It was the usual boring weekday for Hide Presont.

Although initially excited about his new job, finally able to work with the computer data systems of the largest cooperation. It was something he thought he would never achieve with his given status.

After so many years of being outright ignored and disregarded despite his abilities and talents, he did it. He did not get into Mrs Burton's home for gifted youths for just looking pretty.

It was more a publicity stunt but other than that he was talented and he knew that. Computers and tech were the only things in this world that never completely bore him. In all of his many years of life, his mind focused around these machines, they kept his interest.

They were not like people; they were interesting, and if you knew what you were doing, simple to understand. His burst of excitement waned, however. It became clear, like many times before, everyone in the world looked down on him.

Hired by the heir did not change the staff's minds of this. Instead, every interesting project got kept away from him. All they had given him were the most monotonous, time-consuming tasks possible, whilst everyone else got the interesting ones. His chance of becoming something more was lip service. To get such a position at the end of his probation would require him to do said interesting projects, and they were all kept out of his reach.

He slammed his laptop shut as he thought of this. A couple of eyes glanced in his direction as he roughly got up from his seat, a couple rolled their eyes, probably waiting for him to throw a tantrum.

He knew exactly why; it was because of his ears, his horns, and screwing it, those perverted dipshits shove his tail into this. All the things he would kill to get rid of made him a lesser thing in their eyes. That was what Hide saw in them, he did not belong among them, he never belonged among them.

He was a dumb animal, not worthy to act like a human.

If it was not for several factors, he would press his gun between their eyes and blow these pretentious idiot’s brains out. It would feel satisfying, it would show them who was lesser.

But that would mean jail time and never getting to see the few who mildly interested him at this point.

Thus he slipped out, gave his signature grin and said, “Well, I’m done already, smell you later losers.”

He would not act like their bitch or someone who takes this shit without a word of bite back. A few gave him a lazy glare. They were already sick of him, and he would make sure they get even sicker.

Once he left the workroom, he realised the only companions he could tolerate were busy. Carole’s probably with those brats teaching them useless stuff. Maybe one day he can charge into the middle of her class to create some excitement. Loukas was…

He honestly did not know where the guy was. He said he was training, but Hide can tell Loukas was hiding something, and whatever it was eating him up inside.

Hide could not stay in this mansion for much longer. Although he was currently broke, he was going downtown of Ildens to see what he could do.

Freedom has its perks, after all.

Leaving into the biting cold, he shoved his hands into the warm pockets of his hoodie. It was definitely getting colder.

If he was not so fond of shorts, he would have got a longer pair of pants, but screw that. He would freeze his balls off before investing in that. His longer hair and short as hell pants were the things he had complete freedom to have once he left those religious nutters at that orphanage. He would not change them, even for the cold.

He decided on where he would go and spend his time. Thus through the overbearing smog, he walked to the nearest live VR showcase at some flashy, overtly gawky internet cafe. Flashing lights and crappy posters showcasing some cheap knockoff the store was trying the peddle off. All alongside, too expensive and flashy keyboards for the rich idiots who want to waste money and look cool. They weren't even good keyboards anyway.

Was it just him? But he swore the smog is even thicker today than it ever was. If it was not for the eternally flashing city lights, it would be difficult to see where he was going.

He entered the store to see several groups of humans chatting, laughing and joking around. He smirked and entered himself, passing by one of them, slapping the guy on the back casually before moving away as the surprised man jumped and looked around for the source of said contact.

Hide would have been doing a lot more flirting, but he did not want to get kicked out so soon. Even if this place did not have a “no beast-kin allowed” sign, he was well aware he was on thin ice with how some stopped to stare at him.

He wished his horns never grew, at least in that scenario he would feel more comfortable compared to...

He sat back on those cheap stiff seats and enjoyed that obvious IT room smell of the Ac and cleaning products as the showcase began.

The showcase had him completely intrigued. Was this new virtual reality device worth all that money? No, but he would rob many banks if it allowed him to have one device that simulated touch.

Allegedly.

Yes, Sex in virtual reality sounds absolutely pathetic, but he gotta try it at least once, plus this may be the longest time he had remained single.

Ignoring those creeps...and their demands from him...

Probably meant he never found the time to cling to whatever unfortunate sob who had not got sick of him yet.

Either way, he can always dismantle the thing and analyse its parts, maybe even try to replicate them to sell. As he thought about that, his grey eyes met a familiar green set. Those emeralds also flashed with familiarity.

He finally saw that bushy fox tail and even though the man had that dumb cap on his head, his rusty brown hair peeked through it as it splayed out in all directions.

“Hide? what the hell!”

Without another word, Hide dashed out of the store as fast as he could. He glanced behind him and saw Matthew running right after him.

“Fuck off already!”

“Oh come on!”

“If you want me so much…. Catch me if you can Fox boy!” he shouted as they ran, sticking out his tongue in his direction.

Matthew's lips twisted with annoyance at his game, sped up.

He wanted no conversation with the fox-beast kin. Fuck him and unfortunately, the man himself was the usual.

Too stubborn to stop.

The two thus ran through the city, Hide playing dirty and knocking down other people to get an advantage over the much too sweet Matthew, who gave his usual "excuse me" and "sorry mam"

However, Hide’s stamina was not on his side as he stopped himself in the alleyway's corner to catch his breath as he gave many sharp inhales and ragged exhales.

The fox man caught up with, despite himself dripping with sweat. To make it worse he did not look any worse for wear from their chase.

Hide forgot how much endurance this guy had. How could he? Matthew and he had to get away from way too many assholes to avoid getting their asses beaten.

He always carried him on his back once he got too tired to keep up.

“Are you done?” Matthew said, resting by the wall Hide was leaning on.

“Fuck you,” Hide panted.

“Nice..” Matthew groaned and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Hide lifted his head towards the fox man, who held out a bottle of apple juice to him.

“Here,” he said as he wiped his forehead as the chilly air dried up his sweat.

Hide looked at the offer with his usual suspicion, glaring holes at the fox man and his drink.

He... can not ever get away from this....

“Why? I thought you wanted nothing to do with me, dog fucker,” Hide said, slapping away the offer with a snarl.

Matthew’s lips curled revealing his rows of sharp fangs. Hide could not believe he still missed face, “So that's the only hello I'm getting huh? Still same?”

“Same? You mean Handsome and perfect right?” Hide kept his gaze on his former friend still bracing against the wall.

Matthew shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and leaned forward and sighed, “At least you aren't staying with that creep anymore.”

It could be just his dumb imagination but Matthew looked... relieved...

Did he.. Did he still cared?

Hide, gave Matthew a blank stare. He knew who he was referring to. That... "friend"... he stayed with, probably old enough to be both their teen dad at the time. Shady money leader with some hired dumbasses to do his dirty work computer tampering, and the occasional murder of some annoying punks. Dirty old man gets the majority of the cash, boys like them got...

A 17-year-old kid with nowhere to go got a family.. a home...

He just had to do... a bit extra favours. He was young, he looked even younger, that creeps type now that he looked back on it.

To think those other brats knew he already made arrangements to sell him for his own debt and tell him nothing goes to show what kind of "family they were. They still were probably screwed over without their computer guy. Guess the no honour among thieves BS was true after all.

Hide glared at Matthew, “Yeah, no thanks to you, acting all high and mighty as you left me. Thanks for the warning.”

Matthew flinched and looked genuinely remorseful, “Yeah...I... I heard that.”

Hide huffed as he stood back up, “I guess I should expect that from the guy who went all fuck you, your friendship meant nothing. Time to fuck off now.”

Matthew reached into his pocket for something while muttering, “... Either I did that or you stayed a stubborn prick...... It was.. heat of the moment..."

Matthew glares back but it may not be at specifically Hide, "Our last chat."

He did not continue.

Hide was glad he did not.... He did not want to remember what happened.

Matthew rubbed a hand through his hair, "Prick, changed you…"

“Tsk, I change for no one asshole.” Hide still can be stubborn as he wanted

Matthew glanced at him before revealing a cigarette and lit it up. Taking a deep inhale of the nicotine.

Gross.

“You still don’t smoke, right?” seemingly ignoring the extreme tension of before

Hide taken aback a bit, “Of course not, I’m already inhaling enough smog as it is. Do I look like I want to stuff myself with smoke? Why ask?”

Matthew took the cigarette from his lips before they quirked into a smirk, “I just want to know If I’m wasting this or not.”

He pulled out some tiny metal cylinders from his pockets and held the flame of his cigar to it. Hide eyes widened with recognition of what he was doing and before He could say anything, Matthew grabbed the goat-man by the hand and ran, dragging him along.

“Hey, hands off! Don’t tell me-”

Matthew threw the popper behind them causing the confused bystanders to look on as the popper blew up into colours and blinding smoke. The commotion and confusion were dizzying as voices of passerby's raged on.

Hide already running after him, “Don’t need to tell twice asshole.”

They ran and hid from their pursuers.

Despite all the pain earlier. They could only collapse on themselves with laughter. They both gained a boost in confidence from this stunt and began to pull as many mischief related pranks and jokes on the residents of Ildens as possible.

It was like old times, Hide could still remember those days. Even while he stayed with the man who only wanted him around for his talents to make cash and his body for pleasure, he and Matthew would pull as much mayhem as they could.

Hide almost forgot how much they initially had a lot in common. Both were orphans. Both had to stay with the same guy for shelter and job. Both were beast-kin, the bottom of the social ladder in Ildens. Both were easily bored and loved to just make trouble for everyone else.

A two-year age gap, which might as well not have existed.

The difference was Hide, as much as he hated to admit, Matthew ... Matthew saw the creep for who he was much sooner.

“Holy shit did you see that,” Hide laughed pointing at the girls waddling away from the two men’s trap of dumping dirty water on their heads.

Matthew let out an even more boisterous belly laugh, “Looks like I won, this game! Told you my trap would work before yours.”

“Fuck you,” however this time Hide said it without its usual vitriol.

Matthew let out a teasing poke on Hide’s shoulder, “Aww, but I won. Guess who got a reward?”

Hide shrugged as he laid on his back on top of the rooftops the two troublemakers snuck on to. It might have been late afternoon for all he knew. It's been a year since he had seen the sun in the sky.

“Fine, whatever Mat Tell me,” It was weird saying such a nickname again.

"Nah"

"Fuck you."

They both just laughed along

Matthew, however, stopped after a while and did not look directly at him but look down at the streets below, he took off his hat allowing his mop of hair a chance to breathe.

He.. really did had nice hair.

He, with odd sobriety, and asked, “Hey... that old bastard's dead right?”

“Yeah, killed the fucker myself,” Hide still looked to the sky, “If you're wondering I did it cus..." Hide rolled away to his side, "I hated fighting with you and you left... It hurt... I did not want to be used again... Happy?"

Hide made sure to empathise with the 'You left' part of his statement.

Matthew kept looking towards the distance, “Yeah, maybe there was a much better way to get us out of here…Sorry... for just leaving you.”

Hide said nothing back at the long-overdue apology.

Matthew may want his own as well.

Hide wanted to say and do so many things, from cussing him out to mocking him for being a dumb fox, or a more twisted part threaten him to shut his mouth with his gun. To... He wanted to hug him and say, "I'm sorry"

Instead, he held back on everything, reached his hand out and pinched Matthew's arms whilst not breaking eye contact as the man grimace with pain, “What do you want then Matty?”

Swallow that shit down...

Like everything else.

The light of joy that glimmered brightly from Matthew's eyes, disappeared as soon as Hide spoke. Hide ignored the stab of pain in his chest when he saw that.

He had to prove, the friend he met when he was just a 17-year-old runaway was not there.

Matthew should want to have nothing to do with him.

Hide was fine being disliked but instead, in that silence, he felt... disappointment. It was somehow worse than any hatred he had or will experience.

Cus in those nothing was expected, here something was...

“I just wanted to see how you're still doing.” Matthew pulled his arm away and muttered, "Rumer had it, you... died."

“Oh, so feeling nostalgic, huh? Let me guess those idiots spreading that are in deep shit without my help with our business,” Hide cooed. He looked down at the ceiling, "I ain't dying now... that not yet anyway."

“Probably more in debt for one thing,” Matthew rubbed his arm, “But it seems you’re still up to the same thing, especially with that new boyfriend of yours I saw giving me that weird look."

Hide’s eyes widened as they glanced in Matthew's direction, “What?”

“Tall, muscly, big, dammit Hide. I had the misfortune of seeing the people you date, I'm surprised to see his more muscly than chub," Matthew rolled his eyes. He then muttered under his breath, "But really It could be just me but he looks and seemed way younger than your usual one-nighters. Even compared to that goth chick. And she was only even then three years younger anywa-"

Hide got up from his back shaking his head vigorously, “W-wait no no you got the wrong idea. So wrong, F on that shit. That guy is just some dumbass I hang with. I haven't even screwed him, so you are sooo wrong.”

Matthew still had that teasing smile something Hide always loved to bring out, but this was not the occasion. “So you don’t like him? Hard to tell.”

Hide tugged on one of his fluffy ears, “Well no, I mean,” He looked up at the sky and sighed, “First of all he's younger than what I usually go for... Second of all, He has better options anyway…. Third of all... he said he's straight.”

Hide 96% doubted that idea with how flustered Loukas gets around him. He just does not want to push the younger man.

He would never be like that bastard.

Matthew raised a brow as he thought the same thing, "Straight? Really?.. That guy"

Hide scoffed, "Hey I said claimed. I never said was. Hey, don't judge him not everyone can be like me with my brilliant mind figuring it out."

Matthew let out a snicker whilst Hide found himself tried to hold back his smile.

He... He also still liked him.

Hide rubbed his face and said, “Also I'm a perverted little creep so doubt he's interested.”

He should not be, he has nothing to offer. Loukas was better off with someone else.

"I also have a new girlfriend. A girl who is a friend," Hide wanted to keep the mood light, "But I'm sure's she's gay too, soooo. Yup. I live a hard life right now."

“I'm soo sorry for that girl” Matthew gave a morse chuckle, “.. You may be wrong about the guy thou.. with how he was pretty much eating the eye candy and looking at me as if I'm gonna steal his wallet.”

Hide flatten his ears and turned to his companion, “Oh, shut up, and I doubt you came here to talk about my love life.”

Matthew shifted in his seat, “Trust me, I’ve heard enough of it back then, anyway.” He pulled out a second cigarette and lit it up, as the smoke from it raised into the air. “You know... How we used to talk about wanting to leave this dump of a city… I just had a thought last month… about maybe I can try to reach out and make it a reality.”

Matthew then, before Hide could properly respond flashed two tickets…

Two tickets to get two unfortunate souls out of Ildens, to a better place.

Matthew’s gazed never wavered, “Maybe the last time the two of us get to show our mugs to each other again… But we deserve better than here... It's for you to decide if you still want to stick around.”

Hide gazed at the tickets, his mind flashed to that memory long ago. There were places outside of Ildens where their kind had it better.

They were two young adults with no identification or legal rights. Obtaining a ticket to leave was the pipe dream of two teens still immersed in innocence.

Matthew still cared….

Matthew still...

Hide once again... like he always had, with his dumb mouth and pushed him away.

He said nothing. All he did was got up... and leave

He was a piece of shit sometimes.

Hide came back to the manor and unbuttoned the front of his jacket once he got inside to be embraced by the heater. In the library, he saw the little angel reading a book with a colourful brash cover so unlike her demeanour.

She had called him to meet up earlier but he, of course, could not help himself. He snuck behind her as she turned the pages and covered her eyes from behind. The girl below him stiffened at his touch but relaxed as his voice ranged out, “Peek a Boo Carly Warly.”

“Hide… I don’t want nor have the time to play right now,” He knew despite her impersonal voice she still had not pushed him off yet.

“Aww, but we were worrying all week about that demon research. Can we have at least one second together to relax? Especially after your girlfriend called.” His arms wrapped around her from behind before she could deny the last claim. He realised she smelt baby powder and cheap shampoo.

“She's not that.” She said resting back, if her mouth was not in a permanent frown she would have let a smirk… probably. “You did something didn’t you.”

Hide kept quiet not knowing what to say until he sighed and rested his head on her shoulder much to her surprise.

“Hide?”

“Carly..,” he answered back.

“Yes?..”

“Thanks for being my only friend…”

“.... Your welcome…” was her reply.

A simple yet honest one.

It's funny…