-Suicide warning for the chapter-
Kyle dragged himself around, eyes dull drowning in grief. He kept seeing his face, so disgusted by him in a single second and the horror as the claws took his life. The boy didn't have anywhere to go, no destination and no goal simply wandering snapped out his trance by a rattle finding himself in what others would call a safe place as the zombie groans were a few steps further away. The emerald greens flickered with a mundane curiosity and the habit of always looking around kicked in when noticing something. The man with weapons of all range stared at the boy staring back almost lifelessly. The adult hadn't even noticed him come in only now turning around to him. Suddenly Kyle's eyes shimmered with life again noticing the assortment or rather the specific item sticking out. It would be too big probably but he could modify it; it's not like he had to worry about being attacked. It was a whisper, a quick thought, the kid desperate for anything right now. The claw gauntlet like thing glinted from the light coming in the window and the man eyed the boy about to open his mouth when the blonde beat him to it. "That thing! That claw thing! How much!?"
"Kid, do you really want me to believe you have money for that?" The adult chuckled. "I'll humor you; you got loaded parents or something?"
"No… they're dead… Please! I need it!"
"Yeah, we all need something and I particularly want money. With the shit going down here, all these weapons will be hot stock. Beat it kid, you can't pay for that."
"Please, I'll work it off! Anything you want!" Kyle begged going down on all fours.
"Scram kid, you're annoying me!" The man snarled, boot on the boy's lowered head in a warning but Kyle persisted begging and pleading again. With a growl, the man lashed out kicking him in the face and Kyle toppled back.
"P-please… give me a chance…"
"I don't fold for some kid!" The man hollered, knife out and slashing at Kyle raising his arm in defense receiving the cut. The man attacked again, Kyle's heart thundering now, veins pulsing as adrenaline kicked in with the will to survive, ducking out of the next one and lunging for the item to steal it. The man grabbed his ankle, Kyle painfully landing on his chest with a gasp and yanked the kid close, knife rushing down. The thirteen year old quickly slammed his body into the man's gut, both toppling over, his hand flying to the man's wrist to stop the knife blow. The blood flowed faster from the wound in a splash, Kyle's emotions a whirlpool of anger, frustration, pain and above all the desire to live.
'I have to beat him!' The man's eyes widened, blood from the cut he inflicted splashing on him from the boy's arm suddenly sizzling on his own skin as it burned and stung, Kyle now wearing a snarl himself desperately fighting back for his life, instincts in high drive to win. The trader screamed as his eyes widened in horror as his skin melted and burned, the fabric of his shirt quickly eaten through. Kyle's own eyes widened in horror seeing his blood inflict the damage on the man's body no longer pushing the knife at him but scrambling away still screaming as the blood had splattered all over him.
"What the hell are you!?" The man stuttered, hand closing around a handgun behind his back as the boy stared back helplessly looking at his own arm still dripping with blood in horror. Kyle slowly gazed up again just in time to drop down as the finger pulled the trigger barely seeing it in time, jumping up again and throwing the machete with his heart pounding. The blade struck the man's throat sputtering and choking on blood and Kyle backed away before quickly grabbing the machete and snatching the claws along with a handgun running away as fast as he could leaping onto a roof just as the hand from an infected attracted by the noise reached out almost snatching his ankle. The cry begging to be released quickly got choked down to drown to have less pursuers on his trail, his blood luring them.
"Hey Shakkur, have you ever seen a zombie with green glowing eyes while out at night?" It was the perfect chance to ask, Crane hoping for quick yes or no as he grated on his nerves.
"Ah green eyes... No, not seen glowing green eyes. But green eyes remind me of my friend, he a funny one but great friend. He has green eyes, very green, odd green. Easy to stare at too long, like magically green…shining emeralds…"
"Is your friend blonde, a kid and wears a claw gauntlet thing?" Crane raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, you know great friend?"
"Maybe, thanks Shakkur bye." Crane swiftly left heading back to the fishing village to avoid further talking to Shakkur. 'That has to be the brat from the street.' Crane headed back to the village letting the guy know that the business with Shakkur was done going to Gursel next to quickly inquire about the fish bait.
"Hey Gursel, I heard you need fish bait."
"Everyone knows you'll catch more fish with flies than sugar, but if you want more fish, we need more bait! And the best bait is a weed called midnight bride. Fish go bonkers for it! We call it midnight bride because it glows in the dark, just like the bride does. At least that's what I've heard. Never been married myself, for some reason. But I digress. This stuff grows in the park, but you'll need to go there at night to spot it. I'll pay well to get five samples. It'll probably be taken care of tonight by the night runner; I put out a note where we usually leave a little something for the troubles. Do you want to do it?"
"I might go for it maybe I'll beat the mystery person to it." Crane shrugged, Gursel raising an eyebrow at him as if to figure out why Crane would want to make a competition out of it instead of leaving the task to the night runner. The man didn't reply, Crane leaving again. 'So that street kid is Shakkur's friend or at least the way Shakkur sees it and they have a mystery errand runner at night… Maybe the night runner is the kid if he's ignored as much in the night like that day on the street. Still a stretch though.' However with Gursel having put the note out today, he'd have to get Rais errands done now and get back to the tower and quite the speed to make it to the flower spot on time.
His arm sported a bandage, the cut closed enough that it no longer bled as Kyle wandered the streets again being ignored with his eyes dull and his lips never lifting into a smile. Inside, in the desolate shell rage bubbled as the last days resurfaced and anger poured out like a volcano, his body swiftly turning to kick a car fully aware that it would hurt his foot but no longer caring in the slightest. But his foot didn't hurt or even sting. Instead the car sailed away from the anger driven punt and over the edge of the bridge to crash below splattering a couple of zombies. The rage didn't dissipate as he stared at the spot with a blink, rage still boiling, steadily sloshing over the edge and his legs closed the gap to the next car as his boot slammed into another one to take out his anger sending it flying and rolling away. Seething with more rage the boy turned to the next car with a scream, but the car this time only groaned lifting a little but tipped back into position and the sting raced up Kyle's leg as he collapsed on the concrete wheezing and gasping for air curled up in a ball.
The fingers closed around the note, eyes narrowing quickly dodging the flashlight a curious kid pointed to the spot intrigued by the village's mystery person.
Kyle cautiously shuffled closer, the sniffles and cries growing louder with a moan from an infected, his eyes widening spotting a little girl in the train yard sitting on the ground too afraid to move as the zombies shambled closer and a viral dashed for a run from behind a cart. Kyle snarled dashing around the corner, fingers on throwing knives embedding two in zombie skulls, his body slamming into a cart, slowly tipping with a groan flattening four zombies behind it with one being a goon. The little girl looked up between her sniffles and tear filled eyes seeing Kyle fight, the claw gauntlet on the left hand raking over the stumbling viral after having suffered a flying kick and the machete in the right hand beheaded another after a leg sweep. The knife held by another viral slashed over Kyle inflicting a small cut and the remaining ten zombies turned their sight on him but staggered as the boy now sported bloodshot eyes quickly using the confusion to slash the machete over the viral with so much force it halved it.
The bloodshot shot eyes got dropped to keep their attention, his right foot quickly taking out another with a swift kick against a toolbox taking off the head of the biter. Two of the remaining eight shuffled towards the girl trying to scramble away with a terrified shriek, Kyle's shadow looming over her in the next second as the machete dispatched the biters in one slash, Kyle's hand yanking her aside so she wouldn't have their falling bodies on her. The girl stunned with fear and shock gazed after Kyle rushing at the remaining six, another caught with the claws. The biters fell one after another, Kyle using being thirteen years old and therefore shorter than the zombified adults to his advantage with easy dodging and leg sweeps setting up easy kills with claw gauntlet and machete. Kyle eased out of the tense fighting stance catching his breath after the last fell leaving a few minutes of peace before more would come and the girl got up. His eyes widened as she rushed forward and he felt her throw all her weight on his back with a cry thanking him over and over again. The girl fell forward as Kyle suddenly pushed her off stepping away from the seven year old looking up at him with her wet face. "You shouldn't…" He couldn't keep the shaking out.
"I saw you fight. You're not a monster, you're my hero!" Kyle's eyes widened at the confidence and kindness she said it with, her nose still full of snot and voice still strained from crying. "You look like my little brother so I'm going to trust you!" The girl jumped to her feet again embracing Kyle again having expected her to run away screaming, his arms slowly hugging back to comfort the sniffling younger child. "You were really cool fighting. You're like a superhero… Thank you. Please let me stay with you." Kyle gave up, her hug iron tight and the boy hugged back knowing the pain of losing everything all too well, the boy vowing to protect the little girl.
"Come on, we should get onto the roofs. It's safer there."
Crane smiled to himself darting out of the tower having managed to get it wrapped up before dark rushing to the fountain spot intending to wait just as it got dark by the safe zone before going to sleep attempting to at least catch a glimpse before something surely would come up again.
"Hey, I'm back and I have a surprise!" Kyle smiled, the girl poking her head out of hiding on the roof, the cloth like a curtain of a little hide away when Kyle had to scavenge without her. The girl rushed out latching onto his neck with a giggle.
"I missed you so much!"
"It was just half an hour!"
"That's super awful without you!" She whined with a smile and a little pout, tilting her body sideways trying to peek past his back hiding the surprise. It had been a long time since he smiled but after finding her in the train yard five days ago he couldn't stop laughing and smiling with her.
"Ready?"
"Yeah, now stop teasing me! Show me!"
"Tada!" Kyle presented the pink teddy bear and the girl squealed hopping up and down grabbing the plush with big thankful eyes.
"It's so pretty, I love it! Thank you so much! You're the best big brother! You're my big brother now! I always want to be with you."
"Not going anywhere little sis…" Kyle replied quietly hugging her back. She was quite big on hugs.
"You know, our little brother would've liked you!" The girl smiled looking up.
"I'm sure I would've liked him too. Let's eat something. I managed to grab some cans." Kyle smiled back.
The nimble figure leapt from roof to roof, legs fit and nimble enjoying the rush in the veins with every breath, sun setting behind the parkouring kid.
"What's wrong Kyle?" The little girl yawned shaken awake by the bigger kid putting a finger over his lips and speaking in a whisper as adult male voices crept closer.
"We have to go. There are bad men outside working for a really mean guy in Harran." The little girl put her hand over her mouth to stop a squeal taking Kyle's hand with a deep breath snatching her beloved teddy bear she cherished. The pair crept along the roofs, scaling down and up with difficulty although she had gotten pretty decent fairly quickly unable to jump so far.
"Hey, somebody used to live here. Look at this stuff. There are crayons here and a picture!" One of the men yelled.
'Good, they're distracted by our hideout.' The relief shattered as a door broke down and a splinter grazed Kyle's cheek as an infected busted out causing the girl to stumble with Kyle and shriek out in fright, giving Kyle an apologizing glance.
"Hey, what was that!?"
"Over there, just by that roof on the street I think!"
Kyle snarled, machete out and already on the infected but another door crashed down as the girl shuffled a little away. The young child tried to jump away, Kyle's scream reaching for her with his hand as the door pinned her legs and the zombie flopped down biting into her flesh and two virals rushed around the corner at them both delaying Kyle. Her shriek pierced the air as the teeth mercilessly dug into her neck, Kyle's scream fading cutting down the biter as another chomped on her arm with two more biters behind it. His boot rushed to a barrel slamming into the two biters mowing them down and the machete swiftly beheaded the two others, her eyes barely with life left shifting to the boy holding her in his arms.
"Th-thank you… for being my brother." Her voice was so faint it could barely be heard, her body falling limp as life left her body, head rolling aside and her lips frozen in a smile from seeing Kyle in her last breath. The men's voices came closer, Kyle hugging her dead body and biting his lip before quickly darting behind a nearby building, hiding in a trash pile as the group of thugs swarmed the spot looking around. His hand pressed against his mouth to choke down the cries clawing to be released that wouldn't come out later but drown and be buried instead.
Crane smirked darting into the safe zone, bag ready with flares greatly helpful at night and a few other things.
Kyle's eyes gazed at the ground, the boy walking among the zombies with dull eyes dead with pain and empty of any will to live. The kid sat down on the ledge staring into the distance. The right hand pulled out the handgun coming to point against the side of his head. The finger pulled the trigger without hesitation or a flinch but the bullet didn't come as the gun jammed slowly pulled away again and gazed at for a moment before he got up and shifted his eyes to a building. The kid looked around slowly, hand closing around an extension cord lying around. Green eyes spotted a chair and a sturdy tree branch outside. And a sad little smile crept in, the chair and cord grabbed walking to the tree being decorated with a noose. The noose slipped around his neck resting on his shoulders after climbing onto the chair and with one more smile and dull eyes, one foot kicked against the back lean with a little hop, eyes slowly closing as the vision blurred and his lung burned like on fire deprived of what it needed most. Finally, it would be over.
The boots landed on the small fountain, easily hopped down, glowing eyes spotting the glowing purple flower.
Shakkur rushed forward, knife quickly cutting at the cord as fast as he could, the boy's eyes closed already and the man quickly caught the kid as the cord snapped from being cut, the noose widening a little. The survivor with the gas mask checked for a pulse finding a weak one with a shallow breath and quickly rushed off to his hideout carrying the boy so they wouldn't be munched on by infected.
Kyle's eyes slowly opened blinking at the sunlight streaming in, hand clutching the cloth of the bedroll a little tighter. His gaze shifted to a man with gas mask crouching down to him offering clean water but the boy didn't take it, dull eyes staring aimlessly. Looks like his suicide attempt had failed. A bowl of soup sat on the lid of a basket, no doubt about to be offered after the water. "Very sad world, huh?" The man sighed placing the water next to the bedroll. "Here, precious air, you had too little!" Kyle blinked being given an empty pouch as Shakkur stared at him intently, green eyes very confused but quickly realized his rescue had a screw loose. The boy decided to play it safe and play along pretending to take the air smiling at the man overjoyed about it. "Name is Shakkur, what's yours?"
"Kyle…" His gaze drifted off again but flushed with emotion as it widened, the words of his parents ringing in his head telling him to keep fighting and survive no matter what happened. He had broken his promise to his parents. He had done the one thing they could never bear; he had given up on living. Shakkur noticed the boy off in his own thoughts and not in pleasant ones as self-loathing seeped into his eyes with heartbreaking sorrow and pain. 'How could I…'
"You eat and drink. Stay as long as you want." Shakkur went about doing his own thing to give the boy space, smiling to himself as he saw him take the water and food out of the corner of his eye.
Kyle got up, right hand running through his hair, his stuff placed next to him that has sat on the floor and his gaze shifted to Shakkur asking if he wanted more food. 'I can't keep messing up… I need to know what I can do since mom bit me…' "I'm heading out, thanks for saving me."
"To die or to live?" Shakkur asked, Kyle pausing in his step.
"To live." 'I'll figure out what I can do and I'll never give up again or turn into one of those things.' His eyes narrowed in determination, Shakkur watching him leave. Shakkur watched the boy disappear in the slums, infected walking past ignoring him completely. Shakkur only saw him once more after that day.
The blood dropped off the metallic claws, Shakkur's and Kyle's eye meeting as the man had stumbled which would've been a fatal mistake if Kyle hadn't shown up and cut down the viral. That day, Kyle thought it would've been over as the perfect opportunity had arisen to get even. Shakkur had saved his life a few days ago and now the favor had been returned when the solitary survivor had one unlucky slip-up. Words weren't exchanged, Kyle taking off as fast as he had come. He didn't want any words. But it had already happened and he snarled at himself finding himself stop by Shakkur regularly checking on the man. No, he had become his friend. The boy, despite not wanting to, had latched on the moment Shakkur had rescued him. And he knew he couldn't stop himself. But he could make sure it had a chance to fade or at least not become any stronger but Shakkur didn't make it easy leaving soup out here and there when he was sure it was a day his unseen visitor showed up whom left gifts here and there. The blonde had become a guardian angel to Shakkur in the shadows ready to cut down anyone without hesitation trying to harm the man.
Crane rushed forward out of the safe zone, heart pumping, boots coming to a stop as a smaller figure sitting on the fountain turned their head from gazing at the sky with a bright moon to him with the glowing green eyes from before, flowers off the ground already. Crane's eyes widened, the flashlight revealing none other than the boy he had gotten bloody on the street. "It's you!?" 'His eyes are glowing!'
"You again!?"
"You eyes are- hey wait!" The kid moved to slip down and take off but the tension shattered as he rather flopped down and his stomach growled in pain, non-clawed hand flying to it as he curled into a ball on the ground. His stomach didn't stop and Crane came closer noticing bits of flowers around with bits of purple at the corner of the kid's mouth. "Did you eat the flowers!?"
"No… not all of them… Ow…"
"The fuck, kid!?"
"I was desperate, I haven't eaten in days!" The kid spat before a quiet 'ow' mumbled out again. "Have you never heard of edible flowers!?"
"I'm sure glowing ones don't fit the category!" Crane sighed, one hand through his hair as he gazed at the boy curled up on the ground. "Come on, we need to get out of here you're a sitting duck and you need food. Real food. And a doctor." 'But his are eyes glowing so he must've turned… but he doesn't act like someone that turned… I better still be ready for the worst…' The man pulled up the boy immediately trying to walk away but gave in as Crane stayed firm commanding him to get on his back and hold on pressing flares in his right hand. "You got the flowers?" 'Or what's left…'
"Yes…"
"Alright, listen up, I'm going to run for the fishing village like hell and when zombies come too close you throw a flare to get them away got it?"
"Got it…"
"Try not to faint." Crane took off as best as he could running for his life literally with the boy. Hands reached out not even a minute after starting, jumps on the roof only done if Crane felt like the kid could hang on well enough and he could nail it, first flare tossed in the first minute, the man greatly slowed down carrying his bag at his side along with the kid with his own stuff. The claws raked over the first volatile face leaping up causing it to pummel down again, the next flare tossed before his arms hugged Crane tighter as the next volatile in the next five minutes didn't stick the landing seeming to stumble and readjust his step shot by the hand gun followed by another flare being tossed.
Crane panted, the reddening of dawn giving a little relief as his eyes landed on the entrance to the fishing village giving him a burst of energy determined to haul their asses to safety. The guard quickly helped seeing the kid hanging on his back hauling them up and Crane jumped down stumbling, kid sliding off his back. The rumbling had greatly quieted down but his face spelled everything still very much in pain. Crane quickly jumped back to his feet after a sigh and smile having made it pulling up the kid and holding his hand dragging him over to Sophia. "Hey, you're good with herbs and stuff right?"
"Yes, oh he looks miserable…"
"Yeah, he ate part of Gursel's glowing flowers out of desperation. Hasn't eaten in days. I'll deliver the rest to Gursel, can you give him something and watch him? I'll be right back." Sophia gave the blonde a friendly smile which didn't get returned, the reaching hand guiding to the hut barely tolerated as the woman rummaged through a shelf taking out a jar.
"Hey Gursel, I got your flowers. I hope that's enough, had a little trouble." Crane sighed handing over the loot.
"It'll do, thank you very much."
"Hey, got some fish? Found a starving kid on the way."
"That's awful, here I have some right here from this morning's catch but they're still raw. But there is the fire over there."
"Thanks." Crane gratefully took to fish quickly walking back to Sophia where the kid sat in the dirt on the ground with a scrunched up face.
"Ugh, it's gross…"
"You'll feel better soon but make sure to eat too, kiddo." Sophia chuckled, some of the village kids peeking at the blonde from afar. "What's your name?"
"Don't matter to you." The blonde snarled smacked over the head by the older Kyle.
"Don't be disrespectful to her she just helped your sorry ass."
"You can't tell me what do, whatever I'm leaving."
"No, you're not. You're staying here and you gonna eat before anything else. I'm going to try cooking some fish."
"Ew, fish is gross. Besides, you can't stop me." The kid smirked slowly getting up but falling to all fours as Crane smacked him in the gut without warning rumbling miserably.
"Yeah, I can. Now, your name. The lady asked you."
"Kyle…"
"Over to the fire now, Kyle."
"Whatever, old man."
"Name is Kyle Crane, brat." Kyle didn't try to run away eyed by the village curiously as Crane did his best to cook the fish and not burn it. "Hey ask around if there is anything we can add to take away some of the fish taste." Kyle scoffed but obeyed Crane, getting up and shuffling over back to Sophia to ask her sadly shaking her head in response and Crane sighed, hand reaching for his bag as a thought came to mind. He did find a pack of coffee beans… the man shuddered at the combination himself but Kyle hadn't eaten in days maybe the taste wouldn't bother him. Or it would be even worse than the fish he had managed not to burn yet. On the other hand it would be payback for being called old man but the boy had an upset stomach already. Maybe another day.
"No luck." Kyle sat back down starting to swirl his finger in the sandy ground out of boredom, eyes shifting to one of the kids with her mom hugging her, the finger stopping unconsciously and Crane took notice glancing to where he looked.
"Your parents didn't make it? You from Harran?"
"No to both. Didn't last a week in the outbreak, been alone for over a month." Crane almost dropped the fish in the barrel hoping it was through enough. That long in the streets on his own? That kid didn't even look like he had hit puberty yet despite being rather of the tall and slim type.
"I'm sorry…"
"Why? You didn't do it."
"Come on kid, stop bluffing. No way, you were out there alone for over a month." One of the guys around the fire scoffed but the bluster left quickly as Kyle's face didn't change and his voice didn't have a trace of a lie gazing at mother and child, awkward, sad silence falling over the spot. "H-how did you make it kid?"
"Got lucky, changed."
"Hey, I think I managed to get the fish cooked." 'I should be getting back to the tower as well and check in.' Crane without really thinking about it placed one hand on Kyle's shoulder in a comforting manner holding out the fish on a stick. The blonde eyed it, green eyes shifting to the older Kyle and grabbing the fish with a sigh.
"Can't be picky I guess…" The kid bit down, the fish quickly wolfed down so fast Crane worried he'd be choking on fish bones in the next second and one of the other guys wondered in a mumble how long the kid had been starving. Crane didn't even have to hand over the second fish, grabbed swiftly by Kyle tossing away the fish skeleton within minutes. His stomach rumbled again but in a slow almost satisfied manner, Kyle wearing a content smile. The boy got up, eying Crane glancing away before tilting his head again biting his lip. "…Thanks."
"Hey, you still haven't seen a doctor."
"Starving isn't something new; I'm not going to any doctor Crane. And I'm not staying here either, I stay on my own. I don't do friendship."
"So why does the gas mask guy call you a friend then?" Their conversation started to draw in curious ear after curious ear.
"Don't know why he thinks that. Besides, I didn't survive for that long to die in this camp. You know I have an edge." The boy smiled, eyes sparkling with it as he turned around to leave back onto the streets of Harran. Crane didn't plan of babysitting the kid nor play guardian to him but he wanted at least for the kid to have seen a doctor. He didn't like him back on the streets alone either but couldn't spend his time constantly running after one kid which was even a brat and not exactly pleasant to deal with.
'Maybe if I can get him to the tower, I have a chance…' Crane dashed forward without warning, the backpack with rifle and machete crossed over snatched out of the hand just before it could be slung over the shoulder again, Kyle's eyes narrowing with a snarl. "If you want it back, come and get it." Crane took off, the blonde right on his heel pushing the man to do his best and the undercover agent had to wonder if he could even keep a gap if that kid hadn't just been starving moments ago.
'I know he's baiting me, I'm gonna get my stuff back and get away. Eventually he has to slow down for a stop. Oh what's that face, Crane? Think cuz I'm a kid, I can't do parkour? You'll be sorry, you don't know anything about me.' The smile tugged higher, Crane panting slowing down but a frown came on quick on Kyle's face now the one to slow down panting just as the gap was closed and Crane picked up the pace again stubbornly refusing to let the boy get to him carrying more than his usual load. 'Two fish really don't last long after starving… Still, no way Crane is getting the better of me!' Crane's eyes narrowed spotting an air drop coming down nearby. Great, just the best time to spot an airdrop but if he didn't get there first and haul it, Rais would get it and the tower would lose out. With a growl of his own, the man glanced over his shoulder, the boy on his heels like he wanted.
"New route, heading to the airdrop kid!"
"Whatever, I'm gonna get my stuff back without seeing some doctor!" Kyle followed the change of route, the two now barreling to the airdrop to which a group of Rais' men were closing in on as well. With a few more stumbles, panting, pacing and close grabs with their hearts pumping every moment an opportunity to mess up on either end, the airdrop sat on the street being cracked open by Rais' men in their sight. The two leapt down, Crane biting his lip; he couldn't fight, grab the stuff and haul it back with Kyle's stuff and Kyle knew it already smirking at the man motioning to better toss his backpack as Rais' thugs turned to the two arrivals. Crane tossed the backpack, quickly slung on by Kyle darting forward and pulling out the machete sliding under a machete enemy swing and slashing upwards with his own deep enough to kill Rais' thug in one go. Crane's fist landed on another from the four dodging a knife slash, gun rendered useless on another as the claw gauntlet ruined wrist and hand for life before making it short slashed over the throat and Crane finished the fourth thug landing a lethal blow with a leg sweep. "Who's the airdrop for? Who are you with?"
"For being a hermit, you know a lot. The tower." Crane caught his breath grabbing the packages and Kyle glanced away with a sigh suddenly stretching out the right hand.
"We'll be even. That's for getting food in me."
"That's the lighter one. You know Kyle when you drop that attitude you're a lot more pleasant to be around." Crane smiled.
"Don't care to please others." Kyle smiled back, grabbing the light package and the two took off to the tower taking to the roofs.
Crane dashed to the entrance landing on the stairs from the roof with Kyle right behind him, tension rising as both knew in a moment both would try something as Kyle didn't think Crane had given up just yet reading it off of his face. The two rushed into the building vaulting up the ledge with a little pant, Crane receiving a helping hand being a familiar face and Kyle didn't leave a chance pulling up surprisingly easy, carefully but quickly dropping the package on the ground just a step in with a grin. "Stop him, block the way!" The men scrambled taken by surprise and Kyle whipped out the handgun pointing it at them as Crane dashed up to him saying he doesn't think Kyle would shoot. The talking gave just a second of Kyle in the dark thinking the older one would go straight for a grab which followed right after the words, Crane barely managing to take the backpack by cutting the straps using his height to his advantage. Crane jumped back, everyone watching them as Kyle holstered the gun with a snarl and narrowed his eyes whipping around to the man dangling his backpack in front of him with a smile backing away mocking to follow.
"Damn it Crane, it's not happening! Keep it up and you're done for!" The raised claws shimmered in the light being lifted menacingly with poison green eyes shooting a glare and the tower residents watched with uncertainty nervously, a little bit of excitement and curiosity mixed in. The ruckus attracted Jade and Rahim nearby in the hallway seeing Crane take off with the kid hot on his heels. Crane rushed around the corners, body craving a break. 'He's just as exhausted as I am since he starved for days! How is he getting speed on me on corners!?' Crane pushed himself for the final stretch finally by Lena's office, both hearts from the racers pumping as the older man darted into the narrow passage with Kyle right behind him cracking a grin leaping up and slamming the claws on the left hand into the wall managing to grab the backpack with the right, sliding down the walls with his boots pulling the claws back out and exiting with a flip. Kyle flashed another smirk out the doorway and took off, Crane shouting after him asking for anyone to help keep the kid from leaving the tower with shouts catching Brecken just witnessing Kyle take off. He didn't know what it was about but doubted Crane asked for boys to be kept in the tower for no reason and joined in the chase.
"Who's the kid?"
"Picked him off the street he was starving and wandering out at night."
"That's crazy!"
"Yeah, his attitude doesn't make it better."
Kyle skidded to a stop with a snarl, the guys still by the wire joined by Jade and Rahim coming up from his side having tried to catch him at the stairs only to be outmaneuvered. Brecken and Crane came to a stop behind him, the whole tower having joined in and Kyle's eyes narrowed again, the green orbs shimmering with fury. "You don't know me Crane, just forget you ever saw me! We were even, why did you ruin it!? Move it jerks!"
"One look and I'll give up, then you can go back to starving on the street!"
"Just stop giving a crap about me already! And one bad week out of two months is nothing!"
"Did this kid just say he's been in the street for two months!?" Rahim exclaimed, everyone staring at Crane and Kyle staring at each other, the older Kyle unwilling to budge.
"Was having someone help you so bad for once!?"
"Yeah because when you don't have a friend or family it doesn't hurt when they die!" Kyle snapped, pity for the boy seeping into the silent room. "Don't give those looks! I'm fine alone!" The blonde didn't want to look Crane in the eye casting his gaze to the floor. "Just forget about me…"
"One look, maybe then I can…" Crane quietly replied, Kyle reluctantly and tiredly stopping the fighting stance the mumbled 'fine' barely audible. Crane turned around to lead the way glancing over his shoulder to see Kyle following with his gaze cast down, backpack in his right hand. "Let me fix that before you go…" The tower residents scattered again Brecken, Jade and Rahim tagging along themselves curious about the boy and unsure if he would really stick by Crane. Lena gave the man a curious look having heard the commotion but not seen the snatching, eyes shifting to the entering group in the cramped space, Jade and Rahim lingering outside the door.
"You're a new face around here. What's your name?" Lena smiled at the thirteen year old glancing away silently and Crane smacked him on the back of the head.
"Kyle"
"Now we have two Kyle's in the tower!"
"Not gonna stay. Old man won't leave me alone until you have a look at me."
"Old man?" Another smack on the head.
"I found him on the street, he hasn't eaten in days and ate some glowing purple flowers called midnight bride out of desperation. I got someone to give him some herb mixture to soothe his stomach and got some fish into him." Lena and Brecken gave curious looks, Kyle glancing with a pout and Crane gave a shove to go forward, the kid sitting down on a bed rolling his eyes. Crane's hand moved to the backpack and Kyle's hand slammed down on it getting in the way with a glare. "I promised I would fix it."
"Yeah you did and you can do that right in front of my eyes. I don't trust you with my stuff, you understand don't you?" The question wasn't to be answered, the smile a clear hostile one and the eyes flickered with a warning. Usually kids cried out alone on the street and Crane could see why someone would avoid forming friendships after losing loved ones but this kid had walled himself in completely. It was clear on his face that he still wanted to get away as fast as could, the kid didn't try to hide it. It must've been horrible what he went through. Crane obliged walking off to search for tools to fix it with or find someone who could get it done faster, Brecken staying with Lena and Kyle.
"Alright, can you open your mouth for me?" Lena smiled. "How often did you eat the last week?"
'I'm not five…' Kyle obliged, the annoyance written all over his a face.
"Oh… your tongue is all purple!" Lena gasped and Kyle's eyes widened.
"Wait, really!? Aw, come on!" 'How bad can this week get?' Lena suddenly chuckled, Kyle's eyes narrowing.
"It was a joke, your tongue looks fine." Kyle scoffed with narrowed eyes.
"Besides the fish from Crane, I had nothing. I took jobs and was left with an apple and the other time fresh olives but… I lost them…"
Kyle smiled at the apple, stomach rumbling in excitement as he brought the rare fruit closer, the infected around him ignored. Including the one turning aside at a small noise and therefore bumping against the boy's back shoving him forward causing the blonde to stumble. The apple rolled out of his hands and right into the sewer hole disappearing in the dark below, Kyle gazing after it with his hand still out and eyes filled with sadness.
Kyle smiled, left food instead of money this time and quickly grabbed the olives left neatly in a cloth in a tiny bowl. The kid quickly darted away from the fishermen village and into the bushes, popping the first olive in his mouth only for the smile to be wiped off choking on the seed inside only used to the pitted ones in cans. The other olives fell out his hand as he choked on the one managing to spit it out gasping for breath only to turn his head and see the birds gaze at him flying off with the olives all taken. Kyle sniffled to himself, hand reaching to the sky to the birds taking off with his meal and the lips pulled into a snarl, hands closing around a rock chucked after the lowest flying birds just gulping down the olive as the rock slammed into the animal killing it dropping out of the sky. Kyle's snarl left, sad to have lashed out at the animal just hungry itself but his growling stomach turned into a smile at the prospect of eating. The kid darted to the fallen large bird making sure the animal was really dead before grabbing the meat and rushing to the nearest barrel he could find. His smile only grew finding one with fire, shoving the dead bird on a nearby metal stick after having plucked all the feathers. Hungry and completely focused on the bird, the noise of nearby thugs startled him and his grasp slipped from the stick dropping the bird right into the fire burning it to a crisp. The green eyes stared at the barrel without a blink, stomach rumbling again as the boy gazed at the barrel sadly and frustrated. "Nooooo!" The blonde dropped to all fours defeated and screamed scaring anything close by, the nearby thugs pissing their pants and scrambling away from the ear splitting shriek and Rocket close by felt a shudder down his spine screwing up a jump crashing into a window tumbling onto a floor instead of landing onto the roof above.
Lena's hand moved to the boy's shirt but he intervened lifting it himself but only a little exposing his belly. An icy look warned to be happy with what was given, Brecken noticing the defensive and abrasive attitude. Actually, it looked like the kid had something to hide by being peculiar about his shirt. Maybe an ugly scar? "Well, I think you'll be fine but only if you eat well for at least a week."
"Fine, I'm leaving now. Where did Crane go?" He would hold him to his promise.
"How would you ensure to actually get your hands on food? You didn't manage this week." 'Could go to Rais… Heard the guy is a sadistic asshole and anyone working for him is an asshole except the brothers so it'd be easy to avoid friendships… it would be just for a week…' But he didn't want to be of use to a man like that either. He shuddered at the thought considering buying fish from the village and eating that for a whole week. The tower wasn't an option and he had to get out fast.
"I'll figure something out! Don't you people have your own problems? Give it up already!"
"Kyle, you can't expect people to just kick you to the curb just because that's what you want." Brecken sighed, Kyle glancing away with a silent snarl.
"Well, I'll be out of your sight in a bit that should make it easier." The boy walked away to find Crane who came into sight around the corner having found some tools and thread also carrying a new backpack of the same size.
"I have no clue how well fixing it would hold so I traded for a new backpack. It's the least I can do after cutting the straps."
"Well, I don't know how well you could mend a backpack so I'll take the safe option." The boy replied taking the handed over backpack quickly and sitting down to place his stuff in the new one and mount the rifle and machete on it.
"So what did the doctor say?"
"That I should eat well for at least a week. Don't even think about it."
"I didn't even say anything yet." Crane scoffed. 'He's good.'
"You people have enough problems, take the relief that you didn't find a kid that clings to you and is another mouth to feed." Kyle said, walking away past Crane. 'Sides, I'm bad luck.'
"Wait-"
"Crane, bother another kid already! I'll keep in mind that you're a backstabber if you try something else!"
"I'll keep in mind that you're a suicidal ass!"
"Shut it old man." Kyle growled.
"Ungrateful brat." How did he get suckered into name calling just now! That was impossible.
"Take it down a notch kid and at least show some respect." Jade butted in behind him, annoyed at the boy's attitude from the little she had seen so far.
"Oh wow, so now someone is going to try play mom now huh?" Kyle whipped around, the sarcastic smirk wiped off staring at Jade as Crane closed the gap behind them standing beside the boy having shut up real fast. The green eyes barely spotted it in the scrap of a mirror against the wall in the glance gazing at Jade with reddening cheeks threatening to blush into tomatoes in seconds. Embarrassed and desperate to hide the crush, Kyle turned away and went for the closest option. Which was Crane and the boy hugged him suddenly without restraint, pressing his face against the man blinking at him in confusion as did everyone else watching which was a good chunk of the tower residents gaping at the scene. Did the kid snap? His eyes widened at his own action on his hidden face realizing what he had done. 'You idiot!' "I need the bathroom, where is it?"
"Down the-" Brecken didn't get to finish as Kyle ran down the hall just to get away only slowing at the closest flight of stairs before actually looking around for the bathroom and asking others so that his lie would actually hold up. The boy rushed in, quickly flushing one before stopping at the sink and looking at himself in the mirror. "Why the hell did I hug Crane!?" 'Could've lied about the bathroom right away…' "Stupid crush… It's fine, I'll leave right away and never run into Jade again."
"So you do have a crush." Crane remarked in the doorway, Kyle's head slowly turning to him with narrowed eyes but with just the slightest bit less hostility.
"Keep it to yourself."
"You're going to run off again, aren't you?"
"Stop saying it like the tower is my home, it never was."
It was so dirty but so convenient and the perfect chance to make him stay. "I won't talk if you stay for a week."
"You asshole…" Ah, there was the familiar glare he'd come to know. But Crane had won one day from the stubborn boy. That was one out of seven days he'd properly eat, well properly as much the place allowed. Harran didn't offer sprawling buffets right now.
"He's staying for a week." Crane announced in front of Brecken, Jade and Rahim in the room baffling everyone while Kyle leaned in the doorframe making sure to avoid looking at Jade, his face set in a frown.
"How did you change his mind?" Brecken asked, Crane glancing to the blonde boy giving him a look.
"We have an agreement." Crane replied.
'If that's what you want to call blackmail…'
"Hey kid, come to the roof so I can see what you got." Rahim smiled remembering the blonde's boast about surviving alone just fine in the street.
"He won't be a runner Rahim." Brecken said.
"I know I'm just curious."
"I can run circles around you." Kyle smirked but his stomach growled shattering the atmosphere.
"Come on, I'll show you where you can find food." Jade offered and Kyle's gaze snapped up before being averted swiftly.
"I can find it myself!" The boy rushed off, Jade blinking after him with Crane the only one not confused.
"Think he'll actually stay?" Brecken asked doubting they could keep him here for a week since he wanted to leave so badly. The fact that the boy hadn't left yet seemed like a miracle. Whatever Crane had pulled must've been quite something.
"I hope so." Crane sighed. "Hey Brecken, if there is nothing urgent right now, I'm gonna hang around the tower for the day just to see if he doesn't run off alright?"
"Go ahead."
"Thanks." Kyle ended up eating and sleeping for the next four hours having fallen asleep on a couch after a meal despite trying to fight it so hard. He almost looked like a nice kid when sleeping. Upon waking up, the boy sought out Rahim figuring, the roof would be the easiest spot to avoid Jade. Rahim was delighted at the challenge, Brecken curious himself about the kid's confidence tagging along with Crane wondering if his blackmail would hold up.