Kept on Walking

~one~

Mana sits on the curb alongside a teen with brown-red hair, nearly the same color as rust. Mana reaches over and tussles the teen's hair lightly, gaining a look of false agitation. The high-spirited youth heaves a soft sigh as he stands. He turns his hard gray-almost silvery-purple-eyes on his guardian.

Things had been strained between them for a period post nearly getting hit by a runaway carriage. His son hadn't slept and rarely took his gaze off his father. Nevertheless, Mana rejected the prospect of reprimanding the boy. After all, he was scared by the event.

"Oi, we leavin' now, dad?" The teen asks, as brazen as ever.

"Oh, of course. We can get something warm as well." Mana conveys, not missing the glimmer in his son's silver pools.

Mana released a soft chuckle before he walked alongside his fostered son. Over time, he's slowed in his frantic search for his twin brother Nea. Although now, the spry teen accompanying him helps out where he can.

He was always apologetic to the younger for being unable to satiate his immense appetite. The teen just gave a nonchalant response to the apology.

"Did ya leave Nea a signal?" Allen asks as his hands raise and clasp behind his head as they begin their trek down the snowy roads.

Mana confirms the other's question with a silent but sure smile. The teen huffs and looks ahead, eyes shutting lightly. Mana raises no fuss, nor does he offer advice or complaint. Allen was a very headstrong boy and didn't display emotions as others his age may. He was never genuinely demanding of his son to alter his behaviors or demeanor. Even as his guardian, he never deemed it his place to do so.

The teen had a purpose for it.

"Off we go, then. To the next place for our performance, little pierrot." The older man gingerly informs.

"Sure, sure. And I ain't little, ya crazy clown." Allen retorts with a sneer of annoyance. The teen hated his height being publicized by others.

"Ah, I apologize, son!" Mana chortles softly. "You aren't small any longer, But you'll always be my little pierrot."

Allen stops and gazes at his father. They were not family by blood but deemed each other as one despite that little fact. Allen felt the distinct sting of tears gathering. He'd only ever openly wept in the presence of the other three times.

It had begun with the man's canine companion, followed by the announcement of him being taken in. and then finalizing with the near-disaster. Mana observes the younger before reaching out and wiping away the tears threatening to spill.

Mana smiles softly, "Don't cry, my son."

*Would Nea be proud of him?*

Mana grasps Allen's left arm without apprehension and removes the mitt concealing it. He wished to make people see his child's arm as he does, as a part of a headstrong, resolute boy that is only trying his hardest to beat the cruelty the world displayed towards him. He holds his child's left hand firmly, giving him comfort and reassuring him it would be all right.

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Allen, now fifteen, is curled up close to his foster father, sleeping lightly. Mana remains still until a rapping at their new cramped cottage's entry forces them both up.

Mana stands, watching his son imitate him, except half-asleep. Mana makes his way to the entrance, followed by Allen. The teen had rounded out and grown more civil, swearing less than he had in the past.

Opening the door, Mana scowls, "Can I help you? It is unusually early for guests."

Two men dressed in black and white coats were just beyond the thresh-hold, waiting silently for the owners. It set off many alarms in Mana's head. It made him nervous. While unsure as to why. He would trust his instinct before all else. And his intuition is telling him not to trust them. To take Allen and run as far as their legs could take them.

Too bad that the men block the only exit.

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{Ah-had this one brewing for a bit now, and I had to get it down. I know it's short. I don't intend on them being very long, but they will be better in quality. That said, I'm sorry for my long absence from this community. I intend to redo Wonderful Days to give my readers a better experience and quality. I hope this one is good enough, only constructive criticism is welcome.}