Authors' Note : Hey, we're back! And very, very sorry for making you guys wait (well, you FIVE guys, those who don't review don't count *pulls out tongue*). But hey, here's an extra long chapter for you as bonus for being patient! Yay! Now, we're also very, very happy to see you guys liked Dan, we're working hard to make him nice. He's a very important person in Remy's life, and we wanted to put a bit of sweetness in that horrible life Remy's had since his birth.

We should write a disclaimer, but we figured you already knew it's all ours. You should see the loads of money we're getting from writing this! Fanfiction writing is a GREAT job!

Enjoy!

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Vagabond

Chapter 2

Espion

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Remy groaned and opened his eyes, quickly closing them again. The sun was shinning down hard through the dirty glass of the window, and he pulled his coat over his head to hide his face. He opened his eyes in the darkness under his coat, and slowly lifted it. Light always hurt his eyes. He knew they weren't normal, he had seen them in the glass windows of the shops in the street, and people would scare away if he didn't have his sunglasses on. And they had made his life hell in the orphanage, enough to push him to run away. He kept his head under his coat, reaching blindly for his sunglasses, and put them on before pushing his coat off his shoulders.

He looked up through the window, narrowing his eyes at the great clock of the bus terminus. 8:30. He frowned. That was late. He never got up late, and Dan usually woke him up early to get at the market at the opening. He hadn't this morning, and as Remy glanced at Dan's mattress, finding it empty, he wondered why. He got up to his feet, dropping his coat in a heap on the thin mattress, and walked to the small table, where there was still an orange and a few apples sitting there. He reached for the last orange, hesitating, before picking up an apple. They'd get more oranges soon enough. He was walking back to his bed, brushing his auburn hair out of his eyes as he plopped down on the mattress, when he heard some footsteps outside the door.

He looked up at the door when it opened, and gave Dan a small smile. "Why didn' y'wake me up?"

Dan shrugged. "Tried. Yeh wouldn' budge. Yeh a lazy ass, Rem'." He grinned at him, opening his coat and letting a few fresh oranges roll onto the ground. He pulled a bunch of apples from his pockets, three or four boxes of matches, a handkerchief, and a fistful of money, along, of course, with his prized gold pocket watch, and laid them all down on the table. He swung the large man's trench-coat he always wore off his shoulders, tossing it on his bed. It was a light brown, old-looking, and brushed the floor when he walked. There were deep pockets in it, and it had a thick, broad collar. Many nights, when Remy was cold, Dan would drape it over the small boy, his own coat never warm enough. It was much too big for Dan, and was like a tent over the tiny Remy, but his coat, along with his pocket watch, were Dan's most prized possessions.

"Whoa," Remy said, crawling to the table and putting back his untouched apple, picking up an orange instead. He fingered the money, smiling. "Y'got lots of it."

Dan grinned, nodding. "Look." He handed him a bag, "Now y'can' complain 'bout eatin' nothin' but apples. Alright? 'Sides, apple a day keeps de doctor away, neh?"

Remy shrugged. "Never been t'de doctor, 'sides at de orphanage."

Dan nodded, "I kno'. I only been once o'twice. What I meant was dat it's healthy. Yeh gon' open dat? M'hungry."

Remy nodded and opened the bag, his eyes widening as he pulled out a fair sized loaf of bread. "I haven' eaten dat in years," he said softly, tearing off a bit before handing it to Dan. He smiled. "Merci, Dan."

Dan nodded, taking a bite before he sat cross-legged on the ground beside Remy. "T'day was a good day," he said simply, wrapping the bread back up and putting it on the table. "I need yeh, t'ough, dey never expect de little one." He sighed and looked at Remy's shoes, pointing at a hole in the side and raising an eyebrow, "dose t'ings are gon' break."

Remy only shrugged and crossed his legs, hiding his feet. "Doesn' matter. Dey're comfortable."

Dan snorted, looking down at his own shoes and rubbing the dirt off the sides. "Yeah..." He sighed. "When'd yeh wake up?"

Remy munched a few moments, frowning slightly. "Not long ago, t'was 8:30 on de big clock."

Dan nodded, laying back. "Rem'..." He frowned, glancing at him. "Nevermind."

Remy turned his head, looking at him. "S'somet'in' wrong?"

Dan shook his head no. "Non. I jus'... Jus' been t'inkin' a lot. M'friend, Vivianne... she's jus' curious, 'bout me an' yeh, an' what we do. I been avoidin' it, an' I don' kno' whether or not t'lie."

Remy pulled his legs up against his chest, leaning his chin on his knees. "I dunno her. But I heard t'was bad t'lie, sent yeh t'hell o'somet'in', so I guess it's worse with people y'care 'bout."

Dan snorted. "Den' we both goin' t'hell. S'bad t'lie, but not when yeh protectin' someone." He sighed and shook his head. "Fo'get 'bout it. I won' risk it."

Remy glanced at him. "Who yeh protectin'?"

"You," he simply replied.

Remy frowned. "I don' need yeh to. I can protect m'self."

Dan shook his head, opening his eyes, and looked up at Remy. "I kno', but howabout yeh let me try, too. I kinda like it."

Remy snorted, taking another huge bite off his chunk of bread. "Cho what're y'gonna do wi' Fifianne?" he asked, his mouth full.

Dan smiled up at the ceiling. "S'my business, Rem'." He frowned, glancing at him, "an' don' talk wit yeh mouth full."

Remy rolled his eyes, swallowing hard before talking again. "What if I wanna protect yeh? I gotta know. Y'know everyt'in' I do."

"S'cause yeh six years younger dan me, Rem'," he said simply, "Y'don' need t'kno' what I do... 'sides." He smirked, "Don' t'ink yeh can protect me from girls. Wouldn' want yeh to."

He made a face. "Yeh're yucky. What d'yeh do with dem, anyway?"

"Someday, Remy," Dan said with a smile, sitting up straight, "yeh gon' realize dat... dat," he pointed at Remy's pants, "ain' jus' fo' pissin'. Women are a beautiful t'ing. Dey soft, smooth, sexy..." He sighed happily, shaking his head, "Dere's nothin' better in dis world dan a pretty fille. Yeh'll understand it someday, Remy, yeh too young now, though."

Remy glanced down at his crotch, a deep frown on his face, before looking back at Dan, his eyes wide with surprise. "What de hell can yeh do with it?" He scrunched up his nose in disgust. "With girls? What'd dey do t'it?"

"Dey... dey... dey make it feel good, Rem'." Dan frowned, shaking his head, "I don' wanna explain dis t'yeh. I was never too good at sex ed."

Remy looked down, leaning his chin on his knees again. "Sounds important, is all. Dunno who's gonna tell me, if y'don'."

Dan sighed, staring at him for a few moments, "Alright. What do yeh wanna kno'?"

Remy shrugged. "S'jus'… I know not'in'," he mumbled, pushing his sunglasses higher on his nose and staring at the floor.

Dan stared at him. "D'yeh kno' where kids come from?"

He glanced at him before staring at the floor again, and shrugged. "Only dat dey're s'posed t'have a mom. De other kids at de orphanage said I didn' have one, dat I came from hell t'rough a hole in de ground."

"Remy..." Dan whispered, his frown deepening as he tilted his head down to meet Remy's eyes, "Yeh didn' come from hell. No one comes from hell but de devil, an' yeh not him. Y'understand? None o'dat is true."

Remy nodded, biting his lower lip. "Den why'm I diff'rent, den?" he asked in a somewhat smaller voice, looking up at him.

Dan gave him a small smile. "'Cause yeh special, Remy. Yeh lucky. Dose..." he nodded towards Remy's eyes, "people don' like dem 'cause dey scared o'what dey mean, dey don' like change. But Remy... bein' diff'rent ain't a bad thin'... bein' diff'rent is de same as bein' special, an' bein' special, means yeh got somethin' goin' fo'yeh, no matter what."

Remy stared up at Dan for a few moments, before nodding slowly, obviously not convinced. He swallowed, scooting closer to Dan, and leaned his head on the teen's arm. "But y'not scared o'it. Everybody's scared but yeh."

Dan moved his arm, sighing as he wrapped it around Remy's shoulders, and pulled him tight against him. He shut his eyes, leaning his forehead against the top of Remy's head. "Non. M'not scared, I never was. De people who are... dey stupid people, bastards. I won' let dem hurt yeh again, Remy..." He frowned, squeezing his eyes shut, "I promise."

~~~

The park was a beautiful place. Trees went high in the sky, children ran around with balls, riding bicycles, playing in the sandbox. Adults strolled around, pushing baby carriages or walking their dog, and that tall man with the blonde hair was totally oblivious as Remy walked towards him, keeping his eyes on the ground. He bumped in the man, mumbling a quick sorry before he hurried over to a tree. He reached up and climbed it, settling himself of a branch before opening the wallet he now held in his hand. He pulled out a few bills, smiling wide, and frowned at the plastic cards before throwing the wallet down the tree. He stuffed the money in his pocket, before laying over the branch and narrowing his eyes at Dan and the girl, who were still sitting on a bench nearby.

He sighed. It was the most boring thing ever. He had silently followed Dan out of their home this afternoon, and had ended here in the park. He had had a slight moment of panic, unable to hide here in the open, before noticing he could easily climb the trees. He had been bored without minutes, though, watching as Dan and the girl smooched and talked softly, grins on their faces. He was curious as to why Dan wanted to go out with a girl so badly, and since the beginning of what seemed to be the most boring conversation ever, not to mention gross, with all the kisses, he hadn't seen anything he would like about being out with a girl. He had gone down to get some money, and some fun, and he was beginning to think he should go back.

He frowned, though, when they both got up. They kissed again, and Dan waved at her as she turned and walked away. "Merde," he hissed, straightening up. He had to get back home before Dan did. He startled a bird a few branches away, though, and it flew up in panic, letting out ear-piercing screams. It flew towards him and Remy, surprised, waved it off. His eyes widened when he lost his balance, though, and fell off his branch.

He landed on his back on the ground with a loud thud. He moaned, rolling over to get to his knees. When he opened his eyes and looked up, wincing in pain, Dan was standing over him, eyes red with anger. "What yeh doin' here, Remy?" he hissed in a low voice.

Remy crawled back, straightening up and dusting his pants, biting hard on his lower lip. "Not'in'," he mumbled.

Dan frowned, reaching for his wrist to pull him to his feet in a sharp pull. He shot a nervous glance around them, relieved to see that everyone else had gone back to their activities. "Merde, Remy. I told yeh dis was my business. Y'didn' listen, o'yeh jus' didn' care? I like t'keep some stuff private!"

Remy kept his eyes down, frowning as Dan's grip tightened on his wrist. He twisted his arm, trying to pry his wrist out of his hand, without success. "I jus' wanted t'see, I was curious... I didn' bother yeh, she didn' see me."

Dan frowned. "Don' matter, Remy! Vivianne s'my girlfrien', an' dere's some t'ings between a man an' a woman dat he likes t'keep t'himself. Not t'mention de fact dat if she saw yeh, she would wanna talk t'yeh, meet yeh, kno' 'bout yeh! I like her alot, Remy, but not enough t'trust her wit' you. We ain' goin' back t'dat orphanage! Yeh gotta stop bein' so selfish!" he said in a loud voice.

Remy winced, shying back as he continued pulling on his arm. "Don' yell at me, I don' wanna go back!" he said, looking up at Dan. "I didn' mean to! Let me go!"

"Not 'till yeh listen t'me, Remy! Dis s'important!" Dan hissed, his frown deepening as his dark blonde eyebrows drew together. "Merde, yeh never listen! Y'so selfish!"

Remy narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses, stepping back. "I'm not selfish! An' I don' have t'listen t'yeh! I do what I wanna do!"

Dan pulled him forward again, lowering his face to meet the small boy's. "I take care o'yeh, Remy, an' I don' ask anythin' o'yeh except dat y'listen t'me when I ask yeh somethin'. Y'understand dat I'm de only person in dis world who's gon' take care o'yeh, dat I'm de only damn one who cares?! Yeh listen t'me, Remy! An' yeh damn well do what I want yeh t'do, an' don' do what I don' want yeh t'do!"

Remy cringed, turning his head to the side. "Y'can' tell me what t'do," he whispered, avoiding his eyes. "I didn' do not'in' wrong."

"Yes yeh did," Dan grumbled angrily, dropping his arm and taking a step back.

Remy inhaled sharply, taking a step back too, and glared up at him. "Non, I didn'! Not'in' bad happened, so I did not'in' bad!"

"Dammit Remy!" Dan yelled angrily, making Remy's eyes widen as he stepped back. The fifteen-year-old teen was frustrated with his task as 'daddy', his hands balling into fists. "Yeh impossible!"

Remy stared at him, balling his hands as well to hide the fact that they were shaking. "I already know I am!" he yelled back, taking another step back. "Y'don' have t'yell it at me!" Dan opened his mouth to reply, but Remy turned around, breaking into a run before he could say anything. Whatever it was, he didn't want to hear it.

~~~

Remy sniffed, stepping aside to let a large woman walk by. He reached up, furiously wiping the tears on his cheeks. He didn't want to cry. He couldn't cry. Crying made him feel weak, and he didn't need to be reminded he actually was.

Dan was mad at him. Very mad. He wasn't sure why. He knew he shouldn't have gone and followed him, and maybe he could have been a bit angry, but Dan had never been so mad at him. Remy sniffed again, rubbing his wrist. Dan's grip had been tight, and it had hurt.

It had scared the hell out of him. He hated it when he was scared.

Remy swallowed, blindly making his way through the crowd on the sidewalk in the French Quarter. He wasn't stealing anything, though. In a crowd like that, the occasions of picking someone's pocket without being caught were numerous, but he didn't take advantage of it, keeping his head down as he simply walked. He didn't want to go home. Not yet. Dan would be home, waiting for him, and Remy didn't want to be yelled at.

The lump in his throat grew, and he fought against a sob, sniffing loudly. He didn't like to be hurt. He had been hurt too much already, and Dan had been the one stopping it, protecting him. Remy frowned behind his glasses. If Dan hurt him, who would stop it again? Dan was the only person he could trust, the only one he even knew. If Dan hated him, if he hurt him, hit him, he didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be beaten again, he didn't want to be hurt and yelled at.

But he didn't want to lose his friend.

Remy sobbed, turning in an alley and getting out of the crowd before some grownup noticed he was crying. He could imagine it : a hand on his shoulder, a soft voice asking what's wrong, if he was lost. Then a single look at his clothes, and a look of disgust, followed with fear if they came to see his eyes. No, a grownup noticing he was crying was not a good thing. He rolled up in a ball against the wall, hiding his face in his knees and wrapping his arms around his legs. He didn't know what he'd do without Dan, he would never leave his side. He was his best friend, a bit like the father the others kids had been talking about at the orphanage. Someone who actually loved him for what he was. But Dan had looked so angry, and he had talked so loud, and his hand around his wrist had hurt. Remy tightened his arms around his legs. He didn't think what he had done was so bad, but Dan seemed to think so.

What if Dan didn't love Remy for what he was anymore?

What if Remy had gone too far?

Dan didn't have to be with him, he could leave anytime. What if he left?

Remy sniffed, squeezing his eyes shut. He didn't want to live alone. Life wasn't as bad with Dan around. It was even fun.

He opened his eyes again, looking up, and notice it was a lot darker around him. He frowned, reaching up and rubbing his eyes. It wasn't as dark moments ago, and he realized he must have fallen asleep. He struggled to get to his feet, and walked back to the opening of the alley, stepping on the sidewalk. It was dark, the streetlights were lit, and the cars' headlights were lighting their way on the pavement. It was late.

Remy frowned again. He had rarely been out in the night without Dan, if ever. He wanted to go home. Policemen would notice him, take him and bring him back to the orphanage. Remy bit his lower lip. Anything but that. Especially not without Dan. He turned around and started running back, trying to stay in the shadows. He gasped when his feet caught in a crack in the ground, though, and fell face first on the hard concrete, his palms scratching painfully against the sidewalk. His chin bumped hard on the concrete and his teeth sunk in his tongue, and he yelped out in pain, his eyes filling with tears again as he swallowed blood and stumbled back to sit on his feet.

His hands throbbed horribly, and he sobbed again as he looked down at them. They were badly scratched, tiny pebbles and bits of gravel sunk under the skin, and blood starting to ooze from the small, but deep scratches. He moaned softly and closed his fists, holding his hands against his chest.

He sobbed, feeling overwhelmed and unable to stop. His lungs hurt with every sob, his hands hurt, his chin hurt too, and his tongue was still bleeding. He reached up and wiped his mouth, and his eyes widened as he saw blood on the back of his hand. He sniffed, struggling to get to his feet. He wanted to get home. He wanted to see Dan.

"Hey, kid, yah're okay?"

Remy looked up, startled, and jumped back when he saw a man standing in front of him. He was tall, and old. Remy didn't know how old, but he looked a lot older than Dan, with white hair on his temples, a hard contrast against the rest of his hair, which was a deep brown. He was frowning, a worried look in his eyes, and leaned in, reaching out to lay a hand on his shoulder. Remy gasped and jumped back again, shying away from the man's touch. "Stay 'way! Don' touch me!"

"Hey... hey..." The man said in a soft voice, raising his hands as he took a step back. He gave Remy a soft smile. "Ah'm not gonna hurt yah. Jus' wanted t'make sure you were alright, it's kinda late for yah t'be out on the streets, an' alone nonetheless. How old are yah, kid?"

Remy frowned, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand again, and swallowed the lump in his throat. "S'not too late. I was goin' back."

The man lowered his hands, raising his eyebrows. "Where are yah parents?"

Remy's frown deepened. "I don' have t'tell yeh, I don' know yeh."

He smiled softly. "Well they taught yah good not ta'speak t'strangers, but Ah think yoah lost. Yah need help?" He narrowed his eyes, looking down at Remy's clothes, and bit his lower lip. "Food, kid? Yah hungry?"

Remy's eyes widened a bit, but he swallowed and shook his head. "I shouldn'."

The man crouched down, dropping to Remy's eye-level. "It's just food. There's nothin' wrong with food. Ah won' hurt yah."

Remy's frown returned. He wanted to believe him, badly, and the man didn't look dangerous. He looked down at his hands, biting his lower lip as seeing them brought back the pain, and quickly looked away. "Okay," he whispered, staring at the sidewalk.

The man smiled at him, getting to his feet. He walked a pace or two, turning to look at Remy before nodding him in the right direction, "come on."

~~~

Dan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he walked up the streets. It was hot that day, and humid as hell. He had a feeling it would rain. He let out another soft sigh and looked up at the sky. Why was he thinking about the weather, anyway? Remy's face swam into view and he remembered why. He was trying to forget that morning in the park. That morning that he had found Remy, screamed at him, and made the little boy run away. He swallowed hard, looking down. He hadn't meant to yell so much. He was just… scared. Vivianne was a normal girl, nice, privileged. She didn't live in an abandoned warehouse, steal to eat, to live, and she didn't have a nine year old to care for. Everything she did, aside from a few pranks and drinking incidents, was legal. Her father, nonetheless, was on the city council. He was a lawyer, and worked with the police department. Vivianne knew the laws, and despite accepting Dan -the little she knew about him- he knew she wouldn't be able to keep his real life a secret. Even if she would, he couldn't tell her. He didn't trust her with Remy. Hell, he didn't trust anyone with Remy, only himself.

But now… He groaned, trudging through the streets as he saw the old, rundown home. Did Remy even trust him anymore?

He shouldn't have raised his voice, he shouldn't have grabbed onto him. Remy didn't have a drop of self-confidence in his body, he was terrified, of everything, and despite putting on his brave face and cocky smile, his heart was filled with nothing but self-doubt, self-hatred. It broke Dan's heart. Remy had had a hard life, and he didn't need to add to it, but all he had been trying to do was knock some sense into the boy. Things were bad for him, too, after all. He had to raise a little kid, no parents of his own to speak of, and no idea what to do or how to act at 15. It was hard, the hardest thing he ever did, and he wasn't even sure if he was doing it, if he was raising the kid at all. It didn't seem like it sometimes. Remy didn't listen to him, he was reckless, he didn't think before he acted. For someone as cautious as Dan was, as guarded as he had become for both of their sakes, and for the situation that Remy's appearance and their poverty put them in, that boy had to be the most terrifying thing he had in his life. There was a risk, always a risk of them getting sent back to the orphanage. Remy being put in some sort of boy's home while Dan was shipped to a reform school. He would end up lonely, miserable, and plagued with guilt at the thought of what his friend was going to… and there was no guarantee that Remy wouldn't just end up dead.

He had to protect him, even if it meant yelling. Remy had to understand.

He walked around to the back of his house, climbing through the hole of a door and hurrying up the crumbling steps to their area. "Remy!" He called quietly, swinging his trench coat off his shoulders and glancing around for the familiar auburn-headed boy. "Remy?" Dan frowned, narrowing his eyes as he walked around to examine the house more closely. He checked all of the rooms, all of the nooks and crannies, all of the holes, trapdoors, dusty corners, but Remy was no where to be found. Dan started to run, frantically re-checking every area. "Remy?" He called, eyes wide as he peered around the main room again. He swallowed and reached for his trench-coat, taking off again towards the door, "REMY!!"

~~~

Remy looked up at the man and followed him, wondering where he was taking him. His eyes widened behind his glasses as they walked in a small café. He felt out of place, and lowered his head, but it smelled good, and he felt his stomach growl in anticipation. The man talked briefly to the hostess, who frowned as she glanced at Remy, but led them to a small table anyway. They sat down, first the man, and then, cautiously, Remy, and the hostess handed them menus. The man smiled. "Anythin' yah want, kid... Mah name's Wally."

"I'm Remy," he said softly, staring at the menu in front of him. What in the world was he supposed to do with that? He ran a hand on the plastic cover, biting his lower lip. "I can' read dat," he whispered.

Wally raised his eyebrows, and nodded, taking the menu. "Alright," he said in his soft voice. He was quiet until the waitress arrived, her nose still wrinkled up in confusion.

"Yeh kno' what yah want?"

"Ah'll have a cup of coffee, an' get tha'kid a cheeseburger and French fries." He glanced at Remy, "yuh not allergic or nothin'?" Remy shook his head no, eyes wide, "an' a coke, too."

She raised her eyebrows. "Anythin' else?"

Wally shook his head no, and she nodded, taking the menus from them and leaving. Remy bit his lower lip again, staring at his hands. He finally looked up after a few moments, staring at Wally's face. "Why're yeh doin' dis fo'me?"

"Yah looked hungry," he said simply, smoothing out his napkin on the table. He looked up at him. "Yah don' have parents, do yah?"

Remy narrowed his eyes, looking down again. Bad territory. That man could send him back to the orphanage in a flash. "Yeah, I do."

Wally nodded. "Why can't yah read, Remy?"

He swallowed, licking his lips. "Bad eyes. S'why I gotta wear de glasses."

Wally nodded again. "Yah like cheeseburgers?"

Remy hesitated. "Never had one." He kicked himself mentally, before quickly adding, "m'mom says it's not healthy."

Wally smiled. "Well, they're good. Most kids yah age like them... What are yah? Seven?"

Remy frowned, looking up at him. "I'm nine."

"Oh." Wally chuckled. "Ah'm sorry. Yah just look young." He was quiet until the food came, eyes intent on Remy as the woman lowered the large plate in front of him. He smiled as he watched Remy's eyebrows raised high above his glasses, and reached for his coffee.

Remy stared at his plate for a few moments, wondering how he was going to eat the whole thing, and finally reached up to pick up a fry. He brought it to his mouth, and gently bit in it. His face broke in a large grin, and he took another bite. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard. "Dis' good," he said, reaching for another fry.

Wally smiled and nodded, nursing his coffee as he watched Remy eat the French fries and then the burger as well. He chuckled when he was done. "Yah like that?" he asked, taking a large swig of coffee and smiling. "Yah sure do eat a lot. Ah'm afraid your mother will be angry with me."

Remy shrugged, and reached for the glass. He frowned at the dark content, but brought it to his lips nonetheless. He took a sip and licked his lips, before deciding it was good, and taking another sip. "She don' know yeh, she can' be mad at yeh if she don' know who yeh are."

Wally's smile widened. "No. I suppose not. Do yah want anythin' else? Yah should be gettin' home soon, shouldn't yah?"

Remy's eyes widened, and he looked outside through the window. Dan would be dead worried by the time he came home. "Yeah, I should." He looked back up at Wally. "Merci fo'de cheeseburger, sir."

He shook his head. "Think nothing of it. Do yah need a ride?"

Remy shook his head, starting to slide down the chair. "I have t'go now."

Wally nodded. "Alright. Be careful, these streets are dangerous."

Remy nodded and got to his feet. "Merci 'gain, sir. G'night."

"Goodnight." He replied with a soft smile, narrowing his eyes.

Remy turned around and left the café under the wary gaze of the waitress, and pushed the door to get outside. It had started to rain softly, a light drizzle making his hair wet in a few minutes as he hurried towards home. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, lowering his head. He sure hoped Dan wouldn't be too mad.

~~~

Dan took off out the front door, his feet pounding hard on the wet pavement as rain poured down atop of him, drenching his hair and coat. He frowned, eyes wide as he glanced nervously around the empty streets. His heart was thumping like mad in his chest, and there was a ringing in his ears. Remy. He had to find Remy. He started running, one direction and then the next, stumbling over his large trench-coat more than once. The late-nighters on the streets gave his shabby clothing dirty looks, snorting and tossing change at him every time he would pause to think. Dan ignored them, though, and simply took off in another direction, checking every nook and alleyway he saw. He was worried, terrified, of what might have happened to his little friend. His little brother. Remy didn't go out alone at night, it was the one thing he listened to Dan about. It was too dangerous, the boy was only nine. Nevertheless, when he had returned home after their fight, he had found the place empty, abandoned even more than it had been before. Remy was no where to be found, and he had started to panic. What if he had run away? Gotten kidnapped? Hurt? Picked up by the police? His eyes widened as he ran to a hump of clothing in the corner of an alley, letting out a heavy sigh as he realized Remy wasn't buried beneath it. The police were bad, and so was getting hurt. He could be at the orphanage already, or at the hospital and on his way there. "Merde, Remy," he hissed desperately. He didn't know what he would do without the kid. He was more than a friend, an older brother, he was like a father, and Remy was the only person he could say he'd ever really die for. He swallowed hard and retraced his steps, getting closer to their abandoned home as he switched directions. He needed that little boy, despite his flaws, and Dan was worried to death. He ran a little faster, skidding and tripping over the wet ends of his coat. He fell on his wrist, injuring it, but paid no attention as he started running again. Where was he?

He glanced up the east side. swallowing hard as his eyebrows knitted together again. His eyes widened, though, mouth opening as he saw a small, lone figure making its way down the street. "Remy!?"

The little boy looked up, and stopped dead in his tracks as he recognized Dan. He simply stood there, staring up at him. "Dan?"

Dan's shoulders slumped in relief as he let out a low sigh, "Merde." He shut his eyes, and started walking towards Remy. He didn't hesitate as he pulled the boy tight against his chest, squeezing his eyes shut tight. "Remy..." he hissed, hugging him tight before dropping down to look him in the eye. "Where have yeh been?"

Remy bit his lower lip, reaching up to brush his wet hair out of his eyes. "'Round. Sorry I'm late."

The corners of Dan's lips twitched up as he followed the boy's hand with his eyes. They snapped back to Remy's, however, and he frowned. "Yeh scared de shit outta me."

Remy swallowed, looking down. "I didn' mean to. Sorry."

Dan sighed. "Jus'... don' scare me like dat, Remy... I thought somethin' bad had happened to yeh." He shook his head firmly, looking down as he ran a hand through his hair. "M'sorry, Rem' I... I din' mean t'yell at yeh. I was scared den, too."

Remy frowned, looking down at his hands. "Y'scared me, too," he whispered, and swallowed again. "M'sorry I followed yeh."

He shook his head. "S'not dat... I jus'... I don' wanna risk it, Remy. I don' want yeh t'get taken away." He looked up and smiled weakly before pulling Remy into another hug. "I kinda like yeh. 'Sides, I think I'd miss dose thievin' skills o'yours."

Remy nodded, pulling back. "I hid somewhere, an'… I fell asleep… T'was late when I woke up, an' I ran t'come back, an'... an' I tripped." He held out his hands, biting his lower lip. "Kinda hurts."

Dan frowned down at them and nodded. "Come on..." he said with a sigh, straightening up as he steered Remy back towards their place. They went upstairs, and Remy washed his hands out with the water they collected from the rain before sitting down so Dan could take out the small pieces of gravel. He sighed when he was finished, giving Remy a soft piece of cloth as a surrogate for a band-aid. "S'de best I can do," he said with a frown, flexing his injured wrist as he laid back down. "M'exhausted."

Remy nodded and looked down at his hands, fingering the soft cloth. "Dan?"

"Yeah?" Dan asked, still rotating his wrist. He winced, frowning down at it before glancing up at Remy.

He looked up, frowning slightly. "Y'still mad at me?"

Dan stared at him for a moment before smiling slightly. "Non."

Remy gave him a shy smile, crawling back on his mattress and pulling his legs against his chest. "I won' follow yeh 'gain, I promise." He frowned slightly. "T'was borin' anyway."

He nodded, laying down as well. "M'jus' frustrated. I din' mean t'tell yeh dat y'were impossible. Y'seem so, sometimes, but m'not gon' leave yeh, Rem'..." He raised his eyebrows. "S'long as yeh don' leave me, kid."

Remy shook his head, pulling his coat over him. "I don' wanna be alone," he said softly. "Dunno where I'd go."

Dan pulled his trench coat off his shoulders, sitting up and tossing it over to Remy before laying on his back. He looked up at the ceiling. "I meant what I said, t'ough. Yeh gotta listen t'me... I only do it t'help yeh."

Remy buried his face in the pillow, reaching up to stare at the bandages on his hands. "I know," he said softly. "M'just not used t'listen t'someone."

Dan nodded, shutting his eyes. "Tomorrow we get blankets." He mumbled, lacing his fingers across his stomach, "Did yeh eat?"

Remy bit his lower lip, closing his eyes. "M'not hungry."

Dan nodded again. "Bonne nuit," he mumbled lazily.

Remy opened his eyes, looking over at Dan's form on the mattress. He smiled, relieved, and pulled the two coats tighter around himself. "Bonne nuit, Dan."

Foo and Fleur

Review comments : (hehe, review comments from both of us! See the name in [] to know who's speaking to you…)

ishandahalf : Okay, so you want Romy. I'm afraid we're gonna have to disappoint you, my friend… Yes, this story occurs before the Xmen, and IF we decide to continue writing the story once he gets with them (which, considering how hard we tend to fall for our stories once they're started, wouldn't be surprising), Romy is still an awful LOT of chapters away. There will be flirt, seduction, love and smut, though, do not fear. With me around, those things are never very far… [fleur] Ahh yay! Ish likes our name! You'll have to thank Fleur for that one, though, my only requirement was FOO in big letters *chuckle* And yay again! Ish likes the story, too! Haha, I am just going to ignore zee Romy comments ((teeheehee, or let Fleur explain so that you don't keeeeeel poor lil' ol'me)) but don't worry, like m'dearest friend said, there will be lots of smut… even if some of it is with that icky-garbaged-face-blonde-beeeeyotch *cowers* And YAY! Ish likes Dan! Foo, is the voice of Dan, and let me tell yah, it is REALLY HARD to make him mad at that sweet lil' Remy, so it's refreshing to have them being nice together. Oh yes, like Dan, like Dan oodles, he's great. Thank yah for the review, and KEEP READING!! [foo]

Leishy : Yes, Remy is very cute. Being Remy's voice in this story, I'm trying reaaaaally hard to make him cute, adorable, innocent and all, so it's even easier to make his life miserable in the following chapters. Don't you wanna hug him? [fleur]  *narrows her eyes* Foo doesn't get to hug him… well, she did in this chapter… but for zee most part I'm YELLING at the poor thing. I think Fleur makes him as cute as possible to be cruel to meee, since I am zee voice of Dan. Yelling at Remy is hard!! Thanks for zee review!!! [foo]

Lydia : Thanks for the email! It would be very, very appreciated if you reviewed through the little lavender button at the bottom of the screen, though… See the purty lavender button? Yup, right there. Let's make that number of reviews go up! Up, I say! [fleur] Yes, lavender, or indigo, whatever. The ugly-colored button… danke danke danke for the review!  [foo]

Yogie16 : Oh yeah, girl, we rock.[fleur] Haha, yes fleur, we kick major ass. Have you read our other stories? I haven't seen you on my reviewer list, but I'm sure me and Fleur would love too. We love new readers! Ahhh and gracias for the review! [foo]

Panda-Monium : I don't know why we haven't got any more reviews either, and yes, we deserve more (I'm a very modest person), but heck, we're having so much fun writing we could just write and never post it up, and we'd still be happy. Those YahooIM conversations (MSN is the devil) are the sun of my crappy, crappy days. And of course we'll write more Remy! I'm loving it. I won the privilege of writing him in the story, and he's loads of fun. I've already asked Leishy, but I'm asking you too : don't you just wanna hug the poor thing? [fleur] I do! And I have, virtual hugs are the best. Do you want one? *virtual hug* …*virtual hug* *virtual hug* *virtual hug* hehehehehehe. Merci fo'de review!! [foo]