forum Under The Willow Tree ((one-on-one//closed))

Started April 14, 2019 by @ElderGod-Carrots

tune

Ollie had to look away, going back to studying his hands as if they were the most interesting thing in the world, "Suppose that's how life works sometimes, isn't it?" He muttered.

Wolf shifted. "Yeah, life is unfair. It kicks you down and laughs in your face. But that just means you have to get back up, dust yourself off, and sucker punch it when it least expects it. You can't let it get the best of you." His multicolored eyes stared at Ollie as he spoke, also hinting at a hidden meaning behind his words. He had a friend who was abused as a child. He knew the signs.

Ollie snorted and shook his head, "Right, yeah. Have you seen these arms?" He finally looked up, eyes heavy and pained as he pointed to said limbs, "I'm not sucker punching anyone or anything anytime soon and even if I tried I'd just end up in more trouble. I just have to deal with it and sooner or later, he'll get bored… hopefully."

Wolf did the unthinkable–but he felt like it needed to be done. He leaned over and pulled Ollie into a hug. It wasn't tight or constricting, just a comforting hug that Tess sometimes ran into to escape her own horrors. He wasn't great at words, so this was the next best thing.

Ollie gasped a little, but soon enough, he hugged back, burying his face in the crook of Wolf's neck. It hurt a little, due to the marks on his back but he ignored it and let himself enjoy the hug. This position felt right to him, though he wouldn't say it and he thought he was going crazy for thinking it.

Wolf turned his head so that he was murmuring directly into Ollie's ear, switching to Latin so that his words weren't understood. He was whispering encouragement and sympathy, but he knew that Ollie wouldn't want to hear it. Hence the language switch. But he held on to Ollie for as long as the other boy needed.

It could have been two minutes or fifteen, Ollie didn't know how long the embrace lasted but what he did know, was that he didn't want to leave it. For the first time he felt safe and protected, even though Wolf was a near stranger. He'd let his eyes slip shut at some point, exhaustion taking over and that's when he knew he had to leave. Even though he'd be in trouble, at least he'd get to sleep afterwards, "I-I should go…" He muttered.

Wolf didn't like the thought of Ollie getting hurt. "You can crash at my place if you want. I got room and it won't be any trouble."

Ollie pulled back a little to look Wolf in the eye, blushing and clearly in shock from the offer, "Y-You'd really let me stay? I-I don't want to be a-a burden, though…"

He shook his head. "You won't be a burden. It's just my sister and me, and it kinda gets boring." He offered a crooked smile. "It'd be nice to have someone else around besides the parasites we somehow call friends."

Ollie giggled quietly, and then though he tried to stifle it, yawned and nodded, "O-Okay. But just one night and I'll have to leave early so I can get back before dad wakes up."

He nodded, not arguing with him. "Okay. But if you ever want a place to stay… my door's always open." If Ollie's father was anything like how Wolf had a feeling he was…
He's not. Hopefully he's not.

Ollie nodded again, "Thank-you, Wolf, I really appreciate it." He smiled sleepily and rubbed at his eyes to wake himself up just a little. He knew he was in deep for accepting the offer to stay but… maybe it would be worth it for one goodnight's sleep.

Wolf retured the smile with one of his own. "Don't worry about it." He looked up at the sky and whispered something under his breath. The clouds rumbled, and the rain trickled off to a light drizzle. "We should go now while we have the chance," he said, looking back down at the sleepy Ollie.

Ollie looked up at Wolf, then the sky and nodded, "Probably a good idea." He sighed and pulled away from him so he could stand. His legs felt like jelly so he wobbled a little and used the tree to help him stay steady.

Wolf braced his hands on the ground while he got to his feet, then stood and helped to steady Ollie with a gentle hand on his elbow. "You good?" He asked.

Ollie nodded, "Mhm, my legs just stopped working for a moment," He smiled and giggled softly. He took a moment to make sure he could walk properly before saying, "Lead the way."

Wolf smiled at how cute Ollie's giggle was. He then led Ollie out of the greenery and back into the gloomy city. Wolf turned around and walked backward to talk to him. "I have school tomorrow, but I might be able to hang out after. If you want."

Ollie's face lit up in a smile, "Really!? I-I'd love to," He blushed, knowing be probably sounded way too over excited, "I have school too so it works out fine."

He tilted his head, ignoring the swell of joy he felt when Ollie responded with excitement. "What school do you go to? We might go to the same one." If they did, he would kick himself for not noticing Ollie sooner. He'd definitely be venting to Cin about it if that were true.

"Woodcroft," He replied simply with a shrug of his shoulders. He kicked at a stone on the path, "Nobody notices me, I'm small, I stick to the shadows, that way I don't get hurt."

His face seemed to light up. "I go there too. I can't believe I never noticed you." He muttered the last part. Yup. Definitely kicking himself. "A friend of mine also goes there. She… was in a… similar… situation as you," he said slowly, not sure how to approach that particular subject. Cin had gotten to Tessa before he met her, so she was better with this sort of communication than he.

Ollie's face dropped and he looked down, balling his hands up in his sweater and nodding a little, "Is she… okay now? She's not still with the people who were…" He swallowed, "H-Hurting, her?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you consider violent tendencies, occasionally having a mental breakdown when she goes underground, and sucker punching men in lab coats okay. And, no. She's with us. My sister is the one who pulled her out of the system."

He released a breath and nodded, "At least she's not there anymore, that's what counts. Hopefully her mental state will improve over time you just… have to be patient…" He wrapped his arms around himself as if giving himself a hug.