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Another day.
Another argument.
Another fight.
Indigo sat outside, cheek still sore. A bruise starting to form at this point. The wind was chill, biting at his skin with every breeze causing him to shiver, not knowing if his runny nose was from crying or the cold. He hadn’t been dressed properly for the fall weather, but fights never happened when he expected them. Spouts of explosive anger that detonated like hidden land mines.
If he sat outside, out of sight, for long enough it would blow over. It always did. Kept invisible, hidden. Well, it’s not like he was truly hiding. If that man cared he would look, but he didn’t. He only cared when Indigo did something he viewed deserving of punishment.
That man.
Indigo couldn’t even bring himself to call him his name most days. He’d been barred from the word father. It wasn’t like that man was much of one anyways. Not to him at least. Indigo’s fingers dug into the moist dirt beneath him, fist curling in anger. He never treated Maroon like this. Of course not— that was his actual child.
That man viewed Indigo as some sad, kicked, annoying puppy begging for attention, of course. Doing anything to seek attention, of course. Any kind of attention. Even negative. It wasn’t true, but it wasn’t like his opinion mattered enough to change the man’s mind. He just wanted a family.
All he wanted was a family.
He took the clump of dirt and ripped it from the ground, throwing it with frustration as far as he could, pulling his knees to his chest afterwards. “I don’t need them anyways…”
“Well that’s not a good attitude.” Maroon said with a chuckle.
Indigo’s head perked up, darting to look behind him where the voice had come from. He saw Maroon walking to him with two mugs, the steam still rising. He slowly sat down and set a mug down next to Indigo.
Indigo let his legs go and sat normally, crossing his legs as he picked the mug up. “I didn’t hear you come out.”
“Always was the quieter one.” Maroon took a sip.
“That’s shocking considering how big you are.”
“Someone’s jealous.”
Indigo jabbed the other with his elbow, resulting in a quiet groan followed by a laugh. Maroon sighed with a smile, turning his attention to Indigo. “How’s your…” He trailed off.
“My cheek?” Indigo cut in. He took a sip of his beverage, learning it was hot chocolate. His favorite. Maroon knew that. He made it every time there was some conflict and Indigo got hurt. “Looks terrible, I assume.”
“You said it, not me.”
Both sat quietly for minutes, enjoying the quiet as they looked off into the distance. Every time Indigo ran off after a fight, like clockwork, Maroon followed him. It was a routine at this point. One neither minded.
“Next time, I’ll hit him back for you.”
Indigo’s head whipped around to face Maroon. “Y-You can’t do that! We’d both be kicked out!”
Maroon shrugged. “I’m moving out soon anyways.”
“You are…?” Indigo sounded more hurt than he meant to let on.
“You’re coming with me, of course. Didn’t tell you, because you don’t get an option.” Another small chuckle and another sip of his hot chocolate. “I’m not leaving you here.”
Indigo sniffled. And smiled. Oh how he smiled, for the first time today. “I… appreciate it.”
Now it was Maroon who elbowed Indigo. “Don’t mention it.”