Axel lay on his bed with his eyes shut listening to the wind blow through the trees. He did not move a muscle except for his eyes for every time he did a new sensation of pain flashed across his skin. His mind went with the wind back in time to the orphanage. He heard laughter, cruel laughter, and he felt the heat burn inside him, a heat that took him years to understand…

In the corner of the rec. room, 10-year-old Toby backed further and further into the wall, trying to avoid the crowd of older boys that surrounded him. His wide green eyes darted from boy to boy and his hands grasped the sides of his jacket. By this time his knuckles had turned white. He looked like an animal backed into a corner and for a moment Axel thought he looked a bit dangerous as most cornered animals do.

"Come on Collins, we know you have money in your pockets, don't make us tip you again," the biggest boy said. "You remember what happened last time don't you?" He gave Toby a little push.

Those green eyes looked more frightened and more fierce than before.

"Come on baby!" One of the other boys said.

Axel sighed and cracked his knuckles. This kind of stuff made him sick. In a few strides he crossed the room and cleared his throat behind the group of bullies.

Immediately they turned and the first boy raised an eyebrow in an attempt to appear confident, even though Axel knew the fear that filled his eyes.

"Something wrong Axel? You want some of this dweeb's money too?" He asked.

"David, you are pathetic," Axel said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Whataya talkin' about Ax.?"

Axel grinned a lopsided grin and before anyone could react he had David pinned against the wall with his forearm smashed against his neck. "You bother this kid again and I'll rip your throat out, ya got it?"

David nodded, his mouth hanging open like a fish caught out of water. His pupils were the size of pushpins.

Axel glanced back at the gang of bullies. "Tell your dogs to back off."

David still stood with his mouth hanging open.

"Do it!" Axel said more loudly.

"Back off," David said weakly. "This kid's under Axel's protection."

Axel grinned and patted David's cheek. "That wasn't so hard was it? Now get out of here." He gave him one more push and then shoved him to the center of the rec. room.

For a moment the bullies gathered around their leader and stared. Axel waved with his fingers. "Bye now." Then cracked his knuckles again. The bullies ran off.

Axel turned to Toby, who cowered all the more. "Listen kid, if they bother you again let me know, I'll take care of it." He turned again on his heel and started to walk to claim the TV set.

"Hey."

Axel looked over his shoulder to see Toby come up beside him.

"Why'd you help me?" He asked.

"Four on one," Axel shrugged. "Didn't like the odds." He continued walking towards the TV.

"But, but yesterday you took on five guys," Toby said.

"Face it kid, I had a better chance," Axel said. "First of all I grew up on the streets, second I picked the fight, and third-" He turned to look at Toby. "Well you're not a fighter."

Toby looked down at his sneakers.

Axel ran a hand over his chicken feather hair. "Come on, I'm about to steal the TV uh - "

"Toby."

"Toby, who knows, maybe there's something good on."