After nearly two weeks of waiting and scotch tape poured over his earlobes, the human wounds had almost completely healed. Finally, it was time for an outfit change. Even if "outfit" only meant the addition of the new earrings his daughter had given him.
With a few painful hisses and curses, Vincent finally succeeded in his mission. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, his blue eyes shifting from the golden gleam of the jewelry to the small wrinkles on his face that were deepening day by day.
His daughter was growing up, life was moving on, the years were passing, and he was getting older and older.
And then, without really meaning to, his attention shifted back to the earrings. Not the gold ones Rory had given him, but the dull silver ones he had been wearing for a long time, for many years now.
His mind clouded over for a few seconds, thinking back to the old days, when he was a young thief, running carefree through the abandoned streets of Waterdeep. All the times he nearly got caught by the royal guards; that incredible feeling of fear and happiness that mingled every time he managed to escape with some small loot.
And the best part of that life wasn't the adrenaline rush or the gold he managed to bring home, but the company he'd have on his adventures.
He didn't remember how or when, but one day that boy with auburn hair and an Irish accent had burst into his life, bringing a little joy into his gray world.
What had brought them together, beyond the fact that they were two young fugitives, was that they shared a bond that only humans could feel.
In the midst of poverty, he had found a brother.
But despite that good fortune, as a young man, Vincent Blount couldn't silence his thousand questions.
"Have you really never wondered how you ended up here? Where is your family? Or... if they're..."
"Dead? Don't care," his young companion replied, opening a beer. "All I know is I've always looked after myself, ever since I can remember. And if they're still out there, well... that's their bloody problem, not mine."
His friend smiled slyly before taking a sip. Vincent remembered everything as if it had only been a day, and he also remembered the answer he'd given him.
"I... I'm sure I have a brother. My only memory, before coming to this town, is that."
"And where's he now, Vinc, eh?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be here talking to you about it, Roderick. What do you think?"
"Fair point," he replied. "So now the question now is: did you leave him, or did he leave you?"
Vincent still remembered very well the sense of anger and regret he'd felt that night.
"I don't know. Maybe both... Or neither. Maybe it wasn't even our decision."
"So it's Mam an' Dad's fault?" And a laugh escaped his chest. "That's why families are fucken' mess."
"Maybe we were the unlucky ones, who had shitty parents that didn't want us. Not everyone is like that, I don't think so..."
And as his friend sat down next to him and joined in the drink, the redhead gave him a surprised smile. "Eyes like ice an' a soft heart... God, Vinc, girls would be linin' up for ya, if only you had a few quid in the pockets too—"
"Shut up." The younger boy, who had short, dark hair back then, without the gray that made him look even older, laughed and tossed him the cap he'd just unscrewed from his beer.
It was moments like those, sitting in front of the fireplace with a drink in hand, that Vincent truly felt at home.
"You know, this might sound cheesy, but... Sometimes family is the one ya choose, not the one you come from."
Vincent snorted a laugh. "No cheesier than when we stole the matching earrings from that jewelry store down the street."
"It was a nice gesture, idiot. And anyway, I nicked them to pawn for some money. You're the one who suggested wearing them."
"I thought you wanted the line of girls in the back, too, Rory. So stop envying me."
"Sure..." Roderick snorted a laugh, both at the comment and at the nickname he'd given to Vincent on his first day. "Scouts like us don't get that kinda luxury. So let's settle for a couple of pints an' a roof over our heads."
And despite all those years, ever since that accident that had also taken away the brother he'd found along the way, Vincent still believed in family.
He believed it every time he looked in the mirror; every time his eyes lingered on his silver earrings, and now on his gold ones.
(hope that I used Irish slangs and accent properly. Sorry if it's not perfect)
