The boy stared wide-eyed, hardly moving an inch. Up above, muscles tight and joints locked in place, Kurt smiled down sheepishly from between two high alley walls.
Inwardly, he was quite pleased that he had remembered to activate his holowatch. If the boy below was this surprised now, he could just picture the expression he would display if he had forgotten.
An awkward silence passed, and he grew uncomfortable.
"You know zat eet is illegal to beg here?"
The silence broke, and a quirky smile lifted the edge of the boy's lips.
"I'd better be careful then, I wouldn't want to be locked in a heated room with free food and indoor plumbing."
His voice was slightly higher than Kurt had expected, and had a nearly indistinguishable lilt to it, pulling out the I's just a little too long.
"Oh," mumbled Kurt, jumping down.
The other boy stood abruptly, shouldering his bag as he did so. A light clink indicated his day's earnings, however little it was.
"So, do you do not exactly live nearby?"
"You could say that."
His hand crept closer to his hip defensively, and the German made sure to keep in mind what was likely to be the location of a weapon.
"Meine name is Kurt Wagner. Who are you?"
He paused for a second in thought.
"Name's Piper. I gotta go."
As the boy turned to leave, Kurt grabbed onto his sleeve in protest, but quickly sidestepped as the shifting metallic shik of a knife sounded.
"Hands to yourself," Piper hissed, backing away. "I can walk fine on my own."
"Sorry, I just vanted to say that if you need a place to stay, zhere is a place across town zhat vill give you a room for avhile. Check it out sometime, if you need to."
The other boy nodded warily, and straightened out of his defensive position.
"Really? I might check it out. What's it called?"
"Xavier's institute. Ask for zhe Professor. He vill let you in."
"Sure…"
"It vhas nice meeting you."
The X-man smiled, and began to walk away, feeling a light twinge of disappointment when his new acquaintance didn't follow. He hated to leave a guy with nowhere to go.
Behind, piper stared vacantly at Kurt's disappearing figure, musing over the new possibilities.
Maybe I will take a visit….
Damn, I hated that chapter. Awkward, stumbly, and way too short. Still, a transition chapter. Lemme know if you hate, support if you like! It keeps me going. :P