Work Text:
Lord, I'm one.
Rowl wakes up and he is still in the same place he was before. Hooked up to machines, floating in some sort of substance that is keeping him alive despite the pain he is in everyday. There is a ringing in his ears, and the liquid and tube further muffles any of the voices of the scientists doctors he sees walking around the lab. He has since gotten used to this. It was their life and they couldn't and wouldn't do anything about it because what was there to fight for?
Their day goes on as it usually does. He is pulled out of the giant tube, and is checked on by the scientists doctors. It is the same as always, they take their blood samples and they are sent to various tests to see if his gift was being enhanced by whatever it was that they kept giving him. A test to see how well he could control the vines, another to test if he could go one on one against other kids that the doctors do tests on. He hated that they made them fight other kids. They always resisted and tried his best to fight the doctors just so they couldn't force him to do it again.
But they always had their way.
The doctors always managed to force them to fight. He always thought that his gift should be used for good. To protect others, not to hurt them but, here they were. Hurting kids all because they couldn't do anything against the doctors. Their hands shook whenever he was pushed into that room. To hurt someone so young and innocent, it felt so wrong and deep down they knew it was wrong. Nothing was ever right about the labs to begin with.
Lord, I'm two.
It was the same cycle again. Yet somehow, something felt off about today. Like something good was going to happen to them. Like the sun would finally shine on him and give him purpose in his life.
Walking down the hallways to where the cafeteria was, a loud, happy laughter flooded his ears. Rowl doesn't understand it, but he walks faster to where the laughter was coming from like that would save him.
Rowl enters the cafeteria and on the second table on row two was a boy. He was on top of the table and he looked to be about five years old. The kid had pastel blue hair that went down to his shoulders and bangs that covered half of his face, a long green and orange striped scarf that was definitely longer than him. He was talking about wanting to see the outdoors and how he read about this cool animal called a seal.
Rowl sees this and wants nothing more but to help this kid fulfill his dream. Looking around, the kid was talking to someone.
The other kid had pink hair, black beady eyes and a soft voice. He looked to be around six years old. He laughed along and nodded at the boy on the table. He was talking about how cool it would be to see more of the world outside of the sterile white walls of the labs. The kid talked about helping the other kid fulfill his dream and that they would do it together.
And when Rowl saw this, they wanted nothing more but to help them both fulfill their dreams. This would be his purpose. He was going to do whatever it took to help them and to protect them and give these kids the lives they deserve to have.
Approaching them was easy enough. They got their food and sat with the two kids, his voice was soft for the first time ever. It was new to him, but Rowl didn't care. These kids, he would help them.
"Hey, can I sit here?" the kid on the table seemed to light up when Rowl approached. The other one was more hesistant but still nodded.
"Yeah! Yeah! Of course you can! I'm Hax! This is my best friend ever, Mongey! What's your name? You look really cool!" the kid sounded really happy. The other kid, waved when his name was mentioned.
"Thank you, my name's Rowl. It's nice to meet you two." the sound of his voice not being aggressive was foreign to them. Warmth, these kids made him feel something they have never felt before. "I heard you two talking about what you wanted to do when you leave this place. They're really good."
"Nice to meet you too Rowl! Hey, since you heard us talking about that stuff, what do you wanna do when you leave?" his eyes widen slightly.
No one had ever asked them that before. He looked down at his food. They too, had always wondered what it would be and he had decided just earlier that these kids were going to see the outside world and experience what childhood should be.
"I– I want to protect kids like us from bad people. I want them to grow up and to experience being a kid. That's what I want to do." their voice was clear. He would grow to be a protector, someone who provides safety and a home for children who are growing up in these systems.
"That's really nice, Rowl! I think that you can so succeed! And– and me and Mongey are gonna help you and we're gonna be the most awesome trio ever! Right, Mongey?" Hax looked at his friend, getting really close to him with a grin plastered on his face.
"Yeah! We'll help too!"
And Rowl couldn't have asked for anything more than this. He was going to dedicate his life to protecting these kids. Even if that meant giving his life away for them.
Lord, I'm three.
"Run, Rowl. Go and fulfill your promise to those kids– to yourself." a voice whispered to him. He was stood still as the scientists doctors ran their tests on him. Their promise to Hax and Mongey. The promise they swore they would fulfill. The two kids that are his purpose.
With the doctor's backs facing him, he attacks. Vines grew out from the ground, wrapping around the doctors, immobilizing them as he dropped chemicals he knew were big trouble. They knocked over some more stuff that soon led to absolute chaos.
Alarms sounded out throughout the labs. Doctors were everywhere, trying to bring order to the kids that ran out of their rooms, out the main doors and the gates. How did this happen? How did their perfect system collapse in just a few seconds. All because of one ten year old. A child had outsmarted them and that wasn't the worst of it.
Fire spread throughout the lab. Flames swallowed the papers and test rooms. And at the center of it all was Rowl. It was always them. The one kid who always fought them over everything. Rowl.
"Hax!? Mongey!? Hey– hey there you are. Are you ready to go?" his voice was as soft as ever, kneeling down in front of the two children as chaos erupted around them. Their smile faltered a bit when they saw the fear in their eyes. The same fear he saw everyday ever since meeting them, whenever they were sent to be tested. "Don't be scared, okay? I'll protect you, I promise. Now, hold my hand and let's go see the world and maybe find some seals okay?" he watched the two boys smile at him.
The three boys run out of the labs, hand in hand. Rowl would give his all to make sure that these kids would get what they deserved. They would make sure Mongey saw the world and Hax the seals. And so much more , all for these kids.
Lord, I'm four.
They settled in a warehouse far out enough where he was sure they would never be found. Rowl worked hard everyday, robbing banks. He had to get money somehow. He used the money to decorate the warhouse and it felt so much like home. They made sure to bring Hax and Mongey wherever they wanted because they deserved it. They bought food, toys, books, and anything the two asked for.
"Rowl! Rowl! We saw you on the TV today through the old lady's window! Why do they keep calling you a villain?" they just chuckled. Oh, Hax, sweet winter child. So young and innocent.
"Hax, they say that because I do stuff that's against their rules."
"But they don't get it! You– you do that stuff to help us! They're so mean! I'm gonna come with you and snowball those meanies for you!" Rowl shakes their head, ruffling Hax's hair as he stood up to make them dinner.
They hear Hax huff at the action, looking and sounding annoyed but still follows Rowl to their kitchen set up. And as he is preparing their food, he hears Hax's soft voice say;
"Can– can I water your vines?" ah, of course. The request he made everyday, it was simple and Rowl never really complained. "Please? I haven't watered them yet today! And– and me and Mongey finished like a quarter of the books you gave us!" Hax pleaded, it made Rowl smile more.
"Of course you can. Go get a cup of water and then you can water my vines." Hax lit up and ran off to get water. Mongey was on one of the bean bags, quiet. "Is there something bothering you?" Rowl knew he kind of had favorites sometimes and they hope that Mongey didn't think that they didn't like him.
"Nothing, but I was wondering if we could have the casserole again tonight?" a simple request that Rowl was more than happy to do.
"Of course, Mongey. We can have casserole for dinner tonight. How about you help me while Hax gets the water for my vines?" the kid seemed satisfied and nodded, getting up to help.
It was nice and quiet, well as quiet as it could be with Hax running around knocking things over and just being a kid. Rowl continued cooking with Hax and Mongey by his side, like a true family.
"Roowl! Hax dropped the mixing spoon on the floor!" they hear Mongey say, feeling a tug on his pant leg.
Another tug on his other pant leg, big golden eyes staring at them with a pleading and guilty look. "Did not! Don't believe him! I didn't drop it I promise! It– it fell on its own!" Rowl just smiled, placing a comforting hand on Hax's head, ruffling the kid's hair.
"It's okay, accidents happen okay? I'm not angry at you, but pinky promise me you'll be more careful." Rowl got down to Hax's level and they held out their pinky to the child. Hax smiled and happily returned he gesture, saying;
"I pinky promise!"
Rowl turns to the other child that was still pouting. "Mongey, you too. Pinky promise you'll be super careful, okay? I don't want either of you getting hurt." their voice was soft, just like it always had been whenever they talked to the two of them.
"I pinky promise! And– and I'll make sure no more accidents, I promise!"
They smile at pats the kid's head. That was all Rowl needed in life. To see these kids happily being children, being free.
Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home.
Rowl didn't understand how it all came to this. Being followed all the way back to the warehouse. Heroes surrounded the place and he looked at Hax and Mongey. Their eyes were filled with so much fear. That was wrong. They shouldn't be scared of anything anymore because they were free. They were okay.
"Rowl…? Are– are we gonna be okay?" oh that small, scared voice hurt to hear. Hax looked so scared, hugging his seal plush close to his chest. Tears were threatning to fall and Rowl got down to his height to wipe them away. They couldn't bear to see him cry.
"Hey– hey don't cry. It's okay, you're gonna be okay. We're gonna be okay, I promised didn't I?" they kissed Hax's forehead, properly securing his scarf around him. "We'll be okay. Mongey, go take Hax and hide okay? I'll take care of the scary people outside." the younger boy nodded, taking Hax's hand and leading him to their secret space that Rowl made for them whenever they felt really scared.
Rowl waited until they were sure that both kids were in their secret spot before putting his mask back on and leavin the safety of their home. He would fight for this place because it was theirs. It was where the happiest moments of his life happened. Where two kids began to see the world outside of the sterile walls and just be kids.
Five hundred miles,
Upon stepping out, weapons were pointed at them. "Vineis! Have you come to surrender yourself?" heroes, of course they were here. The police have always been cowards when it came to gifted individuals. He counted three heroes. Icarus, Poseidon and Vidar. Rowl has seen them many times whenever they robbed banks to keep Hax and Mongey well fed and safe.
Icarus, he has big canary wings that grows in size when under the sun, a pain in the ass to hide from since he could scout out wide spaces. Poseidon, always carried a trident and that serious look on his face, speed was his ability and it was annoying to run from. And Vidar, he liked to stay quiet. He had the ability to create invisible objects, move them around weaponize them like a mime.
Rowl or Vineis as they like to call him remained silent. They tap their foot on the ground three times and giant vines break through the ground and incapacitate Icarus' wings and the police that surrounded them. Poseidon managed to get out of the area quickly and Vidar already seemed to have a sort of barrier protecting him.
"Icarus!"
"I– fuck– I'm fine! Just– take care of him! We can't lose track of him again!"
Vineis tilts their head and dodges an attack from Poseidon. That was too close. He had to hold his ground, for Hax and Mongey, for his family.
"Give up now Vineis, you can't take all three of us at once." Vidar spoke with such sureness in his voice that they hated. They weren't about to give up and leave them. He made a promise and he was going to fulfill it one way or another.
five hundred miles.
Vineis dodges another attack from Vidar and blocks Poseidon. They manage to land a hit on Icarus, sending the hero flying into three police officers.
"Just surrender, we don't want to take extensive measures to ensure you are dealt with." Poseidon tells them and Vineis scoffs. Another vine sprouts out from the ground, blocking a hit from Poseidon's trident. The hero was the most aggressive of the three, not that it was much of an issue.
Icarus manages to land a solid hit to his side, drawing blood with those sharp claws. Vineis hissed as their vines began to patch up the wound. It hurt like a bitch but, there was not much he could do but deflect and attack the three heroes.
"Just give up, please! You can still change!" Icarus looked at him with regret. Vineis hated that look. Icarus was mocking him. It was as clear as day. The hero was mocking them. Icarus knew nothing.
Change. Why would Rowl want to change? What is there to change about who they are? These heroes knew nothing of change.
Rowl was born into the world to be a weapon but, they had changed even before becoming Vineis. His home had been the ones to change him. Gold and black eyes that look up to him for safety and comfort. The home that no hero could ever comprehend. A home no one would take from them again.
Five hundred miles,
Vineis was winning somehow. Until they weren't when they heard the sharp crying only a scared child could ever make. And that was all it took for Poseidon to strike him with his trident.
Vineis fell to their knees, coughing up blood, so much blood and all that mattered to him were the faint cries of Hax and Mongey. Why were they crying? They weren't supposed to sad anymore. They were free. They had a home. They have a home. So why, why were the two kids he worked hard to raise all on his own crying?
"It's over now, Vineis." he could hear the heroes say faintly. But they didn't care about those heroes. They could feel their vines working to heal him. And as he slowly got up, vines sprouted from the ground, knocking the heroes away as their body carried them back into the warehouse. Into their home.
It hurt to move, but their body refused to stop until he was in front of a small hidden door.
Vineis Rowl, opened the door and he saw them. Tears fell and rolled down their cheeks. They hated it when they cried because they weren't meant to be sad. Not anymore, not on Rowl's watch.
"H–hey… hey, I'm right here you more." their voice was weak, it was fading. "I'm right here see?" they take their mask off. "I'm right here you mores. I'm here, you'll be okay." the two kids didn't seem to notice him bleeding out right there and buried themselves into Rowl's arms.
"You'll be okay. I'm right here to protect you mores." their voice was growing softer, more out of breath. "Don't cry anymore, okay? You have nothing to fear because I'm right here."
"Rowl…?" they heard Mongey's soft voice. "Who's that by the door?"
five hundred miles.
Rowl follows where Mongey is pointing and see the three heroes standing there. He frowns and they separate himself from the two children. Standing in front of them in a protective stance.
"Stay back, I won't let you hurt them."
"I won't let you take them away. So stay back heroes, I know you work for them." even through such pain, he still manages to launch attacks towards them. Putting himself between Hax and Mongey and the three heroes who are no longer attacking, just deflecting or dodging. He would die for these kids, he would protect them and he would make sure they were safe and happy.
A sharp cry filled the air.
Five hundred miles from my home.
Rowl looks back and all he saw was red. So much red.
Blood, so much blood. It seeped into the concrete walls and floors. It spread out to their feet. And a figure lay on the floor, unmoving.
"Hax!!"
Hax was on the floor. Bleeding. Dying. No.