A/N: Starts off with approx ages reader 8 and Din 10. Story starts off with this young child POV intentionally and will mature. If you don't want to read when they're younger, chapter 5 is when the tone gets more mature (but will lose out on backstory).
You were always told not to go into the secret hallway behind the bookcase unless it was an emergency. You had only run "drills" where you got to learn how to open the entrance (third shelf, tip the book about bones forward just a little) and stand just behind it and practice being very quiet.
Sometimes, you would see Mama bring down a tray full of supplies down and were told to tell anyone that came by that she was busy and to come back later. If they were really hurt, you knew how to comm her and to stop bleeding (gloves and lots of pressure) but that was about it right now. She promised she would teach you everything as you got older.
One day, she is taking too long. No one is very sick but there was a big accident and lots of people are waiting outside. Some of them are big and scary and getting mad that Mama isn't there. You don't want to talk to them so you pull the book down and go hide behind the bookcase.
You wait there for a long time but Mama doesn't come back. You think you hear sniffling and you don't think it's coming from you. It's dark but you bravely take the steps down into what looks like a tunnel. It's dirty but there's light further down and you can see someone sitting there. You walk slowly closer and closer and it looks like a boy, maybe a little older than you, with dark brown hair curled up with his knees against his chest sniffling.
"Hi, are you hurt?" You ask quietly, concern lacing your voice.
The boy looks up quickly at you and dries his eyes with the back of his hand. He avoids looking at you and says, "No" defensively. He isn't sure what you are doing there and he doesn't want anyone to see him crying.
"Oh. That's good. My name's . My Mama's the doctor here. If you're hurt, I can help you! Or get my Mama to help...one day I'm going to be a doctor just like her!" You say enthusiastically.
The boy is still quiet, a bit startled by your over exuberant response to his one word answer. He peeks at you out of the corner of his eye and tries to calm himself. You're a good distraction and you think he's stopped sniffling and is breathing more steadily.
"What's your name?" You ask kindly.
The boy continues to say nothing. He's not sure if he should answer; he's never seen you before but has heard about your mother from the others. He heard your mother was called to help with someone but no one ever spoke of you.
There's a long stretch of silence and eventually you sit down next to him in the exact same position, legs curled to your chest.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. I'll sit and wait with you until your parents come," you say softly.
Your simple acceptance of his silence startles him. He didn't expect that. He thought you would demand his name or leave. After some time, when you both start to hear footsteps coming from the light end of the tunnel, you hear him whisper, "Din. My name's Din."