered.
'Marcos said that?' Alex thought to himself. He hadn't heard that; all he heard was Marcos telling him he was safe, but he didn't tell Tommy that.
"Ok, tell you what; I will accept you're sorry, if you promise to be my friend," Alex said. Tommy had gone pale again thinking about how that man looked, but when he heard Alex say that he was suddenly confused.
"Why? I was gonna hurt you," Tommy said, starting to cry, "I was probly gonna really really hurt you!"
"Yeah, Tommy, I know. I thought I wasn't gonna see my mummy and daddy again," Alex said with a sob.
"I'm really sorry!" Tommy was feeling really bad now. He didn't know why he was going to hurt Alex; he actually liked Alex. Tommy thought he was cool. He had seen Alex in class yesterday, no different from any other day, except that yesterday Alex looked back. Tommy saw his green eyes and was lost; he felt something he didn't understand and then thought of his father... He was balling now, his eyes starting to blur from the tears, "I don't know what to say, please forgive me...?"
Other kids were staring, teachers were looking so Alex said, "After final bell come walk home with me; we can talk then. You don't live far from me right?"
Marcos watched as Alex left school and saw the bully from the day before coming after Alex. He was about to stop Tommy when he felt sadness and guilt coming from the boy and Alex's determination to do something to help him. Marcos calmed himself and just followed.
"Tommy, why did you say those things?" asked Alex as they walked.
"I don't know! When you caught me looking at you yesterday, I just thought of my dad, what he says to me." Tommy started crying again, "He says I'm useless, that I can't do anything right, that I'm a little fag and I shouldn't be here. That I killed my mum." Alex looked shocked; he could never imagine his dad saying anything like that to him.
"Tommy, I didn't look at you yesterday. I was bored and just looking around the class room ... wait! How could your dad say you killed your mum?" Alex looked at Tommy, shocked at what he had said.
"I don't know. I never met her, but he said she died bringing me to the world.... He hits me too...." Alex stopped, turned around, and hugged Tommy. Tommy froze; he wasn't expecting Alex to do that.
"I'm here, Tommy. I'll be your friend."
Marcos was horrified to hear what Tommy's father had said and done to his son. The two boys were almost at Alex's house; Alex had convinced Tommy to tell his parents what he had told Alex.
Marcos decided that he would pay Tommy's father a visit. It was easy enough to find where Tommy lived; the boy was an open book. Marcos watched the two of them walk into Alex's home and the door close behind them, before he walked on...
Walter Jacobs was sitting in his chair in front of his TV beer in hand, watching some crime show or other. Suddenly a loud knock on the door brought him out of his haze. "Damn good for nothing kid!" he murmured as he stormed to the door. Just as he thought, 'You're going to get such a hiding for being home so late kid!' the door flew open so hard its handle embedded in the wall behind it. Standing there was a man dressed in a long, black, leather coat and a black Akubra hat. He looked like he came straight from some cattle station in the outback, with the exception of the coat. "I hear you like to abuse your son, Mr. Jacobs!" Marcos growled at him.
"Good for nothing kid! Did he tell you that?" Walter spat back.
"No, Walter, you just did!" Marcos saw all he needed; this man was drunk, angry and resented his son, after all if it wasn't for Tommy his wife would still be here with him. Or at least that's how the man saw it.
"Walter, yesterday your son was going to beat up a good friend of mine. I couldn't let that happen. He's already been through enough pain in his young life." Marcos explained to the intoxicated man.
"So what does that have to do with me? I didn't do anything to make him do that!" This man had no idea the hurt he was doing to his son.
"It seems, Mr. Jacobs, that you are the sole cause!" Marcos replied.
"What? How? I haven't done anything to the boy!" Walter stammered.
"But you have Walter. You resent him, you verbally and physically abuse him, and I am going to give you a chance to change!" Marcos thought he could scare the man into changing as he did Tommy. But it was far too late for Walter.
"WHO ARE YOU! To come into MY home and tell me how to raise MY son!"
Alex's parents stood looking at this boy that they were told only yesterday tried to beat their son, and now he was here. He had just finished telling them how his daddy had not only been verbally abusing him, but had also been hitting him. They were shocked, they couldn't imagine... And there was Alex, comforting this boy with a brotherly hug. They saw then how mature their boy really was, or at least seemed to be.
Marcos grabbed the man by the throat, and they were both across the room so fast Walter couldn't take a breath. When his back hit the wall Walter was a good two feet off the ground. "What I am telling you Mr Jacobs is that, if you don't change as of right now, you WILL lose your son, and if you are unwilling to change and continue to do what you have been doing since that boy was two..."
Walter cut him off, barely choking out "I...never...touched...that...boy!"
"Oh no, Walter, you didn't touch him THEN," growled Marcos. "You started hitting him last year didn't you? When you found that magazine he had in his room! That's when you started calling him fag too!" Marcos stated rather then asked. He knew already so he didn't need to ask.
"How could you possibly know that?" Walter asked, shocked.
Marie and Bill decided to call the police and report Mr. Jacobs for child abuse. Tommy told them that his father had started hitting him about a year before. He showed them the most recent bruises, from a few days earlier. "Tommy, what about family? Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins?" Tommy shook his head.
"No, mum and dad were both only children. Mum's family died when she was little; well dad told me they did. And dad's family, I don't know. He kept saying something about him being a disgrace ... I don't know if I have a gran or poppa on dad's side."
"You poor child, come here," said Marie, hugging the boy. "I've got you now Tommy, your safe here, none of us would hurt you," she added.
Bill was crying, unable to fathom how Tommy's father could do such a thing. But he would do what ever he could to help Tommy. He sat down with Tommy in-between his wife and himself, and said, "You're safe now son..."
Walter was in a heap on the floor where Marcos had let him fall, he was pale, and his eyes were wide with fear, and also hatred. He now knew he couldn't defend himself against this man, but he wouldn't take his eyes off him.
Marcos went into Tommy's room, grabbing his suitcase; he was surprised to find it mostly full already. He added the few pictures of what looked like Tommy and his friends, and one old picture of his mum. Tommy didn't have much. Walter wouldn't let him.
Marcos was leaving; he didn't even want to look at Mr. Jacobs. He was afraid he would do something to endanger his charges. Just as he got to the door, Walter yelled, "Take his stuff! You can have the little faggot! I should have put him out on the street when I found out..." He didn't get to finish. Marcos rounded on Walter so fast he just seemed to disappear. Marcos reappeared with his fist buried in the brick wall only millimetres from Walter's head.
He then whispered to Walter, "You have no idea what your playing with; I could so easily tear you limb from limb. But I won't, if I did it would put your son, his friends, and myself in danger." He pulled his arm out of the wall, got up and left. But not before telling Mr Jacobs, "And if you ever tell anyone about what you saw, I WILL tear you apart...slowly..." Then he disappeared out into the evening shadows.
Marcos was almost at the Davies house. He considered just leaving Tommy's stuff on the door step and going, but this time he couldn't. He didn't want Alex to know he was there though, so he mentally sent a 'knock' to just Marie and Bill, and waited on the porch. It was just after sunset and a little over cast so even if Alex saw him he didn't think he would recognise him.
The Davies and Tommy were just starting to calm down. Tommy and Alex were playing video games and Marie and Bill were sitting and watching them, trying to figure out what they were doing with a blue hedgehog and a red echidna. Marie and Bill both heard a knock on the door and said, at the same time, "I'll get it!" Alex and Tommy looked at them like they were crazy...
Marie opened the door, Bill at her side. "Hello Mr and Mrs Davies..." Bill cut him off.
"Marcos!" he almost yelled.
Marcos' eyes went wide. "You remember me?"
"Of course! How could I not remember the man who, first, brought our son back to us, then saved him from being beaten, possibly to death!" said Bill.
At that, Marie ran forward and hugged Marcos and thanked him, "Your welcome here anytime Marcos," she said.
Bill stepped forward to shake his hand but thought better of it and hugged him also. "Like Marie said, you're welcome here anytime."
"Thank you, but I couldn't," Marcos replied.
Just then, Alex walked out of the bedroom, Tommy close behind; they were heading to the kitchen to get a drink. Tommy turned towards the front door and almost passed out...
Alex turned just in time to catch Tommy as his legs got weak.
"Tommy what's wrong?" Tommy managed to raise his arm and point at the door. Alex followed his arm to the door and almost jumped and ran to his hero.
"MARCOS!!" he yelled, still cradling Tommy.
Marcos was dressed in the same clothes he was yesterday, same everything, but he was holding a suitcase. Tommy saw it, "Hey that's mine?" He was confused as to how this Marcos had that? How did he know where he lived? HOW did he get past his father?
Marcos was about to tell the Davies why he was here. Then, he heard "MARCOS!!" and looked past Mr and Mrs Davies at the two boys on the floor, one looking at him in terror, the other over the moon to see his hero. Marcos was suddenly anxious; this shouldn't be happening yet. It was too soon. But he had to tell them what was going on with Tommy's dad.
Marcos told them how he had paid Mr. Jacobs a visit, and they had 'discussed' Tommy's situation. But Mr. Jacobs was unwilling to change, so Marcos had convinced him to surrender custody to the Davies. "Only if you all agree," Marcos said.
Alex looked at Marcos, then his parents, then Tommy. "Oh please can he? Can you?" he asked them all, hoping for the brother he never had.
"Marcos can we talk to you for a moment, privately?" asked Bill.
"Sure," he said, and they went in to another room.
"Are you sure we can do this? What about his father?" asked Marie.
"His father wont be a problem, and I can personally help with adoption too if you would like?" Marie looked at Bill; it had been so hard on both of them when they found out she couldn't have any more children without a severe risk of her or the baby or both being lost, and neither wanted to risk that. They couldn't live without each other; they didn't want Alex to have to go through his childhood with only one of them either.
Bill knew what his wife wanted; she didn't even have to say it.
Marcos looked at them, and he too knew exactly what they wanted. "Okay, so I will help push the adoption through; it shouldn't take too long. But, I must say, after this is sorted you won't see me for a while. I will still be around, as you no doubt think and you would be right. But I can't be in your lives yet. I will always be around though; if anything ever gets too bad I will know. Like I did yesterday."
They couldn't speak. They were shocked and also a little worried that Marcos replied to their unspoken feelings and thoughts. They went back into the other room where Alex and Tommy were waiting. The boy's looked up at the three of them, Tommy still scared and Alex wondering, but he also had a feeling. His parents sat down on the couch, looked at each other and then at Tommy. "Are you willing to be part of this family Tommy?"
He looked at these people that had a short time ago been comforting him, and telling him he would be safe from now on; he felt safe. Terrified of Marcos, but safe. "Yes, oh please, can I?"
Before anyone could answer, Alex jumped up, yelling, "I have a brother!" and ran around hugging everyone and smiling brightly.
A little while later, after what was going to happen was explained to Tommy, Marcos was outside looking off into the darkness. His eyes had an eerie gold glow to them. Tommy came up behind him but before he could speak Marcos said, "I'm sorry I scared you, Tommy. Can you forgive me?"
"How did you...never mind. I can if you tell me why you said what you did?" Tommy was curious.
"Don't end up like your parents? I needed to say something to make you think ... you tell me: did you pack your suitcase after you saw me last night?" Marcos quickly changed the subject.
"Yeah I did. You did make me think, and I don't ever want to be like my dad!" Tommy said trying not to cry again.
Marcos pulled him into a hug. "Don't worry; it's over. He's out of your life now," Marcos said, trying to comfort him.
As Tommy calmed down, he noticed that Marcos was cold. Colder than he should be. It was a warm summer night; he should have been warm, but he wasn't. That's when it hit Tommy: how Marcos looked yesterday, his face, his eyes, the FANGS! Tommy looked up at Marcos' face; he looked normal. "Marcos, what...are you?"
'You know what I am Tommy!' Tommy was confused; he was still looking at Marcos' face. He heard him speak, but his lips didn't move.
'Don't say it Tommy, just think it. I can hear!' Marcos thought to Tommy, while tapping his temple with his finger.
'Think it...?' thought Tommy.
'Yeah that's it!' Marcos replied.
'Oh cool! You can read minds, does that mean you are what I think?' asked a now excited Tommy.
'Yeah I am, but please don't be scared of me. Now that you are going to be part of this family, I'm here to protect you too,' Marcos told him.
'What happened with my dad? You didn't?' Tommy said, worried.
'No, Tommy, I wouldn't. I almost did when he said something bad about you, but I didn't.' Tommy was still looking at Marcos' face. After hearing that Tommy leaned his head onto his chest and quietly said, "Thank you."
'Tommy, I want to ask you something. I need you to keep this a secret. What you know about me, if anyone ever knew we all could be in trouble. Can you do that for me?'
'Yeah, I can do that Marcos,' replied Tommy. Then they both went back in the house.
Back inside they were all sitting down again when Marcos told them he had to go. He didn't know when they would see him again. He told the four of them that he would always be watching, and he would be there when they needed him, but for now he had to go. Then he got up and left, saying, "Goodbye."
"Well, what do you think boys?" Bill asked.
"I have a brother! I have a brother!" Was all Alex could say. He was happy again. He even forgot about Marcos for a while.
"I'm going to miss dad, but he never loved me. I tried everything, but he never did. He blames me for mum dying," Tommy said sadly.
Marie rolled her eyes, then put her arm around her soon-to-be-adopted son. "It's okay! Tommy I'm here!" He cried softly into her shoulder, then fell asleep. It had been a long day and night.
"Alex, go get ready for bed. Tommy will share your bed tonight. We'll go get him one tomorrow and set it up in your room. I'll carry him up there, now go get ready," Bill said, then he scooped up Tommy and carried him up to Alex's room.
"Daddy, what's going on?" Tommy asked sleepily.
"Nothing Tommy. Go back to sleep." Bill had tears in his eyes as he took Tommy to bed.
Alex carefully put the cover over his new brother. Even though he was younger, he felt he needed to protect Tommy. He made sure he was all tucked in then laid down and went to sleep.
Bill and Marie went to bed that night content; they were gaining a son. They were happy.
Marcos went over the night's events in his mind. It wasn't an ideal situation, but it wasn't unwelcome. Tommy was a good boy, and perhaps with the Davies family he would have a good and happy life. And he didn't run away when he realised what Marcos was: what's that they say about animals and small children being good judges of character?
Time started to past by quicker each day. Marcos may have been out of touch, but he still had a few contacts in the Shadow Council that were willing to help him. They helped push through the Davies' adoption of Tommy without all the red tape; it was all done within a couple weeks. Tommy didn't even have to be taken out of school, which was a plus. Tommy and Alex seemed to stabilise each other, and were happy and doing well in their classes.
A month had passed since the adoption had gone through and was approved. Tommy's father had only gotten a suspended sentence for abusing his son. A restraining order had to be taken out when Walter showed up drunk at school and started abusing Tommy, Alex, and anyone else he saw. He then received another little visit from the angel in black. He was warned that he had made his choice, and if he continued to abuse Tommy and his new family, he might not like the result. He seemed to give up after that.
Marie and Bill were happy to have two laughing boys under their roof. The boys got along so well that it was as if they really were brothers. Tommy was really starting to be the older brother to Alex now too. Tommy's friends loved Alex too, so the house was always full after school and on weekends. They really were a happy family. Bill and Marie had found them selves crying one afternoon when Tommy, without thinking, said "Thanks mum, thanks dad," after they had a family discussion. Tommy had started crying too, until Alex yelled "Yaaaaaaaaay! You finally called them mum and dad!" Then they all started laughing.
Time seemed to speed up for Marcos. He was always there watching from the shadows. He was finding it harder to stay away from his family. He had even moved closer, not that the distance was a problem. He could be there almost instantly from almost anywhere, a trick he learned from an elder a few years back. But he was lonely. It had been a very long time since he had been a part of a family, adopted or not. A couple times he had to take a few preventative actions. One night there was a burglar lurking around the house, who had every intention of breaking in.
Marcos saw this, and that this man had gotten away with a few break-ins where whole families were killed. The burglar had a pistol and was more than ready to use it. Marcos caught the guy just as he was about to smash the window into Tommy and Alex's room, grabbed him, and dragged him down the street. He never had his meals anywhere near his home, or his family. He drained the man, and then used another trick he learned from a friend, and the body was a pile of ash in a few seconds, crisis averted.
Some weeks later, Marcos felt a deep dread coming from his family, in particular Tommy. Marcos went to him. It was a week after his birthday, and Tommy was terrified of something. Marcos called him out into the backyard so no one would hear them, not that they would hear anyway. 'What's up Tommy?'
'You won't get mad?' Tommy thought, worried.
'Never buddy,' Marcos replied.
'Dad came up to me when I was walking home the day after my birthday,' Tommy told him.
'What did he want?' Marcos asked, trying really hard not to go flying off to find Walter and tear him to peices.
'He said he wants me back. He was drunk again, I could tell. Then he said if I didn't tell mum and dad Davies that I wanted to go back to him, he would kill them, Alex and me. He showed me the gun he bought. I'm scared Marky!' Tommy thought to Marcos, crying. Marcos hugged him and wouldn't let go.
'Don't you worry Tommy, he will never hurt you or our family ever again.' Then he leaned his head down and kissed Tommy's head softly. 'Now you go inside and forget about it. Go play with your brother,' thought Marcos.
'Ok Marky, love you.' Marcos was a little surprised at that. It had been a long time since he'd heard those words, directed towards him anyway. It seemed he was becoming a bigger part of this family.
Later on Marcos sat in his small house quietly contemplating what he was going to do about Walter Jacobs. He knew there wasn't much of a choice in the matter, Walter threatened his family.
"Hello Marcos."
"Calvin, what are you doing here?" asked Marcos.
"I have a warning for you from your friend in the council. You're being watched. I know what you're planning for Walter Jacobs. Tread carefully; he isn't of any interest to us but he knows people. If they found out it was you, you would be running again," Calvin told him.
"I can't run anymore Calvin. There's a family for me here now; I assume you already know that," he replied.
"Oh, I do, and I feel for you. I know you gave this man more then one chance and that's more then he deserves, but tread CAREFULLY ..." Calvin turned to leave.
"You know me Cal," smirked Marcos.
Calvin stoped at the door, "Yeah, Marc, that's why I'm here. Just don't get caught! I may be able to cover for you if you aren't seen. Maybe one of your magic tricks could help? Later," and he was gone.
Calvin was right, he needed to be careful. The last thing he needed was to piss off someone close to the Council.