"WAAAA-"

"What the h*ll is that?!" Shards glared sitting straight up.

"WAAAA-"

"Sounds like a baby." Coats yawned.

"So you?" Whiskey joked.

"Hey!" Coats snapped.

"Go check it out Shards." Metals groaned.

"Yes Metals." Shards rolled his eyes and hopped out of bed. "I hate being the youngest." He grumbled.

"WAAAA-"

"Shut up, will you!" Shards snapped, opening the door. "Hello?"

But no one was there.

"Hello?"

Shards looked down to see a small baby wrapped in a baby blue blanket.

Shards picked up the baby and cradled it softly.

"Hello..." Shards smiled at the dark-skinned boy before a small letter caught his eye.

Name him William... his name is William McDonald. Date of birth is 5/12/83

"Hi William!" Shards cooed. "That's a nice name. Much better than Samuel."

"Shards what's taking so lo- is that a baby?" Metals froze in his tracks.

"We're keeping him!" Shards grinned, rocking the now peaceful boy.

"We are doing no such thing!" Metals protested.

"How can you say no to that face!" Shards giggled, poking the baby's big cheek.

Metals softened at the look of Shards beaming like there was no tomorrow.

Many people assumed that Shards had been given his name after using glass as a weapon, or cutting someone to shards, or something along those lines.

The truth?

When you look into his icy blue eyes it looked like you were staring into broken shards.

Once upon a time they must've been beautiful- like the fresh winter breeze, or an icy pond that's perfect for skating.

That's the thing though.

People kept skating.

And skating.

And walking all over him until he broke.

Like when people overused a pond and all the ice was chipped.

Or even... shattered.

Then they left it, broken, used.

There was no other way to describe Shards' past.

His eyes showed it all- shadows of the boy he once was.

"Yeah... we can keep him kid." Metals ruffled Shards' hair. "You're in charge of him though."

"You can count on me!" Shards grinned esthetically. "I'm going to be the best brother there ever was!" Shards poked the baby's nose, making the small child giggle.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Walk! You can do it!" Shards cheered, watching the small child stumble.

"You've been at this all day Shards." Coats rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well I believe Hyper can do it!" Shards huffed.

"Hyper?" Coats raised an eyebrow.

"Well he's hyper!" Shards exclaimed.

"Real creative." Coats remarked.

"At least he won't be stuck with a name like Coats." Shards retorted.

Coats walked away, grumbling in response. "Kids these days."

Hyper giggled to himself, clapping his hands repeatedly as if the best show in history was just performed in front of his eyes.

"Coats is funny, am I right?" Shards laughed too, picking up the one-year-old.

Hyper continued to giggle and clap.

"Yeah..." Shards smiled.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"SAMUEL DAVIDSON!"

"Uh oh..." Shards ducked behind a crate.

"WHERE ARE YOU BOY? THE REFUGE IS EXPECTING YOUR ARRIVAL!"

"Are you Samuel?" A quiet but strong voice came out behind him.

Shards jumped up, spinning around.

"Who are you!" Shards whisper yelled.

"Me?" The Latino boy pointed to himself.

"No the wall behind you!" Shards retorted. "Of course you, ya idiot!"

"SAMUEL!" Warden Snyder's voice rung out.

"Shhhh!" The Latino boy put a finger to his lips but Shards continued to rambles.

"I mean, you're gonna blow my cover and-"

The brown-haired boy panicked watching Snyder come closer.

"what about Hyper and-"

Feeling a rush of adrenaline (and probably fear) the Latino boy grabbed Shards by the collar and smashing his lips onto Shards'.

Snyder passed by the ally without a second thought.

The brown-haired boy released Shards, backing away extremely embarrassedly.

"What was that?!" Shards waved his arms around crazily. "And who are you!?"

"I'm- I'm Jessie, and- and you wouldn't shut up!" Jessie huffed.

"A nice cover of the mouth would've worked!" Shards narrowed his eyes.

If it was possible Jessie felt as if his whole face was burning a hundred times hotter than before.

"You would've protested even more!" Jessie crossed his arms.

"I'm Shards." Shards spit in his hand and held it out.

Jessie glanced hesitantly at his hand before repeating the same without question and shaking Shards' hand.

Shards grinned, as if Jessie had passed a test.

"Youse my friend now."

"Is that how it works?" Jessie frowned. "I've never really- I haven't had a friend before."

"Oh ho- you are definitely my friend now."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"What's it like with a family?" Shards asked softly, swinging his feet back and forth of the fire escape.

"H*ll."

"Well that's a strong word." Shards frowned. "Why?"

Jessie sighed.

"My father- my father is this rich snobby man. I'm ashamed to be related to someone like that."

"Any other relatives?" Shards leaned his elbow onto Jessie's shoulder.

"Nah," Jessie smiled softly. "Just me and my little brother."

"How old?" Shards returned the smile.

"Right now?" Jessie chuckled. "Just turned two a few weeks ago."

"Wow."

"Yeah... my mom left a little while back. A year or so?" Jessie kept his voice low.

"I don't remember my mom." Shards whispered. "Before I was- before I was a newsie I lived in the orphanage."

"I'm sorry." Jessie squeezed Shards' hand. "For everything you've gone through."

"It's not your fault." Shards shrugged.

"How do you do that?" Jessie questioned.

"Do what?"

"How do you go through all these terrible things and come out with a smile on your face. There's not a trace of bitterness in your voice- or- or- the need of revenge- or anything!" Jessie clenched his fists. "Some days all I ever want to do is punch my father right in the face!"

Shards chuckled silently.

"What's the use in getting angry? You never win." Shards smiled sweetly, pointing to the smile on his face. "If you can still smile a real smile by the end of it, then you did something right."

Jessie tried to smile but it came out as a wince.

"That's not a smile Jess." Shards giggled.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Jessie beamed fondly.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"What do you think you're doing?!" Reive Harper snapped.

"I'm leaving!" Jessie yelled, grabbing James by the arm. "And I'm taking my brother with me!"

"No you're not!" Reive grabbed James' other arm. "I am raising my son here! You are a disgrace to the Harper name!"

"Disgrace?!" Jessie yelled in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? You're the disgrace!"

"YOU DON'T SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT BOY!" Reive screamed, slapping Jessie across the cheek.

"WE'RE LEAVING!" Jessie picked James up.

"Where you gonna go? Huh?" Reive crossed his arms. "Those street rat friends of yours?!"

"Yeah, you know what? I will!" Jessie walked out the door, slamming it shut.

"Jessie?" James spoke softly- almost inaudible. "I'm scared."

"I know buddy, I know." Jessie clutched the three-year-old close. "I know..."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Hey Jess!" Shards grinned wildly. "Is that little James?"

Jessie nodded slightly, looking away.

"What's wrong?" Shards frowned.

"James, you see that brown-haired boy over there?" Jessie set James down. "He's very nice, why don't you talk to him?"

"But I want to talk to you!" James protested.

"Hey Hyper! Over here!" Shards called the small dark-skinned boy.

"Hewo!" The small boy grinned ecstatically. "I'm Hyper!"

"H- hi." James spoke softly.

"Oh! We're gonna be the bestest of friends!" Hyper squealed, grabbing James by the arm. "I can feel it!"

"Okay..." James followed along as he was dragged.

"Now, what happened?" Shards crossed his arms.

"I- I-" Jessie started to sob uncontrollably.

"Hey! Whoa- it's okay." Shards embraced his friend.

"I did it. I took me and James out of that h*ll hole." Jessie clutched onto Shards.

"That's good- you're good. You can stay here, sell papes-"

"That's not what I'm worried about Shards." Jessie pulled back. "What if I can't provide for him? What if my dad is right and made a terrible mistake of taking us out of there? Father isn't poor, far from it! He'll be able to provide for James and-"

"At what cost?" Shards put his hands on Jessie's shoulders. "His freedom?"

Jessie looked away, tears still dripping.

"Dad's always loved James. Maybe- maybe he'll treat him better."

"You can't seriously be thinking that!" Shards whisper-yelled.

"Well I don't know!" Jessie snapped before lowering his voice. "I'm- I'm sorry Shards."

"Hey- we'll get through this. Okay?" Shards hugged Jessie once more.

"Okay... okay."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"You actually like books?" Hyper wrinkled his nose.

"Yeah!" James narrowed his eyes.

"Whatever Books."

"Hey!" James protested.

"Your name is Books now." Hyper stuck his nose up. "No discussions."

"Why did I ever agree to be your friend?" James shook his head.

"Because you love me!" Hyper grinned, making a heart shape with his hands.

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Too!"

"Not! Wait a minute-"

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"YOU PIECE OF-"

Rowan squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the sound of screams as he was cursed at.

As much as Rowan hated to admit it, he was a wimp.

Rain banged against the doors and windows, mimicking the racing of the boy's heart.

"I'm sorry- I'm sorry- I'm-" He chanted before a sob escaped his mouth. "I'm- I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"You go! I hope the monster under your bed eats you alive!" His mother screeched.

"M- monster?" Rowan whimpered quietly. "I don't- I don't like monsters."

"I don't care." His mother rolled her eyes before turning back to her husband. "Ralph, stop wasting your time on him."

'Ralph' inhaled sharply, steadying his heart beat.

"You know why we named you Rowan?!" Ralph barked.

Rowan shook his head rapidly, left to right- left to right- left to right.

"Because you're our curse!" Rowan's mother snapped, "The curse of Rowanoak! I hope you disappear! Just like the colony did! One day- One day the monster under your bed will eat you! And we'll never have to see your pathetic face again."

Each word was a stab to Rowan's heart, making the small boy's lip quiver in anguish and fear.

"And that day better be today!" Ralph barked. "GO!"

Rowan rushed into his room, dark black hair bouncing up and down.

Lightning crashed, making him jump.

Rowan sat on the floor by his bed, before shrieking and scurrying to his feet.

"There's- there's no monster!" Rowan spoke to himself.

He knew how silly the idea of a monster under his bed eating him was, his imagination however, said otherwise.

Rowan snatched his blanket from his bed, wrapping himself in it and jumping onto the bed, softly sobbing.

Before his brain could register anything, Rowan was cranking open his window, rain splashing around.

Slowly and carefully, Rowan climbed out, immediately getting soaked.

And with that, he ran, and ran, and ran.

He soon found himself lost in the big city of New York, rain pounding.

Once what he had done hit him, the small boy collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hello?" A voice of an older boy called out, squinting through the rain.

Jessie had heard loud ruckus from the lodging house and decided to check it out.

Rowan jumped, wiping his tears and backing away.

Jessie's eyes locked on a small figure, standing in the pouring rain.

"Hello?" Jessie called out again, leaning a little past the awning off the building, getting slightly wet.

"Go- go away." Rowan spoke back, voice shaking and arms clutched close to his chest. "I'm not scared of you monster! You won't- you won't eat me! I won't let you."

Jessie chuckled softly, realizing it was just a little kid.

"You really think I'm a monster?" Jessie laughed.

"M- maybe! But- but I'm not scared!" Rowan clenched his fists, moving them up.

Jessie felt an adrenaline rush and ran out into the rain towards the small figure.

"Get away!" Rowan squeaked, backing away from the tall boy infront of him.

"Hey- hey- I can help you." Jessie held out his hand, crouching down. "Only if you want to. You must be freezing kid."

"I don't want helping!" Rowan huffed stubbornly. "What makes you think that I even need it!"

Jessie smiled warmly. "I recognize one of us when I see one."

"One of what?!" Rowan snapped.

"Someone who's alone, and-"

Lightning flashed, making Rowan squeak in fear.

"Come on, let's get you some warm clothes." Jessie frowned. "Please- just let me help ya kid."

Rowan reluctantly grabbed Jessie's hand before getting pulled into a tight hug.

"What- why are- what are you doing?" Rowan awkwardly stood there as the crouched boy hugged him tightly.

"You look like you need a hug." Jessie smiled.

Rain continued to drench them as Jessie rushed the younger boy back inside.

"Books." Jessie gently shook a boy around Rowan's age.

"What..." The boy- 'Books' groaned tiredly.

"I want ya to meet someone kid."

Rowan shuffled awkwardly as Books sat up slowly turning to face him.

The two children's eyes locked, and a bright grin slipped onto Books's face.

"Hi!" Books climbed down from the top bunk, rushing over and giving Rowan a hug. "My name's Books!"

He released the black-haired boy, a confused look appearing as Rowan didn't hug back.

"What's wrong?"

Rowan stayed silent.

"Oh! OH! I get it- not everyone likes hugs! And that's okay!" Books talked quickly. "Jessie said that it's better to be different! Why don't we make a handshake then?"

Rowan just shrugged wordlessly.

"Cool! Cool!" Books held up his right hand. "So first let's elbow-five." He twisted his elbow, using his left hand to lift Rowans up. The two elbow's banged together making the kids jump. "Okay- okay, no elbow-fives then." Books frowned, deep in thought.

"You're trying too hard." Rowan's voice came out soft and quiet- not weak, strong. Just... quiet.

"Ah! So he talks!" Books laughed joyfully. "Who knew?"

Rowan rolled his eyes, "I- I knew."

"Sarcasm!" Books grinned joyfully. "We're going to be the bestest friends ever."

"Bestest isn't a word." Rowan crossed his arms.

"It is! I looked it up in the dictionary with Hyper! It's a word." Books huffed.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Rowan whispered, climbing into the bottom bunk.

"Sleep tight! I hope the bed bugs bite!" Books huffed, sticking out his tongue.

Rowan's mind flashed back to the monster under his bed, making him curl up into a ball.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

Deep into the night Jessie woke up to a soft sobbing noise.

Jessie of course, was used to it.

Boy's coming from broken families- even the refuge.

What could he say? New York City is a scary place for working kids.

What he didn't suspect however, was the soft crying to come from the newest newsie.

"Kid? You okay?" Jessie shook the small boy.

"I don't like monsters." Rowan whispered brokenly.

"Nobody does." Jessie frowned. "Courage.. doesn't erase our fears. Courage is when we face our fears."

"I don't want to be brave." Rowan mumbled. "I just want to be left alone."

"There's no monsters." Jessie whispered, stroking the smaller boy's hair. "Nothing to be afraid of."

"But there is." Rowan said shakily. "Papa- papa said that there's a monster under my bed that will eat me."

Jessie cracked a smile.

"D- don't laugh!" Rowan snapped. "It's- It's scary!"

Jessie peaked his head underneath the bunk and emerged unscathed.

"See, no monsters." He grinned.

What they didn't realize was that Books was awake.

"Rowan can take my bunk!" The small boy exclaimed, climbing down.

Jessie smiled, proud of his little brother.

"Really?" Rowan questioned softly.

Books nodded, taking a seat on the bunk as Rowan climbed out.

"You all set Rowan?" Jessie asked quietly, a small smile on his face.

The young boy nodded stiffly, steadily falling asleep.

"I'm really proud of you bud." Jessie turned back to Books, tucking him in. "You okay here? I know you used to have really bad nightmares."

"I'm doing what you told me to do." Books hugged his rock-hard pillow. "Putting the feelings of others over my own."

Jessie smiled proudly once more, turning away.

"Are you proud of me?" Books mumbled, already falling asleep.

Jessie walked back over, kissed Books's head and whispered, "I'm always proud of you bud."

"That's good." Books said sleepily.

"Well-"

Jessie was cut off by Books's soft snoring.

And with that, everyone in the lodging house was able to rest easily.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"I heard from Shards that some of the other boroughs are getting rough." Rowan crossed his arms.

"Especially Manhattan." Hyper pointed out.

"Nah." Books shook his head, "Jessie said that Manhattans full of kids right now."

"Kids like- like you and me kids?" Hyper questioned.

Books nodded, pointed from him to Rowan to Hyper. "Like us."

"Who knows." Rowan shrugged. "Kids can be crazy."

"Like us?" Hyper grinned.

Books laughed, rolling his eyes. "Like us."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"I'm going out to buy papes for us, okay Books?"

"Okay." Books grinned, going up to hug his brother. "I'll see you later."

"See you." Jessie hugged back, "Love you bud,"

"Love you too." Books smiled wide, then running back to go play with Hyper and Rowan.

Little did Books know, that would be the last time he saw his brother okay.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Is Jessie back yet?" Books asked once more, eyes shining with worry.

"Don't worry kid, I'm sure he'll be back soon." Shards nodded, biting his nails.

"Shardzie, you're biting your nails again!" Hyper yelled jokingly.

"Right." The leader nodded, still worried for his best friend.

Another hour passed by.

And another.

And another.

"Ro, I'm scared." Books finally whispered.

"Well... courage- courage is when you face your fear. It doesn't erase it." Rowan stumbled. "That's what Jessie told me when I first got here."

"Yeah, he's strong." Hyper continued, slinging his arms between his two best friends. "And we have your back."

"No matter what?" Books questioned softly.

"No matter what." Rowan nodded.

"Shards- Shards I found something." Scribbles dashed in, blood coating his hands. "In Manhattan."

"What happen-" Shards stood up immediately.

"No time to talk!" Scribbles yelled. "Books- Books you might want to come too."

Shards inhaled sharply, gesturing to the small boy.

"Let's go kid."

"I'm coming too!" Rowan declared, standing up.

"Me too!" Hyper yelled.

"Hyper! Stay! Rowan, Books, let's go!" Shards yelled, dashing out the door, following Scribbles.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"This way!" Scribbles yelled, sliding across the streets of Brooklyn into Manhattan.

"Scribbles! How much further!" Shards dashed, checking every so often to make sure the younger kids were still with him.

"Just a little more! We have to hurry!" Scribbles screamed, tears streaming down his face.

"Scribbles, talk to me! What is happening?" Shards stopped the group.

"No- no time we have to go!" Scribbles was about to start running again when Shards grabbed the shorter boy's shoulder.

"Is Jessie hurt?" Books asked softly. "I- I won't get mad because- because he'll be okay..."

Scribbles stayed silent.

"Right?" Books turned to Rowan, voice cracking.

"Let's keep going kid." Shards whispered, nudging Books.

"My brother is okay! Right?! Right?" Books repeatedly mumbled to himself in worry.

The group started to run once more.

Shards breathed heavily- he couldn't tell if it was from running, or the fact that he had started to cry.

Finally, they reached an alleyway.

By the edge were older teens dressed in signature borough styles.

Only two colors were missing from the group.

Blue for Manhattan.

Gray for Queens.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?" Shards demanded making the group of boy's collectively scatter, revealing a bloody and bruised body towards the back.

"Let's go." One dressed in purple declared.

Richmond.

"J- Jessie?" Books whispered, dashing forward.

"Hey kid." Jessie smiled slightly, blood patting down his hair and sticking to his face.

"You'll be okay, right?" Books spoke quietly- almost begging. "Right?"

Books cradled Jessie's head as Shards pushed Jessie's dark brown hair from his face.

"You'll be okay." Books cried.

Rowan stood at the entrance of the ally, unwilling to move any closer.

Rowan felt petrified- unable to move, or feel, or notice the tears streaming down his face.

Scribbles covered his mouth to lessen the noise of his sobs.

"Scri- Scribbles- get the rest of the newsies here." Shards mumbled. "Say- say-" the leader let out a choked sob. "say goodbye first."

Scribbles nodded, approaching the older boys.

"Books scoot over a little." Shards tried to pull the younger boy over but Books didn't want to budge.

"NO! I don't want to move." Books screamed.

"Scoot over Books." Jessie smiled warmly at his younger brother. "It's okay."

Books's eyes softened slightly as he scooted over.

"Thank you... for everything." Scribbles whispered. "You- you taught me everything. You took me in. I'll forever be in your debt." Scribbles pressed his forehead onto Jessie's hand.

"Scribbles," Jessie spoke softly. "You don't owe me anything."

Scribbles started to cry hysterically as he ran back to Queens.

"Ro, is that you bud?" Jessie lifted his head up slightly.

Rowan nodded, still unable to move.

"Come here kid."

It felt as if those words were all he needed to move again.

With that Rowan rushed over, sobbing as he hugged Jessie tightly, ignoring the scrapes on his knees as he slid down.

"I love you." Rowan mumbled.

"I love you too." Jessie smiled, stroking Rowan's cheek. "I don't care if we're related or not we're family."

Books started to sob harder.

"Stop- stop talking like you're leaving." Books cried. "I don't want you- you can't- you can't leave me."

"Oh my baby brother." Jessie brought both of the younger boys closer. "You'll never lose me. Never, you hear."

"JESSIE." The shrill voice of Hyper rang through the alleyway.

"HYPER WAIT!" Scribbles screamed, chasing after the small boy.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Hyper sobbed. "I never listen to you. I never listened. Now you're gonna die ashamed of me."

"STOP SAYING HE'S GOING TO DIE!" Books shrieked. "He's not going to die- right- right Jess?"

"I don't have control over that James." Jessie chuckled softly.

Books started to sob harder after hearing his real name.

"I'm not ashamed of you Hyper." Jessie stroked the younger boy's hair. "I never have been."

"I'm sorry." Hyper whispered. "I promise to never disobey you if you make it. I promise..."

"Promise is such a strong word." Jessie whispered.

"Kids- move for a moment." Shards finally spoke, voice hoarse.

Both Hyper and Rowan moved aside obediently, but once again Books wouldn't move.

This time no one had the heart to say anything about it.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"I love you." Shards whispered, squeezing Jessie's hand. "I never- I never had the courage to say anything."

"Hey," Jessie squeezed as hard as he could. "Smile, remember?"

Shards shook his head. "I- I can't-"

"Do you seriously want the last thing I see to be you crying over me?" Jessie laughed weakly.

Shards smiled as hard as he could.

"See, that's better." Jessie grinned back.

"I don't want you to go." Books whimpered. "You can't leave me- here- now. I'm not- I'm not ready!"

"Books," Jessie softly stroked the younger boy's cheek. "You don't need me, you know that."

"But I do!" Books protested. "You're my only family!"

"Family, is a lot deeper than blood." Jessie smiled. "This is nice, I'm surrounded by my family. That's what matters, right?"

"I love you, I love you, I love you." Books lied down next to Jessie, scooting close. "I'm sorry I took granted of that. I'm sorry-"

"I love you Books." Jessie smiled, closing his eyes.

For a moment, there was silence.

Nothing more than the morning birds, chirping the song of sadness.

"Guys..." Hyper whispered. "...he's gone."

"NO!" Books yelled, hugging Jessie tightly. "NO! NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME! NO!"

"Books stop!" Shards' voice cracked.

"NO! NO JESSIE'S NOT GONE! HE'S JUST- HE'S JUST SLEEPING, AND HE'LL WAKE UP ANY SECOND AND-"

"BOOKS STOP!" Shards yelled.

"No... no... it's not true." Books whimpered, sobbing heavily. (Me after writing this line: *sets down ipad* ...okay... okay I'm not okay...)

Rowan pulled his friend to his feet, letting Books cry on his shoulder.

"No... no, no, no... it can't be real... no..."

Shards walked away, down the streets, muttering to himself angrily. "Why do I always come out smiling. What's the purpose? I lose every time anyway. Why do I let others smash me to pieces?"

Shards froze, looking at the reflection of himself through a shop window.

Black hair all over the place- that's a usual occurrence.

What caught him off guard was his eyes.

He always knew they looked broken.

Like ice shards, elegant but fragmented.

Now, to him they lost it's elegance.

They now shone as if they were glass shards, smashed into a million pieces. Broken. Unfixable.

...deadly.

He saw something inside him changed.

Like part of him was missing.

And the wrong part replaced it.

"Why should I always be the nice one?" Shards said to himself. "What for- for- Jessie?" Shards scoffed lightly. "Jessie's gone."

Shards tore his eyes away from his reflection and onto his bloody hands.

Jessie's blood.

"Jessie's gone and Samuel died with him." Shards looked back into the store front window. "It's time the name Shards lived out its purpose."

The origin of his name was worthless, weak.

It was the origin of a fragile boy who went to hell and back but came out smiling.

The origin of a boy who was broken. Broken into fragments.

No... no that wasn't how his story was about to end.

By the end of this, the legacy of his name would mean someone who played with glass shards, risking it all but came out victorious.

A winner.

Strong.

Brave.

Resilient.

That sounded nice in Shards' head.

"Shards!" Hyper ran over, wrapping his arms around Shards' torso. "They said you were gonna leave. Because- because Jessie's gone but I told them that you wouldn't leave me!" Hyper mumbled quietly. "I knew it."

Shards crouched down, hugging Hyped tightly.

"I'd never leave you willingly Hyper, you know that."

"Good!" Hyper smiled wackily. "Because you're my family!"

"That's right kid."

Shards held out his right hand.

Hyper looked at it for a moment before his beam brightened.

Together they went through their handshake, movements fluid and effortless.

At the end Shards paused before embracing Hyper once more.

"You know I love you, right?" Shards whispered, patting Hyper's hair.

"Of course!" Hyper grinned. "I love you too!"

"I'm just making sure you know." Shards smiled slightly.

He was done being walked on.

Walk on him, Shards never cared.

Walk on his family, Shards would make sure he stomped on you.

"I'm just making sure in case-"

"Don't think it!" Hyper warned. "Don't you think it because I don't want to think it too!"

"Okay." Shards laughed lightly. "I won't..."

Shards stood up, grasping Hyper's small hand.

"Let's head back kiddo."

Hyper smiled, walking a little in front of Shards.

What he hadn't noticed, was Shards' smile slowly turning into a glare as he scanned the streets of Manhattan.

Someone is going to pay...

Shards would make sure of it.

TA DAAAAAAA!!!

Ahhh! This is one of my favorite chapters in the book.

Also, I'm on season three of merlin!!!

Anywho,

Before you guys go, don't forget tooooooooo:

VOTE!

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SAVE THE WOILD!

AND TRY NOT TO DIE!!

This is Izzy,
Over and out!