burnt }} duke x leo

An endless circle.

I live my life trapped in one. Round and round, nothing even changing. Nothing ever alters. Ever since they adopted me, ever since they thought that I was the child worth saving, the one that would better their cause. But little did they know they were just trapping me, forcing me to live my life with a forced smile on my face. 

I would have been better on the streets.

At least then my life had some purpose

So I'm always searching for a way out, always looking for a way to break the cycle. Always wondering, hoping for a way out. For something more. But nothing changes. Clean the house, behave in front of the guests, back up to your room for bed. Just like reading your favorite book over and over again, and each time expecting a different ending.

Even though you know it's never coming.

Sometimes a part of me thinks that if I act out enough, if I scare enough dignitaries away, that they'll drop me back off where I came from. Sometimes it looks like they're about to snap, to kick me out right then and there, but it's always too good to be true. A rich family like them raising a poor orphan to be able to live to the high standards of society, well it was a headline that was just too good to pass up.

Stuck. That is what I am. My head spinning round in round in circles, thinking maybe one day something will break this endless cycle of hell. But it has yet to come, and I am most certainly not helping it get here any faster, for each time I lash out they seem more and more determined to mold me into their star child, the one who came from nothing but they made into something.

They always said it's lonely at the top.

And I've never heard a statement more true. Even though I am far from the top of this family, it's a stranded place where I am, one of solitude. The more I push, the harder they push back, and the more I become isolated from the other. Their kids resent me, wondering why they'd ever allow a creature like me into their civilized home. I remind them to fuck off when Mr. and Mrs. Spring aren't around

But maybe if I had someone, anyone, this would be a life worth living.

It started just as normal as any other day. Sun peered through my window, and I knew it was time to begin the chores that were so carefully laid out for me everyday. But of course I stayed in bed for an extra hour, testing their patience before the day even truly begun. A shout down the hall and I knew it was time to finally get up. I swept and dusted, making sure to move things ever so slightly out of place, knowing how badly it drives Mrs. Spring insane.

Two hours later of hard labor, and I'm finally done. I'm about to lay back on the couch, with my feet up of course, when Mrs. Spring walks into the room. She spots my feet and sighs, clearly not in the mood to deal with my shit right now. 

"Leonora, we have some special guests coming over tonight and I've been absolutely craving a pie from my favorite place in town. Please go and pick one up for me. Now."

I can feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. I hate that name, Leonora, how pretentious. Why she refuses to call me Leo is beyond me. I'm about to argue with her, just to make things more complicated, but then I realize that this is my chance. A chance to be slightly less stuck. A chance to break the pattern.

Even if it's the tiniest thing.

My feet are just as quick as my mind for once and I hop up, quickly making my way out the door before she has a chance to change her mind. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the chirping of the birds.

For the first time in a long time, I almost feel free. 

I see the line of people outside the house, and know that this is the place. I elbow a few people to jump some spots in line. I can only picture how they would yell if I came back without the pie, even if it wasn't my fault. A boy around my age hands me the pie.

"You're new,"

"And you're observant," 

I say a smirk playing on my lips. He seemed shy, but in a good way.

"I'm Duke. I give out pies around here every Thursday so if you ever need some food I'll definitely be around somewhere"

"I'm Leo,"

My fingers gently break off a piece of the crust and I pop it into my mouth. Shock must read upon my face because I've never tasted anything quite so good.

"And this is amazing. Got anything else good in there?"

I ask nodding towards the house behind him.

My mind is still trapped in a circle, running round and round trying to free itself somehow. It's never seen an opportunity before. But now there might be one right in front of me.