This took longer than I wanted it to. But I'm pushing through. Once we get post Allen Twins Story Arch I have so much I want to do that I hope everyone would enjoy but for now... we shall trudge on!

After doing his usual rounds to some of his regulars and pocketing the proceeds, he saw a man that caught his eye. He looked young enough to just be legal enough to purchase alcohol without a fake ID. He had short blonde hair that almost glowed in the dim lighting of the bar. He was a stockier build than Sebastian but looked harmless enough with his beer at the bar.

"Would you mind some company, handsome?"

The man looked at Sebastian up and down before replying. "I would love some."

Sebastian gracefully climbed up the chair beside him pulling up as much charm as he could. "What is a handsome man like you doing here all alone."

"Just enjoying the scene," he said. "How about you?"

"I like to hang around and enjoy the view."

He gave a small chuckle. "I'm sure there are many places that have better views than here. Especially for someone as sweet as you."

He got closer to Sebastian and whispered into his ear. "I'm sure Big Brother won't be too playing in places he shouldn't be."

Sebastian felt his blood run cold. And quickly stammered. "Actually, I think I should leave you to your drink."

"Not so fast." the man grabbed Sebastian's thin arm. "I think I'm done for the night. And I think you are too."

"Honey, I'm sure there are better ways to discuss this." Sebastian tried again as the man's grip dug into his arm. "Especially not here."

"Of course." he took out a bill from his pocket and paid the bar before dragging Sebastian with him out the door. Sebastian couldn't help but think of the worst. There was always a risk of course. Undercover cops, other gangs, and dealers. But after two years of being careful, he didn't think he'd be caught. He was seventeen, he knew that just one wrong judge or lawyer, he could be charged as an adult. Facing serious time.

The man was too strong, he pulled Sebastian out of the bar into the streets. Once Sebastian knew he was out of hearing distance from the rest of the bar. He struggled more.

"Let me go!" Sebastian struggled. "I get it. You're not interested! You could've just said no."

"And let you keep going?" he asked. "Where do you live? Do your parents know you're out? I'm dragging you back there now."

"You don't know me!" Sebastian exclaimed, trying in vain to release himself from the man's grip. "My parents are out of the picture."

"There has to be someone…"

"Are you boys, okay?"

Sebastian looked up and hid into his hood in panic. Looking away hoping to avoid the gaze of the cop coming towards them. A tall African American cop approached the two boys.

"Nothing to worry about, Officer…"

"West." Joe said. "You boys look lost."

"No," the blonde man reassured him. "My little brother and I are just heading home. He isn't feeling too well. Ate some bad pizza on the way."

Officer West eyed Sebastian, who he knew would recognize his voice. Barry and Iris had been seeing each other for a few months before Sebastian had come out to his parents. And there was no mistaking that Barry and Sebastian looked identical to the toe.

"I'm sorry officer." Sebastian said, tuning his voice a little higher, and a little younger. "We just lost track of time."

Officer West rubbed his eyes, clearly tired from the long shift. "Alright. Head straight home now boys. Don't let me catch you staying out this late again."

"We won't."

He slowly went back to his car as Sebastian quickly pulled the blonde man away.

"You know that cop," he said without doubt. "You know he would recognize you."

"Yes." Sebastian admitted in defeat. Looking younger than he had in the past two years. "What do you want?"

"What?"

"What do you want?" Sebastian said in resignation. Green eyes looking both emotionless and determined. "You seem to know what I do. You aren't with the cops. You're either with another gang or you're about to beat me up for trespassing on your turf. So what do you want with me?"

The blonde man looked at Sebastian with softened blue eyes. "Come home with me. Let's talk. I think we both need a drink."

" A Drink? We just left a bar! What are we going to drink tea?" Sebastian said incredulously. "What are we in Harry Potter? What are you gonna poison me with some magical tea bag and leave me in the streets?"

The man laughed lightly. "Just come with me, or we're going to the precinct and talking to that officer again. What was his name again. Officer West?"

Sebastian signed and signaled for him to lead the way. He led him to an old apartment building where a few struggling families had made their homes. He dragged Sebastian up the stairs and into halls where he was pushed into a small apartment. It was tiny, not that different from the motel room that he shared with three other boys. But it was cozy almost. Still bare but had a small bookshelf that contained books that were dug from the trash. A water stained couch and a modest kitchenette.

"Sit." he said, motioning to the couch. Sebastian reluctantly obeyed. He was dreading the inevitable, none of which would be good for him. He kind of wanted it to be over with.

The man put a mug of water in front of Sebastian on the coffee table and sat across him in a stool. "First thing, your name."

"Only if you tell me yours."

"I'm Ray," he said. "Maybe in your parts, they knew me as Flicker."

"Sebastian"

"Well, Seb." Sebastian flinched at the nickname.

"Sebastian." he insisted. "No nicknames."

"Okay, Sebastian." Ray said. "You look too young to be out here in the streets. I know, Big Brother might have enticed you with something. Money, Drugs, but you're what? Fifteen."

"Seventeen."

"You should be in school."

"Look, I'm grateful that you didn't rat me out to the cops." Sebastian said sarcastically. "But you don't know me."

"I know what happens to most kids who follow Big Brother." Ray said he eyed Sebastian's expression. The look of defeat and resignation when he was caught. "And I think you know too. Let me help you."

Sebastian laughed dryly "You seem to know all about Big Brother's MO. So you know that I was on the streets. I don't have anywhere else to go. Big Brother saved me. I'm only… paying the kindness forward."

"Do you honestly believe that?"

"No." Sebastian admitted. "But I don't really have much of a choice."

"Here's what we're going to do." Ray stood up and tossed a blanket at Sebastian who looked at him in shock. "You're sleeping on that couch. And tomorrow, I'll bring you with me. You seem like a good kid, Sebastian. There are ways to get out of the Cartel."

"I could just leave, you know." Sebastian said. "You can't exactly hold me here."

"Then Officer West from the CCPD will get an interesting note about a boy named Sebastian living in a Motel on the far west side of Keystone."

Sebastian's eyes widened. "You wouldn't. You'd get caught by Big Brother! They'll kill you too."

"Then at least, I saved another kid from dying in the Cartel."

Sebastian looked at his trembling hands. A used flannel blanket looking so inviting under them. "Why are you doing this."

"How did you put it?" Ray said. "I'm paying the kindness forward."

Sebastian didn't get much sleep that night. He knew the consequences of what had happened. He was in an unknown place, cash and the last two packets of drugs in his pocket, and no way out. From what he's heard, he has five days to show up at the motel for the drop off, or Big Brother will come find him. Whether he will be there to save him or kill him, that is unsure.

He can run away, he thought about it a few times late that night. But if he goes, he is sure to bring a viper right to the bosom of the operation. Then he is sure to be dead. Joe will not likely ignore a note about him.

He remembered Joe. The cop was one of the best men out there. He had bonded with him more than Barry did when he and Iris started dating. He had thought of going to him many times when things went sideways. But he couldn't. His so-called parents would never admit to having thrown him out. His life would be hell. And Joe won't be able to take him in. The families were just too close.

He couldn't do that to Joe. He couldn't make him choose between him and his daughter.

Not to mention, if he did get the intel, he'd be dead center at Big Brother's operation. Sebastian would be found dead in a ditch in less than a week.

There was only one more option. But Sebastian refuses to trade the last bit of his soul. He is in no way religious. He may sell his virtue, his youth, and his body. But that patched up old soul was his. His parents may believe that he will end up in hell with who he loves, but he will hold on to his soul till his dying breath to prove them wrong. And maybe a small selfish part of him wants to keep that innocence. The last bit of innocence left of him.

Sebastian was shaken out of his thoughts when Ray came out of his room and tossed some clothes at him.

"Go take a shower, kid." Ray said. "We're heading out in five. We got a job to do."

"You didn't exactly tell me what we're doing." Sebastian said inspecting the clothes he was tossed. It was a pair of well worn jeans that looked too small to be Ray's and a green and white horizontal striped shirt.

"I've got a few jobs for us." Ray said. "We need to be in the kitchen in twenty minutes and it's a ten minute walk. Now move it."

Sebastian suspiciously looked back at him as he moved to get cleaned up and changed. He felt a small sense of relief when he washed up. Ray had also left him what looked like a clean pair of boxers from the second hand store. The handsome man was strange to Sebastian. Why did he have this? Why was he doing all this.

He put back on his black hoodie looking at himself in the mirror. He looked less like a street kid and more like a teen from a lower middle class family. He flattened his bangs to slightly cover his face. It'll be best not to be too recognized.

He left the bathroom and was about to go straight out the door where Ray was waiting when he stopped him. "Wait."

Ray opened his palm in front of Sebastian. "Hand it over."

"What?"

"Your stash." Ray said. "I'm not bringing you with me to add to your list. I know Big Brother likes to keep count and all his boys are very careful about their samples. But you're leaving all grey substances here."

"Can I just leave it with my stuff?" Sebastian asked. "I won't run. I just… I'd rather keep my stuff together."

Ray nodded as Sebastian went back to his clothes and stashed his belongings under his used shirt. Ray had him overturn his pockets to check before they made their way out the door.

Remember kids, don't follow strangers to their home. Do as I say not as story does. Story characters are not harmed in events that happen.

Let me know what you think :D