Burning Both Ends - Zippy's entire tale

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

((I'm tired of starting things and never finishing them, so from here all in, all my past and present stories are to be collaborated here and worked on endlessly to suit my desires. I hope you enjoy them.))

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He clutched his shoulder and slid back around the corner. "D*mn," he swore, and continued to slide until he sat on the ground. Blood oozed from the bullet hole in his jacket. He dropped his sub-machine gun and reached out with his other hand, popping off a few shots down the corridor with his pistol blindly. The gunfire stopped briefly. Charlie leaned his head back to rest against the wall.

Next to him, Fidget's remote simulacrum frowned and shook her head. "Why, Alec? Why don't they ever leave us alone?"

"The bad guy never gets to win," He grunted. Gunfire ripped across the floor, and tiny pieces of debris sprinkled lightly over his muddy dress shoes. He scowled and pulled his legs up to him in a fetal position, and wiped the grime off, revealing a faded white leather.

"You're not a villain, Alec!" The sim gripped his knee. "You're a victim!"

"Would you stop calling me that!" He snapped. Fidget's sim fell back with widened eyes full of tears.

"What?"

"Stop calling me Alec. I've been living a lie, I don't want to die with it."

"Then tell me your real name."

"I don't know anymore." His vision blurred, and he squeezed his shoulder tighter.

"Who are you?" Fidget's sim moved in front of him and grabbed both knees. "Alec? Alec!"

Who are you?

Who...

"Oi! Wake up." Lady slapped Charlie on the head. "Lazy brat."

"Hey, I'm sleepin' here, Sis." Charlie groaned and was rewarded with another slap on the noggin. He rolled over and promptly fell off the side of the bench.

"Fine, I guess you're not hungry." Lady swung something in front of Charlie's nose, and his eyes snapped open. His stomach rumbled loudly as he stretched and yawned. The aroma swirling around his nostrils, he climbed eagerly to his feet. Lady smiled and dangled a steaming chicken twice the size of his head over him. "Happy birthday, kiddo. You're in the double-digit world with the best of us, now."

"Wow!" Charlie grinned widely. "Where'd you get it, Lady?"

"Oh, let's just say that there was a transaction."

"You mean you traded fists for it?"

"Oh, you know me too well." Lady grinned and knelt down to Charlies eye level, presenting the chicken like a trophy. Charlie held out his hands, shaking with excitement, and she dumped it into his open palms. "Dig in," she said, but he was already gnashing his teeth through the skin.

The damp alleyway was their home. A damaged bench their bed. The moldy brick walls and rusted fire escapes their shelter. The trash and litter their furniture. It was a home that no living person should ever be forced to live in.

But it was home all the same.