Blind Hero

by Nix Whittaker

  Warren looked down at her and caught her hand so she would stop teasing him. “This is serious, Megan. I know what you were like after Noah. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

  Her amusement left her. He was worried about her. Being loved, warmed her, but she never ever wanted him to worry about her.

  Megan said, “I really don’t have any real intentions. I like him. That is all.”

  Warren glared at her for a long moment and she knew she hadn’t fooled him. Megan didn’t want to study any closer her feelings. Besides, it was too early to hope.

  She waved it off. “It’s all new, alright. Just let it go for now and we will see.”

  Warren sighed. “Alright for now. I’ll leave it alone but know that I am here for you.”

  Megan smiled. “Aw, you are so sweet when you are being the big brother.”

  Warren swatted at her. “Stop that.”

  She laughed. A little more serious, she said, “I’m glad you are my brother.”

  He returned her smile. “I’m glad you are my sister. Now tell me, what is the best way to convince Natasha to let this symposium go ahead?”

  Megan laughed with real mirth and just shook her head.

  ___

  Megan heard the music and made her way through the house until she came across a room Natasha had recently renovated. She hadn’t even realised they had a piano in this place.

  She stopped at the doorway.

  Toa was playing. He was deep into his music as he didn’t even glance up when she entered the room.

  Megan moved quietly and since she had the sense atramento as well, she knew she was quiet. She leant against the piano and waited for him to finish then said, “You are good.”

  Toa jerked with shock and tilted his head up. “Megan?” he asked in astonishment.

  Megan said, “I heard you playing and wandered over.”

  He ran his fingers over the keys but not actually playing any. “I’m a little rusty. They don’t have pianos in military camps or refugee camps.”

  Megan sat next to him and he moved quickly. She smiled at his nervousness and caught his hand. He hesitated and settled in closer to her. Megan turned his hand up so she could trace her fingers over his palm.

  Toa sighed and closed his hand around hers. Megan wondered if he would say anything, instead he turned towards her. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed his lips over her knuckles.

  She tingled like a bottle of pop had been shaken and opened up inside of her. Megan had never felt this way with anyone.

  Toa said softly, “I wonder what you look like. I know you are there. I can feel the heat of your skin. I can hear your heart beat but I still don’t know what you look like.”

  She tugged his hand and laid it on her cheek. “Then use all your senses.”

  Megan could tell he was holding his breath. After a second, he let it out and he brought his other hand up to her other cheek. He cupped her face and then moved his large fingers over her face. Tracing over her eyebrows and nose.

  She could feel his fingers tremble as they brushed over her lips.

  Megan watched him, warm inside.

  She wasn’t a pretty girl. She was too much of a brown sparrow. She wasn’t tall or petite. She wasn’t slender or well endowed. Her hair was a mousy brown and her eyes a chocolate brown. She would be completely forgettable if it wasn’t for her intellect or her parents.

  Noah had been the first boy who had ever paid any attention to her and it was only later she had realised he had only done that because he thought she was rich. Megan wasn’t, not in the grand scheme of things. All her buildings were owned by other people. She had money but not the amount he had thought.

  It had broken her heart to think the only way that someone would pay attention to her was when they wanted money. Toa had no idea if she had money. He didn’t even know she was the daughter of the Shield Builders. He would find out soon enough and she wanted this purity that existed between them. Knowing he wanted her for her.

  Megan tugged on his wrist and moved his hand to her neck and then she leaned forward. He hesitated, then leaned forward as well. The touch was a chaste kind of kiss at first. Just the touch of lips against lips. Then he groaned and pulled her closer.

  Toa nibbled on her lips, his hands moving to tuck her in close to his body. Megan opened to him and moved in closer to his body. He took the kiss deeper. He kissed her like she was his soul mate and they only had one more twinkling moment together.

  No one had ever kissed her like that. She remembered Noah and his kisses. Megan knew now she had been blinded by her own naivety. There was no artifice in Toa’s touch and it was beautiful because of that.

  Megan squeezed her eyes shut tighter. She didn’t want this to end. She had thought she would never have and tears threatened. She pulled away and blotted at her eyes with the heel of her hand.

  Toa asked a little breathless, “Megan?”

  Megan shook her head. She didn’t want to explain her emotions; it was too complicated.

  “It’s alright, Toa. I just, well, I haven’t been with many men before.”

  It was a lame excuse but she thought no one would ever wish to kiss her for her, let alone the way he had kissed her.

  He smoothed a hand through her hair and she turned a smile towards him.

  Toa said softly, “Megan, if you want to go slow that is alright with me.”

  Megan leaned so her head was against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.

  She said into the quiet, “You aren’t going to write me a song, are you? Because that is way too Twilight.”

  Toa asked, “Twilight?”

  Megan laughed, but didn’t explain because it didn’t really matter. She didn’t need a song.

  ___

  Natasha had Toa shifting gear in one of the large garages by the house to fit in the servers they intended to bring in. The work wasn’t skilled but it was easy. Especially with the strength atramento.

  Toa turned his head when he realised he wasn’t alone anymore. The steps didn’t belong to the girls though. They had a softer tread. The person didn’t feel hostile, so it wasn’t one of the idiots from the building site either. This person though was quiet and that meant it had to be one of them that had the atramento. That left only one option.

  Toa asked, “Warren?”

  The man approached. “Those sense atramento are working well, I take it.”

  Toa shrugged. He doubted the man had come out here to talk to him about the tattoos. He waited patiently.

  Warren seemed nervous as he shifted his feet and after a pause he asked, “What do you intend to do with my sister?”

  Toa raised an eyebrow at the blunt question. “I don’t intend to do anything with your sister.”

  Warren huffed. “You are as bad as Megan.”

  Had Warren had a similar conversation with her? Toa took a rag out of his pocket and started cleaning his hands as he thought of what to say. Eventually, Toa admitted. “I like your sister. But I don’t intend to do anything about it.”

  Warren asked, confused, “Why not? I mean, do you think she is ugly or something?”

  Toa shook his head quickly. “No, your sister is lovely.”

  More than lovely. Megan was smart and kind and she was not uncomfortable when he didn’t talk much. Toa wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. To taste her. To fall into her and never surface.

  This was a very awkward conversation. He had never been approached by a family member about any of the girls he had been interested in. Not that he had done much with girls.

  Toa had been sixteen when they had moved to the refugee camps and he had spent most of his time looking after his mother and sister. Which didn’t leave him much time to date anyone. You didn’t date a girl unless you had a future and that was something he didn’t have. Not yet anyway.

  Pain pierced his chest. This place hurt because it made him wish for a future where he could hold Megan in his arms and keep
her.

  Toa let out a long breath and said to Warren, “I don’t know what my plans are. And while they are uncertain, I don’t intend to date your sister. If my future is a bit more certain then I would keep her in a heartbeat.”

  Toa knew he was lying. Toa would pursue her because he wanted those few moments of a dream even if he had to wake up soon to reality. He knew it was unfair as he didn’t have anything to offer her.

  Warren seemed pleased with this answer. Toa wasn’t sure he was pleased though. He knew he would need to leave soon, but something was keeping him here and he was worried it was Megan. And if that was the case, then he was going to get hurt.

  Warren said softly, “Just so you understand. If you hurt her, I will hurt you.”

  Toa took it seriously. More seriously than those jokers who had jumped him at the building site.

  Toa said, “I know.”

  “Good.” Warren then left. He didn’t go far, as he stopped outside.

  Toa heard him outside speaking to Megan.

  Toa wanted to just forget his past and stay with Megan but he didn’t have that luxury. He had responsibilities and enemies. He couldn’t risk staying too long. Listening to Megan laugh at something her brother said made him ache with impossible dreams.

  Toa knew that if he got too close to Megan, it would become impossible for him to leave and he had to leave. And soon. Otherwise, his family wouldn’t survive.

  He had to go back for them. If he survived then he could return. Perhaps he could believe for just an instant his dreams were possible.

  ___

  “Hey, Toa, wait up.” Megan ran to catch up with him as Toa walked down the street towards the town.

  Toa really was a big man and that meant long legs. Megan huffed as she caught up with him. He hadn’t slowed at all when she called out.

  Megan frowned as she asked, “You alright?”

  “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” his tone was hostile and it made her steps slow for a second.

  “Where are you off to in a hurry?” She caught up with him again.

  Toa shrugged nonchalantly. “Natasha wants me to move some things in one of her warehouses further in town. Natasha has already filled up the garages and there are still servers out at the farm.”

  Oh, good, it wasn’t anything urgent. Megan smiled and hoped he could hear it in her voice, “Well, she won’t mind if we take a detour.”

  She reached out to take his hand, but he moved it out of her reach after the barest brush of her fingers.

  Megan frowned at the action and asked, “You alright?”

  “You asked that already.” And so she had and that was because his mood confused her.

  They had kissed, surely that meant he liked her. Toa had seemed like he had enjoyed their kiss as much as she did. Except she didn’t have much experience with men. Megan slowed her steps and let Toa get ahead of her. Perhaps she had read it wrong.

  “Okay, Toa. I have some work I need to do. I’ll see you around.”

  Toa made a non-committal gesture with his mouth as he added, “Maybe.”

  He walked ahead towards the town where Natasha had another warehouse. He hadn’t even changed his pace at all during their conversation. Megan stopped and watched him walk away.

  She blinked rapidly to prevent any tears. She wouldn’t cry. He was a stranger and at the moment he was an ass. Besides, she had promised herself she would never cry over a guy again. Megan turned away and walked back towards the house and her office.

  Megan had some ideas she wanted to get down on metaphorical paper. Architects didn’t draw anything anymore. As everything was done electronically on specialised programs. That was something she could do. Design buildings. Megan held onto that fiercely. That was all she was good for anyway.

  ___

  The slamming of the door made Toa tilt his head up. He knew there were people outside from the clatter they were making moving around. He put down the box of tools he had been carrying. He approached the side of the slammed door. Another door slammed on the other side of the warehouse.

  Toa could hear people laughing outside. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. He shoved at it and it buckled. He was very impressed with whatever they had done to him to make him this strong.

  Toa heard the Ex on the other side. “Not so easy now is it to beat us up?”

  Toa groaned as he shoved against the door again.

  The Ex still lectured on the other side. “This is a warning, mate. Next time I’m not going to bother with threats and I’ll go for her first.”

  Toa growled out angrily, “You stay away from Megan.” Toa might have pulled away from her to save himself, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t beat to a bloody mess anyone who threatened her.

  Toa rammed the door again and it screeched. Some of the men on the other side urged the Ex to leave it alone.

  Then he heard a crash and the flames leapt up against the door he leant against. He pulled back in reaction to the danger. He heard the others running so they wouldn’t be doing anything more. He supposed setting the door and warehouse on fire was as far as their courage went.

  Toa was almost through the door. He would need to work fast before the flames became serious. He rammed it again.

  Flames whooshed around the sides of the door as it collapsed on the ground. He whipped off his shirt and beat out the rest of the flames. There was glass on the ground that crunched under his boots.

  The Ex had used spirits which were ridiculously hard to get hold of in this world. Most of the ingredients for most sorts of alcohol were in short supply and used predominately for nutrition.

  Toa huffed at the minimal damage done to the warehouse. If they had left the fire unattended, it would have done a lot of damage. The wood around the door frame was scorched but still intact under his hand that he quickly rubbed over it.

  Someone came running and he tilted his head to listen to see if it was the men but these were lighter steps.

  Natasha gasped right next to him, “What the hell happened?”

  “A prank,” he answered shortly.

  She huffed. “I’m not amused so this is vandalism and not a prank. Are you alright, Toa?”

  Toa nodded. He was a little warm in places where the flame had touched him. But otherwise he was fine.

  Natasha stepped past him and picked something up off the ground. She muttered, “The idiots left a note.” She read. “Go home or else. Wow, they are poets. Also idiots to leave a written note for a blind man.”

  Toa sighed. He had heard those sentiments before. Too many times he had been told to go home.

  Natasha growled. “The nerve of those class A morons. Now seriously, Toa, are you alright?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure.” So much for sticking around until he was completely healed or any other excuse he could conjure up.

  “I’ll tell Megan. Between the two of us, we should be able to figure out who the bastards were and give them a little justice.”

  Toa shook his head. “Please, Natasha. I’ll deal with this.”

  She was quiet for a while then she said, “Well, I suppose you have come across this kind of attitude before?”

  Toa sighed. “Unfortunately, yes. I know what to do. Just leave it.”

  Chapter Six

  Edge June 2097

  Toa knew it was dangerous to stay. Not because he was afraid of what the Edgers would do to him or to Megan. No, with the strength atramento he didn’t have anything to worry about when it came to his own health. Megan had the atramento as well so they wouldn’t hurt her either, besides she was one of them. The Ex might be able to convince them to hassle him, but he would never convince them to hurt Megan.

  No, the danger was more to his heart. He had gotten used to being here in the short days he had been here. He should have left a while ago. When he knew he could fight back and sense with that strange atramento tattoo they had given him. He should have gone back then.

  Toa had been selfish. Even now he w
as being selfish. He should go to Megan and tell her why he was leaving. Instead, it was nearing midnight and he was packing. He would leave before she even realised he was thinking of leaving.

  He turned when he heard someone at the door. It was Megan, her scent always heralded when she was near. His heart flipped over and he closed his eyes for a moment, bowing his head in a sign of his shame.

  Megan said in a soft and hurt voice, “Were you even going to say goodbye?”

  Toa shook his head. “I’m sorry, Megan.”

  She entered the room and asked, “Why?”

  Toa wanted to tell her the truth, but the words stuck in his throat. He wanted to tell her that if he stayed any longer, he would fall in love with her and then he would betray his family. That if he stayed, she might be hurt by the enemies who were still seeking him. But he couldn’t tell her any of that.

  Megan glared at him. “Tell me! I deserve to at least know why you would leave me without even saying goodbye. I thought we might have something. I was wrong.”

  Toa slung the bag over his shoulder. He would leave without the rest. If he didn’t leave now, he might not be able to make himself leave at all.

  She said dejectedly, “Fine. I knew you couldn’t really like me. I’m too boring to keep anyone’s interest.”

  Toa stopped. He couldn’t leave here with her thinking it was her fault. After all it was his own demons chasing him. He should have gone the instant they had given him the atramento that strengthened, healed and gave him extra senses.

  Toa turned towards her and tightened his hands into fists. He hated he was about to lie to her. “I’m not accepted here.”

  “Bullshit, Toa,” she hissed out.

  He shook his head. “The people here don’t want me here. They are worried I will take work from them and things like that. It’s better if I just go back to where I came from.”

  Toa had heard the phrase enough times it was like dust on his tongue as he said it. He was meant to be wherever he was. Whether it was the island his father was born on or the island he was. No one had more right to be in a place than others.

  Not that it mattered to some people. He had too much on his mind. He had to get away from her before she was hurt and before he was hurt. And he had unfinished business. Business he had no right to bring her into. Too many people had already been hurt by his past.