Some would say Koren was cruel or dead inside, sometimes he agreed. When he was younger and on the street, a man said to him pitifully, “Life is a strange game, the only ones who win are those who never live at all”. Koren couldn’t say he disagreed, of course back then he never said much of anything. Then he met Daven, a kid who’d play anyway, who when the quote was repeated said, “the only reason people play games is to play, not to win,” Koren knew then, he knew immeadietly... 

 

 

 

… That Daven was an idiot, and throughout the years he was proven right time and time again. Though, just as Koren was the only person allowed to call him a cripple, Koren was also the only person allowed to call Daven an idiot. It didn’t matter that they were right, they were also completely wrong, while he may not be intelligent, he was great at reading people, especially Koren... really only Koren. It was hard for Koren to point out any good points in others when he found so few in himself.  

 

Koren sighed, and looked up at the clock, he should go home, so the pale man hoisted himself up by his cane and limped quietly out the room. He stepped out of the hall into the empty main room, the furniture was moved back as if nothing had happened, and as far as anyone was concerned, nothing had. Most of the room was dark, and there wasn’t so much a sound besides Koren’s breath, and rustle of his clothes as he walked the carpeted red floor. He walked around the room and dimmed every light into nothing, before he left and locked the building. The roads were mostly empty as the club was closed and no one was drifting in and out of it.  

 

Koren breathed the thick air that filled the Kameiri Port city before he stepped onto the cobbled road he knew so well. He decided years ago when he rose as a Raven in the Murder, that he’d never take shortcuts home again, but also never take the main roads. He preferred to be more of a rumour that may or may not exist in real life. Although sometimes he felt like his past self was full of it, especially when his leg was worse than usual, but he never stopped going the long way. Because if he felt it was fatuous, than his enemies did too, and wouldn’t bother checking longer routes.  

 

Half-way through his walk home, his leg started to feel needled and he leant on one of the aisles in the alley to breathe for a moment. The alley wasn’t particularly dirty, but Koren wanted to leave as soon as he could, he truly hated dirt. As soon as the needles dulled he pushed himself off the wall with a gloved hand, and continued home.   

 

As he slowely approached his building, Koren avoided many places, enemy territory, crowded places, and parks, which he just mainly avoided the dirt and grime from the last one. He was always wary of the cobbled road beneath him and made sure to watch every variable around him aswell. When he was younger, he was clumsier, and tripped on the uneven ground beneath him. 

 

The cobbled road eventually hit the stoop of his building, which was dark and unnoticed, a great place for him to live, no one questioned what he did and he didn’t question them. He cracked open the old door and looked miserably at the stairs in front of him, four flights, four that he must climb, he sighed, he could just drop by Daven, who was only two buildings over. But did he really want to deal with him right now? He asked himself, he said no internally and started up the stairs. 

 

In the past the quickest he ever made it up those stairs was about nineteen minutes, but this time it took him about twenty-four before he reached the fourth floor and picked his own lock, he’d gotten rid of the key years ago. 

 

He stepped in and noticed one of his older traps had been triggered, he groaned in annoyance and pulled out a pistol from his blazer as he looked around quietly, most everything else was undisturbed, he walked into his bedroom. There was someone in his bed, he walked over to get a better look, pistol in hand. 

 

It was just Daven, he poked his face with the pistol to wake him. Daven groaned and turned away, Koren sighed, “Up, now.” He ordered, hitting Daven’s shoulder quickly as he set his pistol down on the nightstand, next to his and Daven’s others. “Whaaat?” Daven whined annoyed as he sat up, rubbing his eyes, “what time is it, Kory?” he groaned. Koren answered with his own question, after he looked away from Daven, and away from his shirtless chest annoyedly, “Why, for the lords’ sakes and your own, are you in my bed?” Daven looked confused for a moment. “Wait, I’m at your place?” He asked sleepily, Koren looked back into his eyes, “Obviously. I would not have woken you up otherwise, now out of my bed,” He ordered and backed up a step, “and put your damned shirt on, my home isn’t a brothel, idiot”.  

 

Daven smiled, then got up and picked his shirt up from the ground, “okay, Kory,” he spoke pointedly, rubbing in the nickname warmly. Koren wanted to groan annoyedly, but stayed silent. Daven laughed at his nearly non-existent expression, “You’re so easy to rile up, Kory,” he noted as he pulled his shirt on. Koren hummed, almost annoyed, “I hate you, Daven,” Daven smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets, “Awe, I love you too, man,” he laughed. Koren just stared at him and then sat on his bed, taking the pressure off his leg, “shut up,” he said. 

 

Daven sat down next to him, “You always drop your manners with me,” he noted leaning back on the mattress with his hands. Koren looked back at him halfly, “Your opinion doesn’t matter, you know me. Even if I hate that you do,” he explained bluntly, “Also get out of my apartment, you’re intruding”. Daven shook his head, “don’t wanna,” Koren groaned, “Atleast get out of my room, we can go to the main room if you want”. Daven shrugged and sat forward arms on his thighs, “in a minute, you need to catch your breath right now, I can tell”. Koren stared at him bemused, and Daven laughed, throwing his head forward as he took one of his knives and turned it over in his hands.  

 

Koren shook his expression off his face, “No I don’t,” He stands, Daven pulls him back down by the sleeve. “Yeah, you do,” he parroted as he forced the other to sit, Koren slapped the hand off him, “whatever, don’t touch me”. Daven looked up, and apologized “Sorry, I did it on impulse,” Koren looked at him, still unvisibly annoyed, “I know, but you also know I don’t like it,” Daven pulled his hand back, “Yeah, I do. Sorry,” Koren didn’t answer, but did take a moment to breathe.