Hey Everyone! This is a simple AU I've been thinking of, Slightly inspired by GoldGuardian2418's story ' Finding the Happiness You Need!" Please go check out here work, and enjoy!
Balan Wonderworld belongs to The Balan Company!
TW FOR IMPLICATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE, THREATS OF CHILD MARRIAGE, AND CUSSING!
*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ
Leo started running, the mud caked on his shoes only slowing him down slightly, the raggedy remains of a basketball jersey and shorts he's wearing do nothing to shield him from the cold. His blonde hair is a mess, and flops in face, which has random bruises on his cheek, and a black eye. His blue eyes glance behind him. He saw the car lights before anything else, and immediately looked for a place to hide. Deciding on some nearby bushes, he crawls under those in the nick of time. The car illuminated the bush he was under, and he covered his mouth and nose.
An older man steps out of the car "Oh, Leo? Where are you~? Come to your uncle, and you won't be punished." there's no movement from the bushes.. nothing to indicate he may be there. The older man huffs " Little bastard must have run off somewhere else." He gets in the car, and looks at the woman driving "not here." The lady Huffs…and the car moves away."
Leo crawls out from under the bushes, panting softly "…gotta keep going.." he felt the money in his pocket "…can't stop…" he takes one last look around, and runs to the train station.
In another city, a few hundred miles from Leo, a young girl cries all alone in an attic. She's clearly dirty, and her blonde hair is a wreck. Also she has on is a dirty sun dress. Her green eyes are filled with tears. Her loud sobs seem to rattle her entire frame. They shut off to almost nothing, just a look of pure fear as the door opens. An imposing woman walks in, dressed in fine clothes, looking very annoyed at the girl's mere presence. The woman huffs, and glares at her "Stop your sniveling, He's a good man, and he'll make sure you're taken care of." Emma looks at her Stepmother "B-but.. he's almost forty, and…and I'm fifteen! Please, please let me speak to my father-" "Enough!" the older woman sighs "he's aware. He approved.. you'll be married in two weeks. You may be let out before then, if you behave." She walks out, leaving a small piece of bread on a table nearby, and locks the door.
Emma sobs and curls up in a ball, and stays like that for a bit.. eventually…the door opens again and as Emma prepares to hide, she's stopped by the site of the head maid. " Mary…?" she asks softly, and the woman nods " Miss Emma, the other maids and me have arranged an escape. We see that you can't stay here.." she places a hand on Emma's shoulder " Agatha will be taking you to the train station, with a one way ticket to your Mother's old house. The staff are still there…even though she has passed on." Emma hugs her, shaking "thank you, thank you!!" the maid nods, and hands her a large coat, which Emma puts on immediately. Mary leads her downstairs through a smaller staircase, and the head chef smiles at them both "Lady Emma, I felt so bad about giving you only bread so…please, take this.." he hands her a small package of food. Emma grins "I owe you all so much." She hugs the man, who hugs back "you Don't owe us anything, my dear." He smiles " you're a child…you deserve kindness." She nods, and takes the food, putting on the coat. Another maid, Agatha, runs in "Miss Emma, are you ready?" she nods, and with that, Is lead to the car
The train station is packed. Leo's never seen this many people in one place before, and certainly not at midnight. He takes the money out of his pocket…a whole thirty dollars, that he had crammed into an oatmeal can before his escape. Now, he exchanged ten of those dollars for a train ticket, and was (albeit reluctantly) let on board the train. When he went to his cabin, he saw a girl in a large coat sitting in another seat "Oh, Hello…" she smiles softly. He stiffens, but nods his head "hey…I'm with you for this train ride, I think." She smiles "okay! I promise I won't bite!* Leo nods, and sits across from her.
The silence continues well into the night. Both of them fall asleep, bit not before Leo learns his companion's name 'Emma'. He smiles softly. Maybe they'll see each other again sometime after this ride? As the train puffs Along, neither child notices a small pink puffball looking creature wander into the cabin. It sniffs Leo's hand, and then Emma's, seeming satisfied before stepping out into the hallway.
The train pulled into Bravissimo City at six am, and Emma wakes up first. She yawns, and looks out the window, watching the train come to a stop beside a modern looking station. The train itself is rather quiet, and it almost surprises her when people start arriving on the station. She looks over at Leo, and Moves to wake him. "Leo? Hey, the train stopped…you should probably get up.." she muttered, and the boy stirs
He opens one eye, and nods, yawning "..mmkay…I'm coming." He stands up, and stretches, making sure he still has cash "…I hope we can meet up again soon, Emma…and in better circumstances." He smiles, and she nods "me too! You seem simply lovely, Leo!"
He hugs her, very suddenly. The motion surprises them both, but Emma hugs back, smiling. "let's go."
Leo and Emma has parted ways, after Emma found her mother's head of staff. They had hugged again, and it had made Leo feel very happy.
He had twenty dollars left in his pocket, and he thought now would be a good time to try and find some new clothes. While he walked out of the station, and into the city proper, he noticed a thrift store a few from where he was, and decided to head in.
As he enters, be noticed a man sleeping behind the counter. He smiles, less questions he'll have to deal with. He walks into the clothing section, trying to find anything in his size, his eyes eventually falling on an old basketball jersey, and a pair of sports shorts. Leo grabs both of them, and a small hair brush near them. He's about to walk out when he notices a Blue headband on a table nearby. He looks it over, and shrugs, adding it to his tiny pile.
He eventually selects a small sleeping mat, and a worn looking blanket as well, and heads to the front, pulling the man from his slumber "oh.. terribly sorry, young man…" he yawns, and rings him up "Got a basketball game soon?" Leo nods…that's easier then explaining. By the time he steps outside, it's already almost dark again! He blinks, and counts his money "..ten dollars.." he walks around, Hoping to find something to eat.
Meanwhile, Emma had been taken to her mother's old mansion, that she owned before marrying her father. The head of House, Abigail, had helped her settle in. Now, she set out her new school uniform, and bag, trying not to think about everything she's run from. She sighs "…I hope the people at school aren't too…judgemental." She lays on the bed, in a night gown, after being bathed and fed…"I really hope Leo's okay too.." she closes her eyes, and folds her hands.. she's not really religious, but…she wants Leo to be looked out for while they're apart "..Dear…whoever is up there, please take care of Leo, the boy I met today, and make sure he's safe." She sighs. And looks at the ceiling ".. we'll meet again sometime, I know it!"
Leo had found a fast food joint, and had gotten himself a small meal. He sighs, and rolls out his sleeping mat in a secluded alley. Wrapping himself In his blanket on it, he looks at the sky "…dear God…if you're really listening, please, please look out for Emma…she needs it." He lays back ".. I'll look for her tommorow…" he yawns, and drifts into a dream less sleep.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure had watched them doze off. He had long, Cyan Dreadlocks, and skin the color of the night sky. He smiles, petting the same puffball creature from the train "I see your point, Little Tim…the theatre shall be poised to receive these two children as soon as possible!"
End of Chapter One
･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ*･ﾟ
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading this chapter! Two will be out as soon I can write it! Please read and Review. Thank you!