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The lack of sunlight bathed the streets of the Underground in perpetual humidity. Dampness could be felt and smelled all around and made for some of the coldest winters.
As Kenny lurked in a back alley with his nephew, awaiting the appearance of a patron who owed him, he was glad he'd remembered to wrap a scarf around the brat’s neck. The last thing he wanted was for him to catch a cold.
Kuchel would've definitely bundled him up in layers upon layers of clothes, Kenny thought as he glanced down at him.
Letting his guard down and allowing his mind to wander back to his sister instantly proved to be a mistake, for it made him waver, a slight doubt about the decision he'd set on from the moment he'd taken her son in arising, and he looked away to steer his thoughts elsewhere.
The season's decorations were starting to pop up all around the city, dangling from every corner his eyes skimmed over, shimmering dully under the artificial lighting.
As if these filthy rats had the luxury to celebrate anything.
It sickened him. What were they even celebrating? He could bet that none of them knew; it was no more than a stupid tradition passed down generations, with no one ever stopping to question its ridiculousness.
But whatever kept these nitwits ignorant and silent, right?
With a click of his tongue, Kenny redirected his attention to the tavern’s back door. Usually he wouldn't have been so urgent in settling these accounts. He liked to exercise more power and spread some terror beforehand. But the holiday spirit had always shortened his patience and challenged his self-control—not that they were huge fortes of his anyway. This would also be an opportunity to teach Levi how to communicate with those who didn't repay their debts in time.
Seriously , though, why does it always feel criminal to ask for your money back?
Well, the way Kenny would go about it surely had a criminal flair to it. But it’d never have to come to this had people learned to keep their word.
"Yo, brat, never forget, wisest thing you can do is keep your coins in your pockets," advised Kenny as he flipped a switchblade between his fingers, watching his glaring reflection dance across its steel. "But that'd make life boring," he added with a cackle, then, frowning, turned to Levi when no answer came.
Chin buried in the wool of his scarf and hands shoved deep inside his pockets, Levi had his attention elsewhere. Kenny shook his head; there seemed to be nothing left to teach him on insolence. Instead of a smack to the back of his head to snap him out of it, Kenny followed his line of vision till his gaze landed on the windows of a house across the road. The warm, familial scenes playing out behind them were ones he never thought Levi could ever be attracted to—not after the amount and nature of time he'd spent with him, at least. They surely never rattled anything inside Kenny. But Levi was only a kid, after all.
A call of his name was enough to startle Levi back into reality, his harsh reality, and he was promptly focused on his uncle again.
Kenny was never one to dwell on sentiments. His last name and environment had never afforded him such a luxury. And he certainly wasn't cut out to indulge anyone else in theirs either. But even so, in his nephew's eyes swirled something not even he could ignore. He didn't get the chance to discern it, however, since Levi sneezed at that moment, closing his eyes. When his lids fluttered open again, they were as empty and bleak as when Kenny had first beheld them.
"You're starting to get sick. Let's go," Kenny said, leading the way back to their neighborhood.
Levi scurried to fall into step beside him, one of Kenny's long strides requiring four of his small steps to keep up. "What about your money?"
"I'll take care of it later."
Nothing more was said for the rest of the journey, both of them deep in thought.
The occasion for Kenny to wait on that unfortunate man again came a couple of days later, and he went on his own.
In the meantime, Levi's cold had worsened, and after scolding him for being so sickly, Kenny had left him tucked in and threatened him not to leave the warmth of his blankets till he was back. Levi obliged. Orders he had no issue with following. And the morning was spent wrapped up in bed, staring at the ceiling, and surrendering to intermittent intervals of sleep.
When he awoke again some time later in the afternoon, he knew by the stillness of the house that Kenny had yet to return. He wondered what could have taken him so long, but soon surmised that he was probably just taking his time with it, making an excessive display of his power as usual. After all, Kenny found great joy in violence, especially when employed to remind people of what would ensue should they try to take advantage of him.
Levi's sore throat made it hard for him to eat the apple Kenny had left on the bedside table. But some warm fusion would be welcome. With his red nose scrunched and a blanket around his shoulders, he waddled to the kitchen, dragging a stool to sift the cupboards for any remaining tea leaves. He’d hardly gone through the first cabinet when he heard the front door open and then slam again, followed by Kenny's booming call of his name.
Levi hopped off just as his looming figure entered the kitchen. But instead of the nasty glare he was prepared for, he was met with a crooked, triumphant grin—the exact one Kenny would wear after successfully carving out someone's face with his knife.
"Sit down, brat.”
Levi did as told. The barely table reached his neck, his head poking over the wooden surface on which Kenny placed a single cupcake. It looked dry and unappealing, the crumbs spilling off its sides triggering him.
Out of his pocket, Kenny dug out a small candle and planted it in the middle of the cake before lighting a match and igniting it. He lit another and brought it to the cigar between his lips before slumping into a chair across from Levi.
"Make a wish. It's your birthday."
"How do you know?" asked Levi with a quirked brow. "You weren't around when I was born."
Kenny took a long drag before blowing smoke, a cloud momentarily concealing his eerie smirk. "It is from now on."
Levi was smart enough not to press any further. No good ever came from unnecessarily angering the man who'd so willingly taken him under his wing. He stole a glance at the calendar to his left.
December 25.
The ghost of a smile pulled at his lips before he closed his eyes, taking in the moment before blowing out the candle.
Hands clasped behind his head, Kenny reclined in his seat, unconsciously mirroring his nephew's expression. He hadn't gotten his money back and had wasted an entire day roaming the streets for an open bakery, but at least Kuchel would be proud, wherever she was.
And from now on, they would have a reason to celebrate this day, even when apart.