*TIME-SKIP 20 YEARS LATER (1979-1999)*
"Oi get back 'ere, you belong to us ya know!" One voice yelled from behind you as you ran trying not to trip, "Yeah, there's no use in tryin' to escape, we'll just have 'im come back for ya and you know he'll do worse than we will!" The other piped off.
There was a small public square close to where you were running, and a crowd in that square gathered around what seemed to be something important. You kept looking back to see how much ground was between you and your pursuers, when all of a sudden you felt a thick thud as you got a flash of white in your face and sudden pain in your head. A tall man standing about 6'3" was towering in front of you and turned around to see the two losers who had been chasing you.
"Oi, big man, let us have 'er, she's ours." The one said trying not to sound as scared as he looked.
"Yeah, we won 'er fair and square." The second said following suit.
The tall man glared at them, then finally looked down to you and gave a look through his round glasses as if to ask 'Is this true?', you understood and nodded 'no' quickly to make sure the two didn't notice.
"I see, an' 'er life is somethin' ya think ya can just claim ta own like an object?" He asked with a calm but deep, stern voice.
You clung to his coat like a child not wanting to be taken away from their parent(s), he made a choking sound in his throat as the action caught him off guard, but he was more concerned about trying to prevent a case of human trafficking from occuring, as he was a man of the lord and that was a sin in God's eyes, but they did not know that.
"And what are ya gonna do 'bout it if we decide ta take 'er from ya right now?" The first one asked coyly quickly pulling out a switch-blade pocket knife from his coat pocket. The second one again followed the actions of his buddy and pulled out a blade of his own. The tall gentleman gave a slightly demented smirk as the people in the crowd gasped and started to quickly and quietly clear the square, the gleam off the man's glasses made him look even crazier as he slid a giant bayonet out of his one sleeve and the handel landed in his hand. It had almost seemed to come out of nowhere, but you were too amazed by the slight chuckles that were sounding from behind his teeth.
"What in the 'ell!?" The first man backed off a little but still held his knife and his ground as best as he could while shaking like a leaf, with the second man literally sweating bullets as he swallowed hard.
"Mine's bigger, so...now if neither one of ya two beatniks want a taste of this holy metal, I highly suggest ya get your sorry pale asses outta 'ere, and leave this poor, young woman alone...capiche?" He said nearly hissing his words through his teeth, which still seemed to be clenched tight.
They bolted from the square shaking in their raggy sneakers, and cried out, "We'll be tellin' our boss 'bout this, you'll see!"
Sliding his bayonet back into his sleeve, seeming to make it magically stay up there. He turned back to the people who had not entirely left, but had slid back to avoid the conflict and some of the kids were beaming that such an amazing man had just scared off those meanies and saved that girl like in a fairy tale. You looked around as the people started pouring back into the square applauding both of you, him for saving you and you from being brave in the face of danger.
"Are ya alright?" He asked you calmly, you jumped at his sudden communication.
"Yeah, I'm alright...but I fear they might come back. I don't want to be alone." You said shyly while trying to speak over the applause.
"I don't have time to play babysitter, but I can take ya to a nearby shelter." He said looking back to the crowd and waving to them happily.
"I'm not askin' for a babysitter, I didn't even mean to bump into ya, Mister…? I didn't get your name." You tried to ask inconspicuously.
"Anderson, Father Alexander Anderson." He said has some people were shaking his hand and the square clearing person-by-person.
Your eyes widened with shock, "Alex-an, Alexander?" You looked at the green eyes that were behind the glasses when he finally turned to face you.
"Yeah? What of it, it's my name...always has been." He said directly to you now that the square was empty except for you two.
"Ya don't remember me...Do ya?" You slumped your shoulders a bit as your expression turned sad.
"No, I don't think I know ya...Also I don't even know your name to tell if I do." He responded with a lighthearted chuckle.
"(y/n), my name is (y/n)...Does that jog anything?" You said barely through tears.
He tapped his chin in thought as he sat down on a nearby bench, repeating your name to get the feel of it on his tongue, "Nope, can't say that it does."
"Maybe the nickname ya always called me might 'elp, (nickname)? Do you remember now?" You asked kinda swinging your arms dramatically to the sides with a flourish.
His eyes almost seemed to react, but no dice. You sighed as a single tear fell down your cheek, he noticed and reacted by wiping it off with a handkerchief he had on him, " 'ey now, there's no need to get so bent outta shape 'bout it, I'm sorry but maybe you 'ave me confused with someone else." All of a sudden you had a flashback, it was the time you talked him into getting matching tattoos in case one of you got killed beyond the point of recognition and needed a way to tell, plus they were BFF tattoos as well.
"I know this seems stupid and strange to ask, but it might be the only thing that might be able to solve this whole predicament." You said through a quiet sniffle, "Would ya mind checkin' the lower left side of your back for me?"
"I beg your pardon?!" He exclaimed.
"Look, this is a stupid request from a stranger but will ya please just humor me?" You raised your voice, but only to secure your bravery against this hulking guy.
He sighed, still unsure why this was such a big deal...he had saved you sure, but this was a step too far for a stranger to be asking of a holy man. Standing up and swishing his coat through his arm, he tugged his layers of a black dress shirt and a white muscle shirt up from his waistline to reveal a pale spot where it seemed an image used to be.
"I-It's not there, where did it go?" You whispered as you started to tear up that it wasn't there.
"So, I guess that proves it, eh?" He said tucking them back in, "I guess I'm not the person you thought I was, is there anything else you needed?"
Your eyes scanned side to side thinking of something to do to make him remember, then you got it… "What if I show you mine?" Your face beamed.
He waved his hands defensively, "Hold on a minuet now, there's no need for that... I obliged by showing my back there's no need to show any of yourself to me."
You quickly showed him your upper right shoulder and there was a tattoo of a rose inked in red crossed under a black switchblade with three drops of red blood from the tip, "There! Does that bring back any memories?" You practically shoved your shoulder in his face trying to make your point.
He backed up with a wide expression at seeing the design, "Th-that tattoo, where did ya get that design?" He questioned with a hint of worried intrigue.
"Ya do remember! I knew ya would!" You were finally, hopefully getting somewhere. He slid back down onto the bench with an expression of defeat and a flashback sparked across his memory...a memory he desperately tried forgetting.