Author's note Thank you for all the positive response, it really made me happy.
I decided to continue and I've spent some time writing and rewriting this chapter. I'm not totally sure about it but hopefully you will like it.

Maybe I should mention that the characters will probably be OOC. Again all mistakes are mine

CHAPTER 2

The small boy squirmed in his seat, while fidgeting with his napkin.
He felt like everyone was watching him, but everytime he looked around people were minding their own business.
"Have you decided?"
Neal lifted his head and looked at Mozzie who had patiently been watching him.
The menu was laying on the table, completely untouched. Despite the fact that he had already eaten the sandwich he was still hungry.
He was a growing boy after all, and he rarely missed an opprtuniy to eat, well except maybe for now.
The few dollars in his pocket was supposed to last him as long as possible, and even the cheapest item on the menu was too expensive for him.
As if reading his mind Mozzie suddenly said
"If it's money you're worried about, don't be. This is my treat"
"Thank you, Mozzie"
Neal felt his eyes water, it had been long since anyone offered him a proper meal.
Mozzie had invited the small boy to tag along to a nearby diner, since the child was just skin and bones.
Neal prided himself with being able to read people and sense their character, especially grown ups. As a street kid it was necessary to learn how to seperate the good from the bad. The man sitting in front of him intrigued him and he had accepted his offer, sensing that the man wouldn't hurt him ,but ready to scream bloody murder in case he was wrong.

There was a noticable change in Mozzie all of the sudden. His smile got wider as he looked behind Neal, apparently seeing something good. Neal frowned in confusion and turned to see a brown-haired waitress making her way over to their table. Neal didn't have to be a genius to see what was happening. Mozzie was crushing on that waitress, big time.
"Mozzie"
She greeted happily before placing a book on the table.
"Already?"
He asked with amusement in his voice
"I just couldn't put it down"
She answered while she lifted her little notebook and started to write
"The usual I pressume?"
"Yes please. With an addition"
Mozzie gestured to Neal and the waitress turned and looked at the small boy. She looked surprised, she had been so focused on Mozzie that she hadn't even noticed him.
She seemed to be just as into Mozzie as Mozzie was to her Neal thought as he gav her a small, shy wave.
"Aw I'm sorry, I didn't see you there sweetie"
She said before turning to Mozzie.
"I didn't know you had a child, Mozzie"
"He's my nephew"
"He's such a little cutie"
She cooed before asking what he wanted. Neal looked down at the menu, or more precisley the prices. He didn't know what was what and as the seconds went by he gave up and leaned back.
"I don't know"
He quietly said giving her a confused look. The waitress gave the child a fond smile
"How about some waffles with a big pile of cream on top?"
"Can I get it with ice cream?"
"Sure honey, would you like some crayons to draw with while you wait?"
Neal nodded and the waitress disappeared.
"You spent all that time with the menu and you didn't choose anything?"
Neal expected anger, for him taking so much time only to not even choose which was classed as rude behavior, but there was no anger in Mozzie's voice. He just sounded curious, like he was just trying to understand the boy.
It was the lack of anger that made Neal confess one of his secrets
"I can't read"
He said before looking down at his lap.

Neal stuck his tongue out in concentration as he drew on his napkin, the maze on the kid's menu already completed.
Mozzie contemplated the boy's words. Neal had been living on the streets for who knows how long and it wasn't strange that he hadn't learned to read yet but it was surprising since the boy seemed to be highly intelligent.
Mozzie glanced over at Neal's drawing, despite the cheap material being used the golden dog was highly detailed and Mozzie didn't doubt that Neal could become an artist in his future.
"It looks good, kid. You could become the next Picasso"
"I prefer Rapahel"
The kid's answer confirmed Mozzie's thoughts about his high intelligence. It was a real shame that Neal couldn't use it to it's full potential.
"I could teach you how to read"
Mozzie offered before he could stop himself and Neal stopped drawing to look up at him. His face was a mixture of hopeful and regarded as if he wanted to believe Mozzie but knew better than to trust his words.
"Think about it okay?"
He said and recevied a slow nod as an answer.

As they left the diner Neal's stomach was filled with amazing waffles and the most delicious vanilla ice cream. He couldn't really remember the last time his tummy was full but it felt great.
Mozzie started to walk away but Neal stood frozen in place in front of the diner. Was he supposed to follow or go his seperate way? Did Mozzie just want to buy him food out of pity and then walk away feeling that he had done a good deed?
Neal's anxious trail of thoughts were haltered as Mozzie called out for him, having noticed that the small boy was no longer by his side.
"If you want to survive you need to get better at pickpocketing"
Mozzie said as Neal reached him.
"I could see what you did from miles away, you were far too obvious"
Neal crossed his arms but didn't answer the man. He was probably right.
They continued to walk until Mozzie bumped into a passerby.
"See?"
Mozzie asked as soon as the stranger disappeared, showing the boy a black wallet.
"You need to be discreat if you don't want to get caught"
Neal gave Mozzie an impressed look, he had completely missed the theft despite keeping his eyes on Mozzie the whole time.
"Can you teach me?"
Mozzie smiled and continued walking.

Mozzie shook his head as he for the fourth time noticed how Neal reached into his pocket.
"No no no, you're not being careful enough"
The small boy pouted, feeling frustrated but not ready to give up. He was well aware that the better he got at pickpocketing the more money he could get.
"You need to be both fast and careful"
He instructed before placing the wallet back in his jacket.
"Again"

As the day went by Neal's fingers felt stiff and his body ached from the number of times they practiced to pickpocket while bumping into someone.
Neal was a quick learner and had managed to get the wallet without Mozzie noticiting a couple of times, something he felt incredibly proud over.
The boy looked up at the sky and realized that darkness would soon be upon them, and he should be heading home. He wasn't scared of the dark, just the people that came out at night.
He rose from his spot in the grass and looked at Mozzie who seemed to be lost in thoughts.
"I should go home now"
"Where exactly is home, kid?"
Mozzie asked without looking at him
"It doesn't matter"
"You can stay at one of my places, I assure you that it will be better than wherever you are currently taking residence"
Neal really liked Mozzie, he appeared to be slightly odd but also very nice. He was interesting and intelligent and Neal sensed that they could become really good friends one day, if Mozzie would even want that.
Neal shook his head though
"No I'm good, thank you"
Even though he liked Mozzie he felt like it was too good to be true, that this man came along willing to care for a strange street kid. Neal feared that it would all just be a trick and Mozzie didn't want anything to do with Neal at all. He feared that Mozzie was nice just to play with his feelings.
With those thoughts echoing in his head the boy left the park heading for the warehouse he called his home.