Darkest Before Dawn

Chapter 1

(Authors Note: Contains depictions of violence and abuse)

A young male walked along a snowy path, using the footprints of others to avoid getting his boots wet. Looking up glanced over some of the signs. Eyes from sign to neon sign, enthralled with the colors and various shapes.

He didn't notice as a man put a foot out in front of him as he walked, his attention taken by the sights around and above him. Tripping he managed to catch himself before he could fall face-first into the snow-covered concrete. He could hear a small group of people laughing, and quickly stood up, dusting himself off as quick as he could. His face flushed as he jogged off shoving his hands in his pockets. He heard several slurs directed at him making him shrink down more. He heard another voice and the people laughing at him go quiet. Making him walk faster as he did not want to get involved with anything. He briefly debated turning around so he could just get home, but the people were in the way.

"Hey, uh...Guy with the black hoodie?" The voice from before, said loudly as footsteps approached the darker-skinned male.

"M-my name is M-morgan..." He mumbled looking over, tensing up as he noticed he was dressed in a patrol officers' uniform. The man had a large smile across his pale face, his blond curly hair seeming to have a mind of its own.

"Oh, well then Morgan. I think you dropped this." He said holding out a small grey wallet, "I saw one of those people take it after you walked away, figured I should get it back for you."

"Uh... Well thanks, Mister." Morgan grabbed the wallet shoving it in his pocket, "I sh-"

The man suddenly interrupted him, "Shit, I forgot to tell you my name. Hi," he held out a hand, "I am William, but you can call me Will."

"Then thank you, William." Morgan nodded with a weak smile, glancing down from the others face finding him relatively attractive. He blushed, looking away, for once glad it was cold as his cheeks were already dusty red.

"You're welcome, where are you off to?" The man asked, brushing his hair back in trying to control it, which made it stick up in a cow lick, making the caramel-skinned boy chuckle. "What? Did I do something?"

"Your hair is a bit messy." Morgan blurted, covering his mouth, not meaning to be rude, "Sorry." he mumbled looking away.

"Oh, yeah it... Whatever. So you gonna tell me where you are off to?" He asked trying to brush his hair over to control the madness on his head.

"Oh, I am getting home." Morgan said still finding the other ridiculous looking, "Do you need help?"

"Is it that bad?" William said defeated sighing, "Oh well, my dad will whine later I guess."

"Here, let me help," Morgan said reaching out instinctively to fix the hair, managing to get it looking decent.

"Thank you saved me from a rant." William joked, "Do you need a ride or anything?"

"No, my apartment is close." Morgan shook his head before turning to leave.

"Oh, ok. I hope to see you again." William said nodding, "I usually patrol in this area so it wouldn't be too uncommon."

"Ok." Morgan acknowledged before running home, not wanting to get in trouble. Reaching his door he unlocked and entered. Glad to find the place empty as he went to close the door before it slammed closed behind him. Grabbed the collar and turned around to face his boyfriend, he felt his stomach sink his smile fading.

"What are you doing?" The raven-haired man asked his lips turned in a stern scowl, "Did you think I wouldn't notice you sneaking out?" He thundered out, adjusting his hand so it was firmly gripped around his neck.