He inhaled sharply, letting the smoke billow out of his nostrils slowly. Nicotine didn’t have much of an affect on him anymore but it was an old habit that a man in France got him hooked on… the simple process settled his nerves when nothing else would.
“tell me what it looks like.” he said quietly and settled his head against Eleven’s lap. “please?”
“it looks like the craziest thing…like the snow in summer….” Eleven smiled warmly and slid his hand against Thirteen’s face.
“Snow in summer huh….It’s warm today…. I guess thatd make sense.” he could only smile. It had been over two centuries since he had seen the grass as it swayed in the summer sun…since he had seen the clouds float past in the sky… “Is the sky blue today?” he asked and tugged at the hem of the boy’s shirt.
“yeah! like the most unreal shade of blue ever…. you’d love it Thirteen… I’m sorry you cant see it…. it makes me sad.”
“Dont be sad… we all lost something important to us when we died…Besides,” he said with a small smile and pressed his face close to the boy’s stomach “I have you to tell me what it looks like. And thats better than being able to see it.”
“He’s just shy!” the small boy squealed happily. “S’cause he doesn’t know you… I promise hes nice…” Eleven looked over at Thirteen and smiled brightly. “Look how pretty he is!!! He doesnt even need that stupid lacey thing… hes just scared people are gonna hate him…”
“No I’m not Eleven.” He said and frowned lightly.
“Yuhuh! Why else are you so scared huh?”
“I’m not scared.” he said flatly.
“Liar! You better be careful smellybutt, cause you are gonna lose those fancy pants of yours if you keep lying!!!”
“What? I dont even….”
“S’CAUSE THEY ARE GONNA CATCH ON FIRREEE~~~!” Eleven giggled and wrapped his arms around the larger boy. “not really though. at least i dont think so. 15 and 16 told me they would” he smiled sheepishly and rested his head on the boy’s shoulder.
“If you say so, Eleven… if you say so.” he only smiled and sighed softly, wrapping his own arms around the small boy.
“Whats your name kid?”
“Thirteen.” the boy said softly. his words wore a thin accent, untraceable to most. He sat quietly with his knees to his chest.
“Why do you wear that veil? I’m sure you have pretty eyes…” the man smiled warmly, trying to coax the boy to come out of his shell a little.
“I used to.” he replied softly.
“used to? what do you mean used to?” He didnt seem to understand and furrowed his thick brows.
Thirteen’s hands trembled as he pulled the flowery lace veil from his eyes and tilted his head to the floor. “Its been so long..” He could not blink, he could not see… thick bleeding wounds lined his hollow eye sockets. they were crusted with years of infection and never healing sepsis.
The man said nothing. he only stared, his mouth agape.
“I’m sorry. I have to go…” Thirteen stood. he wasnt very tall, maybe 5 foot and a half, if he stood up straight. He wore layers of ratted velvet and lace around his hips and a veil to cover his eyes. He almost passed for normal if he kept his veil down… almost… “I never should have come here.. I’m so sorry.”
