My Kind Of Bad

Neo and Jason were the only blip in the evening. Kurt was thankful he hadn’t been in the same room as Jason, who kept himself out of the way until they were leaving. Kurt had seen him on the stairs as they had been let out. The man had been staring at Neera, who purposefully didn’t look at him but was clearly nervous. Kurt was glad that he was a guest in someone else’s house or he would be beating the guy to a pulp after what he did to Neera.

His protective instincts came out really strong whenever Neera was around. Kurt liked it. She was a woman he could see being in his life in the long-term. It had only been a week but his feelings for her were strong.

If his friends knew how quickly he was falling for the lovely accountant-to-be they would be ribbing him for weeks. Months, even.

Kurt drove to his apartment with Neera holding on to him. Then he switched to his car. The temperature was dropping and in a t-shirt and shorts Neera was starting to shiver. So Kurt played the gentleman and gave her his jacket and took her home in his car instead of on the back of his bike.

Neera was quiet the whole way back. She gave him a smile when she put his jacket on but that was it. Kurt wondered if Jason was the reason for her sudden quietness but didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

However the quiet began to make him nervous and he finally broke the silence as they reached her neighborhood.

“You okay?”

Neera sighed, huddling further into his jacket.

“I guess.”

Kurt sighed, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry if dinner wasn’t great. Billy’s a good cook but his conversations…”

“It wasn’t the dinner or the conversation.” Neera interrupted. “The food was delicious and Billy is a nice man. It was…Jason turning up like that.”

Kurt had had a feeling that was the reason. Neera’s demeanor knowing that Jason was in the house had been evident to him. It was subtle but Kurt could read Neera like a book. She was scared to be in the same house as the man she had once dated. Kurt couldn’t blame her; if the roles were reversed he’d feel the same.

Neera shivered.

“It’s like he’s taunting me. Somehow he knew where I’d be and is just with Neo so he can be close to me.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I can hazard a guess.” Neera grunted. “Jason’s the type of person not to let anything or anyone go. He could have a vendetta against a potted plant if he wanted to. He’s a control freak, Kurt.” She sighed heavily. “I’m scared that Neo’s going to get hurt one way or another. She’s an absolute bi*ch but I don’t want her hurt. Not by him.”

Kurt worried as well but he was more confident that Neo could handle him. She might be s*x mad but she could see through people who were users. Hopefully she would see through Jason quickly enough.

“Neo’s young, Neera, but she does have street smarts. Billy made sure she could look after herself if a situation arose.” He reached out and took Neera’s hand. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“Can she handle Jason?”

Kurt chuckled.

“There’s one thing that Neo handles really well and that’s guys.”

“She’s only eighteen, for fu*k’s sake!”

“Yeah, I know she is. And I know she keeps forgetting that she’s a high school senior.” Kurt frowned. “Or meant to be a senior. I don’t think she’s been to many classes this year. I doubt she’s going to graduate.”

From what he could gather, Billy had spoken to the principal and managed to get Neo one last chance. If she got back on track she would be able to graduate after taking summer classes. But if she squandered it, she was out. Neo was a smart girl; she didn’t need to waste her life on a lowlife who mentally abused women.

“Has she…tried it on with you?” Neera asked timidly.

Kurt glanced at her. Neera was watching him nervously. He gave her a smile and let go of her hand to stroke her cheek.

“She has. But I blew her off. Not only is eighteen too young for me but I’m not risking Billy’s wrath. His people know not to mess with Neo.”

“She makes me feel old.”

“You’re not old.” Kurt winked. “And you’re certainly prettier than she is.”

Neera rolled her eyes.

“Flatterer.”

Kurt laughed. They turned onto Neera’s road and Kurt pulled up to an empty space. Helping Neera out, Kurt kept his arm around her as they walked into her building and up the stairs. Neera leaned into him, her body more relaxed than it had been earlier. She hadn’t drank any wine but the evening hadn’t been a total disaster.

Kurt was looking forward to the weekend and the paintballing. He was also wondering if they would be able to move their relationship to the next level.

They were on her floor when Neera stiffened in his arms. Kurt slowed.

“What’s the matter?”

“My apartment.” Neera pointed. “The door’s open.”

Kurt looked around. His heart momentarily stopped when he saw Neera’s door wide open. The door looked like it had been forced in. Going into high alert, Kurt moved Neera to lean against the wall.

“Stay here.”

“Kurt?”

“Stay here.” Kurt placed a finger on her lips, silencing her protests. “And keep quiet.”

Neera’s eyes said she wanted to argue but there was fear as well. Kurt wanted to get rid of the fear but right now he needed to check out Neera’s apartment.

Ducking inside, Kurt waited until he was out of her sight before crouching and retrieving his gun from its ankle holster. Then he stepped further into the apartment. The place was a mess. Sofa cushions had been ripped apart and scattered around the room. Plates were smashed, as was the coffee table. The TV had been ripped off the wall and DVDs were thrown all over the floor. A quick check in the bedroom showed the bed covers were slashed, as were a lot of Neera’s clothes. Kurt noticed that it was mostly her panties that had been ripped and left in a mess on the duvet.

The bathroom had liquids all over the place, smashed glass from the shower door was in the bath and feces were smeared on the mirror. Kurt grimaced and left. While the whole place had been destroyed, there was nobody there. And judging from the fecal matter, it had been some hours.