[[Lol. I aim to please. xD]]

''Pax?'' Luka repeated, giving a small, barely audable laugh. ''That's a funny name. What does it mean?''

He gave another small laugh, before pointing at some unseen thing down the pathway. ''The lake's this way.'' He said as he reached down and grasped hold of Pax's hand. ''C'mon, I'll show you.'' With that, he started pulling the strange man along in the direction of the lake, oblivious to everyone around him.

To most, it would seem like a little boy playing in the park with his older brother, or something along those lines. No one would be suspicious that the little boy had only just met the man; after all, what kind of child would be perfectly happy to pull someone he didn't even know along with a smile on his face? They'd have to be a pretty lonesome child to do that. Besides, something about the man seemed to good for such low things, so the thought never even crossed the minds of most people.

[[LOLOLOL. That reminds me, though. I'm being a procrastinating loser. Because. I have this thing that I'm trying to work the kinks out of for Mr Tux to do. 'Cept it ain't going so well.

Butanyay. MrMonestary is MrMonestary because his dad is uber religious. His dad is also racist, so I made his second name 'Black' in Irish because I found it ironic. XD]]

Luka smiled again. 'Peace'. That was a nice thing to be named after, he decided. He knew of some people who were named after great war-heroes, or famous singers, relatives... 'Peace' seemed like the best thing to be named after.

''No, I think peace is a good thing to be named after. You seem pretty peaceful to me, anyway.'' He said, his eyes lighting up as he saw the wooden fence that bordered off the lake up ahead. It was a lovely lake, really; pristine blue waters for about forty feet, a little longer than it was wide, with snow white mute swans and a few ducks swimming on it's surface. There was a wooden fence around it, true, but it was only about four feet high and Luka knew from experience that it wasn't hard to climb over.

''C'mon, that's the lake right there!'' He tugged Pax's hand again, and started walking faster.

[[Asdfdf. Would a guy that has a hatred for the fighting between wolves have a bio-weapon type thingymajig which makes wolves freeze and listen to him? Kind of like the Yamei howl, but more... Nasty and forceful. o _ o

lso, I see what you mean. Once, this nun came to my primary school, giving a lecture how all were equal. She then tried to get everyone in the room to say the hail mary, one by one. When it came to my turn I was liek. ''... Am I supposed to be doing something?'' And she freaked out, so I told her I was Lakota-Wiccan, not Catholic, and she freaked again and was like, I was gonna rot in hell for a thousand years. I got bored and started pointing out loopholes in the bible. She... Kinda just left the room after that. I think her eye was twitching. xD]]

Luka smiled, pulling Pax over to the fence and pointing to the swans. ''Yeah, they're the most beautiful though, right?'' He said, smiling up at the strange person. ''They're mute swans. They aren't really mute, though, just not as loud as oher kinds of swans. They still hiss and grunt and stuff. I read in some old book once that, right before they die, they do a 'Swan Song'... They sing for the first and last time, and it's supposed to be incredible.''

He smiled again, a little more softly this time, and when he spoke it was a little more quietly than usual. ''I don't think I'd ever like to hear it, though.'' He said, voice so soft it was nearly inaudable.

[[Well, the not making much noise is true. And they do make a magnificent call, just before they die, but apparently the actual concept of the 'Swan Song' is seen as a myth just because the swans aren't technically mute. Minus technicalities, yeah, it's true. :c And Ty just has a knack for depressing people. o _ o]]

Luka wondered what Pax was laughing about, but brushed the thought aside. Maybe he just thought swan wings were funny. He himsef didn't, though. He just liked hearing it when they flapped their wings so fast it made a whirring sound.

Luka was quite happy himself to stand and watch the lake, since Pax wasn't saying anything. He looked back at him when he broke the silence, smiling at him. It wasn't often adults thanked him for anything.

''You're welcome.'' He said, looking down for a moment before bringing his gaze back up to the strange person. ''Thank you for being my friend.'' He said at last, his icy blue eyes staring directly at Pax's.

Luka smiled, turning his head to watch the lake again for a few minutes. He wondered what Pax was thinking, whether he liked having him as a friend or not. The little boy hoped he did, but there was really no telling with Pax.

He wondered if Pax was getting bored yet, and so tried to think of something else they could do that would mean he'd be happy and not bored. If he was bored, he might leave, and Luka suddenly, desperately didn't want that. Still, he couldn't really think of anything worthwhile to do, besides just talking.

''Pax, where are you from?'' He asked at last, looking back at him and tilting his head to the side slightly. ''I mean, you talk real different from anyone I've ever met before.''

Luka smiled. So, Pax didn't really like arguments either? That was good. The little boy didn't really want to think about getting in an argument with his new friend. He couldn't help but think how lucky Pax was, though. To be able to get away from it, able to leave. What Luka wouldn't give to be able to just leave when people at his home were having arguments...

Wiping those thoughts away, he realized he'd been asked a question. He considered it for a moment, unsure of how to answer. He didn't really know where he was from; his parents had never talked about their children's childhood, and Luka hadn't asked. He supposed he would have known if they'd moved house, though, and his house looked too old for them to not have lived there for a while, so he decided he'd been born in the place he still lived.

''Here, I guess.'' He murmured, wondering if his mother would care if he was very late back. Sometimes, she got mad at him for being late back, because she'd needed his help with something or something had gone wrong, and he hadn't been there. Shaking that thought aside, Luka decided he'd stay with his friend a little longer before going home.

Luka's eyes brightened, and a smile lit up his face. ''Okay, see you tomorrow, then.'' He said, waving a quick goodbye before running in the direction of his house. He had suddenly remembered that his father was coming home early that day, and he was much more strict in when the little boy had to be home than his mother was.

As a sudden thought occured to him, Luka ran back to Pax. He didn't think the man would lie, but he had to make him promise... just to make sure. ''D'you promise?'' He asked, out of breath from running off and back.

[[LOLOLOL. I love this guy so much right now. |D]]

Luka grinned; never before had he had an adult pinky swear something with him, and it made him trust Pax all the more. Luka twisted his own pinky finger around Pax's before releasing it, turning to go and running as fast as he could back to his house. The whole time, even though he was returning to a place he didn't want to be, he had a grin on his face.

When he reached his home, he opened the door as quietly as he could, hoping his father either wouldn't be home yet, or wouldn't hear. Glancing at the clock, Luka grinned. It was only five o'clock. Sure, he was late, but so long as his mother didn't mention that fact to his father when he got home, he would be fine. Running up the stairs to his room, he closed the door and sat down on his bed, before pulling out his favourite book and beginning to read.

~~~~~

''Luka? Where were you earlier?'' It was the voice of his father. Luka, his mother and his father were sat around the table, with his father at the head of the table and the boy to his right.
''Ah... Nowhere, dad.'' Luka replied, turning his head and forcing a smile to his father. The last time, the man'd been mad that 'his own flesh and blood didn't even have a smile for him'.
''What the hell are you grinning like an idiot for? Tch, I guess you are an idiot, I s'pose. And if you were nowhere, why were you so late?''
''I've was...'' Luka hesitated, wondering how much would be wise to tell his father. ''I've was at the park.''
''Who with?'' His father's voice was calm, and it worried the boy.
''Ah... No one.'' He replied, swallowing hard. His father almost always saw right through his lies, and he hoped he wouldn't now. Luka dreaded to think what he would do; he could smell the alcoho on the man's breath even from where he sat.
''No one? All alone?'' The boy mentally breathed a sigh of relief; so his father had bought it. That was good.
''Yeah.'' He said, smiling meekly still.
His father stood up, glaring down at the boy. ''Don't lie to me.''
''I... I'm not!'' Luka's eyes widened in shock; hadn't his father believed him?
''Liar!'' His father's voice was now outraged, and Luka cowered back into his chair as his father raised his fist.

[[Asdfdfg, sorry for late reply, been way too busy as of late. x _ x]]

The next morning, Luka awoke with the sunlight streaking in through his window and onto his face, signalling dawn. Standing up, he slipped on a pair of tracksuit bottoms, a random shirt, and a blue hoodie that was far to big, before padding silently over to his wardrobe mirror. Whereas the day before he had had light bruising below his eye, he now had a slightly swollen, full-on black eye, and he began thinking that it would be best to stay at home today to avoid questions.

That thought was banished, however, when he remembered Pax would be waiting for him. Taking a plaster off his desk, Luka carefully put it over a cut he had on his cheek that was still slightly sticky, greatful for the aid the mirror provided. That done, he went downstairs to get his breakfast, unable to contain his joy at seeing his friend that day, and grinning despite his bruises.

~~~~

After pulling on a pair of tattered runners, Luka slipped silently out of the front door, closing it softly behind him before running as fast as he could to the park. It was about twenty minutes from the park to his house when he walked, but Luka made it that day in about ten, something he was pleased with.

When he reached the black gate that led into the park, the little boy pushed it open and walked slowly in, suddenly nervous. What if Pax didn't show up? How long was he supposed to wait for him? What if Pax went to the wrong park, or the wrong part of the park?

Shaking these thoughts aside, Luka wandered down to the bench where he'd first seen Pax the day before, and watched the Autumn leaves drift down once more while he waited. Watching leaves was something he enjoyed, much to the amusement of his classmates.