Unconditional Love

[Dreamer924]

It was a rainy cold day as 5 year old Masen sat beside a dumpster with a crate beside him. He was wearing ripped and tattered clothing and was quite scrawny from being underfed. He shifted a bit shivered as the cold rain hit him. He sighed as he heard footsteps coming around the corner. he assumed it was just the usual person who was going to yell at him for sitting there. He cringed as a shadow loomed over him and looked up to see a person standing there. He hiccuped softly which he in fact did when he was nervous or lying. He looked up at the person but was greeted with a smile instead. He looked up at them a bit afraid of what they were going to say. He narrowed his eyes at the person trying to see through the fog. He stood up in case he had to run away from the person and backed up his back pressing against the wall as he did so. He hiccuped softly and rubbed his eyes partially from exhaustion.

He looked at them unsure of what they were going to do. He couldnt imagine a person wanting to be nice to him as often people werent. People often called him street rat and bum kid and threw things at him. He looked up as the person walked over keeping his back pressed against the wall. he had snot running out of his nose from the cold as he shivered more. His ribs could be seen through the rips in his shirt also his hair was matted with dirt and grime as were his hands and feet. He was quite a mess. He had been living in the street for 2 years since his parents died when he was 3. They died in a car accident but he really didnt like talking about it that much because it upset him. He stopped thinking for a minute in fear and looked up wondering what this person could possibly want. Were they going to strike him or something? He was about to find out

[Zaylah]

Ethan Evans really hated this part of the city.

Yet his latest client had wanted to meet him face to face.

An odd request but hey, they were paying pretty good to get that manual among a other things edited by him and he had made a decent at least livable name for himself in the department of freelance editing.

"This place is such trash, where the hell is a recycling bin?"

Ethan rounded a corner and spotted a dumpster.

"I should have just went to my car, dang it."

*Oh well better then nothing* the man thought.

He chucked the bottle from there, boom and score.

However his crystal blue eyes landed on...what that a child??!

"Holly gods."

Ethan came gently but steadily closer.

He tried to give a smile but it did not last long due to his shock.

*Okay who leaves a kid out like this?*

*This poor little soul.*

*This side of the city is absolute trash.*

He scooted back a few steps and then squatted to be more at the little poor guys height.

"Hey there, you got a name?"

He pointed to himself brushing light blonde bangs away, to show his open and caring yet concerned face,

"I'm Ethan."

"Now may I know your name, little guy?"

He kept his voice soft and calm.

[Dreamer924]

The boy looked up at him "M-my names Masen" he said softly rubbing his eyes as he looked up at the man. He stood up and looked at him. He then hiccuped and looked at him "A-am I in trouble?" he asked nervously. He looked the man up and down. He wasnt sure if he could trust this man or not but he seemed nice. He sighed and looked up at him waiting for an answer as he did so. He then back up against the wall his back pressing up against the wall unsure of what was going to happen. He then narrowed his eyes at the man making sure he wasnt going to hurt him

[Zaylah]

Ethan showed a soft smile.

"Masen, what a great name."

He complimented back the same level of soft as the little boys voice.

Ethan shook his head,

"No little fella, you're not in any trouble."

"You need help, lil' guy and I wanna help you."

*It is the sick combination of people that put and left you out here that should be in trouble.*

Ethan looked around in the alley.

"I bet you could use some food huh?"

"I have some crackers in my car."

*That might at least get him interested and not scared to come with me.*

"Here."

Ethan shrugged off his jacket.

Having a hoodie and a short sleeved shirt underneath, motioned gently,

"It will keep you warmer."

"I know, it is really big but better then being cold right?"

He gave a shiver just being out of his coat for that moment.

*I can't imagine how this poor kid feels.*

*And not to be morbid but how he is not dead, poor bean.*

[Dreamer924]

Masen then snuggled against the warm coat and sighed and then decided to follow the man to his car. As soon as they go to the car and he got into he ate the crackers. He knows he shouldnt have gotten in with a stranger but he was so hungry that he didnt care at the moment. He ate the crackers pretty quickly and looked up at the man "Wh-Why did you wanna help me?" he asked curiously "N-No one cares about me..." he said looking down. He then looked up at him "my mommy and daddy died in a car accident.." he said. He then looked at him "I-I ran away from the orphanage cause they was mean to me.." he said as he started lickign the wrapper of the crackers still very much hungry. He looked up at the man and felt really warm and comfy in his car. He thought for a second that hopefully this man wasnt going to hurt him. He sighed as he rubbed his eyes and burped a bit from the crackers and yawned feeling quite exhausted. He then looked at the man "D-Do you have anything else to eat?" he asked curiously hoping he had something else he could indulge himself with

[Zaylah]

Ethan followed alongside the teeny child as the showed the way to his nice four dark blue car.

He opened the passenger seat and lifted the little guy on to the seat.

*Thankfully the coat goes over the seat and the little guy.*

*It is not his fault how dirty hie is, but still better the coat then my seats.*

Giving the cheese and peanut butter crackers he never grew out of being fond of, he opened the package.

Then shut the door, rounding to the drivers side he got in, turning on the car and the heat.

After doing those simple things the crackers were all but gone.

"I'm really sorry about your mommy and daddy."

He spoke this softly,

*I wonder what orphanage? Wait does he mean that group home that had a bad rep to begin with ugh should have known.*

"I'm sorry you had just a bad time little guy."

He spoke softly still and at his level.

"I care about you because. I am kind.*

*And a decent fucking human being.*

"I think, Masen, you been around some very unkind people."

*Because this side of the city is shit.*

He reached out and gently patted the coat were he thought his little frame could feel the gentle gesture.

"Oh um, well,'

Ethan checked the glove department.

"Not here, but how about we get a burger and fries from McDonald's?"

He started up the car, then reached around to buckle Mason in the best he could.

*He is so small he still needs a car-seat.*

"How does that sound? We will go through the drive-through."

"Oh and a juice, you must be thirsty."

[Dreamer924]

Masen then nodded softly and could smell the food as they went through the drive through. He soon had the food in front of him and ate it soon polishing it all off. He then noticed as they pulled up to Ethan's place and looked at it "Where are we?" he asked curiously looking up at him. He then somehow got the seatbelt off and started playing with his toy from mcdonalds. It was a Eternals toy from mcdonalds and he looked at it having not see nthe movie her was curious about it. He then hiccuped softly from eating pretty fast and looked out the window and peered at the house. "Dats a big house!" he said looking at it

[Zaylah]

It did not take them long to get to the fast food establishment or through the drive-through.

Ethan also ordered himself a burger and fries and a drink.

Though he concentrated on driving but grab a fry or two or sip of drink at red lights.

It took a little bit to get from "that" side of the city to the better side.

They pulled up into the drive way of a nice three bedroom one story house.

"Here we are little guy."

He laughed at how eager he was.

"Okay, lil guy, okay."

He rounded the car quickly then let the little boy out.

Hands a little full, he managed to open the door and Masen shot inside.

*Oh boy, well I can't blame him, it is cold and he is excited.*

Ethan got in and closed the door with his foot.

"Hey little guy, do you like it?"

The man asked coming into the kitchen to set everything down.

"Here Masen, come have more of your juice, buddy."

He had heard the hiccups.

[Dreamer924]

Masen then ran to him and took his juice having some more sips of juice. He then went and sat on a stood at the kitchen counter and looked at the big kitchen. He then looked at Ethan "Y-You wive here by yourself?" he asked curiously. He then got up and toddled over to the living room and looked at the TV and pointed "Whats dat?" he asked curiously looking at him. He then looked at Ethan "Um um whos that?" he asked pointing at the picture of the guy on the tv stand. He wasnt sure who it was but was seriously distracted by everything he saw consdiering he was only 5. He then rubbed his eyes as he hadnt really slept in a while. He definetely looked exhasuted but didnt want to sleep and refused to well because again hes five

[Zaylah]

"I do, but I have some pretty frequent visitors, so its not lonely."

He put some stuff away but then went after the wondering kiddo.

*He is quick for one so tired lol is this kid energy at its finest?*

"That is called a Television or T. V. for short em."

*How to explain a T. V?*

"It has moving pictures that makes shows to watch."

He tried but the kid was pointing a picture of his lover, Ioji.

"That is my boyfriend, that just means we love each other very much."

He pointed to the picture next to him.

"Those are my mommy and mama too."

They did not look too old and very sweet and friendly even in a picture.

"How about a nice warm bath it will get you all nice and clean."

Ethan gently scooped the little guy up, bringing him to the bathroom.

He put him down on the closed toilet lid.

Then started to run the bathwater.

"I would not mind you staying with me, Masen, I'd like that a whole bunch."

He added soap trying to make bubbles.

There was a little bit of them but nothing like true bubble bath.

"Here let me help your clothing off."

He helped him undress.

Then put him slowly and gently in the water.

Making sure to support him because he was small and sleepy.