Expelled and needing to transfer for his final year, Liam had known immediately where to go. It was the place that'd taken everything from him; that'd ruined him so absolutely it'd twisted his personality beyond recognition.
The place where he'd met...
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"Are you sure the guy we're meeting is safe, Lee?"
ㅤRotting fag ends and choked, swamping drainage wrinkled his nose, and Charlie felt dirty simply standing in the miasma of this dump. Surrounded by welting pebble dash and windows ratting behind boards, the terraces existed in a state too feral to be awarded the state of 'slum clearance'. The crumbling abandoned warehouses had surely seen squatting addicts.
ㅤCharlie would've taken his chance on the streets before ever letting the council assign him here.
ㅤ"It's not as bad as I remember," Liam murmured.
ㅤCharlie's gaped in disbelief. "Nah, that's diabolical. 'Not as bad', fuck. And I say this as someone who lives in an actual tip."
ㅤ"Your place isn't that bad."
ㅤHe sniffed, considering that. "Well, it's true there's a lot of fun to be had on the inside."
ㅤ"Oh, I don't even have to imagine." Liam grinned, raking a sultry gaze up his body. The warmth was contagious, pricking under his skin.
ㅤHe knocked his shoulder into Liam's. "Now's not the time to get distracted. Let's get this out the way. Who are we meeting?"
ㅤ"He's called Romeo. I've only met him once through someone I knew from dealing. No one knows the streets better than him."
ㅤ"I see..." Liam really wasn't beating around the bush anymore. "Romeo's an unusual name."
ㅤLiam huffed dryly. "I doubt it's his real one. It's probably something he uses for work."
ㅤ"Work?"
ㅤ"You'll see."
ㅤThey weaved between alleys, passing startled rats that quickly retreated into greasy vents and rubbish bags that'd rotted for so long they'd started growing weeds like soil.
ㅤSkirting around rags who stood up as they approached, and silent hoodies watching them pass, Charlie began fidgeting for the knife he hadn't brought. Even though he was grown now, these kinds of festering tunnels reminded him of his stretched, anxious walks home as a boy. He was stiff and clunky, wary of nonexistent danger lurking in the corners of his eyes.
ㅤAs always, even though he felt one way on the inside, with his throat constricting against his lungs so his breath wouldn't sound over his anticipating ears, his body still bluffed it. The longer the route, the harder his body bluffed, aching with the tension of his confident shoulders, stomping as if he belonged here and wouldn't take kindly to anyone interrupting him.
ㅤHe was startled by Liam's hand on his chest, halting him in place.
ㅤ"We're here."
ㅤCharlie gave the area a quick sweep. It seemed empty.
ㅤWithout warning, Liam jumped to grab the high-up frame of a glassless window. He hauled himself up and straddled the ledge, looking down at Charlie with a raised brow.
