*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧—chapter two: run boy run

POE IS NINE YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST RUNS AWAY FROM HOME. The divorce had been filed three years ago and they had sorted out custody as well. Marlon had full custody of Poe. There hadn't been any issues. The boy still isn't really sure why he decided to run away. His father's trying his best to take care of him and his father really does care, so leaving was just making this all worse. By now, Marlon had most likely phoned the police and reported a missing child.

It was just the start of the evening hours and his father had gone to bed early when Poe had chosen to escape the house through his bedroom window. And he knows that when his father woke up, not knowing the whereabouts of his child, that he must have been frightened to death. Marlon must think he's failed as a father, and now Poe feels bad knowing he probably left the man feeling that way.

It's been three days.

Three days where Poe had not any food, water, or shelter.

All because he ran away.

And Monaco isn't a very big country. Everyone knows everyone, especially when you lived in Monte Carlo. Someone is bound to find him and return him to his father.

The down pouring rain isn't helping the situation either. Thunder rumbles in the distance and lightning crashes somewhere overhead.

The boy's shoes are pounding against the wet pavement as he runs for shelter. A hand reaches up to wipe the mixture of tears and rain water from his face. Poe slips into an alley, breathing heavily as he takes a moment to catch his breath. He's leaning against a wall, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.

Exhaling, he takes a seat on the ground, and sighs. He doesn't know how long he's been out here, but he knows it was long before the rain had started. It must've been hours maybe. Days. He doesn't know. There's no clock and he doesn't have a watch.

The wind picks up, making him shiver as the rain is blown into his face. He wipes his face with the sleeve of his jacket before drawing it tighter around him, trying to keep himself warm. He can't stay out here much longer. He misses the roof over his head and the feeling of being dry and warm inside the comfort of his own home. But it's nighttime and he can barely see anything a few meters in front of him, and he's lost. He has no idea where he is. He just wants to go home...

Sniffing, he rubs his nose with his free hand, his other hand holding on to his jacket to keep it from sliding off. It isn't even his own jacket. It's one of his father's. So of course it's way too big on him. But it had been one of the first things he had grabbed before leaving the house days ago.

Bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his arms on them, he buries his face in his arms and sobs. He shouldn't have run away. He should've stayed home. He should've just—

"Hallo?"

He looks up at the sound of the voice, seeing a blond boy who looks about his age, standing in front of him. The rain hasn't stopped coming down, and he knows for a fact the boy is also drenched. His hair is sticking to his face and he's constantly wiping the water from his eyes. He has no umbrella, but it didn't seem like he cared.

"Warum bist du allein im Regen?" the boy asks.

Poe furrows his brows, not understanding a single word the blond said, but he did recognize the language. "I don't speak German," he informs.

"Sorry! Habit," the other boy apologizes, a sheepish grin forming in his face as his cheeks are tinged red in embarrassment. "I was asking why you are out here alone in the rain?"

"Maybe I just like the rain." Poe sniffs and wipes his nose. Looking back up at the blond, he tilts his head to the side slightly, observing his face. "You look familiar..." But he couldn't put a name to the face.

"I'm Nico Rosberg."

"Keke Rosberg's son?"

"Mhm!" Nico hums as he nods quickly, proud that he was recognized. "What's your name?"

Monaco's a small country where everyone knows everyone.

And clearly he doesn't know me.

"Poe," he answers, averting his gaze.

"Is there a chance your last name is McKenna?" Nico questions, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet with his hands behind his back as he gazes down at the boy.

Oh. Maybe I'm wrong. Poe frowns. "Why?"

"The police have been going around for the past couple of days asking if anyone has seen a boy named Poe McKenna, nine years of age, brown hair, blue eyes, about yea tall. All boxes are checked off." Nico gestures with his hands to show Poe's height and then points to him. "And clearly they haven't found you yet, so you're really great at hiding, by the way!"

"I ran away from home," Poe replies, wiping the tears from his eyes. "And I don't want to be found. I can just go back home myself. I..." He trails off, looking toward the entrance of the alley where he's come from and frowns. He didn't recognize that street at all. He hadn't even been paying attention to where he was going. There's no way he's making it back home on his own. Not when he's cold, hungry, thirsty, and just wants to sleep in a comfortable bed.

"Where do you live? I can walk with you!" Nico offers.

"I-I don't know how far of a walk it is and I don't even know this street. Nico, I think I'm lost..."

"Well, that's okay. I can just bring you to my house and you can stay with me and my parents until your dad comes and gets you. My parents won't mind. I promise."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, yeah. Duh! You obviously can't stay out here in the rain. You'll get cold and sick and die and—"

"Okay," Poe interrupts Nico before he could say anymore. "I'll go."

"Come on, then, get up," Nico says, grabbing the boy's hands and pulling him up from the ground.

✧ ✧ ✧

Before stepping into the apartment, the boys wipe their shoes off in the mat in front of the door. Rummaging around his pockets for a minute, Nico pulls out a key and unlocks the door and beckons Poe inside. Poe hesitates for a moment, not wanting to just go into some random stranger's house. But he had no other options really.

"Nico, close the... door?" Noticing the brunet boy standing beside her son by the door, Sina furrows her brows. "Who is this? A new friend of yours?"

Nico nods as he steps away from the door and gestures toward the other boy. "Mama, this is Poe."

From the living room couch, Keke perks up at the mention of Poe's name. Getting up from the couch, he heads over to where they're all gathered by the door. "That's Marlon's son. That's the kid the police are looking for," he says, a look of realization crossing his face. "How long have you been away from home, kiddo?"

"I-I don't know," Poe answers, his voice quiet and he averts his gaze, breaking down into tears. "I wanna go home... I want my papa..."

"I know, kiddo. We're gonna get you back home, okay?" Keke kneels in front of him to be eye level. "You'll be okay."

Poe nods, sniffing. He's not sure how true that is.

Keke stands back up and glances toward his wife. "Sina, could you get him a towel or a blanket? Poor kid's shivering like crazy."

Sina goes into the hall and returns with a blanket. Poe slips the damp jacket off and hands it off to the woman, who takes it and then wraps the blanket around him. "Should keep you warm for now. Are you hungry? You must be. We have leftovers. I can reheat something in the microwave for you, I just have to take it out the fridge."

"Y-Yes, please. Whatever you have is fine."

Sina heads into the kitchen.

"Nico, stay with him. I'm going to call," Keke says, picking up the phone.

Nico nods and leads Poe into the living room. Both boys take a seat. Poe leans back into the couch, trying to get comfortable. Nico sits on the floor, his legs crossed as he looks up at Poe.

"Why did you run away?" he questions, head tilted to the side in curiosity.

"My parents got divorced a few years ago... And ever since, my dad's been struggling. He's trying his best, though," Poe explains.

"And that's why...?" Nico's brows furrow in confusion.

"No. I don't know. I just did..." Poe sighs, burying his face in his hands. "He probably thinks something... something bad happened to me..."

Nico is about to say something when the smell of food hits his nose. "I think the food's done," he says as he gets up and pulls Poe up from the couch. "Come on."

✧ ✧ ✧

"Your father will be here soon, Poe. You get comfortable until then, okay?" Keke says, picking the empty plate up from the table and taking it to the sink.

"Thank you, Mr. Rosberg," Poe says as he excuses himself from the table and follows Nico back into the living room.

Both boys sit on the couch and start discussing their interests. It probably goes for half an hour. Poe learned that Nico wanted to be a Formula One driver like Keke had been, so currently he was in karting. Nico learned that Poe was into writing and media had wanted to become a reporter and journalist when he was older.

They fall into a comfortable silence soon after. But only a few minutes later is there a knock on the door. Keke heads to the door and looks through the peephole, before opening it. A familiar voice makes Poe peer over the couch, seeing his father enter the Rosbergs' apartment.

"Keke, right after you called me, I called the station and asked them to call off the search since Poe had been found," Marlon says as he steps over the threshold and slips his jacket off, draping it over his arm.

"Papa!" Poe climbs down from the couch and runs over to the man, throwing his arms around his middle in an embrace.

Marlon ruffles his hair and kneels to be eye level with him. "You're okay. Christ, Poe, don't scare me like that ever again, okay? You had me worried something happened to you."

"I know... I'm sorry, Papa," Poe says quietly, his voice muffled as he buries his face into Marlon's shoulder. "I won't- I won't do it again. I p-promise..."

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Don't cry," Marlon whispers, trying to comfort the boy. He stands up, still holding Poe as he looks over towards Keke and Sina. "Sorry to be a bother, but do you have any food we could take back? I haven't had any time to make anything lately, and well, I don't know, but I'm not exactly the best cook. And with the divorce from Anya three years ago, I'm not in the best financial situation right now. I've been juggling three jobs just to make enough to support both of us."

"Not a bother at all! Here, I've already packed all of this in a box for you to take back home," Sina picks up a box from the counter and offers it to him. "Should hold you two for the rest of the week."

"Thank you," Marlon says as he sets Poe down and takes the box from Sina. "I appreciate the help. I really do."

"No worries, you're doing great, Marlon," Keke tells him. "If you need anything else, you know where to find us."

"Yeah, thanks." Marlon bids them farewell and Poe waves goodbye to Nico, and then they head out the door.

author's note
yeah i might've cried

08.07.24