Safe and Sound

Her question… Well, the answer ran deeper than the contemporary issue at hand. Useless... He didn’ like to tell himself this often, but he could feel the words of doubt plague him from failures before. To his mother’s standards, to his inability to maintain a good roster of friends back at his old school, to failing to see through his teacher’s true motive when giving him his abilities, to failing to control what he had. They all helped him to realize that he was incompetant, or made out to be so. It was a cloud of negativity that hung over his head that began to cummulate within his fragile shell. Now that shell was broken, leaving a broken little boy to shiver from the cold realm that existed outside of his layer of mental protction. And from the looks of it? He just might be doomed to freeze to death.

Unless...

There was someone here who kept picking up those pieces of shattered shell. She'd glue them back together with her affirmations and shelter it from the wind. She wasn't giving up on him even though he did himself. She was listing out options to insist that he stayed. And she was admitting that the light he saw on her wasn't perfect, both physically and metaphorically. But they were kids. If they were born perfect, what was the point of their existence? They were to grow, to learn. To see how the world worked and what their place was in it. Until they became something for themselves. Hopefully, it would be something wonderful.

”Y... You'd really do that for me?” He asked in a whisper, drawing a hand up to his eye to make sure nothing slipped from it. "A-aren't you scared? That I might make another mistake? And hurt you?” It was a fear that plagued him, and one he wanted to get over. After all, he could give out piggy-back rides, if he wasn't afraid of the 'what if'. What a terrible phrase that was for him. It was to be used for childish curiosities, not in terror. He gulped a bit, and scooted closer to his friend. ”I'd... I'd really like that. They could help us... And...” His voice filled up with a bit more hope, as he sniffled for his last time. ”It will never happen again. You'd have a pretty and powerful ability with light, and I'll be the beast that's not really a monster... That's all I want. To not be alone. It's what I'm afraid of but...” He looked at her dead on. ”You're a good friend. And good friends don't leave good friends. We'll both get better. Together.” And for the first time in what felt like ages, he cracked a tiny, flickering sideways smile.

”Right, Anh Sang?”​

Suddenly and thus surprisingly Anh Sang finally approached. What came next was even more of a shock as she wrapped her arms around her... To hug him. For a moment, the only thing he could do was allow the red to rush to his face. But soon he was grounded back to the earth as he did the only thing he could- hug back. And really, fully smile.

The small boy had her in his arms, and slowly did his clouded eyes clear up. He didn't need to be afraid when he had a friend to be there with him. A friend that saw past the ability he was scared of, and a friend that wouldn't leave him no matter what. Never before did he have that, he could safely say. Nor did someone ever tell him that he was important to them, and how much. He squeezed her gently, chuckling lightly under his breath.

”That would make him very happy.” He said in reply to them being friends. Although he still would be cautious he knew that he wasn't alone in this world. And that's all he wanted really- to be accepted for who he was and the mistakes he'd inevitably make. They were both still human, after all. ”And Anh Sang is the most understanding person Oliver knows.” He assured, before letting go a bit. ”Thank you, though. You're the best friend I could ever ask for, really. Both for me, and the creatures I can turn into.”

That's when he looked more adamant, stronger than before and less afraid. He grinned, placing his hands on his hips. "So it's only right for me to be the same for you!” Yes. It was decided. She was his best friend and he'd do whatever it took to be the best he could be for her. Even as this smart child, he still had things to figure out. How the world worked, and how he did. But he had plenty of time for that. For now, he wanted to be with his friend and for once in a long time have fun with her. Calming down a bit from his sudden courage, he smiled to her.

”Guess we have a lot of catching up to do, huh?” After all, he really did miss playing princess with her.​

For once in what seemed like forever things started to go back to normal. Oliver would always have to be careful, lest something scary like that happened again. On any case Anh Sang began to tell of her day and time, to which he’d gladly listen to. She was sick at some point, and things were a little funny here, but everything was okay now. He was more than glad to hear that. Everything was going better now, for her life and his. For now, at least. But there was no point worrying too much about the future.

”Can’t wait to see it all. Your light is pretty. You’ll probably learn how to do really cool things with it in the future!”He smiled a bit, kicking his legs from the side of the bed at he looked gleefully towards her. She got to explaining a plague that hit the school. ”Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better now. The same for everyone else.” He assured with this news. He had missed the event but caught word of the sickness. How it made people feel funny, get all ill, corrupt their powers…

Hey… Wait a minute…

Before he could connect these two things together, she suggested they do something together. He got to thinking, looking up pensively as he fired out a suggestion. Nowhere dangerous, or too complicated... So what was there left? First and foremost though, he nodded. ”Of course!” He said cheerily, nodding. Almost forgot to say yes there. Trying to think of where they could go, he shot out a few ideas. ”There’s the library, the forest… And other places around here...” He thought while placing a hand on his chin. His green eyes looked at her. ”There’s downtown I guess too. Where would you like to go?” He’d leave it up to her. He was just happy to be spending time with his bestest friend again. They did have a lot to catch up on, after all.
​

Wherever the two were to go that night would be perfectly fine with the young boy. He knew that the both of them had differing personalities, and with it interests. Perhaps the library wasn't a good idea, outside for himself. He had to keep her in mind before himself. That just was his philosophy. So, with the suggestion of her new idea, he was more than happy to go along with it.

”Paintbrushes, huh?” He hadn't much experience with those. So the hunt would begin for them, though he wasn't sure who this Miss Lawful was. ”Well, I haven't seen her before... But I'm sure she'll be able to help us!” He assured, a bit more confidence in his still slightly shaky tone. Maybe they needed the not-so cheap kind. He remembered trying some before and them not being great. He wasn't such a dabbler in the arts, but with how particular he was about certain things he had a hint on what was and wasn't of sufficient quality. He then slid off the bed, standing up now before her. ”Let's go to her then to see where she got them from. If we can't find them well... I know someone too that may be able to help.” There was another girl he crossed paths with once or twice. A bit eccentric, but nice enough. But he'd have to see how things were to go, and whether or not this Miss Lawful would help them.

”Shall we go then?” He asked, smiling a bit. This could be a fun little adventure anyway. Just like old times.​

As Anh Sang would go to get her wallet, Oliver searched his work desk exactly where he left his own messenger bag before he left what felt like so long ago. After checking to make sure everything was accounted for, he slung it over his shoulders before looking back at Anh Sang. That’s when another smile made itself evident on his face, as he watched her have a peculiar ritual on keeping things safe. A soft chuckle came from him. ”That’s a clever way of keeping things safe.” He noted, before realizing maybe he wasn’t supposed to see this. ”Don’t forget though too, that you have a guard dinosaur! Our dorm is safe, don’t you worry.” He stated with much more confidence in his voice than before. Although it might be awhile before he used his powers again, but if push came to shove he’d transform. Especially if it meant protecting his best friend.

He snapped out of the ‘what if’ thoughts as she instructed him where they needed to go. This Missus Lawful.. She sounded interesting. Hopefully the search would be short, so they didn’t have to go searching everywhere. But it would be a fun adventure regardless. ”Okay, sounds like a plan!” He stated excitedly. Still, she wanted to know more about the other person Oliver mentioned. It was another student, but no doubt she could perhaps lend a helping hand. ”Her name’s Pollyanna… I met her in the library the other day.. She’s got a lot of art stuff too, and she told me she’ll be happy to share!”

As she wrapped up some other things Oliver went forth and held open the door for her. He nodded at her directions, and stated a simple ”After you!”. And as he closed the door behind him, he couldn’t wait to see what the small trip would hold for them. It wasn’t huge, but it made him glad he was home.​