now the Hunting Winds are loose...

[silenttrainbaby]

The piece of paper - the waiver - fluttered from Grey's hand as he pushed his way into Rat's rooms. He looks for the other boy, finds him and comes over. His clothes are dirty, pieces of gravel still sticking to them, something still in his hair. His hands are dirty, but his cheeks are flushed and he kneels before where Rat reads, pressing his cheek to Rat's hand.

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[plaguedrat]

When Rat finds a way out, he'll take Grey with him. To the West District or someplace beyond that suits them. It'll be theirs.

[silenttrainbaby]

But if they leave, Grey will leave behind Curtis and Yona. He isn't sure he can do that.

Not that it will come up, most likely.

For the moment, he keeps peering at Rat's face, at the tiny changes in expression, in the most minute details, fingers stroking along his cheek.

[plaguedrat]

Then they'll all go. Anyone who wants out of this trap.

But that search can wait. He's too caught up in the warmth of Grey's eyes.

[silenttrainbaby]

A kiss - a small one - and Grey settles again. The bed is soft and warm and Rat is warm and sweet. Grey is perfectly content to lie here, just like this, for a long time.

[plaguedrat]

Likewise, Rat has found a sanctuary. Not in this city, but in Grey's arms.

"Tell me when you want food," he mumbles. Otherwise he won't bother getting up.

[silenttrainbaby]

Grey nods, just a tiny bit. Right now, he doesn't need anything and it's such a feeling; he doesn't know what to do with it. He cards fingers through Rat's hair.

[plaguedrat]

It's one that takes as much getting used to as feeling constant hunger or pain. The absence of needs to catalogue was a feeling Rat had taken a long time to understand.

Here, there are even fewer needs as his world shrinks down to the fingers carding through his hair.

[silenttrainbaby]

Really, it's dizzying. Everyone, Grey thinks impulsively, should have this. It's so simple in that way. So... complete.

[plaguedrat]

It's an optimistic thought, though Rat doesn't know how such a thing would happen. But this here is theirs and so good and gratifying.

[silenttrainbaby]

There's no sense, for Grey at least, how much time passes before his stomach starts to tell him that he's hungry and he smiles, just a little.

[plaguedrat]

It's strange to him, the affection that Grey inspires. Maybe it's because the two of them have an understanding of how harsh the world can be and how much more valuable that makes the sweetness.

"Ever had pancakes?"

[silenttrainbaby]

He gets a shake of the head; Grey hasn't. What are they?

[plaguedrat]

He'll see.

Reluctantly, Rat extracts himself from the bed and dresses, heading into the kitchen.

[silenttrainbaby]

Pulling on a pair of boxers, Grey followed, padding along behind Rat. He perched at the edge of the counter as usual, watching.

[plaguedrat]

At some point, he'd assembled enough ingredients to make them from scratch. Rat doesn't know how he ended up doing that, but here he is, mixing batter without having to check measurements.

Soon enough, he's pouring batter into a pan.

[silenttrainbaby]

The sizzling and the actions draw Grey closer; he watches Rat over the shoulder. That smell - he likes that smell.

[plaguedrat]

With a flick of his wrist, Rat flips the pancake back on the raw side. Stirring the batter again, he nods towards the cabinet, silently asking Grey for plates.

[silenttrainbaby]

That's something Grey can do. He goes to the cabinet where he knows they are and pulls two out very carefully, bringing them over, sitting them on the counter nearby.

He doesn't go for silverware; that's still not a habit.

[plaguedrat]

Rat thanks him with a light touch to the wrist before sliding the first pancake onto the plate closest to Grey an then pouring more batter out for himself.

[silenttrainbaby]

It's steaming and light and fluffy and Grey bends down to look at it; it makes his mouth water so much that he has to swallow, hard. Oh yes. He thinks he will like pancakes.

[plaguedrat]

"You can put jam on them, or butter. Whatever you like," Rat says, pointing at the fridge.

This is easy, he realizes. Him and Grey. Cooking, reading. It still amazes him.

[silenttrainbaby]

So, Grey goes hunting in the fridge. SOmething called jam is pulled out. Something called butter. Each are smelled and investigated. But Grey will wait, however hard it is, until Rat is ready and can show him how to eat such things.

[plaguedrat]

He knows Grey is waiting and shakes his head, turning out more pancakes. "Go ahead and start."

[silenttrainbaby]

But -

Okay, okay. He rips the pancake in half and just takes a big bite and his love affair with bread products continues.

[plaguedrat]

Rat smiles and flips out the last pancake, boosting up on the counter next to Grey.

"They're best when they're warm."