Grungy
The flat was grungy. Dimly lit, it reeked of mildew. Frost covered the windows and stretched out to the walls. It was small, dark, and cold.
But it was his.
Theirs.
"Come on, Ducks."
Peter stepped into the flat. His little sister squeezed his hand tightly, staying so close to him that she must have glued her leg to his. She looked around the room and then up at him, her eyes as big as saucers. Peter suddenly felt very unsure of himself. Had this been a good idea? Or was he completely mad? Though a hard life and too many cigarettes made him look and feel much older, he was only fifteen. He couldn't possibly take care of the two of them.
But, as his eyes swept across Mavis' face, with her split lip and bruised cheek, he pushed those doubts far from his mind.
Oh, yes, he had made the right choice.
"Look, you have your own bed over here," Peter said as he led her to the far corner where he had set up a cot. "And I'm over there–" he pointed to the opposite corner– "and we have a little kitchen with a sink. And we're close to the toilet; it's only three doors down."
Mavis looked around again at the damp walls and the grungy floors. She held her tattered ragdoll tightly.
"I know it's not much," he said quickly, "but it's ours. It'll just be the two of us now. I'll take good care of you. I promise."
That, apparently, was the magic word. When Mavis looked up at him again, faith had replaced the apprehension on her face. She nodded. "I know."
Peter knelt down and hugged her tightly. He promised himself that he would do everything he could live up to the faith she had in him.
It wouldn't be easy. He had been working his fingers to the bone at every job imaginable– legal or otherwise– for the last three years to get to this moment. And now that they really were on their own, he would have to double his efforts. But he'd do it. For her, he'd do it.
"We should get a cat for the mice," Mavis said when Peter released her.
"Of course."
"Can it be orange and fluffy?" she asked.
"Any colour you want. Even purple!"
Mavis giggled. "Not purple!"
"Orange then," Peter said with a grin.
"And I'll have to stop going to school, just like you."
"No." His suddenly harsh voice made Mavis jump. Peter softened and put his hand on her shoulder. "No. You keep going to school, luv. You need to go to school. And if there ever comes a point when you can't go to school, we'll both go back to Aunt Sarah's."
Mavis' eyes widened. "No!" She threw her arms around him. "Oh, please, no! I'll go to school."
"Good." Peter pried her arms off him and patted her head. "But, listen, you come join me at the tailor shop after school. Mr. Appleman said his wife will pay you to watch the littles and help her clean."
"Really?" Mavis' eyes lit up. "She'll really pay me?"
Peter nodded. "And she'll teach you to cook. That'll do us both good. And on the weekend, we'll help Mr. Miller at the pub. You can wash dishes."
Mavis suddenly blanched and looked down as her hand went to her cheek. "But what if I drop something?"
Peter took her hand from her cheek and held it. "Then I suppose he'll say, 'Mavis, me luv, are you all right? Blimey, you gave me a scare. Not hurt are you? Well, let's clean this up then. And be more careful, we don't want these lads to get ideas!'"
Mavis relaxed and smiled at his impersonation. "And we'll see Da there, yeah?"
Peter tried very hard not to frown, and failed. But he managed to quickly replace it with a half-smile. "I don't doubt that."
"And maybe he'll stay with us here?"
Again, Peter fought very hard to keep a positive expression. When it came to their father, Mavis wasn't quite as jaded as he was.
"Could be."
He hoped not. He would have a hard enough time keeping Mavis fed– he didn't need someone else to look after. Although he supposed spending time with his father wasn't the worst thing– old dad knew the best spots for them to ply their less-than-legal trade.
"I don't care," Mavis said. "As long as you're here. We'll be together forever, yeah?"
Peter smiled at her fondly. One day she'd grow up. One day she wouldn't need him anymore. One day she might even resent him. But, until then, he would do everything he could for her.
"Forever."