Akira was working quickly and as accurately as possible at his job. He had been there for only a few months and was doing his best to create a new life for himself. So far he had been doing pretty well at that. He couldn’t believe how quickly someone could change their lives around if they just tried at it. Granted, he had some help because of Misha and others.

            His best friend had found this place for him and introduced him to the boss. Other than the interview it was honestly like Misha had gotten the job for him. Which he indeed questioned about a month later when he had gotten to know everyone a bit better at work. They all insisted that other than the reference Misha did nothing else.

            Today was a typical day for the man. He would go around to each table and wait on it, making sure the food got to the right place and at the right time. He was generally a very cheerful waiter as he rushed around. His boss said that was what he liked most about Akira, his way of putting everyone at ease around him. It was honestly something that worked for him very well during his last job.

            He set a plate of food down for one table and glanced up and out to the street through the window. He tilted his head slightly as he saw a rather strange man come into the café. Akira glanced to the other waiters and waitresses; they thought this man looked strange too. It was probably this man’s stature. The man was tall, taller than most of the wait staff. It was a bit intimidating.

            The man moved to sit down at a random seat, not waiting for anyone to help him to one. As the wait staff watched the man, Akira finally sighed and moved over to the stranger. After all, he was the one that could make people feel at ease. If this man was as intimidating as he looked, perhaps Akira could keep him calm.

            Akira smiled at the man and was about to ask what he wanted when he found the menu was shoved back in his face.

            “Coffee, black.” The foreigner looked up to Akira and smirked “And you, if you are on the menu.” The man had spoken so quickly and with such a deep voice it shocked Akira enough that he almost didn’t catch the last bit of the man’s order.

            Akira nodded before taking the menu and frowning “Unfortunately, humans are not on our menu sir. If you want that kind of thing, I suggest going down the street,” he said and turned on his heels before heading into the kitchen and getting the man his coffee. He came back moments later and set the coffee on the table and was about to leave again when he felt a hand on his wrist.

            The hand pulled him back slightly “hey, look. I didn’t mean to be insulting, it’s just you are really cute,” he said and shrugged. “Come on, give me the time of day for two minutes?” he asked, as he pulled out a box of cigarettes. He placed one in his mouth and puffed as he lit the thing.

            Akira’s eyes went wide as he watched the other light up in their café “I-I’m sorry sir, but this is a non-smoking establishment.”

            The man looked up to Akira and arched his eyebrow “Ah, come on. I’ve just been running, and I would really like a cig,” he said.

            Akira shook his head, “I’m afraid you will have to take it outside, sir.”

            “Edward.”

            “Sorry?”

            “Edward, my name is Edward, stop calling me sir, that’s for old men. I’m only 26.”

            Akira blinked and sighed, “great, just one more reason I shouldn’t give you the time of day for even a minute. I’m only 20,” he explained.

            Edward smirked “even better, come on, if I can’t smoke in here, come out with me on your break,” he said and stood up, “let’s go.”

            Akira glanced back at the café and frowned, he sighed and nodded “fine,” he said and looked back over to his boss that was coming over to them. He shook his head and explained he was going to go on his break a little early.

            Akira followed Edward out of the café and stood in front of the large window out front. He glanced over to Edward, “you know, it’s quite creepy that you think my age is even better for you.”

            Edward shrugged, “what can I say I like my interests young. Legal… but young. Plus, you aren’t that much younger than me,” he explained and took another puff of his cigarette. “So, do I get graced with your name, or what?”

            Akira took a look around the street and smiled a bit “It’s Akira.”

            “Akira… I like that,” he said before frowning, “can you run well, Akira?” he asked as he stamped out his cigarette.

            “What? Why?” Akira asked, but before he knew it Edward had grabbed his hand and was pulling him off in a random direction. He could hear shouting behind them, though it seemed far off. He looked over his shoulder only to see a cop running after them. “You’re in some kind of trouble, aren’t you?” Akira asked as he continued to run with Edward.

            It was hard to keep up with the man, he was so much taller than Akira. “Yeah, well, kinda. It’s nothing much, just a bit of a misunderstanding is all really,” Edward said while smiling back at Akira, “you know… you are kind of a shit runner.”

            “Geez thanks, I don’t really want to be running, you know.”

            Edward smirked, “well, if you know a good place for us to hide, I’m up for that as well.”

            Akira looked back over his shoulder, he honestly didn’t want to deal with the cops right now. They always were gossiping about people around here and if they had reason to talk about Akira... His boss didn’t know about him and he wanted to keep it that way. The cops for the most part left him alone unless they thought he was working and with Edward with him, they were definitely going to think he was working. “Yeah, come on,” he said and took the lead.

            The route he had them take was very convoluted. Too many twists and turns to count, but on the plus side he lost the cops, and they were soon at his apartment and he had let Edward into his home. Akira moved over to his couch and laid down on it trying to catch his breath from running so much.

            Edward had moved into the room and sat down on a chair that faced the couch, “nice place,” he said, the run not seeming to have phased him even a bit.

            Akira looked over and frowned “How the heck can a smoker be a good runner?” he asked.

            Edward shrugged “I run a lot and before you ask, no, not from the police. How can you be such a bad runner?”

            Akira closed his eyes and sighed, “I’m not very good at running so what? I got you away from the cops like you wanted, didn’t I?” he asked.