It was a calm autumn night. Owls could be heard and the moon cast an eerie silhouette across the trees. A light breeze ruffled the colorful leaves fallen from the trees across the dimly lit parking lot. Small cracks covered the aged concrete and dull, faded paint chipped away to almost nothing, leading up to the brick building. From the outside looking in, the old store seemed like a nice, warm place to shop, buzzing about with friendly faces.
"Marge's Convience Stop" was hanging above the door in bright yellow neon lights. A thin blanket of dust laid on it. Located miles away from any major city, Marge's recieved quite a lot of business from the country side. Offering everything from 15 minute oil changes, to liquor, hot meals, additional parking in the back for truck drivers, a showering station, and 6 gas pumps. On the top of the shop, sitting further to the back, was an additional story. This was the living quarters of the owner and his grand daughter, Eugene and Magie Bergeron.
Eugene is an elderly man, burly and stout. He has the complex of a wise gremlin. Always tinkering with things and always in a bad mood. He stores his smaller tools in his long, white beard and his thin framed glasses are cracked. His quirk is Tools. His hands can transform into just about any tool he is familiar with. His grand daughter Magie was 4 at the time. Her sunshine hair fell like waves cascading down her back. She was short for her age. Very shy. Very timid. Nothing brought a bigger smile to Eugene's face than watching Magie use her mothers quirk, Light. Magie can clap her hands together to create a beacon of light of which you have never seen. Magie is his angel.
They moved from America to Japan because it was Marks deceased wife's dream. Marge always wanted to see the lands and learn the culture. She brought radiance into the world. She was graceful and delicate. Her beauty, in Eugenes eyes, only rivaled by Magie. Magies mother and father perished in and auto accident, leading the duo to where they are today.
Eugene was getting older. His bones weaker. His strength depleteing. It became too much for him to run the shop on his own. After copious amounts of Eugenes customers nagging, Eugene finally decided to slow things down and hire an assistant.
Applicants came in from residents that lived close by, but none were up to Eugenes standards. Most applicants that applied could have been hired by any normal standard. They were just not what he was looking for.
That calm autumn night, there came a loud knocking at the door. Disgruntled and grumpy, Eguene made his way to the door, grabbing his shotgun along the way. He was wearing only his dirty oil stained pants held up by one suspender. His white curly chest hair tangled in his beard. His pipe hanging out his mouth. Standing on his tip toes he glaced through the peep hole. He saw two young, muscular men wearing suits and glasses. In between them stood a young, sad girl wearing rags. She looked lost and alone.
He invited them in at gunpoint. Eugene did not like these men. You do not just willy nilly bang on someone's door at the middle of the night.
"whadda you want." his voice was low and gritty.
Magie poked her petite frame out her bedroom door. "Pop-pop? What are you doing?"
Eugene, not batting a lash. "Magie, now you just go one back to sleep baby. Pop-pop got some business to deal with."
Her hurried feet across the wooden floors signaled that they may resume.
Magie laid in bed for what felt like forever. Pop-pop only took out his gun if strangers came poking their nose. While laying curled up in a ball, laying under an old quilt, she could hear the mumbles of the men. Her open door showed their silhouettes.
"And what makes you think I shouldn't end it right here! Her father is a terrorist to existence! There is only one good place for scum like that! IN HELL!" He bellowed.
Magie curled up even tighter. Tears flowing like rivers. She eventually cried herself to sleep.
Morning light broke through her window. Birds were chirping. Today was a clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight. Magie rolled out of bed, already forgetting the nights events. Her old nightgown dragging the floor.
"Pop-pop! Are you awake!" she called from room her room.
His abrasive voice could be heard from the dining area along with the fragrant smell of blueberry pancakes. "Yeah sunshine, come get yer breakfast." His voice sounded different. It sounded tired and hoarse.
Magie trotted to the dining room without a thought on it. Magie went up to her usual spot at the table. It had a red and white checkered table cloth and many plates of pancakes. Eugene would never make so many.
"Wow Pop-pop! This sure is a lot of pancakes!" Magie sat in awe with drool falling from her mouth.
sniff.
The noise caught Magie off guard. She looked around the tower of pancakes and saw Eugene. He was in his usual morning attire. Oil stained jeans, button down shirt, and suspenders. He was embracing a girl and stroking her wavey, black hair, like he would do when Magie felt sad. She looked as though she had just finished crying. This made Magie feel uncomfortable.
"Come here sunshine." he sighed. " I want yer ta meet somebody."
Magie hoped down from her chair and timidly made her way to Eugene. She eyed the girl suspiciously.
" Magie, I want ya ta meet Muse. She will be staying with us for a while." When the girl heard this, it brought down another wave of emotion and tears spilled.
"There, there now." He cooed. Eugene continued to hold Muse as her world fell down around her.
"I'm Magie." She said shyly. "you wanna be friends?"
The teenager laughed. Tears falling from her smiling face. "yes." she choked out.
Magie, Eugene, and Muse held each other until the birds stopped chirping and Muse stopped crying.
This was 12 years ago...