*Note: Okay! I will try something a bit different (AU), hope everything goes as planned.

Chapter 1—Enjoy!

Chapter 1: New Beginning

Slap!

The fuchsia chameleon hit the floor as the pain seeded into him.

He brought his hand up to his face, he felt a light sting as his fingers touched the small wound on his right cheek. He looked up at his attacker and current lover.

Espio could see fury in his eyes, they intimidated him; he was afraid. He began to scoot back as he saw the crocodile approach him. He bumped into the door, his eyes began to water as he felt the crocodile's hand on his neck, pulling him up.

"What did you say?" the Crocodile asked.

"I… I said we're through, Vector!"

Vector tightened his grip and threw Espio across the room, making him hit the dresser, "Is that so?"

The Chameleon swallowed the pain as he for on his feet, he looked at Vector and gave him a nod.

Vector let out a sigh and reached into his pocket, "I don't think so, Es."

He pulled out a small pocket knife.

Espio began to tremble noticeably.

"The only way you'll leave me, is dead!"

Espio dodged the first attack, as he noticed the knife was stuck on the dresser, he ran out of the room as fast as he could. Hoping Vector wouldn't catch up to him so quickly.

"ESPIO!"

The Chameleon looked over his shoulder and caught a glance of the Crocodile; who was now chasing him, knife in hand. He picked up speed and ran towards the main door. He reached the door knob but it wouldn't turn. He began to grow desperate, he continued to struggle to get it open, 'Please… please… please! Please open….'

Tears began to run down his face as he heard the Crocodile getting closer.

The door finally opened and Espio ran out.

Vector stopped as he reached the door, he looked around but didn't see Espio anywhere. He cursed under his breath before slamming the door shut again.

Hiding behind a telephone booth, Espio made himself visible and let out a sigh of relief. He stared at the apartment for a few minutes more, fearing that Vector would come out any minute and find him… he lightly shook his head and went invisible again, and ran towards a friend's house.

XXXX

*Other side of the city*

*Knock, Knock*

Dragging his feet through the carpet, Jet the Hawk walked towards the door letting out a yawn every time he could. As he got closer to the door the knocks became louder and constant.

"I'm coming! Calm down!"

The knocks continued.

Jet let out a groan and opened the door, "Yes?"

He saw no one.

He looked around, "Hello?"

Espio made himself visible to the Hawk.

The Hawk's eyes widen, "Es! Come inside…"

Once Espio was inside the apartment Jet looked outside cautiously before closing the door and locking it. He turned on the lights, his heart broke and his anger rose as he saw the bruised body of his friend.

"Es… what happened?"

Espio let his body fall to the couch, unable to stand the pain any longer, "Vector…"

"That bastard hit you again?! Espio… you have to call the police…"

"And tell them what? That I'm suffering physical abuse from my partner—ex partner who is also a guy?"

"Vector lied to you! They will help you out—wait! Did you say 'ex-partner'?"

The Chameleon nodded.

Jet let out a sigh and sat beside him, "I'm glad you left him… I mean, after all the beating and the bruises he left you…"

"These are from today…"

"What?"

"He tried to kill me… if I hadn't run off…"

Jet shut his eyes in anger and clutched his fists, "Where's Charmy?"

"In a Boarding School overseas… I didn't want Vector to harm him…"

"Good… Es, you have to move away…"

Espio looked at his friend, "Why?"

"Es, if Vector finds you, you know what he's capable of…"

"I know… but to transfer I have to return to the school and I could…"

The Hawk shook his head, "I didn't say transfer, I said move… don't let them know anything. You have to disappear."

"Where would I go?"

Jet gave him a reassuring smile, "I'm moving to Wave's place in Westopolis and will attend Mobian High… you could live with us."

"I don't want to cause trouble…"

"Psshh… you're no trouble… as long as you cook us something good."

They shared a laugh.

"Thanks, Jet…"

"Let me go get the first aid kit and patch you up."

Jet rose from the couch and walked towards the bathroom. As he searched for the first aid kit, he looked at Espio through the mirror reflection. He couldn't believe Espio had endured this for three years, and all because of a lie Vector had told him.

He took the first aid kit and returned to the living room.

Once he sat down, Espio took the aid kit from him, "I'll do it myself…"

"Okay. You hungry?"

Espio nodded.

Jet looked up, "Okay, I can cook ramen noodles… mac and cheese, hot dogs… ramen noodles..."

The Chameleon chuckled, "Ramen noodles sound good."

Jet rose again, "All right then! You wait here."

Espio opened the first aid kit as Jet walked towards the kitchen. He opened an antibiotics cream medicine and applied it to the small wound on his cheek. It burned a little but it wasn't long before that burning sensation turned to relief. He then took a bandage and carefully placed it over the wound.

He closed the box and then stared off into space.

As he thought about what he had been through for the past three years of his life, couldn't believe he had waited so long… he then looked at his arms and legs. They were full of small bruises and scars, each of them bringing back a painful memory.

The Chameleon felt pool of tears running down his face.

He remembered the look on Charmy's face when he had sent him off to that Boarding School… the Honey Bee had been devastated; thinking Espio didn't love him anymore.

It wasn't until Charmy boarded the plane that he noticed the bruises on his brother's body, it was then when he realized the pain his brother had been enduring and that sending him off was the only way he could protect him.

"Espio?"

The Chameleon wiped this tears and looked at the Hawk who had two bowls of ramen noodles in his hands. "I… I'm sorry…"

Jet placed the bowls on the center table in front of them, "Don't be… it's going to be okay."

Espio gave him a nod.

Jet then eyed the Chameleon's back, "Son of a—Es, what happened to your back?!"

Espio looked away.

"Did he hit you with a bat?!"

"No, he… he threw me against the dresser…"

The Hawk's eyes grew with fury, his body began to shake in anger but he swallowed it; knowing that angered outburst frightened the chameleon; who was more than scarred by them… he let out s growl and took the first aid kit, "Turn around, I'm going to patch your back."

"It's not necessary…"

"Espio, you have a scratch the length of a ruler on your back! Don't tell me it isn't necessary."

Espio didn't even bother to argue back, he just gave him a light nod turned around.

Jet then gently applied medicine on the Chameleon's back, feeling him flinch as he applied it. Once he was done, Jet took three patches and placed them over Espio's wound.

"Lift your arms…"

Espio did, shutting his eyes in pain as he did so.

The Hawk then took a bandage and wrapped it, covering the wound in the back and a few scars in the front. Once he was done, Jet closed the first aid kit and placed it on the table.

The Chameleon returned to his original position, "Thanks."

Jet gave him a nod, "Well, let's eat or it'll get cold."

They took the bowls and began to eat.

After a while Jet took his cell phone out dialed a number.

It rang for a while.

"Hi, Jet."

"Hey, babe…"

The swallow took a moment, "Is everything okay?"

"Wave, I'm bringing Es with me."

"Oh god… is he okay?"

"Yeah, it's finally over."

He heard a relief sigh at the other side of the phone, "Thank god… okay, I'll have the guest room ready. When are you guys coming?"

Jet looked over at Espio, "Es?"

Espio slurped the noodles he had in his mouth, "As soon as possible…"

He gave him a nod, "We'll arrive in the morning."

"That's fine with me. I'll see you guys in a few hours."

They hung up.

The Chameleon gave him an odd look, "Now?"

"Yes. Let me just get my bag ready and we'll go to the train station."

"Okay."

Jet rose from the couch and walked towards his bedroom.

Espio rose from the couch, took the bowls and walked towards the kitchen. He placed the bowls on the sink and turned the water on. As he washed the bowls he stared out the kitchen window into the streets, he let a long sigh escape his mouth… this would be the last night he'd spend here.

Jet soon walked into the kitchen, "You ready?"

Espio looked at him, "Yeah…"

"All right, let's go…"

**Okay! That tis the end of chapter one… I hope you guys enjoyed it, and if not I would appreciate if you didn't leave any nasty comments… well, thanks for reading!**