Chapter 1

The steady woosh of fan blades caught and loosened curls of smoke rising through the heavy afternoon air, mixing with the sullen sound of jazz crackling through the grill of an old radio nestled amongst glass bottles below. A lone individual occupied the middle stool at the bar, hat pulled low over delicate features, small fingers wrapped around an empty glass. Outside, the rush and honk of a busy street did little to deter Nathan as he sauntered his way toward the door. His eyes were only for the neon sign calling to him from the bar’s window. Its ruby flare cut across the dismal grey day, and blotted out the traffic as it darted about him. He paused only briefly at a newspaper stand to glance at the headlines. With a sigh he rummaged through his pockets, tossed the paper man a nickel, and shouldered open the door to the bar.

The bartender flicked an eye up from his own newspaper at his new customer. “What can I getcha?” he rasped.

“Whiskey, on the rocks.” The dark-haired man glanced at the bartender and took a seat. He snapped open his newspaper and sighed again as he scanned through the front page. The tender splashed the hard liquor over ice and slid it down the counter. He refilled his smaller patron’s tumbler with Jack Daniels without asking and hurried back to his own paper and cigar. The silent customer remained motionless for a few moments before pulling something sleek and metallic from his pocket. A squeeze to its handle sent a line of electric blue fire arcing from the metal tip, shocking the liquid inside the glass.

Nathan caught his drink as it attempted to whiz by him. He gazed into it, swirling the liquid and the ice for a moment before downing it in one shot. He slammed the glass on the counter with a satisfied smile and called out for another when a flash of light in his periphery caught his attention. He shifted his gaze to the curious stranger occupying the stool next to him; the figure was clad in paperboy style - knickerbockers over argyle socks, short tweed jacket, paperboy hat pulled over short tufts of chestnut hair. Nathan didn’t think he looked old enough to be seated at a bar, alone on a grey afternoon like this.

The alcohol sparked and sputtered high above the rim of the tumbler before settling in a rainbow mist back into the glass. The small figure inhaled it deeply before throwing his head back and emptying the glass. The bartender shot the kid an unreadable glance as he slid another whiskey down the bar. Nathan barely caught it as he continued to stare at the kid, wondering what in the world he was doing. He shook his head and went back to his newspaper, stealing occasional glances at the mysterious child. But it wasn’t long before he folded it up, setting aside all the negative news the world had to offer in favor of his drink. He watched the ice float around in the liquid with a smile, swirling the contents again before taking a brief sip. As he settled the glass back down, he turned to the kid next to him. “Beautiful day isn’t it?” he started.

The moment that passed between them suggested the kid had not heard him or had chosen to ignore him. But as one would begin to assume either, the boy turned startling ruby eyes on him. Nathan felt his heart skip a beat; he had never seen such eyes before. He looked into them and smiled, hoping the stranger would say something.

“Think so?” the kid drawled. Those eyes did not blink.

Nathan grinned and shifted his gaze back to his whiskey. “Yeah, a beautiful day.” An unmistakable hint of sarcasm could be heard in his voice. He took a leisurely sip before glancing at the stranger again. “You seem to disagree.”

Those eyes looked past the man to the slate colored street. “...Haven’t seen one since I’ve been here...”

Nathan emptied his glass, feeling the eyes move past him. He shrugged. “You haven’t been here long enough then... I think those come around once a year or something...”

Ruby orbs shot back to his handsome face. “They do come then?” Nathan didn’t miss the note of urgency on the lilting voice, though he didn’t quite understand it. He felt lost in those ruby eyes as he wondered how to answer the question. He placed his glass on the bar carefully and shifted in his seat. “Yeah, sure they do. Why wouldn’t they?”

The sound of change clattering on the counter was followed by the squeak of the barstool, the young stranger suddenly moving past him toward the window. He stopped short and pressed a palm against the glass. “When? How long till the next one?”

Nathan’s heart clenched as he watched the youth. “How would I know? I’m waiting for one myself...” “Sooner than you think.”

Those red eyes seemed to snap as they whirled upon him. “I asked you when! You sounded like you knew whereof you spoke. If not, tell me now!”

A raised eyebrow was the boy’s only answer before Nathan’s lips quirked into a grin and he started laughing. “Sorry kid, there is no exact date. It’s not something you plan; it’s something that happens.”

The kid stared back at him, horror overtaking the brief fire in his eyes... then fading into despair. He clenched his fists and exited the establishment with a slam of the door, the clank of the bell resounding for a few moments through the shocked quiet of the bar.

“The hell...?” Nathan stared at the door, wondering what just happened and debating whether or not to get involved, before pulling out his wallet and dropping a few bills on the counter. He grabbed his trench coat and in a few quick strides he was out the door and scanning the street. The kid hadn’t gotten far; he stalked down the sidewalk, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes glued to the pavement. Nathan watched as he disappeared into an alley halfway down the block. He ran a hand through his thick black hair and sighed as he strode after him. “What a day...”

Panicked birds flew up on all sides of him as he rounded the corner, fleeing the sound of gunshot bouncing off the walls of the narrow alley. Nathan batted at them angrily and started racing down towards the sound. He found the kid a few feet down, feet spread, arms stretched straight out in front of him, unloading a .45 into something at the base of the alley wall. His face was tense, eyes wide and unblinking. The sight stopped Nathan dead in his tracks, a cold shiver running up his spine at the expression on the boy’s face. But he stood his ground and called out anyway. “Hey!”

The kid looked up as a bullet-riddled can bounced past his feet and rolled toward his black-haired acquaintance. He was breathing hard and the sound filled the sudden silence. He remained where he was for a moment before holstering his piece. “What?”

Nathan stopped the can with his foot and abruptly crushed it, his black eyes unwavering. He arched an eyebrow as he answered the kid’s question. “Nothing. I’m just not drunk enough to understand why a kid is shooting in an alley after leaving a bar in a frenzy.”

A ghost of a smile visited the young face for a moment. “I’ve never met anyone like you here.”

Nathan crossed his arms and smirked. “Oh yeah?”

“What does it matter to you if I decide to shoot things in an alley? Are you a cop?”

“What if I am?”

“I’d ask why you are bothering with someone like me.”

“What makes you so special I shouldn’t bother with you?”

The kid looked away. “Aren’t there more important things going on than me? …That’s the feeling this city gives me...”

“What has the city done to you?”

The boy continued to stare at the ground intently. “...It won’t let me go...”

Nathan sighed and took a step towards the kid. “Won’t let you go?” The kid said nothing as he came closer. He stopped in front of the child and tucked a finger under the boy’s chin, raising his head to meet his gaze. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Shock flashed across those deep ruby eyes as his chin was lead up. His delicate lips parted slightly and tears suddenly shivered to the surface as he stared into the man’s face. Nathan smiled at the kid, admiring the face before him. He wiped away a tear rolling off the youth’s cheek and asked softly, “What is it?” The kid trembled once and buried himself against Nathan’s chest, sobbing. This kid’s talent for the unexpected was impressive, and a little enviable, he thought. He wrapped his arms around the sobbing youth and held him tight. “Let it all out...” he murmured. The boy’s tears seemed to have no end as soaked the man’s dress shirt, clinging to his warmth as if it would fly away at any moment. Nathan held him as tight as he dared, his own eyes watering a bit as he wondered what more he could do. He whispered softly to the boy, comforting words he did not know he had in him. Eventually the sobs died down into sniffles, but the kid did not move. He leaned against the kind stranger shuddering on and off.

“Feel better now?” Nathan smiled and looked at the kid, not releasing him from his embrace.

“Who are you?” returned the small voice.

“Does it matter?”

“Are you alone?”

“Alone?”

“Like me?”

“I guess I am...”

“Can I stay with you.... until it isn’t grey anymore?”

Nathan’s eyes grew wide even as a smile formed on his lips. “Do you really want that?”

The boy pulled his face up from the wet shirt and released the full force of his ruby red eyes. They were glassy from crying and shone in the dim light of the alley like wet jewels. “Yes,” he whispered.

Nathan’s heart skipped a beat as he was caught in that ruby gaze again. He smiled, his voice temporarily stolen from him. “Let’s go home then,” he finally breathed.