Tribesfolk

Children of past sinners that are forced to survive in the slums. A place where hardships are evident—where resilience is a must to ensure that you live to see the other day on this side.

These are the ones looked down upon by the people who are lucky enough to be born with privilege.

That is what they are, and yet—somehow, a boy feels less than that. That is the pain of Rudo Surebrec. The pain of having people who are supposed to understand him and his situation, ostracize and hate him instead. Hated for something he didn't even do.

"Rudo, my dearest! How was your day?"

If Rudo were to describe his day, he would say it was alright if he wanted to lie. But this boy could never lie to the person in front of him.

"Is something the matter, bud?" His mother asked, crouching down to his height. The slight bend of their head with that worried expression, Rudo knew they wouldn't let him go unless he told them what really happened.

No words could describe the emptiness he's feeling inside of him, so rather than talking—he just hugged the person in front of him.

For a moment, it shocked them. The young boy was never keen on initiating physical affection, but in rare moments like that, all his mother could do was savor the moment and wrap their warm arms around Rudo, pouring as much love as they could.

When Rudo tightened his grip, so did his mother. It's quite a sight—like seeing which one could give the better hug. But deep down, that hug is rooted in one emotion.

Fear

Both individuals fear that the moment one lets go, the other will drift away without them knowing. One is scared that they will be discarded the moment they do something wrong, while the other wishes that the cursed world they live in would not harm their heart and soul.

Those are the moments Rudo wished would last forever. He wished he could live in a bubble where he could just be loved and feel like he belongs and deserves every ounce of tender loving care he receives.

The hug lasted for a couple more seconds before Rudo broke it off. "Thank you, Ma." he whispered as he scratched his neck, feeling flustered from the interaction that occurred moments ago.

His Ma stifled a laugh, reaching up their hand to gently pat his head. "If you need anything—or just simply want some snuggles—don't be afraid to come to Mama, okay?" They assured as they stood up, patting away imaginary dust from their outfit.

"Okay..." It was but a whisper—soft and restrained, but they still heard it. Letting out a soft smile, the mother couldn't resist the urge.

*pinch*

Rudo whined as he felt his cheek stretch out when his mother pinched and pulled his left cheek. The adult could only laugh at that, loving the way his face looked so silly yet precious at the same time.

"What's this? Having fun without me, I see?"

A voice boomed through the living space they were in. Both heads turned towards the entrance to see the member who pieces their family together.

"Regto/Rhegtow!"

Distracted by the arrival of the man, Rudo took the chance to scrambble away from the grasp of his mother—rubbing his left cheek to soothe the slight pain he felt.

The person responsible for the pinching fixed their stance to properly face the new arrival.

Regto's smirk turned into a full smile. One look is all it takes to see the glint of mischief in his eyes.

Rudo noticed his father figure approach him, but he didn't take into account that Regto himself would trap him in a secure headlock and rub his knuckles on Rudo's head—messing up his hair even more in the process.

The other adult in the room bursted out laughing at the scene in front of them.

"Hey Regto let go!" Rudo yelled as he tried to pull away the said man's arms away from his neck and head. This prompted his mother to laugh louder combined with them clapping their hands rapidly. Seeing that Rudo's getting more aggrivated, Regto finally let go.

"What the hell was that for?"

Regto huffed at that. The moment he walked in on the two, he knew the kid was feeling blue.

"Well... For starters, your face looked like someone slapped you with a wet towel. So—" Kneeling down on one foot, Regto stared at Rudo directly at the eyes.

"What's got so down in the dumps, buddy? Were those kids bullying you again?"

Hearing those come out from Regto, the young boy could only look down. His shoulders were slumped yet his fists were clenched as tight as it could be, emphasized by the apparent creases on the gloves.

"They said I was worthless... That trash like me shouldn't even have been given a chance to live..." The tremble in his voice could not be missed. Yet before any of his parental figures could speak, he continued.

"They even told me that I was a monster, and only other monsters could love me. They called me names but it's not even those that pissed me off, what really pushed me is when they decided to insult the two of you. They called Mama and you—Regto worthless trash that deserves to be thrown down the pit for taking care of a beast like me."

"Rudo..." Was what all his mother could muster up. What else could someone say after hearing their own son reveal that he's been insulted in such a harsh manner.

As the words of the people go...

"No mother could ever ignore their child."

This is the very same case for Rudo's mother. The moment he finished speaking, he once again felt those warm arms wrap around his body—and not a second later, he heard it.

The gentle humming of his mother. He felt the slight vibrations as his head was gently pressed against his mother's chest, while their chin rested on the crown of his head.

That lullaby...

He remembered that melody—he wouldn't even dare forget. He doesn't know the title or whatever it's called, but he knows it to heart.

How could he not, when his mother would always hum it to him every time he felt scared or when he felt that indescribable pain in his arms when he was way younger.

No matter the context or situation, hearing that familiar tune would always bring him comfort. Not even the worst of the worst could ruin this lullaby for him.

Rudo's chest felt fuzzy. His throat was clogged, and his gloved hands were tightly grasping his mother's clothing, fearing that one wrong movement and slip of a word would open up another dam of unshed tears. But Regto wouldn't allow him to bottle up his emotions for longer. So the man kneeled down and started patting the kid's back.

"Come on now, bud. No need to hold back."

That did it.

Instead of opening up, the dam broke down. Pent-up frustrations manifested into wails and a stream of tears. Rudo further buried his face into his mother's body, his grip even tighter than before.

Regto looked at his companion's face and saw the gentle and acknowledging smile sent his way. Returning a relieved smile, he continued rubbing Rudo's back as the boy continued his cries.

No other words were said then. That was it—that was all Rudo could ask for at that moment, and he wished it would never end.

The gentle cradles of his mother and the strong reassurances of his father.

Yet, his actions told a different story. He started leaving an extra portion of food for Rudo, "because he's a hungry rat and needs to eat well to grow." He watched with an approving look when Rudo fixed something broken, a hint of pride in his eyes. That boy was stubborn, resilient, and fiercely loyal to you. Even if he wouldn't admit it, Enjin admired that.

♥︎ Enjin would never say it out loud, but he and Rudo had formed a pact that your safety was the absolute priority. Enjin noticed how Rudo always positioned himself in front, how the boy's scarlet eyes burned with pure hatred when anyone dared to disrespect you. Once, after Rudo nearly ripped out a fellow Cleaner's throat over an unfortunate comment, Enjin dragged him away by the collar, keeping them both out of your sight.

"Hey, Rudo. Listen here," he said, his voice a low growl. "Your instinct is good. But control it. She doesn't like unnecessary violence. It makes her sad. Understood?"

Rudo nodded, swallowing dryly. He didn't want to hurt you with his impulsive actions.

♥︎ After several sleepless nights spent coming to your room, Rudo appeared once more. He stood at the door with his teddy bear blanket, waiting for your confirmation to enter. You were waiting for him, leaving a smaller pillow for the boy. On the other hand, Enjin just sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. Ever since Rudo arrived, he barely had any time to sleep while holding his girlfriend. Despite that, he had no choice but to accept it.

"Get in here, before you catch a cold and we have to listen to you sneeze all week," he grumbled, pulling the boy into the middle of the bed. Rudo curled up at your side, nestling against your chest. You hugged him, placing the blanket over his shoulders while stroking his hair.

Enjin might complain, he might pretend it's a nuisance, but in the silence of the night, watching Rudo finally sleep peacefully, snuggled between the two of them, he felt a strange contentment. The idea of being a "family" still sounded weird to his ears, but he didn't reject it as much anymore.

♥︎ With the kid glued to you all the time, Enjin barely had a moment alone with his girlfriend. Rudo followed you everywhere, and you allowed it. To be honest, he was getting tired of it. Sometimes, he needed to shoo the boy away, claiming they had "adult matters" to deal with. Deep down, Enjin just wanted time alone with you.

"I feel like I'm competing for your attention," he said, resting his head in the crook of your neck and wrapping his arms around your waist. "I'm not letting him sleep with you tonight."

"Enjin, he's just a child."

"He's old enough to sleep on his own."

"So are you." He heard you sigh and widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

♥︎ No matter what life had in store for you from that moment on, Enjin would remain by your side. He didn't see himself as Rudo's father and had no intention of being anyone's father anytime soon, but he wouldn't interfere in the unique bond the two of you had formed. There was a beauty in the way you cared for the boy, a kindness that their world always tried to erase. And Rudo... well, Rudo deserved that care. Enjin knew, from his own experience, what it was like to be loved by you. He knew the peace it brought to a troubled soul. He would never deprive the boy of that safe harbor.

When it came down to it, no matter what the future held, Enjin would be there. For both of you. And most of all, for you.

★ Rudo was mesmerized the first time you ruffled his hair. His eyes widened, and he stood completely still for a moment, his stern expression slowly softening. Rudo closed his eyes and hugged you cautiously, still half-expecting rejection. When you didn't pull away, he stayed there, burying his face in your chest.

"Hey, love, have you seen—" Enjin's voice echoed through the room, but you quickly cut him off, raising a finger to your lips in a silent request. The blond stopped, a small smile forming as he saw Rudo nestled in your arms. "I'll come back later," he whispered before leaving the room.

★ The first time he called you "mom" was an accident. You were tucking him into bed, and he was already half-asleep. The word just slipped out. A heavy silence filled the room, followed by Rudo's deep embarrassment. But you just smiled, stroked his cheek, and said, "It's okay. You can call me that if you want."

He never said it again, and his cheeks still burned with shame whenever he remembered it.

★ Rudo became your "shadow." He didn't just watch you—he internalized a fierce instinct to protect you. On missions, he was always one step ahead, scanning the surroundings even though, as your apprentice, he should've stayed behind. If anyone dared raise their voice at you, Rudo would appear instantly at your side, hurling insults like a rabid dog. He didn't care what others thought of him; all that mattered was defending you.

"Say that about her again and I'll smash every one of your teeth, you bastard!" You held the boy back before he could lunge at the person, watching his arms and short feathers flail wildly. "Let me kill him!"

"Calm down, Rudo. It's alright." You then kissed the top of his head, and he stopped immediately. Rudo fell silent, drawing surprised glances from the others.

★ Rudo was still haunted by nightmares. Some nights, he'd appear silently at your bedroom door, wrapped in a teddy bear blanket, unable to sleep. You never said a word, just made space for him to lie down beside you. Enjin would grumble, cracking his eyes open as Rudo settled between the two of you. He'd raise a sleepy eyebrow, blinking slowly. You'd pull Rudo close, holding him snugly against your chest. Enjin said nothing and went back to sleep, too tired to fight his girlfriend for attention against that brat.

★ Rudo was used to having nothing, so when you gave him simple things—a warm meal, a clean shirt, or something old for him to restore—he'd freeze, unsure how to react. Little by little, you taught him that it was okay to accept kindness. He began treasuring those gifts with almost religious care, like priceless relics.

★ Rudo grew deeply worried whenever you got hurt. If you were attacked in front of him, he'd likely lose his mind and act completely irrationally. Later, in the infirmary, he'd sit in the chair beside your bed, his scarlet eyes filled with anguish and concern. He'd touch your hand, his face full of sorrow.

"Get better soon..." he'd murmur, small tears beginning to burn in the corners of his eyes.

★ Rudo spent weeks hidden away in the Cleaners' scrap depot. You'd find him covered in grease, focused intently on something in his hands. He'd always hide it when you approached, his ears turning red. One day, he walked into your room and tossed an object onto the bed, avoiding your gaze.

"Take it. It's for you."

It was a music box, assembled from broken clock parts and polished ceramic fragments. When you wound it up, a trembling, beautiful melody filled the room. Rudo watched your reaction, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes.

"Rudo... Did you make this?" He nodded silently. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much."

You pulled him into a hug, ignoring the grime on his clothes. Rudo didn't know how to respond, so he just buried his face in your shoulder, allowing himself, for a moment, to believe he was loved.

★ Rudo misses you whenever you don't go on missions together. When he returns, he makes sure to tell you everything in detail, every little thing he experienced. He's still learning how to express himself, and for some reason, he finds it easier with you. Maybe it's your patience, or the fact that you never judge him, unlike some of the others. With you, he feels truly safe.

★ Rudo always smiles when you praise him. He gets all flustered, his cheeks tinted with a soft blush. One of his biggest goals was to make friends, and having you as his first friend felt like a huge achievement.

"Will we stay together forever?" he asked, his eyes shining with hope.

"Yes, forever," you replied, laughing softly as you tapped his hands.

Since he fell from the sky, he had never felt so whole. You made him feel welcomed, cherished. And deep in his heart, Rudo hoped to repay your kindness one day.