I squinted at the bright sunlight. I hated how the weather here could be stormy and 45 degrees and in 2 days could be sunny and 78.

Briar Park was a rather large piece of green for being in the city. It was positioned behind the library and harboured a stage, two playgrounds, a small pond, and a fountain.

I was sitting by the fountain, looking over a piece that a student, who was job-shadowing, had entered. It was garbage. Absolutely, 100 percent, just a waste of-

"Colin?" I closed the binder and looked up, squinting. I smiled and stood up. It was different to see him in regular clothes. Jeans, converse, and a plain black t shirt, his hair as messy as before. "Hey, thanks for coming."

" What is this about? What's so important? " I cleared my throat, suddenly uncomfortable. "Maddox, when was the last time you came out of that house without going to another doctor or the hospital? When was the last time you had a nice day outside?"

He frowned, looking down at the ground as he thought. He looked back up, green eyes flashing, "I don't know. Why?"

I gestured wildly, spreading out my arms, " Exactly. I was an asshole and this is my apology. I'm giving you a day to have fun without Dr. Beaknose around. "

He smiled but it dropped a little, "But... Why? I thought you were just supposed to interview me?" I shrugged, "Are you complaining that I brought you out here?" He looked around the park before looking back up at me, " N-n-no. "

I started down the steps with Maddox trailing behind me. I turned around and sighed, "Let's start over, okay? Hi, I'm Colin."

" I'm Maddox. Nice to meet you. " I smiled and continued walking. We got to the bottom of the steps when Maddox asked, "Ummm... Where are we going?"

" It's a surprise. " I pointed to one of the nature trails, "You're going to like it, I promise." He raised an eyebrow but followed after me anyways.

He looked down, peering over the edge of the platform. He looked back up at me nervously, "Are you sure?" I nodded, looking down at the people below. I had brought him out to one of the local festivals. When I was still a "baby reporter" I did a story on the Kathedra Festival here. It was supposed to be a celebration of some historical figure that I'd long forgotten about. I think it was German.

I'd explained it to Maddox along the way. It was a rather small affair but I thought that would be best. He didn't strike me as a social butterfly.

"So what do they do?"

" All sorts of things, they have performers, games, it's like a mini carnival. "

"Oh" He was so quiet. I touched his shoulder lightly, he jumped a bit, but didn't make a move to stop me. "Listen, we don't have to go if you don't want to. I just thought-"

"I do want to go. I've always wanted to go to something like this." I smiled. The worry in his eyes faded a little, but he didn't smile. He started walking down the hill, "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go."

We had settled in one of the tables they'd set up and I was happily munching on something they called Donauwelle. It was a small square of cake with some sort of fruit and chocolate. I'd come back with another piece for Maddox, who was picking at it. We'd wandered around, watching the shows. The lightning woman, the musicians, jugglers, there was so much here. I brushed my hands together, getting rid of crumbs and sat up.

"Madddoooox" I said in a sing-song voice, he looked up after a second. "Huh? Sorry, I was thinking."

" You know they say those who get too lost in thought will eventually start flying off the ground because they're always in the clouds? "

"Who says that?"

" Me. " He smiled and took a bite of the cake, I reached to take the corner off of his and he smacked my hand away. His hands flew to his mouth, "Oh my gods, I am so sorry. I didn't me-" I cut him off laughing. He stared for a moment before he frowned, "Don't laugh." I stopped laughing but I held my smile. " Sorry, that was just funny. You always seem to not like me. "

He groaned, "Yeah, because you're a jerk." I rolled my eyes , "Is that going to be your excuse for everything? When the world ends, you'll sat it's ending because I'm a jerk." He smirked, "The world won't be able to stand your jerk-y-ness."

"Can I have a piece of your cake?"

" No. " He took a bite out of it triumphantly, watching my face fall. It was interesting, it was easy to tell when an introvert was warming up to you. Especially with food involved, when food was around and they started to become less nervous, they would start eating. If they didn't know you, they would only pick at food. It seemed true for him too, when we talked, I could see his mental shield drop, little by little. He must've been glad that I wasn't asking questions other than light conversation.

We walked over to one of the stages where a small crowd had gathered and the man standing on top of the wooden platform was gesturing wildly. He was obviously a performer. A painted vest, the loose silky pants, and tall boots, not to mention the super curly mustache. We watched as he took a torch from a scantily dressed woman who popped up out of nowhere. He looked at the crowd knowingly, I knew what was coming. I looked over at Maddox beside me and saw him looking wide eyed, mouth open in anticipation.

As the man swallowed the fire, I saw my raven-haired companion silently gasp. He was completely entranced. I watched as his face was illuminated with orange light as the performer blew flames towards the crowd. It was nice to see him not sad. I felt more than a little proud that I was able to do that. I leaned over and whispered, "Hey, are you glad you came here?"

He turned towards me, head tilted to the side like a puppy, but smiling lightly, "Yes, I'm glad I came." I smirked, " Good, cause we're not done yet. I want to know more about you. All I know right now is that you're defensive of your cakes. " He blushed, embarrassed. I laughed, "C'mon let's go."

He followed me up the trail, making me smile. We drifted away from the bright lights and people, making the noises and music grow fainter and fainter. I slowed down when I heard wheezing behind me. I turned around and saw him pale, with rosy cheeks. "Are you okay?"

He laughed breathily, "I'm fine. It's just... my lungs. Something's wrong." I stopped, " Do I need to take you back down? You're not gonna die on me or anything, are you? " He shook his head, "I'm good. I wheeze walking to the kitchen. I'm a sickly person." His face was guarded now, I kept walking, slower now. We reached the top of the cliff and I sat down on the edge. It'd been a while since I had come here, but the view was still stunning.

There was a large pond that was almost completely surrounded by trees. The sun glinted off the surface, making everything glitter. I leaned back and Maddox swung his legs back and forth. I suddenly realized, the last time we met, he'd done nothing towards me but frown. I had changed that.

"You're killing me, Jameson. You've never read it?"

I grinned sheepishly, "I'm always so busy. I don't read much."

He groaned, "It's so good, and they're making a movie about it too!" I took out a pen and wrote the name of it on my hand so I'd remember it. The Strain.

He snorted, " You're a reporter anyways. You can't be that busy. " I rolled my eyes. "So, Colin, why did you really want to meet with me earlier? I would've thought you would try to stay as far away from me as you could."

My mind instantly revolved back to the videos. The echoes of screams rang through my skull. Should I tell him?

"My boss, she's the one who asked me too. I decided I would just make it... an outing."

"Thank you. Although you've probably gotten me in trouble. I... kinda snuck out." I whistled, " Look at you. So rebellious. You're an adult, you can make your own decisions. " His expression turned sad, "To the state, I'm not an adult. Since all of my," he swirled his finger in a small circle by his temple, " problems. I'm just a screwed up person to them. Not an adult. " I took all of that in. Not an adult? It did seem kind of hard to see him as one though.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so... I don't know. What about you? You've been asking about me. Tell me something about you."

"Hmmm. I like to travel. I've been to 14 different countries, speak 3 languages." I saw his eyes widen in awe.

Awww, he's so cute.

Shut up, me.

But he is.

I don't care.

"What languages?" I looked up, ignoring the little voice in my head. I smiled, "私は日本語を話します" He looked absolutely amazed. I liked that when the sun shone at just the right angle, I couldn't see as much of the brokenness behind his eyes, so he actually looked happy. "What language is that?"

" Japanese. I speak English, French, Japanese, and I'm working on my German. " He coughed violently, doubling over, his forehead touching his knees. His legs stopped swinging. He scooted away from the edge. I got to my knees and moved to his side, "Are you okay?"

He choked out, "Fine" and proceeded to look entirely not fine. His entire body was trembling like a leaf and he was gasping for breath. I picked him up and started back to the park.

He started flailing, "Put me down, now! Now! Let me go!"

I eased him down until he was standing up. He pushed away from me, annoyed, " I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm-" his legs crumpled under him and he was sitting on the ground, more confused than anything. I took a step forward, helping him stand up. "You're not okay. Let me help."

With defeat he wrapped an arm around my neck and used me for support. I could tell he hated it, but I wasn't going to let him keep falling and dying. We went slow, and the usual 5 minute brisk walk took almost 15 minutes.

He kept coughing and I made him stop and rest for a minute. He grew increasingly both angry and embarrassed.

When we got out where we started at the stairs, we both looked at each other.

He set his jaw, already knowing what I was going to say, "Colin, I am going to walk up those stairs." I scooped him up in one swift movement, " No, you're not. I will not have you talking down the stairs." He tried to hit me, but there was no power behind it. He tried to twist and turn in an attempt to get away. I walked calmly up the stairs, ignoring his protests.

I set him down, and his balled fists pounded against my chest, "Never do that again! I will not be put out of control of my own life! Not again! Not ever again! Do you understand!"

He was mad but he was also scared. I was stupid for not thinking about that. He'd had control of his life taken away from him before, and I had done it again. What if he thought I was going to hurt him too? I'd scared him. I had done that. It made me feel something awful in my stomach, twisting and churning.

What was this?

Guilt?

I bent my head down a little so that I was closer to him, he was still shaky and clinging into my shirt. "Maddox. I'm sorry. I truly am. I didn't want you to get hurt." He hit my chest again, but stepped closer into me, arms wrapping around me. It took me a moment to realize.

A hug. He was hugging me. "I know. I know you weren't going to hurt me. But I thought..." He walked back, away from me. " I'm sorry, Mr. Jameson-"

"Don't call me that, please. Call me Colin. I'm just... Colin. I can be rather impulsive. I didn't think. Do you want me to take you home?" His eyes glittered sharply. " I would like to go to the home. It isn't home. Home is gone. " He laughed bitterly, "Wow, this is why I have to go to therapy. I can't talk without being depressing and weird."

I wanted to protect this human. I wanted this human to never, ever, ever be hurt again. I wanted this human to be safe. I wanted to save this one. I didn't want another person to die because I couldn't save them. I decided right then and there, as we drove back to the home, that I would do everything I could to keep him safe.