Chapter Text
The room was silent when Nick walked in. Carl didn't seem to mind so Nick didn't either. He was used to getting judged for his size and skin colour. The way he looked wasn't his choice. He never knew until juvie. He was a little nine-year-old. He got bigger, and they started treating him differently. The guards that had been there since he was little were nice, they came and went. He was in the court yard when a fight broke out. Nick didn't want anyone hurt, he tried to stop it and got a year in solitaire. There were two wings of solitaire. He wasn't placed in the good wing. There was no bed, nothing to read and no outside contact 23 hours a day. He got out of solitaire soon after he met Carl. Carl always had his back. He didn't treat him any different because of his size. Carl didn't make him talk, he always understood.
He almost got hurt in the showers, but Carl was there.
Carl started watching his back in the showers, not wanting anyone to take advantage of his kindness. Once people realized he wasn't so tough and scary, they would always want to use and hurt him in some way. Not Carl, he was straight. Three weeks after he met the younger boy, he finally muttered: "Thank you." They were the first words he had spoken in months.
Two months later he started talking more and more. Carl said he was a selective mute, something he's never heard of. Carl told him of a life outside the walls, outside of the country. Being locked away from civilization for 8 years, almost 9, had made him quiet. Not with Carl, they talked more and more.
Nick was 17, his birthday in 2 weeks. Carl was worried but never said anything. He saw the looks on his face as he stared out the window, a grim expression thinking of Nick. He would never admit it. The juvie decided to not send him to prison after his birthday, they let him go. Carl was sentenced for another 5 months, 2 if he gets out on good behaviour.
He wanted to tell Carl he cared about him, and wanted to thank him. But Nick keeps his mouth shut instead and only stares into Carl's eyes. The officer standing at the cell door nags him to hurry. He starts to walk out, only to pause for a moment and look one last time at the face he knows he is going to miss deeply. Nick tries to memorize every detail, every blemish, every mark and every new stray facial hair. They are both unsure of how long it will be until they reunite. It is the last moment they share together. Carl gives a nod of understanding. They part at last. Nick doesn't have to say a word.
They released him on his 18th birthday,
With 40 dollars and a bus ticket to the city he was off, outside the fence for the first time in 9 years. No family and no friends.
Nowhere to go.
He got into the city he hadn't really remembered. Going back to his old neighbourhood brought back darker memories of an early life. One he wasn't going to miss.
Living on the streets was hard for him, he sat on the corner of Elmer and Ellis. He got enough money each day for something to eat. It was weird being in the store and allowed to buy whatever he wanted, whatever he could. The security guard followed him through the store. He wished Carl was there, he would be the one to say something.
Two months later a rusty blue car pulled up to his spot. Driven by a man he didn't recognize, Carl jumped out.
"Nick!"
It was weird hearing him so excited, he seemed to forget about his ghetto accent. Carl has a huge smile, Nick was happy seeing that.
On the walk to Carl's home he got nervous. What if Carl's family didn't like him, what if Carl didn't want him to stay. Would he go back to Elmer and Ellis?
Banging on the door a bit too hard, Carl opened the door smiling. He took the plastic bag he got from the juvie with everything he owned. He walked in and saw a group of people who all looked at him in that way. They only saw his appearance. Carl was quick to notice, leaving his eggs and cake, he got Nick out of there quick.
They got outside, Carl would never admit, they hugged.
And if Carl whispered,
"I missed you."
Well that was nobody's business but their own. They were together again.
He was here and ready to spend time with Carl, and meet his family.