My Shadow

Old One

Larry laid down on his pillow. He felt much better now that his new shadow guardian- a nickname he made up himself- got him some fresh clothes. It wasn't much just a plain white loose tee and some shorts but it made all the world to him. Larry wrapped his cover around his head with his small face poking out then searched the dark for the figure again.

You're waiting for me?  He stepped out from the corner once more.

"Well yeah. I-I don't have anyone else and I have questions."

The figure leaned against the wall on the other side of Larry's new bed. Larry's head tilted under the cover as he watched the man put his hands in what seems like pockets. It was the first time he's really studied the figure. He was still a shadow but he was noticeably darker than the surrounding darkness plus his eyes still glowed brilliantly red. The man was also still inhumanity tall but not as tall as he was before when he did THAT to Mr. Shin. It was strange. Larry couldn't figure out what he was and what he wanted but he totally didn't care as long as he wasn't hurt anymore.

"I'm not human as you can see, Wild one" The distorted voice broke the silence, causing Larry to flinch, I speak into your head simply because my true voice is not suitable for your ears. It's been centuries since I've used a normal human voice so I'll need to practice more if I am to speak with you.

"Centuries?" Larry questions with his eyes widened.

Yes, I'm simply known as the Old One. I'll tell you who I am in due time, for now, sleep. You'll need it soon.

"...Okay." Larry nodded, snuggling deep into the covers. He was having trouble sleeping as it was outside and freezing but soon a strange and pleasant warmth covered his body. With these making things easier Larry was sleeping better than he ever had in his entire life.

The figure watched him closely, pleased with how well the boy was resting. He, himself, hasn't felt this calm in millennia. It was greatly unexpected welcome. Not only was life getting boring but the boy was now his small treasure. He took pride in taking care of the child secretly and though he didn't mean to expose himself this much, he was glad he chose too. This meant he could take bigger steps in keeping Larry to himself. Larry was his now and with his protection, Larry would smile again and experience true happiness. He had come to learn over his lurking days that Larry was pure and as contradictory as it seems, he would like to keep it that way. And he would, there was nothing anyone could do to change that.

See, he hadn't meant to step into Larry's life, it just kind of happened. He was visiting the upper world, going around conducting some business while recking havoc for fun here and there. But while he was floating by, the boy's screams were clear miles away. It was a pained one. He knew that instantly but the scream was young. Too young to be experiencing that kind of pain. He was gonna keep going having decided that it wasn't his problem when the same scream suddenly died out. Curiosity got the best of him... well that and it was almost light out and he was too lazy to go invisible so he found the house and the room the boy was in and slid into a corner. 

Actually seeing the child, he was a little taken aback. He looked more like an animal in this state. With his hands cuffed behind his back and cuts running up and down his chest and back, it was hard to tell if the kid was still alive. The room had no windows only a metal door with what seemed like a thousand bolts and locks on it. Scratches from the cuffs littered the walls, the child had it rough. Even in the dark, he could see the child struggling to fight through the pain just to get some rest, it had been years since he'd seen a human act like this before. He wasn't crying, he wasn't screaming, his mind was focused on food and sleeping for school the next day.

It was an interesting sight, seeing the boy beaten to near death every night only to be revived by his abusers every day to go to a school that would do nearly the same thing in reverse. He watched as the boy was beaten for asking for food, for getting a 98% on a test, for even sleeping. It was hilarious at first, he was watching the human boy fight internally, the fire in his eyes clear and bold. It became an obsession to see how much the boy could take, he even made bets with himself on when the boy would explode and lash out... but instead, he saw the kid break. There was no more fire as his father had held a knife to Larry's throat for the thousandth time. Larry didn't even flinch. His eyes were dead and it was like his soul had left. This for some reason caused him to get out a low growl. It was enough for his father to stumble back in shock, dropping the knife and leaving the room in a panic. Larry fainted as soon as he was let go, the child was exhausted after not being able to sleep for days. All he could do was heal him and making him a little more comfortable by covering him with a blanket and leaning against the door with his full weight.

Since that day he's been unknowingly helping the small human out by doing small unnoticeable things like manifesting snacks into his bag, patching his school uniform, healing the larger wounds on his body. The human was so out of it most of the time, he never noticed.

Even his subordinates began to question him from time to time seeing as their King would make frequent visits up and would often be seen muttering to himself about snacks and humans weird habit of eating. 

One even dared to ask what they were all dying to know, shuffling his feet to the side of the King's throne only to squeak out, "Sire, why do you keep going to the human world. Are we not enough?"

The man only waved his hand dismissively at the repetitive question, "Mind your own and you'll live another hour."

With a shaky voice, the subject could only bow and say, "Yes, Your Majesty."