Got Ham

[mostlyajerk]

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[mostlyajerk]

Hart couldn't look away from it. There were a lot of policemen over there, looking at their bodies. His hands were sticky with their blood and even though his eyes were open, he kept flashing back to it. Pearls on the ground.

His ears were ringing from the gunshots. It was still raining, but Hartley found he didn't care that he was getting wet. He wasn't sure whether he was crying and this way no one else could be sure either, not that anyone paid attention to him anyway. They had shoved him to the side and that had been it. Now he was standing next to the building, in the alley his parents had been shot, and nothing could be the same again.

[mostlyajerk]

Hart had never skipped school before. Ha had never broken any rules, period. Once he had had dessert when he wasn't supposed to, but that was really more on Mick than anyone else. But here he was now, closing his coat over his school uniform to blend in more and trying to find Cisco. He approached a group of kids gathering around a barrel, clearing his throat. "Excuse me. Do any of you know Cisco?"

It wasn't that surprising that they ignored him. Hart considered offering money, but he knew better than that, at least. "It's really important."

"Don't know any Cisco. Get lost."

At least he had their attention now, but he wasn't sure that was preferable. "He has longer black hair. About my height. Don't you know anyone like that?"

"What's in it for us if we know?"

So they did know him. Hart smiled with relief. How much money was appropriate to give? "Fifty?" He ventured, noting their surprise. Oh. Too much? "I mean, ten?"

"Nah, fifty, let's see it."

"I don't have it on me right now." But they were already surrounding him and Hart found himself backing away a step.

"Paco's got rich friends."

"Paco?" Oh, that was good to know. Hart smiled, though it died quickly, seeing them all around him and knowing he was just a step away from the wall.

[catchacold]

Is the kid home?

[viber]

"Hart?" Paco slipped into Hart's bedroom as he often did these days, landing on the floor softly and keeping his voice down. He knew which times to expect Hart, he knew where to find him and they had a good working relationship these days. The thing was that usually Hart requested to meet him but lately, he was turning up more and more with tips and information.

Today, he needed a favour.

"Hart? Where you at?"

[mostlyajerk]

"I brought you dinner." Hart glanced at Paco as he made his way toward Barry's bed. "I mean, we did." Mostly Paco had sneered at him wanting to do this, but still, it had happened, he had been there while Hart talked Mick into letting him bring the food to Barry. He set the tray down on the end of the bed and tried a careful smile. "Are you feeling any better?" At least he was awake, that had to be something.