Cause then I don't have to look at it // open+healing // and no one has to look at it

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    would they like what they saw

    or would they hate it too?

    It's been a little bit since the fire had happened and some of the burns were starting to heal. He was learning how to take his bandages off and on himself. He no longer wanted Harrison to do it. He no longer wanted Lottie to do it. He didn't want anyone to see it. He didn't even want to see it but someone had to and he'd rather it be himself than anyone else. When he took it off, he found that most of the skin was still horribly charred. Some of it was starting to recover but it was clear to him that it'd take a horribly long time for the worst of it to go away. Some of the smaller, less destructive burns were already gone, some with very little or no scarring. He had been so careful about the privacy of this entire event that he'd found an abandoned hut with a mirror to be by himself so no one else would see him. Especially after his awful nightmare, when he'd been exposed to everyone, he just never wanted anyone to see his burns all over again. He didn't want them to see how awful he looked. How the burns marred his face, his side, his leg, his everything. Just looking at it made him want to cry even if he couldn't feel most of them anymore. He stood like that for a little while, just staring at the mirror. This was what he was going to look like for the rest of his life. Well, not quite. It would scar over. So the question was, did he keep wearing the bandages when he didn't need them anymore? He still would for at least a few more weeks but what about after that? How would people react to a child who's body was covered in burn scars. Would they be afraid? Would they be disgusted? Would they think the same things he did? He could feel tears building in his eyes as he looked at the bandages in front of him. Why did he have to be like this? Any time something bad happened anymore he just felt so sad. He never used to feel sad. He used to always be happy, he used to not be ashamed of himself, he used to not be so afraid. He just wanted everyone to be happy. That was all he wanted then and that was all he wanted now. Was it too much to ask for his own happiness too?

    DOWN IN THE FOREST, WE'LL SING A CHORUS

    Pad had been sulking around in guilt after the incident a few nights ago. To the point where he actually wanted to make up for it. Damn, this clan was shaking up his cemented morals way too quickly. The sheepish feline had been tracking down the first and only candidate to beg forgiveness to, and his scent trail led straight into a musty old hut. While his newly wounded lung wasn't going to heal immediately, he could feel his ribs slowly setting back into place and his lung began to "function" once more. Pad walked with a carefully hidden limp, because it was terribly painful. At least he could speak without spilling out blood now.


    He sniffed and snuffled his way to the cramped room Jacob was in, nose lifting from the ground when he saw the husky's blurred figure. Pad had to blink for a bit so his eyes could focus enough, and he realized the pup's bandages were off, and he was crying at his reflection. "Um, Jacob?" he started, before quickly adding in fear Jacob would burst into an even bigger puddle of tears, "Don't worry, I can't see practically anything, and I don't care about appearances." It was true, all of his life he had been as blind as a bat, unable to see objects clearly even if they were touching his nose. Jacob's burns were nothing but mere paler splotches on a portrait of other colored splotches. Pad gave a playful wave in front of his eyes as if to prove the fact for the kid. He still kept his distance, before advancing onto the real reason he followed Jacob. He was never good at apologies, partially because he had never practiced, but he gave it a shot anyways, "I'm sorry about, you know, the other night? You freaked out and then I freaked out, and uh, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me?" Half of his words probably went over Jacob's head, and he prepared for the kid to throw a tantrum about him being there.

    tags

    ONE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

    would they like what they saw

    or would they hate it too

    If Jacob had been horrified before, it was worse now. "No! Go away!" The boy hardly seemed to acknowledge was Pad was saying, panic engulfed him and he would frantically glance about, searching for any place to hide. It was likely that, in other circumstances, the boy would have actually listened to what was happening and calmed down but the fact Pad had just gotten into a fight with his father the last time he'd had his bandages off certainly wasn't going to make him open up the the other creature. Unsure of what else to do, the boy would soon curl into a tight ball, trying to hide his face and the scars on the right side of his body and leg from Pad. He couldn't even stand his father looking at them anymore, let alone someone he only knew through a series of violent events.


    //ahh, sorry for not being able to match length! I'm kind of in a rush.

    FORGET WHAT YOU SEE; LEAVE IT TO ME —

    Wildyonder, also being blind, obviously couldn't see the child's scars. However, he approached cautiously anyway, having gathered from the few words exchanged that something was up. "I can't see anything, either," he offered quietly, and with a small smile, hoping it would help. He couldn't see a thing, his cataracts having completely blocked his vision now--scars meant nothing to him. Wildyonder racked his brain, recalling something about a kid in the clan having severe burs. This must be the one, then? Wildyonder hadn't been concerned about his appearance for a long, long time now. "Er, trust me--looks mean nothing. Take it from me." Wildyonder was probably the worst guy to be consoling someone on appearances, but he couldn't help himself. He had to at least try. Even if it wasn't his business. Even if nothing he said mad ea difference.


    TAGS

    DOWN IN THE FOREST, WE'LL SING A CHORUS

    Leave it to kids to be overly sensitive. "God, I'm just trying to apologize!" he snorted with disgust, before sitting down on the earthy flooring of the hut. He was about to speak again, when another male offered his opinion as well. Even in the dimness, Pad could recognize the shiny cataracts he had seen so frequently steal people's sight away from them. Perhaps Jacob would trust him if another person was supervising? He didn't know. But with relatively less stress than before, he continued, "Kid, I've got scars, too. A big, old, nasty one. And you don't see me crying, do you?"


    It was a bit hypocritical, stating that people had never seen him cry. Crying was private, and clearly he was intruding. Pad sighed, arching his back in a stretch, revealing a glimpse of the fatal wound that ended up killing him. It wasn't a scar; it would never heal. But it was something to begin relating to the insecure pup.

    ONE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

    tags

    would they like what they saw

    or would they hate it too

    The puppy didn't even lift his head as Wildyonder entered and then Pad spoke once again. His panic only increased and he'd try to choke back his sobs as he listened to Pad's words. He didn't mean to be sad or annoying. He just wanted to be alone to put on his bandages. Was that too much to ask? It wasn't like he had been standing out in public asking for attention or like he was in someone else's house. They had invaded his privacy, why should he be the one to feel guilty? Still, he felt horrible. He felt horribly for crying and for making the others see the awful burns that were spread across his body.. "Pa-Puh-Please go," Was all he would continue to whimper, staying curled up into a tight ball so they wouldn't see him.

    Normally, Jerseyboy wouldn't have intruded on someone else's privacy. Well, scratch that. If there was cause for concern, then his curiosity would override his common sense. The tuxedo couldn't help but poke his head into Jacob's hut; the kid was still trying to cope with the physical and mental aftermath of the fire, anyways. Jerseyboy had heard whimpering, along with shouting. What was going on?


    The tuxedo tom laid eyes on Wildyonder and Pad, who were both sitting by Jacob while he was curled into a ball. Huh, that was unlike the boy. Seeing as it was unlike the boy, his suspicions were raised and he instantly sent a questioning look to the older two. "Why is he cryin'?" He knew that Jacob trusted him, so he didn't mind coming in and investigating.


    TAGS

    would they like what they saw

    or would they hate it too

    No, no, no! Jersey couldn't be here! Jersey couldn't see him like this! Jersey always looked so nice and normal and he wanted to be like Jersey and be cool but he couldn't do that if the tom knew how badly he was burned beneath the bandages that covered his entire body. "No! No, Jersey, no look!" He would sob, his entire body shaking as he tried to tighten himself up despite the pain to keep them from seeing. "I yucky!" He would yell at the older males that had now surrounded him. He just wanted them to go away so he could cover himself up and none of them would have to see the disgusting wounds that lay beneath his bandages.

    DOWN IN THE FOREST, WE'LL SING A CHORUS

    Pad didn't have a chance to answer Jersey, as Jacob did the job for him. But he offered his side either way. "I was just trying to apologize, and he freaked out." It wasn't his fault he didn't know the pup had body image issues. Pad even tried to help, in his own twisted way. But, his way wasn't needed anymore.


    "You probably know how to help him more than I do, knock yourself out," Pad quipped to Jersey, right as he began to turn around to leave, "Good luck." The accidental instigator stalked out the exact same way he had entered, shoulders hunched forward and with boredom riddling his step. But with somewhat making up to Jacob, Pad felt a weight lift his list of eternal burdens, and the last thing seen of him was his twitching tail as he slipped through the open hut door.

    ONE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

    tags

    would they like what they saw

    or would they hate it too

    Jacob would hear Pad's words and seemed to curl his body even tighter. He didn't mean to be annoying. He didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable or upset but that seemed to be all he was able to do when his bandages were off. When he spoke of Jersey helping him, he felt his stomach twist. No, Jersey couldn't see him like that. When he would hear Pad leave, he would try to slow his crying but he was painfully aware that Jersey and Wildyonder were both still there. "S-S-Sorry..." He would stammer out the word, his voice choked as he stayed exactly where he was, refusing to move until everyone left.