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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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.]

It's a curse that I was born with it.

[He steps over the rest of the way, lifting a hand to swat away Sanji's pointing one lightly.] It doesn't hurt, it just makes me strong, and people don't like it. It's why they kept me chained up there all this time, until I got strong enough to get away for good.

How strong?

[Jae-Ha, you can't tell an 8-year-old that you're strong and then not show off the goods. The fact that the other boy isn't lying about his lack of pain has erased Sanji's concern, and he's gone back to being demanding.]

Let me see.

[He is going to pass out by pushing himself too hard at this rate, but he won't show any of it until it's too late, so this is how it must be.]

Okay, but keep it a secret. [He steps back, then jumps, just like that, from his right foot. He launches into the sky far above any trees, and then finally comes back down. Not the flashiest, but he's tired... and he doesn't want to kick a tree down into someone.]

[What.

Holy shit W H A T.]

-- You-- you can fly! [Jae-Ha isn't even on the ground yet when Sanji clamors around him with noise and enthusiasm, unable to hold still and having to twist his hands inside his robe to keep from reaching over and touching the other boy's leg.

That's straight-up magic, a level of physical prowess even his brothers can't boast.] Did you fly all the way here? Is that why you landed -- [A finger points in the direction of his mother's grave, except Sanji is so busy running off at the mouth that the gesture gets lost in the string of questions] How high can you go?

[Jae-Ha wasn't expecting that type of reaction. It's the first one of genuine excitement he's gotten, probably because this is the first kid he's run into. His eyes widen in clear surprise, even the one that can't open all the way, and he can only stare wordlessly as Sanji goes on. Even after the last question, there's a significant pause as Jae-Ha tries to process it all.]

Yeah. I kept jumping like that. And I can jump higher than buildings or trees! [His own excitement slips out even as his head feels light. He loves the feeling of flying. That's been the one thing he's enjoyed the past couple of days, even if thinking of it also made his heart hurt for Garou. Flying felt so freeing. He could go anywhere he wanted.

It would help a lot if that were more true. No one would take him. Except... maybe this boy?]

Up there, nothing is holding me down. I'm free.

[Oooh, so it's jumping instead of flying... whatever, same difference. Sanji won't detract points for coolness and grins at Jae-Ha's energetic response. He abandons all sense of tact by openly staring at Jae-Ha's leg now.]

I wish I could do that. [Flying, jumping, whatever would give him the freedom Jae-Ha speaks of. His eyes trace against the few scales he can see peeking out from atop the other kid's foot, and with a dimming smile, Sanji drops his stare to look at his own leg, completely covered by his pants and shoes.

A weak leg attached to a weak body, like his brothers always yell at him.]

Where are you gonna go? [Not right now, he hopes, because Sanji still doesn't want Jae-Ha to leave.]

You don't want something like this. People hate me for this stupid leg.

[Just bluntly saying that... But he lets Sanji stare at him, even if it makes him frown. He's been... mostly frowning this whole time, so.] I keep looking for someone to let me stay, but no one has yet.

[Hopeful again, he curls his fingers into the sash he's still holding, looking Sanji straight in the eye again.] Can I stay with you?

[Sanji isn't paying attention enough to recognize how clearly he displays anxiety; his fingers curls into little fists and he looks away, feeling guilty and bitter all at once.]

Father will throw you out if you get caught. [And that's after thoroughly punishing Jae-Ha for sneaking into the mansion. So his answer isn't a yes... but it's not a no, either, made all the more apparent when Sanji peeks at Jae-Ha through his bangs] And my brothers are jerks so you have to stay away from them.

... Reiju's okay. [straightening up some] My older sister. She won't tell on you.

[Neither would she lift a finger to help, bent on making sure no one hits her either, but Sanji discards the detail as he shifts out of his resigned disappointment and into a hopeful attitude.] And my bed is huge, so we can both fit on it.

[Jae-Ha is quiet through all of that, and slowly, he understands. This boy is nice, but his family won't accept him. He must realize that. Jae-Ha can realize it, too. So, he would bring misfortune to him, wouldn't he?

He brings one of his hands to his head, lightly pressing at his own forehead to test the heat and move bangs from his eyes as he thinks.]

I would get you in trouble, wouldn't I?

[It isn't that Jae-Ha's wrong, and briefly, the younger boy appears guilty again. Sanji being constantly on the cusp of punishment means he knows exactly what will make his father angry, and sneaking a street urchin into his bed will rank so high that he's trying not to think about it.

But that's not what bothers him the most. In his heart, Sanji thinks his mother would approve of him helping another person, which is all the justification he needs to make his decision - but what will happen if Jae-Ha is caught?]

I'm already in trouble. [Dismissive of that point, he glances at Jae-Ha again] But if they catch you, you have to run away.

[That's the deal. The moment they're caught, Jae-Ha runs and doesn't look back. It's the only way Sanji can think to help.]

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