Chapter Text
Winter was the worst time of the year. Especially when you're homeless and living in North Dakota. Oh well.. Sex work wasn't exactly the best thing a 19 year old could do to earn money but he sure as hell wasn't getting a job. People. He hated people. They were cruel, heartless bastards who cared more about themselves and their phones than those who needed help in this world. The sick and the dying and the vulnerable. Writing an essay on your phone about global warming and wars isn't exactly going to do shit.
That was Kane for you. On the streets since he was 7, completely illiterate and surviving off of having sex with women who would be willing to do it. All he had to do was lie about his age. For a 19 year old, Kane looked a lot older that he actually was. His face was stubbled, due to scarcely shaving, long messy hair, down to around his waist. And tired eyes that had seen more than they should've. He was always wrapped up in a thick coat, scarf and a beanie when possible. And that patch over his eye that covered some of the scar that ran from his left eyebrow to the corner of his mouth. Most of it was stolen but as long as his ass was warm.
His brother wasn't as bad. Small Quinn. Despite also being 19, Quinn looked no older that 14 at most. They didn't talk much. At all really. Just pointed or gestured to things, nodding or shaking their head every now and then. Bright blue eyes, still tired, shaggy blond hair like Kane's and freckles dusting his nose. Kane didn't know why Quinn was the way they were. Whilst he was all anger and yelling, Quinn just... Stared. Watched from the end of the alleyway or got overwhelmed when the construction was near by. Quinn hated the construction. It drove them absolutely nuts. Kane always tried his best to help but pretty much every time it got too loud, they'd have to move from the alley or else Quinn would be a trembling, crying mess on the floor, covering their ears. Name struggled but he was figuring it out slowly. They looked like father and son if you weren't looking hard enough. Just two twin brothers trying to not die of hypothermia in this ridiculous weather.
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Kane had just gotten back from a store. Stolen items again but he didn't exactly have the money because women didn't actually pay him a lot. Being a gigolo wasn't a decent paying job. Quinn was wrapped up on the ratty couch again, probably half asleep and hungry. Kane placed the bag down and immediately began pulling things out. New gloves (his had holes in them), a tiny seeing kit for Quinn because they liked to patch blankets and stuff up when they got bored, and a few boxes of ready made meals that he wouldn't have to heat up, silverware as the other ones rusted, and a pack of cigarettes for himself (Quinn hated the smell but Kane had to take some of the edge off somehow). Pretty decent haul, some of it bought, the rest of it smuggled, but it would get them along.
Quinn snapped their fingers, making Kane look up. They started signing, not proper sign language but something they had just come up with over the years.
"A man was here. He's coming back." Kane frowned.
"A man..?" He asks, "Good man or bad man?" Quinn gives him a thumbs up. Good man.
"Well what did he want?" Quinn just shrugs.
"Odd. You said he was coming back?" They nod. "What for?" Quinn signs food. The man was coming back for food. Or he was coming back with food. Either was it was odd. Then there were footsteps rounding the corner to the entrance.
It wasn't just one man. It was two. And a small woman. The one with dark black hair seemed surprised to see Kane but not Quinn. He took a small step forward, Kane instinctively moving back before Quinn moved themself and placed a small hand on his shoulder. A soft reassurance.
"You said there was just the one?" The other man, the one with blond dreads, perks up.
"I swear there was.. It doesn't matter either way, Cal." The woman's had something in her hands. A tray of some kind. She was softer in a way. Round brown eyes, large ginger hair and a gentle demeanor overall. She was sticking close to the man with dreads, Cal, like some sort of partner. She shifts at some point and be puts an arm around her waist.
"Hey. Your son seemed really hungry when we walked past.. Thought we'd bring some food." The man with the black hair states. "I'm Jay. This is Callum and his girlfriend Queenie." Kane just stares at him for a moment.
"We're fine." He snaps. The girl, Queenie perhaps, moves towards them. She doesn't get too close, just kneels down on the floor and holds out the tray. It was covered with foil and she held it with a dish towel. The places it on the ground, pushing it towards Kane with our forcing anything. Kane took a look at the fish but didn't touch it. Wariness and suspicion filled his eyes. Why would people want to help them? Scruffy idiots like them? But Queenie's eyes didn't hold any malice. Neither did the men's.
"You sleep here?" The Jay man asks. Quinn replied with a small nod. Kane resisted the urge to throw him a dirty look to shut him up. Callum let out a soft, pitiful "oh" and his eyes softened. Kane hated it when people looked at them like that. Jay opened his mouth.
"You know, we've got a spare room at our place if you wanna stay for a few nights?" Queenie shot him a look before he sighed.
"Q, you don't need to start preparing yet. You found out last week. You've got more than half a year to sort it out." Queenie hesitates before standing back up from her crouching position and going back over to Callum, practically nestling into his side. Jay looked back at them as she did, before turning back to the others. He bit his bottom lip with an almost sad look.
"We've got the couch? Or the basement. Or a spare room? Somewhere warm for you to stay at the least." Quinn tugged Kane's jacket. A silent plea to take on the offer. Kane hesitated. People they didn't know, offering them things. It could end badly. Very badly for them both. But the possible opportunity of a warm place to stay at. Blankets, radiators, warmth. High risk, high reward.
"We'll... Think about it" he grumbles.
"We're just offering. It is like... 20° out here.. It gets even worse during the night time and we didn't want to to get ill" Callum perks up. "If you ever need a warm place to go, or you need help, we're always down the road. Hamilton Way. Number 1631. It's not exactly hard to miss, there's a... Massive Mexican flag hanging from an upstairs window." Quinn chuckles softly. The imagery was something else. Kane sighs, taking the tray. Under the foil was a piping hot lasagna. Almaot mouth watering for someone who only ever got to eat scraps. Kane could feel Quinn's eyes on it, starving and in awe. He places the foil back over the tray and nods. A silent thank you. Queenie smiles softly as Callum squeezes her waist gently.
"Well, Mike will throw a fit if we're out any longer" Jay mumbles. Callum nods and starts to lead Queenie back home. Jay gives Kane a small nod.
"1631. Remember that, alright bud. You stay safe." He smiles before following after the others. Kane just sits there for a second, confused before sighing. The broke through silverware from out the packet and passed a fork to Quinn. Hungry as they may be, they sure were going to sleep somewhat happy tonight.