Chapter Text
Lup wasn't surprised when she heard the gentle snores her brother had when he settled down to sleep, Less so when Taako snuggled closer to her. He never could sleep unless he knew she was okay. Taako was good at putting on a mask around others, but Lup knew when he was starting to get exhausted. It was just like when they were in College, Lup would pick Taako up, get him away from socializing, and find a warm safe place for him to nap.
At first it had worried her, all those years ago when they had just become adults and he’d just pass out on her. But Barry had mentioned once during a lecture that bodies can catch up on sleep they've lost over time, She worried less after that.
Taako didn't get much sleep when they were little after all. It was nice to see him catching up, maybe in a century or so they’d be the same height.
Taako Shifted a bit closer to Lup, mumbling something about Angus. A dream, not a night terror.
Settling down in the Upstairs den of her and Barry’s house, Lup made herself Comfortable. She was well aware of the noise that was in their Downstairs den, but just barely.
Taako had always been the smaller of the two of them, even at birth. Lup was a special Elf, able to remember anything she hears, even when she was a newborn. Taako however had a higher intelligence, He caught onto things quicker then Lup could, even if he forgot the skill somehow he could pick it right back up.
Lup couldn't help but Remember the bad times, now that she didn't have to focus on the good.
“Look Baudhiel, we have a healthy baby boy!”
“He’s beautiful Naracion, do you think-”
“Hold on, there's another one in there you two!”
“What”
Lup could remember crying for the first ten minutes of her life, she was alone, but she wasn't suppose to be. Ten minutes later, there was a smaller, more frail baby next to her, and she remembers settling down. She can remember the healer leaving and their parents whispering
“Ugh, a runt? I’m glad we have a perfect baby, but did i have to give Birth to a Runt too? Wasn’t our baby supposed to absorb the useless one?”
“Don’t worry Baudhiel, once you're well enough to go home we can deal with this useless trash. We’ll just tell people it had a crib death, It happens all the time.”
The plan didn't work out for their parents however, Whenever she wasn’t in contact with her twin she would scream and scream and scream. So much so they took the ‘Runt’ home with them. Her screaming actually got their 'parents' a few noise Violation tickets. She wanted them to know she wasn't happy.
For the first Seven years of their lives, Lup did everything with Taako, from eating, to getting Clothes, to being tucked in at night, Lup refused to do anything without Taako. When they refused to get clothes for him, She shared her own, she’d share her food when they didn't want to feed him, She’d get out of bed and get Taako and Tuck him in herself. In that time she grew to resent their parents more and more, How Tia Dia was related to either of them she never wants to know.
He always looked sad, and so thin, like he would break in half if a stiff breeze would pass by him.
They were always Harsh with Taako, jerking him around and giving him the bare Minimum. When he succeeded, They would yell and scream at him for taking credit for something their “good Child” did. They were fine when she went from their Good son to their Perfect Daughter. They were delighted when she first showed signs of Magic.
Taako got the punishment for the burnt Carpet Lup Caused, and a worse one for the Sapphire Tablecloth he accidentally Transmuted Trying to make some beads for Lup.
That had been the last straw. The two Made sure Taako was bundled up good, since it was chilly out, packed their bags, and Lup made sure to steal as many Spell components as she could after taako mentioned they were better for them then gold. Gold wouldn’t do too much good, robbers and the like would target them, They didn't need much anyway.
They went to Auntie’s house, She was always nice to both of them.
Lup was startled out of her thoughts when she felt her brother hug her. Still out like a light, just very cuddly. Oh Koko, life hasn't been kind to either of us, has it?
Life indeed had not been kind to the two of them, but life was gentler with Lup then it ever was Taako. Ironically enough, Death itself was much kinder to Taako than life ever was. For Taako’s entire life, Death had wanted to take him away from her, or so she thought. Death had Taako now, and was kinder than life ever was to either of them. The Flustered Nerd is always bringing him flowers, and gently holding his hand, and giving him sweet forehead kisses.
Death was kinder than life, For the elf that no one wanted. No one but her of course.
And she was Content with that.