We Are the Kids From Yesterday

If the World Starts Believing, I'll Keep Believing

It had taken about two days, but eventually they had made it back to Battery City. They had returned, not wanting to get into any more trouble they weren't under protection from. Party had tried to pay even closer attention to Kobra lately, even if he had promised he wouldn't try anything again. He had said that before but that didn't seem to stop recent events. He had always been near him, talking to him a lot, hoping that he'd feel loved. Party needed him to be okay. Eventually, Party had been sitting next to Ghoul, their fingers intertwined, the two of them talking softly. Ghoul softly kissed Party, brushing his red hair out of his face as he just grinned.

"It's been a bit since we had a moment like this," Ghoul murmured, squeezing Party's hand. And he was right. With Party getting shot and the just mess of it all, Party was glad they had time to just do this now that they were back.

"It's great," Party said, blushing. "But you know, I hate that you keep going out. I don't want you to get caught, I don't want you to leave me."

"Party, I'm cautious," assured Ghoul.

"But you're not. I'm worried someone's gonna catch you."

Ghoul kissed Party softly again, rubbing his thumb across Party's wrist. "I don't wanna worry you, baby. But at the same time, I'm not gonna stop going out. How about I just promise to be careful?"

"Fine," said Party, in a soft whisper with their lips almost touching. They separated a bit more with Party saying, "Have you seen Jet or Kobra's pictures up yet?"

"Not yet, no," Ghoul said. "I know Kobra's on the Bat City radar, not necessarily Better Living's. Since he pirated those old movies to sell a few years ago."

"He was 16, they weren't about to arrest this skinny little teenager," said Party, remembering this clear. Four years ago, the boys had just gotten together and they needed some carbons (little pieces of plastic used for trade around Bat City and the zones) so Kobra had found out how to copy and sell a ton of old movies. When he got caught, they threatened to arrest him if he went out of line again, but they could obviously see the kid wouldn't do too well in prison. It was a good laugh for everyone.

"Jet's just a little angel and has only ever stolen a bit of food. He'd always go back and leave what he owes in the following weeks too," added Party. "I don't know how he does it."

"He's a lot more morally stable than the rest of us," joked Ghoul, giggling slightly. Then his voice lowered a bit when he said, "Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything."

"You know, I don't think I'll make it to 30."

Suddenly alarmed, Party looked at Ghoul and squeezed his hand again. "Wait, what? Why? What's wrong? Are you planning too..." And at that, he trailed off. It was scary to think maybe Ghoul was going through what Kobra was or what he had as a teenager. He was already scared enough about him getting killed, he didn't want him to want to die on top of that.

"No, that's not what it is," continued Ghoul, placing his free hand on Party's cheek and lightly stroking it. "I think I'm gonna get killed. I guess you're right about me being reckless. Sometimes I don't think before I do something dangerous. S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W's gonna get me eventually."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," said Party, taking his hand from Ghoul's and instead placing it on top of the hand resting on his cheek. "You really think I'd let Korse or any of his goons touch any of you guys?"

"But if I were to go out someday..." said Ghoul quietly. "Alone. And if Korse were to get ahold of me... and no one knew what had happened..."

"Then I'd stop at nothing to find you and bring you back to me."