The Sound of Your Beating Heart

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This fic will mostly be in Xiaos Pov just to be clear. It will be pretty rare to see a change of pov. Just a heads up.

We were just teens when we met. Low life's you could say. We were like everyone else; bunch of nobodies in this shitty town with these shitty people. Some say they dump the good for nothings here because they don't have space for them in the city. I get it though. Who would want a young Chinese teen and a German boy in their neighborhood? With his immigrant parents who are only good for stealing. I mean at least it puts food on the table. And the musically talented kid with his alcoholic father who can't ever get his ass off the couch. Maybe that's where he got his idea of drinking till he chokes from. He's never been good at handling alcohol.

Yeah, just a couple of teens looking for a way to escape because they believe they can be something. That they can prove everyone wrong just to get a kick out of it. But it never really turned out that way huh Venti? At least not for you.

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It was the hottest day of summer. That exact day I met you. I decided to do something for once. To go have some 'normal' fun like those city kids. So with the money I pick pocketed from a lady I went to the aquarium like an idiot. 17 year old Chinese kid with a bad reputation going to an aquarium in the city really is something.

When I tell you that the security guard gave me the nastiest look you would've laughed. I mean- $25 for one person is bullshit. Just to go see some colorful fishes is stupid. But I can't be complaining I mean it was my idea to go. I passed by little tanks with clown fish and other fishes I didn't know the names of. Kids running around with their expensive clothes while their parents scream their names. Makes me feel like shit. Then I passed by a tank with sting rays and just a bit bigger fishes. The way their fins flapping like wings. They soared through the tank with no care in the world. If life was that layed back.

Of course I wasn't just gonna do some sight seeing while I was there. I pick pocketed some rich folks while they looked dumbfounded at some star fish. I'm just to good. As I was looking for my next victim I couldn't help but avert my gaze to a big tank. The lights above made it so iridescent, so angelic like. Like it was coming from heaven itself. Jelly fish, small fishes, big fishes and some sharks were in the tank like prizes. Pretty sure it was the biggest tank there. And the most colorful. As I admired it I couldn't help but feel like I wasn't alone. I mean of course I wasn't but like someone was on the other side of the tank.

And there; a pair of eyes stared back at mine through the glass tank. Just like I had dreamed. Green eyes.

Green eyes that could almost split your soul in half. I felt frozen. I couldn't move at all. All I could notice from him (i'm assuming) was a mole under his left eye. And on the right; a dark purple bruise from maybe a bottle or a fist. His bangs rested on his forehead; covering what looked like old bruises or marks from other objects. He wore a grey sweater with a white T shirt that read "No Time Like The Present." Looked like it was from some kind of indie band probably. He wore old looking blue shorts with some worn out converse. I never told you but I always wondered where you got that shirt. It was your favorite after all.

I bet when you first saw me you were like "Holy shit he looks like hell." Well that's what i'm assuming. We were like that for a while until you formed a smile. A smile i'll forever cherish and miss. You waved at me through the glass. Breaking my invisibility cloak. I waved back and then you vanished from my sight. I remember looking for you all the aquarium that day. You just seemed to disappear without a trace. When I couldn't find you I left. There was no point in being there anymore if you weren't there.

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As I walked in the dark night- I lit up a cigarette and puffed out some smoke. It was finally getting cooler so I zipped up my hoodie and continued walking to a park in my shitty ass town. As I got there I saw you again. You were on the swings fiddling with an empty bottle of alcohol. I didn't know weather or not to approach you but you saw me and motioned me over. I hesitated and walked towards you. Holy crap you smelled.

Do you remember the first thing you told me? "Light me a cigarette." You said it with giggles escaping your mouth. I thought you looked ridiculous. I handed you one and lit it up for you. One puff and you started coughing. "I haven't had one in such a long time." You continued your smoke with your hair all messy and that same bruise still as bright as ever. Your cheeks flushed a pink hue- probably from the cold and alcohol. That was until you noticed; you noticed I was with you at that same aquarium. I'm gonna be honest I didn't expect you to act all happy about it.

"Heyyy wait a minute.. Your that guy I saw earlier from the *hic* aquarium." Hiccups left your dry lips and tickled your words. You flicked the ash of the cig and puffed once more. I sat silently on the swing with you and hummed in response. Do you remember that night? We used to talk about it.

"What's a thief doing with a sad guy like me in the middle of the night?" You smiled a cheeky smile and puffed the cig once more before flicking the ashes again. "You needed a cigarette and possibly some company. I mean- that's the reason you called me over no?" For some reason it was like you were trying to break down my response. You looked at me with such curiosity I thought I said something wrong at some point. "Why do you steal?" you said still staring into my eyes as if I was your prey. "Why do you drink?" You laughed and finally threw the cig away onto the floor. You let your breath leave your mouth and it was visible to the naked eye. It's getting colder now.

"Your an easy guy to read; you know that?" I'm still wondering to this day; why did you say that? Most people never know what i'm thinking expect you. You always knew and that sent shivers down my spine. "That's a first time i've ever heard that." "Good, that means i'm more observant of you than others." What you said that day stuck with me. Even to this day I think about it. And you were 100% right too. Suddenly you threw the empty glass bottle to the point when it landed, it broke.

The sound of glass was loud enough for the whole street to hear. Peoples lights started to turn on and that's when you grabbed my hand and ran. I almost tripped at some point because of you. "Where are you even taking me?! I don't even know you!" I struggled to get my hand back. "The beach!" The beach? What the actual fuck.

A total drunk 18 year old is taking me to the beach. I literally had just met you and you were already making my life chaotic. You got that cruse on you. We ran until our legs gave out. We let our bodies fall onto the cold sand and layed their for what felt like hours. "I'm Venti." You said trying to catch your breath. That moment when I heard your name I was like "That's such a weird name." But again it was unique. I liked that. "I'm Xiao." By the time I turned my face to face you, you had already done so.

You stared at me. And I stared at you. That summer of 2005 would be the day you changed my life.