Ian and Husky returned the next morning. Everyone seemed happy, but they could tell something was wrong. Sky wasn't right. They couldn't explain it; he just wasn't right. Ty was quieter than usual and Songbird seemed spooked at the mere appearance of another being.
So, Husky, although he could sense it better than any of them, didn't ask what was wrong. He could feel that they wanted to be left alone. So when he had made dinner for the group, he didn't ask Ian to go get them, and, all of them being as respectful as they were, didn't ask where they were or go to get them.
Ty looked out the window. His hand strayed to pat Songbird's silky, feathered head. The bird pushed up into his touch. Ty thought back to his vision and sighed, a small smile beginning to form on his face. He could feel a connection to Songbird, even if he was only just now regaining some semblance of memories. His mind filtered out everything else and focused on Songbird, the elusive angel and guard of his heart.
Sky sat down. He had been pacing for an hour now, tears running down his face. He had to stop every few steps to wipe them away and blow his nose with a tissue. Now he was sitting down on his bed. He stared at the window and wished he could take back the whole night. He reached over to turn off his light, but his hand knocked something with sharp edges off hiss bedside table. He reached for it, fumbling and crashing to the floor, but he managed to catch it before it hit the ground. He stared at the photo frame he had caught as he sat back, his back hitting the edge of the bed. He almost dropped the photo as he got a closer look at it. It was a photo taken on the day he and Ty had first met. Their mothers wanted a picture for the boys to remember the day by, and he had only gotten the photo printed a few years ago. He remembered the day, he remembered the promise he made. That was the reason he kept the photo so close after all: So that he would remember his promise to Ty although he felt like he had broken that promise now.
A small boy was laying on his side, an older boy standing over him, casting a long shadow over the trembling form before him. The smaller boy cried out as the older one grabbed his long hair, pulling the younger up to look at him.
"You're so weak. You can't even fight back."
The small boy let his tears slip free from their confines.
"Hey!"
The older boy suddenly let go as a strong force pushed him to the ground. The older let out at groan and stared up at the boy that had pushed him over. The boy was standing with the sun to his back, so his face was shadowed.
"What was that for?", the older boy questioned.
"You shouldn't hurt others", the boy replied, "and you shouldn't call them weak."
"You don't know anything."
"I know enough to know I don't like you."
The older boy got up and began to advance on the other boy. He was smaller than him, but about the same age. The liberator sidestepped the oppressor who had been running at him. The bully ran straight into a tree and bounced off, falling to the ground. Now the tormentor was properly angry, his anger fuelling him to run at the protector again, but the same thing happened. The bully had enough and walked to the still trembling boy on the ground. The liberator's eyes narrowed and his taunting grin turned to a scowl. The tormentor looked back and stared at the boy. The saviour was cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck to stretch it out. The bully looked at the smaller, younger boy in his arms and saw the tears streaming down his face. His mind barely registering that the other boy was coming towards him with a deadly aura. The smaller boy looked up and watched his tormentor and saviour fight it out. He smiled as his tormentor fell and his saviour walked away. He flinched as his saviour held out a hand to him. The other boy smiled and knelt, hand still outstretched. The younger looked at him, then his hand, then back at him before taking the hand. The other boy smiled more and gently pulled the younger to his feet.
"What's your name?", the older asked.
"T-Ty", the younger whispered.
"Well, T-Ty, my name's Sky."
The younger giggled, but quickly hid it. The older looked at him.
"What's wrong?", Sky asked.
"N-nothing. Don't worry about it."
"No. Please tell me what's funny, I want to laugh too", the older encouraged.
"W-well, my names not T-Ty, it's Ty and your name's kinda funny."
Sky smiled widely.
"Yeah, it is. It's a nickname, not my real name, of course. I just thought it was funny and I like it when people laugh. I like making people happy."
Ty smiled and began to fix his hair back into place.
"Thank you for rescuing me", Ty said, blushing slightly.
"You're welcome. All in a day's work."
Ty looked at Sky questioningly but otherwise ignored the comment. The two smiled as they began walking together.
Sky stopped and stared at the ground. Ty looked back and walked back to Sky.
"What's wrong Sky?", Ty asked, concerned.
Sky looked up suddenly, smiling. He got down on one knee and looked up at Ty. Ty blushed a little and wondered what Sky was doing.
"Ty, I like you, a lot. And I want to make a promise to you."
Ty looked down confused.
"I want to promise to you that I will protect you, from all the people in this world that want to hurt you. To protect you from anyone who wants to make your life bad and from anyone who wants to make you feel sad or hated."
"Sky…Thank you. I want to promise you something too."
Sky got up and dusted his pants off.
"What's that?", sky asked.
Ty giggled.
"My promise to you is that I'll stay with you no matter what. I'll always be there for you. Always by your side", Ty laughed a little. "Because even tough guys and saviours need someone to help them out once and a while."
Sky smiled and hugged Ty.
"Say cheese!"
Ty looked up and smiled, not as wide as Sky, but still a big smile.
"So is this your new friend Sky?", a tall, woman with wavy hair asked.
"Yep. He's my new best friend."
Ty looked at Sky's mum and then at Sky.
"Miss, your son saved me from a bully. You raised a good child."
"My, what a charming young man you are. You picked a good one, son."
"Mum…", Sky groaned looking up at the sky as Ty blushed, and smiled a little at Sky's mother's antics. Ty laughed, looking at Sky, who was now smiling at him. Sky wrapped an arm around Ty's shoulders and smiled down at him.
"Remember to keep your promise", Sky said as he pulled Ty closer.
Ty smiled.
"You too, Sky. You too."
Sky let a new wave of tears stream down his face and sighed as he let his hand drop. The frame landed softly on the carpeted ground. He brought his knees closer to his chest and let his arms encircle them. He was cold, but he knew there were much worse things in life than feeling the cold of the night.