The City (Merome AU)

19

~*Mitch*~

Why are there coyotes in the city? Who in their right mind would have brought them here?! Taking a deep breath, I pull out my gun. I might as well kill it while it's still here. The wild creature appears before me. Snarling, its teeth were bared and ready to attack. Clearly one that isn't scared of humans. He will be in a bit.

"Alright buddy. Just hold still, and it'll all be over quickly," I murmur, mostly to myself, raising the gun and turning off the safety. The coyote snarls again, looking at me with narrowed eyes. Closing my eyes, I pull the trigger. All I hear is a loud bang, and the quiet whine of an animal afterwards. I hit my target. Taking a deep breath, I turn around and walk in the direction Jerome went. He's safe for now.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Did you hear the bang?" I overhear a group of girls gossiping as I walk back.

"Yeah! It sounded like an old metal light post fell, or something like that."

"I thought the same thing! But the cops won't let anyone get anywhere close to where the sound came from. Officer Leonheart was all like 'This is a matter too dangerous for normal civilians. Go home child.' How old does she think I am? I'm 13!"

"I hear you Thalia. Sometimes, I think she forgets that 12 year olds can handle themselves."

"Maybe if you're born from the wasteland!" An old man snaps at them. "You're all just children. You don't even know how to negotiate with the youngest man at the Atcei trade shop without getting scared."

"I can't help it!" The girl fires back. "The scar makes him look like a wastelander!"

"You've never seen a wastelander kid. For all you know, that young man over there could be one." The old man points in my direction. At me. If only he knew. I chuckle silently at my thought.

"No. He's too hot to be a wastelander! All of them are more ugly and scar ridden." I roll my eyes at that comment. Just a rude stereotype.

"Again, you've never seen one. Excuse me sir!" The man yells toward my direction. "May I ask for your assistance in teaching these girls a lesson?" Sighing softly, I turn to look at him.

"I'm kind of busy right now," I lie, trying to avoid the situation. The girls murmur amongst themselves, looking at me with curious eyes. This isn't going to end well.

"Oh don't worry. It won't last long. I just have a question to ask you." The old man smiles slightly.

"Shoot," I state, crossing my arms. The girls look at me with wide eyes, as if I said something weird.

"Why does your voice sound weird?" A girl blurts out before immediately covering her mouth.

"Oh don't worry. You sound weird to me too." I smile slightly at her. "Its just how I was taught how to talk."

"Tell me," the old man speaks up. "You're wasteland born; aren't you? I don't mean to be rude, but your accent gives it away." Sighing softly, I close my eyes. He's observant.

"Depends on who's asking," I say with a shrug. "But if you'll excuse me, I'm late."

"Don't let us keep you from getting to where you need to be."

"Right. Thank you." Before they could say anything else, I turn and continue walking down the street. I really need to leave this place soon. Very soon.
I just hope Jerome will be ready for that.

~*Frags*~

I watch as Benja walks down the street, and out of sight. There's always been something different about him. I can't quite place my finger on it, but you can almost sense that he's nearby. I'm probably just imagining things...

Sighing, I close the blinds of the window I was looking out of and stand up. There is only one annoying thing about this place. Wastelanders are only aloud to be themselves at night, when all the "normal" people are at home, sleeping. It's surprising that Benja goes out there during the day. It's almost as if he wants to blend in with the "normal" people. But if that was the case, he wouldn't have kissed a man. That guy is so confusing. But then again, that's why I want to know why he's so strange.