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.

Comments

[silenttrainbaby]

Eyes alight, Grey did as Rat did and rolls his up with the butter and the jam and takes a bite.

There are few words for the bliss on his face.

[plaguedrat]

And Rat enjoys the look on his face almost as much, grinning.

"So. Pancakes and jam?"

[silenttrainbaby]

Yes! Grey nods fervently. Yes! He stuffs the rest of his pancake in his mouth and chews.

[plaguedrat]

Rat sighs out comfortably and leans sideways, head on Grey's shoulder. "This is good."

[silenttrainbaby]

It is. Grey gets both arms around him and he kisses Rat's temple to thank him for making pancakes. And for being good.

[plaguedrat]

He's not that good, not really. Rat's self-defensive and distrustful. Except when he's around Grey. That's when he changes.

[silenttrainbaby]

Then he's good. That's what matters. Grey nearly smiles.

This has been a very good day.

[plaguedrat]

"So what was the gym like?" Rat asks, holding Grey's hand and running his thumb over the bones of his wrist.

[silenttrainbaby]

With a sigh, Grey has to shake his head. The gym wasn't. The waiver - he points to it again. He couldn't go inside.

But! He gestures to the city outside the window. His hand jumps, skims over buildings, falls, jumps again. That's what he did.

[plaguedrat]

"Up and over and around?" Rat asks, trying to imagine Grey moving around over those buildings.

"Like free running?"

[silenttrainbaby]

It isn't a name that Grey knows. It might have been what Tris called it, he doesn't remember. He shrugs. Perhaps?

[plaguedrat]

"Were you able to do that?" he asks. "On the train?"

[silenttrainbaby]

Grey holds his hands just a little apart. Short spurts, to prepare. Nothing like here, nothing like all the space, all the height.

[plaguedrat]

"Smaller, in the train?" he guesses. Even the biggest most luxurious train is still an iron box on wheels.

[silenttrainbaby]

A nod. Grey could run from one end of the car to the other, but that was it. Here, he could run and run and run.

[plaguedrat]

It sounds like living in a cage; Rat doesn't think he could bear it.

"And now you have the whole city."

[silenttrainbaby]

And for the first time, that doesn't sound terrible or overwhelming or frightening. Grey's eyes light up a little bit as he nods. He touches Rat's cheek. They can go together?

[plaguedrat]

He's pretty damn nimble. Rat thinks he could keep up. If he can't, he'll find a way to.

"Yeah."

[silenttrainbaby]

Even if he doesn't smile, the whole of Grey's face lights up.

Suddenly, this place seems so much better. So much.

He leans forward, kissing Rat.

[plaguedrat]

Sighing, he leans into his arms and returns the kiss, letting the world pass away for him. It's a world they've made their own, right here in the kitchen.