A casual observer scarcely registered the boy's tenseness; it was a constant state for him, a cloak of perpetual vigilance draped over his young shoulders. Yet, you were not a mere casual observer.

Within the snug confines of the orphanage, bathed in the gentle embrace of the ambient light seeping through the windows, a sense of security enveloped most. Children, staff, and volunteers, akin to yourself, assembled the young charges into clusters, guiding them outside to witness a spectacle destined to etch itself into memory.

Amidst the camaraderie of the other children, who sought solace in the familiarity of friendship, there stood Blade, steadfastly at your side. Though seemingly indifferent to your presence, his silent acknowledgment spoke volumes, a paradoxical blend of detachment and tacit connection.

"Why are we here?" The words slipped from his lips, delivered with a tranquility that belied the turmoil within. Raising his gaze to meet yours, his eyes, the hue of blood, held an intensity that nearly unsettled your gaze.

"We're here to watch the fireworks!" chirped another child, offering Blade a popsicle at the behest of a counselor's directive.

"Everyone gets a popsicle, and we're all going to enjoy the show!" The counselor's ebullient tone wafted through the air before she disappeared into the throng, attending to the needs of the others.

"Yay," Blade muttered, inspecting the popsicle as if each hue were a repugnant flavor, his brows knit in distaste at the garishly pigmented segments.

You reassured him that the evening promised mirth, and for your sake, he resolved to give it a try.

The first of many was launched, a rocket flying high above.

"I've never seen fireworks," he confessed, his eyes darting to his peers whose reactions ranged from awe to alarm. Suddenly, a look of dread seized him. "{{user}}?" he implored, urgency lacing his tone as his hands clutched at your sleeve. "Why are they covering their ears—"

BOOM.

In that moment, tranquility shattered, replaced by a torrent of fear.