The little body struggled, trying to break from the tight grasp that held him tightly.
Trembling lips that reveal sharp kitten like teeth, a hot wetness streaming down plump cheeks as the pupils of mismatched eyes grow small into mere silts. A mix of emotions flashed which had begun with anger before falling into such worry and panic as he realized he couldn’t do anything at all in this moment.
Neal’s body is curled over him like a turtles shell, blocking him off from the outside world. The close contact would have been soothing if not for the faint jerks of his body along with the sound of laughter which reminded him of what was happening. The thuds and sounds of pain from Neal had a mass of emotion attacking the child all at once. He didn’t understand why Neal was doing this. Protecting him at the cost of getting hurt himself, shielding him with his body.
Would he end up losing someone again from being protected when he could not do anything?
Again?
Even though their were many things the child had already known before Neal even had the chance to teach him any of it, this nostalgic feeling made him wonder what he was forgetting that seemed so embedded deep in his soul.
“Ahhgh nnn” Through clenched teeth Neal let out another small sound of pain. A specifically hard kick to his back making him tremble as he struggled to keep upright in order to keep Azarias under the best body coverage. It was one thing to be hurt but if any of these blows landed on Azarias, he couldn’t live with himself.
To think after finally finding a village they would suddenly be ambushed by some rough looking men. Then again with Neal’s luck the village they came across was not exactly one in its best days, with the lack of anyone outside and the scent of smoke lingering in air as if their was a never ending fire burning away at something somewhere close to here.
“Neal! Let me go so We can protect you!” Azarias shout touched Neal’s heart, the child wanted to protect him against five grown adults Neal, let alone Azarias, had no chance against.
He held him close to himself, curling more inward as he made sure none of the blows could hurt the child.
“It al- agh” Neal wanted to speak comforting words but as he went to open his mouth he ended up biting his tongue, his head was forcibly pulled back suddenly by a rough tug on his hair.
“Unless you want to be bald just listen to us and strip so we can make sure you really don’t have anything to give us as you claim. Who knows what kind of golden coin you may be..hey this is actually a pretty nice looking face.” The harsh on the ears voice had begun screaming making Neal feel like his ears were about to bleed before suddenly falling into a normal talking tone.
The assault paused upon the rest hearing this, coming over to take a look at the face now revealed from the mess of hair that had been covering it. Neal’s hair after all had gotten a bit longer and upon entering a village he couldn’t help but allow it to fall in front of his face. Perhaps it was an automatic way of protection or to be invisible to avoid being noticed and getting into trouble again.
How was he to know of the troublemakers who had been robbing every traveler that stepped foot into this village. A village not even a single leaf could blend into with how baron and empty it seemed.
The five trouble makers were taken aback by the good looks of the traveler, along with the sweet scent of lavender that wafted up into their noses. It was a very alluring scent, making their anger calm down slightly as they grew more interested in this traveler besides money.
They had thought this to be a male due to his clothing, but could this actually be a female? Not many females were in this village, let alone any young ones. Any young ones had long left to be wed off to other villages or were currently ill. So upon seeing such a pretty face of a healthy, maybe, women was arousing their inner desires, that and the comforting scent of lavender had them begin to want to seek comfort in the embrace of this stranger.
Such an odd feeling welled up inside the five, they looked to each other and came to a mutual agreement.
Neal’s neck grew sore the more the stranger pulled on his hair, his already wet eyes grew damper as his eyes focused in on the one pulling his hair and glared. Despite how much he tried to be intimidating in such a pitiful state, he could only manage to make them laugh. How harmless and cute he looked. If anything the glare just excited them more. How pretty he was even with tears streaming down his cheeks, how it made one want to tease him to get more of a reaction.
The one holding his hair yanked harder, leaning over so his face was close with Neal’s.
“Actually we have a better deal for you. Co-operate and we will let you be on you way with at least the clothes on your back. ” Whatever kind of deal this stranger was implying, Neal didn’t feel it would be much better then how things were going right now.
Neal continued to glare at him, despite how much pain he would at least vent his anger somehow at them even in such a small way. If it were one on one or even two on one maybe he could have a chance. But with five people here it was hard to try to get the higher ground out of this situation.
Seeing this glare the young man just laughs, wondering where such a feisty woman came from.
“Well woman, what do you say? Of course you can chose not to co-operate, but then I can’t guarantee the safety of your child. I am sure I could get a good penny from the slave market if the child takes after you in looks.” Considering how Neal was so protective of the child perhaps this could be used to advantage, maybe they could manage to use this to keep this woman here for a long while as their personal whore.
Why is it everyone always thinks he is a woman? Sure he had a very delicate and gentle, pretty look but…can’t men look like that as well? Usually he wouldn’t be bothered, but what trouble these misunderstandings brought! Either people wanted him dead or to do some strange things with him, only Azarias looked at him with a pure heart and pure intentions! He really couldn’t let him be touched by such vulgar things. What a horrible environment for a child this place was. This whole world really, how rotten these people.
Neal is just really unlucky it seemed.
Neal spit in the mans face, managing to get him in the eye. The unexpected action caused him to let go of his hair. This man just threatened Azarias after all. Rather then panic and give in Neal got very defensive and retaliated like this even though it did him no favors.
“Don’t you touch him. Just take my belongings and go, after all I am a man you dimwits. If your going to get blinded by your lust at least don’t go assuming I am what I am not because you are bound to be disappointed.” Neal spoke harshly, wanting to stab all these fuckers in the eyes with dirty fingernails in order to vent his own raising frustrations.
Wiping the spit away he did not feel angry as he usually would when being disrespected. Rather he grew more interested in making Neal cry more and begin to beg for forgiveness for his actions.
“Stupid bitch, I try to be kind and you spit in my eye” His voice was low, the annoying tone dark as he looks down at Neal with wild eyes. A sharp pain came sudden in Neal’s cheek. He sucked in a breath as he just realized the young man had just slapped him. A old rusted ring on his finger slicing into the soft skin of his cheek. He was not shaken by the action, but the added pain made him tremble as his mind grew hazy. How tiring this all was really.
“If you are not a woman then you are a very pathetic accuse of a man.” He looked about ready to see for sure or not if Neal was a man or not. He couldn’t tell with his voice as it was so quiet and gentle even when insulting him, it was more like gentle music then the usual deep and rough tone of a guy.
Azarias saw all of this from the gap that was reviled when Neal’s head was pulled away where it was resting on top of his. His pupils grew larger and smaller, unstable as colors swirled in his eyes. A golden color beginning to dominate as rage filled him like a rising flame.
How dare they look down on him and what was his, on Neal. While he was being protected when he should be the one giving this little shits a beat down. How he wanted to fuck them all right up, starting with the hands and feet that kicked and touched Neal.
He would make them pay, not satisfied even if they trembled in fear before him. No he needed them to submit, suffer, then perish for daring to do this. They would not be given any kind of mercy.
He imagined the joy of killing these bastards, a smirk forming on his lips. Down to the very last fingernail he would burn them to a crisp and mix their ashes with dog crap, and only then will he be satisfied.
The tears that had fallen now evaporated away due to the hot heat radiating from Azarias skin.
However he couldn’t even get out of Neal’s grasp right now because he lacked the strength, which made him very frustrated. It’s not like he could burn Neal to back off because that would hurt Neal, and he would never hurt his people.
The aura of the child in his arms shifted, but Neal gave no notice as he was to focused on not getting teared away from Azarias even as the hands began to pull at him, his heart beating wildly in panic as he was unsure what to do.
“Guys! We have to get going. Breakers making rounds” Instantly all the faces paled as they heard this news from the six guy, their look out, who spoke out of breath as if he had just ran here at top speed.
Right away they stopped what they were doing, fear filling them which overtook their desire. The one that had been pulling Neal’s hair tsked, glancing to Neal still curled around Azarias on the ground.
“You got lucky, but next time I will be sure to continue where we left off” With that they were gone before one could even give another glance.
Rather then getting up once the danger was gone Neal instead was quiet, falling over to his side as he breathed heavily in silence.
He had fallen asleep as soon as they had left, the wave of relief that filled his being and out like a light he went.
Azarias finally managed to get out of Neals grip, with how weak Neal seemed he surely held onto him pretty well despite his struggles. Azarias reached a hand out to gently touch Neals cheek. How could he sleep so defencelessly and peacefully after all that?
“Neal..We will make sure to make those shit head pay. A quick death is far to kind, how We will make them suffer in till the little bastards are begging for death. We won’t let them get off with doing this” Vulgar words and a tough tone came from pretty lips it was hard to imagine such a sweet child saying such things.
His hard gaze then softened and he leaned over to lightly lick a small cut on Neal’s cheek, as I hoping it heal faster by doing this. The golden color shifting as the others began to resurface as footsteps began to approach.
Azarias looked over to where they came from, eyes narrowed as he growled lowly. Untrusting of anyone after just being attacked in the first village he has ever entered.
“Stay away!” His tone was not the same as it was a second ago, but it did hold a lot of hostility towards whoever else may decide to pick on Neal today. He takes a defensive posture in front of Neal as if prepared to fight anyone who dare get near.
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