TW: SELF HARM, THEMES OF ABUSE, AND NEGLECT.

———

Once there was a hatchling, barely able to fly.

But it's dearest parents, only wished him to die.

Another child that hatched, one they loved more as it was born.

The poor child had not known, she lived in a nest of thorns.

As her dear brother fell from the tree, his parents didn't care.

And the young bird sang her song, blinded by what her parents saw as fair.

But as her feathers grew out, she was soon to take flight.

And realized that her parents had only brought pain and strife.

Fled, to a safe place the young bird flew...

"And that is how I found my way back to you..."

"I'm sorry... Dear Brother"

———

Paper walked up to Balloon and Nickel's door. He knocked on it gently, and waited patiently outside for it to be opened.

"Boys! It's time for lunch, me and TeaKettle made something together!" Paper chimed, with a happy smile, trying to ignore the beady eyes of Looseleaf only he could see from across the hallway.

Looseleaf has been much more active as of late.

Strange...

Balloon jumped off the bed, holding Nickel and opened the door. He gave a small wave to Nickel, and then adjusted his grip on the shorter boy as to not drop him.

"Let's head downstairs alright?" Paper gave a kind smile as he watched Balloon run down the hallway with a happy smile towards the stairs. Paper then glared at Looseleaf.

"What?" Looseleaf spat rudely.

"Why are you just— STARING?!" Paper growled in confusion.

Looseleaf rolled his eyes. "Just watching. What? You expect me to sit in the mindscape all day with nothing to do?" He gave a wicked smirk.

Paper scowled in response. "Don't cause trouble..." he warned.

"Oh, relax! You know I can't do anything without control over your physical body..." Looseleaf reminded as he walked closer to Paper.

"Don't test me Looseleaf." Paper snarled as he stood his ground.

Looseleaf's smile grew to a sadistic one. "I would love to..." He sneered. "Don't make me search for loopholes in our deal Paper... Because I will find one..."

Paper sweat slightly at Looseleaf's remark, before shaking off the feeling of impending doom. "Whatever..." Paper, turned away and stormed off.

Looseleaf snickered at Paper's anger, and decided to spy on people around the hotel, that were in range of Paper that is. He couldn't get too far away from Paper.

Balloon and Nickel made their way down the stairs, and into the lobby, they were walking by the doors to make it to the kitchen, when they saw OJ waiting near the entrance. Balloon was curious, but too shy to ask, so he was just going to ignore it.

But Nickel realized this, and jumped from Balloon's arms and walked over to OJ. "What are you doing...? Waiting for mail?" Nickel snickered.

Balloon watched from the background.

"What? No, a couple by the names of Pocket Watch, and Doorknob called. They said they're dropping their kid off because they're gonna be busy??? Or something..." OJ explained.

Nickel's face drained of colour in an instant. He looked, scared... Very scared... "what...?" He asked in a shaky voice.

"Yeah, they'll be here shortly. Are— are you okay...?" OJ asked as his eyes narrowed.

"I-I-I just n-need to— uhm..." Nickel took a shaky breath and yelled at a knock on the door. He backed away.

OJ perked up and opened the door, it had opened with a couple standing behind it. A fancy looking Pocket Watch, and a Doorknob.

To Balloon, the couple gave an unsettling vibe... It's almost as if he'd seen them somewhere before...

The man stepped forward first. "Hello... I'm here to drop of my daughter? There was a few flyers stating you could take care of children..." Doorknob said in a seeming friendly tone.

Balloon quickly ducked out of the way to avoid getting caught by whatever adult had been outside. Don't want anyone seeing his wings.

OJ adjusted the bandages that hid his wings. "It's a bit outdated, we've had a few issues b—"

"Yeah, Yeah... We don't care. Just take her okay?" Pocket Watch hissed as she rolled her eyes. Her voice seemed to be condescending, as if she was above everyone else.

OJ gave a look of annoyance but rolled his eyes and nodded his head in agreement to watching their child. Though he was going to suggest finding alternative way because of the whole powers thing, it was clear these people wouldn't listen to reason.

"Come on out Earring... This isn't optional" Doorknob hissed as her dragged the tiny girl out from behind him. "Here she is..."

Earring was a very small object. She was  smaller than nickel, and had a blue Diamond on the front of her, and a small hook on her back. She had arms, and legs. And had the reverse pattern, but same colour of eyes as Nickel. Her voice was shy, and timid. But relatively deep, it almost seemed on purpose. "Hello..." She said bitterly, as if she didn't want to be here.

"Hello, you're a lot smaller than I expected—" OJ looked up at the couple. "How old is she?"

"Fourteen?" Doorknob questioned as he looked over to Pocket Watch.

She nodded with boredom prominent in her gaze, wanting to leave. She turned her head slightly to study the inside of the building and caught sight of Nickel. Her gaze shifted to one of recognition and horror, laced with anger.

Nickel's face was almost completely white as he saw her staring at him, he felt like crying, like screaming, like hiding... But he just stood there like a deer in headlights.

As OJ turned away after talking with doorknob, Pocket Watch elbowed Doorknob and pointed at Nickel. Doorknob looked at him, and his eyes widened with recognition and rage.

Nickel stumbled back.

Their deadly gaze was almost too much for him. His breathing quickened and his eyes darted from Pocket Watch, to Doorknob, to Earring.

Before they could get a word out, OJ shut the door, breaking their gaze. And letting Nickel try to slow his breathing. He then turned his eyes over to Earring, who almost immediately turned her head to him.

Her mouth fell open in an instant, and her face went pale too. A face of recognition and guilt spread throughout her face and soaked into her eyes. "Nickel...?" She muttered in a shaky tone.

Nickel backed up, not wanting to hear her right now... He needed to get away. He needed to be somewhere else. He didn't feel safe... he felt scared.

He needed to run.

Away.

Distract.

DISTRACT

FORGET

He turned away and bolted up the stairs, and back through the halls. Tears flooding his eyes.. Memories being dug up he'd rather bury and never dig up.

Balloon gasped at Nickel's sudden out burst, and quickly ran after him.

Earring's eyes widened at the sight of Nickel running, and the boy with wings.

OJ walked next to Earring, and raised an eyebrow. "That's... Uh... Weird... But, I can take you to the playroom if you'd like. Im sure he's fine. I can also explain the uh... Wings too..."

Earring tore her eyes away from the stairs before softly sighing. And giving a nod as she followed OJ.

———

Yelling... Screaming... He screamed for them to stop, for them to let him out. He begged them to help him. It hurt... Everything ached, all he did was play with her dolls! It's not fair. He wanted to be let out. He wanted to be let out.

He wanted to be let out.

Let me out...

It's so dark...

It's so cold...

I can feel the cold seep into my skin...

Mommy...?

Daddy...?

What did I do wrong?

I don't understand...

Why do you hate me?

Am I not enough?

Do I not deserve it?

Am I a bad kid...?

Can I make it up to you somehow...?

Mommy...

Daddy...

If you hurt me,

Why do I still want to love you?

Why do I still care?

Why?

Nickel cried in his closet, the door locked as he hit his head into the wall again. He cried heavily, his memories... His debt aching... he wanted to forget... He wanted it all to go away... And if the wall didn't help, he'd drive the box cutter into his leg next...

Like before.

He cried loudly, he felt so overwhelmed with fear and sadness. He was terrified... He's run away all those years ago and joined the show to escape them...

To be free...

Now they knew where he was. They could find him. He hit his head again, and tears streamed down his face, his headache trying to pry him away from those dreaded memories. He groaned in pain through his sobs. His unhealthy way of coping wasn't fully working...

He needed to do more.

MORE.

FORGET.

FORGET.

FORGE—

He felt gently arms wrap around him, along with the calming softness of feathers.

Nickel flinched and tried to fight at first, terrified of him looking and seeing it was his mom, or dad. But he quickly realized it was Balloon.

Balloon, had unlocked the door with his powers. His wind powers allowed him to do so.

Nickel felt his tears be wiped away. He choked out a loud cry and hurried his face into Balloon. His cries were painful, and Balloon had never heard Nickel cry like this before.

Nickel began to vent. "I-I ca-ca-can't!!! I cant— DO THIS!!!" He cried. "I don't wa-want to see them! I don't— I can't I—!"

"Sshhh.... I know..." Balloon comforted, knowing he didn't. He didn't know. He just wanted to comfort Nickel, what else was he supposed to say...?

"They hurt me..." he sniffled as he nuzzled closer to the one person who truly loved him. "They hurt me— they're going to hurt me again!" He cried.

"No, no they won't okay...? They won't ever hurt you..." Balloon reassured. "No one will hurt you... I won't let them. Okay? I won't. I'll protect you."

"I—I just— I don't... I don't get it... They hurt me SO MUCH!!! And— I-I-I st-still want t-to..."

"To what...?" Balloon asked in a puzzled voice.

"I still want them to love me..." He muttered.

"Nickel..." Balloon frowned more than he had already. "Nickel, look at me..." Balloon, directed Nickel's gaze up at his own. It was soft and sympathetic.

Nickel looked into Balloon's eyes. He was scared, he wanted to forget... But he couldn't forget... He just couldn't forget...

"You deserve better than them... So much better..." Balloon reassured as he wiped the tears from Nickel's face once again.

Nickel leaned into Balloon's hand and cried again, and leaned back onto Balloon. "I can't take th-th-this..." He sobbed softly. Balloon hugged him close and attempted to comfort the smaller boy.

"You don't have to... It's okay to not be okay. Just don't hurt yourself okay...? I'll protect you... Just cry... I'll hold you, and I won't let go. Okay...?" Balloon said softly, in almost a whisper.

Nickel burst into tears as he remembered horrible horrible memories. The way he had been treated... It was disgusting, sickening even. He wanted them to live him... But... He also wanted them to pay for what they did.

'Every child deserves a Parent, but not every Parent deserves a Child'

———

Earring walked beside OJ, she had agreed to not speak of whatever he told her, and listened to how everyone got their powers. Her face scrunched up upon hearing Nickel's name many times over... She frowned at what had happened years ago... She was only ten, but... She felt so bad for what her parents tricked her into doing, to thinking, to believing.

She continued to walk beside OJ, and he noticed something. The metal on her back, seemed dented, the upper part of the leg where it attached to the dented metal seemed bruised, as if something was thrown at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, noticing her uncomfortable expression. He seemed concerned and curious.

"I don't want to talk about it..." She hissed, trying to sound bitter and cold. So he would leave her alone. She didn't trust him.

OJ reached to put his hand on her shoulder. "If you ever want to talk abou—"

She moved away. And stayed silent for a moment. "Please don't touch me..." She said uncomfortably.

OJ frowned. "Sorry..." and led her to the playroom. Apple and Bow were in the playroom. They must have finished lunch early. "If you're hungry, the kitchen is down the hall, in the lobby and then in the far left corner. Okay?" OJ explained.

She nodded.

"If you need help, you can ask Bow, or Apple! Okay?" He have a small smile.

She nodded.

OJ turned and left the room.

Bow's eyes averted from Apple. And she looked into the eyes of the tiny girl across the room. She smiled and walked over. "Hello! I'm Bow! What's, like, your name?" She asked.

Earring stared unsurely at the other object who was slightly taller than her. "I-I'm earring..." She said in a unsure tone. Questioning what she wanted to tell her.

"Wanna play? We could play with whatever you want!" Bow seemed excited to play with someone new, as she had been stuck in the mansion for so long.

Apple ran over. "Yeah! Let's play! Do you wanna draw or something?"

Earring gave a small nod, and walked over to pick up a box of crayons.

———

This chapter was very hard to write ;-;

I'm sorry if somethings don't make sense— I tried my best 😭