Gwen X Brick

Gwen pulled her coat up around her shoulders and tried to cover her hair, and protect the dye she put in it from the rain. She'd just left a movie theatre that was showing a horror movie marathon; there was no way she could miss that. Trouble was, it was now 3 in the morning and it was raining so heavily that her socks were soaked and her shoes squelched with every step. Every car that went past almost soaked her by driving through massive puddles, even as she stayed as close to the buildings as possible. She looked behind her; the faint glimmer of the theatre was going over the horizon, like the rising sun. But the moon shone more bright, to remind her that dawn was ages away.

She was about to turn back when a group of three men appeared. One of them pointed at her, and the others nodded. They started running towards her. Gwen knew this meant trouble, and sprinted forward, kicking up water and causing her leggings to get wet as well. She looked back again. They were gaining on her. Realising she couldn't outrun them, she ducked into an alleyway, and hid behind a dumpster. Her heart was beating fast, but she controlled herself, and listened. The men's footsteps were getting closer, and slowing down. "She went in here," one said to the other. She blinked the rain out of her eyelashes and pressed her knees to her chin. She thought back to the psycho killer on TDI, where she'd defeated a man twice her size. She could do this.

Suddenly, a slim, pure white face appeared to her right, "I found her, lads!" he called, reaching an arm to grab her. She caught it, flung him to the floor, stood up, and turned to the remaining two men. They both wore hoodies, turned dark grey from the downpour, and one held a knife. Neither revealed their face. The one she'd just tossed to the floor grabbed her leg and pulled her down next to him, before sitting on top of her, holding her head down with one bony hand.

"Let me go!" she screamed, clawing at her captor's arm.

He laughed, "No, no. Me and the boys want your money." He grabbed at the handbag that was lying in a puddle next to the dumpster.

She seized this opportunity to elbow the man in the face, and push him back onto the asphalt, standing up to the remaining men. The unarmed one ran at her, but she dodged his attack, kneed him in the stomach, and left him on the floor winded. The last men was smarter than the last two idiots, approaching her slowly, with his knife brandished close to his chest, but not close enough to be used against him. As he reached her, she attempted to sweep his legs away, but he saw it coming, and lunged at her with the knife, just missing her, but cutting a hole in her shirt. While she was distracted by the knife, he used his other hand to grab her neck and press her against the dumpster, holding the knife to her throat. His hood fell back, revealing several face scars, a crooked nose and a maniacal grin.

The first man got up, bleeding profusely from his nose, "Alright, now we won't be so nice."

"Hey," came a voice from the entrance to the alleyway, "Let her go!"

"Go away," the first attacker said, spitting blood, "You got no business here, boy."

"I believe I do when you're still hurting this young lady," he replied, walking slowly towards them.

Gwen smiled, despite the hand to her throat.

The first attacker sighed, "Fine, get up and kill the kid," he told the man lying on the floor.

He looked up, then got up and ran at the boy, who easily stepped aside, kneeing him in the gut, winding him again. He left the man on the floor and looked back at the last two men. He had close cut black hair, and laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. He looked at her, and smiled reassuringly, then gestured to the man with the scars, who was distracted by him. She nodded, and kicked the man in his groin. He double over, dropping the knife, and falling to the floor.

The first attacker stood in shock, watching his colleague fall to the floor, allowing the boy to run and punch him out. He fell to the floor, unconscious. He turned to her.

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" he asked, cupping her face in his right hand.

"I'm fine. I could've taken them you know," she said, almost smiling

He looked at her weirdly, before a smile appeared on his face, "I'm sure you could. You're welcome anyway."

"Thank you," she said faintly, her cheeks flushing, "What's your name, my hero?"

He blushed more than she did, "Um, uh… I'm Brick," he said, saluting, "and what is your name?"

"Gwen," she said, looking at the dog tags that hung from his neck, "is this the part where you sweep me off my feet?"

Somehow, he blushed even more, "Uh… I'm… I'm no hero Gwen… Just wanted to help."

"Well, you've done that…" she looked up at the skies. It was still dark and rainy. "But it is dark. And wet…"

"I could help you get home?" he said to her feet, blushing. His confidence had completely left him.

She laughed, "I don't need help getting home. But you could accompany me?"

He looked up, but when his gaze met hers, his head fell down again, "Um, if you want me to…"

She touched his hand, causing him to look up, and smiled, "C'mon."

Together they walked through the early hours of the morning, watching the dark houses, laughing, and trying to keep conversation going.

"It's funny how quiet everything is this early…" Gwen remarked, remembering nights she'd stayed up, walking through the park.

"Not really. Most people are asleep," said Brick.

She pushed his shoulder, "I know, but… Ah, forget it." She looked up at him and smiled, "This is where I live," she said pointing to a thin apartment building.

She walked halfway up the stairs that lead to the building, then turned back, "Thanks for helping me Brick."

"You're welcome. It was nothing,"

Gwen smiled, and put a hand on her hip, finding the hole in her shirt, "Ah, geez… My best shirt!"

Brick came closer, and touched the rip, "I-I can fix it if you want…"

She smiled at him, "Please. Wait one minute," She entered the building.

Brick stayed dutifully outside, letting the rain fall against his face.

It was five minutes until Gwen returned, wearing a new shirt, and holding the ripped one in a plastic bag, "When can I expect it back?"

"Let's see… It's not too bad… I guess I can have it done by the weekend."

"Have it done by noon on Sunday," she smirked.

"Yes, ma'am," he saluted her.

She giggled, "It's a date," she said, leaving him shocked on her front door.

Brick stared at the door for a good thirty seconds before shaking himself off, and walking away, whistling.

So, I finally did another non-Duncan one! Took a while because I couldn't think of any couples to do... Well, enjoy this latest one-shot.