Chapter 1

Shit.

He found him. The older man thought he had run far enough, hid long enough but he never could escape the kid. Never could stay away.

Then again, he knew he never wanted too…

He saw the small figure at the other end of the alley. Those bright eyes turned cold and full of malice. He'd been so shocked that he'd been found so quickly, that he hadn't noticed that the little one was only a meter or so away from him.

At first the little man just stared, panting, but he never took his eyes of him. As though he thought he would disappear. Finally he spoke.

"Why? Why would you lie to me?" the little man choked, holding back his tears.

The older man couldn't look at his red, swollen eyes knowing he caused the little one so much pain. He turned away. Even so, he could still feel them burning a hole into his back.

"Because," He whispered, too harshly. "I had too."

The smaller shook his head.

"That's not fucking good enough!" He yelled as he stepped towards the man's back.

"Well it has to be! I had no choice!" He turned and stepped toward the other.

He was so close. The older man couldn't deny how much he missed the kid. His smile, his laugh, his stupid hair…

He cupped the smaller's cheek, gently. And for a moment, time stood still.
They stared into each other's eyes until a dejected murmur broke the momentary trance.

"No. It's just that…that you didn't trust me," He pushed the hand away, breaking eye contact. He reluctantly stepped away. "You never did anyway."

Guilt racked through the man's body as he watched the kid's thin shoulder's tense up. How could he allow this to spin so completely out of control? He wanted nothing more than to pull his hurting love into his arms but understood that he had lost that right months ago.

"Just…forget it. Go. Leave. I…I don't want to see you anymore!" He spit, through clenched teeth. His voice grew in either confidence or desperation. Did it even matter which at this point?

He saw tears drip from under the little one's fringe. It hurt him so much, it killed him, but he had to have lied. He couldn't let the only person who believed in him, the only person who's opinion mattered, see what he'd done.

Rain drops sprinkled down from the dark gray sky, making the little one's onyx hair glisten.

He knew he had to leave. It was nearing morning. He had no desire to prolong ether of their suffering.

The older man stepped in close to the smaller man, kissed his fridge covered forehead and ran into the night. He knew showing any sort of affection for wouldn't aid in his needed departure but he was selfish in that sense. He wanted his poncy git of a best friend to understand that, yes, he lied, but it wasn't because he'd stopped loving him.

"I still love you, Vince." He whispered as he ran. "I promise, on my life, I will be back."

And then he was gone.

But that was only the beginning.