Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
It was nights like this that he enjoyed the most, the slow sort when not many people were out; he could take in the splendor of the city and it's lights then. Brilliant neon signs, billboards in a language that, at one point, he couldn't read, cracked mortar in old buildings; it was so very different from where he came from...yet so peaceful. Many people might've complained about a slow night but none would come from Milo, he enjoyed the silence that was afforded to him. The raven found himself leaning forward, his elbows on the counter to brace his weight as he peered out from under the awning; gloomy blue eyes taking in the detail and relative desertion of the streets.
Given the hour it was, this wasn't surprising, Tokyo was so very unlike Seattle; Seattle never truly slept...though sometimes it seemed Tokyo did in the wee hours of morning. This was one such morning, or at least on this little side street it was. The occasional passerby, but no eye contact was made, nor any indication that they'd be stopping at his booth...perhaps he'd get to go home a bit earlier if this kept up. His boss, a rather frugal man, didn't like to waste power and resources for less busy nights, Milo had his own opinions of this; but if it meant he'd get off earlier he wouldn't complain.
At least, that's what it looked like until he caught sight of someone in the distance eyeing the little booth he was manning; he couldn't make much out but...it looked like a man. Those stormy eyes of his glanced to the side at him before turning to face him, was the guy going to order something or just gawk? He could hardly see him, but he knew well enough the sensation of being looked at. Normally, Milo might not have said a thing to him and just let him approach of his own accord; but he found himself calling out to this one for reasons he couldn't explain. He just...felt as though he should.
"Can I help you?" Theraven spoke up, his voice a bit louder than normal so that it would carry to the stranger, his Japanese coming out with a faint American accent to it. It was something he'd likely never be able to get rid of, but at least this guy might be able to understand and answer him.
This was the safest time of night, he’d learned. A weekday, it was quiet, though only for an hour or two, and he could let his guard down the tiniest bit. Somehow, Leo managed to get this far, but likely wouldn’t get much further now he was fresh out of cash. He’d stolen a wallet just about three days prior but hadn’t gotten incredibly lucky. Enough money for a coffee, a humble convenience store meal and snack, and an easy way to cover a few stolen prepackaged nutrition bars. It was around eleven the night before that hunger really started to hit, and it’d been more than twenty four hours since then. He couldn’t even sleep it off, setting up in whatever sheltered area he could find but never really getting to sleep.
What a stupid fucking idea. Escape one hell, end up in another. He had never been this sort of impulsive and found himself wondering if it would’ve been better if he’d just stayed in that house and endured it or just left for a different god damn state like a normal person. Now he was in this country with a Japanese vocabulary of no more than twenty words, no money, no house, and a drinking problem. At least if he’d stayed in America, he could’ve communicated without getting that judgmental you’re a foreigner glance or understood what the cops were saying when they chased him out of his hideaway for the night.
It was nothing he could change now, though. Now, he couldn’t get his mind off the ramen booth just ahead. He had never been so hungry in his life. His eyes wouldn’t focus on any of the menu signs posted around the both and even if they’d managed to, he wouldn’t have been able to read them. He just leaned against a wall and took in the scent. The piquant, salty broth and the savory meats - the kind that he was sure would melt in his mouth, the boiling pasta water, and the sweet, crisp aroma of fresh cut chives. His stomach cramped with hunger pains and he groaned quietly. Standing here was like tying a carrot to a stick and dangling it in front of his own face and it was beyond him why he hadn’t just moved right along. Maybe he was considering stealing. There was only one guy working at the stand and Leo had a knife. But it was sort of hard to rob a ramen joint since he’d have to wait for it to be put together for him. He let out a defeated sigh and tried to remember where the closest convenience store was. He could just pocket a few more things to get by.
Resigned to that plan, he pushed off the wall but stopped when a voice called out. Leo looked over, blinking at him, then surveyed the area to see if he was talking to him. Not a soul in sight. He was. What had he said? Ika..ika ga....Something like...like...
Was he calling him a squid?
Probably something that could be loosely translated as order something or get the fuck out of here. Fair. He was used to that.
“Sorry,” he muttered and sighed, continuing in english he assumed wouldn’t be understood. “I was just looking.”
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
He watched with a good deal of sympathy hidden away in his gloomy eyes at the sight of the flinching and the loud growl of the stranger's stomach. Milo knew what that felt like, though as the stranger turned to walk away and English came out from him, the raven quickly barked out.
"Can't very well look from over there," his English flawless, indicative that he also wasn't from here. It was only then that Milo registered that his voice sounded...young. What was someone so new to the world doing wandering around at this hour, starving to the point of it hurting? He tried not to be nosey or presumptuous but...some part of him couldn't help but feel a bit concerned. At 18, Milo had been in such a position, though he was homeless after making one of the stupidest, yet also best choices of his life. He'd never regret fleeing America, there was nothing there for him anymore; his home was as good as gone...best to leave while he still could've. Tokyo was...well it wasn't perfect but it was certainly better than Seattle had ever dreamed of; at least to the raven.
Given that his response to a statement in Japanese was made in English...Milo concluded that he might not know much of the language; enough to understand at least, yet not enough to respond. He sighed, he could feel himself sticking his nose somewhere that he shouldn't but...something about this just didn't sit right with him. There were too many little things about this situation that were slightly off, even though the interaction was only a second or two long.
"I can read the menu for you if you need, or you can go on. There's other things on the next street if you don't want ramen." He offered with little reason for doing so. Perhaps it was because he was worried, or perhaps it was just because he saw a little bit of himself in this guy who seemed to have found himself in a foreign country yet knew nothing of how to speak; only how to listen. If the guy declined his offer well...then unfortunately there wasn't anything Milo could do for him; though he certainly seemed hungry enough to eat anything that came his way.
Leo drew in a breath and stopped, lingering in place for a moment before he looked over his shoulder at the other boy. He was debating. It was probably better just to move on. This guy wasn’t going to and couldn’t help him at all, and Leo needed to get to the twenty four hour convenience store while the clerk was still dozing off at the counter. But hearing that natural English stabilized his sanity meter more than he thought it would. So he turned and listened to what he said next, if only to feel that tiny hint of familiarity a little longer.
He wanted to read the menu for him. Or...there were a few more options the next street over. It was nice of him to offer and let him know, but even if he could read it, there wasn’t much he’d be able to do from there.
“I can read it,” he snapped and recoiled at his own words. A weird thing to lie about. He wasn’t sure why it irked him so much. It was pretty fucking obvious how lost he was. “Um, I- Thanks,” he mentioned, embarrassed to have to tell him, “but I don’t have any money. I, um, lost my wallet.” Leo shifted, stepping a little closer like a timid cat. Being closer made his stomach churn like it was going to growl again. It smelled so good. But maybe he could ask, “Do you have any just...cups of water?” He shifted and watched the other boy carefully, hopeful but not expecting anything. The food thing sucked, but the dehydration made his entire body feel anxious.
He started considering his options again. This guy seemed pretty harmless. He could probably pull out his knife and take whatever money he had back there no problem. But he hadn't had to use it yet. He had stolen a few things, sure, but robbing someone with a weapon was a totally different game. Could he do it? Would he put up a fight? Would he have to hurt him? How much money did he have back there? Would it even be worth it?
His weight shifted as his mind wandered, waiting to hear his answer.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
He watched silently as the stranger paused, lingering for a mere instant before he snapped at him. At this, Milo jerked his head back a bit, only to roll his eyes at the way the other seemed surprised by his own tongue. Great, now he really saw a lot of himself in this dude; another fool with a sharp tongue that didn't know when or how to wield it and regretted it immediately after. This was his karma, he'd accept it and make the most of it...and try to help the poor guy out in some way. Though what he heard next set off some alarm bells.
Milo raised a brow at this. Given his birth date, he was a connoisseur of scents...he knew bullshit when he smelled it. He opened his mouth to say something snarky, considering the guy thought being snappy and perhaps lying twice was a good idea; however he stopped as he watched how timidly the other man stepped into the light. When he saw him clearly, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. He was young and...so skinny, his clothes dirty and his hair unkempt; looked like he hadn't eaten or slept in a while...poor thing was definitely homeless or close to it. So when he asked for water, Milo figured that was the least he could give him.
"Yeah here I'll get you some in one of the big to-go cups," he murmured, seeming to take sympathy on the young man who wasn't too much younger than him. Had Milo been 18 and in that period of his life, they might've been running the streets at the same time. So when he went to fill up the large to-go container as promised, a heavy sigh left him. No...he couldn't let the kid just take water and hope someone else would give him food; hell he was probably stealing. Milo had done that too when he was desperate, stealing food, stealing money, stealing random shit to sell...when you were starving morals went out the window; everything was justifiable because it felt like you were always dying no matter what you did. So as he filled up the cup, he shook his head and placed it on a counter out of the other's reach. Grabbing one of their standard ramen bowls and a ladle before tossing however much Yen it was into the nearby register. It wouldn't break him, he'd saved enough to have a decent amount of money. Feeding one down on his luck kid wouldn't make a difference to him at the end of the day; but it might buy this poor guy a bit more time.
He glanced up from the register then to the nameless stranger covered in grit from the street. Grabbing the oversized water cup and placing it down where the other man could reach.
"You must've lost that wallet a couple of weeks ago...for your stomach to be growling like that." The raven remarked, before closing up the register, walking back to the ramen bowl and soup ladle he'd fetched. He filled the bowl as normal, noodles with the wonderful fish broth that was so popular at the booth, a whole egg rather than a mere half, a few slices of pork, green onions, mushroom slices, and beansprouts; something that had to smell like a little piece of heaven for someone so hungry. Though he didn't give it to the kid just yet. Instead he eyed him for a second.
"You sure all you want is water? That's it?" He asked, the delicious bowl still in hand as he fished out a clean pair of chopsticks and a spoon. Regardless of what this kid said, he was getting food, Milo had already made that decision for the both of them.
“Yeah, maybe I did,” Leo challenged. Though he probably could’ve toned back the defensiveness, it wasn’t any of this guy’s business when or if he’d lost it. His cheeks had warmed at the other’s observation, though. The aggression was merely the culmination of his current stressors and the embarrassment the comment made him feel, so he didn’t mean it. Emotions weren’t something he could handle like a normal person. He’d call it being edgy - really it was a learned survival response. A solid wall to put up to avoid vulnerability at all costs.
He felt eyes on him and glanced up to accidentally meet them, redirected them downward and kept them there. He watched him fill the water and moved to reach out for it but the guy kept it behind the counter and started building a bowl of ramen. The fuck was that for? He was gonna make him watch as he made food Leo couldn’t afford? The guy seemed nice but maybe he wasn’t. Did he expect Leo to magically conjure up a few hundred yen? He couldn’t even be mad. Couldn’t dedicate himself to the one emotion long enough as he hyper-focused on hunger. He never thought the sloshing sounds of food being added to broth could be so appetizing. Everytime he added something else, the smell wafted over to him, leaving Leo drooling with a stomach turning inside out in that nauseating way over the fantasy of eating rich, hot food. His eyes watched his hands and he shifted anxiously, glancing at the water before looking back to the food.
You sure all you want is water?
Of course he wasn’t sure. He was starving and by now they were both pretty clear on that. Like he said, though, “I told you. I don’t have any money.” But fuck, did it look good. Good enough that he was considering slipping into a bar to steal a wallet to get some. Enough that he was still thinking about the knife in his pocket. His cheeks burned hot again and he rolled his eyes at himself and his entire situation. So fucking stupid. If he stood there any longer, he was certain he’d pass out from the taunting scents. “I doubt you want me hanging around here any longer. Can you just give me the water?”
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Another challenge, man this kid was spunky; though Milo remembered being much of the same. There was no real bite to it, being on the streets made you that way. People treated you like dirt over something you were already ashamed of, you were blamed for your circumstances, terrified, starving, feeling disgusting on top of it all; it did things to you. It turned people, who might've otherwise been friendly and generally nice, into frightened animals ready to lash out for any given reason. So rather than calling this kid a bitch ass and chunking the water at him, as someone had done to Milo in that state, he merely ignored his snippiness as though it didn't phase him.
He waited for the other man to answer, noting that he didn't necessarily say all he wanted was water; not that his response mattered at this point as he held the bowl of delicious ramen in one hand and picked up the cup of water in the other.
"You're gonna need more than water if you think you'll get any rest out here." He responded, hinting that he'd picked up on this guy not having anywhere to go home to; though by his appearance that was already rather obvious...to Milo at least. That last sentence that came out of the stranger's mouth though...that made him wince. Poor guy was probably used to being run off from every place, having homeless people around, in they eyes of some, wasn't a good look. As disgusting as that sounded.
He allowed a brief moment of silence to pass before he moved to set the bowl, chopsticks, soup ladle, and the large container of water down for the stranger on the portion of the counter for guests. Pushing it gently so that he'd get the hint to come claim his food.
"It's on me. Best eat it while it's hot. You can stay here or take it somewhere, you're not bothering me." The raven murmured, stepping back and carrying on about his business as though the homeless young man was just another customer. A few hundred Yen wouldn't put him in the hole, but it wasn't something he could afford every day. His mind wandered for a second, knowing that one bowl of ramen wouldn't keep this guy from becoming yet another corpse but...perhaps some of the left-overs would. His brain did the math then, wagering that he usually had enough left for two to three bowls. One could go to that sweet boy he'd been followed home that night, another could go to this kid if he stayed nearby enough...on nights when he didn't have two; perhaps he could afford to cover a bowl. That surely wouldn't put much financial strain on him if it wasn't a frequent occurrence.
"Let me know if you need a refill on the water, or any napkins."
Water or not, he wasn’t getting rest. He learned that pretty fast. He was too on edge and cold and hungry to get any real sleep. And if he did manage to doze off, he was usually woken up by cops or an annoyed shop owner. The comment was almost lost on him but he barely caught what he was saying. That he knew Leo was on the streets. Hunger aside, he guessed it was probably pretty obvious. Not only was he hungry, he probably looked abhorrent. He felt greasy as hell and his hands alone had so much dirt on them he was practically wearing gloves. His clothes were trashed and he probably smelled like trash. Couldn’t have been hard to put the pieces together.
The guy set out the ramen and the water, pushed it forward. He knew he was, well, that he was homeless, huh? So this was pity. Tch. He didn’t fucking want it. He was doing fine by himself and hadn’t relied on the kindness of a single stranger this entire time (mainly because it had yet to be offered) and it wasn’t about to become a habit. He frowned at the offering. It felt wrong to take it but he wouldn’t decline it. Couldn’t afford to. Sliding onto a stool, he pulled it closer, breath shaking just a little. For real? He could have it? He watched him warily as he took up the spoon, pressing the noodles down to fill it with broth and bringing it to his lips and-
He blinked ahead of himself. Fuck. It was good. Leo set down the spoon and leaned forward, face held in his hands, jaw clenched and eyes squeezed tightly shut. His fingers tangled into his hair. Fuck. Fuck. Was he about to cry like a damn idiot in front of the ramen guy at three in the morning? A steadying breath and he picked it back up, this time shoveling it in so fast it made his stomach hurt. It was so rich. He hadn’t had anything like this in so long… Even before he left the states he was getting by on frozen dinners and occasional snacks. The only thing that could’ve made it better was booze.
He chugged the water between big bites, filling up fast but shoving it down even after he was way too full. He partially expected not to be able to keep it down and it made him sad. He hoped that he could savor the taste as it was now and not have it tainted when it came back up as vomit in an hour or so. When all the solid food was gone, he picked up the bowl to drink what remained of the broth, setting it down with the chopsticks next to it.
“Can you fill this up again?” he requested, wiped his mouth with the back of his arm like he was eight. “And...thanks. I’ll pay you back. Once I find my wallet.”
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Milo watched as the spunky little fool seemed to debate taking it for an instant...honestly if he was that stupid there was nothing anyone on this earth could've done for him. Going as the stranger was now, he wouldn't be long for this world, either starvation or sickness would claim him and lead him down a river with coins on his eyelids into the unknown. Yet still, the raven seemed to hold his breath, stepping back from the food and only exhaling once the other slid into the seat and brought the ladle filled with broth to his lips. What followed next was well...half of what he expected; he predicted the emotion that bubbled up, yet made no comment of it and instead merely walked back to the register, flashing Leo a sympathetic glance for a millisecond.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as the starved young man wolfed the food down, a bowl that Milo himself couldn't even finish, with frightening speed. If the kid wasn't careful, he'd make himself sick or rupture his stomach but...fortunately he seemed to run out before he could do that. The raven just hoped he didn't throw it all up later; that'd be an awful waste and would just dehydrate him more. Perhaps he'd fight to keep it down, for all the other man knew this was a one time occurrence and...after seeing the display he just had; Milo was determined for this to become more regular. Granted, ramen wasn't the most nutritious thing he could be eating, but it would keep him from dying so young at least.
The last thing Milo ever wanted was for a young life to be snuffed out, especially by something like this that could be helped when he specifically could do something about it. He didn't want to clock out of work and run into this poor kid's corpse being eaten by rats or searched for valuables by the more dubious of Tokyo's denizens. So when the other requested more water, Milo was more than happy to oblige.
"Yeah, I'll get you a top for it too," he replied, noting the child-like wiping of his mouth...poor thing really was too young for this life; it hurt him to see it. Yet the raven took the cup from him, not flinching from his dirty hands or smell, a few years ago he'd been in the same position and recalled how much it upset him. The last thing he'd want to do was flinch or screw his face up when the guy obviously couldn't help it, no one would choose to be so dirty. He turned around then to fill it, not stopping until it was at the top with warm water given the cold evening and reaching under the counter for a lid to suit the container.
At the statement about paying him back, an eyebrow raised...yeah no he wasn't seeing that couple hundred yen ever again; he wouldn't miss it. He didn't care about it much.
"Don't worry about it," he replied, speaking over his shoulder as he put the lid snugly onto the container, shaking it a bit to make sure it wouldn't spill. After that, he grabbed a plastic bag for the kid to carry it in, figuring it would at least be a bit better than running around with it in hand; especially if he needed to outrun the cops or someone he pissed off. With the above accomplished, the raven turned and placed both things on the counter before the younger man, eyeing him for a moment before he leaned back onto the counter behind him and crossed his arms over his chest; as though trying to figure him out.
"What's your name kid?"
"Every time you need more water, come back here and I'll fill it up for you. No charge."
“Leo,” he answered, going with honesty since he couldn't find a reason to lie, perking up a little when he told him he’d fill his water whenever he was around. It was surprising how much of a relief that was. He didn’t expect such a simple offer to lighten so much of the weight on his shoulders. Now he only had to worry about food, but he could get by on stolen snacks or meals paid for by the wallets of unaware strangers until he figured something else out. Bottles of water were much harder to hide on his way out of the convenience stores than meal replacement bars.
He took the water and the bag and lingered, watching the other boy watch him.
“You? Where are you from?” he continued. “You speak English. I haven’t run into anyone else out here who does.” Maybe he could help him. The thought of relying on someone for help gave him the same sort of chills that nails on a chalkboard would have, but if he could at least get set up with a seal and some sort of account (even though he had no money for it), maybe he could figure out a housing situation. One that wasn’t the streets or some creep’s bed.
When he got his answer, he nodded but didn’t offer up any more information about himself in exchange. He muttered a, “Thanks again,” and took off into the dark.
He wouldn’t make his way back to the booth the next day or even the day after that. Leo had never been one to look for fights but they always had a way of finding them. He picked the wrong guy to steal from, he guessed, but it was bound to happen eventually, huh? Now he was sitting on a cold metal bench, bruise on his neck from being choked with his bag, a little gash in his arm from fingernails, a busted lip and a nasty, purple bruise on his cheekbone. Man, it fucking killed. All the wounds throbbed. His pride hurt and he was hungry and thirsty but couldn’t find it in himself to show his face to the ramen guy again. To present the broken cup to him and beg for another one like a desperate idiot because he was not desperate. But just as he sat up, the situation he was so trying to avoid appeared right in front of him. Things he didn’t want did have a special way of finding Leo even when he wanted nothing to do with them.
“Agh, fuck,” he groaned and rolled his eyes, leaning back his head and closing his eyes again. Ramen guy. What was his name again? “Look, just fuck off. I’m fine, ‘kay?” He reached to his side, trying to be discreet as he pushed the smashed cup behind himself. Why the hell did he keep it?
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Definitely another American, as if the accent wasn't proof enough, you didn't tend to find names like that anywhere else...though honestly it suited the scrappy young man before him. Though no matter how feisty the other was, Milo couldn't help but notice how he perked up at the mentions of being offered free water as long as he came back here. He felt a pang of sympathy for him then, knowing that hearing that was probably more of a relief than it should've been. Yet he managed to keep such an expression off of his features; though his eyes still looked sad for the other man. What a miserable existence that was...he remembered it all too vividly.
At the question, he was a bit surprised, though really he shouldn't be; Milo was wondering the same thing about the other boy.
"Seattle, you?" He asked, eyeing the other boy, pinning him for someone from the opposite side of the US, but still northern. Perhaps Massachusetts, Delaware, somewhere like that; he fit the bill with the style of his greasy hair and his clothes...and the attitude. "You're the second one I've run into so...we're out there, name's Milo."
After all was said and done, and they had some semblance of introductions, they parted ways with Milo nodding in response to the gratitude. He hoped the young fool would come by and take him up on his offer, the last thing he needed was to run into a frozen corpse on the way to work.
Unfortunately, as the days passed by, it seemed that this might become the case. Even with 48 hours between them, Milo still hadn't forgotten about the half starved boy with the prickly attitude who called himself Leo. Yet, there was little he could do, no address to check on the kid at, no indication of where he normally hung around so...if fate brought them together again it would be so.
He finished his shift at work on the third day, closing up shop as usual and walking home at around 4AM as per usual with a melody on his lips and two bags filled with ramen containers; leftovers from the shift that he refused to let go to waste. The boss was alright, less trash going into the bin, less changing the bag, more money saved given the containers were dirt cheap. So more often than not, Milo would give the contents away to those who needed them, considering he had a fridge filled with food at home to pick at. His head wandered, wondering if he'd find that kid passed away against some building on his trek home...though fortunately it seemed that this story wasn't set to play out that way.
The raven rounded the corner into a smaller side street, a slightly nicer looking one with the same old bitter metal benches lining the sides, yellowed street lamps, neon signs, stores with no bars on the windows...it was incredible the difference that a block made here. At this time of night, or he guessed now it would be morning, the place was usually deserted; desolate and devoid of other souls save for the man with half his head shaved. However, on this occasion there was another figure, someone slouching on one of those horridly cold benches. They must've been particularly desperate to sit on one of those things, they felt like ice even with clothing on; especially at this hour in this season.
Initially, he'd opted to just ignore and pass the figure, though as he drew nearer, he began to recognize him.
Oh good, so he's not dead.
Was all that came to the raven's mind, however as more details came into focus he began to see the bruises, the cuts, and the obvious pained disposition that came along with such wounds. It was pretty obvious that Leo had played a game and lost, though fortunately he hadn't lost anything but his pride. So instead, he opted to stop, figuring he'd offer the kid one of the packs of warm ramen, perhaps some food would soothe his wounded pride; if nothing else it would take care of a need likely unfulfilled.
Unsurprisingly, the guy told him to fuck off just as he'd drawn near, and yet also unsurprisingly the raven ignored him completely, he knew shame when he heard it; though he didn't let the other off easy for his attitude either.
"So you fucked around and found out huh?" He asked, though the look in his stormy eyes said he already knew; that wasn't a question that needed an answer. If anything, it was a bit of a playful jab on Milo's part, some part of him felt that he could level with this youngin' who didn't seem to have much sense between those ears of his. He reminded him of himself just two years ago, desperate and unused to the coldness of the world.
"I've got some extra ramen from the shop, still warm and free if you want it," Milo offered, moving to gently set the bag down on the bench near Leo just to show him that he was free to take it. It was only then that he saw the bust in his lip and the gashes in his arms and a ray of concern showed up in those gloomy irises of his. "You haven't been back to fill your cup in a bit, I know that water's gotta be gone by now. Do you need some more?"
He hadn't yet seen the smashed container hidden behind the other man's thin form, if he had he simply would've taken off back to his place of employment to get another and fill it up for him. Although he was typically quite good about keeping his nose in his own business, the raven couldn't help but pry, especially given the young man's injuries. He knew he couldn't force Leo to allow him to tend to them but...he couldn't help but think of the first aid kit back at the booth or better yet the one at his apartment. It might've been too soon, but he felt the need to offer it up. The last thing he'd want was for either of those open wounds to get infected and make the poor guy sick; his life was hard enough without a fever and being delirious.
"You don't have to say yes but, if you want I can treat those for you at my place or back at the booth. It might hurt less if you get them cleaned and patched up."
Yeah, sure. He fucked around and got himself messed up like this. It was totally his own fucking fault that someone else decided to beat his ass and his own fault that he could hardly do a damn thing about it and- Tch. Did he show up just to make him mad? This guy had no clue what he was talking about.
Leo stretched out his legs so his heels rather than the whole lengths of his feet rested against the ground, gave a dramatic roll of his eyes and sighed. Seattle (whose real name Leo still couldn’t remember) acted like he spoke English but he had yet to fuck off, so maybe he’d lost some of his language ability after being away from home for so long. Fucking annoying. Leo couldn’t drink in peace, sleep in peace, ache in peace, be mad in peace. At least stateside he had a bedroom with a fucking lock.
He heard him set something down when he mentioned ramen, assuming that was what he had in the bag, but didn’t look or move to take it. Why was this guy pushing so hard to help him? Feeding him here and there like he was some stray cat wasn’t going to keep him alive or safe or warm. It was delicious and Leo probably would’ve done a lot of things to get more but this - the injuries and fact that he was sitting freezing on a bench at that time of night at a new all time low - was a perfect display of the fact that this little savior thing was just some fucked up game Seattle was playing to make himself feel better. Leo was coming to understand that he was probably going to die out there and gestures like this only dragged it out. Beat going back to his dad.
“Not thirsty.”
Leo peered up at him, gaze challenging, then closed his eyes again with another sigh when he heard, I can treat those for you at my place.
A quirked brow lifted Leo’s gaze, had him sitting up to look at the other boy again. Leo’s first instinct told him to shut it right the fuck down. Sounded like danger. Sounded like pity. Two things Leo wanted no part in. Still, he studied him for a long moment, allowing himself to fantasize. A picture of four walls, heat, water, a clean, soft place to sit, and Leo tracking his filth all over it. He was surprised to hear that he was willing to take him into his home, or that he’d offered at all even if he wasn’t serious about it. It was awfully fucking nice of him to just...suggest it. Not to mention, he didn’t know shit about Leo. He could’ve been a murderer for all the other guy knew. He thought about it a little more and- Oh, so it was like that, was it? That he hadn’t considered this option sooner was lost on him. Go to his place, let the guy (whose name he still couldn’t remember) fool around for a while - treat his wounds, as it were - and out of it possibly get a safe space to sleep for the night. Mind drifting further, he wondered what sort of stuff Ramen Guy had strewn about his place. If he could gather up anything worth stealing, maybe dip into his wallet a little. It made some part of him sad to think that this wasn’t all just the Seattle Dude Non-Profit Charity Foundation but that was a part of himself he did an excellent job of silencing. All men were the same, he supposed. That this one gave him ramen first didn’t change a single thing. He’d happily oblige regardless. Maybe even have fun.
“M’kay,” he decided and brought his feet up close again, leaning on his thighs and letting dark eyes fall on the boy, grin devilish, daring. “Your place.”
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Sure, okay, whatever. He thought in response to the kid acting like he wasn't thirsty with that cup no where in sight. When you were homeless with no access to water, you were always thirsty. No amount of scrappy attitude or desire to prove that one needed no one else would change that fact. When those eyes met his, and seemed to challenge him slightly, all he could do was gaze back in the most unamused fashion. He understood where the guy was coming from, he really, truly did, but that didn't deter him from thinking it was stupid. To have so...little survival instinct so as to not take help from someone who was genuinely and very obviously trying to help you demonstrated something that borderlined imbecilic, least that's what the raven thought.
However, much to his surprise, the younger man accepted his offer...which raised a good deal of suspicion in Milo; suspicion that he kept veiled behind a stony wall and a mere nod. Was it perhaps the smartest thing to open his home up to a strange 18 year old? No, probably not. The raven was a lot of things, a cry baby being one of them, however he was not a weak ass. If that grin told him anything, the kid may try to pull something on him...and that would be the last mistake he'd ever make if that was the case. Milo was nothing if not distrusting, however his desire to help someone who'd fallen into unfortunate circumstances, someone that reminded him of himself not too many years ago; overrode that...for now. He thought about uttering some warning to the kid, however he doubted it would do much good. He seemed to be an ardent follower of the "fuck around and find out" path of life so...if he wanted to pull something he'd just have to get his ass handed to him to learn a lesson. Was Milo above punching his shit in and then throwing him out of his apartment if he tried something? No, he certainly wasn't.
So, alarm raised, he nodded in response to Leo accepting the offer, meeting his gaze with an unusually cold look for a few moments. Try me. See what happens. At least that's what his head said.
"Alright, c'mon then." He replied, giving a gesture with his head as he picked up the boy's ramen and resumed his walk towards his home. Which, fortunately enough for Leo, wasn't too far away. "You can eat this at my place, then the first aid kit can come out."
He briefly held up the ramen bag for the other man to see, by the time they reached his place it should still be warm. Though as Milo's mind began to wander...he began to think that he might should have the other take a shower and put on some different clothes beforehand. The last thing he wanted was to have to scrub down his entire apartment because, to no fault of his own, Leo was rather dirty; a shower might also make him feel better. Perhaps the raven had old clothes that would fit him, from days gone by when he was at a shorter height; things he'd meant to donate but just had never gotten around to doing it. Though perhaps that went too far, he hadn't considered permanently taking the other in, especially given the dark look he'd just gotten.
Yet...it seemed almost cruel to take him in, treat his injuries, let him eat, shower, give him fresh clothes and then send him back out into the cold where he'd just be suffering in different fabric. The raven sighed, conflicted; perhaps he'd let him stay the night as a test, one Leo wouldn't be made privvy to.
"So let me guess, you tried to steal from the wrong person and they pushed your shit in?" He asked, his tone not mocking in the slightest as he seemed to be genuinely curious.
"I think we've all made that mistake. Taught me not to steal from anyone bigger than me that's for sure."
That grin widened when their eyes locked, gazes challenging the other. Yeah. Leo was definitely right about him. That was a look he’d grown plenty used to seeing and he understood what was coming for him. He’d get a place to stay, money, a little stress relief, oh, and ‘first aid’.
Rocking to his feet, he blocked the other boy’s view of the cup, trying not to let his stomach growl audibly because he didn’t want him to know how desperate he was (despite it being real fucking obvious).
So let me guess, you tried to steal from the wrong person and they pushed your shit in?
Leo rolled his eyes. Yeah. He was exactly right. He tried to pick the wrong pocket and got his shit wrecked for it. Wasn’t going to stop him from trying it again, although now he had to be on the lookout for that guy when he found himself back in that area. One more thing to have to add to his list of things to be cautious of. Maybe he could get enough from Ramen Guy to not have to do it again for a few days. Hunched over with his hands in his pockets, he walked along with the taller boy, just slightly to the side and behind him since he didn’t know where they were going and wanted to keep a little distance.
I think we've all made that mistake. Taught me not to steal from anyone bigger than me that's for sure.
Leo sized him up at that comment. Stealing from someone bigger than him, huh? As if this guy had much experience with such a thing, working that stand of his, having a few inches on Leo who wasn’t particularly short. He didn’t look particularly strong, though, and he could picture someone punching the hell out of that face.
So...he must’ve been on the streets, too, once, doing the same things to get by. Why else would he have had to steal? Or made that sort of comment? If that was the case, it was no wonder why he was handling him like this. Ugh. Leo had to consciously fight the urge to scowl at the realization. Made him want it even less. Despite his desperation to survive, that stupid fucking fighting instinct, he didn’t want help. Maybe it was the lack of trust or the expectation of there being expectations but he was sick of having to give. That was what drove him to Japan. He’d do what it took right now, told himself it was merely a low point, but it pissed him off. His situation had to be different and he was convinced the guy had no idea what he was talking about. How could anyone possibly understand him? The shit he’d done?
It made him even more pissed considering the guy had figured his shit out. Spoke Japanese, got a job, a place to live, had enough food to toss scraps his way. Did Leo make him feel guilty or something?Must’ve been real fucking nice to have been able to claw his way out of it and sprinkle Leo with spare hope that he'd get out of the rut himself. And now he was going to take him home and use someone he knew was vulnerable just like the rest of them loved to do. Real fucking charitable. He’d already accepted he was going to die young, probably next to the trash in some back alley of a bar. Wasn’t like he had much going for himself anyway but that stupid fucking fighting instinct was hard to push back against.
“Hm,” he mused, looked to the side while he debated whether or not he wanted to make friendly conversation with him. “Who said I was stealing anything? Pretty hasty assumption to make, don’t ya think? Innocent guy like me on the streets. Maybe I got mugged.” Leo glanced at him again. He really was kinda cute. Like, meet at a loud concert at a shitty bar cute. A type Leo was not unfamiliar with. A type he’d had plenty of fun with. They were usually into some wild shit, which could be a nice change of pace. “Lost my wallet for a second time and I’ve barely been here...a week? Can you believe it? I always thought the people here were supposed to be, like, polite or something.” He gave him a pointed look and grinned again. “Guess not.”
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
At Leo's little jabs, Milo visibly cut his eyes at him, appearing as unamused as a single father might've at a child with an attitude.
"You shouldn't lie, you aren't very good at it." He responded in a cool, dismissive manner to all of Leo's ramblings. "Innocent also doesn't suit you, sorry."
Given that he'd just gotten off of a long shift and had been only trying to help the dude, he had no patience for the smaller man's bullshit any longer. That much was clear. Simply by his attitude and that look in his eye, he could read Leo like a book; the kid was far from innocent at the age of 18. For that, Milo couldn't fault him. Something had to have been wrong to make him just show up in Japan without knowing the language and evidently not bringing enough money. Losing his wallet as Leo liked to call it. He hoped it was nothing like Milo had been through, he wouldn't wish what had happened to him on anyone but his abuser; he wished that monster all the fucking worst.
Sleeping with Leo, or anyone for that matter, was the furthest thing from the raven's mind, if anything he was primarily concerned with making sure Leo didn't get an infection in that smart mouth of his and that his stomach, which was quite noisy, was tended to. Which hopefully wouldn't be too long now, considering how close they'd drawn to his place over the course of their exchange. Perhaps he'd just bite the bullet and offer the shower and extra clothes up to the 18 year old. It'd kill two birds with one stone. Leo would likely feel a bit better and Milo wouldn't have to worry about scrubbing down his apartment.
"Shower's open when we get to my place if you want one. I think I have some things that would fit you. A hot one may help with the pain." The words left his lips casually, those gloomy eyes transfixed on the road ahead of them as he listened to Leo following him. Milo didn't particularly enjoy people walking behind him, so he kept his ears trained for any sudden movement of feet. There was never a need to run up behind someone, at least in Milo's head. Though fortunately, they arrived at his apartment complex without an issue aside from the jabs Leo attempted to make.
He fished his keys out of his pocket then, sorting through them and unlocking both the deadbolt and the knob lock to let them both in. His place was a small studio, and considering how long he'd lived there, it was relatively empty with the few things he cared about stowed neatly around his bed. Everything else was merely the essentials. "Well this is it, bathroom is to the left of the kitchen if you want to use it. Otherwise I'm opening up this ramen and throwing on some coffee."
