Kand-lei walked down the street, shivering as he clutched his side, each breath bringing a new reminder of the pain shooting through him. His teeth were almost chattering by the time he reached the main road. Cars raced by, horns blared and headlights flashed in his eyes. Muddy water flicked up the backs of his legs as he walked, staining his dark blue pants.
As he walked past countless small restaurants his stomach grumbled dejectedly. He hissed a little at the sensation of his stomach cramping, breath coming out as white mist in the now frigid air.
He knew he should go to one of the help centres. That he could have a warm meal there. A safe place to sleep.
But to do so felt too real. Too much like he was giving up. Like if he actually stepped through those doors the reality of his situation would become irreversible.
He would really be divorced. His family would have really abandoned him. He would really be alone.
He fought back an onslaught of tears as he kept walking. To walk is to be warm. To be warm is to live a little longer without needing help. To not need help was… well he wasn't quite sure what it was anymore. Just that it was all he had left.
Distant sounds of revelry reached his ears. He looked dazedly around the wealthy seeming neighbourhood he was passing through, lights and music seemed to be coming from one of those estates. As he passed by the gate he heard some kind of commotion, yelling and shouting and the heavy thud of footsteps running.
Kand-Lei paid it no mind, he was in no condition to be caring about the affairs of others.
It was perhaps because of this resolute indifference that he was caught completely unawares by the man that suddenly seemed to fly over the wall and crash into him.
Kand-Lei gasped in pain as he fell to the ground, toppled by the weight of a man that smelt like sun-warmed earth.
He would have hit his head against the pavement if not for the quick thinking of the other party, protecting his head at the last minute with a well placed forearm.
They stared at each other in shock for a moment, Kand-Lei's silver eyes meeting the almost black eyes of the stranger.
"…uh. Hi? Could you maybe let me up?" Kand-Lei tried, feeling the uncomfortable sensation of his bruised side being sat upon.
The strange man, upon seeing his small wince immediately sprung to his feet, seemingly snapping out of some kind of trance. He helped Kand-Lei to his feet carefully, worried that he was the one who had hurt him.
"Ah shit, sorry dude, are you ok?" The stranger mumbled, brushing the moist dirt and debris off him as best he could.
Kand-Lei smiled a little at his efforts, even when they mostly just smeared the dirt around. "…I'm ok."
"Are you sure?" The man glanced at his side, "I landed on you pretty hard."
"Ah… no," following the direction of his gaze Kand-Lei quickly added, "I hurt my side… before. Not your fault."
The man hesitated, seemingly still worried. He stiffened when he heard sounds from the other side of the wall. They sounded angry. And like they were getting closer. Kand-Lei managed to catch the words, 'he jumped the wall!' before he was suddenly pulled down the street, back in the direction he had just come from.
He stared at the stranger's back as they ran. Kand-Lei wasn't entirely sure why he was running.
And yet, even though his muscles protested the sudden movement and every jolt of his foot hitting the ground sent a dull ache through his side, it felt exhilarating. Freeing. He could feel the air rushing past his face and the warmth of the stranger's hand gently gripping his wrist.
After a few minutes, the strength of the stranger seemed to flag and he started slowing down.
Kand-Lei kept running. Shifting seamlessly from being led into the one leading the other forward. He pulled the stranger along behind him as he called back, "What exactly are we running from?!"
The stranger laughed as he was pulled along, bright silvery white hair fluttering behind him. "My crazy parents and some guy I don't want to marry!" He called back as they neared busy streets.
They began weaving through crowds of people out for dinner and frequenting various night activities such as karaoke and bars or clubs. Kand-Lei kept a firm grip on the stranger's wrist and he manoeuvred through the throng. His wrist was a warm contrast to the chill that had settled into Kand-Lei's own skin.
Suddenly seeming to realise something, just as shouts were heard behind them, Kand-Lei pulled them both into an alleyway.
He pushed the stranger further into the alley's depths as he released his pheromones, the smell of some vanilla-y bread filling the air.
"They were probably tracking you by scent." He murmured softly, motioning the stranger to keep quiet.
They both held their breaths as shouting and barked orders drifted in from the mouth of the alleyway.