Part 5
"Now the p'lice'll be aftah you too," the blond boy said angrily.
"You were in about to be hauled off to the gaol, I couldn't very well..." Trowa replied, rather astonished at the reaction.
"I've been 'rested afore, and nobbut came o' it.," the boy said dismissively. He then looked closely at Trowa. "Yeh look familiar."
"We met yesterday," Trowa said, then choosing to smile. "I'm Trowa Barton." The blond boy's eyes grew wide.
"Ye?! Whater yeh doin' 'ere?!" he asked, voice suddenly dropping to a whisper.
"I wanted to invite you to live with me," Trowa said, rather awkwardly. The boy looked at him closely.
"I dinna do tha'. There be plenty on Flower Street tha' wouldna object, though." Trowa flushed deep red.
"Now look here, I don't presume that sort of invitation a' all, bu' I thought tha' you mi' like t' be friends or summat..." Trowa said in a rush. The boy grinned at him unexpectedly.
"Now, look a' tha'. Ye talk like me when yer all 'ot'n'bothered. I dinna ha' any friends, bu' wha' would I do in yer big 'ouse. An' yer fatha be rich, why would 'e wan' a street rat like me traipsin' in 'is fine 'ouse?" Trowa took deep, gulping breaths.
Have I come so far in a year I cannot be teased? He shook his mental head. "Father's already given me permission for you to stay and be educated with me." Trowa seized his hand. "Please say yes."
The boy looked at him curiously. "Ye are that lonely? Sure, I'll come. Le' me tell Aunt Mattie right quick, an' I'll meet yeh a' yer big gate."
Trowa nodded gratefully, releasing the boy's hand. He was off like a shot. "What's your name?"
A voice drifted back to him. "Quatre."
Quatre, Trowa thought with a smile. Then it was his turn to run off.
Quatre thought about Trowa all the way back to Aunt Mattie's flat. Most of these thoughts believed he was quite mad. Though, no one had ever risked their neck for Quatre before. It was quite unusual.
He ran up to the door and rapped on it smartly. Aunt Mattie opened the door, and seemed astonished.
"Quatre? Ye be 'ome so early! Are ye unwell?" Aunt Mattie said anxiously. Quatre kissed her cheek, then slipped past her. Aunt Mattie looked astonished.
"Dinna fraich, Auntie. I made me a friend, and I be going to live wi' 'im. 'e's gonna e'cate me right proppah." Quatre began packing his meager belongings.
" 'oo's this friend?" Mattie asked, worried. Quatre grinned at her.
" 'e's Trowa Barton, if ye can 'magine," he said. Mattie's eyes grew wide.
"Trowa Barton be dead these last few years! I' canna be him!" she said in alarm. Quatre shook his head.
" 'e be Master Barton, I 'eard one o' 'is servants call 'im tha'. 'e seems rather lively t' me." Quatre shrugged. Mattie seized his shoulders and looked him in the eye.
"Dekim Barton be mad, an' so are all 'oo live wit' 'im! Dinna go, Quatre! Yer Mam an' Da wouldna forgive me!" she said anxiously. Quatre smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
"I be tellin' yeh, dinna fraich, I be fine. Trowa be a nice lad, though a mite foolish. An' he wants ta ed'cate me. Dinna worry, if 'e be mad, I c'n allus leave. 'e can't keep me where I dinna wanter be." Quatre smiled reasurringly and patted her hand.
"Watcherself, Quatre me lad. I dinna want somethin' bad ter 'appen to yeh," Aunt Mattie said finally, giving a quick hug before he slipped out the door.
Trowa waited at the gate, growing more agitated by the moment. He wondered if Quatre would really come or not. He was just about to give up when he was grabbed from behind and blinded.
TBC...