I guess it's fair to say that Angel lives for the purpose of this story. Enjoy

Moritz's POV

Stepping off the boat in New York City was like stepping into a new world. Huge buildings towered over my head, literally scarping the sky. Hundreds of people moved in a flow, heading who knows where. The sounds alone were like a jungle, car horns and human voices mingling together to create an exotic wall of sound.

Now, two hours later, I have let the noise seep into my subconscious as I roam this jungle's streets. I look at everything, for there's so much to see. Shops selling everything imaginable, the wealthy strutting like peacocks, children held safe in their parents' arms. Then, the darker side of the city, lit up with holiday lights though Christmas is still a month away. People huddled on doorsteps and in alleys, people begging for money, but also begging for something more with their eyes as I pass.

Night is beginning to fall, though the city's lights seem to make me forget this until I look at the sky. I see no stars. I begin to worry. I have no money and no place to stay. I think back, briefly, to the warm below-deck room where the crew slept, and the rough but hearty meals we enjoyed. But now I begin searching for a place to rest my head for the night. Here it is, America, I think to myself as I turn corners in this darker part of town. I'm about to search for an empty doorstep and join in the ranks of New York's homeless when a small café comes into view, drawing me in with the remembrance of food.

As I near the door of the restaurant, still unsure about whether or not to go in, a group of people tumble out. They're laughing as they start down the street, away from me, their smiles painted in their faces, seemingly oblivious to the cold evening. One woman turns her head to glance back at the man holding her hand, sees me and stops.

"Guys," she calls, and they all turn as she starts over to me. I look at the ground, but watch as her talk platform boots move towards me.

"You okay, Honey?" she asks, a few feet away from me, and I glance up at her face quickly, then do a double take. The woman before me with the tall boots and bright makeup is a man!

I take a step back as one of the men moves forward, putting his hand on his companion's shoulder.

"Hey, kid, you alright?"

I look at him, trying not to stare at his friend as I shrug. The man suddenly looks worried.

"You got somewhere to go tonight? Where are your folks?"

I take a breath before answering. "I'm alone. I've – I've got nothing. I just got off the boat today."

The man looks back at his friends, than smiles at me. "You want to stay at our place tonight, kid?" he asks, and after a second I nod, feeling both worried and relieved as he smiles at me again.

"I'm Mark," the man says as we begin down the street to his friends.

"Moritz," I say as way of introduction.

"And I'm Angel," says the person I had mistaken for a woman beside me. "Honey, you look like you've never seen a drag queen before."

I just shrug.

"Well, honey, you're sure gonna get to know me," she giggles, and for the first time since reaching New York, I can't help but smile.