"Dad, I still don't see why we had to move. Couldn't we have just stayed in Old Corona?" Varian asked, twiddling his thumbs around each other at the back of his dad's car.
"Varian, I know life's been tough for you since your mother disappeared. But we have to move on." Varian's dad, Quirin, said in a gruff voice.
Varian sighed. It was pointless to tell his dad to move back to Old Corna. He knew he wasn't going to change his mind. He suddenly heard his satchel chitter. "Huh. I don't remember you packing me a raccoon for lunch." Varian smiled, pulling his pet raccoon, Ruddiger, out of his satchel. "Well, here we are." Quirin parked the car infront of a worn down house. The windows were cracked and the door was hanging on by a hinge. Varian was shocked. "We're supposed to live here!?" He exclaimed.
"Look, all this place needs is a proper dusting, a splash of paint...and it'll be good as new!" Quirin tried to brighten the mood, but it didn't help much.
"Varian, where are you going?" Quirin asked, carrying a box of plates into the old house. "I'm gonna explore the town." Varian smiled. "Just be careful." Quirin warned.
"I will. Lets go Ruddiger." Varian motioned his pet raccoon to follow. They wandered around the city until they came to the seaside. Varian sat down on the sand with Ruddiger purring in his lap, the waves of the ocean softly lapping the sand. "Home sweet... home." Varian tried his best to keep his eyes open, but he fell asleep to the soothing sound of the waves.
Varian woke up in his bed, the sun shining on his face.
"Ok. New school, new friends." Quirin smiled, packing Varian's lunch. "I know! I'm kind of nervous, but mostly excited!" Varian beamed. He gave his dad one last hug before he caught Ruddiger in his satchel. "Hey, come here Ruddiger." Varian picked him up by the scruff. "School is not for you." He scolded Ruddiger with a smile.
Varian looked up at the building, awestruck. "Woah." He gasped. "Give me your lunch money, or I'm gonna pound you!" A bully named Henry Bowers threatened a black haired boy, who looked about to be Varian's age.
"L-leave me alone." The boy stammered, taking a punch by Henry, his nose bleeding. "Hey! You heard him. Leave him alone." Varian growled. "Why should I, nerd?" Henry scoffed. Varian's anger boiled. He ran at Henry and pinned him down, punching his eye and nose, breaking a few teeth in the prosses. "I said leave him alone." Varian snarled, his eyes flashing red before turning to their original baby blue. "O-ok." Henry stammered in fear. "If you ever come near him again, I will kill you, do you understand!? I will KILL you!" Varian got up and watched Henry scramble to his feet and run down the hallway. He turned to the boy, whose nose was dripping blood onto the tiled floor. "Here. Let me help you." Varian took out a First-Aid kit and grabbed a tissue. He gave it to the boy, who stuffed it in his nose. He took Varian's hand and slowly stood up. "Thanks." The boy smiled. "No problem. Who was that guy anyway?" Varian asked.
"Oh, him? That's Henry Bowers. The meanest kid in school. That is, until you beat him up." The boy smiled at Varian. "I'm Hiro Hamada." Hiro offered a hand shake. "Varian Anderson." Varian shook Hiro's hand. "Want a tour of the school?" Hiro asked the young alchemist. "Sure." Varian smiled. After the tour, Varian told Hiro that he's the first person that showed him any kindness. "I'll see you tommorrow, partner." Hiro playfully punched Varian in the shoulder before running off. Varian was left alone, blushing like a total idiot. He realized what just happened and ran home.
"Hey, Varian. How was school?" Quirin asked, chopping some carrots on the cutting board. "Great! I already made a new friend. Hiro Hamada" Varian smiled. "Hiro Hamada. Sounds like he has your skills." Quirin smiled, happy that his son had a good day. Varian blushed, holding the bottom of his left ear. "Dad, I think I got bit by the so called 'Love Bug.'" Varian smiled, his cheeks tomato red. Quirin snickered. "First day in the city and you're already in love." Varian blushed harder. "Dad, stop teasing me." He smiled. Ruddiger climbed up on Varian's shoulder, nuzzling up against his cheek. "Good to see you too, buddy." Varian scratched Ruddiger behind his ears, making him purr. Varian walked over to the living room window and opened the curtains, watching the sun set over the horizon.
"I think I'm gonna like it here." Varian sang. Ruddiger was already asleep on his shoulders, purring happily. Varian placed him on his lap, petting his soft fur. Varian looked at the sun set one more time before falling asleep. Quirin placed a blanket over his sleeping son, smiling at his peacful form. He looked at the photo of him and his wife, Ulla, holding Varian when he was a baby. "Ulla, I wish you could see this." Quirin said to the photo. He looked back at Varian, who was cuddling Ruddiger like he was his teddy bear, both of them smiling happily. Quirin softly stroked Varian's cheek, making him twitch a little. He placed his son's head on his lap, smiling down at him. Moments later, Quirin was asleep too, dreaming about his wife. He knew that one day, she would come back. She made a promise that she would, and Quirin wouldn't loose hope. And neither would Varian. Soon, they would be together. And nothing would pull them apart for as long as they lived. "You'll come back. One day, you'll come back." Quirin said in his sleep. Varian snuggled close to his dad, still smiling. "She would never break a promise." Varian whispered. "Everything will be ok, Dad. She's tough. Like you." Quirin smiled at his son. "No. She's tough like you." He booped Varian's nose. Varian smiled, falling asleep on his father's chest. Quirin wrapped his arms around Varian, snoring softly.
