Years Ago
"Hey kid."
"Kid? Are you alive?"
"...Hey. Can you hear me?"
He could hear him, but that didn't mean he wanted to listen. If given the option between listening to the voice on the other side of the cargo box or sleeping, the young boy would've rather slept. It was hard enough finding decent sleep already; since he had to be on alert most of the time for other, more desperate vagrants. That meant less and less moments of peace and more time wandering red eyed through whatever city he found himself in.
It wasn't the type of life a 10 year old boy was built for, but somehow Omri survived. He had survived for years now, making his way from the northern most point of the world down here, as a thief and a stowaway. And just like in all of those other places, where he was heading now Omri would find a way to survive. That was a small comfort; even if the babbling fool on the other side of the car wouldn't let him be.
Feigning sleep, Omri did his best to pull the blanket he found closer to his huddled body without attracting attention; trying to shield himself from the rush of night wind coming from the open side door. Usually, he did what he could to keep from being found out, but this time he clearly failed. This other boy, whoever he was, had not only found him but now wouldn't leave him alone. He must have snuck onto this car as well, when Omri wasn't paying attention. Granted, at any other time, having someone do something other than hurl insults or curses his way would have been something to smile about. But, really, what was to be gained from
"Hey..." Omri could feel the other boy hovering over him, starting to gently shake his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Finally, Omri gave in. Clearly this kid wasn't going to give up anytime soon. Dusky eyes slowly peeled open, glaring upward with annoyance at a face nearly touching his own. Now what to make of this one? He didn't seem too much older than himself, although that was just from what he could. Pale golden hair and over, over energetic tawny eyes...already judged and convicted in Omri's mind. He didn't seem threatening, but he had been wrong before. And again even after that. That's what the dagger hidden underneath his blanket was for. Finally, as the other boy prepared another question Omri whispered out,"I'm fine."
"So, you are awake." The other's grin widened as he backed out of Omri's treasured personal space "For a minute I thought they had stuffed a dead body back here."
The rattling of the train breached the quiet as Omri studied at his reluctant companion. The other seemed to be doing the same now. It was an uncomfortable moment, at least for Omri. Other than that annoyingly amused smile on his face, he couldn't get any other sense of this one's intent."Was there...something you wanted?"
"Hmm?"
"Or did you wake me up for nothing?" The actual idea or notion of a threat slipped away; the reality of this one's absolute lack of intent now obviously his only intent. He was, at best, simple-minded. But the irritation he was causing Omri he seemed to understand. Laughing, loudly, the boy reached out and ruffled Omri's barely kept hair.
"Heh, you're pretty cranky aren't you?" He smirked, apparently not seeing the blanket slipping away from Omri's frame. "I guess its past your bedtime..."
The smiling came to an end, abruptly, as the boy hurled himself away from Omri. And with good reason. Omri's dagger stuck and vibrated where the other's knee once was. His tawny eyes sparked with shock as the 10 year old pulled the blade out of the wood it found itself in and reached for the old blanket again.
"Oy. A little high-strung aren't you?"
"You have no idea." Omri muttered, wrapping himself up again. "Now, please be quiet."
His eyes closed again, satiated that he had a bit of privacy for now. It wasn't an idle threat. Omri really wanted to have some time, some moment of sleep. It felt as if he was on his own, at least until he felt the other boy hovering over him again. If he keeps up I'm going to have to stab him for real. The thought echoed with some truth, but it didn't stop it from being a terrifying idea. Instead his eyes shot open, again glaring into the tawny eyes of his company and just as annoyed as ever. "What now?"
"Aren't you a little young to be out here on your own?"
"Aren't you?" Omri grumbled back before he could think about it. His cutting words did his cause more harm than good, as the other simply considered it a challenge and not a warning to back off.
"Well of course I am! But you're practically a baby!" The boy grinned as he, again, began to mess with Omri's hair. "Shouldn't you be with your family instead of hiding out like a brat?"
Well, if the idiot wants to bleed..."Leave me alone!"
Emotions: they always had a way of twisting Omri's childish head. Maybe, if he would've taken a second longer he would've noticed the other had some advantages he didn't. Like; his Height. Skill. Age. Weight. Everything, more or less. Omri's rabid, unfocused stab was easily outmaneuvered. Before the boy knew it his wrists were pinned together; his knife sliding to the car's other end. Before the shock could register properly he felt himself being jerked forward, again staring nearly point-blank into that damned smile.
"Now stop that." The older boy said against the other's struggling. "If I wanted to attack you I would've already. You're the only one acting suspicious kid."
With that he let go and Omri dropped back down, painfully. A pitiful groan shook the car as the other sat across from him, the dagger in his hand. Now it wasn't a matter of what he felt; Omri was defenseless. So far, all he wanted to do was talk. Fine: let him talk.
"This is from Prontera isn't it?" The older boy mused, looking at the blade as if he knew its style. "You're from there?"
He can talk. He can! Omri bristled silently. Doesn't have anything to do with me! Regardless Omri kept quiet, only bothering to shoot him a stubborn glare every now and then.
"Have you ever had to use it?" The silenced changed; splintered. It wasn't much, but a gleam of worry dotted the fierceness in Omri's eyes. It was as good as a yes. "Of course you have. Kids like you shouldn't have these sorts of things."
"Says who? You?" Omri muttered as the boy slipped his knife into his belt. "Hey! Give it back!"
"Relax. Like I told you, I'm not going to do anything. I really wasn't expecting anyone back here...especially another kid. But you look like you've been around huh? How far have you gone?" The older boy gawked as Omri shook his head. Finally, in the rays of moonlight, the other could see exactly who he was talking to. Not just a kid; but clearly a ragged kid. His Novice attire was worn, old, and appeared to hang off him unlike the older's relatively clean Thief getup. He stuck out, strangely, even here when it was only two people. It was that sort of hesitant, desperate sort of dangerous...who the hell was this kid?
"What about your home?"
"I dunno." Omri shrugged, clutching at the blanket on the ground. "I guess...I don't need a home. Do you remember yours?"
"Yeah. Back in Prontera." The other mused, "But that was before and maybe I'll go back one day. Before that, though, I want to see some things first."
Arrogant, overblown, idiotic adventuring type. Yup: pegged it. Omri's 'stop talking to me' attitude began sinking back into him as he try to get comfortable. "You're wasting your time. Just go back home and be quiet."
"Why? You've clearly been walking around for a while now. You've had to have seen some incredible stuff."
"I've..." Good question. Omri actually had to think about that one. Of all of the ships and trains he's managed to find his way on, the boy was never completely sure how far he had gone. He remembered some cities, faintly. But, for what end could he hope to remember them? He couldn't stay...really he didn't have a desire to stay anywhere he landed. Maybe it was something natural, like hunger, that kept his tiny feet dusty with each new spot he landed. But, he didn't have any reason to stop yet.
"All of the places you've been..." That look. Omri's seen that look a few times already, mirrored in his tawny eyes. It was a look the sparked his bile, vented his blood into a rage everytime. That look of pity...he could certainly do without it. "You don't even remember them?"
"I've got better things to do than that."
"Like not getting caught with other's food and Zeny?"
"I knew it when I first saw you sneak on here. We're the same type." The boy grinned, slipping around so that he was sitting next to Omri. "By the way; my name's Sorin."
"Omri." The younger boy murmured, again feeling a bit awkward with some stranger in his personal space.
"You're missing out." Sorin sighed, wrapping an arm over Omri's shoulders. "Especially where we heading. There are monuments everywhere honoring men and gods. And the food is supposed to be the best anywhere."
"Then you go and see it." Omri muttered, getting a laugh out of Sorin. "I got things I need to do."
"Gods, you've worked this wall up pretty good." Sorin chuckled, reaching behind himself, "But its not an option. It just wouldn't be right to leave a kid like you on his own."
"I told you I'm-" Omri wanted to say something cutting. Something to remind this older jerk that he wasn't some pet he could drag along wherever he went. Then he turned right into a handful of Zeny held out to him. How much did he have? With all of that money, couldn't he have gotten a ticket like a normal person. Did he just tag along back here for his own amusement. "How did you-"
"So, is it a deal?" Sorin smiled, putting his money back into its bag. "Think about it. You get a some time not worrying about food or Zeny and you can just be yourself."
"Myself IS food and Zeny." Omri griped, finding his doors to his solitude. But, putting up with this Neanderthal would take some uncertainty away, if only for the time being...
"Then what have you got to lose?"
"I don't even know who you are!" The younger boy nearly shouted. This, he, everything was just too much to think about right now. All he wanted to do was sneak onto this train, go to sleep and with a Blessing wake up and get out before anyone realized he existed. "And anyway I have to keep moving..."
"To what? You said so yourself; you've lost your home. Now you're losing all your good memories with it." Sorin sighed, somehow maintaining his patience even as Omri's temperance began to thin. "One day. That's all you'll be giving up. Then you can see what I see in the world and who knows? Maybe, being in a new place, not by yourself, will be a good thing? It has to beat traveling alone all the time."
"You don't even know me..." Omri pointed out, exasperated but really no longer able or willing to continue the fight. Maybe in the morning he'd have better points..or could at least get his knife back and stab him. "I'm going to sleep."
At least for tonight, at least for the time being, Omri was going to have to trust Sorin. He was an unarmed kid with no where to dash off too and too tired to think straight. If he wanted to be such a big help; fine. The boy's eyes began to drop as he felt himself being pulled into the warmth of the other's body. If he was conscious, Omri would've gave Sorin a shot to to the ribs for being so informal. Maybe he still would whenever he woke up. He'd just have to be grateful, or find in him gratitude, or find a way to use this...to his advantage...
"You're too young to be this old. Don't worry, I'll help you find your way Omri..."
...Omri?
xxx
Present
"Sir?"
To Be Continued
