Just Showing a Little Kindness (Iceland x Reader)

Just showing a Little Kindness
Runaway!Iceland x Reader





You wished you could help him.

There he was, the bearer of hypnotizing lilac irises, standing alone in the bus stop cabin. He had earbuds jammed in his ears and his eyes were closed as his head rested against the clear plastic wall. His black backpack was hanging off one of his shoulders since he only bothered to use one of the two straps. His snow white hair was still dripping wet; he must have just barely escaped the pouring rain.

If you only gave him a quick glance, he seemed in peace, waiting for his bus to arrive.
You knew better, though.

Slender fingers drumming over the strap of your messenger bag, you tried your best to ignore the young adult. You knew he stayed around here most of the day; it wasn't the first time that you had seen him. It was, in fact, the first one that you had been standing right next to him, though. What pinched your heart the most about his predicament, even if you didn't actually know it, was that he looked to be about your age.

It could have easily been you, in his stead.

When the bus you had been waiting for came to a halt, you sighed and swiped your bus card for the machine, the toll payed in advance for the whole year. You glanced back at the young man, and your suddenly held your breath when your gaze met soft lilac, but what had rendered you so was the sadness and hurtfulness held into his eyes.

All day, you couldn't stop thinking about him. Sure, it wasn't the first time you had seen him, but it's not like you could do anything. You had a kind and generous heart, but you couldn't start letting perfect strangers into your life like that, especially when you had troubles of your own to deal with. But...

But, for some reason, you made a decision you never thought you would have made; you'd try to make the lonely young adult feel better. He must have family somewhere to turn to, so he might appreciate a phone call. You could lend him your cellphone in order for him to make it.

Hoping that he'd still be at your bus stop when you'd get back --it had rained cats and dogs all day-- you had been twiddling your thumbs on the ride back. Once the familiar stop came into view, your heart dropped as you noticed the runaway wasn't there anymore. With a heavy sigh, you hoped he had gotten some help from someone else and that he was safe, with people he loved.


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


You froze.

He had come back the next morning, same place, same time. Actually, you couldn't tell that last one, but he was there while you were too. It must be because it was still heavily raining. Not giving up on your previous night's plan, you hesitantly walked up to him. Standing only a few feet away, you took notice of the dark circles under his eyes. He mustn't have been sleeping well, but that was a given.

You had been wondering how his device had kept its battery for so long, but the local mall did have a rather large food court with plugs for chargers; he must have been using those.

Knowing that he wouldn't hear you clear your throat to get his attention, you lightly tapped his shoulder. Your little action successful, you still got startled when he fluttered his eyes open. They held none of the emotions they had had the previous day, but you didn't let it back you down.

He popped out of one his dark blue earbuds from his ear, staring down at you from the few inches he had over you. You gave him a heart-warming smile, but it didn't seem to have affected him. Okay, maybe he was a little curious, confused, an embarrassed by the adorable sight, but none of it really showed.

Except that last one, which had made his cheeks' tender flesh grow light pink.

"Hi" you started. Truth be told, you were nervous.

"Um... H-Hei" he hesitantly replied, as his gaze trailed to the side. He recognized you as the girl who always took the bus at seven in the morning. He had guessed it was for your work. You were one of the rare ones that didn't give him pity; he was glad. You seemed to think of him as a normal person.

"So... Everything alright?" you asked, even if you felt stupid for asking. You didn't know what else to say....

His gaze darted back to yours, and brief annoyance flashed through it. He had been wrong. "Fine, thanks" he replied, even if it was obvious he didn't mean it. He jammed back his earbud in his ear, silently telling you this conversation was over. He had grown sick of that one question.

Disappointed in yourself for failing to help, you searched through your messenger bag to find your cell. He had closed his eyes again, but you were determined to help. Since last morning, you felt like you needed to. You tapped his shoulder again, earning a sigh but also his attention once more.

"Would like like to call your family? They must be worried sick..." you offered, with a small smile. His gaze shifted from your face to the phone a countless of times, a little suspicion clouding his irises, but he only shook his head in a negative response. You sighed in turn, letting your arm fall limp to your side.

You heard your bus come to a stop behind you, so you needed to go. Once you stepped on the first step, you glanced back at him. He still hadn't put back his earbud, so you did something you never thought you ever would. "I will let you stay at my place while you get back on your feet. If you're still here tonight, I'll take it as a yes."

Heart racing and flustered from your sudden decision, you hurried to the back of the bus after you had  passed your card, cursing your kind heart. What had just come over you?

You were so busy scolding yourself that you didn't notice the young adult's widened gaze. He was surprised.


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


Emil stared at the bus as it drove away, carrying you along with it. 'She seems nice but...' he thought, looking back at his trembling icy fingers 'I don't know if I should trust her. She might be friends with my damn brother, for all I know!'

Nei, he didn't really think so. He was alone, insecure and, even if he wouldn't admit it, scared. He was scared for what could happen to him, if he didn't find anything to get out of his scrape soon.

Sighing, he jammed back his dark blue earbud in his ear and sat down on the plastic black bench. He had thought running away from Lukas would have been the best thing to do, but he had nowhere else to go to now. He could have just gone to see Tino or Berwald, but, knowing them, they would have called his elder brother to tell him where he would be. He didn't want that. Matt was out of the question as well.

He was sick of his brother ruling over his life as if he was a five year old.
No, he wasn't going back, not this time.

Stifling a yawn, he shook his head as he tried to focus on his future. The money he had saved up was slowly disappearing, so he had decided to keep it for food. He didn't mind sleeping outside, to be honest, but it's not like he had been able to sleep lately. He had just wondered aimlessly around town, waiting for his eyelids to become too heavy to go on but it never happened. He just seemed to be suffering from insomnia....

He had also tried getting a job, but it had been hard. Really hard. He wasn't about to come crawling back to Lukas, especially if that guy would just strengthen his already tight grasp over the platinum blonde.

The soft pitter patter of raindrops hitting the plastic dome was somehow soothing for the the Icelander's ears, lulling him to sleep. He started nodding off, but he wanted to make up his mind before he did fall asleep. He wanted to know if he should trust you, and his pride was too swelled up to just accept like that, not to mention he could easily grow suspicious.

Then again, you gave him an opportunity he couldn't just brush aside without proper consideration. You could very well be giving him the leverage he needs to make it on his own, even though he wouldn't technically be on his own; he'd be with you. He didn't have much left, but, again, he had his pride. Maybe too much of it, some would say.

He just needed to think it through.
Maybe, just this once, he should set aside that pride.


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


You drummed your fingers on your thigh as you looked out the bus' window, raindrops hugging it. Your free hand's index finger traced the little paths some of the droplets had created as the wind made them gracefully slide across the glass. Part of you was wishing he would still be there, while another wanted the exact opposite. What had come over you?! You don't just do that, where had all of your rational thinking gone at that time?

Heavy rain thickening the air, it hard to see from afar. It was only when your stop was a few meters away that you saw a figure sitting inside the plastic cabin. Once you got out, you immediately recognized him.

So he decided to accept, after all.

Part of you was relieved that he would try to get his life back in balance, while the other, still, was telling you to just walk away, to pretend that you didn't recognize him and that you would ask to get a ride from a friend from now on to prevent seeing him again.

Really? You were seriously thinking that way?

You shook your head. You offered, he accepted, that's that. It was too late to back down now. Realizing for the first time that you had been standing in the rain this whole time, you shivered as you walked closer to his sleeping form. His head propped against the clear plastic, your gaze trailed to a picture he held between his thumb and his index finger.

Carefully, you gently took it from him and looked at it. It was a picture of him and an older guy, taken a while back because the platinum blonde seemed way younger. He was about ten years younger, give or take a few years. On the picture, both males had similar traits, but one had navy blue eyes and golden blonde hair. He seemed downright emotionless, while the one you knew looked like a cute kid that held a camera shy smile.

Slipping the piece of glossy paper back into the runaway's light grasp, you carefully shook his shoulder to wake him up. As his eyes slowly opened, they had widened at the sight of you and he suddenly jerked backwards. Since no words escaped from his lips, you decided to break the ice.

"I'm [Name]. What about you?" you softly asked, as a warm smile made its way to your lips. Why hadn't you thought of presenting yourself sooner, you didn't know. You also opened your umbrella.

The young man swallowed hard and glanced at his hands as his features gained a little colour. "E-Emil..." he stuttered, making you giggle.

"Well Emil, come with me." you replied, testing his name on your tongue as you gave him your hand. He started at it for a few seconds as if it was the devil's spawn before he finally nodded and accepted it.  

"Why?" was all he managed to say, suspicion echoing in his nervous inquiry as he slowly stood up.

You just shrugged as you started leading him to your humble adobe, glad that you had a guest room to spare. You surprised both him and yourself with your simple response; "Just showing a little kindness."