Leon finished adjusting his coat, looking at himself in the mirror and running a hand along the side of his face.

He let out a quiet huff, stepping away from the mirror and grabbing a pair of pajama bottoms, slipping on a white sock and a pair of cloud slippers.

As he went down to the kitchen, he grabbed whatever fruit was there, washing it before suddenly stopping.

He watched the water run as he hadn’t even turned off the tap, his gaze drifting toward the table with its empty chairs.

He turned off the tap, picked up his umbrella, unlocked the front door, and was greeted by the smell of wet earth.

The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella seemed to grow heavier with every step he took. A deep sigh followed as he walked into an area of closed shops.

“Did it really have to be at this hour?” Leon tightened his grip on the umbrella, staring at a figure leaning against a bus stop sign.

“Well, not really. You know what my parents are like, aye? They might notice, but they wouldn’t care much. They know I don’t cause trouble.” He pushed himself off the stop and looked straight at Leon.

“I wouldn’t call them idiots. Feels more like you’re the one messing with their heads.” Leon glanced at the man as he began circling him.

“Oh, yeah, sure. It’s definitely all my fault.” He stopped behind Leon. “But when you went and ruined your own image, that wasn’t on me, was it?”

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t turn around, his fingers twitching like they might snap.

“If you know it’s none of your business, why drag me out to this shite place? Nothing’s even open.” He sighed.

“Ah, but that’s the point! You know how people can be—loud and all.” He stepped closer, placing a hand on Leon’s shoulder. “More than anyone, you know what a proper scandal sounds like.”

“You still go by Gui? What’s so hard about using your real name?” Leon slipped a hand into his coat pocket.

“I could ask you the same thing, couldn’t I? What’s so hard about sticking to your real name… Ríthe?” He tapped Leon’s shoulder, and Leon quickly pulled his hand from his pocket, clenching it.

“Did they send you to bother me? I’m doing just fine, you know.” Leon turned to face him directly.

“I doubt you’re really living at all. You’ve no interest in the cameras anymore. What happened to your socials?” Gui circled him again.

“You that curious about my life? You still haven’t answered me.” Leon tracked him with his eyes.

“Mm… nah. No one sent me. I wanted to see you myself.” Gui stopped, looking at the cars splashing water along the pavement.

“As you can see, I’m not even a bit interested.” Leon stared at the same point.

“Yet you showed up. So what were you expecting, then?” Gui tilted his head slightly toward him.

“I was expecting some information.”

“Like what?”

“Like… how they are now… are they alright?” Leon gripped the umbrella tighter again.

“Yeah, of course they are. Even after everything you did, I’d say they’re doing just grand.” Gui turned and took a few steps toward him. “You know, I think we’re quite alike.”

“That’s a ridiculous comparison. Why would I be anything like you? You don’t even understand how I feel.” Leon snapped.

“Maybe I don’t, ‘cause you won’t let me. Why don’t you come back home, Lele? Why keep hiding from your real place? From your real self?” Gui gave him a pitying look.

“Because that was never really me. Took me long enough to realise it, but I didn’t want to stay there if my life was going to keep going that way!” Leon straightened up slightly.

“So that’s why you left Limerick? Came to this dull place? Ignored me?” Gui pulled his phone from his pocket, turning it on and opening his photos, holding it up toward Leon.

Leon didn’t move. He swallowed hard, raising a hand, almost touching the screen—then pulling back.

“Why do you have that?” he asked, staring at the screen before Gui lowered it.

“My dear aunt sent it to me. She misses you like mad, you know?”

“Léo… what do you want?” Leon lowered his head, a drop of sweat falling along with a small tear.

“I want you back, my lovely cousin. I want things to go back to how they were. Where’s that lad full of fire, eh? You’ve become this? I can’t believe it.” Léo ran a hand along the back of his neck. “And don’t call me Léo out here, yeah? Someone might pass by. Call me Gui.” He added with an ironic tone.

“I don’t want to call you anything.” Leon lifted his head, wiping his cheek. “I’m not going back. Tell them if this was some attempt to drag me back to my roots… I don’t want it.” Leon stopped when Léo pointed behind him.

“You see that poster?” He kept pointing toward a billboard on one of the closed shops. “What’s written there? If I’m not mistaken—and I can read just fine—it says Ríthe, doesn’t it?” He stepped closer, tapping Leon’s shoulder again. “You can’t hide your blood. You don’t get to live a normal life. If people ever remember you, this little break of yours is over, Grimac.” He stepped away, walking off, while the rain grew heavier.

Leon’s fist clenched again. His eyes filled with tears once more as he watched him leave, letting out a low growl.

“Grimac…” he muttered. “Some bloody awful… memories.”