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Toby choked on the air practically gasping for breath laughing so hard it hurt their side. They clutched their stomach, wiping away stray tears giggling.
Quinn huffed a small laugh dusting himself off “yeah yeah” he muttered shaking his head softly smiling as He ruffled there hair, messing it up with a laugh. Toby squawked in offense “HEY!!” They waved Quinn’s hand away angrily fixing their hair. Quinn doubled over laughing.
They glared at him but he could tell that they were holding back a smile. They crossed their arms, turning away angrily.
Quinn leaned forward a bit into his hand. from where he was sitting a bit behind Toby. They were sitting on the grass a little ways away from the wagon. A mischievous smile creeped up his lips. Toby was turned away from him at the moment. Slowly and carefully making sure not to alert them he got up slightly on his knees narrowing his eyes before attacking.
Toby screeched as Quinn tackled them. He wrapped his arms around their chest making sure there was no escape “LET ME GO!” Toby wiggled trying to get out of hold to no avail; they slumped in defeat, sighing loudly. Quinn laughed, grinning at his success of capturing them “giving up so quickly?” raising an eyebrow “I’m too tired” they huffed trying to get comfortable in the hold Quinn allowed them to get adjusted and comfortable before he rested his chin on their hair.
He rested his hand down on the grass and the other around Toby’s waist. They lifted the lags lay against their chest wrapping their arms around them. looking up to the sky Quinn followed their gaze watching the colorful colors blend into the sky making a beautiful blend of orange and pinks.
A content sigh came from Toby; they lowered their head onto their knees with a sleepy hum. Quinn lifted his chin from where it was resting smiling fondly he lifted up his hand to scratch at their scalp Toby’s antennas flopped to the side seemingly pleased with the head scratches Quinn leaned them a bit backwards looking at the sky contently letting his eye fall shut.
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Quinn walked in the heavy rain using his jacket as cover from it. His shift finally ended and he could go home.
The walk was long. If he knew it was going to rain he would’ve brought an umbrella. Sighing he found himself in a small alleyway grateful to have cover. He slid down onto a brick wall. It probably wasn’t going to stop raining any time soon grumbling to himself annoyed by how cold he was he barely noticed someone was watching him.
Sighing as he slumped against the wall trying not to think about how cold it was. Dragging a hand down his face as he mutters “I probably should get hom- CRASH Quinn jumped at the loud sound eyes wide looking around frantically trying to find the source of the sound until- his eyes landed on a small very small frame.
They were shaking violently, eyes wide with fear. They were pressed against a wall as if they were hoping it would consume them.
Quinn blinked rapidly as if he was trying to make sure what he was seeing was real. I mean there are a lot of things in this world that are strange but he doesn’t believe he’s ever seen someone like this before… They had two small moth-like antennas. A large dirty cloak that covered them. They had to have had at least three eyes. From what he could tell. There hair was long and dark it was falling in front of there face making it hard to see the rest of them but Quinn knew for sure they couldn’t be younger than 10
“Whoa…” He murmured
Clearly didn’t like Quinn looking at them or the fact that Quinn was there in the first place they whimpered, curling into themselves as if to try and make them smaller.
Quinn quickly snapped out of whatever shock he was in scrabbling to get up.
“hey hey it’s ok! I’m not going to hurt you!”
That only seemed to make the situation worse. They covered their ears pulling, at the hair their antennas pinned against the head squeezing their eyes shut shuddering.
Quinn stopped from where he was moving almost immediately. Instead he quietly knelt down a little ways away from them. He grabbed a small loaf of bread that he didn’t eat for lunch. Carefully he unfolded the cloth around it.
He slowly and carefully handed out the bread, staying impossibly still. He tilted his head a bit to the side with a small encouraging smile.
“Here” he murmured softly “I think you might like it more than me” he chuckled a bit he hoped this would work. He wasn’t planning on leaving this poor kid without some form of shelter and food.
They hesitantly reached for it, their eyes quickly darting back to Quinn. He could tell they wanted it but didn’t trust him. That’s alright though Quinn could wait.
Not that he had to wait long though, the bread was quickly snatched out of his hand while he was distracted. Quinn’s eyes widened, at the sudden movement falling backward with an “oof” blinking he shook his head and looked back at the kid. They were staring at him intensely clutching the loaf in their hands as if he was going to take it back.
He smiled at the kid making sure the kid knew he wasn’t angry.
“Go on” …..
“it’s yours now”
The kid blinked looking down at the bread then Looking back at him. Slowly but surely they took a small bite still keeping their eyes on him.
Quinn had to admit that he was a bit uncomfortable with the steering but as long as the kid ate he’d deal with it.
The kid continued to eat but took their time. Still clutching onto it.
Quinn sat up a bit adjusting so he wasn’t so uncomfortable on the cobblestone ground. Turning back to the kid.
“So…My name is Quinn” he chuckled nervously, placing a hand on his chest. “ I thought it might be good to introduce myself”
They look a little confused before murmuring “oh” That was the first thing Quinn had heard from them he grinned. “What's yours?” He asked encouragingly. They blinked and their eyes widened a bit as if they were surprised that he even asked. They opened their mouths before closing it and shrugged.
He hummed tilting his head curiously. “Do you not know?” he asked as they shook their head. They bowed their head in shame.
He smiled softly “that’s alright” humming “ we’ll figure it out” They lifted their head up in shock, their mouths slightly agape, eyes shimmering with something of admiration. They nodded with the tiniest smile.
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“DINNERS READY!!!” Clem shouted from the top of the hill. Quinn jolted awake, snapping his eyes open with a gasp he blinked away any sleepiness left as he lifted himself off the grass.
“COMING!” He called back.
Toby grumbled something incoherent but was pretty much still asleep, Quinn snorted in amusement shaking his head.
Quinn scooped them up in his arms as he arose from the ground. “Come on. Let’s get some dinner” Toby whined, shoving their face into the crook of his neck, clearly not happy about being woken up from their nap. Quinn dragged a hand through their hair humming a soft toon as they joined the rest for dinner.
Fin.
