Chapter Text
Children were cruel.
Not an opinion, nor a way to comfort herself. But rather, a fact. Children were cruel but it was mostly due to the way they were brought up. It was either a close person who helped the cruelty grow or the environment that was shaping them.
Her body nearly hurled itself forward when she first noticed the tormenting. It was miniature, nothing to worry about.
(She was just far too sensitive)
After all, kids would mess around with others all the time. But she noticed how the group of kids stopped pointing at the lone kid sitting on the bench and instead, got up.
A worried whine escaped from her as she watched the way the supposed ‘leader’ of the group started pushing at the raven head’s shoulder. She took a step away from the tree she was hiding behind when the ‘leader’ grew more violent.
Even though she was twice as short as the shortest kid in their group, she could at least attempt to help the boy before it got worse.
A shove was executed that was far too powerful for the kid to resist and he toppled back. The brown paper bag in his hand slipped out of grip and fell onto the ground. Whatever was in it remained inside so even if he did pick it up, he’d still be able to eat it.
But just as that thought crossed her mind, Sam winced.
The bully smiled obnoxiously and with many exaggerated actions, stepped on the sandwich. She took a couple more steps closer to the boy, ready to pull him out of trouble if he needed it. She slinked between the shadows, hurrying up to put an end to the cruel bullying. But just as she was within a few feet within the group, the kid leaped off the ground and onto his bully.
The lackeys all let out a shout and jumped onto the innocent kid. Sam gasped loudly and huddled back. Picking him up, they pulled him onto the opposite end of the bench, getting closer to where Sam was hiding.
Her gasp went unnoticed, thankfully. Dirt flew around as the bullies scuffled with the other kid.
Her heartbeat harshly against her ribs when the bell finally let out a shrill sound. She watched the kids pull back like their strings were cut when they heard the bell ring.
“Don’t get too comfortable you clown,” the leader spat down at the curled up kid.
She noticed the way they all quickly patted themselves up. The sand on their clothes slipped off and they fixed each other’s askew ties.
Once they were presentable, they rushed back inside the building of their school. Sam noted the way the fact that none of the teachers that greeted them inside seemed to be aware of what they had just done. Nor the fact that they seemed to miss another student when they started the class. Peering through the window, Sam sighed out in relief when the teacher's attention was quickly consumed by the rest of the kids. And, not on the playground. Taking small steps closer to the person laying on the cold dirt, she wondered what she was doing. Even if she did help the kid, what if he told someone about her. Then she couldn’t sleep in the trees near the school anymore.
- Though she only slept on the trees when she needed to recharge. But in any way, losing her sleeping place would be bad for her. After all, any other place was too risky. -
I know I said I’d make this life count. But running away from the authorities is seriously not going to be worth anything if I reveal myself to this kid.
But it was too late to stop her actions. Because the bullied kid noticed her presence.
She noticed how his eyes flickered all over her face. How his gray eyes squinted in pain; the way he held his stomach as if to protect it.
His body tensed further when she came closer. Sam bent down and gently placed her hands in front of him. The heat of his hand could be felt from the tiny distance between hers.
His eyes flickered to her hands and his eyes hardened as he examined her. A few seconds passed before he stopped being so tense. His eyes never wavered from her but he didn’t stop her as she gently unfurled his tight fist. His whitened fist was slowly but surely getting color back in it. A couple of seconds passed as she assessed his injuries up close.
She nearly whined when she noticed nail marks on the back of his hand.
He wouldn’t be happy with me pitying him.
So she didn’t. Instead, she pulled off her extremely light black backpack. Placing her hand inside it, she concentrated and imagined a couple of alcoholic swabs and some Band-Aids.
To her relief, it didn’t take as much time as it usually took when she summoned things so she got everything in tens of seconds.
Pulling out the swabs from their aluminum containers, she bit the inside of her cheek.
“It’s going to hurt,” she muttered.
The boy shrugged lightly, “Can’t hurt any more than it already does.”
Sam glanced up at his face and belatedly realized how cute he was. Cheeks gaining heat, she busied herself with helping him.
She threw the dirty swabs into the bin next to the bench and got ready to put the band-aids on his bleeding knuckles.
To her relief, and her annoyance, the band-aids conjured weren’t any kid band-aids. Instead, they seemed to be the perfect pharmacy ones.
(Dammit though! She really wanted to see his cute face with his pretty hands adorned in any colorful band-aids.)
“You aren’t a student here, are you?”
Tensing up, Sam’s eyes flickered around, trying to find the best path she could use if she ever needed to run away.
“I am,” she lied. “We’re just not in the same class.”
The kid scowled at her, “You’re what? Six? Seven?”
Actually four you asshole, but okay.
There must’ve been something on her face that stopped his scowl and instead, he looked away.
“I should get back,” he muttered. “The teacher’s gonna realize I’m missing.”
Sam hummed and moved back, letting the kid get up on his own. He patted the back of his black trousers, trying to get the dirty light stains of the sand out.
“Name’s Richard Grayson,” he hopefully peered at her face.
Sam looked straight at his face and gave him her most deadpanned look ever. But his adorable eyes made her crack.
“I’m Sam.”