Roman stood quietly as the bus slowly lurched its way from stop to stop. People jumping off and on and off again periodically as he chewed an unlit cigarette waiting patiently for his stop. His cell vibrated in his pocket but he already knew who it was. Like clockwork... Hide asking for cigarettes. He had to stop someplace anyway so there was most likely a corner store open late (or early) on the way. Once the soothing sound of screeching airbrakes irritated his eardrums one last time, he stopped about four blocks away from the apartment. Taking a quick detour to a nearby pet store often closed by now, Roman slipped around the back door and pulled out a tiny set of picks in his cargo pocket. 

A couple quick presses and a flick of the wrist made the picks give a satisfying audible "click" which echoed throughout the back alley. A few moments passed in which Roman quickly and quietly slipped in grabbing a small brid cage filled with a couple parakeets and a big brown floppy eared rabbit. Before slipping back out he left a 50$ bill on the counter cuddling the rabbit under his left arm and the bird cage in his right. Just when he managed to close the door behind him a ragged, foul smelling bum walked up to him with a cigarette in hand. 

"Hey buddy, got a light to spare?" The rhaspy voice stunk of booze and the all around aura of stench was repulsing but Roman set the bird cage down and pulled out a small zippo from his back pocket, lighting the mans cigarette. 

"Thanks buddy.... now, give me your wallet!" 

The bum reached into one of his many torn up pockets and pulled out a rather new looking switchblade. Without notice he lunged the knife towards Roman. Turning his body sideways he just barely missed Roman tearing his work shirt in the process. Instinctively taking his free hand and grabbing the mans wrist and squeezed. The bum screamed in pain as he felt the tiny fragile bones relocating. After buckling over from the pain Roman wrapped the mans arm around his own neck and slammed him into the nearby brick wall rendering him out cold. After a second to recompose himself he noticed a pack of cigatettes peeking out his shirt pocket. Giving a quick tug revealed an almost full pack in which Roman pocketed after throwing a few bucks on his unconcious body.

"Honey I'm home." Roman joked as he closed the paint peeled door behind him. 

Some were inside the kitchen while others were just waking up. Tossing the pack of cigs on the nearby end table across from hide while placing the cage full of birds near the kitchen counter. He sat down on one of the few metal chairs occupying the poorly furnished kitchen. The smell of whatever Hide was brewing was filling his senses like he snorted a handfull of potpouri. It wasn't bad, just eerily strong. 

"Can I have some?" A familiar voice wimpered.

Roman turned to look up at a nest of red hair that may or may not be a person. Leaning back on the cold metal chair slowly petting the big brown rabbit in his arms.

"Good morning sunshine, good to see you got your beauty sleep..."