The store clerk turned the corner of one of numerous aisles, his business being facing the shelves. His gray hair was collected in four spikes at the nape of his neck, just the way he liked it. He had to admit he thought his hair looked quite spectacular today; it was only natural though as he had spent a longer time than usual on it. After all, he had a date right after work, and he couldn't look sub-par when trying to attract a woman of immense beauty.

As the store clerk was daydreaming about his date later that evening, a boy and girl were hidden behind a stack of apples not too far off.

"Neo, you ready? Remember the plan?" Roman inquired.

The young girl rolled her eyes at him with a smirk on her face before nodding.

"Alright, go," ordered Roman.

Immediately, Neo started bawling her eyes out, the throttled sounds of her throat screaming as it was rarely ever used. Roman darted behind a different stack, this one full of potatoes.

The store clerk, finally waking from his daydream, heard the sounds of a child crying. Following the sounds, he discovered a girl with pink and brown hair, curled in a ball with her knees to her chest, sobbing into her arms. He could tell she was unusual; not only did her hair exclaim so, but he could feel an odd air around her.

"Dear, are you alright?"

The girl lifted her head, her eyes trailing up to his face. She shook her head.

"What's the matter? Did you lose your parents?"

Again the girl shook her head.

"Are you hungry? Do you need food?"

A sharp nod.

"Do you have money?"

Head shake.

The clerk's anxiety piqued slightly. He knew it would be considered stealing if he gave her food without her paying, but here was a young girl with no food, and maybe even no family to give her food. Wringing his hands, he decided what would be best. Picking up a sack of apples, he handed them to her, and pulling out his wallet, he also gave her some bills.

"Go pay for them."

The girl's eyes filled with wonder at his generosity as she pulled the food and money into her possession. She mouthed the words "thank you" and headed toward the registers. The store clerk watched her as she hurried to buy the food. This was sure a good story to tell his date tonight.

After Neo bought the apples, she headed to the designated place for meeting up with Roman. He sat on the fountain of the deserted park, watching the birds hop around him. As Neo approached, Roman seemed to be drawn to her as his head immediately turned to her.

"What did you get?" Roman asked. His coat was bulky and bigger in some spots than others.

Neo pulled out an apple and tossed it to him. He caught it with ease in one hand before biting into it.

"Excellent," he replied. "I managed to sneak out some bread and peanut butter before I thought someone would notice me."

He pulled two loaves of bread from inside his coat and a large jar of peanut butter. Neo smiled; she knew he had stolen those products because peanut butter sandwiches were her favorite.

The two thieves maneuvered their way through the streets before they edged into the slightly abandoned side of the city where their apartment was. Climbing the five flights of stairs, Roman led the way into their full-floor apartment in which he had carried Neo the first time they met. He set down the food in his hands before digging in to make two sandwiches. Neo followed, sitting at the island that separated the living room and kitchen, lugging the sack of apples onto the counter.

As Roman was spreading the peanut butter, his throat hummed an old tale, one in which his mother would sing to him before bed every night when he was a small child. Her melodic voice would lull him into a deep sleep, forcing the fears and poison of Grimm to flee from his mind. He remembered his father would sometimes stand in the doorway of his bedroom, leaning against the frame, listening to the beauty of his mother's voice with a smile across his face.

There was once when Roman remembered his father doing so, and Roman was nearly asleep when his mother's voice stopped. She must have assumed he was already deeply asleep, for she never stopped until she was sure his breathing was even. Roman's eyes were slightly cracked open, yet his parents were oblivious to the fact. As his mother turned to leave, her breath caught in her throat for her husband had frightened her.

"Your voice is as beautiful as always," Roman's father said.

"Hush, you'll wake him," she uttered.

"He's asleep, sweetie."

He pulled her into his embrace, setting his chin atop her head. She sighed into him, her body seeming to release any tension surely felt before.

"I'm lucky as hell," Roman's father said.

His mother pulled away slightly to look him in the eyes. "How so?" she inquired.

"Look at you. You're gorgeous. Talented. Gentle. And I have a child with you. What more could I want?"

She chuckled slightly. "I can also be temperamental, annoying, and stubborn."

"All things that make you, you. And I love it all. I love you."

She set her head on his chest again. "I love you, too."

Roman's reminiscence was interrupted by a grand rumbling from Neo's stomach, a sound so big that it should have been impossible to come from such a small package. He cracked a smile before slapping two pieces of peanut butter-slathered bread together and handing it to her. Her cheeks glowed red from the sound, and she sheepishly took the sandwich and scarfed it down. Roman finished producing his own and slowly bit out of it.

Roman's mind wandered yet again, except this time, his worst memory procured. The death of his parents still jarred him even if it had been nine months. Running for his life, the Grimm, the huntsman. It was all still fresh in his mind, not a bit capable of being dulled. From his best to his worst, and his curiosity peaked within him.

He and Neo had been living together for nine months, ever since she had saved him from the Grimm. It was somewhat lonely, living with a girl who couldn't speak, but it was also comforting in the fact that he wasn't forced to talk from politeness, but he talked to her because he wanted to. His worst memory had been shared with her six months into their arrangement. She never prodded him for what happened that day with the Grimm, whether it be due to her muteness or to her patience. Roman assumed it to be due to her patience as she could have asked in their written communication, and that's how he thought of it. Nevertheless, Roman couldn't help but wonder as to her worst memory. He was undeniably curious, yet the time Roman had asked (after he had shared his), she froze up and cut herself off from him for hours. Roman's recent reminiscence had again piqued his interest though, and with a deep breath, he readied himself for the prying question he was about to ask.

"Neo?"

The girl's eyes met his, a questioning look in her eyes as she bit into an apple.

"W-will you tell me your worst memory now?"

As if a switch had been flipped, the girl's face and body shut down. Her eyes emptied of any discernible emotion, her jaw clenched, and her whole body seemed to sag, almost as if she were limp. She stayed this way for a few moments before she seemed to regain awareness. Immediately, her hand tightly gripped the apple she was eating, and her eyes protruded a deadly glare. Roman regretted his decision, and he didn't dare meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, his head hanging. "I shouldn't have asked."

Roman could heard the deep breathing of the girl trying to calm herself. She must have been unable though as she stormed to her bedroom, leaving Roman to contemplate his rude manner and ponder on how long it would be before she came out this time.