"Come on boys, this is no place for lazy."
Ashton fought the urge to say something when he heard the gaurd yelling it for the seventh time.
"Stay down." A boy beside him hushed, they weren't friends but Ashton often worked beside him and the boy already watched Ashton getting beaten a few times. Ashton was stubborn and a fighter, like his father taught him to be and that tended to get him in troubles.
"Just.. try not to get your face hurt today." The boy repeated.
"How can you just.. stay still?" Ashton looked at him. They were both fifteen but life were different now and they had to protect and stick for themselve.
"It won't be worth it if I'll die right? One day it will all be over and I will stay alive to be with my dad."
"And your mom?"
"Died when I was seven."
"I'm sorry."
"Hey, are you two working or just pretending to be?" A gaured appeared beside them, and his gaze was more focused on Ashton, knowing how he had a hard time keeping his temper.
Ashton bite the inside of his cheek while the boy replied for both of them something about being sorry.
But then the guared punched the boy, with no reason, and Ashton couldn't take it anymore. He launched at the gaured and tackled him to ground without caring about the trouble it will get him. Soon he was being lifted and grabbed by his arms, facing a different gaured.
"You just can't get enough, don't you?" The other gaured sighed befor punching him in the face and then in the stomach. Another punch landed on his face and the other guared released him, sending him to the ground.
He kicked one of the guard's ankle hard and the gaurd keeled with a painful groan.
Ashton tried standing up but then someone kicked his side and he fell back to the ground.
"Hey!" Liam came running into the crowd and shoved the gaurds away from Ashton.
"Don't start with us as well." One of the gaurds shot and Liam pushed him back but not without releasing his energy and make them calm down. He couldn't take them all and he didn't stand a chance when he was one. He needed to use his powers despite it being risky. But he had to do it in order to deal with mean humans who feel strong by beating a fifteen years old boys.
Ashton stood up by himself and stared at Liam with a frown, he had no idea how he got here since he work at the other side of the city but he didn't bother asking. He just started walking toward their house and Liam followed behind.
"Why can't you just keep your mouth shut?"
"It wasn't my mouth this time."
"Ashton you will get killed."
"No I won't."
"Stop that. You're old enough to make smart decisions so fucking make them."
Ashton didn't reply, he just whiped away the blood that tripped from the corner of his lip and kept walking in his slow pace.
"I think I'll try fixing you a half day."
"What's a half day?"
"Half day of work."
"I don't need privileges."
"Wait until you look at the mirror."
They reached their house and Ashton sat down on the kitchen chair the second he walked in.
Liam got a wet towel and a few bandages and then kneeled infront of Ashton. He wiped the blood with the towel from Ashton face but Ashton kept flinching and he didn't like the way Liam cleaned his face like he was his father. He moved his face to the right and refused to let Liam continue.
"I'm fine." He insisted, "I'm going to take a shower."
Liam sighed and then washed the towal and watched how Ashton's blood mixed with the water.
Ashton got into the bathroom and slowly took off his clothes, revealing his red stomach.
By the time he was done, he pulled on a pair of sweat pants and walked to the bedroom. He didn't plan on eating or even think of food when his stomach felt this horrible. Liam knew he just wanted to sleep and be alone but he still took a bag of ice and brought it to their room.
He was always kind. No matter who it was, that's how his mother taught him to be no matter what blood ran in his veins. He walked into the room to find Ashton with his eyes gazed in the ceiling and a hand on his bruised stomach.
He walked over to him without a word and placed the bag on his stomach, making him let out a sigh of content.
"You're a brat Ashton, a brat that doesn't know how to keep his promises." Liam spoke and made Ashton burst in laugh.
Liam shoke his head and just walked to his own bed.
"I'm not a brat. The gaurds are brats."
"It doesn't matter. They're stronger then you and you just can't win them."
"It doesn't mean I should listen to their talks all day."
"Its not that hard to ignore."
"Yes it is."
"Ashton."
"Liam."
"Go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and I hope it will be.. better."
"Good night." Ashton whispered back and then shifted so he will be more comfortable. Liam left the room to make sure the door was locked and turned off the light on his way out.
He then sat in the kitchen for about an hour befor going to sleep as well.
He hated seeing how the gaureds took advantage of their power and did what they wanted to young boys. Ashton wasn't the first but he was lucky to have Liam or he would have looked a lot worse everytime he got in troubles.
By the time the morning came, they both walked down the stairs and were about to go other directions but then Ashton stopped Liam and looked at him.
"Are you going to see my parents today?"
"Umm.. not today."
"Okay." Ashton nodded and Liam could see how it affected him. He could also see how bruised his face were and knew that he had to cut short Ashton's days so it'll just stop happening.
"Be careful." Liam called.
"You too."
