Ch 6 Armor (1)

I tried to focus on keeping a steady pace as I walked down the hallways. It was harder with three men around me instead on my normal one. It had only taken a moment for me to return my phone to where it belonged and Andrew had replaced most of his equipment as well but he kept the helmet off just carrying it beside him. This was my home and not a battlefield after all.

It didn't take long to get to the sunroom/ garden. The temperature increased a good three degrees as we entered the garden room. Not only was it hotter in this room, it was also muggy. I was glad I was wearing so little as I started sweating within steps of the door. I briefly wondered if the yellow or green dragon warrior would pass out first wearing so many clothes here but then I decided if they wanted to be foolish who was I to stop them.

So I just tried to pretend they weren't there, staring at each other like two feral cats, over my head. Joe didn't seemed worried that the two would fight with me in the middle but he really didn't seem to worry about much.

Hero jumped up, ugly crying and came running right at me as I stepped round one of the giant fern plants in the garden. Andrew and Goliath reacted at the same time. Hero suddenly found the two guards between me and him.

I had expected him to stop short but he acted like he didn't see the two men at all. Andrew got to Hero first. I guess being skinnier and lighter had an advantage over the mountain of a man frame that was Goliath. Andrew reached out to stop Hero, but Hero seemed to drop like someone had cut his strings and passed below Andrew's outstretched arm like it wasn't there. Hero didn't even open his eyes as he moved past. Hero then took a step to the right moving out of Andrew's reach. "Awe, Ari. I missed you so much, you wont believe-" Goliath pulled up short after Hero got by Andrew. Goliath seemed to consider more what Hero might do and him stopping did increase the amount of time he had to try but Hero moved through him just as easily. Hero didn't even stop talking as he avoided the mountain. "-how worried I was about you. When I learn you were kid napped, and then I learned about Aryan."

Hero came to stop as he said Aryan's name and blinked at me, "I am sorry, do you already know what happened?"

I reached out and placed a hand on Hero's head to try and keep him from hugging me with his snot filled face while Joe just stood behind me with his arms crossed. "I heard Hero. Shot in the shoulder and fell down some stairs. Terrible loss."

Hero rubbed his face on his sleeve making an even bigger mess as Andrew and Goliath took up spots on either side of him. They clearly wanted to tackle the small man, but they were no longer confident they could, and he didn't really seem to be a danger to me. Well not more of a danger than getting me messy anyway.

"Terrible loss, Terrible loss." Hero's face scrunched up like he couldn't believe that was my response, "She was your friend too Ari. I know she was." Hero somehow started to cry harder, and I was sure arm length was enough anymore, "I heard you already dropped your classes for the rest of the year. How could you leave me at a time like this? You are at least going to the memorial tomorrow, right?" Like he couldn't test out as well. Since moving here he and Anrya had always kept up with me. If I diced to skip ahead, they had as well. They had seemed to make it their life's work to give me a more normal childhood. Without them I probably would be running the company by now and not have a life of my own.

"No, I am not."

Hero managed the ridiculous again and started crying harder. Now I was sure an arm's length wasn't enough to keep the snot off of me. "You cannot run away from everyone again, Ari. You are too special to let yourself be isolated again. Please come with me. I cannot lose you too."

I tried to push Hero back and get some space from the water works but he seemed to take that as a signal that I wanted a hug. Which lead to a game of try to evade the snot covered friend. He was not an easy man to evade either.

I blinked a few times at the seen that unfolded. Andrew and Goliath both tried to grab Hero to keep him from touching me and Hero evaded them with seemingly no effort every time. Dropping low, jumping over, every move seemed effortless and just a coincidence, but every move was highly effective. After a few moments of this I said, "Holy shit Hero, are you the monkey from journey to the west or something?"

Hero pulled up short and smiled. "Wouldn't that be cool? Ride on a cloud, summon a staff that can change sizes. Be immortal and not have to worry about grief and loss. The monkey king. Have good friends and family built into my story. To be a constant annoyance to the jade emperor, the lord of heaven."

Hero dodged Andrew again but now his eyes were clearer and he seemed to be watching me for something. Something felt familiar. I had always liked Hero because he felt familiar, but now it felt like more. "The monkey king doesn't get to avoid death."

"Ah but his friends are there too, and he will return when we need him." Hero seemed to wink as he took a step away from Goliath who didn't try to grab Hero again.