Hogsmead Village

'Joachim had my father killed. He was my father...'

"What?! Chezzy was you dad?!" Dread and panic flooded, not even imagining how she must be feeling. Joachim always told him stories that made the man out as an absolutely subhuman monster. He told him about the night Chezhekov killed his folks and forced him to work for him to repay their debts.

Sawyer always thought it was just karmic justice but now...

'Yeah...he was...'

"Jesus I'm sorry Lucy..." He hugged her sympathetically, "I had no idea. If I did I would've told Joachim to stop!"

She hugs him back after a second. 'I dont... I dont even know why im ipset. He was horrible...that why I ran away'

"He was still family I guess. I mean hey, broken home's better than none right?"

'Not in this case...'

He helped her to a seat, "tell me everything...."

She shakes her head. 'Youll think me weak. Or...I don't know. But you will think less of me.'

"Try me..." He told her non judgmentally.

'He was horrible. I couldnt be yhis perfect heir that he wanted. I couldnt hurt people or steal or anything. ..so he tried to beat the goodness out of me....'

"Sick bastard..." Sawyer shook his head in disgust. Maybe they did in fact do the earth a favor by getting rid of him, not that he'd express it aloud now.

'Its why I ran away. I didnt want to be like him'

"Yeah I get you... I would've too!" He held her comfortingly, free enough for her to get loose if she wanted but tight enough to know he was truly sorry for her.

'Joachims gunna throw me out.' She whispers.  'He wont trust me again, will he?'

"Well... where I'm from we have a little something called, 'Don't ask, don't tell."

'You think we should keep it a secret?'

"Well it'd be a lot easier. I wouldn't breathe a word..."

' Okay. ..'

"Just don't worry about a thing..." He tried to reassure her.

on impulse, she turns and kisses him on the cheek quickly, smiling. 'Your a good guy, sawyer...thank you.'

He showed a small break from his usual strong arm self and nervously chuckled, scratching the back of his head, "Yeah... I guess. Thanks..."

'But i dont want you to get into trouble for hiding it if Joachim finds out.' She notices the change in him, but dosnt say anything, thinking that would be mean

"Lucy, I honestly don't think the guy would be alive without me. Don't worry, I ain't going anywhere..."

'Promise?'