Of Mice And Men AU w/ OC Insert [W.I.P]

part 6

Martín only got so far past a few trees before suddenly getting tugged back, a sharp dead bush pierced through the ends of his dress. Martín panicked, he tugged repeatedly on the dress, but it only caused loud rustling noises. Hearing footsteps come closer, he pulls on it forcefully making him stumble back falling, a piece of the dress ripped off and stuck onto the dead bush; the ends are left with some holes and tears.

George and Lennie eventually catch up to Martín who hasn't gotten that far, George pausing to see the Latino boy stopping in his tracks.

"Hey! What ya doin' out here?" George said in a demanding tone.

Martín looked at the man in front of him. He was much smaller than Lennie with sharper features. He wore a deep crimson flannel and on top a swampy dark ash brown coat with rolled-up sleeves, along with blue jeans.

Martíns mouth quiver, lost of voice. He helplessly looked back at Lennie, who was peaking standing behind the man George. George follows the boy's eyes and turns back to Lennie.

"Does he even know English?"

Lennie nods. "He was talkin' to me- Yes, he knows!"

George turns back to face Martín stepping closer. "So, What ar' you doin' out here?" George asks again a bit more slowly.

Martín inhaled for a little while before speaking. "I was...just walking, Sir." He said weakly.

"Walkin'? From where? I ain't seen'a place from the last couple of miles."

"In the forest. I walked in the forest until I ended up here Sir."

"By yer'self? You jus' walked into a forest alone? Where yer parents? Did you run away? Did they leave you or somethin'?"

Martín got overwhelmed by the number of questions the man was asking him.

"No! My parents did not leave me!" Martín blurt out defensively. "They didn't leave me." He said again, reassuringly.

Lennie nervously walked, standing beside George budding in, turning to look at Martín and then George.

"He says he need'a go to da ranch, George."

"A ranch? The one we're going to?"

"I think."

George kneels to Martín who dodges eye contact, continuously looking down.

"Hey." George said to get Martíns attention.

Martín eyes glance up, but his head is still lowered, pointing down.

"Is the ranch yer goin' to named 'Tyler Ranch'?"

Martín raised his head attentively, followed by quick nodding.

"Working on the ranch, huh? you look almost half my age. How old ar' ya?"

Martín stays quiet, unable to answer in English properly. Numbers were the most difficult to learn. In an attempt to tell them, he raised ten of his fingers up, followed by nine after; he didn't want them to know his real age, so he went with what the slip said.

"Nineteen?" George guess.

"Yes, Sir." Martín nods again. "Nineteen," Martín said out loud, but also to himself to remember its pronunciation.

"Hard to believe." George investigated his features and appearance, he then noticed his clothes, especially the dress, which caught him off guard a lot but didn't comment on it, already finding this whole situation strange.

Lennie looks around. The sunset was going down very slowly in the distance that is only spot above the high hills.

"George, t's turnin' dark."

George stood up, looking at the sunset. "Jesus, time just ran by, hasn't it? An' where are those willow sticks Lennie? I told ya to get them."

"I did, George. I did!" He said boldly, defending his innocence.

"Yeah? Well, where ar' they now?"

"I put dem down somewhere.."

"An' do ya remember where?"

Lennie looked down abashed. "I forgot."

Martín watched and listened to the conversation the two men were having. He could already depict a certain dynamic they had. George turned around to see Martín watching both of them. Lennie also glances at Martín, then he looks at George, who is staring at him too.

"George?"

"What?" He looks away from Martín, back at Lennie.

"Do we have extra beans for Martin?"

"Oh c'mon Lennie, we ain't got no business with em. I think t's bes' we leave em alone."

Martín felt disdained in a way hearing that, feeling foolish for believing in the slightest that he could get comfortable with the two strangers, though he did expect it. Lennie observed Martín who seemed miserable. He felt some sort of pity being how sensitive he usually was. He stepped closer towards Martíns direction in front of George.

"Martin says his leg was hurt, George."

George stays silent, staring at Lennie in disbelief of his actions being sympathetic towards the kid.

"He fell from th'a hill up is what he says. He's hurt."

George started at Lennie, who was seemingly getting closer to Martín. He then looked back at the Latino boy. He had a desperate look on his face. George let out a deep sigh and pinched his nose bridge.

"Hurry up then, the sky's darkening." George finally spoke, giving in.

Martín softly smiled, "Thank you, Sir."

"Mm." George turned away and started heading back.

Lennie walks to Martín right side to help him up kneeling down. Martín felt surprised by his act of kindness, hesitating for a second before putting his arm around his shoulder. Once he stood up, Martín was easily lifted with his feet above the ground. He instantly clung on, surprised at how strong he was.

"Uh-"

"Oh," Lennie lowered himself a little until Martíns feet were finally placed back onto the ground.

"I'll just grab your arm,"

Finally, Martín and Lennie walk right behind George, who is far ahead of the two. They walk in a sync pattern, Martín still slightly limping. Walking out of the brush, Martín looked down and spotted the willow sticks Lennie placed down earlier.

"Sticks," Martín said, pointing down.

Lennie stopped to look at what Martín was pointing at "See George! I told ya I got them willow sticks!" Lennie lowered himself to let Martín grab them.

George looks back, placing his hands on his hips. "Yeah, but if he didn't point em' out, would you have still remembered?"

Lennie's face grew blank. He just brushed off George's question, looking another way. George slightly chuckled and shook his head while turning and continuing to walk.

When they all got back to the spot, Martín handed George the willow sticks to start the fire. Martín then spots the creek stream and instantly goes close to the edge, cupping his hand to drink the cool water. It was pretty refreshing since he's been so dehydrated.

George and Lennie stare at Martín who continuously scoops his hands in and out of the water, repeatedly making splashes. Lennie faintly smiled with his mouth open, finding it funny to him, while George found it somewhat concerning. Martín wipes his mouth and limps back, sitting across from the pile of sticks now lit into a fire. George places the three cans of beans around the fire while they sit back, waiting for the beans to cook.