Criminal Love

Raining Red

Lifty shivered as he pressed his body against the tree and wrapped his arms around himself to try to keep himself warm from the seemingly never-ending cold rain. He rummaged through the bag of his belongings, hoping to find something else to wear over his already soaked clothes. But to his dismay, the only things Shifty threw out to him weren't clothes, but mostly useless junk. He growled and threw the bag in anger, watching as the plastic bag flew through the air and landed a few feet away outside the shelter of the tree.

Lifty got up from his spot and started to walk, holding his coat's collar against his face to try and shield him from the rain. He stepped out onto the street and started to walk across when a car came out of nowhere, heading straight for him. Lifty didn't move, to frozen with fear to be able to. But the car screeched to a halt inches from him, the headlights and rain blinding Lifty as he tried to see who nearly hit him. Suddenly a feminine voice, laced with worry, called out from the vehicle.

"Oh m-my gosh! I'm so sorry! I d-didn't see you walking in the rain! A-are you okay?"

Lifty let out a sigh as he realized who that voice belonged to: Flaky, a red-haired girl who was scared of everything and was always easy pickings for being robbed by him and his brother. Lifty wiped the water from his face as he walked over to her car's window where Flaky's face peered out from it.

"Jesus, can't you see I'm walking here?!"

The redhead bit her lip nervously as she stuttered out, "S-Sorry. Like I said, I couldn't see you cause of t-the rain. . ."

"Why are you even out here in this shit?"

"I could ask you the s-same thing. Where's your b-brother at?"

Lifty shook his head and grunted, "Bastard kicked me out. Said I wasn't his brother no more."

Flaky frowned, "Well . . .do y-you want to stay with me for the night? Instead of staying out in t-the rain?"

Lifty raised an eyebrow in confusion, completely baffled as to why she was letting him for all people stay in her house. Alone. With her. Didn't she remember all the times he and his brother robbed her? Or stole from her? But he didn't care if she did, all he wanted was a warm bed and some dry clothes. So he shrugged and gave her a nod.

"Fuck it, why not? Beats freezing to death out here in this crap."

Flaky took that as a yes and unlocked her car's doors, rolling her window back up as she did. Lifty climbed into the car, his clothes making a wet squishing sound as he laid down on the cushiony backseats. Flaky stared at the thief in the rearview, but quickly averted her gaze as he caught her, an annoyed gleam in his eye.

"Whaddya staring at, Red?"

Flaky kept her eyes on the road as she started the drive back to her house, "N-Nothing. You just look a little. . .wet, is all."

Lifty snorted in contempt and didn't answer, so Flaky just continued driving. Driving with the town criminal in her backseat.

X X X

As soon as Flaky and Lifty entered her house, Flaky sat him down on her couch and told him to wait. She left him, going down a hallway and into a room. She came back several moments later with a cardboard box filled with clothes, setting them down at his feet. He looked down at the box and back up her with a confused face.

"What are these for?"

"Like I said," Flaky gestured to the thief's clothes, still slick with water, "You look a little w-wet."

Lifty nodded in understanding and stood up. He started to peel off his wet clothes without warning, causing the redhead to squeak and turn as red as her hair, covering her face until he put on some dry clothes. She peeked out from her fingers and let out a sigh of relief as she saw he had pants on again. Lifty seemed unfazed by her embarrassment as he sat back down on the couch without a word. Flaky left for the second time, coming back with a blanket and a pillow and handed them to him.

"You can s-sleep here for the night. If you need anything, I'll be in my room down the hall, the last door on your r-right."

Lifty nodded and got comfortable, laying down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. He now started to feel just how tired he really was, after the night's events and shut his eyes, drifting off within seconds. Flaky started to leave, turning to look at the thief's sleeping form.

"Goodnight, Lifty. S-Sweet dreams."

She didn't get an answer right away, so she left the living room, heading back to her own room. But she didn't notice the small smile that appeared on his face as she left or hear him whisper.

"Night, Red."