Where: Clubs
What's happening: Isaac has crumbled completely, and Henrik is there to scoop the boy up and calm the pain.
"What are you doing today?" He asked this every day, and it stressed Isaac. He felt as if he needed to do something important every day. He felt liked he had to, like it was necessary, and if he didn't Henrik would punish him. Perhaps he was over reacting, perhaps he was quickly becoming paranoid. No. It wasn't that he was afraid of, it was....
Being abandoned again.
Henrik and him had come to an understanding, and slowly the Vaporeon's violent actions had ceased. However.... The worries and fears had not subsided, actually, they grew stronger. As Henrik grew closer he grew paranoid, and was spiraling down. He felt like he was going insane, was he? He was, wasn't he?
What was he doing today? Fumbling with his hands, he knew his answer, yet knew better than to say it. He was going to tag the faction some more. Graffiti was his only solace, it calmed his fears, for if he was taken away he would at least leave his mark on this entire damn faction. They would be forced to see his work, and even if they didn't see his name they would see his marks.
"Just goin' outside." Isaac murmured back, suddenly sick of his food. Pushing his cereal away, he stood and left the room, collecting his shoes (despite how he hated them) and headed for the door. A voice stopped him, a low grunt from Henrik made him turn, red eyes blinking curiously back.
'Don't say it.' He thought, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Come back safely." With a heavy nod, Isaac slipped out the door, escaping both the man that he was coming to trust, and his own fear.
- - - - - - - - -
He had arrived at the bridge, and the cans dropped from his hands. The cans he carefully stored away so Henrik wouldn't see rolled from him, vanishing as they slid down the hill. Red eyes widened, becoming slits as his mouth opened. He felt the familiar fury building, something he had thought he wouldn't feel again ever since Henrik hugged him.
They were tagging over his work!
No. That was his mark. That was what he was! No one would see his mark now! No one would turn their head and grimace at his art! The fact that he had several marks did not dawn on him, that this was just one in a few. The familiar panic filled his stomach. He was being erased. He was being removed. He was being eradicated.
The culprits were teenagers, a group of Glameow's, Persian's, and Skitty's. The fact that there were older also did not dawn on him. He was frightened, he was afraid of the spray paint removing his name in jagged letters. No. No no no.
"NO!"
Their heads turned, just in time for his lunge. Taken off guard, he managed to land on one, knees digging right into their shoulders as a well-aimed punch slammed into their mouth. He felt teeth give, he felt his knuckle bleed, he didn't care. Strong hands removed him, tossing him across the field. He hit the ground roughly, rolling before slamming into a tree. Pain racketed through his body, head tossing back as he let out a cry of pain. Light was clouded as a figure stood over him, hands lifting him by the collar and slamming him against the tree.
"The ******** you think you doing?"
Green eyes focused on red, and his attacker sneered. It was Isaac's fault for launching at his friend, but later Isaac would blame them. Red eyes narrowed, mouth twisting into a feral scowl as a loud growl escaped Isaac.
"That was mine!" Isaac snarled back, spitting at the teen holding him. He was dropped in disgust, the teen backing up and rubbing the spit off, raising his foot, and kicking Isaac in the stomach. Some other boy grabbed the one that kicked Isaac, and in his coughing he caught them attempting to tell the teen to stop hurting Isaac. He snarled as he managed to stand up, spitting blood before viciously glaring at the older boys.
"I'll erase ya, like ya are tryin' to erase me." He growled, voice lower than usual, trembling with rage. The teens took a step back, perhaps wondering if Isaac was either insane or mentally unstable.
"We didn't do s**t, man! Is this all over us tagging over your s**t? Seriously?" Isaac wasn't listening. He wasn't as old as them, or able to rationalize his thoughts or their actions at this age. Instead, he leapt at them, the abnormally strong child managing a few blows before he was sent back into the tree.
- - - - - - - - -
He returned home far too late, and he knew the second he limped through the door he would be greeted with yells, and he was. He opened the door, froze, and flinched when a hand came down on him, though it landed under his arms and he was lifted. Squeaking in both pain and shock, red eyes widened as he was hugged, the door kicked shut by the taller man.
This was strange. Henrik rarely showed such concern, yet here he was, being brought to the couch. Strong hands set him on his lap, pale fingers stroking back unslicked hair (having come undone in the fight) and pressing it from the infants cheek. Red eyes shut as hands brushed against a cut on his face, gritting his teeth and growling at the slight pain that answered.
Henrik viewed the boy, eyes narrowing. He had returned home late, and bleeding. Bruised and cut, Isaac was a mess. He grunted as Isaac slapped his hand away in response to his fingers brushing a cut, red eyes opening and staring at Henrik with a fierce glare. He hadn't gotten that since months ago.
"Why were you fighting?" He demanded, voice rough, hiding the worry that he felt. Isaac took this wrong, leaping from his lap and limping off towards the kitchen. Henrik stood, following him and leaning in the doorway as Isaac searched for food in the fridge.
"Isaac."
"Lay off!"
Isaac turned, glaring daggers at Henrik. The Umbreon only responded with a blank stare. They stared at one another until finally Isaac broke, looking away and returning to his search. He felt the eyes on him, shivering. He doubted Henrik knew how creepy that was, or if he did he was using it to get information. It worked, his hands slamming the door as he looked back at his creepy Guardian. The first thing that he blurted was unreasonable, reaching a higher octave as he felt his throat tighten and eyes water.
"They were erasin' me! They were taggin' over my mark! I had to defend my name!" Henrik's eyes briefly widened, surprise flickering across before they became neutral once more. Isaac let out a loud wail, hunching over and letting out a choked sob. "Now no one will know me when I leave!" Unreasonable, crazy, panicked, he sounded like a lunatic, or so he believed. He shuddered violently, suddenly wishing nothing more than for his Guardian to console him. Why wasn't Henrik hugging him? Maybe because he realized Isaac knew?
"You're leaving? When?"
Isaac looked up, hands lowering from his eyes as he stared at Henrik. The other stared back, then suddenly flicked his head, throwing hair from his face. Henrik sighed as long fingers spread through his hair, eyes fixating back on Isaac. "I didn't realize you were going on a trip." He clicked his tongue, watching as Isaac seemed to fumble with his words. The boy struggled, something muttering a word here and there along the lines of what, how, or why. He knew that Isaac was about to scream at Henrik to stop lying, so in seconds he approached the smaller boy. Isaac looked up, squeaking as he was lifted once more, and struggling as Henrik headed for the couch.
"Ya know what I mean! Put me down!" Isaac snapped, though he was ignored. Henrik flopped onto the couch, keeping his grip on Isaac despite the boys screams and snarls.
"Don't leave." Those words stopped Isaac, head snapping around. Indifferent eyes were suddenly warm, hands touching the boys cheeks and bringing him closer. The man kissed the Vaporeon's forehead, a low sigh escaping him. "Don't go away, Isaac. Didn't we agree to be a family? Didn't you want to be my son? Why do you speak of leaving? Have you come to hate me?" Isaac was stiff, unsure how to respond or what to say. His head raised to look at Henrik, red eyes flicking as he viewed Henrik. Slowly, he shook his head, this was a new side he hadn't seen. Or he had, but only once. It calmed him, the caring side of Henrik. While Henrik cared, he didn't show it this much. It was always with masked words and careful actions, as if he was afraid of smothering the boy. Isaac was unable to respond vocally, instead trembling and letting out a choked sob.
This was what he wanted, he realized. He wanted to be assured he mattered. He wanted to be told he was wanted. He was needy, and so afraid of being unwanted. The boy collapsed against Henrik, leaning against the mans chest and curling his tail around so he could hold it. Henrik stayed put, allowing the Vaporeon to cry, sighing in relief. The boy drifted off to sleep eventually, lifted by strong arms and carried off to his room. As Henrik tucked him in he stepped back, head shaking.
He had raised many eggs that were unwanted, eggs and infants, and yet this one was different. Perhaps because most of the infants he raised were simply foster kids and left. Isaac was a foster child, however, Henrik had changed that awhile ago. Isaac was his son, and special to the Umbreon. Though, he'd murder the Vaporeon if he mentioned his gentler side.
"Tomorrow, I'm teaching you how to fight properly."
When a soft snore answered him, he turned and left the room.
