New Things, Eight Rings

Here I sat, in yet another North Islands adoption home. Ive been bounced around since my family was killed when I was eight.

Now 14, I sat in my childlike teen angst, letting tears leak down my face. I was angry at...

Well... I couldnt even pinpoint my anger anymore.

Someone suddenly knocked on my room door. It was Wendy. She was the receptionist, and we had become extremely close over the 3 years I had been at the facility.

"Wendy, Hi!" I said in my best fake peppy tone, wiping as many tears as I could. The koopa looked at me in sympathy. She knew about the problems I had concerning my mental health. I was one of the only humans here.

"What's up?" I asked changing the subject quickly. I wasnt expecting in a million years what came out of her mouth.

"You got someone!" she smiled brightly. My face lit up instantly.

"No way!"

"Yes way!" She laughed, motioning me out into the hallway. "He looks loaded," She said in a sing-song voice as I passed, smirking. I rolled my eyes and smiled at her. As Wendy guided me out of the dormitory and into the lobby, I saw a single koopa standing there. A puzzled look crossed my face, but left as fast as it had came.

My eyes grazed over the expensive looking bracelets and watches stacked on his wrists, and his red t-shirt with an expensive brand logo on it, matched with his neat pants and shoes. Wendy was so right about this guy. His eyes met mine, but i was too clouded with excitement to notice his extended hand and wrapped my thin arms around him. He was extremely large in stature, and his green shell laced with spikes practically glowed in the daylight from the windows and doors surrounding the lobby.

He chuckled and returned the hug. I could hear Wendy laughing fondly behind us. Pulling away, I asked him.

"Do you really wanna adopt me? I asked, beaming with excitement. I was practically jumping up and down. No, it wasnt practical. I really was jumping up and down.

"We'll see, won't we?" He said. I noticed voice was extremely deep. It matched perfectly with his swole and muscular figure.

Wendy told me to go pack my things while she gave him my files and sorted out paperwork.

I ran all the way to the dorms and darted through the door that lead to the cramped room. I didnt have much in terms of belongings. But 3 outfits, two from Rick, looking at them made me smile. I frowned realising i was leaving him. He was my best friend. I shook those thoughts away and continued to pack my charger, stuffing my phone and shorted earbuds in my pocket. I frowned again, knowing I dont have much and hating it. I only had one pair of shoes, the high top black converse I wore on my feet.

The phone I had? A cracked iPhone 4. Old sure, but I cherished it since Rick was the one who gave it to me. No one here could judge, anyways.

But people outside these walls could.

All my belongins fit in one bookbag. I never needed anything bigger like a suitcase, or a duffel. The same black bookbag was all I needed. Before leaving, I slipped on Ricks hoodie which was like 3 sizes too big.

I took one last room at the now empty room before me. I inhaled sharply before grabbing the key off the nightstand and locking the door, smiling softly. Im gonna miss it, but I have a feeling ill be over it pretty quickly. Walking down the hallway quietly, I spotted Rick sitting crisscross in the hallway, tears streaming down his face.

"Rick, what's wrong?" He caught sight of my book bag and began to sob. Rick was my best friend. He was a large Koopa. A brute, if you will. He picked fights with anyone I'd have trouble with. Him crying was extremely unusual. I kneeled down in-front of him, and he launched into my arms, pulling me into his chest. His yellow t-shirt was wet on the upper half, and it smelled of sweat and tears.

"I-I-I don't want y-you t-t-to leave!" My heart shattered. He was crying over me? The low self esteem battled the facts in my head as I struggled to process the information. I couldn't picture anyone sad over my disappearance. I was quiet, only had 2 friends my whole life, never going to public school since the 4th grade. I've never been out of the USA, and my friend that I had left has no way to contact me, forcing her to forget about me.

Richard was my 2nd friend, and we were practically inseparable. We spent a lot of the time of every day together. And if sharing rooms were allowed in the facility we were in, we'd most likely be paired.

We hug a lot, it's kind of our thing. But hugging for 2 minutes straight was a little weird for him. We'd been sitting in this position for a little too long, and I'm pretty sure Wendy was wondering where I was.

Rick was the nickname I had made for him when I had met him. At first, he hated it. But he warmed up to it. I am now the only person that can call him that without him blowing up. He called me Tae. I didn't let anyone call me that either.

He was the only Koopa friend I had. But I was not sent to the mushroom kingdom until I was 11 years old.

On my birthday. That was easily the worst day of my life. That's a story for another time. I pulled away.

Standing up, I offered him a hand, knowing my frail figure wasn't enough to help him stand. He hugged me again briefly before wiping his face with his shirt, staining it more.

"Rick," I started. "Give me your socials, and your number," I said, beaming at him. This made him sob a couple more times before pulling out his phone. He put his arm around me as we exchanged numbers and social info. The socials over here are different than socials in the USA.

His bright eyes grazed over to mine. Before pulling me closer into his side, if that was possible. His eyes glossed as tears streamed down his face again.

"I'm gonna miss your smile, Tae," he whimpered, voice lacing with cracks as he spoke. I hugged him, wrapping my thin arms around his large shell, he returned it, squeezing me tight.

"Bye Rick, I'll text you when I'm home," I smiled. He choked, seeming like he was gonna cry again. Once again, his voice cracked as he spoke.

"I'll be waiting by my phone," he smiled weakly before walking off to the dorms, his large shoulders shaking visibly as the silent cries left his snout as he walked away.

I'm gonna miss him so much.

—————

"Ready?" Wendy pepped, practically bouncing in her receptionist chair as the abnormally large Koopa leaned on the counter, happy gaze on me.

"Yes!" I yelled loudly, which was only a faint whisper compared to the squeal she let out at my answer.

Handing him the file, she smiled so hard it hurt me just to look at her.

"It's official!" She squealed. My father chuckled at her antics.

"My number is in there, please call and let me know how things are going," Wendy mused. It's the look in her eye as we walked off to let me know that she truly loved her job. She teared up a little at watching us leave.

"Bye Wendy! Thanks for everything!" I smiled brightly as me and my adopted father started for the door.

"Your welcome! Bye!" I heard her yell as the sliding doors shut. I turned around and looked at my father.

"What's your name?" I asked him as we walked through the parking lot, sun beaming on us.

"Bowser." He smiled. "I'm-"

"Taemin," he finished for me. I look at him in astonishment until I realized he had read my file.

Walking up to a red Jeep, I grew nervous. I had never ridden in one. It was doorless. One wrong move and I could be flying out of this thing. I put my bag in the backseat and got in the front, buckling up.

He turned on the engine, which revved loudly. It's been so long since I've been in a car. I smiled to myself as I pulled out my phone.

"That's yours?" He asked as I unlocked it. "Yep!" I stated proudly. He hummed to himself as he pulled out of the adoption home and went on to the highway.

"My place is about an hour away from here," it's in the Darklands Region," he said, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Don't be overwhelmed, okay?" He said. I grew confused. Going onto a bridge, he sped up, the wind caressing my hair, adrenaline coursing through my veins because of the lack of doors.

"What do you mean?" I asked. He took a deep breath before speaking. "I have 8 other kids. You're my ninth," he started. I gaped at the astounding number. He noticed. "Due to my wealth, I can take care of them, and for the most part get them anything they want without problem. They don't ask for much though," he says. I nodded in understanding.

"Did you have any siblings?" He asked. I shook my head. He nodded and focused his eyes on the road.

"How old are they?" I asked.

"Junior is about to turn 7, Larry is 12, Morton is 14, Wendy is 15, no coincidence, Iggy is 15, Roy is 16, Lemmy is 16 1/2, and Ludwig is 18 even though he doesn't look it," he chuckled the last part. "And now I have another 15 year old," he laughed, looking at me.

"No, I'm 14. I don't turn 15 until Thursday," I said blankly. Today was Tuesday.

His eyes widened. "Aren't you excited?" He smiled. I was evidently confused. "For what?" "Your birthday!" "No," there was a brief pause.

"Why?" He asked.

I inhaled sharply. "My parents were mean. Alcoholics. They were beginning to Chang though. They started buying me things, and I had a normal life from when I was 6 years old. My first ever birthday was gonna be my ninth birthday. My parents had everything prepared. Obviously, my parents didn't make it. Killed right in front of me," I said dryly. He had a look of intense concern and sympathy on his face. "I never really had a birthday. I just got up and moved on. Wendy and Rick would tell me happy birthday and try to make me happy. But due to Rick not being adopted, and Wendy's minimum wage pay, they never could afford anything. When I turned 12, I told them to stop trying. And soon after, they did," I sighed sadly. Bowser seemed to have something click in his mind because he swerved sharply and almost missed an exit.

About 5 minutes of silence down the road, he pulled into a shopping center. He parked and turned to me.

"I have to get something for Wendy and two of my boys. I'd prefer if you stayed in the car? He handed me the keys before stepping out. "You can play music if you want," he smiled at me before straightening his t-shirt before walking into a nearby Apple store.

I put the keys in and turned the car on, letting out a cry of success as the dash lit up. I turned on the radio quietly as there were no doors, and anyone could just walk by and hear.

Looking around the parking lot, I saw a lot of different species walking around, instead of just humans. It was cool, albeit hard to get used to. I turned the station until I found my favorite type of music and turned it up just so I could hear, being mindful of people nearby, pulling in and out of lots around me.

Around 15 minutes went by, and I saw Bowser walk into a Foot Locker, about 5 minutes later, he walked into an Old Navy store. A total of 30 minutes passed, and I saw him walking toward the Jeep with 2 apple bags, a footlocker bag with 2 boxes in it, and 4 Old Navy bags. He sat them in the backseat beside my bag, but before getting in, went back and set everything on the floor.

He got in, and before he could, I reached over and turned the key, my arm lightly pressing against his stomach from leaning over him.

He chuckled softly as the engine roared to life. I sat back, satisfied that I had started a car for the first time ever, and it was a Jeep too! Best day ever!

He pulled out, and turned on the same highway, quickly picking up speed. Adrenaline surged through my core as he did this.

"It's a good 45 minutes left," he said. I nodded.

About 10 minutes later, I had drifted off to sleep, peace and contentment taking over my features as I slept the best sleep I have in a long time.

The fact that that applied while I was in a car showed how much of a shitty life I had, but that was all about to change.

About 25 minutes into my slumber, I was shaken awake. We were still in the car, but not on a highway, in a town rather. We drove down a street, and I could recognize some of the restaurants from the USA.

"We're about 10 minutes away, so I need you awake and ready to meet my kids. They don't know I'm adopting, therefore, they don't know you're gonna be here. You'll be the only human in my house," he trailed off the last part. "I'm gonna talk to my kids. They can be crazy, but they'll protect you, even if all of them don't like you," I flinched at the last part, which didn't go unnoticed. "It'll be alright,"

We turned into a insane looking neighborhood called Valley estates. It was a bunch of hill mansions on a extreme hills terrain. I gaped at the extreme detail and sheer size of the houses. He ended up pulling into a sandstone brick house with a HUGE exterior and a ton of windows. The house had a long curved driveway and three large garages around the side. An in-ground trampoline resided in the front of the house. I gaped at the advanced landscaping. I grabbed my bag which wept in comparison to the masterpiece I stared at. Wendy really wasn't lying when she said he looked loaded.

I shook as he guided me to the door, rubbing circles on my back as we walked on the walkway to the huge front doors of the sandstone estate. Gosh I felt so lucky. Not everyone got this chance in their lives and here I was. I didn't deserve this, yet here I was. I hope his kids accept me as the only human. He unlocked the door and pushed it open

Here goes.

The entrance was something straight out of a movie. Walking in, you could see just how open the interior was. The breathtaking two-story circular living room doused in windows and pearly white walls, was absolutely magical. The furniture looks like each piece costed an arm and a leg. The walls were stone, but pearly white. A modern fireplace hung up with a swift 60 inch TV on top of it. Wow, just from this, I know I'm going to love this house.

"Can you go sit on the couch while I get my kids?" He smiled and took my bag. I nodded at him weakly and took a seat on one of the bright beige couches in the room. I heard him setting the keys on a table and walking up the staircase. I took this opportunity to look around.

The living room was vaulted 2 stories high, a prominent balcony overlooking the space with what I assumed to be a hallway. There was a 60 inch flatscreen mounted on the stoned-pasted walls with detailed baseboards. A bright carpet floor shone, with a step down into the middle where the furniture was. I noticed at least 5 game consoles stacked on the tv stand and I also noticed the high end WiFi router on top of them.

The polar bear carpet in the middle of the room screamed expensive as well as the signed jerseys and expensively framed family photos hung up, as well as each individual child, none of which were human, but all Koopa.

I didn't even notice that the stairs clacked as multiple steps could be heard coming down the stairs. I hugged my knees to my chest as they all got closer, forgetting about the worn out black converse that were on my feet still.

Just then, two kids sped through the living room, the blue haired one tripping on the step down, face planting on the floor, earning a laugh from the rainbow haired one.

"Dumbass!" He called. I flinched at the language, but due to the color of my shirt, tan skin, and shorts, no one noticed me. They all piled in on the sectional adjacent to me, next to the fireplace and tv display. Bowser sat next to me, putting an arm around me.

That's when everyone noticed.

The room went completely quiet.

Too quiet.

"Kids, this is Taemin. I just adopted him. I wanted this to be a surprise. The first and only human in our family. I really want you all to show a little respect so he can get used to being here. He's never had a family before and he's never had a birthday like you all. I just want you guys to welcome him so that he feels okay out of his home country, the USA. He's really shy so try not to bombard him, and please, like I said, show some damn respect and if he needs anything, just help him out, " he finished. "I need to get more stuff for him so feel free to hang out while I get into more casual clothes," the last part was directed at me, but I didn't wanna look up, I was shaking and scared. Bowser got up, and after shooting me a concerned look, left the room.

"He doesn't really look like he wants to be here," I heard someone say.

"That was mean!" Wendy, the only female hissed.

"How?"

As more people jumped into the argument, a deep voice that could easily be mistaken as Bowser's roared loudly.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I felt the couch dip in beside me.

"Hey, I hope you like living here...bro," A soft but low voice spoke from beside me. He smiled softly at me.

I smiled warmly.

"Let's introduce ourselves. Me first! I'm Wendy, the only female," she smiled proudly. She had a pink shell, a large bow atop her head, wore a pink t-shirt and a skirt, and had a prominent smile with a ton of lipstick on.

"I'm Lemmy!" The smallest one piped. He had fluffy rainbow hair, green shell, skinny frame with a yellow sweater and black basketball shorts. He was looking at me with a huge smile.

"I'm Iggy!" The green haired one smiled, he had on a green striped shirt with PJ pants on, and he had large circle frame glasses on. His voice alone, like Lemmy's, signaled he was hyperactive.

The one beside me spoke next, "I'm Morton, He smiled at me. He had darker skin, with a star on his face. He wore a white t-shirt and black basketball shorts. He was really large, and he sat so close to me, our arms were touching. A pink shade cascaded my face.

The next one reminded me so much of Rick, it actually hurt me. He was large, like Morton, and had a pink head with a purple shell, the only difference were the shades that covered his eyes. It was bright, yes, but we were inside. Why was he wearing shades? "I'm Roy," he smiled slightly. He wore a black t-shirt and nike shorts.

"I'm Ludwig," the stubby blue haired Koopa smiled at me. He sure didn't look 18. He wore black shorts and a Nike t-shirt.

"I'm Larry!" The blue haired on perked up before the calm seven year old could start talking. Larry wore a blue striped shirt and red adidas shorts.

"Before being INTERRUPTED," he glared at Larry, who just laughed, "I'm Junior," he smiled softly at me from where he sat on the floor by the fireplace. He wore a white t-shirt with a sharp toothed mouth on it with PJ pants.

"Uhm, before we start with questions, where is the bathroom?" We only been here for about 15 minutes and I was already confused due to the immense layout of this huge place.

The only place I've been is the living room so. . .

"I'll take him!"

"No, I'm gonna take him!"

"I'm gonna take him! Now shut up!" Bowser growled from the doorway. Anyone could easily tell I was a bit socially overwhelmed.

Who wouldn't be?

He motioned me over, and I got up, leaving the kids by themselves. We went down a side hallway with two doors. Bowser opened the door and let me do my thing, closing the door. Let's just say this bathroom was fancier than my room back at the home. A pang of remembrance hit me. When I got a free moment, I was totally calling Rick and seeing if he could come over sometime.

-Narration—

As Taemin got up with Bowser, who had changed into basketball shorts and a t-shirt, to go to the bathroom, the kids began to talk amongst themselves.

"You guys were totally freaking him out," Roy growled at them. "What did I do?" Morton questioned. "You were way too close to him!" Roy hissed. Morton's face went red, but he tried to hide it. He glared at the Koopa across the room. Going to launch at him, Iggy got up and held him back.

"You boys are freaks! No wonder he's scared of you guys!"

"Wendy you're way to peppy! You act like you're excited or something,"

"Shut up Lemmy! Baby ass! Maybe because he's gonna be the only sensible boy around here!"

"Quiet doesn't mean sensible," Iggy glared at Wendy. "Crazy bitch," she muttered.

"Hey!"

"SHUT UP DAMNIT!" Bowser roared, Taemin hiding behind him. They noticed, and a guilty look crossed their faces.

Grabbing his keys. He spoke again. "Junior come here. Roy, Morton, Wendy, put some clothes on. The rest of you stay here,"

"I don't wanna!-" Ludwig quickly cut Lemmy off by placing a claw over his mouth.

Bowser huffed and walked to the front door as the three ran up the stairs to get clothes on. Wendy went... outside? Pretty sure her room might've been in a... a- I don't know.

"Yes dad?" Junior looked up at bowser. As Taemin went out to the Jeep, per Bowser's command.

He gestured to the bags. "Take those up to the room I've been setting up," Wendy came back just in time to hear this. Dressed in an expensive looking dress, and pink heels, a purse laced around her arm.

"You set him up a room without us knowing? Why?" Wendy questioned, raising a brow.

"I knew one of you or your brothers would've went in there and did something to it," Bowser growled dryly. She huffed at this.

Morton and Roy raced down the stairs, Roy almost tripping over the loose jeans he was wearing. He wore an adidas tracksuit jacket and Nike shoes. Morton wore khaki shorts and a black t-shirt with high top converse, the same ones Taemin were wearing.

They all walked out to see Taemin on his phone by the Jeep waiting. He looked up and smiled at them. Putting his phone away, he went to get in the back, but Morton pushed him toward the front seat, knowing Roy might've taken it. Wendy noticed and smirked at him, but he just glared at the floor and blushed. The boys got in the back, Wendy in the middle and Taemin in the front with Bowser. Roy reaches to turn on the radio as they pull off.

Due to the position he was in while turning the station, his shades almost fell off. He caught them in a panic, leaning back quickly, panicked breaths leaving his puffed chest as he regained his composure.

Wendy and Morton looked at him in sympathy as he rode out his panic attack, and bowser had his eyes on the road, periodically looking in the rear view in sadness to check on Roy.

-Taemin POV—

I was extremely confused, and Wendy and Morton seemed to notice.

I kept looking back to make sure he was alright, and eventually, he smiled at me.

His breathing slowed as we cruised at high speeds down the road. I didn't even know where we were going.

Wendy broke the silence about 5 minutes in. "Roy are you good?" "Yeah," he grunted out.

Morton looked at him, seeing right through the lie I didn't know was there. Roy pulled out his phone, and began texting someone.

Wendy followed his lead. I noticed that Wendy had the new iPhone and Roy had the new Samsung.

Morton stayed still and looked out into the world, deep in thought. A few minutes on the highway later, bowser took an exit, heading onto a main road, pulling into yet another shopping center, yet this one was much bigger and I gaped in awe at the three story building labeled 'Coconut mall'. It was surrounded by businesses and restaurants nearby. It had a strip mall to the side with multiple clothing stores.

It was until we parked that I got out and noticed that we were across the street from the beach! I've only ever seen these online, and this one had palm trees all about, and was absolutely stunning! I let out a noticeable gasp. And bowser looked at me in concern until following my gaze to the beach. He chuckled and the three younger Koopas were confused as to what I was so surprised about.

"What, kid, never seen a beach before?" Roy smirked from beside me, climbing out of the Jeep.

"No" I breathed out in utter astonishment.

His mouth parted slightly, realizing I had actually never seen a beach before.

"Come on," Bowser motioned us over as he walked toward the huge building. Me and Wendy were bouncing in excitement, for two totally different reasons, one of which I had never actually been to a mall, and Wendy because I assumed she liked spending money. I couldn't blame her. It was fun when you actually had money to spend.

Morton walked calmly behind us on his phone as Roy just had his hands in his jacket pockets, looking around.

We entered, and I was instantly locked in a trance of how sunny, bright, and beautiful everything was.

I frowned as this was probably normal for everyone else's life, and I had my childhood stripped away from me.

The depression I had ignored for the past few hours sunk in, and it hit harder than when I was crying this morning.

I looked up to see we were nearing a food court.

"I'm not hungry for food..." Wendy trailed off, eyeing bath and body works.

She ran off, and Bowser didn't even bother calling for her.

"Ugh, I'm gonna use the bathroom. Anyone of you need to go?" Bowser asked as we picked a table that will fit the remaining 4 of us, him knowing Wendy would go on a intense shopping spree for a while.

Roy nodded and stood up, straightening his jacket. Morton shook his head and I did the same, not needing to go.

I was extremely hungry, but I wasn't. Everyone looking at me saw an insanely skinny boy sitting with a large Koopa. I saw a perfectly fine Koopa, yet a non-perfect, disgrace sitting by him.

Humiliating thoughts took over as I stared at the floor. Morton looked up from his phone just in time to notice.

"Hey, what's up?" He said in an unusually deep voice. My voice was 10x higher than his even though we were the same age.

"Oh, n-nothing," I lied horribly. I was a terrible liar and I felt guilty even though he could see right through it. The guy just met me! Who am I to go spilling all my problems to him? I've only ever done that to Rick. And we've been best friends since the summer of 2017.

"You're a horrible liar," he said bluntly. "I-I.. I'm not lying," I mustered even though I was severely close to crying. He got up and walked across the table to me. He pulled me up and hugged me close to him, and I cried into his shoulder. I couldn't really hold in everything that was plummeting through my head. Call me a wimp, yeah, maybe I am.

It wasn't fair to dump my problems on someone else, so I tried concentrating on how soft he felt as he pressed me into him, letting me cry on his black t-shirt. He wasn't taller than me by much, I was about to the top of his snout in height.

After around two minutes, Bowser and Roy walked out of the bathroom just in time to see him pull away from me and me sit down and continue crying with my head on the table. I couldn't really control my breathing.

Roy rushes over to us, Bowser in tow. "What's going on?!" He asked Morton. "I don't know, he won't tell me," Morton says with a worried look on his face.

"What did you do?" Bowser accused Morton. "Nothing!" He says.

"I'm fine, just a panic attack. It happens to me a lot. I'll be fine," I said. My eyes were puffy, had bags under them, and it looks like I haven't slept for ages.

The sleep that I got in the car this morning, was the only sleep I had for 2 days.

"Are you sure?" Bowser asked me. Roy has a knowing look on his face as he sits down, gaze on me. I smile, which he returns brightly.

Bowser pulls a wad of cash from his shorts pocket, and I gasp audibly. He smirks and pulls out 3 $50 dollar notes.

He hands each of us one, and stands up. I was shocked to even be holding a note of this value.

"Go order something to eat, and sit over there, I'm gonna go get Wendy," he motions at a family table for 6. We nod, and he walks off toward the bath and body works a few shops down.

I look around, seeing many things I haven't tried before. I gaped at how big and beautiful this food court actually is. The beach seemed to come to life in here. There were fountains galore, sand banks and palm trees all in the area. The space was insanely huge. Much bigger than the malls in the USA.

The roof was titled in a skylight, and some of the tiles were open, letting the beach breeze in and cool off the shop. Roy and Morton catch me looking around and they chuckle, knowing I've never seen anything like it.

"Wanna race with us to Coco Burger?" They ask, grinning as they got in running positions.

"Nah, I'm gonna try something new," I smiled. They nodded and took off to said food stand. I've had burgers many times in the USA. They were never good though. I could legitimately buy any food item in this court and still have money left over.

Was this what it felt like to have a rich parent? Gahlee!

My eyes caught onto a seafood shop, and I bounded over. Greeting the attendant shyly, my eyes studied the menu carefully.

I saw sushi, so I ordered that, and I ordered a thermos drink, and a kids salad.

"That totals to ¥9.53, please," the attendant smiled. I handed her the note, and she gasped, not expecting that much. She gave me my change, and fixed the tray of food and put in a bag with the company logo on it.

"Have a nice day!" She chirped. "Thank you! You do the same." I said. She smiled before continuing to clean as I walked off. She seemed really nice.

As I neared the table, it was against the wall with a cushiony bench lining the wall, with chairs on the other side. Roy and Morton approached at the same time as I did, Bowser still off finding Wendy.

They motioned me over when they saw me walking up.

"Sit in the middle," Roy said. "Okay," I sat in between the two. Our food smelled delightful. I noticed their bags were significantly heavier looking than mine.

Unwrapping our food in silence, Morton broke it, asking me a question.

"Um.. not to be touchy.. but... did you have parents?" He asked. When my face fell, Roy reached behind me and punched Morton. I did have parents, they were foster parents, and I was their only child. I never knew anything about my biological parents.

"No," I sighed sadly. In attempts to hug me, Roy pulled me into his side. "Us neither, kid," Roy sighed. "We were adopted by bowser when we were babies," Morton explained. Roy nodded in agreement.

"Let's eat already!" Roy said, opening his tray, Morton following his lead. Roy had a burger that appeared to have coconut bits on it, as well as various of other toppings, a cup of bubble tea, and two orders of fries. Morton had a cup of Starbucks coffee, two burgers, fries, and a slice of chocolate cake. Their prominent orders put my simple sushi, salad and thermos to shame.

"They have a Starbucks?!" I asked in excitement. Morton raised an eyebrow at me and jerks his thumb toward the seafood shop.

It was right next-fucking door.

"Me and the Starbucks were next to you for a good 2 minutes," he chuckled, earning a chuckle from Roy as well. I smiled. I'd have to come back for that.

We dug into our food, waiting for Bowser to return with Wendy, a peaceful silence cast over us as we ate comfortably.

Smiling at the taste of my delicious food and new friends beside me, I think to myself, "I think I'm gonna like it here."