Hey, thanks for for any reviews you guys gave me! Seriously, any reviews are good reviews, especially in an OC story. I'm pretty lucky to just get the one ;) so keep it up!

feel free also to review with any suggestions - I've got a bit of the story planned out but the rest is kinda... Bleugrh

Two - Weird, But Helpful

I opened my eyes suddenly, to be met with a small face looking down at me.

The boys hair tickled my nose and I resisted the powerful urge to sneeze.

"Are you okay?"

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the light. Wait... light?

I shoved the boy away, sitting up to stare at the horizon - the sun had started to rise, and was about halfway through doing so.

Swearing loudly, I stood on my wobbly legs. Last night had been... Too close. I had risked my butt for some kid and barely got away unscathed. But then, I had been scathed. My head hurt and my lungs were burning from swallowing so much of the oily water. And now the sun was rising, meaning soon enough people would be out, and they would see me.

And that was not allowed to happen

I stretched out my legs, kicking them around before moving onto my arms. I swung them around for a bit to get the blood flowing.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped at the sound of the boys voice, quickly turning to him.

He had obviously crawled up from where I had dumped him last night, which explained his bloody knees and blistered hands. Seeing me staring, he shifted uncomfortably. I suddenly felt bad. I had just thrown him off me without and second glance, and he was hurt. His ankle looked horribly deformed and his entire body was covered with scars and bruises.

Someone had to tend to them.

"Stretching" I said finally. Finishing off, I rolled back my shoulders and began making my way up the shore. The small pebbles crunched underfoot, the sound becoming less and less frequent until I reached sand. Dirt, more like.

There would probably be a bus or something that could take me back to my apartment - I could always jump on it and pretend to scan my card when I got off. Of course, I'd have to find my bike tomorrow...

All I had to do was jump over the little stone fence. Easy.

But I couldn't get myself to do it. The boys innocent face burnt into my mind.

Without making them do so, my legs pivoted around, and started walking towards the boy. My arms unconsciously stretched out, giving out my hand to pull the boy up.

He looked at it anxiously, before grabbing it and letting me yank him up. He hissed, rubbing his shoulder.

"That... Hurt" he muttered forcefully, putting his arm around my neck.

"I'm helping you, kid, be grateful"

Was I helping him? He would be better off just lying on the beach until someone found him.

"Well, you're definitely not doing a great job of it"

Maybe I should just leave him there - if he continued to be such an ass about me saving he, I'd probably do more damage than the men had done.

I lifted the boy over the fence and he whimpered, letting off a low groan of a complaint.

"Sorry. I didn't know your waist was hurting," I said, trying to sound patient.

"Its not. I don't like being carried" he stated as his feet touched the ground.

"Didn't mind being carried last night," I sneered, and he didn't reply.

I stopped, looking around to see where I was.

No clue.

"We're on Gorn Street, West Gotham" the boy pointed out.

Weird.

But helpful.

My bike was just around the corner. With the boys arm around my shoulder, we made our way down the street. He refused to admit he was hurting, telling me not to stop, to keep on walking.

For christ's sake, I was worried about him.

And it was killing me.

I gently pulled him down the back street, propping him up on my bike.

"Got a helmet for me?" he demanded.

"Uh, no."

"Do you want me to die?"

I didn't answer his question, because I didn't actually know the answer myself. Instead, I jammed my own helmet onto his head. Suddenly regretting it when I saw him wince. I pulled him up onto the bike, and got on in front of him.

"Hold on!" I instructed, before pulling away from the street and racing down the road.

Thankfully it had been a good month, and I was able to live in an okay apartment. It had a shower -with hot water, I must add - and that was good enough for me.

"Hey, Ellie" Roger called from the front desk. His eyes moved to the boy hobbling along beside me. He raised his eyebrows then winked."Hey hey, this your boyfriend? Had a rough night? Did the clothes get lost along the way?" he laughed.

"He's not my boyfriend, but your damn right about the second one. The latter... Remotely true."

"Wanna explain?"

I shook my head, pulling the boy into the lift. I was still sopping wet from swimming, and I dripped all over the floor. We hobbled towards my apartment, and I fished around in my pocket for my keys, retrieving them and unlocking the door.

I threw my keys on the bench and dropped the boy on the couch.

"Ellie" he murmured, getting comfortable.

"Yup" I confirmed, throwing a blanket down on him.

What, in gods name, was I doing? I was already on fake name basis!

"You gotta name, kid?"

Five seconds ago, the boy looked tired, but now he looked furious.

"Don't call me kid. I'm not a kid. I'm probably the same age as you!" he exclaimed, sitting up.

"Right. So, a name?"

His face clouded."I can't remember. I can't remember anything. Anything useful, that is. I can remember city's plans, foreign languages and facts, but nothing about my family or who I am""Well then you need a name."

I studied his face for a moment. "What about Roy?"

He scrunched up his face. "Definitely NOT Roy."

"I'm willing just to call you kid."

"I'm so grateful." he said sarcastically.

I sighed dramatically, sauntering over to the kitchen to chuck a can of soup in the microwave. I watched the digital green numbers flash until a long beep sounded, grabbing the bowl so quickly it nearly spilled out the sides.

"You know, I've always like the name Wally, what-" I stopped short on my way back to the couch, the bowl in my hands nearly slipping from my grasp. The kid was curled up in a tiny ball - fast asleep, his long charcoal eyelashes on display.

I choked back an 'aww', instead murmuring about how cute he was and settling on the couch opposite to eat what was supposed to be the kids soup.

About halfway through, I looked up at that pale, vulnerable face, so relaxed, it's eyebrows slightly furrowed.

First thoughts were, admittedly, 'he's so adorable!'

But if there's first thoughts, there's seconds.

And so I sat on my couch, my mind invaded by the second thoughts, empty bowel in hand, thinking;

What the hell have I done?