Action After Hours

Chris tugged his hoodie up to shield his face - his black eye was painful and obvious, and even the ever-oblivious Eric would ask questions. He jammed his hands into the pockets and started toward the park. He’d deal with the bloody sports tape later.

And then he saw Sarah and Dianne walking along the pavement ahead of him. What was she doing out this late? Blind people weren’t at the same disadvantage at night as seeing people, but campus was downtown, and it wasn’t safe for her, not when - not when a guy like Blake was leaning under a lamppost, drinking from a hip flask and eyeing Sarah like she was his next meal. Chris’s hands curled into fists.

Blake arched an eyebrow when he noticed Sarah’s cane, and he stuck a foot out, kicked a tiny pebble. Sarah jumped, tugged on Dianne’s harness, and Dianne paused obediently.

Something akin to fear crossed Sarah’s face. "Let's go," she said.

Blake peeled himself away from the lamppost and fell into step behind her. Chris automatically ducked back into the shadows; Blake hadn’t seen him yet.

Dianne, on the other hand, had noticed Blake, and she growled. Chris saw Sarah flinch. She called out, “Who’s there?” and then Dianne snarled.

"Hey sugar.” Blake stepped up behind Sarah, and his grin went from amused to dangerous.

Sarah’s shoulders tightened, and she shifted away from him, almost imperceptibly.

"Now don't be like that honey,” Blake drawled. "Tell Fido to calm down and we can get to know each other."

"I don't think that I want to get to know you.” Sarah’s words were bold, but even Chris could tell she was afraid.

Blake raised his eyebrows, circled her like a shark eyeing a fish separated from its shining school. He chuckled when Dianne snarled again, hunkered down in front of Sarah with her fur standing on end.

Blake reached into his jacket, and Chris remembered that Blake liked to keep a butterfly blade on hand; he thought he looked hardcore because he could flip it open like a 1950’s greaser.

Chris stepped forward, into the wan yellow glow of a streetlight. “Leave the woman alone, why don’t you?”

Blake blinked and took a step back from Sarah. “This doesn’t concern you.”

"Clearly she doesn't want to have anything to do with you,” Chris said, moving closer to Sarah, “and the best thing for you to do would be to go away and leave her alone.”

"And what if I don't?" Blake looked Chris up and down, smirking disdainfully.

Chris tugged back his hood. "Then I will just have to make you.”

Blake laughed, spread his arms wide. "Bring it on!"

After twelve years of bare-knuckle boxing, a guy like Blake was an easy match. He was strong, but he wasn’t as fast as he thought he was, and he lacked the necessary form to hit very hard. Chris had to duck and weave to avoid Blake’s knife, but he landed a solid uppercut that sent Blake sprawling. Once he was sure Blake was unconscious, he turned to find Sarah, who was huddled beside Dianne and shaking like a leaf.

"Are you all right?" Chris stood beside her, unsure of whether to hunker down beside her or just keep standing. Was he looming?

Sarah nodded, though she kept her face buried in Dianne’s fur.

Chris offered a hand even though she couldn’t see the gesture. "Can I help you?"

A sound half like laughter, half like a sob spilled from Sarah. “I think you already did.”

Chris glanced back to where Blake was lying on the pavement; he wasn’t sure he’d been that much help. "Can I walk you home? Just to make sure you get there safe. You shouldn't walk alone at this time of night."

“Yes.” Sarah patted Dianne gently, and Chris realized that Dianne hadn’t growled at him once.

“I would be grateful,” Sarah added. “This way.”

Chris actually knew where she lived by virtue of having seen her paperwork in the office, but he walked beside her anyway, letting her interject directions into his long ramble about Kierkegaard. He knew she was shaken, that she wouldn’t say more, but he was sure that if she said too much she would recognize his voice, and then what could he possibly say?

Maybe he could tell her how much he liked her.

(Written by Nagi)