Title: Perdu et Trouvé (Lost and Found)

Chapter One: Émotions Inattendues (Unexpected Emotions)

Author: Dai (Duh.)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Johnny and Squee/Todd belong to Jhonen Vasquez. The lucky bitka. I do own this storyline, though. I make no money off of it.

Warnings: Implied Nny/Squee

Notes: Beta-ed by the lovely Katie (elendraug) italicsShmee talking to Squee/Todd

His journal slipped from his fingers, falling silently onto the grass beside his feet. "...Nny?"

The soft golden glow of artificial light flooded the sidewalk as the street lamps buzzed on.

An odd, but familiar smile crept upon his old next-door neighbor's face. Todd couldn't help but feel frightened again as memories of when he was younger, lying in bed and listening to the screaming coming from next door, filled his head.

Todd flinched as the man's hand slowly lifted up, fingers hovering for a moment near his cheek before they were lowered again.

Nny spoke again. "You look so different."

Todd gulped and nodded. "It has been eight years... since you left."

Johnny looked sideways for a moment, running his hand through his hair, which was sticking up at odd angles in short spikes. "Eight years..."

"I, uhm, assume you haven't been keeping track of the time?"

Nny looked back at him, a blank expression on his moonlit face. "Not very well."

Todd nodded. "I see. Well, I'm fifteen now... Are you... back to stay?"

That smile returned. "For as long as I can."

An odd feeling crept up upon him, similar to that of having small, winged things in one's stomach. "I'm... Uhm, well... I'm glad. I wasn't... expecting you. I was afraid you weren't going to come back."

Johnny's unnaturally pale face lit up with sudden curiosity. "Afraid I wasn't going to come back?" He repeated. "Why?"

That is the question, isn't it... "Well, I... To... To tell you the truth, you... Well, you're one of the only people who ever really showed me any form of kindness and... Well, I missed that. I also miss having someone to talk to."

Hey now.. You've got me, haven't you? Todd continued to ignore the stuffed bear.

"I see." Nny glanced down to the fallen notebook and quickly retrieved it. "What's this?" He ran his thin digits across the green surface, touching the cursive black 'S' in the corner and the purple strip at the bottom.

"It's my notebook. I write and sometimes draw in it." Todd crossed his arms over his chest, holding Shmee between them.

Nny looked intrigued. "You draw?" He opened the notebook and flipped through the pages, stopping at one in particular.

"I did that one a while back..." Todd blushed. What's with the blushing?

The page had small pen doodles all over it, but in the center was a rather detailed drawing of a crouching Nny at his windowsill, eyes slightly glowing.

There was a moment of silence before Johnny spoke. "It's... It's very good." He stared at it, his facial expression reminding Todd of the way psychics looked when they tried to bend a spoon with their mind. You watch too much TV.

The normally peaceful sounds of crickets chirping suddenly made Todd feel as if thousands of tiny people were mocking them. "I think I should go inside now... I'm... not fond of being out after dark."

Nny nodded slowly and handed the notebook back to him. "Then, I'll be at your window... before you go to sleep. Okay?"

That odd fluttery stomach feeling came over him again and Todd smiled, though still quite nervous. You're always nervous. "All right."

For what seemed like hours neither of them left. They both stood rooted to the spot, staring at one another until Nny finally moved.

He lifted his hand up again, the tips of his fingers barely touching the curve of Todd's right cheek. "Different..."

Todd didn't flinch back this time. He watched, eyes unblinking, as Nny traced his fingers over the sides of his face. He spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I missed you." Don't tell him that! He'll hurt you!

That familiar smile returned to Johnny's face. "Yes..." He took his fingers away and put his hands on Todd's shoulders, turning him around. "Go now."

He looked back at Nny once, and then ran up the driveway to his front door.

You're so naïve.