(no subject)
Title: Familiar Realm
Author: atrocious_x
Band: Avenged Sevenfold
Pairing: Matt // Zacky
Rating: NC17 (later chapters)
Summary: [Extreme AU]. `They say every time the bell sounds, an angel gets their wings...`
Disclaimer: Not real, dur.
Deds: All the reviewers, don't have time to reply to the comments, sorry dolls.
00 || 01
Familiar Realm
Chapter 02
It'd been almost three hours since I'd left Brian's (I knew from the large clock outside the bank across the street from me), and it'd started raining -- and I mean really raining. I was sitting underneath a small lip of roof from some little cafe, my back against the cool brick wall as I watched people enter or leave throwing me curious glances. I was thankful I'd gotten a shower because if I'd looked like I did the day before, the manager may have come and told me to leave. And from where I was, there looked like no other place that would provide the little shelter from the rain that I got outside the restaurant. And if I went inside, they would've made me order something, and I only had some change in my pocket. If I'd been staying with anyone but Brian I may have tried to weasel out some cash -- but not Brian. He was too good to me.
I contemplated going into the bank, but they'd probably think I was there to rob the place. Though that sounded like a somewhat good idea to me. I could pay Bri back, and get the Hell outta dodge.
"Zack?"
I almost didn't recognize the voice, but when I turned and saw her I mentally groaned. Her name was Michelle, and she and Brian had this on/off kind of relationship. I'd met her a few times, and like Brian, she'd immediately turned into a caring mother-like person when Brian'd told her my story. I'd hadn't remembered she was a waitress, much less the place she worked at, but now I wished I'd gone with the whole bank-robbing idea.
"Hey." I said, looking away.
She crouched down next to me, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she looked at the damp sidewalk, face contorted thoughtfully. Part of me was tempted to get up and run away -- I hated affection. I just loathed it with every strand of fiber in my body.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "Brian told me you'd be staying with him."
I didn't answer for a moment, and I bit the inside of my cheek. "I couldn't." I said flatly.
She paused, throwing a glance up at me. "Why not?"
I looked over at her like she'd lost her mind. "Brian already does too much for me." I said in a tone I hadn't meant to use. "I may be a piece of dirt, but that doesn't mean I don't have a heart."
Fortunately she didn't take offense. "If he didn't want to help you, he wouldn't." she said. "He has a heart too, you know."
I sighed, dropping my head and looking down at my knees which were pulled up to my chest. She was right, but I hated when I was wrong, so I didn't say anything. After a moment of silence, she stood back up, and looked inside the window of the cafe. By the way she quickly looked away again I guessed her boss was giving her a dirty look. She pulled the door open and threw another look at me.
"You're too hard on yourself Zack." she said. "You don't deserve it."
Before I could say anything else, she slipped back inside. I gave a sigh again, stretching my legs out in front of me, and squinting up at the sky. Thankfully, the rain was slowing, if I was lucky (which probably wouldn't happen), it would stop shortly and I could move on. The door opened again a few moments later, and Michelle returned. I looked away as she crouched once more, dropping one of those brown paper bags in my lap. I made a face, knowing there was food in there, and I grabbed it, holding it out to her.
"Michelle, I can't --"
She grabbed my hand lightly, tightening my grip on the bag and rolled her eyes. "Brian did say you were pretty stubborn." she said. "Take it. It's the least I can do."
I studied her for a moment, and after realizing that I wasn't going to win, I dropped my arm. She stood up once more, and smoothed the front of her apron with her palms.
"I can't promise that I'll keep seeing you from him." she said, and it was obvious she meant Brian. "He'll want to know."
I nodded. "Don't tell me you want to know where I'm going." I said.
"I want what's best for you." she said after a brief pause. "I want you to move in with Brian -- he wants that."
I shook my head, and climbed to my feet. "Not gonna happen." I said. "It's the last thing I would do."
"You'd rather spend your nights on cold streets?" she asked, "Fighting the old, greasy hobos for the bench at the bus stop?"
I couldn't help but snort at the tone she'd taken when she said 'hobo'. "Are you telling me you don't think I'm a hobo?" I asked.
"No." she said. "And stop trying to change the subject."
I smirked. "Look, Michelle." I said, "I appreciate everything you're trying to do, but I'm fine. And I would hope that you could keep this from Brian."
She rolled her eyes again, looking back inside. I threw a glance through the window as well and caught sight of her boss glaring. She looked over at me.
"I have to go." she said. "Just...go to Brian's or something when night falls. It's better that way."
I raised my eyebrows in a sarcastic manner and she returned inside. Sometimes I wondered how she or Brian put up with me, if I was one of them I'd have slapped a bratty prick like myself a long time ago.
Besides the three sandwiches that had been crammed into the bag, there'd been a ten dollar bill. At first I was pissed at Michelle, but then I thought it was kind of ironic, because that money was going to end up in Brian's wallet when I got a chance.
As I walked aimlessly in no particular direction (alas, my life), I decided that maybe I was stubborn. It had to have been over two hours (the sun had set even) since I'd seen Michelle, and I hadn't touched the sandwiches. I'd put the money safely into my pocket, but was carrying the bag around like some kind of idiot elementary school kid. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to give Brian both the money and said sandwiches.
"Hey look, it's our old friend."
Now that voice I recognized. He was the head moron in a trio of wannabe gangsters. They talked like they were black and thought they owned the streets. I'd been kicked around by them plenty of times. Instead of giving them the satisfaction though, I pretended I hadn't heard them and kept walking. I wished that once I could just catch one of these guys alone, cause then I could really show them that I wasn't as weak as they thought, but when all three of them ganged up on me, it was extremely difficult to do anything but fold under the pressure.
Like any 'badass' 'gang', they started following me. I threw a quick glance around, realizing I was nowhere near a place to hide out, and I just gave up, both mentally and physically, stopping, and letting my shoulders drop. Maybe if I didn't fight back things would end quicker. A strong arm was thrown around my shoulders, almost knocking me to the ground.
"Aw, he even stopped to wait for us."
And then they pulled me into a convenient alley that I'd stopped next to -- great job, Einstein. I was thrown up against the wall, and the paper bag was snatched from my hand -- if I was lucky (but remember, this wouldn't happen to me) Michelle would've poisoned the sandwiches in hopes to get rid of my sorry ass.
"Got any money?" leader homeboy asked.
I was holding my hands up in the air almost defensively and I snorted. "Are you serious?" I asked. "You seem to forget that I'm a homeless bum."
He looked me up and down with raised eyebrows. "Those clothes look pretty clean -- and you look pretty clean yourself." I was trying not to laugh at the way he said 'yoself'. "If you had enough to find a shower, you most certainly have enough to share."
I shook my head, inwardly daring them to search my pockets. The other two were busy looking through the bag though -- they acted as though sandwiches were foreign to the city. The leader went to start digging around in my pockets, after so kindly throwing his forearm across my neck and pressing me tighter against the bricks. As he reached into the empty one, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat rather loudly and knowingly from the mouth of the alley. As if in a movie, we all froze and looked.
Though he was almost completely hidden in shadows, I knew who it was. And his large, muscular outline was very clear in the dark. Leader homeboy backed away from me, trying to put on a tough front.
"Hey man," he said. "Mind your business."
Despite the situation, I still almost laughed. 'Mine yo besnuss'.
He didn't say anything, and just stood there. I swore that I could almost make out the intensity of his hazel orbs.
"Man, fuck this." one of the cronies said. "I'm out."
He and the one who'd stolen the bag turned and started to go down the alley in the other direction, and they couldn't leave quick enough. Leader homeboy glanced behind him, and I smirked at the look on his face. He was strong, the stranger was stronger.
"If I see you again, you're fuckin' dead, yo." he said, though his voice had changed, and I seriously doubted that he'd recognize this guy if he saw him again.
He turned on his heel and started jogging after his friends. I took a deep breath, turning to the stranger and I felt awkward as he stared at me for what seemed like hours. Then he turned, and started passed the alley, the way he'd been going.
I snapped back to life, and ran after him, stopping only when I fell in step beside him.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
He glanced at me. "Who are you?" he countered, and his raspy voice sent a shiver through my body. He seemed different than the first time I saw him -- the day before, he seemed colder.
"Don't play mind games with me." I snapped. I didn't even know why I was mad. "Why did I have a dream about you?"
Real smooth Zacky, no wonder you're such a ladies' man. The stranger lifted a brow.
"Sounds like a personal problem to me." he said.
I rolled my eyes, and stepped in front of him, stopping him from going further. "What did you mean yesterday?" I asked. "The whole angel getting their wings thing."
He suddenly changed as if he'd only just remembered it'd been me he'd said that to. His eyes softened slightly, and he lowered his gaze, lips parting slightly as he went to answer.
"I don't know." he said. "Just seemed like the right thing to say as we sat outside a church."
I rolled my eyes. "What's wrong with you?" I found myself asking. "Why are you so....sad?" I was a bum remember, no thesaurus handy.
He smirked. "I could ask the same of you buddy." he said dryly walking around me.
I followed of course. "I'm not sad." I replied. "I'm angry."
"There's a difference?" he asked sarcastically -- we both knew he knew there was a big difference.
"Hey, you started a conversation with me remember?" I asked, "Now you don't even want to talk to me."
"It's not you." he said grumpily. "It's the human race in general."
I opened my mouth to try and counter, but felt myself run into his strong back as he had stopped. I then began to ask him what the Hell he was doing but realized we'd ended up outside that same church as yesterday. The priest was standing outside, greeting people as they arrived for the evening, and I glanced at the stranger -- he still hadn't given me his name. He was watching the priest intently as though he was getting ready to pounce on him or something. The old man looked over at us.
"Have you come to join us?" he asked, he had a kind voice, it was a shame he was a mind sucker. "The doors are open to everyone."
I have to say, I was half-tempted. The stranger gave a scoff, shaking his head slightly.
"Father, He hasn't forgiven me yet." he said. "I doubt I can forgive Him anytime soon to join in on your little bullshit meetings."
My jaw dropped, as did the priest's, and the stranger started walking again. I glanced apologetically at the priest, though unsure why, and then I trotted to catch up with the stranger.
"He was just being nice." I said. "You didn't have to snap at him."
He suddenly turned to me. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do." he said. "You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through, you don't know anything."
"Well I asked for your god damned name back there and you didn't give it to me!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms out at my sides. "How the fuck am I supposed to know anything about you?"
He rolled his eyes, grabbing my hand forcefully and shaking it slightly. "I'm Matthew, nice to meet you." he said in a gruff voice, before turning on his heel again and starting away.
Author: atrocious_x
Band: Avenged Sevenfold
Pairing: Matt // Zacky
Rating: NC17 (later chapters)
Summary: [Extreme AU]. `They say every time the bell sounds, an angel gets their wings...`
Disclaimer: Not real, dur.
Deds: All the reviewers, don't have time to reply to the comments, sorry dolls.
00 || 01
Familiar Realm
Chapter 02
It'd been almost three hours since I'd left Brian's (I knew from the large clock outside the bank across the street from me), and it'd started raining -- and I mean really raining. I was sitting underneath a small lip of roof from some little cafe, my back against the cool brick wall as I watched people enter or leave throwing me curious glances. I was thankful I'd gotten a shower because if I'd looked like I did the day before, the manager may have come and told me to leave. And from where I was, there looked like no other place that would provide the little shelter from the rain that I got outside the restaurant. And if I went inside, they would've made me order something, and I only had some change in my pocket. If I'd been staying with anyone but Brian I may have tried to weasel out some cash -- but not Brian. He was too good to me.
I contemplated going into the bank, but they'd probably think I was there to rob the place. Though that sounded like a somewhat good idea to me. I could pay Bri back, and get the Hell outta dodge.
"Zack?"
I almost didn't recognize the voice, but when I turned and saw her I mentally groaned. Her name was Michelle, and she and Brian had this on/off kind of relationship. I'd met her a few times, and like Brian, she'd immediately turned into a caring mother-like person when Brian'd told her my story. I'd hadn't remembered she was a waitress, much less the place she worked at, but now I wished I'd gone with the whole bank-robbing idea.
"Hey." I said, looking away.
She crouched down next to me, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she looked at the damp sidewalk, face contorted thoughtfully. Part of me was tempted to get up and run away -- I hated affection. I just loathed it with every strand of fiber in my body.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "Brian told me you'd be staying with him."
I didn't answer for a moment, and I bit the inside of my cheek. "I couldn't." I said flatly.
She paused, throwing a glance up at me. "Why not?"
I looked over at her like she'd lost her mind. "Brian already does too much for me." I said in a tone I hadn't meant to use. "I may be a piece of dirt, but that doesn't mean I don't have a heart."
Fortunately she didn't take offense. "If he didn't want to help you, he wouldn't." she said. "He has a heart too, you know."
I sighed, dropping my head and looking down at my knees which were pulled up to my chest. She was right, but I hated when I was wrong, so I didn't say anything. After a moment of silence, she stood back up, and looked inside the window of the cafe. By the way she quickly looked away again I guessed her boss was giving her a dirty look. She pulled the door open and threw another look at me.
"You're too hard on yourself Zack." she said. "You don't deserve it."
Before I could say anything else, she slipped back inside. I gave a sigh again, stretching my legs out in front of me, and squinting up at the sky. Thankfully, the rain was slowing, if I was lucky (which probably wouldn't happen), it would stop shortly and I could move on. The door opened again a few moments later, and Michelle returned. I looked away as she crouched once more, dropping one of those brown paper bags in my lap. I made a face, knowing there was food in there, and I grabbed it, holding it out to her.
"Michelle, I can't --"
She grabbed my hand lightly, tightening my grip on the bag and rolled her eyes. "Brian did say you were pretty stubborn." she said. "Take it. It's the least I can do."
I studied her for a moment, and after realizing that I wasn't going to win, I dropped my arm. She stood up once more, and smoothed the front of her apron with her palms.
"I can't promise that I'll keep seeing you from him." she said, and it was obvious she meant Brian. "He'll want to know."
I nodded. "Don't tell me you want to know where I'm going." I said.
"I want what's best for you." she said after a brief pause. "I want you to move in with Brian -- he wants that."
I shook my head, and climbed to my feet. "Not gonna happen." I said. "It's the last thing I would do."
"You'd rather spend your nights on cold streets?" she asked, "Fighting the old, greasy hobos for the bench at the bus stop?"
I couldn't help but snort at the tone she'd taken when she said 'hobo'. "Are you telling me you don't think I'm a hobo?" I asked.
"No." she said. "And stop trying to change the subject."
I smirked. "Look, Michelle." I said, "I appreciate everything you're trying to do, but I'm fine. And I would hope that you could keep this from Brian."
She rolled her eyes again, looking back inside. I threw a glance through the window as well and caught sight of her boss glaring. She looked over at me.
"I have to go." she said. "Just...go to Brian's or something when night falls. It's better that way."
I raised my eyebrows in a sarcastic manner and she returned inside. Sometimes I wondered how she or Brian put up with me, if I was one of them I'd have slapped a bratty prick like myself a long time ago.
Besides the three sandwiches that had been crammed into the bag, there'd been a ten dollar bill. At first I was pissed at Michelle, but then I thought it was kind of ironic, because that money was going to end up in Brian's wallet when I got a chance.
As I walked aimlessly in no particular direction (alas, my life), I decided that maybe I was stubborn. It had to have been over two hours (the sun had set even) since I'd seen Michelle, and I hadn't touched the sandwiches. I'd put the money safely into my pocket, but was carrying the bag around like some kind of idiot elementary school kid. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to give Brian both the money and said sandwiches.
"Hey look, it's our old friend."
Now that voice I recognized. He was the head moron in a trio of wannabe gangsters. They talked like they were black and thought they owned the streets. I'd been kicked around by them plenty of times. Instead of giving them the satisfaction though, I pretended I hadn't heard them and kept walking. I wished that once I could just catch one of these guys alone, cause then I could really show them that I wasn't as weak as they thought, but when all three of them ganged up on me, it was extremely difficult to do anything but fold under the pressure.
Like any 'badass' 'gang', they started following me. I threw a quick glance around, realizing I was nowhere near a place to hide out, and I just gave up, both mentally and physically, stopping, and letting my shoulders drop. Maybe if I didn't fight back things would end quicker. A strong arm was thrown around my shoulders, almost knocking me to the ground.
"Aw, he even stopped to wait for us."
And then they pulled me into a convenient alley that I'd stopped next to -- great job, Einstein. I was thrown up against the wall, and the paper bag was snatched from my hand -- if I was lucky (but remember, this wouldn't happen to me) Michelle would've poisoned the sandwiches in hopes to get rid of my sorry ass.
"Got any money?" leader homeboy asked.
I was holding my hands up in the air almost defensively and I snorted. "Are you serious?" I asked. "You seem to forget that I'm a homeless bum."
He looked me up and down with raised eyebrows. "Those clothes look pretty clean -- and you look pretty clean yourself." I was trying not to laugh at the way he said 'yoself'. "If you had enough to find a shower, you most certainly have enough to share."
I shook my head, inwardly daring them to search my pockets. The other two were busy looking through the bag though -- they acted as though sandwiches were foreign to the city. The leader went to start digging around in my pockets, after so kindly throwing his forearm across my neck and pressing me tighter against the bricks. As he reached into the empty one, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat rather loudly and knowingly from the mouth of the alley. As if in a movie, we all froze and looked.
Though he was almost completely hidden in shadows, I knew who it was. And his large, muscular outline was very clear in the dark. Leader homeboy backed away from me, trying to put on a tough front.
"Hey man," he said. "Mind your business."
Despite the situation, I still almost laughed. 'Mine yo besnuss'.
He didn't say anything, and just stood there. I swore that I could almost make out the intensity of his hazel orbs.
"Man, fuck this." one of the cronies said. "I'm out."
He and the one who'd stolen the bag turned and started to go down the alley in the other direction, and they couldn't leave quick enough. Leader homeboy glanced behind him, and I smirked at the look on his face. He was strong, the stranger was stronger.
"If I see you again, you're fuckin' dead, yo." he said, though his voice had changed, and I seriously doubted that he'd recognize this guy if he saw him again.
He turned on his heel and started jogging after his friends. I took a deep breath, turning to the stranger and I felt awkward as he stared at me for what seemed like hours. Then he turned, and started passed the alley, the way he'd been going.
I snapped back to life, and ran after him, stopping only when I fell in step beside him.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
He glanced at me. "Who are you?" he countered, and his raspy voice sent a shiver through my body. He seemed different than the first time I saw him -- the day before, he seemed colder.
"Don't play mind games with me." I snapped. I didn't even know why I was mad. "Why did I have a dream about you?"
Real smooth Zacky, no wonder you're such a ladies' man. The stranger lifted a brow.
"Sounds like a personal problem to me." he said.
I rolled my eyes, and stepped in front of him, stopping him from going further. "What did you mean yesterday?" I asked. "The whole angel getting their wings thing."
He suddenly changed as if he'd only just remembered it'd been me he'd said that to. His eyes softened slightly, and he lowered his gaze, lips parting slightly as he went to answer.
"I don't know." he said. "Just seemed like the right thing to say as we sat outside a church."
I rolled my eyes. "What's wrong with you?" I found myself asking. "Why are you so....sad?" I was a bum remember, no thesaurus handy.
He smirked. "I could ask the same of you buddy." he said dryly walking around me.
I followed of course. "I'm not sad." I replied. "I'm angry."
"There's a difference?" he asked sarcastically -- we both knew he knew there was a big difference.
"Hey, you started a conversation with me remember?" I asked, "Now you don't even want to talk to me."
"It's not you." he said grumpily. "It's the human race in general."
I opened my mouth to try and counter, but felt myself run into his strong back as he had stopped. I then began to ask him what the Hell he was doing but realized we'd ended up outside that same church as yesterday. The priest was standing outside, greeting people as they arrived for the evening, and I glanced at the stranger -- he still hadn't given me his name. He was watching the priest intently as though he was getting ready to pounce on him or something. The old man looked over at us.
"Have you come to join us?" he asked, he had a kind voice, it was a shame he was a mind sucker. "The doors are open to everyone."
I have to say, I was half-tempted. The stranger gave a scoff, shaking his head slightly.
"Father, He hasn't forgiven me yet." he said. "I doubt I can forgive Him anytime soon to join in on your little bullshit meetings."
My jaw dropped, as did the priest's, and the stranger started walking again. I glanced apologetically at the priest, though unsure why, and then I trotted to catch up with the stranger.
"He was just being nice." I said. "You didn't have to snap at him."
He suddenly turned to me. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do." he said. "You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through, you don't know anything."
"Well I asked for your god damned name back there and you didn't give it to me!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms out at my sides. "How the fuck am I supposed to know anything about you?"
He rolled his eyes, grabbing my hand forcefully and shaking it slightly. "I'm Matthew, nice to meet you." he said in a gruff voice, before turning on his heel again and starting away.