Today was Noah's thirteenth birthday, nevertheless, he was alone, hungry and cold. He saw a police car and hid in the closest building. His legs could not hold him so the teenager sat on the steps and moaned with weakness

He saw a man coming downstairs. The man looked at him, and said something, but Noah did not understand. He was so tired. He wanted to sleep

"Come with me!" the man told to him, and the teenager plodded after him.

When they entered the apartment, Noah glanced around. He saw some dumbbells, an exercise machine, posters on the walls showing buff looking athletes, and the teenager thought he understood the situation.

The man heated some food while Noah sat at the table. The teenager slowly ate the meal, enjoying the feeling of hot food warm in his emaciated body. Then he got up, and started to undress.

"What are you doing?" the man wondered.

"I'm not stupid." Noah's voice sounded tiredly. "You're gay, aren't you? Nobody feeds me without this."

"I am gay, but I'm not a pedophile," the man shook his head. "What, did you run away from home? Why? Stepfather? Uncle? Cousin?"

Noah sat down again and wept: "Today is my birthday!" Closing his eyes, he sobbed hysterically.

The man came closer, and touched the forehead of the teenager.

"Oh, my!" He gasped. "You're sick! Come here!"

Noah did not argue. They went to the bedroom, the man helped Noah take off his clothes, and put him to bed. Noah thought the man would lie down too, but he just covered the teenager with a thick soft blanket, and gave him some medicine.

"I'm Jason," the man introduced himself. "What is your name?"

"Noah."

"How old are you?"

"Twelve... Thirteen now."

"Damn! And how long have you lived on the street?"

The teenager did not reply. He felt warm and calm. He started falling asleep.

"I swear, Noah!" Jason took the first magazine, and put his hand on the photo of a male as if it was a Bible. "Until you're eighteen no one will touch you again! Even me! Even if you want them to! After that, it will be up to you, but now I will protect you, Noah, I promise, I swear..."

But the teenager did not hear him any longer.
* * * * * * *
To Noah's surprise, Jason kept his word, and the teenager came back to life. Jason somehow got a new Id for his young friend, and took care of him like a real father, or older brother.

After the teenager became healthy again, Jason started to harden, train, and coach him, and they worked out every day. He taught the teenager some methods of self-defense, and how to handle different kinds of weapons. And a few years later when Noah found a job as a guard, it was because of this practice.

Grateful, Noah was ready to do anything for Jason, but the man was inflexible.

"On your eighteenth birthday, no earlier!" He repeated all the time.
* * * * * * *
Noah walked along the street, he went back home from school, and saw a crowd beating Jason.

And Noah flung himself at these people, he threw them in all directions, he was so mad, and probably looked really scary, because they ran away in spite of their numbers.