Chapter 9

Standing in the middle of a bedroom, wearing nothing but a bikini, Rio felt like she was naked. The moment Scipio had brought her to Ida's house, the frantic woman rushed her to a room to observe the damage. A girl with long braids and beautiful brown eyes lent her the swimsuit. Rio closed her eyes, but she could feel the shocked stares of Ida and the braid girl staring at her.

The bruise on Rio's eye was nothing compared to the rest of the damage on her body. Her ribs were showing through her skin, and multi-colored bruises and swollen cuts covered her back and legs.

"Oh heaven," Ida gasped, turning away, "I'm going downstairs to collect some ice and oil for your bruises. Keep an eye on her," she told Hornet as she scurried out of the room, almost as if she were afraid Rio would collapse on the floor right there.

Rio opened her eyes and folded her thin arms over her non-existing stomach. The braided girl pulled the sheets of a bed and handed them to Rio, who hadn't even noticed she was shaking.

"Thanks, uh…"

"Hornet," Hornet said kindly.

Nodding, Rio pulled the sheets over her injured body and smile timidly, "Hornet… I like that name."

"Thanks," Hornet grinned, "it's much better than my old name. But I'll tell you about that later." She paused, "Do you mind if I go downstairs and help Ida carry supplies up. I'm guessing there will be, well, a lot."

"That's fine. I promise I won't run off," she added jokingly.

Hornet nodded and walked over to the doorway. Just before she turned to head down the hallway, she looked Rio in the eye in a serious but friendly way. "Welcome to your new home," she said before continuing on her way to help Ida.

Pulling the blanket closer, Rio couldn't help but smile and she fell back onto the bed. The light fall felt like a slap on her bruises, but she did her best to ignore. So this was home? Home with Ida and Hornet and Bo and Prosper… Prosper.

Her smile faded as she imagined that he was downstairs being told by Scipio her story. Her story of how she had run away from the orphanage, and how Rufus had found her, cold and sick, in an alleyway. He had offered his home to her where he took care of her until she was better and able to move on her own. Rufus taught her how to be a thief, and the idea thrilled her. At the time, life didn't seem so bad. But on her first job when she had returned empty handed, it happened. He beat her. It began to happen often, each beating worse than the first, and each morning Rufus would act as if nothing had happened.

There was a light tap on the door, distracting Rio. Sitting up on the bed, she suddenly realized that Prosper was in the doorway with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. He immediately grinned at the sight of her, but there was a tint of distress in his eyes. Rio felt herself blushing and pulled the covers up so they covered part of her face.

"Ida asked me to bring this to you," he told her as he approached her with the tea, "she said it will help with the… uh…"

"Help with the pain?" Rio let out a tiny laugh. She reached for the cup, trying to keep herself covered, but Prosper caught sight of one of her legs. He tried not to, but he couldn't his eyes from widening in shock.

Quickly looking away, he asked quietly, "Do you mind if I sit with you Blue?"

"Blue," she smiled, "I love that name." Prosper guessed it meant he could sit. "My dad used to call me that."

"I know. But I'm guessing you're not talking about Rufus."

Rio shook her head. "No, my real dad called me Blue. He wasn't a thief; he had a real job trying to help the homeless, which is kind of ironic that I became a thief." She felt her throat tightening, but she continued for Prosper. "I thought it was perfect, just the two of us. But something must have happened, something I still don't know about. One morning I walked into his room and he… and he…"

Rio couldn't say it; it hurt just to remember the sight of her dad hanging there. She was glad she had cried so much with Scipio when she had told him her story first. She had cried so much that she was sure it would take a couple of days for her tears to reappear. Rio didn't mind though, because then she would probably be crying all over Prosper if she was able to.

"You should have run," Prosper finally said, "run away from Rufus. No one should be treated that way."

"I know," Rio sighed sadly, "but I was scared. I didn't know what would have happened to me if I ran out to the streets. Even though Rufus hurt me, he still gave me food and shelter. I guess that's pretty stupid compared to everything else he did to me." She added.

Prosper shrugged. "It'll be okay now though. You'll never have to see Rufus again or steal to survive. You have a real home now with everyone. We all care about you Blue, and –"

"Prosper!" Bo's voice came from the bottom of the stairs, "Hornet needs you to help her carry the tray upstairs!"

Grinning, Prosper whispered, "Guess I should be going." Rio said nothing. She was staring down at her tea, her hair a veil blocking everything else from her view. That was why she was surprised when Prosper brushed her black hair aside and kissed her. It was just a straightforward kiss; a tiny peck on the cheek was all

"I'll be back," he told her as he jumped off the bed and left the room.

" 'Kay," Rio whispered, unable to say much else. Placing the tea on the ground, Rio fell back onto the bed again with a grin spread across her face. I'm home, she told herself as she closed her eyes. Only now, instead of the horrifying memories of her dad's suicide and Rufus, Prosper's kiss replayed in her mind.

If anyone had been watching them, they might have been disappointed at how simple the kiss was. But to Rio, that simple kiss meant the world.

The End

So I'm done my first fanfic!! I really hoped you like so submit some reviews. I'll be gone for most of the '07 summer, but I'll be back in the fall to write some more.

Thanks everyone who reviewed this story; they meant a lot.

x0

Vintage88