Kal ended up taking me to the middle of Soho where apparently they live, showing me just around their neighborhood and I have never felt more out of place. Everything around us was extremely expensive looking: the cast-iron buildings and brownstones lining the street, the frequent art galleries that were lofts with the artists in the upper floors, expensive looking boutiques where fashion designers lived in the upper floors along with all sorts of the rather hipster and lavish locations are.

“Kal, may I ask…a slightly awkward question?”

“Go ahead”

“What…what happened to your leg?”

“Ah, that…it was a few years ago, little military service and my group was doing some movements and working on ensuring this area that used to be a mine field was clear, guy accidently set one off and stood on it, there wasn’t enough time to get a diffuser kit towards him because the area he was in was supposed to be empty…so I ran and pushed him out of the way, my leg was at the edge of the blast, nothing really than a really, really bad break because of the shockwave and some burns, little hearing damage for the time being, but…all good now.”

“Wow”

“Don’t worry, if my leg was fine I’d be walking do fast that you wouldn’t be able to keep up, so the cane keeps me from walking extremely quickly.” He explained, I laughed at that a bit as I walked alongside him, he seemed to have the injury for so long that its like he’s always had it with how used to it he walked.

It was strange how much I was enjoying spending time with Kal. I’ve had friends that were guys, but never like this. I’ve never had a guy friend who was so warm, so friendly and so honestly himself, usually guys in high school or college are only focused on being the coolest person in school, sleeping around and partying. One of the first places Kal wanted to show me was his favorite bookstore, he was like a little kid when he walked in the smile on his face was so bright, the owner of the shop knew him by name, it was a really, really nice and giant shop, three stories.

“So, how many people like…work for you?” I asked as we had stopped at a café for coffee and brunch that Kal likes. Kal sighed as he sat down across from me: the café was fairly industrial in style, the coffee bar across the back with raw metal and unpolished wood counter tops and all vintage copper coffee machines, wooden benches along the walls and front wall for the booths with matching styled tables and chairs, a spiral staircase at one spot of the side wall leading to the upper floor where some couches and things were, metal sculpture light fixtures bolted on the walls, industrial styled light fixtures in the ceiling, exposed metal rafters, ducts and similar pieces.

“Only about a dozen or so, there’s a dozen contractors, but factor in the various other office workers there’ probably about twenty five of us because each person also has an assistant for when we’re in the field.”

“How often do you go out?”

“Very, very rarely now a days, it’s only when someone very high up and pays at least a five figure down payment that they can think about hiring me.” he said with a soft smile, “What I do is expensive, I’m not like some of the other people I hire.”

“What do they all do?” I asked as I rested my arms on the table, Kal’s back was to the window so the bright sunlight washed over him as his hat and overcoat were on the bench behind him, I could have sworn there was a near sheen to his skin, not like makeup or anything, but almost metallic or scale like across his face.

“Let’s see who to start with…let’s see…well, first of all there’s Jewel, she’s been with my company the longest, she looks a bit like me to be honest because we’re both Hungarian, she’s also super pale, but she has this dark brown hair that nearly looks black, but in the sun is rust red, pale gray eyes, glasses and goth to no end.”

“What’s her expertise?”

“Cave divine, collapsed buildings or anything subterranean.”

“Dangerous”

“Very…second would be Brandon, he’s stupidly tall, extremely muscular, tattooed to shit and the thickest Polish accent I’ve ever heard, his realm is the recovery of stolen things. Third would be Josh: he’s super petite, a little like you, but short messy brown hair and weirdly bird like, his realm is rare wines and food items, people will shell out huge amounts of money for him to find them stupidly old wines.”

“Obviously, people love wine.”

“Well, very true…next would be Hector, he’s taller, kind of thin and long black hair with brown eyes that I swear nearly look red at points, his realm is fine art and vintage décor. Fifth would be, Stella, super tall, super thin, long blond hair and blue eyes, you’d like her, her realm is anything vintage fashion: clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories…anything.”

“I probably would.”

“Sixth is Rodger, he’s petite, deep skin, but ginger hair and brows, eyes a little like mine, his realm is firearms and military shit.”

“People must pay him a lot.”

“Of course…seventh is Flora, she’s really pale and tall, long hair always dyed purple, no brows and green eyes, vintage cars and other vehicles.”

“Really, a girl handles the cars?”

“She loves cars more than anyone…next would be Gregory, hates being called Greg, he is shorter, messy black hair, dark eyes, always bruised and scratched, rare stones, minerals and things of that sort, he is the master at finding actually for sale dinosaur bones. Museums actually hire him a lot.”

“Nineth?”

“Dawn, she’s taller, white hair and neon blue eyes, anything having to do with planes or being in the sky. Tenth is Chadwick, shorter, spunky and always super hyper, short blond hair and brown eyes…anything medieval is his. Then is Katrina who is shorter, pale tan skin, silvery big eyes and long black hair, musical instruments and lastly is Nathan, taller, short brown curly hair, thick beard and dark eyes, anything having to do with fabric.”

“Fabric? Like clothing?”

“Less clothing, more along the lines of Persian rugs, authentic kimonos, Corinthian leather, things like that.”

“Oh, I see” I said nodding softy.

“Hey, Kal…good to see you again, who’s your friend?” A waitress asked walking over. Kal laughed softly as he brushed some of his hair back out of his face before motioning towards me.

“This is Anthony, he’s a friend who doesn’t get to see this side of town all too much.”

“Well, any friend of Kal’s is a friend of ours, what can I get you two?” she asked.

A bit after brunch, the two of us were walking down the street when I went to cross as the signal said that the crosswalk had the right of way, but I felt Kal grab my upper arm and pulled me backwards sharply as a car sped around the corner roaring through the red light. I flinched as I felt my body hit something solid and when I opened my eyes, I looked up to find myself against Kal’s chest, my head reached his collar on a good day, my hands were on his chest and his free arm was around my waist.

“Careful there.” he said as I felt my face flood with blood as he released my arm.

“Th-thank you”

“It’s alright, not your fault that piece of shit didn’t know how to drive.” He said, eyes flicking the direction the car went with a pointed glare.