#handsomehero

“Good-bye.” I say quietly, waving when he looks back at me. Then I turn to walk sadly back towards the dock. My heart is heavy, but I know he is just that kind of a guy. She is a pretty girl and they are together, I will just have to get over it and do something else.

“Well hello honey... looking for a nice time?” a woman asks me as she suggestively wiggles her bosom.

“No thank you.” I say as I pass her by. I had forgotten Mr. Barber’s warning about the dockside in bigger towns. This neighborhood is no exception.

“Then are you looking for work? There are many of woman whom would be interested in a nice young boy like you,” she offers.

“I am just fine. Thanks again.” As the prostitute shrugs and goes back inside and I am beginning to think my troubles are over. A man comes up and grabs a hold of my bag. If I had not been working on a shipand bulked up these last few months, he would have taken it from me without problem.

“That's mine!” I shout as I pull against him. He isn't going to let go... he is a thief. And at the realization, I quickly stepped toward him and with all my strength I smashed my knee between his legs. It is enough to make him release the bag. I stumble backwards, loosing some of my herbs before I scramble to my feet and take off in a dead run down an alley. I can hear his footsteps following me. His pained grunts only add to my fear. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.... he is going to kill me. Where am I? If I turn here, will it take me to the ship?

I decided to take the chance and I quickly turned to run in the direction I believed the ship to be. I was not wrong. I went in a full circle to the road where the prostitute was.

“Back so soon?” she asks as I run past. Her laughter rings in my ears as I scan the streets for a good place to hide. The heavy bags are slowing me down. I am panting from exertion. I have to take another alley. After ducking into the nearest alley I slow to a quick walk as I try to steady my erratic breath. Okay....if I walk down this alley to the next road, take a right and then head straight, I should be able to get to the docks....

Taptap.... my heart briefly stops at the sound of footsteps behind me.Sure enough, I recognize the man as the thief as his face comes into view. He is not panting as I am. He does not even look the least bit exerted. Instinct makes me run now down the long alley as I seek salvation from my pursuer. I feel his arms enfold me; his weight and momentum knock me to the ground and leave me breathless. I reach for the gun Giovanni gave me and manage to pull it from it's holster before the thief takes it from my hands and tosses it to the side.

“Stupidboy... you should have just let the goods go.” he tells me as he starts to restrain me.

“Let me go!” I shout. Yeah...like that's going to work... why don't you say please and see if it makes a difference? Stupid... I manage to turn over despite his efforts. I even got a few hits in before he caught my wrists in his hands.

“You fight like a girl...” just as he said it, the truth occurred to him, “Are you playing hide and seek little girl?” Gaia..help me! This man has made his intentions incredibly clear as he fumbles to undo his belt. I scream and struggle against him. Fear pushes adrenaline through my body to extremes. A pressure behind my eye grows stronger and stronger as the inevitable draws nearer.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing?” Kristoph's voice is music to my ears. My attacker quickly moves off of me and draws a dagger to defend himself with.

“This doesn't concern you mate... ” the thief says.

“What? I can Not leave you alone for five minutes without some dip-shit attacking you?” Kristoph asks me, ignoring the thief.

Apparently, the thief doesn't like t be ignored. He releases me, throwing an effective punch at Kristoph's jaw and slices at his chest. I watch as the two of them fight. I hear the rocks crunching under there feet as they struggle to control the dagger for their own purpose. A quick twist and the thief manages to slice Kristoph's cheek. My hands are shaking, the thief has managed to knock Kristoph to the ground.

My pistol... I crawl over to the gun with as much speed as I could muster. My shaking fingers drop the bag my apostles are in. Zounds...what is wrong with me? I glance up to see Kristoph kicking the thief and managing to get himself out from under him. I can hear the thief cry out In pain as Kristoph slid his face across the rough wall. In desperation, the man slides his blade into Kristoph's leg. Kristoph releases him, yanking the dagger from his thigh and retreating a few steps.

I aim, praying that I loaded it correctly as I fire. The bullet hitsthe thief's arm, his pain was the distraction Kristoph needed. Thestruggle ends with a hard head butt from Kristoph into the other mans skull. The thief drops like a rag doll to the cobblestones and I am once again safe from harm.

“I can not leave you alone for a second, can I?” Kristoph asks me as I collect the things that fell out of the bag during my struggle. I wish I could argue... my cheeks are bright red from embarrassment. I can hear his heavy breathing as he steps closer to me.

“I thought you were going with Sabrina.” I manage to say.

“That is another thing. How dare you leave me with that woman.”

“How dare.... it was implied that you were in some sort of relationship with that woman.” I stammer.

“I am. A relationship I have been trying to end for years now.”Kristoph replies as he kneels down to help me refill the bags, “I thought you would save me but instead you left me to suffer in her company.

“You did not say anything to imply that you needed rescued.” I insist,“Why do you not just tell the woman you no longer wish to have a relationship with her?”

“She knows.... she does not care what I wish.”

“You could always say no... be assertive for gaia's sake.”

“Easier said than done sometimes.”

“Then how did you manage to get away this time.... in fact, what possessed you to come this way at all?” I ask.

'This one.' Don't talk to me like I'm not in the room, bandit.

PFFT—HAHAHA.