A New Era

Chapter 12: Sometimes it Takes a Child

    Ink looked over his completed paperwork for the fifteenth time. He'd gotten into such a habit of hanging around Classic, he didn't have a lot of things to do.

All of the paperwork was done and all there was left to do was paint, which he didn't have the energy nor the inspiration for that right now. He was just... bored and didn't see much to do.

    He was about to resolve to taking a nap when he heard shuffling from behind the office door that lead to the waiting room.

    Odd, he thought, taking a step closer.

    He jumped a bit when a knock followed. It wasn't one of Classic's knocks as his were obvious, confident, and he'd do two knocks and expect Ink to participate in a knock-knock joke.

Silence permeated the air before a small voice called out from behind the door, "Umm, Ink? This is Palette. May I come in?"

"Palette?" Ink muttered before remembering the question. "Oh! Go ahead."

The door opened and in stepped a shy Palette, looking down at the floor and only glancing up to acknowledge Ink.

Ink suddenly got the vision of the child's bones crumbling to dust, another child looking on with horror. Ink quickly shook his head, pinching his 'nose' while the headache passed.

"H-hi Palette. Is there something I can do for you?" Ink asked, putting as much cheer in his voice. It still sounded pained to him, but hopefully the kid wouldn't notice.

    Palette shuffled his feet, looking like the scared child Ink could only assume he was at the moment. Ink thought for a second before taking out one of his special brushes. From what he could gather about the past version, he never utilized the power of his own brushes.

With little thought, Ink drew a glass of chocolate milk into existence, gently sliding it as far away from him and as close to Palette as possible. The child's eyes locked onto the drink before he skulked over like a scared kitten.

"How did you do that?" he asked quietly, taking the glass and sipping it, his eye lights lighting up at the flavor.

"It's a natural gift," Ink said timidly. "So, is there anything you need?"

Palette took another sip thoughtfully. "Can you tell me if I'll ever be able to do that?"

"I-Umm," Ink hadn't expected the question. "I-I suppose. It might take some work, but it's a good possibility."

Palette give a big smile before putting the now empty glass back on the desk.

"More please?"

"Sure, but you haven't answered if you needed anything," Ink said, painting up the side of the glass as it filled with the sweet brown nectar.

Palette thought for a bit, "I thought I'd be able to say it, but I can't."

Ink was shocked for three reasons: the kid had approached him in the first place, had asked him for help on something, and apparently this something was of extreme importance to Palette if he was this concerned about talking about it.

Ink didn't know how to go about this. He certainly didn't feel that he could push the kid out, especially if the kid was carrying some sort of burden he didn't want to tell anyone else about (the selfish part of him wanted to kid to stay for sake of company). He also didn't want to pressure the kid in any way. This was touchy and he didn't want Palette to think he was cruel in any way.

After a stretch of awkward silence, he finally thought of an idea.

"M-may I see what you can do?"