(no subject)

[ratiosu]

He had successfully sneaked out of the Parts Hunters' base once more and was now in a park, seated calmly on a bench. He wore a simple shirt and black pants instead of his usual Hunter ware of his outfit and the brown cloak. King leaned back against the bench, peaceful even as his gaze landed on a bunch of children crowded round a beydish, cheering each other on in a friendly match. He had no desire to hurt them. After all, he was here to relax, not on a mission for Sirlis. Besides, the children hadn't had any good parts from what he could see.
He let a smile creep over his lips, thinking of how he had slid past the lacklustre fences and slight lack of guards. He was almost amused by the lack of security - one would have thought that at least Sirlis would have pumped in more effort to improve it.

He could feel it. There was no mistake to what it was. King's presence. Lifting his head up Brookyn gazed ahead, his cane resting over his legs. Indeed, he had gotten old. Too old for his own liking.

He turned his gaze away from the young bladers, focusing his gaze on the sky instead. All day long, he stole parts for Sirlis and modified them for the other Parts Hunters. He loved going out to the park, it made him feel peaceful, separated from the rest of the Parts Hunters. The atmosphere of hate and greed in the base depressed him too much.

Slowly Brooklyn's gaze fell on the young man. Yes, it was the same King he had know, somewhere, deep inside, Brooklyn knew his husband was still there.

He glanced up for a moment, his amethyst eyes meeting Brooklyn's briefly, a strange feeling coming over him before disappearing quickly. He took no notice of that emotion, finally gazing away rather disinterestedly from the old man.

Brooklyn regarded him calmly, his eyes hovering over King for a long moment. He dreaded that his husband was too far gone to be saved.

King glanced up for a moment, his eyebrows raised in surprise as he realised that the old man was still looking at him. He was sure he did not know this old man, but it would not hurt to say hi to him, would it?
Without further questions, King found himself walking up to the old man, managing a small smile as he whispered, "Hello."

Brooklyn gave a slight nod. "Beautiful day, isn't it."

He smiled at that, nodding as he sat beside the old man, "Yeah. Very peaceful, I like it."

He smiled briefly at that, calmly gazing at King.

"Do you come to the park often?" he asked, gazing down at the man's hands for a moment.

"Yes," Brooklyn answered, ignoring the stares at his worn, calloused hands.

King smiled at that, one part of him wondering at what he was doing. Why was he conversing with an old man for no rhyme or reason? "You live nearby?" he said without thinking, the other part of him probably determined to carry on this conversation somehow.

Brooklyn nodded in return. "In the penthouse apartments down the road."

King nodded at that, gazing down for a moment, "I live uproad." Subconsciously, his thumb lightly moved over the ring on his finger - the wedding ring that Brooklyn had given to the older and forgotten him so many Christmases ago.

Brooklyn gazed ahead at that, knowing he had to save his husband at all costs.

I'm sorry King... I'm doing this for you.

"Do you have friends?" he asked again quite suddenly, not quite sure on what to talk about with Brooklyn and yet not very willing to leave so quickly.

"No," he answered simply, gazing ahead.

"Neither do I," King smiled, glancing down, "The people I hang out with aren't really friendly, happy people."

Brooklyn nodded in return. "I once had a wife."

King gazed up at that, his interest piqued for a moment. Brooklyn said 'once', the wife must already had left by now, "Something happened?"

"He's dead," Brooklyn said, glancing away. Technically the King he knew was dead.

King gazed away as well, ashamed that he had asked what was probably an insensitive question, "I'm sorry."

"You wouldn't know," he said quietly, pushing aside any thoughts or worry for his husband.

He glanced back up to Brooklyn for a moment, "Can we...be friends? Do you mind?"

"I don't mind," he said, glancing at King. "If you don't mind being friends with an old man."

King gave a small smile, "If I did, I wouldn't have asked. Thanks for accepting my request."

Brooklyn smiled at him. Maybe being friends with him he could get through to his lost husband.

King smiled back somewhat uncomfortably, leaning back against the bench. Asking people to be friends with him certainly wasn't his style. He didn't know what was happening to him, though he wasn't sure if he was keen to find out.

Touching his mind briefly Brooklyn felt his discomfort. Maybe it was possible to get through to him.

King gazed down at his watch briefly, frowning as he saw the time. He wouldn't be surprised if Sirlis started sending the rest of the Parts Hunters after him, and that would just destroy the old man's impression of him. Though he had only met Brooklyn for a short while, he wasn't sure if he would want to lose a new friend. It was normally difficult for him to make any friends. "I think I better go back now," he whispered, standing up, his gaze landing on Brooklyn.

"Of course," Brooklyn said with a slight smile. "Take care."

King glanced back at that in surprise, "Take care? Oh, well, you too. I might come back here some other time. I'll see you then."

He nodded briefly at that as he got up and turned to leave.

Managing a brief smile at Brooklyn, King turned as well, knowing that his lifted spirits was only temporary. Back at the base, it was all work and more work. So stressful. He couldn't wait to go back to the park and possibly meet Brooklyn once more.