Hello again everyone. To all my fans of Caught in Between thanks for coming back, however I won't be able to update this story as often as I did with CIB, school is back in session.

-Leo POV

Leo hated the rain. Well...no one really hates the rain, they hate being caught in the rain. This was exactly the situation he found himself in now. The cause? A worthless car and the wrong side of town, making bus travel a virtual death sentence. It was safer to walk, at least this way if anyone tried to give him any problems he could run. Leo was not an expert at fighting, quite the contrary. If someone was to classify him in traditional Western conventions, at best he could called a nerd, at worst, a dork.

Leo would much rather be studying algorithms and equations than walking home from his father's house. This was the way his life was though. His father never gave a damn about him, and since Leo had come out of the closet, things had gotten even worse. His father wasn't abusive or violent, but he was cold. Leo used to say that he was colder than his dog tags. The Marines did not teach their soldiers about emotion.

Leo suspected that it was this standoffish attitude that made his mother leave. At least he was lucky to lose her early. Three years old is not really long enough to form a true emotional bond. For a while, he felt as though he had a hole inside of him. Now though, it was all just plugged up. Years of high school bullying and dejection would do that to you. So, all in all Leo was happy that he was walking rather than ride with his father.

Steelport was not Leo's home town, nor was it a place that he thought of as home. Nothing would make him happier than to move away to a city like Los Angles or Washington D.C. Steelport was the cheapest and easiest choice though. Maybe it was the four gangs that ran the city, but you could get an apartment for a quarter of the price he could anywhere else as far as a city this size was concerned.

As Leo turned the corner on the docks, his pace quickened. There really wasn't such a thing as a good gang in this area, but the Luchadors owned the docks and they were certainly the worst of the bunch. Unfortunately, Leo's luck, which was never good to begin with, was especially low tonight.

"Well, well boys, look at the little faggot...all alone." A deep booming voice came from behind him. Leo had always found particular hatred with that word. When he was young, it had been directed towards him because he was gay, that was a given. It wasn't the most original saying, but at least it was well known. Now however, Leo could not imagine what gave him away as being gay. It wasn't especially obvious. It was true he was skinnier than a twig and nerdy, but saying that these features made him gay, consequently meant that every muscle bound jock was straight...and history had proven otherwise.

Regardless of the situation or the words, Leo did not turn around or acknowledge that he had heard them. He kept on walking, which in the end would turn out to be a mistake.

"Yo! Kid! Slow down, we just wanna talk with you." Whoever it was, the man was drunk. His words slurred and Leo could could hear the awkward shuffle of a man who's motor functions were impaired. Not far behind that was the sound of several other boots. Leo didn't want to turn around and check, but it sounded like he was being followed by at least five men.

Leo sped up as much as he could without actually running. He took a sharp right towards the docks, if worse came to worse he would jump into the river. He was wet anyway. This idea was banished when two men blocked the alley he was in. They wore the green masks that identified them as members of the Luchador gang.

"Ya know kid, when the co-boss of one of the largest gangs in the country speaks to you, it's polite to show some respect." The man on the left said. His tone was serious, but his mouth was curled into a smirk.

Leo turned around and received a surprise. The three that were following him were closer than he thought. He was completely surrounded. Well, he thought to himself. It's been a fun life I suppose.

"So, what can I do for you nice gentlemen?" Leo said, trying and failing to hide the fear in his voice. He did not like the grin he received form one of his stalkers. It was dark and predatory, and he really didn't need an answer to guess what they wanted.

"We were out for some fun, and we found you." The leader said, advancing slowly. Without thinking Leo backed up, right into the other two blocking his exit. Immediately, one of them had him in a steel grip that even a steroid juiced weightlifter would have trouble escaping. Leo hissed as the bruising grip cut off the circulation to his arms.

"You ain't goin' nowhere. Now, if you play nice and keep you teeth out of the way, maybe you can leave with your life. If you're a bad boy..." He cut off, fingering the gun in his waistband. It finished the sentence perfectly.

The man who was holding him, pressed him to his knees and let go. Maybe he assumed that Leo wasn't going to fight, or just figured they could catch him if he did. Either way, Leo didn't care. He may not have had the biggest muscles in the city, but he was no one's bitch. He wasn't going to surrender without a fight.

Leo balled up his fist and aimed it right for the bulge in the leaders jeans. The man let out a yelp and immediately doubled over. Blaine took this chance to aim a kick for the man's nose. When he could feel one of the brutes behind him, the warmth of their breath on his neck, he knocked his head back as hard as he could. It hurt a little, but the crunch told him that the other man's broken nose was worse.

Leo stood up and held his ground. The other men were advancing slowly, but this time with caution. "Now you see why they say assumptions are bad. If you fuckers back off, I'll go home, you'll go home and no one has to find out."

THUD! From behind him, someone hit Leo with something metal. It wasn't even pain as he understood it. It was more like his brain had been disconnected from everything else. He couldn't stand, he couldn't see, and to make matters worse, he couldn't fight.

Once he hit the ground, the group took advantage and started kicking Leo. There were various cracks, and the blows on his ribs, but the only way he could tell was by the wind rushing out of his mouth.

"Stupid, fucking idiot." The leader shouted. He pulled the gun out of his pants and aimed it at Leo's head. At least he wasn't going to be raped...which has to be a silver lining.

BAM! Leo heard the gunshot, but he couldn't see anything. His vision was blurring and he was slipping into the peaceful state of unconsciousness.

When Leo woke up, he knew immediately that he wasn't dead. Death would be better because death would be painless. This was agony. He tried to inhale, but he couldn't without feeling his ribs rub against each other. Each breath was pain. There was a tube in his throat and his body felt like it weighed a ton.

"Look, told ya the kid would make it Shaundi." A man with a thick Australian accent spoke above him. Slowly, other noises started coming to him too, a faint but constant beeping.

"I never said he wasn't going to live, I just said he had a hard road ahead of him. We should get going though before-" A woman's voice this time, void of any emotion one way or the other.

"No." The Australian man again. "You head back to HQ, but I'm gonna stay with him for a bit."

The woman, who Leo assumed was Shaundi let out an irritated sigh and the sound of high heels clicking faded from the room.

Leo was able to open his eyes. The harsh white light of a hospital grated against his optic nerves, but once he got used to them he was able to take in his surroundings. He was in a room of his own, with a variety of machines hooked up to him. A respirator, some I.V.s and a machine that kept check of his breathing and heart rate. Standing out among all the white and sterility was a shock of purple. Leo assumed this was the Australian man because there was no one else in the room with him.

Leo could see that the man had short hair that was laid flat on his head in the Roman style, that the man was well muscled and tan, beyond that though, his feature were obscured. He wore a pair of black sunglasses and a purple bandana that covered most of his face. His shirt, and the belt holding up his pants were purple as well. It was obvious that he was a member of the Third Street Saints. At the moment, Leo didn't care though, this man had saved his life.

"Hey kid, you feelin' alright?" Leo tried to respond, but the tube was making that impossible so he merely nodded.

"Good, since you're up and everything I think we can risk some pain meds and removing that tube of yours. Sound good?" The man asked.

Leo was nervous, but he nodded. At least if he got the tube out he could talk.

"Yo! Doc!" The sudden shout if the man made Leo jump and then cringe in pain. The man turned back towards Leo and made an apologetic face. At least...Leo assumed it was apologetic. The bandana made it hard to tell.

"You know, yelling accomplishes nothing but throat irritation. You might try the button next to the bed." The Doctor said striding into the room. His voice was confident, but the shaking gave him away. He was nervous about being in the company of a gang member.

"And yet, here you are." The still unknown man said. "Look, the kid is awake and groaning, you said that when he woke up you'd give him some medication and take the tube out. I'd like to speak with him.

It was nice to have morphine flowing through his veins. The pain all but melted away and even the irritation in his throat was dying down a little. He wasn't sure if it was the medication or if it was the man who had saved him, but he felt safe, as though nothing could hurt him right now.

"So, do you have a name kid?" The man asked in a soft tone.

"My name's Leo. Leo Shanecroft." Leo said in a hoarse whisper.

"Nice to meet you Leo, my name is Aaron. For...business purposes, it might be better if you don't know my last name. I am the leader of-"

"The Third Street Saints." Leo interrupted. He was unsure if Aaron was going to tell the truth or not. He guessed the latter, since Aaron's eyebrows raise. So Leo quickly explained.

"I didn't know you were the leader, but you wear purple. Either you're a member of the gang or a huge fan."

The bandana twitched to suggest a smile. "Maybe I just like purple eh?"

"In this city, green, red, blue, and purple are not colors one wears without purpose. Frankly, I don't really care, you saved my life. You have my eternal gratitude."

Definitely a smile this time. "The pleasure was mine kid. Can't let a cute thing like you get attacked on my own territory."

Leo blushed at this. Aaron, leader of the Saints thought he was cute. He couldn't get ahead of himself. Surely it didn't mean what he thought it did. He needed a distraction to stop himself from making a fool of himself and getting his ass kicked anyway.

"I thought that the docks belonged to the Luchadors?"

Aaron shook his head, "There was time when we owned the whole city. In recent years our last leader let it fall to shit and waste. I fully intended to reclaim the areas that were ours." Aaron's gravely voice got deep as he said these words. Indicating to Leo that he should agree. Aaron could have told him the sky was purple and he would have nodded his head.

"So, you're not afraid then?"

Leo shook his head. It was odd, logic and reason said that he should be terrified or at the very least concerned, but he couldn't help feeling an attraction to this man.

-Aaron POV

Aaron couldn't help but smile. It was an odd response coming from him. He was used to scowling and shouting a bunch. Leo however...Leo awoke a whole new set of emotions for him to explore and use. The most immediate one was lust, the moment he had seen the kid in the alley he had wanted to fuck him. That was the way his mind worked, animal instincts took priority and human emotions came second. It was not until he had saved this cute man that other feelings welled up inside of him. Attraction, possessiveness, and the need to protect. He would've taken on all three of the rival gangs single handed if he thought it would have made Leo safe.

Of course, for the time being, he would have to keep all of these thoughts to himself. Leo was hurt and was probably not even gay...though there had been that blush earlier.

"Can I see you without your bandana?" Leo asked suddenly. Aaron smiled again. The kid might not have much mass to him, but he was brave and smart...well Aaron assumed book smarts. You couldn't have too much street smarts to talk to a Saint. Aaron nodded his assent though. Reaching back he untied his bandana and let it fall onto the bed, he took off his sunglasses too as he figured Leo wanted to see his whole face.

Leo was silent for a moment, the blush in his cheeks spoke volumes though.

"Not too ugly then?" Aaron asked.

Leo shook his head. "No...you-" He didn't finish, he just looked away.

"Nah, go ahead kid. You've already been all honest with me, don't change tactics now." Aaron thought that Leo was going to say that he was straight and uncomfortable, or that he was gay but the gang member was not his type.

To his surprise though- "No, you're...handsome...I bet...your girlfriend-"

"Girlfriend? Ha! The last time I was in contact with a pussy was when I was born." To think that Aaron had thought that the kid was straight. Leo had obviously thought the same thing. This was the best news he had heard in awhile.

Aaron smiled, "So, what about you? Any boyfriends?"

Leo's face fell as he shook his head, "Who'd want to date a nerd like me?"

"Who wouldn't?" Aaron said. The kid was handsome, perfect even.

Leo let out a little chuckle. "I could give you a list of the men who have turned me down, but it suffices to say that most people wouldn't."

"I'm not most people." Aaron said quietly, his eyes never leaving Leo's. He continued with his next words very carefully, he didn't want to force Leo into anything he was uncomfortable with. "Leo, I would love to take you out on a date, but I also want a real relationship. If you are interested in dating me, I want it to be for me not because you think that you'll never find anyone."

Leo eyes widened. "Date a gang member?"

Aaron smiled again, "Our occupations do not define our love lives. It's not safe for you on the streets, with me you would have protection, money, and most of all...I could treat you right. My moral actions may be reprehensible, but I still have a heart."

"So...you're a good man then?"

"The best." Aaron said cockily with a grin to match.

This is a link to the character gallery that Aaron is based on. Coincidentally (HA!) This is also my character in the game.

community/characters/details/126189308848893118