House Of Wolves

[Anty]

Anthony didn't want to sleep, though his body told him differently. "I don't think I'll be able to get any sleep tonight," he said, rising to his feet. He stretched his stiff muscles, then bent down and picked up his gun. "I've got work in a few hours... anyway." They had told him that if he were to skip work again, he'd be fired. He couldn't risk losing his job now that he lived on his own. He had a rent to pay and a mouth of his own to feed, not to mention that he had beer and cigarettes to add a big dent in his wallet. It was something new to him. He walked across the beach and slipped on his large combat boots. "It's not too far. I think... " he said, because he still wasn't sure which one was his. Some nights he would walk around trying to unlock his neighbors' doors.

Anthony walked along the sidewalk, silent. He stared down at his feet. He had lost track of time. He didn't know if August was following him, either, but he didn't doubt she was. He lit another cigarette. He turned onto his street. One, two, three building and he was at his complex. He stepped into the lobby. The place looked desolate. There was only one dim light in the corner. An employee was snoozing behind the front desk. He decided to take the stairs. His apartment was on the fourth floor, and it wasn't long before his echoing footsteps stopped. And as he stepped into the hallway, it got to the confusing part. Which one was his? He shrugged and tried the first one. Nope. He tried the second one and it opened, but he ended up backing away muttering sorries to Murray, his retired neighbor. It wasn't the first time that had happened. The third time did the charm. He swung the door open but didn't bother closing it.

His apartment was large enough. Boxes were lined against the wall, along with many other miscellaneous household items. It was messy, but he didn't want it any other way. He kicked his boots off. It was nice to be home. His house seemed empty without Evan's snoring, though. No, he shook his head. He hated Evan. Of course he did. And yet he missed him at the same time. He moved to one of the two couches and stretched his legs out in front of him and waited for August to come in.

[Augustus is a SWOObat]

August's feet weren't use to the harsh cement; She skipped daintily after him, trying hard to keep up. ..He has a job? That brought the issue of money up, she felt guilty. August didn't have much money left, and she didn't want to take advantage of him. As she walked after Anthony, August thought about the possibility of getting a job; she was just about the right age. Looking up from her thoughts, August saw they had already made it to Anthony's complex. She glanced in the direction of the sleeping employee. August looked up at Anthony as he climbed up the stairs, not waiting for her. She began to follow, but stopped at the stairs. August ran back in childish excitement, lifted the hat off his head, and replaced it with a cookie. August assumed the cookie would topple off the doorman's head, but oddly enough it stayed. With a nod, she whispered "Fair trade." August set the hat gingerly on her head, and ran up the stairs after Anthony.

She reached the top of the stairs just in time to see Anthony duck into the third door, leaving it open. August walked toward it, and as she crossed she heard an old man grumbling something about the degenerate youth, and the old days. He had a cute bushy mustache and one of those walkers with the tennis balls on the end. Mr. Mustache brought a smile to her face. A new hat, and the cute old man living next door put her in a good mood. August stood in-front of the doorway, suddenly feeling nervous. She hesitantly stepped in, and looked at the mess. For some reason, August sighed with relief. The mess gives it character. Her house had been clean as the early morning snow, and her parents constantly told her it had to stay that way. But I'm not there anymore. August blinked; It felt good to say it.

She stood awkwardly in the doorway, not sure what to look at. August wondered if she should sit down, or was that rude? After a few seconds of empty thought, she stared at Anthony helplessly, begging for a clue.

[Anty]

Anthony stood up and slipped his shirt over his head, trying to get comfortable. You could count each one of his ribs underneath his pale skin. He hadn't realized August was standing at the the doorway. It wouldn't have bother him if she saw him like this, though, he wasn't used to living with a female. He tossed the shirt behind the couch. He turned his head, feeling as if someone was watching him, then nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw that August was watching him. "When did you get there?" he asked accusingly, but couldn't help but smile, realizing how easily he had been spooked. You're acting like a girl, again. Man up! he thought.

After a few moments of silence he spoke again, "Go on, make yourself at home," he said, spreading his arms out and gesturing around the room. He began walking around the room now, throwing things off the couch and onto the floor, plugging in the TV that was sitting in the middle of the floor. He even took a frying pan off the couch, which had never been used, and set it on the kitchen counter. He sat back down on the couch, sighing with content. He looked at August, "You need anything, Sweets?" he asked her. "I've got fried chicken, beer... Water... Some peanut butter. I bet I could even find some bread," he said. "I'm starving," he said, jumping to his feet. He disappeared into the kitchen.

He returned a few minutes later with a cold bucket of fried chicken and a bottle of beer. "Mmm. My favorite." He sat back down on the couch and smiled at Sweets, his mouth already full of fried chicken.

[Augustus is a SWOObat]

The blood rushed to her face, and August looked away. "When did you get there?" She got worried. Wasn't she supposed to be here? August kept her face down, but chanced a glance. His smile melted away the worry, but his ribs brought it back. August wiped the half-smile off her face. That..That can't be healthy.

You're staring, Pig. August looked away, too embarrassed to retort. "Make yourself at home." She took a few hesitant steps, wondering if she'd made a mistake coming here. He offered her.. uh, 'food' but she wasn't hungry, just tired. "Oh..No, thank you. I'll just look around." She smiled a polite smile, feeling very vulnerable in here. He flashed her a chicken grin, and her polite smile was replaced by a genuine one. In some ways, Anthony was just like a little kid. She began to feel more at home, Strange how the definition of home can change so drastically. August strolled into the kitchen, her shyness gone. She popped open cabinets, and looked around. Most of them were empty, but some had a few dishes and cups. August pulled the ones under the sink open with a few jerky tugs. Her new hat tipped over her eyes, and as she pushed it up with her thumb, she spied the newspapers. Humming to herself, August pulled them out and laid down on her tummy, flipping through the pages waiting for something to catch her eye. A particularly wet page stuck out, the job listings. She browsed it over, trying to make out the words despite the water stains. Candy? Her interest peeked; there was an open position at the candy store. I didn't know Noatak had a candy store. The newspaper was old, but she was too ecstatic to think about that. She ripped out the ad. Sticking it in her pocket, August hopped back up. She walked around a little more, but it was more like an energetic pacing. August made her way back over to a door across the room. She walked in to his bedroom.. and walked right back out.

Would you control yourself?? You're acting like a new puppy. It's disgusting. That killed the mood. Why was her conscience being so mean? August bit the inside of her cheek to stop her quivering lip. With a little less excitement than before, she walked over to the fridge. August's eyes grew to the size of saucers....H-..He wasn't kidding. All he owns is beer and chicken. As the general shock subsided, a hint of a smile flickered. She hadn't forgotten about her conscience's nasty remark, but with all the interesting stuff laying around, it was almost impossible not to.

August tugged open the freezer. It was full of beer, no surprise. She shifted around a few bottles, and found the bread Anthony had been talking about. Amused, she pulled it out, but it was frozen solid. Something caught her interest, but it wasn't frozen bread. August put the bread aside, and pulled out Anthony's home phone. She stifled a laugh. "You're an interesting man, Anthony." August said, amused and a little more than curious. She didn't know where to put it, so she set it back in the freezer and shut the door. August had a feeling she was going to like living here.

[Anty]

Anthony nearly choked on a piece of chicken. An interesting man? He had never been called that. Most of the names he had ever been called had something to do with a drunk or a freak, which he hadn't minded all too much, due to the fact that they were both true. "Interesting? Dunno if that's the right way to phrase it," he said around a piece of chicken. "... Freak is good though. Wouldn't be the first time they called me that, either," he added as an afterthought. Forcing down a few more pieces of chicken, he took the remaining chicken and put it in the fridge, then he threw away a small pile of bones.

He looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Four in the morning. He had to leave by five if he wanted to walk to work and be there on time. He went to the kitchen. His brain wasn't functioning right without any sleep. That wasn't a good thing. He peed in the sink... in the kitchen. He looked around for his tooth brush but couldn't find it until he opened the dish washer and there it was. It was covered dish washer soap. He rinsed it off in the sink and brushed his teeth. Sure his antics were a lot messed up, but it kept things exciting. He went to his bathroom now and stepped into shower to wash off all the grime. He went on with his regular routine, shower, dry off, stare dramatically into the mirror... Who he saw was not himself. Most the time he was too drunk to even eat. Bags were under his eyes. Make up wouldn't be able to cover them up, not today. Probably not tomorrow. He moved on, getting dressed, tightening his belt another hole, etc.

Anthony stepped out of the bathroom, ready for work. It was almost a quarter till five. He moved to the living room. He was ready to leave when he noticed August curled up in a ball, asleep on the couch. He couldn't help the smile that crept up on him. She looked cute, almost like a fluffy animal. He felt a twinge of regret. He had never wanted kids, but now he wished he had done otherwise. There was still time, but who would want to have a kid with someone like him? And more importantly, how could the kid ever grow up to be anyone decent if they had a father like him? With those thoughts Anthony involuntarily adopted August as his own. He got a blanket from the closet it and threw it over her, not sure of what else to do. He found a pen and a pad of paper and left a note for August when she woke up. It read Buy yourself some decent food. It's on the house. -A. He left it on the kitchen counter, along with his credit card, which may no have been the smartest move, but he wasn't exactly sober. He looked at the clock. It was time for him to leave. He grabbed his keys and made his way to the door, wincing as it creaked open. He smiled one more time at August's sleeping figure before he left for work. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea.

[Augustus is a SWOObat]

Her eyelids drooped. She didn't want to go to sleep, not yet. I'll just..watch some TV.. August curled up on the couch, but she couldn't even tell what she was watching. The tv was playing static, and August stared at it till it looked more like snow then static. It started swirling around her till all was covered in white. Well, Everything but two little gray dots. The snow around the gray dots exploded, and her fluffy little talisman circled around her. "You see, August?? This is where we belong." There was an awkward pause as her Talisman shifted paws. "..And, uh. Sorry for being such a jerk. It's just the heat." Her talisman looked up at her, searching for forgiveness. "No problem, i know how you feel." August's ears twitched as she heard something. Her eyebrows came together in concentration, a frown replaced her usual smile. "..Do you hear that?" Thousands of swelling voices joined together, sounding more like one than a thousand. "It's the snow," Her talisman explained, wearing a foxy grin. "They're singing." August's talisman, who she decided to call Frost, sang with them. She didn't know the tune, but it came to her in time. The wind whispered, and the snow sang. The whispers blew threw her hair, she let it push her over. Laying on her back, the singing snow tickled her face. A faint distant humming came from above, and she opened her eyes just enough to see the clouds humming to the song. August hummed along, forgetting herself in the moment. The whispers, singing, and humming grew louder, the beating of her heart struggling to be heard. The tempo picked up, but her heart had barely been keeping up before. August drew in deep breath, and bolted. The snow's shrill singing rushed by her ears. Her breath came in little quick gasps, but she didn't mind, because it was in step with the song. August relaxed all her tense muscles, and listened for her heart. Joining in Nature's song, it had finally caught up. Her almost permanent smile returned, as she listened to it's steady beat. The song became more intricate and she stopped to listen it's crescendos and diminuendos. August closed her eyes, feeling peaceful.

Silence. Absolute silence. August opened her eyes in dismay. Frost stood there looking quite serious. "Why'd you stop the song?" Frost sat down in the snow, and August joined her, not feeling cold in the slightest. "We need to talk about your decision.. of becoming a Hunter." Hunter? Oh yes, August had become a Hunter. She'd made the decision, but hadn't really thought about what came after that. "I thought you said it was my choice?" Frost blinked. "It is.. why would you think otherwise?" Panic rose in August's heart. "Because you make it sound like i made the wrong choice!!" The snow started melting, and the water rose steadily. "No. No'. No, no, no." Pacing, She looked at Frost with a hysterical smile "I will not be a disappointment again." Frost tried to paddle in the water, but wasn't doing so well. "August! Calm Down!" "No! When i was calm, people thought i didn't care! And you know what? I didn't! I was too calm, too cool. I won't go back to how i was before!" The water was to her elbows, but August couldn't stop. "I like it now! I have people to care for! I have a family." August looked around for Frost, but couldn't find her. She panicked more, which just made the water rise faster. August dove into the water, but couldn't see Frost anywhere. I can't lose her! She can't be gone! She tried to swim to the top, but just had the feeling she was going in deeper. Her lungs started to ache.

August opened her eyes, and gasped for air. "It was.. a dream?" August had had dreams about her talisman for quite awhile, but never one so.. emotional. She tugged the blanket off, wondering how long she'd been asleep. It was so hot. August walked over to the freezer and pulled out a beer, spotting the note. She pressed the cold alcohol to her forehead as she read. August pulled up her shirt, and ripped off the cash taped to her belly. She fingered the money she had taken from her parents, or what was left of it. "$50.. That's enough. I think." She mumbled to herself. August had never had to buy food before. She pocketed Ant's credit card, just in case. Slipping the money into her pocket, August remembered the candy store ad. Might as well look it up while I'm out. Despite her calm attitude, August was excited. She forgot about her dream as she headed down the stairs two at a time.

About to leave the lobby, she made a quick turn and sat on top of The Doorman's desk. "I need a key to Anthony's room. You know him: long legs, dyed his hair blond, bare foot, sometimes combat boots." He looked up, his professional mask cracked when he spotted his hat. "You stole my hat!" An amused smile crossed August's face. "I didn't steal it. I bought it." His jaw dropped. "You bought it with a cookie. Give me back my hat!" August hopped off the desk, and put both elbows on it instead. She rested her head on her hands. "Then give me back my cookie." Silence as he stared. "You ate it, didn't you?" Doorman scowled. Without another word, he slammed the key on his desk. August tipped her hat, "Thank you, kind gentleman." She slipped the key into her pocket, along with her money. August threw her head back and laughed as she walked out the lobby, "I'll see you later, Rubin."