[aaron matthew palmer]

“Not…monster?”

Johnny just didn't understand. Like a little kid, all that was big, loud, and scary must be a monster. And you know... To Aaron, that was okay. He was a cute little kid, wasn't he? “Butbutbut it’s big and scawwy…loud.” Aaron smiled, stood up and took Johnny's hand, pulling him up. "Come on, kid, I'll show you." Still holding the boy's hand as if he was a six year old Aaron was afraid would run off into traffic, He led him gently to the building and inside.

He frowned a bit when he couldn't hear the familiar hum of the vacuum, but knew where the janitors kept them. "This way, over here." Maybe it was for the best that they were done vacuuming, “Lots of Kitties? Are dey pretty kitties?” Aaron Smiled, nodded- there was something about that boy that made him grin every time he spoke. "Yeah, they were all nice and soft and... and pretty, yeah." He turned a corner, making his-their, actually- way to the closet. “Not here? Where?”

Aaron shrugged, stopping as they reached the plain door. He tried the doorknob- it was open. he waited to brace Johnny for what was in there before he actually opened it, though. "Yeah, back home. I used to live on a farm, you know? Lots of different animals." He frowned, realizing that maybe... maybe Johnny didn't know what home was. "Where're you from?" He asked hesitantly.

[johnathan doe]

Johnny put Kitty on his shoulder and happily walked with Aaron inside, not really understanding that he was walking to face his fear. He smiled when Aaron told him he had lots of pretty, soft kitties. He liked pretty, soft kitties. The smile turned into a confused frown when he was asked where he was from.

It took him a long time to even understand what the meaning of the words were and then he didn’t really understand the context. “I…Johnny from here.” He said slowly, obviously confused beyond reason. “Aaron no from here?” Where could he be from, if not from here? There wasn’t anywhere else.

Then, he realized where they were. They were in front of the monster's cave... Johnny let out a whine, looking up at Aaron in fear. Why were they here? He tugged a little on Aaron's hand.

[aaron matthew palmer]

Johnny felt bad for asking him such a question- the kid looked so confused when he was asked it... “I…Johnny from here. Aaron no from here?” Aaron frowned, shaking his head. "I... no, Johnny, I..." He was about to continue, but decided that maybe it was best if he played along. There was something just too simple about Johnny, he didn't want to complicate his purity.

"Nevermind," He said with a calming smile, pulling the boy closer to him when he heard him whine. "It's okay. I'm going to show you the monster, okay? It's not a monster, I promise you." He wrapped a comforting arm around Johnny's shoulder, the other hand resting idly on the doorknob. "You ready? I'll be here, nothing's gonna happen."

[johnathan doe]

He felt better when Aaron wrapped his arm around him, but still absolutely petrified He let out a whine again, but let Aaron move him closer. Aaron could protect him, right?

He looked up at Aaron, absolutely petrified still, but he managed a fearful nod.

[aaron matthew palmer]

Seeing Johnny in this state, he almost didn't want to do it- but the kid couldn't keep going like this, being afraid of the vacuum. There were so many other things to be afraid of... Then again, with Aaron's fear of the dark, he wasn't exactly one to talk.

He pulled Johnny slightly closer, getting a firm yet gentle grasp on his shoulder as he tightened his grip on the door handle. "It'll be all right. He-" Best not to use those sorts of pronouns- the poor id already thought it was alive. "It's not on. I'll go slow, and go in front of you. But you have to promise not to run, okay?"

He gave him a reassuring smile, and then slowly opened the door. It was an older-style vacuum, with the bag and everything, and in the dark even Aaron could see the eyes, the teeth... He reached his hand in for the pull cord, yanking the chain gently and filling the closet with light... And lo and behold, stood only a vacuum.

Aaron smiled, pointing at the thing. "See?" he shook his head gently, taking a step forward but giving Johnny the option as to whether or not he would follow. "Just a vacuum. The Janitors use it to clean the carpets, they're just noisy because they suck up all the dirt." He hoped even that wasn't over the boy's head.

[johnathan doe]

Johnny bit his lip gently and fisted a hand in the back of Aaron's shirt. When being told not to run, he nodded fearfully. He winced and looked away when he saw the vacuum in the dark, but then it seemed okay once he turned it back on.

He slowly followed Aaron in and sighed, frowning at it. "Loud, scawwy...." She whined softly.

[aaron matthew palmer]

Aaron frowned ad Johnny's terror, deciding to wrap his other arm around him once it was free into a protective hug from behind. "It's not loud or scary at all. see, Johnny?" He smiled at the boy from behind his head, pointing at the machine. "It's just a machine. The janitors turn it on and off, it doesn't have a mind, it's just noisy..." Thinking for a moment, he then took his arms from around the boy, crouching over the thing and setting a hand on it's plastic... er, face.

"see, look?" He pointed out, patting the thing gently. "No monster here! just a silly vacuum. Here, you try." He half stood up, taking one of Johnny's thin, slender hands and softly pulling him towards the thing, placing the boy's hand on the vacuum. "No monster here..." He repeated, smiling at Johnny. He hoped this would help him.

[johnathan doe]

Johnny calmed down a bit once he was wrapped in a warm, protective hug. He looked at the vacuum cautiously and whined slightly when his hands were placed on the abomination. But...nothing happened. He was okay. The vacuum was cold, it wasn't breathing...it was okay?

He was honestly perplexed. "Not...monster?" He asked softly, trying to process that new information in his head.

[aaron matthew palmer]

Aaron smiled at the boy, shaking his head slowly. "Nope, not a monster at all. People make it to clean their carpets." He grinned, Standing up and walking around the thing, fumbling with the cord all tangled up in the back. "Even when it makes noise, it's not a monster." Locating the plug in the back of the maintenance closest, he plugged it in and did something that was probably the dumbest thing in his life; He turned the thing on.

[johnathan doe]

Johnny was petting the vacuum when it turned on. He shrieked, thinking the animal -cause he saw it as such - had awoken and he was absolutely petrified once more. He scrambled away and clambered to his feet, running off in direction of the boys' room.

He found his bed and promptly hid under it, whimpering. Kitty found him and licked at his face soothingly.

[aaron matthew palmer]

Sure, it was a stupid thing, turning the vacuum on without warning him. Aaron almost wanted to blame it on accident- it slipped, I was going to tell him, but I forgot. But you know... He just wasn't thinking. But he wasn't surprised when Johnny started running- more distressed, turning the thing off and running after the boy with a scowl.

"Johnny!" He exclaimed, trying to catch up but the tiny boy had gotten a head start- oh, who was he kidding. That kid was quick. He skid around the corner just in time to see Johnny skirt into the boy's dorm- Taking a few moments to catch his breath, he walked slowly to the room, knowing exactly where he'd find his new friend.

He seen the kid hiding under his bed many a time, before he really knew what his deal was- never really thought of it. Now... Aaron gave a low, melodic whistle as he walked down the narrow isle of beds, the shaking vibrato echoing through the high ceilings... "Johnny..." he cooed, hoping that he didn't break the boy's trust... "Come on out, Johnny. I didn't mean to scare you." He hummed to the boy softly as he stopped at the foot of the boy's bed, leaning his hands on his knees and peering down to the underside of the bed.

"Ah-ha!" He exclaimed with an upside down grin, his hair fanning around his face due to gravity. He lowered himself onto his stomach, sliding closer to the kid... He knew exactly why Johnny preferred the underside of his bed. Aaron used to do the same thing- it was why he was terrible at hide and seek as a kid, why he didn't mind spiders. "Found you," He grinned, lift his index finger to lightly, affectionately tap the boy on his nose.