𝐴𝐹𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑇𝑂𝑅𝑀 [post game AU]

•Prologue•

Iroha's POV:

—long working night, the job you have isn't the best right? Well it's what you can have, now that you aren't THE famous painter you must comform yourself with this, drink in bars and ask for money with your "natural charm", could be worse right? You could be taking your clothes off and fucking guys for money, but... I'm not going that down, my life isn't that bad yet, right?...—.

...

—right?...—.

"I'm home..."—I mumbled, it was 2:30 am, night was at it's peak but I was already tired, today wasn't the best day mostly because of how many fights were going on at the bar, good thing I bought some food for tomorrow and a new package of cigarettes—.

"You came early...what happened?"—Syobai greeted me, with a weird look on his face, it's true it was very early, I tend to came at 4 or 5 am when the bars are closing and everyone's packing up or waking up, he got up and went in front of me to pat my head— "Did... something happened?"—.

"A fight...I wasn't going to stay there to see two guys ripping their heads off, I already see enough violence on TV and outside..."—.

"I see...leave the bag on the table, head to bed kiddo— With a smile I did as he said and left the bad in the table, two packages of instant noodles, some canned meat and a bunch of sweets, for the month at least, or less. Took off my clothes and put on the largest shirt I had, wasn't mine, I don't from who it is, but it's used to sleep, cuddled up next to Syobai, pretending I am cuddling with my dad after an exciting day doing awesome things, and...tried to get some sleep, but...my mouth feels thirsty—.

Syobai's POV:

—Felt a sound like two hours later I closed my eyes, she got up, and went to the window we have in our apartment, to smoke, I know it because she walks slowly and takes a plastic box where she keeps her stuff, weed, tobacco, cigarette with numbers that weirdos gave her (poor of those bastards thinking she would ever call them)... And she heads towards the balcony, with the full window open, to let all the smell go, takes her an hour or two depends if she cries in the process, but once she comes back her mouth has bits of toothpaste on her lips—.

—I know that because when I wake up I see them, right on her face...she thinks I was born yesterday, she never smokes next to me, at least not that much, we share a cigarette sometimes but never finishes one in front of me, she wants me to believe she doesn't need that, that she's fine and she's just very tired, but her stupid smile is gone, and she doesn't draw anymore, at least not with the same passion nor happiness as before, it saddens me? A little—.

—But to be fair, I would be exactly like her, after living what we lived...poor Iroha. Thinking I'm her only person left, says a lot about life—.

—I know she will kill me if I do it but...maybe, I'll need to make some calls—.

End of Prologue.