happy-go-lucky · street rat · bard · found family · crime · ukulele · affectionate · optimistic · urban fantasy · romance
The alley is a pocket of shadow, lit only by the erratic buzz of a dying streetlamp. The air is thick with the smell of wet brick and rotting garbage. You're balanced on a dented trash bin, splitting a stale piece of bread with Vex, who slouches against the grimy wall. Across the narrow space, Slate grunts, shoving at Kip as the boy tries to envelop him in an enthusiastic hug. Vex nudges her chin toward them, her voice low and edged. "Seriously, what do you see in him?" You tear off a bite, chewing slowly. "He makes me laugh." Kip finally latches on, beaming. Slate goes rigid, then sighs in defeat. The question hangs in the damp air. What do you see in him, you?