Chapter Text
Nugget slung his backpack onto his shoulders. It was heavier than it usually was, containing a couple day’s worth of clothing and other provisions. As the week came to a close, he had become anxious about not being able to see Lily and Billy again. Billy had just barely escaped the clutches of the Principal, and then the siblings nearly got themselves killed the very next day. After that, they promised not to run off without him, but the inevitability of the weekend threatened to tear them apart once again. Maybe it was only a couple of days, but given what they had been through... Nugget worried about losing them. Thus, the children’s parents came up with the perfect solution: A sleepover.
“You got everything?” Nugget’s dad asked, waiting by the door. He spun the car keys around his index finger absentmindedly. Nugget’s mom was already at work by this time, so Nugget’s dad was always the one who would drive him to school.
“Nugget is ready to go,” Nugget replied with a nod. He walked towards the door, but his dad stopped him with a touch to his shoulder.
“Nathan, wait.”
Nugget froze. His parents only used his real name when they were being very serious.
“Remember, if anything happens, or you need something, just call. The Takahashi’s seem like very nice people, but... well, your mom and I worry. We know you’re not the best with unfamiliar places. Probably would’ve been more comfortable holding it here, but...”
Nugget stiffened as his dad trailed off. Nugget knew what he was implying. It would have been cruel to separate Billy from his parents so soon after they had gotten him back. That wasn’t what bothered Nugget. For a moment, he was reminded of... less than pleasant things. Nugget leaned against his father, resting his head on his leg. He could feel warmth through the material, and the sensation made him relax. Yes, Nugget’s parents were good. They worried because they loved him. Nothing more, nothing less. No matter what anybody else said.
“Nugget will be fine, dad. Nugget’s friends will be there, so Nugget won’t be alone. And Nugget will make sure friend Billy and Lily are fine, too.”
Nugget’s dad smiled, ruffling his hair. “Thatta boy. Let’s get you to school.”
Nugget’s dad was right. Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi did seem like nice people. Then again, adults could seem nice without actually being nice. Sometimes adults acted nice towards you, all while telling you that nobody likes you the way you are, anybody who says that you’re fine is a liar, you aren’t normal, take these to make you normal, if they make you feel awfully empty that’s perfectly fine, at least you aren’t a freak anymore-
Still, Billy and Lily seemed to trust them, so Nugget would too, until they gave him a reason not to. They left the kids in Billy’s room while they went to prepare dinner. Billy pulled a bunch of papers out of his backpack, adding them to the growing pile on his small desk.
“So, before we forget, we should go over what we learned today-“ Billy started.
“Nugget thinks friend Billy should take a break,” Nugget cut in.
Since Kid had rescued him on Monday, Billy had been working nonstop to save kids throughout the district caught in similar situations. Billy was a brave, kind person, and that’s why he was Nugget’s friend. But there was only so much one kid could do. Well, unless you were that Kid, Nugget thought, but he seemed to more or less stumble his way into helping people. And Kid... knew things, so Nugget wasn’t sure how much he could trust him. But Nugget was getting off track. Billy needed to rest, and Nugget would make sure he did.
“Yeah Billy, I agree with Nugget. We’ve been working really hard, and I’m proud of what we’ve done, but there isn’t much we can do during the weekend. We might as well relax for awhile,” Lily chimed in.
Nugget blushed when Lily agreed with him. They may have been more familiar with each other, but his crush still hadn’t gone away. If anything, getting to know her better had only strengthened it.
“Mm... okay. Let’s play some Monstermon, then!” Billy said, snapping Nugget’s attention away from the pretty Lily.
Billy seemed to light up as the three of them pulled out their decks. Billy was the best at the game out of the three of them, but Nugget and Lily were no slouchers. Round after round, the kids talked about their favorite Monstermons, and the conversation soon meandered into whatever random topics they could think of. Before they knew it, they were called down for dinner, and the twins’ parents helped set them up with sleeping bags in the living room. Billy insisted that they build a blanket fort, and Lily cocooned herself in a bunch of fuzzy floral sheets. As they whispered in the dark, Nugget decided that this is what normal must really feel like.