Leo was taking a long walk around the city that night. He was departing for the eastern region in the morning and he wanted to spend some alone time in the suburbs, marketplaces and alleyways he called home. This is where he grew up. He knew it would be a long time until he saw these places again, if at all.
Not all wars are fought in plain sight, especially the smaller ones. Children within the kingdom grew up in a different way to the rest of the world. Their worlds weren’t found in distant regions but between the city districts and their respective gangs. Sweeper Town to the north was ruled by boys and girls known as the sweeper kids; the docklands gang was full of juveniles from the southern side of the city, and the affluent district youths referred to themselves as ‘the collective’ but no one cared about them; they were just simply too easy to beat up.
For decades, scraps and fights took place in alleyways and on rooftops all over the city, almost like a rite of passage growing up. City guards were useless at taming it since it always happened at a moment's notice, but to an extent it helped that the kids toughened themselves up. On the other hand it didn’t help that everyone was scared of half the city children’s pickpocketing, brawling and structural damage.
Leo smiled looking at rooftops he'd once raced across, hurling stones and limes at his childhood rivals. There were several cracks and holes in some of the city walls which he recognised making himself all those years ago and he wondered what he'd be leaving behind of himself.
His family had scrapped together to get him some tough winter boots which he was breaking in over the familiar street cobbles. He stopped on a bridge over a canal watching the dark water swirl and race away from underneath him. It was quiet and still tonight; now and then a gentle breeze blew and he enjoyed the sensation caressing his face.
'So this is where you've been hiding,' said Ezra behind him.
Leo turned round to see her standing with her hand on her hip, her long silky blonde hair hung off her shoulders and he got lost for a moment in her deep cobalt blue eyes smiling back at him.
'I was thinking of pushing you in,' she laughed.
Leo broke off his stare. 'That sounds like something you would do.'
'Well it certainly wouldn't be the first time,' she replied. A small awkward silence glided over them both for a while.
'Are you all ready to go?' she asked.
Leo replied with a sigh, 'Yes, I think so, there's only so much you can prepare for.' She rested against the side of bridge with him and they both watched the moonlight slivers on the water flash in and out of existence.
'It's not fair,' she whined.
'What isn't fair?'
'You get to go see all these amazing places! I'm just stuck here helping my father at the docks for the rest of time.'
'But you get to not die,' Leo pointed out.
'Oh shut up. I'll die of boredom! And you're not going to die, Leo.' she said, locking eyes with him.
'How can you be so sure?' he said glumly and she punched him in the arm.
'Because,' she said. 'You can out-climb anything. You use to scale these walls like a spider! If you see an ice lion you just climb a tree or a mountain rock. Simple.'
'Thanks, I'll remember that,' Leo chuckled.
'Can't have you coming back missing limbs,' she said wagging a finger, shining her eyes at him.
A longer pause ensued between them. Leo dwelled on her words; he'd liked her the moment she first hurled stones at his face over these very rooftops, although back then he had to keep his admiration for one of the dockland gang girls a secret. She was still special to him now. If he was going to tell her how he felt it needed to be tonight, it needed to be now.
'What are you going to do?' asked Leo awkwardly trying to break the silence.
Ezra pursed her lips looking away. 'Well, just like I said, I'll keep helping out my father at the docks I guess.'
She was definitely thinking and not saying something, he thought, as yet another silence washed over them. Leo wanted to say more but couldn't seem to find the words. It was like his mind was too slippery to form a sentence. Momentarily trapped between his feelings for her and telling her aloud, he felt like a fool. He felt she must think him one if she felt the same way, but what would happen if he did and she didn't? Two years to dwell on a horrific mistake? Leo scolded himself for being such an indecisive coward, after all isn't courage what he was going to need in the dangers of the east? He wished he could read her mind; his was a cloud of questions.
'Look you,' said Ezra after an eternity. She pushed away from the side of the bridge and stood close with her face in his. 'Make me a promise okay?'
Leo stared back into her eyes. 'Anything.'
'Take care of yourself and come back alive.'
Leo smiled looking down briefly. 'I will,' he said.
'And bring me back an ice jewel!' she exclaimed wide-eyed.
Leo began to laugh.
'A pretty one,' she continued 'Shiny, not too big. I want to throw it in that bitch Sarah's face.'
'I will do my best.'
'No! Do better. In fact don't return here without one.' she said, playfully punching him in the chest.
'I promise I will find you an ice jewel,' said Leo hand on heart.
'You better,' she said, hesitantly she leant into him then gave him a kiss which landed just next to his lips. 'I'm going to miss you.'
Leo looked back into those hypnotising cobalt orbs. 'I'll miss you too.'
'Write me a letter or two,' she said, breaking away and Leo nodded. Smiling that brilliant smile of hers, she danced back up the street away from him.
'Let me know when you've got it,' she called out. 'Failing that a snow lion's head!'
Leo waved her away. The church clock nearby struck midnight. Best get some sleep before the sun rose, he thought. It was going to be the start of several long days. He began walking back home feeling warm inside, although less so about a snow lion's head.
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