46

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know. The long way to Mal's, I guess?"

The two teenagers walked hand in hand through the grimy streets, ignoring the snickers from the down-and-outs jeering at them.

"Got yerself a boyfriend, little missy?" An old crooning voice warbled out. The old man smiled with missing teeth. "Why don't you show me a good time instead?"

"Don't touch her, you creep!" Ben lurched towards him with a fist raised, but Margot held him back with a gentle hand.

"He's not worth it, Ben." Though her words were sharp, her tone was soft and her gaze sad as she made eye contact with the open-mouthed homeless man.

His mouth opened and closed a few times, his eyes not leaving her sympathetic ones for a second until she turned away with a calm gait.

"How can you just let him say that?!" Ben asked, glaring behind them.

"There's no point in being angry at such a pitiful man. That moment is all he has to live for now. Most of the people here live off of moments like those ones, any reminder that they're alive." For a moment, Margot seemed to fit in seamlessly with the dark, dirty streets, with the desolation coating her expression.

"I'm sorry you had to live this way." Ben said quietly, observing the quietness of the suffering behind her eyes.

"Don't be. You're the one making a change."

Ben wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and never let her go, never let her feel pain again, but the way her chin was held high and her shoulders back stopped him. When she needed comfort, she would fall into his arms; she'd done it before. But now, what she needed was to be strong, and all he had to do was leave his hand in hers so she knew he wasn't leaving.

The comments didn't stop as they walked through the streets, but most cowered the second Margot's steely glare fell on them. Those who didn't only needed to hear her chastise them to turn away.

"How long have you had to deal with this?" Ben asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"As long as I can remember." Margot responded simply. Ben's hand tightened around hers.

"I think you might be the strongest person I know." Ben said, admiring the elegance of her features, even in their sadness.

"That's not true. Mal is the strongest of us for sure."

"You're strong in different ways. Doesn't make you any less strong." Ben told her.

Margot nodded, but Ben could see the hesitation in her eyes. Though it was less strong than it had been in the past, he knew it held her back still.

"C'mere girlie!"

"Let's have some fun!"

"Don't you want someone with a little more experience?"

"Why are you with that softie? Come have fun with a real man!"

Margot ignored them all, aware of how Ben's hand tightened around hers every time she was cat called.

"Remember me, little Margot? It's been many years now."

Ben was alarmed as she felt her steps falter, but she kept her head up and continued to walk.

"Don't ignore me, sinner. You still owe me, you thief."

"I owe you nothing. Leave."

That was the first time Ben had seen her react to any of these men. Her hand was tight around his, and she refused to turn around to look at the man following them.

"Still dressing like a whore, I see. It is your fault that you cause men to stumble. Lord forgive me for my sins, but I simply cannot..."

"She said she wasn't interested." Ben seethed, turning to look at the filthy man in tattered religious robes stumbling after them, the smell of alcohol reaching him.

"He's not..." Margot's voice was so quiet Ben almost didn't hear it, even with his enhanced hearing. A single tear had fallen down her cheek and she froze for a moment.

That moment was all it took for the man to catch up to them, and just before his hand could reach her, the man was pushed against the dirty wall of the alleyway. Margot felt a hand on her waist move her out of the way, and when she came to, she saw him, powerless as Ben had him against the wall by the neck, his free hand holding her behind him.

"You touch her, you die. Got it?"

The man coughed, avoiding Ben's eyes. "It's her fault for dressing like such a Jezebel. She's sent from the devil. I cannot be expected to resist..."

Ben pushed him further into the wall, and he choked. "You touch her, you die. Do I need to repeat myself again?"

"....No." Frollo choked out.

He burst into a coughing fit as Ben dropped him, and Margot watched as the man who had tormented her adolescence scrambled away the seconds his lungs allowed him to. A wave of exhaustion fell over her, and she fell forward, her forehead landing in the middle of Ben's back as her arms wrapped around him.

"Mar...? Are you...?" Ben almost asked if she was ok, but his voice trailed off.

"Thank you." He had to strain his ears to hear her words. "I'm sorry for-"

"Don't apologize for mumbling. I can hear you just fine." Ben reassured her, his hands holding hers. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I don't know. The only ones who know are Jay and Harry. They're the ones who found me after. Am I still the strongest person you know after seeing me freeze?" Margot laughed humourlessly, her face still pressed into Ben's back.

"You're even stronger." Ben said, his hands soft against hers.

"I'm..." Margot hiccuped, feeling a tear on her cheek. "I'm not supposed to cry here. It's rule number one of the Isle." Her voice was raw with grief as her hands shook in his, her face pressing into his back as if he were her lifeline. "You'll get in trouble if you cry here."

"No. Cry all you need. I'll protect you this time around, I promise."

As Margot broke down, Ben spun around in her arms to wrap his arms around her, sheltering her from the dangerous streets of the Isle. With one hand covering her head and the other on her back, Ben kept his glare fixed on every person who so much as glanced at them, his muscles tensed and ready for a fight.

No matter what, she would not be left alone this time, Ben would make sure of it.