The Reluctantly Protected (Lyrica)

[overthesea]

Christian shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, fingers curled into fists, bracing himself against the cold winds that seemed to pierce straight through his hoodie. Grimacing, he peered round in the dark, looking for easy pray; tourists, drunks (drunks that didn't seem to violent anyway), lost people clearly in the wrong neighbourhood. He preferred to steal from these people, though god only knows he had taken on tougher jobs than that (and paid for it too, as the scar across the bridge of his nose, where it had been broken testified).

The seventeen year old grimaced as he looked down the street. It appeared no one wanted to be out in this weather, only the crooks like him and the working girls pressing themselves up against he cars of johns. This wasn't his chosen profession; he doubted anyone with him on the streets tonight chose to be here. It just had to be done to survive. Besides, there were far more demoralising carers he could pursue than thievery. He'd been out there two hours now and things were getting pretty desperate. As time crept by and he was sure he'd have to call it a night soon, Christian spotted someone. Though he may not be lost or drunk, he was certainly too good to be living in a place like this and that meant money. You had to aim for outsiders, everybody knew that no one had any money.

With an easy professionalism, the boy pulled down his hood and began to walk towards the man. He often pulled away his hood, knowing people tended to be more at ease if they could see his face. The lower the defence, the easier to pickpocket. Everyone was scared of a hooded figure looming out at them; they were by far less scared of a skinny white kid wandering aimlessly through the streets. With a skill he'd had years to sharpen, Christian "bumped" into the man, uttering an apology whilst his fingers slipped in and out of his pockets with ease, the wallet safely in his pocket and the boy walking away with confidence.

[Lyrica]

Hayden Wesley was one of those people on the street in the brisk cold night air. He did not feel it that much since he was bundled in a jacket made for this kind of night. His steps were very slow as if he were looking for something and he was, as well as having a phone pressed to his left ear and an annoyed look honed his face. "I swear Jules, I don't see the place you are talking about!" His voice rose in exasperation not true anger. "Why we have to get cookies form this place-----there are plenty of good bakeries------ugh fine, fine, Ohkay you said it a million times, I got it." This time aggravation did seep into his tone as he grumbled. With a heaved sigh blue green eyes looked at the signs acrossed the street before he walked to a cross walk and crossed.

Like hell he was j-walking in a place like this. He would surely be road kill not to mention a hit and run victim.

The twenty five year old started walking along the sidewalk now on the other side. He could hear noises on the other side of the line signaling that Julia was still with him, some clicking could be heard making Hayden think she was Google mapping it.

Yeah, now she does that. An eye roll.

These better be the best damn cookies he ever ate in his life.

"Oh hey, I think I found it, and its still open, its Ms, Duncuree bakery right?" The woman's answer he worked for was yes. A breath of satisfaction and relief. Than Hayden got knocked into, he swayed a bit, stumbled even a few steps sideways. He watched the kid in the hoodie keep going with a mild glare, he ha said sorry,

"Whatever." Was mumbled for to himself. These cookies better be heavenly. One hand on the door to open it, the other reaching into his pocket for his.....

Wallet......what the.....?

"HEY!!!!" Hand ripping from the door his shout caused many people to look about confused and also to sport a look that said 'what is that guys problem?' Black nice shoes hurt to run in but he did anyways, "Hey you!" Hayden called again going for the kid. His blue green eyes had swept the ground before he went chasing after him, at least to his credit.

[overthesea]

Christian, foolishly as he now realised, hadn't ran away from the scene. Sure, he'd picked the pace up a bit, but he was cocky and satisfied from the successful job that he'd pulled off that he hadn't seen any reason to not swagger down the street. Besides, it was always best not to run straight after robbing someone unless you knew for sure you could outrun them and Christian wasn't sure that he could.

Well, that was certainly coming back to bite him in the ass.

At the shout, he turned his head sharply around to stare back round the street, brushing his uneven black locks from his face. His eyes widened to see the very man who he'd stolen from just before staring right at him. And he did not look happy. There was a split second pause before he turned and began to run down the street, pushing anyone and everyone out of his way. Christian could hear the man shouting after him, which only served to make him panic, tearing down the street.

He was running so fast that he didn't know what happened; one minute he was running, the next, he was flying into the pavement face first. Blood burst from his nose, the palms of his hands grazed from he had tried to save himself. Gasping with the sudden shock of it, he momentarily forgot about his pursuer, too busy being scared that he'd managed to break his nose before he heard footsteps heading towards him. Christian scrambled to his feet as quick as he could, legs still unsteady with the fall as the footsteps grew closer.

[Lyrica]

((Sorry for the wait! I was off my game this weekend))

"Get back here you little-!!!" Hayden hollered out, "If you think!" The man seemed incapable of forming a real sentence right now, "I have important cards in there dammit!" His feet pounded furiously on the sidewalk as he weaved through people dodging around lap post and other things. Hayden was about to yell something else maybe for someone to stop that crazy thief of a kid, but he skidded to a slight jerked halt breath panting out as he saw the kid do one hell of a face plant into the ground.

Damn. Hadta hurt.....karma much?

After the short pause, Hayden jogged the rest of the way over to the blonde he saw him scrambled, acting fast, Hayden grabbed for him, getting an arm he twisted it enough to pin it to the kid's back and get him in a proper hold,

"Gotcha! You little thief." Came the displeased growl, "And don't even think about trying to sue! You are the one reliable for the fall not me! Punk." Hayden saw the blood running down the kids face, he in turn made a face but green-blue eyes at least stopped glaring so viciously but they did keep glaring, "Hand over the wallet." Came the demand. First he wanted his wallet back before he did anything else.

[overthesea]

((Hey, no worries! I completely understand! ^^))

The man's unfinished threats, which Christian could just about hear over the sound of his laboured breathing, would have been amusing if he wasn't at serious risk of getting caught. The man was fast and although Christian was too, he wasn't sure if he could outrun him. He, unlike his pursuer, didn't have the fuel of regular meals and good nights sleep. Living on the street didn't give him many opportunities to live healthily.

The boy had tried his best to get away from the infuriated man approaching, but the shock of the fall had turned his knees to jelly and he had barely got to his feet before the man bore down upon him. He yelped as the man twisted his arm round his back, his blue eyes wide with panic. The man was quite a bit taller than him and to say he wasn't happy would be the understatement of the year.

Christian swallowed nervously, looking up into the sea-like eyes, his limbs trembling, "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he piped up, knowing full well that the man wouldn't buy it. He had to try though; he simply couldn't afford no to.

[Lyrica]

"Oh no? You got no idea eh? I am just some crazy guy yeah?" Hayden gave a laugh it was disbelieving as he glared back into blue orbs. Hayden really was not having a good night and was unwanting to be in this god forsaken neighborhood to buy.....buy cookies.....the cookies! He swiftly looked over his shoulder towards the bakery, "Dammit!" He cursed in irritation again before turning back to the blonde, "Okay punk, you did not take anything how about we go find a nice cop? Or I can frisk you?? I got better things to do than deal with this." Hayden sort of ranted shaking his auburn head a bit.

[overthesea]

Christian shrunk back away from the burning glare, only to wince as the movement pulled on the arm still held behind his back, "Y-you've got the wrong guy," he stammered, still slowly trying to pull back from him. He was usually one to put up more of a fight, but honestly, he had been caught red handed and there'd be zero chance of him winning a fight against this guy or outrunning him. At the mention of getting a cop, Christian paled. He did not need the law to get involved with this, "Okay, okay, here!" he reached inside his hoodie pocket and produced the wallet, "Can you let me go now? you've got your wallet back."

[Lyrica]

The wallet was yanked out of the kids grip once he finally gave it up. Hayden stuck it back into his pocket with a satisfied, "Thought so, punk." He saw the kid wince and try to squirm away, not wanting to injury the kid for real, he loosened his grip before looking up at the sky with a head shake. No way was he really going to turn this kid in.....far to much of a hassle to go through, but who did this teen think he was?

"Tch, how many other people have you got running after you huh? What is your problem anyways?" Hayden brought his attention back to the child as he asked this before reaching in his jacket pocket for a package of kleenex. He always carried some. "Here, wipe your face." He released the arm, but sort of blocked his way still wanting answers.

[overthesea]

Christian resisted the urge to sigh as he felt all the money he had pulled out of his hand. Tonight was not going well for him at all. The large hand encompassing his wrist loosened a little and after giving an experimental tug, it was clear that this guy wasn't going to let him go any time soon.

The boy scowled at the questions. Now it was clear that the man wasn't going to beat him up or get him locked way for what he did, he allowed his irritation of his lost money to show, "Why do you care who's after me?" he muttered, "my problems don't matter to you. You've got your money now go!" Christian stared in confusion as he was offered a tissue, looking at the tissue, then up at the guy, "Okay..." he murmured. Bemused and slightly cautious, he took the kleenex and wiped the now drying blood off his face. He noticed, all too late to make an escape, that his arm was free, but the guy was blocking any means of running away, "What do you want?" he snapped, glaring up at him, "you have your wallet! Why aren't you letting me go?!"

[Lyrica]

Hayden snorted when he saw the confused look and the annoyance along with the hesitation of the kleenex, "Chill out, its just tissue, I did not lace it wit poison." Another amused puff. Yet his expression matched the kids if not more so when, the punk questioned his questions, "Listen kid, still the attitude." Hayden's voice crunched out in a hiss. The glare was back firm in aquamarine eyes, "I want to know because I do, so answer. You have no right to not answer. So talk." It was clear Hayden was not going to budge.

Why he wanted to know......if you were a friend asking, he would have just shrug uncomfortably and mumble something because he really did not know right now.