Vu Jorr Orphanage 2

Leo woke up to the sizzling of bacon, a smell he was very unfamiliar with. He carried himself to the kitchen, ignoring the pain and sleep.

"Ah, you're awake." Alicia said, without looking at him.

"Yeah. What is that?" Leo asked.

"Bacon."

"What is it?"

"It's meat."

"Where…How…?"

"Well, I do have some 'friends' at the Pulsar place."

Leo smirked. He sat at the beer counter, as the elderly lady placed a plate of bacon on the table. Alicia helped herself to a plate.

"So," Leo began, "How did you get out of your…'mess'?"

"I didn't." Alicia said, "I only decided to stop going. When you're someone like me, a lot of people just leave you to do whatever you want."

"Isn't that, you know, a problem?"

"Yes…yes it is." Alicia said, "But then, who cares."

"They do."

"They don't matter."

"…Then who cares."

The two laughed.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Alicia went to get it, while Leo continued to eat his food, examining the structure of the bacon, both fascinated and awed at the same time. At the door was a young girl no older than eight, with black short hair.

"Good morning." She said shyly.

"Good morning." Alicia said, beaming widely, "how may I help you."

"Um…um…Pa…Mr. Vu Jorr was wondering if you'd seen a boy with yellow hair and a green jacket."

Alicia looked at her, "He's here. What would the old man want to do with him?"

"He said he found his friend. Meimei."

Deep within Leo, a feeling of relief came over him. He couldn't explain why. He continued to dine on his crispy breakfast, which by the way, he enjoyed too much to continue his little eavesdropping.

"Tell him, that he'll be there, ok."

"O…Ok." The girl bowed and left. Alicia turned to face Leo.

"No."

"C'mon, Leo." Alicia said, "You can at least say hi to her."

"I don't wanna."

"C'mon."

"I'm not going to see her, and I'm definitely not going to see that man."

Alicia looked at him and let out a sigh. "You can at least go and see Peter."

Leo looked at the plate before him. He didn't want to go. But seeing Peter was also not bad. And Joy too. But then he'll have to talk to the old man. And that was something he didn't want. Leo groaned. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

"Fine!" Leo exclaimed, "I'll go. But once I see Peter and Joy, I'll be coming back."

"Fair enough." Alicia said, poking Leo's forehead.

Leo walked towards the orphanage, his heart beating. He really didn't like this place. He left the last time on a bad note. The older kids there probably wouldn't like him. All of them save Peter.

The reason he preferred Peter over the other kids was because the three of them, Joy included, had a history together. They had all been raised by Madame Alicia, at a time when, well, he had no one else. Peter was also in a similar situation, having lost his parents to the former High of the Orca. He also had to raise his little brother, alongside surviving the hardships of the Upper Half. Leo understood when Peter went under the orphanage's wing, but he, well, he couldn't bring himself to live there.

"Look who it is?" a voice said.

"Hi, Alfa," Leo said, "How's life."

"Never expected that someone like you would make friends."

"Never did." Leo said. Alfa looked at him and groaned, walking ahead of him to the big flat ahead of him. In front of the house stood the girl that had come to their place, two other kids having a snow fight with Joy, the latter who was obliterating them all. Leo was rooting for him with a smile. The smile faded when he saw the figure in front of him.

"Hello, Leo." The old man said with a smile, "It's been a while, how have you been?"

Leo didn't reply. He really didn't want to be here. Anywhere but here.

Out of nowhere, a force pushed him to the snowy floor. He felt the pain from his chest as the arms of Meimei hugged him.

"Leo!" She said, tears in her eyes."

Leo tried to pry her off, but to no avail. His body was too sore to move it.

"Aww." Alfa teased.

Meimei finally let go, helping him on his feet.

"Are you okay?" she asked, deep concern in her voice. Leo didn't reply, only brushing the snow of his jacket.

A sudden surge of energy filled his body. He knew this feeling. It was a calming feeling. It wasn't necessarily healing, but it was a renewal of his soul. Leo turned with a smile.

"Hey," Peter said, patting his head, "Been a while."

"Yeah,"

"Leo!" Joy exclaimed rushing to him, (and pushing him to the ground as well."

"Hey…Joy." Leo said, "How're you."

"Why don't you visit anymore? I've been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and…"

"I know," Leo said, standing up.

Alicia cleaned the glasses, washing the two plates. She smiled, thinking of the new life she had decided to live. She was going to make a lot of money and finally take care of Leo, something she had constantly wished to do for a long while. She exited the building with a bag of trash, mostly containing empty bottles and other stuff. It was funny how the beer was produced in the Below.

"I never thought I'd see you here!" A voice said behind her.

The voice was all too familiar. She knew it all too well. She could never forget that voice. The happy expression on her face disappeared, replaced with a cold menacing face, one with the intent to kill. Her aura rose from her body, making her eyes glow brightly.

"There she is!" Torn said, "There's the Ms. Watson I know."