Nightlife Chapter 1 - A Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's story

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale again.

How did I even get myself into this position?

A sigh as the dead air of carbon monoxide made its' departure from my mouth. I blinked looking at my surroundings as I leaned against a street lamp. Smoke filled the air from the nearby dryer exhausts of dingy motels.

Tonight was particularly chilly but that was to be expected for an autumn night, winter would be steadfastly approaching within a month or less depending upon when Mother Nature would grace its' welcome to our lives.

My body shook - partly from the temperature, however I knew it was mostly from my newly formed anxiety. I took another deep breath as I closed my eyes tilting my head up towards the sky recollecting my thoughts back to before this had began.

It wasn't anything out of the ordinary - I would repair for income, Crow would do his deliveries and Jack... Jack would try but ultimately fail. Crow, however, always continued to badger him about how him and I worked our rears off while he simply sipped upon expensive coffee.

Although I don't blame Jack, and I always still split up the arguments. It wasn't until repairs became more scarce and the rich became cheap deciding to simply buy new and throw out the old - After all it often was the less expensive choice. Buying something new - Sure it was made to be shoddy but if it only last for months it was still less expensive than hiring to repair the old.

I understand how our world became - a world of disposables. I had seen the junkyard in Satellite as a child and teenager, none of that has changed. It's quite simply how our world has become, though when it is your way of living it's a different story.

We found ourselves depending more and more on Crow for his deliveries, however those became less frequent as well. Zora, our landlady, was more than accommodating at first to our late rent cheques however I could tell she was starting to get annoyed.

Food was even becoming an issue as the cupboards became more and more bare. However we still survived and Jack still found a way to purchase his Blue Eyes Mountain coffee - to which I tended digress from my thoughts, although Crow mostly spoke them for me which lead me to continue to break apart their constant quarreling.

A sharp pitched whistle resounded as I was shaken from my thoughts, bolting up to a straight standing pose - my head looking from left to right and every which way was possible, because I needed to know if it was for me.

To no avail it was simply mockery.

A shriek from a woman as I flinched it was still hard to get use to. The last time I had tried to help in this side of town, needless to say I got more than an eyeful.

The tears never go away whether they're someone else's or mine.

Though I'll never let someone lay eyes upon mine, for I chose this way.

Chills crawled up my back as I felt warm, damp air grace upon my neck - at first I simply thought it was the weather although by now I should know better.

A whisper.

"So what do they call you cupcake?"

Swallowing a lump down my throat I answered - albeit my voice was low and laced with melancholia; "Shooting Star." Another chill as I felt the smirk, lips now on my neck. I wasn't fooling anyone - Including this man. I wasn't use to this yet - I had just begun and he knew it by my meek introduction.

"Now... Don't you think a star needs to shine a little brighter in order to get my pay?"

I froze. He was threatening me. He was my paycheque. I found myself scrambling as I turned to him forcing a smile. "Bright enough? Though remember..." My eyes narrowed as I gave a smirk myself gagging internally at what I was about to preach in sensuous; "They don't call me the 'shooting' star for nothing."

And that's what did it. Some take more, some simply take one line - But hands were already searching under the scraps of fabric I had to call clothes as my head titled back, body squirming - resisting. I had to learn to control that. My hand reached out pushing him back as I gave another minute smile with a small shake of my head; "Not here." I nudged my head to the left; "I only do so in a motel." He simply grabbed my hand and lead me off.

I sometimes got a groan, or a complaint - Though at this point it was rare to get a refusal.

Though I'll never get use to the screams, whether they're someone else's or mine.

They simply loop on repeat in my mind.

But I'll learn to deal with it.

After all, I chose this way.

It's only temporary.

It's only temporary.