Who: Lyle Bennet and Damien Thorn When: Afternoon Where: Store on a corner What: Accidental meeting and a sort of rescue Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Profanity, and a little blasphemy too Status: Complete
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Lyle had really no idea what was going on lately. He had tried to call Claire ten times in the last hour. That is, the ABC version of her, the one he had mostly grown up with. When she wasn't out of the house a lot to save the world or something. It was like the number wasn't in service anymore. Or it wasn't getting through. Or the particular cell phone didn't exist. He was pretty sure that SBC was still around. Her new husband Dean would probably, most likely, have mentioned it in a panic on the boards. So.. at least he had one sister. He didn't know why one was sent home. That had to be the only way. He knew damn well that Claire was pretty indestructible. And any vampire that fed, well, that didn't take, she'd maybe heal and the fiend would turn human or something.
But who really knew why the Powers did things? Who knew? Were they on crack or acid up there or out there or wherever? He didn't know. Wasn't sure he wanted to know. So he did what he usually did when he was confused. He played games or went out to buy a snack. He chose the second option. And so he walked to the party store on the corner. It was only a couple blocks from the house he was living at. As he made his way to the building, he noticed some big kid standing by the window outside. Looked like some high school senior that liked football. The guy waved and said, "Hey man, you got a dollar? Come on. How about it, you got a buck?"
"Err.. no," Lyle said as he shook his head, wanting to avoid him and hurry up with what he had to do. "I don't."
"Oh really?" The man didn't think so. "Why you here then? Why-- hey, hey, where you going-"
Lyle didn't give him time to ask further as he hurriedly walked inside. He had paced around the lanes in the store a bit, trying to make a decision. He chose a bag of chips and a 20 oz. bottle of Pepsi. That would do. But that guy was still out there. Probably got his kicks on messing with others. He should call the cops? But no, he'd need a reason and nothing had happened. But maybe Claire, or Dean or Sam could come by and kick the dude's ass? But he wasn't keen on that either. Maybe it was pride. So he went to pay for his order and had it in a plastic bag.
Then he went outside, looking for a way to cross over the street. The athlete had a hand on his arm. "Ohh ho, what is this? Thought you didn't have a dollar! You lying punk."
"That's cuz I spent it on your mom last night," Lyle mumbled under his breath, but found himself turned around with both his arms being firmly held.
The jock hissed, "What you say about my mom?? Better speak up, I didn't catch that." He shook his head, almost frustrated when he didn't get an answer, so he walked and dragged him along. "Say it again. Louder."
"I didn't say anything." Lyle sighed, panic on his face. "Just.. talking to myself." He felt that this was very familiar. It was not even a whole year ago that he was here and that potty-mouthed young warlock Ryan had him in the same predicament.
Just then, a dark-haired young man in dark expensive clothes and an overcoat walked by, looking at them curiously for a moment before walking inside the store. The bully just glared and turned his attention back on Lyle. "You lied to me. I know damn well you had more than a dollar if you got those chips. Now, I know you ain't trying me."
Trying? What was this, were they in middle school, circa 1990? He started to wonder if this guy even went to school. Lyle just wanted to be left alone. "I don't have any. I mean.. I did. But I spent it already. Sorry."
"I don't believe you. You lied before, you lyin' now, you dumbass." The older boy pulled him back, then shoved him backward to the wall again. "Looks like I'm gonna kick your ass. Maybe a bruise will make you popular.."
Lyle gasped, not liking this. "My sister was popular, you know. You want to beat up the brother of a cheerleader, go ahead." Okay, so Claire wasn't one anymore. But this jerk didn't know that.
The man laughed. "Nice try. But you already fibbed, now Jeffy gotta teach you a lesson. I'm just keeping it real." He raised his fist, ready to hit him good.
But suddenly, there was that ring again, and the door opened once more. Footsteps then. And a hand on the man's shoulder, as the rich young man spoke. "Hey.. come on. I'm not so sure you want to do that."
The jock turned, glaring, his face red with anger. "You wanna get your hand off me?!"
The other man shrugged, but his hand remained. "Yeah.. I guess. I mean, you're a little younger, plus you're so not my type. I don't go for asshole morons. Especially ones like you.. Jeff."
Jake glared, staring him right in the eye. That would prove to be a mistake. And that hand.. well. He somehow felt some of that tension starting to leave him. "How did.. wh-who are you? You don't get it, he lied to me, I wanted a dollar."
"Damien Thorn," the man said calmly. "And just so you know, this is sort of cutting into my lunch break time." He continued to look at him, and after more of that, for five minutes? It was as if Jeff couldn't look away. "No, you wanted to take whatever cash he had on him. But I don't think you want to do this. Know why I know that?"
Jeff's hand around Lyle's arm seemed to loosen, but still held it. Lyle had a what the hell look, not sure what was going on one way or the other. "Err.. no? Why don't.."
"Because." Damien smirked, not breaking eye contact, as his hand slightly rubbed the shoulder. The bully seemed to relax more after that, starting to let go of the younger boy. "I wonder what your little brother David would think if he saw you doing this. You know you're his hero. If he ever saw you like this.. just think. Think of how he'd react. How he would fear you. Or turn from you. You wanted to get something for his birthday, but if he heard this is the way you went about it..."
Jeff's eyes widened at that, taking the words in. But how did this man know about his brother? Or about the name, or his own name? The birthday thing? How?! He seemed afraid for a moment, before feeling calmer. "Uhh.. yeah, I.. maybe."
Lyle back up against the wall, starting to slide away. He really didn't want to be around this. He wasn't sure what Damien was. He didn't know much, just stuff others said about him being a bad guy. But he wasn't bad now. And he just helped him? Why..
"Maybe," Damien said with what seemed to be an understanding nod, "maybe, Jeffrey, you should go help your mother at home. She might be wondering where you are. And don't hurt this kid again. You stay clear of him and his family." He released his hand then. And looked away.
Jeff slowly nodded, backed up from them both. "Right. Yeah, umm... sorry, kid, whoever you." He turned around and started walking. Then he was walking fast. Looking over once more, then he broke into a run.
"Lyle," the boy mumbled, looking over at Damien cautiously after the jock had left them. "So.. I hear you're a bad guy. Something about not liking God or something."
"Good.. bad." Damien sighed. "It all depends on perception. But have you ever thought maybe the book had it backwards. That maybe.. God was the villain? I mean, just read it. Kill the firstborn. Ordering the slaughter of everyone in Canaan so the Hebrews could go live there.. which is kinda what settlers did to Native Americans here. He ordered that all of them were to die. I don't know, but everyone must have included children and infants too. Isn't that murder? Genocide? Ohh, but if He orders it, that makes it okay? And that's one passage. I bet you can find more. Not to mention the Inquisition, the Salem trials, all that death.. all in the name of GOD. Something to think about."
"Yeah.. I guess." Lyle paused, not sure how to respond to that line of thought. It wasn't exactly a lie. It was true. And he didn't know how to deny something when a guy like this spoke a truth.
"Although," damien said then, "I doubt a bad guy would have helped save you from a beating just now. Would he? I don't think so. A baddie also wouldn't refuse an offer to have the city without the good guys.. which I did. I did refuse it. And then warned Team Good Guy about it. So you tell me, if that sounds like a bad person."
"I.. guess it doesn't." Lyle let out a heavy sigh, glancing down at his bag. Perhaps this guy saved him to get points or to look good. Well. Regardless, he did save him from a bully. "I don't know, I'll think on it. And.. err, thanks."
"No problem," Damien said with a grin. "Just don't let others tell you how to think or feel. The Nazis and Commies did that. You make your own decisions, use that free will. And you're welcome. Least you know how to show gratitude, which is more than I can say about another group.."
"Another group?" Lyle asked, confused. Why hadn't he left yet? He seemed to want to talk more with Thorn for some reason. But he was a tad confused. There was AI and.. oh. Maybe the other ones.
"Don't worry," Damien said, as he turned as though to walk away. "I'm sure they'll be blabbing once again about me, you know how people love to talk. Though I will say this, not all heroes have a squeaky-clean record. One stole stuff and I'm not sure they were ever returned back. One of the Bat people even attacked me in my own office, and I had no defense. Got cut. I have footage of that if anyone wants to see it. A shame Harmony left or I'd have proposed a new 'enemy' for her to spotlight on. And I once warned them of an attack, which did happen, but I did warn them... and not even a thank you afterward? Interesting. And.. maybe you should let your sister know you're okay. Might want to go home before the sun sets in a few hours."
Lyle still wasn't sure what the man was getting at. Maybe it was some kind of verbal feud going around. Maybe it was half truths or whatever. But he did agree with the last part. "Yeah, alright, I'll do that. Thanks again." He then looked at the light, but it wasn't ready.
"You're welcome," he said. He then looked up. "Oh. I can handle that." He stared, focusing. And then the traffic light turned red. The opposite one had also remained red.. and the cars didn't cross, though horns honked. "Might want to hurry."
Lyle nodded. "Uh, yeah. okay." He paused for a minute. Then he made a break for it, running across the street, then continuing down the sidewalk. That was the strangest conversation he ever had. He could see sense in a part of it, but he was mostly confused.
Damien watched as the Bennet boy continued to walk. Right, should be fine now. And the drivers seemed to become more agitated. Jesus, have a little patience, he thought with a light chuckle. He stared firmly up once again, right at the signal. The lights on one then turned green. And the cars soon followed suit, as traffic resumed it's natural course. He sighed then, looking at the Coke and paper-wrapped ham sandwich he had in a bag. And so he walked the opposite way, heading for his sports car so he could drive back to work.