"There's nothing wrong with me." He says. It's a true statement.
"No, there isn't." she agrees.
They are the exact opposites of each other, but above everything else they are twins. They might not be actually related but they are too similar to be anything but twins.
It is quiet once more. She wouldn't ever think of hurting anyone for any reason, but she isn't morality. She's Empathy, but empathy isn't Martyrism.
He wouldn't think of hurting anyone either. He might be Apathy but he's not Hate. He's not without morality.
So here they are sitting in some run down warehouse like teenage vagabonds. And they are, in a way. They steal, they don't listen to authorities, but they really aren't any different from other kids on the streets. They just haven't sunk as low as some people have.
Jaqqueline really can't stand the thought of not helping people in need. It's part of the reason why they steal so much. Most of what they get is for other people.
Kline thinks that they could be doing things easier if they didn't but it's not like he doesn't understand that other people suffer, he just doesn't feel the connection that she does. And he would never refuse her. They are all that they have.
They can't be anything else.
Kline stands up and stretches.
"It's time to go, we shouldn't stay in one place for long" and there's nothing he could think of being.
"I know, I'm not that naive" she is tired, there is nothing that she wouldn't give to not be in this position (one thing).
They walk out and don't look back once. They could never think of hurting people, but neither of them are Morality.
"I don't know what I did but it must have been horrific." He doesn't say anything else about it. He really does believe it. Why else would life hate him so much this time around?
"Yeah i'm sure." He doesn't disagree. Why would he? It's not like it couldn't be true.
The silence that ensues isn't awkward. It is heavy instead.
They both know what each other is thinking. It's not like this is an uncommon conversation. It's almost always like this. The both of them in this room on their bunks. Leo got a bunk bed just for this reason, not that they always stay on different bunks.
This is a day where they’re on different bunks. They'll eventually move into one, but for now Leo's skin is crawling and Lin is more than fine with having a bed to himself.
"I don't know why life hates me, i have never done anything to anyone" it's just another one of those days.
"That wasn't provoked you mean" Lin doesn't have any qualms about being blunt about anything. He's Instincts, he doesn't need to sugarcoat and he's not a hypocrite. Loyalty has a mean streak too, loyalty doesn't mean friendliness.
"I never stood a chance did i?" It's an almost teary confession.
"The sad thing is that you did once" There's no pity in the statement. It's sad too. Lin has always gravitated towards Leo. Neither of them are fit for having other people to open up to. They might not be friendship bracelets kind of friends, but they'll stick by each other.
It's kind of odd how the both of them can see each other. Lin just knows that Leo's on his back but still curled into himself. Leo also knows that Lin is on his back staring straight up to where the ceiling would be. It says something that they have their poses memorized.
Maybe they should see a therapist. It's a thought that they both have but would never say. Neither of them would be able to handle that, to be so vulnerable in front of people that aren't each other.
The sun goes the rest of the way down. They sleep eventually curled into each other as if to protect, both themselves and each other.
"What do you mean he's gone?"
"I mean, his bike's gone, his closet's empty, and no one has seen him since yesterday!"
He doesn't usually care to listen into conversations but he feels marginally guilty about leaving this time. He walks back out the door anyway.
Nobody really cares anyway.
They didn't really look that hard if that's all they noticed. John picks up his coffee and tries to decide what's going to go on now. He's barely old enough to pass as sixteen and now he's run away from home.
He'll see if there's a hotel that'll overlook him. There's no way he can stay in this house any longer. He needs something and he has no idea what it is but he's going to get it.
He's not exactly in a stable mental state but he doesn't really care anyway. Several people would object to his actions but they don't have all the facts. He doesn't either but at least he has the most important facts.
There's no way he would be alive in this time of year next year if he stayed. He might not be in the best mental state but if he stays he'll be falling apart and deranged. He's smart enough to fear himself.