TEN. to the rescue!

✿•˖* ℘

꒱.. "Shinju, what did you say?"

"I said he might've had a weapon or something that looked like a knife in his pants," she shrugs gulping down the cool water that Daniel graciously brought to her. Not hearing an immediate response calling her crazy Shinju throws a worried glance at Daniel.

"Daniel," she drags out his name, "What's wrong?"

"I saw Zoe live streaming on his phone, what if he's going to go hurt her?" He worriedly mumbles. "Shinju come on we gotta go, quickly!"

"Woah woah, go where," Shinju stands awkwardly as Daniel tries dragging her along.

"To follow him," Daniel speaks, "What if he hurts someone?"

"Daniel I- uh," Shinju's words stop flowing, she really doesn't want to get involved. He takes her silence as affirmation and moves on so they fastly exit the shop. They carefully follow the man's footsteps, getting a clear sight of the knife glistening in the streetlight.

Shinju watches as Daniel tries to call for help. Firstly he reaches out to the cops, who question the situation more than needed for an emergency.

Daniel fidgets around nervously as he tries to figure out who he can call on next.

Vasco maybe?

He did in fact give his number to the small boy, so why not try? He dials the number quickly letting the rings drift into the night air as he waits for him to answer.

"Hello?" A voice greets him.

"Hi? Vasco, are you free right now?" Daniel fidgets around hoping for a no.

"I'm working out, why?"

"Oh, so you're working out? I guess you're busy," he sighs dejectedly.

"Is something wrong?"

"No... it's just there is this person with a knife here."

"Where? Where is this villain?"

"Um, near... the convenience store," Daniel's attention is directed to the man approaching who he hopes isn't Zoe. Daniel wastes no time rushing to warn her to back away, leaving a puzzled Vasco on the other line.

Shinju glances down at the phone beside her hearing the worry in his voice.

"Robin Hood?"

"Shinju? Is that you? What convenience store is he talking about?"

"The one we work at, Vasco hurry please," she shares the information before hanging up. She unwantedly inches toward the courageous short man.

The cuss words fly out of the strange man's mouth as he lunges toward them both with his knife. But it is surprisingly blocked by Daniel's newly learned moves.

Not wanting to give the man a chance to rest, Daniel tries tossing his fist at him. But unfortunately, he is too far away to connect the blow.

"What the?! Who the hell are you?! You're nobody! Zoe is all mine!" The man throws his fists up in a blind rage. Daniel runs to cover the stunned girl letting all the blows land on him rather than letting her get hurt.

Shinju bites her lip as she rushes forward shoving the man off Daniel. She helps them both up as she winces at the incoming headache.

The man stares at her intensely before raising the knife toward the group but is sent harshly to the ground by a metal object. The man rolls around cradling his injured face as Vasco scans the scene with his tired, hunched figure.

"I saw everything, you punk!" Vasco snarls at the whinny man as the sweat glistens under the streetlight. "Dropping that doorbell is a relief," Vasco stretches standing fully. Vasco finds Shinju's stare as he watches her fidgeting standing close to Daniel.

He approaches her grasping her hand and gently guides her to a corner out of the man's sight. He fishes through his pocket grabs a mini milk carton out of thin air and places it in her palm.

"I can tell something is wrong, drink this and sit until I'm done handling this," Vasco instructs her calmly patting her worried head before heading back to finish the fight.

Shinju's cheeks show a light blush rising as she fiddles around with the straw. She pokes it through sipping on the strange-tasting milk as she sits around waiting for the blows being thrown around to be finished.

A while passes as Shinju watches the cop's finally arrive, dragging the defeated man away.

Footsteps pitter-patter against the ground as Shinju swivels to face the incoming Vasco.

"You can come out now," he mumbles offering her a hand to help her up. She accepts grabbing his hand for support as they go back for Daniel and Zoe. They watch as Zoe consoles Daniel worried for his well-being. But it seems she needs to be checked on more than him.

Shinju turns to face Vasco who has a lone tear slipping downward watching the two.

Shinju purses her lips and waddles over closer to the taller male wrapping her hands around him from behind. His body jumps in surprise as he turns to face the girl.

"Thank you, Vasco, you're so awesome," she mumbles placing her cheek upon his sweaty chest. His hands shake as he returns the hug, squeezing her shaking body.

That same feeling has returned.

It feels so foreign, but he welcomes it.

And little does he know he is falling for the strange girl, bit by bit.

But their little moment is interrupted as Shinju receives a text.

Her ride has arrived.

She bids Vasco farewell as Daniel volunteers to walk her back to make sure she gets in the car safely. People gather in the front of the store waiting for Daniel to come and serve them. He hopes they will wait for a bit as he runs to grab something for Shinju.

"Before you leave," Daniel hands her some pocky, "Here's a snack."

She smiles tiredly before turning her attention to the low rumble of an engine. A man decked out in a suit comes to escort Shinju to the car.

He opens the door for her to climb in and take a seat. The door shuts as Shinju turns toward the man's stare.

"Thank you, Sammy," she whispers, "For not calling him." He kisses his teeth scooting the exhausted girl closer toward his warmth. He feels her small body tremble in his hold as the tiring tears escape her shaky eyes.

"Why are you crying?" He asks lifting her face with his finger tucked under her chin.

"I don't even know," she pouts in response.

"We can talk more later," he ushers her to get cozy as he rubs her back consoling her.