WHY THE FUCK is everything so damn white?
The furniture, the clothes, the walls, everything just a stark shade of white so bright it gave Silver a mild headache.
He almost wished he had stayed in the other room, at least that one had different colors to look at. Weird, cartoonish eyes and all.
The room Kingsley led him to was a replica of the one he woke up in. Though it felt more cramped with the two beds pressed against opposing walls, a simple desk, chair, and closet next to each.
"The boys' bathroom is on the left, right outside. Clothes are in there, and I think Allen will stop by with some other stuff for you."
Done with the conversation, Kingsley turned to his desk with a high level of disinterest.
Silver glanced over at his side of the room. There really wasn't much to see other than a neatly made bed and a notebook and pen on the desk.
Kingsley gathered his book and left the room without another word, and Silver was instantly on his side of the room, snooping through what had to be the most boring collection of items he'd ever seen.
He wasn't sure why he was rifling through Kingsley's things. He had no intention of stealing any of it.
Clothes, papers, pens... Nothing gave Silver clues about what was going on in this place.
Reaching the last drawer, Silver pulled it open. Fully expecting to find nothing.
Instead, a stuffed animal lay neatly on its back. The cream-colored rabbit had seen better days, with its floppy ears and a blue button sewn in place of a missing black, glassy bead eye. Some of the stitching ranged from machine-precise to something that was probably done by a toddler with a large dull needle.
Silver held it up for a better look. The thing dangled from his hand as he held it by one of its feet.
"Put that down."
Kingsley was at the doorway, knuckles white as he clutched his things in one hand.
His eyebrows furrowed together, and the anger dripping from his words gave Silver some sense of relief.
"I said, put it down!"
Curious, Silver tilted his head and dropped the stuffed animal, watching Kingsley track its descent.
"It's old. You should probably throw it away."
Kingsley threw his things to the ground and stomped over to Silver, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt to bring him closer to his own height.
"What is wrong with you?"
Silver mirrors back the question, gripping his fist. He gave an experimental tug, he was stronger than he thought.
Though Silver guessed his surprise was ungrounded. Proper food and rest widened the already significant gap between their physical abilities.
Silver looked far younger than he actually was, thanks to constant malnourishment and physical abuse.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I don't like my things being messed with. Why did they even bring you here?"
"I don't fucking know."
Kingsley sneered and pulled him closer by the front of his shirt.
"Useless."
Silver yelled an inaudible curse at the boy, and pulled all of his body weight backward.
The buttons on his shirt strained and popped, bouncing on the floor when Silver violently squirmed his way out of Kingsely's grip.
He landed on his butt and looked up to find Kingsley looking down at him.
Silver saw red.
He rose, but kept a low stance as he tackled Kingsley onto the tiled floor. A sense of satisfaction heavy in his chest as the older boy let out a pained huff of air when his back hit the floor.
Unfortunately, that was where his advantage ended. He was far too light, and Kingsley had no problem rolling him over and raising his fist to level a punch that hit just below Silver's right eye.
It stung, but he laughed anyway.
"You hit like a girl. Is that the best you can do?"
Kingsley secured a hand on his throat. Taking the opportunity, Silver dug his nails into the older boy's arm.
Kingsley winced in pain as he tried to pull away, and Silver didn't fight back. Instead, allowing him the distance so he could watch the red, jagged marks extend down his flesh and well up with beads of blood.
Now with just enough space, Silver angled his foot between them and kicked him back.
Surprised to be knocked on his back again, Kingsley coughed as he hastily fixed his askew glasses.
Silver scrambled to his feet with his hands raised, readying himself to attack again.
The two stared at each other, huffing to catch their breath but not taking a step forward.
Kingsley was obviously mad, but behind it Silver could see a hint of something else. It was the look people gave him when they bent to push their loose change into his outstretched hands.
An occupational hazard he despised.
He was walking forward before he even knew it. Set on giving Kingsley a punch as repayment for his own.
"That's enough out of both of you."
Allen's large hand was around Silver, easily lifting the squirming child into a bear hug.
"I'm disappointed in you, as the oldest one here you should have a better hold on your emotions. Don't forget what happens when we lose control of them."
Kingsley's eyes widened before his shoulders drooped forward in shame.
"Mar will come by to check on your wounds."
"...Yes Allen."
Silver watched the conversation from his confinement with mild interest. Allen never shouted, but somehow, Kingsley behaved as if the world had just ended.
Moments later Silver found himself in a bathroom with multiple stalls, showers, and sinks. Above them was a long mirror, not a speck on its reflective surface.
"Just a few hours in, and you've already caused so much trouble. You look a mess."
Allen said plainly as he sat the child on the counter and shuffled around the space.
Silver glanced back to look at his reflection: crumpled shirt, collar hanging open haphazardly, a few buttons missing.
The area under his eye was already beginning to swell. He gave a crooked smile at the image.
I've looked worse.
He remained still as Allen rubbed ointment on him. His anger dissipated as quickly as it had surfaced.
"All I did was touch a doll."
"I'm sure you had some precious possession of your own."
Silver didn't even need time to think.
"I haven't, unless it was food or money."
Allen gave a rueful smile, stretching and distorting the system of scars on one side of his face.
"I suppose those don't count. I guess I never had one either."
Silver blinked, his face openly surprised.
"I think if you just gave us a chance, you might find you have more in common with us than you think."
"The kids you stole?"
"These children come from broken families and difficult situations. Here they have a second chance. With your father gone, what would you be doing?"
"The same thing I do every day."
"Stealing? Begging? Struggling? Can you honestly say this isn't a better alternative?"
Silver bit his lip, that meal was the first proper one he had in... He wasn't even sure how long.
"All I'm asking is that you give Kingsley a chance. Give us a chance. Please?"
As if I have a choice.
Knowing he wouldn't get a response, Allen lifted him back to the floor.
"Try to get some rest and settle in. You begin your schooling tomorrow. I will come and get you then."
Allen hesitated before he left the bathroom.
"Can you find your way b-"
"Yah."
"Very well."
Silver sat there, looking at his reflection for much longer than he would like to admit.
"IT MIGHT BE more difficult than we thought."
Allen held the phone close to his ear as he sat in his personal office.
On the other end of the line Jay grunted, seeming unsurprised by any of this.
"Kids are bound to fight. Especially Silver, it's the only way he's ever known."
"Perhaps I should give him his own room?"
"No, he'll never learn to change like that. Keep him and Kingsley together. About his enhancement... Have any idea what it might be?"
"I can't be too sure. The poor child has been through a lot growing up. It could be anything."
Jay laughed, dragging sweet smoke into his lungs as he propped his feet up.
"Well, I do love a good mystery."
"...I don't like what I have to do to them."
"It's for the best, no one knows that better than you do."
"... Goodbye."
"Catch ya later Allen."
Jay ended the calling and let out a sound of annoyance as his footstool began to tremble.
"Seriously, being a piece of furniture ain't that hard. All you have to do is stay still, for fucks sake."
He moved his feet and gave a hard kick to the man who was on his hands and knees.
He immediately fell to his side, where he curled up to protect himself from further abuse.
Jay looked down at the man's face which was already swollen and caked with dried blood.
"So, ready to tell me what Lucky was doing down in Dellmount Point? If you give me all the juicy details, I'll be nice enough to fix that broken nose for you."