The dark bit of clouds visible through the top of the alleyway seemed to be stalking Alfred. No matter where he ran and what he crouched under, they followed him, drenching him in their ever-spiteful tears. They'd refused to leave, stretching and growing until they'd concealed the entire sky in their cloak. Alfred couldn't even remember the color of the sky or recall the last time he'd seen his shadow. Even it had left him, the only company he'd had in months. It hadn't left all at once—instead it slowly faded, day by day becoming lighter and lighter until Alfred looked down and found his shadow had become one with the gray mist and what dull light filtered through the endless clouds. He missed it. It was someone to talk to at least, someone who would sit and listen and never disagree or scold him or remind him of how he'd single-handedly torn his life to shreds.
As the rain pricked his skin and left his clothes a sopping mess, Alfred sighed and looked up lazily. He figured it didn't matter if he got wet anymore. He was tired of trying to stay dry, tired of running from the inevitable downpour. As he listen to the rain splatter against the gutters and breathed the scent of the moist earth, he figured it didn't matter anymore. There was no place for him to return, nowhere to dry off after a long day in the rain. No bed but the ground, no blanket but what mud was splattered across him by passing cars. And no one to blame but himself.
He'd been greedy, making too many mistakes with the wrong kind of people and ended up losing everything in the process. He absently picked at the burnt sleeve of his jacket, remembering as he enter his raided house, the entire structure robbed of everything and anything that could've be used for profit. He searched the barren house, but all that'd been left was the locket from his brother that he'd hidden under a loose floorboard by the stairs. It wasn't until he was upstairs that he noticed the trail of gasoline. He just barely managed to escape before his entire house was engulfed, the culprits cheering from the other side as Alfred fled, running as far as he could from the flames before the bastards noticed he wasn't inside.
He brought his hand up to rub the bridge of his nose, breathing deeply and removing his glasses, failing to dry the droplets that had collected on them. He shoved them in his pocket, a dull click registering in his ears as they collided with the locket. He took it out and examined it, dangling the gold before his blurry eyes. He'd considered selling it, just to make some money to restart his life, but rather quickly discarded such a heartless thought. His brother didn't make much as is and went to a lot of trouble to get something so luxurious for him. Alfred had hid it away after accumulating quite a substantial debt to keep this little gift away from the grubby hands that plagued him.
The cold had seeped through his clothes and clung to his skin, numbing him. The thick rain concealed everything, even the blinding lights across the street. The world was blurred around him, cutting him from society and leaving him to wallow in his own private hell. The cold began to sting, each drop leaving behind a prick of pain. Alfred slipped the locket back in his pocket and closed his eyes, pushing his head back and wishing for it to stop. Not just the rain, but everything. The hum to engines, the slosh of shoes, the mumbles to strangers as they passed without so much as a glace of sympathy, the annoying stutter in his chest that was his heart. It hurt. All he felt anymore was pain or numbness or some balance between the two. He hated it. He was tired. He was ready to give up, to let the struggling thumps in his chest cease, to release himself and become one with the cold. There was nothing for him. No one to turn to. Nothing mattered anymore.
"Excuse me? Would you like some assistance?"
The rain stopped above him and an accented voice spoke, curiosity compelling him to open his eyes. A thin figure stood over Alfred, holding an umbrella above his head. It was a man, wrapped in a fluffy cloak with mud-coated boots, a scarf wrapped around his mouth that highlighted bright green eyes and a mop of blonde hair. Alfred couldn't quite distinguish much more than color as his vision was still obscured and his rain-coated glasses wouldn't be much help at the moment. Realizing the man was waiting for an answer, Alfred waved his hand dismissively.
"M'fine," he mumbled, dropping his gaze. "Don't need any help"
"Come now, a poor bloke sitting in a rain this heavy's either mad or drunk, and you don't look like a looney to me. Bet you could you some help home."
Alfred felt a smile tug at his lips. "Well, ya'd lose that bet. I ain't got a home to go to."
The blonde narrowed his eyes. "You want me to believe a man looking like you is homeless?"
Alfred chuckled. True, he didn't exactly look homeless. A little beat up, sure, but his clothes were still intact and fairly clean. He looked back up at the blonde and grinned. "Well, I'm pretty new to this whole thing. Thought you were supposed to sit in the rain and look and sad and get funny looks from all the passersby that've still got their cash. Folks like you aren't supposed to pay us any attention." He mock scowled and placed his hands on his hips. "What're you doin' breakin' the status quo?"
The blonde grinned at that, or so Alfred assumed by the way his eyes softened. "Well I'm not as heartless as the rest of you yanks."
Alfred brought his knees up and rested his elbows against them. "Better change fast. You're gettin' funny looks." The man turned to look out of the alley as people continued to shuffle past, quickly turning their suspicious eyes away as they met the man's gaze. Alfred waved his hand again.
"Go on. You've done your good deed for the day. Good job." Alfred smiled and gave the man a thumbs up. As he did, his stomach growled loudly and he quickly dropped his gaze and brought his hand back against his side, biting his lip in embarrassment.
"You're hungry." Alfred looked back up to find the man's sad eyes trained on him. Alfred laughed and pushed his wet hair back from his forehead.
"Well, yeah," he snickered. "Kinda happens when ya can't buy food. Aren't Americans supposed to be the stupid ones?" The man didn't return Alfred's smile. He only watched him, a frown hidden by the scarf.
"How about I buy you a meal?" he offered, reaching a hand out to Alfred. Alfred scoffed and knocked his hand away.
"If you really wanna help, ya can just get a sandwich from the market down the street. Or ya could give me the money and hope I don't use it on booze." Alfred smirked but the man just reached out again.
"You really think a wanker like you is in any position to be making demands?" he sneered, amusement playing in his eyes. Alfred began to reply but was cut off by another growl. The man shifted his weight to one hip. "You want your bloody food or not?"
Alfred stared silently at his hand for another moment before reaching up to meet it, allowing the man to pull him upright. Besides, it wasn't like he had anything to lose. The blonde offered his umbrella but Alfred waved him off.
"Doesn't matter. I'm already soaked." The man looked Alfred up and down before turning with a curt "follow me."
Hello Everyone (whoever is actually ready this :D)
This is my first fan fic and I don't really know what I'm doing \(^_^)/ I realize this chapter is a bit short, but the next one should be fairly long and introduce the characters a bit more :) I hope you all enjoy this story and stick with it till the end. Thank you!