Levi’s blood drained from his face at the strangled cry, his sudden dread so palpable, Shiloh’s stomach plummeted into his shoes. A woman, previously hidden by the solid concrete on either side of the stairs, stood planting herself directly in front of them. Levi pushed Shiloh behind him, blocking half his body with his own bigger one. Shiloh could still peek from around his arm.
Levi’s mother.
She had greasy brown hair that hung in clumps past her shoulders, her scalp visible. Her skin was a sallow yellow and seemed almost like it hung on her as oversized as the bright pink t-shirt that was falling off her shoulder and trailed almost to her knees. Her blue eyes looked even bluer surrounded by the yellow of her sclera. Her lips were horribly chapped. The sweatpants she wore were so long they pooled around her ankles, almost hiding that she was barefoot.
Levi was so rigid behind him, Shiloh could feel him tremble when he placed a hand on his arm.
She smiled, revealing surprisingly straight, if clearly dirty, teeth. Her tone was saccharine sweet when she cooed, “Hey, baby.”
Levi answered with a single word. “No.”
He took Shiloh’s hand and tried to step around her, but she once more stepped between them and the door, her expression pleading. “I’m your mother. I just need a little help. Please, baby?”
Shiloh’s gaze darted to passersby who stared at the scene unfolding with minor curiosity, sometimes even temporarily slowing like they might want to see what happened next before someone inevitably pulled them on.
Levi snorted. “You do need help,” he agreed. “That’s what they were giving you at the hospital. The place you ran away from, remember? You should go back.”
She shook her head frantically, eyes filling with tears. “I can’t. You don’t understand. They tried to kill me. They aren’t who you think they are. They’re evi?—”
Levi cut her off. “Nobody tried to kill you, Naomi. They were trying to help you. Everyone's just trying to help you.”
Shiloh’s mouth fell open as the mask of pain fell away and her face contorted with pure unadulterated rage, her small hands fisting in Levi’s t-shirt. “Oh, I get it. You’re in on it with them. You’re probably the one who put me there in the first place. You’ve always hated me. Blamed me. I gave you everything and you just used me up. Ungrateful little shit.”
Shiloh’s heart jack-hammered in his chest. Levi was so still, staring at the woman with a hatred and sadness that Shiloh related to more than he cared to admit.
Voice tight, Levi stared down the much smaller woman, shaking her clawing hands off his shirt. “Yeah, that’s me. Nice talking to you, Naomi. Good luck.”
This time, Levi did drag Shiloh past her. But just as they passed, she snagged Shiloh’s wrist, her grip shockingly strong for someone so frail.
“Wait,” she said, giving him what she probably thought was a friendly smile, but was actually the stuff of nightmares. Shiloh remembered his mother’s own wild eyes, the way he could always see the unpredictability shining in them. He tried to shake her off, but she squeezed harder until he felt like his bones were rubbing together. “Can you help me? Are you hisboyfriend? I’m his mother. Don’t let him treat me like this. Imagine how he’ll treat you when you’re down and out. I just need a little help. Five dollars? Ten? Anything will do. Please?”
Levi pried her fingers off Shiloh’s wrist, pushing her away gently. “Don’t touch him. And don’t hang around here looking for me. I’m done, Naomi. Done. I won’t help you anymore. If you want to get better, go back to the hospital.”
She made a show of stumbling dramatically, landing hard on the sidewalk. “Did you see that?” she shouted to nobody in particular. “He assaulted me. My own son! Ungrateful. I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”
People continued to pass, eyeing the situation warily but nobody paid her much mind. While it was a fairly family-friendly block, their city had an unhoused problem. There was no shortage of people just like her, sleeping wherever they could find a space at night and wandering the sidewalks looking for money or cans to recycle during the day.
Shiloh held his wrist, not only because it throbbed but because it helped steady to him. Levi left her where she was, tugging Shiloh up the steps to the building. “Get out of here before I call the cops and tell them where you are.”
That got her attention. She got to her feet with effort then wandered away without another look.
They walked up the stairs in silence. Levi pulled him inside then closed the door, locking and bolting it. Nico and Mal were snuggled on the couch.
Nico gave him a curious look. “What’s up?”
“Naomi,” was all Levi said.
“Shit, for real?” Nico asked, not sounding like it was a real question.
“Yeah, so you know the drill. Make sure the doors are locked, just in case she manages to get past the front doors.”
Nico nodded, then snuggled deeper into Mal who was playing big spoon while they watched some cartoon on the couch and ate popcorn.
“I thought you had afternoon classes?” Levi asked, frowning.
Nico gave him a guilty look then gave a fake cough into his fist. “I’m sick.”
Levi rolled his eyes and threw the pizzas in the freezer before dragging Shiloh into the bedroom, tugging off both their shirts and capturing his mouth in a dirty kiss that stole his breath and made his dick take notice.
