Author's Note
Lincoln
"Lincoln, Where are you?" A gruff voice reverberates off of the old and faded walls of the boys bedroom, causing the boy to cower at first. The boy himself, hidden in his closet, peeks out through the slits of the door, staring at the large, and imposing figure of his 'father', as he knocks over some trinkets on his bedside table. "Get out here boy!"
The boy leaned back against the back of his closet, trying to stay as quiet as he could, hoping against hope that the male wouldn't find him. His body jumped with each item in his room that was smashed and broken, by the man that had taken him in.
Without warning, light filled his little sanctuary, as the closet door was wrenched open, causing him to squeeze his eyes closed, against the intruding light.
"You think you can hide from me, boy?" The voice came again, sending chills down his spin, "Look at me boy!"
He opened his eyes, and started up at the large man that was his guardian. The person tasked with keeping him safe, or so he wished. He almost didn't even remember what it was like to be protected and cared for. But that wasn't what the man intended for him the boy noticed as he looked to the belt in the mans hand. The boy didn't even have a chance to protest before that belt came down.
...
Jolting awake, the boy sat up. Looking around frantically, hoping to avoid the belt, until realizing that he was in the alley. He was safe, or at least safe from 'him'. Living on the streets, you were never actually safe. He sighed out in relief as he noticed that he was cold. The fire had burnt out, and the metal trash can. His nerves still jittery, he tossed more paper into the can, along with a few more pieces of scrap wood, before tossing in a match. In a couple minutes, his little alcove was much warmer, enough that he could sit there, and think,
'God, it had been a while since he had a nightmare.' He thought to himself, realizing that it had been a few weeks since he had last had a nightmare like that. Around the same time that he had found the abandoned house. It could have been the fact that he felt safer there, and maybe being in an alley made him feel scared and helpless while he slept.
'Why am I even here?' He wondered to himself, still partially asleep, before yesterday's event crept back into his mind.
'Did I really save a girl from three thugs?' He sighed, looking to his side, seeing the wooden case next to him. 'Yeah, I did. Stupid.'
Though, remembering yesterday's event did make him remember his backpack of food. He pulled out what appeared to be fried chicken. Based on it's shape, he assumed tenders. Well, he had never been picky, but sometimes knowing what your eating is comforting, looked around him, finding a metal coat hanger, cleaning it off best he could with his shirt, which didn't make it much better, but stuck the metal wire into the tender, and sitting it on the top of the trashcan. Normally he didn't mind if his food was cold, but he was hoping for something warm inside him, if he planned on finding that girl today.
He did know that the girl's sister who found them in the alley, was Luna Loud, so odds were the girl he saved would be around today. If not, he might be able to drop the creepy doll off with the sister. Hoping that she wouldn't remember him.
Once his body was warmed, he stood up stretching, his back popping, along with other joints in his arms in legs, stretching out the stiffness that comes from sleeping on the cold hard ground. Taking in his surroundings now that it was light. He was behind the dumpster, The space was big enough for him and the trashcan, and the dummy's box. The sides apparently were only big enough to bring the can back. That's at least good. And he had a clear view of the alley before him. This seemed to be a great place to hide. If he ever came out here again, and stayed late. This would be a good spot to stay in.
Shouldering his backpack, and picking up the case, he decided to start his day. He grabbed his now warm chicken tender, biting into it, savoring the flavor. Even if it did have a slight woody flavor.
...
It was early morning and the streets were not that populated. Feeling the weight of the case in his hand he starts thinking of a plan to find the owner of said case. He walked down the street passing a cafe, as four people were getting up and leaving the outdoor table. His eyes spot the couple of twenties on the table as he approached. He felt bad about it, so when he reached out, he only swiped one of the bills before picking up his pace, leaving the other. At least he wouldn't feel too bad, though he did feel bad. For the person to be left forty dollars, they must have done an amazing job. Though, he told himself, the person would be happy it helped someone in need, if they knew. Though, that was just what he told himself.
He walked past a poster that he turned back and caused him to look again. That purple outfit caught his attention. That t-shirt with the skull design, the familiar face from the previous poster, and from the girl in the alley. He stared at it, and had to admit she was a beautiful girl, he shook his head. Morning was rough on him these past few weeks, his mind kept getting distracted. He brought his attention back to the poster, he read the information.
Luna Loud, meeting fans, and doing autographs 4pm.
The boy sighed, seeing that he would have to wait until tomorrow. What was he supposed to do for an entire day, plus a few hours. Since he had already eaten, he decided to go and grab a drink. With the twenty that he had lifted, it brought him up to a grand total, of twenty-five dollars. Yeah, he was flushed with cash. To be fair, it was more than he normally carried. He went to one of the vendors that was starting to open, and stood in front of the window. It was obvious that they were still preparing, and he had nothing better to do, so he just waited.
Once the person noticed him standing there, they looked a little surprised, then apologetic. Explaining that the food was no where near ready, as they had just gotten there. To which he explained that all he was looking for at that moment was a drink, that he could wait. Which he didn't have to as the drinks served here were canned, and could be bought. He thanked them, and made his way to the park, sitting on a bench, enjoying his soda, and finishing off the rest of his chicken.
Looking over to the fountain across from him, he noticed the people that had gathered around it, taking pictures, meeting up with friends, and worse, throwing coins in the water. Waste of perfectly good money if you asked him.
While looking around at the people, who were going about their way. He noticed on guy that seemed to be glancing around, looking this way and that, before his eyes locking onto something in the park. He followed the gaze of the male to see a girl not much taller than him. Brown hair, much different from his own stark white. She was wearing a red and white jersey with a pair of matching shorts that she was wearing. Her face was scrunched up in what looked like anger, or frustration. Maybe she had noticed the pervert watching her. Or at least he had thought so, until he realized she was focused on kicking a soccer ball against a nearby tree with enough force it shook a little. In the trees defense the tree wasn't that big, but then again, it was taking a beating.
Turning his attention back to Pervy McPervpants, he notices that he had gotten up and was starting to make his way over to the girl with the soccer ball. He had a gleam in his eye, and apparently based on the front of his pants, he wasn't planning anything innocent.
Once again, the boy was at war with himself. He could ignore this, and go about his business, and then have to wonder what happened to the girl. Or he could once again, step in and stop this. He didn't need the reputation as someone who meddles in other people's business. He had already put a bullseye on his back helping that girl yesterday, if those thugs were to spot him. Though, he had to admit, that the feeling of pride he felt knowing that he helped the girl yesterday did feel good to him. He hadn't felt that good in a long while.
Taking a deep breath he I decide to keep up my streak of helping another random person, he quickly stuffs his bag and case in a nearby bush, before running over to the girl as fast as he feet could carry him.
Once He reached the girl, he noticed that the creeper stopped in his tracks staring at him. There was a look of anger on his face before he turned around and walked away, seemingly now whatever he was planning wasn't worth the effort now that someone else was around. Who knows what the creep had planned.
"What do you want, Kid?" he heard a angry, and frustrated voice from his side. He had almost forgotten the reason he was deterring the male.
"Oh, I, uh, j-just came over here to check if you were alright." He looked over to the tree that had been the focus of her attention, and frustration, "You look like something was bothering you. S-So, I was just curious."
"I'm fine," She mumbles to herself, casting her gaze to the boys farther down the field. He could almost feel the resentment coming off the female. "Just stupid boys thinking they are better than me! I could cream them if they let me play."
It didn't make much sense to him. He saw the tree she was pulverizing with that soccer ball. This sporty girl had to be very talented at this sport. Maybe that was the reason they didn't want this girl to play. Because they were afraid to get 'creamed' by a girl. Now that he was here, he couldn't just leave her alone. He had interfered, and he worried if he left, Pervypants would come back. So, he internally sighed as he decided to step up.
"Can uh, I-I play w-with you?" He asked feeling weird asking a complete stranger if they wanted to play soccer. But at the same time, she had a ball, was mad the boys didn't wanna play. So maybe this would make her feel better.
"Oh, your on! I've been dying for someone to play against, since none of my sisters would. After those idiot weiner waggers I've been itching to show off my skills." she quickly exclaims, before grabbing her ball, and leading him to a vacant net. My smile slid off my face as he look into the girls eyes. What he could only describ as pure competitiveness stared back at him. There was this fierce fire in those eyes, and it was at that moment, he knew he didn't stand a ice cubes chance in the desert, at winning.
He wasn't wrong, after about five goals in he realized the full extend of his mistake challenging this girl to a game of soccer. Everytime he tried to retaliate and get a goal for himself, he easily works the ball from his possession, then quickly scores on him. It was happening enough, that it was getting old fast. Though, the cute little victory dance she did afterwards, did make him smile. Not that he would tell her that, she didn't seem to be the kind of girl that wanted to be called cute.
The girl was about to score again, when a huge van pulls up next to the field, with it's window rolled down. Inside he saw an older blonde stick her head out the window, a phone pressed to her ear.
"Lynn Loud Jr, you better get your ass in this van, it's literally time to go." the blonde shouts out, from the van.
"Hey kid, thanks for playing with me, even if it wasn't much of a challenge." The girl has this cocky smile on her face before continuing. "Hey, thanks for the assist with that creep coming over to me, I could have totally kicked his balls into his throat, but it was nice not to have to."
Once she was in the can, the last thing he heard was her saying, "You know moms rule about you driving the van. No phone while driving. Not tryna die today."
He smiled to himself as something the blonde had said that hit him like a ton of bricks. Did she say Lynn Loud? Loud? The case! He ran back to the case opening it and reading over the messages. There it was, third to the last. Lynn Loud. He just missed the chance to return this thing. He slaps his forehead, if he had thought about it sooner, he could have unloaded the case, and went about his business.
Cursing to himself, he decides to head back to thee plaza to kill some time and he supposed to lift a bit more money by pick pocketing some strangers. Maybe buy something for dinner. There was the hot dog stand. He had food, but it would be nice to eat something fresh for once.