Just then Mad Mike stepped out with his two leading hookers at his side. "What do we have here?" Mad Mike looked over the tall boy with a critical eye. After he was clean he would bring in a pretty penny.
"Shit." Scott muttered to himself as he all but ran to the tall kid's side. "Hey, Mike... I wouldn't touch this one if I were you... He's one of Sal's boys... One of his private boys."
Mad Mike paled at the mention of the other major pimp in the area. "Sorry, sweet cheeks... You ever looking for a job you just come and find me... I'm sure I can find a place for a nice big boy like you." With that Mad Mike turned and lead his hookers away from them.
Scott breathed a sigh of relief as he looked up at the tall kid by him. "You don't have much brains do you, chico?"
"I didn't know he had this alley... Thanks for the save. I'm Kevin." The kid couldn't have been on the streets long, Scott could tell.
"Name's Scott... Been out here long?" Scott didn't know why his guts were telling him to help this kid, but they were.
"Been out on the streets since I was eight... But mostly in Arizona... I thought maybe I'd have a better chance finding a job here." Kevin gestured to the city of Baltimore around them.
"I guess... You got some place to stay tonight? I've got a small place down in the warehouse section. It's this old abandoned boat house. Not much, but it keeps you out of the elements." Scott could have smacked his own mouth. He didn't tell anyone about his secret place... Let alone offer to house them there.
But the smile Kevin gave him made it worth it. "Thanks... I have some food I can share in exchange."
Scott gave him a weak smile then nodded. "Come on... Don't want to be out where the cops can get us."
***
Kevin watched the other boy sleep. Scott was about his age, and while big for his age he wasn't anywhere near Kevin's size. He didn't know what he possessed him to come out to the east. He had had it pretty good in Arizona. But he would stick it out. He was good at surviving... Just like Scott apparently.
"You should sleep, Kevin." Scott said as he opened his eyes to give his house mate a soft smile.
Kevin blushed and nodded but didn't lay down. Scott sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine... Just wondering why I left Arizona in the first place." Kevin sighed and leaned his head on his up drawn knees.
Scott sighed as he got up and walked over to sit by Kevin. "I was wondering that myself... I know I wouldn't leave a place where there are actual nice people..."
"I just wanted a job, but out there all of them are taken... And those that aren't are hard to get when you're only 13." Kevin sighed and turned his head to give Scott a sad smile.
"It's okay... I think I might be able to help you get a job... It won't be much, but it'll keep you from going hungry." Scott offered.
"Thanks... You've been pretty nice to me... Why?" Kevin couldn't help but wonder what Scott would want in return for his kindness.
"Because... 'cause..." Scott left off with a chuckle. "You know, I don't know. I just felt like I need to."
Kevin gave him a smile and nodded. "I don't suppose..." Kevin left off still smiling.
Scott easily read the need in Kevin's eyes. "Chico, you don't have to repay me like that."
"But you see... It's something I can give you... And I want to. You're the first person who's been nice to me... in possibly forever..."
Kevin moved a little closer and gently pressed his lips to Scott's. Scott tried to hold back, but he was a 13 year old boy so he held back for all of a moment before putting his hand to Kevin's hair and kissing the other boy back.
Kevin whimpered and opened his mouth to which Scott responded by slipping his tongue in to play with his.
Moments later they broke for breath and smiled at one another.
Scott, after he was certain he had his breath back he dove into that soft cavern he had been forced to leave.
Groaning Kevin pulled them down to lay on his battered sleeping bag he had carried with him from Arizona.
***
Kevin groaned as he rolled over and smiled down at Scott who was curled up to him with a soft smile on his face. Leaning down Kevin brushed a kiss over Scott's smiling lips.
Scott woke up to the soft kiss from Kevin. "Umm, g'morning."
"Morning." Kevin laughed at his sleepy reply and snuggled back down so that they could cuddle.
Just as Scott was going suggest they have a little more of the action they had had the night before the sound of several heavy feet brought them fully awake and scrambling for their clothes.
"Freeze! Police!" the cop yelled as he saw the two boys pulling on their clothes.
Kevin growled as he shoved Scott behind him.
Moments later they were being taken to separate squad cars. Scott watched as the other cop car took Kevin to the 43rd precinct while he would be going to the 24th.
Sometimes life sucked.
Kevin tried not to cry as he wondered if he would ever see Scott again.
***
One Year Later
Kevin looked at foster home number ten. If this one didn't work he'd be going to juvy. Oh well... At least now he would be where he could ask some more people if they knew Scott.
"Here we are, Kevin," the social worker said with a faked smile as she handed Kevin his bag and lead him to the front door.
Just as they got there two eleven year olds threw the door open. "Are you our new brother?" the little one with braids asked grinning up at him.
"For now." Kevin said his heart immediately warming to the little tykes.
"Cool... Come on, Maggie's in the kitchen. What's your name?" the other one asked as they pulled him into the house. The social worker sighed and turned, leaving that house and it's mess of boys.
"You're going to like Maggie she's nice... I'm Brian, this is Kip." braids said again as they continued to pull him into the kitchen.
"I'm Kevin."
"I know, I'm Margaret, but call me Maggie." the kind woman at the sink said after she looked up and seen her newest foster son.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am." Kevin said politely. Maybe this one wouldn't be so bad... As long as Maggie didn't have a drunk husband who liked boys.
"BOYS! Come down and meet your newest roomie!" Maggie yelled upstairs then looked back to Kevin. "You'll be rooming with our other 14 year old. The rest of my boys are younger. I only have three rules, Kevin and if you break them you'll be punished. Number one is: Don't hurt me or the other boys here. Number two is: No drugs or liquor. Number three: do your chores when they're assigned to you. If you follow those rules you'll be fine... Ahh here are the others."
Kevin turned to smile at the troop of boys that walked down the stairs. "Boys introduce yourselves." Maggie ordered as she went on working on dinner.
"I'm Sean, this is Shawn." the little boy with black curls and bright brown eyes said as he laid claim to the slightly taller blond beside him.
"PJ." the small bald boy said as he lounged next to Brian and Kip at the kitchen table.
"I'm Paul," the last blond said moving to get a soda from the fridge.
Maggie looked up and frowned. "Where's Scott?"
Kevin perked up wondering if this could be his Scott.
"Right here, ma'am." a familiar accent said as Kevin turned to stare.
Scott looked into the familiar face, stunned for a moment, then a bright grin lit his face. Kevin never would remember who moved first. But somehow they were hugging each other murmuring.
"I never thought I'd see you again, Chico..." Scott murmured as he brushed Kevin's hair away from his neck and ear so he could speak to him.
"I didn't either... God, I've missed you..." Kevin told him softly.
"I take it you two know each other." Maggie said with a laugh.
"You could say that. Come on, Kev. I'll show you our room." Scott was chuckling the whole way upstairs. Maybe life didn't suck so bad.
***
Some Years Later
"What' s with the long look, Kev?" Scott asked as he moved to hold Kevin on the porch of their new home in Cameron with Mary and William and the others.
"I was just thinking about how we met... Scotty, had you been with anyone else before me?" Kevin asked his lover of almost five years.
"No... Why do you ask?" Scott moved them to sit on the porch swing.
"I was just thinking... Five years in July. Does it seem like it could be that long, Scotty?" Kevin pulled Scott onto his lap and the cuddled for a moment before Scott answered.
"It seems like a drop in the bucket... We've still got a whole life of loving ahead of us, chico." Scott snuggled up to his big lover then laughed when Shannon came chasing Jeff out of the house yelling something about paint and new ring pants.
"I'm glad that I left Arizona." Kevin said softly.
"Me too." Scott replied then laid back to watch the younger blonds chase each other around the yard.
