In the sitting room at Queen Manor, where Oliver was being interviewed by Detective Lance and his partner, Detective Hilton. Moira and Walter were there as well looking on worriedly, and on the coffee table before them lay the sketch of Oliver, Austin and Tommy's 'savior', a man in a hood. It was kind of funny to Austin how easy the lie had been to cast. It helped that he had always been a good liar, and forced to get better while homeless.
"So that's your story." Lance was saying. "A guy in a green hood flew in and single-handedly took out 3 armed kidnappers." He shrugged. "I mean, who is he? Why would he do that?"
Oliver shrugged in return. "I don't know. Find him and you can ask."
"Yeah." Lance said doubtfully. He looked over at Tommy. "What about you? You see the hood guy?"
"I saw…" Tommy hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering over to Oliver, who was looking back at him with something empty that seemed to unnerve Tommy. "Just movement." He said finally. "Everything blurry. I was kind of out of it."
"Yeah." Lance replied, disbelieving.
He turned to Austin. "And you saw this nutjob too?"
"Yes, I literally described him to you. Green hood, fantastic build, incredible martial skill. Clearly an expert, I could see at least four different fighting styles in his movements." At the mans's confused stare, Austin sighed. "I box, I find other styles interesting. I will be teaching Oliver to protect him from harm."
The rude cop looked back to Oliver. "It's funny, isn't it? One day back, and already somebody's gunning for you. Aren't you popular?"
Moira's eyes narrowed at Lance. "Were you able to identify the men?" she asked.
"Scrubbed identities, untraceable weapons." Hilton said. "These were pros."
"Yeah." Lance added. "Well, they probably figured you'd pay a king's ransom to get your boy back- or a Queen's ransom, as it were." His gaze turned to Oliver. "After all, a parent would do anything to keep their child safe."
"I don't find your tone appropriate, Detective." Moira interjected. Walter slowly stood.
"If Oliver can think of anything else, he'll be in touch." He said. "Thank you, gentlemen, for coming."
Lance gave a cold smile and rose, tucking the drawing back into his travel case. He stared at Oliver. "Your luck never seems to run out, does it?" he said, before he and his partner leave. Oliver walked over the window while Lance tripped, making Austin laugh since he was caused that with a simple extension of magic. The rude cop turned back and glared at Austin, who just waved back.
Soon enough, both Oliver and Austin were in Oliver's room with Austin on Oliver's bed, waiting for their talk. Oliver was studying news clippings on his computer about Adam Hunt, a particular breed of suck that even the hyper focused Austin knew about for his embezzling. Oliver was looking at a thin book with great intent before they both heard Raisa, the sweet maid.
"You are different." She was entering Oliver's room with a tray of food. As she approached, he turns the book over and clears his monitor. "Not like you to read a book."
"I missed you, Raisa." He said warmly.
"No kitchen on the island?" she joked.
"No." Oliver says. "No friends either."
He stood and walked towards her, taking the tray. "Hey. Thank you." He took the tray and sat it down on his bed, then looked back at the maid. "Do I really seem different?"
"No." she said. "You're still a good boy."
"Oh, I think we both know I wasn't."
"But a good heart." She added warmly.
Oliver smiled "I hope so." He said. "I want to be the person you always told me I could be."
She smiled more, patting his cheek, before turning to Austin. "Keep an eye on him, will you?"
"Both if I can spare them."
She chuckled and left, with Oliver turning to him. "Okay, share."
"First, a privacy spell, for both of our sakes."
After the spell was cast, both boys learned quite a bit about each other. From Oliver's murky past on the Island and his pursuit of the List ( he wouldn't go into too much detail on anything, just sharing the basics to quell Austin's curiosity) to Austin's past learning magic and acting as a vigilante. Both were amazed, horrified, and sad. The conversation lasted about an hour total, but in the end both had sort of traumatized the other, and it only made them closer.
None more so that Austin, who pulled Oliver into a big hug. "You poor guy... hey, I have an idea. You were tortured, with bones that never healed right... so why not heal you? I can make potion bathes that soothe injuries no matter how old and encourage restoration. I would have to craft a special batch for your bones, but I could do it."
"""
Oliver was moved, shocked, that he was receiving no judgment from the other boy. Absolute support, and even something akin to love. It was painful to embrace, but he loved it. He could not remember feeling that decency, that support in... so long. "Okay." He muttered, hating how small he sounded.
Austin pulled back. "I will stop by tonight, you can basically sleep in the potion, it does wonders. The more advanced version, I only have a small portion of the ingredients, but we can make it work. I have herbs soaked in the full moon, so that is helpful. We will really get you back into full fighting shape, more so than you are."
And Oliver could not mask the smile on his face. " I would really like that, in return I will get you better at combat."
"And I can patch you up, help protect your base and be you side kick." They shared a laugh at how ridiculous it sounded, but loved the connection that was blossoming between them, one of trust, of shared understanding, and the rare sharing of memories... " Oh and I saw your memories, I still am, so it is only fair if I reciprocate. but not now. I need to figure out what is going on... so, until then... oh and I am you date for the party Tommy is pulling, so I expect you to look great." He kissed Oliver's cheek and marched out, ending the spell, leaving a blushing Oliver in his wake.
"Well, that was unexpected."
But he was grateful, it was nice to be looked at as more than a monster by someone that knew of his past... or at least some of it.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.