[ACE] Devil's duty

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"People learn the most in the first three years of their life.. That's when you get all of your people skills.. I learned how to be afraid of everyone who looked at me." He picked at his nail, slowly pulling out a hangnail. "I got to go to my grandmother's before we left Greece.. She'd always sit me on the counter when she cooked and tried to show me how to cut things and peel things." He still wondered if that woman was even his grandmother. She was too nice to be his mother's mother.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek chewed on his lip, but knew that sharing his own storied would just scare the boy away, most likely. "Chantel lived as a wolf. She learned animal skills. It took forever to get her to go out in public as a human." Eyes traveled across the sky before he glanced at Ace. "My parents, I lost when I was ten. Lived in the woods with Chantel."

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace looked over at him, chewing on his lip. "I don't know where my mom is.. And Zeus forbade the gods from seeing their kids.." He shrugged, looking back out towards the street. He couldn't help feeling bad when people said they'd lost a parent.

[derek chandler ralston]

"Yeah, I've heard," He murmured softly, studying him in the dim porch light for a moment. "I bet it can get rough.." He hesitated, then patted Ace's shoulder gently before dropping his hand again. "Mm, I might just sleep out here tonight.." If Chantel didn't wander down looking fir him.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"I wouldn't. The bugs might eat you." He said quietly, carefully pulling himself to his feet. He sighed, looking up at the sky before he started back to the door. "I think I'm just going to bed.." He said quietly.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek chuckled, shrugging. "Maybe. But..I don't think I would mind." He watched him get up. "Alright. Goodnight, Ace..sleep well." He got up after him and finally headed upstairs after locking the door, stripping down and climbing in to bed beside Chantel.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace slipped out of his jeans, and climbed into bed. It wasn't long before he was sound asleep, the first night he could remember that he wasn't scared to sleep. He hugged the other pillow close, but it wasn't long before his dreams turned into nightmares, and he started to whimper in his sleep.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek slept lightly as usual, a hand draped over Chantel loosely. Some time in the night he got up, moving quietly through the room and across the hall to use the bathroom.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"N-no.. Please.." He cried, trying to shove the heavy blankets off of himself. He was seating, his hair stuck to his forehead as he finally sat up, rubbing at an eye. He looked around, realizing he was alone before he started crying, pulling the blankets close.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek passed Ace's room and paused, back tracking. He knocked gently and peaked inside, flipping on the light. "Ace...hey it's alright.." He wandered to the bed and sat down, gently pulling the blankets back some to look at him with worry. "You're okay now..."

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"No no no.." Ace cried, trying to pull the blankets back with shaking hands. "I didn't- I don't- Please.." He sobbed, half asleep and scared out of his mind. "I don't want to.." He looked hesitantly at Derek, but it wasn't Derek he saw.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek sighed. And either this would work or not. He reached out and pulled Ace close, hugging him and running a hand through the boy's hair. "Ace...you had a bad dream, it's alright now, nobody's gonna hurt you.."

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"No.." He cried, trying to pull away before he finally gave up, sobbing into Derek's chest. He started coughing, then finally cried himself to sleep, still holding tightly to his blankets with one hand, and Derek with the other.

Chantel walked in, looking over at them. "Why's he been crying?" She asked, running a hand sleepily through her hair.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek sighed, kissing the top of his head, just holding him, even if it was touch that Ace seemed to fear. He hoped it would keep the nightmares at bay. He looked up at Chantel quietly. "He had a bad dream..." He mumbled, realizing he still had to pee. But he just scooted back, resting his head against the wall and closing his eyes, holding Ace protectively in his arms.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Chantel stood there, watching them. But she was clearly jealous. "You can't sleep with him, Derek.. That's not fair.." She whined, wringing her hands together. Ace shifted his weight, moving closer to Derek. She glared at him, then walked back to her room, slamming the door behind her.