To any who asked, they were simply Charlie and Lynn; two kids out of Junon looking for a break from their day jobs. Traveling like the world was nipping at their heels, smelling like burned rubber and leather. A handsome pair, matching hair and opposing eyes, just enough affection so that anyone could assume that they'd been friends a long time. Their ponytails bobbed behind them as they ran laughing, hand in hand across some green field away from the cities.
"So, how long?" Lynn asked abruptly, turning to face him, tugging his hand enough to stop his running. He grinned at her, despite the seriousness of her face.
"Until they catch us," he replied lightly, "Until someone notices." She smirked. He had an odd way of stating the obvious in an endearing fashion. She cocked her head to the side and studied him.
"You know, I like this look better," she said, twirling a lock of his blond hair, "I can see why no one has recognized you either." His hair fell naturally to about his shoulders; he kept it back with one of her lime green hair ties. She used to have shorter hair, now hers fell at about the same place, bound by lime green too.
Masters of disguise they were. Funny thing that they hadn't done anything illegal to warrant such caution.
He nodded before tugging her to run again; they had a bike waiting, and it'd been too close a call this time to stay in the town at their backs. It was strangely exhilarating, the sudden departure, and once they reached the bike, and it was all adrenaline. Pure energy.
He was made to wander, and she was made to forget. They'd keep running until they were too old to do so; she was sure of that. They had both saved enough money that it was no object, and considering that they didn't have a home to upkeep... no ties.
"What's keeping you here?" she whispered in his ear, when they had both mounted the bike, still idle as he hadn't revved it up yet. He turned sideways, and gave her a wry grin.
"Because it's not too late," the excitement in his voice was not dulled by the sobriety of his words, "to live. Hell, Elena, I figured you would know that as well as I do."
Unsaid names. He only ever used her real name when he was serious. And she couldn't help but smile at its inflection.
"Let's go then, Cloud," she replied, a quick kiss to his temple, "Before the ghosts catch us." They'd spent more than enough lifetimes chasing ghosts... maybe it was time to give them a run for their money. It wasn't like they could forget them; names of a past that wasn't so long ago. But just because they had passed on... could they really punish themselves for it.
They were known only in reputation. A couple of kids riding off into the sunset; a matching pair. The rumors called them robbers and thieves; who else could have such a transient life?
But if you caught them, in one of the bars in a thousand different towns, they'd tell you stories that sounded just a little like magic, and a little like truth. If you bought them a drink, you might get a laugh out of the man, or a smile out of the woman. There was one thing you'd be guaranteed to hear from them, a motto that was one part irony and two parts unadulterated honesty.
"Don't call us Bonnie and Clyde."
AN: For Drakonlily, who wanted a happy Elena/Cloud. Well, hope this is happy enough. Blame the whole "Bonnie and Clyde" theme on the fact that I like the idea of Cloud the Wanderer, and if a girl were with him... ya. Darn me and my concept ideas...
