Streetlight - Part 1

          “You’ll do whatever I want you to do, right?” The tall toned boy said, leaning against the wall of the shady looking business for prostitution.

         “Y...yes…” A ragged, smaller brunette boy looked up, butthurtedly, at the taller boy. His blue eyes scanned him fearfully as he tugged at his torn, dirty clothes, shifting his weight anxiously. The dark bruises over one side of his face made his expressions feel awkward.

         “Good. I’m hungry. We’ll go get something to eat... and than we’ll go shopping. I’m bored.” The black and blond haired boy said simply, long hair pulled back into a lazy ponytail. HIs golden eyes observed the boy, no emotion in his eyes except boredom.

         “W...what? Aren’t you supposed to… I thought I…” He stammered, staring up at the taller boy. “I guess… it’s uh, whatever… you want.” He gave the boy a forced smile. “I’ll do whatever you want.” He repeated. “W...what’s your name?” he asked sheepishly.

         “Malakai. Yours.” The golden eyed boy said coldly, looking down at him blankly.

         “Nice to meet you, Malakai. J...Just call me whatever you want to.” Devon forced another shaky smile.

         “Okay. Whatever you want to, lets go.” Malakai deadpanned, raising an eyebrow.

         “W...what? I didn’t mean… I meant you call me… uh, something… other than… wait. You are calling me whatever you want to it just happens to be… whatever you want….to.” The boy shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts. Malakai rose a single perfectly shaped eyebrow, amusement flickering briefly in his golden eyes.

         “Whats your name.” He stated.

         “D...Devon.”  The small brunette fidgeted. “It’s… Devon, but you can call me something else if you don’t like it.”

         “I don't feel like calling you something else if you don’t like it.” Malakai stated, moving to leave the building, expecting the boy to follow him. Devon watched him go for a moment before scampering along to walk behind him sheepishly, jumping at the smallest sounds and glancing at everyone around him suspiciously.

         Malakai continued to walk, exiting the ghetto like streets and entering far more friendly area’s of the city.

         “What do you like to eat, Devon.” Malakai asked, boredly.

         “Uh… I don’t know… umm… food…? I like food a lot. I don’t get it very often but…” He stopped walking and talking as they passed a fast food restaurant he’d never seen before. He stared at it, looking the building up and down and then cocking his head to one side.

         “I’ve never seen this one before.” He said quietly.

         Malakai eyed it and turned away. “Too cheap.”

         “Cheap…? It’s so expensive though… like… five dollars!” Devon said, in awe.

         “Too cheap.” Malakai repeated continuing on his way. “Come.” He commanded softly. Devon bounded after Malakai without hesitation and followed behind him obediently.

         “Yus sir.” He said softly. Malakai nodded as they continued, the neighborhood getting nicer and nicer as they went. Shops getting more and more expensive looking. Devon looked around him in awe, noticing people around him and their nice things as he stared, mesmerized. Even the air seemed cleaner here.

         “A…are you sure I’m allowed here…?” Malakai glanced at him and shrugged, turning and entering into an expensive looking clothing shop.

         “Go find something to wear than.” He deadpanned.

         “B...but it’s all… nice… and I’m gross…” Devon bit at his lip, bouncing in place.

         “Than clean up in the bathroom.” Malakai said with a half shrug. Devon blinked.

         “Can I…? We’re supposed to be doing what you want though… I don’t want to be a… bad… uh… whore.” He stammered.

         “I don't want a dirty one.” Malakai deadpanned. “So you’ll be doing what I want.” Devon thought for a moment and nodded, his expression serious as he bounded off to the bathroom and walked in slowly, looking around nervously before standing in front of the mirror at his dirty, ragged reflection. He bit at his lip. Malakai was pretty… he should be pretty too… If he wasn’t nice looking he would be a disappointment… a waste of the taller boy’s time.

He was the nicest customer the smaller brunette had served in a long time… He went to a stall and gathered up a large wad of toilet paper, wetting it and washing the dirt off his face and trying his best to use them to clean the rest of his body. He shoved his head under the sink and turned on the water, letting it run over his dirty brown hair, scrubbing hard with his fingers and using hand soap to actually wash it. He flipped his wet hair back and shook himself like a dog, looking into the mirror excitedly to see if his work had improved his appearance any.

His deep blue eyes blinked at the slight change. His skin was paler than he remembered… the dark circles under his eyes reminded him that he didn’t sleep at night. He chewed on his lip as he did his best to style his messy brown hair with his fingers, using the hand dryer to dry himself off. When he was sure he had improved as best he could he darted out of the bathroom, and bounced up to Malakai, placing himself in front of the boy for inspection, holding himself shyly, not looking the boy in the eyes.

Malakai gazed at him and rose an eyebrow... “Good, go find something you would like to wear.” He deadpanned, looking away, his golden eyes not focusing on anything in particular. Devon bit his lip harder, hesitating before obeying. Who was he to question…? He bounded through the store, looking at the clean, expensive looking clothes, his eyes falling on a burnt gray shirt with an abstract heart printed on it, complete with a strap to go over the shoulder the garment hung off of. He smiled excitedly and picked it up, eyeing it carefully. It was quite pretty.

“Excuse me. You’re in the women's section. I don’t think this would suite you very well.” The unhappy looking store clerk looked the ragged boy up and down and made a face. “I don’t think we have anything you could afford.” Devon made a sad sound, holding his hands out to take the shirt back only to have the clerk hold it farther away.

“But…” He started.

“Shoo.” The woman stepped away from him. “You’re dirty.”

“But I washed.” Devon argued.

“Mmhm… Sure. We don’t serve liars either.”

“Bit it’s the truth…”

“Get out.”

“Excuse me. Is there a problem.” Malakai said coldly, eyeing the woman with his golden eyes.

“Not at all.” The woman smiled. “This boy was just leaving.” she glanced at Devon with a disgusted look.

“I… was?” He blinked, cocking his head at the woman. “You can’t tell me what to do. I don’t work for you.”

“Work… for me…?” The woman blinked back. “You’re a street rat aren’t you…? A filthy whore. Get out of my store.” She hissed at him. “Before I throw you out myself.”

“I still don’t work for you…” Devon murmured softly, looking at the ground.

Malakai snorted softly.

“Devon, lets go. I’m disgusted with this place.” He said simply, turning to leave, shoving his hands in his nice black skinny jeans. Devon pouted slightly.

“But…” He said quietly.

“Go on. The Women's section is not place for a dirty boy like you.” The Clerk urged him onward.

“But it’s pretty…” He stared at the shirt longingly.

“Shoo.”

Malakai paused looking back and eyeing the shirt before rolling his eyes and turning around completely.

“Go try it on, Devon.” He deadpanned, leaning back on his heals, bored.

“Really?!” Devon gave the taller boy a genuine smile, raising his voice in excitement.

“No. I already told you that your kind isn’t welcome here. Not only that but you are a boy.”

“Maybe I’m a crossdresser! You don’t know my life!” Devon huffed at her. “I think it’s really pretty… and I know it would fit me.”

“Disgraceful.” She hissed at him. “What do your parents think of you. Did they throw you out. I wouldn’t let a disorderly boy like you run around my home either. Whether it fits is not the issue. Now get out.” She took a step towards the brunette angrily.

Malakai stepped forward suddenly straightening up, a good head taller than the woman, his golden eyes glaring down at her.

“He wants to try it on.” He deadpanned, unamused. The woman blinked up at him and looked him up and down, taking a step back.

“I’m very sorry sir, but he is clearly not the kind of customer we want to attract here. If he tells all his friends we’ll have more of them running all over the store. It would be a hazard...” she trailed off, her tone less confident.

“I won’t tell anyone. I don’t have any friends.” Devon blinked at her.

“I didn’t ask what kind of people he’ll attract. I said he wants to try it on.” Malakai said softly, words sharp and cold.

“I… I don’t think… I mean…” She looked the taller boy up and down once more before handing him the shirt and giving Devon a venomous glare before scurrying away. Malakai watched her go and glanced at Devon.

“Do you need to try it on?” He asked, slouching back down into his previous board poster. Devon shifted and nodded slightly.

“Sorry If I’m causing you trouble…” He smiled up at Malakai sheepishly.

“You're not. I was bored anyway. Go try it on, i'm going to go speak with the manager.” He stated softly, moving towards the registers to ask for him.

“Okay! I’ll be uhh…” Devon looked around for the dressing rooms. “Over there! He pointed to the women's dressing rooms and bounded towards them excitedly. Malakai reached out grabbing the boy by the shoulders and turning him around the opposite direction, towards the mens dressing rooms.

“Okay.” He replied cooly. Devon tilted his head back and smiled up at the blonde and black haired boy, gazing into his golden eyes for a moment before bouncing in place and racing off in the direction Malakai had turned him.

“Okay!” He repeated happily so that nearly the whole store could hear him.

 

Malakai watched him in amusement before turning to the registers. The woman was there... talking to another... He walked up, eyeing the two of them.

“May I speak with your manager.” He inquired cooly.

“What for.” The woman who had been talking with Devon put a hand on her hip.

“Do I need a reason?” Malakai deadpanned. “I wish to speak with him.”

“I’d like to know why.”

“Are you here to complain about that ratty kid running all over the store? We can remove him right away and we’re very sorry for the inconvenience.” The second woman apologized, reaching for her walkie to call security.

“No. Let me speak with William.” Malakai said, irritation showing in his gaze.

“Oh… um… I…”

“Are you sure there’s nothing we can help you with?” The irritated looking blonde asked, her tone rude.

“I am quite sure.” Malakai took a deep breath turning his golden orbs to the other woman. “Would you be so kind as get me your manager?” He asked, ignoring the blond all together.

“Uh… Sure. Right away.” The second blonde nodded, looking uneasily from the tall boy to her co-worker. She hurried off, leaving the two alone.

“It’s quite unnecessary to call him when he’s extremely busy.” She told the golden eyed boy.

“Its quite unnecessary for you to deny a paying customer his demands.” He said simply, refusing to look at her and acknowledge her presents any further.

“That boy was not a paying customer. He couldn’t even afford a proper shower. It would take him months, years to come up with the money to pay for that woman’s shirt.” Malakai glanced at her unamused.

“Devon is with me.” He deadpanned.

“Did you name him that or did he come with his name.” She snapped.

“For all you know he’s my brother who ran away last month and I just managed to find him, beaten to a bloody pulp and living in the gutters, lost and hungry.” Malakai snapped, anger flickering in his empty expression.

“Is he?” The woman huffed. “Maybe you should have taken him home first.”

“Hello, What seems to be the problem?” A strong looking business man stepped around the desk. He looked up to the golden eyed boy and blinked before cracking a huge smile.

“Malakai! Long time no see. How are you?” He went up to the taller boy and extended a hand. The nervous looking blonde stepped back behind the desk, minding her own business. The woman blinked, looking from Malakai to her manager.

“Not too long. Only a few weeks.” Malakai greeted with a polite smile, shaking the man’s hand firmly.

“I suppose you’re right. What can I do for you?” The man shook back just as firmly. Malakai replaced his hands to his pockets and shrugged slightly.

“Originally, I simply wanted to know how my last designs where selling.”

“I see. They’ve been flying off the shelves. I was very impressed. We just had to order another shipment yesterday in fact. Well done.” The man smiled, nodding in approval. “Almost can’t believe it myself. You certainly have talent.” The blonde woman stared, her mouth wide open in disbelief.

“Thank you, I couldn’t have tried without your help, Willam.” Malakai said softly, nodding his head in respect slightly.

“Oh not at all. You’ve done very well for yourself Malakai. I was very proud of you.” William laughed. “Is there anything else I can do for you? Would you like to see the books or anything at all? You name it.” Malakai glanced at the woman and frowned at her before turning to William.

“I've brought a friend here to get cleaned up, he was... stuck in an disturbing place for a while due to some unsavory situations in his home life. He was refused service.” Malakai said softly. Devon bounded back to the front, the shirt he had picked out comfortably hanging off one shoulder and a female pair of skinny jeans with jewel studded back pockets hugging his small, scrawny frame. He smiled, stopping when he saw the blonde woman and two strangers near Malakai. He stopped behind a rack of hoodies, suddenly shy and a little afraid as he listened to what they were saying.

“Is that so…?” William frowned. “That’s awful. By whom?” He asked, concern coloring his husky voice.

Malakai’s eyes drifted to the rude woman before turning back to William, “just one of your employees. I don't want to get anyone fired.” He said politely. “I just recommend reminding them of the rules of customer service.” He said softly.

“Well. I’m sincerely sorry for the rude service.” William frowned deeper. “If you were to come forward with a name there would be a mandatory customer service seminar for those involved. A first strike reminder of who they, as clerks, really answer to around here, which should always be the customer.” He nodded, looking disgruntled.

“Um, sir. I feel as though Brandy and I might benifit greatly from this… seminar. If you’ll allow us, we would feel privileged to attend…” The young blonde spoke up softly. Brandy blinked and turned to speak, cut off by William.

“I think it’s wonderful that you would do that. It’s always a good reminder. I’ll have you two signed up to attend next weekend if that’s alright with you.”

“Of Course. We’d love to. Thank you sir.”

“Very good then. Again Malakai, I’m very sorry for the trouble. You’re friend may pick out whatever outfit they please, it’s on me.”

“Oh, don't let me ruin your sales, you’re doing plenty for me already.” Malakai said softly, turning his curious gaze to the younger blond woman. “Besides, I might be stealing a associate later.” He said simply, slightly impressed.

“Is that so?” William laughed. “Well, whatever you need. Please accept the offer as a gift. You should have first picks to the clothes you designed. I’d love to be a help to your friend as well.” The young blonde cast Malakai a shy smile.

“Thank you. When he returns I’ll ask what he likes.” Malakai said softly, removing his gaze from the woman without a single expression change. Devon blinked back a few unwanted tears and tried to muster up enough courage to show himself.

“M...Malakai…? D...Do I look okay…” He stuttered quietly, his pale face beet red as he emerged, twisting his fingers together, his eyes darting around at the others nervously.