Chapter Text
The day he was found, something in the sky called for him. The black big yonder was something intriguing today. It wasn't like it always had been, the shine reflected into his iris differently, and they felt unalike. Everything seemed to fall down, but the end didn't happen, even so, his own world was falling apart, the noises around felt numb, screams and cries quietly disappeared as soon as he looked up again. A beautiful sight on top of him was delightful, strong, and immersive. Deep in thought, Ivan was missing the situation he was in, but that didn't matter right now, a spark found in himself yearning to be answered.
He felt found in the night, every evening, he crawled to the same spot, the highest where anyone would come or interact with him. Even though no one talked nor interacted often. The time Ivan could have alone was something he aimed for, quiet and peace felt right, his loneliness wasn't out of place. Or at least that is what he thinks, alone and with the view he looked for. That's what his whole life is. At that short age you really need so much, as a kid that analysing was a hobby, there was not much to entertain him.
With the midnight striking, a very rich and light sky is showing, the absence of the moon gives him all he needed. Looking up, he could see constellations and nebulae, like his eyes were made for this. The black calling for him, stars shining and burning his whole life span to be looked at least one time. Ivan was the eyes stars needed to die happily, but sadly, that was not going to be enough time for him.
It felt like a passion, as a young person, he could have fun seeking stars and wait patiently for a star shower, indeed, it was one of the things he enjoyed most. Hoping for that deep sky to tear apart in front of him, a wonderful war above him that couldn't reach him, no matter how high he went, no matter how high his hand was. A dark heaven just for him and the ones that truly hoped for whatever kind of explosion happening above, occur again to their eyes, a magnificent show of lights that enchanted every second of his life.
The unpredictable fall as each star passed reflected in the black eyes of Ivan, consuming that light like an immersive galaxy exploding constantly, creating new constellations, exploring something inside the boy that intrigued his heart with joy. Only a thing he felt special to interpret, an enormous time spent could last seconds in a bad comprehension after hours just staring that.
Felt marvelous until that gaze was not something close to him, the overjoy and time he spent looking up was over, only good things can be gained after all. He would learn that the hard way.
Or at least at the day he was found, he never felt so scared before, and that’s something hard to say because of the place he originates, the slums. Followed by a bunch of monsters, a group of kids run away, those screams hit Ivan head again. Memory seems to work again and remember the pretty complicated situation he was in right now; a weird looking creature holding the neck of the only clothes he owned. His feet hang at the top of this building, not capable of looking down, seeing the atrocious destiny that may happen. The mere idea of falling was more tangible than what was above him, but was thrilling to him both of that, how was it possible to feel the same fear as joy? But still tearing up fearing the end of life after finding the hand of god reaching to him.
That monster looked at him again, he moved his head away, staring up. Not trying to avoid the end, but yearning at the only thing that kept hope now. A curious gaze was stayed at Ivan, finally coming down to the floor but this time without running away, the warning was pretty clear, but whatever was coming now, a mystery.
In a cage of exhibition, it was hard to see shooting stars up at the vault of heaving as it used to, he seemed to have forgotten what moonlight was and how infinity felt at his eyes, the smaller he felt when looking for a new light in the dark sea above. The time felt eternal, even though it wasn't that long, creatures he had never seen before in somewhat fancy and luxurious suits, unknown to his eyes, came every day looking at kids like Ivan. Not knowing what will happen to the ones that are already brought or just gifted, given how low the price is. Observation was a nice gift he got and used it as mere entertainment by standing and being cute in front of the visitors coming.
Someday, he would get adopted too, worthy of the creatures over him choosing kids. It was a matter of time, patience was key, and learning the abilities to enchant them was necessary for that, not something that was a need now, but soon. Walking entities come close to him seeking the behavior closely, both of them kept standing there. Sharing a gaze with Ivan, interested in him, but one of them more than the other, seemed to want him to be a star.
Star, that word is meaningful in the small brain of that kid, those were the same things in the celestial vault he loved. The only idea to be free again felt overwhelming, his small body couldn't process nor understand what true freedom means now. Being in others' hands was strange, but at least he could be outside of that square that limits his gaze upon the sky like he used to before... But maybe that's not all, being outside of here doesn't really mean anything, it didn't mean he could see the stars again, maybe, only maybe, means that he would be like here again. And that wasn't a very nice idea. Understanding that humans such as Ivan were rare, keeping it as a pet seems rational, not completely, but in a strange way, he gets it, almost.
A purchase was made, someone was bought, not born. That's a wacky way to call it a birthday. Ivan was sold on the 14th of February at a young age. It was a devotion gift, with a tough and meaningful meaning of caring for someone (Even though, merely this was more seen as a financial acquisition). And love comes in different ways to express, this was an example of one, Ivan attentively observed. They seemed to talk to each other, but no sound to his ears could make sense or be strong enough to be called a sound. A dull and weird feeling in his heartache, a worry not understandable yet for him, but the message was clear: something was off. Young and innocent, still feeling the disgrace and pain that a perfect star and son should be.
Planned as a gift, meant to be owned as a pet for the entertainment of one creature… Didn't seem the chip of the actual buyer. Instead of that, Unsha, said him, was making him the star he hoped for.
”I hope you understand that despite your age, little bean, you seem capable and a pet must obey its owner.” Unsha said, walking around the kid, analyzing every angle of him. “You’re promising, in your eyes I see something no one had, never owned a human, since now.” As he continued, the segyein, he called himself, formally presented in front of Ivan. At this time he still was a nameless boy, no name to be referred to but kid. “You’ll have a rich education, you must show me clear and nice results. That is the way your value will be shown.”
”My wife chose the perfect name for you, even before we knew you'd be in our hands, she called you Ivan. She refused the one I proposed, 0214.” Number, that’s what he probably is for Unsha. A quiet silence fills the room, both entities stare at each other, that sight, he knows will give him money. “You can be the perfect son, I can be the perfect father… But, I need your cooperation, good things will come if you serve right and do what I say. What is a father if his son is a failure? Nothing is like having nothing in my hands.” The raven-haired kid nodded, for now the segyein explained things superficially and clearly enough for him to understand.
So it begin a journey, Ivan was put in Anakt Garden, a weird place so bright that his eyes took more than he can tell to adjust, everything seemed green, natural, Ivan felt pleased to see all nature for himself and explore finally a place big enough for walking, even jogging if he wanted to. Was this freedom? Was this the feel of doing anything he wanted? More wrong he couldn’t be, of course. He indeed had free time, but only by his own merit. It was clear days after being adopted. Classes, freetime, classes again, training, and more. All of that was tiresome, the boy didn't feel that impossible, after all it was worth enough.
Since the start of his days here, observation was the thing of him, unsettling, that’s how teachers describe him. Perhaps it was that jet black eyes he had. Even having a nice, almost star student status in both class and voice training. Ivan was an example if they talk about performance, but come to lunch time or anything else that gives a weird feeling from him. The boy seems to not care really, analyzing from far away is entertainment and learning to respond from his peers feel more important for now, they don’t answer like he’ll do, don’t hear like he does not act like he does.
Classmates often said his face was plain, that it was scary talking to him, he didn’t seem to react or show any expression at all. Doesn’t seem like he didn't feel them; Ivan says so. In his mind a complex understanding of emotions happens, somehow not shown on the outside like he thinks. Actually, he can see the teacher freaking out, even his owner did at the beginning. That’s why to him it is important the first analysis he gives to everyone here at the moment, the constant routine of waking up and going to class, sitting far away some days and losing himself in thoughts feels right, feels familiar.
Staying away from the other kids' eyes was amazing, the simple fact of a being seems interesting to Ivan, this was the first step for him to adapt, the need of being part of them wasn't a worry yet, but it was for Unsha, not necessary in a bad way. The worry his “father” was showing didn't feel normal, genuine… The silence he gives makes that kid feel invisible, the segyein cares about him, not the way a father should be. For him it was a deeper reason to ignore his “child”, not neglecting him, but enough to be a form of punishment. The discomfit Ivan makes through was equitable for the species here, quite a few communicate it to the manager, something is needed to take action in order to that.
The little bean felt different in the ambience, not essentially his fault for that, almost. The teacher gives up, his peers come close with intentions to talk but miserably fails, more food on his plate… Pretty much everything around him docked on routine, a misunderstood feeling came to grow inside, a treatment unique for the kid with a snaggletooth. It wasn't completely bad, but something inside of him made it feel different.
As time passed, it was clear to him that something was off, not the fault of the environment. In Anakt kids' part paths after class is over, teachers almost force them to come near him at least. Unsha was incomprehensible at most and ignoring him in every meeting they had to look for model managers out there. Must be his foible after all, without any explanation it's left out for him to look for one answer to that problem. Another dive in the mind is asking to happen, Ivan wonders deeply on what part of the behavior is odd, of what he can understand; not speaking to anyone does not mean he isn’t having a great time or enjoying the company of peers that go around or just the fact of attending classes, eating together, he repeat almost everything they do.
Staying in corners, stalking in majority was a vice Ivan cultivated. To formulate something of that repetitive talk he gets when time alone happens with a superior, a constant reminder that he is different, the only thing burning in his brain is the privation of the supposed social cues he lacks. Does he feel the absence of that? Not at all. Actually, he cannot even see them, meteorically memorizing patterns the coequals show, the only real problem is the complicated it seems for him at replicating them; often with a vagueness unexplained to him directing a rejection from others. No matter how good he seems to understand them, deep inside, Ivan was unable to fit that behavior in him, at least not in the way it was expected.
But it seems that the problem is other, it was acknowledged for him the impediment he developed around everyone does not involve himself that much, since people didn’t understand his being is not an issue solved that easily. It was something even deeper, harder for others to comprehend or reciprocate to him, even answer the way he wanted didn’t happen. No one seems to try to fix him, but that is because nothing was meant to be fixed, Ivan wasn’t broken indeed, a deeper issue is going on. The boy does know that in him such a thing did not exist at all, but according to Unsha, that persists. He constantly claimed Ivan as a weird acquisition, but did not feel regret about that, nothing that his money couldn't fix after all, power and the devotion of that kid was enough for him to make an ordinance and be completed without hesitation. That was at least the point of view of the segyein, intrigued by the real toughness of his pet. After all, being obedient is something and planning an escape was different. Both Ivan and Unsha knew that well.
More time happened, Ivan attended class as normally he would but today something felt peculiar. As the teacher spoke, it didn’t take any gazes at Ivan, nor his peers seemed to make 0214 being seen, everything around couple to ignore him at the same time. It was strange, but not unwelcomed, more time to himself after all. Was he acting differently today? He doesn’t think so, even his clothes were the same as always. Nothing unsettling about himself to worry, but he could feel people just changed and choose to avoid it. Of course nothing that bothers the boy after all, just really curious about evolution of circumstances and people, another thing he’d watch from afar in secret. So he did, a constant observation like always, but this time in peace with no one around judging him, at least not close like always, the same routine repeated precisely how when arrived here. It was such as becoming totally invisible, interesting subjects not boring enough to look at, he focused intensely on a boy with brown hair, “Marty” others call him, not interesting at all, but plain. That seems quite a hook for Ivan to memorize guy’s path, walk and talk, couldn’t be someone yet so boring and fascinating at once?
It was not different in meeting Unsha took him with, finding a style to be shown at, the picture of an elegant prince he will be one day, hair, posture, everything was selected not to fit his persona, but “Ivan the idol”. At least they weren’t ugly. A charm needed in meetings that he didn’t quite connect with yet, but not too far from getting it. Every segyein compliments Ivan’s look to his owner. “He’d be quite charming to everyone, right?” Said someone, "It is just his behavior that is so unsettling for now.” His keeper adds, holding his frown exhaling. “You know there is training for that, right?” A soft “Yeah” was the last thing he hears, knowing the meeting would end up as a miss opportunity, so his brain automatically lower the external surrounding.
If it's indeed a training how should that be? Ivan thinks. Everything was covered already in Anakt, behavior is just social cues he didn’t took, he wasn't problematic so punishment should not be applied to him nor he harasses peers either. Probably it will be centered on looking, Unsha wanted a perfect outside first anyways, something more tangible than the inside of the mind. More importantly, they did not share any knowledge valuable for him, almost every time they interacted seemed staged, a talk with a supposed instruction that should work for him at Anakt or simply the relations around him, those things weren’t a focus for now. Was that in his mind though? Yes, just not applied yet, Ivan tried before with not pleasant results so became to analyze why, in the meantime that was dedicated to look around for answers in people more likely looking to him, the equals seemed to be “aliens”, he thinks that segyein must be “aliens” to him too as he is one to Unsha, is a silly thought after all.
The corners of his lips hurted, since a new training method specially for him was now added to the teaching in order to perform, “A smile is what gives the cherry on top”, teachers said. Hours for the perfect grin in theory, something that will charm people and most important, something that makes him more approachable. It left a visible stretched and darkened zone around the corners, it still felt like his cheeks were looking upwards again, but at least every training was worth. He touched there, didn’t mind actually feeling hurt again, pulling both ways to see what muscles move in order to form a nice smile, his lip making a fun turn around his fang. He did not like that. Let’s try again but just the good side, it… he didn’t actually knew how he was looking, just feeling his mouth around his teeth.
He makes his way across Anakt to the lake, a peaceful place with the beautiful reflection of the sun in it, sometimes fishes jump over, kids take them and throw them again. He really liked it here. Is the most unique part in the whole garden, mostly small hills with a bunch of flowers, but here? Fun to watch, interesting overall and people objectively enjoy more when they are around here specially.
”Hey!” Heard from behind. Right now Ivan was practicing smiling in front of the lake, his nose almost touching the crystal water, feeling frustrated for that tooth that weirdly upwards his lip. Finally spinning around to see who called, a girl with a curious look on his back. “What are you doing?” Her voice was quite charming, joyful and cheerful. “Smiling!” He answered doing that action. Just using one side to avoid his fang, the child notices that. “Well, it seems crooked, you look funny.” So direct, said… “I’m Mizi”, the pink haired said. “Ivan.” He answered.
The raven haired kid got up, almost the height of the girl curiously looking at him, finally smiling right. Some silence fills the space, just for her to laugh. “That’s not right too, you’re supposed to smile like this.” She pointed at the mouth, “You look like a robot doing that, it is a soft move, here.” And achieve that, just like his training but actually attempting at, getting her face closer to him in order to have a better look. So he does the same, softly making a well built grin, “Wideeer” Mizi points at Ivan, obeying. Both of them finally properly smiling.
That was nice, as the first interaction of talking that involved him and actually feeling it was completely, something changed then, maybe the smile, maybe another thing inside of him. God knows. The harder the train was, the better results he gives back, not necessarily at the smiling one, but in general. No matter what now, he seems to couple better to the peers around, smiling, seems that his whites did something to the overall impression he gives. Ivan didn’t stop being himself, just fitting better in behavior from the outside.
Like nothing Ivan, what seems to be just one day to another, talked more, acted more, walked around more. He didn’t leave his mania with observing, now he can do that closer than ever and it was the same entertainment that before, still missing something, but it was enough. Reactions in the first seat was a novelty, one that intrigued enough to keep more closeness to some equals he had, even get to have partners to eat lunch with, always together, and play in the free time. Mizi was part of this too, “Sua” the girl that was stuck to Mizi almost all of the time, became closer to Ivan also. Coming everyday to play or do something in company, not much to do here, but big imagination plays an important role on kids mind.
Unsha was finally happy to hear that, even the teachers reached out to him to tell that the “problem” was “fixed”. Green lights for the segyein to start business with a charming prince like Ivan, he needed to look at the persona most approachable for his people. The future of that kid shined finally and nothing that means more than good news, more meetings than ever, special classes for him and more appreciation coming from Unsha to Ivan. He has been seeing from him now that something is to be named after him, maybe he felt better than he would want to, but at least he has the recognition of his “father” now. For now. If this is the dynamic the segyein was showing to him, Ivan gladly will take it and obey as is asked to, since he can get the recognition he wants and feels to need for now. Being seen is the best he can get from his father as long as he complies, grant it as wished.
they being so cute >3<