Free Like Moonlight

New World

Walking through the city was still a amazing experience. The sun was so warm, it was a wonderful day. He followed behind Albert, a bounce in his step despite how his feet ached. He loved it though, this was all so new!

Albert led him to a building with a sign. Tommy tried to decipher it, but he couldn't. Albert headed inside though. "Hey fellas!"

Tommy hesitated outside while various other people greeted Albert. Did he want to go in there?

That was answered for him, he was dragged inside by Albert. "C'mon, they'll all love you."

Tommy nervously stood half behind Albert as the large entourage of boys looked him over. So many eyes on him made him nervous. He hid further behind Albert.

Someone, a tall and lanky boy without a vest like some of the others, walked up. Tommy watched him nervously, but Albert smiled. "Finchy, hey!"

'Finch' nodded, smiling as well. "Hey Albie. Who's the newbie with my slingshot?" Up close Tommy saw that he was much taller. And, for Tommy's frame of reference, was cute. So was Albert now that he thought of it. The question was what did he do with that.

Tommy pinched his arm. That could be taken care of later. "Um, I'm Tommy. Here's your slingshot." Tommy held it out for Finch. Finch looked between it, Tommy and Albert.

"Keep it, I have more." Finch said simply. "C'mon, sit down, stay a while. When's the last time you ate?" Finch threw his arm around Tommy's shoulder and Albert slotted himself on Finch's other side. Looking around, almost everyone else was hanging off one another. This must have been normal. Tommy smiled and leaned into Finch's side with a happy sigh. He'd missed the warmth of people for so long. Nice people. Finch didn't make him move when they sat down, so he saw no reason to stop cuddling into Finch's side.

The hotdog, however, got him to sit up. He hadn't been paying attention when Finch ordered. He'd been focused on the metal clip on his suspenders and the noise it made when it opened. The conversation flowed around him, Tommy not particularly concerned with it. As they waited Tommy's fascination moved from his suspender clip to tracing the lines of Finch's hand.

Finch doesn't seem to mind, so Tommy keeps doing it until a plate is placed before him. It smells heavenly, and Tommy sat up to watch it. He hoped it was for him. Finch seemed to have gotten a slice of pizza and Albert a sandwich.

Tommy stared at the hot dog for minutes before eating it. It was the best thing he'd ever eaten. It was gone in moments. Finch chuckled next to him. "It's good isn't it?"

Tommy nodded, mouth still full of hot dog. He loved this food.

Time seemed to pass slower or faster, Tommy couldn't tell. He just knew that he liked sitting here curled up next to Finch with the hum of conversation around him. Until someone poked him.

Tommy looked up to see a raven haired boy with a huge smile. "Hi, I'm Elmer! I love cats, didja know that cats used to be worshipped by the ancient egyptians?" Elmer babbled. "Anyways who're you? You're new, I like new people!"

Tommy took a second. "I'm Tommy, and what's a cat?" Tommy had scarcely heard of a cat, much less Egypt.

Elmer smiled wider. "Cats are a kind of animal and they're adorable and so cute! They're super fluffy, have retractable claws, and they're SO CUTE!!" Elmer exclaimed. "They hunt mice and other pests to. And they chase string!" Elmer bounced a little as he talked.

Tommy was a little confused. But now he wanted to know now. "Can you show me?"

Elmer nodded again. "I sure can! I have a cat, her name is Aurelia like my sister." Elmer smiled and got back up. Tommy didn't really look to see where he went. He was focused more on this new information.

Cats, a animal. Small, fluffy, and Elmer had one. Elmer liked cats.

Finch, Finch gave him the slingshot. Finch and slingshots. Finch was warm, warm and Finch.

Albert had helped him, Albert was his first friend, he was warm to. Albert and friendship. Albert and helpfulness. Albert and Finch and warmth.

Tommy smiled a little to himself. This was the best day in history. Maybe this new world wasn't as scary as he'd thought.

No one made Tommy move for hours. He almost fell fast asleep.

He was snapped out of his daze by Finch shaking him a little. Tommy, trained by years of rough wake up calls, snapped upright and awake. Apparently that surprised Finch, because he jumped back a little.

Tommy watched him expectantly, feeling confident enough to meet Finch's eyes. Finch seemed even more surprised by that.

They were silent, and Tommy had no idea what to say. Nervously he stood up. Did they want to get out? Why were they still so still?

Eventually Finch cleared his throat and stood as well. Albert behind him. Finch, much more carefully then before, looped his arm around Tommy's shoulders. When Tommy didn't react badly, both of them relaxed and the flow of conversation resumed. Tommy decided to listen, learn more.

They were discussing a 'headline'. Tommy couldn't follow much of the conversation, many of the words were unknown to him. He would have to ask later if he remembered to.

The sun only got lower as they meandered around the city for a little while. Tommy relaxing further and further. He asked more questions, of course. He was curious about this world.

Eventually they ended back up at the place Albert had brought Tommy earlier that day. Had it really been a whole day? That was amazing.

The moon, a crescent in the sky, was fascinating. Albert said it changed over the month. Tommy was determined to observe it.

Before heading upstairs, the group from earlier introduced themselves and Tommy tried to associate them all with things.

Henry was short and could cook. Henry and food.

Buttons was tall and good at sewing. Buttons and sewing.

Pie-Eater was young and loved pizza. Pie and pizza.

Romeo was flirtatious, according to everyone else. Tommy didn't know was that was and he certainly wasn't sure if Romeo was flirting with him. Romeo and flirting.

Specs was caring and kind. Specs and care.

Mush couldn't cook, he regaled Tommy with the story of setting water on fire. Mush and cooking.

Blink immediately told something funny. Blink and funny.

Elmer proudly showed him his cat. Tommy discovered he liked cats. Elmer and good things.

Racetrack immediately informed him not to steal his cigar and that he was 'aggressively into both men and women', and that he liked coronas and horses. Racetrack and.. Horses? Racetrack and horses.

Mike and Ike were always together doing tricks or 'pranking' people.

And that was seemingly the end of the people, which Tommy was grateful for.

Lying awake in his new, warm bunk under Albert's, he reviewed the day. So much had happened, and there were so many people. But he liked it. This new life was nice. Tommy could barely wait for the adventures the next day would bring.

'They're only tolerating you,' a small, familiar voice that had been quiet all day whispered.

'Shut up' Tommy told it as he fell asleep.