And the only solution was to stand and fight

[temperedwill]

[It wasn't that he wanted to be a troublesome kid. Not exactly. He kind of just was a troublesome kid. After being carted from one home to another, one starts getting kind of tired of it all. Keith isn't dumb. He knows that he's kind of being childish. He's really smart, but he can't help it. He's sure some of the homes he were taken too were loving families, but it's just hard. The initial abandonment and just always sitting in the backseat of a social worker's car.

The new place seems nice. It's out of the city and more into the open countryside. It's bustling in its own way, but definitely more rural than not.

What a perfect place for him to run and hide. Which is what he's doing. He can hear them calling out his name, but he doesn't care. Who's yard is this? Eh. He crawls behind a bush. It's like an elaborate game of hide n' seek except the seeker never actually looks for him. They just leave him be. He's already counting the days before this family gets tired of his antics and they cart him to another home.

He should know better. He's not that young. Keith doesn't know better though. That's why he's currently hiding behind a bush in another person's yard.]

Comments

[felidae]

[ When Shiro was younger, he worked with the community. Did his best to help other people where he could, even if he wasn't going to get anything out of it except the knowledge that he'd done some good. There was one kid that he'd gotten to know, someone in the foster system that had been bounced from family to family. Even at that age, his empathy had gotten the best of him, made him want to reach out and befriend him.

And, for a while, it'd worked. Keith Kogane had been a little more tempered, gotten into a little less trouble with him around. And they'd been good together, partners in more lighthearted trouble than delinquency. Playing hooky and exploring the city were okay so long as it wasn't going to end up with someone in actual trouble.

But then, Keith was gone. Shiro wondered what happened to him a lot, asked after him with the foster agency's branch. He never found out.

With how long it's been, he doesn't recognize the figure that's in the yard. He's off duty right now, but the officer's instinct is still there. Arms crossed, Shiro assesses the crouched figure, bemused. ]

What exactly are you doing?

[temperedwill]

[He lets out a curse. Okay. Note to self? Choose a better yard to hide in probably. Keith stands upright. He looks like he's sulking a bit for getting caught.]

What's it look like? Someone crouching behind a bush? They're probably hiding, y'know.

[He looks at the other and he recognizes them. It's been awhile, but Keith remembers the other like it was yesterday. Because Shiro had been the most important person in his life since he was a kid. The only one to keep caring despite his bratty tendencies. Shiro spent time with him and dealt with him no matter what he had done.

He can't forget someone like that.

Maybe he did choose the right yard to hide in.] S-Shiro...?