01-24-2025, 01:08 PM
It was too fucking early in the morning for Hayden as he rolled out of bed. Didn't help he'd been out late, with Nox not in residence his job was nothing and the bar wasn't ready so he didn't even have that. The girl from last night he dropped off at her home and stayed a few hours before making his way home. Was just another day and another fun time. He'd never see her again. Didn't even catch her name.
And today he had that meeting with the kids. Oh joy. Why did he agree? And so fucking early? He didn't owe Nox anything, but yet he felt it was something he should do. These kids had been abused and unloved and the golden heart of a fucking scary man kinda pulled at him to do the right thing. Even if it was slightly against his nature.
Nox's house was full of kids and people and he was surprised it was as quiet as it was when he entered the space that lead either up or down or to the office space. The foray? Whatever, Hayden thought to himself.
He headed down stairs. The one good thing about this was Hayden didn't need to buy a gym membership. Nox had all the equipment and then some that he'd ever need. Sterling and Marta had already arrived. Hayden waved. "Morning, ladies." He said putting his things down in a corner and moved to the middle of the dojo mats to do some sit ups. Mostly he wanted to be as low as possible so all the kids didn't feel the towering height of his strangerness and feel more comfortable. He knew from the start it was probably a very dangerous place to be.
And he was right. Moments after he'd done about three situps a herd of kids came down the stairs. Flying into the middle of the dojo was the youngest and most trusting of the Blackthorns. Hayden hadn't spoken with her but Arabella had climbed into his lap several times when he'd visited with Liam. She saw him lying on the floor and with a running jump she landed straight on to his stomach make him crunch up around her in a near miss of the sensitive organs her elbow almost smashed into. "Hey Arabella. How are you?" He started. "Just do whatever guys. We'll talk as you do things. Though no wallets computers or other tech until afterwards if you don't mind. I don't want to have to ask Sky to jam your signals out. Cause you know that she can do that."
And today he had that meeting with the kids. Oh joy. Why did he agree? And so fucking early? He didn't owe Nox anything, but yet he felt it was something he should do. These kids had been abused and unloved and the golden heart of a fucking scary man kinda pulled at him to do the right thing. Even if it was slightly against his nature.
Nox's house was full of kids and people and he was surprised it was as quiet as it was when he entered the space that lead either up or down or to the office space. The foray? Whatever, Hayden thought to himself.
He headed down stairs. The one good thing about this was Hayden didn't need to buy a gym membership. Nox had all the equipment and then some that he'd ever need. Sterling and Marta had already arrived. Hayden waved. "Morning, ladies." He said putting his things down in a corner and moved to the middle of the dojo mats to do some sit ups. Mostly he wanted to be as low as possible so all the kids didn't feel the towering height of his strangerness and feel more comfortable. He knew from the start it was probably a very dangerous place to be.
And he was right. Moments after he'd done about three situps a herd of kids came down the stairs. Flying into the middle of the dojo was the youngest and most trusting of the Blackthorns. Hayden hadn't spoken with her but Arabella had climbed into his lap several times when he'd visited with Liam. She saw him lying on the floor and with a running jump she landed straight on to his stomach make him crunch up around her in a near miss of the sensitive organs her elbow almost smashed into. "Hey Arabella. How are you?" He started. "Just do whatever guys. We'll talk as you do things. Though no wallets computers or other tech until afterwards if you don't mind. I don't want to have to ask Sky to jam your signals out. Cause you know that she can do that."