Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Varian slumped in the back seat of the car.  If it had been just a normal car or just a cab, he'd have nothing to look suspicious of.  But no.  He was in the back of a police car, and the police man was talking to his foster parents.  Again.

His last foster parents were decent people.  They treated him well enough, but they couldn't handle his habit of somehow always getting in some sort of trouble.  They didn't even last a month before they sent him back to the orphan home.

He had been staying with William and Petunia Daylight (he thought it was an odd name, but who was he to judge?).  For once, they were one of his few foster parents who kept him longer than a month or two.  That was also to his dismay.  Varian had no idea why they chose to foster when they didn't even like teenagers, or even kids.  He didn't know how they were even legally allowed to take care of foster children.

Varian thought he did great with staying out of trouble this time, and honestly tried his hardest to be at least a decent teen.  One that wouldn't drive them up the wall, so he only kept to himself and his homework.  However, they began to yell at him for stupid things that wasn't his doing or responsiblity.  Varian ignored it, it wasn't something that he wasn't used to, so it was easy to drown it out.

When Varian brought back his report card, he had straight A's except for English, which was a C.  Still passable. He convinced himself that it was because he kept switching schools, and he was just unable to keep up with the English.  William didn't seem to think that was the reason though and yelled at him for not doing his job.

Getting irritated and fed up with William's illogical anger, Varian snapped.  He said that it was a better grade card than William ever got and ever will.  Varian knew it was wrong to say that and that two wrongs didn't create a right, but he was tired of the lectures and yelling over a stupid grade.  That comment was when things really went downhill.  It was also the first time the man slapped him.

That alone was not the cause why Varian had run off, hence the reason why he was in the police car.  The punishments only got worse, and Varian wasn't going to put up with it.  After William went as far as putting Varian in a choke hold, slamming him against the wall.  That was all Varian was going to take, so he ran off.

The boy knew that he wasn't entirely out of fault, but he couldn't help it.  Snapping and back talking was just his reaction.  It wasn't like he had someone he could really look up to that could teach him differently, because he was never, ever in the same place longer than six months.  Typically, if he was staying anywhere that long, it was at one of the children's homes.  Though, the people there were typically nice, they weren't able to give Varian the proper attention to help him.

They tried multiple therapists in hopes of getting him some sort of help, but typically ended with Varian getting lost in his temper and the therapist fleeing.  No, Varian was aware of just how messed up he was, and maybe William and Petunia were in the right, but he didn't want to deal with another abusive parent.

Of course, he didn't remember his real parents, but he had already been adopted once when he was little.  He liked to blame his issues from his younger years.  Those days had really been messed up and his adoptive mother and father ended up both being jailed.  He wasn't going to give William and Petunia  a chance to become the next.

After the officer and his foster parents discussed the issue and signed papers or something, Varian was released.  The officers left, driving off.  The husband and wife quickly brought Varian inside.  The door hardly had any time to shut before William was pulling the strap out of the closet.  Varian said nothing, and only pressed his lips tightly together.

Chapter Text

Apparently, Varian was right and the state saw the Daylights as abusive. One of the officers that brought Varian back had noted Varian's story that was obviously incomplete and noticed the bruises he had.  His forehead had a huge bruise that was covered by his hair and it was the same size as William's fist.  Not to mention the finger bruises on Varian's neck. He was the one that reported it so that there could be a better investigation.

This time, however, Varian's caretakers only had to pay a fine and were no longer allowed to foster children.  So Varian was taken to yet another orphan home because the last one hadn't worked out either.

He was in the back of a police car once again in the back of the police car, but it wasn't because he did something stupid again.  This time, he was simply being escorted to the orphanage on Corona Rd.  He figured it was the large building the car had pulled up into.

The officer was nice and picked up his luggage, not that he had much.  Typically, he'd be annoyed at the woman for the gesture, but his back thanked her.  He slowly stepped out of the vehicle and was immediately met with February cold air.  His breath was visible, but that was understandable.  He pulled his coat closer to gain some warmth and comfort.  Was it bad to say that a winter coat was far more comforting and supportive than any of his foster parents?

They were greeted by a man with dark skin.  "You must be Varian," he concluded.

Varian snorted, rolling his eyes as he looked away.  The man was unfazed and the officer didn't pay it any mind.  It wasn't her business after all.  "I need to pick up the final papers concerning him," the woman said.

"Right, let's finish inside," the man offered.  He looked at Varian.  "I'm Xavier Smith, by the way, but you are free to call me Xavier."

The fifteen year old still said nothing and only stared at the hand that was held out to him.  It was rude, he knew that, but Varian really didn't trust anything at the moment.  Besides, it hurt his back to make any extra movements.  The final beating from William definitely left a mark and it still ached after a whole week.

Once Xavier realized that he wasn't getting a reaction, he lowered his hands, but didn't say anything about it.  He either was respecting Varian's overbroad boundaries, or he was just brushing aside because there was another adult present.  Probably the latter.  It usually was.

It took some time, but once everything was completed, the officer left and Varian was alone with the man.  Xavier cleared his throat and Varian looked at him, still not giving a vocal response.  "Well... due to the reports... you're going to get your own room.  You have a bit of a temper, at least that's what they told me."

Varian scoffed.  It had been like this the past three years.  He gets his own room because he acted out, and other kids got jealous, and complained he got special treatment.  That was technically true, but it was supposedly to keep himself and the other kids from being harmed with his 'temper'.  Varian had to admit that he did act irrationally and threw a few fits here and there.

"I think I'll have Hugo show you your room," Xavier said at last.  He always chose someone around the newcomer's age, hoping they might become friends.  He was going to choose Rapunzel (AKA Sunny) because she was such an optimistic, happy and kind person.  Though, something told him that the sixteen year old may not be able to handle Varian if he got a little hostile.  She was a strong person, but she was too kind to do anything.  If Varian got hostile, he'd end up with a broken nose from Cassandra, and he would never ask Nuru to handle another newcomer after Hugo's arrival (they hit it off when they met, but not in the way Xavier hoped).

Hugo was pretty smart, but a little blond at the same time.  He was witty and had his own level of sass.  The teen could definitely handle himself, unless it was against Nuru.  He was able to weasel his way out of trouble when he messed up around the other kids.  Although Xavier was certain that Varian would immediately be after Hugo's head, he hoped that they might eventually form some sort of friendship of any kind.

It wasn't too long before a blond sixteen year old entered the room.  He pushed his glasses up his nose, merely glancing at Varian.  "I'm supposed to escort you."

Varian humphed, still refusing to speak.  He was glad that Hugo took his backpack so that he didn't have to bother.  The blonde raised a brow.  "All ya got?"  Varian nodded.

"Well, follow me then," Hugo said.  Then they reached room 23. "Here we are," he announced.  He had given up on talking with Varian very early on in their walk to the room.  It was apparent that Varian wasn't going to be friendly and there was just something about Varian that freaked Hugo out, which was odd.  Varian didn't look like he could hurt a fly, but there was a glint of darkness in the boy's eyes that became unsettling.

Of course, Varian said nothing in response.  Hugo didn't expect him to at this point, nor was he sure that he wanted Varian to say anything.  He was happy leaving him the moment he got the chance.

The backpack that Hugo was carrying had a tear in it and a plastic jar fell out before he set it down.  He picked it up, but caught a glimpse of the label.  "That's mine!"  Varian snapped, obviously not wanting Hugo to know it was there.

"Oh, so you do have a voice in there," Hugo teased as he held the jar slightly out of reach.

"Give it back, you #!$#%!"

Hugo gaped at Varian, body tension at the language that came out of Varian's mouth.  This gave Varian the time to snatch his jar of bruise cream out of Hugo's hand, extremely ticked off.

"Look, I was just kidding," Hugo apologized.

Varian stuffed the jar back in his bag.  "Just leave me alone!"  He snapped.

Hugo held up his hand in defeat.  He left Varian alone, not wanting to stick around any longer than he had to.

Varian heard the door close.  He sank into his bed, gripping his hair.  Guilt clawed at his stomach.  Hugo hadn't actually done anything wrong, or at least, he hadn't meant to.  Of course, he overreacted as always, and ruined any chances of being at least not enemies with the boy.  He always messed up like that.

It was just, he didn't want anyone besides the necessary  people to know that he was beaten.  The bruise cream was kind of a dead give away.

He shivered just remembering how the desk had dug into his stomach as he was being held down.  Each lick came with a large smacking noise and his whole back was shot with pain.  He could still hear the sound of the metal end of the belt in his ears and his own screams.  Hugging himself, he tried to ignore the memory, forget it, but it was so hard.  All the names, insults, and other shouts from William and Petunia could still be heard.  No, the memory was branded there.  It was there to stay and he was stuck having to deal with the aftermath.

He hated himself for the tears that entered his eyes.  Blinking, he was able to force them back in, keeping them from falling.  Crying was a sign of weakness.  He couldn't be weak.  He had to remain strong.  This was about survival, not wishes and dreams.  He needed to snap into reality and deal with things as it came.  Baby steps.

It was only an hour later when there was a knock on the door.  Groaning, Varian got up and opened it.  He looked up at the girl standing in front of him in annoyance.  She had chin length black, curly hair with hazel eyes.  They looked almost half as annoyed as his.

"What?"  He snapped.

"Xaves likes it better when we all meet up for dinner," she huffed, now equally annoyed.

"Not hungry," Varian stated as he began to shut the door.

"Hold on there, buster."  The girl grabbed the door, pushing it open, despite the fact that Varian leaned his whole weight against it.  Not that he weighed that much.  "If Xavier wants you to do something, you do it.  I don't know what it was like where you came from, but here, you don't get to decide."

"Just get the $#¿! out of here!"  Varian ordered.

Her eyes widened for a moment, taking her off guard.  Suddenly, she loosened her shoulders that she had squared earlier, deciding to handle Varian with a different approach.  "Ok, kid.  I'll leave.  When Xavier asks, I'll just tell him what you said and see how he reacts.  Let me tell you, it isn't fun."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning.  Trust me, you do not want to get your mouth washed out with soap.  That will really ruin your appetite.  Telling you from experience.  Look, you don't have to eat, but if you come quietly and sit at the table, we'll pretend that word didn't come out of your mouth."  She crossed her arms.

Varian thought long and hard.  Finally, he groaned.  "Fiiiiine.  I'll go, but it doesn't mean I'll like it."

"Good choice," she said.  "You're Varian, right?"

"Yeah.  What does it matter to you?" He huffed.

She shrugged.  "I'm Cassandra."

"Don't care," Varian pushed by her.

"The feeling's mutual." Cassandra glared after him.

Chapter Text

Varian sat at one of the multiple tables.  To say that he looked salty was an understatement.  He slouched forward in his seat due to not wanting to put pressure on his back, leaning his elbows against the table.  He specifically sat at the table with the least amount of kids, and sat as far on the end as he could to stay away from him.

He thought that his looks alone would be a sign that said: Back off!  Keep away!  He should have known that it wouldn't work.  Would everyone just freaking leave him alone!

"Hi!"  A girl with freckles and large, expressive, green eyes sat in the seat across from him.  She had super long hair that was held back in a braid.  "You're the new kid, right?"

"Like I'd be anything else," he grumbled.

"Oooh, you're the dark moody kind then," the girl said.  She was completely unfazed by his unpleasant demeanor.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The girl shrugged.  "Nothing bad," she assured him.  "I'm Sunny, but you can call me Rapunzel.  Everyone does because I have, like, super long hair."

Varian grunted, extremely annoyed by her optimism.  It was worse than if she was just sitting there insulting him.  Well, her optimism was kind of an insult to him.  An unintentional one, but still like a slap in his face.

Suddenly, two more people sat down with them.  Varian inwardly groaned.  "Hi, Eugene!  Hey, Lance!"  Rapunzel greeted.  "This is Varian."

"Hey," Eugene said as he scooted his chair closer to Rapunzel's.

"What up?"  Lance asked.  He was just as cheerful as Rapunzel.  Eugene at least had the decency to use a neutral tone, although, somewhat, it was happy.

"Seriously gonna ask that?"  Varian rolled his eyes.  The happy mood immediately became uncomfortable.  A tense silence fell into the group.  Varian chided himself.  He ruined the mood again.  He didn't mean to mess up their good time.  He just wanted to be left alone for goodness sake.

"Well, this was fun.  I'm clearly killing the mood so..." Varian stood up.

"Nice try, kid."  Cassandra walked up behind him, gently pressing him back into his seat.  He let out an agonizing sigh and rested his chin in his hand.  Cassandra sat down herself.  "Not that easy.  You need a better excuse to leave."

"Cass, I don't think he's comfortable," Rapunzel remarked.

"Then he needs to bring it to Xavier.  It's hard to keep track of this many kids, even with help he has," Cassandra answered.

"It's literally his first day, Cassandra," Rapunzel began.  "We shouldn't force him to be here."

"It's not my rule.  It's Mr. Nigel's, so that they can keep a better track of us and keep us out of trouble.  It makes sense, even if it feels a little insensitive at first. Besides, no one is better off on their own, as much as I hate agreeing with you on that."

"I beg to differ," Varian muttered.  "When you're alone, you ain't stuck with a bunch of $%¿!."

Rapunzel's mouth dropped open, staring at the boy in disbelief.  Eugene coughed on his food and immediately went for a glass of water.  Lance continued eating as if this happened every day.  Cassandra rolled her eyes.  "Tone it down a notch.  I know you probably think you sound cool saying it, but it actually makes you sound like a jerk."

"That's what you'd like to think, wouldn't it?"  Varian huffed, suddenly sitting up.  "You act like you automatically know just what I'm like."

"Kid, I was that very kid who thought the same thing." Cassandra's eyes darkened.  "That it was cool and edgy."

"Well, good for you.  It's a habit from being cussed at twenty four seven.  It slips out.  What do you expect?"  Varian became very calm, but it was a scary calm.  There was something about it that made Rapunzel want to cower in her chair and it was enough to get Lance to stop eating.

Finally, Cassandra merely shrugged, pretending that she couldn't care less. "Thought I'd give you a tip is all."

That was the wrong answer apparently, because she suddenly felt a plate of food thrown into her face.  She could already feel where it was going to bruise, near the corner of her eye.  The plate clattered to the table, and Cassandra could only stare forward in shock.  The room grew silent and Varian pushed his chair from the table.  He excused himself, storming out of the room.

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Quirin was drying a coffee mug when he heard the bell ring to his door.  He smiled when he saw the customers.  It was Rapunzel, Eugene, Cassandra and Lance.  They smiled and waved as they sat at their regular table.

"The usual?"  He asked.

"Yep!"  They agreed.

It only took the man a few minutes before he brought the three coffee mugs and a hot chocolate over on a tray.  The hot chocolate was for Lance, the plain black coffee for Cassandra, the hot, but sweetened coffee to Eugene and the iced mocha to Rapunzel.  "There you have it."

"Thanks, Quirin!  You never fail at making the best coffee!"  Rapunzel exclaimed.

The man chuckled, but noticed the bruise on the side of Cassandra's face.  "What happened there?"

"This?  Oh, new kid.  Got a temper.  Through a fit over something I said.  Not sure exactly what I did to make him mad."  She shrugged as if she didn't care.

"Xavier says it's because all he's known is violence, but he has to have his own room for the safety of everyone.  I feel bad for him..."  Rapunzel said sadly.

"He threw a plate of food at me," Cassandra protested.

"Think about what's been thrown at him," Lance countered.

Quirin sat down at the table with them as Lance scooted over to give him room.  He set his towel over his shoulder.  "The way I see it, this kid probably needs some love.  He has a lot of emotions bottled up in him and doesn't know what to do with them.  Like Sunny said, violence is all he knows, never has been taught the proper way to treat people.  Of course, I don't know the details."

"Thanks, Quirin.  We can always count on you for advice," Rapunzel said.

"Well, it's not like I have anyone to pass this down onto," Quirin answered as he stood up.  Another customer had entered.  "Nice chat, but I must get back to work."  He went to the woman to ask for her order.

Two weeks had passed.  Varian hugged his knees, sitting on the floor in a corner.  The silence was sharp, like daggers slicing away at his soul.  His breath hitched and squeezed his eyes shut.  He didn't want to think, didn't want to remember anything.  Didn't want to own up to the fact that he was a monster.

He had obviously scared off all the kids, but he got to sit alone like he wanted.  Not that he wanted to be alone, but he also didn't want to be around people.  He hated how he always acted out violently against his peers.  He tried to make himself feel better by blaming it on anything but himself.

He didn't want to be someone people were afraid of, but he had no self control.  In result, he became what he was.  No one dared to stand within ten feet of him.  That was his fault, and he knew it.  Guilt clawed at his stomach, which was another thing he hated.  Still, he wouldn't cry.

A knock on his door made him get up.  He opened it to find it was Eugene.  "What?" Varian asked in annoyance.

"Um... well... you see... there's this coffee shop down the street that me and some of the others hang out at.  Would you like to come?"

"Is that a good idea?"

"Uh.... yes?  I mean, we have to get permission from Xavier..."

Varian thought about it, looking at Eugene.  The older boy could see the distrust in the younger boy's eyes.  It was enough to twist Eugene's heart.  Now he understood why Blondie really wanted to help Varian. She was the first one to spot these little notions that showed that he was just a hurt child deep down.

After a while,Varian came to a conclusion.  "Coffee shop?"

"Yep, sells the best," Eugene confirmed.

"...Ok..." Varian answered at last.

Eugene smiled.

Chapter Text

Varian hesitated before he sat down at the table with the other four.  He didn't like how he was placed next to Cassandra.  Then again, he wouldn't have liked being placed next to anyone.  She didn't look at him and didn't talk to him, unlike the other three.  Maybe being stuck next to Cassandra wasn't so bad.

"The usual?" a man asked at the counter.

"Yep!  And something for Varian," Rapunzel explained.

"You brought a friend," the man smiled as he walked over.  "What would you like, young man?"

"It's Varian," he stated.  Young man was used before he got hit with a belt (usually the metal end), so it wasn't going to settle well.  Of course, it should have been said nicer, but Varian wasn't the one to beat around the bush.

"Alright," the man replied, unfazed by Varian's attitude.  "So what would you like?"

Varian shrugged.  "I don't know.  You pick the coffee."  He glanced away, not wanting to make eye contact with the man.

"Very well then, a surprise it is," he said.

It didn't take very long before he returned with the coffee and hot chocolate for Lance.  "Thanks, Quirin," Eugene said in their behalf.  The others nodded in agreement, except Varian who remained silent.  He had decided not to make any move unnecessary and hopefully restrain himself from making a scene, which meant not talking unless he really, really had to.  Quirin smiled and nodded, but he had to immediately leave to attend the other customers this time.

Rapunzel was happy to see that Varian hadn't already thrown something.  She was relieved to see that he was actually enjoying the coffee, even if he didn't vocalize his enjoyment.  She had learned that his silence meant he was in a good mood.  Well, a good mood for him, considering that the other half of the time he was having some sort of fit or rage.  Luckily, no one was harmed after the incident with Cassandra.

A lot of the kids called him the Monster In Room 23, but she didn't see him like a monster.  Just as a scared, lonely child that didn't know what love was or how to act.  She realized that he thought it was his only way of being heard and listened to.  To get what he wants.  Otherwise he'd just be shoved aside.  At least, that was how he viewed it, even if it wasn't true.

She had been lucky so far.  Loving mother, a nice home and life.  Some wouldn't say she was lucky when her mother died of cancer or when her father abandoned them when she was born, but she had been happy.  Her father was apparently killed by being hit by a car while he was drunk not long after he left them, leaving her with no one when her mom died.  Thus she had been sent to an orphan home at the age of twelve.  Since then, she had been moved only once to where she was currently.  She didn't mind and made the best of it.

She got to meet her roommate, Cassandra, and immediately deemed her her sister.  Then she met Eugene, her boyfriend.  Since she was sixteen, she was allowed to date and Eugene was roughly a year older than her.  Obviously, this led her to meeting Lance, Eugene's roommate and his honorary brother, who was the same age.

They used to steal, but she was able to see past their wrongs and given them the help and kindness that they needed.  She helped Cassandra when she was at her worst.  Maybe, just maybe, she could help this boy that sat before her.  Perhaps she could find a way to bring out the true him.  She knew he had good in him.  She could feel it.  She just needed to help him find it.  Although, she was uncertain how exactly, but she wasn't going to give in and let that stop her.  No.  He needed help and she was going to do her very best to save him from the darkness he was drowning.  Whatever it took.

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Quirin looked over at the table.  He had seen Varian come a few times, but he never talked and only drank the coffee that was on the special.  It was apparent that it was only because it involved less talking to only ask for the special.

It was starting to get late and he was certain that Varian should probably be on his way back.  Then again, he didn't know the rules.  He walked over to take the empty coffee cup.

"Actually... I'll take a refill," Varian said, not looking up from his book.

Quirin raised a brow.  "You already had four..."

"It's not your job to tell me to stop," he huffed.  "Be thankful I'm drinking coffee and not something else!"

The man shrugged, knowing that he had overstepped his boundaries.  He poured took the cup and gave the boy his fith round of coffee.  He supposed it wasn't going to harm him apart from the probable headache if he wasn't used to that much coffee.

Nuru was minding her own business when she heard the scuffling noises.  She had been walking through the hallway when she stopped at one of the doors.  The sound made her curious as she opened the door.

"Take it back!"  Varian screamed.

"I don't what I said wrong!"  Hugo replied, sounding panicked.  Varian threw another punch, but Hugo ducked it.

"What the heck!"  Nuru grabbed Varian's arms, trying to subdue him.  "Varian, stop!  You could kill him."

"I'm throwing a punch, not a knife!"  Varian shoved her off.

"Yeah, but you and I both know Hugo can't go up against you," Nuru argued.

"Say what?" Hugo crossed his arms, offended by the comment.

"Shut up, Hugo.  You aren't helping," Nuru hissed.

Varian looked like he was about to burst into another fit when Xavier came in.  He had obviously heard the commotion.  It took a lot of strength trying to hold the teen back.  "Varian, no!  Stop!"

"Let go of me!  No!"  Varian tried to pry his arms free.  "Let me go!"

"Not until you calm down and promise to stop," Xavier said firmly.

"No!"  Varian continued to fight it.  Nuru grabbed Hugo's wrist and yanked him out of the room, hoping that it would help calm the phsyco kid down a bit.  She never liked Hugo, but she wasn't one to just stand by and let one person beat the other up.  Especially when Hugo wasn't even trying to fight back, which was a little uncharacteristic of him.

"What is with that guy?"  Hugo mumbled.

"Well, I get why dislikes you, but don't ask my opinion."

Hugo frowned at her answer.

Chapter Text

The police had been at the home for children for a while.  Quirin debated on whether or not if he should go over to see what exactly was going on.  He Xavier well, and was acquainted with the workers and a lot of the children.  Finally, his concern won and he put his coat on and walked down the street.  He knocked on the door.

It was an officer who opened it.  "Excuse me, " Quirin said.  "I'm an old friend of Xavier's and I was concerned with the cars.  I'm Quirin..."

"Is that Quirin?"  Xavier asked.

"Yes."

"Let him in, he knows the kid a little.  Maybe he'll know where he went," Xavier said.

"What's going on?"

"It's Varian.  We can't find him.  I shouldn't have let go out while he was in a temper.  I was desperate to get him away from the kids and hoped he would cool off, but Nigel couldn't keep up with him and lost sight of him.  He had told me he was going to the coffee shop, but..."

"He never appeared, I'm sorry, Xavier," Quirin answered sadly.

"I don't know what to do with him!  I can't keep him here because he's hurting the other kids.  No one will foster him.  I hate to do this but he might have to go in a lock down for his and everyone else's sake."  Xavier looked crushed at the thought.

"What if he was busy.  You know, worked or something," Quirin suggested.

"I don't know who would accept him, and frankly, I don't want anyone to have to deal with his... outbursts..."

"What if he worked at the coffee shop.  I've been meaning to hire someone and I would be able to keep an eye on him and counsel him a bit."

"It's not going to be that simple," Xavier said.  "And we have to get it cleared and-"

"I'll jump through the hoops.  Besides, I can relate a little bit to what he's going through."

"That is true..." Xavier admitted.  "Alright, but I have to pass it with the state first."

"Sir," an officer spoke up who had just received a radio call.  "He's been found, but they're taking him to the hospital because he's a liddle giddy."

"He's drunk?"  Xavier and Quirin asked in unison.

"Yes."

"How did he get the... you know what, I'm not surprised," Xavier groaned.

Chapter Text

"Do you wanna fight?"  Varian snapped, bawling up his fists.  Quirin had to jump in and hold him back as the customer immediately turned and fled.

"Varian!  That is not how we-ugh!  Just sit in the chair for five minutes so I don't kill you!"

"I'm not-"

"Now, and keep your mouth shut for your own stinking good, child!  Just give me five minutes!"

Varian slumped in his chair, crossing his arms.  Pouting at the fact of being put in time out like a baby for the hundredth time that day.  Quirin didn't want to take his eyes off the boy, but he needed a moment.  He went into the kitchen, slumping in a chair.  He buried his face in his hands, groaning.  It took everything in him not to cry.  It wasn't even noon for crying out loud!  Not even a full two hours in the day!

The sound of the bell ringing caused Quirin to immediately go check if it was a customer or if Varian had bolted.  Again.  For the umpteenth time.  It was a customer.  It appeared that Varian had given up on trying to out run Quirin wasn't working and that being dragged back to the café wasn't exactly pleasant for either of them.

Varian made it as if to get up, but Quirin pointed down, meaning Varian was still in time out.  He slumped back in his seat, pouting again as he crossed his arms.  He looked away, still clearly angry over whatever it was.  Frankly, Quirin was beyond embarrassed already.

Quirin took the order and the customer took it to go.  He turned back to the sulking teen.  "I've decided that you've lost your privilege of being with the customers.  From now on, you're strictly in the kitchen."

"I don't see how any of this is a privilege," Varian muttered.

Later on...

"I hate washing dishes!" Varian whined.

"Should have thought of that before you ruined your chance up front," Quirin answered.  This resulted in Varian throwing another mug.

There had been a few hours Varian wasn't acting out apart from the rebellious sass at every turn.  He kept cussing just to annoy Quirin, and the man knew it.

The boy picked up another glass.  Quirin grabbed the boy's wrist that was holding the mug.  He pried it out of his hand and set it on the counter.  Deciding to be as basic as possible with him, Quirin shook his finger.  "No!  Bad!"

"I'm not a baby or a dog!"  Varian spat.

"Then stop acting like a spoiled baby, because as long as you act like one, you're gonna be treated like one."

Varian yanked his arm out the man's grip.  "Go to $%^!"

"If I hear another swear word come out of that mouth I swear I will wash it out with soap!"

"Then why did you swear?" Varian snarked.

"Thanks, that's clever and funny?  Scrub the floors."

"But-"

"There is no buts about it.  I'm not talking about a mop either.  You're gonna get down on your hands and knees and scrub it with this brush."

"That brush is so small!  It'll take forever!"  Varian protested.

"Then I suggest you quiet down and get started," Quirin replied as he put the brush in the boy's hand.  "When I get back, you will be scrubbing and this floor will be clean by tonight."

Varian huffed before getting down on his knees and dunking the brush into the water.  He grumbled under his breath complaining.  Quirin went into the lobby to deal with a customer.  When he came back in, Varian was standing up.  "Done."

"That was too fast, there is no possible way that you did that in ten minutes." Quirin looked at the floor.  "All you did was slosh water around.  Do it again."

"But my arms are tired," Varian argued.

"Well, you should have done it the first time."

Varian was about to throw the brush in another rage.  Quirin grabbed his wrist before he was able to.  "If I were you, I suggest you save that arm strength for the floor."

For a moment,the two had a stare down until Varian got down on his knees again while Quirin let go of his wrist.  The boy started to scrub the floor again.  Quirin went back into the lobby.  He continually came back to check on him, but he remained scrubbing and he was doing a pretty good job.

When Quirin closed down the shop, he reentered the kitchen to find the floor cleaned.  He looked at the table where Varian was sitting.  His head rested in his right arm where he had fallen asleep.  His left arm was stretched out across the table still holding the brush.  The strings to his apron had become untied and hung uselessly.

Quietly, Quirin walked over the boy.  He gave a soft smile.  He was so sweet and innocent while he was sleeping, and he didn't want to wake him up.  However, he needed to get the boy back to the orphan home.  He gently swiped the hair out of the boy's eyes.  "Varian," he said softly.  "You did a good job.  I'm proud."

Varian only shifted in his sleep, muttering something.  Quirin took the boy's apron off and picked him up bridal style.  He smiled down at him before taking him back to the children's home.  It was a hard day, but Quirin felt like it was worth the stress and effort.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Varian found himself five years old again, running up to his adoptive mom.  Even though abuse had gone on for about two years at this point, he was still too young to realize that he was abused.  They had told him that it was out of love, so he believed them.  Whenever he ran up and hugged them though, they'd always push him away. It was hard to understand whether or not they did.

"Mummy, look!  One day when I'm bigger, I'm gonna invent things!"

"No, dear.  They won't take in brats like you," she said.  "Best forget that dream, baby."

Varian looked down at his drawing.  "But I wanna make a robot so you don't have ta work so hard and you can be with me more…"

"I said stop this nonsense!" She snapped taking the paper out of his hands, tearing it.  It was thrown into the trash before he could protest.  He burst into tears at his adoptive mothers actions.  "Stop your crying!  It's weak!"  She slapped him, making him stumble back.

"I'm sorry, mummy…" He desperately wiped away at his tears.

"Then stop your blubbering!  It's extremely annoying!  Go do something useful for once!"  She threw a glass at him and he was barely able to scramble away before it hit him.

Varian snapped his eyes open.  He could tell it was morning.  For a moment, he was confused how he got in his own bed.  Then he had the fuzzy memory of Quirin saying something like he did a good job and that he was proud?  No.  That had to be a fragment of his imagination.  It was too good to be true.  He also had a faint memory of Quirin carrying him home like a baby.  He groaned and pulled the covers over his face, feeling a rush of embarrassment.

Of course Quirin wasn't proud.  He had done nothing but throw fits and cuss at him, call him names, and cause problems.  It was just dreaming that he said it, knowing deep down that it was one of his wishes.  To do a good job and make someone proud, but he had no one to make proud.

He felt a familiar surge of bitterness enter his chest.  Why he was angry at Quirin because of his dream, he wasn't certain, nor was it logical.  It didn't stop the anger from coursing through his body though.  Frankly, he didn't really care who or what or where he directed his anger at.  Anger was just anger to him.  The one emotion that he let have a hold on him.

Rolling over, he squeezed his stuffed raccoon closer to him.  He made sure it was hidden underneath the blanket so that if an annoying person burst in his room to wake him up, they wouldn't see him snuggling with a stuffed animal.  It was the only thing he had left of his younger years.  It had been given to him back when his mummy and papa loved him, before they became bored with him.  He wanted to hate them, but he had loved them and he couldn't bring himself to.  It left him with an empty hole in his heart.  There was no way he would ever let himself love again.  It wasn't worth the pain.

Sure enough, there was a knock on his door.  Of course it was Cassandra.  "Hey, kid.  You gotta get up.  You have work today."

Varian groaned.  He did not want to go through that again.  Ever.  What was with the guy anyway? He wouldn't budge or even bend to his will just to get him to shut up.  Why was the man torturing him so?  There was no possible way that this was for his own good.