Nosty jerked awake, almost falling from his perch in the process. His dreams had been more vivid since the bird gave him the damned coffee but tonight's had been the worst so far. He'd finally gotten her undressed, basking in her skin that was just as unblemished as he knew it would be. He'd even gotten her to breathe his name like it wasn't a curse word, like it wasn't something to be spat out in order to cleanse the mouth with the next word.

She said his name like he was worthy of...something. Not love. Never love, but something.

He sat up, nearly colliding with the rough stone of the bridge he'd been hiding under. He was fucking weak. It'd been three days since the bird had given him that fucking drink. It was just a drink. It probably cost a couple fucking pounds. Nothing to get excited about. The bird looked like she probably lost at least that much money on the way to her posh job every day.

She'd said she worked somewhere around here. Here was a vaguely seedy part of Glasgow. Here was where fucking Dave had shown up every afternoon, calling out his name in increasingly higher pitches until Nosty had fucking snapped and thrown a rock at him yesterday. If he was smart, he wouldn't come back. But Dave was an addict, and thus fucking stupid.

Most addicts couldn't help it. Nosty would know. He was one. Whoever the bird was, she deserved more than a fucked up shite head bloke who'd never known a proper home.

He stood up, shaking morning dampness from his dreads. It was time to stop fucking hiding like a fucking school lad. He had worked too fucking hard to throw it away over some shite coffee.

He'd go back to his usual spot and sell some poor jake some shite. He just needed some good clean exchange of funds, a complete screw over of some unsuspecting dobber. Then he'd be back. He'd be fucking back.

He stumbled up onto the street. His boys would be asleep for another couple hours at least, plenty of time to get his shite together. Maybe tonight he'd even find some random bird to satisfy him. The boys always gave Nosty first pick. Maybe that'd get those blue eyes out of his dreams.

xxxxxx

Belle grabbed her coffee off of the little counter jutting out from the cart. She walked around to the other side where an assortment of creams and sugars were waiting for her. She unsnapped the lid feeling something heavy inside her unsnap with it.

She'd only bought one coffee today.

For the past three days she'd been buying two coffees, one medium for her, and one large for Nosty. She'd even been buying two warm blueberry muffins yesterday from her favorite bakery. She'd stood in the same spot she'd met Nosty the first time and accomplished nothing more than getting cold toes.

It'd been three days. Three days.

He'd just stopped showing up.

Well no matter. She didn't even know him. She could stop and buy herself her own blueberry muffin and maybe make it to work on time for the first time this week. She had a huge project to finish editing, one she hoped would move her name up the list of people looking for the senior editor promotion. She shouldn't be here, dragging her feet towards the career she loved, because she couldn't locate a man she'd spoken to once.

The little bakery was lit up like Christmas in the early morning fog. Belle could see the owners of the store bustling around inside, preparing to serve their early morning customers. She pushed the door open and a wave of smell washed over her.

"Morning lass! Ya here for yer muffins?"

"Just one today." Belle mumbled.

The man gave her an odd look but placed one warm muffin into a small bag. Belle slid the required pounds towards his hand. She gripped the pastry smiling slightly at the smell. It would be delicious. Nosty would've...no...she wasn't going to sit here and drag him through her thoughts because of a baked good.

She thanked the man and backed out the door into the bitter cold. She had her breakfast, now she just had to get to work.

The quickest way to her office was to continue up the block and loop around the office building ahead of her. The longer way was to retrace her steps by the coffee cart, which would take her past Nosty's alley. Belle paused on the sidewalk. Her muffin was already losing its heat. She should just head towards her desk and lose herself in what was turning out to be an extraordinary manuscript.

She glanced towards the coffee cart. She could just make out the steam from it's roaster. It wasn't too far out of the way. Maybe today would be the day. He'd be back.

Belle knew she was being overly optimistic, the chances of stumbling across this man again were slim to none. Maybe he was even actively avoiding her, but something in her heart told her to walk by his alley just one more time.

She passed the coffee cart, waving at the bewildered man inside. He'd seen her traipse up and down this particular stretch of street even throwing the coffee she'd just purchased into the bin. He probably thought she was crazy. She probably was.

A biting wind whipped between the buildings causing Belle to shiver in her layers of winter attire. Maybe Nosty wasn't avoiding her, maybe he was just seeking somewhere more warm. That made sense. It was positively freezing.

Belle passed the cart and paused just before the space where she'd last seen, and spoken to, Nosty. She'd be disappointed if he wasn't there, but that didn't mean she'd never see him again. Right?

The alley was silent. He wasn't there.

Belle picked up her food, tucking the muffin bag under her arm. It didn't matter if it got squished. She didn't mind.

She'd almost completely passed the yawning gap between buildings when she heard it. A noise. A slight scuffle of shoe against concrete. She almost tripped over her own feet in her haste to turn around.

Should she say something? Was it even Nosty? Screw it, she'd do the brave thing once more.

"Nosty?" She called softly. An inhaled breath greeted her. A warmth spread through Belle. He hadn't left. He was right here. He was safe.

Belle moved further into the alley. Even though she couldn't exactly see him, she knew he was there somewhere, tucked into the shadows.

"What are ye doing here, lass? You shouldnae be here." A rough voice greeted her. It was definitely Nosty. The confirmation send butterflies fluttering into her stomach.

She glanced down at her hands. The one day she didn't break down and buy him his own coffee and pastry would be the day he returned. She hummed to herself, she'd just give him hers.

"Um…" Why was her voice shaking? "I just thought you'd like another coffee. It's just as cold this morning and everyone knows that it's no fun to be cold…"

Again. Two seconds in this man's presence and she was speaking like she had absolutely no grasp of the English language. Granted the Scottish slang was sometimes hard to navigate but it was English nonetheless.

She took another step towards the shadows finally being able to make out the outline of Nosty's figure. He was huddled back into the corner, yet leaning against the brick like he wasn't cold. Sure he wasn't cold. His legs were practically bare, worn socks peeking out from underneath his scuffed boots. Her eyes trailed upwards, a blush providing some much needed warmth to her cheeks.

The kilt definitely wasn't covering everything.

Belle grabbed the now only slightly squished muffin from underneath her arm. "Here. I thought you might like something to pair with your coffee! I know if I have caffeine on an empty stomach, I get the worst aches."

She smiled brightly. Why wasn't he doing anything?

Slowly, Nosty stepped forward into the dim light that was fighting back towards them. He wasn't a big man, that was certain, but neither was Belle a small woman. Nosty could definitely overpower her if things got out of hand, but somehow Belle knew he wouldn't lay a hand on her.

She held out the coffee and pastry as she had the other day, praying that he'd once again take her small offering of...something. Friendship? Simple kindness? Belle wasn't sure, but if she didn't try she'd never find out and she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. Even if said challenge was a slight Glaswegian with a questionable background and a heavy stare.

A small smile crossed her lips. "Please? They're for you."

At that Nosty finally stepped away from the wall, a sneer curling his lip. "Yer in the wrong place, bird."

Belle paused, drawing her hand back slightly, affronted that he was wearing his rough attitude around him like a shield. She'd seen the kindness in his eyes the last time they'd interacted. No matter what his life had done to him, Belle knew there was good in Nosty. She just knew. And besides, she'd been told on many occasion that she was an excellent judge of character.

She thrust the coffee forward again, the paper bag holding the pastry swinging slightly. "I am in exactly the right place actually. I was looking for you. Here I got you coffee and a blueberry muffin."

He looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language.

Belle held her ground, meeting his eyes unafraid. She was not about to back down when she had him so close in her grasp. She could see Nosty's eyes flicker down to the goods she was offering and then up, pausing slightly at her lips.

"Go ahead," she said softly, as if he'd startle away. "I got them for you."

At this Nosty's eyes snapped towards her, the kindness buried under a somewhat manic gleam. "Thank you bird, but I don't take handouts."

Belle felt her face crumple. He'd taken the last coffee. Why was he being so mean?

"Please, Nosty." She started, knowing he'd walk away from her at any second. He had no reason to stay. "It's so cold. I know how nice it'd be to have something warm."

Nosty just glared at her, having retreated back into the shadows to lean against the brick. Belle made a split second decision and set the coffee and bag down at his feet.

"If you change your mind, they'll be there." She smiled at him again, hoping to share a little warmth through kindness. As rough as this man was, beneath all that, Belle could tell he was lonely. She backed out of the alleyway, not wanting to lose eye contact before the corner of the building hid him from sight.

The cold stone of the building caught her as she sagged against it. She'd found him again. He hadn't left, hadn't been hurt, hadn't be lost.

There was hope.

xxxxxxx

Nosty stared down at the cup and bag, willing it to simply catch on fire. Then he wouldn't have to deal with it. The bird had come back. She'd come back looking for him. For his worthless, fucking self. He was pathetic. She didn't need to bother with a lowly wanker like himself. She was so far above him it was funny.

He wondered how she'd figured out his name.

If she'd heard it on the streets somehow that meant she probably knew what he did for a living. The thought filled him with dread. Nosty was proud of what he did. He made a living for himself, but the idea that the wee bird had been asking the people he was around about him filled him with a completely foreign feeling.

Fear.

If he found out the bird had been hurt because she was traipsing after him?

He didn't want to rob the world of such a beautiful thing.

He glanced up at the place where she'd just vanished and then back down at what she had left. She'd lied to him. It was as clear as the kindness on her features. She'd only gotten one coffee and pastry, for herself, and she'd given it to him.

The thought made Nosty want to kick the cup as far as it would go and pick a fight with some bloody shite head who thought he was too good for the likes of him. But the bird had left this. She'd left it for him.

He looked up and down the alley, making sure nobody was waiting in the shadows for a fucking deal or a fucking handout and then slowly bent down towards the coffee.

Snatching the bag and cup, he hid back against the brick. The air had already cooled the coffee slightly but it was still pleasantly warm. The pastry was still soft in its bag. It had been baked this morning. Nosty couldn't remember the last time he'd had something fresh.

He took a sip of the coffee. It was far too sweet, further confirming that this was definitely the bird's coffee. He took another swig. The thought that she'd made this to her specifications was strangely arousing. He pulled the muffin from the bag.

Blueberry.

He stuffed a piece in his mouth, chewing and swallowing before he had time to process what he was doing.

It was still warm.

He took another bite and washed it down with a mouthful of coffee.

He fucking hated blueberry.