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]

[He's so furious that he actually turns to shoot another glare at Sanji's father. How can one person be like this? Even the man he hated the most, who beat him almost every day, who hated him and kept him chained down— even he had some kindness in him. But this guy...]

Shut up! [He's tired of this guy saying things to hurt Sanji. He needs to get him far away from here.] Nothing you can offer will ever be worth the price of Sanji! He's my friend!

[Ignoring whatever reaction comes after that, he ducks into the hole of the prison, holding the bars with one hand and reaching out for Sanji with the other. Come here, come out with him.]

Let's get out of here.

[lil_eggplant]

[Judge has kindness plenty - for those who have earned it. And to his mild disappointment, the boy he once called a son has stained this promising lad with his ideals.

Pity.]

Sanji. [He addresses the younger boy once he's crawled out of the cage, trailing behind Jae-Ha and caught in his shadow. The boy's eyes are brimming with tears and Judge narrows his own at the pathetic display] You've permission to leave. My men will not follow you... on one condition.

We will mourn the death of my third son tomorrow. [A son who no longer exists, says the heavy pause, and watching Sanji's expression seize up, Judge knows this thickheaded child finally gets it.] As such, you are not to associate with this family's name. Or to ever return. I only have three sons now, and no room for failures.

[And that is all. They're done, as promised. Judge doesn't wait to see if Sanji agrees to the terms, or to prolong a discussion. Judge has tried so many times already to improve Sanji, make him work hard and earn his place as a lord's son. If not for some misplaced responsibility as the boy's father, he would've had him killed instead of locked away. But no matter, this will work. Judge turns and signals his men to clear the hall; they'll disappear a few moments later.]

[leggie]

[He wants nothing more than to turn and kick that man in the back of the head, but he knows that turning away from Sanji right now was turning away from an opportunity. Instead, he pulls the boy through the prison bars and into a tight hug.]

You are not a failure! Who needs a family when this is what it is? I don't have one either. I don't have a last name either... so let's just be Sanji and Jae-Ha together, okay? We can go wherever you want! I can take us there, and you can keep cooking for me!

[He pulls back just enough to try and look at Sanji's face. He knows all of this attempting to make things light won't work, but... being serious won't help right now, either. He's just relieved he doesn't have to fight any more to get them out of here.] I'll protect you no matter what, and I need you to take care of me. I can't do this alone.

[lil_eggplant]

[His body feels cold. Even when Jae-Ha embraces him and tries to shield Sanji from his father's final words, they sink into his skin like permanent scars, stealing his ability to think or cry. The tears that manage to squeeze past his shock slide down his cheeks.

But he nods for Jae-Ha, first sluggish and then with added fever. He nods because he should, because of course he'll take care of his best friend -- because doesn't know what else to do.

I only have three sons now]

W-we can go wherever. [He parrots the words as best he can through his increasing hiccups, and doesn't fight the hug or the sudden river of tears]

[leggie]

[It breaks his heart to see him like this. He can protect Sanji from a lot, save him from situations, but he couldn't stop this. Hurt like this isn't something outside parties can prevent. All he can do is try to help. He knows that.

He slips out of the hug only to grab Sanji's hand again, tugging it gently to see if he'll walk with him.]

We can go wherever and do whatever. And we're gonna take your favorite thing from the kitchen, so come on.

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji follows; sorrow isn't enough reason to stop him from moving, and he grips Jae-Ha's hand like a lifeline, unable to see through the film of tears. He almost tells Jae-Ha that he doesn't want to go to the kitchen. If they must go somewhere, he wants to see Reiju, and-- and take her too, somehow. Or to tell her it's okay, he's sorry he couldn't meet her expectations either.

Just as quickly, he berates himself for the stupid thought. She doesn't want to get in trouble, remember?]

I wanna leave. [He doesn't have a sister anymore; it's the final thought before he breaks further, sobbing in earnest.] I wanna leave!

[Reiju won't be there in the kitchen. There's no point in staying at all.]

[leggie]

[He understands, he thinks, and so he changes the path straight for the door, squeezing Sanji's hand. Once they're just outside of the doors, he holds his arms out behind him, ready for Sanji to hop on.]

Hold onto me tight. We're going to leave.

[They only need each other, right now. He'll show him that, with time.]

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji reaches blindly, the first hand missing but the second one finding Jae-Ha's shoulder, and after that he buries his face to hide himself from the world, arms wrapped around the older boy's neck. It will be a long while before he stops crying.

Just take him away from here, Jae-Ha]

[leggie]

[He jumps with Sanji, far away from this place, higher than the trees, than the higher rooms, than everything else. The town will soon become distant below them, and there will only be the wind in their hair.

Jae-Ha lets Sanji cry, not interrupting him because he's not sure what to say. He doesn't know if being silent will really help, but he doesn't want to make it worse by speaking like he thinks he just did back in the mansion.

So, he'll just keep jumping. Even when he's tired, if Sanji is still crying, he'll keep jumping. Until he becomes too tired to keep going or Sanji tells him to stop.]

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji won't tell him to stop jumping; he cries every sound out of his body as well as the tears, and falls into a heavy silence thereafter. He only stirs when he senses Jae-Ha beginning to descend, bringing his tired head up to watch how the world skates past them.]

Where are we? [The wind bites at his tear-stained cheeks and voice both, but Sanji will repeat the question near Jae-Ha's ear if the older boy doesn't hear him]

[leggie]

[It takes the second time for Jae-Ha to hear, and he blinks back over his shoulder at Sanji. He's exhausted himself, not used to carrying someone for so long. So he descends bit by bit along this path through the trees, looking at the buildings ahead.]

A small village. We should be able to find a place to sleep here. [He frowns, looking back ahead.] I'm sorry I can't help more than this.

[lil_eggplant]

[The boy shakes his head quickly, what little of his visible interest disappearing at Jae-Ha's last comment. In the future he'll promise his best friend that it's not his fault, none of this is, but that requires distance Sanji hasn't been allowed to discover yet. Right now, everything seems to make him too cold for his own skin.]

Will they let us stay? [he focuses instead on the mission. With a sinking thought, he realizes he doesn't even have money in his pockets]

[leggie]

My leg is covered, and we're both young, so they might. If they don't want to let us stay for free, I have an idea, so don't worry.

[Gently, he drops to his feet in the forest, but he won't make Sanji get off of his back unless he moves to hop off on his own. Otherwise, Jae-Ha will keep carrying him piggyback as he walks through the trees and towards the buildings.]

Don't worry about anything. I've done this before, and thanks to you, it'll be way easier.

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji had been prepared to jump off Jae-Ha's back, but only at the older boy's prompting. When the other merely shifts his weight for a better grip and then starts marching instead of flying, Sanji takes it as the signal to plant his cheek on Jae-Ha's shoulder, staring off at the passing ground]

What did I do?

[His arms give an unbidden twitch. Of course Jae-Ha means it as thanks, but the truth of that doesn't stop the younger's voice from sounding small and quiet, like he expects to be berated rather than praised.]

[leggie]

You didn't turn me away like everyone else did, even with my leg, and my dirty clothes and beaten face. You became my friend.

[He keeps Sanji up even if he's exhausted, knowing that what the boy is going through emotionally is more than any physical exhaustion. He'll carry him to help him with it. If this is all he can do, then he'll do it every bit he can.]

Now we're both dressed better and I'm a little used to talking to people. I owe a lot to you.

[lil_eggplant]

[It's not that Sanji wants to undercut his own accomplishments. After all, he did buy Jae-Ha clothes and helped him talk like a normal kid. But what boy his age wouldn't want a friend with a dragon leg, Sanji seems to think, and hidden away from Jae-Ha's watchful eye, he frowns to himself. That's not special. He bets Reiju would too--

Except he isn't allowed to think about her, they're not siblings anymore, he has no sister. The ground is suddenly too hard to look at, and he buries his face into Jae-Ha's neck instead.]

Your leg is cool. [It's all he'll say in a petulant voice]

[leggie]

...Thanks.

[Jae-Ha still smiles a tiny bit at that. When he enters this town, a lot of people on the street ignore them. It's getting late, and they're probably worried that Sanji might be ill, but when Jae-Ha finds a kind woman owning an inn, she agrees to let them stay for the night for free if they'll do some chores for her in return. Jae-Ha agrees, since he won't mind doing dishes on his own. He just assumes Sanji needs to rest.

But they have a room now, and so Jae-Ha can let his friend off of his shoulders and let out a tired little sigh, blinking around it. Just one little bed, more like what Jae-Ha is used to.]

[lil_eggplant]

[A small bed is the exact opposite of what Sanji's accustomed to, so much that he stares after he plants his feet on the wooden floor, and feels a question forming on his tongue. All his life, he's only known wealth, splendor, and the promise of good health - not a bed that even the servants of his Father's mansion would refuse to sleep in.

But he's already tired of being a crybaby, of looking ungrateful, so that even when his eyes begin to water, the boy sets his chin and walks to the bed without complaint.]

[leggie]

[Quietly, Jae-Ha follows him all the way to the bed after making sure things are in order. Crawling in beside him, he moves to loop his arm around him in some attempt at comfort, speaking quietly.]

No matter what happens, we'll get through things together. I'm not gonna leave you. I meant it from the start. [Slowly, things will get better. He'll make sure of it.]

[lil_eggplant]

[He's a small ball on top of the sheets, and barely stirs when Jae-Ha joins him, not even for the arm trying to bring him comfort. He stares a long time at the criss-crossed fabric of his friend's robes before muttering softly]

Were you happy when you got to leave your village?

[Did you cry? Did it hurt?]

[leggie]

Happy isn't the right word.

[He's quiet as he speaks, just focused on keeping his arm around Sanji. Even if it does nothing right now, even if he gets nothing in return, he knows what he would have liked in this situation.]

My heart felt like it would crumble to pieces, but I also felt free. I knew that outside of that village, I would be able to find somewhere that treated me better. Even if I was a "monster," anywhere would be better than that prison.

...I was happy when I found you, though. After I found out you wouldn't chase me away.

[lil_eggplant]

[Sanji's head untucks, eyes steadily climbing until they reach Jae-Ha's. Again he falls silent.

But when he tucks his head again, this time he'll scoot closer to the other boy, more into the hug. He doesn't really mind it so much.]

I'm happy you found me, too.

[leggie]

[There's the smallest smile at that, and Jae-Ha moves his arms to allow for him to come closer.]

I'll show you all the cool things we can do now. It may not get easier immediately, but I'm not going anywhere, no matter what.

[lil_eggplant]

Okay.

... Will I still get to cook for you? [It's not the same sad, defeated voice from before, but Sanji is still apprehensive all the same. After all, it was him who insisted they not swing by the kitchens to grab any of his favorite recipes, and their absence weights heavy in his mind]

[leggie]

I hope you will. I don't know how to cook anything myself.

[So, he'd just be eating bread or apples... Whatever he could find.] But only if you want to.