Partners in Crime (R)

It was a brief point in his life where he owned a flat, nothing special but it was a place to sleep. When the phone rang at two o'clock in the morning he almost sent it flying across the room. He didn't need to much sleep but when he did try to get some he didnt want to be bothered. Picking it up he growled into the receiver instantly recognizing his boss on the line, working for a special unit of the government at the time his job was to help clean up messes made by out of control mutants and occasionally help get powerful kids to safety.

"We got a case for ya Grimm" the man on the phone said his gum snapping as he chewed it "Girl about like thirteen or summit, its bad Grimm real bad we need ya down there pronto i'll send you the address."

Hanging up the phone he got dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans. Putting on his heavy boots and leather jacket he grabbed his keys for the sleek vehicle he'd gotten for his job. His phone buzzed and he plugged the address into the gps, following the coordinates he drove bout an hour out when he found the house.

Picture of surberbia perfection, nice front walk with short cut grass could be seen from the lights of squad cars out front. "We cant get her out" the disgruntled cop said after he flashed his badge. He eyed the tattooed man uneasily as he paid more attention to the house then his words.

he heard a blood curdling scream then crashes and another officer went flying out the window, using his enhanced speed he caught the man with ease and placed him on his feet. "All officers out" he ordered gruffly "i can handle this"

He walked into the house his hood was pulled up and he kept his face obscured by a green scarf so not to scare her to badly. Walking up the stairs, blood painted the walls and body parts of her parents could be seen strewn about the second floor.

Pushing open the door slowly he stood hands raised "Before you throw me out the window lil angel, let me start by telling you. I am like you.."

He gazed at her form blood was all over her and she seemed wounded. tears streaked the blood coated face and despite the gore he felt like he could see her innocence beneath it all.

The night is only bad because you perceive it to be. Her mother's words fluttered around her mind as she remembered her saying it when she was younger. Her father...was an awful man for he touched her in ways a father should not. Azrael felt only burning hatred for him and barely spoke to her mother as it was. That night...was the night her mutation, her powers finally came out for her father did the deed he had been waiting to do for so long. The shadows had killed him and sparks emitted from her hands when her mother came in. Her scream caused the sparks to grow and her mother...exploded. Blood covered Azrael's small frame and that's when she heard the sirens.

The police tried to enter her home but Azrael simply cast them out with a flick of her wrists. That's when an odd man walked in with his face covered. She shuffled closer into the corner of the room with tears pouring down her cheeks. His words soothed her and filled her with warmth. The teenager was holding the hand of her mother close to her chest and her doe wide eyes stared up at him, scared. ''W-What do you mean...like me? W-what a-am i?'' She said in a tiny voice. ''Are you going to take me away? Are you..like the policemen? They wanted to take me away..'' She said slowly and stared out the broken window. ''What's wrong with me?'' She asked staring at her sparking hands. Her body was filled with astral energy and when she stared up at the covered man, her emerald eyes were sparkling like a star in the sky.

He stepped into the room slowly keeping his hands up "we were born different" he said calmly "with things called mutations that give us the ability to do things humans would call magic, its inside of us, apart of us."

"I'm here to take you away but from all of this" he said gesturing to the room "to give you a good life little angel, i'm here to protect you"

Azrael listened staring at the shadows all around them. They seemed to whisper to her. ''People don't like mutants...My mother told me so. Bad things happen to mutants.'' She said slowly before glancing back up at him. ''But i like them. Humans are stupid.'' Her voice darkened a little and she smiled. ''Are you like my guardian angel? Will you be my new family?'' She asked, her eyes brightening at the prospect of having a nice family and a good life. ''Can we go now..I don't like it here.'' She muttered, dropping the ripped off hand of her mother on the floor and hesitantly walking over to the man. ''W-Why is your face covered? Are you hiding your mutation?'' She asked touching the scarf softly.

He sighed with relief but didn't totally relax "something of the sort" he said "I just didn't want to frighten you" he lowered his hood and pulled the scarf off his face his black eyes evaluating the broken child. she was strange for a girl her age, and that was saying something. He smiled slightly and held out his hands palms up and fire burst to life in them "see? just like you" he said re-assuring her.

Azrael noticed he seemed a little tense and furrowed her brow for a short second and she stared at his face. Filled with tattoos, her hand raised up and traced them slowly. ''It doesn't scare me. I know it should do...but it doesn't..'' She commented and then jumped a little when she saw the flames. The fire danced around and the shadows flickered along with it. ''Just like me...'' Raising her hand, a light burst of astral energy flickered and then disappeared as quick as it came. Frowning, she tried it again. The same result. ''It was stronger before. My mother exploded before of it...'' Azrael admitted. ''I killed my parents...'' She whispered, it finally sinking in and she wrapped her arms around the tattooed man, tears streaming down her face.

For a second he didnt react he wasnt used to being touched, people usually feared him to much to show compassion, yet this little girl was hugging him and crying into his shirt. He relaxed his arms holding her close "Shh little Angel..." he whispered his calloused fingers running through her bloody hair "everything will be okay...I know this is terrifying...something similar happened to me..but it will be okay...I promise" he picked her up in his arms holding her like a child and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. "Look at me little one, no one will hurt you again, i'll stick by you, give you a friend something i didnt have when I was your age. You'll grow, you'll be happy this will all be a bad dream"

Azrael relaxed as he stroked her hair. Her crying turned into sobbing and whimpering as she listened to him. As he asked her to look at him, she did and the astral energy that had tried to make a release through her eyes dimmed greatly and she nodded slowly. ''A friend...I'd like that...I'm used to bad dreams. This is just one..and Sir...Will you tell me one day what happened to you?'' She asked, touching the tattoos on his hand. ''Can you take me home?'' She whispered softly.

"One day I will little angel" he said he stood up still holding her, as he headed for the door he said "if i you don't want to look at anyone just keep your face in my shoulder."

He held her tightly as he walked out of the house, with a angry glare a few recruits lowered there guns, the lights blared on them as they moved. "Situation under control" he declared to the chief, the man nodded in disbelif "i'll take her to the doctor after she's had some rest she'll come back home with me" after a moment the man nodded "I'll call it in and seal the place off. Thanks grimm"

He nodded gruffly as he gently placed her in his car and draped his coat over her, sliding into the drivers side he took them home to his flat. "You need a hot bath, some food and rest" he said more to himself he led her into the flat and said "Lil angel, whats your name?"

Azrael nodded slowly and buried her face into his shoulder, breathing him in to calm her down. The sounds met her ears and she winced, burying her face deeper into his chest. As he put her in the car, she nestled into his coat. His scent was quickly becoming like a haven for her, one that was safety. As they entered his flat, she listened to the odd man speak and a small smile formed on her face as her now red locks fell in front of her face. Azrael stared down at herself and touched her bloodied pajamas. His question of her name threw her off of her thoughts and she ran a hand through her hair. ''My name is Azrael Astra Noble. My mother named me after the Angel of Death...how ironic that i became her downfall.'' She told him in a dreamy voice before looking around his apartment. ''What is yours, inferno?'' She smiles over her shoulder at him.

He chuckled darkly her name was fitting to say the least. He  walked into the room off the kitchen and left the door open. He entered into the spacious bathroom and started to run a bath for her "Well mutants call me Inferno your clever to pick up on that, my name though is Hades Grimm"

Azrael watched as he chuckled with a tilt of her head. How long has it been since Azrael heard a laugh. Far too long...She thought to herself and followed him into the bathroom. ''Well Hades...Thank you.'' She whispered, looking at her hands again. Staring into the mirror, her hands lightly touched her bloodied face but little did Hades know past the blood and tears was a bruised face and under her pajamas was also a bruised body. Azrael's movements were careful to not cause anymore pain and as she looked at the tattooed man, she furrowed her brow curious as to why he helped her.

"once your cleaned up i'll have to send pictures of any injuries to my boss" he said as he took out his phone and snapped a picture of her current appearence. "tomorrow after some rest and food i'll take you to the hospital and we will start discussing where to go from there." pocketing his phone he walked over to her and started using his fingers to untangle her hair. "little angel i'll make sure you get what you need and want don't worry" he murmured as he stepped away "do you need help or shall i leave you to it?"

Azrael nodded slowly, blinking at the flash from his phone. Leaning into his hand, she watched him slowly like a hawk. ''I can do it...I can call you if i need help. Thank you very much...'' She mumbled and picked at her clothes. ''I don't think i need to go to the hospital, Hades...'' She said softly after a moment of thought. Sitting at the edge of the bath, she ran her hand through the hot water and closed the door so she can go into the bath. Taking off her bloodied clothes, she got into the bath and cleaned herself off carefully with the products displayed. 

Getting out, the water was now a dirty red and her body was squeaky clean. Bruises were on her hips, stomach, ribs, neck, upper arms and thighs and on her face, she had a hand mark bruise on her cheek. Her lip was split and her entire body was throbbing in a now dull pain. Wrapping a large fluffy towel around her body, she opened the door running a hand through her blonde locks. ''My clothes are messy...Do you have anything i could wear?'' She asked in a quiet voice, obviously shy. ''and do you need take pictures of all the bruises now?'' She asked, tightening the towel so it does not fall.

He brought her one of his oversized t-shirts and a pair of shorts "I called one of the patrolmen will bring over your things they are packing a suitcase of your clothing for you" he said with a smile he had changed into a loose pair of pajama pants and a sleeveless shirt "if you don't mind when your dressed i'll take the pictures to send in for your file" he said. He touched the side of her cheek where the hand mark was his expression dark "i'm glad you killed him" he said his friendly tone turning sinister "had you not I would have done it for you"

Azrael hid behind the door as she changed into the clothes he gave her whilst she listened to him. Walking back out, the shorts showed the bruises on her thighs so she shuffled nervously. ''That's good and i don't mind at all.'' She said softly and winced slightly as his hand touched her bruised cheek. ''I am glad i did also...H-he did more than hit me...'' She whispered softly, fresh tears stinging at her now dark green eyes. Frowning at his sudden change, her hands traced the tattoos on his cheek. ''Hades...If i did not discover my powers and killed my parents with it, i would not be here right now. You would not have known...'' She said with a sigh. ''I would not be free...'' She whispered.

Grabbing his phone he looked at her and his dark expression grew "did he rape you" he said blutnly with thunder in his voice.

Hearing the thunder in his voice, Azrael shuffled on the spot. ''Y-yes...'' She whispered before looking out the window. ''What would you like to take a picture of first? My thighs, hips, ribs, arms...nearly everything.'' She asked, her voice blunt but filled with fear that the shadows did not truly kill her father. That he'd come back...to do it again and again and again.

Hades closed his eyes and counted back from twenty, his rage was something he did not want to lose control of but how could anyone harm this sweet litlte angel? 

Getting a handle of his emotions he gently lifted her shirt so it was underneeth her breasts and tied it in a knot. Wordlessly he started to work on capturing the images of the bruises. He took a picture of each one and then took a picture of her entire body. 

Kneeling next to her he laid a gentle hand on her stomach checking for broken ribs. he ran both hands down her legs probing for breaks, satisfied she was in one piece he fixed her shirt and stood up "sweetheart your going to need to see a doctor sooner then i thought" he said gently

Watching him carefully, frowning as he closed her eyes. For a reason she did not know, Azrael wished to hug him. He took pictures of her body as she stared out the window with tears welling up in her eyes as her mind replayed the night. Wincing at his warm hands on her stomach, Azrael watched him curious. ''What do you mean?'' She asked with a frown. Little did anyone know...Azrael was homeschooled. In fact, the only people who knew of her existence was her parents, siblings and neighbors. She didn't fully understand why she needed to go. Walking over to the window, Azrael peered through watching everything go by. ''Hades...Why are you helping me?'' She finally asked.

"Since that man touched you like that you need to see a doctor before we can rest ok?" he kissed her forhead and walked over to his room standing behind the door he put his jeans on and grabbed his keys. As he walked towards the door the bell rang, answering it he nodded to the patrolman who handed him a duffelbag "here angel put on your trainers" he said "we'll go to the doctor real quick then when we get back perhaps i'll cook something good" 

He pulled one of his oversized hoodied out of the closet and handed it to her "you seem to like wearing big coats this will make you comfy" he said as he left knowing she'd follow him to the car he called in to the hospital that he was bringing in a rape victim who needed to be examined right away. He cursed again softly he blamed himself that she had been harmed if only he'd known.

Azrael nodded slowly, swallowing past the lump in her throat. His lips were on her forehead and she could not help but smile. The door bell rang and she waved slightly at the patrolman who gave her a wary smile causing Azrael's hand to fall back down to her side. Quickly putting on her high tops, she listened to him nodding some more. Wanting to make a cheeky comment about him cooking, she knew her heart was not in it at this moment.

Her eyes brightened at the sight of the oversided jacket and she gave Hades a brightish smile before putting it on. It reached mid thigh and smelled of Hades instantly making her think of a new life, a new home, a new family. Hades...my new family...She thought to herself before closing the door behind her and following him to the car. Sliding into the car, Azrael heard his curse and frowned. Placing her hand on his, she looked at the road. ''Hades...It is not your fault. My father...was a horrid man. Unpredictable. You did not know who i was until a few moments ago.'' She said, her voice seemed to overflow with maturity despite what had happened at her home that very night. An odd child she was.

As he started the engine he glanced at her before pulling out onto the road "I'd been watching you for a few months" he confessed "my job is to clean up messes and to extract mutant children from bad situations. I've been doing this job for far to long and i've known far to many abusive fathers to have missed this but i did. they took me off your case for awhile because i made a mistake and said you remind me of myself. But when shit went down tonight, they had no choice but to call me in and if they hadn't i would have surely killed my boss."

Azrael frowned as she listened. Thinking of the past couple months, her mother had been getting a bit antsy and her father..was getting worse. ''My father was a drunken fool. Like i said..unpredictable. Every man is different. Like you...You are the tattooed man that should frighten me but you do not. You make me feel safe.'' She admitted as they drove off to the doctors. ''How am i like you? You are a man of fire and i am a girl of shadows...Does this have to do with the story you'll tell me one day?'' She mused, looking out the window. ''It's odd...they called in the man that should frighten me after they brought in the men that should make me feel safe.''

He laughed at her observation "humans are fools they do not like to admit they depend on a mutant" he said as they closed in on the hospital he parked and turned to her "your stubborn, your a survivor your a fighter, you'll see other ways your like me little angel now don't get scared the doctor we are seeing she is an old friend of mine, she is a mutant too but her power is that she nullifies other mutants abilities. Its helpful so that way she doesn't get hurt when treating injuries or whathave you. so your going to feel a little weak around her but shes a good woman she's gentle and kind she is here to help" 

He got out of the car then opened her door "she's going to examine you, your entire body. I need to talk to my boss who said he'd meet me here i'll be down the  hall is that okay?"