A/N: This is not the piece I meant to write next, but I'm sure y'all know how that goes. There is just one more chapter of this story coming, and it will include some private time between Lyla and August for those who are interested in that. ;-)
Please enjoy ... and I love reviews! Let me know what you liked and what I can do better, pretty please! :)
August played slow, soft notes on his guitar this afternoon, not wanting or needing to attract an audience. Eyes closed, face bent to the instrument, he brushed his fingers across the strings with careful precision, drawing each note out to perfection. Beneath the music he could hear the flow of humanity slipping around him, some pausing to listen, but, sensing his desire for privacy, they always moved on.
It had taken some time to reassure Louis and Lyla that he would be fine by himself while they took a short walk around the park, that he would be right here waiting for them when they returned. He would be alone for twenty minutes at the most, he told them, and he wanted to be alone, to listen for a while to the familiar music of the streets. He had bitten his tongue over his second argument, knowing it would elicit protest: he wanted them to be alone together. He had seen the joy in Lyla's eyes when she looked at Louis, and the happy triumph shining back at her in Louis's expression. Of course he wanted to be with them, but he also wanted them to be with each other.
The corners of August's mouth turned down slightly when he felt the presence of someone lingering nearby, listening to him play. He kept his eyes closed and played a touch quieter, alert for the sound of footsteps that would either take the spectator away or bring him closer. The hair on the back of August's neck prickled uncomfortably and he was about to open his eyes and look around when a hand closed harshly on his upper arm. August's eyes flew open and he instinctively tried to jerk his arm away. The fingers gripping his arm tightened in response, forcing an involuntary gasp from his throat.
"Well if it isn't August Rush." Wizard's voice was unmistakably familiar and sent chills of fear running down August's spine. "Nice guitar you've got there, son." Wizard stroked the smooth face of the instrument with his free hand, then touched a few fingers to August's jaw. August stiffened against his touch, his eyes dark and wary. Wizard's expression was carefully blank for a moment, then he smiled.
"August," Wizard chuckled, "Don't you have anything to say to the man who taught you everything you know?"
August shook his head once. Inside, he was screaming, desperate for Louis and Lyla to appear, but he was too afraid to speak, too afraid to yell for them. He could feel his heart racing, who knew what Wizard might do?
Wizard jerked August forward, pulling him to his feet. "Come on, kid," he said, "Let's go for a walk."
August braced himself and tried to yank himself free. Wizard turned to face him, his face twisted with barely contained anger. Very deliberately, Wizard pulled August two steps closer until their bodies were almost touching. August forced himself to glare straight up into Wizard's darkened eyes. "No," he managed to say, but his voice was barely above a whisper.
Wizard looked back at him reproachfully, "August, don't you trust me?" he wheedled. "I just want to talk ... catch up. I want to hear about your parents. Come on." Wizard pulled August forward a few steps, draping an arm over the boy's slim shoulders. August's frozen fear thawed out just then; he pulled away ferociously, fighting Wizard's grasp with every ounce of strength in his body. They struggled for what seemed like a very long moment, Wizard unable to drag August away, but August equally unable to escape. Just as he was about to fill his lungs for a good shout, August heard the ice cold voice of his father behind him.
"Take your hands off of my son," Louis growled, each word distinct and forcefully clear. August felt Wizard pause uncertainly, then do as he had been instructed. The instant Wizard's arm lifted from August shoulders, the boy darted to Louis's side. Louis closed a hand over August's shoulder for a moment, then gently pushed the boy behind him. August suddenly found himself wrapped up in another pair of arms. Lyla was kneeling on the sidewalk and pulled him to her chest protectively, lifting his guitar away from him so that she could hold him closer.
"It's okay, August," she murmured into his hair. "It's okay, you're safe now." August threw his arms around her and nodded before looking back towards Louis and Wizard.
Louis stepped forward threateningly, and Wizard backed away at once. "Now, now," Wizard said, "I didn't mean any harm, did I August?" Wizard glanced around Louis at August and Lyla. In response, Louis stepped forward again with a fierce growl of anger, reaching out and shoving Wizard backward. Wizard managed to catch himself before he stumbled to his knees.
"August," Wizard continued, "is this mom and dad? Didn't you tell them about me? About everything I did for you, everything I taught you?"
"He told us about you alrigh'," Louis snarled, stepping between August and Wizard again. "He told us enough to know tha' if I ever see you near him again I'll call the police."
Wizard finally looked Louis in the eye for a moment, then he backed away another few steps. "Alright, alright!" Wizard pleaded, hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. "I get it. I'll go." He turned away and walked several yards before turning back. "I hear you, August," he called back, "and I miss you." Louis stepped forward again, his expression twisting in rage that even Wizard couldn't ignore. With an apologetic gesture, Wizard scooted away, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he walked off.
August watched Wizard retreat for a moment, but then he turned his eyes to Louis. Louis's back was stiff with tension, and August saw the clenched fist hanging by his father's thigh. Even after Wizard had disappeared into the crowd, Louis remained still and hard as granite, not saying anything or even glancing back to check on Lyla and August. After a few long moments, Lyla got to her feet, still holding August to her side.
"Louis," she said softly. There was no response.
Lyla stepped forward hesitantly, then reached out her free hand and gently squeezed Louis's forearm. With a heavy sigh, Louis finally turned to face them, and, though his expression was controlled, his blue eyes sparked with fury. When he turned his gaze towards August, however, the anger in his eyes faded slightly.
"You okay?" Louis asked, putting a hand on August shoulder again. August nodded, and then threw himself at Louis, wrapping his arms fiercely around his father's waist. He held on tighter when the sobs started dragging themselves up his throat, his shoulders shaking violently as the pent-up fear and adrenaline flowed through his body.
"Com' 'ere," Louis murmured, loosening August's grip on his waist long enough to pull the boy up into his arms. August continued to sob as he locked his arms anew around his father's neck and buried his face against Louis's hair. He could feel his father's arms holding him securely, and his mother's hand stroking his hair softly. He hated to cry like this, because he felt safe with them there. He told himself he wasn't afraid, but he couldn't stop the tears that were flowing down his cheeks. August didn't know how long the three of them stood there together before his sobs finally began to slow.
"I'm sorry," August mumbled against the side of Louis's face.
"What on Earth for?" Lyla murmured, her palm rubbing his back gently.
August just shook his head, sobs swelling in his throat again.
"You have nothing to apologize for," Lyla said firmly. She stepped closer to Louis's side, winding one arm around his waist and continuing to soothe August with her free hand.
"Nothin' at all," Louis added, squeezing August a little tighter for a moment. Still unable to speak, August nodded.
Another moment passed in silence before Lyla took a deep breath and said, "Let's go home."