teaism | it's a long way forward

it's a long way forward

[It's been days since he left that village behind, and he hasn't had nearly enough time to stop and rest. Every village or town he's run across has chased him off for falling out of the sky, too poor to offer any help of their own and too afraid to attempt to question his state. Desperately, he's kept his presence disguised, hiding from those other colored entities that were part of this destiny he wanted nothing to do with. He slept in trees for a couple hours at a time, moving again before too long when it no longer felt secure enough.

He was running from something he couldn't escape, but each time he tried to find somewhere to go, it wasn't right. Maybe his predecessor was right. Maybe there wasn't anyone who would take him like he is, green leg showing in the spot that his shoes don't cover. Maybe he was too much of a monster.

No. Determined, Jae-Ha urged himself forward despite that worry. No matter where he ended up, or if he had to live alone for the rest of his life, it was better than existing and waiting in that prison of a village. He wouldn't become like his predecessor. He wouldn't wait around to take it out on the next generation.

When he spots a blonde boy crouched near something in a clearing of the woods, Jae-Ha's chest tightens. This could be a chance, couldn't it? He was his age— younger, clearly, but not an adult like all of the ones that have chased him off. And better than that, he was alone. Maybe, just maybe, he could say something to reach him, to get some food other than the occasional bits of bread or fruit he's stolen from carts or nabbed from trees along the way.

His appearance comes in a flash, a green blur dropping out of the sky and right in front of Sanji. He's a mess in his dirtied robes, his face and body still badly beaten from a few days prior, his hair dirty and sticky even tied back, and heavy bags beneath his eyes from the lack of rest. When he drops down to a knee, both to temporarily hide the green of his right foot and to humble himself, it's more of a fall of pure exhaustion.

He doesn't bow his head like you should with a gesture like this, instead staring directly at Sanji with determined eyes.]

Please, let me stay with you, at least for a night. I'll do anything.

[It's about time for a desperate offer like this, isn't it?]

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[-- What.

Listen, it doesn't matter how many niceties Jae-Ha tries to cram in at the last second -- there's startling a boy who was hoping to be alone, and then there's falling out of the sky and scaring the living daylights out of him. Sanji thinks he can feel his soul trying to escape as he wheels backward, clamping a hand over his mouth to keep from screaming.

The seconds beat on, both boys caught in a deadlock, still enough for Jae-Ha to see how well-dressed this child is, how his lifestyle must leave him properly groomed and well-fed. He's allowed to stare until Sanji's expression careens from open shock to open anger. He points at Jae-Ha]

Hey! Don't stand there! [Too close to his mother's grave, it's-- it's disrespectful! And dangerous, he bets, as he tries to shoo Jae-Ha back a few paces, away from the mound and tombstone.] What if Father finds you here? You'll get in trouble!

-- And don't fall from trees like that, either, idiot! You'll break something. [How old is this kid? Apparently not old enough for common sense. Sanji ignores that there's no tree tall enough for Jae-Ha to have jumped from; he's too busy huffing in protest and wheeling through his own anxieties, that they'll both be found where they shouldn't be.]

[Instantly, things seem to go wrong. Jae-Ha reacts easily to Sanji's steps forward by standing quickly to his feet and taking steps backward himself, that determined look of his softening into something sadder. What if someone finds him— so he's unwanted here, as well.

But he's so tired, so hungry, so hurt, and no amount of will sent to his legs will let him jump away right now. Along with his bruised face and dirty clothes, a longer bit of chain still hangs from the cuff around one of his wrists. Cuffs he hasn't had the time to worry about removing.]

I didn't fall from a tree. [That's what he decides on, staring at Sanji, or straight through him. His right leg takes a step back again, the longer chain on his wrist jingling as he does.] Are you going to tell your father?

No.

[He says it much too quickly, and if Jae-Ha listens carefully, he'll note the thread of desperation weaved underneath the simple word. Sanji looks at the other boy with suspicion to cover up his nervousness.] You can't tell him, either.

[The son of a lord is supposed to have guards at his back no matter the hour, and Sanji can only imagine the look his father would give him if he knew that... mm. Well, Sanji just won't think about the details, he decides, and attempts to straighten to his full height.

What reason does he have to be nervous? This boy is obviously not a lord's son, or one of the city children. Even beggars on the street don't brag these kind of dirtied rags and bruises, and the chains earn a particularly confused stare as Sanji tries to work out what purpose they serve.]

You're really dirty. [Rather blunt, this one. His accidentally cruel observation doesn't stop him from trying to approach Jae-Ha for a closer look] Why is your face bleeding? [Dried blood, but it hasn't been washed, most likely, and Sanji wrinkles his nose] You're gonna get sick.

[As Sanji approaches again, Jae-Ha tenses up like he wants to step backwards or flee, but stays in place. This boy... was young, so even if he told someone else, Jae-Ha had time to run away, right? Even in this state, he could keep soaring away.

By telling himself that, it's easy to stay put and let Sanji look at him however he wants. He doesn't move, except to let his eyes follow him.]

I won't tell, I promise. [Maybe there is some hope yet. Still, he does raise that hand with the longer chain to touch his face, as if to check if he has a more fresh wound. Thankfully not.] I don't have anywhere to go.

M'not gonna hurt you!

[Those tensing shoulders are noticed immediately and subsequently frowned upon. He isn't like his brothers, okay? They would have mocked Jae-Ha's face and tried to corner him so as to add their own punches. Sanji only wants a closer glance, just because, and has to lean up on his tiptoes for it.

The other boy isn't that tall, but Sanji hasn't grown very much these past few years. Either way, it's something else to frown at.

... There's a river over there. [He points to his left, into the deeper parts of the forest.] I mean-- it's smaller than a river, kinda like a creek. No one goes to it.

... I bet you'd get lost. [Huffing again. He turns his back to Jae-Ha and begins the march.] C'mon.

[He hasn't forgotten the part about Jae-Ha having nowhere to go. He heard it, understands it (he thinks). Even the son of a lord will understand the concept of orphans, of young children that have no home to call their own. He glances behind him to make sure Jae-Ha's following, and his eyebrows furrow.

Of course he has nowhere to go. No family is gonna take him in with those weird chains on his arms and legs.]

[Before he can even get another word in, Sanji is marching off and Jae-Ha is left stunned before he follows along after him. After all of his soaring, even walking is a chore right now, and he struggles to keep up with even those tiny legs as they go.

A river... So maybe he can catch a fish, or drink from it. Those are the first things to come to mind rather than worrying about his appearance. Whether he's cleaned or not, he's still a monster.]

Why are you showing me if you want me gone?

Oi! I didn't say that.

[Dragging the emphasis out on that last word, and the next time Sanji looks over his shoulder, he frowns mightily.] You almost stepped on Mother's grave!

[Mother... He knows enough to know words like father and mother even if he's never thought of himself as having either. He's been under his predecessor's care for as long as he can remember, and he stares back over his shoulder while they walk, wondering what she must have meant to this person.

He can understand the disrespect, even without knowing manners and basics.]

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

[Hmph. Well... Jae-Ha should apologize, and apparently that's all that's needed for Sanji to let go of his slowly-budding grudge. The anger seeps out of his expression and he lets the older boy off with a warning - he should look where he steps next time, is all.

Their march to the river takes some time, and through it, Sanji doesn't say much. He's too busy glancing at Jae-Ha again and again, taking in details he had missed the first time: the tears in his dirty clothing, his green hair (a muddy-looking color, like pea soup, though that's probably because of the dirt), the bangs that swing in the opposite direction as Sanji's...

There are children who live in his father's mansion, most of which whom see to the chores, but Father has made clear that Sanji isn't to interact with any of them. Ever. It's beneath his station and his pride. Outside of his brothers and sister, this dirty, green-haired boy is the first child whose company Sanji has shared for this long.]

What's your name?

Edited 2017-02-28 07:41 (UTC)

Jae-Ha.

[Similarly, this is the first person Jae-Ha has spoken to near his age at all. The first person outside of his predecessor he's been able to share more than a couple of words with. Jae-Ha is very aware of that as they walk, curious but not wanting to ruin his chance at food and water before it's been given to him. He can take risks in commenting after he's fueled up enough to be able to run away.

But this question isn't a bad one, and so he tosses it right back.] What's yours?

Sanji.

[Should he mention his station, that Jae-Ha is roaming about lands that belong to the Vinsmokes? It's probably the smarter move, but the boy can't bring himself to do it -- in case the other doesn't like what he hears and tries to run away.

That wouldn't do; he's still too dirty]

Here, you can take this. [The creek finally in sight, Sanji fights with a sash hidden inside his tiny robes, colored a dark green and of fine quality. Arm outstretched, he gives it a shake in Jae-Ha's direction] Wipe your face, first.

[Still really bossy]

Sanji...

[He whispers the name back to himself, amazed again that he's finally able to meet someone. But then they're stopping, and he blinks out of his thoughts, reluctantly reaching to take that pretty cloth.]

With this? [Is that really okay? He gives Sanji another look, but if he's urged on or not told to stop, he'll take it to the water and scrub at his face. Even with the dirt gone, he's a bruised mess. His right eye is swollen so that he can open it, but not all the way, and the rest of his face has discoloration that varies. It's cleared up a lot since a couple of days ago, but it's still very bad.

His wrists still have cuts beneath the metal that's in the way, so it stings when water gets there, but Jae-Ha doesn't react to it. Cupping his hands into the water, he tries to take a sip, once his face is clean as instructed.]

I've got others back home so you can keep it.

[He debates over giving Jae-Ha another one, if he wants, to keep inside his robe should he need a clean sash later... Mm, but will it matter with dirty, sweat-soaked robes like that? What Jae-Ha needs is a new outfit, or at least someone to clean the clothes he has.

Humming thoughtfully to himself, Sanji crouches down and wraps his hands around his knees, watching the other boy with the now clean but bruised face. Unbidden:]

Do you have brothers, too?

[Brothers? Jae-Ha stops from his drinking, letting the rest of the water drop back down and curling his fingers into the soft cloth.]

I don't have anything like that. [He scrubs at his dirty hands, next, eyes focused down on them. But he's nervous with Sanji staring at him like that. Is he afraid? He's not acting like the others have. Is it his age, or something else?]

Why?

[Slowly, hesitating, the blond uncurls an arm from around his knees and points at Jae-Ha's face - at his right eye in particular, a bruise that's covered behind a curtain of green hair.]

Did the kids in your village do that? [Always back to children, because that's how Sanji defines cruelty. Neglect is the privilege of adults, while physical punishment comes from the youth. He looks at Jae-Ha with openly sympathetic eyes]

No.

[It's a simple answer, because Jae-Ha doesn't understand what Sanji is getting at. The kids in his village? He's only seen a couple, and always with a concerned parent guiding them away. It's been in the rare times he's broken free, only to be dragged back down.]

It was my... [While he doesn't see any need to hold back on how this happened, since it's all he knows, he does realize that simply stating he has a predecessor would be enough to raise too many questions that might get him kicked out.] The guy who watched me.

[He rests the sash very gently across a knee and then dips his hands in to steal another drink.]

... Why would he do that?

[It makes no sense, and Sanji's moment of concern is switched into incomprehension. He could understand if a child did that to Jae-Ha, because kids are jerks, but an adult hitting a kid? He has no template to draw from.

In fact, Sanji glances askance, looking at Jae-Ha with some measure of doubt. Not to call the other boy a liar but... well, maybe the guy who watched him wasn't that old, either. He guesses that could work.

It's during his side-eye that Sanji draws his stare farther down, grazing over the top of the boy's shoes. Just as dirty as the rest of him (Sanji's not gonna bother being surprised anymore), except--]

O-oi! [In a cloud of motion, Sanji jerks out of his crouch and lands on his backside, pointing wildly at the green scales that peek out of the shoe] What's that? Are you sick?

[Why would he do that? Jae-Ha can come up with a number of reasons, but he doesn't want to say anything to paint his predecessor in a bad light. Neither of them asked for this, and he couldn't even go to the skies one last time.

It's lucky that he doesn't have to answer, but it's unlucky that this is the reason why. Sanji startles backwards and Jae-Ha tenses again himself, quickly moving a hand to cover the green skin of his foot like that will help.]

I'm not sick! [He stands up, next, stumbling a few steps back and revealing that green foot again. But there's nowhere to hide it behind, nothing to do about it.] It's nothing!

Yeah it is!

[The normally quiet boy retreats and Sanji watches wide-eyed as the fear rebounds at him, but can't stop his mouth from running in protest. Jae-Ha's reaction only cements Sanji's suspicions, and he stumbles back to his feet]

Don't lie, you need medicine! [Like Mother did -- the thought freezes him like a statue, color draining from his cheeks. It stops his tirade mid-sentence and his voice chokes out a fear he didn't realize was buried in his chest]

If you don't, you're gonna-- [Is that why Jae-Ha got kicked out? Because he's sick and contagious. Sanji tries again, feebly] You have to get medicine so you don't die.

It isn't an illness, though!

[Jae-Ha yells again, despite his usual silence, body so tense that he's actually trembling a little. He wishes it were as easy as finding medicine.] I was born like this! It's a curse I can't get rid of. I ran away... I don't want to go back. I won't go back, so don't tell anyone!

[... Oh.

Sanji's expression morphs again: not of sympathy, not of confusion, but this time of dawning realization and understanding. There is not one kid, even a noble-born, who doesn't dream of escape at some point.

He just never thought he'd meet someone who'd actually do it]

I won't. [he doesn't have it in him to sound stung, so he stands there and feels his heartbeat slow.] M'not gonna.

[His eyes fall back on the strip of green he can still see from here, but finally, Sanji seems to have fallen back on manners instead of the subtle but engrained sense of entitlement. The boy stands quiet and doesn't approach]

[He's so tired.

Those words are a muted relief over the panic rising in his chest. There was shock at his foot, of course, and now he's a monster for sure. Now he'll question it until he figures it out... And if anyone else finds out, he'll be chased out or chained down. He doesn't want either.

His hunger and exhaustion is getting to him, and his vision feels like it's getting blurry as he stares strained at Sanji. He's just working himself up, which isn't helping himself at all. But he stays standing, raising that damp sash to his warm face to help cool it down and hide his own expression.]

Do you want me to leave now?

[A shrug at first, coupled with a childish pout aimed at the creek, Sanji watching the water slip over the rocks like clear silk. The other boy doesn't seem to like him all that much, and no matter how the rejection hurts, no matter that Sanji wants to call it rude, the young lord can't blame Jae-Ha. He probably looks like a bully to the other.

Sanji doesn't have the experience required to hide his disappointment, however. No sooner has he finished shrugging that he looks to Jae-Ha and quickly, earnestly shakes his head. No, he doesn't want Jae-Ha to leave yet.

With Mother gone... there's no one else for Sanji to talk to like this.]

Does it hurt? [The curse, he means.]

My leg?

[He assumes that's the topic they're still on, and he's confused for it. Sanji didn't want him to leave? Even after seeing it? Jae-Ha lowered the sash from his face, taking a testing step closer once more.]

No. Why would it hurt? It's just a leg. [He doesn't even assume the more reasonable question of if his wounds hurt, which he'd also answer no to. He's too used to it to feel anything right now.]

[The kid was raised in a shed, Sanji decides with a squint, and simultaneously can't blame him for running away while also judging him for his lack of understanding. Sanji was being super clear!]

You said it was a curse! [Pointing to Jae-Ha's leg] Aren't those supposed to hurt? [He's still equating "curse" with "sickness", tiny brain buzzing with confused semantics.]

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