The boy wasn't really a boy (he'd just turned 18 a month ago), but he really felt like one. His name was Damien, and he was a street child. He'd lost his parents when the war broke out, and the opposing warriors came in riding with destruction in their hearts. Damien didn't know who'd won, but he didn't much care. Homeless and hungry, he'd joined other kids and together they found a way to survive, though their current 'homes' were merely crates near the shipyard.
But he tried to help them out, especially because the little ones always cried more pitifully when they were hungry. He'd pierced his body like a performer he'd seen once, a long time ago. There were rings on his ears, eyebrows, nose, nipples, navel, and a practical armory around and on his genitals. He had made every single one, and had been lucky none had gotten him sick. A healer was too expensive, and the temples of healing didn't take kindly to the street children, except on the religious holidays when any beggar could get at least one meal and a meager blessing.
So he displayed himself at the festivals (for a price) and the docks in anyone was interested. He never prostituted himself, but that was because he was frightened ever since the veteran came. It wasn't the veteran's fault though, he was his hero after all.
Damien had been walking back home at night, when two half-drunk sailors had stopped him. At first they wanted to see his piercings, and then paid extra to touch. Damien didn't cry out, though they were quite rough. He'd considered the deal done and was turning to leave when one of the sailors grabbed his shoulder. "Where do you think you're going? We wanna fuck you tight ass so hard that all those things jingle around."
He'd attempted to deny the offer, to return their money, but they seemed to get even more determined to take him. One pulled him into an alleyway and covered his mouth as he started to scream. His clothes were easily removed, and he'd been gagged with a tattered sleeve of his sweater. Crying, he still tried to struggle, but the two men were larger and stronger, never having experienced the starvation that had caused Damien's body to not really grow.
One man had grabbed his wrists together, and was using his free hand to unbuckle his pants. Damien was being pulled in a low lean, and knew the man's cock would soon be in his mouth, unwashed and filthy. The other man kept Damien bent over the the way he was leaning over his back and wrapped an arm around his waist. His free hand was also undoing his pants, his hard length aching to sink deep into that skinny little ass.
A sudden loud metallic clang startled them all, and they all looked to the entryway of the alley. There was a large man standing there, and the noise appeared to have been a sword he'd dropped next to travel pack. He had a roguish look about him, like a starving and rabid wolf. He stared down at them all with narrowed eyes, not saying a word.
Damien realized he was in further trouble and renewed his efforts, but the sailor behind him gripped around his middle harder. "Hey you, get the fuck outta here. This here's our little slut. You go find your own."
The newcomer did not respond for a minute, then shook his head calmly. He started walking towards them, calmly but with a heavy step.
"Oh fuck this!" The sailor in front released Damien's wrists, then grabbed a knife at his belt, holding it out towards the man walking to them. "You were warned mister. But since you're a damn fool I don't feel the least bit sorry for you."
Without giving any intention away, the stranger leaped forward, covering the distance between them like a graceful deer. He crashed into the sailor with a hand wrapped around the knife hand, gripping and crushing the man's bones with a sick crunch. The sailor screamed and dropped once his hand was let go, ignoring that the stranger moved quickly and had all ready attacked his compatriot.
Damien registered the crunch and screaming, but the stranger moved so fluidly and unexpectedly, that one second he seemed to be in front, and then he was between him and the man who had just had him pulled against his front. Blinking in almost shock, Damien turned around and saw that the stranger had punched the sailor in the stomach, and the sailor was leaned over that arm, trying to breathe while he coughed out blood.
Silently, the stranger stood straight, letting the offender fall to the ground. He turned around calmly and started walking back, ignoring Damien. As he got to his items, Damien started dressing quickly, avoiding the two injured sailors. He ran after the man, trying to talk to him. "Thank you mister! Is there anything I can do for ya?! I'm kinda a freak if you wanna see, no charge at all! Maybe you wanna know where a bar is?" Damien ran alongside the stranger (as his strides were quite long and he did not slow down for him). He felt a bit ridiculous, sounding far younger than he actually was.
The man glanced at him as he walked, then away again. As they walked in more open areas, Damien realized the man had a scar through the right cheek, originating from the corner of his mouth. He remembered one time hearing that such-and-such army liked to cut their prisoner's tongues out, and left a side scar so they could easily see who'd be 'punished' and who hadn't in their foul prisons. It meant he was not only a veteran, but he couldn't speak. Feeling a bit abashed, but still quite thankful, Damien tried something else. "Hey mister, you want to sleep somewhere for free? We don't got a lot of food, but a little until morning. All the cheap places only open during the day."
Pausing for a step, the veteran nodded at him. Damien then led the way to their little sanctuary, an abandoned dock house that had been set fire at least twenty or so years ago, most probably from a previous war. Most of the others were asleep, and the ones that weren't (having to lookout not only for other gangs, but rats that liked to bite the little children) knew that Damien would only bring someone trustworthy here, so they didn't bother him or ask him questions.
The veteran looked around, then picked a corner and laid out a bedroll, lying down and falling asleep with his sword laid beside him. Damien went to his area and watched him for a few minutes, wondering how the man had escaped or had been released, and what he was going to do. If he'd had a wife before the war, she certainly wouldn't and couldn't have him anymore. As a former prisoner, thus marked, he was a dishonored soul, which was classified as dead in the social order. Thinking about the veteran, the boy had fallen asleep.
The veteran stayed for several months, much to the confusion of the kids and few young adults who hadn't left to find their fortunes yet. He left his things during the day, and would return at night with food, or blankets and clothes. He never smiled to anyone, and practically ignored them otherwise. Damien was at a loss for why he was helping them out (and until following him one day, had been unsure as to how). The veteran fought in the arenas of sport, outdoing any opponent, though he was only allowed into the meager fights, not those for champions, based on his status. But he used the money to buy things for the young people he was living with, though surely he had enough winnings to get a room at an inn.