Darker London-Uncover what is underneath...

Malachy's personal belongings had been returned to him, and he had been sent out into the cold world once again, feeling full and with the memory of warmth filling his mind. The memory of warmth won't keep one warm for long, however, and by the time he reached the abandoned building he had Ardal had been squatting in, his teeth were chattering.

And Ardal was nowhere to be seen.

( The Beginning of Goodbye )

Dublin was full of old buildings, most of which had some sort of vent at the bottom because all the heat generated in the course of the day had to go somewhere.Most of the vents opened up onto the street, however, and they did people like Mal and Ardal very little good. Ardal was a reported run away and if he was picked up by the cops, they would find out who he was and he would be taken right back home to Whitehead. Even if Mal had begun to think that maybe that wasn't such a bad idea for Ardal, Ardal clearly didn't want it.

( Warmth )

Finding the tumbledown house that they were seeking temporary shelter in empty didn't worry Mal O'Reilly at first. It was common for Mal and Ardal Quinn to split up when money issues were dire and they figured they would fare better by covering more ground. Mal didn't like taking money for nothing, but Ardal wasn't above asking for it, so he often went and spare-changed people while Mal found somewhere to play. And Ardal excelled at getting people's sympathy too. Something to do with his baby face. When Ardal wasn't in the house when Mal arrived, Mal simply figured he was having a productive day. He certainly hoped so...

( Unfreeze my heart )

"You're acting funny." Ardal Quinn announced into the darkness in the vague direction of his boyfriend, Malachy. The abandoned warehouse they were staying in now wasn't exactly well-lit. Mal stepped into the dim light streaming in through the window and he raised his eyebrows at Ardal.

( Hopeless )

In the end, it was Mal who had been right about the wisdom of eating the crisps right then and there. The blizzard hadn't let up for days, and even when it finally did it was far too cold outside to be walking around. Mal and Ardal had spent the entire few days, huddled up in their sleeping roll, keeping as close together as possible. Mal couldn't stand the fact that Ardal was shivering up against him, sounding quite like he was in terrific anguish. Nothing made Mal ache more than Ardal's pain.

( The list of Evil Blonds grows ever longer... )

The belief that if you show kindness to a homeless person, they'll try to get more out of you was proving to be correct in the instance of Malachy O'Reilly. He, however, wasn't trying to take advantage of the kindness Caitlin had shown him when she'd bought him a meal out of nowhere. He was a 16-year-old kid who'd been kicked out of home. What else was he supposed to do? So he returned to the cafe where a woman named Caitlin had bought him the world's best pancakes and he kept returning for a week. He never saw her again, however. And the cafe's manager was starting to get annoyed by his constant presence there.

( This was supposed to have Marilyn and a THING! but it got too long, so the thing will happen next time! )

Malachy O'Reilly was staring at the world's most perfect pancakes. They were so close to him, only separated by a three feet and a window, and they were absolutely covered in a mountain of vanilla ice cream and the freshest berries you could possibly have found. A little puddle of maple syrup rested in a glass bowl on the side of it all, just begging to be poured all over the top of everything else. The concoction looked so perfect, Mal had nearly cried the moment it had arrived at the man's table.

( Pancake Lessons )

They had it down to an exact science, this covert relationship of theirs.

( Be my love )

Ardal was released from the hospital on Friday, and though Malachy was no longer allowed to visit Ardal there, seeing as how he had locked the Quinns from their son's hospital room just so he could have the chance to talk to Ardal; that didn't mean he wasn't waiting in Ardal's room shaking with a nervous and happy energy. When Ardal entered, hopping about awkwardly on the crutches he wasn't quite adept at using yet, he smiled in gleeful surprise. "Mal!"

( Secrets )

Ardal was missing.

( Finding Ardal )