Hundreds of Stories: In The Heights One-Shots

Rainfall

Ahahaahhahashahahshsdjcjjd I finally finished this

Note: Usnavi's parents have already passed away when this one-shot takes place, so Usnavi is living with Abuela at this point.

One rainy, blustery day in April, Usnavi and Abuela were walking home from the store with arms full of groceries. They were still a block away from their apartment when Usnavi froze, head tilted slightly, concentrating on something.

"Abuela, you hear that?"

"No, mijo. What is it?"

"I...I dunno..." the fifteen-year-old muttered, straining to listen. Sure enough, the faint sound of quiet sobs reached his ears, almost completely stifled by the crescendo of pouring rain. Usnavi turned to Abuela, concern written plainly on his face.

"Someone's crying. Sounds like a kid," he told her. Her dark eyes widened with worry.

"Wait here a minute. I'll go check," Usnavi continued, setting down his bag and pulling his jacket hood over his head as he slipped out from under the umbrella.

"¡Cuidadoso!" Abuela called after him.

Usnavi crept silently into a nearby alleyway, following the noise as he attempted to shield himself from the rain with both hands. He was shocked at what he saw as he rounded the corner. His arms dropped limply to his sides.

There sat a shivering boy who couldn't have been any older than seven, huddled between a garbage can and a discarded cardboard box. He wore only a ratty pair of shorts, a dirty, tattered t-shirt, and a baseball cap that was too big for his head, falling down over his ears. Without any protection from the weather, he was completely soaked from head to toe, fat raindrops continuing to bombard him.

Worst of all: there was no one else in sight.

Usnavi felt a pang in his chest. What kind of heartless person would leave their kid here all alone?

The boy sniffled loudly, wiping his nose on the back of his hand, before looking up and realizing that he was no longer alone. He let out an eep of fear as a look of panic flashed across his face.

Usnavi took a hesitant step forward. "H-Hey, kid–"

"P-Please don't hurt me!" the boy squeaked fearfully, pressing his back as close to the wall of the alley as he could.

"No, wait! I'm not gonna hurt you! I just want to–"

"Go away!"

Usnavi inched forward slowly, hands held out in front of him, as if he were approaching a wild animal. He grunted in pain as a tiny fist swung upwards, connecting with his nose.

"Ow! Hey, cut it out, I'm trying to help you!"

"Don't need help," came the muttered response. "I'm fine."

It was at that moment that Abuela appeared. "Usnavi? Usnavi, where did–"

Her expression softened as she caught sight of the small, frightened kid.

"Oh, mijo...where did you come from?"

The boy didn't answer, only glanced back and forth between Abuela and Usnavi in wide-eyed silence. He didn't know these people. He could he know if he could trust them? What if they were bad?

"I'm tryin' to help him, but he won't even let me near him!" Usnavi was explaining frustratedly. "I don't know how to–"

"Shh, Usnavi. He's just asustado. Let me talk to him."

The young teen muttered something unintelligible before stepping back to allow Abuela to take his place. The old woman leaned down as far as she was capable, gazing at the boy with a gentle smile.

"Where is your family, chico?"

After a moment, the boy dropped his gaze. "They...they didn't like me. They didn't want me anymore."

Abuela's smile dropped into a frown. "Oh, little one...so they are not here? Do you know their phone number, maybe?"

Twice, the boy shook his head "no."

Usnavi's brow furrowed. Despite the fact that his nose was still throbbing, he felt a surge of pity for the kid.

He stepped forward again, releasing a long, drawn-out sigh. "Look, kid, I get it. I understand. I know how it feels...to have no family. To be scared and confused and alone. But...Abuela–the old woman–she took me in, and...now I have a family again. And you can be part of our family, too."

Wonder filled those big brown eyes. "Really?"

Usnavi knelt down in order to be eye-level with him. "What's your name, little dude?"

The kid sniffled again before looking up to meet Usnavi's warm gaze. "M-My name is...Sonny."

Usnavi couldn't help the wide smile that spread across his face. "Welcome to our family, Sonny."

His heart swelled as Sonny wrapped his short arms around his waist, burying his head in his shirt.

Out of his peripheral vision, he could see Abuela watching them with another smile lighting up her face.

"Alright, kid. Let's get you home."

A/N: Can I just hug Sonny please

aNYWAY

This is a one-shot I wrote for an ITH AU that I came up with:

a. Usnavi and Sonny aren't actually related.

...and...

b. Usnavi and Abuela took Sonny in one day because they found him after his real family abandoned him.

I originally called this a headcanon, but then I found out that Sonny actually does have a mom, she just isn't around that much. So now I'm just calling this an AU.

The sad abandoned Sonny AU.

You're probably wondering, "How could they just pick him up off the street like that? There's a whole legal adoption process, you know..."

Well screw the legal adoption process

Honestly idk

I was too lazy to research how adoption works in America

Let's just call it:
A Whole Bunch of Legal Junk™