*Not sure how long this ones gonna be, probably rather short. Don't expect anything amazing, just a causal fic, had an idea and my fingers wanted to write it.

The Room: 1. Strangers

His hands gripped the familiar wood pulling and tugging until he was able to adjust the heavy weight of it where he wanted. Balancing his weight just so he was able to get a firm enough hold above him so he could swing his lower body at just the right angle. The release was always the best part, allowing him to feel at home, to relax. Finally, he let go of the branch and swung through the now open window his feet landing on familiar stained and old carpet.

The room held the smell of dust and old books, while papers littered the floors and walls. The built in shelving served as a makeshift desk, and upside-down mop bucket as the stool. Pencils, pens, markers, and other utensils littered the area smudges of color from the artist marking the area in random patterns.

Jund sighed as his muscles relaxed in the little room dropping his school bag to the floor. This is what he waited for, every day he could manage he came up here to this room. He wasn't really sure how illegal it was since it was just a house that had been on the market for a few years. His mom being the realtor he usually had a heads up if she was going to be showing a house, but he knew for a fact that no one had even looked at this place in months.

Sitting on his bucket he grabbed for the ear buds out of his bag put them in and got to work. Grabbing a pencil and a (mostly) clean sheet of paper he started. He never really knew what he wanted to draw before he started, usually just the medium. The lines were light and thin, setting a base perimeter for the charcoal to follow. When he switched out with the charcoal pencil he was lost, the lines and shading holding his focus, the blending of dark on white with his fingers, and the slight scratchy feeling that the grainy charcoal makes against paper.

Scott let the time consume him and just focused on his lines and the music. It all was flowing together nicely until he decided to reach for his bag to grab a bottle of water; .hand just dangling down by his side not feeling anything and moving around aimlessly. It wasn't there. He shifted in his seat just staring at the place where he left it before lifting his head up to look around.

"Fucking hell," he jumped pulling out his ear buds in one swift move as he saw the massive figure at the other end of the room giving him an amused look. The bag he was looking for in question, casually hanging off the man's fingers behind his back.

"Jesus fuck man, who the fuck are you? " Jund all but shouted at the stranger.

The man chuckled low in his throat at the kid's reaction. "You're quite good you know," he said pointing to the miscellaneous art on the wall, "you could be making money of some of this."

Jund's face contorted in confusion, a bit of nervousness settling in his stomach. That wasn't exactly the voice he had expected to come out of the man. It was almost comical to think that that was his real voice, he'd never even heard such a deep tone before. "Thanks? Look, have no idea who you are, but this property is on the market. You can't be here."

"I'm pretty sure I can, and I'm even more sure that you're the one trespassing here. This is my house, I just got the deed the morning. Though had I known it was infested with brat I might have looked elsewhere."

"Hey, don't be an ass. You caught me, what do you want a cookie?"

The man crossed his arms bag still in his hand, "I wanna know why some kid is taking residence in the spare room of my new home, and why the hell he thinks coping and attitude with me is in his best interest."

Jund finally stood and stepped away from the art desk, "Whoa man, calm the testosterone, okay. Sorry. My moms the realtor and I sometimes like to get away after school. I knew this place had been on the market for some time and just kind of started coming here occasionally, not a big deal."

The man held out his hand, "You can call me Snake."

"Scott Jund," he reciprocated meeting his hand.

After they released hands Snake nodded at him, "So Scott, where is it that your folks think you are?"

He just shrugged, "Nowhere really. They don't ask and I try to keep out of their hair. I make sure I'm home by 10 pm at the latest so they don't get freaked out or anything."

There was a small pause as Snake was taking in all the information, "And how old are you?"

Jund raised an eyebrow, "18. I'm a senior at the high school in case you were gonna get around to that part of my life history next."

"Watch it kid, this is my house now."

Scott just nonchalantly raised a shoulder giving him a "whatever you say," expression before turning around. Gathering some of his supplies on the desk he held out a hand without turning around, "Can I have my bag please?"

"Why?" was the monotonic response.

Scott just kind of looked around the room to make sure this wasn't some kind of awkward prank show. Was this guy serious? "So I can gather my things, this is your place now. I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone though."

"Oh right," he replied, almost as if the thought hadn't occurred to him.

As Jund's hand went to grab the bag Snake's grip tightened causing him to look up at the man. He hadn't noticed until then, but his eyes were a vibrant forest green, the whole incident causing his breath to catch in his throat.

Snake smirked to himself as he heard the kids breathe hitch, "Hold up a second. Are you just gonna find another vacant room somewhere to hole yourself up in?"

Blinking a few times to regain his focus he made a face, "Probably. Though it'll take awhile."

The older man let out a breath, "Alright then. You can keep your stuff here; just don't go telling anyone about it. I don't wanna be that creepy guy on the block. Just," he said glancing around the room, "clean this place up. I'm not your babysitter, so, just do whatever it is you do and try not to be a bother."

Scotts smile was contagious as he practically bounced on his toes, then rubbing at the back of his neck in embarrassment when he noticed, "Really? You're not fucking with me right?"

"I don't kid," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Good, well thanks and stuff. I should be heading out anyway though, I have homework and stuff to finish before it gets too late. See, you tomorrow," he asked somewhat more hopefully then he intended.

"I'll be here," Snake responded.

Jund smiled heading towards the window, bag slung back over his shoulder.

Snake cleared his throat, "You can use the door now you know."

In all honestly that fact hadn't even crossed his mind. "Nah, I got this," he said as he stepped out onto the nearby branch. Careful of his balance he cast out one last, "later," over his shoulder before he was out of sight.

Blinking and staring at the window where the unusual kid left Snake smirked.What the hell am I getting myself into?