-Knives POV-
There was a fly on my nose.
Not surprising really, seeing as I was near a dumpster. But still annoying.
"Are you deaaaaaaaaaad?"
…But not nearly as annoying as that. Something was poking me and a whiney voice had just sent a shiver down my spine. It was akin to the screeching noise you get when you hit a plate with silverware at just the wrong angle. I opened one eye and glared blearily at the speaker.
"No, but hearing you just pushed me a little closer to it."
I whacked the stick away from my ribs with one hand and sat up, glaring at the person. It was a little boy about five or six years old. He was well groomed, obviously of a rich family. His hair was slightly mussed, but his clothes were clean and pressed. He was staring at me with blatant curiosity.
"Buzz off kid," I growled, running a hand through my hair.
He didn't instead squatting down in front of me.
"How come you're sleeping in the alley, Mister?" he asked in his annoying little voice. "You don't look like most bums that I see. Mama won't let me talk to them. But you don't look like them so I bet it's all right."
"Wise mother," I grumbled, standing up and brushing off the seat of my pants. "Go bother someone else."
He stared up at me with huge green eyes.
"My name's Jake!"
"I don't care."
"What's your name?"
"Listen kid, go back to your mother and leave me alone, would you?"
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"Why does that mean I have to do it?"
"Because I'm older than you."
"That's not fair."
"That's life kid. Now buzz off before I get mad."
I slung my bag over my shoulder and strode down the alley, heading to the main street. As I walked, I worked the kinks out of my shoulders, back, and arms.
"That's a funny looking bag."
Apparently the brat was following me. I sped up my pace and didn't answer.
"It's awfully long and skinny. And big too."
"It's a body bag and if you don't shut up I'll show you how it's used."
It wasn't really, just Vash's old traveling bag, but he didn't need to know that. Of course he probably didn't know what a body bag was anyway.
"It looks like a cocoon. Did you know that butterflies come out of cocoons? I saw it once. I was watching a cocoon and suddenly it opened up and this wrinkly think came out of it-"
I ground my teeth together and walked faster, but the boy trotted doggedly after me, prattling about the glories of metamorphosis. Oh how I wished I still had my .45 colt…
"And once its wings dried it just flew away! Nobody had to teach it or anything!"
"You talk too much. Go away."
"Well Mama says I need to know everything and she's right too. Don't you ever want to know something and just keep looking until you find the answer, mister?"
"Sure. I'd like to know why you're following me."
"Because I don't know where Mama is."
I stopped suddenly, swaying slightly when the kid ran into the back of my legs.
"You're lost, so you're following me around?"
The kid's eyes went huge.
"I'm lost?"
I sighed exasperatedly.
"Uh yeah, that's generally what it's called when you don't know where your parents are."
His lip quivered dangerously.
"You gotta help me find her, mister!"
"I don't have to do anything, you little brat," I snapped, glaring down at him. "I've got my own problems to deal with. Go find your mom on your own."
Sniffing started to accompany the quivering lip. I viewed him for a moment with great distaste and turned to go.
"No! Don't leave me!"
He launched forward and clung to my leg.
"Hey! Get off me!"
"I don't want to be aloooooooone!"
By this time there was a small crowd around us, watching with obvious amusement. As I tried to pry the kid off my leg, I could feel my ears burning.
"Jeez, would you stop that? You're causing a scene!"
"Don't leeeeeaaaaaaaaaave meeeeeeee!"
I sighed deeply and looked down at the little limpet. His wailing was starting to give me a headache.
"All right fine, " I hissed. "Just let go of my leg!"
The wailing stopped abruptly and he dropped to the ground in a sitting position.
"Where did you last see her?" I sighed wiggling a finger in my ear.
"I don't know…"
Oh such a great help he was going to be…
"Was it near where you found me?"
He nodded.
"Good, come on."
I walked back to the alley I had been sleeping in, keeping an eye out for a woman who looked frantic. The kid toddled after me. At one point he tried to hold my hand, but I saw him and stuck my hands in my jeans pockets before he could get a hold of them.
"Jaaaaaaake! Jake where are you!"
"I hear your mother," I stated wryly.
The brat looked around excitedly.
"There she is, there she is! Mama!"
With a squeal of glee, he detached himself from my side and ran to a well-dressed woman. She kneeled down and wrapped her arms around him, scolding and cuddling him at the same time.
"What have I told you about running off like that? If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, stay where I can see you and don't wander off! What would you have done if I hadn't found you hmm?"
"I'd have stayed with Mr. Tramp!" the boy informed her, pointing a stubby finger in my direction.
Mr. Tramp? I object…
The woman looked up to where he was pointing.
"Tramp?"
I frowned.
"I'm not a tramp. Your son has been following me around for the past half hour."
"But my little Jake doesn't lie. You must be a tramp for him to call you one…"
I scowled.
"Well I'm not. Keep a leash on your kid would you?"
I turned on my heel and wove through the crowd, leaving the pair far behind me.
--
Raaaaaandooooooooom... but I actually have an idea now! I think...
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