Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’d been three months since Sunny had told the truth.

Three months since his friends turned their back on him.

But, it had been three months since he’d finally accepted the truth. 

It was something to be happy about, that is, if a certain someone hadn’t materialized in his room.

Omori was staring at him as he opened his eyes. Sunny froze, unsure if he was hallucinating again. The medication was supposed to help with this, right? Yet…

Omori poked him. Definitely not normal. If it was a hallucination, it was in multiple senses simultaneously. It stared listlessly at him, before waving. 

“What… are you doing here?” Sunny asked lightly. It only shrugged.

“I am unsure.”

And now it was speaking. Hallucinations of three senses at once, just as bad as Something was. Not good. And… he could smell it too. That makes four. It smelled like… watermelon, oddly enough. He wasn’t going to test if it was a five sense hallucination, so he just stood up out of bed and walked to the edge of his new-ish room. 

It had been his for a while now, but he’d added a few sentimental things to the room more recently. Namely, a picture of Mari. It… didn’t hurt to look at her anymore. It was important to him to remember her, even now. His mother didn’t want him to, but he’d insisted. He… still loved Mari. 

“I am hungry.” Omori said from Sunny’s bed. He looked back at it, genuinely confused as to why it was still such an intense hallucination if it wasn’t doing anything. He walked over, and tried to touch Omori. His hand met its pale white skin. It was faintly warm, but cooler than most normal people. When he tried to pick up Omori, it had a very tangible weight to it.

“You’re… real.” Sunny muttered. 

“Yes, I am.” Omori replied, staring blankly back at its creator.

So now he had a new little sibling/twin/doppelganger in his house. This was going to be fun to explain to Mom. Would she think he adopted a random lost child? Omori looked just like him, but she’d have to come to a rational conclusion other than "he spontaneously spawned from my mind."

“Follow me then.” Sunny shrugged, “I’m hungry too.”

“Alright.”

The two left Sunny’s bedroom and went the short distance to the apartment’s kitchen. Mom wasn’t there yet, so Sunny went into the fridge and grabbed the milk to pour two bowls of cereal, one for himself and one for Omori. Omori silently took it, slowly chewing each bite.

It was sinking in more and more that this was actually happening, and that he wasn’t just hallucinating. Doubly so when Omori started opening drawers in the kitchen. 

“No no no no.” Sunny said, removing its hands from any drawers. 

“I want a knife."

“You don’t get a knife.”

“But I want one.”

“No. That’s final.”

“Hypocrite.”

“Do I have a knife on me right now?”

“You stabbed Aubrey.”

Oh no, he remembered everything that Sunny had seen.

“In my defense, she had a bat.”

“She was headbutting Kel, not using the bat.”

“And then what do you want the knife for then?”

“I like knives.”

“Well you can’t have one.” Sunny said, “Mom would kill me if-” 

“Sunny, what’s wrong?” his Mom said, stepping out from her room. Her eyes widened as she saw Omori. 

Oh no.

“Ah…” Sunny said, blinking and very quickly losing composure. “H-Hey Mom, you remember how I explained Omori an imaginary friend? Turns out he… isn’t so imaginary.”

“I am not your imaginary friend, that is insulting.” Omori said, looking up at Sunny.

“There’s… two of you.” Sunny’s mom stammered.

“I promise you’re not hallucinating Mom.” Sunny said, raising both his arms above his head in a mock surrender. 

“I… need a minute.” she muttered, turning back into her room and closing the door. 

This was going to be a fun day. Thankfully it was the weekend, so there was no worry of either of them being busy. Sunny may not have been well enough for traditional school, but the city had a small private course. He was only a year behind (thanks Mom!), so he went from being the baby of every grade to being the oldest. This meant everyone would graduate before him, but that didn’t really matter anyways since… it didn’t look like they were really thinking of him as a friend anymore.

That was fine, though. Once he was better, he could… probably make new friends. Slowly for sure, he always relied on other people to introduce him, but-

“Can I have a knife now?”

“NO.” 

Not like he had any plans to begin with, so… 

“So, Omori.”

“Yes, Sunny?” 

“”What… are you?”

“I am you, yet also not. A reflection of your own insecurities personified as-”

“No no no, I mean, how are you here? You were only ever in my mind.”

“I am unsure, I only know that I am here, and that I want a knife.”

“You don’t get a kitchen knife.”

“They are the largest, and therefore the most fun.”

“Machetes exist.”

Omori went silent, thinking for a few moments. 

“You are correct. I now want a machete.”

Great, now he wanted a larger weapon. Only one way to go with this.

“You know, swords are even bigger than machetes.”

“A sword is a sword, not a knife.”

“But you were convinced by a machete?”

“A machete is a bladed tool. A knife is a bladed tool. A sword is a weapon.”

“You…” Sunny began, before giving up and sighing. “Fine, machete it is. I’m not buying you one though.”

“That is fine. I will get one if you like it or not.”

Well that wasn’t threatening or anything. He’d have to make sure to keep an eye on Omori, he seemed as destructive as Sunny had been self destructive, which was to say VERY. 

“Why is he obsessed with knives, exactly?” Sunny’s mom asked, returning from her room. 

“I am not a he, I am an it.” Omori corrected, “And I do not have a reason, I just like bladed tools.”

“That’s…” she sighed, “Sunny, what the hell?”

“Sorry Mom... On the upside… you have another son now?”

Smooth talker.

“That does make sense, I suppose.” Omori said, chewing at his black nail. “Hello mother.” 

“It’s… oddly adorable?” she offered, trying to grasp for things to even say in such an odd situation.

“I am like my brother. Very odd, yet somehow equally endearing.” 

“Love the vote of confidence, Omori.” Sunny sighed, “What’re we going to do today?”

“We… were going to visit Faraway again, weren’t we? You packed for it already didn’t you?”

“OH!” Sunny yelled, running back to his room. 

“That’s… no then?”

“A NO TO BEING PACKED, NOT A NO TO GOING!”

“I guess… you’re coming too then?” Sunny’s mom said, looking at Omori. 

“I see his friends as my own, though I suspect they are not happy with him as it is.”

“Yeah… it looks that way, huh?”

“You seem relieved, despite the odd circumstances.”

“You’re… perceptive.”

“I have many of his best traits, with several far more interesting ones to replace his crippling reliance on pharmaceutical drugs and self hatred.”

Sunny’s mom stood in stunned silence. 

“Hifumi, you can do this.” she muttered to herself. “Two kids, you’re used to two kids.”

“You are not used to two kids.” 

“I am… going to get used to two kids.”

“That is more accurate.” Omori nodded. “I am excited to meet my friends.”

“I guess it would be the first time for you, huh?” she sighed, “Well, if nothing else I’m certain you could find a friend your own age.”

“Do not be fooled by my appearance, I am mentally just as old as Sunny.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t make you not physically twelve though.” she chided, resting her hands on her hips.

“That is true. I shall have to consider this.”

This was becoming quite the morning. 

After a firm discussion about “Bladed tools”, a third bag being procured for Omori with some of Sunny’s old clothes, and repeated apologies from Sunny for forgetting one of the only things he had to do to prepare aside from his chores, the newly grown family was off to their home. 

It was always beautiful in the autumn. Besides… at least Kel would probably be happy to see them, right?

Chapter Text

The city had long since melted away as Sunny stared out the car window. Car rides were always silent, with this one being because Omori had fallen asleep in the back seat (it insisted on doing so), and neither him nor his mother were exactly keen to discuss where exactly the newest addition to their two person troupe had come from. 

They obviously had made small talk at points, but it was very much a silent one hour journey.

Eventually the surroundings became more and more populated, bleeding into the suburban town he’d called home for so much of his life. 

Faraway Town.

Thankfully, Faraway wasn’t all that far away, which is the whole reason he was even willing to make a trip like this. Taking a four hour trip just to end up crushed entirely wasn’t exactly… appealing. 

“Are you sure you want to do this, honey?” Sunny’s mother asked, looking over at him. 

“I’ll be fine. Besides… it looks like I won’t be alone.” he answered, turning back to look at the now stirring Omori. 

“Alright… you remember where the hotel is, right?”

“Mhm.” Sunny said, stepping out into Faraway Plaza. He opened the back door, helping Omori out of the back. It didn’t need help, but it didn’t complain about it either, just silently nodding after its shoes were on the concrete.

“You know, we need to make you a cover story, you know? Like… a reason that nobody has ever seen you about.” Sunny remarked, looking down at Omori.

“I believe an acceptable excuse is that I was too sickly to be safely outside, and now that I am older I can be in public without fear.”

“Y-Yeah, we’ll go with that.”

“Is something wrong?"

“No, just… not used to you yet.”

“I was inside of your cognition for years, I would have hoped that would have been time to come to terms with me.”

“You did… also do a lot of things to me. Our confrontation...”

“You could have never gotten past Mari’s death without having something to face, something physical. That is how your mind functions. Although, had you given up… death would be a suitable alternative to the hell you would have had to endure.”

“I know I have a screwed up mind, but… jeez Omori.”

“A good reason to leave it then, I suppose.” Omori shrugged, “Being inside your head is miserable.”

“I... let’s just get going.”

“Are we going to visit Aubrey?”

Sunny thought back to the hospital room. The rage filled look in her eyes when he said what really happened. The way her hands curled into fists so tightly he was worried she would cut open her own hands with her fingernails. She was just so wounded. After all that…

“No... Not yet anyways.” Sunny said. 

“That is disappointing. I like her.”

“Of course you do.”

“A bat is a tool that she has made into a weapon. I admire her ingenuity.”

“Pretty sure a bat is a weapon all on its own.” Sunny remarked, reaching out his hand for Omori to take. It obliged, so Sunny led the way towards Kel’s house. 

Or more importantly, what was once his own home. 

Omori was silent until they stood at the sidewalk outside. The house hadn’t sold yet, as any potential buyers said the house had an “eerie vibe” to it. He couldn’t say he blamed them, but… it made things harder on Mom. Worst came to worst, they’d end up just moving back in. The extra space would probably be needed for Omori anyways. He had no idea when or if it would ever disappear. 

“You miss this house still, do you not?”

“Yeah… Yeah I do.” Sunny nodded. It was more than that. He missed Faraway . Now that he was free of himself, he just missed the familiarity of the town, the people in it…

But more than any of that, he missed his friends.

He turned his head towards Kel’s house. Hero wouldn’t be there anymore since school was back in (for the kids who were actually in normal school, which Sunny wasn’t anymore.)

“You are still my friend, Sunny.” Omori said, tugging at its brother’s hand. 

“Are you really?”

“That is incredibly rude.”

“I’m not sure I’m entirely ready to forgive you.”

“That is… not as rude, however I take offense to it regardless.”

The two stood in silence, Omori not releasing its grip on Sunny’s hand. Figuratively, and at the moment literally, they were connected. Omori was aware of everything Sunny had felt for the last sixteen years. It knew all the things that had been swimming through his head about revisiting Faraway, what he’d say, what he’d try to do… 

“Perhaps a discussion of our… confrontation can wait for another time, no?”

“Yeah, I guess. Going to be awkward until then though.”

“It is going to be awkward for a lot longer after that as well.”

“But… with time we’ll end up further and further apart.”

“I would say we already are. I was only a single part of you, one that you have now removed from yourself.” Omori said, “We’ve been different for four years now.”

Sunny let the words sink in.

Four years.

When Mari died.

“Let’s go see if Kel’s home then.” Sunny said, slowly walking around the fence towards the door. Hector glared at them as they entered, namely at Omori. Come to think of it, almost every animal they’d seen seemed to be… uncomfortable around Omori. Maybe they could sense it wasn’t a normal human? Its skin was still essentially paper white, almost like a vampire in some of the cheesy horror movies his Mom had sometimes watched. But in every other aspect, it was an exact replica of Sunny when he was twelve. He ruffled its hair, Omori lightly smacking his hand away as he walked up to before the door. 

Why was his heart rate rising?

Why did it feel like his heart was going to beat out of his chest all of a sudden?

Why was the sense of dread he got when Something was around crawling down his back, pulling at each vertebrae of his spine?

His breathing became heavy.

“Do not worry, Sunny.” Omori said, stepping up to the door, “I will do it for you.”

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Spaced a perfect half a second apart. Sunny felt his limbs freeze. 

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Sunny whispered to himself, forcing his heavy breathing into a rhythm. “It’s not as scary as you think.”

The door suddenly pulled open, revealing Kel. As opposed to the bright orange basketball jersey and shorts he wore during the summer, his choice of clothes in autumn was far more subdued, with gray sweatpants and shirt covered by a dim orange hoodie.

“S-Sunny?” Kel stammered, before looking down at Omori. 

“Hello Kel.” Omori said, giving a light wave.

Kel’s eyes looked like they were either about to bug out of his head or squish themselves into the back on his skull, it was hard to tell. 

“Two Sunny’s…” 

“Kel? Is everything alright?” his Mom called from inside, snapping Kel back to reality. 

“Yeah Mom, Sunny’s here!” Kel yelled back, turning back to look at the two standing on his doorstep. 

“Uh… Hey Kel.” Sunny said, giving a far more forced wave. 

“I… didn’t think you’d be back so soon. Especially not with a…”

“Do not ask what I am, I am not sure either.”

“Look, I can explain it later.” Sunny said, “I just… wanted to see you. Everyone preferably, but…”

“Yeah.” Kel said with a nod, “I get ya. It’s been… weird with everyone this whole time. Wish you woulda called or something though.”

“Four years is a long time to try to remember phone numbers.”

“I coulda written it down for you before you left!” 

“Sorry, sorry, wasn’t on my mind.”

“It was on mine.” Omori piped up, raising its hand.

“Huh?” 

“Should we go inside or should we go out?” Sunny said, changing the subject.

“Inside, sounds like you have some explaining to do again.” Kel said with a shrug, leading Sunny and Omori back with him.

Omori invited itself to plop down on Kel’s couch like Sunny used to, though he was in no way comfortable enough to do that now. Sunny opted to lean over the back while Kel sat on one of the couch’s arms. 

“He really is just like you…” Kel said, looking over Omori. “Same hair, same face, same… everything. Discounting being somehow even more pale. 

“I think I am remarkably more handsome.” Omori said, looking up at Sunny, “Especially as I still have both of my eyes.”

“Oooh, right for the gut with that one.” Kel laughed, “But really, he looks just like a mini you!”

“Well you see Kel…” Sunny said with a forced chuckle, “That’s because it… kinda is?”

“Huh?”

“I materialized this morning in Sunny’s room from his mind. Neither him nor I are aware how this has occurred.”

“That doesn't... wuh?” 

“We aren’t sure where it came from either, Kel.” Sunny said, “He looks like me because… uh…”

“I was originally manifested protect him from his own fears.” Omori began, “Later, my goal became to protect him from what he didn’t want to accept. I was what kept him from speaking for nearly four years, as I saw it as the best way to protect him from what he was truly scared of, that being all of you turning against him.”

Kel just stood dumbfounded as Sunny’s skin tone became closer to Omori’s. 

“Omori, too much.”

“My apologies.”

“Are you okay, Sunny?”

“No, probably not.” he sighed, “By the way, Omori insists that we use ‘it’ for it instead of he.”

“Why?” Kel asked, looking over at Omori.

“I prefer it. I guess I will not be upset at being called a he, but I will not enjoy it.”

“How do we… explain this?”

“If anyone asks, it’s my brother or sibling, unless they’re like Aubrey or Basil in which case… I guess I’ll just have to explain it to them, even if they don’t believe me. 

“I will permit you to call me brother, it is far less awkward than ‘sibling’ is.”

“Well alright then, you’re my little brother, how’s that sound?” 

“Incredibly patronizing, but not untrue.”

“Hey, the more the merrier I guess!” Kel said, “Besides, you’re pretty funny… Uh, what’s your name?”

“I am called Omori.”

“Omori! You’re neat.”

“I am incredibly dangerous, but I will accept ‘neat’ as a compliment.”

“You’re welcome.” Kel said. 

At least he didn’t seem too worried about the God-defying ability Sunny was seemingly bestowed to create Omori, who seemed to function exactly like a normal human being, from thin air while he slept, so that was something.

Explaining it to anyone who asked more questions? 

That was going to be… more difficult.

Especially since Omori didn’t seem to have any sort of filter yet.

“Oh, Omori, if you were in Sunny’s head, what are his dreams like?”

“DO NOT-”

Chapter Text

Omori needed to learn to keep its mouth shut, that much was certain. Sunny wasn’t ready to have to explain headspace to anyone, even just the parts of it he could remember. Omori probably knew about the “past cycles” that some parts of his subconscious alluded to more than he did.

“You think we should introduce h--- sorry Omori, it to anyone else today?”

Sunny just shrugged. His voice was already getting tired from how much he’d been talking, so he was content to let it rest.

“I would like to see Aubrey.” Omori said, looking up expectantly at its brother.

“Omori, I don’t really know if that’s possible, or a good idea if it is.” 

“I do not care in the least, brother.”

“You should!”

“That is unfortunate for you, I still do not care. I like Aubrey and I want to see her.”

“Alright, I got it!” Kel said, smacking his fist in his hand, “I’ll take Omori to see Aubrey, and you go see Basil!”

Sunny blinked, unsure what to say. 

“I find this a willing compromise, though I would be willing to see Aubrey alone.”

“Yeah, I can explain it to her if you need me to Sunny.”

“I doubt she would believe it unless we were both there.” Sunny sighed, “And I need to make sure it doesn’t go off and say things it really shouldn’t.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” Kel grinned, “In fact, I have now decided that you no longer have a choice!”

“Huh?”

“Go meet your boyfriend, Sunny, I’m taking your brother to meet Aubrey.”

“EH?!” Sunny coughed, "B-Boyfriend?"

“I believe he is teasing you, Sunny.” Omori said, walking over to the door, “Do not worry, I will attempt to not publicly humiliate you as you most definitely deserve.”

“Thanks?”

“Trust me Sunny, I’ve got your back.” Kel said, taking Omori’s hand. “Besides, it’s probably better if you and Basil talk things out one on one anyways.”

“That is also true, I do not believe he would be pleased to see someone who looks exactly like you did then.”

The then in question didn’t need to be stated, they both were acutely aware of the specific event it was referring to

“Let’s split at the intersection, alright?” Kel said, pulling up Sunny from the couch. Kel led the way for once, taking both brothers out behind him. 

“I wonder if her hair is still such a lustrous pink…” Omori pondered, seemingly daydreaming while walking, “I wonder if she would help me to get a machete…”

“I mean… probably not. You could ask her though.” Kel said, “Though I think she’d be iffy about giving you a weapon.”

“It is a bladed tool, not a weapon. You must be clear on this distinction, Kel.” 

“Anything can be a weapon if you use it right.”

“But that does not make it an item’s main purpose. You could use an apple to kill someone, that does not make it a weapon.”

“Uh huh, and what’s the main use of a machete?” 

“Clearing away flora, cutting away obstacles, and as a cutting tool for certain survival necessities.”

“And then murdering people.”

“That is beyond a tertiary use. Please return to the apple example.”

“Alright, alright, but how about I interest you in a chainsaw?”

Omori suddenly stopped.

It’s eyes widened. 

For the first time, Sunny witnessed it smile in the real world. 

“A chainsaw… the ultimate bladed tool…”

“Kelllll…” Sunny whined, “Why?”

“Because, I think it ’d be far less dangerous with a chainsaw than a machete. You need to start a chainsaw for it to be dangerous!”

“And the roar of the engine gives way to a burning desire…”

“Now you’re just scaring me, dude.” Kel said, “Come on, let’s get going before you start having murder fantasies.”

“They are not murder fantasies, that is incredible rude of you.”

The trio stood at the edge of the sidewalk, their time to split coming faster than Sunny was ready for. 

“Well, see ya soon man!” Kel said, raising up his arm for a high five. Sunny raised his own, the resulting impact making him have to take two steps back to avoid falling. 

Sunny took a deep breath as Kel and Omori went the opposite direction.

The last time Sunny and Basil had been alone together was when Basil had stabbed him in the eye. Since then, they’d always had someone else present. Right now, it would likely be Polly, but… 

His feet reluctantly carried him forward, Basil’s house slowly coming closer and closer. He stopped outside the door, staring at the brass knob. 

Calm down, Sunny. Breathe. You can do this.

He knocked on the door, lightly at first. After a few moments with no response, he knocked louder. After a few more moments the door’s lock audibly slid open, cracking to reveal Basil.

“S-Sunny?” Basil stuttered.

Sunny waved lightly, unsure what to say. 

“You… came back.”

“Of course I did.” 

The two friends stood in silence, taking in the moment.

“Are… you sure you want to see me?”

Sunny nodded, his visible eye winking shut as he did. Basil opened the door fully, stepping out to hug Sunny. 

“I’m so sorry, Sunny. I…”

“It’s fine, Basil.” Sunny said, returning the hug, “It’s alright…”

“H-here, come in.” Basil said, taking Sunny’s hand. He obliged, following Basil into the dimly lit living room. “Polly’s out shopping, since I’ve been trying to eat properly again we’ve been going through more than she’s used to…”

“I’m glad.” Sunny said, trying his best to smile. 

“Here, let me turn the lights on.” Basil said, the room flashing with a yellow glow as the bulbs above sparked to life. “How… How have things been?”

“Fine enough, it’s… not home yet though.”

“Are… things getting better at least?”

“Yeah. I’m… glad at least Kel still likes me.”

“And me, you know.”

“The eye, it isn’t your fault Basil.”

“Just… let’s not talk about that night.”

“Sorry. Something… weird happened this morning though.”

Basil tensed, looking over at Sunny.

“Something weird?”

“So you know how I mentioned how I had a world inside my head offhand when I was… explaining things?”

“Yeah…?”

“Well the me that existed in there… just appeared in my room.”

“You started hallucinating again?”

“No, like… it APPEARED. It’s real, Kel’s hanging out with it right now.”

“HUH?!”

“It’s… crazy to believe, I know. It looks like me when I was twelve, even if it acts almost nothing like me.”

“It took on its own personality? Odd…”

“Yeah, I just hope they didn’t get into too much trouble with Aubrey.”

“You… left Kel alone with a part of yourself to go see… Aubrey…”

“Yeah? Did… I miss something?”

“We should get going, l-like now.”

“Okay…?”

“Look Aubrey, just trust me, okay?”

“LOOK AT HIM!”

“It.” Omori piped in, looking up at Aubrey, "I am an it."

“It’s… just what do you even expect me to think about this?”

“Because! Now we can interrogate Sunny without interrogating Sunny.”

“Huh?”

“Omori! What’s Sunny’s favorite color?”

“Navy Blue.” Omori and Aubrey said in unison. 

“You should know this, Kel. How do I remember and you don’t?” Aubrey sighed, "Ask a better question."

“Okay fine! What kind of movies does Sunny like?”

“Sunny does not watch movies, and when he does it is usually whatever his mother is watching. This can range from action to romantic comedies.”

“Sucks for him,” Aubrey said, “Who does he have a crush on?”

“That feels like a piece of information that would cause Sunny embarrassment.”

“It won’t embarrass him if he isn’t here to hear it!” Kel said with a grin, "Come on, he probably won't mind!"

“You make a very fine point, very well. Sunny has a crush on-”

Chapter Text

“I freaking KNEW IT!” Kel yelled, “Basil and Aubrey!”

“I am not finished.” Omori said, “Do not interrupt me.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“It includes you as well, Kel, though that one I do not understand.”

“HUH?!” 

“Wait wait wait… how can he…” Aubrey stammered, “That just doesn’t make sense.” 

“I agree, liking Kel in a romantic sense does not make sense to me either.”

“That’s not what I mean!” Aubrey huffed, “Jeez, you’re impossible to talk to.”

“Are you not talking to me right now?”

“Smartass.”

“Thank you, Aubrey.” Omori said, “Can I hold your bat?”

“No.”

“Darn.”

“So what do we do now?” Kel said, “There’s no way he can date everyone…”

“If you are a coward and bound by monogamy, perhaps.”

“Nonononono, I’m not ready to have this conversation.” Aubrey said, “We just… didn’t hear anything.”

“This is exactly the outcome my brother feared. He should have known better.”

“Uhh… quick! We need something else! Something non-romantic like… uh… his… shoe size!”

“Kel, you are a complete fucking idiot.” Aubrey deadpanned, “Alright, look. Just… when Sunny confessed, he said a lot about… inside his head. What was that about?”

“Hmmm… that’s a lot to explain, but in summary…”

“WHAT DID YOU GUYS ASK HIM?!” Basil yelled, causing Aubrey and Kel to literally jump.

“NOTHING!” Both said in unison.

“They asked about Headspace, brother.” Omori said, looking up at Sunny.

“Oh… thank goodness.” Sunny sighed in relief, “I figured they would have asked something worse…” 

Kel, Aubrey and Omori all silently looked at each other.

“Should I explain?” Omori asked, tilting its head.

“No, god no. Not yet, anyways.”

“Not even the Sl-” 

“ESPECIALLY NOT THAT!”

“Hah. Are you that embarrassed about your own thoughts?”

“Absolutely. And Kel,” Sunny said, looking up at his friend, “You have some explaining to do.”

“Look okay, like… asking it questions is essentially just asking you questions but without a filter. Like, how else do we learn about them?”

“That’s…” Sunny sighed, “Yeah, true.”

“Are you alright, Aubrey? You’re… really pink in the face.” Basil asked.

“Huh?! Oh, yeah, uh… just… not sure how to take this in yet.”

“Well, it isn’t like it’s ever going to make sense, so why bother trying to force it to?” Kel shrugged, “Omori’s here, and it’s here to stay from the look of it!”

“Actually, that makes me wonder if now that I exist in this world if I will start to age as a normal human.”

“We’ll have to keep you well fed so you don’t have your growth stunted like Sunny.” Kel grinned, “Oh oh oh, and we gotta get you to meet Hero!”

“I have met Hero. He is… very tall.”

“Maybe, but he hasn’t met you.” Aubrey shrugged, “Not like it matters, he’s not going to be back for a while.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I’m just glad everything worked out okay.” Basil sighed, “What… what should we do then?”

“Uh… hmm. Food?”

“Gino’s trip it is then!” Kel grinned, “I got money for it, let’s go!” 

“Woohoo.” Omori said, taking off ahead of the rest of them.

“Hey! Wait up!” Kel said, running off ahead while the remaining three kept a more relaxed pace. 

“So.” Aubrey said, looking over at Sunny, “Welcome back, I guess.”

“Yeah.” 

Nobody spoke as they kept walking, leaving their old hangout and passing the park. 

“I can’t believe you… you both did that. Even now.” Aubrey said. The drop in mood on all of them was visible, their gazes going in three different directions. “But… I’m glad to see you again.” 

“I’m sorry, about everything.”

“Trust me, I know.”

“Let’s… We can talk about it later. In private.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Aubrey said, hands in her sweater pockets. Even if she was wearing a shirt instead of a crop top underneath it, it was the same one she’d worn during the summer.

The same one he’d cried into once before.

He wasn’t sure if he’d hope it was the last time or not.

“Say, Aubrey, what do you think of Omori?” Sunny asked, shifting the subject, “Like, how it acts.” 

“That’s… hmm. See, it’s not like you at all personality wise, yet you act the same a lot of the time.”

“I don’t know how to feel about that comparison.”

“Me neither. It’s cute though, so hey.”

Aubrey thought Omori (and by extension, him, in a way) was cute. Noted.

“You know, you haven’t slipped up once with calling Omori it.” Sunny pointed out.

“What about it?”

“Nothing, just… different.”

“I have experience with that kinda thing, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Oh, from K-”

“Basil.” Aubrey said, “Shush.”

“R-Right, sorry."

K? K who? A question for later, maybe.

More importantly…

Standing between Basil and Aubrey, Sunny’s heart felt heavy. He cared about all of them, yet what he’d done had torn everyone apart. He didn’t want to leave…

But, if nothing else, at least Aubrey didn’t seem… as angry about it now. She just seemed… 

Sad. Sad things turned out like this. 

At least Omori would probably lighten the mood once they arrived.

Kel and Omori already had a table, normally for four with a fifth pulled from nearby. What they were talking about was lost in the hubbub of the other nearby tables, though considering the look Kel had on his face, it wasn’t anything good. 

“Hey! Over here guys!” Kel called with a grin, waving everyone over even though they were already walking towards them.

“I am convincing Kel to let me use a chainsaw.”

“I think it would do just fine.” Kel smirked.

“I don’t think giving it a weapon is a good idea.”

“Bladed tool.” Omori corrected, absentmindedly playing with the edge of the table cloth.

“Hey, Sunny.” Basil whispered, his hand moving to Sunny’s left knee, “You… umm… nevermind.”

“What’s wrong, Basil?”

“N-Nothing! Nothing at all.”

“God, just say you’re gay and move on.” Aubrey sighed, “We’re all quite aware.”

“But I like women too!” Basil retorted, coughing loudly once his mind registered what he’d said. 

“Basil, you appear incapable of keeping secrets unless they aren’t your own.”

“H-Hey, it’s… better than nothing?”

“Brother? Why is your face red?” Omori asked, “If you are ‘feeling the love’, please do not hesitate to say something.”

Chapter Text

To say the mood was oddly tense during their lunch would be an understatement. Sunny didn’t really get why Kel and Aubrey seemed so on edge, even if he entirely understood why Basil was. “ Was Omori ousting him intentionally or trying to tease him? “ Sunny pondered, it was impossible to tell. The five left the pizza place in a bunch, each individual (except Omori) incredibly embarrassed for mostly different reasons. 

“So, ah… what now?” Kel said, breaking the silence as they walked past the park, “Seems like we’re just… walking to walk.”

“Well, it does not seem like any of you are prepared to say anything of any actual weight,” Omori began, “That makes it harder to break your own silence, no?”

“Well, you’re in luck little buddy-” 

“Don’t call me that.” Omori said.

“Whatever, you’re in luck! Since nobody seems to have a better idea, you get to have your chainsaw.”

“REALLY?!” it said, a manic grin spreading across its face in a burst of emotion, “Can we?”

“Don’t encourage it!” Aubrey said, “Who knows what’ll happen?!”

“Whaaaat, don’t you find it so trustworthy? Just look at that face!”

“I wouldn’t trust it with a butter knife.” Sunny said simply, “Do not give it a chainsaw Kel.”

“Dude, trust me!"

 “This isn’t about trusting you Kel, it’s about trusting Omori!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Omori said, “This is my opportunity!”

“You’re going to destroy something,” Aubrey said, “There’s no way around that.”

“And?” it grumbled, Omori’s face shifting to an exaggerated pout.

“Stop pouting, we just don’t want you to cut into something important.” Basil said.

“Oh, alright.” Omori replied, all emotion immediately disappearing from its face, “Do you have a better idea then?”

“Jeez, that’s creepy…” Basil whispered, “How’d he do that?”

“Rude. Also, it.” Omori said, causing Basil to jump.

“Right!”

“I have a better idea anyways, we prank call Hero,” Aubrey said, “Something like ‘Yoooo, just letting you know you have those fifteen pizzas coming your way dude!’, you feel me?” 

“As always, Aubrey has the best ideas.” Omori said with a nod, “and I’ve been meaning to speak to him…”

“That isn’t the same! He’s probably busy… or asleep!” Kel said.

“Ah come on, don’t be a pussy! It’ll be fucking hilarious, I promise.”

“Well, whose phone would we even use? He’ll recognize Kel’s house phone…” Basil murmured.

“Yours.”

“I’ve… called him actually…” Basil coughed, “To… To apologize.”

“A-Ah.” Aubrey coughed, preemptively stopping an awkward silence that would follow. Basil seemed unspeakably relieved, letting out a deep breath. “Shit, are those our only options?”

“What about y-”

“Not a fucking chance, Kel.” Aubrey said, cutting him off, “I’m not going back in there until I have to.” 

…

“Is there something she isn’t mentioning...?” Sunny thought to himself, Omori gazing directly at her.

“Hey Aubrey, can you lift me?” Omori said, making all four turn and look at it at once.

“I… what?” 

“Your legs are muscular. I want to know if you can pick me up.”

“Just fucking ask me then!” Aubrey said, “I’m in shape, I guess, just… jeez, could you have phrased that any more weirdly?”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Can you lift me?”

“Dude, if you want a cute girl to pick you up, Aubrey is not the lady to ask!”

“Shut up, Kel!”

“You appear to be ignoring that he called you cute.” Omori noted.

“Of course I am.” she murmured, “It’s too cold for this, we’re just using a payphone and hoping it works out.”

“Aubrey, it’s not that cold…” Kel said, tilting his head.

“Kel, please take a hint.” Omori noted, following behind Aubrey as she walked off ahead.

“You don’t get to lecture me on taking hints, white boy!” he shouted, taking off as the other two walked back to the plaza.

“I am not white, you should know this by now.” Omori said back, walking backwards momentarily to stare at him.

Sunny and Basil stood alone again, staring as their friends walked off down the street.

“Where… Where does she think she’s going to find a payphone? The ones in the plaza are down because Mikhael dumped Rad-Aid on them…”

“They’ll figure it out… I think.” Sunny said, feeling his hand brush against Basil’s.

“Should… Should we catch up?”

“Just stand here with me for a moment… please,” Sunny said, “It’s nice.”

“I agree,” Basil said, a smile driving up the sides of his mouth, “It’s… It’s great to see you again, Sunny.”

“Ditto.”

In the distance, a very distant “DAMNIT!” could be heard, drawing the attention of some of the families at the park.

“Think that’s our queue?”

“Maybe.” Sunny said, “I’m… glad you’re still alive, Basil.” 

“I… guess I have you to thank for it, even… um…”

“You don’t need to feel weird about the eye.” Sunny said, pulling his eyepatch off, “It’s healing, the patch just… well, it’s sensitive to light, wind… a lot, actually.” 

“Doesn’t mean I won’t hate myself for it…”

“It’s in the past, Basil.”

“Three months is not ‘the past’, Sunny.”

“Well, it is now.” Sunny said simply, “I forgave you before it even left my eye. Hell… I don’t think there was anything wrong to ‘forgive’ you for.”

“You… You didn’t have to lie to the police though. You could, no… you should have let me get in trouble.”

“Bullshit.” Sunny said simply, “Besides, if the cops in this place were competent we wouldn’t have even gotten to this point.” 

“That isn’t…” Basil began, before finally relenting and sighing, “I can’t say you’re wrong, but… you can’t just forgive someone that quickly for-”

“Basil, if you can forgive me, I can forgive you. Even if you never did, even if you despised me, I’d do the same thing. In fact, I’d do it again if I had to. I can’t hate you, Basil. None of this was ever your fault. Just… let it be, at least for now.” 

“If you insist.” Basil said, stepping forwards to match his stride, slipping his hand into Sunny’s, taking a step closer…

“Basil… that’s my foot.”

“Ah! Sorry…”

“HOW ARE THEY ALL BROKEN?!” Aubrey yelled, “It doesn’t even make sense!”

“Would… you be surprised if I said it was Mikhael?” Kel said.

Aubrey froze, slowly turning her head to face him.

“Go ahead, enlighten me, as our friend here would say.” Aubrey said, Omori mumbling under his breath about “not talking like that. ”

“Well, he was on one of his… well, he calls them dates, I call them pity parties, but he ah… he pretended his rad-aid was spiked so the chick he was with would perform CPR on him… and it… kinda got everywhere? Funniest thing I’ve ever seen, frankly.”

“The one Sunny made into a monkey…” Omori mumbled to himself, entirely ignored by the two as he fumbled with the buttons on the machine.

“Wasn’t he still hitting on Mincy at that point?”

“Yep, that’s who he paid to follow him around, even though she’s like… four years older than him?”

“Jeez… he probably thinks it’s cool.”

“Yeah, and she’s the opposite of interested, but apparently he shelled out like fifty bucks and she was bored, so she followed along to see what would happen. Apparently he literally used a joke pickup line from… Sean Cullahan? Some kind of comedian.”

“God that pathetic fuckboy…” she groaned, “He’s going to give me an aneurysm.”

“What’s a fuckboy?” Omori asked, looking over from typing in various words on the keypad.

“I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“I am the same age as Sunny.”

“Okay. I’ll tell you when you’re older.” 

“Mean.” it mumbled, going back to pressing away at the metal buttons.

“Just… christ, look Kel. I’ve been trying to get that place in any kind of shape where I can live there, but I feel like I’d need a professional to make that place actually clean. I wear shoes and I still feel disgusting walking around. It’s just… it’s not worth it dude.”

“Well, what if we just helped you out?” he said,

“Haha, very funny.” she said, glaring at him as she crossed her arms.

“I’m… not joking Aubs.” 

“You… aren’t?”

“Hey, I can’t promise anything for anyone else, but I’m more than willing to help you out.” he grinned, “My mum would probably be willing to let me bring over something to help clean too!”

“That’s… sweet, actually.” Aubrey said, seemingly unsure how to react, “I was like… 90% sure you were just screwing with me.”

“And I think that’d just be a messed up thing to joke about… besides, the longer it sits in my head, the more I realize that prank calling Hero would be hilarious.”

“There it is, what you get out of it.”

“Hey! It was your idea!”

“Because you wanted to give the twelve year old a chainsaw.”

“I am sixteen.” Omori interjected.

“Sorry, the midget sixteen year old a chainsaw.” Aubrey said waving her hands in the air.

“Better.”

“How is that better?” Kel asked.

“It is simply the more accurate answer.” it replied, seemingly looking for a way to open up the payphone.

“More accurate to what?” Basil asked, before turning to Kel. “And what’s with that face? Are you getting any more ‘great ideas’?”

“Yes, actually,” Kel said smugly, “So Sunny, you remember how Aubs’ house is, right?”

“Yeah…” 

“Good news! We’re cleaning it!”

“Huh?” Basil asked, “Wait, but-” 

“When do we start?” Sunny asked.

“As soon as I get things to use from my mom!” Kel grinned.

“Lovely.” Omori deadpanned, pulling Aubrey’s two quarters out of the payphone and sticking them into his pockets.

“Operation Señor Clean is a go.” Kel said, leading the way to his house.

Chapter Text

“Aubrey… did it get worse?” Sunny whispered.

“Don’t bother being quiet, I’m pretty sure she’s in a drunk catatonic state… or maybe she finally kicked the bucket, God knows she deserves it.” Aubrey shrugged, “Not like you could tell the difference half the time.”

“Man, wouldn’t that be messed up though?” Kel said, setting down the bucket he had, with a mix of soap and water inside. “We’re here cleaning and she’s just like, actually dead.”

“Don’t jinx it!” Basil said, looking around for any potential place to start and finding nothing.

“No, please do jinx it, fuck this cunt.” Aubrey said, “Ya hear me?!” Aubrey said, yelling at the unconscious form of her mother. 

“Remind me to never have kids, Omori.” Sunny said.

“I hope that there never comes a time I would both have to remind you and be present to tell you.”

“Pffft,” Kel snorted, “Alright, whatever. Basil, help me take these bags out if we can. There’s no way any sort of trash can is going to fit all of it, but maybe we can get a wheelbarrow or something to take it to those weird… “recycling” people.”

“How much do you wanna bet they’re a cult?” Aubrey said, shoving the assorted bottles and trash on the counters into a trash bag, “I’m leaning towards… fifty bucks?” 

“Seventy-five.” Sunny murmured, “No normal people get old ladies to front for their business like that.”

“Oh, what if they’re a pyramid scheme, not a cult?” Basil said.

“Pyramid scheme?” Aubrey said, “The hell’s that?”

“Oh, think like a gym membership, except you don’t get anything when you pay it, and you just keep getting told eventually you’ll get to use the gym but you just have to spread it to a few more people… process repeats, guy running a fake gym gets very rich.” Kel answered.

“That… sounds illegal.” 

“That’s because it is.” Basil murmured, “But hey, so is the state of this house, so screw the law, I guess.”

“You know, considering how hazed she is all the time, I wouldn’t be shocked if she bought into one of those with her money she has saved up.” Aubrey sighed.

“Wait, she actually has money?”

“Oh, plenty of it. She just doesn’t use it, save buying alcohol and food, when she can even remember that part.” Aubrey said, “And it isn’t like I can use it, and she isn’t aware enough to even realize.”

Sunny stared at the sleeping form of the woman who at one point could have been considered a mother. 

“Sunny, murder is illegal as well.” Omori said, grabbing at Sunny’s wrist.

“Shut up, Omori.” Aubrey said, “That’s a screwed up joke.”

“For once, you actually managed to just… drop the mood man.” Kel said, “Whatever, I’ll take what we have to the street.” 

“Right!” Basil said, hefting up some of the bags as well. 

“Omori, go help them.” Sunny said, stepping into the kitchen to help Aubrey.

“If you say so.” It murmured, taking a single bag with it out of the house.

And so, once more, Sunny was alone with one of his friends, though Aubrey seemed less than interested in speaking.

“Isn’t there… anything you could do about her?” Sunny said, moving a bundle of dirty dishes into the sink and starting to fill it with water to soak out the stains.

“Well… probably. I probably should be dead just from the state of this place, she definitely should, but…”

“Are you worried about where you’d go?” Sunny said.

“Yeah, very worried actually. The fuck would they even send me? My dad? The only reason I know he’s alive is because there’s still electricity in this place. He hasn’t called, he hasn’t shown his face, not even sent a fucking letter…” she sighed.

“You… you get it then.” Sunny murmured.

“Huh?” Aubrey said, turning her head, “What do you mean?”

“My dad, he uh… he’s been gone too. Mom won’t explain why.” Sunny said.

“What?! That fucking asshole!” 

“Hey, it’s fine. I can’t exactly blame him…”

“Well I sure as fuck can, God, what is it with the people in this fucking town and deciding they don’t want to actually take care of their kids? Basil, me, apparently you too! Jeez, how long is it gonna be before one of Kel’s parents decides they’re just done and goes off to New York or something!”

“Omori, you can’t put it in the street, someone’s gonna hit it!” Kel yelled in the distance.

“Ah, maybe it was a mistake to send Omori with them…” Sunny whispered.

“Well, at least they’ll have their fun.” Aubrey sighed, “On that note though… how have things been for you?”

“Boring, for better or worse. Maybe it’s better that way, but it sure doesn’t make me feel any better.” 

“You know, maybe you, Basil and me should go like… on a quest to beat up our dads or something. Maybe in like two or three years, when we can actually travel…”

“I… I don’t know if I could face him again anyways. I don’t even know what Basil’s parents look like.”

“That’s it’s own problem, you two were almost inseparable when you were younger, yet you don’t even know what they look like.”

“I’m aware, but he never let me talk about it then, and it hasn’t really come up since.” 

“Christ, we’re just family issues: the gang, huh?” Aubrey snorted, “Whatever, I’m… frankly just glad you got to come back at all.” 

“Me too. The city isn’t terrible, I guess, but it’s not here. It’s too far away from everyone for me to ever be happy there.”

“Sunny…?”

“Alright, so we’re back, finally…” Kel said, “Omori, go like… mop the floor or something. Aubrey, do you have a mop?”

“Did you not think to bring that yourself?”

“Ma wouldn’t let me bring it.”

“Alright, but… well, you might want to hose it off first. It’s in the garage.”

“Gotcha.” Kel said, turning and going back out the door.

“They did not appreciate my help.” Omori said, looking up slightly at Sunny.

“Because you kept trying to put the bags in the road, including the ones we had already set down…” Basil sighed, “How’d you two do?”

“We were talking about going and hitting your parents and our dads with a car.” Aubrey said.

“A-Ah, didn’t think… Sunny would be into that kind of idea.”

“He isn’t, it’s just funny to talk about. Lighten up, blondie.” Aubrey said, “Lord knows this place effin’ needs something good in it.”

“But you live here.” Omori said.

“Exactly, this place needs something better in it.” Aubrey said.

“You know what I mean.” Omori huffed.

“Stop hitting on her.” Sunny said.

“I am not ‘hitting on her,’ I am simply stating the truth.”

“That just makes it sound more like flirting.” Basil said.

“Fuck, next thing you know Kel’s going to burst in and say-”

“Aubrey, dear, there’s a raccoon in the garage!” Kel said.

“That… is not what I was getting at…” she murmured, “Kick it then!”

“No, it’s too cute! Also, tried that, it just tried to scratch me and crawled further back.”

“Then just take the mop and get out of there!”

“Fine, fine.” Kel sighed.

“This entire conversation feels like a trowel to my skull.” Basil groaned, “I’m just… gonna get back to work.”

“Aubrey, do you think if we made your mother drown in the tub that you’d be able to-”

“Omori, no killing people. Also, to my knowledge she hasn’t bathed in… at least six months, so fat chance you’d get away with that.”

“Unfortunate… I suppose I’ll just clean the bathroom while Kel fights that raccoon.”

“Why would he be fighting it, just take the damn mop and go!”

“It might’ve taken the head as like… bedding or something.” Sunny suggested, “Kel isn’t dumb, but… he isn’t great at communicating.”

“I’m having my doubts on that first point Sunny, I really am.” she sighed.

“Actually, come to think of it, Basil seemed really worried about Omori being alone with Kel and Aubrey…” Sunny thought, “Maybe…”

“Hey, Aubrey, did… Omori say anything weird while he was with you and Kel? You two seemed… distracted at lunch.”

“Ah, you… noticed. Well, it was probably hard not to but… yeah.”

“Like what?”

“Er… nothing.” Aubrey said, quickly turning away from him.

Oh no.

“He wouldn’t have happened to mention anything… romantic, right...?”

“Well… yeah, actually. How do I phrase this? He uh, said everything … about us, at least.”

Sunny’s heart skipped a beat.

“Oh god, does that mean she- ”

“Well that’s probably not the best way to talk about it, he didn’t talk a lot about specifics, just uh, that you like us? All… of us?”

“AHWELLIWOULDN’TKNOWANYTHINGABOUTTHATHEMUSTHAVEMADEITUP!” Sunny coughed out incredibly quickly.

“Dude, the cat’s out of the bag, I’m not gonna give you grief about it.” Aubrey murmured, finally turning back, “Not like you asked him to say anything.”

“What’d Kel have to say?”

“He just seemed confused, like it never even occurred to him you could like more than one person.”

“This… is an odd conversation for a place like this.”

“This shithole isn’t a good place for talking about anything but crimes.” she said simply, “Fuck it, let’s help Kel. Just mopping would probably help a shit ton for this place, now that the trash is out of the way.

As it turned out, the reason the raccoon in question was so defensive was because it was incredibly pregnant, a fact Kel neglected to mention. The stick portion of the mop proved ineffective at dislodging it from under an old rack, so they had to resort to attempting to shift it to spook it out, which did actually work. It ran out, leaving the mop head behind in… shockingly fine condition. It had almost seemed cleaner than the handle, though that soon changed.

But, here they were, in an almost presentable room, five gathered around a phone to make a prank call.

“Who should we have do it, whose voice wouldn’t he recognize?” Kel murmured, “Omori, right?”

“I do not see the purpose in having me do it, I sound like Sunny.”

“Yeah, but you speak differently! Plus, you sound like Sunny used to, not how he does now!”

“Yeah, and with how deadpan you are, it’ll make it funnier to hear you doing a surfer bro impression.” Aubrey added.

“Fine, put in his number,” Omori said, “This had better be worth it.”

“Oh, will it.” Aubrey grinned, typing in the number Hero gave her before he left.

Riiiing. Riiiing. Riiiing.

“Ah, hello? This is Henry Desoto, who-” 

“Hey brah, just letting you know those pizzas you ordered are on the way, man.” Omori said, somehow combining his emotionless voice with the best impression of a surfer accent that was possible with Sunny’s voice, resulting in what could only be described as the voice of the average depressed Californian. Aubrey and Kel were already bordering on tears of laughter from just Omori’s voice, much less what was going to happen.

“You uh, have the wrong number then.” Hero said, “I didn’t order-”

“Naaaaah brah, you gave us this number maaaan. You came in like… half an hour ago! Tall, Latino, nice hair, the works brah! Said you needed five big ones for a party, maaan.”

“Wh- What the fuck? How…”

“Braaaaah, if you like, wanna cancel your order, that's fiiine, but like… rude as hell dude.”

“No no no, like… the description you gave was accurate I guess, but… I never ordered anything. I’m not hosting a party, even if I had the space for that-”

“Don’t worrrry about it brah, I’ve got you covered, don’t worry.”

“I… thanks? Who… Who is this, what place is it?”

“YOUR FUCKING MOM’S HOUSE, BITCH!” Aubrey yelled, snatching the receiver from Omori and promptly slamming it down before she and Kel bursted into almost maniacal laughter. 

“OH MY GOD, HE FELL FOR IT!” Kel howled, slamming his hand on the countertop, “OHHHH MY GOD!”

“DUDE I WISH I COULD SEE HIS FACE, HE’S GOT TO BE CONFUSED AS HELL!” Aubrey cackled, “Oh my god…”

“I think we could have kept it going longer, personally.” Omori said, “However, that was quite humorous.”

“Yeah, come on, you could have gotten a far better punchline than that.” Basil said, covering his laughter with his hand, “Honestly though… I do wish I knew what was going through his head right now.”

“Oh, should we go to your house and call him from there?” Kel said, “Maybe…”

Sunny wasn’t listening by this point though, as now that the call had passed…

He was trying to figure out what to do with what Omori had said.

“They both know… yet they’re still hanging out with me… What has to be going through their heads? Aubrey said a little, but never really… gave a clear idea of what she actually thinks. Though… it’s not like dating someone who lives an hour and a half away is exactly something she can keep up with in the first place…”  

“-And that’s why I think we should watch Saturday the 13th instead.” Kel said.

“You just want to look at the half naked chicks.” Aubrey muttered, “Only appeal of that series.”

“Yeah okay, go tell me about how Heavendropper is sooooo much better.”

“Because it is!”

“What, you guys don’t like Alien?” Basil said, “Like… Jeremy is just a dude in a mask, the acting in Heavendropper completely kills the vibe it’s going for, Alien is the better movie.” 

“Wait, you watched all that shit?”

“Yeah?” Basil said, “Is… that surprising?”

“How can you watch all those horror movies but panic at the sight of Kim ?”

“Because Kim can actually hurt me, that’s how!” 

“Yeah, but like… what if Jeremy was real!” 

“Well, I’m not a camp counselor trying to get in somebody’s pants, so I think I’d be fine.” Basil shrugged, “Now an alien, that could happen.”

“Sunny is too scared of horror movies, I can confirm this fact.” Omori said, “I, however, am perfectly fine with them.”

“Oh, sorry… we should have asked.” Kel shrugged, “Ah whatever, we can-”

“No, it’s fine.” Sunny said, “It’s watching them alone that’s the problem…”

“Oh sweet, right, so how do we decide…” Kel said, getting right back into the swing of the conversation.

“Is… Is it really okay to hang out with them like this if they know? Aren’t they… worried? Won’t that just make everything awkward…? Why do they-”

“Brother… You’re talking to yourself, aren’t you?” Omori said, grasping Sunny’s hand.

“Ah, well…” Sunny whispered, “Yeah…”

“I heard Aubrey, by the way. In my defense, Kel asked, and you know how difficult it can be to deny his puppy face.”

“What…? He gave you puppy eyes? He’s the oldest here…”

“And it worked, whoops.” Omori said, “Even if he’s… a lot taller than me.”

Sunny watched, seeing the enjoyment in his friends faces as they got to just… be teenagers. To have fun with friends, something they seemed so starved of…

Something he desperately needed more of.

“I don’t plan on going to space, so… maybe Alien won’t be as scary?” Sunny suggested, finally joining his friends in the conversation.