Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings

Old Friends

Thom walked away from him and leaned on the counter.

"A name without any crap attached to it," he said. "How did you find me?"

Cuno smiled at him.

"I didn't. I wasn't lying earlier. I was sent here for information."

Thom clicked his tongue. It was a bad habit he had since he was them smallest brat Cuno knew.

"Sent by Una the apple-seller," said Thom.

Cuno shrugged.

"She did send me here, you know?" he said. "Someone else just sent me first."

"And who was that someone else?"

Cuno ignored the question and went to look out the window. He saw the girl walking down the street.

"She's lovely," he said.

Thom sighed and rubbed a hand down his face.

"What the hell you want, Cuno?"

"I mean it. She's nice. I'm...I'm glad to see your happy. What's her name?"

The man hesitated and then said: "Emera."

"Pretty name. By the way, when the hell did you learn how to shake hands like a foreigner?"

Thom laughed.

"You thought me. Don't you remember?"

"I did?" Cuno couldn't remember.

"After that thing with the abandoned ships."

"That explains it. I had so much to drink then I only remember the hangover."

Cuno smiled at Thom and, for a moment, he was back to ten years ago.

"The ships were abandoned," said Thom, "but the stores were full. At least, they were full until we went in there."

Thom was smiling as well, showing off his missing front tooth. It was almost the same smile Cuno remembered but there were a few more lines surrounding it. There was a scar on his friend's face. It wasn't pink and new but pale and shiny. It was etched into his face a long time ago like one of those lines, but it was new to Cuno.

"It's not nice to let people think your dead," said Cuno.

Thom's crossed arms dropped to his side and the smile slid off his face.

"I went out looking for your body."

"That was good of you," said Thom.

Neither of them said anything for a little bit after that. Cuno walked to the other side of the room and started looking at the supplies. Thom watched him in silence. Cuno picked up a blanket. The surface of it was rough, warm wool that scratched his fingertips even through the gloves.

"You always did have shitty taste," said Thom. "The one above it should be better."

Cuno smiled at him. "You've giving it to me?"

Thom opened his mouth to say something, but stopped and shook his head. Cuno waited.

"I will," said Thom, after a few silent moments. "If you pick it up, walk out the door and agree to never let me see you again."

"What would that change? Just because you don't see me doesn't mean that they won't send me," said Cuno. He put the blanket back in it's place.

"Have they sent you?" asked Thom. "On an official capacity?"

Cuno shook his head and rubbed a finger along a protection ward. "Like I told you, I'm after information."

Thom inhaled and Cuno could see him slump a bit in relief. Cuno didn't know how to feel about that.

"Then ask some questions," said Thom.

Cuno nodded. "I take it Katie isn't hiding out here somewhere as well?"

"They didn't find her body?"

Note: Thanks for reading!

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