Chapter Text
Philip tapped his foot against the floor of the car nervous, picking at the skin around his nails. It was winter, so the sun set early and he couldn't see where they were going. Kitty said it somewhere nice, somewhere better than the placement he had been ordered out of by the police. Although he didn’t truly believe her, he bit his tongue and pretended to be okay.
After about 2 hours of a silent car ride, he could tell they were pulling into a driveway. He stayed in the car for as long as possible, until Kitty was halfway to the door without him. Running to catch up with her, he froze when she rang the doorbell, directing his eyes on the floor and messing with the strap on his bag. Soon enough the door opened, and he glanced up to meet eyes with his new placement. It was two men, both of them no older than 35 with long hair down to their shoulders. One of them had straight hair tied into a messy bun, while the other had loose curls hanging around his face. The second one reminded him of himself.
-
‘He could pass for my own kid’ John thought as he looked at the boy in front of him, squeezing Alexs hand harder than he already was. Kitty had told him he was tiny for his age, but the eight year old in front of him looked more like six. He was scrawny, his eyes sunken in and a little swollen.
“Hi, I’m Kitty. And as I’ve already told you, this is Philip.”
She nudged the boy forward by his bag as she talked, Philip opting to stare at the ground. Alex took this as a initiative to get down on his level, sitting on one knee.
“Hi Philip, I’m Alex and my husband up there is John. We’ve heard so much about you and we’re so excited you’re here. Do you want to come inside?”
He nodded slowly and walked in, Kitty staying outside and watching him walk in before turning to walk away. John stopped here before she got to her car.
“Kitty, do you want to stay?”
“Afraid I can’t. My number is on his file.”
John didn’t get a chance to respond before she shut the door, and he turned back into the house to find wherever Alex and Philip wandered of to.
-
He found them in the living room, Philip sitting on the couch holding his bag to his chest with Alex across from him. He was quiet, turning to look at John doe-eyed when he entered the room.
“Hey kiddo, do you want to see your room? Or we can stay here for a little bit, it’s up to you.”
Philip expressed his answer by standing up and rocking on his heels, looking down the hallway and back at John. They took that as saying he wanted to see his room, and led him down the hallway to the door.
John stepped back to let Alex walk him into the room, painted blue with planet wall stickers and bedding to match. The little one seemed taken aback by it, his mouth dropping open as he looked around.
-
Philip had never had a nice room in any of his placements, they were either too small and cluttered or too big to a point where it was overwhelming. But this, this was nice, nice enough. He knew it wasn’t permanent, nothing was, but it seemed like Alex and John put a decent amount of effort into it. That said, he was terrified of screwing it up, so he opted to stand in the center and just look at everything.
After what seemed like hours, he felt Alexs hand on his shoulder, and jerked away on impulse. He could feel their eyes burning into the back of his skull. Of course you had to go and screw it up this early. Just let them touch you.
“I’m sorry I scared you, do you like your room?”
He was apologizing? No one ever apologized for making him flinch, not even Kitty. He was given a chuckle or a ‘suck it up’ but never a sorry. Nodding slowly, he turned back to look at the pair and force a smile.
-
It was getting late, and soon enough Philip decided he wanted to go to sleep. He waved to Alex and John, mumbling a small thank you before trailing off to his room to change into his pajamas and curl into a ball under his blankets. Alex went up to check on him 30 minutes after he heard the door shut, content to see that he was fast asleep. He looked so peaceful, and he only hoped it would stay that way.
-
Alas, it wouldn’t. It was a little past 3 in the morning when Philip was woken up by a damp feeling underneath him. No No No. Not again, not this early. He threw himself out of bed as tears welled up in his eyes, pulling the sheet off the bed and balling it up as he tried to make it out of his room as quietly as possible. If he remembered right, the laundry room was across from his own room. He should be able to make it their quietly without problem. Looking both ways down the hall before stepping out, he gulped as he started the journey.
Alex was up, writing as always, when he heard the sound of footsteps pattering down the hallway. John was still asleep next to him, so concerned for Philip, he got out of bed and opened the door. He was right about it being Philip, the boy looking around before opening the laundry room door. Alex made his presence known by clearing his throat, the sound startling Phillip enough to send him backwards to the floor. Even more concerned than he was before, Alex ran forward.
"Philip, look at me, are you okay?”
He’s gonna find out, he’s gonna find out and call Kitty to take you back. 8 year olds aren’t supposed to wet the bed, 8 year olds aren’t supposed to cry, 8 year olds are supposed to stay st-
“Philip can you hear me?”
Alex speaking up again drove his train of thought of the rails, tears falling down his face as he forced a weak nod. By now Alex had noticed what he had in hands and put two and two together, his heart breaking at the realization.
“Okay, you aren’t in trouble. How about you go change clothes and I find you a new sheet for tonight.”
Philip wanted to protest, he was bad and dirty and needed to be punished. But he was tired and didn’t have the energy to fight, so he listened and went to his room to change. Soon after he was done Alex came in with a new sheet, and let Philip help him put it on. When his bed was re-setup, Alex sat down and motioned for Philip to join him. He did so reluctantly.
“Has this happened before?”
A small nod, and a sigh to accompany it.
“Did the other places you stayed at help you?”
He shook his head to that, Alex feeling his heart drop. He couldn't grasp how anyone wouldn’t want to help the sweet little boy in front of him.
“Okay, well John and I want to. If it happens again you come get me or him and we can help you clean up. That sound good?”
A tired nod, eyes fluttering as he struggled to stay awake. That was a good enough answer for now, and Alex helped him get comfortable in bed before going to walk out, stopping when he heard Philip mumbling something.
“You want me to stay?’
“Please”
It was the first time he heard the boy talk, his voice as quiet as a mouse, and laced with exhaust. He shut the door and walked back to his bed, pulling a blanket off his bean bag to wrap himself in. Philip seemed to be content with that arrangement and fell asleep within 5 minutes, Alex following his lead.
-
John was confused when he woke up to an empty bed, Alex’s laptop still open next to him. He got up and padded down the hallway, poking his head into Philips door to see if he was in there. The sight in front of him made his eyes teary, Alex curled up, fast asleep, on the floor next to Philips bed. Philip was asleep was well, but his arm was dangling off the bed, his hand holding onto Alex’s. He pulled out his phone to take a picture, before turning to walk out, sighing happily as he shut the door behind him.