Summary: A man who swears he's happy with living alone. A foster kid with no other choice. When their paths cross, can they help each other find what they never knew they needed? Drabble fic ExB, AH.

I had no time to think. I had to run. I had to hide.

My breaths were labored and short. Soundless gasps escaped my mouth and my limbs ached tortuously with every step I took. I didn't have the guts to look behind my shoulder and see if they had stopped trying to catch me. I don't think they'd give up that soon.

While I mindlessly fled for my life, I didn't notice the huge chunk of cement protruding from the sidewalk. My foot twisted as it came in contact and I fell, scraping my hands against the rough ground. I let out a loud whimper and tried to get back on my feet.

The searing pain at my ankle prevented me from doing this and I lay back down, praying to God that the darkness would camouflage me.

Not long after, I heard hushed voices in the silence. The sound of my name being voiced made my body go rigid, and I didn't dare to breathe. In an effort to calm myself, I surveyed the area around me using whatever the dim streetlights had to offer. It didn't make me feel any better to acknowledge that the streets were abandoned and gloomy, and if I died here today, my body would probably rot away with nobody to give a single fuck about it.

The voices and footsteps grew louder with every passing second, and the acceleration of my heartbeat increased in proportion. I smacked my lips shut to avoid the escape of any sound and crawled along the shadow of the alley buildings.

As I lifted myself with my hands, I felt a sharp twinge of pain on my palms. My face turned ashen as I saw the imprint of red where my palm had been a second ago. Balling my hands into fists, I used my arms to drag myself forward.

I didn't get far, but managed to find shelter behind a dumpster.

And I waited.

Eventually, the sound faded away. But I was still immobile, my hand wrapped loosely around my knees.

And then I heard a door open.

That snapped me out of it. Being careful, I peeked out from my hiding spot.

A young man, probably in his early-twenties, carried a stack of boxes in his arms and made his way to a car parked in a few ways away. I quickly shrank back to avoid exposure and accidentally knocked the underside of the dumpster with my injured foot, in my haste.

I cursed loudly.

Eyes wide, hand clamped on my mouth, I froze.

"Hello?" A smooth, hesitant voice called.

I scrambled in horror as I heard approaching footsteps. It was a waste, though. There was no place left to run. I squeezed my eyes shut.

And waited.

"Are you alright?" The man asked, clearly shocked.

I opened my eyes and gasped.

Even in the dull illumination I could see the beauty of the man in front of me. His copper hair, pale skin and the brilliance of his green eyes that could make stars shy away. The concern I saw in them; It made me want to cry for no reason.

And so I did.

Drabble fic, so new chapters every day! Yay! xD