“Good Morning.” He heard before he could focus his eyes for long enough to see who was greeting him, he felt someone passing next to him and heavy steps of boots rumbling onto the wooden floors.

“Whaaa..,” It was the only thing Crow managed to muster along with a yawn, he shook his head feeling immediately more alert and could finally see his house ‘guest’.

Looking at him with a frown on his face and a slight glare was Shinji Weber.

“Can I help you?” He asked still trying to figure out what could this guy possibly want from him now, they had both participated in a raid of a warehouse full of supplies and after he they had managed to avoid security he had been ‘volunteering’ Crow into more heists.

Well that was over now.

“There’s a new shipment of bottled water expected to arrive tonight and we need-”

“As tempting as that sounds I’m going to have to pass on that one…” He purposefully paused to see his expression sour again before adding: “…And pretty much any other job in the foreseeable future.”

Seeing his surprised expression was reward enough so he turned his back on him and went to serve himself a glass of water, he gave a long chug of it before looking again and Shinji was now standing a mere foot from him.

“I’m sorry do you need me to show you the way out or something?” He said after blinking at him, his arms crossed and face back to looking down at him for reasons different of him being shorter, rather than meet his eyes – which know he noticed where a nice shade of green, but it was not the moment to fixate on that or that his jawline complemented well with the shape of his nose – he decided to avoid looking at him looking at disinterested as possible.

And after he realized that Crow was not easily intimidated he seemed to drop some of his hostility, his shoulders sagged a little and his expression had lost part of his edge.

“Can I ask why?” He simply asked his arms now on his hips, looking as non-committal as possible… perhaps he has misjudged Shinji.

“There are some… special circumstances I won’t elaborate on, because frankly we’re barely know each other and is none of your business, but enough said that I cannot longer risk to be sent to jail on weekly basis.” Crow explained while he got out the milk and some bowls from below the sink along with the cereal box.

He shook it and nodded, it seemed like there would be enough for today’s breakfast.

“And I suppose these ‘special circumstances’ came with a solution for where you’ll get provisions, clean water and the likes of it?” He asked looking away from the bowl he was serving himself.

“I’ll get a job.” He said munching on his bowl of cereal. “Big companies are always hiring messengers and delivery guys.”

“You’ll work for the Tops?” Shinji asked, and Crow noticed how he kept stealing glances at his bowl and how his hand was drumming on his side.

“You said so yourself, I’m gonna need the provisions, and only they pay enough for the amount I’ll need.” He said shrugging, Shinji’s jaw tightened but he seemed intent on not looking at him.

“I don’t follow.” He asked, his boot tapping on the floor, his hands got sneaked into his back pockets and produced a metallic rectangular thing.

“You don’t need to, and I think you already over welcomed your stay.” He said glancing at the door with his spoon, and when he saw the packet of cigarettes coming up from his other pocket he grabbed his hand and glared at him: “I’m not a stickler for rules, but one of the few of them is: No smoking in the house.”

“You sure don’t seem that worried for fumes last week.” He said gripping the lighter tighter and refusing to hand it to Crow.

“I’ve breathed and tasted worse things than smoke and your breath mixed but this isn’t about me.”  Shinji looked like he wanted to protest a little more but then there was a sudden ruckus coming from the back of the house.

“Morning!” “Morning!” “Morning!” And with those repeated words, three small figures hurried into the main room grabbing each one of the bowl and about to serve their breakfasts.

“Oi!!!!” He yelled succeeding in calling the attention as they froze in spot. “You all seem very eager to have your fill, and I don’t blame you but what do we do before eating?”

Tanner and Tomas looked between each other puzzled while Amanda looked too sleepy to think at the moment.

“You just woke up, so go wash you faces and your hands, then you can have breakfast.” He said his face cradling on his free hand.

“Okay!” They all three said at the same time and almost pushes each other out of the way to get to the sink.

“Tanner! Stop splashing!”

“Amanda you have drool on you face.”

It was a work in progress, Crow thought, at least now they didn’t argue with him over basic hygiene.

“So, as you can see my hands are kinda full at the moment.” Crow said when he felt the hand that was gripping the lighter drop, when he sneaked a look at Shinji he had to force himself not to laugh because of the expression on his face, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing or even a little sacred.

“I… sorry, this isn’t… of all the things…” Watching him squirm on spot was even better and he was now looking at Crow as he didn’t know him and pocketed the lighter. “… I’ll look for someone else.” He said moving on the opposite side of the table and making his way through the door.

“Hey Mister! Aren’t you staying for breakfast?” Amanda asked when Shinji’s hand was already on the doorknob, he didn’t answer but he made no movement to leave either.

“No, thank you, but I’ve already eaten-” Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the rather loud sound of his belly, and almost immediately there was a complete shift of his demeanor.

Crow understood, who could play the tough guy act after such thing? He also understood now his insistence at having a smoke before, along with other things…

“Stay, for now anyway.” He said sparing him the embarrassment of an excuse and got out another bowl, while kids were starting to eat already, whatever semblance of resistance Shinji had, seemed to have melted away with the sight of food, as took the bowl Crow handed him. “Wasn’t going to say anything but also look like shit, as if you had not slept well in days… do you have a place to crash?”

“…” His reluctance to answer of look at him gave him the answer.

“If you need a place to sleep one of these days, you can take the couch, as long as you don’t do you-know-what or discuss about you-know-which matters.” He said with a bit of a smirk. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

“I won’t… you don’t have to worry… about anything.” Shinji said after having another spoonful and looked at him in his earnest.