Logan ran his hand over his hair a couple of times in frustration. The boy was becoming harder to find then Atlantis.
"Did you check the girls house?" he asked the man he had tasked with finding him.
"Nobody was there, not a soul."
"Well he's gotta be somewhere...Go back to the house his bound to go their eventually."
"No problem boss."
If Logan understood one thing it was the priorities of a teenage boy.
Laura walked home from school sucking on a lollipop she had been given by a student running for student body president. It was so nice that she was thinking she just might vote for them. As she got closer to her front door she noticed it was wide open.
It must be her mother, she thought to herself. She would be home this afternoon, she must have accidentally left the door open. She went up to it and noticed a note taped to the door.
Gone for groceries,
won't be too long.
Love Mom.
Maybe it wasn't her mother after all. She could only think of one other person who might be at her house.
"John?" she called out, "are you here?"
"Not exactly girly," replied a voice she didn't recognise.
Laura started screaming, "Get out of my house!" she cried.
The stranger went to clamp his hand over her mouth but she bit him hard.
"Oww you stupid bitch," he said trying to take a swing at her.
She had seen it was coming and managed to avoid it, trying desperately to remember what to do in this situation. She kept up her screaming and when he tried to grab her again she tried to take a step back but she hit a wall. He grabbed her arm painfully and so she made her hand flat and managed to land it on his throat.
He started spluttering and choking and grabbing wildly at her. She remembered her next bit of advice and kicked him right between the legs.
"Fuck!" she man cried before falling to the floor.
"What the hell is going on?" Ace roared as he came in through the door. He had run to the door as soon as he had heard the screaming. Laura had fallen onto her couch, shaking like anything.
Ace walked over to the man who was starting to get to his feet. Ace grabbed his hair and pulled his hair back. "What the fuck are you doing to her?" he screamed at him.
"Nothing," he spat, "the crazy bitch attacked me."
Ace punched him square on the nose before pulling him up by the collar again.
"You call her a bitch again and see what happens," he said lowly. "What are you doing in this house?"
"Logan sent me, he wants to talk to you," the man said spitting the blood out that was running down from his nose.
"That doesn't explain why you are breaking into my girlfriend's house and scaring her half to death."
"He said I'd find you here," the man said.
"Yeah well you tell him I've got nothing to say to him and if you've got a problem with that then tell me now but remember, what she just did to you will be paradise compared to what I'll do if you don't get out of her fucking house immediately."
The man spat onto the floor before skulking out of the house.
"Hey tiger," Ace said sitting down next to her once he was sure the guy had gone. "You won your first fight."
"He was in my house when I came home from school," she said slightly hysterical, "I didn't know what he wanted."
"He didn't hurt you at all did he baby," he asked pulling her into his lap.
"Not really," she said, starting to calm down now. "What was he after?"
"Something he shouldn't have gotten you involved with," Ace said a little menacingly, "but I don't think you'll ever have to see him again. Not after you just brutalised him."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you just kicked his ass babe, I'm impressed."
"I just did what you told me to do," she said a little uncomfortable that she had beat someone up.
"You did good," he said, "I'm proud of you. I'm sure he'll think twice about scaring a poor girl on her own again."
"I hope so," she said, her nerves calming again.
Caroline walked into the door carrying a brown paper bag. "Ah good, you're both here," she said. "I was hoping you'd be able to...Is that blood on your shirt?" she asked, walking up to inspect Ace's shirt, "have you been getting into trouble again?" she asked him.
"No mam," he said mischievously.
"Well anyway," she said, not believing him for a second, "I was wondering if you'd be able to help me with my washing machine. It's making strange noises."
"Not a problem," he said. He didn't mind fixing things, he was good with his hands. He took of his jacket and headed to to laundry. Laura walked in afterward, curious to see what he was doing. He had unplugged the machine from the wall and had removed a panel from the back.
"What's all that?" Laura asked when she seen what was in there.
"It's all the things that make the machine run babe," he said, "do you know where your Ma keeps the oil?"
"No," she said, "I'll go ask."
While she was gone Ace had a quick look at the motor, it seemed fine.
"It's in the laundry," Laura said feeling a little silly.
"There it is," he said as Laura started looking around, opening cupboards. She handed it to him and he went to work applying it to different areas.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Just putting some oil on the bearings, I think that's what's causing the noise."
"How do you know all of this?" she asked in amazement.
"It's simple babe," he said replacing the panel and wiping his hands. "Hey Mrs Stratford, give it a go now!" he called out, walking back to the living room.
"That was amazing," she said still mesmerised.
Ace chuckled, he supposed Laura wasn't used to men fixing things around the house.
"How did you learn to do it?"
He shrugged, "I would have shown you how I change the oil in my car if I knew you were going to be this impressed doll," he said kissing her.
"It's very manly," she said kissing him back just as hungrily.
"I don't have to pull you two apart do I?" Caroline called from the doorway.
"How's it running?" Ace asked, rubbing Laura's back as she hid in shame.
"Much better thank you," she said, "I suppose I can forgive you for corrupting my daughter seeing as how you saved me a repairman's fee."
"Anytime," he said, "just say the word."