Leon had always thought roses were too expensive, especially when the only ones he saw were being hawked on street corners for 3 a flower. He did his best to stay inside on Valentine's day, breaking off his search. But his car had broken down and it would be hours before another bus showed up.
So he wandered down the streets that led to his apartment, doing his best to ignore the rain. There didn't seem to be any urchins out, no flowers waiting for him. Not that he could understand them as he wandered through Chinatown, doing his best to remember which characters meant which streets.
"A rose, mister?" Her voice was sweet and her eyes were wide. Leon stared at her for a long moment, wondering if he was just hallucinating. But there was a tiny girl standing at his feet, holding up a deep red rose and smiling. ".50, please. For a sweetie."
"I don't have one." Leon started to step around her. Her eyes caused him pause though and he fell to his knees. One hand under her chin and he couldn't look away. Green and purple stared back at him, mismatched eyes under long black bangs.
"For your sweetie, Leon." Her voice was smooth and all Leon could do was kiss her with all the fervor in his body. Their teeth clinked as he moaned with all his might. When he pulled back, he found himself with a rose in his hand and blood dripping into his palm. The thorn were tearing at his skin.
"D." He dropped the rose onto the ground, ignoring the thorns sticking out of his hand. "Fuck you too." There was no malice behind his voice as he sobbed, sitting on the curb and surrounded by signs in Chinese. He never noticed he was sitting in front of an empty pet shop, the stairs too long decrepit for him to recognize.
