The Sandman Comes

Half an hour later, the boy emerged from the bathroom decidedly more damp than he had gone in. Adrian eyed him up and down as he walked into the living room. The waistband of the shirts was pulled tight around his hips, but they still seemed like they might fall at any moment. The shirt made up for it, coming down far enough to cover anything should the shorts fail.

"Was the water ok."

The boy shyly nodded.

"That's good."

An awkward silence filled the room for a moment.

"So, um, what's your name?"

"Zero One Nine."

"I'm sorry?"

"That's what they called me."

"Who?"

More silence followed.

"Well, you should have a real name, right?"

The boy whispered something, but Adrian didn't hear it.

"Is there something I can call you instead of 019?"

"I had a friend... She said that if she could have a name, it would be Max. C-can I be Max?"

"Of course. I think it suits you, Max."

The boy giggled softly at his new name, which made Adrian smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a ray of sunlight peak through the blinds.

At the same time, Max stifled a yawn. Adrian's eyes went wide as a realization dawned on him.

"Oh my God, you're part raccoon."

Max nodded.

"So, you're nocturnal, like me."

Max cocked his head to the side in a questioning sort of way.

"I work the night shift, so I sleep during the day."

Max glanced over at the window.

"C-could I sleep in your bed tonight?"

"I mean, I sleep there..."

"I j-just don't want to sleep alone."

Seeing him so **** made Adrian's breath hitch in his throat.

"Yeah ok that's fine."

Half an hour later, Max was fast asleep, his slender form agonizingly close to Adrian. He swore to himself.

"Damn. How is he so... Cute."

As if to break up Adrian's sleepy mumbling, the washing machine beeped, signaling that Max's clothes were clean. Figuring it was better to get it out of the way now, he trudged into the hallway to move the laundry over.

He tossed a damp towel, a few socks, and a pair of underwear into the dryer before he grabbed Max's bright orange shirt.

On it's shoulder were the numbers 019, but what floored Adrian was the words beneath it. Words he saw every single day.

His employer.

Companion Corp.