Adopted Troublemaker (for Bakara)

[ChrisWk]

It was nearing the end of summer holiday. It was only a week until school would start up again. This was the time that Henry Lawrence, a rather successful 27-year-old businessman, had decided to finally adopt someone. He didn't have any on-going relationships, and this was something he had wanted to do for a while already. Seeing as he owned a nice and large suburban house too, it wasn't at all an issue. He had the money for it, after all.

The reason Henry wanted to adopt someone was because he knew all too well what it meant. He himself, some 15 years ago, had been adopted by a loving set of parents too. They could've chosen any child there. Much cuter ones, and ones that weren't outright bratty troublemakers... But they chose him. Despite being perhaps the oldest one there, and despite the warnings the caretakers at his orphanage gave them. He was taken in and raised properly, being set on a path that ultimately lead him to having the life he has now. Well off and successful, with good morals and manners. Of course those good manners weren't there to begin with, but with time, discipline and love, he got there... And couldn't have been more thankful for it.

Now, it was his time to return the favor... His parents were no longer around, but he was certain they'd be glad to see him adopt someone like they did.

He drove a nice car. Nothing super fancy or sporty, but a nice black Mercedes. This was the day he'd bring someone home, and given the call he had given the orphanage earlier, it would be a young 12-year-old by the name of Leonardo Walsh, or Leo, as everyone called him.

The 27-year-old entered the orphanage after having parked his car. It wasn't a nice orphanage whatsoever, and was located in the more scummy, poor part of town. Quite a drive from the nice, safe and relatively rich neighbourhood that Henry lived in. Speaking with the first caretaker he came across, she smiled and nodded, telling him to wait there by the entrance. They had already sorted out documents and everything online, so it was only a matter of picking Leo up.

That same caretaker didn't waste a moment before walking straight into the common room where Leo tended to reside.

"Leo! There's someone here to see you! Come along, now." she said somewhat sternly... That was how the caretakers all spoke to the children there. It was the only way to get half of them to listen, if at all.

Henry sported brown hair and blue eyes. His skin rather pale, with a fit and athletic physique, standing there at a respectable height of 6'2.

[Bakara]

Leo didn't know why he had to wait inside. It was the last week of summer and he wanted to go out and shoot some hoops with the other kids. Being the oldest kid in this orphanage means that he always had a good chance to win in games, but he lost hope to ever getting adopted. That's what everybody told him 3 years ago when he lost his father. Everyone wants a nice little happy boy. But he wasn't happy, at least not a the beginning. The sadness faded with every kid that was adopted from the orphange. Anger followed the sadness. And after 1,5 years, there was only resignation left.


Beeing 12 now, he didn't perform well in school. The grown-ups in the orphange tried to help him, but Leo wasn't the only kid that needed help, and his stubborness wasn't helpfull when anybody tried to help him. So he skipped homework, and even some classes in the weeks before summer. Of course they found out, and he was in for a lot of trouble. But he was used to beeing in trouble. And it wasn't like the people in the orphange could spank him or anything like that. Sure, he had detention, and he had to make up for the homework he missed, but he just halfassed it, like everything else.


This thought brought him back to the current situation. Why did he have to stay inside. He heared the caretaker: "Leo! There's someone here to see you! Come along, now."


Finally, he stood up. He was just short of 5 feet, his blond hair fell down the front of his face, almost covering his green eyes. It was a little curly. He was wearing basketballshorts and a green shirt. His almost skinny body showed that he loves to be outside and run around, just like the tan he had.



He left the room and saw Henry. Not knowing what to think of him, he turned to the caretaker and asked "What is this guy doing here?"

[ChrisWk]

"Manners, Leo." the caretaker reminded him, though not that he had much of that anyway.

Henry smiled softly, taking a step forward and reaching his hand out to greet the young boy. The orphanage had of course warned him about how troublesome Leo could be and had been. His struggles at school, attitude and whatever else. They really did let him know, yet the man insisted on adopting Leo, and no one else. None of them could really understand why, but at the same time, they were also happy for Leo, and was also relieved that they would finally have him off their shoulders.

"Hello, Leo. My name is Henry, it's nice to meet you." he smiled softly, before continuing: "I take it the caretakers haven't told you, then?.." he asked, though guessing by his reaction to him, he presumed they hadn't told him anything. Perhaps in fear of a rash reaction of sorts, which was understandable.

[Bakara]

"Well, we were afraid that he could be a little rebellious about this. So I hoped that he would feel better, seing that he would be taken in by a nice man.", the caretaker said, accidentally spilling the beans.


Leo's eyes went wide for a bit, but the look faded after a few seconds. Instead he shoot a sceptical look to Henry "Why do you want that?", he asked. "They are clearly making fun of me", he thought.

[ChrisWk]

"I see." Henry nodded at the caretaker, before returning his look to Leo.

"Why I want to adopt you? Because I think you and I would get along well together, and I think you are the most deserving one in this orphanage." Henry smiled softly, and was damn right about that. There was no one more deserving than Leo in that regard. After all these years and what he had been through, giving up, his sadness, anger, all that... If anyone needed help, love, care, discipline and attention, it was him.

Henry could see his skepticism. He understood it better than anyone.

"It's for real, Leo. I've already signed all the documents, papers, everything. Now come on, don't leave me hanging here." he smiled, gesturing to his outreached hand that he was still waiting for Leo to shake.

[Bakara]

The skeptical look was still there. But this was a chance, after all. And the man seems to be nice. He even try to greet him like an adult, shaking his hand instead of "Highfiving" him or ruffling his hair or something.


"Ok, let's give it a shot. It can't be this bad, right?", Leo thought to himself. He grapped the hand of the man and shook it, trying to have a strong grip.



"I'm Leo", he said.



The caretaker smiled. "We already packed your stuff, Leo. So you two are ready to go" He wanted to make this quick, before Leo changed his mind.

[ChrisWk]

Henry nodded a little as he felt his grip. A firm grip, despite being only twelve-years-old. Well, as firm as a preteen's grip could be, but unlike a lot of children, he did make it a little firm.

"Nice and firm grip too." he complimented, before letting go of his hand and grabbing onto the bag the caretaker had prepared, before handing the smaller backpack with his school supplies to Leo.

"Alright, let's head home, shall we? It's a bit of a drive as it's on the other end of town, but it'll go quick." Henry smiled, gesturing to the door, waiting for Leo to walk on out first.

[Bakara]

Leo smiled a little when he heard the compliment. "Yup, this is good. He clearly sees me as a grown-up. This is going to be fun" He took the school supplies without making a fuss. He had all his homework done, so why not. At least to his standards.

He left the door, not even looking back to the caretaker. Then he saw the car.
"Holy shit, is that a mercedes?", he shouted.

[ChrisWk]

But unfortunately for the young boy, Henry saw him as anything but a grown-up. That was perhaps the last thing he saw him as. Leo was still very much a kid. A twelve-year-old who has had a lack of love, care, attention and discipline in his life. That was the sole reason why he had gone down this path after all. With all his attitude, poor performance at school and constant troublemaking.

Hearing him curse, however, did make Henry raise a brow.
"Yes, but please do watch your language, Leo." he said as he unlocked the car and opened the trunk, putting his bag in there, before helping Leo put his backpack in as well.

"Alright, hop on in and buckle up." Henry smiled as he shut the back and got into the driver's seat, strapping himself in before turning the ignition on.

Usually, cursing was absolutely not allowed. Something Leo would eventually learn... But he wasn't going to turn Leo's life upside down straight away. He had to settle in first and learn the ropes a little before he'd start being punished for anything. Of course if he really did cross the line, then he wouldn't have a choice, but he'd be a bit more lenient and easygoing to begin with.

[Bakara]

Leo rolled his eyes after being told off. "What's that bad about cursing anyway? All grown-ups do it, right? And it's not like I offended someone or something like that."


After putting his bag in the trunk, he walked to the other side of the front row, hoped in and buckled in as well. He look around and checked out the inside of the car, checking out the dashboard and the tech.