Espera | R. Grayson ✔

[04]

The roads were busy with traffic as a twelve year old boy walked silently at the side, blue eyes staring ahead of him absently. He was lost in thought, lips puckered into a frown, hands clenched into fists yet buried deep in his pockets.

He had sneaked out without letting his parents know again.

By then it had almost become habit. Each time he would feel suffocated at home, which happened very often, he would slide down the tree near his window and walk around the city to clear his head.

His head had always been so full of voices, all showering him with their expectations, and it took really long walks to clear it all up.

And those walks were not entirely safe for him, he knew that very well.

He had gotten hurt multiple times, either by bullies or even thugs who had searched him for money and beaten him up. But never once had that scared him into staying at home.

In fact deep down a part of him wished he would never return home from his long walks.

"Watch out!"

His eyes widened and as his senses woke up from the clamor of thoughts, he could hear the screeching of tires. A car was rushing in his direction and it was ultimate that he would get crushed by it.

He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Perhaps his wish was coming true.

Right next moment, he felt someone grab him and push him out of the way. His body jerked violently as he went toppling down, landing on top of someone. He waited for the crash but it never happened so reluctantly, he peeled open his eyes, looking down at an unfamiliar face.

"Sir, are you hurt?" He tapped the man's cheek cautiously, noticing that he must have gotten hurt, "I'm so sorry."

He noticed that the man had taken most of the impact on himself, protecting him from getting injured. He knew his back and head could have struck the ground hard and perhaps he was unconscious as a result.

"Sir, can you hear me?"

Those eyes fluttered open and the boy gasped to see the icy blue shade which was so different from all other people he had known and yet at the same time it felt familiar.

"Are you alright?" He asked instead, sitting up carefully, hand reaching to the back of his head to check for any injuries.

"Yes, are you?"

Richard had retrieved his hand, seeing it tinted red, "yeah I'm fine. What were you doing in the middle of the crossing, kid?" 

His attention had turned back to the boy who rolled off him and was sitting beside him with a guilty look in his sapphire blue irises.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, his eyes dimming slightly.

Richard stood up and after regaining his balance, held his hand out towards the kid, "come let's get you to your home."

"Home?"

"Yes, or if you don't want to tell me or don't know where it is, there's a police station nearby. I could take you there," he offered.

The boy looked up at him as if shocked but took his hand and stood up, "thank you." But his eyes were still flickering towards the red on his fingers and the fact that he had gotten injured, "or I could accompany you to the hospital and get you treated."

"I'm alright, kid, this was nothing," he smiled, wiping his hand off at his jeans, "and I insist to drop you off somewhere safe."

It was not everyday a kind soul happened to be around at the time of accidents, the boy thought but then he looked up at the man again, "are you Richard Grayson?"