This is my first fic, English is not my first language. Sorry for the mistakes. A little bit of flirting between Emma and Rubi but this is Swanqueen fic. A reminder that I don't own any of the characters.
I knew I had to keep running. My lungs were about to give in and my feet were starting to feel like I was running a 5k marathon. I hurry and run towards a dark alley to escape whoever is following me. I had a feeling that someone was watching me and following me for days, but just moments ago I confirmed it when the guy made the mistake of taking a picture of me in the middle of an interview with one of the key witness of the Bay Hook's Massacre. The moment our eyes cross path we both knew both our cover were blown. I keep running not just to save myself but to keep safe the lives of those who are helping me find the truth about the massacre.
I end up in the back of a Junkyard filled with cars and trucks, in my mind I'm hoping that there are no dogs inside otherwise I wouldn't know what was best, to be killed by the person who is chasing me or to be eaten by a pack of savage dogs. A few cars away I see an old SUV and when I'm there I enter in the trunk. The whole SUV smells like a hoarder's house. I try to control my breathing because it makes me think that my stalker might hear me and kill me, fortunately, I hear the person that was chasing me running in a different direction. I am safe, I will stay here a little longer just to be sure.
When I'm about to make my exit, I notice that I'm not the only one inside the SUV. In the middle row in a pile of trash I can see a small figure in a fetal position immobile, maybe whoever it is it's dead, maybe that's where the rotting smell is coming from. Ever the curious I check to see if it's dead but when I get closer I notice it's a boy. It looks like a four-year-old boy all dirty and malnourished. Why would a small boy be sleeping in an abandoned car? Where are his parents? Who would leave a small child to fend for himself? I knew who would, in an instant all her childhood memories came back, memories I had spent all her life trying to forget. I myself was left to fend alone in this world when I was just a baby, abandon in the side of a road with just a blanket to keep her warm, just a few hours after birth.
The boy stirs and opens his eyes and when he sees me looking at him he can't help the way his eyes open wide as an expression of fear. He can't move, I smile to let him know I am not going to hurt him. He is still scared, I try to convince him that he is going to be ok. "Hi," I tell him, I know how frightened he is because I've been in his place. So, I decided to try again. "I was playing hide and seek but it appears that you've already picked this spot". That did it because he instantly gave a 10,000 watts smile. I don't know what it is about him, maybe is the fact that he is going throw the same thing as me, maybe it was his appearance, dark brown hair, pale white skin, big beautiful eyes that can't hide what he is feeling, but I feel that I need to do anything I can to help him they way no one help me when I was his age.
"All this hide and seek has made me hungry, I would kill for a burger and fries. Would you join me? Come on it's my treat". In that exact moment a sound emerges from his tummy telling me that I was right, he is hungry. He still hasn't said a word but gets up and stretches his hands asking me to take his. I help him get out of the SUV and when he hits the ground he starts walking. I follow him, I don't know where he wants to take me, but I am right behind him. He stops when we get to the sidewalk and looks both ways before crossing the street. These things happen when kids grow alone with no one to take care of them. If I had parents I would've been one of those kids that cross the street without looking no matter how many times they tell you to look both ways or the kind that opens the door to strangers when their parents tell them not to. We learn to do thing by ourselves, it a survival instinct.
He keeps walking and I following close behind and my mind can't stop thinking of how this world is filled with injustice. How some people have it so easy, they have parents that love them, food on the table every day, bed in a big house to sleep comfortable in cold nights, and how others don't. I remember when I escaped home after home because they used to beat me up for no reason or the males in the household started getting a little bit touchy, staring at me with eyes that they weren't supposed to look at little girls. I always resented when people said that the best stage was childhood, or their best moments where when they were little because they didn't have to worry about anything.
They said it because they never went to bed hungry, or sleep in a bench or under parks bleachers, they never had to look inside the garbage cans for clothes or food, they never had to steal food. They were lucky. The boy suddenly stops, and I am back to the present world, I didn't even notice that they walked almost five blocks and were in front of a small diner with a sign claiming to have the juiciest burgers in the whole district. He points to a big image of a plate with a burger, fries, milkshake, and soda. He is showing her what he wants, he is not shy he just doesn't talk. As we make it inside the diner in search of an empty table I realizes that maybe the boy is deaf, but then I think of the way he reacted when I offered him food and reason that the boy must have gone through some major drama, maybe he was still in shock.
He finds a table and takes a seat and searches around like he is waiting for someone to meet, a few seconds later comes a tall brunette with a sole streak of red hair, big round blue eyes, with a smile like a cat that ate a mouse. She was gorgeous, it was impossible to not notice the long legs and the short skirt and those five-inch black fuck me heels. Who could work a shift at a diner in those and not cry during work? She smiles at the boy like she knows him and when she addresses him, I knew I was right, he was waiting for her that's why he was looking around when he sat.
"Hi Henry," she said with a bright smile and glances at me longer than it is appropriate, I can't stop feeling uncomfortable, she is looking at me like she wants to eat me. If I knew any better I'd say she found me attractive, and I knew better so I smile at her back, looked her stray in the eyes and smirked.
"So, you guys know each other," I asked her smiling. "Of course, Henry here is our best customer, comes for breakfast, lunch and dinner but it's not as often as I would like". She says looking at him, and he understands because he is blushing. At that second, I can't help to think he looks younger, happier. My powers of deduction tell me that he has a crush and I can't blame her, she is beautiful. No just beautiful she is hot beautiful, the type that can get away with making you do whatever she wants. She is the type that screams adventure, you had to be careful because she gave the vibe that she could make anyone pay all her bills and you couldn't be mad at her for rejecting you after.
"My name is Ruby," she said. "I've never seen you here, and I would remember a pretty blonde like you anywhere". I was about to return the compliment, but Henry must've been extremely hungry or jealous because he talked for the first time. "I want a burger with fries a strawberry milkshake and coke please, this lady says it's her treat." She looks at me looking for a confirmation and when I smile she starts writing it down. "I will like the same but chocolate shake and large fries. Also, add bacon to the burger, I'm starving. That's all". She finishes taking the order and leaves telling us that it will only take a few minutes.
"So, your name is Henry, my name is Emma, but you could call me Em, all my friends do." He doesn't talk. I try again. "How old are you? I bet you are 10?" I know he must be like four or five years old, but I want to get a reaction out of him, make him have a conversation. He still doesn't, he is staring at me and he is not scared anymore, but he doesn't talk. "How long have you been playing hide and seek? I bet you win a lot that was a good hiding place." Still no answer, but I am not giving up, this kid needs me. "Once I was playing hide and seek, I hid so well they couldn't find me, they gave up looking for me after the first hour, but they forgot about me, so I stayed hidden for 4 hours."
Nothing, not a single word. Rubi came back with the food and place it on the table. "I added a lot of cheese just the way you like it kiddo" and he smiles. "Thanks," I say, and Rubi starts to walk away but then comes back and says. "Is there anything more I can do for you? Can I get you anything else?" She has a big smile on her face and the flirting back full force, I feel flattered. "Yeah, maybe I could get your number, you know for lunch purposes." I can flirt back too. She takes a napkin from the table and writes her number down. When I'm about to grabs it, she takes it away and laughs. "I can't give my number to a stranger. I don't even know your name." I smile and say. "How uneducated of me, my name is Emma, you can call me Em. Can I have the napkin Rubi?" At this point, I am all in flirt, eyes, and smile. "Now that I know your name, yes, and you can call me Red". The bubble was burst again by an old lady behind the counter yelling. "Ruby stop trying to get peoples numbers and start working, that's what I pay you for". She walks ways with a bright smile on her face. "Bye Emma, wee you later Henry." We both wave goodbye.
"You should wipe all that drool going down your mouth Emma, my mom says it's unbecoming to stare at people." It's the first thing Henry said to me. He is smiling, what a little brat. "You are making fun of me now Henry? And where is your mom anyway?". When the question left my mouth Henry's reaction change from funny to serious. He looked to the side, noticing the cars and the people passing by silence stretches after a long pause he said, "She is dead, she was killed by a really bad man." I just knew he was telling the truth, my superpower told me. He was alone in this world, just as I was all those years ago. I realize at that moment that I needed to do anything in my power to help this kid, I need to find a family for him, something that was never done for me.