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]

[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.]

[lil_eggplant]

[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?

[leggie]

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.]

[lil_eggplant]

[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?

[leggie]

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.]

[lil_eggplant]

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!

[leggie]

[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?

[lil_eggplant]

[Well, that cuts through Sanji's panic, though the look the young lord gives him is nothing short of baffled. Jae-Ha can't be serious. He was speaking clearly, was he not?]

It means I eat with my family on the first floor. I don't think anyone important's gonna come... [Mmmrr, but that doesn't settle his expression. What a waste of a good dinner, if he can't spend it with Jae-Ha. Still irritable, the boy paces in small circles beside the bed]

Maybe I can pretend I'm sick. Father won't care... but Ichiji and Niji are gonna bug us later. [He pauses, looking at Jae-Ha for a brief second before shaking his head in dismissal. No, he won't chance his brothers bothering his new friend]

Or I'll eat really fast. No one likes it when I'm there anyway... yeah, I'll do that!

[leggie]

Don't get in trouble just because I'm here. I won't go anywhere.

[He doesn't mind waiting. Being alone for even a few hours is nothing compared to what he's dealt with.] I can hide somewhere until you come back.

[lil_eggplant]

But you're already hiding in my room. [Semantics. Shush.] Just stay here. No one comes in here.

[Knowing he won't come up with a better plan no matter how long he stands here, Sanji smoothes his clothing into place with a heavy sigh and slump]

You can use anything you want, okay? [Toys, trinkets, ink and parchment... As far as Sanji's concerned, they all belong to Jae-Ha, too]

[leggie]

[Jae-Ha takes a slow look around the room. There's so much space and so many things, even with Sanji being so much lower than his siblings, that Jae-Ha doesn't know what he could possibly do with any of this. Especially alone. Still, he doesn't want to sound ungrateful.]

Thanks. [He guesses... He'll just end up sitting here, probably.] Hey, are you going to be okay down there?

[lil_eggplant]

It's just dinner. [So engrossed in his appearance that he misses Jae-Ha's uncertain look around the room, and Sanji is already hurrying for the door]

Father talks most of the time. [To his brothers, Sanji means. Never has he been so glad for it] Then we all go back to our rooms. I'll sneak you some food when no one's looking, too.

[leggie]

Oh.

[He's never had "dinner" like this. And even Sanji leaving makes him a little nervous that he might never see him again. But that's a silly worry, isn't it? He's here, with him. If anything happens, he can rush to his side with these legs that no one is holding him back from using.

Yes. He blinks out of his lost stare and nods firmly.]

I'll be here, then.

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji nods back at him, just as firm in his promise to return, and then with one last look, sneaks between the cracked space of the door before closing it.

It will be nearly an hour of silence. Outside in the halls, Jae-Ha might hear the occasional maid gossip, older women clicking their tongues as they go about their business, but eventually their voices will disappear into the quiet.

At least until there's a knock -- and the door whispering open.

It's not Sanji who peeks his head through, either.]

[leggie]

[He assumes the knock is Sanji at first and glances over, but when the face is different, Jae-Ha nearly falls off the bed he's been sitting patiently on. He hops off and stumbles backwards, ducking behind the side of it like that might reverse that she's just seen him.

No one was supposed to come in here! He thought he was safe!]

[lil_eggplant]

[Oh... how surprising. There is a person here. It'd only been a hunch of hers, and Reiju had tried to dismiss it as ridiculous - that even Sanji, with all his caring heart, wouldn't dare permit a stranger to enter their father's home.

It turns out she underestimates her brother in all the best and worst ways. As the green-haired boy throws himself behind the bed like a frog, she deftly slips inside and closes the door behind her.

And locks it.]

I already saw you. [The smile on her face is automatic, and not one of goodwill. More like a placeholder of sorts.]

Are you the one my brother wanted money for?

[leggie]

[Ah... He doesn't like that cornering question at all. Slowly, he stands, hands clutching at the side of Sanji's bed as he stares at this girl. He's nervous, but he masks it with a serious expression.]

Yes. [He's quick to continue.] But if you try to get him in trouble, I won't let you.

[Sanji might have said his sister was fine, but Jae-Ha is skeptical. If he thought his treatment from his brothers was normal, who knew what else he might think was fine.]

[lil_eggplant]

[Now that he's done hiding, Reiju notes the boy is probably around her age or a little older. He's certainly tall. And she doesn't immediately reply to what could be taken as a threat, either, instead letting her visible eyebrow climb higher up her forehead]

This is my house, you know. [The smile doesn't go anywhere, nor does she look all that concerned. Instead, she makes a show of smoothing down her robes before folding her hands behind her back, then watching Jae-Ha with slitted eyes] I belong here.

But if Father finds you, Sanji will be beaten. And you... [Her eyes flicker to the side] Likely killed.

[leggie]

[He doesn't like this. He doesn't like that he already messed up and feels in danger of messing up so much more. What if Sanji is already in trouble? What if he needs to check on him? Or what if doing that would get him caught by others, and cause the trouble?

His hands curl into fists at his sides.]

I won't let anything happen to him.

[lil_eggplant]

[And to that... she tilts her head. Some of the smile dies. She looks at Jae-Ha with sharp precision and perhaps contempt, but her tone remains even as she speaks]

Because he gave you clothes?

[leggie]

Because he's my friend.

[Jae-Ha answers firmly in response.] Why are you asking me all of this?

[lil_eggplant]

[Why is she indeed...

Rather than answer, the smile comes back full force. If it's honest or mocking is anyone's guess.]

Don't say I didn't warn you. [She angles a head toward the door] He's trying to bring you back food, though he's no good at sneaking.

[It's why her other brothers always find new places to torment him.]

[leggie]

[That makes his heart sink with worry, and he rushes to the locked door to try and listen. If he can unlock it and just peek... But he has to make sure he can't hear anyone, first. What if Sanji gets in trouble?]

Can't you tell him I don't need it if he's going to get in trouble?

[lil_eggplant]

[She'd laugh if she had an audience, but instead Reiju gives a short shake of her head, faintly pink hair swishing around her ears]

I'm not getting in trouble for you two. [This boy must be mad. She isn't a tattle, but neither does she feel like sticking her neck out, either.

... Though after a pause, she seems to relent in some way, and adds:] They'll just think he's hungry. No one will tell Father.

[leggie]

[He frowns, placing a hand against the door and glancing back to stare at this girl. Sanji liked her, he knows, but so far Jae-Ha doesn't like her at all.]

If you don't want to get in trouble, why are you still in here?