Second Part of the homeless AU
Feb. 28th, 2004 05:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsIf anyone reads this just know it's unbetaed and seen by no one but me. My betas would probably have a fit about me doing it this way, but sometimes I like to write for fun you know? Once it's done it'll be beta read in one go.
Part one is here.
The line’s long at the soup kitchen but Chris waits patiently as they move forward. He’s hungry – it’s been hours since he last ate – and his stomach growls as the smell of chicken soup fills the air.
Justin is looking around, eyes wide as he tries not to stare at the people who line up. He looks shocked and he bites at his lower lip as he glances at the men in their ragged clothes, the women holding bags containing all their belongings. Chris tries to remember if he was ever that wide eyed and innocent and decides he never was. Even when he did have a home he was never innocent, even his happy memories are edged with grey.
Lance holds his suitcase with a white knuckled grip. He’s clearly terrified and stands hip to hip with Justin, eyes lowered against the blatant assessing stars they’re attracting from some. Chris can hear the whispers Fresh meat. Look at them. and he glares at anyone that dares look too long. The word needs to go out that Justin and Lance are under his protection, so he moves close to them, giving JC a quick smile when he flanks them on the other side.
They stand in a group and Chris looks around, meeting the stares of the others, silently showing the newbies are under his care. He knows the message is understood when people look away, only interest their food once more. The code of the streets is a shaky one, but it’s there, and Chris knows Lance and Justin are safe for the moment.
“Do none of these people have homes?” Lance asks. He almost whispers and Chris looks sharply at him, ready with a sarcastic reply. But JC catches his eye, shaking his head and Chris bites back the words. Lance is just a kid, he doesn’t understand.
“No, none of them do. They sleep on the streets like Chris and I do. Maybe some of them are in squats or have a place in a shelter but none have homes.” JC sounds sad and Chris marvels yet again at his ability to care for those around them.
The line moves forward and Chris can finally see the volunteers with their huge vats of soup. Justin, Lance and JC are all staring at the vats too and JC runs his tongue over his bottom lip. Chris knows JC is starving, neither of them eat during the day, and the muffins they had for breakfast were a long time ago.
“Listen, when you get your food stick close to one of us. Whatever you do don’t walk away.” Chris hopes they understand how serious his warning is. People have been attacked for less than a bowl of soup and a slice of bread. Lance and Justin nod, but don’t look away from the trestle tables where soup is being served. Chris fights the urge to shake them, to make them understand that this is serious. But the urge passes as soon as it flares and he reaches for the bowl JC is holding, moving closer to Justin as JC presses closer to Lance.
Chris holds his bowl out to be filled, mouth watering at the thought of his first hot meal of the day. “How’re you doing?” the server asks, the same question Chris gets asked every time. It doesn’t matter who serves him, they all ask. Sometimes Chris wants to answer honestly, that his whole body aches with cold and weariness or ask them why they care. But he never does; just answers that he’s okay and moves away trying to forget the look of pity he sees in their eyes.
JC is chattering to his server, explaining about the picture he created, bowl waving in the air as he describes dragon and unicorns. Chris sees some of the soup slop over the side of the bowl and JC stops talking when it hits his wrist, licking at his skin with an apologetic smile. Lance and Justin’s bowls are full so Chris grabs a slice of bread for them all from a heaped platter then follows JC who’s herding Lance and Justin to their normal spot near the wall.
“You can let go of those, no one will take them.” JC says as he gracefully sinks to the ground. Lance looks unsure but carefully places his suitcase on the ground before sitting on it. Justin drops his bag then sits next to Lance, gulping his soup even as he sits. Lance holds his bowl, watching as Chris hands out the bread before easing himself down, knees popping as he does so. Chris holds his bowl with two hands, enjoying the warmth that warms his frozen fingers. Lance still doesn’t eat and Chris realises that he’s waiting for everyone to start in some kind of insane politeness thing.
“I’d eat that before it goes cold.” Chris says and Lance immediately brings the bowl to his lips, drinking steadily. Shaking his head, Chris eats too, sipping slowly, trying to make the meal last as long as possible. Justin’s finished already, using his finger to mop up any last drips, and Lance is not far behind, eyes half closed as he chews his bread. Chris still has all his bread and half his soup. He looks at the kids who’re holding their empty bowls and staring at the vats once more then looks at his own bread.
“Here, share this.” Chris hands his bread to Justin who looks at him in confusion.
“But, it’s yours.”
“It’s okay. I ate earlier.” The lie trips easily from Chris’ tongue and Justin accepts it without question, tearing the bread in half before giving some to Lance. JC makes a soft sound of protest and Chris looks at him, mouthing don’t. He knows JC, knows he’s feeling guilty that he ate all his food, but Chris wouldn’t have let JC share anyway. JC’s too thin, he needs to eat.
Draining the last of his soup, Chris stands and takes all the empty bowls back to the table. There’s still a line snaking along the sidewalk, men and women all waiting for their soup. None of them look at Chris as he walks past; he’s just another face in the crowd and that’s how he likes it. It’s safer to blend in, Chris learned that the hard way.
JC has encouraged Lance and Justin to stand when he gets back. They look exhausted -- heavy eyed and pale – and Chris knows he won’t get his coffee tonight. He needs to sort some shelter out for them. Get them somewhere they can sleep before the rain gets any heavier.
“We going to Dennie’s tonight?” JC asks, and Chris shakes his head. JC looks disappointed, probably thinking about the hot chocolate he usually has each night. But Chris knows he understands.
“Naw. We need to get back to the alley, see if Joey still has that spare box and get these two set up.” Chris thinks about what he needs to get, the box if Joey still has it, some plastic, blankets if the kids don’t have any.
“I think Joey still has it, he hid it behind his box. Joey’s nice, he’ll let you have it.” JC talks to Lance as he gently pushes him to start him walking. “Then when it’s done I’ll decorate it for you, make it beautiful. I bet you like horses. Would like you your box to have horses on the side? Maybe running in the ocean, and you, Justin, I think I’ll paint stars for you, universes exploding, at the weekend. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
JC is excited and Chris bites back a laugh at the look on Lance’s face as JC walks beside him, hands whirling as he explains his ideas. Lance looks toward Justin for help but all Justin does is shrug his shoulders, as confused as Lance.
Chris thinks about changing the subject but JC is animated, face alight as he explains his world of colour and beauty. Chris loves him like this, when JC manages to shut the realities of their world away. When he’s like this Chris can almost see the colours and magic himself, and for precious minutes his world changes, grey tinged with brilliant colour.
“We’re here.” Chris says when they reach the fence and JC falls silent, looking around the same as Chris. Lance and Justin look confused but they stay quiet as Chris finally pulls a section of the fence aside when he’s sure no one is around. JC wiggles through the small gap then beckons for the others to follow. Justin goes first, then Lance. There’s a tense moment when Lance’s case gets stuck but Chris pushes from his side and Lance pulls from the other, and at last it’s pulled through. Chris slips through then, letting the fence fall back into place.
As soon as he’s the fence is back in place Chris feels safer. Their shelters are hidden well and it feels like he’s coming home, even if that home’s only a structure made of cardboard and plastic.
“Chris, JC. That you?” Justin and Lance jump when Joey shouts, but JC smiles then runs around the corner. Chris can hear him babble about new kids and soup and Lance and Justin and they’re nice and Chris, then Joey strides round the corner stopping suddenly when he sees them.
“You been picking up strays again, man?” Joey questions. But he’s smiling as he says it and Chris knows it’s okay, Joey doesn’t mind sharing their space again. “Come on, don’t just stand there. Let me escort you to our humble homes. Joey hams it up with a low bow and Justin laughs, before following. Lance follows too leaving Chris bringing up the rear. When he turns the corner he sees Lance and Justin standing, mouths open as they look around.
Chris can’t blame them, JC has decorated the place in his own special way. Free CDs hang from a string between two drain pipes, twisting and gleaming in the low light. Joey’s shelter is covered in drawings of Superman and disaster scenes. Chris and JC’s box is a mish mash of scenes, things JC has to get down. Unicorns stand next to space rockets which have sparkly fairies on them, there’s even a portrait of Chris, but Chris keeps that at the back. He hates the way he looks, all dark eyes and sullen expression. The brick walls are covered in paintings, colours vivid and faded in turn depending on when they were done. Chris forgets how the place must look to others until he sees it through new eyes.
“It’s fantastic isn’t it?” Joey is laughing at Lance and Justin’s open mouthed expression. “C’s awesome.”
JC takes the compliment with a blush then looks behind Joey’s shelter, pulling a folded down box out. “Is it okay if Justin and Lance have this? They need a shelter.”
Chris knows Joey won’t say no, but still it’s a relief when he nods before helping JC push it back into shape. It’s a big box, large enough for two people to squeeze into, Chris knows that, it’s the same kind he and JC use. Seeing Joey and JC have the box shaping under control, Chris pulls a sheet of plastic off the top of his and JC’s shelter, then throws it over the box once Joey has it in place.
Lance and Justin still stand side by side, their fingers brushing together. Chris knows they’re on the verge of collapse from exhaustion so he hurries to weigh the plastic with bricks.
“You got any blankets?” Joey asks, and Chris hears him sigh when they both reply no. Joey kneels and pulls one of his own blankets from his shelter as well as a pile of old newspapers. JC does the same in his and Chris’ shelter and working together they soon have the new shelter lined with newspaper and blankets.
“Go round that corner for a bathroom if you need to.” Chris points at a distant corner then pushes the two to their shelter when they just stand still, almost asleep on their feet. “Go on, get in and sleep. Whatever you do don’t go wandering on your own. JC and I are on your right, Joey on your left.”
“Thank you.” Lance smiles, polite to the last, then drops to his knees and enters the shelter.
“Yeah, thanks man.” Justin smiles too before following Lance. Crouching, Chris almost smiles when he sees the way they’ve cuddled together, hands and legs entwined. Leaning into the shelter, Chris pulls the blankets over them, then stands, relaxing against JC when he’s cuddled from behind.
“You going to let them stay.”
“For now. They need to go home, C. They’re babies.”
“Yeah, they are.” JC sounds sad and Chris hates he’s caused that. Turning, he quickly kisses JC on the lips. “Coming to bed?”
JC nods so Chris waves goodnight to Joey who’s lying in his own shelter, reading an old newspaper by the light of his torch. Then follows JC into their shelter, resting his head against JC’s chest. Chris is cold and hungry, but as he listens to JC’s heart he knows there’s nowhere he’d rather be.
Part one is here.
The line’s long at the soup kitchen but Chris waits patiently as they move forward. He’s hungry – it’s been hours since he last ate – and his stomach growls as the smell of chicken soup fills the air.
Justin is looking around, eyes wide as he tries not to stare at the people who line up. He looks shocked and he bites at his lower lip as he glances at the men in their ragged clothes, the women holding bags containing all their belongings. Chris tries to remember if he was ever that wide eyed and innocent and decides he never was. Even when he did have a home he was never innocent, even his happy memories are edged with grey.
Lance holds his suitcase with a white knuckled grip. He’s clearly terrified and stands hip to hip with Justin, eyes lowered against the blatant assessing stars they’re attracting from some. Chris can hear the whispers Fresh meat. Look at them. and he glares at anyone that dares look too long. The word needs to go out that Justin and Lance are under his protection, so he moves close to them, giving JC a quick smile when he flanks them on the other side.
They stand in a group and Chris looks around, meeting the stares of the others, silently showing the newbies are under his care. He knows the message is understood when people look away, only interest their food once more. The code of the streets is a shaky one, but it’s there, and Chris knows Lance and Justin are safe for the moment.
“Do none of these people have homes?” Lance asks. He almost whispers and Chris looks sharply at him, ready with a sarcastic reply. But JC catches his eye, shaking his head and Chris bites back the words. Lance is just a kid, he doesn’t understand.
“No, none of them do. They sleep on the streets like Chris and I do. Maybe some of them are in squats or have a place in a shelter but none have homes.” JC sounds sad and Chris marvels yet again at his ability to care for those around them.
The line moves forward and Chris can finally see the volunteers with their huge vats of soup. Justin, Lance and JC are all staring at the vats too and JC runs his tongue over his bottom lip. Chris knows JC is starving, neither of them eat during the day, and the muffins they had for breakfast were a long time ago.
“Listen, when you get your food stick close to one of us. Whatever you do don’t walk away.” Chris hopes they understand how serious his warning is. People have been attacked for less than a bowl of soup and a slice of bread. Lance and Justin nod, but don’t look away from the trestle tables where soup is being served. Chris fights the urge to shake them, to make them understand that this is serious. But the urge passes as soon as it flares and he reaches for the bowl JC is holding, moving closer to Justin as JC presses closer to Lance.
Chris holds his bowl out to be filled, mouth watering at the thought of his first hot meal of the day. “How’re you doing?” the server asks, the same question Chris gets asked every time. It doesn’t matter who serves him, they all ask. Sometimes Chris wants to answer honestly, that his whole body aches with cold and weariness or ask them why they care. But he never does; just answers that he’s okay and moves away trying to forget the look of pity he sees in their eyes.
JC is chattering to his server, explaining about the picture he created, bowl waving in the air as he describes dragon and unicorns. Chris sees some of the soup slop over the side of the bowl and JC stops talking when it hits his wrist, licking at his skin with an apologetic smile. Lance and Justin’s bowls are full so Chris grabs a slice of bread for them all from a heaped platter then follows JC who’s herding Lance and Justin to their normal spot near the wall.
“You can let go of those, no one will take them.” JC says as he gracefully sinks to the ground. Lance looks unsure but carefully places his suitcase on the ground before sitting on it. Justin drops his bag then sits next to Lance, gulping his soup even as he sits. Lance holds his bowl, watching as Chris hands out the bread before easing himself down, knees popping as he does so. Chris holds his bowl with two hands, enjoying the warmth that warms his frozen fingers. Lance still doesn’t eat and Chris realises that he’s waiting for everyone to start in some kind of insane politeness thing.
“I’d eat that before it goes cold.” Chris says and Lance immediately brings the bowl to his lips, drinking steadily. Shaking his head, Chris eats too, sipping slowly, trying to make the meal last as long as possible. Justin’s finished already, using his finger to mop up any last drips, and Lance is not far behind, eyes half closed as he chews his bread. Chris still has all his bread and half his soup. He looks at the kids who’re holding their empty bowls and staring at the vats once more then looks at his own bread.
“Here, share this.” Chris hands his bread to Justin who looks at him in confusion.
“But, it’s yours.”
“It’s okay. I ate earlier.” The lie trips easily from Chris’ tongue and Justin accepts it without question, tearing the bread in half before giving some to Lance. JC makes a soft sound of protest and Chris looks at him, mouthing don’t. He knows JC, knows he’s feeling guilty that he ate all his food, but Chris wouldn’t have let JC share anyway. JC’s too thin, he needs to eat.
Draining the last of his soup, Chris stands and takes all the empty bowls back to the table. There’s still a line snaking along the sidewalk, men and women all waiting for their soup. None of them look at Chris as he walks past; he’s just another face in the crowd and that’s how he likes it. It’s safer to blend in, Chris learned that the hard way.
JC has encouraged Lance and Justin to stand when he gets back. They look exhausted -- heavy eyed and pale – and Chris knows he won’t get his coffee tonight. He needs to sort some shelter out for them. Get them somewhere they can sleep before the rain gets any heavier.
“We going to Dennie’s tonight?” JC asks, and Chris shakes his head. JC looks disappointed, probably thinking about the hot chocolate he usually has each night. But Chris knows he understands.
“Naw. We need to get back to the alley, see if Joey still has that spare box and get these two set up.” Chris thinks about what he needs to get, the box if Joey still has it, some plastic, blankets if the kids don’t have any.
“I think Joey still has it, he hid it behind his box. Joey’s nice, he’ll let you have it.” JC talks to Lance as he gently pushes him to start him walking. “Then when it’s done I’ll decorate it for you, make it beautiful. I bet you like horses. Would like you your box to have horses on the side? Maybe running in the ocean, and you, Justin, I think I’ll paint stars for you, universes exploding, at the weekend. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
JC is excited and Chris bites back a laugh at the look on Lance’s face as JC walks beside him, hands whirling as he explains his ideas. Lance looks toward Justin for help but all Justin does is shrug his shoulders, as confused as Lance.
Chris thinks about changing the subject but JC is animated, face alight as he explains his world of colour and beauty. Chris loves him like this, when JC manages to shut the realities of their world away. When he’s like this Chris can almost see the colours and magic himself, and for precious minutes his world changes, grey tinged with brilliant colour.
“We’re here.” Chris says when they reach the fence and JC falls silent, looking around the same as Chris. Lance and Justin look confused but they stay quiet as Chris finally pulls a section of the fence aside when he’s sure no one is around. JC wiggles through the small gap then beckons for the others to follow. Justin goes first, then Lance. There’s a tense moment when Lance’s case gets stuck but Chris pushes from his side and Lance pulls from the other, and at last it’s pulled through. Chris slips through then, letting the fence fall back into place.
As soon as he’s the fence is back in place Chris feels safer. Their shelters are hidden well and it feels like he’s coming home, even if that home’s only a structure made of cardboard and plastic.
“Chris, JC. That you?” Justin and Lance jump when Joey shouts, but JC smiles then runs around the corner. Chris can hear him babble about new kids and soup and Lance and Justin and they’re nice and Chris, then Joey strides round the corner stopping suddenly when he sees them.
“You been picking up strays again, man?” Joey questions. But he’s smiling as he says it and Chris knows it’s okay, Joey doesn’t mind sharing their space again. “Come on, don’t just stand there. Let me escort you to our humble homes. Joey hams it up with a low bow and Justin laughs, before following. Lance follows too leaving Chris bringing up the rear. When he turns the corner he sees Lance and Justin standing, mouths open as they look around.
Chris can’t blame them, JC has decorated the place in his own special way. Free CDs hang from a string between two drain pipes, twisting and gleaming in the low light. Joey’s shelter is covered in drawings of Superman and disaster scenes. Chris and JC’s box is a mish mash of scenes, things JC has to get down. Unicorns stand next to space rockets which have sparkly fairies on them, there’s even a portrait of Chris, but Chris keeps that at the back. He hates the way he looks, all dark eyes and sullen expression. The brick walls are covered in paintings, colours vivid and faded in turn depending on when they were done. Chris forgets how the place must look to others until he sees it through new eyes.
“It’s fantastic isn’t it?” Joey is laughing at Lance and Justin’s open mouthed expression. “C’s awesome.”
JC takes the compliment with a blush then looks behind Joey’s shelter, pulling a folded down box out. “Is it okay if Justin and Lance have this? They need a shelter.”
Chris knows Joey won’t say no, but still it’s a relief when he nods before helping JC push it back into shape. It’s a big box, large enough for two people to squeeze into, Chris knows that, it’s the same kind he and JC use. Seeing Joey and JC have the box shaping under control, Chris pulls a sheet of plastic off the top of his and JC’s shelter, then throws it over the box once Joey has it in place.
Lance and Justin still stand side by side, their fingers brushing together. Chris knows they’re on the verge of collapse from exhaustion so he hurries to weigh the plastic with bricks.
“You got any blankets?” Joey asks, and Chris hears him sigh when they both reply no. Joey kneels and pulls one of his own blankets from his shelter as well as a pile of old newspapers. JC does the same in his and Chris’ shelter and working together they soon have the new shelter lined with newspaper and blankets.
“Go round that corner for a bathroom if you need to.” Chris points at a distant corner then pushes the two to their shelter when they just stand still, almost asleep on their feet. “Go on, get in and sleep. Whatever you do don’t go wandering on your own. JC and I are on your right, Joey on your left.”
“Thank you.” Lance smiles, polite to the last, then drops to his knees and enters the shelter.
“Yeah, thanks man.” Justin smiles too before following Lance. Crouching, Chris almost smiles when he sees the way they’ve cuddled together, hands and legs entwined. Leaning into the shelter, Chris pulls the blankets over them, then stands, relaxing against JC when he’s cuddled from behind.
“You going to let them stay.”
“For now. They need to go home, C. They’re babies.”
“Yeah, they are.” JC sounds sad and Chris hates he’s caused that. Turning, he quickly kisses JC on the lips. “Coming to bed?”
JC nods so Chris waves goodnight to Joey who’s lying in his own shelter, reading an old newspaper by the light of his torch. Then follows JC into their shelter, resting his head against JC’s chest. Chris is cold and hungry, but as he listens to JC’s heart he knows there’s nowhere he’d rather be.
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Date: 2004-02-29 02:58 am (UTC)They are. Justin and Lance really don't know what they've let themselves in for.
The story is bleak, but I'm trying to show that there's good moments too.
There is going to be more, I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for telling me :)