They made their way to the restaurant in silence.

Spartan tried his best to stop his stomach from making any sound. He didn't want the other to know just how hungry he was, he didn't like people seeing him at his worst.

It wasn't often that he spent so many days without food, they usually found a way to get something every day, but the last couple of days had been rough.

At least now he wouldn't have to taste Kisumi's food.

He still didn't understand how he ended up in that place, sitting in front of that scowling school boy, earning glances from everyone around them.

He was no stranger to those.

They were handed their menus and Spartan opened his in awe.

He couldn't recall many times he'd been able to choose what he wanted to eat, it was a strange feeling, it felt like a trap.

He had to be sure.

"You will pay for everything right?"

The look the other gave him was enough to understand he'd just made a stupid question.

"Right"

Something in the back of his empty stomach told him that maybe, he'd gotten the boy wrong.

He couldn't help but stare, such a contrast to himself.

The other boy was pale and smooth where he was sunburnt and rough; he was delicate and stoic where he was brute and clumsy, and most of all…

He owned those mysterious blue eyes.

There was something about them, that made his brain work over time.

It was just a pair of eyes, not like they were of the most impossible shade of blue he'd ever seen.

But it wasn't just that, it was in how they had a magnet hidden behind them, that made Spartan's green seek them relentlessly.

He'd done just that at the station, earlier on the street, and now… thinking of ways to make them finally grant him the mercy of focusing on him.

It made no sense.

Hunger was making him lose his mind.

He didn't end up putting much thought into his choice, except for the quantity, his stomach took control of him for a second and demanded the feast it starved for.

He felt a little ashamed, but the other just waved his hand annoyed.

"Ask for whatever you want"

He was grateful.

He was almost sure the boy whose name he didn't know was a bit harder to figure out than he had originally thought.

He wanted to understand though; he wanted to know his name….

"My name is Spartan by the way"

He waited anxiously for the customary reply, but instead…

"That's a stupid name" He felt disappointed, the other still hadn't even glanced his way.

Still not cooperating huh?

He knew his name was odd, a bit ridiculous to be honest yes, so he had nothing to fight that statement with.

He mumbled something about girly names and that seemed to peek the other interest for a bit.

"Why do you… say that?"

Strange

"I just know a few guys who do, you haven't introduced yourself yet by the way… that's rude"

That was his opportunity!

"Haru"

Haru, Haru, Haru….

It felt nice in his head.

"Just Haru?"

It felt extremely nicer in his tongue.

The glare wasn't nice, but at least his unfriendly eyes were focusing on him now.

He could live with that.

"Haruka" it almost came in a shy whisper so unlike the previous stoic brave image Haru had shown that it made something warm spread in Spartan's inside.

Like hot coco down his throat.

It tickled something inside and he tried his best to suppress it.

He knew the other would think it was due to his girly name but he couldn't help it.

A chuckle escaped.

Abruptly, the other gracefully stood up and attempted a quick escape.

He panicked.

Just as quick, his hand had the boy's surprisingly muscular forearm in its grip.

He's not as lean as his uniform makes him look.

Having the shorter boy so close made him caught a whiff of his scent, he smelled clean and musky.

He himself probably smelled of dirt and sweat.

...but Haru smelled of chlorine.

"I'm sorry, don't... don't go "

Woah… that sounded just pitiful.

"… since you still have to pay for everything"

He tried to make it better with a teasing smile.

He didn't know if the other had fallen for it but at least he returned to his seat.

"Ok… Haru it is then"

He offered as conciliation but the other didn't accept it, taking his blue orbs away decisively…

pouting.

As Haru seemed to be trying to death glare the waiters into bringing their food faster, Spartan started to convince himself he had definitely gotten Haru wrong.

He was just an antisocial kid.

But once again, he had to be sure…

"I take you´re not much of a talker? Or maybe..."

Easier said than done…

He hadn't measured the amount of courage finishing that sentence would require and now he found himself short of it, desperately trying to gather some.

He sought for help but blue refused to even hear his pleas.

He counted to five and manned up.

"... is it just me you are against?"

There that wasn't so hard.

"I don't know you"

Still so uncooperative.

"You don´t seem interested in getting to know me either"

Haru scoffed.

He didn't understand why, it was a valid question.

If he was in Haru's place he would be a bit worried about a criminal approaching him.

"Why should I be?"

Just how childish was this guy?

Or maybe, was he just that brave? That he wasn't concerned at all?

"Well shouldn't you be concerned about whether I want to hurt you? Or rob you? if I will leave you alone or not?"

"If you want to do any of those things there's nothing me worrying about it can do about it"

Ahh…

So that was it…

Was there truly someone capable of living life in such a pragmatic way? He wondered…

His companion seemed more and more amazing the more he thought about him.

"You are unusual"

His mouth was betraying his thoughts faster than his brain could shut it the hell up.

It succeeded where he had failed though.

Blue eyes were set on him now, flowing with interest /

Intense

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He couldn't answer though.

"Never mind... "

He offered a smile and hoped it was enough of an apology for his indiscretion.

Food arrived at last and served as a distraction.

He was much too hungry to try and get Haru to talk a bit more.

Maybe when they were done.

Sadly he hadn't even been able to finish when Haru was paying for their food and standing up.

He waited for a comment or something but his companion just left.

Maybe Haru really couldn't stand him.

Or maybe he couldn't stand anyone.

Either way he had fed Spartan and hadn't completely dismissed him even when he had every right to, and for that... he was truly grateful.

So... he wanted to make sure…

That Haru got home safe.

They were going to the same place either way, or so he told himself.

The shorter boy seemed to have decided his work of charity for the day was over and completely ignored him all the way.

Spartan tried to get him to talk, brought up the subject of his strange fitness, asked about sports... but it was no good.

He even tried sparking Haru's curiosity by pretending to guess he was a swimmer.

It seemed to work, the dark haired boy seemed unaware of the chlorine perfume his skin was pouring to the wind.

Yet he still didn't say a word.

So Spartan figured that was it.

That was as far as he was going to get to know Haru.

He knew it was stupid to feel sad about it, even if he got to know his name, Haru was still just a stranger he met by chance, well... by his own insistence.

But in a way, Haru had helped him, had distracted him when he needed it the most. Even if the blue eyed boy hadn't done it knowingly, he had given Spartan the strength he needed to go back and do what he had to.

He guessed he was lucky that at least he managed to steal his name from him.

It was a personal victory, however small.

It was enough.

As strange as it was, and as little as it probably meant to Haru, even if he didn't have much of a reason to, he would treasure that moment.

Spartan smiled.

He wanted to make sure though that Haru knew what he felt.

He told him to be careful, he knew that area well enough, he knew a lot of his friends, and even enemies "worked" there.

He wanted to at least pay Haru with a friendly warning.

Haru didn't seem to take it that way though.

He couldn't quite blame him.

"I'm serious, a lot of people get assaulted around here… you should be careful"

How could he convey to Haru that he truly was trying to warn him?

"Yeah, I should be careful around people like you for example"

He told himself that didn't hurt.

Wouldn't be the first time and he had to be stronger than that, stronger for what he had to do.

He brushed the offense off and stubbornly held to his idea of ending whatever that was in a positive note.

The train was approaching, he didn't have much time.

"I never thought of robbing you… or hurting you"

Haru would probably not believe that either, but he had to say it.

"You were very nice to me, that's why I wanted to make sure you got home safe"

Maybe he was saying too much.

"So thank you for the meal, I won't bother you anymore"

Haru got on the train.

"Goodbye Haru"

Blue eyes turned around and for a brief second, they allowed him to admire them to his heart's content.

Maybe they were merciful after all.

The train took off, taking them away with it

Well... It was time.

He was determined to not arrive "home" empty handed this time.

He turned around…

… and headed for the tunnels.