Temporary ✔️

Chapter 33: The End Part 1

AN: here's chapter 33. Enjoy, people.

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️: very very brief mention of ALMOST s*xual abuse- Does NOT go into detail at all. But I will put a 🌸 where it starts and a 🌺 where it ends, just to be on the safe side.

Also another note: One of the characters here has a speech impairment which causes him to stutter. I will report any negative comments towards him as this is NOT something that is to be made fun of.

Lexi's POV:

I wiped the dried tears on my cheeks as the pilot's voice over the intercom declared we would be landing soon. Stephanie was shooting me sympathetic smiles, but they offered no consolation. If she'd come just a few months ago, I'd have bolted on the plane and said sayonara to my 'evil' brothers. But of course, I had to slip up and get attached. Way to go Lex.

"The couple wishing to adopt you are lovely- their names are Leo and Sam- Sam is gender-fluid by the way. They read your files so know about your past... situation and are really looking forward to having you in their family. They have one son who is a year older than you called Lucius." Stephanie explained and I half-listened.

We got off the plane and thanked the air hostesses as we went down the ladder and onto solid land. After a pretty gruelling bus ride- in which, I narrowly dodged a baby projectile vomiting on me- and a hassle to get out luggage (Stephanie had to literally fight a man who thought our suitcase was his suitcase and refused to believe otherwise. Not gonna lie, it was pretty amusing) before we finally made it to the waiting room- where my future foster family were. Oh the joy.

"Hi!" One of them waved to me excitedly from their seat. "I'm Sam, it's so nice to meet you Lexi!"

"Nice to meet you too." I responded politely, even though I really hated them at the moment for taking me away from my family. Stop it.

"I'll let you four get acquainted." Stephanie smiled tiredly and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "If they try anything, shout and I'll be here, okay?" I nodded and she squeezed my arm briefly before leaving the room, allowing the door to click softly shut behind her.

Releasing a soft sigh, I flopped in the metal chair opposite the three people, maintaining a casual facade, even though I was alert and ready to take them down in a fight if needed.

Directly opposite me was Leo- a broad, dark skinned man with a strong jaw and stormy brown eyes and closely cropped black hair. His expression was flat when he gazed at me, but his lips broke out in a small smile when he turned to his excited partner to his left. He reached over and intertwined their fingers together.

On his other side, a boy with a mop of thick blonde hair was sitting crossed-legged, eyes firmly glued to his lap. He began scratching his dry, cracked arm and I internally winced as he drew drops of blood. Leo clamped down on Lucius's arm with a firm, yet gentle grasp. From his pocket, Leo passed his son a yellow tube, which the younger boy took gratefully. I watched, slightly intrigued, as Lucius smeared some white cream up and down his arm, shoulders dropping in relief.

I finally turned to Sam, and was a little taken aback to see them staring at me intensely. I resisted the urge to shift awkwardly under their steely gaze. I got the distinct and uncomfortable feeling that they were studying me, as I was to them. I noticed three hair bands on their wrist- one green, one blue and one pink- and briefly wondered what they meant.

"It's to make it easier for people to tell what my pronouns are." Sam explained. "I know it's stereotypical to assign colours to specific genders, but it's just easier this way, to be honest."