Author's Notes: Yes this is my AU fic. Yes it is about Soren. And though most of it will be in his POV some of the story may have another person POV as well, so keep that in mind. Also keep in mind that I will not do YAOI, and I will not do many (I won't say any) pairings with OC's and Canon Characters. If I do any sort of Relationship with my OC's and the CC's, for the most part, it will not go beyond friendship and/or a sibling like relationship, Thank you.

Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Rating: K+ merely because I don't think that some content will be suitable for young, young children, So 9 or older please.

Warning's: Angst, a lot of it (but that is only to be expected from me) Physical/Mental/Emotional child abuse. Not sure if there will be any others, but I will give any other warnings in that chapter.

Disclaimer: Sadly, no, I do not own Fire emblem. Or Soren and/or Reyson. Heeheehee, GO Brandeds and/or Herons!

Prologue: Deprivation

"Ah! You useless child. Why did I ever agree to take you in?" Soren, having grown used to the biting remarks, barely flinched as the woman continued to shout and throw insult after insult at him.

Six years. She had been caring for him for six years. Well, that is, if one could call it 'caring'. Granted he had food to eat (sometimes) a place to sleep (just a small closet) and someone to look after him (not really).

What more could he possibly want? He didn't know but, there was something missing, something that he wanted so badly, perhaps something he even needed, but it just, wasn't there. Like a hole in his heart consuming everything else.

It hurt worse than the words and the beatings. It was the reason he cried himself to sleep every night, the reason why he felt so utterly alone and helpless. Would no one come? Would no one save him?

What did he need saving from? The woman? Or was it something else? Himself perhaps? Did he need to be saved from himself? The child didn't know, didn't want to know.

So lost in thought he was that he didn't even notice when she stopped yelling at him. The child didn't notice her frustrated (and disgusted) sigh. Soren yelped in pain when his head was jerked back suddenly.

"Ah! Foolish child, you can't even pay attention when I'm talking to you." She mumbled as she pulled him from the crude wooden chair by his long dark green hair. "Just go to your room and get out of my sight!" She shouted at the child as he was roughly thrown to the hard wood floor.

Quickly, Soren scrambled to his feet and made his way to his small 'room' which was devoid of any personal belongings. In fact the only thing in the room was a mat lying in the corner with a thin blanket covering it.

Such a place could hardly be called 'home' but, this was the only life the child had ever known. Soren sighed as he sat down in the corner of the dark room and buried his face in his arms as silent tears trickled down his face which would eventually give way to quiet, heartrending sobs as he neared sleep. He rocked himself back and forth as he hummed a soft, soothing tune which never failed to calm him down.

Soren didn't know why but whenever he sung that tune it was seemed to bring a little bit of warmth to his chest. Just a little. And every time he fell asleep to that comforting lullaby he felt as if there were gentle, comforting arms surrounding him as he slept. It was the only solace he had. The only thing that could not, would not, be taken from him. It was the only thing that kept him going.

He hated this. He hated the dark and cold room he was currently sleeping in. He hated thunder (though he didn't know why exactly). He hated that he could only feel those comforting arms at night because that woman couldn't care less if he suddenly contracted a rare and deadly disease. He hated that no one would come and rescue him from here. But, most of all, he hated that deep void in his heart were he knew there should be love.

Love, he didn't know what it meant exactly, but that simple word always brought a bit of warmth to his chest and a tear to his eye, for, that was the very thing that was missing in his life. He wanted somebody to wrap there arms around him and tell him that it would be okay when he had a nightmare. Wanted somebody to care enough to know where he was. But most of all he wanted body to love him despite his, no doubt numerous, faults.

But as he lay down wrapping the blanket around his too thin body, sobbing quietly, still trying to brokenly hum that same soft melody, a feeling of hopelessness crept upon him. Despair was a common thing in his life, but never had it been as great as it was now. He was void, like a container wanting to be filled, yet always remained empty. And that emptiness he felt was matched perfectly by the void in his heart.

If only there was someone willing enough to show compassion to the love-starved child, but there was no one. Otherwise it may have been alright. But it wasn't, and it would probably never be alright, the child realized as he once again cried himself to sleep, once again felt those warm arms wrap around him, and he once again failed to realize what those warm arms were.

It was an unconscious memory of what might have been.

So then, how was the Prologue? Any good? I'm not going to ask whether or not I should continue because I will anyway. YES, I will continue this, perhaps not right away (I still want to finish my other one) but I will continue it.