Work Text:
It was another day of school for Aesop, he hated it. He didn't fully understand why everyone disliked him. But it just got worse when word got out about his mothers death. They just became more relentless.
Just coming in through the gates he could feel all their eyes on him. It felt suffocating. If he was brave enough, he would turn heel and run out of school grounds. However, he wouldn't dare. Jerry wouldn't be glad to hear that, and he would most likely get laughed at by the other kids for weeks on end. So, he proceeded fowards, gripping on his school briefcase as strongly as he could to avoid having someone snatching it again and throwing it into a bush for him to retrieve like a dog or kick it around. It was already tattered enough..
Eventually, Aesop made it to his classroom quietly. Once he reached his desk, he read all the scribbled nasty words on it. Some were completely unreadable whilst others were clear like a bullet cutting the air. He took his seat, kept his head low, and soon the first few lessons would be over. Thankfully, everyone was too busy to pay him any mind on the most part so he could get his work done and doodle away on an extra sheet of paper he found in his school bag.
Breaktime passed.
Another lesson passed.
Lunchtime passed.
Finally, it was last period. Unluckily, it was literature, which meant he would get constantly picked on by the other students to read, other than the odd three to four who chose their friends as they're probably not even wanting to say his name out loud. But finally it came time, and of course, he was chosen.
He could hear people close to him mutter under their breaths, but he couldn't make out what. Aesop shakily held the book in front of him, trying to read the paragraph assigned to him, but with the glares and whispers, he couldn't. He couldn't get a word out. Panic set in. He did not dare to look up from the book. Till, the irritable loud voice of his teacher told him to take a seat again whilst the other kids started to laugh. That's what completely crashed everything for him. He sat there, in his seat, head down and tears glassing his eyes over till they fell. Fists scrunched up so hard he could swear he could feel the nails digging into his palm painfully. Some time passed and he calmed down, deciding it would just be better to pay attention to the birds outside.
Everything else felt like it was at a pure distance, the teachers voice, the other kids reading, the sound of anything. Till the bell rang, that is. This awoke Aesop from zoning out. Almost immediately, he started to pack his things back into his briefcase. Most of the kids already dashed out of the classroom in a commotion. Slowly, he stood up too and left the classroom to head down the stairs. Tightly, he held onto the railing whilst walking down, since once before he was pushed down the stairs, causing him only a sprain, thankfully, but it hurt horribly.
Aesop made it out of the building and back onto the public street where most of the other students have already dispersed, but a few remained waiting on the benches or just hanging out with their friends. To which Aesop had neither plans of doing. Recently, he has overheard other students talk about how they managed to sneak into the massive mansions grounds by a tunnel they finally finished making last week. He personally thought that was rude to do, but he couldn't help his curiosity to just go check it out. It shouldn't take too long either, nor will he worry Jerry since he's out of town today and will come back tomorrow morning. At least that's what he was told. Additionally, everyone is more than certain no one is currently occupying that mansion.
The young boy made his way to that mansion, to the secret entrance specifically once he figured where it was. No way would he ever step foot in front of that gate, not looking like a torn up rag. Once he approached it, thankfully no one was there so he squeezed through the gap between the bushes, then crawled through the small tunnel formed by the obvious breaking of twigs as there was one too many to even be a coincidence. He made his way onto the other side, but unable to see much with the additional bushes on the massive grass field, which he was currently hiding behind.
Whilst still hidden, he dusted off the little branches and leaves that were on him. He peered his head over the bush, seeing the expanse of grass and some pebble paving leading to a very colourful flower garden in the back. Which was his current objective to reach. He dragged his briefcase out of the tunnel and stood up, making his way down to where he wanted to go.
It also made him wonder if the other kids also decided to go to the garden first.
Aesop slowly became more comfortable walking around here. He didn't bother trying to hide at all. The small flower garden just steps away now, so he made his way onto the pebble path instead, rather than continuing to step on the grass– clearly neat and taken care of. Which should've rang an alarm bell in Aesop's head, yet it didn't. This garden that he thought was little, was quite bigger than he expected. The path continued further down the back of the mansion, but he didn't mind.
Every so often, Aesop would crouch down to observe the smaller flowers and give them a little smell. He didn't recognise most of the flowers here, but there were many roses, specifically yellow roses. He loved those. He ended up spending more time at the high assortment of them of multiple different colours. That was till he heard footsteps further up the path, which sounded too heavy to be of someone his age; he panicked, in the process he managed to snap off a rose he was holding in that moment. Unsure if to run or hide, he froze in place. Of course he was this unlucky. Jerry wouldn't be glad if he found out whoever lived here wanted something in return.
The rose hedges hid the person for only a while before he came into view. A tall man with long, slightly wavy blond hair. A soft looking face, alongside a loose, white blouse, with a few small, ruby coloured stains accompanied by a massive one and black breeches. Aesop didn't bother to look at the rest or finer details for that matter. This man was clearly surprised to see the young boy standing there as he stared at him for a minute before saying anything.
"..What brings?" He inquired, voice gentle unlike everyone else's. Still, Aesop stared back till he dropped his head down. The rose still in his hands on full view, which were currently shaking ever so slightly.
The unknown man kneeled down to Aesop. He scooped the flower out of his hands and kept ahold of it in his left hand. "I'm not mad that you damaged this flower. How'd you get in here, hm?" The blond repeated again, voice still calm.
"There's a passage some people made in the bushes- I'm sorry- I can leave now-" Aesop rambled apologetically as he looked at the man directly, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"It's alright, I promise." the other answered, holding up his pinkie. It took Aesop a second to register what he wanted, so he locked his pinkie with the man's. A pinkie promise. Both dropped their hand right after.
"I'm aware kids enter here every so often, but I never knew how.. I don't mind it too much, your name?"
Unsure if he should say, he still does, "Aesop.. Aesop Carl..."
"Nice to meet you Aesop, you can call me Joseph." The blond smiled at him. It seemed genuine as well; that smile somewhat brought Aesop a sense of comfort.
"Did you not come here with any friends, Aesop?" To that, the younger boy shook his head. Joseph didn't pry any further. He stood up dusting off his knee, "Your cheek is pretty grazed.. come I'll get you fixed up, hm?" Invitingly, he reached out his hand, Aesop just stared back at it then at his face for a split second. "...I was told not to come into strangers' houses.." He mumbled back, Joseph didn't insist on his first option, instead offered to lead him to a swinging garden chair that was close enough to the actual mansion where he won't need to take a five minute walk and back. Aesop agreed to that by a nod of his head.
The boy sat there with his briefcase closely beside him, the swing ever so slightly rocked back and forth. He waited for Joseph to come back with an aid kit. He did eventually, apologising that he took longer than he wanted.
With a wince here and there, the graze was taken proper care of, and so were a few other injuries. Joseph continued to talk to Aesop, who one step at a time, was becoming ever so slightly more comfortable with his company. He felt like he cared. He felt like he was honest.
The two talked there for a while until the sun was finally setting. That is when Aesop finally decided he'll have to go back home. Joseph offered to escort him to the front gate rather than have him head through that path he was told about, to avoid getting covered in leaves and dirt even more.
Aesop accepted the offer, and they walked around the outside of the mansion across the small pebble paths. Once they both reached the front gate, Joseph fetched a key from his pocket to open the smaller gate door. "Hold on, Aesop.." He started, Aesop turned his head as he was already out of the premises. "You can stop by whenever, alright? There's a gate in the back. If you didn't see it, don't be scared to wait there."
This all came from the fact he cared. Aesop liked that feeling. It was a warm one. The young boy nodded his head, waving goodbye quite enthusiastically, unlike him. Joseph did so too in return.
He hopes he can come back tomorrow.