A/Note: Wow, Thilbo4Ever and KlaineDrarry21 do have faith! Thank you for the trust and favoriting this story right at the first chapter! And thank you for those of you who are following too. You made my day!

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2. The café

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'Is it within walking distance, this café?'

'Hm, it's a bit of a walk, but I'm used to it. If you're tired we can take a cab.'

'Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea of what they make us do in the army? A bit of a walk doesn't bother me. Plus, it's not like I'm in a hurry.'

'So, how long did your relationship last?'

'Two years.'

'That long? That was probably a year and a half too long.'

'Shut up, I liked her. I just didn't feel anything special when she suggested we get married. I mean, I've always thought that I'd be the one over the moon and down on my knee the day I asked a girl to marry me. But there was nothing.'

'As Bill and I pointed out to you.'

'Yeah, yeah. I know. Still, I still like her.'

They walked in companionable silence for a block. 'How about you Scott?'

'Hm? How about what?'

'Do you have someone back home, wherever that is?'

'My line of work is not really conducive to maintaining a relationship - I move about too much, never at my flat for long periods of time. Plus, I'm not an easy person to be with.'

'Well, if you tone down your - eh - observations, you seem like an easy person to talk to.'

'Really? That's not what most people say.'

'Well, whatever they say is wrong.'

'You are an unusual man, Second Lieutenant John.'

'I'll take that as a compliment,' he chuckled, bowing.

'As it was.'

John smiled and they walked in silence for a while. 'Plus, I imagine things are easy for you.'

' "Things?" '

'Oh, come on. That woman at the pub, she was a stunner! Too bad about the STD. But clearly, you don't go unnoticed by women. I told Bill she wasn't looking at me.'

Scott chuckled. 'She could have been looking at you. You are far more muscular than I,' he glanced sideways.

John snorted, 'Yeah right.'

'Given the sheer number of sexual partners you've had to date-'

'Oh God. You can guess that too? Please don't.'

'- it's quite clear that things are easy for you. And I never guess, John. I observe.'

He thought about it for a few seconds. 'I would say touché, but I'm not sure this is anything to be bragging about. I think it speaks more of my inability to keep a relationship more than a so called "success".'

'It's not a question of this being a good or a bad thing. It just is. It's a fact. You have one of those faces that people trust. There's a certain boyish openness to you that others identify as "likeable".'

'Ah, is that what it is?'

'Then after the initial physical attraction wanes you realise they bore you and you move on. Nothing wrong with that. Just fact.'

They walked in silence some more, as John pondered about it.

'You know what, Scott? We've only just met, but you just described exactly what happened to all my relationships. I had never thought about it this way, but you're right. It seems like no one has been able to keep me interested for long. Angela, my ex-girlfriend, was one of the longest, but even with her, things didn't work out. She was in all aspects the ideal one for me. Yet, after two years, it was just not the same. Sometimes I wonder if love really exists or if it's just an illusion.'

'I can't really comment on that, John. I myself am not sure it does exist.'

'So you've never felt it before either?'

'No. Love is not really my area. Ah, here we are. After you.'

It was a charming place, John thought. The café was small, with wooden floors, a band of mismatched chairs and armchairs, a fireplace, and the comforting smell of coffee permeating the air. At this time of the night, it wasn't overly crowded, there were seats available. Scott ordered it black with two sugars, John chose Chai with a scone.

'You shouldn't drink coffee at this time of the night, it won't help with your insomnia. Tea at least has less caffeine than coffee.'

'Trust me John, coffee does not affect me or my insomnia.'

They sat and talked, long after their cups were empty. Scott entertained John by reading the other customers' lives and affairs to him. John told him more about Sandhurst's training.

John stifled a yawn and checked his phone. 'Bloody hell, Bill! I'm so gonna kill him.'

'Chances are they fell asleep and you will never hear from him tonight.'

'Ugh,' John squeezed his eyes and rubbed his face. He contemplated just walking in and ignoring the other bed. It would probably be uncomfortable in the morning, but he could not risk reporting to the base with no sleep. He needed to be sharp for his first tour. Afghanistan. Soon.

'John, if you're getting tired, my hotel is nearby and my room has a small sitting area. There's a pull out sofa and a stocked mini fridge, so I can offer you a drink and a place to crash if he never calls you.'

'Scott, I hate asking for favours, but I might take you up on that offer. I'm getting a little sleepy, to be honest.'

...

Scott and John were walking unhurriedly, hands in their pockets, chuckling.

'I can't believe you said that! That's brilliant!'

Scott opened his mouth to reply but the words never came. Someone came out of an alley and stood right before them, blocking their way.

'Well, well, well. If it isn't the freaky weirdo.'

Both men came to a halt and John looked up. This man was big, shaven headed and with a goatee. He was grinning with malice and his neck alone was as thick as John's thigh. The hair on his neck stood up. He immediately and discreetly pulled his hands out of his pockets.

Scott remained relaxed, hands still in his pockets. 'Armand,' he said nonchalantly, 'I thought you had left the country in a hurry.'

'And miss my chance of beating you to a pulp?'

Scott was about to reply, but John spoke up first, surprising him. All throughout the evening John had been very pleasant, open and friendly. This voice now was unlike what Scott had witnessed from the soldier so far. It was still polite and calm, yet grave and steely, with an underlying current of warning, suggesting a completely different man than the one he had been talking to for the past few hours. Goose pimples sprung on his back.

'Hey now,' John said, palms facing forward, 'I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding.'

'Oh, you think so? You're wrong. Thanks to this bastard here, I had to spend the last three months of my life in jail. Stay out of this, shortie, and you can walk away. This has nothing to do with you. Time for you to pay for it, freak,' he took a step forward.

He pulled his fist to punch Scott, but John was faster. Before Scott had even raised his fists to defend himself, John stepped into the thug's space, blocked the punch, delivered an upper cut on the man's chin and, hooking his foot behind the giant, brought him down to the ground.

Scott just stood there, hands still in his pockets, jaw hanging open, staring at the unconscious man at their feet.

'Oi!'

Both turned at the angry call, just to see three men stepping out of the alley. Two were holding knives and the third one, a jemmy.

Scott grabbed John's arm and yelled, 'Run!'

Scott would now and then say, 'this way' or 'turn here' as they twisted throughout the maize of streets and alleys. John fervently hoped Scott knew his way around so they wouldn't be caught trapped in a dead end.

'Here,' Scott yelled, grabbing his arm and jerking him around a corner. John suddenly felt himself pushed into a recessed niche against a door, as Scott pressed against his back, one hand flying to cover his mouth. A good thing too, otherwise John's nose would have hit the door and most likely be broken by the impact. This was a shallow recess in a very dark street.

Against the dark, John heard the running steps bypass them and felt the wind as they rushed by. He had only a few seconds to become aware of Scott's accelerated heartbeat against his back. Then John was yanked back the corner they had just rounded, in the opposite direction of their pursuers.

Scott ventured to look back, just in time to see a black sedan running past the three men and veering to block their path.

'Keep running, John. This way.'

John thanked his training for being able to run this much and still be able to keep up. He had many questions, but those would have to wait until they were out of danger. Scott kept changing directions and turning, until he grabbed John's arm again, pulling him.

'In here!'

They burst through a single glass door into a softly lit space and as soon as they rounded a corner, John ran straight into Scott's back.

'Oof!'

'Watch it, John,' Scott said calmly.

He huffed and puffed, leaning a hand against the wall, trying to catch his breath.

Scott turned his back against the wall and leaned back closing his eyes, also breathing hard. Both raised their eyes at the same time, about to ask if the other was okay and burst into laughter.

'Don't - make - me laugh. I - can't - breathe,' John puffed and laughed, copying Scott and leaning his back against the wall, tilting his head down.

'You're - the one - making - me laugh,' he spluttered, also gasping for air.

John looked around. He saw an ample room with puffy armchairs and a few employees standing around, all looking at them.

'Where - are we, - Scott?,' he whispered, still trying to catch his breath.

'In my hotel,' Scott smirked, his laughter dying down. 'We're safe.'

'Are you sure - they didn't see us? Coming in here?'

'Quite sure. They will be - rather occupied - for a while, - trust me. Let me get - my key - and I'll answer - all your questions - once we get - our breath back.'

John's breathing was more under control now. While Scott went to the front desk, he just waited where he was. He saw that some of the hotel employees were still looking at him, so he smiled and nodded, trying to look like a regular guest who belonged there.

As Scott waited for his key, he looked back at the unassuming soldier smiling politely at the other employees. That man had knocked out Armand! He had protected him. He felt a chill run down his back and shivered. His cheeks felt warm. His breathing now had nothing to do with how much he had just run.

He was puzzled.