[btr][fic][just another thursday]
WARNING: Contains references to child abuse
It's after dinner. Nagi is hiding in his bedroom, and he's unsettled enough to recognize that he is, in fact, hiding. He made an excuse about needing to think, to do homework, to take a shower. He's not even sure what he said to them.
And he is thinking. Mostly, he's thinking, "What the fuck?!" but it's still thought.
The fosterthings are offering to adopt him. Him. Nagi. The sullen, cranky one who hates people. And they want him to stay.
He's nearly positive that it's not some sort of misplaced guilt over making him go to the carnival. He's sure that they aren't aware that he's making plans to run. He's pretty certain that if they adopt him, they no longer get a stipend from the state to cover his food and clothing.
No matter how he prods, he can't find the angle they're working, but he can't believe that they actually like him. They do have some delusion that he's good with the younger kids, but there are easier ways to get a babysitter, and fosterthing one rarely has trouble managing the horde.
Hell, she's downstairs cooing over the latest one. Nagi's bothered by this one, since a) it's not even old enough to be walking yet, and b) it's got two limbs in casts. Another good reason for him to hide in his room.
From the sound of things, fosterthing two is in the master bedroom making sure the crib is set up properly off to the side. The fosterspawn, as opposed a fosterspawn, is curled up in Nagi's bed sleeping. Nagi still doesn't know what to make of this development, but the fosterthings know and approve of the little brat sneaking into Nagi's room, so now Nagi ends up saying, "If you snore, I'm kicking you out," every night. He's starting to feel rather Dread Pirate Roberts about the whole thing.
Nagi tries not to think about how his nightmares aren't as bad when the 'spawn is there. He prefers to dwell on the bruises in his sides from when she manages to take up far more bed than a four-year-old should be able to. Nagi occasionally wonders if the 'spawn is also a wanderer and part cat as a result.
Right now, Nagi is wondering how he will manage to get into the bed with how she's hogging it. A lesser person might think she's all cute in her bright pink nightgown and all, but Nagi knows she's just using it as a way to lull people into false confidence before she steals all the blankets. She better be able to sleep alone before it really gets cold. Nagi better be able to sleep alone before then, too.
The sound of glass shattering downstairs jolts Nagi out of his reverie. He's already headed for the door of his room when the screaming starts. Fosterthing two comes rushing past, saying something to Nagi about looking after the kids.
That's when the fire alarm starts. Nagi knows the floor plan of the house, and he knows the official emergency plan, as well as his own additions to it. He's already grabbing his backpack as the fosterspawn sits up, looking confused and ready to cry. "Come here, brat. No time for crying. It's just like practice."
But the 'spawn is slow to move, and she doesn't have the same sort of training that Nagi does. He's already about to open the door to the next kid's room when the sound of shattering glass comes from his room, and Serena screams in pain and terror.
It's not an accident then. Nagi grabs her with his mind and pulls her from the room, pushing the air away from her body to kill the flames. The rest of the doors to kids' rooms fly open with a thought and then the kids follow. "Move. All of you. Silently. Jesse, get the fire ladder set up." Nagi carefully cradles Serena in his arms, trying not to look at her injuries. He can't do shit for burns, but as long as she's screaming, he doesn't have to worry.
Jesse stares at Nagi in shock. "You used my name."
"Yes, shithead. Now move, or I won't get to do it again," Nagi snarls. Jesse moves. There's smoke in the air now, but not enough for Nagi to tell them to crawl, not with the window so close.
As long as there is screaming downstairs, the fosterthings are still alive. Nagi has to hold to that and hope they follow their own escape plan. The window they're supposed to use from upstairs is on the side of the house. It's partially hidden by a large oak tree, so Nagi isn't going to change that part of the plan. He's going to mess with the exit order though. He's not sure the younger ones actually knew, but he can feel the heat coming up through the floor. "Jesse. Go first. Steady it for them as they come down."
Damn it, why did the fosterthings take in so damn many kids? Nagi directs them oldest to youngest, quickly. He kneels, taking Serena's weight with the telekinesis. The smallest toddler is sniffling, and Nagi doesn't know this one's name even if he wants to use it, but he does know the second smallest. "Justin. Piggyback, okay? And hold on tight."
Nagi hates giving piggyback rides, but it's the only way he can even start to make this look-- Oh, fuck it. The floor is smoking now. Nagi rips at the wall so he can simply step out and float down to the ground.
He looks at Jesse, daring the kid to say anything, and says, "I jumped. It was dumb, and you're amazed that I didn't get hurt. Take this." Jesse nods mutely as Nagi hands over one toddler. The other slithers to the ground with a little help.
"Front of the house, everyone. To the end of the driveway." Nagi's not letting go of Serena. He can manage his phone one-handed.
The white van takes off as the kids come around the house. Nagi's doing too much to deal with that as well, but at least he sees the license plate. Not a threat then. Nagi eyes the front of the house, wondering if he can do something to get the fosterthings out when he doesn't even know where they are inside.
There's a crash inside the house as the second floor gives way, and the screaming from there stops.
It looks like Nagi won't be getting adopted after all.
It's after dinner. Nagi is hiding in his bedroom, and he's unsettled enough to recognize that he is, in fact, hiding. He made an excuse about needing to think, to do homework, to take a shower. He's not even sure what he said to them.
And he is thinking. Mostly, he's thinking, "What the fuck?!" but it's still thought.
The fosterthings are offering to adopt him. Him. Nagi. The sullen, cranky one who hates people. And they want him to stay.
He's nearly positive that it's not some sort of misplaced guilt over making him go to the carnival. He's sure that they aren't aware that he's making plans to run. He's pretty certain that if they adopt him, they no longer get a stipend from the state to cover his food and clothing.
No matter how he prods, he can't find the angle they're working, but he can't believe that they actually like him. They do have some delusion that he's good with the younger kids, but there are easier ways to get a babysitter, and fosterthing one rarely has trouble managing the horde.
Hell, she's downstairs cooing over the latest one. Nagi's bothered by this one, since a) it's not even old enough to be walking yet, and b) it's got two limbs in casts. Another good reason for him to hide in his room.
From the sound of things, fosterthing two is in the master bedroom making sure the crib is set up properly off to the side. The fosterspawn, as opposed a fosterspawn, is curled up in Nagi's bed sleeping. Nagi still doesn't know what to make of this development, but the fosterthings know and approve of the little brat sneaking into Nagi's room, so now Nagi ends up saying, "If you snore, I'm kicking you out," every night. He's starting to feel rather Dread Pirate Roberts about the whole thing.
Nagi tries not to think about how his nightmares aren't as bad when the 'spawn is there. He prefers to dwell on the bruises in his sides from when she manages to take up far more bed than a four-year-old should be able to. Nagi occasionally wonders if the 'spawn is also a wanderer and part cat as a result.
Right now, Nagi is wondering how he will manage to get into the bed with how she's hogging it. A lesser person might think she's all cute in her bright pink nightgown and all, but Nagi knows she's just using it as a way to lull people into false confidence before she steals all the blankets. She better be able to sleep alone before it really gets cold. Nagi better be able to sleep alone before then, too.
The sound of glass shattering downstairs jolts Nagi out of his reverie. He's already headed for the door of his room when the screaming starts. Fosterthing two comes rushing past, saying something to Nagi about looking after the kids.
That's when the fire alarm starts. Nagi knows the floor plan of the house, and he knows the official emergency plan, as well as his own additions to it. He's already grabbing his backpack as the fosterspawn sits up, looking confused and ready to cry. "Come here, brat. No time for crying. It's just like practice."
But the 'spawn is slow to move, and she doesn't have the same sort of training that Nagi does. He's already about to open the door to the next kid's room when the sound of shattering glass comes from his room, and Serena screams in pain and terror.
It's not an accident then. Nagi grabs her with his mind and pulls her from the room, pushing the air away from her body to kill the flames. The rest of the doors to kids' rooms fly open with a thought and then the kids follow. "Move. All of you. Silently. Jesse, get the fire ladder set up." Nagi carefully cradles Serena in his arms, trying not to look at her injuries. He can't do shit for burns, but as long as she's screaming, he doesn't have to worry.
Jesse stares at Nagi in shock. "You used my name."
"Yes, shithead. Now move, or I won't get to do it again," Nagi snarls. Jesse moves. There's smoke in the air now, but not enough for Nagi to tell them to crawl, not with the window so close.
As long as there is screaming downstairs, the fosterthings are still alive. Nagi has to hold to that and hope they follow their own escape plan. The window they're supposed to use from upstairs is on the side of the house. It's partially hidden by a large oak tree, so Nagi isn't going to change that part of the plan. He's going to mess with the exit order though. He's not sure the younger ones actually knew, but he can feel the heat coming up through the floor. "Jesse. Go first. Steady it for them as they come down."
Damn it, why did the fosterthings take in so damn many kids? Nagi directs them oldest to youngest, quickly. He kneels, taking Serena's weight with the telekinesis. The smallest toddler is sniffling, and Nagi doesn't know this one's name even if he wants to use it, but he does know the second smallest. "Justin. Piggyback, okay? And hold on tight."
Nagi hates giving piggyback rides, but it's the only way he can even start to make this look-- Oh, fuck it. The floor is smoking now. Nagi rips at the wall so he can simply step out and float down to the ground.
He looks at Jesse, daring the kid to say anything, and says, "I jumped. It was dumb, and you're amazed that I didn't get hurt. Take this." Jesse nods mutely as Nagi hands over one toddler. The other slithers to the ground with a little help.
"Front of the house, everyone. To the end of the driveway." Nagi's not letting go of Serena. He can manage his phone one-handed.
The white van takes off as the kids come around the house. Nagi's doing too much to deal with that as well, but at least he sees the license plate. Not a threat then. Nagi eyes the front of the house, wondering if he can do something to get the fosterthings out when he doesn't even know where they are inside.
There's a crash inside the house as the second floor gives way, and the screaming from there stops.
It looks like Nagi won't be getting adopted after all.