Skander Giles stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth as he stared at the computer screen in front of him. He had been working on this project for a little over two weeks and his deadline was in two days.
He paused long enough to pop the crick in his neck before going back to work. He put color here, a line there, and a couple circles in both corners. When he was satisfied with the design, his fingers flew over the keyboard as he added text to his graphics.
Ever since he could remember he had always been designing things. His school projects had been bright and colorful with a lot of pictures and information. When he got into Colombia, he decided to go into the design program. It gave him time to perfect his technique.
He'd enjoyed using color and playing with texture. His designs always seemed to portray what he was feeling at the time. His emotions worked hand in hand with his art, and those who hired him always knew he would do the best he could.
When he graduated a few months ago, he got a topnotch design career in one of New York's elite firms. He mainly designed letterheads, t-shirts for big events, parades, and other odd things others wouldn't take. His big break came when he designed his father's campaign slogan in September. It had been such a big hit that more people were calling to have him design something of that caliber for them.
"Skander," his boss moaned as he came into the room. He turned around, smiling lightly as the man rubbed his eyes. "Go home."
"I'm almost done," he replied.
"You've been working on that one piece day and night for two weeks now. I can't count how many times you've scrapped it."
"Four." There was no humor in the young man's voice. He always wanted his projects to be perfect, and if he felt they weren't getting there, he tossed them and started over.
"See? Four is more than enough. Leave it alone."
"It's due in two days, Bart. I need to finish."
"It'll be here in the morning. Go home."
Skander sighed and hit save on his computer. When it was done, he turned in his chair and looked at his boss. Bart wasn't used to hard workers so when Skander arrived, he was taken off guard. Skander was a hard worker and he didn't like to leave a business unfinished. That was why he went up the ladder so quick at such a young age.
Bart smiled as his young employee began packing up his desk. "That's a boy. Go home and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
When he was gone, Skander snorted. "Sleep my ass. I'll finish this at home."
Since he worked on the Upper East Side, he needed to take the last train to Brooklyn. He knew he could have gotten an apartment in the building his father owned but that would have been too easy. He wanted to make a living on his own so he got a flat in Brooklyn. It wasn't much but it was enough for him.
He slid his card through the turnstile and walked through. He barely made it to the last train. It was slightly crowded with the second shift just getting off work. He stood and ticked off things in his head as a tired older woman sat beside him.
The train always lulled him into a false sense of rest. Ever since he could remember, he would fall asleep at the slightest rocking motion. The train was always his decompressing time. He could enjoy the gentle motion on his way home without thinking too much.
Something touched him from behind and he panicked. Ever since he had been attacked, he had been slightly paranoid. No one was allowed to touch him, even his brother and father. Andrew and Peter Giles understood why he wouldn't hug them anymore and he knew they felt bad because they couldn't help when they wanted to so desperately.
As the train moved, he was jostled. The same hand kept touching him. He panicked.
"Stop!" he cried as he trembled uncontrollably. But the hand wouldn't stop its intrusion.
"Hey! Leave the kid alone!" Skander was grabbed and someone inserted their body between his and the creep's. "He said stop. I suggest you do as he asks or I'm going to put a world of hurt on you."
Skander looked around the man blocking him. The other man was so drunk he could barely stand up. His protector growled then shoved him into an empty seat. When he turned around, he gave Skander a good view. Auburn hair cut into a crew cut, tall with lean features, and an aura that oozed some sort of power was all around him. The most alluring thing was his mismatched eyes. Although they were strange, they fit him.
He looked at him then. Those eyes pierced him to his core, but Skander was unsure why. "Are you all right?"
With a ragged breath he nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You're shaking." His eyes were full of concern, but he didn't touch him. His finger twitched but he didn't reach out for him.
"I said I'm fine!" The other man frowned at the inflection in his voice. Skander rubbed his face. "I'm sorry. You were only trying to help me."
"It's quite all right. Just don't let it happen again." He leaned back slightly so wasn't pressed up against him anymore. "Let me see you home. I promise I won't do anything. I just want to make sure you get home safely and without any incidents."
Skander looked at the man. He was still trying to help him even after he had yelled at him. That said a number about his character.
Finally he smiled. Taking the initiative, he held out his hand despite being scared out of his mind. "Okay. I'm Skander by the way."
The other man smiled and took his outstretched hand. "Keldin."
The rest of the ride was quiet as everyone rode in silence, Keldin standing slightly behind Skander. When the train stopped and they disembarked, Skander noticed Keldin fell into step behind him. He walked so quietly. Something about that put him on edge. Who was this guy?
It didn't occur to him that taking home a strange man would possibly put him in danger. He had never done that, granted he'd never had a significant other either. He didn't know what to do in that aspect and after his attack, he shied away from love all together.
But Keldin, though intimidating, hadn't laid a hand on him since that moment on the train. It was as if he sensed he didn't want to be touched. He simply walked behind him quietly. Skander felt him brush up against him every so often, but it wasn't in an untoward manner. It was the usual brushing when walking close to someone.
When they got to his building, Skander took the stairs to his floor. Going all the way down the hall, he stopped and unlocked his door. He stepped through the door and stopped. Looking back at the man outside his door, he was uncertain whether or not he should allow him in.
"Don't worry about it. I only came to make sure you were safe," Keldin said, making it totally easier.
"The least I could do is offer you a drink," he said.
Keldin shook his head. "I'm fine. Just get some rest. You seem flustered." He nodded and turned away.
Skander closed the door and locked it. He stood with his back pressed against the door for a long time, the man running through his mind. He hadn't met someone so selfless before and he wasn't sure how he felt about that.
He went about his nightly routine. His shower came first then he settled in for dinner. As he sat at his computer, he stared at the blank screen. With his thoughts turning to Keldin every few minutes, he couldn't work. Sighing, he attempted to turn on his computer but he just could work.
There was something about that man that made him feel comfortable. It was as if he was just succumbing to something that man emitted. He was that strong.
He was brought from his thoughts by someone grabbing him from behind. Panic struck him all the way thorugh to his core. He kicked to get free but the hands were strong around his mouth. Another person was rifling through his stuff.
He kicked at the man's shin to get free, but that hand on his mouth tightened painfully. Tears pricked at his eyes as he tried to calm his racing heart. With the rough hands piercing his skin, he wanted to just sink into the floor and disappear.
The front door slammed open, breaking the lock. Keldin and a young woman burst through as two other guys stood in the hallway.
"Are we interrupting?" Keldin asked as he adjusted the gloves he wasn't wearing when Skander saw him an hour before.
"Who are you?" the man holding Skander asked tightly.
The woman smiled. "Your worst nightmare." She moved with insane speed, taking out the other man in a heartbeat. When he was down, she frowned. "That was too easy." The sound of a chamber loading stopped her. "I guess I spoke too soon."
"Take one more step and I'll kill the kid," the man said. The hand on his mouth bruised his skin as he pointed the gun to his head.
Keldin watched as Skander's eyes widened in fright. His breathing was labored and he made a strange noise in the back of his throat.
The big man narrowed his eyes and the attacker took a step back, taking Skander with him. "Let the kid go."
"What are you going to do if I don't?" His voice shook.
Another gun was loaded. "You can do what the boss says voluntarily or we can make you do it involuntarily," one of the guys from the door said. He held a pistol at the man's head. He had moved so quickly and quietly no one had seen him enter.
When the man didn't do what was asked, Skander was jerked one way and the man the other. When he looked up, he noticed he was wrapped securely in Keldin's arms. Keldin was warm against his chilled skin, and his touch was gentle. His arm was wrapped around his waist, and his hand was on his hip gently.
"You tell your boss that I'm here. You ever come after this boy again and I promise you that I will make sure you never walk again. Landen, escort him out." When one of the men came in and took the gunman from the room, he looked down. "Are you okay?"
Skander turned at the breath at his ear. He looked up into the mismatched eyes of his savior. Keldin had known and had come back for him with a swat team. He watched and waited patiently for an answer.
Finally he nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay."
"Abby, collect his stuff. We're leaving tonight."
"Wait. Leaving?" He watched the woman move to his bedroom.
"You have to come with us, kid. It's the only way to keep you safe," the other man said. He was packing up his computer and other things on his desk. Skander was impressed at how he separated everything into appropriate folders and cases.
"Keep me safe?" He turned to Keldin when he realized what he'd just said. "What's going on?"
"I'll explain it when we get out of here. For now, just come quietly." He framed his face gently. "I won't let anything happen to you. You just have to trust me." After staring at each other for a moment, Skander nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
He walked nervously out of his house, following Keldin as calmly as he could. Unintentionally he bumped into him. The other man placed a hand at the small of his back to guide him and also to calm him. He almost stopped when they got to the door. The other two brushed past him.
"You have to trust me, Skander," Keldin said as he stopped behind him. "No one on my team is going to hurt you."
"I know, but I won't let you fall too bad." He snorted in laughter. "Come on, Skander. We have a flight to catch."
Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the door and climbed into the SUV.