Penniless and Shameless

"Why are you here?" Lucien asked without so much of a greeting.

If it were anyone else, Ronan would see it as an insolence. Since it was Lucien, this behavior was perfectly normal.

Ronan scrutinized Lucien from top to bottom. The latter was wearing a black long-sleeve sweater, a grey turtleneck shirt underneath, and long black pants to complete his selection of outfits. Ronan remembered that Lucien hated the color black. Did his taste change over the years?

"Fancy seeing you in black," Ronan commented.

Lucien cut him a sardonic smile.

"I am mourning my ruined morning."

It was early in the morning and Lucien did not even need a cup of coffee before he abused his opponent verbally. For once, Ronan did not get angry. He locked Lucien's chin between his thumb and index finger and leaned closer to him.

"Big words coming from someone who is half-dead from the fight two days ago."

Ronan released Lucien's chin before Lucien smacked his hand away.

Lucien clicked with his tongue. He decided that the best way to get rid of Ronan was by ignoring him, so he walked away in a hurry. Ronan chuckled and followed him casually. Lucien turned around after he reached a nearby bus station. He looked extremely displeased to see Ronan tailing him.

"Just how much longer do you plan to follow me around? Ronan, what do you want exactly?"

Ronan shrugged. "The road is not yours, the city is not yours. I have neither received complaints from the city council nor been banned from the area. I don't see why I cannot be here."

Lucien rolled with his eyes in annoyance. He turned around resolutely and decided to ignore his stalker completely.

There was a convenience store connected to an apothecary just a few hundred meters away from the bus station. Lucien went to get bandages and medicines from an aisle. Behind him, Ronan grabbed some drinks from a fridge.

Lucien turned his head slightly and wondered what he could do to get rid of Ronan. He did not know what Ronan was following him for, but he definitely did not want Ronan to follow him back to Blue Hill City and meet up with Kinnon Youngshaper. Nothing good could come out of that.

"Young Mr. Clearwater, it is too warm to wear such thick layers," the old man who worked as the cashier commented with a chuckle. Lucien gave him a polite smile. "I am feeling a little cold, Mr. Clarke. Maybe I am coming down with the flu."

The corners of the old man's mouth tugged downward. "Oh, that is not good."

He grabbed a bottle of vitamin C and added it to Lucien's stuff on the counter.

Lucien hastily spoke, "Mr. Clarke, I don't..."

"I shall hear no rejection, young Mr. Clearwater. Take this bottle and eat one tablet every day."

"At least let me pay for it..."

Mr. Clarke pressed his hand against Lucien's hand. "Just take it. Get well soon."

"... Thank you, Mr. Clarke."

Lucien turned around with the plastic bag dangling at his arm to leave, but Ronan caught his shoulder.

"Wait, Lucien."

Lucien wanted to tell him that he did not have to wait for anyone, but one look at Mr. Clarke and the other people who lined up behind Ronan put him to silence. He thus stood there with his arms crossed, waiting for Ronan to pay.

As an Alpha from a powerful pack, Ronan Silverback never had to buy anything on his own or pay for anything upfront. The can of carbonated drink that he wanted to buy only cost a dollar and eighty cents, but he did not even have a single cent in his pockets.

"Uh..."

Mr. Clarke raised his eyebrows at him. Ronan turned to look at Lucien.

"Lucien, can you lend me some money?"

"..."

He never knew that on top of enduring Ronan's annoying stalking activity, he also had to pay for Ronan's expenses.

"Oh, you are such a handsome man," an elder lady behind Ronan crooned. "I will pay for him, old man Clarke."

"Or I can do that," another lady said with a giggle. "You can take more if you want, young man. Don't be shy."

Ronan shot both women his most charming smile. Lucien's face darkened. This shameless man did not hesitate from taking advantage of gullible, elder women!

Lucien pushed a two-dollar note toward Mr. Clarke. "Keep the change, Mr. Clarke."

Then he walked out of the convenience store, rolling his eyes all the way.

"Thanks," Ronan said after catching up with Lucien outside of the store. The can opened with a fizzing sound and the man drank the whole can in one gulp. Ronan had a bad habit. He liked to drink carbonated drinks early in the morning before he even had breakfast.

It was the one thing that Lucien asked him to change seven years ago. He did when they were together. And then after the separation, he adopted the bad habit all over again.

Ronan smirked at Lucien over the soda can.

"I am hungry," he declared.

"Then go home," Lucien snapped.

"Don't want to. Feed me."

Lucien had a lot of curse words he wanted to spit at Ronan's face, but then his own stomach started to rumble. Lucien pressed against his stomach. To think about it, he did not eat anything the whole day yesterday and this morning.

Lucien looked around and found a breakfast stall nearby that was selling pancakes with all kinds of topping. Ronan raised an eyebrow at Lucien's choice for breakfast. He pulled at Lucien's shoulder to get him away from the pancake stall.

"Too oily," he commented.

Lucien furrowed his brows. "I happen to like oil. I want to eat pancakes. You go and eat whatever you like."

Ronan did not release his grip around Lucien's neck.

"Come with me. I will treat you."

"Ha!" Lucien scoffed. "With what money? Are you going to ask a few aunties to pay for your and my breakfast? Ronan Silverback, unlike you, I still have some self-respect."

Out of nowhere, a car stopped in front of Ronan and a stunned Lucien. Ronan opened the door and shoved Lucien into the car none-too-gently.

"Hey...!!!" Lucien shouted angrily.

Ronan climbed into the car after Lucien and calmly said, "Drive."