Hello my amazing readers! I am so thankful for the amazing response I am getting from this story. I am glad you are enjoying it and hope you continue to do so.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything about Homestuck.

Chapter 4

Sollux looked up from his phone, and there she was. She looked like the shy girl he met on the bus earlier this morning, but at the same time, there was something different about her. Perhaps it was that she felt a little more comfortable with her surroundings. Geez, she's beautiful. I know I shouldn't think that. I hardly know her, yet, I feel some sort of connection to her that I haven't felt with anyone in a long time. Not since… He ceased his thoughts, for he cared not to dwell on them. He found himself still staring at Aradia, and she must have taken notice because she was now staring at him. She gave a short wave at him, and he smiled his crooked grin. She started to approach him. She seemed to float in the air as though she was a phantom. Her hair blowing behind her just slightly, her long grey skirt doing the same. Aradia arrived to where he was sitting and the corners of her mouth turned upwards slightly.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" She asked, slightly hesitant in her words. Sollux loved her voice. It was like satin flowing through his ears. He could listen to it for hours.

He removed his feet from the table they were resting on. "Of course. It's no problem." His lisp was still very prominent. It came and went, some days more noticeable than others. He prayed to Jegus that she wouldn't mind or comment on it. She sat down in the chair next to him, setting her things on the ground. "So, how has your day been so far?" Sollux asked, trying to play it cool.

Aradia thought for a moment before answering. "It's been fine. No one has been rude to me yet, and the teachers seem to be nice. I seem to have made a good impression on everyone so far. I'm in a class with Equius. We have Pre-Calculus together. Speaking of Equius, how old is he? He looks at least 20 in my opinion."

He listened intently, only saying something when she finished. "Naw. EQ is only 17, he's just really built. It's cool that you two have a class together. Wait, aren't you a junior? Pre-Cal is a senior class."

"Well, compared to where I've lived, the curriculum is very different, so I am far ahead in my studies. I take many higher level classes. That's also why I have an off period." Aradia seemed to be quite proud of her higher education.

Good for her. Sollux thought. It's nice to have people who actually care about learning. "That's nice. So, off the topic of school, if you don't mind, what were you doing wandering the streets of Houston unaccompanied that late in the day yesterday? Downtown can be a pretty dangerous place." His voice filled with curiosity and concern.

Aradia looked down at her hands. "Well, I had just arrived and wanted to go exploring. I love to explore different places. Probably because I have this stupid obsession with Indiana Jones. He's my favorite movie character ever, because he likes archaeology like I do. Anyway, I went exploring, promising to be home by sundown, and I guess I just lost my way. Then those guys found me." Sollux tightened his fists when she mentioned 'those guys'. "Who were those men anyway?"

Sollux sighed. He didn't want her to get involved in any of this stuff he got himself into. He figured she wasn't going to accept no for an answer. "Come on. Let's talk outside." Sollux stood up, then helped up Aradia. The two then walked outside the study hall and stood next to the wall in the hallway. Sollux digressed with his story. "Those goons were a part of a gang called the Midnight Crew. They're into some bad stuff. They kidnap people for their leader, who no one has ever really seen. The people they kidnap rarely are ever found again, and those who are, are gravely injured or dead. My gang, The Alternians, is one of the few who fight these guys. We don't believe what they do is necessary. There is no reason to bring civilians into gang affairs. When I heard you struggling, we figured we would go and check the whole thing out, but probably not do anything. But when we discovered it was them trying to-" he paused, his breath catching. Calm down Captor. You've done this for years, why is it tripping you up now? He recollected himself and continued. "Trying to hurt you and kidnap you, I had to do something. I didn't care who you were, but I've heard the things they do to girls your age. They basically use you as a prostitute and treat you like animals. They beat you, keep you in cages, give you only enough food to make you look appealing so they can rent you out to someone. They don't care who you are, you are their stolen property, and they will keep you until there isn't any more use for you." Aradia gasped. "Of course, that's only stories, but it's a popular enough theory that everyone believes it." He saw Aradia's chocolate brown eyes glisten, probably on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry. I'll stop. I didn't mean to frighten you. Let's talk about something-"

His words were cut off my Aradia throwing her arms around his neck. Her body started shuddering. Only small sobs could be heard, but they were only audible to him. He put his arms around her and stroked her back, consoling her. "Sshh. It's alright. You're okay now. I will protect you. I will always be here to protect you." They sat there in their embrace for some time. Sollux stroked her hair while Aradia cried. Eventually, they untangled from each other. Aradia's eyes were a bit red, but she looked beautiful to Sollux all the same. He reached up and wiped her eyes dry as she sniffled.

Aradia dried the last tear and whispered, "Thank you. I had no idea of what you saved me from. I am forever in your debt. I will do whatever it takes to repay you." Sollux was taken slightly aback by the comment. No one has ever offered such a sincere payment for his daily work.

"Really, don't mention it. It's all in a days' work. Of course, it helped that I was saving a pretty girl," Sollux added, looking down sheepishly. Aradia smiled that beautiful smile of hers and blushed. Sollux really didn't compliment girls on their looks often. He didn't want to get too attached to them. But, there was something different about Aradia. He sensed she too had an unforgiving past shared with few. He longed to learn more about it. He had never felt these feelings about someone outside his family. He didn't think feelings of this sort were possible for just another girl he'd saved. I mean, he'd saved plenty of girls from gangs. But this, this was different. This meant a lot to him for whatever reason. Sollux thought maybe, for some weird reason, this girl, Aradia Megido, meant something more to him than just another saved victim.

That's all for now folks! Please review if you like it, or have comments or suggestions or anything. I would love to hear your input.

~Jane