Summary – Mercer is lost for what to do with the kid.

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'A Challenge'

Mercer

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"We're here sir."

"Alright." Releasing the intercom button and turning to the passed out teenager beside me, I know I need to wake him and get him into the apartment, but I just feel badly about disturbing his rest. He needs it, that's more then clear, and at the moment he's getting it with no nightmares it would seem. Still though, we can't sit out here in limo all night. "Thomas, Tom it's time to wake up. You're home."

"Five more minutes." That may be reasonable if you weren't pressed up against me and currently using my arm for a pillow.

Sitting him up with a little bit of effort, I give the boy a small shake to help bring him around faster. It's not that I'm in a hurry to get somewhere; it's just that I don't very well want to sit out here for another half hour trying to coax him awake. "I'm sorry Thomas, but it's time to go in now."

Finally sitting up straight, he rubs his eyes tiredly and I'll admit it is a tad bit, what's the word…cute? Alright Anton, no more thoughts of that sickeningly sweet nature, clearly being around this boy has affected you and not in a good way. Thus it is time to send him back to his little friends. "Tommy."

Yes you Tommy…wait what? "I'm sorry?" Looking at him in confusion, I wait for elaboration.

"Tommy, my name's Tommy. I don't go by Thomas, s'not me." Sliding to the door and jumping a bit as Mark suddenly opens it for him, I'll admit the boy is interesting. "Um, thanks." Slipping out of the car and standing a bit unsteadily, he moves aside, looking fairly confused as I follow suit. "Going somewhere?"

"I'm going to walk you in." What did I say now? I swear every time I tell him something he gives me that curiously untrusting look. Perhaps he was damaged in those foster homes more then he lets on. He certainly doesn't seem to accept concern and protection very willing.

Finally seeming to relent, he offers up a shrug. "If you want to." Well I wouldn't say 'want to' more like feel slightly obligated to. After all I'd hate to see something happen to him right outside his apartment, and in this neighborhood, who knows.

"I do. I'll be back out in a minute, Mark." Following after the boy, and not very fond of his staggering, he really does need to see a doctor about this sleeping problem.

Moving slowly into the lobby and to the elevator, he waits for me to get on after him before hitting the button to fourth floor. "You didn't have to come in with me you know. It's not like I need a protector." Maybe, maybe not, with how worn-out you are it's hard to be certain. Though this would be a good time to pay him a little compliment, maybe ease away some of that mistrust and dislike he seems to have about me.

"I'm certain you don't. Your friend said you were a very talented fighter. Still though, I'd feel better knowing you got in alright."

Still looking at me oddly when we stop on his floor and the doors open up, he takes a few moments before letting whatever thoughts he had go and moving down the hall to his apartment. I wonder what was going through his mind then. "Well, here we are."

"Alright." Well he made it safely here I suppose I sh…and that's not a happy look. Watching him remove a note that had been taped to the door and read it quickly, I think there may be a problem. "What's wrong?"

"They went out." I'm still not really seeing the problem with that. "And I don't have my key." There it is. "I don't know where they went or I would call them, but they could be anywhere. Not to mention the phone's inside." Handing me the note, he slides down the wall to sit on the floor.

Tommy,

Had to run out, won't be back till late. You're on your own for dinner.

Adam

Charming. Folding the paper up and sliding it into my coat pocket, I guess the kid is my responsibility now. Can't let him sit out here for who knows how many hours. "Do they do this a lot?"

"No. Something must be up with…well I don't know, but no it's not like them to head out on a school night." Well it's good to see his friends have some sense of responsibility under normal circumstances. Too bad they decided to have an emergency the one night the boy is out with me.

Heaving a sigh and offering him my hand, I pull him up easily when he takes it. "Alright, well let's get going then." As he looks at me oddly and asks 'where' I think I might need some Aspirin. "To the Hilton Hotel where I'm staying. You can't very well sit out here all night."

"I think I already told you I'm not going back to your hotel with you. Besides I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Arms crossed and eyes refusing to meet mine, he is one stubborn brat isn't he. And yet oddly enough I'm slightly impressed. Not many people would rather forgo comfort in favor of pride and stubbornness.

"You're also stubborn and exhausted. You fell asleep on the ride back here; you need to get some rest." You have to have a shred of sense, boy.

"I wanna rest in my own bed." Suddenly I have the feeling I'm arguing with a three year old. Perhaps if I threaten him with timeout he'll come around.

"Well that's not really an option right now, is it?" Voice a bit more snippy then I like it to be, I can feel my patients wavering here. Why is this boy so god damn stubborn? And why do I even care if he sits out here all night? Perhaps because he's a challenge. No one has ever given me this much trouble before. That must be it, he's just so stubborn and irritating I view him as a challenge. At least that's what I'm going to tell myself. "Listen Thom-Tommy, I understand you just met me, and we're not exactly on the greatest of terms just yet, but I can not in good conscious let you sit out here all night by yourself. Nor do I wish to sit out here with you. So can you please swallow your stubbornness for a minute and see the logic in this?"

Sighing and rubbing his eyes, challenge or not he looks to be on the verge of surrender. "Do you always have to be right?"

"I don't have to be, I just am." Oh come on, with how many smart remarks you make, you give me a look when I let one slip? "Do you really want to sit out here and wait for them?"

Averting his eyes, he finally shakes his head. "No." Then can we go? "Why are you doing this?" Oh not this again.

"I already told you."

Waving me off, he doesn't seem satisfied with that answer. "No not the good conscious can't leave me here thing. Not this, all of this. Why come across town to apologize to me, take me out to eat, and all the rest? Why so much effort to get me to like you?"

"I don't care if you like me." Alright that wasn't as convincing as it could be and by his look he's about to call me on it. "You're infuriating you know that?"

"Yeah, now answer the question." Brat.

"I don't know alright. It bothers me that some hardheaded, stubborn, loud, and short tempered teenager can get to me as easily as you do. I'm a businessman, Thomas, I pride myself on not caring, and then you come along with that wounded, I'm a kicked puppy look and I don't know what to make of you…I don't even know why I'm explaining myself, I never do that. That's it, you march right now. I'm tired of these games, you're coming back to the hotel to rest and that is that." Yes, good, once more in control as it should be. Moving briskly back to the elevator, I glance back to see he has yet to follow and is he... laughing?

Covering his mouth and shaking his head in an attempt to control his laughter, he gives me a look that can only be described as sheer pity. "Oh man, you have no idea who you're dealing with." Starting to see that.

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(Hilton Hotel)

"So…This is nice." Looking around the suite in what can only be described as sheer amassment, he looks almost comical in his stunned unease. At least I finally found something that keeps him quiet.

"It's suitable. I don't really like hotels, but because of business I end up spending a lot of my time in them." Placing the keycard and my wallet on the desk beside my laptop, I shrug off my coat, wondering if he'll remove his anytime soon or simply spend the night standing there gawking at the main room.

"Do you always stay in suites?" Where else would I stay? Oh and suddenly I'm beginning to see the distinct class difference here. I should word myself a bit more carefully around this boy. It won't do to insult him anymore today.

"Usually. I don't particularly like hotels though, so I try to do a lot of my business over the phone or through other business partners." Is he just going to stand there? Should I nudge him toward one of the other rooms? Or would it be like encouraging a child to go run and touch everything? Well can't have him just standing there like that all night. "Feel free to have a seat or help yourself to something to eat."

"How come you don't like hotels? Seems like nice accommodations." This is true, but it doesn't have a very homey feel to it.

"Yes it is nice to a degree, but traveling so much, it gets tiring. Plus I don't particularly like flying when I have to go out of state or over seas."

Face suddenly taking on a slightly wistful expression, I don't know what I've said but it must have been something important. "I love to fly. It's an amazing feeling, pil-" Stopping suddenly and shaking his head, whatever he was going to say is dropped just as suddenly as it came on. "You should learn to enjoy it more." Alright, that was a bit odd.

"No, I think not. I prefer to spend my time on the ground where crashing into a mountain isn't a threat." Taking a seat at the oak desk and opening my computer, I really do need to review some of those documents my stockbroker sent me. "It's late though, why don't you get some rest Tommy."

Seeming to finally snap out of his trance, his behavior is once more that of curiosity and unease. "What are you going to do?" The work I should have done this afternoon, but neglected because I went out with you. Lord I'm tired.

Opening up my email account as well as a few other programs, I glance up to see him moving to the leather couch. "I have some work that needs finishing." Take the hint child and go rest.

"Oh." Shedding his jacket and tossing it onto the back of the couch, he next removes his black boots before flopping down on the sofa making the leather squeak and crinkle in complaint. Do I want to ask? As he moves to get more comfortable I suppose I should.

"What are you doing?"

"Um…laying down to sleep?" I was afraid you'd say that. Okay Anton, he's young, he clearly hasn't spent a lot of time in hotels like you, you have to be patient.

"There is a bed you can sleep in." When this gets his attention and he looks at me in that way again, I don't know whether to laugh at what I'm sure his thoughts are, or be insulted. "There are two bedrooms, Tommy. Now why don't you go get some sleep in one of them, as that couch was not made for such activities."

"You're kidding." Why would I be joking? At my flat look and small head shake he sits up and runs a hand through his hair. "You're not kidding. Wow, just…wow." Wow as in you're impressed, or wow as in you think I'm extremely spoiled now?

I look back down at my work, hearing him stand to do as I've asked. Well at least he's not arguing about it. That's an improvement I suppose. "Goodnight Tommy."

Pausing, I can feel him studying me critically for a moment before he seems to let something go and continue toward the hall. "Night, Merc." Merc?

To be continued…………