People Don't You Understand / The Child Needs a Helping Hand

[bingobangobongo]

[It was warm -- that's why he chose it. Someone had told him it was all right. No one lived there, and sure, lots of squatters had claimed many of the rooms of the closely guarded secret, but the attic still had some space. He might find room to rest for the night there, assuming the secret hadn't gotten to many other ears in the time it had gotten to his.]

[It was a treacherous climb up the rickety ladder, especially with a heavy bag in hand, but the warmth and being out of the blistering wind made it all worth it.]

[There was a candle in the middle of the attic, burning low to the ground. Everything else was pitch to his eyes, dark and oily and mysteriously black. Good. He could get some sleep.]

Comments

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you, too. [But he was lingering because, hello, companionship? Al's social and he was finding it hard to live without those connections already.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Lifts her eyebrow when he doesn't immediately set off for the downstairs.] You waitin' on an invitation? [At that, a gust of wind threatens to shake the house off its foundation. Kara pulls a face and shivers.] 'Cause I hate to say it, but that's probably the best you're gonna get.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I mean no! No. I'm going. [Ha! He's going. Watch him go. Charlie Brownin' it outta there.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Watching him go, looking like he was headed for the gallows, tugs at her heart. He hadn't even seemed to want to talk to her, but he had shared what little food he had without asking anything in return. She got the impression there was something more to him than just another homeless kid in a dirty city.

Still, she had to save herself before she could start crusading for the rest of the world, so she ascends into her haven, meaning to pack up. As soon as she gets up there, she notices something out of place - his little rose plate, cleaned of the supper she'd taken from it last night.

She picks it up, cringing when the sleet begins to strike the roof harder. Kara glances at the ladder, at the gaping window letting the driving weather in, and then back at the ladder.] Frak! [She crosses to the ladder and scrambles down, pounding down the stairs to just catch him at the door.]

Here. [She lifts her chin, thrusting the plate at him. Now that she'd done it, she felt stupid for chasing him with a plate, but she thought maybe it held some meaning to him. Color touches her cheeks, but she forces herself to meet his eyes.] Thought you might need this.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[He takes the plate as if he couldn't imagine how he'd forgotten it and then smiled at her.] Hey, thanks.

[Al tapped the plate against his hand, looking thoughtfully distant for a moment. He cast a glance towards the stairs, then the door, and back to her.]

You really wanna stick around here, Kara?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

No, but I don't wanna go out there, either.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Gotta go sometime. It's easy to get caught up on tomorrows. [And that actually made him smile!]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Looks out the door, seeming to consider the bleak picture it painted. Truthfully, it wasn't any colder out there than inside - it was just wetter and windier. But he was right and she shrugged, looking back to him.] You want some company, then? [Hurries on to add:] For a little bit?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah. [He didn't seem ashamed to admit it, at least!] We don't have to go far.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[She tugs her coat around her tighter, nodding.] All right, kid, let's go before I change my mind.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Al nodded and pushed out into the biting sleet. He offered over his knit cap with one hand, the other pulling up his blue boxing hood from the depths of his many layers.] So... why Detroit? Have you been here all along?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Barely hesitates before tugging the cap onto her head. It was damn cold out!] Uh-uh. Just got here a coupla months ago. You?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Spent most of my time here, yeah. Grew up here.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

An' you're lighting out? [Shakes her head, ducking it against the wind.] Doesn't do much to recommend the place.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

There's nothing worthwhile here, not really. [Which was to say, he wasn't happy there anymore.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

You've certainly got a monopoly on fra- fucking cold. [Shiver, shiver, shiver.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[He laughed.] You ain't lyin' about that. I'll be glad to be rid of it a while.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[He laughs! Imagine that. The sound makes her grin.] That why you picked California?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Actually, I picked California because I like blondes. [Truth!]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Kara rolls her eyes.] Yeah, well, most of them don't like guys missing fingers and toes, kid.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Ha, I'll keep that in mind. I'm not plannin' on it, though. Besides, lotsa people go out in this and're fine. [But Al was already feeling cold and wet and much heavier than when they left not that long ago.] No different than spending time outside all day as a kid. You get used to it, y'know? Adapt.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Kara lifts her chin pugnaciously.] Hey, I been survivin' in this, haven't I? [She can't hold the look too long for exposing too much of her face from the collar of her coat makes her colder than necessary.] I just don't like it.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

I wasn't accusin' you, sorry. [Maybe he'd come off a little blunt?] I was just sayin'. I've been out in it before an' I still got all my fingers an' toes. [Of course, this cold was feeling a little extra cold.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Shrugs uncomfortably, looking down at the snow beneath their feet.] Don't need your sorries, kid. [Subject change, ahoy!] You got a short term plan, or is California just... it?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Probably gonna join the Navy. Three squares an' you're usually somewhere warm.