Ender

The small, dark haired child stood under an awning as the rain fell, it felt like the only comfort he had recently, flicking open the small pocket knife he borrowed from his Pa as he watched, flick, snap, flick, snap, repetitive and soothing, no mistakes- "Lee? Hey, Kid! I haven't seen you in a while!", the child almost dropped the weapon, coughing hard as he caught spit in the back of his throat, "Pilgrim?!" he wheezed weakly, looking up at the awning nervously, Aiden peered over it with a smile, bright blue eyes meeting dark jade ones, "How are you doing?" the man asked, pulling away from his hanging position to swing his legs down and leap onto the ground where Lee stood.

"I'm- Am fine." the kid muttered, squeezing the pocket knife hard in his palms, "That's good to hear.", Lee didn't respond or even look at Aiden, beginning to side step away from the Pilgrim cautiously, "It's getting pretty late! Do you- Uh, want me to take you home?" Aiden smiled at the boy who he had just now noticed was further away than when he last looked, "I can get home mahself." Lee responded, his voice in a slight quiver, the man's brows furrowed and he began to copy the childs side stepping motions with a chuckle, "Are you sure? We can make a stop at the Fish Eye on the way back to Old Villador-", "Ah don't think you're allowed there- Anymore." the kids interruption came out in a whisper, Aiden paused and began processing slowly.

He hesitantly reached for the child, Lee's body tensed up and he stumbled out of the man's grasp, "Lee? Kid, listen. You know I'd never hurt you right? It's- Lee, it's complicated." Aiden spoke confidently, Lee's eyes were wide and full of slight fear as he backed away ever so slightly, "I- Ah don't...Believe you." he responded swiftly, Aiden looked hurt, wincing at the words as his hands balled into fists, "I needed to do what I did, you're too young to grasp that." Aiden reaffirmed, the child breathed heavily and suddenly bolted, digging his hands into the brick wall and sprawling up to the awning, then the rooftop, "Lee?! Lee- Kid." the Pilgrim yelled after him, Lee continued running, gasping for air and almost slipping on the wet ground a few times, "LEE, PL- Please don't run from me. You're being reckless!" Aiden's shouting sounded worried and frantic, "LEAVE ME ALONE- YOU KILLED THEM. YOU-" the boy dove behind a roof fixture and curled into himself, clasping his free hand over his mouth, flicking open the pocket knife with his other, flick, no snap.

"Lee? Kid, I killed them, yes. But, I did the right thing! You're- You'll understand this eventually. I swear.", the childs fingers dug into the side of his cheek, breathing shakily, hoping the rain would mask any sounds that escaped his clammy palm, footsteps getting closer, "Just let me take you home, please.", Lee looked to his side and saw Aiden leaning around the roof fixture, a creepy and unsettling motion that made his heart drop, blue eyes fixated on him, "GET AWAY- FROM ME- GET A- GE-" Lee gasped for air between his shouting, his chest and throat felt tight and he threateningly held his weapon in front of him, those blue eyes widened and Aiden stepped fully before him, hands held out cautiously; "Lee. Drop it. Please." he murmured, stepping towards the kid, who was still stumbling backwards, too close to the edge, too close.

Aiden dove for him, grabbing the boys hoodie and scooping him up, "NO- NO! NO! NO! PLEASE- I DON'T WANT TO DIE- PLEASE, AH DON'T WANNA DIE!" the child screamed, pure fear in his tone, Aiden fought to keep Lee in his grip, determined to take him home, do the right thing, take the right st- A sharp pain in his shoulder caused him to drop the kid, "FUCK-" he breathed shakily, realising it was the pocket knife, lodged into his skin like a splinter, Lee sprawled backwards on his hands across the wet ground, he was crying, heaving sobs that shook his body, "JUST GO AWAY- JUST GO AWAY." he wailed, he was getting too close to the edge, Aiden couldn't move, gripping the knife in his shoulder and watching Lee's movements with wide eyes, those small hands slipped over the rooftops edge, over the edge, over the roof.

And it was over, suddenly, swiftly, Aiden breathed out shakily and pulled the knife from his skin, he didn't dare move, staring at the ledge where Lee fell from, there hadn't even been a sound, he didn't even scream, Aiden's heart pounded in his ears and he slowly stepped backwards, he needed to leave- He needed to leave! And, so he did.