TIME WARP: Happy New Year (Rhett.)

[Odion Martins]

December, 2009

Odion walked around the streets of Milano, Italy on New Year’s Eve, weaving his way through many bodies within the street, his lips pulled back into a straight line from being around so many unknown people. “Buon anno,” he said quietly to those that glanced at him expectantly, happy smiles shot his way as his greeting was returned. He put a nervous smile into place before continuing on, snuggling deeper into his hoodie, pulling his scarf up a little higher on his face. Something cold bumped against his face as he adjusted his scarf, and he pulled his hand away to see a bracelet hanging off his first two fingers. A smirk passed his face; he was better at this job than he thought.

Heading in a direction which held very few people, Odi’s smile brightened further as a gaggle of teenagers neared him. Odion was only fifteen, but he felt like a huge part of his group of pickpocketers friends. “Look what I managed to snag,” one of them said as he slung an arm around the small boy, holding a brown bag up in an enthusiastic gesture. Odi looked around at the faces of the others – they all knew what was in it. “Well be ‘aving a special kind of new yea’,” another of the teens said in the group, rubbing his hands in eagerness – or was it from the cold?

Odi stood there happily, not saying anything while he had his hands in his pockets. New Year was especially interesting for everyone in this group, his own personal kind of family. He doubted there was another gathering quite like this one which was here right now. The red head held his hands in his pockets, his eyes looking at everyone before him. They were like a modern day version of his favourite book, Oliver Twist.

“Oi, where’s Rhett?” Matthew had asked their kind of ‘leader’, and Odi stared at him too. Yes, just where had Rhett gone to? He had gotten lost in that crowd back there but Odi was too flustered to notice he had left at all. All eyes turned to him and he flushed visibly, looking at the cold ground.

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett had been with headaches for a week now, but they weren't worrying him much. He had been with voices in his head for two weeks now, this was bothering him just a bit too much. He could barely concentrate in a conversation, he wasn't capable of snatching a wallet from a long coat, it was hard staying up for too long... he wasn't himself and it was killing him. He thought he was sick, that the voices were hallucinations, that he had some virus that was making him sick physically and mentally. It worried him. If he didn't get better soon, he would be a burden over his partners-in-crime, and if he was not collaborating and keeping up, they had no reason to keep Rhett in the group. He didn't want to be abandoned again, not by them, he enjoyed the life he was having and didn't see himself somewhere else. He didn't want to go to a hospital and confirm that he was sick and he couldn't tell anyone else about it.

He didn't know what to do, so he had opted to not do anything about it. He decided to keep the appearance.

New Year's Eve's happiness in the air was killing Rhett. He was not a happy person and the headaches were not making it any better, and the group had decided to take advantage of the mood in the air to pickpocket any passerby. It was a nice idea, happy people are careless and they could get a lot of money by working that day, but Rhett would have prefered to stay that day lying down and sleeping than out, which was odd for him because usually it was the other way around. Keep the appearance. Keep the appearance. He repeated himself as he walked out of a crowd outside a particular store with several "New Year's Eve Sale" posts hanging. He sighed as he watched his empty hands while walking towards the other guys waiting for him. Under other circumstances he would have gotten out of there with at least two wallets and a watch, crowds are the easiest marks, but he wasn't in the game.

"What?" He asked out loud as he arrived at the small group of boys who were staring at Rhett as he got out of the crowd.

"What you got?" One of them asked while tilting his head towards the crowd, which Rhett quickly interpreted as what did he pickpocket from the crowd.

"Well..." He didn't want to look bad, but he didn't have anything to show. "I was watching what's on sale and they have some good wine half-price. I was thinking we should get it." He could feel his heart in his head, bumping harder every time. "You know. Celebrate." He turned his face towards Odion, who he knew, with the mention of alcohol, would be the first to agree. "Martin agrees, right?"

[Odion Martins]

Rhett put the attention back on Odion and he shrugged. “Whatever,” he said, nodding towards the paper bagged bottle, “they already have some celebratory New Years drinks, I think your thoughts are wasted.” The teenager held his ground when it came to Rhett. Unless he wanted Odi to inform everyone that he hadn’t stolen anything in over a week, he better quit putting his partner in the spotlight.

Their leader eyed Rhett carefully, “It’s almost midnight and you have nothing?” Odion could tell he was suspicious. Before anyone could say anything, Odi held out his hand and thrust the silver piece into the older man’s hand. “He dropped this back there, was just waiting for the opportune moment to fess up,” Odi forced a smile, thrusting his hands back in his pockets. Rhett totally owed him for that.

“It’s a start,” their self-proclaimed leader said, tossing the bracelet up and down, before pocketing it, “but the night is still young, you two can gather a bit more than this measly thing I think.” Odion wasn’t going to protest, even though it was almost midnight and he really wanted to celebrate. “Don’t worry,” their leader said, waving the brown bag around, “we’ll save you some.”

Odion watched the group walk away, save for Rhett, talking and laughing. This was the one night the group didn’t take things so seriously. Glancing at the blonde, Odion didn’t smile, and didn’t even expect a thank you. Why was he so nice to the guy anyways? “Come on, I’ve got to get something else for you before the night’s over, I haven’t been sleeping much.” Odi didn’t want an explanation for Rhett’s strange behaviour, he just wanted to get this part of the day over with.

[Rhett Goddard]

Merde. His little impromptu plan failed. It was not fun at all. One month ago Rhett was one of the best, and now he was being talked down for not being able to keep his numbers up the last weeks. Even though he knew it was how things worked, how life worked, he still thought that it was just not fair. Sadly there was nothing he could do about, was it? Fortunately for Rhett, Odion handed a bracelet in his name and saved Rhett from more shame. He wondered for a minute why would he come up and save his ass, but he was too off to think things through and just sighed as the others left leaving the ginger and the blonde alone.

"You didn't have to do that." He shrugged. It was the nearest thing to a 'thanks' Rhett would say out loud.

Something else for me? Go ahead, be cocky, then. Rhett landed a stare on Odi as he was asked to go somewhere else, he caught the subtle reminder that his ass was saved by Odion and it didn't make the blonde happy. A small feeling arrived that it might be something that Odi would constantly remind Rhett in the future, specially if a favor was in need. He shrugged the thought away and attempted to give the gesture as little importance as he could.

"What, am I still keeping you up at night?" He asked as he started following Odion. "I told you wasn't into gingers."

[Odion Martins]

“I know,” Odion said simply, glancing at Rhett momentarily before he started walking, passing through another crowd of people gathered outside of a pub, trying to get in before midnight struck. He really didn’t know why he did it either, it just seemed to make sense. Rhett had no one, someone ought to watch his back every once in a while.

“Would you like me better if I dyed my hair?” He said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s fucking New Year’s Eve Rhett, the world doesn’t revolve around you, lighten up.” Odi seemed to be the voice of reason in most situations – that, and he didn’t want to talk about why he hadn’t been sleeping very much lately. He was starting to get uncontrollable migraines, something he really didn’t see as important.

As the pair edged their way through the crowd outside, the red head was expertly snagging things without anyone noticing. He glanced at Rhett and raised his eyebrows. He had just missed all of those people – he hadn’t taken a thing yet. “I’m not covering for you again Goddard.”

Odion wouldn’t say he and Rhett were friends, but they got along well enough. They were similar in age and frankly, no one else could handle the blonde’s attitude, especially a couple weeks ago when he didn’t stop bragging about all the loot he’d collected. Odi grinned at the thought – just what had happened to Rhett? “I think you’re the one that needs more sleep actually, you don’t look too good.”

[Rhett Goddard]

"No, I wouldn't like you better if you dyed your hair, Martin." Rhett's subconscious failed to recognize the fact that with that sentence he was admitting that, to a point, he liked Odion.

Oh, but the world did seem to revolve around Rhett, or so it seemed to him when the headaches arrived with nausea. It was bad, and no, he couldn't lighten up, as Odi wanted. He could only... wait. Things would have to get better at some point, so he just waited for the moment, which fortunately was getting closer every minute, something he didn't know yet. And so, as Odi snatched everything he could along the path, Rhett kept a silent watch at his movement. A couple of them were even taught to him by Rhett and there he was, once again being cocky about the fact Rhett was not moving one finger.

"Ok, don't." Rhett didn't want to be covered, at least not like this. It wasn't his fault, he hadn't fail, so he felt he didn't need to ask any favors to make things right. "Oui." He nodded softly even though Odion was walking in front of him and could see him do so. "You have been keeping me up at night, Martin." Rhett didn't feel the need to add a sarcastic voice tone, the sarcasm was by far obvious. "Ginger and all, who'd have known." He took a deep breath, the headache was getting a bit more painful. "Where are we going, anyway?" Rhett didn't like surprises that much. He preferred things he could know with anticipation, things he could control. "What surprise you think you have for me?"

[Odion Martins]

Odi grinned, “I knew you liked me somewhere deep down inside,” he said, sticking his hands in his now full pockets. The boy didn’t care if Rhett liked him or not. Every single one of their group members was used to be alone, it was just easier to travel together, only the work had to be done in smaller groups. People were bound to notice a gaggle of boys running around, taking their things. This way no one could blame thing – people misplaced their stuff all the time.

The younger boy ignored Rhett, nearing a different bar. The place was packed, people were walking in and out freely, some sober, some not so much. “Here, let’s go,” he said, sending a small grin back to his ‘friend’. There was no word for fellow pickpocketer in a small gang of pickpocketers. Odion edged his way into the bar, fitting in with the rest of the people here. The nice thing about Europe was that most people didn’t care about age and alcohol, it was actually pretty common. Besides, they were pickpocketers. If they couldn’t get in unnoticed, no one could. They weren’t the only underage patrons in here. Odi snatched a cup of champagne as a barista came around as the countdown began, and she gave a flirty wink. Odion couldn’t help but grin back before looking for Rhett.

“Come on Rhett, cheers to us, those who have survived against the odds,” Odi held up the glass cup, a small grin on his face. There was enough crap in his pockets for the both of them, whether or not the blonde protested; Odi would say they had both collected.

[Rhett Goddard]

A bar. It didn't surprise Rhett, and it didn't excite him much either. It seemed as if back when the alcohol idea came from Rhett, it was Odi the one not enthusiast about it, but now that it came from Odion, Rhett was not joyful at all... not like he is really joyful about things anyway. They slipped in quite quickly and took seats in the bar, after a quick trade of winks and a quicker movement of hands, Odion already had an unpaid drink in his hand, to what Rhett only raised an eyebrow. Really? Sighing, and attempting to not stay behind Odion's cockiness, Rhett called the barista back as she left.

"You forgot mine." He pointed at the ginger's drink.

The barista quickly apologized and immediately brought a champagne cup to Rhett too, probably confused with the number of customers she was attending that night. As the countdown began, Rhett couldn't help but remember his last new years. Awful and un-eventful, all of them, he didn't see any point on celebrating this date, it was just one more day. But well, Odion had now brought him here and apparently he was celebrating now too, the champagne in his hand would serve as evidence of such.

Nine...

I think I slept straight through last year's new year's eve... He looked quickly glanced at all the people around him.

Eight...

Cheers? For being homeless and orphans, Martin? Really? He maintained his glass down as Odion spoke.

Seven...

"Come'on, make up someth..." He was interrupted by the crowd countdown.

Six...

"...ing better or I'm not toasting." Rhett made a soft smile, perhaps the first one in the last days.

Five...

"You can do so." As difficult as it was to keep the smile with the background headache, it stood there.

[Odion Martins]

Five...

Odi smiled, and then shrugged. “Here’s to mediocrity, screw everyone else.” The boy raised his eyebrows to see the reaction he would get from his next suggestion. Odion hadn’t seen Rhett smile in such a long time.

Four...

“If you have something better to say, speak now or wait until next year.” If Rhett couldn’t stop being a dick then Odion would toast to whatever the hell he wanted to. Neither of them would know for certain where they would be a year from now, it was now or never.

Odion held his glass up still, holding eyes with Rhett momentarily. They had been pickpocketing together for almost a year now, they were basically used to each other. There was nothing special about either of them and they didn’t try to appear more interesting than what reality had given them. Rhett has always been top-dog, and he didn’t seem very happy to have Odi backing him up.

Three...

Another second passed while Odion continued to think about the past year. A lot of stealing, a lot to be gained. Everyone in the group kept to themselves and no one got hurt. It was a full proof system. “I’m sure this champagne will be better than whatever the guys managed to nab,” he said, swirling the drink around in his cup.

[Rhett Goddard]

Four...

You nailed it. Screw everyone else. Rhett considered Odion's word as the new year rushed towards them.

Three...

"Cheers." He finally raised his cup up to Odion's and the small tingleish sound of the glasses hitting each other echoed in Rhett's head, making him even more aware of the pain.

Two...

"I'm sure is better." Rhett placed the glass in his mouth and drank from it while the tingle-ish sound echoed still in his head, getting louder with every instant.

One...

When the two of them first met, Rhett had been in the group for quite some time, and was working alone, being assigned to work with the newbie, Odion, never excited him, but he dealt with it. It had been a life-long truth, Rhett does not has friend, but if an approximation must be made, the closest thing to it was the ginger boy. It must be understood, though, that this only happened for very punctual reasons, they both had a lot in common and were not that different from each other. If Rhett ever wanted to be understood, Odion would be the perfect one for the job, but Rhett just wasn't like that, and instead preferred to keep distance between the two, which was the reason why even after working and living together for a long time now, Rhett would still call the boy by his last name and not by his first. With little time, also, their relation easily became more of a rivalry thing, which worked quite well for both of them. Perhaps it was easier to deal with a rival than with a friend.

"Happy new year, Odi." It was perhaps the first time Rhett had called Odion by his first name since they first met.

[Odion Martins]

Odion exhaled, glad to hear Rhett finally being agreeable to something. That never happened. “Cheers mate,” he said, taking a few sips of the drink. The boy wasn’t exactly fond of champagne, it was rather plain and the bubbles made him gag if he had too much at once, but it was free, and it the occasion called for it.

The boy was finishing off his drink when everyone started shouting. It was ridiculously loud in here, but Odion didn’t mind. People watching was one of his favourite things to do. Some couples were here and there, sharing a New Year’s kiss, others were in large groups of friends or family, smiling, laughing, and generally having a good time. People who were by themselves usually didn’t make an appearance at these parties. The two orphans didn’t belong in this place – not in the slightest.

“Happy New Year Rhett,” Odion smacked his lips a little, finding the name strange in his mouth. “Don’t get used to that nickname, calling me Odi makes me sound like a dog, and I am not your bitch.” The dark haired ginger slipped off the stool at the bar, nodding and smiling at the barista who had served them. “We better get back to the guys,” he said simply, slipping the hood of his sweater of his head once more.

Stepping out into the cold again, Odi kept a good pace, a soft smile on his face. He and Rhett may have been similar in many ways, but there were many differences. The younger boy would smile if he so pleased, even though his life wasn’t the best. Even if he called ‘home’ to whatever hostel or hotel they stayed at. He didn’t want to stress over things he couldn’t control.

[Rhett Goddard]

A new year. Two-thousand-ten sounded weird already. People were cheering, singing, hugging, it was happiness on steroids. From his seat, Rhett could catch comments of how things would be different this year, how things would get better and better every day. Bullshit. The blonde knew that things weren't like that. If people wanted things to change, they should do the things that would change their lives, not wait for time to do them for them. A new year wasn't going to bring new stuff, and it was good, Rhett didn't want things to change drastically.

As he stood up from his stool, Rhett felt the tingle-ish sound getting louder and the pain in the back of his head getting worse. Maybe he did want one little change, for things to go back to normal.

you're not normal
a deep voice echoed in his head

"I don't... feel that good." Rhett placed one hand in his head as soon as they took two steps outside the pub, passing out almost immediately and making a rather silent 'thump' as he hit the ground.

Everything faded to black. Everything in Rhett's life was going to change.

ooc: I think you can post and wrap it up.

[Odion Martins]

Odion had taken only a couple of steps out of the pub when Rhett finally admitted to feeling bad. He glanced at his partner in crime and was about to ask what was wrong when the blonde collapsed right before his eyes, and Odi hadn't moved an inch to stop it. It seemed sort of surreal, the way he fell, like it was almost in slow motion. The red head stood back in shock, someone else from the club noticed what had happened, and burst into laughter. "He's drunk, eh?" He asked, a glaze in his eyes.

Glaring at the guy, Odion waved him away, "The party's in there, bugger off," he said, kneeling down next to his friend. "Rhett? Come on mate, why'd you have to do this right now?" He asked, manuevering hsi body over the blonde to get his hands under his limp shoulders. Dragging him to the hospital should really be a two man job, but there was only one of him, and that wasn't going to change.

"I'm so sick of saving your ass..." Odion muttered to Rhett's unconscious body as he dragged the boy through the streets, receiving not so much as a glance - it's not like he was the only one dragging a limp body somewhere. Little did Odion know, this would be the last time he saw Rhett, before he left the gang of pickpocketers, permanently.