Snow fell through the night creating a thin blanket on the streets of Moscow, people's feet crunched as they walked through the sheet; everyone having a place to be and people to meet. Thick coats adorned the busy people as they passed the other, some talking on phones others talk to friends and a few were just on their way silently wandering through the streets.
The street was lined with shops, ranging from hairdressers to butchers. A few small alleys were littered across the path, most of which were vacant of any life, even as insignificant as a stray cat. One however wasn't devoid of existence.
Down that path was a small house, the occupants of which were still trapped in their minds, eyes closed, not a care in the world. Not a care for anyone in the world. Their door was locked holding in the heat the radiators emitted through the night. Not a sliver of that heat passed through their door, not even the tiniest of fractions managed to seep through and warm the two small bodies huddled together on their door step.
Two young boys had taken shelter on the cold stone step, their bodies millimetres above the crisp cloak of snow. The once pale skin they held now had a small hint of blue touching it. Small fingers curled around the thin fabrics that were passing for the other boy's clothes. Both trying to stay together even in the grips of sleep in hope's to generate some warmth.
The morning sun was creeping up past the building's roofs, thin rays of light being sent in all directions leaking into shop windows and down allies. Striking the two boy's in the face, making them stir from their much needed sleep.
The younger of the two boys was pressed against the door, placed there to try to trap in some heat to keep his fingers from freezing. The light was shining in his eyes and he opened one a crack, a scarlet orb starting to become visible behind the lid. His other eye opened to the same level as the first, his vision slightly blurred from the fogs of sleep having not yet lifted and the stream of light running into his eyes.
A small hand unwrapped from his friend's shirt rising to his eyes to block the rays of the sun; his small arm was partly covered by a red arm guard which reached his elbow. With the morning rays blocked he parted his eyes fully, taking in the snow covered alley, small flakes still drifting down. He turned his head in the direction of the sleeping redhead by his side, the sun only striking his cheeks and the bottom corner of his eye.
With a small moan as his stiff muscles were stretched the awake boy pushed himself up from his bed in the door way. He looked down at the sleeping boy and pushed at his shoulder with a numb hand. His other busy rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
The redhead by his side opened his eyes just enough to glare at his younger friend. Letting out an annoyed grumble he pushed himself up into a half sitting half slouch position. His icy blue eyes drifted from the boy's face to the alley. He could see the snow drifting to the floor. Seemed they'd have to move on, the family inside the house they were camping in front of would be awake soon.
The younger boy had moved so his legs could stretch out across the step, his toes wriggling through the hole in his shoe in an attempt to reawaken them.
The redhead glanced up at his friend; the young boy had a small smile gracing his usually placid face, the redness on his cheeks having died down compared to the previous night. The four blue triangles that had been tattooed there just a few days prior seemed to have finally calmed.
"Morning" he yawned as he flexed the muscles in his hand, having turned onto it during the night.
"Morning Tala" the crimson eyed boy answered pulling his legs to his chest as a gust of wind blew down the alley, causing his muscles to tremble. He shook his head softly his blue mop of hair shifting into a more comfortable position.
"Hey Kai, so you ready to move on then?" He asked his younger friend stretching his arms above his head as he arched his back a small crack sounding from the pull.
"Yea," Kai rested his head against his knees his now only slightly sore cheek pressed against his tatted trousers "Tala, do you think they're still looking for us?"
"I don't know Kai, I guess they probably still are; they're the stubborn type" the redhead answered his fingers going to the white material tied around the bluenette's neck. The two tails of the scarf were wrapped close to his body, caught underneath him. "Just like us. We'll win this you know? We'll get away; I promised you the day we met that I'd keep you safe. I intend to keep that promise" he pulled out the two tails and ran his fingers over the soft material.
"I know you do, and I'm sure you can. You've never let me down before" the red haired boy patted his friend's shoulder and pushed himself up to his feet.
"I'm glad you have faith in me Kai" he held out a hand for the younger of the two to take. "Come on; let's see if we can get some food. People are always willing to give money to cute street children" as Kai was pulled to his feet he gave a soft laugh.
"You're modest aren't you?"
"Oh come on, all kids are cute till about eight, then it starts to change" Kai offered a small smile to the friend who was more like family than his own relative. "Come on Kai, let's find a street corner and beg for food" he took the bluenette's hand, for no reason other than to ensure he was right beside him. He gave it a gentle tug and started to lead the younger of the two towards a street away from where they currently were. They had begged there last night.
As he was being led away Kai didn't know if he should be grateful for where they were, they had escaped, they were alive, but he was unsure. He had lived in that hell hole for almost four years, thrown in there at the age of two, had met Tala that night when they were made cell mates. He was grateful for that; he had met his best friend there. But there they had been taught to never lean on anyone, to never rely on anyone for anything. Because relying on someone told them you were weak. Weakness wasn't tolerated in any form. And here they were, on the streets, relying on the kindness of people to survive.
If they could see them now they'd say what they felt. They were pathetic.
I haven't decided if those markings on Kai's face are tattoo's or face paint but for this story it's important that they're tattoo's. Please read review
