#all he ran on was transphobia and mass deportation

[cometrose]

like the thing is people are dying from abortion bans and dying from FDA deregulation and everyone just looks at each other and goes “hmm my gas prices are too high”

[sanderssides-fics]

Runaway chapter 1

Tw: mentions of homophobia, self harm, abandonment, deportation, smoking, homelessness, death, abuse, familial abuse, mentions of transphobia. Tags: @polysandershell @analogically-prinxiety @the-prince-and-the-emo @dan-yuna @de-is-me @princeyandanxiety

Note: the ocs in this are 100% mine do not use without permission

Plot: Virgil runs away from home after being ignored for a long time _____

3 year old Virgil waddled up to Roman with a drawing he did of Roman slaying the monster that was under Virgil’s bed.

“Romam! Wook!” He held up the drawing to a video gaming Roman. Roman was more focused on the game.

“Screw off Virgil,  I’m busy!” He snapped as he lost the game because of the drawing shoved in his face. Virgil let out a whimper and ran to find one of his parents.

 Patton was busy making dinner, so the baby gate blocked the doorway. Patton also had his headphones on, blocking himself from Virgil’s cries.

Luckily, though Logan was busy doing work for his class, his door was open so Virgil ran right in letting out his cries. 

“Oh goodness. Virgil, what is upsetting you?” Logan didn’t expect an immediate response as he helped Virgil’s emotions calm. Virgil finally calmed down and started to explain that Roman hurt him, he made the now torn picture for Roman and Roman didn’t like it.

Logan got up with Virgil on his hip and went to the living room, turning off the gaming console.

“What the fuck?!” Ten year old Roman shouted and received a grounding.

“You broke the picture your brother made for you because you were playing your video games?” Logan scolded. Roman shrugged with a nod. ____

Virgil was 8 years old when Roman punched him for the first time. Roman was 15 at the time and had just been broken up with when Virgil wanted a hug, having been told if he didn’t smarten up in class, he’d fail grade 3.

“Not now Virgil,  I’m not in the mood” Roman had warned, he didn’t want to take out hid anger on Virgil.

“Please?” Virgil went closer and Roman lashed out, his knuckles smashing against Virgil’s young cheek and kept going. Virgil left as soon as he could, but no parents were home so he locked himself in his room and didn’t come out. _____

Virgil was 10 when the thought popped up in his mind. The thought of running away. It came to him while at school, in math class. If he just didn’t come home then he wouldn’t feel ignored anymore because nobody would be there to ignore him.

Virgil shook the thought away when Patton called for dinner. The thought persisted for 2 years. When he turned 12 and Roman got worse than ever, Virgil gave in. _____

Virgil folded his arms tightly around his chest, cold thin hands gripping behind his ribs above the thin jacket he wore. Virgil’s tired eyes looked back behind him once, right twice. He let his hair coat his forehead, the bagged eyes that were just touched by his bangs stared forward on these empty streets. A 4 a.m. stroll, a 12 year old boy with no place to call home.

Virgil coughed shallowly, the cold of March nights were affecting his immune system, making him drowsy and weak time and time again. ‘The bridge of second street’ Virgil thought, he needed a rest. So he continued through barren streets of closed doors and car alarms. The city ways were no place for a kid to be alone, but we’re the only place for kids with no home. Virgil’s backpack weighed heavy on his shoulders. Holding the $5 he gathered yesterday, his stuffed cat, and a half empty bag of chips.

Virgil ducked under the brick bridge, the wind was blocked from him now. There were stray cats a few feet away, Virgil didn’t mind though. He took off his backpack and put it on in front of him instead, so the bag was on backwards. Then he layed down and used the bag to rest his head on and cuddle best he could. Tomorrow…tomorrow… he always thought tomorrow would be better.

The sun awoke Virgil the next noon, he didn’t move from under the bridge yet though. He searched around for anything of worth. Finding only five cents and a rope. He placed them in his bag and began walking again. Ducking through alley ways and crevaces to avoid adults over and over again.

Virgil far from home. 4 cities away to be exact, he had been gone for a month. No window tvs or radio stations from cars had spoke of his disappearance. Virgil knew nobody cared at home, but he hoped someone would at least notice he had been missing.

Virgil walked and walked, he ended up on the other side of town as the sun went down. The town clock said it was 8 pm. Virgil was tired and decided he’d go into a library, a little bit of heat and unquestioned sanctuary would be nice for the next hour. Virgil walked to the books about animals and read about ducks until the librarian told him he needed to leave because it was closing time.

Virgil took a seat on the sets of stairs that lead to the library doors. Pulling his knees to his chest and watching around. Fear twinged his nerves as a dark mass approached him. He didn’t want to get beaten if that’s what was about to happen. However, Virgil relaxed a little as the mass was simply more kids around his age. They sat around with Virgil, all were in worn jeans, muggy shirts and had messy hair. The youngest looked maybe 9 and the eldest was at least 18. There were 12 of them.

“Hey kid, want some food?” The eldest one offered out a box of granola bars. Virgil took one.

“Thanks” Virgil said just loud enough to be heard, he broke a small piece off the bar after opening it. Everyone had a granola bar in their hands. Virgil took off his bag and put the bag of chips in the middle of the group. Everyone took some. By midnight all the food was gone and everyone except the younger then ten ones and Virgil had had a cigarette. The group got up and started to leave, Virgil stayed in his spot unsure what to do now.

“Virgil, you coming?” The one called back and Virgil smiled. Grabbed his bag and jogged to catch up with them. The group talked about whatever came to mind. Something on the radio, something across the street, something another group member had did. Virgil had learned some of the ir names but not everyone’s.  He knew the 18-or-so year old was Greg, he got kicked out for being bisexual in a Catholic family.

 The 9 year old was Armen, her family had been deported back to Guatemala and since she was born here, she was allowed to stay but was left on the streets.

There was a kid around Virgil Age named Victor, he was the cleanest looking one. He had blonde medium length hair that fell down the back of his neck and a little in his face. His eyes were a pale green and his skin was milky white. Virgil and Victor talked as they followed Greg with the other kids. They all piled into Greg first story apartment downtown, there were many blankets and pillows and cups for tap water. There were 2 other guys there around Greg’s age.

“Ethan! Matt! We’ve got a new member. This is virgil” Virgil smiled a little as he was introduced and gave a little wave. “Victor, can you help Virgil get set up?” Greg asked and Victor nodded.

“Come on, you can sleep next to me.” Victor said half-excited. The younger kids all fell asleep as soon their heads touched their floor resting pillows. Victor set up Virgil’s pillow and blanket next to his own in the kitchen. They whispered about their pasts together until they fell asleep. Victor had run away too, he ran because his dad beat him every night. 

_____

3 months had passed since Virgil had joined the group. Everyone had a job here, it was organized, reliable, it was safe. Virgil had found comfort and the group was often referred to as a family. 2 of the group had managed to get into a foster care system, Ella and her girlfriend J.J., the two 15 year olds. Everyone was both sad and happy to see them go.

Everyone had jobs, all the jobs helped out the family in some way or another.

 Greg, Ethan, and Matt, were all in actual jobs. They worked the exact same shifts at a local restaurant. Matt cooked, Ethan was custodian, and Greg took orders. Sometimes they were able to bring home food. Jonny was a pick pocketer. He took little so it wasn’t noticed. He often took it from phone-distracted people. 2 dollars here,5 there, no one noticed no one cared. He usually came home with upwards of $15. Elanor was a motherly, protective figure. She was 16 but babied everyone like a mom would. She made sure people showered at least once a week, they ate whatever was given to them, always was open to hugs, and was basically the shoulder to cry on too. Everyone loved her, Jonny had a special love for her though. 

Shark at 12 years old ran away from boarding school, now at 14 he was a street performer. He sang, danced, did magic, anything he knew. Money varied for him but every bit counted and he was always tired. If he was home, he was asleep. No one minded though cause they got to play with his magic supplies. Card tricks and games were the life of indoor fun for them.

Darnel, being 13, did gambling bets for elder generations.  Little games he always won. Like who can slam their hand on the count of three first. Whoever won kept the coin. People usually played 4 or 5 times. $10 was average for him, which usually had been converted into a bag of potatoes that would be turned into fries in the kitchen or mashed potatoes or whatever Ethan could do.

Virgil and Victor both just wandered the streets in search of free or cheap stuff, dumpster diving or clothes-drive diving. They had backpacks that were always full at the end. Sometimes Terra, a 10 year old in the group, joined them. Mostly though, Terra and Armen were kept at home under Elanor’s care and teachings.

*   *   *

“Virge, look at this!” Victor held out an old watch. Virgil looked up from where he was digging, a smile spread across his face.

“Dude!” Virgil dragged out the 'u’ “does it still work?” He asked curiously. Victor stared for a few seconds at the glass front, then nodded vigorously, his blonde locks falling in his face some.

“Yeah it does, should we pawn it or like give it to someone in the group?” Victor asked. Greg’s birthday was in a few days, they weren’t sure if this was something Greg would use though.

“ We can check how much the pawn shop will give us for it.” Virgil suggested, a sense of unsureness in his voice. Victor nodded before they kept digging.

“Jackpot!” Virgil exclaimed a few minutes later. “Check it out” Virgil held up a bag of fast-food-kids-meals toys. Victor squeaked a little in happiness, they had secretly been on the hunt for toys for the house. You were never to old for toys in the family. Virgil smiled and put the grocery store bag of toys in his bag. This dumpster behind an apartment building always paid off. No one cared that they were in here either. They found a few more things like broken barbie dolls that Terra would love.

“Where to now?” Victor asked, Virgil had grown very close to Victor in the months they had been living together in that family. Victor had grown close to Virgil as well. It was going to get cold this weekend according to newspapers they can’t afford, they had been told to find stuff to keep the family warm this week.

 "Petsmart dumpster? Dog beds can be turned into small kid mattresses or big kid pillows" Virgil suggested, and off they went in search of stuff. Finding the off sidewalk coin here or there. Their clothes were clean, they had enough money on Friday as a group to wash clothes in the building cleaning room so everyone felt refreshed. This led to Virgil and Victor just looking like 2 guys hanging out.

They turned down the alley behind Petsmart and Victor helped Virgil in to the dumpster before being pulled up himself. “So dog beds,  animals, toys, dishes, and anything that can be pawned” Victor said and they went to work.

20 minutes later and they had 0 dog beds, maybe $20 of pawn, and a kitten in Virgil’s hood. “I found about 20 cans of wet cat food and a half empty bag of cat food. ” Virgil said and put them into his now full bag. Victor nodded then screamed a little in excitement as he buried his hand in the space in front of him and pulled out a large dog bed. One for a great dane or bigger.

“Little bit of freshener and a spot wash this’ll be great.” Virgil said happily “Okay let’s go home and drop off the good stuff then to the pawn shop and if there’s still time, we will go to value village donation bins on the west side.

"Oo fancy!” Victor smiled happily. Virgil held the tiny white kitten they had found in the dumpster in a bag, in his arms as they jumped down. They ran as fast as they could back home. Elanor was helping Armen get dressed when the two showed up. “VV is that you?” They giggled at Elanor’s nickname for them.

“Yeah it’s us, we are just going to put our stuff in the closet so that no one sees it till we get back.!” Victor shouted said and they did just that other than the kitten. Virgil kept her in his jacket before they headed out with pawn stuff. The pawn shop closed in 20 minutes.

“Hey derek” Victor said as they entered, the pawn shop was huge and filled with useless things that were worth a lot. Derek was always fair fare with them.

“Hey vic, Virge.  What do you got today?” Some nogotiations, a little begging, and compromises later and they had sold almost everything for $60

“We have one thing we just want priced” Victor says,  Derek raised his brown eyebrow with curious blue eyes but nodded. Victor placed the watch on the glass counter and Derek choked on his own saliva.

“Where did you guys find this?” He asked as he inspected and cleaned it with a baby wipe.

“Dumpster, now how much?” Victor pushed. Virgil and him had agreed that 100 or more they’d pawn and buy Greg a lighter that had a bisexual flag on it.

“I can give you guys 4-5 maybe 6?” Derek said

“ dollars” Victor said unimpressed.

“Hundred” Derek said, Virgil left the view so he couldn’t break character.

“650” “Vic-” “700” “675” “Deal!” Victor said and collected the six hundred seventy five dollars they just gained from a watch. “Let’s go home” Victor said into Virgil’s ear quietly making Virgil shiver a little. Victor giggled and they ran home Virgil holding tight on to the kitten.

“What about west side?” Virgil asked and Victor shrugged as they opened the apartment door

“Tomorrow” it was 7 o'clock. Everyone would be home in about 10 minutes, Victor smiled fully and Virgil felt his heart melt a little. This was a good feeling, this was a warmth he heard his dad’s call love before. He hoped he never got used to this so it’d always feel warm. He hoped he never had to lose this.

One could hope.