Disclaimer: The girl isn't mine, and neither are the boys she's watching.

Outside Searching

I am envious of him, this boy who glows in the street. No human should have all the elements of the world conspire to turn them into something too beautiful and terrible to look at. And no one should have such complete devotion from someone and treat them as if they are not worthy of the same. Especially when he is.

Grantaire is, I mean. He gave me a smile once, you know. And money that was enough for me to eat off of for three days, because I was careful. I even gave a little bit of it to my mother. She hugged me so tight, it was good.

But it wasn't the money that made him good. It was the smile, and that he gave me his name and my prayers, and the way he spoke as if I meant something, and that he seemed to know about how living on the street hurts, and that there was something so gentle in him that I thought I would crack right open. That gentleness isn't something you see often you know. Tenderness is so rare in my life.

And this boy, this fair haired boy who's never gone hungry or hurting a day in his life. This lucky, lucky boy, who's never had to peddle that pale body. This stupid, stupid boy can't see what an incredible miracle is leaning against the wall and offering to share wine with him.

I'd take that wine. You take it too, you foolish child. You may never be offered something so good again.