“You ungrateful brat!”
The sound of whip hitting flesh resonant through the small space that is the orphanage lounge room. Midnight gritted his teeth as he held back a painful cry. His stomach burned from where they were hit.
He had only asked for permission to train late and maybe it was careless of him to asked for a leave from the orphanage.
“If we’re not here, you’ll be dead by now, child! Nobody would want to take a demon like you!”
“O-Oi, I think that’s a bit overboard...”
“What? Don’t say you didn’t think it too. Just look at him, he has that bloodthirsty trait all demons have.”
Midnight stares down at his callous feet and scratched shins as his fist clenched by his sides. He tries to hold back his anger, tries to hold back his tears and most importantly, tries very hard to hold back his hatred.
“L-Look what you did, he looks like... h-he might kill us!” The harsh whispers of the caretaker couldn’t help but draw a scar down his heart.
All he ever wanted was to be strong, so he could be independent. Isn’t that what his family had wanted, after they made the decision to abandon him in this Hidden Leaf Village.
“If you want to leave so much, then leave!”
Midnight lifted his head up and glared right at the head of the caretaker. He let out a small snarled and took pleasure in seeing them all flinch from a small child.
His feet started to move and he quickly gathered his things. There weren’t much, he realized. Did he actually lived 5 years here?
As he move out of the building, the other children moved aside from him and Midnight tried to ignored the judging and fearful stares as if he
was some kind of monster.
“* it.”
Before he realized, he was at the top of the Hill. His legs carried him over towards the long, lone log and he slumped down on it, dumping his bag pack beside his feet. He squeezed his eyes shut and curled his hands on his lap.
Why?
Why did they look at him like that?
Midnight couldn’t push away those judging eyes no matter how hard he tried. His eyes stung and he felt something chocking on his chest.
Suddenly, there was a gentle tap on his shoulder and he tensed. Did they come following him?
Slowly he turned his head around, only to be met with a small white daisy.
“Hey.”
He heard a voice and saw the boy he had been watching for months – still barefoot and was in a t-shirt and shorts, now looking at him with a rather concerned expression.
“I um, found this flower. I want to give it to you.”
The boy cheeks turned slightly pink but he fixed his gaze at him. Midnight found himself even more pulled to him, as red eyes stare into blues.
“What?”
Midnight blurted out but Scarlet didn’t seemed to be fazed. Instead he smiled and offered the daisy more urgently.
“I also wanted to make up for taking your spot. I was hoping you would join me sometimes, instead of staying behind the tree all the time.”
The boy laughed and Midnight eyes widen. He felt his cheeks turning a bit red and glanced away.
“Can I sit here?”
The boy asked him as he motion at the empty space beside him. The log was large, more than enough for the both of them. Midnight gave
a small nod and he carefully sat down. He was sitting close to him though, but Midnight didn’t seem to mind.
“That flower, are you sure you want to give it to me?”
Midnight asked quietly as he watched the boy turned the flower gently between his fingers. The boy tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“Of course. Why shouldn’t I give it to you?”
He passed the flower over to him and Midnight found himself getting nervous as he cradle the daisy between his callous hands. He stayed silent for a while as he stared at the white petals, fresh and bright as if newly bloomed.
“Because I might break it apart. I’m a monster.”
The boy beside him shifted a little, as Midnight could make out some very large movement. Then he saw red eyes trying to look at him.
“A monster huh. I guess you must be strong then?”
Midnight blinked a little. Nobody had ever reacted like that to him.
“I guess... I trained myself so that I’ll be strong.”
The boy gave a low whistled and leaned back slightly.
“Well, if you’re strong, why not use it to protect instead of hurting people.”
Midnight looked at the innocent flower in his hands. Protect people? How was he going to protect people if he’s a monster. Doesn’t monster hurt people?
“I’m a monster. I can’t do that.”
“You’re not a monster. Monsters aren’t born, they are made.”
The boy said bluntly. Midnight was surprised at that statement and it made him think. Suddenly there was a hand on his arm, one he knew
was the boy and that made him turned his head towards him.
The boy was smiling at him, a genuine and sincere smile that left Midnight dazzled.
“I don’t think you’re a monster.”
Midnight was in awe. This boy, who he had watched quietly for days, was talking to him, was being kind to him, was the first one to say that he wasn’t a monster.
“I think so because you were here all the time. With me. If you’re going to become a monster, then so will I.”
“But you’re not-“
“Then you’re not either.”
Midnight blinked once, and then twice. The hand on his arm was warm and soft, it held gentleness and sincerity n their gestures.
“Thank you.” Midnight said softly, but he averts his eyes to stare at the daisy once more. “But I don’t have anywhere to go now. I don’t have a place to live.”
“You can live with me.”
The boy offered kindly with a bright grin. Midnight stared at him puzzled.
“But I don’t even know you.”
“I’m Scarlet Blaze! Now you know me.” Scarlet said brightly and the hold on his arm squeezed slightly. “Live with me, please. I’ll be good to you, I promised!”
Midnight was very confused with this very bright and outgoing boy, who he just knew was Scarlet. He thinks carefully about the offer and realized he didn’t really have much of a choice. There’s no way Midnight, a 5 year old boy, can survived living on the street with no money.
He might ended up getting desperate and commit crimes. The child shudders at the thought.
“My name is Midnight Blade.” He introduced himself, might as well get to know his soon to be host.
“I would like to take that offer, Scarlet.”
For the first time, Midnight eyes were actually blinded. He never saw anything so bright as when Scarlet smiled, his eyes beaming in joy. And when Scarlet had thrown himself at him, wrapping his small arms around Midnight own small shoulders, Midnight knows, he had fallen for him.