it's a long way forward

[leggie]

[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?]

Comments

[leggie]

Incense?

[He knows what soap is, of course. There were some times when he got baths. But incense? He's not so familiar with any sort of scented incense. He blinks a little more wide-eyed than usual, thinking.] The creek... No one will go there, right?

[lil_eggplant]

Yeah! So you can take a bath.

The incense helps you smell nice. [Or that's how it's done at his home. Unscented soap followed by scented incense; rich folk are pretty wasteful, but it's the only method the boy is familiar with]

After that, you can put on your clothes -- oh! AndI'll show you my room, too.

[leggie]

You'll show me how to use it, right? I don't want to smell bad in your room.

[He won't feel worthy. If this can all go away... Then it will be like that village goes away too, right? But there's one more thing that he's missing, and as he thinks, he reaches up to touch the band holding his hair back.]

Maybe I should have something else to tie my hair, too. This is dirty and doesn't look nice like everything else here does.

[lil_eggplant]

Oh yeah! [Sanji, in his perpetual short-hairedness, hadn't considered replacing Jae-Ha's hair band. He chews at his bottom lip and tilts his head, racking his brain for a solution]

... I don't know where they sell those, but maybe a ribbon? [Is that too girly?]

[leggie]

A ribbon sounds nice.

[It sounds... soft. Elegant. Pretty. He likes all of those things, and as his fingers continue to touch at his own dirty hair, he likes the idea more and more. Maybe he can even tie it in a bow. Then he wouldn't look scary, right?]

[lil_eggplant]

[Well, as long as Jae-Ha approves of the idea, Sanji won't care about the specifics. The longer he ponders, the longer he ends up staring behind his shoulder at the clothing shop they just exited.]

... Maybe that guy has one. [Spar ribbon from some of his clothes. It makes sense to Sanji] I'm gonna check. Wait here, okay? I won't take long.

[leggie]

Okay.

[It feels a little strange, standing here in the middle of everything and not having to run. He still worries at every stare he gets, and wonders what else might come from something like friendship, but it's not a bad thing, really. It's... exciting.

He's finally free, and he's found somewhere. Somewhere that might work. Maybe once he takes a bath, people might even stop staring at him so much.]

[lil_eggplant]

[True to his word, Sanji is in and out of the clothing store in a flash, and he rushes to Jae-Ha's side with an excited glimmer all over his face. He proudly hands over his prize - a long orange ribbon, simply made but of delicate material.]

He said you could have it for free! [Probably because it was scrap material and thus has no inherent value, but it might as well be hidden treasure by the way Sanji talks it up] See? I think it'll look good on you!

[Which brings them back to Jae-Ha needing that bath. After his friend inspects the ribbon to his liking, Sanji shoos them to a nearby vendor's stall that sells soap by the bars, and then to a small incense shop, where the shop owner keeps side-glancing at Sanji, as if recognizing the blond boy...

But the person makes no mention of it and accepts payment of Sanji's purchases, and neither does Sanji seem to realize he's being stared at. He's too busy chattering at Jae-Ha, promising that they can come back later and try some of the street food when Jae-Ha's hungry again.]

Their dumplings are really good. I wanna try and make them later. [Goals for the future, yes. But for now, Sanji shoulders his share of the burdens and trots off in the direction of the creek] C'mon!

[leggie]

[I think it'll look good on you!

Just those simple words have Jae-Ha cradling the ribbon in his hands like it's a treasure. He doesn't want to dirty it, or wrinkle it, or ruin it at all. He hears the words that Sanji continues to speak, and walks with him towards the creek, but he's still stuck on this ribbon even as he does. He closes his hand around it gently and jogs to keep up with Sanji, falling into place at his side.

He does glance back as they leave, though. That man staring at Sanji— he'd definitely noticed that.]

I've never had a "dumpling" before. We only got food sometimes, when the elder would give food to... to the man watching me. The supply was low. Is it not low here?

[lil_eggplant]

I... guess not.

[It's not really a topic he's ever considered, honestly, but the notion of Jae-Ha only being given food "sometimes" settles uncomfortably in his head. Sanji frowns to himself]

You can eat whenever you want here. Just tell me if you're ever hungry and I'll get you something.

[leggie]

[He can cook, and keep him clean, and all of this? Jae-Ha wants to do something to give back to Sanji, and he still hasn't found out what. But the more he thinks on that staring from earlier, and the more he tries to think of things he's good at, the more his eyebrows furrow in frustration. He can only come up with one thing.

So, he turns suddenly as they're walking, still moving sideways so he can clench his hands into fists and shake them a little at Sanji.]

Then I'll be here to protect you! I would have died if it weren't for you. I couldn't keep going like I was.

[lil_eggplant]

[U-um.

Sanji isn't even doing anything that extreme in his mind. Yes, his father will be absolutely livid should he find any sign of Jae-Ha in his home, but he'll always find something to be livid about where Sanji is concerned.

But there isn't any hope or optimism in his expression, once the surprise dies down]

No you won't.

[leggie]

[Jae-Ha is confused by that reaction, ignoring the stabbing sensation in his chest as he places a hand over his own heart instead.]

What do you mean, I won't? I told you, I can kick better than anyone! I can even jump while carrying you. You're smaller than me, so it won't be hard at all.

[lil_eggplant]

Don't lie!

[He stops walking -- he can't keep walking, not when Jae-Ha keeps spouting what Sanji knows to be bullshit. Face contorting into anger, he leans forward and starts shouting]

I'm not stupid! No one does stuff like that!

[Reiju doesn't. His mother never tried. Two people he loves dearly, but they never came to his rescue, not once. Jae-Ha just doesn't get it yet]

A-and you promised not to let anyone see you! That means Ichiji and Niji, too!

[leggie]

[It hurts, to be yelled at like that, but it's a familiar thing. Jae-Ha's face falls back to neutral, and he drops his hand away from his chest after a moment of staring. He understands, suddenly. He thinks he does...]

I can kick someone from behind. [He says it calmly, then glances back in the direction of the creek.] Are Ichiji and Niji your brothers?

[lil_eggplant]

[He took it too far. As Jae-Ha's expression disappears back into that blank neutrality, Sanji flinches at his stupidity, plenty aware that the way he's acting is shameful.

It's not Jae-Ha's fault; the boy doesn't know how the world really works. He doesn't even know how to buy clothes. So of course something like this would be hard for him to understand.]

Yeah... And Yonji, too. [His younger brother, though it's in name only. Yonji finds time in his schedule to torment him like everyone else.]

[leggie]

[Now it makes sense. The first questions he'd asked, wondering if he had brothers. He dealt with this too? He, a kind boy who didn't deserve anything like this. He wasn't a monster at all. Whoever could hurt someone with such a kind heart— they were the monster.

He knows that anything he says aloud won't help Sanji now, and so he stays quiet. But he vows to himself that if anyone lays a hand on Sanji from now on, he won't let them get away with it. If possible, if he's ever close enough or can get close enough, he won't let it happen at all. And if it does, he'll make sure they regret it.

He reaches out to try and take one of Sanji's hands, if it's free enough. If not, he can free it up first by helping him carry stuff, too.]

That's worse than not having a family at all. Come on, I need your help getting clean. I can't reach my back all the way.

[lil_eggplant]

... Are you angry at me?

[He asks, voice subdued and timid, long after he allows Jae-Ha to take his hand and walks the rest of the short distance to the creek. His stare runs along the tufts of grass while pretends his throat isn't tight or that his eyes aren't burning.]

I didn't mean to yell.

[He's not like his brothers. He's not a bully. He isn't.]

[leggie]

I'm not angry.

[Jae-Ha says it quickly, squeezing Sanji's hand a little and looking to him.] I know what you're feeling. It doesn't make sense when someone does something different than what everyone else has done. You don't think it can happen.

That's why I trust you so much. I'll make it up to you, I promise.

[lil_eggplant]

[At the heart of it, Sanji is still only a very young child, one that glances at Jae-Ha and struggles to understand what he means by all of that. He doesn't succeed in the end. All he has is this heartfelt promise and the reassurance that he's been forgiven, and really, that's what he needs the most]

Okay.

[He squeezes Jae-Ha's hand and then drops it, along with all their other supplies. The effort it takes is obvious, but Sanji attempts to work up some of his previous excitement.]

The water's gonna be cold. [Sorry about that. But whatever, he wraps off the paper that covers the soap and holds it determined within his grasp] I'll wash your back quick, I promise.

[leggie]

[That actually gets him to smile, despite everything. He drops his clothes away slowly, and then after glancing left and right, unwraps his leg carefully enough to save the bandages.]

Don't worry, I'm used to it.

[Baths were always cold. With the bandages out of the way, he drops them to the side and walks calmly into the cold water of the creek. Look at him go, he's just fine with it... And it's much better like this than with his predecessor washing him. So, he dunks his whole head under the water right away.]

[lil_eggplant]

[For someone like Sanji, who steadfastly prefers his baths hot, Jae-Ha walking into the icy waters of the creek is a superpower. Just watching him dunk his head makes the younger boy shiver]

How do you do that... [BUH. Yeah he'll pass on that, forever. In any case, he waves the soap at Jae-Ha]

Here, you can wash everything else first. [They can get the back at the very end]

[leggie]

[For his first hot bath, he'll never get out. But for now, he seems to enjoy how startled Sanji is by it. He laughs, pulling the hairband out of his hair and throwing it aside. He doesn't need this dirty thing anymore.

Soaking, but not wanting to get out of the cold water yet (air will be the death of him), he reaches for the soap. Hand it over, or throw it, he'll get to washing!! Now, he can even take his time with it, making sure every single bit of himself is cleaned. He wants to make the most of it, in case something happens where he can't again for a while. If he's going to be hiding, it could be like that...

His hair is the hardest part, but Jae-Ha works with what he has. Eventually, he'll be as clean as he can manage alone, and then he'll move to sit on a rock so he's a little above the water, pulling his hair over his shoulder and waiting for Sanji.]

Okay, I'm r-ready! [Yeah, the air is much colder. Please hurry...]

[lil_eggplant]

[Hm... very belatedly, Sanji realizes they should've bought a towel for him to dry off with...

OH WELL. The younger boy rights out of his thoughts when Jae-Ha calls him over, then scrambles onto the rock himself. It's a little slippery and crowded, but he takes the bar of soap, tongue sticking out in concentration as he gets to scrubbing off the last patches of dirt clinging to his friend.

This close, it's like magic when he watches the clean skin emerge. He'd assumed Jae-Ha's skin tone was much darker, only to realize he's much paler underneath all those layers of dirt.]

You were really dirty... [Blunt at usual, but he doesn't mean anything by it. The dirt drains harmlessly upon the rocks and runs into the creek, and once Sanji is pleased with his handiwork--]

Okay! You can wash off.

[leggie]

[Even this feels nicer than when his predecessor had done it, even if he ignores the times when he got his head dunked under the water while being yelled at. He's growing fonder of Sanji by the minute, especially knowing that anyone could ever treat him poorly, and so he reminds himself to watch out for him.

Of course, he can only focus on that for a quick moment before he's rinsing off, and eventually he can step out of the creek. Arms fold over his chest as he begins to shiver violently, stepping over to stare at his old, dirty clothes.]

W-w-what should we d-do with t-these? [They really should have brought a towel.]