The wind rippled through Scipio's cloak as he jumped off the garden wall into the alleyway. He landed silently on the cold ground. He walked slowly out into the moonlight and stood looking out at the dark water of the canal. Without warning he tore off his mask, dropping it on the ground, and giving it an angry kick. It hit the ivy covered brick wall and floated slowly to the ground. He went over to the wall and rested his forehead against the cool surface. He banged the wall hard with his fist and then rested his arms on the bricks, hiding his face from the light of the moon.
"Scipio?"
He lifted his head and turned to see the person standing behind him. He turned around again without a response. Prosper reached out and violently pulled Scip around by the shoulder. "Scipio!"
Scip stood facing Prosper and staring sullenly at the ground. "How could you do this?" Prosper asked angrily. "We trusted you! We thought you were one of us. Weren't we stupid to think that?" His voice was starting to get louder with every word he spoke. "We should have known better. It was all just some game to you, wasn't it? Wasn't it!"
"Just shut up!" Scipio's voice rang against the stone walls, and then there was silence. A light turned on somewhere above them and the yellow glow from inside the window flooded into the alley. Someone was at the window. Upon instinct, Scipio grabbed Prosper's arm and pulled him back into the shadows by the wall. They stood pressed against the wall, breathing heavily. After a minute or so, the light went out and they relaxed. Prop pulled away from Scipio's grasp forcefully and stepped back out into the moonlight. He chewed on his lip trying to hold back, but that light from the moon betrayed him. Scipio could see the hint of tears on Prosper's cheeks.
"Prop," he said quietly reaching out to the other boy.
"Don't," he said pulling away from the touch. Scipio lowered his arm and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
"I'm sorry, Prosper," Scip said, "Really, really sorry. I thought you would understand."
"I understand that you lied. We trusted you with our lives. We believed in you. We thought you could steal anything. You stole my very heart, Scip, but in all reality you've never stolen anything. For you it's a game, but for us it's real. All real."
"Prosper..." Scipio started softly. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind Prop's ear, his hand coming to rest there, his fingers behind his ear and his thumb resting on his cheek. He wiped away a lone tear gently. "No one said it was all a game, Prop. Not all of it was pretend." Confusion crossed Prosper's eyes, but then he nodded slowly. Scipio tilted Prosper's head up and looked deep into his dark eyes. He shook his head at a loss for words. "I..."
Prosper leaned up catching Scip's lips lightly. Scipio froze for a moment. Emotions pulsed through his veins as he kissed back, letting the feeling wash over him. He leaned back against the wall and willed Prosper to understand his lies. To understand and to forgive.
Prop pulled back slowly then turned and walked away towards the water's edge. He sat down silently not even turning to look at Scipio. Scipio watched Prosper's back for a long while then slid down against the wall, landing hard on the ground. Prosper didn't turn.
A breeze blew, disrupting the water's smooth surface. An advertisement for Victor Getz whipped by, and Prop smiled slightly. The breeze picked up something else and it hit the back of Prosper's head. He picked it up, turning it over and over in his hands. Without a word he got up and walked back to the wall and into the shadows. Scipio's head was buried in his arms, but he looked up when Prosper appeared above him.
Silently, Prop handed the black mask to Scip. That was all he needed. It said everything.