"This is impossible!" Eugene exclaimed as he pulled at his hair slightly before leaning his head against his makeshift desk, it was an old table that was in the abandoned house that Miguel and Tulio were currently living in. It was old, dusty and looked on the verge of falling apart but it was better than sleeping on the streets.
"I'm never gonna be able to read!" Eugene was being dramatic and he knew it but he was beyond frustrated. He had been trying to read for the last 5 minutes and he was still stuck on the first sentence!
"Kid, we literally just started. Calm down. You know Rome wasn't built in 5 minutes. What's wrong exactly?" Tulio asked, a little uncomfortable. He was alone with Eugene in his and Miguel's little hideout as Miguel went out to play his mandolin for money for the afternoon. He said it would be a good 'Bonding experience' for them, whatever that meant, but Tulio didn't feel right being alone with Eugene, he hadn't been around the kid alone before and he was worried that he'd say something wrong or upset him somehow.
Which he didn't want at all, the kid had grown on him and he didn't want him anything to happen to him, and he knew that Miguel would kill him if he drove Eugene away somehow.
"I don't know what this word says or means, I don't get it!" Eugene huffed as he held his head off the table. Pointing to the word he didn't understand, he began to tear up in frustration.
Tulio realised that his technique wasn't working, he planned to watch Eugene read the book first and see where he began to struggle. Unfortunately, it was very clear that Eugene couldn't read at all, he could understand small common words that you see practically everywhere, but other than that, he was lost.
He needed a new plan.
"Hey, hey, hey it's ok. It's all right, tell you what, why don't we try something different?" Tulio said as he gently brought the child in for a side hug, letting him lean against his side.
"How about I read the book to you? Then every time you hear a word you don't understand, or you don't know the meaning of, you can just stop and tell me you don't understand. Then I can explain, and then maybe I'll ask you some questions. Like, what does it start with? How does it sound? What does it rhyme with?
We could try that if you want. What do you say, do you want to try that?"
He didn't get a verbal answer, but Eugene did nod his head.
Tulio then picked up the book and Eugene and made his way towards the Old mattress that he and Miguel slept on, it wasn't the softest thing in the world but it was better than sitting on the floor.
He sat Eugene down on the mattress before sitting down himself, leaning his back against the wall, propping the book against his knees. He then felt something leaning on his chest, he saw that Eugene was cuddling his torso. He didn't know why but it made him feel something really warm in his chest, he smiled Softly down at the child as he opened the book. "You comfy there?" he asked playfully.
Eugene suddenly went red and pulled himself off, having just realised what he did, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I can just sit next to you if you don't want me to..." the boy said, embarrassed.
"I didn't say you weren't allowed to. I was just asking if you were comfy there. You can cuddle me if you want to, I'm not going to stop you." Tulio said, somewhat embarrassed himself. It still felt wired to be vulnerable in front of anyone other than Miguel. Though, for some reason, it didn't feel as weird to be vulnerable in front of Eugene. It's not like the kid ever judged him or Miguel for being together.
Eugene then slowly move forward and leaned against Tulio's chest. He took a few seconds before relaxing again, in both their minds, it might have been a little awkward but it felt nice.
Tulio then began to read the book, he had heard about the Flynn Rider series before as it was a popular children's book but he had never read one before.
Before long he encountered the word 'Atlantic' and Eugene stopped him.
His plan was working, Eugene wasn't as frustrated anymore and he was engaged in learning.
He would have this kid reading by himself in no time.
To say that Miguel was exhausted would be an understatement. He had spent the last 4 hours, playing his mandolin, singing and dancing for people so they would give him money.
But at least he had a hefty load, a lot of the people in this Kingdom are Rich enough to donate a couple of coins to Street performers and such, even the poor areas were much better here than the poor areas in Spain.
But then he found something horrible, a wanted poster. Of him and Tulio.
They had done some Petty theft when they first arrived because they assumed it was just like Spain, that the only way they would get money out of people, was to con them.
They didn't understand that people would give money to street performers, and now they were either going to be arrested for it or they had to leave, again.
It frustrated him so much he almost cried. Bouncing from place to place in Spain was easy, as he never felt a connection with anywhere.
But here was different.
Eugene was here.
They couldn't just leave him. He had grown on the both of them, even Tulio had warmed up to the kid. And that man had a lot of boundaries, Miguel loved him but he always has walls around him that he built in his head, to stop anyone from seeing him as vulnerable.
And Eugene had broken them, in less than a week!
Eugene was truly something special, he was kind, he was funny, he was incredibly smart, he could charm people to get whatever he wanted.
He was everything that Miguel ever wanted in a child, and now they were going to have to leave him.
Leave him all alone in an orphanage where bullies dictated the whole thing, they stole, pillaged and threatened anyone and everyone. There was no way he could leave him alone in that environment.
He had to do something.
He thought about this the whole time he walked home. It was starting to get dark which is why he left the square as people were turning in for the night.
He did the special knock to let Tulio know it was just him, but when he didn't get an answer he opened the door and what he saw made his heart swell.
He had left Tulio and Eugene alone that evening so Tulio could teach Eugene how to read, and what he saw was them both asleep. Tulio was leaning against the wall with one hand bearly gripping the Flynn Rider book is the other arm held Eugene to his chest, who was also asleep.
The image was just so precious that Miguel wished he could have kept it forever.
Tulio was always so particular about where he slept, he felt that sleeping was the most vulnerable a person could be, which was why he hated sleeping on the street or anywhere without Miguel. So to see him so peacefully asleep, with Eugene in his arms, made Miguel tear up with joy.
It was then that he remembered them wanted poster, it was then that he made a decision.
Eugene was coming with them. There was no doubt in his mind that Eugene was coming with them.
Eugene was their child. And he wasn't going to let anything separate them.
Miguel was so deep in thought that he almost didn't hear the creaking of the old floorboards. He looked up and saw that Tulio was just waking up.
"Oh... Miguel... Your back..." Tulio yawned, trying not to move too much.
"Yeah darling, it was getting dark so I decided to pack it in for the day. I got a good haul." Miguel said, putting his bag of coins on the table, not looking at him.
"Is everything ok?" Tulio asked, concerned with Miguel's odd behaviour.
"We have wanted posters out on us. I saw them today when I was coming home." Miguel said bluntly, there is no point hiding the truth.
"What?! Are you serious?" Tulio hissed, they hadn't stolen anything or conned anyone in a while. Why were there wanted posters of them out now?
"Yes, I'm serious. And I need to ask you something, something important." Miguel said, pointing to the other room.
Tulio was confused but nodded. Gently setting Eugene on the mattress, praying he wouldn't wake up.
He followed Miguel to what must have been a kitchen before the place was abandoned and became run down. He saw Migule looking out a window to the town, ok now he was acting really weird, well, weirder than usual.
He sighed, "Oh Miguel, what are we gonna do? We have maybe a few days before people start recognising us from the posters. Ok, we need supplies, we need directions to the closest town over, Altivo is still in that stable right? Ok, we need to get him ready to go-"
"What about Eugene?" Miguel asked in the middle of his rant, cutting him off.
...Tulio didn't think about that, if he was honest he didn't want to.
He sighed deeply once again. "We're going to have to tell him..."
"Tulio, do you like Eugene?" Miguel asked, continuing to stare out of the window.
"What kind of question is that. Of course, I like the kid. I wish we could take him with us but we can't, can't we?"
"Well, why can't we?" Miguel said, finally turning around and looking Tulio in the eye.
"What!? Miguel, you can't be serious! I know you like that kid, hell I'd say you even love him, but we can't just take him with us!" Tulio exclaimed. Already upset with the situation, he didn't need Miguel's crazy idea making things worse.
"Yes Tulio, I am serious! Tell me exactly why we cannot take Eugene with us." Miguel argued.
"Oh well I don't know, maybe the fact it'll be considered kidnapping."
"It's not kidnapping if it's willing."
"People are not going to see it like that, Miguel please don't argue with me on this. Yeah, I love the kid too but we can't rush into this. Please be rational here, the kid will slow us down. He'll be another mouth to feed and we struggle to feed ourselves as it is.
And besides, you know how hard it was for us to live on the streets by ourself when we were kids, do you want that for Eugene? I know it might not seem like it but the orphanage is the best place for him. I hate this just as much as you too but you have to admit that we just can't take Eugene with us."
After that there was a long silence, Tulio hoped that he got through to his partner but when Miguel lifted his head up, all he saw were the tears in Miguel's eyes.
"But... I love him... Please... He's our son Tulio."
Tulio was crying now but now he was just angry with himself, he should have known it would have ended this way. He should have known it would all end in tears if he got attached to that kid.
He was so stupid...
"Miguel, If we take him with us he'll be nothing but a burden! And we can't handle a burden right now! Face it, he's not our son and he never will be our son!" Tulio screamed, his words echoed throughout the house.
It was then that he heard a faint sobbing, coming from behind him.
He turned and saw that Eugene was standing at the door. He had tears running down his face... and he looked so hurt. He could see the betrayal in the child's eyes.
His heart sank.
Eugene had just heard his rant. He had heard all of it.
Neither man had the chance to say anything before the child ran away, out the door. The door slam also echoed throughout the house and caused some debris to fall from the ceiling.
Tulio just on looked in horror...
What had he done?...
Eugene couldn't see where he was going, but he didn't care. He only wanted to get as far away from the house as possible. He had woken up to people talking, he could tell exactly who it was. Miguel was home! Eugene was so excited to tell him about all he had learnt today.
He got up and ran to the door but then he heard the yelling. It was only when he got right up to the door that he could hear what was being said.
"Miguel, if we take him with us he'll be nothing but a burden! And we can't handle a burden right now! Face it, he's not our son and he never will be our son!"
Those words reverberated in his head. Which made him cry even more.
Why would Tulio say those things? He wasn't a burden, was he?
He thought that he was getting along Great with the two, Tulio especially since he taught him how to read his book.
Were they doing it out of pity? Had they done everything they'd done for him out of pity?
He thought he found people who really cared about him, not just pitied him.
He guessed he was wrong.
Nobody could ever really care about him.
He was just a stupid kid.
When he finally got tired enough to stop running, he saw that he was near the outside of the city. He could hear the water from the sea that surrounded the Kingdom.
He also realised that he was completely lost.
Great, he had just found out that the two people he thought cared about him were liars and now he was lost.
He leaned against a nearby building in buried his face in his knees, crying his eyes out.
It was then that he heard a whinny
A horse whinny.
He looked up and saw that there was a stable right next to where he was leaning.
He also saw that a Horse was looking down at him, they were a white horse with a long grey mane and tail.
He gasped and moved back out of fright.
But calmed down once he realised that the horse was just looking down at him.
"Oh, uh...Hi?" He said, not sure what to do.
The horse just continued to stare. It made Eugene a little nervous, he didn't know why but he never seemed to get along with horses. Eugene slowly stepped closer and put his hand out to the horse's nose, he gave it a little timid stroke but flinched when the horse sniffed him.
He was shocked, however, when the horse suddenly reached out and gave his face a big lick.
"Ewww!" Eugene laughed. While it was gross, at least the horse was friendly.
He wiped the horse spit from his face and his tears dried, now distracted from his troubles.
It was then that the horse moved its feet and Eugene saw the flash of something, he suddenly got down and looked at the horseshoes.
They were made of gold, not the fake kind but, pure gold.
And then he remembered something, from when he first met Tulio and Miguel. They said they had a horse, one that used to be a War Horse that they took to Eldorado with them.
Could it be? What was his name again?
"...Altivo?" said Eugene slowly, watching for any reaction the horse might give.
The horse's ears pricked up, his attention was now on Eugene fully.
"Altivo?" Eugene said again, this time the horse got excited. He whinnied and nodded his head. He understood him, this had to be Altivo!
"Hey boy! Wow, I've heard so many stories about you and now you're here. Heh... No matter what I do I can't get away from them..." Eugene said sadly, as he leaned against the stable Gate.
"I was hoping I'd get to meet you one day, I just didn't expect it to happen like this... You know your owners are mean. They were going to go somewhere, but they didn't want to take me because I'd be a Burden. Well, I'm not a burden!" Eugene then slammed the side of the stable wall with his fist in anger.
Unknowingly shaking a poster from its tack. As it floated to the ground, he noticed it.
He picked it up and what he saw made his jaw drop. It was a wanted poster, with Tulio's and Miguel's faces on it, there was a reward for 50 gold pieces for them.
...Is that why they wanted to go? They couldn't stay because they were wanted? He then remembered how he met them.
They were conning people. Someone must have told the guards and they put out a warrant for their arrest.
They needed to leave so they didn't get arrested...
Suddenly, it all makes sense.
But that still didn't explain why Tulio said those things...
Altivo reached over and his licked face again before moving over to a pile of hay and lying down on it, before tapping the ground with his hoof. Like he was motioning him to lie down with him.
Eugene was lost, it was dark and it looked like it was going to rain. What other option did he have?
So he quickly hopped the fence and his way inside the stable. He stood above the horse and cautiously leaned down and laid on the horse's side, Altivo didn't seem to mind and even affectionately nudged the boys head. It was like he could tell he was under a lot of emotional pain.
He could tell though, Altivo wasn't just a dumb horse.
Eugene was once again woken up to the sound of voices. They were coming from outside the stable.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" a very familiar muffled voice was heard outside, Tulio.
"Tulio, if we have Altivo we can cover more ground more effectively." Miguel was heard.
"No. I mean, do you really think I should come?"
"Yes, Tulio. Once you explain the situation I'm sure Eugene will understand, I hope..."
Were, they talking about him? They sounded exhausted.
Had they been looking all night?
Why? He didn't understand why they would look for someone they didn't care about.
"But what if he doesn't forgive me? I said some horrible things, things I never meant! I was just so upset, we finally find a child that we connect with and then we have to leave them behind all because we stupidly thought this place was like Spain!..." Tulio could be heard holding back tears. It was hard for Eugene to hear, the Tulio he knew was confident, grumpy but a dedicated teacher. To hear him holding back tears, it was hard, it felt like a punch to the gut.
"Tulio, you made a mistake. I've seen you when you get like that, you get so frustrated or upset at something, that you try pushing me away. Now I've learnt to deal with it and Eugene will too, you just have to give him some time. I promise." Miguel comforted.
But Eugene was confused, what did Miguel mean by 'He would learn to deal with it'?
"But what if he doesn't want to come with us? After everything I said, I wouldn't blame him... I can't believe I said all those things. I really do want him to come with us, I was just worried about the consequences of just taking a child and being parents..."
...They want to be his parents?
It seemed like all the noise outside, disturbed Altivo from his slumber as he started to roll over, scaring the life out of Eugene as he quickly stood up to avoid being crushed before he tripped and fell backwards out of the stable and into the view of Tulio and Miguel.
It was silent for a good 5 seconds before Miguel rushed over to see if he was ok. "Eugene! Here let me check your head...Ok, it's not bleeding, that's good..." Miguel cradled his head before bringing him into a hug, which Eugene returned... He liked hugs.
He looked up to see Tulio, standing back, as usual, Eugene could see in his eyes that he wanted to say something but before he did, Eugene cut him off.
"You don't need to say anything. I heard everything you guys just said. Is it true? You guys want to take me with you when you leave, be my... My dad's?"
Tulio then leaned down and brought Eugene in for a hug. "Yes, yes Eugene that's all we want. And I'm so sorry for the things I said, I didn't mean them it all I was just upset because I thought we were going to lose you." Tulio then cupped the child's face in his hands, leaning his forehead against Eugene's. "I thought I was going to lose the closest thing I ever had to a son, and I got so scared and upset that I tried to deny that I cared at all but that's not true. We love you Eugene so much and again I'm sorry... Can you ever forgive me?" Both man and boy were crying at the end of the emotional speech before Eugene smiled widely.
"I'll think about it while we're on the road," It was a yes in almost every way and Tulio and Miguel couldn't be more overjoyed. "Just one question though," Eugene added.
"Anything, anything you want Eugene," Miguel said, forming a group hug.
"What am I going to call you guys? Calling you guys by your names would be weird now."
Nobody was sure why, but that caused everyone to burst out into hysterical laughter.
Miguel and Tulio never thought they would have to have this conversation, what were the children going to call them?
Eugene never thought he would have to ask this kind of question, what was he to call his new parents?
After at least 5 minutes of tear-inducing laughter, everything's settled down before Miguel spoke up. "You can call me Dad."
Tulio then piped up, "And you can call me Papa."
"Dad and Papa... I think that'll work."
To say that Eugene was happy, would be the understatement of the century. He never thought that he could even have the chance to be this happy.
"Ok kid listen since you're coming with us, you're going to need a new name. We don't want people to think that we kidnapped you, so what do you want your name to be?"
Did they really have to ask?
"Flynn Rider."