The boy spluttered as Tala turned the shower spray on him. He glared at the redhead who grinned weakly in apology. The two were in a white and pale yellow bathroom, the boy sitting in the bathtub and Tala kneeling next to him, showerhead in hand, water starting to puddle on the floor from accumulated droplets.

"Have to get you clean now, sweetheart," Tala said, "it wouldn't do for you to be covered in dirt and grime." He didn't mention the blood, but the boy looked away in shame anyway. Tala winced at his lack of tact and began to scrub the boy - he being too sore to do it himself. He pulled the large mass of long raven locks away and scrubbed the golden-tanned back.

"You're not originally from here are you?" Tala asked with mild curiosity. The boy shrugged. "Your parents weren't from this country?" He nodded and Tala smiled. "You're quite a handsome young man." He laughed at the blush creeping over the boy's face.

There was a quick knock at the door before Bryan entered the bathroom, looking rather worried. He managed a smile for Tala sitting on the wet titled floor, his sleeves rolled up, slightly wet himself, washing the young child. He would have made a great father, Bryan thought wistfully, the smile on his face fading. If not for …

"Bryan?"

"He's coming over on the morrow," Bryan said in a bored voice, though his eyes displayed a large degree of worry. Tala froze and paled.

"He contacted you?"

"Yes."

"Damn," Tala looked away. "I'd hoped …" he trailed off, glancing at the curious boy in the bathtub.

"I know, but it's already too late."

Tala sighed. "I know. It was too late when this all began." He blinked away sudden tears. "I'll be finished up here soon."

"Right." Bryan hovered in the doorway, staring at Tala in concern before sighing and closing the door on the two.

Tala turned back to the boy once the door closed and managed a half smile for him, but the young one knew that something was going on and looked at Tala sadly.

"Don't fret little one," Tala soothed him. "I'll make sure that things work out all right for you. I'd hate for you to become like me." He laughed bitterly then continued to wash the worried young boy.

Once they were done, Tala dried the boy and gave him some old clothes to put on. "So," he asked once they left the bathroom, seeing Bryan setting the table for dinner. "Is there a name to go with that bright face of yours yet?"

The boy looked at the two of them apprehensively as he sat up at the table, his golden eyes flickering with some fear. But they just looked so friendly and concerned for him that he finally nodded. "Rei," he answered in a soft voice.

Tala grinned, sitting beside him. "Well Rei, would you like to stay with us for a while until you find out what you want to do?"

Rei hesitated then nodded with a small smile for the two of them.

"That's good. I'm sure you'll like it here with us. Bryan's one of the best cooks in the world." Tala grinned at his friend, who rolled his eyes and dished out his cooking for them. "He's just modest."

Rei laughed at this, instinctively knowing that he was beginning to fit in and enjoy himself here. Maybe his decisions weren't all that bad. Maybe he'd be able to finally find a place that he was welcome.

Tala watched the soft rise and fall of Rei's chest underneath the large covers of his bed in the 'guest room'. Though it would probably be Rei's room from now on. Tala didn't notice as Bryan sidled up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"You're falling in love," he whispered softly in Tala's ear. Tala heard the warning note in his voice and his eyes hardened. "You know what will probably happen to him. You shouldn't get so attached."

"Your warning came a bit late," Tala told him.

"Tala …"

"Bryan, no." Tala turned around to face him, a frantic look in his eyes. "I'll do anything for him. He's just another lost soul. I won't have him dragged down to my level." Tala turned away. "I don't want him to become like so many others."

"You can't do everything to save him," Bryan told him in desperation. "You'll only end up getting hurt."

"I don't care. I want him to be different. He's already too much like me. I want him to always have someone."

Bryan sighed. "You've never gotten involved before."

"I was never allowed to before."

"You're going to get me in so much trouble," Bryan muttered fondly. Tala grinned at him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you."

"Like I'd let you do something this stupid without me looking after your back." Bryan pulled away from him and moved into his room. "Just don't upset him too much with what you say."

"Oh I wasn't going to let him know of my plans."

"Tala," Bryan said warningly.

"I will though," Tala assured him with a grin that told Bryan he was lying through his teeth.

"You'd better," Bryan muttered before entering his own room.

Tala waited to hear the click of the lock before entering Rei's room and walking over to the bed to kneel down beside it. He gently trailed his fingers through the soft silken strands of ebony and placed a soft kiss on the peacefully sleeping boy's brow.

"Sleep well kitten, I promise to watch over you." Tala got up and walked back to the door. One last glance over his shoulder at Rei's smiling face made him reaffirm his promise. I won't let you be hurt any more.

Rei woke with a soft scream, clutching the twisted sheets to him tightly. He looked around with frightened eyes at the unfamiliar surroundings then breathed a sigh of relief as he remembered what happened the previous day with Tala and Bryan. Thinking back over the past few days though, Rei shuddered and tears started to form in his eyes. He brushed at his eyes with a firm hand and looked up, hearing the door open carefully.

Smiling brightly, Tala peeked inside. Seeing Rei sitting up and awake, he opened the door further and stepped inside. "How are you today?'

Rei managed a wry expression. "A bit sore," he answered truthfully in a soft voice, still looking a little pale. Taking note of what he said, he bowed his head and the tears threatened to overcome him again. Tala winced at this and walked over to sit on the bed beside him.

"You don't have to say anything, but it would be better if you talked about everything. It helps."

Rei flushed in anger and shame. "You know about …?" he asked in a small quiet voice.

Tala nodded. "We were told what happened and where to find you." He sighed and Rei looked up at him to see his eyes fill with sudden tears. "I wish this hadn't happened to you Rei." He looked down at the young boy. "What were you doing on the streets?"

Rei hesitated, still looking down at the bedsheets he was twisting with anxious hands. He released the white cloth. "I ran away. I was supposed to go with a new family that came to the orphanage, but I didn't want to. I thought I was street wise, but I guess I'm not."

Tala gently stroked the boy's hair, offering silent comfort. "How long have you been away?"

"Almost a month. I'd been at the orphanage for almost a year."

"What will you do now?" Rei looked up at Tala, confused. Tala looked away. "I know I said you could stay here with us, but our … boss may have objections to that."

"I don't know enough about the streets to survive," Rei admitted, hugging his knees to his chest. "I don't want to go back to the orphanage."

"Our life is a hard one, but it's a fairly safe one for people like me and Bryan." Tala looked at him seriously. "There's a man coming her today, our employer. He's interested in … hiring you."

Rei nodded, a slightly puzzled look on his face. He wasn't quite sure he understood everything that Tala was trying to tell him. There was something else going on here. "Do you want me to leave?" he asked fearfully.

Tala hesitated. "I want to protect you, but I, and Bryan too, will let you stay as long as you want. I won't force you to stay or leave."

"But …?"

Tala smirked wryly. The boy was perceptive. "There will be a time when it may be too late to leave. So if you stay, just remember that."

Rei froze and stared at Tala, feeling the room suddenly chill. There was indeed more going on than met the eye. He studied Tala's face carefully. "How long?"

"Two or three years at the very most."

Rei nodded then looked away shyly. "You wouldn't mind having me here?"

Tala grinned. "I'd love having you here. It'll brighten everything up." Tala took Rei's hand in his own. "Come on, Bryan's made breakfast." Getting the boy out of bed, Tala moved over to the door and let them both out, the delicious smell of a hot breakfast wafting over to them.

"Hey squirt," Bryan greeted Rei, ruffling his hair as he walked past with a plate of food.

"Hi," Rei replied shyly, taking a seat at the table.

"Hope you like pancakes," Bryan said, setting a large stack down in front of the boy. In response, Rei just grinned and dug straight in. The adults shared a smile and started eating their own breakfast.

Once they'd finished, Bryan packed everything up and took it to the kitchen and filled the sink with water. Rei followed him. "Can I help?" he asked.

"Sure." Bryan passed him a cloth. "You can wipe." Rei grinned and nodded. Tala smiled at the sight of the two of them cleaning dishes together and turned away hearing a loud knock on the door to the apartment.

He moved through the lounge room and opened the door. He paled and barely managed to hold back a gasp seeing his violet haired employer. "Mr. Boris," he greeted in a shaking voice, "come in." The tall cold man glanced at him and walked past into the apartment, followed, as always, by two of his employees. This time it was Spencer and Ian, sometimes friends and associates, but the two of them spared him barely a glance as they walked by. Tala let out a breath and closed the door behind them.

Bryan looked out from the kitchen and his face hardened. He quickly went back in and wiped his hands on another cloth before coming out. Rei watched him curiously and continued to wipe up. He didn't think he should involve himself in their business, though his curiosity was burning at him. He debated with himself, hearing hushed voices in the main room, before he gave in and peeked around the doorway.

His face drained of all colour upon seeing the man who had raped him standing quite comfortably in the middle of the room. He backed away from the doorway, slowly, hoping he had not attracted any attention, but the man looked up with his glittering dark eyes and smiled at him. Rei whimpered.

Tala and Bryan whirled around hearing the noise. Tala tried to go to him, but was stopped by Bryan who shook his head warningly. Tala nodded and stood his ground, looking away from Rei, his heart tearing in two seeing the young boy so frightened.

"So, you're my new associate," Boris said with glee. "I must say, you're even more attractive than I recalled. You'll do well." Boris turned to Tala. "If I discover you have let his training lax, your punishment will be more severe than you could ever imagine. Do not disappoint me." With that threat left hanging in the air, Boris strode out of the apartment with his associates in tow.

Tala started to shake as he heard the door close. Bryan debated going to him or to the young boy sitting sobbing on the kitchen floor. Tala shook his head and pointed to Rei. Bryan nodded and went to the boy, wishing that things could be different for them all, but knowing they couldn't.