All he wanted was to see the sun.
Their entire existence had always been shadows and night and darkness. He and his brothers would have time each day to sunbath, so they would stay healthy. But he could never see it, it was always too blocked behind buildings and people for them to see the sun itself, even though they could see and feel its rays and beams of light.
Until one day when exploring the tunnels he found a manhole with a large chunk missing that had a clear view of the sky and the sun. He would go there when ever he could and stare up at the sun until his eyes hurt. Then he would close his eyes and just enjoy the warmth and light on his face.
Eventually the manhole cover was either fixed or replaced and he could no longer stare up at the sun. But the signs that he once had still remained. He still had, and always would have, his freckles.