Page 63 of Finn's Solace

"Or," he said, making me glance up, "you could come over tonight. We can bring some of your clothes over tomorrow, and spend the week together, then move the rest of your stuff in on the weekend."

"I like that plan," I agreed quickly, making him smile.

"Me too. I'm really excited to live with you, and I'm sure Greta will be too."

We finished eating, then decided to walk around for a while before going home. It was a nice night—baby dragon must have been doing well—and the streets were busy with locals and tourists alike, so we decided to walk through some of the back streets and alleys that only the locals used. They were much quieter, and I felt at peace strolling with my fingers linked with Levi's.

A rustle in front of us made me pause, and I glanced at Levi. "Did you hear that?"

He nodded and let go of my hand to take a careful step forward. "Who's there?"

A man stepped out of the bushes a few feet in front of us. He was big, with thick arms and a beer belly. A scraggly beard covered his face, and his eyes looked almost colorless under the streetlight.

That wasn't what drew my attention, though. No, that would be the gleaming silver baseball bat in his left hand.

I grabbed Levi's hand, tugging at it, but he stayed put, moving so I was behind him.

"I came to this town cause I heard it was great fishin'. Didn't know it was so damnedinfested," the man muttered, and I tried and failed to drag in a proper breath as I struggled to remember he was just human. We could take him.

"You should get out of here while you still can," Levi warned, and the man snorted, sounding just like a pig.

"Oh, I'm not the one who's gonna be leaving. It'll be you two, in nice big black bags."

"Levi," I murmured, and he squeezed my hand. I was about to tell him we should back away and get help or something, maybe alert Raiden. Clearly, the new baby had distracted him from his duties, which I didn't blame him for one bit. Or I wouldn't, if Levi wasn't the one in danger.

Before I'd even opened my mouth though, the man stepped forward and swung. Everything happened so fast after that that it wasn't until I was on the ground with Levi cradled against my chest that it sank in.

The man's bat collided with Levi's head, and the crack that filled the air was the worst sound I'd ever heard. I reacted without thinking, turning the man to stone as I fell to my knees and caught Levi before he could crash into the ground.

The steel bat clattered to the ground and rolled over to the side of the street as I pulled Levi against my chest, my palm covered his heart as panic engulfed me. It was only when I felt the steady beating of his heart and heard him groan that the fear subsided a little.

"Hey," Levi murmured, and I scanned his face, meeting his hazy eyes as he smiled a touch loopily. "You got to use your powers for good after all." His head lolled against my chest as his eyes fluttered shut, and I reminded myself that his heart was still beating okay. He was just unconscious. He was going to be fine.

Still holding him to my chest, I pulled out my phone and called the only person I could think of.

"Hey, kiddo. What's up? You staying at Levi's again?"

"D-dad?" I said, then realized my teeth were chattering, though I couldn't figure out why. For once, I wasn't cold at all.

"Finn, what's wrong? Where are you?" Dad asked, turning serious instantly.

I told him the street we were on, then told him to hurry.

"We're on our way. Are you hurt?"

"N-no. Levi is."

"We'll be there soon. Stay on the phone with me, okay?"

Fuck. Why wasn't Levi moving? The guy was human. He couldn't have hit Levi that hard, right?

"Finn, you there?" Dad called from the phone, and I blinked. Why was I still on the phone?

I ended the call, then dropped the phone and pulled Levi against my chest, curling my body over his to keep him safe. He'd be okay. He had to be.

Twenty-Four

Finn

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