Chapter Text
>After some much needed rest, a few hot meals, some medicine, and a lot of attention from his eldest sister, Lincoln was finally starting to feel better
>Starting
>On Friday, two days after Lincoln's little fever dream incident, he was showing signs of minimal improvement. Lori was the only one to stay home that day, due to Lincoln now only being semi-bedridden. Lori started the usual routine of preparing breakfast for Lincoln. Again, it was oatmeal and again she sent a tray up to his room "Hey, how're you doing today?" she asked as she entered his room
>Lincoln answered in a much healthier voice than two days ago "I'm feeling better. Not completely back to normal though."
>Lori took his temperature "99." She smiled at him "You can keep saying you're sick, but the numbers don't lie. You just wanted another day off, didn't you?"
>"I-I-"
>"I get it. It's Friday. Why only go to school one day out of the whole week. But you know, making up all that homework is gonna be a pain."
>"R-really Lori. I still don't feel great."
>"I'm just messing with you!" She felt his forehead "You could be better, yeah. Still try to get out of bed today, okay."
>"Sure." Lincoln picked up his oatmeal and began eating
>Lori checked the time on her phone and stood up "Yelp, you have me for the rest of the day again. Just text me if you-"
>"You're not staying in here!?"
>"Uhh, I thought you'd want that."
>"Can you just... hangout in here for a bit?"
>She rolled her eyes playfully "You're so needy." She sat back on the bed and watched him eat like the other day
>"Thanks. I just want some company."
>"After breakfast you should stay with me in the living room. Maybe it'll get you out of that bed."
>Lincoln took bites of his breakfast while staring into Lori's eyes
>She laughingly responded "What?"
>"N-nothing..." Lincoln lowered his head
>"What you can tell me."
>He sighed "Really it's nothing."
>"Ah huh, sure. Just talk about it whenever you're ready."
>Lincoln sat in silence for moment "I just... I don't know..."
>"Good start. Go on."
>Lincoln set down his breakfast frustratedly "Sometimes I feel like nobody cares about me! Like, I was sick all week and mom only checked on me twice, a-and you, Lynn, and Lucy were the only ones to come see me! I know it's selfish to, like, want attention but... whatever! Who cares!"
>Lori had a compassionate look in her eyes. She moved in to hug her little brother "There's literally nothing wrong with feeling that way, Lincy." She stroked his hair "Nothing at all. If you even feel like nobody's here for you, just come to me. I'll always make time for you, baby bro."
>"Thanks, Lori. Can I say something that might be kind of wrong to say?"
>"What is it?"
>He whispered to her "You're my favorite..."
>She didn't seem taken aback by the comment at all "...Don't worry, Linc. It'll be our little secret."
>Lori didn't need too much time adjusting to the news of being Lincoln's favorite sister. She always knew deep down that she and her brother shared a stronger connection than what was witnessed at the surface level. Their natural tendency to take care of their siblings needs meant they could relate to each other even more. Lincoln talked about that with Lori on the couch as the two lazed about, watching T.V. at a low volume and sharing a blanket as they lay on opposite ends. Lincoln stuck his hand into a large bowl of popcorn as he continued his pseudo-rant about his other sisters "I'm not saying that Luan is annoying, I just think she just needs some more friends, that's all."
>"Yeah, she's always been a homebody though. We'll just have to keep dealing with the puns."
>"Ohhhh, you don't deal with the pranks though! That's the kicker for me! Puns? No problem. Pranks? I'm not taking it!"
>"She used to prank me when you where littler."
>"Really?"
>"Yup. Even notice how she only started prancing you a few years ago?"
>"...Now that you mention it. Did she do the same stuff to you? Pie to the face? Bucket of water on the door?"
>"No. It was even worse than that because she was younger. At least now she knows how to prank people. Back then, she was just psychotic! One time she went into my room and tore holes in the bottom of all my shorts and threw glitter on all my shirts."
>"Jeez... How did that go?"
>Oh, I lost it! Just ask Leni, that must've been the angriest I've literally ever been. You weren't here, I think you spent the night at Clyde's or something. It was back when you two first met. But anyway, that's why she started pranking you."
>"Huh."
>"You know, that says a lot about how similar we are. She started pranking you because she knew you could take it. Not Luna, not Lynn, you."
>"I-I guess you're right. I don't know... It feels wrong thinking all of this about the others-"
>"Lighten up, man! We're just talking! You can say anything to me! I don't care!"
>He didn't respond. He just sat with her hand on his cheek as his melancholically pondered his emotions
>Lori lifted up the blank and patted the area in front of where she was laying down "Come over here." Lincoln crawled over to her and snuggled up as Lori hugged him from behind "You said you felt like nobody was here for you, Lincoln. I say you deserve someone to talk about all this."
>"...Lori, why are you being so nice to me?"
>"I'm your big sister."
>"But" He put emphasis on "why?"
>She stared lost in thought for a moment "I know this'll sound weird, but taking care of you puts me at ease. You make my job so much easier with the girls, so I just I want to make sure you get your love too." She spoke softly "You know that I love you, right Lincy?"
>"Yeah... but p-please don't call me Lincy..."
>"Why not?"
>"I-It's embarrassing!"
>"Can I call you Lincy when nobody's around?"
>"...I guess."
>"Thanks, Lincy."
>Minutes later, the two siblings were asleep in each other's arms
>Later on that day as all the kids made their way home from school, Lucy walked in with a pile of school work meant for her brother. She made her way up the stairs to his room where he was reading a comic
>"Hey." She called out
>"Oh, what's up Lucy?"
>"Your teachers asked me to give this to you." She set the work down on his desk with a thud
>Lincoln's face contorted with anxiety "Jeez... Uh, thanks Lucy. Sorry you had to lug all that back home."
>"It's only. Heavy lifting is an important part of being a pallbearer."
>Lincoln laughed at her comment, which caused him to cough
>"Are you feeling any better?"
>"Yeah, kind of. Thanks for everything you and Lynn did for me on Wednesday."
>She crawled up onto his bed and sat with her legs crossed "We'd do anything for you, Lincoln. You know that."
>Lincoln stared off in thought again
>"Is something wrong?"
>"I don't know. Getting sick really made me change my outlook on... something."
>"Please tell me."
>"Lucy, I think you'd understand this better than anyone each here. You know what it's like to feel ignored, right?"
>"One time mom said she only had ten children. Does that answer your question?"
>"See! You get it. And before I got sick I felt that way too, but now... you and Lynn and Lori... you're all making me feel so... 'wanted' is the word I'm looking for I guess."
>"I think I understand, but the important thing to remember is that you've always been wanted even if you just started feeling like it."
>"...Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Lucy."
>She jumped off the bed "No problem, Lincoln. I'll see you at diner." She closed the door behind her
>Lincoln thought to himself about the conversation he just had with Lucy 'It's easy to say something like that, I've always been wanted. She's not wrong, but it's different to feel that way. I don't want to know it, I want to feel it!... This is wrong. I shouldn't be asking for some much. This is just the way it works in a big family' Lincoln began to think about his sisters, then about Lori 'But Lori said it was okay to feel this way... She makes me feel so wanted. So important. She takes care of me, and likes it too! She's even better than mom!... Even better than mom... Maybe... because I want her to be my...'
>Lincoln jumped out of the bed in frustration. He needed to get his mind off of this increasingly upsetting train of thought he brought himself down. He sat down at his desk and flipped though the school work Lucy brought him. Math, Social Studies, and Science
>'Huh, no English?' This disappointed Lincoln as it was his best and favorite subject. 'Oh well.' He picked up his Social Studies homework next, his second best subject
>He read the instructions from his teacher aloud "We studied the states and their capitals. Refer to the study guide below. We'll have a test over the first twenty-five next Friday. Hope you're feeling better."
>He ranted to himself again 'This is going to distract me! I need actual work, not just studying!'
>He moved on to the Math packet, the heaviest of the bunch. Again, he read "Lincoln, there is a lot of work for you to catch up on. Please read Chapter 4, Sections 1, 2, and 3 in your book and do the three homework assignments attached. Try to have it done by Monday if you're feeling better. Make sure to check your answers in the back of the book."
>'Now that's more like it!' Lincoln pulled out his textbook and flipped it to the back without reading Section 1. He never read the chapters anyway. He began working on the worksheet 'Okay, 16 + 4 x 9 / 3. 20 x 9 = 180 then divide that by 3. 60!' He looked to check his answer 'What? How is it 28!? Okay, how about 20 x 9 / 3. 20 x 3. Nope, still 60. Uhhhhgggg...' He gave up on the problem and switched to the next one '88 - 28 / 4 + 6 x 2. Man, why are all these so long?'
>Lincoln continued to start problems but never finish them. He fundamentally was doing something wrong. He decided asking for help would be the best option. Immediately he turned the corner to his left in the hallway and opened the door to Lisa's room. She was wrestling a giant tentacle monster while holding an empty beaker. Lincoln closed the door and decided to give her her space. It was time for the second best option. He made his way down the hallway and knocked on Lori and Leni's door
>Lori answered "What!?"
>"I-It's me."
>She answered in a much cheerier voice as she opened the door "Linc! What's up buddy?"
>"Umm, are you busy?"
>"I can always make time for you. What can I do for you?"
>"C-could you help me with my Math homework?"
>"No problem. I'm not great at it, but I can at least try to help."
>The two made their way back to Lincoln's room where his homework was sprawled out all across the desk "Okay" he began as he sat back down in his chair. Lori stood over him "So the problem it 16 + 4 x 9 / 3."
>"You're not multiplying first."
>"What do you mean?"
>"Okay, so the rule is that when there's a problem like this you have to multiple first, then divide, then add, then subtract. Try it."
>"Okay" he worked out the problem while whispering out loud to himself "4 x 9 = 36 / 3 = 12. 16 + 12 =" He stopped whispering and called out "28! That's it!"
>"Told ya." She smiled down at him
>Lincoln hugged his sister "Thanks, Lori." As he pulled back from the hug, he stared into her compassionate eyes again. Her soft, gentle smile. Her look of absolutely genuine pride for him. His though from earlier continued 'I want her to be my mom.' Lincoln's eyes began to water
>"Lincy, are you alright?"
>"...I'm okay. It's just been a hard week."
>"Don't worry, we'll get all your homework done. We can work together on it. How do that sound?"
>Lincoln wiped his eyes and smiled "Good. That sounds good..."
>Lori worked with Lincoln until she heard a call coming from downstairs "Dinner's ready!"
>Lincoln set his pencil down and stretched "I guess now is a good time to take a break."
>"Yeah, we can finish this up later."
>"Y-you don't have to stay in here if you don't want to. I think I've got it now."
>"I'm just keeping you company."
>The two made their way downstairs. Lori sat at the adult table in the dining room and Lincoln sat next to Lucy at the kid's table. Lori suddenly wasn't in such a good mood as she parents came out of the kitchen
>Mrs. Loud spoke "We've got potpie tonight."
>Lynn and Luna could hardly restrain their cheers
>Leni looked confused "How do you make a pie in a pot?" Nobody answered her question
>"Alright girls, dig it." Mrs. Loud made idle conversation with all her children as the food was passed around. Lori received the first serving after her parents and passed it to the sister next to her "So Lori" Mrs. Loud started "I'm guessing Lincoln is feeling better?"
>"Yeah. He's doing fine. He's out of bed and everything. Plus, he's even doing his homework. I was just helping him with it before dinner."
>Mrs. Loud smiled at her eldest daughter "Really!? That's so thoughtful of you!"
>Lori grinned at the comment "It's nothing. We're gonna do some more after dinner."
>"Do you want me to take over, honey?"
>"No, I can do. Besides I wanna make sure..." Lori continued in a more somber tone "N-nevermind. I've got it taken can of."
>Mrs. Loud raised an eyebrow at her "You want to make sure of what?"
>"Really, it's nothing."
>Mr. Loud spoke sternly "Answer your mother."
>Lori became noticeably more flustered and frustrated "It's just that... let's be honest here, sometimes you and dad say you'll do something and then you end up getting distracted and don't finish it. And I know it's because you have so many other things to do, but... nevermind. Just forget it." Lori looked down and poked at her food
>Mrs. Load answered calmly "You're right. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with everything. I appreciate you looking out for your brother."
>Lori was less agitated "Thanks, mom." Lori thought about what her mother just said 'Someone has to give that kid some attention. He deserves it.'
>Dinner proceeded without any further outbursts like that. Simply idle chitchat the whole way through, chitchat Lori wasn't usually apart of. She poked at her dinner more, until she excused herself upon seeing Lincoln come out of the kitchen "I'll be in Lincoln's room." She followed him up the stairs "Wait up, twerp!"
>Where they where back in his room, Lori plopped down onto his bed as he sat down at his desk "Let me know if you need anything from me."
>"Just having you in here is enough."
>Lincoln's comment made Lori shine bright with joyful energy. She wanted to get up and give her cute little brother a hug, so she did "You're so sweeeeet."
>"Okay, okay. Come on now, I have homework."
>Lori broke away and fell back onto the bed with a sigh of relief
>For some reason, Lincoln was becoming more and more precious to her
>Some time later, Lori was still laying on his bed with her eyes close and hand behind her head
>Lincoln set his pencil down, leaned back in his chair, and groaned "Done."
>Lori opened you eye and looked "With everything!?"
>"Well, all the math stuff at least-"
>Lori jumped up and looked at all his work for a minute. After registering the work he did for a moment she ruffled his hair "I'm so proud of you!"
>"R-really, it wasn't that big of a deal-"
>"Don't be so modest! Two days ago you where coughing and puking all over the place. Now you're already back on track!"
>"Whatever. That's nothing to be proud of. I got sick, I got better. Big whoop." He looked down at the floor
>Lori knelt down to his level, placed her hand under his chin, and held his head back up "Hey, I know something you should be proud of. You're a great brother and a pretty awesome kid. At least take pride in that."
>"That's a bogus thing to be proud of and you know it."
>She looked at him is shocked disbelief "Lincoln... Please don't be so hard on yourself." She almost began to choke up "It breaks my heart..."
>He immediately regret what he just said "...I'm sorry. Y-you're right."
>She smiled up at him "Of course I am."
>He was staring into her compassionate eyes again "Lori, I just want you to know I really, really, respect everything you do... I-I've never f-felt this way before." His eyes began to water "I..." He lost it and brought his sister in for a tight hug "Lori! I know this s-sounds weird, but please always be here for me! I love it when you... l-look out for me like this!"
>She ran her hand through his soft white hair "It's okay Lincoln. I'll always be here for you." His little outburst was starting to get her emotional too. Her eyes also began to water
>"Thank you, Lori. I-I love you."
>"I love you too, Lincy."
>He smiled
>"If that name bothers you I can stop."
>"No. I'm starting to like it..."
>Later on that night, Lori sat at the dining room table with a cup of hot cocoa as she addressed her thoughts
>She knew what she was doing, with Lincoln that is. She knew the role she was trying to play, and she knew that role needed to be filled in Lincoln's life. It shouldn't be by her, but she took it anyway. Besides, it was... fun? It was just a way of acting that Lori felt comfortable doing. It felt so natural. Not to mention the raise she received from Lincoln felt incredibly gratifying to her
>Lori wasn't sure how to react to her conflicting feelings. She decided that it'd be something worth sleeping on, so she just finished her cocoa and walked upstairs
>Although she was intending to head to her room, she couldn't help but turn to the other side of the hallway and want to check up on Lincoln one more time tonight
>She knocked on the door
>"Who is it?"
>"Lori."
>Lincoln answered back more skittish "Oh. Y-yeah, come in."
>She walked over to her brother who was laying in bed "Hey, I just wanted to say goodnight. We had quite the day, didn't we!"
>"Yeah... Thank you for everything, Lori."
>Lori sat done on his bed "You know Linc, I kept thinking about what you asked me. If I would always look out for you. Well, I just want to let you know that I'm really happy to be able to look out for a brother as cool as you. Y-you know, mom and dad d-don't know what they're missing. But, who needs 'em anyway! I know I didn't-"
>"Lori?" Lincoln called out concerned "Is everything okay? You where getting kind of carried away there..."
>"I-I'm fine. I just want to make up for everything, Linc. Give you the proper care you deserve." She started to sniffle up "I love you kiddo. Stay strong, alright?" She gave me a playful punch in the arm
>He smiled back "Sure thing, Lori."
>Lori walked to the doorway, turned around, and faced him before leaving "Goodnight, Lincy."
>Lincoln blushed, turned his head sides, and mumbled so quiet that Lori could barely hear him "...goodnight, mom..."
>Lori closed the door behind her and the tears just starting flowing and flowing
>She smiled as she began wiping them away
>Lincoln got her. He found a nickname for her even more embarrassing than 'Lincy'
END