“$4892,” he said. The sad part was that he wasn’t a year behind on his rent. That was only a few months’ worth. When you were a landowner, especially in the poorer areas, you could really charge almost anything you wanted, because the penalty was always worse than the struggle of making the high rent every month. It was a fact of life for most poor people, something they had just come to expect. Sure one could find a decent landlord if one looked long enough, but many did not have the luxury of time. Community was strong, but the will to survive was, too. Ethan himself had seen neighbors turn on each other if it meant keeping a roof over their family’s head.<br/><br/>Ethan took the check gratefully, though it still damaged his pride. He didn’t like the idea of taking money from her, even as a forward on his paycheck. But anything was better than getting thrown off the roof of a ten-story building. Ethan's limbs could do quite a few things, but flying wasn't one of them. He did smile, however, when she accepted his offer for lunch. He went to the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to comb out the mess that his landlord and his thugs had caused. His cheek was bruised, and his lip was swollen and red. Gingerly he touched it with his tongue, noting the metallic taste and the sting that followed. It would certainly heal, eventually, but the next few days were going to be mildly unpleasant because of it.<br/><br/>After grabbing his keys, Ethan opened the door and descended the stairs with Charlotte by his side. No one bothered them on the way down, which was fortunate. Ethan was in no mood to entertain any man or woman who would even think about putting their grubby hands on her, not even for a second. When they got out into the street, Ethan breathed deeply and smiled, hearing the laughter of the neighbor kids and the general happiness of the people around them. Sure there were gangs and bad people in the area, but most people were generally civil, and because it was the weekend, all the street food vendors were out in force. It was like a block party almost, and Ethan quite enjoyed it.<br/><br/>"Everything's good. I prefer the chicken though. Julia makes the best grilled chicken in the city. I'm not even kidding. Why don't you find us a place to sit and i'll hook us up." Ethan smiled and gave her a very gentle shove on the shoulder, winking as he moved toward the grill. He rather enjoyed her company, even if he was a dick sometimes. Charlotte let him be himself, and no one else did. She wasn't just kind to him, she could keep up with his sarcasm and dish it right back out. She wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and for others.<br/><br/>"Julia, what's shakin', bacon?"<br/><br/>"Oh god, you again?" Julia's South American accent was thick but understandable. She was an endearing young woman, about Ethan's age, with long brown hair and deep brown eyes. She was small, wearing a simple sun dress that was a little on the old-and-worn side, but it fit her subtle curves well. She winked and nudged Ethan with her hip as he stood next to the grill, eyeballing her... chicken breasts.<br/><br/>"Hey you know you miss me during the week. C'mon. I'm your favorite customer and you know it. What do you have today? Jerked?"<br/><br/>"Lemon. Ay, get your hands off my utensils!" She smacked his hand away as he reached for her tongs. "Gimme your plate,<i>gringo, </i>geez." Ethan enjoyed the banter back and forth with her, though there were plenty that didn't. She had been victimized before, and Ethan just happened to be there when it happened. He had a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Speaking of....<br/><br/>Ethan turned his eyes to the crowd, scanning them for his new co-worker. She had found a seat not far away and was patiently, even eagerly awaiting his return. From behind her stepped a man, who sat down next to her, a couple of beer bottles in his hand, both full. He set them on the table and turned toward Charlotte, a giant smile on his face. His tanned skin glistened in the sun, a light sheen of sweat adding some shine to his neck and upper chest. "Now if I were your man, and I know you've got one close by, I wouldn't leave you alone for one second. A woman as beautiful as you shouldn't ever be left alone. I'd never let you out of my sight."<br/><br/>The man took his bottle of beer in one hand, then slid the other to Charlotte, it's cap loosened but not completely removed. "Now if I were you, i'd find you a man who works with his hands, someone who can treat you right, pay absolute attention to you, someone who'd never... ever take his hands off you." With his now empty palm, he began to rub her shoulder gently, encouraging her to lean toward him. His hand was almost immediately snatched away, turning in an unnatural manner and straining his joints. Ethan stood above them, a pair of plates in one hand and a whimpering drunk in the other.<br/><br/>"Good thing for her she's smart enough to know when she's in trouble and when i'm nearby. A word of advise, friend... never try to pick up a chick while her boyfriend's only a few feet away. Next time you may loose something other than your pride. Now get up!" Ethan brought up his hand, forcing the unnamed man onto his feet. He tossed him away, kicking his ass as he stumbled off.<br/><br/>"At least he left the beers, heheh..."