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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[He's so happy at Sanji saying something as simple as he likes the color. He looks good? He's never heard something like that before ever. It's so strange he doesn't even know how to be embarrassed about it. He simply considers it, glancing down at the clothes and swaying a little to watch how light the cloth is.]

I like it, too. [Now he's with Sanji, and all memories of the village of the green dragon are gone. He's so glad.] So I get to see your room now?

[The boy nods an eager affirmative... only to lose some of his smile when he turns in the direction of his home with a frown. It's all very well and good to say he'll sneak Jae-Ha into the mansion without anyone seeing them, but now that the promised time has come and Sanji's gotta work out the specifics--]

No one can see you. [As if that wasn't already abundantly clear.] So we can't go over the bridge and through the front gates...

[That would be all well and good, except for the fact that there are guards stationed at every entrance. His father isn't stupid.]

My room's on the third floor, so... [He side-eyes Jae-Ha and tries his very best to keep his expression neutral instead of excited. It doesn't work] If we go through the window, I bet no one will see.

So all we have to do is get to your window?

[Easy. Jae-Ha sees that frown, but he's still determined to prove that he's here for Sanji, if need be. While not being seen, though...] Your guards won't be focusing on the skies. If you ride on my back, you can tell me how to get in, and I can make sure we're not seen.

I can ride on your back?

[Whipping his head back around, and all that pent-up excitement comes spilling out in a mess of words. He clenches his hands into fists, eyes wide]

I won't be too heavy?

[Ha -- as if that would be enough to stop Sanji from wanting to try. He mentions it in the same way he's expected to bow to strangers; they're just manners, the niceties to get out of the way before the fun stuff]

You won't weigh anything.

[He's so small. And now that he's eaten, he can handle this! Well, he's very tired so it's good that they're not going far, but he won't say that. He holds out his arms behind him like he's ready if Sanji wants to hop on.]

Here, try it.

[Don't have to tell him twice. +_+ Sanji scales Jae-Ha's back like a mountain, and ends with his arms thrown around the older boy's neck. Aaaah this is so exciting. It's hard staying still when all he wants to do is wiggle around in glee.]

Ready!

Hold on tight.

[That's all the warning Sanji will get before Jae-Ha jumps and the both of them soar into the air. He's not too worried, since he has a firm grip on Sanji's little legs, but it wouldn't be fun if he didn't hold on tight, probably!

He has a vague idea of where to go, so he jumps to avoid any looks and still give Sanji the experience of soaring.]

[Watching Jae-Ha jump into the sky and experiencing it are two very different things, and that first leap steals the little boy's breath as well as shoves his heart into his throat. Sorry about that reflexive tightening of his noodle arms around your neck, Jae-Ha. Once he's past the knee-jerk fear, he lets out a crow of delight and peeks down at the landscape, eyes widening at how far away it looks]

My room's that one! [He tries to whisper over the wind and the spray of hair that's getting all over his face, and Jae-Ha will see one of Sanji's fingers pointing to a half-opened window, all the way up on the third floor.] No one's gonna be in, not even the maids, so we can go in!

[Oh, that's so easy, then!]

Next time, I'll fly with you even more. [When he's not tired and they're not figuring this situation out together. Jae-Ha glances to the window and then hops over to it, easily soaring through and landing inside with a gentle tap of his right foot. From there, he ducks a little to let Sanji down, already stuck and amazed staring at this room.]

[Compared to the suites that his brothers have, Sanji's room might as well be a closet. It's well stocked, of course - the bed in particular is sizable and will easily accommodate Sanji and a guest, and the rest of the room is littered with hand-stitched rugs, tapestries, and pottery all deserving of Sanji's station - but the physical measurements will occasionally earn a side-eye from a new made who isn't used to the pecking order around here.

Not that Jae-Ha would notice. Not that Sanji cares. He jumps off his friend's back and makes a beeline for the door, and after grabbing the nearest desk, shoves it over the only entrance/exit besides the window. Once finished, he huffs and stands with his hands on his hips]

There! Since my brothers broke the lock on my door. [They don't like it when their punching bag isn't available 24/7, but Sanji is taking no chances. He gives a triumphant grin over his shoulder]

No one will get in like this.

[His brothers again. He didn't know doors could have locks, but it makes sense with how much else can be chained down. It sounds more like this would be something to keep them out, and that even Sanji's room isn't safe. That's going to change, Jae-Ha thinks, stepping quietly over to the bed.]

Then, can I... sleep here? [Is that really okay? He touches a hand to the top of the bed and glances over to Sanji. If he could sleep here with him every night, then that's even better to take care of him. He's already planning out every way he can help while keeping his promise.]

Yeah, you can. [Though it is said with some measure of disappointment. Jae-Ha's the only one who's tired right now, and upon the discovery of his newest friend, Sanji would rather talk and play and go flying some more.

... Mm. But Jae-Ha had mentioned he wanted a nap, didn't he? It will be a test of patience, Sanji decides, and promptly tries to push Jae-Ha into the pillows]

Go on! You can get in.

Wah!

[He wasn't expecting a push, so he falls straight forward in surprise before laughing. Taking one of the pillows from the bed, he swings it to throw at Sanji in revenge.]

You get in, too!

[Oof-- the pillow catches him by surprise and right across the face, nearly startling Sanji into tripping on his feet. And worse is the split-second of panic and fury, that he's being attacked (again) with no way of escape besides meagerly fighting against someone who is stronger than him.

-- But it's Jae-Ha, who is simply laughing. His brothers would laugh, too, but only because they'd pinned Sanji to the floor and were waiting to see how long it'd take for him to cry.

This is... okay. It's a friend thing.]

O-okay. [Scooting onto the bed himself, grinning a little]

[It probably helps that Jae-Ha reaches out like he wants to catch Sanji's hand in case he'll fall. Instead, he ends up grabbing it when he's in the bed, grinning at him like that, and Jae-Ha can't help but smile in return.

It's nice to be able to smile.]

Just wake me up if you need anything, okay? When I'm up, we can do whatever you want. So you should rest, too.

[Oh trust him, he will wake Jae-Ha up the moment his patience is spent - so a couple of hours from now, at best, and 30 minutes at the worst. But he gives Jae-Ha an enthusiastic nod while flopping on top of the sheets]

I will! And we can get more food when you wake up.

More?

[How could he ever eat more?? He ate so much. Jae-Ha curls up on his side, still loosely holding Sanji's hand, and as his head properly rests on the pillow, his eyes already get heavy. He hasn't had a proper night's sleep in so long, and even those "proper nights" were cold and lonely.

Now, next to someone else, he feels warm and hopeful. He doesn't need to wait for that king... and he wouldn't anyway.

If Sanji is answering that question, Jae-Ha has already dozed off halfway through it.]

[Sanji's only reply is a firm nod, of course Jae-Ha can have more, and as the other begins to drift off, Sanji repositions himself so he's sitting up, knees brought up to his chin and his stare unwavering. Like a guard dog, though he'd snarl at anyone who made the comparison. He's just watching and making sure Jae-Ha is comfortable, that he'll sleep alright...

(that he won't leave yet)

And it's at some point during this that his head nods against his left knee, and his vision begins to dim while his eyelids droop. Eventually, he's as dead asleep as Jae-Ha is, and probably won't stir until the other boy does]

[For the first time in memory, Jae-Ha has a wonderful night's rest. He's comfortable, he's warm, there's a gentle breathing beside him and he doesn't have any nightmares. His stomach is full, so hunger doesn't interrupt his dreams, and he wakes up naturally. It really is perfect.

That's why even when he blinks his eyes open to see Sanji there, sleeping in his own strange way, he doesn't move any further. It's nice, like this, and it's still hard to believe that this is real. But here they are, on this large bed in this even larger house, and Jae-Ha is now rested and ready to learn about everything.

Eventually, he slides a hand over to poke at Sanji's leg.]

[For all the luxuries his title affords, Sanji doesn't get to sleep in often. There's always training, or an early breakfast, or standing at attention when a politician visits so Father can show off his (three favorite) sons.

So there's not much space between Jae-Ha's poke and Sanji's eyes fluttering open. He squints, eyelids still heavy, but a smile breaks through and he sits up a little straighter]

Hey. Did you sleep okay?

I slept better than ever before!

[Ah... He's so indebted to him. Jae-Ha shifts quickly to sit up, and then with just as much haste, he shifts on his knees to bow completely with his whole body. He's nearly flat against the bed like this, palms in front of him and face in the sheets.]

Thank you for everything. [I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll stay by your side. Thoughts like that can't be voiced, for worry of upsetting Sanji again.]

[He expects Jae-Ha to leap off the bed with that kind of speed, but instead, the other boy bows to him like no one has ever bothered to before, and Sanji feels his mouth hang in astonishment before he had the mind to shut it.

Half-assed bows? Sure, he gets those everyday, from servants and maids who fear he might tattle otherwise. But nothing like a full body bow, as if Sanji has actual power. He flushes a little and reaches over, patting Jae-Ha on the head]

You don't have to do that. We're friends, right? [Please stop, he feels weird watching you bow. ]

Oh-- and we gotta get you more food. [Stretching his feet and arms] Are you hungry?

Y-yes. [They're friends, of course, and he lifts his head quickly to confirm that. He blinks in surprise at the mention of food again and remembers. It's been hours, a long time, but the question has him surprised.]

Um, I don't know. You gave me a lot earlier... [He's not starving? But he could definitely eat more. Is he supposed to say he's hungry? Is that rude? He doesn't want to take too much food.]

Oh-- so you're not hungry.

[Listen, Sanji doesn't speak the language of the confused poor. Either a person is hungry, or they're not, and judging by Jae-Ha's reply, all signs point to a negative]

Lemme know when you are. I gotta sneak into the ki--

[And it's here that he stops speaking entirely, eyes going wide, before he is a tornado of movement and not-lordly cursing]

I forgot, I gotta go to dinner later!

[Oh... Well, he'll just go with that, and Sanji can discover the language of the poor once Jae-Ha's stomach rumbles later. For now, he simply curls some of his hair behind his ear and glances at the boy as he begins to panic.]

Dinner? What do you mean, "go to" dinner?

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