Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Impish Ideation

“Why don’t you end it?” Sunny sighed as he continued to roughly chop the onion, ignoring the gruff voice coming from somewhere behind him. He knew who it belonged to, after all, he created him. Or at least have a hand in it.

His therapist, god bless that old man, was trying his best. He really was, and Sunny could appreciate it. So when he unloaded everything on him at once, after 2 sessions of near silence, he was overwhelmed, to say the very least. The most pressing issues were to be addressed first, he said.

He would have thought that would have been the murder of his sister, but he was told that could be delt with later. His constant suicidal thoughts were the first thing on that list with a bullet. Apparently, when being asked how often he thought about dying or killing himself, yes was not a good answer.

When discussing how hard it was to argue with yourself, a suggestion was made. If it was hard to argue against himself (his point about beating a clone of himself in his mind palace was put on the backburner for this point.). Why not fix that? When questioned further, he was given first therapeutic home task, via a crumpled note.

Anthropomorphize those dark thoughts, those dark feelings, and separate them from yourself. Give them details, names, personalities. Make them something else. When asked why, he was given a scenario. Was it easier to argue with someone over the last piece of cake, or resist eating the presented sweet? Point made, Sunny sought out to half ass this clear quackery, just like he did with his schoolwork, and move on.

However, he was a sucker for daydreaming, and his artistic side took over. Instead of a bullet pointed list from the worksheet, he took to his sketchbook. His feelings were created, personified, and in a roundabout way, mocked. His anxiety was a wide eyed, paranoid hedgehog, bristley and over-reactive. His depression was an empty cup, whose friends were all bottles willing to fill him back up, if given the chance. It was cathartic, to mock the things that had control over his life. However, one was special.

His desire to end it, thouse creeping thoughts of death, he put in oh so much effort. He had handpicked every little detail, every little thing that could make it annoying. He ended up drawing a stereotypical cartoon imp, one he remembered with disdain from one of his old video games. It always blew up and killed half the party, making it oddly thematic. It had a high pitched scratchy voice, it was an eye aching shade of purple, and he named it Jerry. Jerry was such an easily hateable name.

When he thought to just yeet himself off a bridge, or when he just wished a truck would turn him into road pizza, he had a target. Something to dismiss, mock, or ignore. After all, why would he think a suicidal imp had good ideas? The guy would blow up in an attempt to kill a level 50 warrior. It was sort of pathetic.

He knew it wasn’t really an imp telling him to kill himself, but it helped. It made driving the thoughts away a bit easier, and the days a bit more bearable. It was, until he stopped just being a whiney voice in his head.

He didn’t know when it started, but he began to..show up now. When he was in class, doodling while daydreaming, while he was trying to sleep. Hell, he even showed up in the shower once. Even if it was a bit worrying he was hallucinating again, he was still easily disregarded. Until he began to change. He became more realistic, over time his tone of purple began to darken, and his cartoonish eyes combined into one unblinking orb. He even seemed to drip as well. He grew more convincing too. Mentioning his friends who rarely called, his mother who was rarely around, and his sister, who was six feet underground.

“Void, I’m busy” That edgy name was the only one he would respond to now. Just the cherry on top of this entire thing. The imp huffed, sitting next to him on the kitchen island. “You know, being dead is easier than cooking! You have the knife RIGHT there." Void ran a finger down his own wrist. ‘Remember! Across the street for attention, down the road for the morgue. Not like you deserve attention anyway.”

He wasn’t wrong, Sunny didn’t deserve a lot of things. Hell, living was still debatable, in his eyes. But he had made a promise to Mari, and to Kel and Basil. He would take care of himself, he would eat right, and that he would try to get better. “What are you stupid?” Sunny responded, not looking up. “Think of the mess I would leave from that. My poor mother would have to mop me up, and take my paperweight body to a dumpster or something.”

Dark humor was something that his therapist did not encourage. Considering it was at his expense most of the time it was at his own expense. Self depreciation, after all, was not something that helped with his grab bag of mental illness and trauma. However, if it was not at his expense, then he was allowed to indulge. And if was to get Void to fuck off? Even better.

“Okay, well you got your pills. Why not take a nice bath, and overdose? Hell, it’d be the only time a murder like you would find peace. Maybe even break into your mom’s wine stash. Why not right?” He just stared at him, unblinking as he began to peel the garlic, cursing as the flimsy gossamer managed to avoid his fingernails every single time he picked at it. Cooking was hard enough after being a social outcast for years. He didn’t need this asshole in his ear while he did it.

“What did I just say about making a mess? Yea, I wanna leave some poor cleaner lukewarm dead boy stew. Besides, wine makes me sick, remember?” A memory of a Christmas long past made him shutter, even a sip made him projectile vomit nearly clear across the room. “If I was to kill myself, I would have to be able to do it without hurting anyone”

The imp ruminated as he retrieved the cold rice out of the fridge, as well as the frozen peas and carrots. He tied his apron, and waited for the oil to heat. Maybe next time, he would add peppers. “Hmmm, run into traffic then. A nice big truck would kill you before you could even feel it.”

“Yea, but then, the poor driver would have my blood on their hands. Who knows what would happen to them after that, jail, losing their job? That would still hurt them.” Sunny murmured as he added the rice and frozen veggies. He set the egg timed as he stared at the pan, the sizzling food demanding more of his interest.

“Fine, go drown in a pool then!”

“Lifeguards would get fired, and I might traumatize others.”

“Don’t eat?”

“Mom would notice, would blame herself. I’ve done enough to hurt her already.” A pang went through him, thinking about her face when he told her the truth. It turned out, she knew this the entire time he was locked away in his room. She had forgiven him long ago, but was so proud of him for stepping up. She was even prouder when he started going to school again, and spending less time cooped up in his room. He didn’t want to disappoint her ever again.

“Damn it, you're making this hard! Why do you even care if you hurt someone? Your trash, worthless!” The mocking tone was apparent, and Sunny nodded. “Yea, I'm worthless. I’m a murderer, lazy, a neurotic mess. I am worthless, so I refuse to hurt anyone or anything for my desire for the end.”

The demon huffed, crossing his arms like a child. “Why are you making it so hard?! You know you wanna do it. It would be so much easier!”

He didn’t disagree, just nodding as he used the garlic press, adding the soy sauce and green onions as the other veggies became more tender. It was going surprisingly well. His cooking normally ended up like a destruction derby, tasting like rubber and gas. It was worth making an effort, however. Kel had asked him to teach him how to cook, as he was trying to eat better to give him a boost on the court.

Sunny agreed, of course, without an ounce of cooking skill or now-how, to see that beaming smile. However he wasn’t too worried. He had once seen Kel eat an entire loaf of bread, dipping it in salsa. The man didn’t have taste, more a drive to consume all, with preferences. Considering he was cooking for Kirby, the bar was pretty low. But the green onions that he was using were homegrown, with Basil’s help. He didn’t want their death to be in vain.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Void perked up. “Oooo, weedkiller. Sure, your corpse will be a bit red and swollen, but it won’t leave much of a mess.” God, how could one eye look so smug, it didn’t even move! He was beginning to get tired of this. “Then Basil would blame himself for getting me into windowsill gardening. Lord knows I've hurt him enough.”
“Okay loverboy, let me think.” Void peered out the window, allowing Sunny a moment of silence, except for the sizzling of the rice. Sunny could see why Hero stressed baked now. It was easy to focus on a task that required attention, and had a reward for doing it well. He wondered how he was doing. Then he wondered how Basil was doing, and allowed himself, just the smallest flush.

“Oh, here. I got the perfect idea.”

“I don’t think you know what that word means.”

“Shut up. Go to Faraway, have a nice little time, then wait for Aubrey to murder you. Easy peasy, besides, she deserves closure.” Sunny snorted at the almost comical round aboutness of this plan. He was losing his momentum. “She would go to jail, ruining her life. She deserves to hate me. Maybe she’ll forgive me one day.” He didn’t point out that Kel had informed him that Aubrey wanted to bury the hatchet next time they visited. Sure he didn;t deserve it, but closure would be good for her.

“What if they don’t? What if they hate you forever?” At this Sunny snapped, his patience for this bullshit long since run thin. “What if they break in and shoot me? What if I just die in my sleep tonight? What if the world was made of pudding? What if’s are pointless! It doesn't matter! None of this stupid shit matters!”

“That's why you should ki-”

“I don’t mean my life, you Halloween decoration reject. I mean this. Doing this time after time after time. Let me just make this perfectly clear.” Sunny turned around, stuffing his fear down as he stared into that familiar eye. “I’m not going to, and I never will kill myself. I may not like myself, but others do! Basil, Kel, my mom, they only want the best for me! Who am I to say that they are wrong? I’m a mentally ill teenager with poor as hell judgement! I HUNG MY FUCKING SISTER.”

He advanced, and Void physically shrunk at his indignation. “I trust them with my worthless life, and if they see value in it, I will believe them. I will STRIVE to thrive in this world, with my mistakes and my sins. If I can't believe in myself, then I will have to believe in them. That means I’m not giving them another body to grieve over. I refuse to hurt anyone like that ever again! So how about you….FUCK OFF!” The scream echoed in the kitchen, the only other sound being his cooking, and his panting breaths.

Void was nowhere to be seen, leaving Sunny in the position of screaming at his microwave, to any observer. Good, that thing always burnt his popcorn, it deserved to be yelled at. He felt...fantastic honestly. His mind was quiet, and for the first time in a bit, he felt at peace. He knew it wouldn't last. In his most quiet lonely moments, he would be back, and nastier than ever.

But every time he beat Void, or those thoughts...It got a bit easier. The periods between episodes and thoughts got longer. He was hesitant to say he was getting better, considering his demonic hallucinations but it was progress nonetheless. That little bastard would live in his head, rent free, for the rest of his life, but that wasn’t reason to let him win. Hmm, maybe he should plan a visit back.

He was broken from his thoughts by the smell of smoke. With a yelp, he pulled the rice off the burner, looking at the charred mess that now stuck to the pan. Shit, that was going to take time to scrape off. Well, he figured he should look on the bright side. He now had a goal in his directionless life. Get the fried rice made before mom came home for dinner. It wasn’t much but you know what? It was enough for now.

Chapter Text

Depressing Divulgence.

Sunny sighed as he looked at the kitchen he had absolutely destroyed. Powdered sugar covered most of his counters, citric acid clung to his hair. His left hand, its pale skin flushed red, would have to be under the water for a while longer to prevent the burn, but it would be worth it, once it was done. He glared down at the blackened, burned mass inside his mother’s new copper pot. Caramel, he decided, could bite him. 0/10, needed sea salt to make it any good. He was just glad his other endeavors provided fruit, or he hoped they would. Considering how long he had worked to make the damn candy.

When he heard a ceramic clink on his counter, he whipped around , expecting to find a coffee mug shattered or something. It would fit with his luck. First the caramel burned, then he accidentally melted a candy mold, burned his hand on the oven door, and he was pretty sure that the exploding bubble of isomalt had gotten some on the ceiling, after pocking his arms with candy napalm. 

What he found instead was a new person in the kitchen. Well, as much as you could call a tiny chipped tea cup with 8 long spindly legs and a glum expression a person. This was, to say the least, new. Void had shown up once or twice after their last argument, but it had only ever been him. Each time he was a little easier to argue with,a little less convincing. But he had been the only one. This one was new. “Oh um...hello.”

He had expected a more direct approach, considering the nature of this unnamed creature. It was, like Void, a manifestation of his issues, a self constructed straw man to battle the imbalance of brain chemicals. Well that and the graveyard worth of skeletons in his closet. 

Here sat his depression, her voice was oddly soft spoken, her painted face moving like it was real, and looking rather forlorn. Huh, never expected her to be a girl, a British one at that, but then again, he had imagined Sweetheart’s laugh. So this was the least evil thing he had ever imagined. He expected her to launch into a cavalcade of reasons why he should just sleep all day, but she just fidgeted, looking slightly nervous. “Um, what's my name?”

Oh yea, he had never named her. It figured this empty china cup would remain nameless, as she would remain empty. It was an odd feeling of pity that rang in his chest for the hallucination that represented what he felt when he slept in four days in a row. But at this point, it wasn't the weirdest thing to happen to him. “Um, would you like one?

“If you wouldn't mind, then again what's the point.” She muttered, sprawling her legs out on the counter until her bottom touched the marble. “It’s not like it would make me happy.”

Yup, that was depression alright. Not just the stereotypical sadness that all media seemed to portray, mindlessly at that. No, the apathetic empty feeling, like your entire body had been hollowed out.  You would feel sad and despondent sometimes, maybe even happy for a bit, but it all felt off. Washed out, peeling at the corners. A thin wallpaper over the gaping hole inside yourself.

Sunny had felt it coming, he always did. These episodes of lethargic disinterest always were foretold by a sense of dread, as if an ax hung right above his neck, and it would pass. Then, a depressive funk would settle into him. Hobbies would feel like chores, food would not taste of much, and everything just felt pointless. It would last for a week, sometimes a bit longer before passing, but returning soon enough to be remembered, a cycle of despondency that let things like Void creep up and whisper into his ear.

“Vessel. Vess for short. It’s cute.” the teacup perked up, thinking about it before slowly tilting back and forth. “I like it, thank you.” She smiled politely before the expression rotted off her face. Vess was different from Void it seemed. Whereas Void was just a bystander with some stakes in getting Sunny to just end it all, Vess seemed to just be depressed. Poor thing, but he had his own things to worry about. He had a kitchen to clean.

Taking his hand out he looked it over, wincing. Yea he was gonna have a blister from this. Taking out the first aid kit, he set it right next to the sullen ceramic being. He took to his work, gently wrapping the wound, making sure it was well covered before giving a nod in satisfaction. “Why?” He almost jumped, so caught up in his wound that he had all but forgotten his new guest.

“Why...what?”

“Why wrap it up? It’ll be fine, probably.” There was no malice in her words, just a dull tone, one that reflected his own voice when he felt the worst of it. He pondered these thoughts for a moment, before disregarding the statement. “It may scar if not taken care of, or get infected.”

“But you’ll always get sick, or hurt. Why not just let things...be?” I mean, she was sort of right. It was just a minor blemish. Besides, he had plenty to clean, so he would have to change the bandage multiple times.

He shook off that train of thought violently, digging his nails into the counter. He was not gonna let that apathy settle in. It was nice at first, like a soft weighted blanket. However, if you indulge while depressed, the weight just increases and increases. Why should you shower, why should you eat, the why’s would mount. Soon you had an entire mountain to claw your way out from under. And last time he needed Kel to harass him via text for 7 hours. God bless that empty headed boy.

“Because, you can’t let things slip. It gets easier to let everything go, and just exist. It’s no way to live.” He noticed a hairline crack on the lip of her, and placed a bandage onto it, giving it a little pat. “There.”

“Why are you being nice to me?” He shrugged, grabbing a rag to try and get started on this mess. “Why not? You haven’t tried to hurt me, manipulate me, or make me jump off a hospital room. Monochrome asshole.” That last bit was mumbled under his breath.

 Sunny swore if he ever saw that piano goblin again, he would slap the stripes right off his shorts. Four years spent sleeping was four years wasted. “You're just...depressed.I understand how it can get sometimes, but you can't just do nothing.”

“You do? But you're...doing...things!” She gestured around to her surroundings, although messy. “Yup, I'm also two days into a depressive episode. Last night, I ate a half pound of sliced ham and called it dinner.” Sometimes, meat and cheese was best consumed by the fistful, hunched over the fridge like a mountain lion over a kill. It just hit different.

“No you're not. You're doing things, walking around….you have energy.” Vess just grumbled, forcing herself to wander over on tinkling footsteps, to where Sunny was filling a bowl with hot water. He added the dish soap, and dunked his rag in. “Oh barely. After this, I'm gonna take a nap, or just play around on the internet for a while. This is as productive as I'm gonna get, by a mile.’

He just smiled at her and got to work, wiping off the counters, and trying to scrape off any stray bits of melted sugar as Vess just stared. She could feel the hollow inside him ring out, matching her own, but here he was. Trying to do things. If she squinted, she could see his grin was a bit weak, and his shoulders a bit slumped. “I’m not saying it's easy. To function like this takes twice the effort! But it’s better than falling to apathy, to wasting my life like I did all those years ago. I wanna CONTRIBUTE to society damn it.”

“Sometimes you have to force it.” He shrugged and continued cleaning. Vess just stood, quiet for a moment before clicking over to a nearby dish towel. Using her first 4 legs to stand on it, she began to push it around, drying the areas that Sunny had left wet. Sunny had no idea how this was happening, hallucination wise, but hey, if it made it SEEM like less work, who cared right? It’s not like his tie to reality was so strong anyway.

It was a longer process than he expected. So many bits of orange scented isomalt covered half the counters, the bubble it made during boiling having popped. He had to scrape off the melted leaf mold off the counter with a spatula (Thank god he bought two.), and powder sugar was everywhere. He was wondering how so much of it was getting on the floor, until he realized he was completely dusted in it. 

When he entered the bathroom, towel in hand to get himself clean, Vess was there, his toothbrush lodged in her head. He looked at the shower and just grimaced. Just the idea of bathing seemed like...too much. It was a wall he could push through, and had many times before. After all, you can only stew in the own filth of your bed for so long, before the BO got so bad that it woke you up.

“It’s okay to skip it. You know. It’s a lot.” Vess looked a bit less, chipped. The band-aid had disappeared somewhere during her teleportation into his bathroom, and it had shrunk. She could force it, but he would run on fumes, and he still had some things to do. “I am exhausted...but I shall teach you the greatest skill of a depressed person.”

“Sleeping for 18 hours a day”

“No”

“Not eating because chewing is effort?”

“No” 

“Disappointing your mother?”

“True and hurtful, but no.” He shot her a glare, sometimes, he swore he could hear Omori laughing at him from the back of his brain. He was already aware of how he was as a son, and was trying to improve. Sort of hard to do when you're carrying a casket on your back, but that's besides the point.

He simply took off his dirty clothes and switched into some PJ pants. Before he replaced his shirt, however, he turned on the sink. A quick lather up of soap under the arms, on the neck, and face, and he was golden. Wiping it off with a cooler damp rag, he nodded. Looking at his visibly confused cup compatriot, he shrugged. “Half assing something is better than no assing.”

Returning to the kitchen, in fuzzy pj pants and a long sleeved Garfield shirt, he looked at what he had left to do. “That sounds like you made it up.” He ignored her, for now. The candy would have to be pried from the molds, and...well...that hell-mouth that opened up in the copper pot would have to be dealt with, but he had done a decent job at cleaning up after himself. Sure he would have to finish up tomorrow, after taking an hour to convince himself to get out of bed. But the end result would be worth it.

“If you can't do it right the first time, why even bother? It’s not worth the effort.” Sunny slowly rubbed the bridge of his nose. Is that what he sounded like to other people? Jesus he was a bit annoying. He knew he had a mental illness and all that, but it was grating on his nerves. Thank god for people like Kel, who had enough of a social battery to lend you some, and an oblivious nature that would drag you out of the house violently if you didn’t come willingly. He needed to thank him for getting him out of that house one of these days, but these healthier candies would have to do.

“Is this what I sounded like to Kel?”

“Yes.” He whipped around. Where was he, where was that monochrome asshole. All he heard was a laugh fading into the air, and a confused teacup monster. He hadn't seen him in months, but he was always on edge. “He talks, after months, to mock me? Asshole.”

“Who is?”

“Didn’t I say? An asshole.” Digging the candy out of the fridge, he gently set the molds onto the counter, before prying each one out. One mold contained orange cough drop shaped candies that he dusted with coffee soaked citric acid crystals. With a taste, and a shudder, he confirmed that yea, these tasted like Orange Joe. Apparently, Kel was going through a bit of a withdrawal cutting out his sugar, and he needed his fix. These sugar free things were meant to hold him over through basketball camp.

The other mold was harder, and most of the candies were cracked in half, or shattered. Prying the mostly intact ones out of the mold, the smell of lavender and lemon punched his nose like a trained heavyweight. The candy leaves weren't clear either, cloudy from his imperfect melt. But some did look nice, if a bit scuffed.

“See how some of them aren't perfect? Cloudy, some of the balls are misshapen, the dusting is a bit uneven or clumpy?” Vess nodded, eager to point out his imperfections and the pointlessness of it all.

“Well, in the end they just end up eaten.” He pops a leaf shard into his mouth, puckering slightly from the sour floral taste. Adding the dusting of powdered sugar to the still slightly tacky surface did wonders. Perfect. Well, perfectish.

“Their half assed, imperfect, messy. But they exist. My friends will enjoy them, and the thoughts I put behind them more than anything.” He held up a leaf, looking through it. ‘In a way, that’s what helps me scrape by when I can't manage to do it all. Can’t make a sandwich? Eat what makes it up. No energy to shower? Sink bath and extra deodorant. Hell, even putting on Pj’s is better than running around in dirty clothes! 

As he packed the finished confections into a small Tupperware container, he continued. “It may not be the best, but you're doing something, you're getting somewhere, you aren't letting yourself be dragged down. You're fighting, and eventually, when the feelings pass? You’ll win. Even if you can't manage to be full, you can manage half empty. Hurt’s a lot less.”

He looked off into the distance. “Besides, striving for perfection can destroy you the same way apathy can. It can even…drive a wedge between siblings.” It was odd to see his sister in anything but rose tinted glasses, but as the years rolled on, it was a bit easier to see her own flaws, as well as his own. As bittersweet as those thoughts were.

When he looked to Vess, she was gone, his mug of cold coffee having replaced where she stood. Oh yea, he had forgotten he had made that. Huh. He just shook it off, as he smiled softly to himself. Even if he had done the bare minimum today, and scraped passed the finish line. He still crossed the damn thing. When Basil and Kel came over tomorrow, they’d be so happy! He, however, paused when he looked at the hell-mouth that had consumed the copper pot. Deciding to finish his tasks for the day, he dumped his soggy coffee, and brought the heavy ceramic down on the black mass.

After being showered in ceramic after his cup lost to the apparently iron hard mound of burned sugar in his sink, he just sighed and swept the candy bits and pieces into another container, to be enjoyed after the pretty ones were eaten. He also picked the ceramic shards out of his hair, thankful that most of them fell into the sink.  As he headed to the couch, to take a well deserved victory nap, he dumped the ruined pot into the trash can. “Eh, I'll buy mom a new one. No amount of half assing can fix THAT.”

Chapter Text

Sunny crept into his kitchen, his ears perked like a cat, listening out for the smallest sound. He hugged the backpack to his chest, until he noticed a small note on the fridge. He sagged with relief, thanking his mother’s workaholic tendencies. Sometimes, they could be a boon.

She would not approve of what he carried in the bag, or what he was planning to do in a day’s time. The candies turned out to be a hit, Kel and Basil loving them, and all that worrying was for nothing. However, they didn’t expect a visit from Aubrey. Long story short, they made up. Aubrey kept going on and on about how she owed him though, and Basil.

It was a laughable notion, like bullying was anywhere near the level of manslaughter and covering up for said manslaughter. Basil, god bless his patience, tried to convince her that it was water under the bridge, and nobody held any hard feelings. He mostly meant it, even if he still looked nervous around her. However, Sunny grew tired of the self pity party, and knew Aubrey would not bow out so easily, unless she felt she earned it.

So he punched her dead in the eye. Honestly, even if he felt a bit guilty about it, the expression on Kel’s face was god-damned priceless. Sunny just shrugged and helped her up after, saying they were even now. Aubrey was in such shock until she registered the words. Apparently, violence was always the answer. She insisted that Basil got one in too, to be fair. With the biggest grin on her face, she opened her arms wide, underestimating the blond.

After Basil apologized for knocking her out cold with a slap Sunny could only describe as Sweetheart worthy, Aubrey relaxed. The weight of her guilt, the thing keeping a distance from her rejoining her old friends was gone. Sure, she hadn't said they had been forgiven yet, but Sunny didn’t think they deserved it really.

To his surprise, however, when he was boarding the bus, Aubrey roughly shoved a bag into his hands with a grin and ran off. He stared at it in the seat next to him, wondering if Aubrey was just playing a long game. He was ruminating on whether the Hooligang could build a bomb, when he got the text. Apparently, after hearing about his culinary escapades, she wanted a favor.

To celebrate their junior year being over, the Hooligang and her were renting out a small lakehouse to spend a week in. She had invited Kel and Basil too, to his surprise. It wasn’t too far away from his new abode, and after explaining to his mother, she agreed to let him go. Saying he should live a little. She expected a wholesome summer get together, clearly.

However, what made him so jumpy as of late was what was contained in the backpack. He had hidden it in his room for a few days, and a few times, it was almost found by his mother. It was not a time bomb, like he had suspected, but a different kind of risk, one he never thought he would be personally taking.

He set it on the counter as he flipped on the lights. He grabbed his special groceries that he hid in the back of the fridge, his hands shaking a bit. Tomorrow, bright and early, Kel would be picking him up with Basil in his mom’s car.  A terrifying thought on its own, considering he had seen him run into a light pole while daydreaming more than a dozen times. However, they would be bringing the party favors too.

Checking one more time that his mother was not home, he unzipped the backpack and slowly placed its contents onto the counter, taking out the paper and wood chippings used to muffle the sounds. In total, there were about 8 bottles of cheap booze stuffed inside, still sealed and glinting in the overhead lights.

Aubrey, in her endless wisdom, had made him carry this contraband home and hide it, in preparation for the first night at the lake-house. When he asked if she was out of her god-damned mind, and that if his mom found out, he would join Mari in a tree, he had been called a pussy, and to live a little. She then refused to answer his calls, and he gave up convincing her otherwise.

So he had been pressured, as the only one of the group that could make anything besides a bowl of cereal, and who had some time not under the watchful eye of his parents, to make some of the concoctions Aubrey wanted to try. He had to admit, despite the apprehension of his mother finding out, he was a bit curious himself. Screwing the top off of one, he gave it a sniff and recoiled.

“Jeeze, it smells like disinfectant.”

“Maybe it is! Maybe Aubrey is trying to kill you!” Sunny groaned and facepalmed hard. “Why did I say anything when I’m alone? I jinx myself every time.” He turned to meet his new guess, the voice was manic, and a bit squeaky. Before him was an off grey colored hedgehog, a bit bigger and more cartoonish then a real one. Quills stuck out from every visible bit of him, except for a pair of worried, skittish eyes. “Seriously? Now you can show up Soni?”

His anxiety given human form jumped a bit, bristling visibly as he hid behind a cookie jar. “W-what? Why am I bad, are you a HEDGEHOG RACIST.” Sunny just watched, exasperated as the mental manifestation of his anxiety flipped onto his back on accident. He just made weird snuffling noises as he tried to right himself. 

“No Soni, it's more that my therapist is sorta iffy on what exactly my fun grab-bag of mental disorders was, and this new medication clearly ain’t helping with hallucinations.” Sunny sighed as he pulled out his crumpled notes out of his pocket, checking the requested things Aubrey asked him to make. Overall it seemed like an easy enough task.

“What if you're crazy? What if I’M CRAZY” As comical as this could have been, it was a bit worrying that his mind could create something that extruded more anxiety than even Basil could manage. It was putting him a bit on edge. If his anxiety, given cartoon animal form was here, he was a bit concerned that a panic attack may be on the horizon. That was the LAST thing he wanted. Right now at least. “Nothing wrong with being crazy” 

Taking a calming breath, Sunny decided to start with the easiest one to do. Taking out the Tupperware, he began to make layers of gummy candy in each one, covering every inch of the bottom. “What if they’ll judge you for it? Most people do!”

“Soni, most of them are just as bad as me. Kel has ADHD, and Aubrey has enough anger issues to make Fox News reporters look well adjusted. Basil is probably just as bad as me too! I don’t judge. So they won’t.” The logic seemed sound enough in his head. Taking another breath, trying to calm the little spike in his heart rate, he poured just enough vodka to cover them and set them to the side. It was obvious who those were for. “Are you sure?”

Sunny just grumbled. There was no winning with this annoying prick, pun intended. There would always be one more what if, one more worry, to slowly crank him up. He set the kettle to boil on the stove, getting the boxes of jello lined up, and plastic cups on a baking sheet. He would do that last, as he didn’t want to deal with boiling water with slightly trembling hands.

“No. I'm not. You can never really know what another person is thinking.”

“Then how do you know they forgive you? What if it's just pity, and they're lying to you.”

He didn’t answer, the tremor in his hands growing worse. It was an awful feeling, the beast clawing in his skull was latching onto every outlandish possibility and devouring them, growing larger and more weighty by the moment. Deep breathing would only maintain. He just had to finish these tasks, then go take his pills. He would be beat the next day, but he would be out for a week if he had a full on attack.

He tried to slowly cut the pineapple, being careful to give himself time, not to chop off any digits too. He was trembling, his fingertips feeling like they were slowly falling asleep. Shit he was getting closer and closer. “S-shut up.”

“What if they never forgive you, what if they leave you alone.”

“S-shut up!” he could feel the hot angry tears beginning to leak out, no matter how hard he tried to force them back into his eyes. 

“What if they’re inviting you, and intend on making you pay for what you did to Mari?” Soni’s voice was getting quicker, higher pitched. His rise in tempo matched the beat in Sunny’s chest.

“I SAID SHUT UP” Sunny threw the knife, for what reason he didn’t know. It stuck into the wall as he let out a sob, only barely able to hold himself upright as he leaned onto the counter. He could feel he was an inch from the edge, there was no way to make up the stairs like this. Grounding exercises could work, but never when he was alone, and he was. Despite the appearance of that spiny bastard. The tea kettle began to shriek as he approached the climax.

Didn’t his therapist tell him something about this? Something to try? Honestly he would do anything at this point, no matter how dumb it sounded. It came like a bolt from the blue as he tried to compose himself. When you think of these crazy scenarios, these non realities that get stuck in your head, plan what you would do IF they were true.

At the time Sunny thought it was stupid, or even counterproductive, considering that would be thinking about them more. But he didn’t want to end up on the floor, sobbing and hyperventilating surrounded by booze. He would miss the trip, and disappoint everyone when his mom came home to such a scene. Brave face Sunny, it's worth a shot.

“I-If they dont like me, then i’ll become a crazy cat man. I’ll gather cats, and name them after each of my friends. It’ll be good enough.” That was maybe the dumbest plan he could ever think of, but it was something. Soni paused, the anxiety train he was driving screeching to a halt.

“Yea…..Basil will be a small little calico, Hero will be a majestic maine coon, and Aubrey would be the meanest bastard I can find at the shelter. I’ll get one cat missing an eye for me of course.” His hand began to steady, as did his heart, he took long gradual breaths as he removed the kettle from the stove. He moved over to the mixing bowl, adding the vodka and cold water, measuring out the harsh smelling liquid. He melted the powder in one bowl with the hot water, before  adding the spiked liquid.

“What about Kel?” Soni sounded less frantic, he was still on edge, as was Sunny, but it was a little less. “Oh Kel wouldn't be a cat. He’d be a golden retriever with fake cat ears. It’s the only way that it makes sense.” He poured a bit into each small cup, and put the baking sheet into the fridge. He would pack them away in the morning. Jello shots done, he gently pulled the knife out of the wall. The fruit for the jungle juice needed to be worked up before they made it tomorrow.

“Huh...that fits well. But how would that get them back? It would just fill the void.”

“Good question my chilli dog eating friend. ‘ He began to chop the pineapple, putting it into a big seal-able container. He was slightly worried that they were using one of his big plastic containers for moving as a gigantic punch bowl, but hey, it would be disinfected enough from the bottles he was smuggling. “I would create a tri-state area famous cat and one dog cafe, and once I rise to the ranks of novelty cafe legend.” He paused for effect, looking at him, and pointing with the determination of two Kel’s combined “I’ll invite them over.”

Soni just sorta looked at him. “Huh…” Sunny just laughed and kept cutting, making quick work of the fruits, strawberries, some mango, and sliced lemon and lime. It would be a fantastic mix of juice, soda, and maybe orange joe when it was made. Apparently, each person got to choose an ingredient before they started their little party. He ideally wondered what Basil would add.

“Well what if they're inviting you out of pity though?” Soni sounded less sure, on the back foot, much to Sunny’s delight as he put the top on the tub, his work done. Curious, he picked one of the bottles, white rum if the label was to be believed. “Then I'm going to have a fantastic time, at their expense. If they don’t want to be genuine, they might as well enjoy it for all it’s worth.”

Uncorking the bottle, he put a bit into a glass and filled the rest with Tasty Cola. He had heard this was a common drink. His pulse was slowing, his breathing more even, and although a bit shaky, had managed to walk back the attack with that silly little plan. “I’m allowed to be a bit selfish.”

“What if that makes you throw up like that wine.” Sunny froze, eyeing the glass warily. Sometimes, his anxiety had a reason to be concerned. He hated that sometimes it would be reasonable and helpful, and sometimes, it would try and kill him. Annoying.

“Welp, better to find out now then in front of a bunch of people to embarrass myself.” And with that he took a swig.Soni laughed as his face contorted a bit. It was syrupy, a bit bitter, and burned on the way down. Although, the warming feeling after was honestly pleasant. “Huh, would be better...hang on.” he plucked a lime slice out of the tub and put it in. Each hesitant sip a little bit better, and he felt himself uncoil a bit, tension releasing. “Wow, I can see why adults abuse this stuff.”

In a way, his four years inside had taught him a valuable lesson early on.even if something felt nice, didn’t mean too much of it couldn't hurt. Too much sleep made him isolate himself, and he became an addict of a different sort. It made him all too aware that relying on this to quell his anxiety was a poor idea. But tonight? He talked himself down, a reason to celebrate if any.

“Hey Soni, you uh...feel better?” It was odd he felt concern for him, anything other than contempt was a surprise really. But in a roundabout way, he was just a face given to the thoughts he let consume him. To insult him would be to just mock himself. “Um...yea.I do! But one more question.”

“Shoot.”

“What if Hero never comes back.”

Sunny grimace, taking a long swig of his drink, finishing it off before pondering this question.It was something he woulden't deny worrying about. But, was there any point in ruminating on it? “If Hero comes back, it has to be on his own terms. And if he forgives us is another matter. But we aren't owed that. If he wants to see us, he’ll seek us out.”

When he looked over, of course he was gone, calm, collected, and feeling a bit lonely. He knew that tomorrow would be a hell of a day, full of new experiences. A day surrounded by the ones he loved. Honestly, he was still anxious, but excited too. He had won a battle, and was going to reap the rewards tomorrow. Still a little too excited to sleep, he decided to use that last little bit of energy to clean and hide the evidence. His mom would be too tired to check through the fridge that closely.

When he was putting away the bottles, he stopped at the rum. Well, one more drink wouldn't hurt would it? Pouring some of the thicker liquid, he turned around to grab a Tasty Cola, and a piece of cold pizza. Sure trying to eat more was a hassle, but get in what food you can manage when you can manage it. Malnutrition was a bitch. However, when he shut the fridge door, he heard a cough.

Turning around like a racoon caught stealing trash, with a piece of pizza dangling from his mouth, stood his mother. Stern faced and tapping her foot, she glanced at Sunny, then to the bottle of rum sitting open, with some in the glass already. Quick, he had to think on his feet. “I’ve only had one before this!”

He cringed as the expression grew sterner, as his mother stormed into the kitchen, he heard Omori’s voice echo in his head. “Wow dude, she’s going to kill you.” He would be pissed that again, he would only speak when it was at his expense, but….

He had to agree with him on this one.

Chapter Text

Alcoholic Aftermath

Sunny had woken up in worse places, missing an eye. However, the headache here? Was leagues worse then when he woke up in the hospital. Maybe it was all the painkillers they pumped into his anemic frame. Sometimes, he missed morphine. Opening his crusted eye, he groaned, the single bulb illuminating the pantry bore a hole straight through his brain. Agony.

Lifting himself off the floor, he tried to collect his thoughts, and figure out why he was hugging a bagged loaf of brioche in his sleep. Did he think it would be a good friend to keep with him in his stupor? What stupor? God he was confused.

The steel trap of his mind was dulled into uselessness. That was a new concept, forgetting things. Well, forgetting things without being suppressed by a wallpaper paste colored version of yourself. Right now his mind was more comparable to an old lawn mower, sputtering and spitting, trying to turn over. Is that why his mouth tasted like gasoline?

Looking down at the sports drink and two pills left next to him, he grabbed them and started drinking greedily. It felt like his mouth had grown fur, and all that remained of his body was a dried out husk. Daphne was a goddess for taking care of them last night. Wait...that's right.

His mom was about to ground his ass for life, till she saw the gummy worms. She relaxed a lot when she let him explain, through fearful lips, that this wasn’t all for him, and that Aubrey had posed a boozy time. She had asked if there were going to be adults there, and yes, the Bread twins would be there, as it was Mavericks family’s place, apparently.

She just shrugged after that and grinned. To his absolute shock and horror, she told him she was proud of him. Something about him finally acting like a teenager, and less like a nervous rabbit. After some light ribbing, and sampling of the vodka gummy bears, she went to bed. But not before giving him a wink, and a wish for him to have good luck. Something about her smug tone, one that Mari had inherited, spoke as if she knew something he didn’t. Strange. Then again, he wasn’t going to look a gift cool mom in the mouth.

The drive up was a bit of a blur of jock jams, nervous excitement, and a roadside hamburger stand with surprisingly good vegan options. Kel was trying to keep spirits up, but both the boys in the back were nervous, to say the least. But it was for nothing, the Hooligang welcomed them with open arms, and bottles, as they had started a touch early. From there it got blurry again.

Opening the door quietly, Sunny padded out into the kitchen. He only had one sock, a pair of oversized basketball shorts with a string keeping them on his narrow hips, and an aggressively pink shirt on. He did not pack any of these clothes. The only thing he knew was that his head hurt, he felt like death, and this loaf of bread was important. How did he know that?

“You promised Basil you would make him french toast. Or you really wanted to last night.” Oh god damn it, already, he was too hungover for this shit. Fishing around in the fridge, he started drinking another sports drink, the last one had vanished quickly. Looking over, there was Soni again, although he looked more like roadkill right now. His quills were droopy, he was gray-er then normal, and his eyes bloodshot. He was currently sitting in the empty jungle juice punch bowl, enjoying the very early sun. The glowing orb of pain just beginning its accent, rising above the lake water. It was 5:00 am? Why the hell was he up?

“Ugh...are you here to give me a panic attack?”

“No, I'm more...general anxiety about you not remembering….and….and something you did? My head hurts tooooooo muuuuuuuch.” He whined, and Sunny nodded sympathetically. It seemed the denizens of his brain suffered in kind when he decided to pickle himself. At least Omori would feel like garbage. Hopefully.

“Why do I gotta cook french toast? I mean, I'd kill a man for Basil ....considering I owe him one. But this seems out of the blue.” Yet it didn’t stop him from grabbing the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract out of the fridge. The kitchen was big, and surprisingly well stocked. With a little searching he would find what he needed.

As he returned to the pantry, trusting that the others were still asleep, he asked. “So, what happened last night?”

“We share me...mem….memory.” The hedgehog seemed to still be in his cups at the moment. “I know just as much as you. You had jungle juice?”

“Yea, then we….oh yea..” He grabbed the sugar, grumbling at the dirty trick that was played on him. Aubrey had decided to “help” Sunny catch up with them by playing beer pong. Sounds fair, until you realize that everyone who teamed up with Sunny ended up losing every time. Why? Gee, it’s almost like depth perception was a thing that he was missing! He found the nutmeg and cinnamon shortly after. “I swear she was getting me back for that slap. Poor Basil.”

Basil, that good sweet Basil, was the only one that would team up with Sunny after that. And considering that Sunny wanted revenge against the pink demon, meant losing 3 games in a row. He didn’t get tipsy when drunk either, oh no. He had a fire in his eye, passion in his voice, and slung an arm around him while talking about how they should destroy capitalism to save the environment. 

“Should we worry that Basil is interested in Eco-terrorisim?” The bastard child of the SEGA mascot had a point. “Nah '' Sunny replied, mixing the dry’s together, setting them to the side. “If anything, I respect that more than anything. It’s nice to have a hobby.” It was a little worrying, but hell, it wasn’t the worst crime they would have commited.

“What was after that?....oh yea! The Uno game.” As he mixed the wets, he grinned. Although he could barely stand. It seemed they had underestimated his ability at card games. With a truce proposed by Basil, they had brought pain down upon Aubrey. With some careful card counting ,a skill he had used to help Basil win blackjack every time in the tree-house, they dumped card draw after card draw on Aubrey. She screamed when she hit  30 cards and lunged at Kel for laughing at her misfortune. As amusing as it was to see Kel get put into a headlock, it couldn't be allowed to get out of hand.

After saving Kel, and pulling Aubrey out of the lake when she fell in, they decided to play something lower stakes.

“Why do I feel like we made a worse decision?”

Sunny looked over to Soni, who cracked open a bleary eye. “You played Truth or Dare.”

Oh, oh god the memories were flooding back. He did nooooot want these ones, nuh uh, no sir. He just threw a pat of butter in the pan and watched it sizzle, hoping the stimulation would distract him. It did not. It had started out tame, just a few little dares and truths here and there. Angel doing a handstand while singing the entirety of Let It Go. Kel doing a half mile run around the lake drunk. Vance laughed off punches to the stomach like they were nothing. He had thought that was more of a headspace oddity, but no, dude was tough as hell.

No what was embarrassing was how far it went off the rails after that. Sunny burned with his own embarrassment, as well as that of second hand nature. He sang Barbie girl in front of a cheering crowd after being dressed up, while Basil held him upright, swaying to the music. Aubrey and Kim being sent into the coat closet to play 7 minutes in heaven, and then Kel being sent after them on a fresh dare from Vance. Considering he couldn't remember seeing them after that, it seems like his brotherly ruse was foiled in a unique way.

Angel and Maverick were sent to cosplay something, he couldn't remember now, but it had been embarrassing. “Wait...I feel like we're forgetting someone….shit where was Charlene in all of this?”

Soni burped, slowly trying to get his way out of the contained sloppily. With the way he was wobbling around, Sunny dunked the first piece of bread into the hastily constructed custard, remembering at the last moment to not forget to mix the dry in. The more he remembered, the more important this meal seemed. It was like it was on the tip of his mental tongue. Soni fell off the counter after climbing out with a groan.

“She….She hung out with the twins….they needed extra hands to keep you under control.”

“Me? Why I do-”

“You kept slipping them more to drink.”

Sunny paled, remembering why he was having such a good time now. He had stopped drinking when the game began, but half his dares just added more fuel to the fire. Shot’s, silly drinking songs, cheap bets….oh he made it so much worse. ‘They’re going to kill me when they wake up.”

“Assuming they remember. And assuming they can get up without vomiting.”

Picking up the hedgehog, Sunny sat next to him, where he could see him. He flipped the bread, the other side a bit burned but it would be fine enough. “Me and Basil got everyone else blackout drunk. How am I not freaking out about this?”

“Ughhhhh to be hungover to care.”

Sunny nodded, for once, his brain was being reasonable. They did feel too much like death rolled over to do much. As they set up the next piece for cooking. “Why do i….oh...OH.”

He realized why he was blushing about Basil, why he fondly remembered every touch. As everyone dropped like flies...He and Basil went to the dock to watch the water. They were drunk enough to brave the murky depths, and enjoy looking over the moonlit lake, crickets and fireflies being their only companions. It was beautiful. It was serene, it was romantic.

Sunny continued to heat as he remembered the idle chat, the little touches, the holding of hands and the soft smiles. They didn’t delve into anything heavy, just remembering good times past and good times that just happened moments before. Basil had made a crack about how with all the food photos he kept sending him, he would make a good house husband. It was nice. But with his heavy dose of Dutch courage, Sunny had made an error.

He confessed oh did he confess. He told Basil about how he loved his hair, his laugh, his eyes. The way he gushed about gardening, the way he always had a little fact about one plant or another. He blubbered out apologies, and assumptions about how he wouldn't reciprocate.

“Oh god i said WH-”

But he had been silenced by a hand squeeze and a warm smile. Basil gushed in return, his soft hair, his sly little smile, the little jokes only told to him, for him. He had come back, he had made everything better, and he had SAVED him. The only doubt Basil had was that he was good enough.

“I can’t believe I didn't kiss him.” Sunny grumbled, remembering that he had thought their first kiss being trashed on a lake dock would be a poor idea. Soni scoffed. “You were worried that it was just the booze, and that it wasn’t consent. Considering you were both drunk? That's no goood” He rolled off the counter, letting a squeak as he hit the floor and Sunny sighed. He remember why he was in the pantry, and not in the soft bed in the room he was sharing with Basil.

Breakfast in bed would be the perfect opportunity to show him how he felt, and make sure he still felt he did last night. The perfect plan. He had just fallen asleep while making sure the fancy bread was all his. Taking the last piece out the pan he was set. “Any advice?”

“Yea” Soni hiccuped. “If you don’t ask, you'll regret it and be anxious for the rest of your life. Even if he says no, he’s still your friend.”

“Sunny paused, staring down at him. “Aren't you meant to torment me? Not give good advice?”

“Eh, fuck it. I'm off the clock.”

With his perfect french toast set beautifully on a trey, dusted in powdered sugar and topped with a drizzle of warm syrup, he made his way out the kitchen, only to pause. Holy shit, it looked like a bomb of beer can’s and red cups went off in here. He knew it would be a pain in the ass to clean, he sagged a bit at the thought. However, upon seeing Basil’s camera unattended, he had a brilliant idea to cheer him up! After all, the best way to feel less embarrassed was to spread it around.

So he gleefully took pictures of his sleeping drinking buddies. Vance was sleeping mid pile of candy, covered in pixie sticks and halfway through making a sugar angel. Angel was dressed up as some human version of Garfield, face paint and all, and he was hugging a pretty...wait no that's Maverick. Damn, he could rock a maid outfit, then again where did he even get it?

But of course, his best little bit of photography yet was the trio snoozing in the open closet. It seems Kel kicked it open in his sleep, and laid themselves bare. Kim and Kel clung to Aubrey tightly as she had both her arms around their shoulders. When one stirred a bit, she grumbled and held them closer. He made sure to grab extra of that one, after all, payback was a bitch.

Putting the stack of photos neatly in his pocket, he continued up the stairs of the cabin, making sure to keep his hands steady. Curse his noodle arms and lack of any real physical activity! It’s not his fault he doesn't go outside. Well, it is, but the indoors is so enticing! Not fair at all. When he gets to the top, the cinia was rattling, so he takes a break. As he huffs and puffs, a door opens, and Charlene peeks out, bleary eyed and in the fluffiest bathrobe Sunny had ever seen in his life.Did she skin a cloud for that thing?

It only took her a moment, from looking at him, to the food, did she begin to grin. He knew his ears were lighting up, but he could do little to stop it now. She closed her door, but quickly reopened it as she plopped a mason jar of wildflowers on the trey. With a wink and a thumbs up, she made her way to the bathroom, leaving him to his own devices. Or he thought she did, he was too embarrassed to see where she went.

After he let the red leave his face, and his heartbeat slow, he took a deep breath, and slowly opened the door to their room. Basil was taking small gentle breaths until then. The sunlight of the rising sun slowly streaming inside the window, and lighting up his face, his hair pooling in a halo. He slowly blinked open his eyes as Sunny shut the door with his hip, letting out a cute yawn as he blinked slowly.

Only for him to sit up with a yelp, staring at Sunny. From the rapid blinks and growing flush as he pulled up the blankets around him, it seemed Basil was trying to decide if this was a dream or not. So summoning what courage he had, he went all out. Tilting his head and giving a wink, with a smile as smug as he could manage, he used the family motto.

“Hey, what's cookin good lookin?~”

Chapter Text

Dissociative Deluge

Very little could be heard over the roar of rain outside. The fat raindrops had been beating down on the sidewalks of the city for hours now. Such a dreadful night, nobody would be caught dead wandering out in this storm. But if anyone had looked outside, from the comfort of their home, they might have caught a glimpse.

A figure walked languidly down the sidewalk, the rain drenching him further and further, and the wind pushed him this way and that, but he didn’t react. He looked out of time, black slacks, a white button up and a black vest, soaked through and clinging to his thin frame. Each step of his leather shoes let out a squelch that could only be heard by him.

As for the reasons why he was out there, looking so forlorn? It wouldn't take a detective to figure out what was wrong. He was walking away from the opera hall, head hung low. In his left hand, a bundle of beat up and ravaged sunflowers, the rain and wind had diminished what beauty could have been found in them. In his pocket, multiple calls to the same number that didn’t respond to half a dozen calls or texts. Dunked into a nearby trash can, were tickets with an opening time of four hours earlier.

No-one saw him as he walked past lit up houses, restaurants and apartments. Nobody bothered to look, and nobody would have bothered to care. The figure wouldn't respond anyway. He felt nothing. Not the cold settling into his bones, not the ache of his feet as he walked the last of a few dozen blocks, and not the ache of his heart. No, he felt not a thing, and wanted it to stay like that.

As he opened the door to his abode, it was quiet, dark, and silent. His mother would not be back for days. He let the bundle of flowers hit the floor with a splat. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and let it join the ground as well. He looked at his shoes, but just started making his way up the steps for his bedroom. He wanted to go to bed, and he didn’t care if his shoes sloshed, or his state.

“Hey uh…aren't you cold?” Slowly panning his head over, he stared at Vess, she was perched on an end table at the top of the stairs, right next to a teapot with a cat painted on it. The ugly thing was for decoration, apparently. Sunny just shrugged, and trudged on, leaving puddles of water behind him. “H-hey! Are you listening to me?” 

He just kept going to his bed. He was about to pull back the covers and climb on in when Vess begam to poke him. It was not a good feeling, her legs were rather sharp after all. “No, no, no. You're not going to do that. You're going to shower and change. Or….or…”

Sunny just raised an eyebrow, waiting. He didn’t know if he was seeing her sweat, or drip from the murky black liquid that filled half her head. “I’m going to poke you the entire time. You won’t be able to sleep, and I'll keep talking. The look of determination on her face cemented her resolution. He didn’t really care, but he wanted to sleep. He looked to the bathroom and shook his head.

“Come on!” Vess was worried to say the least, and that was a new thing. She shouldn't be able to care, or really care for him. Yet here she was,trying to make sure this lovesick fool didn’t die from something dumb. She did feel less..bad these days, she at least had to thank him for that. “It’s not like whatever I do matters/ but….ugh. At least put on dry clothes.”  

Vess at least managed to poke and prod him to dry off a bit with a dish rag before putting on some warmer clothes. Vess worried a bit with how he was shivering, even if his expression was still as flat as can be. “How about something to e-”

How was he already in the bed. No matter, with a huff and a clatter she managed to jump up, and began to poke at him. “Come on, you need food. You haven’t eaten in 14 hours.” She just got a grumble in response. “Wakeupwakeupwakeupwakeup”

She yelped as she was flung from the bed, not through any malice, but just from him throwing the blankets back and getting up. She didn’t know if she was being glared at or not, but he sure wasn’t happy, or sad, or anything really. It was alarming to see the person that literally birthed her be little more than a meat puppet.. She thinks. It’s not the time to get philosophical. He helped her, so she would help him. She didn’t want to owe him anything.

“Come on, you need to eat something. And no, you're not eating something cold” She climbed up his leg to perch on his shoulder. “Come on. Up and attem.”  she prodded him and he went, although begrudgingly and with an overload of apathy. Down the stairs they went, hopefully to get some food into her...host? What exactly was he to her? She knew where she stood with him, as the empty feeling that gnawed away at his insides, depression. But to her he was….just Vessel.

When he flipped the light on, Vessel gawked. Soni was just sitting there, bleary and confused, until he saw her. “H-HUH?! I thought it was my turn. YOU'RE NOT GONNA STEAL MY JOB, RIGHT?!?” Vessel took a moment to really understand what she was seeing before responding. “No! I-i don't wanna be like you. I like to sleep, thank you very much.

“And I like being able to function without sleeping 17 hours a day!”

“I like being able to see people smile without thinking they think I'm a criminal!”

“WAIT. no, no we’re missing the point.” Vessel hopped off his shoulder, landing onto the kitchen counter next to him “Why are we...both out here?” the hedgehog paused, looking just as confused as she was. ‘Wait, yea...we can’t be outside at the same time...can we?”

“Eh, when things are normal maybe.” Both snapped around to see Void, sitting on top of the fridge Sunny was rummaging around inside listlessly. “You two were asleep, so I understand why you're confused.” He grinned, a malicious thing. He rapped his knuckles on Sunny’s dome as he pulled out an iffy looking steak from the meat drawer. “He's disassociating. He doesn't feel a damn thing.”

“No emotions at all!” He counted off on his fingers with  glee. “No happiness, no sadness, no love no hate!” He looked at both of them. “No anxiety or depression either. This kid’s brain has been fried.” 

“But why are we HERE? Are we gonna DIE, DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO SEE THE ALPHA AMONG US?!” Soni puffed up, ready to fight as Vess scrambled back over to Sunny, trying to get him not to microwave the rotten meat. “Relax you moron, we’re not going to die...yet at least.” he rolled his wrist, still grinning. “Hopefully, we do.”

“Will you two SHUT UP. Sunny no don’t eat that” With her sharp feet she stabbed the meat and pulled it off the plate. “That’s bad. Ugh….a little help Void?”

“Do you forget what I represent? Cry me a river you beauty and the beast understudy, I want him dead!” Vess shot Soni a pleading look, and he hesitated. “What do you mean we won’t die yet?” Soni asked quietly, shaking  inside his fortress of quills. 

“Have you not figured it out? I thought you were meant to be fast! Sunny, the walking corpse that he is, made us to argue with, to yell at.” He inspected his black nails, blowing on them. “Punching bags, strawmen of the mental variety. Our bodies, hell, our everything is because of him. He made us SUFFER.” He rolled his one unblinking eye. “Forgive me if I'm not that interested in helping this asshole. I don’t give half a shit what happens to me, but I guess you two haven’t figured it out yet. So listen closely.”

Sitting on the edge of the frigid, he hunched over with a grimace. “As soon as he dies, we die. Come on. I know you two must have figured out our nature, but were to STUPID to be angry about it. Who knows!” He laughed. “Maybe you also represent the four years of school he missed too.”

“S-so what do we do?! I-I don’t want to die!” Soni wailed, which Vess tried to ignore as she pushed an instant ramen cup into the microwave as Sunny watched with dull eyes. Vess was trying to bite her tongue, and focus on Sunny. “Shut up Void, why work him up! You know how he gets!”

“He’s ANXIETY. Of course he's easy to work up. It’s like saying your easy to make sad” condescension dripped. “It’s like wondering if I want to die! That’s why I'm happy! He’s alone, disassociating, and with nobody to help take care of him! He’ll lie in bed and rot away, and we’ll be free of this asshole.” With glee the purple demon rubbed his hands together. “Why help him keep clinging on?”

“HE HELPED ME ALRIGHT?! He made me feel okay for once and he taught me something. Besides, why make him feel worse! BASIL DIDN’T….” She realized her mistake as soon as it slipped past her lips, and the imp howled in laughter. Although his face remained stoic, they all heard him sniff. Fat tears slowly ran down his stone face as he began to wander back to the bedroom, forgetting about his meal.

“Looks like your own now. So fitting that you brought him depression to go with the disassociation!” As Sunny wandered away, Vess clambered as fast as she could to catch up. Soni and Void fading as she ran. “Don’t forget, it only takes someone about three days to die without water!” His cackle chased them out of the kitchen, echoing until the sound faded into nothing.

Vess just sat on his nightstand. She was never meant to be the voice of reason. She knew that Void was right about what she...they were. Just things created and seen by Sunny, for the purpose of trying to claw back some of the sanity that four years and one awful push stole from him. Still, he reassured her, tried to share what he had learned in therapy…

If he was as malicious as that bastard made him out to be, he would be cutting, he would be abusive but he...wasn’t. He was almost kind in his tone to her, a mentor more than anything. That may just be because she was a part of him, and he was making a concerted effort to be kinder to himself, but kindness should never be overlooked.

“Do you want to talk about it?” She was surprised he even reacted as he rolled over. Those eyes looked so very tired, drained of every bit of life he had left the door with. “No, not really.”

Neither said anything. The only passing sounds were cars speeding off into the distance and the storm that continued to rage. The silence was deafening. Vess tapped her foot, trying to find the  right words to say. She wasn’t good at this, but she could try at least. “You know, it’s okay to feel sad sometimes. Bad things happen and it's a part of life.” 

“Sometimes….I wish I never beat Omori.” Sunny’s voice was a dull monotone, defeated and exhausted. “My therapist says I gotta keep trying, I have to keep getting back up but….why? Do I deserve it? I just...maybe that’s why he didn’t show.” His train of thought was interrupted by a cough. Then another, followed by a fit. He didn’t even notice Vess vanishing as he curled up tighter.

He became aware of how hard it was to get his breath back after the coughing fit subsided. How much his joints ached and his head hurt. The dull ache of all these pains was enough to make rest difficult, even with his current state of disinterest. He tried to think back to the days he spent sleeping away, adventuring with his dream friends. How did he manage it? Ah yes, he remembered.

Making his way with shaky steps to his mothers room, he rummaged through the small bathroom until he found his prize. The small orange bottle promised a restful night's sleep. With a bit of strain he popped it open, feeling a pang of disappointment that there was only one. Too bad, he would have preferred a more permanent kind of rest, but this would do for now.

Wandering back to his lonely bed, he already felt woozy, from the lack of food, or sleeping aids he did not know, nore did he care. He wanted to drown out the one thing he did feel, deep inside, buried under all this unfeeling. He didn’t want to feel anymore, he didn’t want to think anymore, and he didn’t want to hurt anymore. Maybe this was for the best, he decided as he laid down and let his feverish eyes close. He deserved to be alone.

Chapter Text

Romantic Regret

Basil just tapped his foot, checking his watch again. If he knew it would take this long, he would have made something else. However, he had wasted enough time, and he was not going to arrive empty handed. He huffed, checking the time once more then sighing in relief. They were ready.

He pulled them out of the freezer, and popped them into the oven. The chilled gingerbread dough was cut into small cat head shapes, and were being baked with purpose. He knew he would love them when they were done, he just had to bake, cool, then ice and then he would be well on his way.

“You really think he's gonna accept your apology?” Basil sighed, he did not have the patience to deal with him right now. Stranger was sitting at his kitchen table, the shadowy black figure mirroring his silhouette. Those piercing white eyes were judging, as always. “Yes, I do, and I think the cookies would help.”

An ethereal brow raised. “Cookies are going to smooth over the fact that you chickened out at the last moment. And instead of going on the fancy date that must have cost him a lot of money, you had a panic attack inside your bathroom.” Basil flinched, grabbing his watering can, he had time to kill after all.

“Well, they’ll help keep him from slamming the door in my face…hopefully.” Basil would be a liar if he said he wasn’t very nervous. In fact, it would be easier to point to times where his nerve’s weren’t eating away at him. “I’ll explain what happened. We’ll share the cookies, and he’ll forgive me! Perfect plan, then we smooch and marry!”

“Um...going a bit fast there, sport. I know that's the end goal to all your schemes involving him but still.” Stranger had become more of a companion as of late. Where once he appeared along with that void that wanted to swallow him whole, begging him to confess and shed his guilt. Even though Basil was not the one to confess, it was out there now. Since then the odd ethereal phantasm appeared on occasion, but more to give advice or snark at him, having lost the reason for his antagonism. Basically, he was a friendly, slightly evil looking version of himself.

“Hey, I don't look that evil!” Also one that could read his mind, as he forgot sometimes.

“Yes you do, now shush. I really don’t need your negativity after yesterday.” Basil sighed, beginning his rounds. Stranger just appeared next to him, instead of just walking, the drama queen. “You know you can walk right?”

“Don’t want to. You may be right though. I think your little...what did you call him….Sunshine? Will understand.” Basil didn’t dignify him with a verbal response, even if his violent flush was all he needed to continue poking. “Hey, was he worth waiting four years for?”

“YES NOW SHUT IT.” Basil spat out the words, his voice cracking as Stranger laughed. Basil allowed himself a minute to compose himself, before watering a lily. “The week at the lake house should have proved that. We basically made it official then and there!”

“Yea I'm pretty sure Angel walking in on you two kissing in the kitchen had nothing to do with it. You were totally going to tell them all openly.”

“Hey, at that point, there was no reason! That little blabbermouth would have told everyone regardless.” Playing aloof was not his strong suit, but he refused to back down from being teased about kissing his boyfriend. “I’m more worried about how I'm going to explain why I didn't answer his calls.”

“The truth?” Stranger quirked a glowing orb where the eyebrow would be. “I mean you don’t gotta explain why you had a panic attack. Just that you had one. Just say it was uh...personal.”

“Sunny will get worried and ask about it. I just don’t want him worrying more.” Basil put down the watering can, wringing his hands a bit as he looked at the clock. He wanted to rush over, to hug Sunny and scream to the heavens how sorry he was. However, letting him cool down and coming bearing a gift. “Well it was just…silly is all.”

“Oh come on! Theirs nothing silly about a panic attack”

“I stared into the bathtub too long, and it triggered one.” There was a pause, a moment of almost beautiful silence before the silhouette burst out laughing, rolling around on the floor. “H-holy shit WHAT?! It was a bathtub!” He continued to howl as Basil just shrunk in embarrassment, tapping the table. “I also threw my phone into the water out of reflex from the ring.”

The laughter just got louder, and Basil’s frown grew with each passing moment. “B-because of the lake? O-oh my god. That's so awful but so funny!” Basil stomped indignantly, cheeks puffing slightly. “I-its not! I almost drowned, it's a reasonab-” He was interrupted by the kitchen timer, and the bit of smoke pouring out of the oven. “MY COOKIES”

Stranger was already sitting at the kitchen island again when Basil put on his kitten oven mitts, for safety, and yanked them out the oven. “Okay...okay. Singed at the edges, but not burned. Could be better or worse, but Sunny will eat them anyway.”

“I mean, yea. It’s cat cookies, he’d eat cat branded steaks if they existed.” Basil just giggled slightly. “Yea...Do you uh, think he will understand? I mean really?”

“Basil, sweet sweet Basil, shut your ignorant mouth. He’s your best friend, and boyfriend. He knows about your issues, and your therapy. Hell, he’s in therapy! You're fine. Really.”

Baisil paused, tapping a finger to his cheek. “You’re right. Now! Time to put on the icing”

The bus ride was longer than he expected, adding yet more time onto his reunion with his boyfriend. Damn, that word still made his tummy flip like an eager schoolboy. Sunny was his boyfriend. It made four years of waiting almost worth it, if not for the guilt in having faked a suicide, and getting bullied by one of your old friends. And his grandmother dying, and Kel not talking to him much... Man the last 4 years had sucked.

If he was being honest with himself, he had expected never to see him after the fight. But he showed up a week later to spend the night. It had become almost a ritual, Sunny would show up on Friday, and leave on Sunday. Most of the time just spent in his garden, or watching movies. And a bit of platonic cuddling. In hindsight, maybe not so much.

It was almost worth Kel being mad that sunny had been in town a half a dozen times and had never said hi. He had calmed down after Sunny had talked to him, then again he had been given many smug smiles after that. Ugh, did everyone know before him?

“Yes, it was obvious to anyone with eyes.” Basil just looked straight ahead as Stranger slowly poked into their peripheral vision. “You are the gayest person to ever exist.” Basil just looked around, before putting his waterlogged, dead phone to his ear. “I swear to god, if you make me look crazy in public..”

“You already are.”

“IN. PUBLIC. Look, I'm already nervous enough. I don’t need it from both ends right now okay? I’m hoping that he’ll forgive me for ghosting our first official date. What if he doesn't, what if he wants to break up. WHAT IF HE DATES KEL?!”

“Woah, slow down there.” Jeez, Basil was already hyperventilating. “We still have a few before we get there. No need to work yourself up into a panic yet eh?” Stranger tried to pat him on the shoulder, however, he just passed right through. Sometimes, he missed Headspace.

“He may be mad at first but just explain. If he's too mad, you can come back later okay. I bet you Sunny will be way more concerned for your well being then anything else.”

“Bu-”

“No.” Stranger gave him a pointed look. “We are not playing the what if game. The what if game has led you down the path to an anxiety attack almost every single time. Do you really need that right now? Breath Basil.” He mimicked a chest rise and fall with the blond as he looked out the window. He couldn't breathe, but he could at least be a visual guide.

“You’re right...you’re right. I just don’t want to ruin this, you know. I want to be with him for the rest of my life.” 

“I think you're looking a bit too far ahead.” Basil looked over, tilting his head. “I mean, you just started dating, and hanging out again frequently. It's still new and fresh. Hell, it may not even last!” He held up a hand, Basil was just about to interrupt him with some kinda love conquers all speech, he could feel it. “You can’t see into the future Basil, nobody can. For right now, why not enjoy the now. Besides, he’s not going anywhere.” And with that, the bus pulled into the station, and Stranger left. He hated when he did that. Just drop some cryptic advice and poof away. He swore he did it just for the last word. Oh well, he’d see Sunny soon enough.

“Sunny? Are you there?” He had been knocking for a while with no response. He was already feeling the heat on his neck, and the tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he kept knocking. “Sunny? Please...Please answer.” With each passing moment of no response, his knocks grew more frantic and fearful, what was once a small rap at the door was pounding with closed fists. He breathed in, to implore his entrance, to smooth over the wound that he had inflected, only for the door to pop open.

Basil froze as the wood creaked, letting daylight into the dark house. “S-Sunny?” Basil called out again, taking a step inside. He shouldn't do it of course, he wasn't invited in, but something was deeply wrong. Within the first few steps, he heard a crunch, and almost fell onto his ass. “A-AH!...wait.” Crouching down, he slowly picked up the soiled and still damp sunflower bouquet. A pang of guilt raced through his heart as he saw its sorry state.

“Sunny, I’m coming in.” Peeking into the kitchen, he saw the meat just lying on the counter, its odor confirming it had been there for some time, and an open microwave with ramen left unclaimed. Something was very wrong here. He didn’t wait for permission, he just bolted up the stairs. “SUNNY? SUNNY WHERE ARE YOU?!” 

Rushing down the hallway, he burst into the room with a pile of wet clothes in front of it. To his relief, there was Sunny. “Phew...you scared me there sunshine.” For the briefest darkest moment, Basil was more afraid of stumbling onto a body than anything. But something wasn’t right. Sunny did not respond, just groaned and turned in his sleep, brow knotted and face flush. “Sunny?”

Walking over, he gently put a hand onto his forehead and yanked it away. Sunny was burning hot! Pulling back the covers, his body was marred in swear, and he kept twisting, mumbling and groaning the entire time. It was like he was trying to say something, but Basil took little notice.

He was up like a shot, charging into his bathroom and returning with a cold compress. His heart was racing, but now was not the time for panic. Nor was it the time to think about why he was really sick. How long had he waited in the rain for him? He just stared at the rag, wringing it out as he kept dampening it with cold water. He lost himself for a moment, but regained his senses. There would be time for guilt later, for regret. Right now? Sunny needs his help

He flicked the overhead fan on his way back. “Goodness you're burning up. Don’t tell me you waited in the rain for me.” He slowly pressed it to his forehead, smoothing back his hair. “There we go, doesn't that feel better?” Sunny managed a nod, even a sick mess, he could melt Basil’s heart with little effort. He just kept petting his matted hair as Sunny began to relax. Basil barely managed to suppress a snort, a mental image of Sunny in cat ears filling his mind. He did always have some more feline qualities. He didn’t want to get up, however, Sunny wouldn't just get better magically. He needed medicine, and food as well.

“Don’t worry Sunny, I’m going to go buy you some medicine, and be right back okay?” Basil was already thinking several steps ahead. Without his mother here, Sunny had no one to take care of him! That would not do, he was sick as a dog! He would go out, get food and medicine, and be right back before he knew it. Even if it pained him to do so

However, he was stopped by a clammy hand grabbing his own. Sunny let out the most heart-breaking whimper as he tried to pull the hand closer to him, hugging it to his chest. With a dramatic sigh, and a small smile gracing his lips, Basil allowed himself to sit next to the bed. “Okay, okay sunshine. I’ll stay. Just try to rest okay?” Stroking his hair, the ill teen relaxed, his erratic and pained breathing slowly easing. Basil just quietly waited until it evened out, growing gentle. He was properly asleep now, but Basil just couldn't bring himself to break away just yet. Just a few moments more.

Chapter Text

Soulful Soup.

"Just face it already. You're stalling!”

“Are you going to carry these bags, or stand there doing nothing?”

“I'm a figment of the imagination?” He acted more confused then insulted “I can’t interact with the world around us!”

“Good, don’t interact with me then!” Stranger just groaned as Basil carried his groceries through the door, locking it back up. Hopefully, Sunny wouldn't mind him stealing his keys. Or his wallet. Or his cute cat hoodie. “You're not going to give that jacket back are you?”

“Nope! I’m not. Besides! It smells like him and it chills me out.” Basil sat everything down on the counter, pulling out a large pot from under the sink. “That was way more creepy than you must have intended.” Basil just rolled his eyes, hefting it onto the burner with a huff. “Yea, I don’t care. I’m gonna do what makes me happy, even if part of myself is all judgy!.”

“Please, you wish I was part of you.” Basil just stared at him, lifting a finger, before disregarding that thought altogether. He had better things to do than playing with himself.

“Could you have phrased that worse?”

“Nope!” Pulling out the rotisserie chicken, he just plopped the entire thing onto the cutting board. With two forks, he began his work, shredding the meat then adding it into the massive stock pot. Humming idly while he did so, he looked around. “Huh, it's better stocked and cleaner than it was before. I’m glad his mother seems to be more aware this time around.” He couldn't let the bitterness seep into his tone. She was half the reason he was left alone for four years. Was it so hard to get that boy therapy?

“She was busy working so she could keep a roof over his head and his stomach full. Well, tried too anyway.” Stranger watched him do his work, discarding the bones as they were picked clean of their meat. “I want to believe her. But I don't. Not really.”

“Is it really homemade if you're using a grocery store rotisserie chicken?”

“Nice change of subject, and I suppose not.” Basil had better things to do then blame someone else. He was half of the reason Sunny locked himself out after all, even if legally it was more a quarter. “But to make it completely from scratch, we’d need another three hours. I’d like to feed Sunny now, if possible.”

“Now being?”

“An hour.” Discarding the last of the meat and gristle, Basil pulled out the produce. Garlic, onions, and celery all fell victim to his knife, being minced into fine little pieces. He would have preferred some of his own veggies, but he didn’t have the foresight to bring them. A shame, he could tell the difference in freshness himself. “Think Sunny would notice how fresh these are?” He peeled his garlic with ease.

“Nah, the man lives off of junk food and easy cooking.” Stranger shrugged, watching him over his shoulder as he worked. “Although he said he was working on that right?”

“Mhmm! Honestly, when he brought that candy I was so proud of him. And a little pissed off.” He got a look that begged for an answer. “I can’t make candy to save my life. Yet he can just waltz in and make me such a thoughtful little gift. I’m meant to be the artistic and sensitive one, I gotta up my game!”

“I think you're both the artistic and sensitive ones. Like, he's just emo flavored and you're just cottage core.”

“ How do you...I am never looking at the internet again. The idea of you spouting memes is horrifying.”

Veggies chopped, and thrown into the pot, the last step was taken. Pouring in the chicken stock, Basil lit the burner low and popped the top on. Discarding the spare bits and pieces, and wiping down the counters, he left it just as good as when he came in! “And there we go. Just have to simmer then it’ll be ready. I should go check on him.”

Stranger just shrugged. “Shouldn't you let him rest a little more? Besides, you said you wanted to impress him right?” He had him now, Basil just nodded eagerly. “Why not clean the place up! It could use a bit of dusting around here. A glance around confirmed Stranger's statement. Tying his apron tighter, and tying his hair back, Basil was ready for action. A clean house and a home cooked meal were the perfect thing to help Sunny heal, as well as distracting him from the gnawing, all consuming guilt! He would be great!

Sunny groaned as he cracked open his eye, his head throbbing dully. He felt like death warmed over, and was going back to cold. Lifting his hand to rub his eye took way more effort then he would have expected, and hurt too. Taking stock, his body ached, he felt too warm and too cold, and he was shaking. Yup, he was sick. Reflecting on what he remembered of his walk home it was not surprising.

It got hazy when he got home, but he remembered waking up a bit and hearing Basil’s voice. He knew that couldn't be true, a fever dream of his deluded mind. He didn’t like him, after all he didn’t show up. As Sunny resigned himself to being a sad sack, he managed to collect enough energy to roll over. There sat a glass of water, some pills, and a small note written in tightly packed messy cursive. He knew only one person that could write in chicken scratch like that. 

He reached out with a shaking hand to grasp it only to miss. His depth perception was already shit, but adding in a brain blistering fever and the headache he was getting for just trying to grab it. Even when he did, he could hardly make any sense of it. If his hands moved like molasses, then his head was equally full of the stuff. He only managed to decipher that he was to take the pills, and it was signed with a love you.

With what strength remained in him he took the pills. He drank a bit too fast, and lying back with a groan, he hoped he could keep the contents of his stomach down. He would kill someone for a Tasty lemon-lime right now. That's right, focus on the soda, not the thought of Basil being somewhere in his house. Or the confusion in his muddled brain.

Why was he here if he had been ghosted? I mean, he didn’t show up, and didn’t answer his calls. It had hurt intensely, he wouldn't lie. But right now he just wanted to know he was there. Propping himself up on his elbows as best as he can, he tried to call out to Basil. Nothing came out of his mouth except a strangled wheeze that ended in a coughing fit that lasted a full minute.

Knocked on his ass and squeezing, Sunny resigned himself to staring at the ceiling for now. The coughing had made the headache worse. Closing his eye, he just tried to focus away the dull throbbing in his forehead. 

The only sounds breaking through his concentration were his own shallow breaths, and the humming that was drifting through the crack in his door. It was oddly soothing. With that tuneless melody softly ringing in his ears, the pills took effect and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep, the ache of his heart dulling.

“And there we go! Clean! Well, cleaner. If I could find a mop, or the vacuum I'd do more.” Basil wiped the sweat from his brow from the intense...dusting. Honestly it didn’t take that long, but chores always made themselves a struggle. However, when it was for his boyfriend, it made it so much easier.

He shouldn't assume though. After ghosting him like that, he wouldn't be surprised if he had lost that right. In all honesty, Basil had always thought Sunny was too good for him. Did he really deserve to hog sunshine all to himself and drag him down?

“Hey, if i knew we were going to throw a party, i would have brought streamers!” Stranger rolled his wrist from his reclined position on the couch. How camp.

“Hmm?”

“The pity party you're holding yourself. Forgive me for not bringing your customary pint of strawberry ice cream that you eat in the bath.” Stranger propped himself up with an elbow. Even without a mouth, you could tell he was grinning. “Or would you prefer the endless stream of Sweetheart movies while you pine after that pale boy?”

“I’m having a moment, and you make fun of me?!” Basil tried to glare him down, but failed in all respects. His puffed cheeks and indignant tapping of his foot provided a mental image of an irritated rabbit, not intimidation. “Yes, cause it's silly. You had a legit mental health emergency. If he doesn't understand then quite frankly you deserve better. Besides, the only thing you truly fucked up on was storing Sunny’s number in your phone, and nowhere else. Should write that down.”

Basil went to protest, but could find no reason why. Did he really think that Sunny would reject him and kick him out of his home? Honestly, no. But there was always that little part whispering to himself about the things that could happen at any moment. It was never really quiet. Even when he was holding those slender  hands of his. But it was something he was used to, and with therapy could fight.

“Unless you feel guilty, then you listen to it. Do you really need to seek out bad things to think about?”

“Will you stay out of my dang head?! It’s impolite to eavesdrop you know” Basil threw his dusting rag through the spirit, who just gave him a flat look.

“Nice throw. And I can't really stay out of your head, considering I was thrust here as a hapless guest.”

Basil’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hapless guest? What do you...mean.” Of course he was gone. He just let out a groan and picked up the rag, taking it to the laundry room. He always was dropping that kind of cryptic nonsense then disappearing. He swore, he could never imagine something so irritating but helpful.

Sweat ran down his forehead as he continued his uphill climb. Gently pushing up, ignoring the wave of vertigo and nausea, he had managed to sit up. Success! If you didn’t count the four failed previous attempts. (He did not.) Limply putting his feet into his slippers, he now faced the daunting task of standing up. With the help of his nightstand, and enough time for it to be embarrassing, he succeeded yet again. He was on a roll!

The reason for this quest you might ask? Well originally, he was going to try and change out of his sweaty Pj’s. However, his struggle to stand made that a horrible idea. What really was getting to him was the amazing smell coming from downstairs. Whatever it was, even with his overwhelming nausea he wanted a bit. With that he took the first step and fell flat on his face with a groan. The room was spinning far too much for his own liking. He was going to stay on the floor for a while.

Well he would have, until he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. “Sunny, are you o-OH MY GOODNESS.” Oh god let him die now. It would be preferable to the deadly embarrassment running through his very being. He was picked up with ease into a bridal carry, which just made his fevered face glow a brighter red. Basil was surprisingly strong, now he knew what a bag of fertilizer felt like.

“Did you try to get out of bed?” Sunny tried to speak, however a strangled noise came out his throat. Confused, he tried again, and it sounded even worse, a coarse and gritty noise like sandpaper. “Stop Sunny! You sound like death. Poor baby.” He sat him back in bed, doing his best to tuck him in despite what defiant wiggling sunshine could muster. “No leaving this bed! Understand.”

Sunny wanted to argue, but the pointed look from this housewife looking Basil shut him up, as well as making him feel quite a bit warmer. “Now Sunny. I know you might be mad, but an emergency came up. After that I might have dropped my phone into the bathtub on accident. I’m re-” a odd sound began to fill the room that stopped Basil in his tracks. It sounded like the death rattle of a dog. It was escaping his lips as his shoulders shook.

“You little SHIT. I find you near dead, sick as a dog, and you laugh at me!” Basil whined as the rattle just got louder. Not quite understanding the weight of uncertainty and despair that was pouring out of him with that frankly painful laugh. A misunderstanding! That's all it was!

“I guess you don’t want your soup huh?” Too bad, I made it just for you.” Sunny shut um instantly. A home-made meal from his loving boyfriend? He was not gonna miss it! Digging down deep, into his Mari manipulation skills, he whimpered, giving him the best puppy dog eyes he could. “Okay okay. I can’t stay mad at that face. Be right back okay sunshine?”

After allowing himself a boyish squeal when he stepped outside the door, he composed himself. He had things to do, no matter how adorable he could be. More and more, Basil was half convinced he was a cat in a previous life. Rushing downstairs, he filled a bowl and grabbed a bag of saltines. He would coax him into drinking something later, but Sunny famously hated sports drinks.

“Here you go sunshine!” When he came back in, he just sighed with a smile. He was dead asleep, of course. However, he was less tense, his body flopped to the side, the covers kicked loose. He was hugging a pillow tightly to his chest, his ears still burning red “Aw. I'll give this to you later. Sweet dreams Sunny.” He leaned down, giving him a small peck on the top of his head, and quietly shut the door behind him.

Chapter Text

Hesitant Hospital

“Sunny, you need to go to a doctor. That cough is getting worse.” Even his shallow breaths were wheezy now. Sunny, however, hated doctors with a passion. He hated the cold rooms, the gross smell. He didn’t even mind shots, the place just had an awful vibe he despised. He just shook his head violently, letting out a groan as his head spun.

“Sunny, you haven’t been able to speak in days. You sleep most the day and your napkin levels of white. You need medical help!” Basil was already wringing his hands from nerves. But Sunny just shook his head . Nope. Never. “You could get worse Sunny, you could die!”

This did not get the reaction Basil would have liked. Instead of being spooked, Sunny just shrugged, as if he didn’t care. “Oh my god sunshine I swear to whatever is up above, don’t you even joke about that! You already had one brush with death, I'd rather you be around for a long time.” Sunny just raised an eyebrow and weakly gestured at him. 

Basil let out an unamused snort. “Yes, even if I was the reason for the first brush with death. If you get any crazy ideas, I swear I'll take the other eye.” He was treated with Sunny’s wheezy laugh. He tried to remain steadfast, he really did. However, as shown with previous actions, he would do anything for Sunny. “Okay okay. We’ll give you a day or two more. BUT. If you aren't getting better after that, we are going to see someone okay?” He nodded, and got rewarded with a peck on his cheek.

“Would you like to be carried downstairs sunshine, or rest before lunch?” Sunny just snuggled deeper into his bed. With a sigh, and a utterance of “lazybones”, the love of his life was gone. How would he survive, alone, without snuggles? Maybe he could convince Basil to cuddle him again after lunch, pretending he was cold. It worked yesterday, now if only he could get Basil to lose his shirt. He knew he was hiding muscle under there.

Sunny tossed and turned for a bit, deciding how he would try to snooze the aches and pains away. But he froze when he saw Soni just sitting on his nightstand. Grinning. Sunny just arched an eyebrow. He wasn’t anxious about being sick, or dieing. This stupid hedgehog had no power over him now! He just rolled over and closed his eye.

“If you die, how will Basil deal with it?” And like that his eye shot open. “Would he just kill himself? Go crazy? Living in a cardboard box beside a highway? He isn’t well adjusted. It would be something drastic” He slowly turned to face him, glaring at the smug looking animal. That sing-songy voice was extremely irritating, more-so because he knew he was right. “And all because you were too much of a BITCH to go to the doctor. So I'm gonna be here all day,giving you some anxiety about your mortality. Believe it or not, self preservation is good!” 

Downstairs, Basil was praying for an aneurysm. Something to put him, and this shadowy dumbass out of their misery. “Basil, Basil look at me!” He wasn’t going to look, not again. “Baaaaaasil. Basil I promise, I'm not messing with you.” He had been tormented for the last half hour while he was trying to do laundry. It seems that Stranger had found something he buried deep into his psyche. Something he hoped was long dead.

“You promise.”

“Yes.”

With the temperance of a saint, he slowly turned around. Stranger was sporting a pair of black shadowy cat ears, a tail behind him left trails of black smog behind him. “Can I haz cheeseburger?” Basil just bit into a rag and screamed. Memes, endless ancient memes were constantly being shouted at him, and he could not take much more of this. “I had one but I eated it.”

Thankfully, before he tried to strangle Stranger, he heard a cat meowing. Sunny was a bit irritated that it had become his personal text sound, but it was adorable! “Oh thank god, he agreed to go to the ER. The laundry can wait.”

“Le epic win.”

Sunny was grumbling as he was taken into a room. He could still hear the nurses giggling at him. It wasn’t his fault! Basil had helped him dress, and had decided a cat hoodie, cat face mask, cat print sweatpants, and cat slippers was a normal thing to wear to the ER. He was almost glad he had bruised his hand on the laundry room wall. Weird that he tripped with his fist out, but he had seen stranger things. The only good part of this was the candy bar Basil had gotten him from the vending machine. Even if a few small bites did set his tummy on edge.

“Come on sweetie. The doctor will see you soon. Aren't you a brave boy!” Sunny just grumbled as he sat on the bench. He hated the crinkle of wax paper on the fake leather. He hated that both nurses asked if he had an eating disorder when he had been weighed, and he hated how they commented on his growth being stunted too. He needed little reminder that he was behind his peers in a lot of ways. And on top of that, despite being 16, he had been given a note pad and CRAYONS to communicate with. He was an inch away from trying to melt someone with his mind. He better get a lollypop for this bullshit.

Blessedly soon, the doctor arrived, a jovial, short woman with a grin a mile wide. “Mr.Suzuki I presume?” Sunny nodded, tapping on the bit of paper that said “lost voice” and gave his best apologetic shrug. “That's fine kiddo, and sorry about the kiddie treatment. Maybe SOME NURSES SHOULD READ THE DAMN FILE HUH?!” Sunny liked this woman when she first walked in, seeing her yell at nurses in the hall who went scurrying in all directions made him love her now.

“I gotta question before we start.” She walked over, putting her stethoscope on his back. ‘Breathe in boyo. Now, I got a lot of residences fresh from the hell that is medical college. If they wanna watch me work with someone, I have to ask. You can say no kiddo.” He took a ragged breath, and saw her wince. “Oof. That's not a good sound. So what do you say?”

Sunny didn’t like people. But, if he was to make up something to someone in the medical field, he might as well grin and bear it. He nodded, and a clown car’s worth of people in scrubs suddenly poured in. It was a bit alarming how fast they appeared, like vultures on a pile of roadkill. “Well everyone this is Mr.Suzuki. Presented with a productive cough, flu like symptoms, and shortness of breath. Mask down boyo, this will tickle.”

Sunny squirmed as she stuck a swab deep into his nose, she pulled it out and put it into the hands of the nearest intern and she was off like a shot. ‘Just a test boyo. Aw don’t look at me like that. The anticipation of it makes it worse. Anyway, what kind of questions should we ask him at the start?” She was moving a mile a minute, and was more nimble than he expected, through action and voice.

The one snapping gum answered first. “Well besides symptoms, if he knew of anything he did to start it?”

“Good question!” Sunny had seen this one coming, and just flipped to the next page. He held up the page with “Got stood up on a date, walked around in the rain for two hours.” The resident hissed. “Oof, I know the feeling dude. Was it because of an emergency?” The doctor flipped around to scold her, but Sunny just nodded. “Even though Mr.Suzuki didn’t mind the question, that could make someone a mite testy. You got lucky Hannah.” 

“Shouldn't we do a lung capacity test? Even if we took a swab?” the rougher looking male, one of two that Sunny could see. “Correct David! Okay, blow into this please.” she wiped it off quickly before handing over the mouthpiece. “For as long as you can” Sunny tried, he really did, halfway through, however, he broke. He ended up sputtering and coughing, tears welling in his eyes as his ribs ached. The doctor just smoothed his back, motherly concern radiating off of her. “Sorry boyo, shoulda figured that. His lung capacity is at a third. I’m surprised he's walking about.”

“So it's a respiratory infection? Most likely at least.” Hannah was quickly becoming his sassy best friend he always desired. The person that his gross snot covered swab was handed off too returned just as quickly. She handed the doctor a piece of paper. ‘Well I figured as much. You got a nasty case of Pneumonia. You’re going to be out of commission for the next little while.”

“He’s severely underweight. Shouldn't we be concerned that that would hinder his recovery.” The voice that rang out from somewhere behind the majority. It sent ice through the veins, and made the room feel so much smaller. It couldn't be. “You're correct Henry, but all we can do is make a referral to a dietitian.”

Sunny couldn't hear them talk anymore. He just put his mask up and looked at the floor. He could feel his heart racing, and his breath growing short. He hadn't talked to Hero since that day, since that very awful day. If he had the choice to do it again, he would have. But it didn’t come without a cost.

Hero reacted poorly. He understood that they would all be upset, he had murdered Mari. He cared very little what his therapist said, that's what it was. So when he had told them all, Hero reacted the worst. He didn’t explode, oh no. He clutched him close, and whispered things. Such horrendous things that still clung to his brain in his quiet moments. Then he let him go, and walked out the room. He hadn't heard a thing from him since, and he didn’t ask either. If Hero wanted to see him, he would have come to him. He didn’t hear a thing that was said after, he just grabbed the papers given and ran.

Basil was busy using his phone in the lobby to talk to someone while he waited. He didn’t want to talk to him, but the broken phone could be used for little else. “No, rage comics are not a thing anymore. Please just shut up.” This conversation was discarded when Sunny latched onto his side, shivering. “Sunny! Are you okay?” Sunny just pushed his face into his shoulder and shook his head. Basil was on high alert now, he knew anxiety when he saw it. “Shhh. It’s okay. We can head home.”

To say Basil was worried would be an understatement. He had been on edge the entire bus ride home, and had refused to answer any of his questions. He just clung to him, whimpering and shaking, a wild look eye. They couldn't even stop at the pharmacist. He had begged him, although mutely, to go home.

He had just put Sunny down to rest, and he had barely been able to peel himself out of his embrace. Even in his sleep, he had a grip of iron. Was Sunny that scared of doctors? That didn’t make any sense. He sighed, hoping Sunny would open up in his own time. He was willing to just chalk it up to stress and the fever, pneumonia is no joke. He was about to head out to grab the many pills that Sunny was tasked with taking, there was a knock at the door.

Basil just sighed. Sunny’s mother wasn’t due for another few days, so he had no idea who was there. The last dozen times turned out to be window cleaners badgering him for work, for some reason. He threw open the door, grabbing the house keys. “Look we don’t want….anything.”

Basil knew why Sunny was so shaken, considering he felt fit to slam the door right in his face. In stained scrubs and a scruffy beard stood someone he never expected to see in a long time, if ever. Towering over him like he always did, he tried to give his trademark smile, but it was a bit frayed at the edges. Rubbing the back of his neck, the figure said “Hey Basil. It’s been a while huh?” 

Chapter Text

Tense Teatime

Hero had underestimated Basil. Completely and utterly, he had failed to really think about what would have changed about him since that day. In some small part of his mind, he had hoped that he would have returned to that shy, sweet boy he once knew. The one who sobbed uncontrollably at a sad cat picture for half an hour. That was not the person he was entrapped by now.

Entrapped is a strong word, but it's how this felt. He had been interrupted, and was told if he was going to say anything, they were going to sit down. Basil was firm and a bit standoffish, but he had sort of deserved that. He deserved a lot of things considering how he acted. Basil was boiling the water, and pulling things out of the fridge and pantry, keeping himself busy with tasks besides looking at him. One year changed a lot, Basil was able to keep cool and confident where he normally could not, and trapped him in a social situation where he could not leave easily, or break the chance for further contact.

“Well now I know why Sunny was shaking like a leaf. Did you run into him or something?” The voice that came out of him was almost alien to Hero. A bit deeper, but more confident, cool, and measured. It was something he expected out of one of his professors, not Basil. He knew that it held a sharpened edge to it as well.

“Yea, he agreed to let medical students in on his checkup. Did you get his medications? I could uh, help get them cheaper.”

Basil narrowed his eyes, pulling out a larger knife then necessary to slowly cut the peaches he was putting on a small plate. “We can manage ourselves Henry.” Hero winced with the use of his real name, and the loud chop that followed it. “How did you even find his house? Following us home? Abuse what little power you have being a medical intern?” Another chop, then another. Hero could see the wooden chopping block crack a little from the forceful blows.

“I talk to his mother on occasion. And what are doing here exactly? Polly has been worried sick, you disappeared with a note 5 days ago!” Basil’s flow stuttered a bit, his composure cracking. “Why are you talking to mo- Polly. Polly anyway? Besides, what kind of boyfriend would be if I didn't help sunshine when he’s ill?” He shot a glare back, he wasn't going to let himself be put on the back-foot.

“OH! Congratulations. When did that happen?” Basil rolled his eyes, where was he getting off pretending Kel didn’t tell him already

“Answer my question Henry.” His name was spat out like a bad taste as he wilted.”

“I uh, wanted to see how you were doing with your therapist.” Basil’s blood ran cold for a bit. How did he know about that? “What did Kel tell you? I swear I'm going to have a talk about that with him.” He accidentally chopped the peach pit in half with the next swing.

Hero sank a bit. “No, I helped you get in. He was one of my professors. Same with Sunny’s. Besides uh…” He looked like a kicked puppy. “Kel hasn’t really talked to me lately.”

Basil paused, staring at him as if he had sprouted several horns. “Kel is icing you out. Kel?” It was well known Kel couldn't hold a grudge to save his life, as shown by him instantly forgiving them for their crime. “I find that a little hard to believe.”

Hero just sighed, scratching the back of his head. “He may have called me up after I went back to school and chewed me out for my behavior for two hours. I couldn't even get a word in edgewise.” He chuckled without humor. “He said he had nothing to say to me until I, and I quote, pull your head out of your ass and spit out your martyr complex. ” Basil didn’t even hide his surprise. “You're kidding.” Hero just shook his head. “You deserved it.” Basil was not pulling punches, or pretending that he liked him. Fair enough, he was protecting Sunny.

“So what, that lasted all of a week or two.” He took the screaming kettle off the burner and scooped some loose leaf out of a tin. He moved it to the table, along with some fruit, a plate of oatmeal cookies, and the chopped fruit and some cream. Hero was impressed, it was a nice little tea time. He eyed the cracked teacup he was given, but ignored the minor slight.

“More like 8 months. He only talks to me when mom and dad force him, and even then it's like getting Sunny to try and talk to you.” Hero just stared at his empty cup. “He’s not wrong.”

“Is that why you’re here? Really? What did you do, shake down Sunny for lunch money?”

“No, I came here to apologize, and check on him. I called his mother after the appointment. I thought he was alone. I never apologized for what I said.” 

“What exactly did you say Henry? Every single one of us has asked him and he has never said a word.” Hero just shook his head, sighing. “If he wants to tell you he will. Nothing nice, I assure you.” He couldn't hold it in anymore, he had the chance he had been waiting for, months of deciding it wasn;t the time... It was now or never.

“Basil, I’m sorry. I shouldn't have been mad, I shouldn't have ghosted you all, and I shouldn't have taken out my grief on Sunny.” Basil just blinked. This was not what he expected at all. He expected some grandstanding, maybe some ego, and him saying his actions were justified. That he would take all their pain and try to make it his somehow. “I understand if you don’t forgive me. I said and did some horrible things out of anger.”

“I….Hero we killed Mari. You realize that right?” Basil didn’t know how to feel now! If Hero had been rude, or mean, he could kick him out and stop thinking about this whole affair. But no, he was showing remorse, apologizing despite the horrible act they did.

“I thought my name was Henry.”

“Hero, shut up before I pour the tea directly into your lap. You should have yelled at Sunny, not me.”

Hero just shook his head. “It was an accident. And although what you did was wrong...You were trying to protect Sunny. Even if it was...horrible. It wasn’t Mari anymore, just a body.” Hero just twiddled his thumbs. “Besides, I can’t talk.”

Basil was a bit too busy wrestling with his own internal guilt, and being forgiven easily to even register much of what was going on. At some point, they had to discuss all of this, but the words just spilled out of his lips. “What do you mean?...” Basil tried to shake his trembling hands and lip behind his tea cup. He wanted to just throw his arms around Hero and hug him, to cry and say how he missed him. But he wasn’t going to do that without Sunny.

“I tripped Kel down the stairs once.”

Tea launched from Basil’s mouth across the table, pelting Hero square in the face. He slowly picked up a napkin, and wiped the steaming liquid from his face. “Yea, I should have expected that.”

“WHAT?! WHEN? WHY?!” Basil just stared at the former older brother figure of the group who had this little grin on his face. “I’ll tell you. This was before we met you. Kel was nine years old and I was hitting 13 soon. We had a bunch of bacon that was about to go bad, so I cooked it all, and was letting the grease drain.” Hero laughed a bit. “It was going to be used for breakfast, but someone got to it first.”

“Let me guess, Kel?”

“Yup, I come out of the upstairs bathroom to the most satisfied little Kel you could imagine, rubbing his grease stained hands on his stomach, ruining his shirt. This little gremlin had eaten two whole pounds of bacon on his own, and had the gall when seeing my shocked face to ask for more.” Even Basil smirked a little at that, the image of a greasy Kel just looking up with those eyes and asking for more was amusing and on brand.

“After he changed his shirt, I was still so shocked and angry that I tripped him. Honestly, I was just mad cause I wanted some! But he uh...rolled after he tripped and went right down the steps. Rolled like some kinda bug.” Hero wasn't smiling as brightly now, he wrung his hands, eyes far away, remembering “I stood there for what felt like hours before rushing to the top to see him there just laughing away.”

“He was fine, and was easily bribed with Orange Joe at nine am to never tell a soul. After I cooled off from the hospital. I thought about that a lot. My classes...made it clear how amazingly tough, and fragile the human body is. You can survive shock, eat many things that would kill all other animals.” Hero frowned, “But you can break your neck from sneezing. You can die from falling less than a foot, and you can drown in 4 inches of water. Tripping down some stairs.”

“Basil.” He grasped tightly onto his hand, shocking Basil. He was shaking just as much, if not more as he implored him. “What you did was wrong, I know. But I forgive you and Sunny. It was just an accident. What I beg of you is to forgive me. I’m an adult, who took out all the anger, pain and grief of losing a loved one” Hero was crying, the picture of a heartbroken man that Basil had never seen or expected. There was something surreal about seeing what was the pillar of the entire group doing as poorly as the rest of them softened his heart.

“I told Sunny the most horrible things, I screamed at Kel for forgiving you two, and I didn't even bother to check on Aubrey. I failed you in all respects. All I can say now is ``I'm sorry. I know it’s too much to ask for you to forgive me, but you don’t know when your friends will be gone, and I don't want to waste what little time we all get. If you want, I’ll walk right out the door, and you’ll never see a bit of me again.” Basil looked at him, then to the shrugging Stranger standing in the corner. He didn't have much of a choice, it was not in his nature to be vindictive, just petty.

“Hero” He perked up on hearing his old nickname for the first time. “There's nothing to forgive.”

“Bu-”

“To me anyway, to Sunny and Kel, maybe. Listen to someone who let guilt consume them to the point they had to be fist-fought to not kill themselves, you're allowed to have emotions. You're allowed to be mad, sad, and disappointed in us.” Basil just smirked a little. “Even if you were a tool. Besides, what’s important is that you came around. Even when you hated us you still cared about our well-being. I should be thanking you for Dr.Harris by the way, she's a lifesaver.”

“You're not really an adult Hero, you're like 23. You fucked up, we fucked up. Every single one of us is a fuck up! Now shut up and eat my cookies. I need to be better at baking than Sunny is.” With that he stuffed a peach slice into his mouth, savoring the sweet taste and the shocked expression on Hero’s face. This was the start of a new, more confident Basil!

That lasted all up until it came time to wash the dishes. After Hero destroyed his cookies, and gave him some tips, he insisted he helped. Then the teasing began. 

“S-shut up HERO!” He was trying to hide behind the plate he was drying off as the man laughed. “Come on. You helping Sunny back to health? Alone, with no supervision? You're expecting me to believe that you two haven't fooled around at all?” Basil just groaned, reminded that older siblings, while nice to have, could also be proper assholes. “The most action I’ve gotten HERO.'' He tried to glare, to summon that cold icy look he had just an hour before, but the effect was ruined by his flush. “Is helping Sunny change.”

“You're checking him out huh? Isn’t that a bit naughty Basil?” He answered with a groan. Hero was feeling, well not better, but at peace. He had a lot to make up for, but he felt like he was on track. If anything, he had to thank Kel. But for now, being the tease Mari would have wanted to her brother's boyfriend was enough. “At least Ms.Suzuki doesn't have to come home for a pregnancy test eh?”

Basil felt like he was an inch from catching fire at this point. He was meant to be the new confident Basil, not the shy easy to fluster one. In some ways, he guessed, he would never change. Maybe he could dip into his past, and pull out one of his all time classic moves, playing innocent. Stranger just nodded in the corner. “Nuke this man!”

“Yea your right Hero. Sucks to be you though, Kel could get his two girlfriends pregnant.”

The broken plate was worth the look on his face.

Chapter Text

Daybreak Discussions

All Vance wanted to do was scarf down whatever food his hand landed on in the kitchen, wash off all the confectioners sugar, and pass out for 12 hours. He thought a part time job for Miss.Candace would be a dream come true. Surrounded by candy, a 30% employee discount, and 15 bucks an hour at his age was astonishingly good money for a summer job. However, she did have a mean streak a mile long, and he thought that just maybe, she was lying to his face when she said let bygones be bygones.

Because once and a while, they had to cook all day. Or should he say night. He had proven himself a hard worker, even if he sampled the product almost constantly. However, when he proved himself a fast learner with cooking candy, his fate might as well have been sealed, especially when he proved he could do it by himself without ruining anything, or wasting money.

Miss. Candice, with a gleam in her eye, told him that he would be working some nights now. What that meant is from 5 to 5 he made caramel apples, truffles, and taffy. Oh god the taffy. No wonder it was so good, considering he had to put it by hand! Every part of his body screamed to stop moving, but he was almost there!

What he didn't expect when he strolled into his own house, was Kel occupying his kitchen. He was going to just grab an untoasted bagel, and pretend he didn’t see him, however, he was scared. Kel, that sweet sweet moron that had somehow captured his sister and boss’s heart, was cooking.

His hair pulled back in a ponytail, Kel was the picture of concentration, looking back between his phone and a bowl. An egg in his slightly shaking hands. Wait, did he not know how to do this? Seriously? Also, why was he wearing one of his sister’s Pj shirts. Man turned it into a crop top.

“Kelsey, do you not know how to crack an egg?” He didn't even flinch from the use of his full name. “Well, maybe if my parents didn't neglect everyone but the golden child, they would have taught me how.”  Vance just stared, Kels concentration cracking from the quiet, and that goofy grin sprouted. “Oh! Hey Vance! I didn’t hear you come in. Was just trying to get breakfast ready before we went on the hike!”

Vance just continued to stare at him. “You okay there dude?”

“Yea! Just a little new to cooking, why do you ask” why was Vance looking at him like that. “Did I say something?” Vance decided to broach that topic later. That smile was beginning to creep him out a bit. “Treating my sister right there lover boy?” It was his right, and duty, as an older brother to bully the shit out of suitors. He personally liked Kel, but it was his sacred duty, handed down by his father.

“I’m trying but cracking eggs is hard! I gotta be good for something around here…”

“Woah Woah Woah.” Vance snatched the egg out of his hands. “Why the heck did you say that? Time out.” Vance just hid the egg behind his back as Kel reached for it. Although Tall, Kel didn't have much of a chance to bulge Vance. He was built of tough stuff before, but with all the taffy pulling, he could give a linebacker a run for his money. “You talk about what's eating you up inside, i help you make breakfast to impress my sister.”

Kel sized Vance up. “I could take that egg from you, ya know.”

“And get into my sister's bad graces?” The way Kel wilted from that was almost pathetic, in an instant he went from threatening to whimpering puppy. Vance just sighed, and took two mugs and filled them from the coffee pot. “Sit down. We’re gonna have a talk,you and I.”

Watching Kel try and act nonchalant was worth its weight in gold. He would dart his eyes this way and that, anywhere but at Vance. He just sipped his coffee, knowing the caffeine would keep him going until he hit his soft bed. Kel, in many ways, was like a golden retriever. Just let the situation stew inside of them, and it would come to the surface.  From the sound of his growing foot tapping, he would say he couldn't hold it in for very much longer. “Kel, tell me what's on your mind.”

“Nothing, just making them breakfast.” His foot was tapping, his leg jiggling in place. His smile was being cracked by anxiety.

“Kel.”

“It’s nothing! Really.” He was tapping his fingers now too.

“....Kel.”

“OKAY FINE. I uh….I’ve been feeling. Like a disappointment. Well, more than usual. I mean, I jokingly barged in on your sister and Aubrey making out, and somehow, got roped into it! I have two loving girlfriends SUDDENLY. One’s that I don’t do much except cuddle, and call them pretty sometimes! I don’t deserve it.”

“Dude, you're a moron.” He followed it up with a flick to the forehead, a standby from his bullying days. Watching Kel go cross eyes never failed to make him laugh. “You do plenty.”

“Yea, what do i DO exactly? Basketball, pretending I'm happy, and disappointing my parents. Yet somehow, i get the girl i crushed on my entire life, PLUS the bonus girlfriend! I don't know what i did to deserve all of this.” Vance sighed, taking a sip of his coffee. Man was Kel dumb, but the good kind. “I thought they were both lesbians!”

“No my sister is bisexual as I am asexual. Extremely. But that's besides the point.” He slowly placed a hand on his shoulder. “Kel, you do plenty.”

“Like what?”

“You wanna fight me on this. Fine. Let's go over all the good things you've done in the last year. You pulled Sunny out of his house, helping him admit the truth, and from punching his own ticket most likely. You're friendly to everyone, so I bet all the people working retail around here love you. You help out whenever you can, you care about all your friends too!” He counted off on his fingers, staring Kel dead in the eye. “Look, I know your home life is a little…”

“What did Kim tell you?!’ The reaction was not what he expected. It was a violent, visceral thing. Anger, hurt, and a bit of shame all mixed in. “I mean, uh, did she talk about me?” And he was back to normal. Man, did none of his friends have healthy home lives? He thought the divorce would make them dysfunctional, but damn.

“Enough. Like how your mom gushed over the fact that she thought you would never date. That you didn’t screw up asking Kim and Aubrey out.” A hilarious thought, considering from what he knew, Aubrey asked him out, and Kel had to be told multiple times it wasn’t a prank. “You wanna talk about it?”

“I’d rather die.”

Vance sighed, it was too damn early for angst, but here he was. He wasn’t gonna be able to go to bed anyway, knowing that a new friend and his sister's love interest was not feeling his best. “Okay then. I think I know what your problem is.”

“What is it then, besides you won’t give me the damn egg.”

“Kel, their other eggs in the fridge. You sat here of your own free will. Anyway, I think you're not used to being appreciated.” Kel just looked at him blankly, slowly tilting his head, as if letting the thought roll around in his noggin so it would lodge in place. “Aubrey and Kim told me about your deal with your brother. He was the golden child huh?” He got no response, so he continued.

“I think you're getting all this love from Aubrey, from Kim, even our new friend group. You have people that rely on you, and you can rely on them. You're feeling appreciated, and you're not used to it! You think you stumbled into it like a fucking cartoon, when really, you got it by being Kel.” *he prodded Kel’s chest

“But you think, at any moment, we’re gonna reject you. Kick you out, because you can't figure out why we care. Guess what? You shouldn't need to be good at anything to be cared for and loved for! You can be a complete little gremlin and be loved, I mean look at Angel!” That at least got a bit of a laugh out of the oddly forlorn Kel.

“You're not going to be kicked out cause you ain’t a doctor or some shit, or get dumped. You aren't what you can do. You have intrinsic value as a human being, not a meat thing that can do laundry or something. Besides, as i said, your a fucking delight, and your a bro.”

“How do you even know half of these words?” It was a small smile, but baby steps. “A 4.0 GPA. Now, you want some help making the girls breakfast, or what. I ain’t gonna be able to sleep for another 30 or so anyway.”

“Hey Vance? Thanks. You honestly made me feel loads better! Come on, I'm a moron in the kitchen. Help a man out.”

And help he did, even if he was bone tired, achy, and a little bit wired, he helped. There was a reason Kim called him reliable after all. It turns out, Kel isn’t as empty headed as people assumed, just had issues with attention. If you reeled him back in, he could pick things up pretty quick, but most people wouldn't bother. Vance made a note to tip his sis on this, but that would be later.

Soon a spread was forming. He had been taught how to cook eggs, and bacon, which Vance consumed. It wasn’t for his own selfish gain, oh no, it had been payment, to divulge Kim’s favorite breakfast. So while the cinnamon rolls baked, Vance made for his leave. “I’m gonna take a shower, then wake the girls up for you k? I’m not gonna...see anything traumatizing am i?”

Kel laughed. “We’ve only kissed really. I don’t think any of us are ready for that kinda step. Besides, you think I'd do that in your own room?”

The flat look he got just made Kel laugh. “No, they're decent, I just let them give me a makeover, and they got foundation all over my jersey. It’s in the dryer.”

“Hey, uh…”

“Kel, if you got something to say, do it now, i got powdered sugar in ALL MY CRACKS. And I'm pretty sure I discovered a few new ones.”

Kel just grinned, and hugged him tighter than he was expecting. “Thank you. You know I'm sorta on the outs with my brother right now, and I needed to hear that. Honestly, I feel really loved by you guys.” He ignored the sniffle and just patted the taller teen on the back. “No prob bro, you need anyone to talk to, I'm always here. Or asleep, Or eating taffy.”

Kel pulled away with a sniff and a grin. “Do you ever get tired of that stuff?”

“If you ask me that again I'm gonna make taffy out of you! Oh. Before I go.” With a gentle hand on his shoulder, Vance stared deep into Kel’s eyes. “If you hurt my sister, in any way shape or form, I'm gonna turn your head into a real life sugar skull, capeesh?”

Freshly washed, and one Kel put on notice, Vance stepped out of the bathroom with a relieved sigh, the tugs of sleep calling to him, begging him to return to his bed's soft embrace. But first, one of life's small pleasures. Annoying your siblings. With a kick, the bedroom door bursts open. “WAKEY WAKEY LESBIANS, MOM SAYS IT'S MY TURN TO USE THE SLEEP.”

Chapter Text

Bacon Bribe

“You're kidding me, this is something Sunny liked to eat.” Basil just stared at the index card with suspicion. Sure it was in Mari’s handwriting, but it seemed like a prank more than a real meal. Hero just laughed, putting the groceries on the table. “Yup, it’s real, and he can eat a whole damn thing. I’ve seen him do it with my own eyes. The only reason we didn’t talk about it much was JUST for Sunny. Something to dangle over Sunny’s nose when he was slacking in school.”

“And to prevent Kel from asking for it?” Hero sighed, looking slightly guilty. “Yeaaaa, he would ask for one every day, if not every hour. Think that this will...draw him out?”

The reason for this culinary conniving was simple: Sunny had refused to leave his room for the two days Hero had made himself home in the guest room. Although Basil wasn’t too keen on the idea at first, considering he was losing his alone time with his beau. However, that was an unfounded worry. Sunny had been avoiding Hero, for lack of a better word. When Basil tried to broach the topic gently, Sunny either distracted him, kissed him, or cuddled him senseless. It was very hard to stay on track after that, but it was clear that Sunny was apprehensive.

Basil had done his best to reassure his adorable boyfriend, but Sunny was still worried. He even implied that since Hero went to med school, he would know how to chop up their bodies and make sure that they were never found. That morbid thought aside, he had been chipping away at Sunny with gentle guilting and pestering, even threatening to withhold cuddles once. He broke instantly, but he still made the threat.

“Yea, ever since he’s started his medication he’s gained his appetite back. Well, a Sunny sized one at least.” Basil helped him unload the groceries, noticing Hero wince as he looked at the recipe. “What, don’t you have a ton of scholarships and your parent’s money?”

“Uhh…” Hero looked away and rubbed his neck, he was hiding something. “Yea, but for right now, I've been living...skint. I have to save up for something, so this blew out my monthly food budget.”

“EXCUSE ME? Your monthly budget for food is 30 dollars? How do you even survive?!” 

“Rice and beans, free fruit, and water. Free coffee too.” Basil just stared blankly at him. “I’m sending you money now. No wonder you're starting to look a bit….Sunny-ish. After 4 years.”

“With what money? You're a teenager without a job.”

“With the money my parents send me to try and replace their love.” The way basil said that just made Hero drop the sack of potatoes. “Holy shit Basil. That's a bit harsh.” The look he got from saying that shut him up properly.

“It’s true. Besides, I have more money than I know what to do with, I can afford to feed you.”

“You could spend it on Sunny.”

“And I will, seriously Hero. I have more than you’d think. Now how can I help?” Hero paused, looking at the potato peeler in his hands. He twisted and toyed with it as he pondered something. He could ask for help, and it could solve the problem. But he shook that off. No, he wasn’t going to take advantage of Basil’s kind nature for an easy way out. Besides, he owed it to Kel to do it himself.

“Unpack the bacon, I'll cook it. Does Sunny have a griddle?” Basil nodded. “A small electric one, I’ll go get it.”

Hero nodded as he began to peel the potatoes. It would be easy, a parboil then fry for the best fries you could imagine, then bacon, and fried sourdough and secret sauce. With that, the ultimate bacon sandwich would be complete, and Sunny would be drawn out of hiding. Honestly, he hadn’t thought about this little bit of history for years. It was odd to have not, considering it was Mari who asked him to help with it.

“Heroooooo this isn’t funny! It’s a crisis!” Mari pouted as Hero rolled around on the couch, clutching his gut. It was too much to handle, seeing his pretty girlfriend violently kicking down the door in a tizzy, only to demand his “culinary services.”.

“Wait, just...Oooh.” He slowly wound down, a few giggles still spilling out of him. “You said you would do what?”

“Sunny was slacking on his algebra homework, so I told him, if he could ace the upcoming test, I’d cook him whatever he wanted!” Hero nodded along, this made sense. “And he did it, and I'm so proud, but he asked for something AWFUL, HORRIBLE, OBSCENE.”

“What, human meat?”

“Hero, that's gross but WORSE. He asked me to make him… bacon and french fry sandwich.”

Hero paused, letting the words sink in, before bursting into hysterics. “O-oh my god you got played!” He continued to laugh as Mari flopped onto the couch and punched his arm. “Shush, it's not funny!” She said this, but a grin was worming its way onto her face.

“It is! That little bastard asked for a sandwich of the two things you can't cook! He’s poking fun at you!” It was true, for some reason, beyond any mortal comprehension, Mari was cursed. All her bacon would burn to a crisp, or start a grease fire. And all her french fries would either be purely raw potato, or charcoal. It made no sense whatsoever.

“Are you going to help me or not?! After all, it would make you my hero~ ” 

He did remember helping her out, after spending a few moments in a flustered daze, then half an hour blushing from the peck on the cheek she gave him. He wondered if Mari would be disappointed that he still reacted to affection like that. Nah, she’d love it.

Basil had taken over potato peeling duty but was silently cursing under his breath. Seems like he’s more used to holding a hoe than a peeler. “You’re doing it backward. Peel away, not towards. And don’t spend so much time trying to make it perfect, peel off most of it, then do the spot work.” Basil huffed, a bit of frustration on his face as he corrected his action.

“Hey, you just started cooking, why are you wound up?” Basil grimaced. “Am I that easy to read? Damn it.” Hero laughed. “We grew up together, all of you kids are an open book, even Sunny. Wanna talk about it?”

He just kept peeling. “I don’t want to be useless. Sunny can cook and clean, and do more adult things than I can! Half the time, when I try to cook something, Polly will tell me to set the table. Also, I may have uh, destroyed some of Sunny’s sweater vests.”

“On purpose or on accident.”

“Hero!” He laughed as he dodged some flying potato peelings. “I don’t like the insinuation, at my expense no less. It was an accident. I….Just don’t feel like an adult you know, like I’m lagging behind everyone else.”

“You can’t judge your progress by others you know. You’ll always be behind someone, and someone will always be worse than you! It’s just the way of things, and it will drive you mad. You’ll always be chasing after someone. It’s better to measure your progress by comparing yourself. Have you gained a little bit since the day before and all that? That's the best way to do it.”

“Speaking from experience eh Hero?” Hero grinned with a little guilt. “Yea, sorta humbling to be the golden child around town, only to get up shown in every way by a slacker who plays accordion.” He noticed the look, then shrugged. “You meet all types in college.”

The rest of the cooking was simple. Parboiling and frying the potato, cooking a large amount of bacon, and frying the bread in the bacon grease. It was a simple, but decadent dish. You’d easily double your calories needed for daily living, if not triple it with this simple dish. But that’s what made it so divine.

“Bread, sauce, fries bread bacon sauce fries bread.” The sandwich had been born, and Basil just stared at it. “Holy crap Hero, how does that not kill someone”

“You only eat it rarely. I mean, if you had two of these things in a week, I'm pretty sure your heart would just leave your body on its own. Or you’d die on the spot. Now, to set the bait.” Basil watched as he turned on a small personal fan, and blew the scent up the stairs. “Hero, he isn’t a cartoon, he’s not going to float down here and devour the dang thing.”

Sunny slowly crept around the stairs, peeking down below. It was quiet, too quiet. He knew they were up to something, Hero, and his snuggle buddy. Basil had been acting oddly lately, wearing that little mischievous smirk of his. He was up to something, no doubt. But he couldn't think for a moment. Not without investigating that heavenly smell.

“It’s a trap you know.”

The voice echoed through his head as he reached the bottom step. There was no mistaking that monotone utterance, after all, Omori was special. Lately, he had been hearing more and more of him. Mostly sarcastic quips, mocking him for one thing or another. He hoped that it was just some mental voice he had gained, and not the real article. However, he was never that lucky.

Even if Omori had meant well, he was damned if he was listening to that monochrome goblin, and slowly peeked into the kitchen. There stood the sandwich of his dreams, the thing that made him strive for school success. What was its name again?...

Sunny stared at the godly creation in front of him. It was beyond the mortal comprehension of a normal 12-year-old, mostly because it wasn’t a flaming train wreck. He had chosen the foods Mari sucked with, and yet here it was, completely perfect.

“...how?” Mari just grinned at her little brother and ruffled his hair. “What? You got a good grade, you get your treat! Did you think I couldn't pull it off?” Sunny shook his head instantly, punching her ego straight in the gut. Well, he wasn’t wrong. This was the 5th version of this sandwich, with the help of Hero on top of that. She wouldn't let him know about that though.

“Well, I did. So little brother.” Grabbing a knife, she proceeded to cut it into quarters, lest Sunny choke trying to cram it into his maw.  “I present to you, the Mari special! Enjoy.” She then went to leave the room. As the trim and proper lady she was expected to be, she couldn't even be in the same room as that sandwich, or she would be tempted. However, her egress was halted.

“...you get some too. I’m proud you cooked bacon.” And that little compliment made the sandwich all the sweeter, even if it undid an entire week of working out.

Sunny just started at this magnificent culinary abomination. He knew that if he ate this entire thing, in his state, one bad coughing fit would make him plaster the walls with it. Besides, he wanted to share in a memory that he had selfishly guarded for so long.

Neither Hero nor Basil, hiding behind the couch in the living room, saw Sunny come in with three plates and set them on the coffee table. Sunny just sat on one end and coughed. He waited, then coughed again. Growing impatient, he simply texted Basil and heard them scrambling to shut down the meowing phone, much to his amusement.

Basil was the first one to peek over, trying to be subtle, but had direct eye contact with Sunny. How someone in kitten PJ’s managed to look so grumpy, he’d never know. “Hey, sunshine I was uh...trying to clean up back here?” Sunny didn’t say anything, just let an eyebrow slowly creep up. “I mean it! That's what I was doing!” Just keep raising that eyebrow, making a point to look to where Hero’s feet were sticking out. He wasn’t going to admit it.

Sunny opened his mouth, coughing a few times before managing to get out a few words. “Hero, Basil, share this with me.” He thought he could say more, however as soon as he tried, he lost his breath, coughing violently again. He felt two pairs of hands rubbing his back, trying to soothe his coughs. He hated this, he could barely breathe, and if he tried to talk, he would cough so hard he would almost vomit every time. He shot Hero with an apologetic smile and gestured to his plate.

“You wanted to share? Heh...surprised I knew Mari’s secret sandwich eh?” Hero just grinned at Sunny as he nodded. Both sat across from Sunny as Basil hesitantly looked at his third. “I don’t know if I'm gonna be able to eat all this..” That resolve lasted mere moments as Sunny’s lip wobbled violently, looking at him with his best Bambi eyes. “Fine, fine, turn those off. Geeze…”

“Wow, you’re just as whipped as I was by Mari, Basil.”

“At least My significant other isn't in the ground, Hero.”

The silence was deafening as they both stared down at each other. Sunny could feel the panic rising before they both burst into laughter. Sunny sagged in relief as Basil took one bite, then began to violently dig into it. He didn’t have the heart to warm basil that would upset his mostly vegetarian tummy. Oh well, he would pay for it later. Sunny looked at Hero, questioning how he knew how to make this, just to be met with a shit-eating grin.

“Oh, I cooked it for Mari every time, she never cooked it.”

Again, against his better judgment, he was forced to speak, old anger boiling up. “I FUCKING KNEW IT! THAT LYING-” Again, he was stopped by a coughing fit, a worse one this time. But hey, at least when he fell out of his chair, the other two joined him on the floor laughing.

Chapter Text

Perilous Phonecalls

Basking in the diabetic afterglow was a delight. Not one of them said much, and Hero was too busy digesting the first solid meal he had consumed in weeks. Both the teens he was watching with a bleary eye were enjoying each other's company. Basil held Sunny in his lap as he dozed away, content with being used as a human bean bag chair. In this quiet moment, a thought sparked into Hero’s mind, a small factoid long forgotten.

“Hey, Basil? Have you called Polly yet?” Basil looked up, still dreamily content, but that didn’t last long. Slowly, creeping over his features, a sense of dawning horror emerged. He had not touched base with his adoptive parent in a week now, and instead, had been galavanting around acting like Sunny’s nursemaid. Although fulfilling, he knew that he was a dead man walking when he made that call. “Um….yes?”

“Basil.” Ugh, Hero had activated older brother mode, and his tone made it known he wasn’t going to put up with any tomfoolery.

“No, not yet, I got caught up in chores.”

“And Sunny’s eyes?” Basil spoke before catching himself. “Well yea, have you seen them? So pretty...hey!” It was somewhat comforting that even as Basil grew older, his mannerisms somewhat stayed the same. His puffed cheeks and frustrated look were an adorable habit Hero hoped he would never break. “You should call her now, I know your phone is broken, but I have her number.”

Basil squinted at him. “Why do you have Polly’s number? In your cell no less.” He didn’t flinch, Basil had to give him some credit, but as he continued to focus, he could see a bead of sweat slowly rolling down his neck. “I did recommend your therapist, and she likes to give me status updates from time to time. I was worried about you?”

“So much that you ghosted us?” Hero winced but sighed, he deserved that. “Yes. Honestly, I still can’t believe all Sunny needed was a sandwich to convince him all was forgiven.” He deserved more scrutiny than that! Sure emotions were running high, but he was the responsible one, the older big brother. But she told him he should try to forgive himself.

“I mean it when I say I said some awful things. I went far beyond the line and-” His train of thought was interrupted by a phone call. Although this blew the wind out his sails, he checked the caller ID. With this, he saw a chance to get back at the blonde, retribution was soon at hand!

He answered it quickly as Basil watched. “Oh, hey! I was meaning to call you, I...what? Oh! Okay.” Hero held out his phone, doing his best to pretend to be confused. “It’s for you!”

Basil didn’t think anything of it as he pressed it close to his ear. “Hello?” There was nothing on the other end for a moment, then an explosion of fury! “BASIL?!?! Where have you been? I've been worried sick! You haven’t called to tell me you were okay, and you think that tiny little note was enough? Mr, we are going to have a BIG talk about this, and you better not hang up!” 

The smug, shit-eating grin on Hero was enough information to know he had made a grave error.  No doubt he could hear the ass reaming he was getting from across the room, as he had to hold the phone a foot away from his ear as he got chewed out. He just waved and went into the kitchen, a victory sandwich was in order!

When Basil could put the phone near his ear again, the angry puffing of Polly still quite audible, all he could manage was a meek utterance. “I’m sorry?” He cringed as it left his lips, why did he phrase it like that. “Oh, that’s what I get when my son goes missing for a week, galavanting off to god knows where. Oh, with a broken phone, and no way to contact him! You're killing me, Basil! I’m aging at a rapid speed!”

Polly was talented at laying the guilt on thick. “I mean it, I'm sorry! I….got distracted.”

“Oh god, it’s drugs, isn’t it?! You're not growing weed for the mob are you?!” By this time, Sunny has begun to stir in his lap from the absurd volume. He slowly pets his ebony locks, shushing him a bit. Thankfully, he had been lulled back to sleep, an adorable little yawn escaping his lips.

“Did you just shush me, Basil?” He froze, slowly staring up into the ceiling as he contemplated the situation he had found himself in. He could flee to Mexico, he heard the cactuses were lovely this time of year! “Basil, I want an answer. Now!”

“You know how I had a little episode a week ago?”

“Kiddo, a full-blown panic attack ain’t a small episode! And paired with you running off..” Basil just sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. In a lot of ways, having his issues out in the open was a fantastic thing! It held him accountable and got him the help he needed. However, sometimes people worry too damn much.

“I’m aware. Well, remember the plans I said I stiffed someone on? It was Sunny.”

“Oh, honey..”

“Yea, and with me sorta destroying my phone, and forgetting his number, I had to go and see him.” There was a pause, then a gasp of realization. “Oh my lord, was it a DATE?!” The glee was already rising in her voice. This is exactly what he was trying to avoid! He didn’t want people making a big deal out of it. “Yes, and I stood him up, and being the drama queen he is, he stood out in the rain.”

He was picking up steam now “So of course, I wanna take care of him, even if he breaks up with me. So I wanna take care of him! And somehow, for some reason, he just laughs at me and forgives me when he's coherent enough to let me explain..” 

“Of course he does, sweetie! You're a catch!.” If Basil had even a lick of sense, he would be able to tell the tone of gossip lust that permeated Polly’s voice, but he was too busy gushing about his special someone to notice. “You know it. Even if he can cook better than I can.”

“A travesty.”

“So I convinced him to go to the doctor after a few days, and here we are. Sorry, I didn't call but I was enjoying my time with him. Even if it’s taking care of him.”

“Well Basil, you know what you did was wrong right?” And suddenly, she was that cold professional nurse she always went into when he was in trouble. “Yea, I know.”

“Buuuuuuut. Oh shoot, I can't be mad! My little man has a handsome rogue-ish boyfriend! He's found his one true soulmate, to travel through life with! A romance fated by the stars!”

Basil just flushed, burying his face in his palm. “Moooooooom I…” His blush intensified as he realized what he just said. Oh god, something strike him dead. “Ooooooooooo. When you wanna spend time with your boy toy, you call me mom eh?” It was said in jest, but he could tell she was glowing. “You make this old woman proud to be called that.”

“Polly, you're 26.”

“You grew up so fast you make me feel old. I still remember my first day on the job when you were hiding behind your gran.” Basil laughed. “Oh shush. I didn’t want to call you mom because it’s….weird. You not that much older than me, and my family hired you but...you adopted me. I just...It’s a lot to unpack you know?”

“Say no more, I understand kiddo.” Basil breathed a sigh of relief. He knew they would have to unpack that one day, but he was hoping it would not be today. “Now back to you staying at your boyfriend's house, alone, for a week.”

“I don’t like the way you phrased that.”

“You know why I phrased it like that. You being safe son?” He didn’t know what was more painful, the attempt at a meme, or the insinuation. “W-we haven’t done a thing, Polly! We cuddled!”

“Oh, that’s how it starts. First, it’s the lewd hand-holding, then it’s the cuddling. Soon your fostering children out of wedlock! A slippery slope for sure.” Oh, this was how she was going to play this? She knew he was just a poor flower boy, who would just fluster and blush at the insinuation. Well no more! If she wanted to play like this, he could too!

“Polly, why are you asking about my sex life? D-do you not have one to reflect on? Or are your friends that boring.” Sure he stuttered, but the sputtering response he got back was oh so sweet. Slowly but surely, he was regaining some of his old sass, and it was oh so sweet. She laughed for a moment. “Oh, is the flower growing some backbone. Fine, I won’t tease. But why haven’t you called?”

He just sighed, fiddling with Sunny’s hair. “Sunny caught pneumonia. And it’s my fault so I wanted to stay and make sure he got better. His mom is on ANOTHER business trip.”

“Awwww, look at you! Being a caring responsible boyfriend. You make your recently made mother so proud. Even if you didn’t call me, contact me, send me a letter, contact his mother…”

“OKAY, I GET IT. Next time I’ll contact you. I’m sorry jeez.” Polly continued to laugh, even after laying that lengthy guilt trip at his feet. “Can I please stay a while longer?”

“Sure kiddo, but how about when he gets better, you bring him back to town? Sounds like the only chance I’ll get to see you this summer hmm? I’ll be sure to give you plenty of privacy, I promise.”

Hero was enjoying his sandwich at the table as Basil came stomping in. His face was crimson, and he wasn’t making a bit of eye contact, he just slid the phone over and stormed out the room. Hero slowly picked up the phone, chewing. “Hewoo?”

“Henry, swallow your dang food. I know your mooching off Sunny’s fridge but have some tact.” Even if she couldn’t see, he sat up straighter, swallowed, and was not at full attention. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“And don’t call me that! Makes me feel old.” He was worried until he heard the giggle, then he relaxed. “The boys are okay, thanks for giving me the heads up where Basil ended up.”

“It’s no problem Polly, if it makes you feel any better, Basil is doing a fantastic job. Sunny looks like a content cat most the time, between coughing so bad.” Hero could feel the smirk building on his face. “The boys, they are down BAD.”

This got a hoot from Her end “I knew it. Well then Mr.Hero, how about you come over for dinner one night. Gotta make sure those college kids get fed decently.”

“Sure! I’d love to!”

“Great i OH NO, MY CASSAROLE! I gotta go! Bye Henry!”

And when he heard the click, Hero paled. The implication of what was just said to him finally hitting him straight in the face. No, no that’s silly, it was just a little dinner between friends. Yea, that’s it! Besides, he would have to be interested in her for it to become a date. And he wasn’t. Yup, he was thinking about her right now and…

He felt it, that faint squeeze in his chest. One mirrored many years ago, and he thought he would never feel again. The sound of a nice quiet dinner, between the two of them, had some appeal. He just stared at his phone, then looking slowly over to Basil and Sunny, both enjoying a mid-afternoon nap. He slowly hissed through his teeth and exhaled. “Well….shit.”

Chapter Text

Sunny stared at the ceiling. This was the worst thing in the world. He was tired, oh so tired, but things beyond his control kept him from sleeping. Well, that was a lie, it was entirely within his control, he just refused to accept responsibility.

Basil had opened the window to his small cozy room, commenting that it smelled like he was trying to mummify himself in there. While he wouldn’t disagree, Basil said all the dust was bad for his recovery, and he had no reason not to believe him. He had chosen correctly every single moment up until now. Well maybe not in choosing him, but he wasn’t gonna tell him he was wrong on that account. He was gonna enjoy every moment of it until Basil came to his senses.

However, an open window had effects. It let the muggy June air into the room, and with a clingy blond hugging him oh so tightly, he was drenched in sweat. The mild fever he still had continued to annoy him, the last step from a full recovery. He had not spoken much yet, but he didn’t feel the need to. Basil could talk enough for the both of them.

However, he wasn’t going to be able to sleep a sticky mess, no, he had to do something drastic. He needed to take a shower. A grim sacrifice, but he desired sleep, so he must do it. With a frown, he gently pried Basil’s arms from around his waist, his heart-melting at the needy whine that wormed its way up to his throat. He quickly replaced himself with a pillow. Sacrifice accepted, Basil nuzzled in, burrowing to where Sunny’s neck would be.

He placed a kiss on the crown of his head, fluffy golden hair tickling his face. He wondered how nice of a pillow a sack full of the stuff would make. He pondered this as he shut the window, and collected fresh pj’s. A quick check of the clock read 3:33 Am. Huh, spooky!

He had missed this, the ability to let his mind wander without it going to a horrific place for once. Just bounced between empty thoughts like hair pillows and the like. He wondered how long it had been since he bathed, and a quick niff nearly put him into a coma. Ew, how could Basil cuddle him like this?! It was horrific. Maybe he had gone nose blind from all the fertilizer he worked with? Heh, just like them, he was also full of shit!

Walking down the dark hallways without a hint of hesitation, he let his cat instincts take the wheel. He had been constantly teased about his feline tendencies until today. When he responded to Basil’s joking pst pst pst with a meow, the blush that lit up his face was a treat to behold. It didn’t take a genius to know that he had ammunition 

Flicking the bathroom light on, he noticed that Hero had left a note reminding him to brush his teeth. Rolling his eyes, he had half a mind to tell Hero to stay with them for a while longer. If only so he could stop finding these sticky notes all over the place! He was 16 damn it and could take care of himself. Why would Hero think he couldn't?

Oh...oh yeah. 

Disregarding the fact he had somehow let his four years spent inside slip his mind, he turned on the water, waiting for it to warm. As nice as it was to be playing domestic with Basil, it was nice to have some quiet time once and a while. Sure he still had a little bit of a cold, but he was almost over it.

Speaking of getting over it, he had to plan a new date for them to go on. He let the ideas flow like the hot water over his body. Now that mom was out of the house, he could enjoy the bone-melting heat without getting chewed out for using all the hot water again. If it didn’t feel like he was being boiled alive, it was not hot enough!

Maybe the botanical gardens, or the aquarium next time. Basil would love those, and he could watch him just gush about plants and zone out, taking in every little detail of his face. Anything would work really, as long as he was there. Sunny realized that he was hopelessly head over heels for Basil. He allowed himself one forlorn sigh, too bad it would end, eventually.

Then he heard it, an odd noise that barely hit his ear. It was barely noticeable at first, but as he washed his hair it became louder. Louder still as he rinsed away the suds on his body, and louder still as he let the water slowly go cold. He had been trying to figure out where it had been coming from, and until the water turned off, he was at a loss. It was faint scratching coming from the toilet it seemed.

His curiosity turned to dread as he saw Void sitting there, scratching away at a clipboard with the most flamboyant quill he had ever seen. However, that peacock feather dancing around as he wrote was the more colorful thing on him. Gone was the purple shade into a more monochromatic one. His one eye was unblinking, staring down at the paper in concentration.

Sunny hugged the shower curtain, protecting his modesty. “What you uh, doing there Void.” He had to admit, the normal level of hate for the imp was dulled by curiosity.

“Making a list.”

“Oh, what exactly.”

“Poetic ways to kill yourself when Basil leaves you. It’s a matter of time after all.” Sunny groaned as he grabbed his towel, drying off as he tried to ignore the imp. It was too late for this bullshit, and after he had cleaned himself up, he had felt the call of sleep almost instantly. “I was thinking something poetic, to sell the point that you will die alone yea? How do you feel about poisoning?”

Sunny could have left the bathroom at any time, and most like the imp wouldn't follow, however, the gritting feeling of his teeth, and the few scratches he had given himself with his nails screamed that his needs were neglected for a bit too long. “No, that's played out to hell. I thought you wanted to be poetic.”

“Yea you're right, half of Shakespeare ends up with poison or stabbings. How do you feel about gouging your other eye out? Wouldn’t, our heart because he carved it out!” Sunny just rolled his eye as he grabbed his toothbrush, and tried to find the toothpaste.

“Second drawer to your right cyclops.” Well damn, Void was right! He gave him a curious look, how did he know? “I’m part of your subconscious, of course, I remember all the things you forget! Now answer.”

“Nah, again, too on the nose. Besides, how would I manage to carve my own heart out before I die? Or even stab it? You know there is something called a ribcage right? The thing that would prevent me from doing that?”

The being perched upon the porcelain throne grumbled “spoilsport” before crossing multiple things off his list. At least he waited while he finished cleaning his teeth. How did he manage to last this long without brushing them? His teeth felt gritty! After spitting out the fouled foam, he reached for the mouthwash. “How about jumping in front of a car, setting yourself on fire, or using your dad’s old hunting shotgun? All viable, if messy ones. Not very poetic.”

“I already know what I will do.” He watched Void freeze as he gargled. He made sure to drag it out, to keep him on the edge of his seat. As he spits, he looked over to him and replied. “I’m not going to do anything. No messy death, no poetic suicide, nothing..” Shooing off the imp as he sat down. He worked on his nails as the demon sputtered indignantly. “How is that a plan?!”

“Simple. I’m going to be selfish.” he stared the imp down, his thumbnail popping off as his clippers pinged. “Ow...I don’t care if Basil doesn't realize I’m not good enough for him, I’m going to enjoy every little moment of it.” His grin slowly grew as the imp cowered, seemingly spooked by this change in perspective. “I refuse to hurt my friends again.”

“huh?...”

“I’m going to give him my all, even if it only lasts a few weeks more, then live on. Not for my own benefit, but for his and my friends. I’ll suffer from you and the others, and enjoy what little I can of life. Hell, maybe my therapist is right and I'll forgive myself in time! Doubtful but hey, anything can happen. Maybe, he won’t realize I’m not worth it on his deathbed when we're happily married with 3 kids. I’m just going to enjoy whatever I get, even if I don’t deserve it I’ve suffered enough, I just want to be happy damn it!”

With clean nails, he looked up to find himself alone again. He sighed in relief, letting some of his anxiety show. Out of all of his fun hallucination pals, Void was the one he loathed the most. Even if he worked on his self-hate, his guilt, his feeling of worthlessness, that made him feel like he did the first day out of the hospital. It made him hard to resist, and he already found it hard to listen to everyone else. Hard to argue with yourself when you feel like garbage, and thus not trust yourself. But enough of this.

To his frustration, he found himself wild awake, the stress made his heart race enough to jump-start his head. That’s why he found himself watching pizza pockets spin around the microwave. He still didn’t like eating that much, and episodes like this made him even less keen to eat. He felt like he didn’t even deserve the bare essentials. Again it was impossible to fight that self-hatred, so his coping hat to be...unique. 

Basil would be super sad, and he had already abandoned him once. Aubrey was talking to him more often, and besides Kim and Kel, he was the only one she talked to about her home life too. She would miss him for that at least. So would his mom, so would Hero and Kel. If he couldn't live for himself, at least he could live for others.

When the microwave beeped, he sat at the table and waited. He knew, as soon as he bit into one, it would be lava that would burn every bit of his mouth. He also knew that if he waited too long, it might as well have been filled with snow. It was a paradox, the pizza roll. Eat it good and in pain, or eat it bad and sad. He would die like the warrior he was

Tearing up as he chewed his way through cheesy lava mouth hell, he saw a pale face peek from the hallway sleepily. “Sunny… it’s 4:20 Am….why are you up.” Basil looked like he was barely holding himself up, rubbing his eyes as he clutched the pillow to his chest tightly. Sunny finished his mouthful, then sipped some water before answering.

“Needed shower, ill be up after I eat.” His voice was still raw from his little argument with himself.

Basil sleepily nodded, shuffling over to pat Sunny on the head. “Mm...k. It’s good you’re eating. You skinny. Come back to bed when done k?” Sunny suppressed the laugh bubbling up inside him and nodded. He was like a toddler that stayed up too late.

“Mmm...good boy. Love you sunflower.” And with that, he was gone, stumbling up the stairs, leaving the silence of the night, and a brightening Sunny in his wake. He could feel every part of his face heating up as his mind played it over and over again. Was he even awake when he said that? Did he love him? Really? This was not an even faint possibility in his mind and yet here he was. Basil loved him, HIM, of all people for that perfect boy to love. His heart hammering in his chest, from joy and nerves, he knew one thing.

No way he was going back to sleep tonight.

Chapter Text

Mary was on cloud nine as she drove her hunk of crap, cheap rental car towards HQ. Oh, today was going to be such a delightful day and the bookend to the worst time of her life. You see, she was always told there was money in being an accountant, and you would always have a safe job. They were right, for the most part, but it depended on where you worked.

Or under, specifically. Her old boss had quit not too long before Mari’s passing, and a new guy was hired and integrated when she was on bereavement leave. Now, more people would introduce themselves, move on, and keep working and nothing would change. But no, it had to be a Tim.

It wasn’t that the name was evil, no, that would be silly. It just seemed like anyone she had met in her life that carried this name was a fucking tool. Be it her grade school bully, or he no good, absentee, callous, abusive, PIECE OF SHIT….Ahem, ex-husband. She still had no idea where that asshole went, but considering he hadn't paid her a dime to help raise Sunny. He was half the reason she ended up in this situation yet again.

When she had come back, he had insisted she be the one to go on a quick three-day trip to fix up the books of a subsidiary a state over. He had insisted it was a one-time thing, and that it was just to take some pressure off of the rest of the team! What a fucking lie that turned out to be, as she was constantly sent on trip after trip after trip.

Of course, as he was a Tim when she voiced her concerns about leaving her son alone for such long periods, she was greeted with words she would never forget. Sitting in her office chair, the snake in human skin just grinned with crooked teeth. “We need someone that can pick up the slack, and you have proven really good at it.” His grin widened a bit further. “Besides, a person of your age and...background should be grateful for continued employment.”

To this day, she didn’t know if he was racist, misogynist, or both, but the threat had been made. The trips had only increased as her old work began selling her off as a contractor, making her fix the fires most of these morons had created. All the while she was growing more distant from her friends and allies. Most left, telling her to do the same as they found better jobs. But none of them had a kid to support and a massive house with a mortgage in their name. So she trucked on, hoping Sunny would be okay. Being at home for a day, or even a few hours before she was on the road again, trying to support them.

It had been why she had decided to move, not because she wanted to abandon Faraway, but it would be a chance to spend more time with her son. She could quit the job with no fallback and have enough money to coast for one or two years before the shit hit the fan. This was not to be, as she had been called by the ER as soon as she was on her way home for a day or two before another grueling two-week trip.

The memory of seeing her son, her poor baby in the hospital made her clench the wheel with white knuckles. He looked nothing like the plump, moon-faced boy she had raised. He looked hollow, his ribs sticking out in the thin robe they had given him, he looked so thin, so pale, and oh so serious. He had hugged her back and sobbed gently into her arms. He was broken, but he muttered the words she would never expect him to say. “I killed Mari.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him she already knew as he sobbed out every little detail. How it had been an accident, a fight gone wrong. How they had strung her up to hide his crime, and how he had locked himself away out of guilt. He even admitted he had roped poor Basil into it somehow. She smoothed his hair and listened to his voice, one she quickly realized she had not heard in so very long. She let him get it all out before she explained, in gentle worlds, that she knew.

The heart-to-heart they had was something she didn’t want to corrupt by letting it anywhere near the majestic glee she was slowly stocking inside herself, but she allowed herself a moment of joy. She was a little peeved that her son didn’t seem to mind losing an eye, but when he explained it was that or lose Basil, she understood. Maybe she wasn’t going to get natural grandkids...but adoption was just as good.

She needed to make a note to take the old gang on a nice vacation. Seeing Aubrey was a delight, but she was a tad worried about what she heard about their home life. And Henry, dependable Henry helped her the most in the aftermath. Helping her find affordable mental health care, discount programs, and touching base at all hours. Hard to believe he was still in school. And loveable Kel could be heard talking to her son, playing games in the wee hours sometimes when she came home. Even if they were far away, and her old home was sold off, they still felt next door, in a way.

It had lit a fire under her. No, they weren’t just going to scratch, no! That was not good enough for her boy, or her other children! Hmm, maybe see about helping out Aubrey later. That's beside the point, they deserved to fucking thrive! To have the best last year till adulthood, and plenty of college partying! She wanted to be a cool mom damn it!

So she busted her ass, and planned, and planned, and planned. Oh no, she wasn’t just going to quit without notice. No, she wasn’t just going to burn bridges. She was going to leave this place a scorched mark on the map, that would never see the light of day again! They could jerk her around, but they had helped hurt her baby, so these fuckers? Oh, they were going to pay. As she parked her rental next to her car, she reached into the back and pulled out her bag, and a large box. Showtime.

She swore it got creepier every time she came back here. All the older people that helped build this place up were gone, replaced with fresh-faced ass kissers to Tim. They joined in on keeping her on the road constantly, and on top of that, sucked at their jobs! All blonde-haired, blue eyes, and suspiciously young for the roles they were taking, it was turning into some sundown town shit.

She strode into the breakroom, grinning ear to ear as she saw Tim, doing all of the no work he always did as he sipped his coffee. “Mary? Didn’t you get the memo?”

She did, but playing dumb was going to be oh so sweet. ‘No, my laptop is unavailable to me at the moment. What was it?’

“Well,” he said, grinning with coffee-stained teeth, as crooked as a row of broken tombstones. “You got another trip! All we could get you was half a day, but our sister branch in China needed someone to teach their new accounting team the ropes, and you would be perfect for the job. It’s only two months.”

“Tim, I'm Japanese.”

“Same difference, you look the same anyway.” ohhhh this motherfucker. “We have your flight booked for Tuesday, we don’t need you at the office today.” he gave a flick of his wrist as if shooing her away.

“Well Tim, that's going to be a problem.” Slowly setting her box on the table, she opened it to reveal a stunning ornate cake with “I Quit, Fuckwad.” etched into its surface. ‘I’m not giving notice either.” Watching that smug face curdle like rotten milk would live in her mind for an eternity, but it was just starting.

“That’s,....not very professional. Besides, without notice, you're not getting a reference, and at your age..”

“Tim, I'm 40 and aging like WINE. You look like a sack of leftover McDonald’s grease. Stop projecting. Besides, already have a new job lined up.”

“W-well fine then! We don’t need someone who’s not a team player, but you still owe us for your travel expenses as of the last 2 years per our contract.” He was going red-faced now. Tim felt her mocking what little limp-dicked power he possessed and needed to fuck her over somehow to save face. However, she had been planning this for weeks. Still not sure if he was racist or misogynist, but it was clear he felt she was under him.

“Well Tim, besides that being illegal, and that again, I remind you you forged my signature on it because I was halfway across the country when I signed it, I think you got some bigger fish to fry.”

He scoffed at her. “It’s your name, and you can’t prove otherwise.” His crooked grin returned. “Besides, we can still bankrupt you via lawsuit, and I have so many witnesses to you signing it.” oh how cute. He’s attempting forgery!

“If you could afford it, but Tim, dipshit, you had me carrying around a laptop, with every money fuckup this company, or other, had made, with no control of it! Not even a backup. So you know where it is now?”

“YOU BETTER GIVE IT BACK YOU FUCKING WHORE.” Wow, his mask off was uglier than he normally was, color her surprised. “THAT IS COMPANY PROPERTY, AND I WILL HAVE YOU ARRESTED FOR STEALING IT.”

Mary just started to laugh, pointing at him as she doubled over. Oh, this was too rich, how dumb was he? “Tim, do you think I would be dumb enough to steal from you? No, that's not what I did at all!” She grinned, the Cheshire look making Tim freeze in his tracks. “I gave it over to my new employer! The IRS.”

The specter of death seemed to pour over Tim as he went pale as a ghost, so she pressed on. “Every little fuckup, every little squirreled away bit of cash, every little embezzlement? It’s going to the CEO and IRS. Every single one Tim, even yours. You have no idea how fucked you are. I’m the only one who could have helped you, Tim, cause you hired for Aryan qualities more than skill. Enjoy your cake, you son of a bitch.”

As his tiny little mind scattered to make any way out of this, he saw his one hope come up the elevator. Steve the security head. He was old, white, and southern! He must be on his side right? “Steve! Steve detained Ms.Suzuki and search her belongings! She is trying to steal company property as she quits!” He had a chance to salvage and delay it, pinning it on someone else, but Steve simply held up a hand.

“Ms.Suzuki already turned in all her belongings when she entered. Besides, that laptop of hers was her property. She had to buy a new one after her old one broke, with her own money. And all the programs, and all. You refused to provide a new work one oh...6 months ago?”

“DO IT OR YOU’RE FIRED.” Spittle flying from his mouth, as this 5’2 ball of flab, tried to get into the face of a 6’3 giant that survived on jerky and cigars. It did not work. “First of all, I ain’t a cop. Can’t detain her, that would be kidnapping. Second, she can do what she wants with her property. Third? I'm in a union and retiring in 2 weeks. So go pound sand.”

“How are your grandkids doing steve?” As if by magic he softened from a Vietnam vet about to rip someone’s head out through their asshole, to a kindly soul. “Oh fantastic Mary, they're coming down this Sunday to visit. Can’t wait to spend more time with them! How’s your boy?”

“Oh, he’s doing so much better! Oh, I got this for your retirement.” She produced a cigar box with a neat little bow attached. “I don’t think I can be at your party after all.”

“Awww thank you, but my wife would kill-”

And that when she handed over the nice-looking bottle of wine. Maybe if I didn’t get her the vintage she loves eh? Was in Italy a few months ago.”

“Oh aren't you the sweetest! You gotta come over for dinner soon.” This nice little chat was interrupted by a violent slap to Mary’s face, as he grew redder. “Know your place you ASIAN BITCH! YOU WILL GIVE ME THAT LAPTOP OR-” He didn’t know how it had happened, but he was soon on his back, having his arm pulled out of his socket by a woman in heels. “Oh thank god he threw the first punch, I thought I was going to jail tonight Steve.”

“I’ll call the cops for you, anything else you need?”

“Oh, in my bag is a megaphone, could you just, oh thank you.” All he could see is carpet, and all he could feel was pain and shame, however, the harsh feedback of the small megaphone filled his ears. “Okay, I got like 20 before I got this shitbag arrested for assault, so. First of all, Tim’s wife? Yea he got HPV from an intern, so you may want to get checked. Amy also has genital warts, so all the married guys around here who used her as a town bicycle should also get checked.” In mere moments, and with a few more pieces of hot gossip, Tim felt everything he built around him burn. If Mary were a lesser being, she would have drunk his pathetic tears up like fine wine. But that’s not to say she wasn’t tempted.

Back in her crappy car, she headed back to her townhouse with a pep in her step. Hero had told her that her Sun-Bun was out of commission with an illness, but one of his friends was taking care of him! How sweet, hopefully, it was Kel, because she was planning a feast! Her car was full of cheap steak, bubbly apple juice, and enough ingredients to bury her son in an avalanche of pork buns. Also, stuff for rice porridge if he was feeling under the weather. Now she had time to cook with her son for once! Who cares if it was one am!

Unlocking the door, she was surprised to hear the soft hum of the tv buzzing in the background. Huh, that was odd, Sunny didn’t like TV that much, so that was odd. What she came upon were two boys, cuddled up close to each other, Basil with his arm around Sunny, and her son resting his head on the blonde's shoulder. She quietly put the groceries away, and a blanket over the two sleeping boys. From the fancy leftovers in the fridge, and ticket stubs next to the door, it was apparent they went on a nice little date. She felt so absurdly proud.

She shouldn’t tease, not on the eve of such great overall family success, but once she spotted Basil’s camera, she couldn't resist! Left on the coffee table was a polaroid of a selfie of her, grinning smugly with them in the background. Their flustered whines would wake her up, for sure.

Chapter Text

Basil was a bundle of nerves, and he had no way of hiding it. Sunny was finally better, and that meant they were going on their first date. Well, they didn’t count the first one, or Sunny had told him not to. Even if Sunny was understanding, he still felt guilty about it. Apparently, he had taken a hit to the wallet over it. Basil Had to make it up to him, and he would. If they made it to a second date that is. Not like he used the money his parents sent him to replace love with anything.

He was giving himself a quick lookover in the mirror, making sure he was as handsome as he possibly could be. Sunny deserved the best after all. He had his hair back in a braid, his signature flower pin replaced with a jade hair ornament, the gem leaves glinting as the light caught the jewel orchid. The green button-up was a bit itchy, maybe it still had some starch in it? The look was completed with some khaki pants and loafers. He looked presentable and felt clean. He was meant to be the pretty one after all. No doubt he would be more dressed up than Sunny!

He almost jumped out his skin when he heard the knock at the guest room door. “Are you decent?” The voice still barely carried, and he barely heard it through the door. “Yea! Come in!” Brushing himself off, he gave the mirror a nod and looked behind him.

Sunny shyly made his way inside. His leather shoes squeak a bit, shining even in the dim light of the bedroom, having been freshly polished. Of course, he wore black slacks and a tie, but he was not monochrome. No, far from it. His black vest was covered in embroidered vines and roses, his eyepatch covered where his eye used to be with a small sunflower. You would think it would make the whole thing horrifically tacky, yet here he was. Looking somehow absurdly perfect, elegant, and mysterious.

Basil was enamored, and also, absurdly pissed off. How the fuck did he do this?! Basil had spent 4 hours today getting ready, ironing, brushing, and braiding his hair, hell, he even did a little bit of makeup, just to make himself the hot one. Because Sunny was the kindest, sensitive, cuddly boyfriend in the world. And this goblin, despite sitting inside doing nothing for four years, could now cook better than him too. He was perfect and it was infuriating! And now, despite the fact, he knew Sunny slept in late, and only took half an hour to get ready, glowed up at a rapid rate.

“I know I look a little plain...but I ruined my other outfit, sorry.” WHAT THE FUCK?! Is he just barely formal? What kinda bullshit is this? He’s the stereotypical gay, he’s the one that puts so much effort into his skincare routine, but Sunny, somehow, is perfect no matter what he does. It was infuriating, and he would be his greatest rival! If he wasn’t dating him that is.

“Sunny, dear. You look perfect. I don’t know how you manage it every time.” He huffed this out, a shy smile worming its way onto his face. “Makes me feel like your out of my league sun bun.” He squished his cheeks between his hands as Sunny flushed. At least he could still have this effect on him. “Youse pewfect tho...:” 

“Not compared to you dear. Light of my life, best emo boy.” With every little compliment, Sunny just turned more and more crimson. He was melting into Basil’s hands like putty as he slowly worked his cheeks with his thumbs. “Such a handsome boy.” He slowly pulled away, enjoying the whine Sunny let slip as he stood up straight again. “As much as I’d love to treat you like a housecat, we have dinner reservations, right?”

He gave Sunny’s nose a little poke before leaving the room. Making sure to sway his hips and shoot a wink over his shoulder as he left his stunned boyfriend in his wake. Well, he still did one thing much better than Sunny.

Hero was nervous as hell, although he had no idea why he was. This was just a nice little thank you dinner for telling Polly where Basil ended up. It Was nothing more than that, despite what his parents said. He had begun to regret visiting them before going to dinner with Polly, considering both of them had heaped praise upon him for getting back into the dating scene. And telling them that this was not what he was doing at all did not dissuade them.

It made him more than a little bit uncomfortable, becoming more aware over time about his golden child status. For far too long, he just thought his parents wanted Kel to follow his example, he was a bit of a screw-up. But after their fight...well it was a bit more obvious. More obvious still when they had told him not to worry about student debt. With a little snooping in the mail and looking at some bank statements, he had found out they had taken the entirety of Kel’s college fund and spent it on his medical school.

They didn't know he knew, or he saw how they were already saving for Sally, despite having a boy they should be damn proud of about to head off after one more year of school. They seemed unaware of why he was so cold to them after asking how Kel was doing, and they haven't the foggiest idea. Hell, they didn't even know he made varsity this year until he had told them. They insisted he stay in town, that his bed was still always open, but he would rather go back to his apartment in the city than stay with them. He knew that he would have to talk to them about this sometime, but not tonight.

He wouldn't let his parents bring down his mood tonight for Polly’s sake. Even thinking her name made his heart rate jump a little. Leading him to be a bit overdressed for his little dinner. Button up, tie, and all. He didn’t own any leather shoes, but at least he had some nicer-looking sneakers, broken in from the long days on his feet during his summer internship.

Maybe a bit overdressed, but it was better to look too formal than too little. He was trying to impress her a little. But he had to drill it into his head that this was just a little thank you, and not a date. Even if there was some part of him that wanted to at least give it a try. As sad a thought it was, Mari had been gone for longer than he had known her now. Maybe it was time to open up and move on. 

He realized he had been monologuing to himself for way too long, standing at Basil’s front door. Shanking himself out of it, he knocked.

He almost immediately jumped out his skin as a string of expletives began to ring out inside, the sounds of bare feet running around inside. Confused, and a little curious, he slowly put his ear to the door. That was Polly alright, letting out a string of expletives that would make a little old church lady implode. As he stood in awe at the length and depth of her profanity, dipping into other languages at times, he wondered if he was early or something. Checking his watch, he was right on time.

He was glad he pulled away as the door burst open, a panting Polly hanging on the doorframe. She was not dressed for a nice thank you dinner, no she was dressed to impress. In a strapless red thing that showed off her figure, and reminded him that he was very much still male. Thankfully, he wasn’t staring at the obvious part most red-blooded young men would stare at. That didn’t stop him from letting his mind wander.

“I’m...I'm sorry, I got a bit behind, the zipper is always a bitch to get up! Oops, mind my language.!” She tried to let out a dainty giggle, but considering she had sprinted around the house getting ready, it came off just a mite huskier. She did appreciate the effect she had on him, that wide-eyed look, coming from him was just what she needed. “Henry?” She gave him a gracious line out of ogling her as he snapped back to reality.

“Holy shit your jacked….oh god I said that out loud.” Polly blinked, then started laughing. She was very aware she did have tickets to the gun show and had scared off more than one date by making him feel a little small in the bulk department, among other things, assuredly. “That’s the thing you noticed? Well, I know what you’re into huh?” She punctuated her tease with a flex, that just made him grow more flush.

“No, it’s not, I mean yes it is… I….oh god damn it.” He just mumbled as she laughed harder, giving him a pat on the cheek. “I didn’t take you for the easy to fluster kind, but that makes it all the more fun!”

“Um, I thought you were making dinner.” he managed to mumble out, feeling that all too familiar squeeze in his chest, and flush on his face. It felt oh so familiar, and scared him, just a bit. “Well, I was. But I and my pops finally finished my project car so I wanted to take it out on a spin. Besides, when’s the last time you ate out?”

Hero already had a bit of a hard time remembering when he last ate, let alone ate out. “Maybe my birthday with the folks?”

“Wait, nobody at school has asked you out, really?” She looked incredulous, raising a brow. In truth, he got asked out a ton, guy and girl alike. It’s not like he wasn’t flattered, but he didn’t feel anything for them. He was honored, really, but none of them got to know him first. It was more small talk than they just asked him out. No real connection beforehand. Sure some of them were attractive, but that’s not what he was looking for anymore.

In fact, he had given up on looking, even managed to convince himself that he didn’t want to put himself out anymore. However, he had decided to go to this little dinner, to be nice. And not because he found her attractive and nice to talk to. Nope, not at all. “Would you believe me if I said no?”

“Not at all! Oh well, their loss I suppose! That means I got you all to myself.” Oh shit. This was a date, with an older woman too?! What would his mother say, what would BASIL say?! Polly just sauntered past him, to the candy red muscle car sitting in front of the house. Wait, that was her car? “Gentle sir, your ride awaits!” She did a grand swoop of her arms and a bow, going over the top as she held it open for him. He gave a laugh, broken out of his stupor once again “Well thank you, madam, I shall accompany you tonight on this grand adventure”

As he sat down, and she started the engine, she looked over at him and gave a soft smile. “Hey, even if it doesn’t work out tonight, let’s have some fun okay?” She gave him a pat on the knee as if to reassure him. He wasn’t surprised that she knew about his hangups with Mari, considering he talked about them to her during some of their conversations. But it felt nice non the less. “Well, don’t make me regret it eh?” He knew his trademark grin was a bit wobbly, but she still took it as her face light up. “Hell yea!”

Henry began to regret it as she red-lined out of the small sleepy street. Burning rubber and a whoop of excitement, along with a girly scream fading into the distance.

Chapter Text

Sunny was adorably grumpy, but he wouldn’t say why. Just like a cat, Sunny did like his meat, a lot. However, sacrifices had to be made to keep his boyfriend happy. It was still surreal to call him that, but he had bigger fish to fry. Basil was watching, more than a little amused. Sunny had been glaring at the menu of a little restaurant called The Garden for the past little bit. It had been such a nice little gesture for him to take Basil to a vegan place, but it was clear his catboy had no idea what was going on.

“...”

“Need some help hun?” Basil just smirked at Sunny, turns out, knowing french did give him an advantage in reading that menu, at least some of it. He would have helped, honest! But he hadn’t been asked, and watching the near carnivore Sunny try to pick a vegan dish was endlessly amusing. “...yes. What’s the closest to meat?”

Basil just raised an eyebrow “That’s sort of against the point of the restaurant hun, but the mushroom fried rice. I think you’d like that.” That got him to light up as he nodded vigorously. Before pausing, he was already prepping his best kitty eyes, letting his lip wobble a bit. Basil just sighed, rubbing his temple a bit. “Yes I can order for you, you dork” Sunny beamed at him. Some things would never change it seemed. But as he squeezed his hand, he did like what had changed.

They picked at the bread, both letting a comfortable silence fall over them. Sunny put the fake butter on his bread as he stared at it for a bit. A thought occurring to him that he should let out. “I like that we can do this.”

“Muh?” Basil had just stuffed a large piece into his mouth, cheeks bulging and eyes surprised. Seems like he still thought of him as near silent. That was fair, he talked to himself more than people, honestly. Or via text. But some things should be articulated to the people you care about.

“That we can sit...quietly...most people would find it weird.” Sunny fidgeted, running a finger over the rim of his glass. “You don’t mind sitting here quietly with me. It’s nice.” Basil’s expression glowed as he chewed and swallowed. “I...uh…” He faltered, his heart hammering a bit too much, and the sudden flash of memory, that cute I love you took what will he had to continue the thought away.

Basil decided the best thing to do was just grin, and scoot closer to him. Sitting on the same side of the booth was a fantastic idea, He leaned on him with a happy little sigh, feeling Sunny tense. He didn’t, just twined his fingers between Sunny’s. Giving it a little squeeze, he let him know how he felt without a word.

They would enjoy this little moment for far too long, as an amused waitress stood by, waiting for them to notice that she had been standing there for their entire little cuddle session. She decided to give them a couple, before loudly asking if they needed any more bread. She had kids of her own after all, and embarrassing young lovers was something she excelled at.

It took a little while to coax Hero out of the car, shaking as he was. He had always thought that riding with Kel, when he bothered to learn to drive would be the most terrifying experience of his life! Compared to that? No, it would be a merry-go-round! A walk in the park! He had quickly found out Polly could drive like an unhinged lunatic when given half a chance. He was still shaking from the first drift around a highway turn, and he would not stop for quite some time. The car, he decided, was not just for show.

“Come on Henry, it wasn’t that bad, right?” When she opened the door, he was still shaking and gave her a look of barely restrained terror. “You drive like THAT all the time?”

She nervously laughed and helped him out of the car, rubbing his back. “Oh...oops. Sorry. Got a bit overexcited there. Come on, breath man. I wanted to take your breath away but not like this!”

That at least got a laugh out of him, even if it was a slightly nervous thing as he gulped down air. With one last breath and his stomach finally ceasing to do rapid backflips. “Geeze, do you race or something?

“Yea, on the weekends with my brothers and dad.” Henry blinked and looked over, raising an eyebrow. “Derby racing. Cheap, amateur NASCAR for the fun of it. My dad and brothers do it for a living, along with auto repair.”

It took him till he was seated to process that information. By the time he did, he realized he was sitting in a rather nice steakhouse, and Polly was looking at him with a bemused smile and tap of her fingers. “Um...not to bring the mood down, but this looks a bit out of my price range.” He tried to ignore the pang of hunger in his gut. He had skipped getting food with his folks due to him storming out. He would need to apologize for that later.

“Oh, I’m covering, besides you need some food.” The shift in her mood was almost instant, from cheery, excited smiles to leaned forward, motherly glare. She, in a single shift, had taken control of the entire situation. “Someone told me you weren’t eating, Henry.”

“That little... I told him not to tell anyone about that.”

“Hey, don’t talk about my boy like that. Besides, considering how stressful med school is, you don’t need to add starvation to that list eh?” he at least had the common sense to look apologetic. “It’s not that I’m skipping them because I want to.”

“Oh, that’s bull! All I hear is your parents bragging about with their help, and your scholarships, that you’ll have a great time in college with no student debt. What’s going on.”

He was thankful when the waiter came by and took their order, even if Polly interrupted and ordered for him, including an old fashioned. “You know I’m not 21 yet right?”

“Shush, you will be in two months, live a little.” Polly leaned in. “Now are you going to tell me what's up like a good boy? Or am I going to have to resort to some more underhanded tactics” He sighed, tapping his fingers on the table. It would at least be nice to talk with someone about it. A way to get it off his chest maybe.

“Fine, but not a word of this to Basil, or anyone really. I don’t want this getting out.” Polly nodded, trying to restrain the delight she took from getting him to open up on her face. “Of course.”

“I’m saving for Kel’s college fund. I need to save every bit I can, including on food..” If you thought fainting and regularly going through hunger pangs was fun. Food had been the first thing he had cut way down on. Sure he had the meal plan that his parents had paid for, but that only gave him a single meal a day. That was all he ate really, and whatever fruit he could stuff in his backpack without them looking. “I’m just...cutting expenses.”

“Huh?” Polly was not expecting that. She also was surprised that this man was alive. If she wasn’t able to scarf down twenty bucks worth of fast food on her practice days, she woulda never made it out of nursing school. In fact, looking back on it, she was only kept alive by cheeseburgers, cheap vodka, and spite. Ah, she missed those days sometimes.

“That’s a nice thing hun, but why are you saving? Shouldn't your folks have something put aside, I heard them bragging they had you ready to get out of there….oh...they didn’t.”

“They gave it all to me. I had to just take some minor loans to cover what my scholarships wouldn't handle, but they decided that I deserved “fun money for college.” The disdain on his face was apparent. “They haven’t told Kel. Hell, I doubt they’d ever help him with a loan”

“Did he do something to make them angry??” Just knowing that the boy with the wide beaming smile who sometimes dragged Basil out the house to get some sunshine, who would devour any food she made, no matter how burned, and would do the dishes no matter what was being treated like this didn’t seem right. It made no sense, sure he was a little energetic and goofy, but he had a heart of gold.

“No, he didn’t. It’s just….after Mari died, I was absurdly depressed.” He felt her squeeze his hand gently. He had expected confusion and discomfort, not the gentle look of concern that was now on her face. But he didn’t want to cry in public, so he took this lifeline. “I didn’t do anything, so Kel being Kel, after watching this for a few months, decided to try and cheer me up.”

“I blew up and said some things I shouldn't have. I pushed him over and he looked so scared and hurt. And when my parents came up, they didn't comfort the quivering child. They comforted me.” Polly gave his hand another squeeze

“I...I’m sorry I shouldn't be dumping this on you. During a date.” Polly scoffed. “Oh, now you admit it’s a date.” She teased, before taking a sip of her water. “Henry, I don't mind. Hell, I'm flattered you shared this with me. Kel had been acting a little off lately, hanging out with his lady friend’s place.”

Hero laughed a little bit, smirking. “My folks have no idea what he’s been up to. Just commenting that he’s been quieter with them lately, and is spending a lot of time with Sally. I’m proud of him for trying to be a big brother despite it. “ His grin turned a little sad.

“He’s not dumb like people think. He picks up on a lot of things. I want him to feel loved, so that's why I gotta save some money for him. I don’t care if I live off of next to nothing, he deserves a nice college experience damn it!” 

“But I have seen him play basketball at some of his games. I doubt he won’t get picked up. They’d be crazy not to.”

“Still, he deserves the money and somebody that cares about his well-being. Not some parents that are phoning it in! They haven’t even been to any of his games this season! Money for a car or having fun. Visiting Sunny maybe, lord knows he misses him.”

 The frustrations building, he lifted his fist and Hero almost pounded his fist on the table, but the waitress was coming back with their drinks so he managed to turn it into a cough instead. He nodded politely and shot her a grin and off she went. Even with his momentarily raised voice, nobody around was none the wiser.

“That was the smoothest thing I’ve seen in my life.” Polly was in awe at the sheer charisma of this man.

“No, it was not...I almost caused a scene…”

“Oh shush and take the compliment Hero . Besides, how can I look down on you when you're trying to make sacrifices for your brother. But you're going about it all the wrong way.”

“Huh?” He had expected to be told he deserved it. Honestly, it was alarming the number of adults that were around him that just thought Kel didn’t deserve that much. All they saw was a lazy kid after all.

“Yea, you can save tons more money by selling the car and grabbing a bus pass, it's only like two hours. Or maybe I could pick you up.” She was less sympathetic and more eagerly thinking of ways to find a solution. She wasn’t brushing it off because it was a date, she was engaging. “Rice and beans are cheap as dirt, and you can steal enough fruit from your school to keep alive. Well, between me feeding you. I can help you come up with a plan to give Kel a headstart, all the while not starving yourself, I wanna pay for the next date too after all.” She sipped her cocktail with a cat's grin, wiggling her eyebrows.

Normally, he would be feeling his brain shut down right about now, flooding all the blood into his cheeks at a mere flirtation. He would stammer out something, but tonight, he swore he felt a hand on his shoulder, and words whispered into his ear. He had no idea where this came from, but if he was to do anything in Mari’s memory, it would be teasing his date.

“Okay, sugar mama.” Of course, this statement was timed perfectly with him taking another sip of her drink, and the waitress coming back with their meals. So he got to watch a spit take, as well as the waitress putting the food down and scurrying off back into the kitchen, face red as a beat. He sipped his drink, finding it miles more pleasant than the cheap vodka he tried to drown his feelings in years ago. No wonder Mari always gave him a hard time, there was an odd sense of satisfaction in watching someone you were interested in squirm.

“O-oh you little shit! Basil said you were the one that was easily flustered!” Polly mopped up the spilled drink and glared at him with a pout. “That’s playing dirty. Also, you calling me old?” She raised an eyebrow, he was in the danger zone now, but might as well commit.

“Well...”  He wanted for her to take that first bite of steak, shooting him a playful glare. Might as well push his luck! “You are catty enough to be a cougar.” Ignoring the fact she wasn’t much older than him really, of course. It had the intended effect, her cheeks bulging as she tried to hold in her steak and laugh at the same time. It was an odd noise like someone trying to strangle a sleeping rat, but it made his heart soar nonetheless

Chapter Text

 Sunny had regretted many decisions this evening and would continue to regret them well into the night. Although the vegan food was tasty, it was hardly as filling or as satisfying as meat. But it had made his rose happy so he could hardly care for his wellbeing, even if his lust for a cheeseburger grew by the hour. No, this was a day to make Basil feel special, not about how if he could, he would eliminate half the veggies in the world. So here he was,  at tonight's entertainment.

And he was so bored, good lord he was bored! When he heard about a free lecture at a newly discovered breed of wild rose, he knew that Basil would be over the moon with it. And he looked over to him, enraptured and alert, absorbing every little bit of information presented. He could see his eyes shining with every word that the lecturer said. But Sunny? Oh, he was dying at this point.

It didn’t help that the location of the venue made for a stuffy atmosphere. He had thought that most of the people would be underdressed compared to him, but now, even the broke college students were dressed to the nines! So he had to keep up a proceed level of interest, while he couldn’t give a rats ass about this PowerPoint and lecture. Oh my god, they were still talking about how they found it. Did they really need ten plus slides just talking about the journey to this bush? Was this necessary to acidemia?

Well, at least it wouldn’t be much longer doing this. Soon they would be on the street, and maybe he could convince Basil to go for pizza afterward. He would say this about the city, one of the few positives, besides stuff to do, is that everything was always open! Nothing like going out at 3 am because your poor goblin brain refuses to let you sleep, and creates a hedgehog to tell you about anything that could go wrong with anything you do. Soni might not shut up, but pizza was still pizza and made the experience bearable at least.

Well, he didn’t have to wait much longer on that pizza. Checking his wristwatch, he saw that...only ten minutes had passed. This lecture was going to be an hour or two long. With a widening eye he realized that this wasn’t going to be boring, oh no, this was going to be a death by PowerPoint. He could feel his eyes drooping already, but no! He could not falter.

If he fell asleep, and anybody noticed, they would be kicked out. Then Basil would be upset with him, then Basil would know that he was a worthless piece of garbage, and then he would break up with him. Or maybe he was being hyperbolic, but after their first disastrous attempt, he wanted this date to be perfect. So he would endure, he would soldier on. After all, how much worse could it be?

“Are you sure you want to do this? You look a little spooked.” Hero was a little intimidated by the task at hand, but he wasn’t going to falter! Okay, maybe she was still a little sore about the teasing she got earlier if the smug grin on her face was any indication. “Um...are gocarts normally this fast?”

They had driven out of town after their dinner, quite a ways. Hero half expected to have a gun pointed in his face, and be forced to dig his own grave with how sparse the roads there were. But low and behold there was a massive paved track with people racing gocarts on them. Now, Hero had done some go-carts with his brother Kel a few times. And then been kicked out when Kel decided it was more fun to crash into him like it was the most expensive game of bumper cars known to man. But this was different.

No, these gocarts were ripping past them as they watched the current race. The ones he did with his bro went maybe a third of the speed of these monsters. Hero swallowed, looking over to the smug woman. “Oh, normally not this fast, but this is a special track. I think about 50-60 MPH for these babies. Oh, also you gotta sign a waiver.”

“Why?”

“Cause what would happen if someone crashed into you on purpose on one of those?”

“Oh…” He didn’t have much time to digest the matter as he was dragged to the front desk. Polly was already busy paying as he looked over an overview of the track. A relatively simple thing with some twists and turns in the backend. But at the speed they were going to be blasting off at, anything more twisty would most likely be a rather risky endeavor.

“Not getting cold feet are you Hero? You can take it slow if you need to.” She placed a helmet in his chest as she sat at a nearby bench, taking off her shoes. “Er, what are you doing?”

Polly gave him a weird look as she put the dirty old canvas sneakers she had carried out the car on the floor, tying up the laces. “You expect me to race in three-inch pumps?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you could kick everyone’s ass in those shoes.”

This little bit of flattery seemed to hit her like a brick if her flush had anything to say about it. She grinned wider and punched him in the arm as he sat down. “Charmer. But if your too nervous, we can still back out.” 

Hero considered it for a moment. One wrong crash, one little slip, and it could end poorly for them. Then again, that was the nature of life, wasn’t it? Easy come easy go. You could trip and break your neck, choke on a meatball, or fall down a flight of stairs. Then you were gone.

“Nah, but if I beat you, I get a kiss.”

“Deal.”

Basil just watched as Sunny wolfed down his third slice of supreme pizza. It was an odd but welcome sight that Basil almost forgot about. He was catlike in every single way, including being absurdly food motivated. When they were younger, the things he could get Sunny to do for some snack money and ice cream. A useful tip he learned from Mari, and an amusing one at that.

It eased his worry seeing him regain some of his old appetites again. He didn’t know what exactly he did while he was locked away for those four years, but eating sure as hell wasn’t one of them. If Basil was going to keep him happy and healthy, well…. Sunny needed to gain some weight, and some healthy eating habits. But those were worries for later, right now, he was just enjoying Sunny eating like a normal teenager again. Even if he only went ham on junk food. Something to worry about later.

“Is it good?” Basil asked, taking a bite of his own white slice. Sunny was currently shaking red pepper onto his fourth slice. They had gotten half and half at this small, open-air place. The late-night crowd was as strange as they were. A mix of punks, drunks, and social weirdos, despite the volume level, they felt comfortable. Apparently, Sunny was a known factor around here on late nights, and to Basil’s surprise, some of the toughest looking women he had ever seen had ruffled his hair and asked who his cute date was. It had taken them a bit to get back to their table, in which Basil was introduced to half the pizza shop it felt like. 

 Sunny broke out of his stupor long enough to give an apologetic grin and nod. Basil took one more calming breath before he began to speak, he had intended to talk about this earlier but had been too flustered by Sunny clinging to his arm, and subtly bragging about him being to the pretty one as he showed him off. The fact that Sunny thought Basil was the hot one made him worry that he had damaged his other eye.

“Um...how do you know everyone here, Sunny? Normally I don't expect you to be so...social?” He tried to make it not sound like he was super surprised but failed. Sunny,  cheeks bulging with greasy goodness, just gestured to the wall. There stood his picture with employee of the month labeled on it, with his normal, blank expression on display.  Of course Sunny had just randomly started to work somewhere, it seemed like his social skills only showed in retail of all things.

“Of course you take a job at a random place...they just let you drop in whenever?” He just nodded, looking at what was left of Basil’s half curiously. “I ate plenty earlier Sun-Bun. But that brings me to my question.”

“Tonight was lovely! I loved every moment, I didn't get to try many vegan things so that was a nice experience. And that lecture was so interesting! But…” Sunny turned pale, he rapidly replayed the events of the evening in his mind. Had he done something wrong? Had he fallen asleep for a few moments in the lecture? Was this the last date they would have?

“It was a great time for me, but not for you I feel? Like, you do realize a date is something we do so both of us can have a good time right?” Sunny just blinked, was it that blatant? “You looked like you were dying in that lecture, not that I can blame you, the researcher was a little wordy.”

“Death by PowerPoint.”

Basil laughed at this as he grabbed another slice of pizza, taking a bite. “For you maybe. Look, I had a fantastic night! And I appreciate it, but I want you to have fun too. Not just make it all about me, okay? It’s about us.” Oh, those words made him shiver in delight. Us had never sounded so good.

Sunny nodded and shyly scooted closer to Basil. “You plan the next one then.” He wanted to maybe do more than just cuddle into his side. However, the gaggle of biker lesbians were watching, making kissy faces and silently trying to egg him into action. And he was not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing his first kiss. For now, a belly full of greasy pizza and his cute boyfriend were enough.

“You were way too good at that” Hero was savoring something he rarely did in his life. Defeat. He had been utterly trounced in every attempt to beat her in the race, even on his second and third attempts. He had thought he was beginning to understand the feel of it, but then it was over. Three to zero.

“Well yea, I've been doing it my entire life! Did you really expect you would beat me?” when he thought about it. It made no sense, but. “Sorta yea? I’m fast to pick things up.”

She just laughed at that, pulling her car into the space right in front of Basil’s flowery house. Or was it her house now, honestly he had no idea. “Henry, buddy.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “Talent doesn't get you anywhere in life.”

“Huh?”

“You did way better on the track than most newbies did! Honestly, I'm impressed! But although you have raw talent, that means nothing compared to dedication.” he chewed on this for a moment, wondering why she was telling him this.

“It’s sorta why your parents act the way you do. I’m guessing you're good at a lot of things right?” Wincing at the thought of his wall of trophies, he nodded. He always wanted to get rid of those things. “But that won’t beat someone with no talent but devotes time and effort to something. Those people? In the end, they will always beat you.”

“...You think Kel has dedication?” She nodded with a grin. “So get over yourself golden boy. Then again, if we do this again, I think you could almost beat me, maybe.”

“When” Hero added with a shy grin. Although skittish to start, he had to admit he had enjoyed every moment he spent with Polly this evening. She mirrored his expression and gently touched his cheek. “You're a good man and brother. I honestly thought the kids exaggerated, but honestly, I can see why you're called Hero.”

Both waited for a moment but felt it wasn’t quite time to do anything more. Just a reassuring thumb on his cheek before she pulled away. “Nothing for you though, you didn’t beat me.” She even went for the move that would spare his ego! What a catch. He laughed as he got out, leaning against the roof of her car. “I’m heading back to the city tomorrow. I got a busy week. But maybe we can find some time to meet up? Ice cream maybe?”

“Wanna make your sugar mama pay?” She answered with a raised brow, and after a beat of silence, both burst out laughing.

“I wouldn't mind it.”

“Hey, you uh...need to stay the night over? You left your house in a huff right?” That he did, raging mad and saying a few choice words to his folks. But he couldn't leave them like that, he had to smooth things over. He didn’t doubt that his mother was staying up, waiting for him. He couldn't try to knock some sense in them if they were estranged anyway.

“Nah, I'm good. See you around?” He offered his hand to shake. Polly just looked at him flatly. “So much for natural charisma.” And drew him into a tight hug that took his breath away, and not because of her physique.

As he made his way home, feeling light on his feet. He swore he heard a familiar giggle in the wind. He wanted to just shrug it off, but he swore… Never mind, it wasn’t that important. He had some talking to do before he went to bed.

Chapter Text

Sunny awoke cold and dejected. He grumbled, trying to grasp for his soft flower boy, but there was none to be found, just more blankets. He had been left, all alone on the couch! The nerve! Oh well, he would show him! He was gonna hog all the blankets, curl up into a burrito, and refuse to let Basil have a single iota of warmth! Well, maybe a little warmth if he begged. Aw who was he kidding, this blanket was nothing compared to Basil.

But as he snuggled back into his blanket cocoon and sank further into the sofa, he found his senses trying to rouse him. The early sun was seeping through the windows, trying to beam into his eyes, but he was betting his pale skin would do a fantastic job in reflecting it back. He could smell something amazing cooking too. The sizzle of some meat was obvious, but on top of that were soft murmurs and giggles? He must be hearing things. He sighed and tried to snuggle deeper.

“Awwww! He’s so cute! I had no idea he was such a chubby baby!” Sunny’s eyes shot open. Oh no.

“Oh, he was a little fatty. It didn’t help that he ate double what Mari did at that age! We thought he was going to be big and strong.” The panic in his heart grew tenfold as he heard his mother’s snicker.

“HAH!” Oh shit, that was his mother’s voice. Some primordial part of his brain reminded him of danger long since forgotten. The weapon of mothers and teasing sisters to lord over you for all eternity. An album of baby photos. He had time, they must have been on the first few pages, the worse ones were in the back!

Hopping up, he didn’t unwrap himself, He hopped his way into the kitchen and found a scene that put fear into his heart. His mom, hair tied up with a bandana, was currently cooking her heart out, but on the island in front of her? It was his boyfriend, the love of his life, who was currently about to flip to the next page. “Yea, he never really grew up huh? My son is pocket-sized.”

He frantically hopped over and went to snatch that album, but he forgot how he was literally tied up at the moment. The movement threw him off balance, and with one slip of his socks on a freshly mopped floor, he was on his ass, dazed and confused as they looked at him. Well, they looked at him for a moment before they both cracked up. Basil put his head down, pounding his fist, his mother just guffawed openly, pointing her wooden spoon at him.

“So much for that catlike grace! Sunny, sweetie, you need to take the blanket off before you get out of bed.” Oh god, he hadn’t seen her in weeks and the first thing she's doing is teasing him. He must have died, this was hell. As he struggled to get out of his self-imposed fleece prison, he eyed that album with desperation. Throwing off his shroud, he got up and lunged for the open photo book.

Only for it to be moved slightly out of the way with a nudge of a wooden spoon, and he was tumbling ass over teakettle again. This time ending up upside down, his ass against the wall and his head spinning as he tried to figure out where he was exactly. Only for Basil to decide to look up. He started laughing even harder. 

“Sweetie” His mother grinned, it was all teeth and full of matronly malice. “You should be more careful, don’t want to ruin your nice clothes. You sure he’s a cat in a human body Basil? He falls over a lot for that.”

As he whipped the tears from his eyes, his sweet sweet boyfriend looked down at him. He looked into his pleading eyes, begging to stop this torment. But he just mirrored his mother’s expression. Oh no.

“More in the cuddly, eats everything he can get his paws on, and sleeps in my lap all day.” This got another guffaw out of his mother, whose eyes were watering at this point. “At least he’s eating well again. Why don’t you wash up sunshine, then we’ll eat breakfast. Besides! We’re celebrating!”

“.....my baby pictures?” He could feel his ears going red from embarrassment at this point, there was no way to get out of this position. She was only going to stay for a day or so, then leave. Then it’ll be back to normal! Yea

“No sweetie. I got a new job! No more long work trips for me!” uh oh. “In fact, we have plenty to talk about. Like how you've had a boyfriend for nearly three weeks without calling your mother. Or that he took care of you and weened you back to health! He even took you to the hospital and made sure you didn’t die because you were being stubborn.” Oh, that grin scared him. She was out for blood now, and although Basil couldn't pick up on it, he was a dead man. She was going to kill him until he was dead, then kill him again to bring him back.

“I’ll...go change.” And he was off. Basil swore that was the fastest he had ever seen Sunny move. On top of that, he just bounced on the wall next to the stairs and ran up them on all fours. “Uhhhh…..”

“Oh don’t worry about him” The grin was back to warm pleasant and motherly, and not the barely hid rage that all children were shown so they knew when they got home they were in for it. “Now, you wanna see All his little Halloween costumes? The first one is a sunflower!”

“I have never wanted to see something more in my life.”

“You are fucked.”

Sunny just groaned into his pillow. He clutched it firmly to his face. He had hoped that he would stop hallucinating his issues, but now he’s here. Dragging out changing into fresh clothes so he doesn’t have to face his mother. Or this blue hedgehog of copyright infringement. It was more infuriating that he was right.

“You are unbelievably fucked, as fucked as you want to be with Basil, times two.” Sunny just slowly turned to his side to glare at him. “Why are you here right now?”

“The machinations of your mind are an enigma.”

“That is not a good answer.” it came out muffled, as he was buried into his pillow, perhaps hoping he would suffocate before having to return downstairs.

“Hy isn’t it a good answer, is it dumb, is it because I’m dumb? Do you hate references?!” He was just working himself into a tizzy, and Sunny could feel his heart rate beginning to spike. Fantastic, his imaginary friend with anxiety could somehow, someway, trigger his own real anxiety!

“Hey, I’m real! I’m just not corporeal!” Sunny weighed the pros and cons in getting into a debate on the nature of existence with a figment of his own imagination. The cons won for two reasons. The first is that if he got too nihilistic, that suicidal ideation in the form of mob trash would show up, and he did not have the patience to deal with that. The second, and more pressing issue, is that his mother would have free rein to tell any embarrassing story she wished to! A fate worse than death.

“Your right, get dressed! Or she’ll break out the outfit pictures. What if she shows Basil you dressed as a Bee?” Sunny shot out of bed.

“What if she showed him my bath-time pictures?!?” Sunny was now directly talking to Soni, a poor idea, but to his panic-fueled mind, rationality had little place. He quickly rifled through his drawers, looking for something to wear. “Oh god, I don’t have time to coordinate an outfit!”

“What outfits, you dress the same nearly every dang day! What if Basil gets bored of you?!”

“Oh god!” Soni was right, he did tend to lean into one kind of style for most of his clothing choices. Besides his formal outfit, he didn’t have much else. Maybe he could just were it again?

“But what if you smell?!” 

The animal, known for rolling in its own...mess was calling him smelly. Maybe he did wear these clothes for too long “You have, you slept in them you smelly thing! You exist in the real world, so you MUST smell.”

“Shut up! I’m gonna get dressed, go out and see my much prettier than me boyfriend, and just deal with my mom messing with me. It’s better than looking at your Sega reject-looking self!”

Tearing through his drawers, he found one, single, different look. With a huff, and a quick change of clothes he checked himself in the mirror. As he figured, Kel’s gift was way too big on his skinny frame, but he didn’t have the heart to throw it out. The jersey, a darker blue one, similar to the towering teen’s, but with little cat paws making up all the lines and numbers, and shorts that he had to pull the laces as tight as possible. Huh, he must have put on some weight, considering he could wear it without it completely falling off. Sure the shirt hung down to his knees, but it was comfortable.

“You look like a little kid who stole his dad’s tee shirt, Basil will laugh.”

“SHUT YOUR ENTIRE ASS UP, THE WHOLE THING. I got worse things to deal with right now than you!” He stomped his foot and pulled the door open with a huff. Only to come face to face with a surprised Basil, who fell over, as he was pressing his ear to the door moments earlier.

Sunny just felt himself get hotter and hotter as the embarrassment set in, oh god he almost wanted to cry. It was so much. In fact, it was the exact amount for him to think that blurting out “I was yelling at my anxiety to shut up!” was a fantastic thing to do at the time. As soon as the words left his mouth, did the noise start to come from him.

It started low at first, but it slowly grew higher and higher pitched. A whine, not like air escaping from a balloon slowly filled the air as his face just grew redder and redder. With a slow movement, he pulled his head into the oversized cat jersey, and crouched, pulling his arms in soon after. Only his feet and the top of his head poked out, the only evidence that someone was in there. What Basil was left looking at was some kind of odd-clothed turtle boyfriend, the sound muffled from his location inside his shirt.

Basil just stared at his boyfriend for a long moment, not saying anything. But he couldn't keep it, as much as he tried to. No, he did what anyone would do upon seeing this happen. He started laughing harder than he had in his entire life. He flopped forward, wrapping his turtle in a big hug. “Oh, Sun-Bun I’m so sorry! I don’t mean to laugh but...your just so adorable!”

The noise just got louder as he pet the black tuft of hair he could see. “Don’t worry, I talk to myself all the time too. Although I don’t directly insult my mental illness…. Hmm. Maybe I should give that a try.” he thought aloud, noticing the turtle was leaning into his gentle physical affection. “Okay, no more teasing. It was fun, but you’ve had enough.” For now at least.

He got no response for a bit until Sunny peeked out enough for his eyes to be visible. “Promise?”

Basil, pulling up everything within his power, managed to keep a straight face as he nodded. This appeased the Sunny turtle. They sat like that for a little while, cooling down and letting some of the anxiety bubbled off as he was cooled by physical affection. Maybe he could salvage some of his pride today.

That thought was squashed when Mom had brought out the video of the peanut butter incident. He wished he fell down the stairs instead. He swore as he did his best to hide again at the kitchen table, he swore he heard three voices laughing instead of two.

Chapter Text

Vance was going to have a nice, quiet day off. He needed one, after all, considering how often his sister’s partners were over. Those people had no damn concept of no PDA when one of the trios siblings was chilling on the couch trying to enjoy his cheese balls. It was enough to put a dent in his appetite. Well no, it wasn’t. Nothing could ever overpower the eternal hunger of his asexual stomach. The only reason he didn’t blow up and ask him to knock it off is that his sister was way happier. Also, Kel had convinced her to get anger management or at least show up, finally.

Good timing too, with her working out with Kel, her blows were beginning to hurt.

But that's why he was outside this sunny Saturday. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and he had noped out of the house after they started playing Kaiju movies. Seeing the writing on the walls, he gently threatened Kel, making sure he wouldn't be an uncle so early and dipped. He thought that his day was gonna be doing work, and not lazing about and enjoying all the nothing he had yet to enjoy this summer. Work gave him pocket money, but he was used to doing jack shit on these nice warm summer days.

Was this what growing up felt like? What bullshit this was! A month had passed, and July was sticking its ugly head over the horizon. Soon, there would only be two months left of summer, and then he’d be off to community college. Sure it was just a driving distance from home, but not seeing all his dorks at the high school would be weird. Maybe he should ask the boss for time off, reduce hours, or something. This summer was special, he could feel it in his bones.

Or maybe it was special because a food truck showed up at the park. So now he sat, stuffed with taffy and chili cheese dogs, wondering if it was socially acceptable to pass out on a bench and take a nap. He was only in the planning stages so far and was eyeing the area for squirrels he could use as a makeshift pillow. But that tranquility would soon be ruined as someone sat next to him.

He didn't let the internal groan. As the only one not in the death grip of hormones or terminal stupidity, he was the one who people tended to bring their problems too. Well, at least problems that couldn’t be solved with a smashed mailbox, or other Aubrey branded solutions. So, the winds of fortune changed, the tide shifted to an ill wind, Maverick had arrived.

He waited for some kind of grandiose, flowery speech. The statements about his own superiority and his “lady killing” skills. But none of it came. When he finally spared a look at him, he was shocked. No dumb clothes, no cocksure smile, no words at all. He was in his bakery uniform, black hair tied behind his head, and looking like he hadn't slept in weeks. He almost felt bad for the guy.

“I need romance advice.” 

And there his bad feelings went. He went to get up. “Vance, Vance, please! I need help!” This was not the first, nor last time he had been asked this. How he expected good advice out of the token asexual though. How many times did he have to repeat to this chucklefuck that paying girls for their time wasn’t the way to get a girlfriend, it was a way to waste money like a twitch simp, but worse somehow?

As he made his escape, slowed down by food, he bolted. Maybe he got the hint? It’s not like he didn’t like Mav, he was a good, if weird guy. But he was tired of being the magical asexual of relationship advice, and doubly so for someone that didn’t listen to the damn advice. He was tired of being a level-headed middle man damn it!

But when he turned behind him, he watched in horror as Mav ran up to the food truck, and forked over some money. No, he was full. He could resist anything he brought over, no sweat! He knew his job kept him lean from being on his feet all day, but at this point, he was pushing it, and he’d start to gain more weight. Just look at him, and say no. Simple! Wait, is that funnel cake?

Shit, it was too late to back off now. He didn’t even remember eating the greasy fried dough, all that was left was a stained paper plate and some powdered sugar. Looking over to Mav, he was just poking at his. With a sigh, he yoinked the untouched funnel cake and took a poke at it with his fork. “Okay fine, what girl do you have your sights on this time,” he mumbled through a mouth of sugared, chocolate-covered fried dough. Jeeze, at this rate he would need to maybe join Kel in the jogging.

Again, the lack of response was worrying. If anything, Mav had a mouth on him, an endlessly yapping one willed with false bravado. To see him silent as the grave, and stripped of that mask was unsettling. “Mav?” Again, nothing. Okay, time to piss him off. “Mikhael.”

“Hmm?” he looked up, poking where his plate used to be with a fork as he looked up. Did he seriously not notice that Vance had just stolen his food? “Okay, what the hell is up with you. Some girl must have you bad.”

Again, he thought about his words before speaking. Vance was starting to get a little freaked out when he finally spoke. “How much of an age difference is too much Vance?”

Vance stopped mid-chew and blinked. A carefully measured response just came out of his friend’s mouth, and he had never had the pleasure of that before. “It depends. Are they adults or underaged?”

He was giving him the benefit of the doubt here, that he wasn’t doing something creepy, but this line of questioning lent to that. Mav just hummed and admitted. “Both are.”

“Well, then it’s dependent on the size. What is it like a senior dating a freshman or something?”

“No, more like a year and a half gap.” he mumbled, through a flushed face. Vance just pondered it for a moment, before it struck him. There was one person that fit that gap to a T. One person who Vance knew at that age, and was close to this melodramatic goober.

“No fucking way.”

“Silence! I...After the cabin since the Maverik started feeling some things. But He’s full damn aware of how WEIRD this shit is okay?!” Oh, thank the lord he was talking in the third person again. “Of course The Maverik can’t be tied down to just one gender, but. But I don’t know if its too weird.” His voice cracked, he deflated before his eyes as he picked at a bit of peeling paint.

“Well, why would it be weird?” It was an honest question, Mav and Angel had always been tight. Honestly, if Mav didn’t pay for the attention of girls so often to show off, dating that shorter spastic would have been assumed if anything. But it was a hell of a surprise, although not an unwelcome one. Seeing Mav have so much anxiety about, well, anything was strange. The man would quote anime unironically, all the damn time.

“Age difference and, I fear there is a bit of imbalance between us. He does call me master after all. If I admit my feelings, I don’t want him to feel obligated to return them.” 

Vance clapped a meaty hand on this twink’s shoulder. “Mav, honestly, I’m proud of you.”

“What?” This was not the reaction he expected, he expected mockery, to be told he was a creep or something of the like. Lord knows he had been called that enough not to worry about it much anymore. But the genuine smile coming off of his asexual associate was putting him a bit at ease.

“You know theirs a power dynamic with age and your weird master student thing. You’re thinking about how to broach this without taking advantage. Let me ask you this. Are you planning on using your age to take advantage? Or your “master” title?”

“Hell no! He means way too much to me to flaunt such petty titles.”

“Ew, mush shit aside, then theirs your answer! As long as you go from that to partners, and realize that you’re going to have to...wait for some things. Then you’re fine! A year and a half isn’t some insane age gap. Besides, he’s turning 16 next week.”

Mav took in a breath and was physically relaxed. He sagged in relief as Vance polished off the last of the funnel cake. “I’m more surprised your gay than anything.”

“I run around in a blonde wig, paid girls to go in dates with me, and dressed with a half-tucked in button-up. And you thought I was straight?” Mav just responded with a raised brow.

“Well….shit you got me there.

Aubrey was bored. Not because Kaiju movies were dull, no, she thought they were rad. No, it was because she thought it was an excuse to stay inside and make out all day. That assumption was quickly proved to be false every time she tried to make a move. She was either rebuffed, shushed, or just told off, because this was the good part. Apparently, the entire movie was the good part! At least the newest development was entertaining to watch.

“I’m telling you, Kim, Mon-King is the top-tier kaiju. Liz-Lord is just sorta there. Nothing that impressive.” He shrugged, Aubrey just grinned as she watched the vein in her girlfriend’s forehead throb. “He has a radioactive breath attack! What does an overgrown monkey have.”

“A big stick, to smash his little lizard brain. His brain is most likely the size of a basketball, while the sigma male monkey will dominate him!” Kim just stared at him for a good long moment before opening her mouth, ready to unleash a violent tirade of fangirl lore at her moronic beau. However, they were interrupted.

“GUYS HOLY FUCK!” That statement followed a small figure kicking the door open with a violent foot. There, stood Angel, clad in a jersey and cargo shorts, one leg still posed in the kick that flung the door open. He seemed more surprised than anything that it worked.

“Of for. Angel, the door was unlocked!” Kim stormed over, assessing the damage this goblin may have caused. “You better wash that damned footprint off my door or I’m going to break off my foot in your ass!” 

“I will, but I need help first!” Rummaging around in his many pockets, he produced a crumpled piece of paper that stoked an expression of dread in Kim’s expression. Aubrey looked over lazily, trying to pretend she wasn’t internally cheering for something else to do besides watching more movies with her two morons.

“What's wrong, rock candy? You look like you saw a ghost!” Aubrey was grinning, as she already knew what that bit of paper held for them. After all, she had given it to him. You see, Angel had a history, a legacy, of asking the dumbest questions you have ever heard. From asking if there are steak cows and hamburger cows, or if the sky is blue because it’s sad. The way his mind worked was a mystery to be sure, as it had the ability to come up with the dumbest questions you could think of with the greatest of ease.

What it also did was piss off Kim to no end. While most could laugh it off, Kim tended to get infuriated by dumb questions, to the point that she had to be heald back, multiple times even. After she accidentally gave Kel a black eye, Aubrey had put her foot down, and banned Angel from asking Kim any question, unless given permission beforehand. 

“Oh my god Aubrey, it worked!” Kel cheered next to her as he wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her up in celebration. “Told you it would!” She grinned smugly, reaping her ego boost, and the peck on the lips she earned for her actions. Kim slowly turned around, glaring daggers at the both of them. What she held in her hands was one signed permission slip to ask Kim anything. And even if she was dating the Hooligan leader, she was still the leader. “I’m going to kill you two.”

Kim had prepared everything she needed to put up with whatever bullshit came out of his mouth. On one hand, she should be concerned that the youngest, most goblin-like member of their group was being quiet and patient, but she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She had stalled a little for time, boiling some water, setting out some fruit, that Angel had devoured. After pouring some mint tea for herself, and water for him (no way in hell she was going to give him sugar), and took one final calming breath.

“Okay, Angel. You get one question. You can’t rush me in my answer, or interrupt me, or I will find, and destroy your entire card collection, do I make myself clear?” All she got was a frightened nod from him. Oh damn it, she was hoping that would scare him off. He sat there quietly, munching on the orange he was still in the process of fully peeling. Kim winced as juice splattered onto the clean tea table. Oh god damn it she's gonna have to clean this too.

She was about to explode on him, but he saw Kel and Aubrey peeking in with the biggest shit-eating grins she had ever seen. Oh, they were waiting for her to blow up on him. Those little shits! But Angel had yet to blurt out something dumb. No “are all yellow things sour because yellow is sour?” or, “are cows just really big dogs with horns?”. He was sitting there, quietly, with an almost embarrassed expression on his face.

“Is it okay to date someone older than you?” Angel stuffed an orange into his mouth and chewed as if to halt any of his thoughts from bubbling out of his mouth. This was completely unexpected, in many ways. First of all, the idea that Angel had any romantic interest outside of his love of Pokemon was laughable at best before today. On top of that, it was someone older? One thought popped up into her brain, and she did not like it.

“How much older?” She looked over to her better thirds, to make sure they were hearing this. For the first time, Kel was not smiling, and Aubrey held a cautious look of bubbling rage. She turned back to Angel, who was picking at the table cloth. 

“About a year and some change. I’ve known them for a long while though.” Okay, that's good, Kim relaxed, Kel started grinning, and Aubrey put down the bat and discarded the plans to buy a shovel and tarp for later. Angel was a dumbass, but Angel was all of their dumbasses. Only they could make fun of him, and dare him to do dumb shit. If anyone dared touch him...well. They wouldn't do it much longer.

“The problem is that we’ve been friends for so long. I look up to him, he's the best, and so cool!” Angel just gushed happily, until he quieted and looked to the side. “But suddenly I started to feel weird around him. And I think I uh...like him? But he’s way out of my league! And liking boys is weird…”

Oh good lord, this poor innocent boy. Kim got up and marched over to him. Angel, even if he could be slow at times, knew he should fear an approaching Kim, and held up his hands” I uh, did I say something wrong? I’m sorry! Don’t headbutt me!” He backed away, jumping out of his chair as he held his hands in front of his handsome face. He was too pretty and young to die!

What he was pulled into was a tight hug. He only dared to peek after a few long moments, and when Kim pulled away and clapped him on the shoulders. “Angle, my poor, poor stupid boy. Is it weird that me and Aubrey like each other?”

“No?”

“Is it weird that me, her, and Kel are all together?” 

“No, because Aubrey has too much dating power, and needs two people to keep up with her dating level.” Kim paused at that, staring at him before realizing that Mav had some hand in that statement. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that bad a way to put it. Even if Kel looked like he was gonna die as he covered his mouth. Tears escaping as he held it in.

“That’s right! Now let’s be honest, you’re talking about Mav aren’t you?”

“It’s THE MAVERICK-...oh. Sorry. Reflex. How did you know?” He interrupted his own tirade and stared at her with wide eyes. As if it was not the most obvious thing in the world. 

“With mind powers.” Kim rolled her eyes, but she could see the stars in his eyes already. Shit, the last thing she needed was this little bugger thinking she was psychic. Then again, she was in no mood for him to be asking her more romantic advice. Yes, this was the reason, and not because she thought they would make a cute couple.

“I’ll even explain them to you, but first you need to do something for me.”

Vance was wandering out of the candy shop with a sweet paycheck. He didn’t care if everyone groaned when he said it, it was a fantastic pun damn it. However, it didn’t take long to notice his sister acting suspicious, peeking around an orange joe display into the back of the store.

“What the hell are-” He was shushed and pushed behind the shelf as his sister dug an elbow into his gut. A normal man would at least be winded, but he shrugged it off and raised a single eyebrow. She just pointed, and he followed her finger.

A very well-dressed Angel shuffled nervously in place, scuffing his nice polished shoes. The black slacks were a little long, and so was the button-up shirt with a little red vest. The sight of Angel in formal ware was alien, but so was the new streak of electric blonde through his pompadour.  He was loitering in front of the, at the moment, unmanned bakery.

“Okay, why is he dressed like a tiny usher, and why did you dye his hair? His sister is gonna kill him.” His whisper was deemed too loud as he received another elbow. Jeeze, she was excited about something.

“Our boy has a crush. I don’t know how it will work out, but it’s best to put it out there in the open right. So I told him if I dye his hair, it’s really me casting a magic spell to increase his chances of being successful.”

“Did you just emperor’s new clothes Angel?”

“Shush! Besides, he’s about to ask isn’t he?”

“Ask who?” He got no answer, only more shushing. When Angel gathered what nerve he had, he took a deep breath and stepped into the bakery., ringing the bell. After a few tense moments, a flour-stained Mav came out from the back, brushing himself off, before freezing at the sight of his “apprentice”.

Both just stared for a while, flushing profusely. “Come onnnnn” Kim muttered, shaking her fist as if her indignation would focus the issue. Vance just grinned, knowing the other end of this outcome. “You know sis, if this works, Angel will think your magic and will bother you with any little magic solution that will come to his head.”

Kim just paled as she looked at him, then looked back to the two teens. Angel was muttering something, looking down at the ground. However, as he went to run away, Mav grabbed his hand and stepped around the counter. They couldn’t hear what was exchanged as the taller one crouched down, but if the elated expression on Angel’s face was anything to go by, then it was good news. Angel wasted nop time flinging himself into Mav’s arms, who hugged him back and wing him around. Both laughing like the goons they always would be.

“Awwww, good for them. Vance grinned warmly at the scene playing out before them. Kim should be equally elated but was now facing down oblivion at the hand of a very talkative moron. Not even Aubrey would be able to save her now. Her good deed was going to come back to bite her.

“OH MOTHER FU-”

Chapter Text

“And this is when Sunny went as a cat and Mari a witch. He didn’t even talk that night, he just meowed. In fact, he didn’t stop meowing for several days. We were getting a little worried about him, but then we told him cats couldn't have cookies and he stopped real quick.” 

Sunny refused to look at the book currently splayed in front of Basil and his mother as he ate on the island. He thought she would go easier on him. He was foolish, he had been a knave to even consider the possibility that his mother would have some mercy on him. No, she did not. If that tied paper bag contained what he thought it did, he was not going to be killed from embarrassment. No, he would be atomized, not a single more would exist from him as his cheeks his critical mass and caused enough atoms to split to level a city block. The radioactive matter would shower from the sky and kill the entire city. And it would be his mother’s fault.

However, the intensity of the grudge he was trying to foster was being thwarted. How you ask? With food, oh her food. He had almost forgotten how much of a damn good cook she was. Of course, Mari had to learn how to bake cookies from somewhere! It was half the reason he never bothered to learn how to cook. Why bother when his mom and sister could fucking run a kitchen like a well-oiled machine, combined with Hero, ascend into a culinary Mecca that he could never reach. What was the point compared to those cooking titans?

He had thought he was approaching their greatness, in some way. Half the reason he learned how to cook was to fight his tendencies to let himself waste away rather than bothering to find easy sustenance. Out of guilt, his general issues of knowing what is real or not, or just him wanting to die, he had no idea the reason, but it was a problem. But on eating his meal, he knew he was lightyears away from her skill now.

In front of him was what was left from his breakfast. Oh, it was one fit for a king, a divine gift bestowed upon by his mother with no regard for a budget. It made him slightly worried, but he was too busy partaking to give a shit. How could he?

Considering he was given a perfectly cooked rate T-bone to partake in. Rested the perfect amount of time for it to still be hot, but retain its juices until you bite in. his knife glided like butter through it, Perfect meat, rendered fat. Oh, this was heaven! And on top of that, he was handed the biggest bowl of homemade fried rice he had ever seen. Wok-fried to perfection. It was so damn good he was focused solely on consuming his two favorite foods. Well, at least in the top ten. He had many favorite foods.

However, it was almost spoiling his appetite (almost), listening to what was going on next to him.

“Oh my god, Sunny can rock a schoolgirl outfit.” Oh, sweet Jesus above he didn’t even remember a picture being taken of that! How the hell did she know about it?! Why did she know about it?

“Yea, Mari wanted to go as a sailor scout that year, and told him if he joined in, she’d give him half her candy.”

“Did she?”

“Hell no she didn’t. She just played dumb until he cried, then we forced her to give over all her candy to him.” Of course, she tied embarrassing costume photos into stories about how Mari easily bamboozled him. Unfortunately, he was, and always will be, a bit of a moron, so his mother had endless ammo in that regard. He shot a glare Basil’s way, but with his eyes glued to that photo album, he took no notice. 

Aw, he was gonna be mad at Basil. He promised to ease up but here he was, indulging his evil mother. He was gonna hold a grudge for a million years, sonnets would be written about it and all countries would collapse into the dustbin of history before his rage was extinguished! Or it would take exactly one puppy dog look for him to forgive him entirely. He did sorta carve Sunny’s eye out of his skull, and he didn’t even get mad at him for it. Wow, Aubrey was right, he was whipped.

So he had to act now right? A preemptive angry strike, before he got lost in those blue eyes and smoochable lips...What was he thinking about again? Oh yes. REVENGE. But revenge where he didn’t have to go very far. Cause there was no way he was going to let his meal get cold. An act of revenge he could perform while devouring this meal then! But how.

Then, it hit him. His eyes wandered and landed on the plate that was left unguarded before Basil. Omelet rice, specially made for his (mostly) vegetarian beau.  It had barely been touched, that thin perfect line of fancy ketchup gleaming in the morning light, just a corner cut with a spoon. Enough to see the thin bit of runny yolk in the omelet slowly leaking onto the rice. Okay, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Basil was having a blast! He wasn’t trying to embarrass his boy further but his mother had so many cute pictures! Although he was eyeing that odd paper bag. “Ms. Suzuki? What’s in that bag anyway?”

She stopped mid page flip and looked over to him. “Why Basil, that is my treasure. The one thing that if anyone tried to touch, I’d murder them for even daring to try. Maybe hang them up in a tree later.” She gave him a very pointed look, and he could feel himself pale. Basil was very aware that she was within arm’s length of the knife block. And if memory served, she knew how to throw them. Welp, if this was how he was going to die, at least he could look at more baby pictures as he bled out all over the counter! Worth it.

Then she laughed. “Holy shit the look on your face! Priceless!” She pounded her fist on the table, tearing up as Basil huffed.

“That’s mean…”

“Pff, maybe. Where do you think Sunny gets it from?” She gave him a firm slap on the back that almost sent him sprawling., but he managed to stay upright. “What’s in that bag, Basil, are videos of every single school play he has ever been in. Kindergarten through fourth grade.” Basil stared at the bag as if it contained every solution to life's problems. “....I need to see every moment of them. Right now.”

“We will! Finish your breakfast first, we’ll make an afternoon of it.” But her face locked up, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Although you may have to hurry up.”

“What do you-” Basil followed her line of sight, as his face morphed from curiosity to horror. His tasty breakfast was being completely obliterated.  Rice was flying as his boyfriend, duel-wielding spoons, completely obliterated his breakfast, shoveling all the dried rice innards into his mouth. “HEY! That’s my breakfast!”

Sunny froze, aware that all eyes were now on him. With a grim look of defiance, he slowly went to put another spoonful of fried rice and egg into his mouth, but basil slapped it away. But, duel wielding as he was, he just kept at it with the other spoon. “Liar.” He mumbled through bulging cheeks as he death glared at him, scooting away as Basil scooted closer. 

“It’s not my fault your baby pictures are so damn cute, give me my breakfast!”

With that, Sunny took the plate and bolted out the room, disregarding his spoon entirely as he shoveled it in with his hands on the way out the door. Basil was flabbergasted for a moment, but only for a moment as he stood up to give chase. “I BROUGHT YOU BACK TO HEALTH, I CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU!” He sprinted off, sliding through the door to the kitchen with a yelp and a crash as his socks betrayed him.

Mary just looked at the door, listening to the sounds of the merry chase, and the massive mess they were most likely making a massive mess to clean up later. But she couldn’t help but delight in the noise the house now contained. Even if this was a fresh new place, the sounds of kids fighting, even if they were on the cusp of adulthood, brought her back to a simpler time. She let out a wistful sigh as she remembered the time Sunny stole Mari’s trading cards, or Mari dipped into Sunny’s piggy bank.

Oh, those were the days, where those big little problems could be solved, and you’d look like a good to them. Doling out compassionate fair advice, then everyone hugged at the end. If only all conflict could be solved so simply. For now, she ate her breakfast, and delighted in the sounds of a full house again, for as long as that would last.

“Awwww….you were the tree every time huh?” Basil laughed as they lounged on the sofa, His mother fiddling with her phone as they watched the third play in a row. Sunny just grumbled from his comfortable position, his head in Basil’s lap. He would make a fuss, but he was enjoying the feeling of the comb through his hair much too much to stop.

Both teens distracted, Mary kept typing away, occasionally glancing at them as her grin grew. Oh, they had no idea, the fools. They would suffer a fate, unlike any other anything they could ever conceive of! Okay maybe that was a bit dramatic, but they would be shocked, for sure.

She held the remote, waiting for the perfect frame to stop it on. She selected the time where Sunny discreetly tried to pick his nose as a tree. With a click Basil began to shake, holding it in as her son was broken out of his trance. Looking at Basil curiously, and then at the screen, he just ground. “Seriously.”

“I was trying to flatter you, sweetie, trust me.” With that damn lie, she put down the remote, turning the attention to the boys. “So, I meant it when I said that we were going to have to discuss Sunny’s well, reckless behavior.” She had expected her son to shoot up, but now he was still lazing around. “I have to take one more trip for training for the entire month of July. But considering Sunny is going to be grounded, I had to take special precautions.”

Sunny just huffed. “How are you gonna enforce it?” Mary blinked. Was that sass she detected? She would be so proud if she wasn’t about to slap that shit down hard. “Oh, I don’t have to. See, Basil was going to have to leave anyway. His civic project starts soon.”

Basil froze as Sunny slowly looked up at him from his lap. He dared not look down and see those disapproving eyes. That pout. “I was uh...going to bring it up?” He had completely let it slip his mind. He had agreed to it without much thought, but he had been staying over here for quite some time. Cuddling with Sunny, wearing his clothes, eating with him… No wonder he forgot.

“What about it Ms. Suzuki?” She grinned. “I’m glad you asked Basil. Me and Polly have been talking, and what you need. Is physical labor help right? Renovating the park by yourself for a month is a lot. And I have a son who is in violent need of sun and exercise!” Sunny felt a shiver of dread working its way up his spine at the thought of working in the blazing July heat. She wasn’t serious, right?

“So I’m going to drop you two off in Faraway, it’s close to where I’m getting training for the new job anyway, so I can check on ya'll. Sunny is going to help you with the project till it's done. Don't be afraid to boss him around too." She laughed for a moment, before grinning at the blonde with a predatory smile. "The only issue is that you’ll have to share a room. Will that be a problem?”

The expression on their faces was priceless, Basil’s was a mask of pure joy, his eyes sparkling at the thought of Sunny working with him hand in hand renovating their childhood memories. Also a creeping blush of being able to spend every night with Sunny just a breath away.  Sunny, however, looked as if he was stuffed with dread. The thought of working out in the blazing heat, with his scrawny little body was a hellish one. However, he was resigned to work with Basil. How could he say no to his boyfriend? However, that last little bit of information stuck in his mind as he stared at his mom.

“I know you want grandkids, but I don’t think that’s how it works. Won’t stop me from trying.”

It was deadly silent for a moment. The only noise coming from Basil as he grew reader and redder. If steam could escape his ears, it would. She took great delight as the blonde began to beat her sputtering sun with a pillow, working out his frustrations with soft violence. Ah, she was worried she had lost her teasing touch, but she still had it!

Chapter Text

“If you do not shut up, I am going to seal you in a salt circle, I swear to god.” Basil was busy stuffing the clothes he had brought with him into a knapsack to take back home. Well, brought with him wasn’t accurate. No, these were clothes he bought using the guilt money his parents gave him, so he could spend more time with Sunny. Besides donating when it got too large, this was the best way to spend it. Currently, his task was being distracted by the hovering black void that looked like his outline.

Turns out, ignoring him for nearly a week was a poor decision. As he took it rather personally and knew all the ways to push Basil’s buttons. Still worth it to just goof around with Sunny for a week. Until now it is. “Hey, don’t get mad at me for exposing a real problem you are going to have.”

“It won’t be a problem!”

“Oh yea. Imagine the scene.” The specter floated right next to him. “You’ve been making out with Sunny for days, but he wants to go a bit farther than that. How are you, Basil, going to go to the drug store and get what you need.”

“W-what are you talking about?” He pretended he didn’t know, but his flushed cheeks spoke volumes of where his mind went. Oh, this sweet boy wasn’t as sweet as he pretended, after all, he had internet access! And he spent a lot of time inside.

“Unless you want Sunny to tear something that shouldn't be torn, you're gonna need lube.” Basil froze at this, the bit of blood in his cheeks now threatening to go thermonuclear as his entire head seemed to glow. “And to buy that, you're going to look at someone, dead in their eyes and buy lube. And they're gonna KNOW.”

“Kill me now.” Basil whimpered, he tried to focus on the task at hand but how was he meant to do that when this figment was pushing a new button for his anxiety. Violently so. He didn’t want to continue with this line of thought, but he was being force to, by something inside his brain no less.

“I mean, you want to do that kind of thing with him right? From the little moans in your sleep, I assume.”

“SHUT UP!” Basil let a squeak slip past his lips, as he put a hand over his mouth. his outburst would make him look insane if anybody saw it. He slowly listened out for any sign of anyone near him, but found nothing. Okay, the only way to get this smirking Casper the dickbag ghost out of his face, was to shut him down. In conversation.

“Look, self-checkout exists. I’ll go to Othermart, pick up…” The words died on his lips, he couldn't even manage to get the words out without flushing even harder. Why was he like this? When he was kissing Sunny, there wasn’t this weird shy feeling about it. He relished every moment and touch.

“You uh, gonna finish that sentence?” Stranger poked at the boy, who was currently stuck with a dreamy expression as he spaced out. “Stop thinking of Sunny’s butt and answer me!”

The dreamy grin only grew with that. Until he snapped back to reality, the flush back. “Look, I’ll get what I need for that kind of activity, then I’ll walk out and make no eye contact with anyone. Nobody will suspect a thing.”

“Except Polly.”

The noise that escaped Basil’s mouth could best be described as his soul leaving his body, or at least the soul of some tiny rodent who had given up on life. An adorably squeaky thing. Stranger just kept the momentum up. “Oh, she’ll greet you at the door, thank you for getting the groceries, then take the bag. Faster than you can react to it!”

“Oh NO.” Basil was going pale now as this mental scene was forced upon him, he could see her confused look now. It dominated her features as his mother figure would ask questions, horrible questions.

“How would I explain the dog collar?”

Stranger just stared at Basil, who was too unaware, having the mother of all internal freakouts. He had no idea where this would go and was quite frankly shocked. Well, maybe not that shocked. These were two kids with massive piles of trauma, and strange life circumstances. Of course, their tastes would veer towards the strange.

“Why am I not surprised. Then again, Sunny has that thing for slime girls, so, OW, FUCK” The loud nature of the expletive brought Basil back to reality. He looked over to his ghostly friend and found he had a rather large hole blown through his middle. It was dripping a blackish goo that was leaking onto the floor but dissipating to fog on contact.

“Shit! That hurt a lot. Why the hell did that happen? Because I said some shit about Sunny’s wack internet history?” Another howl of pain as half his arm seemed to get blown off as the hole in his chest knit itself back together. “Ow, okay! No talking about the dreamer! Fine!” 

Basil watched this entire thing with horror and confusion. What could cause such sudden, grievous injuries? Wait, what was he talking about? 

“How do you know things about Sunny?”

“Because I…” Stanger stopped and held up a finger as if shushing him. Thinking carefully about his next words, he pondered for a moment. It seemed like revealing his true nature, or why he was with Basil would produce rather painful results. Although self-assured that he couldn’t die in the physical sense, he did not want to test that. Besides, it hurt!

“Before I was hanging around with you, I was part of someone else’s mind. Someone you know, but I’m not naming names!” They both waited as the damaged parts of his frame stitched themselves back together, but no more phantom maiming happened. Well, except for what appeared to be a paper cut.

“Wait, you were part of what, sunny’s imagination?” 

“Ye-” And then only his legs were left as a gout of phantom ichor rocked out of where his torso used to be. Oof, that’s gotta hurt.

“Kill yourself”

“No”

“Kill yourself”

“No”

“Come onnnnn just do it!”

“You first.”

“Really?”

“No”

The frustrated scream was music to Sunny’s ears as Void yanked on his horns. Ideation is a funny thing. Sure, sometimes it was stronger than other times, but the longer you lived and dealt with it productively, the easier it got. In some ways, it was worrying to suddenly think about drinking the bleach you were using to wash your clothes. A little more worrying that this dark thought was about as strong as your desire to cheat on your diet, as easily batted away as that small temptation was. Apparently, this was normal, and even a positive change to dismiss these thoughts as bad ideas out of hand, instead of letting them fester.

But seeing the frustration of his most negative thoughts given form, his tormentor being tormented. Oh, that was a pleasure beyond any he had ever known!

“Come on kid! You’re driving me nuts here! You’re meant to be the depressed sad sack that has no friends! Look at you now, you have a boyfriend, a recovering social life, and growing life skills! This is bullshit!”

“I fail to see how this is a problem?” Sunny was too busy packing his own bags to give Void much notice. After all, he was going to be staying in the same room, as his boyfriend, for a month! Sure, he had spent the last few weeks the exact same way, but he’d get to see Kel and Aubrey again. Although there was a spark of apprehension there.

“Hey, those two were just being nice because it was a social situation right? Why even bother going when you know they hate you.”

“Then I'll just hang with Basil and beg for their forgiveness.” Sunny just rolled his eyes, packing the last bit of what he needed for a month away from home. “Wow, you don’t have much to go on today do you?”

“Not really. Except watch you try to use your limp noodle arms to try and zip up that suitcase. No way in any of the seven hells are you going to manage that on your own?” Unfortunately, the imp had a point. Despite his best efforts to try and fix it, he was still what you would call, horrifically underweight. He preferred travel-sized but his doctor, mother, and Basil violently disagreed.

After some fruitless jumping on the top to try to mash it down, and it not budgeting, he decided the best course of action was to ask for help. After all, as he had discovered, Basil was what you would call secretly ripped. Thin cords of dense muscle covered his frame, under a bit of huggable baby fat. Although he wouldn't tell him that. The last time he had even implied it, Basil rolled over and ignored him for a full hour! He was a spiteful boy, that was for sure.

“Holy shit your light. What, are you dating him to open pickle jars for you or something? Maybe cat food, considering you might as well be his pet.”

“I wouldn't mind it.”

“Gross!”

“Hey, you’re the one who said it” Sunny grinned as he walked to the guest room. He had to admit, when Void wasn’t trying to make him dead, he was fun to talk to. Hell, even Vess and Soni were a good way to whittle away some time if they decided to invoke their aspects. It helped that they acted as an early warning system these days. When he knew where his brain was trying to go that day, made things easier to head off at the pass. And not look insane in front of Basil.

However, as he crept up to the guest room, he just cracked it open quietly, just to be polite. Instead, he ran into a strange situation. Basil was talking to himself? Well, it seemed like that at first, but the way his eyes were moving suggested otherwise.

“Oh stop bellyaching, you can’t die! You’re a figment of my imagination!”

Nothing answered him, but that stern expression and tapping foot was something that Sunny had some experience in. Someone was getting on his boy’s nerves and was in for a world of hurt.

“What do you mean you can’t explain it!?”

After another pause, Sunny could hear Void slowly floating over his head, staring into the room. “What the hell.”

“Oh boo hoo, so you're arm got blown off, explain! With all the teasing you do you owe me that much!”

“Uh, kid, normally I’m not meant to give you good life advice or all that. Gotta get you killed off somehow, but uh…. Your boyfriend is crazy.” At this moment, Sunny was inclined to agree. This was a little strange and sudden of Basil for all people. It was less worrying that he did it, but he had a history of spacing out on his side. Basil didn’t! Well, except his something. Huh, maybe they both have a history of that sort of thing.

“Come on stranger, please?”

That froze both the peeping toms in place. That name was oh so familiar to Sunny, alarming so. A guide to the truth, a teller of harsh facts, a creepy shade with spotlight eyes created in Basil’s image. A representation of his brain wrestling with the idea of telling the truth. That Stranger. It couldn't be, right? That would be crazy!

“If you don’t answer, I swear to god I will get that song stuck in my head. You know the one!” A pause as Basil grinned. “Yea I’ll play it on a loop you Halloween ghost, lightbulb eye’d fuck! Now spill the tea!’

Okay no, that was exactly who he was thinking of then. How is that even possible? A remnant of his old fantasy, stuck to his current, real fantasy? Okay, that was corny as hell, but still. Stranger didn’t exist except in his escapism….right?

Void looked more surprised than him, his jaw dropped and his single eye bugging out. “So that’s where he went! Boss has been looking for that bastard for ages!” Wait a moment, boss? What does that mean? But as soon as he spoke the words, the imp knew he said too much.

Before Sunny could say a thing, Void was gone, leaving him with many new questions, replacing the ones he had answered by working on himself. Too many questions, that he would be temporarily distracted as Basil continued his chat.

“What do you mean a dog is behind me? Look just because you know about the collar thing doesn’t mean that I would-” He turned around and found Sunny staring him dead in the face. Basil could feel his stomach drop, oh god. What did he hear, how much did he hear?

Sunny, his mind going a mile a minute, had a unique little moment. Two rarely used synapses rubbed weather to create a new thought, a stupid thought. So underused, that it bypassed every little bit of common sense he had. Causing the boy to bark once.

Neither said anything after that, digesting the action, then both reacting. Both boys grew more and more flush as a new sort of tension filled the room. Neither moved to dispel it, after all, neither of them had gone past first base, and were currently frozen in the vague possibility of going even further. The spell was thankfully broken by a voice from downstairs.

“Boys? Have you packed yet? We need to get a move on!”

“U-um” Basil hated that his stammer came back at the worst of times, the fire and confidence moments before extinguished by embarrassment. “Need some help with your bag?” Sunny nodded and they rushed to his room. The task distracted both boys from the new frontier they just opened in their relationship. Sunny knew one thing though, it was time to put what Mari had taught him into practice.

Chapter Text

“I told you, I’m fine. Why do you keep asking that?” Kel was just chewing as he watched his girlfriends talk. Sometimes, that rare thing known as a survival instinct would kick in, and tell him he was not strong enough to get in the way of these two if they were having a disagreement. You would think the fact he towers over them and is in varsity for basketball would mean that he would be the strong one. HAH!

No, if he tried to fight any of them, Aubrey would beat his ass into the ground, and Kim would fight dirty. He still had flashbacks to that guy who smacked her ass at the mall. He didn’t even get the chance to say anything, and neither did Aubrey. 

No Kim whipped around, grabbed his crotch, and twisted. He could almost feel it from just seeing her do it. And from how hard she did it, and the falsetto cry of pain that followed, and hos he didn’t seem to notice the kicks that suddenly came flying at him from two pissed off girls after… Well, besides being surprisingly hot, it was a stark reminder that they didn’t need protection.

However, he did care about their wellbeing. Kim was convinced that something was up with Aubrey. She had been a little grumpy, ever since that day Kim had sent Angel off to confess. The entire friend group had been happy for those two weebs, but now Aubrey was off.

“Yea and I like Orange Joe.” Well she did, she just pretended not to. It was like their little secret thing. He would always leave a cold can out when they were hanging out, and she was getting ready to leave. And it would just suddenly disappear. Truly, magic was at work! Aubrey had noticed and had begun wild speculation about who was taking the cans. Denial, being as strong as Kim’s pickpocketing skills, had led to some wild theories. Surely Kim wouldn't drink that sludge, and the cats had been taking the stuff. He still thought the best working theory was aliens. Still not sure if she was genuine or not on that one.

Ah, he was getting distracted again. Focus Kel! “Whatever, I’m going to the bathroom.” Kel appreciated the view as she stomped away, as did Kim as they shared a fist bump. Then she punched his arm.

“Ow hey, what was that for! She’s our girlfriend!”

“It’s not for that dingus!” She huffed, scooting closer so she could whisper conspiratorially at him. “I’m worried.” She stuck to his side, biting at her thumb. Anxiety was an odd expression on Kim, someone filled with enough piss and vinegar to out-curse the Navy. Kel didn’t like it.

“What if she's regretting the whole, us thing?”

“What do you mean?” He reached for Aubrey’s slice but yelped as she got his hand with the plastic spoon. Damn, how could she make it hurt worse than when his mom did it?

“Hey, no doing that. Focus dog brain! Food later, saving our relationship now!” He whined a bit but looked at her. “Fine, no, I don’t think that's what it is.”

“What else could it be?”

“Look, I have a pretty good idea. Although she can close up a bit, I can read Aubs like a book!” He said, draining the last of his Joe. Man, if only he was allowed more than half the pizza. He was still sort of hungry. Oh well, he didn't want to get the shit kicked out of him over pizza today. Even if it was Ginos.

He ignored the snort she gave as she leaned on him. “Oh yea, you’re so big-brained. Didn’t you learn whales weren’t fish like a month ago?”

“Hey! If you never looked it up, would you just assume that some things that live in the ocean are just mammals that have really good lungs? That sounds like someone's lazy assumption of biology!”

“Mmmmm, I love it when you try and act smart.” she tried to give him a condescending pat on the head, but it only really reached his shoulder. God damn, he was tall, but that could have some unique advantages. After all, Vance stopped giving her piggyback rides. “To be fair, evolution is goofy as hell. Like, it just slaps together either weird shit or shit that barely works. Giraffe brains only get one artery going up and down their neck!”

Both laughed at that. A thing they discovered early on, is both loved to waste all knight wiki diving for useless information when they should be sleeping. Much to Aubrey’s annoyance. “But what do you think it is?”

“Well it's nothing serious, I think Aubrey is in...a mood? Is the nicest way to put it.”

“Oh, yea? How am I in a mood?” Both froze as they felt two strong hands grip their shoulders, Aubrey leaning between them while saying this. They were quickly turned around, violently. “Please, educate me. Tell ME, why I’m in a bad mood.”

Kim was too flushed and embarrassed to put out much more of a stutter. From being caught red-handed, or from maybe enjoying it a bit too much, it was unknown. Kel looked unphased. He was used to being on the receiving end of her fiery temper. “Look, I don’t think there's a way to say it without being mean. So no.”

He didn’t even flinch as her face got closer, the vein in her forehead throbbing. “Kelsey, if you don’t tell me, I swear to god, I will make sure you will never sip another can of Orange Joe again. I will make it my life’s mission to get it banned from every location in Faraway. Talk.”

Intimidated Kel was not, just looking slightly bashful. “Promise you won’t be mad at me.”

“I’m mad now! Tell me or I'm gonna pop your ball!”

“Fine fine!” Kel took a breath, then looked her dead in the eyes. “You're mad because we had a lot of positive attention from this new relationship, and a whole lot of new support you weren’t used to. And you were loving it, but then Mav and Angel hooked up. We became old news with a whole lot less focus and attention. Aubrey, love of my life, you're jealous of the attention that they're getting now.”

Kim was about to snap at Kel. That was the most sexist, dumbest, petty mean girl shit he could ever come up with. Aubrey, the punk queen of Faraway, bummed because she wasn’t the talk of the town for bagging the second-best looking girl and the dumbest dog in a human form? What the hell was he smoking? Was Orange Joe melting that brain of his? 

“Kel, that is the dumbest…” That was until she looked over at Aubrey. Her face was a mirror of shock, and a growing blush as she stared at Kel with wide eyes. “Oh my god.”

Kim may have loved Aubrey, but she was not going to let this rare opportunity to tease her for once! Normally it was her or Kel that got double teamed in a minor teasing, but no longer! “Oh my god, you are. You're jealous of ANGEL of all people!’ She laughed, and Aubrey seemed to shrink. She was not used to being the one under the microscope.

“I mean how did you not notice Kim? She was getting pissy and huffy when we went in to get bread? And Angel and Mav were flirting? She looked like someone pissed in her cheerios.”

“Nooooooo.” Aubrey was covering her face now, as her two significant others became vultures to her embarrassment, partaking in the grand feast set before them. They both knew she wasn’t as tough as her persona was, but this was the first time she had let it down so completely and accidentally. Well, in public, and without booze being involved. 

“You know what I think Kim? I think I know exactly what we need to do.” Aubrey didn’t like that grin Kel had. It was wide and sappy, and he drew her in with one of his long arms, pressing her into him. “I think she needs a reminder about just how special she is. And I know exactly how to do that, don’t you?”

“Oh-ho-ho? Surely, you don’t mean what I think you mean, do you?” Kim’s grin was just as wide as she pressed herself into Aubrey’s side, who was not blushing for multiple reasons. She was beginning to become very aware of how Bun-Bun felt whenever Hector sniffed at her. She was between two predators who were very much taking their time with whatever insane plan those two were cooking up. She was doomed, surely.

“Yes Kimberly, we shall give our very nice girlfriend a spa day!” Kel said, in the worst approximation of a British accent she had ever heard.

Wait what?

“You read my mind, Kelsey! Our beau is feeling underappreciated! We shall have to correct that with a day of hair, nails, and facials! And ice cream, as you well know.” And here came Kim, with a much better one right off the bat. Did she get Kel into those lame British dramas too? Or they binged the Sweetheart movies again. Kim was obsessed with that shit.  Also spa day? But she was big tough damn it!

“But of course? Perhaps we can dye my hair? Orange would suit me if I do say so, perhaps with nails to match?”

Kim couldn't keep the face she made inside a squint of disgust. “That will not happen, my tall friend, I’ll choose the colors you pick. Cause you have the style choices of the most common street urchin! You deserve to look so much better than that!”

“Fair!”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Aubrey looked between the two, very scared.

Both looked at each other, then at her. Grinning like madmen “Hell no.”

“Disgusting.” Vance was having an awful day. First off, the boss lady was being an awful bitch to him today. Not that she was being mean to him specifically, but she had a garbage blind date, apparently. That meant, she was violently angry at everything today. Ment work was not fun today, but somehow it was worse cause he hasn't hung out with anyone all damn week. The couples are too busy being fucking shmaltzy, and Charley was doing a summer camp thing with her family. He had been ditched and banished from the house because of a spa day.

And he couldn't even get bread because watching Angel and Mav be fucking disgusting at the bread counter made him want to run. The lines he had heard in passing ould make anyone fucking vomit. He had watched enough anime to know that both of them were gonna quote it, but watching two men flirt through Jojo references was enough to make his entire rib cage feel like it wanted to escape his body. He would rather be turned inside out than put up with that shit ever again.

It’s not that he hated that his friends were happy, but at the end of the summer, he would be off to community college, he wouldn't just be able to see her walking down the block to see everyone. He knows he should just man up and talk to them like a fucking adult, but he didn't want to worry them. Hopefully, they would get their heads out of their asses, and ignore him instead of indulging their horny desires. Or Charlie would come back early. Sure she was quiet but she was always a delight.

While he munches through his lunch, he eyes the tightly wrapped brownie sitting in his backpack. People would think five layers of cling wrap seemed like overkill until you knew how strong the damn thing was. Yes, he had some hookups, not like he would let any of those nerds know. They’d learn about illicit substances in college, like everyone else. He was thinking about it, but he wasn’t gonna get super high alone.

“If I have to hear those two fucking flirt anymore, I am going to sell my soul to the DEVIL himself to rip the gift of hearing from me” And there was Bowen. You would think, considering the shining shtick he pulled with his twin sister, he would be a quiet and shy one. And he was around most people. But when he was alone, he was a chatty motherfucker. He would rant quietly to himself about anything like a madman.

He had discovered this fact when he had watched him kick a trashcan and yell at it after messing up the proofing for a batch of yeasted rolls. Despite not knowing a lick about baking, he empathized with the half-hour rant about the “fucking god damned microbes ruined my god damned rolls. I WOULD STRANGLE THEM ALL IF I COULD.” 

After he was out of breath, he turned around and saw Vance, just eating a bagel. It took two hours to coax the embarrassed guy out from behind the dumpster, but since they had been fast work friends. He was surprised to find he was only a year older than him. He was able to sympathize with one little detail ruining an entire batch. Tempering chocolate could go to hell.

But now he was just as chatty with Vance as he was his sister. “I heard it on my way to get bread. I had to turn around.”

“You don’t have to fucking work next to them going on and on and on.” Bowen just sat down with a huff. “On top of that, sis has a date tonight, so I got nothing to do!”

“You’re parents are cool with your sis being gay?” Vance raised an eyebrow, taking the offered chunk of baguette that Bowen was angrily chomping down like the carbohydrate monster. “I figured...well you know.”

“That we were a bunch of religious weirdos? Well, We’re not you dick. We just go to church a lot, and the bible doesn’t say anything about being gay, or asexual, or liking anime. And even if it did, Big J sorta nailed himself on a cross so it wouldn't matter anyway.” Vance held his hands up as Bowen huffed at him. "Sorry, I'm just snippy cause those two and having nothing to do tonight.

“Jeeze I get it. My entire gang is going through their horny high school moments all at once… I’m bored.”

Both sat there for a moment, eating before Vance had an idea. It was a long shot, but fuck it, he didn't have anything else to do

“Hey, Bowen?”

“Yea?”

“....Wanna get high and teach me how to bake?”

“...Sounds like a good Friday night to me! Eclairs?”

“Buddy” Vance clapped a thick hand on Bowen's slight shoulder. ‘You just read my mind.”

Chapter Text

“Starve.” Were the only words Sunny uddered as he gazed at his boyfriend’s despair with amusement. You see, Sunny had an unknown power. Sure, the drive over to Faraway from his new home was only a few hours, but after pulling through a fast food joint, an ancient ability had activated, one long forgotten. He felt the need to order extra, just in case.

When he had asked for a 40 piece nugget, two fries, and an apple pie, his mother shot him a funny look, at first. Then she remembered, and nodded commonly, and ordered extra herself. When she offered to order Basil two veggie burgers instead of the one and extra fries, he had insisted that he did not need that much food. It was simply too much! At least that’s what he thought was the case. No matter how much they insisted otherwise.

Until they hit the traffic jam. Oh, he had been fine up until then. But as time just ticked on and on, at this point, it was now hour five of what should have been a two-hour once at most. He was now staring Sunny down as he munched on his lukewarm fries, expressionless except for a glint of sadistic glee. Apparently, he always knew when you needed more snacks. Basil was hungry.

“Come on Sunny! I’m hungry.” He just received a grin in response as he nommed on a cold fry slowly. And looking to his bored mother did little to fill his hungry stomach, as she simply shrugged, having destroyed her own food as soon as they slowed to a standstill. 

“Told you.” He said, cheeks bulging with the fries flower boy lusted over. His empty stomach made his thoughts go darker.

“What you going to give me for them.” He quirked his head, shaking the now half-empty carton of fries. Even if they were lukewarm, greasy, and sadly limp, Basil would hang someone for them. He thought long and hard about what he could offer, he would give up his very soul for something to eat right now.

“Sunny, if you don’t give me some fries, right now, I am going to murder you.”

“Mmmmm, although tempting, no.”

That earned him a smack on the back of the head from his mother. Her arm somehow had the magical properties that all mothers of his line seemed to carry if his mother was a trusted source. It could stretch to impossible lengths and deliver a blow that hit you hard enough to make your head spin but wouldn’t do any damage. Whatever skill tree she specked into, it was something else. It almost knocked the food out of his hands.

“HEY. What did we say about suicide jokes in this household.” She looked back at Sunny, expecting an answer out of him. He had a choice, and he was going to choose poorly.

“It has to be really funny or you can’t make them?” The next one made his entire world spin as her frown deepened.

“No, it leads to more ideation, and I want to outlive my son! Now share, before I eat all your fries, and your apple pie.” That was a credible threat, and he knew that. But he was at least going to enjoy it. He handed them over as he unbuckled his belt, pressing himself into Basil’s side as he let out a sigh. This was nice, even if Basil was tearing into those fries like a rabid dog right next to him. This was as good as life could get

Daphne had a delightful night, this much was true. She had come this close to getting that first kiss. But alas, that was not to be the case. Angel had interrupted their little bit of small talk on the way home from dinner to ask her to beat a level in some kind of video game. Throne was distracted, and those smoochable lips pulled away at the very last moment. She had to be content with watching her leave, content with the fact that another date was planned for soon. Although not soon enough.

It was sowed slightly when she spotted her wig-wearing younger brother peeking out of an alley with the smuggest grin on his face. He slipped out just enough to dramatically pose and point to a wall, his fake hair gleaming under the streetlight in the early evening. Her eyes followed his finger, and a frown soon grew on her face. The message, although in crude writing, made its point well. “Get clam-jammed sis.” Then he fucking dabbed at her.

He ran off into the night, laughing when she had decided to give chase. Perhaps rolling up here sleeve, revealing arms hardened with hours upon hours of kneading, although intimidating, just gave him ample opportunity to make his escape. But where was she without dramatic flair? After all, if she had none, well, their little games wouldn’t be as fun. Then again, he had to come home sometime, he couldn’t stay at his boyfriend’s place forever! Although Throne was ecstatic about the apparent good habits that he was encouraging.

What was the world coming to? Bowen hadn’t been texting her all night like a needy ex out of boredom. Her weeb of a brother was encouraging Angel to start jogging with him, and even was showing him how to make bread! He was coming back around! Even if they were disgusting to listen to. “You look Star plati-YUM” Was maybe the worst flirtation she had ever heard, but her brother nearly swooned on the spot. Oh well, baby steps.

As he approached home, however, she heard something even rarer. Her brother was behind the house, ranting up a storm. As his twin, she knew quite a bit about her shy, quiet brother. Enough to occasionally walk into one of his violently personal verbal crusades against some topic or another. Even recording one for later viewing, and perhaps to embarrass him later. She thought she was the only one to be privileged to such a delightful little facet of her twin. 

“French patisserie is the most garbage tier of fucking pastry in the world. Everybody is sucking those cheese-loving snail gobblers off but it’s not good! It’s all the same simple ingredients over and over and over! Puff pastry, cream, and fruit! Nearly half the damn things that they make are a combination of those things! But in different shapes and shit. And don’t forget choux pastry! That shit will kill itself if given half the chance and a funny look!”

Ah, the French pastry rant. A classic for the ages, and one of her personal favorites to listen to. However, her brother’s speech was slightly slurred. Alarming, but hey, maybe he got into the communion wine again. Wouldn’t be the first time, she stopped in her tracks as she heard a second voice as she rounded the house.

“Man fuck the French. All of their candy is like lukewarm versions of what we already got. French caramel is all soft and has no damn chew! It ruins the entire point of caramel! On top of that, it’s only mildly fruity flavors or lame hard candy! If it doesn’t give you cavities, or make your spit hurt, what’s the point of making and eating it! It’s lame.” 

That was a new voice entirely. Wait, did her brothers...Make a friend?! Oh my god, her prayers were answered twice in one day! First, she got a date with that painter with the nice ass, and her brother was socializing with someone besides her! As much as she loved doing the shining shit with her brother, he needed to branch out and do his own thing.

The scene she got was...strange to say the least. Her brother and the candy store newbie were sitting on lawn chairs in her parent’s backyard. Wearing sunglasses at night was not the strangest aspect of this, no that would be the fire they had built. And nestled in the fire was one of her planting pots and a lid on it. Her brother was currently fiddling with an egg timer and the newbie was consuming a loaf of rye bread, unsliced, like a caveman.

“Oh...oh hey sis!” He let out a lazy wave, his hands barely raising. “Me and my buddy here had a new idea for a cake!”

“Hi, I’m Buddy….no I mean friend? No that’s not right.”

“Vance what are you trying to say?...”

“Oh, yea! I’m Vance. Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand, despite her being nearly 10 feet away, and just shook it with the air before going back to destroying his loaf of bread

Okay, something was off with these two. And she had to make sure her brother didn’t have a stroke when she wasn’t looking. “Did you get into the communion wine again?”

Her brother shook his head hard, hard enough for the glasses to fall off. Exposing his red eyes, and dumbstruck expression. “No, I promised I would never do that without telling you first again. No, I’m high.”

“Vance!”

“What?”

“She could be a Narc Vance! She could report us to the pope!”

“But you're protestant?”

“Oh. Then it’s fine!”

Oh, good lord, they were high as balls. Although she wasn’t a narc, she was rather concerned about what exactly they were doing with that fire. Being high and having a campfire seemed like a very bad idea, or a very funny story to tell at the ER. “I won’t narc as long as what you tell me is in that pot, dear brother.” Might as well sate her curiosity. As she couldn’t terrorize her little brother when half of their duo was miles away mentally.

“Oh, so Vance wanted to make dirt cake. But normal cake molds seemed lame?” HE looked over to his partner in crime, who had finished off his bread. He stared into Bowen’s eyes for a moment, before the lightbulb finally went off.

“Oh yea, so we tossed your ginger plant, and put the batter in the pot!”

“YOU WHAT?!” She had been growing that thing for ages, so she would have the freshest ginger for Christmas! How would she build her gingerbread church now?! But the pair didn’t seem to notice her building rage as they continued.

“After washing it. We’re not morons.”

“Well, yea.” She managed to hold her tongue, and not point out the many, many flaws with their plan. Like how fire could shatter the pot! Or how most likely, the cake would taste like literal dirt! The cook would be uneven with a fire just burning around it. Also, how the hell were they going to put it out?!

She didn’t realize that she would get most of these things answered very soon, as the egg timer just went off. Vance grinned as he got up, revealing the fact that he had stolen one of the fire extinguishers from Othermart, and doused the entire pit in cooling foam as she just watched slack-jawed.

Her brother, after a few tries, managed to extract himself from the chair. Fishing out the covered pot, with bare hands, he just waltzed inside with it as The bigger guy followed, with a hammer. It took her a few moments to start moving again, with a little urgency as they sat it on an icing stand, and before she could stop them, Vance gently brought the hammer down on the pot.

With the heat, then the sudden cold of the conditions the pot was put through, it broke easily. Well no, that’s not right. It fucking exploded all over the kitchen, little shards of terracotta pinging off counters and walls. Leaving a pot-shaped cake in its wake

 However, besides the pot’s violent death, another miracle was observed. Not a single shard stuck to the cake, and it wasn’t even steaming! Somehow, it was cooled down enough for her brother to dump the icing mixed with crumbled Oreo all over it and give it a quick icing job. To perfection, much to her continued irritation

“Annnnnnnd done! Vance, if you would.” The bigger guy nodded, and he pulled out a bag of various gummy candy from, somewhere? With speed and grace you wouldn’t expect from his lumbering form, he stuck the candy in fast and with little fanfare. She couldn’t even think of a response as she was handed a slice of it, and her brother stuffed a bit of it in her mouth as he handed her the fork.

“So?” Both waited for the response, for a review of their genius idea, with bated breath. Well, no that’s not true. They waited for a review, because it should be a gross dirt flavored cake, and they had no idea if it would work or not. They were high, not stupid. Daphne looks so frustrated as she mumbled through the chocolate ginger cake. “It’s so good.”

They sheered as she swallowed and set her plate down. She should be mad, really she should, but they looked so damn happy. Besides, her brother having a friend over, and being so chatty with them? This was the first time this kind of thing had ever happened, and she couldn’t even pretend to be mad as she watched them do a little happy dance. He looked so happy.

She let them have their moment as they cut off big slices and devoured them. She busied herself with sweeping up the small shards and watching them out of the corner of her eye. If she didn’t know her brother had all the romantic drive of a rock, she could swear he was blushing a bit. Ah humbug, that must just be some projection. 

Vanced tapped her shoulder as she dumped the last of the shards in the trash. He was grinning and holding up a bit of a tightly cling-wrapped brownie.

“Thanks for uh, being cool.”

“It’s no problem, I’m just happy my brother is having a nice time. Although you could have chosen a less convoluted way to make a cake you know.” She raised a brow, a practiced motion that always made her smaller brother sweat

He at least had the decency to look a little ashamed. “Yea, we sorta got swept up in the moment. I still got a little bit of the brownie left. Wanna get high and watch sweetheart movies with us? Bowen doesn’t believe how much those things suck.”

“...only if you give me some more of that cake.”

Chapter Text

Finally, the traffic began to move, and they were well on their way to Basil’s abode. That was the last thought in Sunny’s mind though. For you see, Basil was currently, absurdly upset. He was petting the blonde’s head as he clung to him, blubbering apologies and promises to do better as His mother grinned at him from the rearview mirror. His expression was not one of concern, but of annoyance. This had been going on for the past two hours. And all because of traffic.

They had been in the car for a total of 10 hours at the point that Basil broke, and it was taking a toll on all of them. Apparently, a truck had overturned and had released a dozen hogs onto the roadway ahead of them. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if a truck containing frozen pizzas didn’t crash as the result of a swine jailbreak. The feeding frenzy was fun to watch at first, but you could only watch pigs chase pigs for so long before you got bored. At least the cops got some exercise for once.

In that time, Sunny had broken into his nugget horde, nibbling down on them to pass the time. He only ate 5 before he got full, so had plenty left for later. Basil, meanwhile was grumbling through bites of the cold apple pie. He looked upon the nuggets with envy, but he was a vegetarian now! He could do better than consuming flesh. Sure he had only been a vegetarian for like two months but it was the principal of the damn thing! At least he had the pie.

But as Sunny lid down for a nap, his head resting in Basil’s lap, the temptation grew. The nuggets, an entire untouched thirty piece was easily within reach. But why would he want those? They would be cold, and gross, and dry. It didn’t matter that Sunny had ordered extra sauce, that spicey ranch that Basil loved so he could have some for his fries. It didn’t matter that He could easily reach them, and nobody would know. He was strong, determined, and principled.

“You want them don’t you Basil.” It was so much easier when Stranger wasn’t there. The hollow reflection just grinned at him and gestured to the box. “You were always a picky eater when you were younger, weren’t you. What was your favorite thing to eat again? Hmmm, what was it?”

If looks could kill, Stranger still wouldn’t be dead, being the psychosomatic entity that he was, death had no meaning. Or at least no direct meaning. If Sunny died, well that would be a whole other ballgame, but that’s beside the point. he could still sense killing intent! “Oh yea, that’s right, TENDIES.”

The temptation was one thing, but wild mockery from this asshole made it somewhat easier! Spite was a powerful motivator, not as strong as love but uh….well his interest in Sunny would count more as an obsession a few years ago. An unhealthy one at that. In some ways, he was glad Sunny had moved away. A year apart did them some good. But enough of that! He had to focus! He could do this, and not succumb!”

When Sunny awoke, he was in for quite a sight. His neatly folded bag of fast food, put next to the car’s heat vent to keep it warm, was torn to shreds. Hell, most of the packaging was. Slowly blinking, he turned his head up to look at his beau and found out why it looked like that. Basil looked a bit worse for wear, eyes glazed over, sweating, and an inch away from slipping into a diabetic coma. He wasn’t sure if he was too lazy to wipe the sauce off his face, or was too apathetic to clean himself off. He slowly looked down at Sunny, and mumbled: “I succame.”

After that, he had been reduced to this state, and he had been for the past hour. He felt so bad for Basil at first, but there was only so much sympathy you could have for someone who broke their diet and consumed the food you were saving for later. But he kept going and going! How much could one guy cry over two-thirds a dead chicken cut up and fried? Basil did always have a flair for the dramatic, but this was silly! Maybe some reassuring words could break him out of it? What to say...

“Basil?” He looked up at sunny, eyes red and puffy from his crying as he rubbed Sunny’s sweater on his face. Oh ewwwww. Come on he just washed that! Well, Basil had washed it a few days earlier. He swore one day he would master the way of the washing machine, but last time he got stuck in the dryer. Basil didn’t even get the step bro joke, and he really got stuck! He couldn’t believe porn lied to him

Oh crap, he had gotten lost in his out mind sauce for a moment there, and Basil was waiting in anticipation for some reassuring words, surely. Well, uh, shit...

“The chicken was already dead, better than wasting it…”

That made it so much worse. Sunny didn’t even have time to react before a fresh bout of wails came upon his boyfriend. Well, that was not smooth at all. He was well aware of that fact, but the daggers his mom was currently shooting him sort of cemented that fact. This was going to be a longer ride than he thought.

The early evening air was beginning to ease into a cool breeze as Aubrey sat on the porch, alone. She just needed a little time to herself at the moment. Today had been a whirlwind of appreciation, pampering, and a few snuck kisses, but overall it was chaste. Well, maybe not completely chaste. Kel did like to watch sometimes after all, and she couldn’t leave one of her loves out.

Hmm, that was one of the problems, wasn’t it? She had two lovers, her friends back, and everything she had ever dreamed of, why was she on edge? She rolled around the cherry sucker in her mouth, humming as it clacked off her teeth. Kel had always teased her about eating the thing as loud as possible, but he had begun to do it himself. There was something about hearing the sound of hard candy clacking against your teeth softly, reverberating in her head, that eased her thoughts.

Cherry was Kim’s favorite and quickly became Kel’s as well. For as much as he enjoyed their lip balm at least. Perhaps combining kissing with food was a poor idea, but oh it could be delightful. Woah girl, back on track. Why is she so uneasy.

“Your afraid you’re going to lose it.”

Whipping her head over, she was already mid-throw when she saw it was just a little girl. It sailed clever through her though as she pouted. “Hey! It’s rude to throw things at people, and stare!”

It was sort of hard not to stare at the child version of yourself, colored in pastels against the setting sun. Her cheeks puffed in indignation as she stomped a bare food, her nightdress unmoving in the breeze. It’s not like she could forget that body she had seen in the mirror for years. 

“Anyway, yea, you’re afraid of losing it. You got everythiiiiing you ever wanted. Well sorta, you never did end up asking Sunny out huh?”

She grimaced at that, taking a mental slap to the face over that old crush. Ugh, she didn’t even want to think about that now. That ship had sailed long before she even knew it, and what those two had done did little to dampen it. Sure, they were sort of cool now, after the trip, but she still felt uneasy. Seemed like Sunny had picked up on that when Kel had forgiven Sunny but was goading her into doing the same. Sunny, of all people, got him to knock that off, before hugging her and saying he hoped to see her soon. She was surprised, he seemed okay with it.

Did she forgive him yet? Hell no, she didn’t. But did she hate him? No. It was a complicated situation, and considering she had almost drowned those two, she could see how fragile life could be. She was working on it day by day, but with Basil, it came easy. Maybe the guilt from all the bullying? Maybe seeing him every day, but it didn’t matter, does it? She had forgiven Basil but not Sunny. Maybe in time.

“Hey, earth to Aubrey! Are you listening to me? I said your hair was cool!”

Oh great, now she was sitting next to her on the stoop, hugging that old eggplant to her chest. She had stars in her eyes as she inspect her look, er, her look in the future? This shit was weird...She had to agree with her...what, mental illness? The new purple streak did make her pink pop even more, and the cyan nails were perfection. Who knew Kell was so baller at nail painting? Oh, was this little shit trying to butter her up?

“Yea, sorta? I mean, it’s sorta hard to tell you to pull your head out of your ass. That’s what we normally tell Kel.” She laughed before looking Aubrey dead in her eyes. “But it’s true, get over yourself.

Ouch. What was this little shit getting on about? She was about to yell before she was shushed. Every time she got shushed louder, and louder. Oh god, was she like this when she was younger? How did Mari not punt her out a window? 

“Let me talk. Well, let yourself talk? I don’t know if I am you per-say. Just a version of you. But aren’t you always a version of the person who you were the day before?” She pondered this, as Aubrey checked her sucker. Would Kim slip her something as a joke maybe? Nah, as much as Kim acted like she was 12 feet tall, she was squeamish about headache pills, let alone real drugs. Maybe they were right, considering she was watching a child version of herself pontificate about the nature of her existence. Wasn’t there a point to all this?

“There is.” Man, this was annoying, what was she, some kind of pint-sized psychic

“I am in your head, so yea. But stop getting distracted!” Tiny Aubrey put her hands on her shoulders’ well, more like through, but still.

“Look, your entire life has been shit.” She saw the indignation at that statement but chose to ignore it. “Your entire family was a joke. Your dad left you to God’s knows where abandoning the person who he said he would love forever. Your mom went from a loving maternal figure to a drug-addicted mess that just throws beer bottles at you. And for a while, you abandoned your friends and claimed otherwise. Everything sorta sucked for a long time.”

Aubrey was about to see if she could beat the shit out of herself before her mini-me continued. “But that’s not how it works Aubrey, just because it’s bad now, does not mean that it’s gonna be bad forever! Or the other way around for that matter. Life is a bunch of random chance and circumstance, and what you do put into it! Did you cause some of the problems you had up until now? I mean yeah, you did threaten Sunny with a bat. Are they the only reason? No! Half of it is a genetic lottery and dumb fucking luck.”

“ You have what you want now, a more stable life, love, and if that dumb flower project pans out, a great shot to get a scholarship! I understand that you all worried about it all being yanked away. Every good thing you had was yanked away. Meeting Basil got you friends, but Mari died. You made new friends, but that alienated you against the old ones. Sunny came out, but he told you the truth. I just need you to understand, that it was bad luck. Life dosn;t always beat your shit n every second of the day! It isn’t, about, you!” She stamped her little foot with each utterance of the last sentence, making sure there would be no room for debate.

“To think that the world at large, is focused on taking things from you, Aubrey is dumb! The world doesn’t care you have a boyfriend and girlfriend, it doesn’t care that you haven’t forgiven Sunny or Basil all the way, but want to work towards that, it doesn’t care about your happiness! You gotta make your own, and enjoy it while it lasts. It isn’t looking to screw you over, it doesn’t even know you exist!”

For some reason, this made her feel oddly better. Her entire life, up to this point, to the world, was an entirely unremarkable thing. She wasn’t the spotlight to some dark comedy, she wasn’t some kind of tragic character. She was just a girl who wanted more in life, and more for her partners. Sure bad things would happen, but they weren’t destined to happen. She took the leftover stick out of her mouth, and flicked into the bushes, exhaling slowly. Letting some of that anxiety billow out. That little ghostly copy of herself was gone, although her words weren’t

Maybe she should go for a walk. Get some air. She had been avoiding talking to Basil for a bit, maybe she could go see him. How long had it been? Two weeks? Just a quick pop over, to see how he was. Easy peasy. After all, she was Aubrey, the toughest bitch in town, and the leader of the Hooligans. She could face anything!.

She had no idea what she was walking into. She had expected to see Basil, but she stumbled upon Basil and Sunny unpacking bags from a familiar-looking van. For some reason, it brought her some feeling of unease and nausea. Oh, it was Sunny’s mom! That explained it. She always drove like a bat out of hell, with no regard for traffic laws or keeping her from puking her guts up. It did give her no fear of speed, so roller coasters were tame in comparison.

She had a lot of feelings between the two of them, feelings that were threatening to escape her chest when her body decided to walk up to them independent of her brain. No, it was too soon! Basil, sure, she could talk to. But Sunny? She was still iffy on them being more than just acquaintances. Considering Kel missed him a lot. But both of them together? She was not emotionally mature enough for this! She was gonna cuss them out or ugly cry!

Thankfully, she didn’t have to say a word as the front door to Basil’s house opened. Not to Polly, but a rather crimson-shaded Hero. For once, the pretty boy looked ruffled and flustered, his shirt askew and his hair a mess. What compounded this was the lipstick marks that were still visible, despite his skin trying to match the shade. He stumbled out like a man in his cups, or perhaps someone who had lost too many rounds in the ring against a pissed-off kangaroo. “I have to go. My folks wanna have Sunday dinner before I go back. They’re extra clingy with Kel keeping them at a distance..”

“Aw, what if I wanna be clingy huh?” Polly hugged him from behind with a grin.

“It’s only the third date Polly...I….” The words died on his lips when he realized he had an audience currently staring at him. Aubrey, with a new streak of purple, Sunny, with a rather dapper-looking eyepatch, and his mother. His mother looked more impressed than anything, giving a wolf whistle to break the silence. Basil was the one to focus on, his open jaw working as his brain tried, and failed, to catch up with the scene before him. All he could manage to utter, after many long moments, was.

“Hero, did you fuck my mom?”

Chapter Text

Hero had been in some uncomfortable positions before. As such, this was not new to him in any form. One of the first ones he could remember was being thrust into the role of the golden child. As the firstborn, his parents had lavished him with attention and expectations in equal measure. He had just thought that it was normal, being driven so hard to be perfect. It just became what he naturally sought to do, and was expected of him.

He became more aware of the disparity when Kel began to grow up though. Kel tried his hardest, he did! Sure he wasn’t good at math or cooking, and maybe he was a little scatterbrained too, but that didn’t really matter to Hero. Kel was his little brother, and although a bit of a handful, he could never be more proud of him! He was energetic, good at sports, and talked to strangers with ease to boot. Hero’s charisma was more of a social sham, a coverup for how shy he was around new people. Kel? No, he was happy to talk to anyone he could meet.

However, all his parents wanted was another Hero. He hated when they compared Kel to him. Kel wasn’t Hero, Kel didn’t need to be Hero! Kel was his perfect little weirdo self! However, that’s all He got compared to. Hero. Why not celebrate the kid who got Sunny out of his shell, who smiled like the sun and brought out the best in people! It seemed his parents were finally going to ease off of Kel. Not expect two cookie-cutter brothers, and let him be his own wonderful, delightful, person

Then Mari died.

Then he had to be the pillar. The unfeeling, unmoving object of support for everyone else. At least, that’s what he was told to be by his father. It seemed to be their default state, his parents. To force high expectations upon a kid who could barely handle it himself. He was only 15 and had thought that the love of his short life had hung herself. He had to be an adult, and he didn’t question it. Why? Well, he had been told to do it, and they had his best interest at heart right?

Yet He was expected o act like an adult, to not embarrass them at the funeral, to support the smaller kids. This had been the first time he realized the weight of the expectations that had been placed upon him. A leaden crown that he kept held up high during the service. He kept it high when Kel and Aubrey clung to her crying, comforting them in their time of need. The comments about him being brave and strong held little weight, as when he was alone, he collapsed and stayed that way for a year.

The next one was the night of the argument. It was of what he had done to Kel, although that was no less awful. He would be making up for that moment for the rest of his life. No, it was the reaction of his parents. Clambering over themselves to comfort him, for the first time in more than half a year, after he had assaulted his brother. It was the moment. Their parents loved him more, and that intent was laid bare.

Then the worst one, and the one that was currently happening since then. School and expectation had been ladled onto him in equal measure, threatening to crush him. His parents had disregarded what he truly wanted to do, and just decided that medical school was the way to go. At least they didn’t want him to go to law school, he guessed. If that was the case, there was no doubt he would have blown his brains out years ago!

But it was just another tool, well, in a roundabout way he was. He was made and molded into something his parents could brag about. Some kind of token to prove they were good parents, despite all of the hidden proof otherwise. Besides that, he was rendered as little more than a ruler. A measuring stick to compare Kel to, and always find him lacking. He was never smart enough, put together enough, responsible enough! God damnit he was a child? Why compare him to a teenager!

So that’s why he ran away to college. tI’s why he ran away from his brother. He had hoped distance would mend his aching heart, and make it so his parents would lack a tool to compare his brother to. As if he was not his own person, just some genetic blank to impose their will on. They had not. When he returned for summer and fished Sunny out of that blasted pond, they had redoubled their efforts. Only Kel was aware of how their parents work and sought to dodge it. Lord knows how Sally would turn out, but he would be in her life, despite whatever their parents decided to do

After the truth came out he had…excused himself. That was the most polite way to say that he got the hell out of there lest he fucking strangle Sunny. Just wring the life out of that scrawny little neck and hang him in a tree with all his wrists carved out. That was to say, he was about to cope with his issues in a very, very unconstructive way.

Thankfully, therapy helped him adjust, and move on. He had forgiven Sunny, he had said his piece, and he had begun the process of moving on. Half of that process was putting himself out there again, into the dating world. Something he had thought would be complete folly, but it turned out that women threw themselves at him like a wolf on raw meat. Eagerly and with primal intent. But that wasn’t what he wanted.

What he wanted was a meaningful connection. That’s all he wanted. And he had found a delightful one in Polly. She was bright, clever as hell, and strong as fuck too. Besides checking off some carnal checkboxes he had no idea he desired, he simply enjoyed the time he had spent with her. He wanted to at least try for something more, even if they had only kissed so far.

However, this desire and new exploration had led him to where he currently was now. The most uncomfortable he had been in his entire life. All of his choices in life had ended at this point. He was In Ginos, waiting for a pizza with his dead ex’s brother and mother. And on top of that, his current flames pseudo son was mad dogging him so hard, that if looks could kill he would be meer dust. Atomized before the ire of his look.

He had thought he could have at least prepped Basil first before talking about this to him. It had only been two dates so far, who knew how it would work out? I mean it was going well so far, and he hoped it would continue to go oh so well. She did have an amazing life about her that just pulled him up pas what his hang-ups with dating were. It also helped that she was very pretty and fit as hell. She had ABS man, ABS! She could crush his head like a watermelon! What was he talking about? Oh, right. He got sidetracked for a moment there.

Needless to say, they weren’t that serious yet. It had been two dates, well, three if you counted them just hanging out last night, and some maybe….slightly aggressive kissing. Okay, very aggressive, but he just followed her lead. Oh god damn it., he was getting distracted again. The point was it was not getting anywhere near the point where they would be performing the carnal actions Basil assumed. Not from Polly’s lack of interest, but for his own preference, he wanted to take things a touch slower.

However, Basil had come back at possibly the worse time. He had caught them flirting and Hero’s neck being rather beat up by Polly’s interest. It had not helped that Basil had gotten the wrong idea right off the bat. On top of that Aubrey just pointed and laughed at him, and then Polly and Ms. Suzuki joined in too.

As if fate itself decided his suffering was more amusing than him having healthy mental health, or a chance not to be murdered by flower boy, Polly had excused herself from the dinner with a wry grin. She was oh so amused, and had said she wanted to freshen up the house a bit before Basil came in. The wink she shot the flower boy ad only made his features harden all the more! Did she want him dead or something?!

As one last shot, he had launched a pleading look at Aubrey as Sunny’s mother had offered to take them all to dinner. It was a trap, and he knew it, but as a broke college student, he would be a moron to shoot down free food. And after that fight with his parents, well, it would be a long drive back with no dinner and just enough money to pay for gas.

He had assumed he would have one ally in Aubrey. However, as she wound down from laughing at this situation, Hero’s face, Basil’s face, and the divine bad luck that she had just witnessed, she delivered the killing blow. She said that she would catch them later because she was currently having a date night with his brother and Kim. So she would have to get a rain check on it. Of course, she had tears in her eyes and a shit-eating grin as she had given Basil a hug and Sunny a little pat on the shoulder. She had said something to Sunny on the way out, but he was too focused on not dying today to really dwell on it.

So here he was, waiting for his sandwich as none of them said a word. He was sure he was pale as a sheet. He spent a moment of this uncomfortable silence just trying to glean anything he could manage from their faces. Ms.Suzuki was clearly just amused, an agent of chaos that was watching this unfold, and would maybe stop him from being murdered, but unlikely. Sunny was unreadable, as usual, but a small hint could be gleaned from how he was currently getting his hand mangled by Basil. He was rubbing the back of Basil’s white-knuckled hand in an attempt to appease him somewhat, or so he assumed. He got a look of pity from him but not much more.

“So, Hero. How long have you been dating my mother exactly?” Hero winced at the tone. Oh, it was a familiar one, he had been taught by plenty of teachers that held disdain for him, if not straight out hate. It was not a tone he could have expected out of Basil. Well, then again, how did the kid know how to tie a noose anyway?

“Oh, the adoption went through? Polly talked about that, congratulations!”

Basil brightened and blushed nearly instantly, nervously glowing with the thanks. “Oh, it’s not formally done yet! I just started calling her that and- HEY! You’re trying to distract me!” And the game face was back on, the face of a murderer crossed with all the pouty looks of a toddler. The puffed-up cheeks made it rather hard to take him seriously. He bit back a snicker.

“That wasn’t my intention. Polly has been raving about it for the past week about it. You made her so happy,”

There was a pause before he got the quiet response. “Really?”

Seeing his chance, he took it with gusto. Maybe there was a way to salvage this conversation. “Mhmm. She has! Since the first date, she asked me on.”

He didn’t like the look Sunny was shooting him. Even if that eyebrow only went up half a millimeter, it was enough to know Sunny was either very much doubtful of that. “What? It’s true, she’s been the one courting me! I’m uh…well. I’m not that kind of guy” This blatant attempt to save face was foiled within a moment.

“A bit of a chickenshit when it comes to the ladies still eh Henry?” Hero, flinching when he saw that name, did his best to shrink at the table as the other boys shot the lady a questioning look. “Oh my god did you two really not know? I mean you were kids but it was so obvious”

“Not know….what?” Sunny spoke, and that boded ill for Hero, yes he was about to die at the hands of the woman who taught Mari how to tease him. Hopefully, he would at least get to eat first before he perished.

“Oh, Mari was head over heels with him, as you both know. But Mari had to be the one to initiate anything! All the firsts were because of her.” Good lord, who had given her a glass of wine. He shrunk even smaller, he knew where this was going.

“First bit of handholding, becoming official, the first kiss. Oh, she was annoyed with him for never taking charge! She even had-”

“Hey here’s your order! One Haro sandwich…” He placed in front of Hero, the words fell out of his mouth with disgust as he felt Gino glare a hole into the back of his skull.

“Hey! Why has it on the menu?!” He was ignored as Gino scoffed at him, upturning his nose before setting the piping hot pie in front of the rest. “And one veggie lover! A fantastic choice to buy PIZZA from a PIZZERIA!”

Hero just grumbled as Basil smirked at him from behind his slice of pizza. Well, at least he wasn’t glaring at Hero so blatantly anymore. All it had cost him was his dignity, and his former girlfriend’s mother to air his dirty laundry all over the place. Well, at least he had cleared this up…right?

Chapter Text

“No Basil. We are not killing Hero.”  Sunny sighed as they walked to the secret spot. Sunny had hoped this was just a way to get out of his mothers teasing clutches for a moment. He had hoped that Basil, with his clever excuse to talk around the area that they would be renovating, to spend time with him. Maybe even get smooched a bit. You know, couple stuff.

But his sweet dear Basil. His sunflower, his bunny boo, his…Man, he needed to work on his pet names, he didn’t have shit. He needed stuff that could make Basil blush and squeal like an anime stereotype. It was adorable. Where was he? Oh, yea.

His boyfriend, his sweet boy, had, of course, gone all possessive. This was not an unknown thing, even the most casual observer knew that Basil could be a touch clingy. It didn’t come from a place of malice, it came from love. Every person Basil allowed into his life was cherished beyond measure. Nobody could be a better friend than Basil! However, this tended to make him rather clingy around his found family. 

Most likely, the result of his parents being the most absentee people on earth did not help that natural nature in him. Thus, besides his clingy nature, he was also absurdly protective. Back in the day, the only time he would be bold is if someone was in trouble. He remembered the one time a girl stuck gum in his hair and Basil rubbed down her desk with poison ivy. Good times, good times.

Unfortunately, this had also been flavored by his endless crim dramas. His grandmother, the crazy old bitch that she was, loved her “murder shows” more than anything. And although in all respects, although a bit crazy, she was a fantastic grandmother! she had let Basil watch some dark documentaries back in the day, although. You know the fact he could rattle off serial killer facts should have been a warning sign, but eh. Hindsight is a hell of a drug.

This lead to Basil being able to threaten and intimidate in…interesting ways. When Aubrey had been snubbed for a birthday party in the 3rd grade, Basil was not too pleased. He had sat next to her on the swings and rattled off every way he could think to hide a body. Between burying dead animals to throw off scent dogs, and endangered plants being buried all around it to make it a bureaucratic nightmare to get around, she had gotten the message.

Only Sunny really knew this, as Basil used to read and watch his crime stories cuddled up to him all the time. Sure Sunny had found it weird at first, but then again, he could pretend to be scared and burrow his head into Basil’s neck. But sometimes, he went a little overboard

“Hero is dating my MOTHER SUNNY, My very new adoptive mother that I just started calling mom. Could you even imagine how weird that is?”

“Not really? Evey boy…..girl…genderless blob likes Hero. Even I had a crush on him.

“Excuse me Sunny?” Oh, he was not liking being on the business end of that murderous glare.

“Not anymore hun.” Sunny rolled his eyes, putting an arm around Basil. “It was more of a sibling envy kinda thing. Like if I stole him away from Mari, I could lord it over her. For attention or street cred? I have no idea.”

Basil just stared at his Beau for a moment. “So your not interested in him?” Sunny rolled his eye and sighed. He would have to pt this less than subtlety to get the point across.

“No Basil, I do not want my sister’s sloppy seconds.” Basil paused for a moment before he began to crack up. He was trying to hold it in, but this call to the void of humor had a much stronger pull than he expected.

“S-sunny…Y-you can’t make jokes like that. It’s awful.” Huh, a little bit of dark humor normally sent him over the moon! Welp, time to push a little farther.

“So is hanging my sister.” There was a beat before they both bellowed in laughter. There was something new to this bit of dark humor, a catharsis that was let out with each guffaw. Basil was too busy in his giggle did to notice this was one of the first times he had heard Sunny laugh like this in ages, at first. But as Basil wound down, Sunny was clutching his tummy as a bunch of Weezy giggles began to escape him. His throat scratched up still when he used it too much, but he was getting better!

When it had passed, they had reached the entrance to their little hideout, back in the day. The hidden and enshrouded lake (or pond really) That had been the site of their many playdates, and more than one almost drowning. Trying to shake the light-headedness from their hyena-like laughter, Sunny tried to pivot the conversation.

“What exactly is this service project anyway?” 

“Well,” Basil held up a branch so they could duck into the overgrown tunnel to their secret spot. “It’s simple really, we just gotta clear all this brush to the lake, then clean up the treeline and remove the stumps. Then, we install pathways and flowerbeds to and around the lake!”

Sunny had a sinking feeling in his gut as he walked, this wasn’t just some flowers? He began to realize why his mother was so smug, and why, suddenly, she stopped asking him to start exercising. Oh god, he was going to be free labor! Okay, okay, it wasn’t that bad…yet.

“Of course, that’s going to be done in bricks or paving stones. But the city is paying for that, but we will have to move..” Basil dug around in that little fanny pack of his. And from within that cursed gay little bit of fabric, came the source of Sunny’s new source of anxiety. A notebook. Oh god, not a Basil list of chores! Anything but that!

“Rough estimate is going to be about 2 tons of material? Maybe a bit more in case of cracking.” Basil tapped his pencil against the side of the pad as he walked. He paid no mind to the dawning look of horror on Sunny,s face, he was in the middle of talking this out. This dream of greenery, this little slice of perfection. His atonement.

“Then we got to cement it all in, then put in wood borders, fix the dock, dig out a pit for the playground equipment… All in a month and a half, before September. Hmm. Should be easy enough! Right Sunny?”

Finally looking over to him, he blanched a little. Sunny looked an inch away from just letting his soul leave his body, to escape the forewarned hard labor. He forgot how Sunny was in…Less than peak physical form. But that could be helped, he just needed a little reassurance, is all!

“D-don’t worry! We’re going to get help from Aubrey! And maybe some others, I uh…Was meant to ask around beforehand but…uh…”

“You acted as my nurse instead? Too bad you didn’t have a cute uniform.”

Basil began to fume, turning red as he let a piece of brush he was holding snap back at Sunny, who just dodged it with a quiet laugh. “Shush you, we weren’t even official yet! Besides, even if was just me you and Aubrey, you’d get to spend the rest of the summer with me! Isn’t that worth a little bit of work?”

Looking back, he gave his best reassuring smile, only to find Sunny pondering it seriously. “Hmmmmmmm.” He lifted one hand, then the other, weighting his mental options. 

“Sunny…”

“Hmmmmmmmmm” One one hand, cute boyfriend time, hanging out with Kel, and maybe seeing what Aubrey was thinking. On the other hand, hard labor, with Basil making sure he dosn;t slack. He won’t be able to be the baby of the group and get his way out of this one…Not with his mom by Basil’s side. But being a cat in a human body, no way he would want to ever want to work. It was against his nature.

“Sunny, you’re messing with me right…”

“HMMMMMMMMMMM.” Also, he would most likely die, his small body broken upon the rocks of doing more than walking to a convenience stoor, or Skee-ball at the local arcade. Man, that game was so fun, the sound it made when you rolled a ball sent a shiver up Sunny’s spine. It was so satisfying. Man, now he wanted to play, too bad he got tired after about three games and needed to take 15. Wait…That’s not healthy. Maybe he was out of shape.

“Oh my god, you’re actually thinking about it” Basil rubbed his temples, groaning. He really didn’t want to play this card. “And of course, Polly and I will feed you.”

Basil could almost see his imaginary ears perk at that. Food-motivated as always, he just had to reel him in! “And if you work hard, hmm, a steak a week seems fair right?”

“Two a week.”

“Two?! Do you know how expensive that is compared to vegetarian stuff? I could…” Oh god damn it he was using those eyes again. It always came down to those eyes. How the hell could people say Sunny had no expression when he could make his eyes shimmer like a cheap yuri protagonist? His lips looked plumper? What the fuck was this?! This was past his normal cute face, this was bordering on Hero level! An unusual, supernatural charisma, all he was missing was the damn sparkles.

“But I’m going to be working so hard for you Basil~ ” The breathy tone that came past Sunny’s lips made Basil shiver, and lose his resolve instantly.

“Fine…Fine, we can get you two a week. Only because you need some muscle mass.” And with a poof, that face was gone, replaced with a more passive, if smug expression.

“How the…what the….what was THAT?!”

“Genetics.” Sunny simply sat at the end of the pier, dangling his legs above the water as his sputtering boyfriend sat next to him. After Basil’s brain rebooted, he leaned in and sighed Resting his head on Sunny’s shoulder.

“Figures you got Mari’s genetic tease powers.” He mumbled into Sunny’s sweater, how he wore it during the summer he would never know… “But what do I get out of all of this huh? Two stakes a weak is going to devour my savings…”

“Well, first of all, you get a Sunny all-access pass, all the time. That’s one thing.”

“That’s not worth much. You don’t exactly leave the house. All I gotta do is unlock your door, and wade through all the leftovers from your cooking you never eat to get to you.” Sunny winced, the arrow of truth piercing him to the quick. No doubt he had a smug little grin of his own plastered on right now. That wasn’t fair! He wanted to eat all of it, but his stomach was small and he always had something new to try!

“Anything else?”

“Well…” There was something that he wanted to offer, but if he was being honest, he had no idea how this would fly. He was pretty sure he was reading their place in their relationship. Besides, if he did this he could hold it over Basil’s head forever! “There is one thing…”

“What, a cat mug? A commission? One IOU for a murder cover-up?” His snark was cut rather short as Sunny gently held his face. “H-hu-”

The kiss started out as many had. A peck on the lips. However, eventually, Sunny closed his eye and mustered his courage as he pulled the blonde closer. Basil melted as the kiss went further than before, deeper. Basil had dreamed of this moment many a lonely night, and as he melted into it.

What he didn’t expect was all the sensations besides. The feeling of Sunny’s hands pulling him close, gently rubbing his hips. Picking up the odd scents of a kitchen and that lemon shampoo he seemed to love so much, feeling their bodies pressed closely together. It filled him with a warmth he never knew he was lacking till this moment. It was more than any dream could have prepared him for.

He felt a whine being pulled from him as Sunny broke away. He gently held his cheek, his long fingers caressing Basil’s tanned skin. “Mmm….It was a little scary to go for it, but if you put up with me, you can get kisses any time you like.” 

Sunny, being Sunny, couldn’t deliver a line that smooth with eye contact. Nope, he was looking away, ears aflame. He wondered how he did, but he wouldn’t have to wait very long. “Anytime eh?

Basil forgot how much muscle mass he managed to pack on. Sunny swore afterward that he saw spots when Basil tackled him to the ground, but hey. The results afterward were pretty nice.

Walking home, both boys held hands, trying to act like they hadn’t spent the last half-hour making out until it got dark. This was foiled by the ethereal glow of happiness all couples had after a violent session of PDA. It went no further but that was for the best, neither of them was ready for that step. Sunny was on cloud nine. Sure it would be a little rough working, but he would have fun he would sure. 

He had even forgotten about murdering Hero, and burying him in a peat bog so he would be preserved as a warning to all other suitors! He was gonna talk to him about that one. And then he did it, he thought the one thing, you never should. What could go wrong now?

As if thinking that, for even a moment caused the universe to take notice, Sunny heard something. As they waited for the crosswalk light to change, the clinking of little porcelain feet caught is attention. Looking down, he watched as Vess climbed up the street lamp to get closer to him. She muttered the whole time before landing, perched upon his shoulder.

“Hey uh…Hi! Been a while huh…I uh…well…I don’t know how to say this, but you’re going to have a depressive episode in like…two hours. Sorry to uh..be the bearer of bad news….” She attempted to give her best sympathetic grin. But paint on porcelain looked a little intimidating. She then tried to bow and tumbled off his shoulder onto the ground with a clink and a crack.

“Owwwwww”

Only one thought crossed into his mind as he watched Vess. Who, currently, was stuck upside. Her little legs flailing in the air, feebly trying to flip herself over as whatever little bit of liquid was sloshing around in her head leaked onto the sidewalk. The clink of porcelain and the mewling of another one of his heads denizens Just one, small utterance.

“Well Shit.”

Chapter Text

Vance groaned as he fumbled around, seeking out the cause of that awful fucking din. It was screeching in his ears, so painfully early in the morning that he swore he would eat whatever it was. An act of vengeance, but one that was well deserved. His stomach ached, and his head pounded, and this dumb noise was causing him misery.

It wasn’t because he got high. No, it was because he ate half a cake while high, then a six-pack of soda. The sugar crash must have been glorious. He soon found the source of the noise. His phone was blaring in claxon fashion because his mother was calling. Well shit…

He couldn’t consume his phone now! If he did, his mother would most likely call every emergency service she possibly could, and a few she shouldn’t even be able to. To avoid having the coast guard called on him, and dragging him home in a life jacket or something, he picked up.

“VANCE! Where are you right now young man?!” His natural reflex of holding the phone a good three feet from his face proved smart, considering the volume she managed to get even through a tinny phone speaker. Vance scratched his head as he took in the surroundings.

Nothing was super out of place, just a few half-eaten loaves of unsliced bread and plenty of junk food wrappers. Huh, he had expected more damage. He was aware of something wrapped around his midsection, so he lifted the blanket slowly. He remembered learning last night that Bowen was a cuddler, and he didn’t give half a shit, so he let him have all the physical affection he could take. No skin off his back.

“Could you tone it down a bit ma? I slept over at Bowen’s place and he’s asleep right now.” He could hear the large inhale stop, rant fizzling out before it could start.

“The baker kid? You know him?”

“We work near each other all the time ma.” He stretched, groaning with delight as his vertebrae popped one after the other. “We decided since sis had her little group over, that we’d hang out and have fun.”

“What did you do exactly?”

“We got high, ate junk food, and watched Veggietales.” Vance paused for a moment as the line went quiet. Oh no. He realized now that he was still maybe a touch high, considering the grass tends to give him a case of the blabbermouth. Well, it was a nice run while it lasted. Hopefully, he died before she sent him off to rehab or something. But knowing his mother, she would scrape up his bloody remains and make him go posthumously. 

The silence continued. It was getting a bit worrying. Kim had inherited her temper from ma anyway, so hearing him so quiet was disconcerting at the very least.

“Uh, you there?”

“What did you take?” Vance blinked. This was not the expected line of the conversation. Then again, the expected line should have ended with him lying his ass off and getting away scot-free. Maybe he should just keep admitting the truth?

“Do I gotta?”

“Vance.” Well, that tone left no room for debate.

“I was bored, so I got a weed brownie and shared it with him. Then we baked a cake and ate it, along with a bunch of junk food, as we watched veggie tales with his sister. She says that they’re gonna make that multigrain you like this week by the way.” An all-in, in any respect, was a stupid thing to do. Laying all your cards on the table, to your parent no less, and letting them know you were fooling around with dumb shit. Vance was a dead man.

“Oh, that’s it? I thought it was something way worse…” Vance sputtered, eyes wide. Who was this, and what did she do to his mother?! She heard the surprise and began to crack up. “Kid, out of all the things you could be getting into, weed is hardly the worst I could think of.”

“Well excuse me for being surprised! You treat candy like it’s made with cocaine instead of sugar!”

“Well, that’s because it’s way more addictive and bad for you. Have you seen how tubby you were when you were a kid? I don’t care how strong you were, you were on your way to losing a leg!”

“Ma…Look, how are you not mad about this? I’m seriously confused.”

He heard his mother sigh as if it was plainly obvious why the most strict parent you could possibly have been cool with this. “What did you think I was doing in that Yoga studio half the time?”

He paused for a moment, as her words brought many things from the back of his mind to light. The way she was sometimes super chill after she did yoga for a few hours. Sometimes, how she would just eat spinach and kale straight out the bag with her hands like it was nothing. How giggly she got.

“.....you’ve been smoking our entire divorced childhood.” Vance just could feel nothing, this revelation draining any indignation he could muster. Half out of surprise, and half out of shame that he didn’t notice all the obvious signs sooner.

“Yea. I have. It was either that or whine, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t lose my tempter sometimes.” An understatement, but he knew better than to call her out on it. “Look kid, you did it with a friend, you didn’t drive, and you even had someone making sure you didn’t do anything dumb. If anything, you were being responsible.”

“Um…thanks?”

“Now where did you buy it?” Oh lord here came the anxiety again.

“Uh…”

“I only ask because I would rather hook you up when you dealing with some weirdo in an ally. I got responsible plugs.”

“Okay, ma. Look, I'll talk to you later okay?” He begged for this mercy, he could already feel his brain checking out. This was way too much for him, and he was quickly running out of fucks to give about this whole weird situation.

“Okay, sweetie. Your sister has her little friend group over again. So if you come back don’t be surprised.”

“Wait, if you know they’re out and about, how did you know I wasn’t home?” This was an excellent question. Locking the doors while they slept was one of the few privileges allowed to them by their strict mother.

“Oh, Kim told me you were out still.” Why that little… Well if she was feeling vindictive because he had been working too much to hang out, he could play that game too.

“Oh okay. Well, tell her boyfriend and girlfriend I said hi! Love you ma.”

“Wait WHA-” he hung up with a click, grinning softly as he put the ball back in his sister’s court. Let her deal with that. He stretched again, deciding it was time to get up. However, even as strong as he was, he couldn’t lift the sleeping one off him. He gave him a little shake. “Hey, come on, time for breakfast.”

Bowen opened one bleary eye, before both of his shot opened, he threw himself off of Vance as if he was electrified, and fell onto the floor with a meaty thump and a grown. “Owwww….Sorry, I, uh…tend to hug things in my sleep.” That was just not true, considering how touchy he was last night. Poor guy must be embarrassed.

“You know I don’t mind a bit of platonic cuddling right? I ain’t that insecure.” Vance got off the couch, spreading his arms wide as he tried to stretch out the knot in his shoulders. He then offered a hand to Bowen. “Now let’s make some breakfast.”

Bowen gently took the hand and was pulled up. Vance walked into their kitchen afterward, not bothering to look back. However, Bowen was a bit worried. His hands were a bit shaky, his face felt warm, and he felt a little jittery as his heart raced. Was this a side effect?

“You coming?” Vance peeked out from the door, as Bowen felt his body nod. It was just beginning to relax until he saw Vance, then it got oh so much worse. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror by the door, he was totally red.

Wait, heart rate pounding, shaky hands, flush, all when looking at Vance? Nah, no way, that was impossible. Why would he suddenly be interested after never feeling a spark before? Sure, Vance was built like a huggable teddy bear, and he was down for every silly little thought or strange speculation he vocalized to him. He was also okay with cuddling too, and he was fun to talk with. That didn’t mean he was interested like that. No way.

However, when he saw Vance, in his kitchen, wearing his apron all the while getting things to make them breakfast. Well, Bowen knew one thing.

He was down bad.

Sunny was attempting to gather the energy to get out of bed today. Well, he had been attempting for the past two hours, but it had been a little tough. Depressive episodes were something he was oh so familiar with, but that did not make it much easier to deal with. In fact, sometimes it made it feel all the more challenging.

It didn’t help that Basil had been so understanding about it. It made him feel guilty he was currently shirking his duties, as today was the first official day of work on the park project. Well, tomorrow was, but today was laying the groundwork for planning it all! And yet he was missing it, laid low by his own brain chemistry. It was somehow worse to be self-aware of what it was, and that it wasn’t the fault of anything he felt so hollow, so empty. Yes, Basil just giving him a knowing look and a pat on the head as he chatted with Aubrey in the other room didn’t make him feel any better.

“Um, how are you doing?” And this damn teacup wasn’t making it any better. He had hoped that by the time he woke up, Vess would be gone. But no, this female Eeyore made out of bone china was still there. Spider legs and all. The worst thing is she didn’t lord it over him or anything. While he was feeling like this, she was out and about. It was a lot less often than it would have been a few years ago, but it made her the rarest out of the trio.

“No, but i'm trying.” And he was, really. It just took so much effort to gather up the energy to get out of bed like this. Man, no wonder Omori had an easy time taking him over, how often did he just languish in bed for days on end? Too often most likely. He was broken out of his stupor by her tiny voice.

“That’s good! Opposite ideation is always a good way to worm your way out of a funk!” She brought a little leg to her painted mouth as she gasped. “Not that I mean this is just a funk. Depression is a serious medical issue! I don’t want to downplay it.”

Sunny just quirked a brow at her as he weakly reached out and grabbed his eyepatch. That was step one for getting ready for the day. But as he weakly put it on, a question came to mind. 

“Hey. If you’re my depression given some kind of…form I guess. Why do you help me? Soni just exists in a state of near panic and Void just gleefully tells me to off myself. Why are you helping?”

The silence after told volumes. She opened her flat mouth but closed it over and over. This cycle continued until Sunny managed to push down the blankets of Basil’s bed with a groan.

“I’m not meant to talk about it really. It’s an order.”

“From who?”

“I don’t know.”

This just made him more confused than less. But that was to be expected when his brain was responsible. For as amazing as his dreamscapes could be, sometimes, it was a bit much. He never felt fully in control of its creation, more like a weak guiding hand to a raging rapid. Sure he could damn it and build bridges as he pleased, but he was never the one making the flow. 

“Me and Soni were made after Void.” She hesitated, but after a moment, she continued. ‘He’s what you would call the favorite. He’s the only one who ever spoke to our creator.” She fidgeted in place. “Why we’re doing it, I don’t know. But Void is getting more and more nervous the better you seem to get. We just wait in that colorful room until we’re called.”

It didn’t take a genius to know what she was talking about. So they were created by something in his old headspace after he had drawn them. That much was clear, but this just opened up more questions. A colorful room could be many places, but he had one in mind. He’d ask later. Out of all the ones he wanted to press, Vess was too nice.

“Thanks Vess. Hey, are Aubrey and Basil still in the kitchen?”

“No, they left to scope out the park, then they're going to come back with pizza.” Sunny blinked as he took in that information. He did not know that, but Vess did. How did that work exactly? Was it his subconscious that picked up their chatter from under the door, did she go and see it herself? That did not make the nature of his little imaginary traumas any more clear. But when he managed to swing his legs over the side of the bed, she was gone.

Chapter Text

Aubrey enjoyed spending time with Basil these days. She didn’t feel like she deserved it sometimes, but that was naturally considering she had beaten the shit out of him for nearly a year. Yet here he was, carrying a pizza back to his place. One he paid for, mind you.

She had spent a lot of time over at his house over the past six months. Once the flames of her anger over the duo’s act quieted down a bit, she had decided to go over and try to make some kind of peace with him. Although her mood had soured by the time it came to knocking on his door. Not because of anything related to him, but because of the new black eye, she was beginning to sport.

When Polly opened the door for her, she was sure she was going to be murdered on the spot. She remembered that old saying about how if looks could kill. No, this wasn’t a look that could kill. This was the kind of look that would dispose of your desecrated body in a peat bog in enough pieces that you would be fodder for true crime cases for the next dozen years. There would be naught left behind but torn clothes and an acid human smoothie.

But that look disappeared when she saw that black eye and the tears that were barely being held back at this point. She was ushered in, given tea and a chance to explain herself as the former nurse checked it out. Aubrey didn’t tell her it wasn’t the first time, but she told her enough. It was a surprise she even said that much, but the stinging pain of her eye, the grief she was relieving again with Mari had ripped down what little of her walls remained.

What she was unaware of was that Basil had been watching the whole time, peeking out from behind the doorway. Back from his in-patient, for the weekend at least. Seeing his former friend and bully like that twisted something inside of him.

He couldn’t say that he wished her well after the year of torment, hell, he wished her anything but. The only things he felt were how he deserved every blow, and how he hated her for it. He was scared, alone, and each punch was just a reminder of what he lost when they all lost Mari. His innocence, his friends, his will to live.

However, in therapy, he learned one thing. Hate. A vicious thriving fire that burned within him, and could not be quenched. He hadn’t deserved any of it, and he had been told as much. Even if she was his old friend, even if he cared about her. She had done him wrong and not a single thing would change that. He didn’t care about his nature, he was never going to forgive her.

That lasted all of thirty seconds upon impact.

When he saw her, just as much a victim as she was, he broke. Simple as that. Aubrey found a crying Basil latched around her, muttering apologies as she laid on the floor, stunned at the running tackle she had just been hit by. She didn’t expect it to be, well, so easy.

Before she had been lucky enough to start hooking up with her two beaus, she had spent a good amount of time in Basil’s spare room, slowly mending back their relationship. She was always there in between his therapy and inpatient visits. introducing him to her gang, trying to get him out more. Basil had said later that she had been a cornerstone of his recovery. She’d deny it, but would still feel the glow of pride in her.

That didn’t last forever, she started avoiding when Sunny would come into town. As her mini-me had attested, she still had some complicated feelings about him. Sure she felt a bit guilty that it made her avoid Basil, but that was better than maybe exploding when she saw him. She had many, many things to work through when it came to her former crush.

Sure, the lakehouse trip was a blast, but they could both feel a simmering tension in the air between them. Not enough to put a damper on the party, or even for the others to notice. But it was there. They kept a bit distant, just talked plenty in groups, but never alone. Aubrey was determined to make this the best weekend of her life, and Sunny had given her space. They didn’t mention the elephant in the room, that she had never forgiven him

She didn’t know how they did it, forgiving him. Well, she did know, it was sort of obvious that they would. Kel just wanted all his old friends back, no matter the cost, so he forgave almost instantly. That’s not to say he didn’t have his own hang-ups about Sunny and Basil, but those two would never know. They were only shared in confidence with her, and she was planning on keeping it that way.

Basil, well….She was a little worried about Basil. He had been a co-conspirator, sure, but to just jump into confessing to Sunny so fast? She was worried about what kind of effect he would have on him. Would they both spiral? Would they murder someone else? Yes, it was morbid and unlikely, but it still haunted her. The thought of him losing all that progress and backsliding. She didn’t care if Sunny did, he had left them for four years, but Basil didn’t deserve that. As for Hero, she had no idea, she hadn’t talked to him much. Although that would change, if he kept banging Polly.

But she was worried that the churning tide inside her couldn’t be kept in much longer. She would have to talk to him, and she was dreading it. Sunny was not the easiest person to get to open up, and if she was the only one talking, well, she may have to be pulled off of him. She would have to get over it sooner or later and talk to him. But not today. Today she was going to eat pizza and help plan her ticket out of this town and into a community college. Maybe even state school if she wrote a good enough essay.

“What are you thinking about?” Basil broke her out of her thoughts. He looked rather curious, as it wasn’t in Aubrey’s nature to get lost in her head. And to be fair, a year ago she would be spilling her guts without a thought, over any bit of emotional turmoil. And then using it on Basil.

“How weird of a pizza you ordered.”

“HEY!” Basil’s cheeks puffed out, stepping in front of her with a pout. “My pizza choices aren't weird!”

“A veggie lovers with goat cheese and olive oil? Look, you could have ordered a salad on bread instead of whatever this monster is.” Aubrey smirked, tapping the top box she was carrying.

“Oh, oh are we doing this?” Basil took it from her, grinning smugly. “Says the one that gets grossed out if it isn’t plain cheese.” He put a hand to his chest and belted out his best Aubrey impression, which was deeper than his normal speaking voice. “Ew, it has bell peppers near my cheese! I can’t eat this, it’s gross.”

“I do not sound like that!”

“You do! Then you use K and K as a garbage disposal, feeding then like dogs getting scraps.”

“K and K?...”

Basil sighed and rolled his eyes. “Kim and Kel? I mean, it’s right there.”

Now it was Aubrey's turn to pout as they turned onto Basil’s street. “Hey, how come you come up with cuter pet names than I can?! That's some bullshit right there.”

“It’s cause I’m gay.”

“Bitch, so am I!’

“Your bi, so only half gay, at most.”

She playfully gasped. She enjoyed this new snark Basil displayed these days. Although it wasn’t that new, it held more a playful edge than it did when he was a child. More and More of the kid she had invited into her friend group was returning. She had missed it.

Her response died on her lips as they both heard a shout from Basil’s abode. The door was wide open, and the voice carried an entire block, obviously Polly’s. Both slowly looked at each other, before Aubrey broke into a dead sprint. 

Only the worst things popped into her head, visions of a bloody Sunny looming over another corpse. Basil helping to hide the death out of some twisted kind of obligation. And who knows what to happen to her, but as she froze in the doorway, panting from making record time, another kind of scene was playing out.

Sunny was in Basil’s frilly, plant embroidered apron while just looking mildly amused. Polly however, was losing her shit. She was almost screaming at the smug-looking teen, face flush with rage and hands flying as she talk. She was even slipping into Spanish as she went. It took a while for her heartbeat to slow enough to hear what she was saying.

“I swear if you don’t take that back-”

“It’s true.”

“THE HELL IT IS! I do not cook like a white housewife!”

Aubrey blinked, slowly walking in and setting her two pizzas on the table. She needed a moment, and unwilling to make her presence known, she simply sat down. They didn’t even notice as she propped her head upon her hand and watched.

“You added olive oil to rice when I wasn’t looking”

“So?! You just don’t want it to be flavorless rice!”

“That's sort of the point of fried rice, The rice is a platform to flavor.” Sunny rolled his eyes at her, picking up a wooden spoon. The reason for this was demonstrated almost instantly, as when Polly went to lift the lid on the pot, her hand was smacked.

“Hey! I was just checking it.”

“It needs to steam for a while longer. It’s not done yet. Besides, I'm not taking advice from someone who doesn't wash her rice!”

They just kept going back and forth. Polly was falling for the oldest trick in the book. Aubrey had known Sunny long enough to know when he was cranking someone up for his amusement. She could see the twinkle in his eye, and could almost see the same on his flower eyepatch. He had done this plenty of times to her, only to skirt away calm and collected. Once a troll always a troll it seemed.

“Ugh, I knew he was going to do this eventually.”

She almost jumped out of her seat as Basil sat the pizza next to the others, He let out a sigh as he shimmied close to the argument, grabbing plates and cutlery as he set the table. “I’m surprised he’s out of bed, honestly.”

“I thought you said he was feeling a bit down.” She looked over to him, just to see if she could spot something, anything that showed that.  Nope, he just looked like he was having a blast trying to give Polly an aneurysm.

“He couldn't get out of bed this morning.” Strange.

Lunch was a quiet affair, unusually so. Polly had scarfed down two slices of the meat lovers Basil had gotten for Sunny and went out to the garden to cool off. That was probably for the best, lest she snaps Sunny in half like a twig. Basil was all chatter with Aubrey, going over details in his little book about the park project.

They talked strategy, the order of work, and who they could cajole into doing free work to help them out. Neither Aubrey of Basil was going to be the one in charge, they would share that role as co-leaders. Each had strengths and weaknesses that they could cover, and they would need to.

It was late June now, and July would be starting in a few short days. They wanted to be done by the first of August, which gave them 31 days and some chance to get all of this nearly impossible task done. It was going to be a tight squeeze, but they would need all the help they could muster.

But it was getting hard to focus on that for Aubrey. She was just watching Sunny as he nibbled on his third slice. He looked healthier for sure, but something was wrong. He wasn’t as pale as he was before, so that wasn’t it. Also, he didn’t look so emaciated that he could be compared to Halloween decorations. It took her far too long to realize it was in his eyes.

When she had seen him yesterday, after that hilarious moment with Hero, they had been bright and attentive. That’s what made her fall for him as a kid more than anything. It was how, even if he didn't say a word, you could just tell he was listening from his eyes. So full of life and wonder.

When he had seen him four years later, not a hint of that was left. He was just a near corpse with eyes to match. Lifeless, expressionless, almost gray, it was a mockery of what good memories she had of him. It had fanned a fire that was already smoldering that day. She didn’t feel any pride in her actions, but she didn’t blame herself.

That's what she saw across the table. His spark was being smothered, but he was still trying to participate, he was still trying to be there, where he wasn’t before. He was trying not to hole away again. If Aubrey knew one thing, it was how to fight, and she had to respect the effort. She didn’t have to forgive him, not yet, but she could still care about him. Her mini-me had that right, to her chagrin.

“You doing okay there Sunny?”

Sunny shot up, clearly lost in his own little world at the moment. He looked even more shocked that she was smiling softly at him. She wasn’t the type to extend an olive branch, but here she was doing it. God this was hard, even as she had put the past behind her, that little ember still smoldered, trying to flare up. But not this time.

Sunny shot her back a smile, and his eye sparkled. It was smothered by gray, and struggling to breach the surface of whatever fog tormented him. That bridge was still burned to ash on the day of the confession, but maybe they could build a new one.

Only time could tell.

Chapter Text

Aubrey was not having a good time. All those positive feelings didn’t survive impact with the current situation. She didn't want to be here, she didn’t want this in general. But here she was, sitting on Basil’s back porch with Sunny. And it was all Basil’s fault.

Having seen that small little interaction between them, the blonde had decided, on his own, mind you, that they both needed a little push to reconnect. So after they finished their lunch, both were pushed out of the house while he and Polly did the dishes. He said something about how “They should check out his new garden” and left it at that, forcing them outside.

So here she was, trying to look at anything but the slight teen sitting next to her, jotting something down on a notepad. She had been avoiding a situation like this for a very good reason. She could feel her urge to let it all out slowly bubbling up her throat. She wasn’t one for introspection, she was a woman of action! What that meant, was that she could hardly keep her thoughts to herself.

“What are you writing there?” Maybe a conversation would be enough of a release to prevent all she wanted to say to him from slipping out. 

“Lunch calendar.” She wasn’t surprised by his lack of verbose response. That was just Sunny, but the content of the statement was far more interesting.

“Lunch calendar? What, are you making lunch for everyone working?”

“It’s part of the budget.” Sunny looked up, quirking a brow. “The one Basil and you talked about?”

She scoffed at this, pretending it was an alien notion. “Yea I’m not exactly the numbers guy. I’m more on the hard work side of it. And manpower. And security.” She buffed her nails against her jacket, putting her nose up in the air. “Somebody’s got to be tough around here”

“Isn’t that Basil?” And that prideful posturing cracked as she sputtered, glaring at him. Sunny just looked mildly amused, unphased by her look.

“How is that flowery twink tougher than me exactly?”

“He stabbed me, unlike you. Pussy.”

Sunny just stared her down as she stared back. An outside observer would have thought there was a growing tension growing between them. Sunny was the first one to crack, the corners of his mouth upturning as he shook a bit. Aubrey covered her mouth, but her shoulders were shaking.

Both began to crack up after that. Although the humor was dark as midnight., it was cathartic. Like a milestone of trauma, when you got far enough to look back and laugh. It had only been a year and some change, but hearing Sunny say that was just absurd. She shouldn't laugh, but she couldn't help it.

Sunny was the first one to compose himself, grabbing his notepad again. “But yea, I’m going to make lunch every day. Monday will be fried rice, Tuesday will be spam musubi with the leftover rice…”

“That teriyaki spam sushi thing? Basil was obsessed with those for a while before he went veggie.”

“Yea...And I'm thinking of curry for Wednesday. Me and Polly made...way too much rice. Cause she can’t make good rice.”

She just listened to him talk. It was strange hearing him speak so much. If she had ever been told by anyone that Sunny would be able to hold a normal conversation, she would have punched them in the throat, after calling them a liar. Or before, throat punching is a lot of fun.  He was doing better, improving even. She should feel happy for him. She should. But there was always that little nagging part at the back of her skull.

But as he quietly scratched away at his plan to feed them, that old bubbling pot of emotions. Made itself known. She had hoped that things could just stay pleasant, stay how they used to. But that was a childish hope. Sunny killed that hope when Mari was killed.

But she couldn't keep it in her for a month. It was eating away at her, like acidic bile dissolving her insides. So it spilled over before it could grow worse.

“I’m sorry, I can’t forgive you!”

Sunny blinked at Aubrey. He didn’t react in the way she expected. He didn’t get emotional, he didn’t yell at her, nor did he run away crying. He simply put down the notepad and turned his attention to her. He folded his hands in his lap as she continued, unable to stop the flow.

“I know everyone else has but I can’t, I just can't. Even if by all means I should forgive you!” Aubrey slammed her fist into her thigh, needing to express some of this conflict physically. “I mean, what you did was an accident! You pushed her, in a fit of anger! I know all about almost killing someone because of a stupid impulse.”

Flashes shot through her mind. A simple shove and a splash. The deafening silence that followed after, then the screams of terror. Her trying to fight her way out of Kel’s grip as Sunny went in after the first. That sinking feeling when they didn’t resurface.

She shook it off, now was not the time to get lost in her own mistakes. She shrugged off the concerned look she was getting and continued. “But...I Can’t. You didn’t just take Mari from us. You and Basil made it look like she didn’t give a fuck about us! You drove away every person I cared about and the only family I had! Then I ended up bullying Basil for a year because you had some kinda bitchfit and ruined the only thing I had to remember her with!”

She was getting louder and louder. She knew Basil and Polly would hear it eventually, but she didn’t care. Why would she? This needed to be said. “You took away my family, abandoned me for four years, and then suddenly showed up in our lives again. You make it seem like we’re going to be what we used to be! Then you shatter us all over again!”

She put her hand on Sunny’s shoulder, nails digging into it as the grip tightened. If it hurt Sunny, he didn’t show it. “I love you like a brother, but I can’t forgive you. I just...I…” And like that the fire was out. All the bile her mind could collect, spent, and all that was left was sorrow. Mourning something she could never get back, a childhood long dead and gone. And always would be. She choked, holding in the sob that was trying to escape.

What had she done? She had just tried building a bridge back to him, and now she had burned it down in a fit of childish spite! She should have just kept it to herself and expelled her emotional demons by beating a tree with her bat, as usual. Now Sunny would just leave and ignore her for the next month if she was lucky. Would Kel break up with her?

“I understand.”

Her train of thought didn’t stop, it hit a pipe bomb on the tracks and ceased to be. Deleted from this reality, and others that might exist. She slowly pulled her face out of her hands and looked over to Sunny. His face an unreadable mask, as always, but with the corners of his mouth slightly upturned. She could only manage a one-word question.

“What?”

Sunny didn’t respond at first. He busied himself with untieing his shoes, then removed his socks. She watched as he placed them neatly on the last step before resting his feed in the soft grass that permeated Basil's garden, giving a contented little sigh. Comfort obtained, he began to speak.

“You don’t have to forgive me, Aubrey. You're not obligated to do so.” He just gave her a little pat on the leg and looked over the garden. It was just afternoon, so the bugs and chirping of cicadas were in full force.

Aubrey just stared at him. Everything that she had expected from this happening was quickly being disproved. Being replaced with a strange reality where the boy who once begged her for forgiveness in a hospital gown was now perfectly fine without it. It confused her.

“Don’t you want to be?”

Sunny laughed at this. Laughed! She just stared at him, what kind of bizarro world did she slip into? Did she trip on the way back, fall face first in a pizza and drown in the sauce? Seemed more likely than this.

“Well, yea. But I'm not owed it.” Sunny rolled his wrist, trying to find the right words to explain this to her. “It's...Well, It’d be nice.”

“Being forgiven for accidentally killing your sister would be nice. Just nice”

“When you put it like that it makes it sound strange.” Sunny snorted in a little bit of amusement. ‘But that’s the best way to put it. Would I like it? Sure I’d love it. Do I deserve it? Hell no!”

Aubrey sputtered again. More and more she was feeling like she was in third-grade math again. Asking all the right questions, but did not understand even a bit more than she did before she asked. “What the hell are you talking about?!” She barked. “You spent four years in a dissociative fugue in your house!”

Sunny wrinkled his nose, looking uncomfortable with his condition becoming common knowledge in his friend group. “You’ve been talking to Hero huh?”

“Don’t change the subject! You had it rough, and continued to have it rough!”

“So?”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SO?!” Aubrey screamed, panting with barely restrained frenzy as Sunny put a hand on her shoulder. He rubbed it slowly as she caught her breath, and she tried to articulate her point.

“You’ve gone through so much. Wouldn't the least I can do is let the past die and move on?”

“Aubrey. My pain doesn't invalidate yours.”

“Sunny-”

“I abandoned you all for four years. I left you unsupported with an awful family-” He counted off each transgression on his fingers. “I lied about how Mari died, I only came back into your life to shatter what we built back all over again. I disappeared for a year after I moved away, contacting none of you because I was too afraid. Sure I was working on myself, but I could have sent you a letter or something. It was an excuse. I was sort of a selfish dick”

Aubrey said nothing, just staring at him as she digested all his wrongs being laid out in such a manner, Might as well send the point home.

“It can take a long time to forgive someone for what they’ve done, Aubrey. And that's perfectly fine. The only person who gets to decide that.” With a single finger, he pressed into her shoulder. “Is you.”

“S-so…” She said with a horrified whisper as she slowly looked up. ‘We’re not friends anymore?”

Sunny’s heart melted at this. He should have known that Aubrey saw this entire thing as a zero-sum game. Her passion and zest for life were some of her most endearing features. However, it made seeing shades of gray a bit impossible for her.

He hugged her and laughed again. “No! You’re still my friend, and I’m yours if you’ll have me.”

“O-of course!” Sunny couldn't help but laugh again. That excitable girl he used to know still lived under that tough girl exterior. Except now she could beat his ass.

“Just because you don't forgive me now, or ever, doesn't mean we still don’t care for each other. You can be friends while still hurting each other sometimes. Know what that’s called?”

“She sniffed, relife and happiness leaking out her eyes, or at least that’s what she would tell Sunny later.

“Family.” Sunny smirked at her.”Besides, you’re not the only one who hasn’t forgiven me.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, Kel hasn’t. When I started to visit Basil again, he said that he cared about me, but he couldn't forgive me for what I did. I understand him. I honestly can't believe that Hero came around so easily.” 

Aubrey blinked. Of all people, Kel was the one who didn’t break immediately to hang around with Sunny. Wait, that didn't make sense. Just a week or two ago….nevermind. It was his thing to talk about Sunny too. Not hers.

“So...we’re cool?”

“Mhmm.” Sunny picked up his notepad again. He wasn’t writing anything but was pointedly ignoring Aubrey as she pulled herself together. If there was one thing Aubrey was, it was prideful, and he wasn’t going to be the one to test her bad girl status. They enjoyed a comfortable silence for a while.

Well, Aubrey was having a nice little bit of relaxing quiet. Sunny was silently arguing with his eyes with his boyfriend. His boyfriend, who was currently holding a spatula, gripped firmly to defend him from what he most likely assumed was a wild Aubrey attack from the yelling. Telling him to stand down was a bit hard. Who knew that a person that was down to hide a murder would be so fiercely loyal? He was trying to talk him out of a culinary assault, Aubrey picked up that he was looking at something. 

“What you looking at Sunny?”

Oh shit. “Uhhhhh the Sun! Trying to figure out the time, since I was wondering where Kel was.” No way she was going to buy that.

“Oh basketball camp. He spends most days practicing for the season. He should be getting back soon.” Aubrey blew her bangs out her face.” Stupid camp. He’s going to be doing it most of the summer, but he still promised to help some days. Right now? He's most likely arguing with Kim about something dumb." Sunny almost gagged with her expression. Were Basil and him like that? He had to apologize to his mother...

“So how many hooligans do we have?” But before that could be answered, they heard sprinting steps coming up from beside the house. The show was about to begin.

With all the stealth of a six-year-old up past bedtime, Kel peeked around the corner, scanning for any sign of blond hair. Failing to notice that, or the three people currently staring at him, confused, he pounced. 

Knee sliding into Basil’s vegetable garden, he picked his target. Pulling a few tomatoes off of the vine, he looked around again, missing the audience he had gained, before violently stuffing them into his mouth. He didn’t wash them, he didn’t wipe them on his shirt, hell, he didn’t even check if they were ripe. He just stuffed his cheeks with them and began to chew.

Aubrey and Sunny were stunned into silence. They were watching this man destroy dirty produce like it was shredded cheese at three AM. Basil was not so quiet.

“WHAT THE FUCK KEL?!” Basil had already jumped out of the window with his weapon at this point. “THIS IS WHERE MY TOMATOES HAVE BEEN GOING?! YOU TOLD ME IT WAS RACCOONS!” Kel did stop for a moment. His eyes wide, caught in a deer in the headlights look… Before he ate another. This prompted Basil to let out a battle cry and raise his spatula high.

Kel responded by picking a few more and bolting, running laps around the angry gardener as he stuffed more of the coveted red berries into his maw. Basil was currently teaching everyone that could hear him some colorful new language, and Aubrey and Sunny were too busy laughing their assess off

Chapter Text

The sun was descending on Faraway as the friends parted. Kel had complained about Aubrey not telling him Sunny was here and was just about to impose himself onto them when she stepped in. Tugging his ear, she informed him that he would be here the entire summer, so they could “bro-down” some other time. What was left unsaid was that she had barely been able to pry Basil’s arm out of the chokehold she had just saved Kel from. And that if she didn't let Basil cool down, they maybe were going to need some sturdy jump rope.

As she beat a hasty retreat from the garden, Basil muttered darkly. He had spent so much money on humane pest control, only to find out that he didn’t need it at all! He needed the human kind, and if Kel decided to take without asking again, he swore he was going to find out if human flesh made good fertilizer.

“Basil.”

Yea that could work! Not with the veggies of course, as that would be some very strange round-about cannibalism, and he was unwilling to waste his produce like that. Maybe under the rose bushes. Yea that would work! Something that is a pain in the ass to dig up, and that was a prissy enough plant that maybe he wouldn't have to buy fancy plant nutrients for once in his damn life!

“Basil?”

How would he kill Kel though? He was bigger and stronger than Basil, to be sure. But as much as he loved Kel, he knew that he was sort of dumb. Not in an ignorant way, like having a right-wing Twitter, more in a happy but empty-headed dog sort of way. Oh, pesticide! Just put it on the tomatoes, and Kel will eat them, dirt, poison, and all!

“Pretty boy.”

Even in the middle of planning for the “disappearance” of a friend, a compliment was enough to completely derail his train of thought. He instantly dissolved into a blushing mess still at the smallest honeyed word from Sunny. It was mildly infuriating, if not euphoric, considering his younger self would have killed Mari all over again for the chance. “H-huh?”

“Stop thinking about killing Kel.” Sunny poked his nose before walking past him, heading towards the door.

“I was not thinking about murdering Kel! I was just thinking about my tomatoes.” He pouted, barely repressing his little foot stomp as he did so. Sunny had told him it was adorable, but still. He wasn't a tween anymore! Now if only he could get rid of the puffed cheeks reflex. Sunny just simply looked back and smirked. SMIRKED.

“Holy shit he has you on lock! He has your ass downloaded!” And of course, Stranger was there to rub salt in the wounds. He had thought that whatever this discount heartless version of himself was starting not to appear that often. Seems he was not that lucky.

“What did you say, Basil?” Both froze as Sunny peeked back through the door, eyebrow raised. Both Basil and Stranger went quiet, eyes slowly widening as the implication of that sentence. Sunny, who thought it was just some backtalk, rolled his eye and went back inside. Stranger, seizing this opportunity, decided to torment his human reference sheet a little bit more.

“I SAID I WANTED TO HAVE A SLOPPY MAKEOUT IN MY FLOWER-COVERED BEDROOM! I LIKE THEN THE PLANTS WATCH!” Despite being an incorporeal being, constantly shoving his hands through Stranger’s head did little to quiet him. He didn’t think Sunny would hear him. Hopefully. He was doing it more to quell the growing blush and rather interesting ideas he had.

“Well, we’ll have to be quiet or Polly will catch us.” That voice drifted out the house like a feather and struck him true. Welp, now he was going to be a flushing, embarrassed mess for the rest of the night. Might as well enjoy himself. Stranger, for his part, looked shocked. He lagged behind as Basil shot him a wink and followed after Sunny.

Stranger just stood there after, all too aware of what just happened. When he had completed his job, he found himself with the one he was modeled after. He thought it had been some kind of nice retirement, and considering Sunny didn’t have the ability to see him anymore, he thought everything was over. The dreamer was safe, and life could move on. It must have been a fluke, some kind of rare occurrence. Yeah, It's nothing.

“Look. I need to spend the night with you dude.” Aubrey was currently making sure Bun-Bun would have a pleasant night at Kim’s while she was gone. Including his goodnight kiss, of course. She wasn’t a monster. 

When she looked back, she saw an expression on Kel that was rather rare, hesitancy. He rubbed his elbow as he gave her an unsure grin “Uh, why ain’t you staying over here with Kimasarus?” Awful pet name (that Kim loved) aside, this was a touch unusual for him.

“Weren’t you here when her mom came home?”

“Oh, yea! But she asked to talk to Kim privately for a second. Then I got hungry, so then I went to go get a snack.”

“Wait is that where you’ve been getting all that food?! You- Wait no your trying to distract me!” She pointed at him and tried to ignore how his widening grin made her heart skip. “The point is, Vance dropped a dime on Kim, something we will get back at him for later.” She muttered, thinking of a few ideas. “Anyway, she is a little pissed we kept her in the dark about it. She’s surprisingly cool about it but Kim is getting grounded for two days anyway. So I need to crash as yours because like hell I’m going home.”

Again, Kel bit his lip. A possibility appeared in her mind, a very unlikely one. Kel was trying to hide something. “I don’t know Aubs. Can’t you crash at Basil’s or something?”

“Well I would, but Sunny is over, and I still have some...things to settle with them and myself before I feel safe sleeping over with them.” Both could remember the rather nasty end of their last sleepover. Kel didn’t say anything, he just stood there. It looked like he was trying to hide something after all. Some gentle prodding could bring it to light.

“Kelsey.” He flinched. “Honey. Baby.”

“Mhmm?” He mumbled, cheeks aflame at this little bit of affection. They lit even faster when she gently rubbed his cheek, looking into his eyes. She was searching for something and didn’t quite find it. But she could take a stab at it.

“Problems at home still?” She got a nod and mumbled nothing, sinking into her palm as she slowly rubbed his cheek.  They sat on the edge of Kim’s bed, trying to ignore the few shouts that still pierced the walls. It was Kim and Vance this time, however. She kept rubbing the cheek of her very special moron (male edition) and tried to speak with a gentleness that was foreign to her. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Eh…” Kel winced a little, trying to figure out the best way to say it. “I’, okay. Considering.”

“Considering what?”

“I’m loved the least in my family.” Kel waited for it. The opinion that contradicted him, the dismissive verbal wave. But he received none of that, just a gentle squeeze of his hand and an attentive posture. He was then reminded that his friends were not his parents, and his thoughts were valid to adress. Huh, maybe Kim was right after all. Given the rare platform to air his thoughts, he continued.

“I love Mami and Pa but it's a hell of a thing to know that among the children, they don't love you as much. And it doesn't help that uh...Hero and I talked recently.

“What about?”

“Turns out...They uh...drained my entire college fund and gave it to Hero to help start paying his student debt. Turns out his rapid accelerated program costs a lot and they don’t want him to work and do school. I mean I understand..”

“Dude no!” Aubrey stood up, emotions whipped into a frenzy. “That's not cool! Even if you’re good enough to get a sports scholarship-”

“Awwwww that's so swe-”

“Shh, I'm talking.” And he was shutting up now. Good. “As I was saying, still! That’s a diskish thing to say and you should be mad.”

Kel shrugged. “I am, but I was madder before I and Hero talked. Remember when he took me out to dinner a few days back?”

“After that date, yea. Man him dating Polly is...something.” Aubrey was too busy laughing at the moment to think about it at the moment, but it put something weird in her gut. Maybe it was the realization that he was an adult.

“Wait he’s dating POLLY?! Dose Basil know?”

“Hun, we can talk about that later.”

“Fine fine. We talked for a long time. It was nice, like how things used to be.” He looked off, wistful as he fiddled with her hand, rubbing a thumb along the back of her hand. “He made it clear how unfair they were being to me, and how much I cared. It helped me a lot but things are a bit...tense in my house?”

“Because you’re avoiding them?” Kel winced, the boy still thought he was being subtle, even if he only slept at his house maybe three times a week.

“And because they don’t know I’m dating you too.” 

The reaction that Kel got, was not the one he expected. He was never going to complain about Aubrey laughing though. It was a low rumbly thing that made his stomach do flips. He didn’t have the words for it, except that it was so totally Aubrey. Her distilled essence in an expression of mirth. “ What?!”

“Hun, my good boy with a head full of rocks.” She said, giving his noggin a little shake, to test if there were indeed rocks tumbling around in there.

“Hey! I’m not dumb…” his current forced fish lip pout made it all the sadder to hear, but she ignored it.

“Hun, what do you think your mother, your issues otherwise, will be cooler with? His girlfriend, who he’s been hiding all this time, needs to sleep in the same room with him. Or,” She holds up her other hand as if physically weighing the options “His friend, who up until this point, he had no chemistry with and needs a place to crash.”

“Hey!” Kel tried to interrupt. “We had chemistry since forever!”

“Yea, exothermic chemistry maybe.” That blank look she got in return was a little frustrating, considering she was the one who taught him chemistry. Or attempted to at least. It was his weakest subject, so the experience was always like pulling teeth. “The exploding kind.”

“Ohhhhh, why didn’t you say that.”

She went to respond but saw that grin had a little bit of a sarcastic tint to it. Oh, pretty boy was playing dumb to rile her up, a pastime that he was indulging in more and more these days. “Oh, you little shit!” She laughed, tossing her duffle bag. “Well, dumbass, you think you can pretend you don’t wanna make out with me for two nights?”

He stroked his chin, humming as he slung her bag over his shoulder. “It’ll be a struggle, but for you, anything” That goofy wide grin just bloomed on his face as she gave him a playful punch on the arm, both giggling like morons.

“I’m gonna go try and cool down Kim’s mom before we head out. Can you check if Bun-Bun has a clean water dish?” She asked, poking her head through the door.

“You got it!” He shot off a salute, kneeling to check on the temperamental rabbit. She just snorted and went to leave, but stopped for a moment. She grinned shyly, and with one little sentence, gave him nearly a heart attack.

“God I love you.”

And she was gone, leaving Kel in a stooper as she beat a hasty retreat. Was it to hide her blush and keep that tough persona up? She would never tell, and if you asked, she would threaten to beat your ass. However, her bright red ears would answer you. Kel, for his part, stood there, stunned.

“Huh?!”

Sunny was trying to erase the memory of Polly walking in on them and getting caught. He knew that Basil could be a bit vocal, but jeez! He just squeezed his butt once! Once! You think someone could hold it together but no. Polly walked in on them, thinking Basil fell over or something. Her reaction made it oh so much worse!

All she did was talk about how she didn’t hear anything, and she was going to go out for an hour or two. Basil made some noises that convinced her it was a bit past first base, considering the box of condoms she left on Basil’s dresser as she escaped the house, giggling like a manic. Sunny was convinced she knew they weren’t ready for that kinda thing yet, and just wanted to completely obliterate the mood. And with the state Basil was in after, she succeeded.

They had spent the rest of the night just lounging in bed and talking until Basil asked to read some of those true crime books like they did as kids. He had no idea why Basil wanted him to read, but after almost dying from weaponized embarrassment from his future mother-in-law, he had no more anxiety left for the day. 

As Sunny made his way to the dark kitchen, he wondered if he should be worried that his boyfriend passed out cuddled into his side as he listened to Sunny talking about the Unabomber. Nah, this wasn’t even the third weirdest thing Basil had ever done, and he had no right to call someone out on their taste. But his throat was killing him from all the talking he had to do today, so a glass of milk then a warm bed was his current goal. 

But as he obtained his dairy product, he felt...something. Whipping around, he extended the first object he could get his hands on to protect himself against this intruder in the dark. But he found nothing, shrugged, and sat down the fancy pot holder before ambling back to bed.

Stranger was currently hiding behind Basil’s couch with a hand clamped over where his mouth would be. He slowly let out a long breath he didn’t need to hold in as he rubbed his eyes. He shouldn't have been able to see him, yet, he did. Few things could cause that, and none of them were good.

“Well, there goes my retirement.”

Chapter Text

WELCOME TO WHITE SPACE.

WAIT…

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

You know, in the list of the worst places to wake up, this was on the shortlist. Number three, or two easily. Better than a cold dark grave, and only slightly more traumatizing than seeing his sister’s hanging corpse. That was to say, this place blows.

Waking up on that small carpet, with the tissue box, a sketchbook, and a shitty laptop. Sunny bolted up but relaxed quite a bit when the black bulb was nowhere to be seen. Well, at least he was not at risk of being dragged back to the place where all his repressed emotions were put. They were still there, but he did NOT want to touch that tonight. Wait did therapy make it shrink? Something to consider.

No Mewo, but maybe that was for the best. There were plenty of new things to focus on. Like the massive mural with all his friends' faces on it. Walking over to a nearby wall. Well, as close to a wall as you can get here, and inspected it.

At the center was him, of course, but fanned around him, with strange hooks linking them together. It was the old gang, Aubrey, Basil, Kel, and Hero, all crudely drawn with crayon. Although done in black and white, he knew that it was a drawing of him. How? Well, simple! Omori wouldn't have buried a knife hilt deep into his forehead. Sunny was the self-destructive one, after all.

Looking around this sensory deprivation chamber, one glaring change made itself apparent. After he told the truth, he wanted nothing more than to abandon his technicolor fantasy. Sure, he felt a pang of guilt for letting this fantasy that his mind crafted rot and decay, but he needed to move on. Up until now, his sleep had been thankfully dreamless. If he wanted to explore his old coping mechanism, that would no longer be possible. After all, the white door was chained shut.

Well no, not just chained shut. That would be downplaying the sheer amount of security that was piled onto it. Chains and padlocks covered its surface, barely leaving a scrap of the white wood visible. A bit of a tug on a padlock confirmed they weren't for show. What was strange was how cold the metal was. Just a moment of contact numbed his fingers near instantly. Grumbling, he tried to rub some feeling into his fingers, wait, his dream fingers. Why could he get cold in a dream? Why did he feel pain in the first place here?

Chalking it up to Omori just being a little bastard, for the sake of immersion or something. Ugh, he was not even going to think about him. Something was clearly going on in here, however, and decided it was wise to keep looking for differences. The laptop had a new password so that was a bust, and the sketchbook was locked and bound tightly. Damn, it was looking like he was stuck here with no information, or stimulation until he could find a way out. Well, a different way out. 

As he tried to make his next move, his finger ran across something odd. Fiddling with the locked sketchbook, a page was sticking out oh so slightly from the binding. It wasn’t flush with the pages, it must have been half folded. With a sharp pull and a rather loud rip, he had half a sketch page.

“What the-” There, on half the page, was Void. The physical (or metaphysical) manifestation of KYS was plain to see, although this was not his drawing... No, the slightly messing crayon redesign was not created by him. A strange copy, with some notable differences. What was more interesting was a cut-off comment in the bottom margins of the page. The rip made it a bit tougher to figure out, but the back half simply read,

“- should be strong enough. If not, actions can be taken.”

“You shouldn't be here.” Nearly jumping out his skin, Sunny whipped around, just to see one single unblinking eye right next to his. Scrambling back on his hands, he tried to get away in a blind panic. As he slowly calmed his racing heart, after realizing it was just Void, he tried to keep his expression neutral. He tried not to bring attention to the scrap of paper being hidden in his closed fist. Maybe it was a good thing to rip it.

“Why?” Sunny had never seen anything but smug self-satisfaction at bringing torment to Sunny, attempting to get him to punch his ticket early. Sunny thought there was nothing as awful as that expression, that shitty grin instigated him like nothing else. Void was always self-aware about how tiring the feeling he represented made Sunny, and although he had never managed to convince Sunny, he seemed to take such joy at wearing him out.

But surprise and a frown were no better, that terrified him. How the hell did HE not know what was going on. He was a reflection of his subconscious for fucks sake. He should know what's going on. This only led down two possible roads. On one hand, every bit of him had no idea what was going on, and that meant he was filling up Blackspace again. On the other hand, well, that was a bit too frightening of a thought for him to want to put much more exploration into that.

“I don’t want to be here again.” He gestured to the white space around them, dismissively so. 

“Yea I really want to deal with the place I buried myself for four years instead of trying to make amends. This reminds me of oh so many pleasant memories!” He ignored the cyclops's glare at his snark and gave him his pointed one-eyed look back. “Who would want to be here?! It sucks!”

“Well, the-” Void stopped, looking annoyed. “Great I'm almost spilling the beans to you of all people! What I need to do is to try and get you to spill your guts!" He paused, for effect assumedly. "On the floor, specifically.”

“Well, besides that awful attempt.” Void huffed, muttering something about critics, which Sunny ignored. “I what are you doing in here?”

Void just raised his single brow and put his claws on his hips. “Why am I living in a room, inside your head, as something only you hallucinate?”

“Fair, it was a dumb question.”

“Matches the person who asked it.”

“Hey!

“Anyway, you need to leave., or I’m gonna get in big trouble.” Void clapped his hands as if this ended any other conversation. “So how do you leave...er...wake up.”

“Oh, that’s easy I just gotta…” Oh. Oh, that was not going to work. He promised everyone that he would never do anything like that again. If not for his trauma, imagining Basil and Hero being disappointed in him? He’d rather die. Oh god damn it! 

“You gotta what?” The imp’s question was met with silence. Although it was hilarious to watch the kid’s face screw up in such glorious expressions, he felt like he was missing something. Cursing the universe, and everything contained within, Sunny mumbled the answer.

“Huh?” Void got another grumble as Sunny tried to glare an escape hole through the floor. “You gotta speak up! I know I got bat ears but I can't hear you!”

“I GOTTA STAB MYSELF OKAY?!” The outburst was followed by unnatural quiet. When Sunny bothered to look up, he was met with an unblinking eye and a shocked expression. Then it slipped out. A chuckle, then a little giggle. The corners of his mouth turned up as he tried to hold it all in. He failed. Sunny scowled as Void howled in laughter, his expression utterly orgasmic as he pointed.

“Oh, you can’t get away from me today! Know what time it is?!” Pulling a watch out of nowhere, they shoved it in Sunny’s face. Each position had no numbers, just the letters KYS. “It’s time to DIEEEEEEEEE”

“I hate you, so very much.” Sunny blew some of the descending confetti out of his bangs. Black and red were so tasteless. And skull-shaped at that? Was he an imp, or an edgy cousin of Soni?

“Shut your face! The only way out of here is to punch your own ticket, get up from the table, take a long walk off a short pier, paint the ceiling, taking a kool-aid bath.-”

“There is no way that the last one is real...”

“- put on one last necktie, take a short drop and a sudden stop, etc, etc. Anyway, you gotta kill yourself!” Ugh, the smug face was so much worse now! There had to be some way to get out of this, for his mental health. Not because he wanted to spite this bastard. Well, maybe a little.

“Why don’t you kill me? I don’t have to do it, I just sorta gotta….feel a lot of paint to wake up.”

“Yea no.” Void buffed his claws against his nude chest. With no effort, multiple implements of violent and quiet death appeared, clattering onto a suddenly appearing table. Pills, guns, blades, anything you could use to end it. He did his very best to avoid looking at the jump rope and familiar knife. “I’ve been trying to get you to do this for months! And you’re gonna deprive me of a little taste, a little morsel?”

“Yes.” Void huffed, rolling his eye as he saddled up to Sunny. Throwing a nubby arm around his shoulders.

“Lemmie have a little heart to heart with you. You’ve been beating my ass at every single turn. Ignoring that I'm one of your natural impulses and that I'm a little pissed you always ignore me, I’m sort of proud of you? Don’t look so surprised! It’s really hard to resist such juicy temptation all the time! It takes an iron will not indulge in the cake that's sitting right in front of you.”

“Are you comparing eating cake to listening to the awful voice in my head so I’ll kill myself?”

“Well to a diabetic they're the same thing!” Void clapped him on the back, before getting right next to him to whisper into his ear. “You’ve beaten me Sunny. I can’t get you to end it in the real world. I’m all washed up.” Void held out his other hand, the knife flying into his hand, where he held it out to Sunny. “But I know you miss it Sunny, That flash of pain and that sweet sink into the darkness. You have things to live for, sure. But don’t you miss it? Don’t you want to indulge in a nice piece of cake, after being so good for so long?”

Sunny just stared at the knife as honeyed words hissed through fangs. He didn’t need to do it. He knew this, but still. A spot on his stomach ached for the steel, to feel all of the world to just melt away, even if it was a cheap imitation. He would get to indulge for a moment, then wake up to his boyfriend as if nothing happened, and nobody would ever know.

“Always starts like this huh? A little indulgence, a cheat day so to speak. But I thought you gave this kind of life up? A voice like an ethereal echo rung out from behind him, breaking him out of his covetous stooper. With a quick motion, he grabbed the knife and attempted to stick it into the imp. Only for it all to go up in a puff of smoke.

“I would say it was good to see you, but considering what you normally bring with you..” Sunny crashed on his ass. It had been a bit more stressful than he thought, considering his hands were shaking, and his heart was racing, he had missed the signs. “Forgive me if I’m a little worried.”

Stranger laughed, sitting down next to him. Sunny assumed he was grinning sardonically, it was a little hard to tell on someone without a mouth. “Fair enough. But no, you don’t have any more deep dark secrets you repressed using a pre-pubescent clone.”

“Good, I was worried I had accidentally killed another sibling I had no idea about.”

Stranger laughed again, smacking Sunny on the back. This sent him sprawling onto the floor. Stranger, being the evergreen reflection of Basil as he was, now how Sunny saw him, as jacked now. “Oops!” Manhandling him, Sunny was pulled back up, now across from his boyfriends' clone. “Sorry about that. Don’t know my own strength.”

Sunny shrugged, not too worried about that. However, there were other things on the agenda. “It’s fine. But uh... I assumed you didn’t exist anymore?” A bit rude to ask, sure, but if anything it was being rude to himself? Was stranger his creation? He was not sure.

“After the truth came out I assumed the same would happen. But no, I still exist, and now I'm finding out more exists than it should.”

“Huh?”

“Sunny.” He tapped his transparent temple, his spotlight eyes squinting. “You’re smarter than that. Headspace died with Omori joining you once again. Or well, it should have. Now your emotions are becoming denizens and the White Space returns. Something is going on…”

Suddenly, he clapped his hands together, standing up. “But that's not your problem!”

“What wa-”

“Bye Sunny” And the dreamer was gone, back to a dreamless sleep. Sure he had to surprise him to do it, but Sunny should stay out of the way for this. Of course, the worse came to pass. The locked door just signified that the nagging feeling had been correct.

Walking over to the chained door, one by one he popped off the locks. Nothing could be hidden from him. No matter how deep you buried it, or Stranger. As the last lock fell, he took a breath and opened the door.

Now to find that little monochromatic goblin. Of course, he wouldn't stay dead.

Chapter Text

Sunny wished he had woken up dead. Wait, can you wake up dead? Cause if you woke up, that means you weren’t dead right? But what if you woke up and then died. Would that be waking up dead, or is that waking up and then dying?

“HEY! Focus up, it’s only 30 till lunch slacker, and you’re letting it pile up!” Aubrey’s bellow broke him out of his completive stupor. He groaned as he had to step out from his shade, and do real work. This was bullshit.

“Yea, yea whine all you want, but do it while you move the wagon.” She shot him a dirty look when went back into the thick of it, pole saw in hand and sweating bullets.

He knew it would be hard work but this was beyond whatever twisted fantasy he could construct! They had planned to start felling trees to widen the path to the hideout and make way for the sidewalk and tools that they needed. However, the canopy above the small hidden path was so dense, any cut tree would get hung up on it, or worse, drag down another tree with it, and kill them.

So armed with pole-saws, Basil and Aubrey were currently sawing and pruning away at the overhead tangle of branches to clear a view of the sky, and also make tree removal much more viable. Sunny was going to help with this, however, with how wobbly his arms got when he held up the pole saw, and how his strokes were too weak to even start sawing, it had been decided that he would be better suited for a different task.

So here he was, pulling a wagon loaded to the brim with braches. Even with the assistance of wheels, it was no easy feat. Curse you food and daytime television! How were you so much more appealing than working out. You would think that the result would be worth it, but then again Sunny would rather enjoy the results of Basil’s labor than do any of his own. Oh, also sleep, draw. Honestly, anything was better than doing any activity that could be described as strenuous.

So he was convinced that this simple task was going to kill him, slowly or otherwise. He made his way to the two trailers parked next to the park entrance. One was covered, and full of tools that the town had lent them to complete this herculean task. The other was a big empty one that would be dragged away at the end of the day, and returned, to be used for disposal. Currently, there was just a single layer of branches on it. However, the load Sunny was currently struggling to drag was double the size of the first too. He had been slacking. Just a moment.

But now the thing was too heavy to tip over into the dumb thing, so now he was having to unload it, by hand, in the blazing sun. Was this how he was going to die? A desiccated husk of a boy left exposed to the elements. Maybe he would end up one of those cool natural mummies you see in museums. It would be better than being a bog mummy at least. Well, he would get to go to Basil’s and get lunch ready. But that was at 11:30. Wait it must be time right? 

A quick check of his watch told him that no, it was 9:30. How dare his Caption Spaceboy branded watch deal such a lasting blow to him. After all his dedication to buying every single one of those comics, he would be wounded like this?! Tragedy.

“Hey Sunny! Nice dramatic pose!” Sunny fixed himself quickly, straightening up as Cris watched him in amusement. He tried to play it off with a cough, but that was folly. “What are you doing?”

“Moving branches. It’s hard.” This was true, and it was what he was doing. 

“Oh! Okay!” And in a display of athleticism just tipped it over into the trailer with the greatest of ease. Sunny stared at her as she dusted off her hands and stretched her back popping. “There you go, little buddy. It looked a bit heavy for you!” Welp, this was slightly embarrassing, but then again she was an athlete too. He was the outlier here. A sensitive art goth among jocks.

“Thanks….water?” He gestured over to the tool trailer, where the cooler waited.

“Please.”

That's how he found himself taking a water break with Cris. Kel had said she was at Swim camp when he last visited, but it was nice to see her again. They didn’t speak much but they were of a very friendly sort. She was girl Kel, with better taste in soft drinks. She hummed and kicked her feet as they sat on the edge of the open door. It was jacked up just high enough to do so.

“I just realized!” She said with a gasp and a much louder voice than Sunny was expecting. After barely containing the water in his mouth, he slowly looked over. “Oops, sorry. I get a bit worked up after my morning jog. Maybe you should join me next time! It would wake you up.”

She laughed at how violently and suddenly Sunny shook his head. “I figured that…” She trailed off, the humming puttering off slowly. She scrunched up her face and began to chew her lip. Odd. She never hesitated.

“Hey Sunny?”

“Mhmm?”

“Do you know if Kel is uh…” She hesitated for a moment. “Into anyone?”

Oh boy.

Linebreak.

“It’s not funny.” Kim and Aubrey were currently dying as Basil finished washing up for lunch. Kim, who had wandered up at 10 am, had seen most of the aftermath of Cris’s question. She was currently heaving with her head down, pounding the table. Aubrey was attempting to not just lose it as hard as her significant other but was struggling. Masking her amusement behind her guzzling some sort of sports drink.

“Dude what did you SAY to her.” Kim had pulled herself back together. Sunny frowned at her a bit harder. “Oh don’t look at me like that. It was funny. The weird little noise she made running away was so goofy”

“She was upset for a reason you know. Just because she sounded a bit like a congested goose…” He smirked a bit at that but shook it off. “She asked who Kel was interested in.”

Both girls froze, suddenly, it wasn’t funny anymore. Some mental math was done between them. First of all, how oblivious Kel was, then how attractive Cris was, and then, how likely she was to encroach on THERE boy. Sunny decided now was the best time to root out any violence.

“Hey. Hey. Down girls.” Sunny put his hands on his hips, leveling his single-eyed glare at them. “She didn’t try to steal your man or anything.  She was more upset that throughout her swim camp,  he got got. Yea sure she ran into like three lamp posts on the way out., But still.”

“.....I feel bad for laughing now,” Kim grumbled, sinking back down into her chair.  Aubrey nodded and slumped.

“Can’t blame you. Hearing her dome pinging off the same two light posts three times was...well it was funny.”

“It was.” Sunny said, loading up  Aubrey’s plate with rice. “But still, be nice to the poor girl. She didn’t even stick around for me to explain who she’s dating.” He noticed Aubrey’s wince. “What?”

Linebreak

Basil was meant to be eating lunch right now. He should of, but now he was being held socially, hostage. He had been washing his hands properly, not like those two currently laughing it up about whatever happened with Cris today. Poor girl.

So when she saw her number pop up on his phone, he had to admit, he was concerned that the friend he had made talking about hydroponics was having a rough day. So he answered. That’s why he currently was sitting on the side of his bathtub, listening to Cris smack her pillow with romantic teen angst over speakerphone.

“Cris, you haven't told me what’s wrong yet.” He sighed, running his fingers along the ceramic. “You won’t feel better until you talk about it.” He got a groan in response. A few more smacking sounds and the line went quiet.  He was about to nudge her again and was working up the nerve when she just blurted it out.

“I asked that boy you have a crush on how Kel was doing, and he said Kel was taken! Then I got upset, then I saw Kim so I panicked, and then I hit a few light posts, then I cried a bit, now I’m here.” God, if not for Aubrey and Kim, they would have been a match made in heaven. If one couldn't stay on subject for more than thirteen seconds.

“Sunny? Did he say anything else?” He was wondering how much she knew.

“No, didn’t give him the chance.” She mumbled on the other side. “OH! Did you ask him out Bas-Bas?”

Awful nickname aside, he picked at the ceramic as he flushed. How she turned emotions on a dime was unknown, but it always put him offstep. “Maybe….He’s staying at my house for a while.”

“AW! Well, I can’t mope when my pining partner stepped up! We need to celebrate sometime! Pizza on me or something. OOO I need to make you a bracelet to match your Sunshines ehhhh?” Basil could feel himself grin as he relaxed a bit. Maybe this would turn out okay. Cris had the worst luck with romantic prospects. When she found out daphne was also taken as of recent…well…. He remembered how much ice cream she ate.

“Oh, I moped enough. Ugh, I must have looked a little silly running away huh.”

“I’m more worried about your forehead…”

“Eh, I’m fine! Anyway, now that I know Kel is off the market, for now anyway, I can try one of my many backups!” Wait, what?

“Cris, what do you mean backups?” He could hear her doing something on the other end. She riffled through her desk, making a lot of noise till she exclaimed: “FOUND IT”.

On the other end, the sounds of pages being turned/ “A list of all the people I have crushed on! Kel was at the top, now I’m going down the list, crossing things off.” She hummed while Basil heard her scratching things out on the other end.

“Oh god, theirs two of you.” Basil let it slip before coving his mouth. Aw beans did he just out Sunny?

“Oh? Is there another disaster Bi that I am unaware of? ARE THEY SINGLE?!” Basil had to suppress the almost possessive growl that rose oh so naturally. In truth, Sunny had crushes on anyone that looked even vaguely cute and pet his head. It was less of him being poly, and more just being a bit of a little attention whore. He was like some kind of social animal that would die from a lack of attention. Huh, sun-bun was more and more of a perfect pet name.

“Yea and he’s mine. And we’re not open.” He said that a little more curtly than he would have liked, but Cris didn't seem to mind as she just laughed.

“Fair fair. I’m more of a one on one kind of gal anyway.” Another page turn. “So second down the list. hmmm…So Basil, can you introduce me to your friend Aubrey?”

The silence that followed must have been tinged with his anxiety because she seemed to catch onto it much too quickly. “Basil? Bud? Are you okay? I just asked you a question. Is something going on?”

“Um…No no I’m fine.” He managed to stammer. “It’s just…uh..” Man, where was Kel when you needed him. He didn't have the skill, or nerve to tell it like it is. So here he was, trying to figure out how to be the bearer of awful news. “Who do you think is dating Kel?”

“....one moment,” said she, in an oddly calm voice. Basil could hear her walking away from the phone. The sound that came after was one he was very familiar with. That being, screaming into a pillow like a lunatic. Ignoring the pang of nostalgia it gave him to hear someone else do it, he still felt bad for her. 

“Okay. I’m cool. I’m…Salty. But cool. Okay, plenty of other people in this book.” He heard some rather violent scratching out. 

“Cris. My lunch is most likely getting cold.” Also, he wanted an OUT from this conversation. This was too much for him. The responsibility of being the gay best friend was a pressure he wasn't sure he was ready for!

“Okay okay, one more. Um…Do you know Kim? I’ve only talked to her once or twice but she's cute. Maybe hook a girl up.” If the silence before was deafening, this silence was purely oppressive. Basil dare not say a word. “Basil? Basil are you there?”

“Yea uh…”

“Basil.” Her tone was a little more firm. “Basil. What's wrong.”

“Well….”

Linebreak

Angel jumped as a scream rang out from the house they were walking past, his mentor (now boyfriend) not budgeting an inch. After all, he was so cool, not even that howl of sorrow made him flinch. Although a rather bittersweet expression crossed his face. Hiding behind him, he slowly peaked out.

“Mav what was that?!”

“Well, Angel.” He said with a flip of his hair. “That's the oh-so-familiar sound of heartbreak.”

“Huh. Know from experience baker boy?” Angel grinned as Mav lit up. The only weak point that his teacher had was teasing him about his former love life. He loved Mav, but it was nice to be able to poke a bit of fun at his senior's old bad habits.

“Shut up.”

Chapter Text

Miss.Candice, in her infinite wisdom, had decided to put Vance down for coming in at the unholy hour of 6 AM. Why? Cause she was a sadistic boss who seemed to enjoy jerking his sleep schedule around by the throat like an abusive boyfriend. Sure, yesterday during a little bit of banter, he may have gone slightly too far, but her hair did look like she stuffed her head in a taffy machine.

She didn’t laugh, and neither did he as he dragged his ass into work. At least he would be done around lunchtime. What was there to do today? Well, there was the restock, making some more candy apples, starting the fudge base prep, he had plenty to do. But he was barely dragging his ass into work today as is. Unlocking the door to Othermart, and locking it behind him, he glanced longingly at the snack cakes before him.

But he passed them, for two reasons. One, he was trying to lay off the sugar. Laughable, he knew but having the employee discount had a bit of an effect on his waistline. After losing the 15 pounds he had rapidly gained in only a week working at the candy store, he was trying to make it a trend. Also, the store wasn’t open yet, and he didn’t want to lose this cushy(-ish) job. Even if his boss did like to wield what tiny bit of power like a spiked mace. Eh, she would get over it.

But as he went to begin his toil, a smell hit him. Well hitting him would be too violent a word. It drifted under his nose and tempted him to drift away from his tasks, for just a moment. It was a heavenly mix of freshly brewed coffee and baking bread. Perhaps he could bother his brothers in retail for a cup before he started.

Wandering over, the first one he saw was Bowen's sister, sweeping up. “Hey! Could you spare a poor poor retail worker some of your coffee? My soul is weary from the tasks ahead, but lo, I shall prevail if given that elixir of life! That panacea for a weary soul…”

Her eyes narrowed, then huffed and went back to sweeping. “Good morning Vance. Seems you're still teasing me about my old English phase huh?” She tried to play it off but there was a faint dusting on her cheeks.

“Hey. It was just one play, you didn’t have to take Macbeth off of the stage, but you did! And forsooth, you even posed with poor Yorick in your senior photo.” He laughed at the memory of seeing that skull in the school yearbook. She may be two years his senior, but he had plenty of interactions with her in high school. Enough to tease at least.

“And it was rad. Did you come over to mock me, or my love of the greatest playwright of all time?!” Oof he did not want to get into this debate. It could be fun to rile her up on the fact that by today's standards, the bard was okay at best. But that was not the purpose of his quest, and would not facilitate the acquisition of caffeine.

“Nah, cool your jets. I was just coming over for some coffee if you are kind enough to spare a cup.” She did not look amused with him. Her grin was downright unnerving.” 

“Sure. For a trade.”

“Shoot.”

“A five-pound gummy bear.” Vance just blanched at her. Candy? Why did it always come down to candy? Every event in his life was linked to that sweet sweet siren song of the white stuff. And not the nose candy kind. Well except that one time on a dare, but Pixi sticks BURN going up your nose.

“First of all, those things cost twenty bucks, even with my discount, second, how would I even buy one right now?”

She just grinned. “Silly Vance, I already know you have three of them.”

“In what, my ass?”

“Well no, you don’t swing that way. What I’m referring to is the bakery storage room.” Hee froze, eyes widening as she did her best old crone impression, preparing to launch into her machiavellian speech. “You didn’t think I wouldn't notice my brother sneaking bags from your store into our backroom? Or that you were handing them off over the counter at times? Oh, Vance…” She laughed, covering her mouth and posturing perfectly. “That’s adorable.”

“I know all about your little stash. I also know that you must be hiding it for a reason.” She tapped her chin, pondering condescendingly. “Is it that you are on a diet, and you told your mother that? Yet you still have a big old stash of candy. Or is it that you’re holding out on your sister. You know, the one that is extremely sweets crazy and vindictive. Oh, what would happen if someone dropped the dime on you.”

Vance sighed. He knew the grift she was playing at. “Okay fine I get it. But I get coffee access from now on.”

“Deal.” They shook on it, Vance grumbling all the while as she just beamed at him, gloating over him with aura alone. 

“Why do you even want it? You have all the sugar you want.”

“Well if you must know, It’s to bribe my girlfriend's little brother. Angel has been ruining any time I get to see her.” Vance’s eyes lit up as he smacked his hands together.

“Oh, you’re the reason Throne is in a good mood! Thank god, If I had to watch her get one more body pillow delivery I think she would just resign herself to crazy dog lady…” Vance became oh so aware of the look he was getting, and shrugged. “Look I’ve lived next to her long enough to know that you shouldn't be looking at the “female anatomy” book like a wine aunt while lounging in your yard tanning all summer. Three summers in a row.”

Daphne just blinked, and slowly stared off into space. “Vance am I dateing crazy?...”

“Yup. You know, if you wanted I could just get Angel to knock it off. I don’t know about Mav though. You have teased him violently every waking moment of his life, and you’re surprised he's turning it around on you?”

She groaned, sighing dramatically as she leaned against the bakery counter. “But it is the holy duty of an older sibling to tease their youngers into oblivion!”

“And the younger to annoy them. Kim invoked that plenty of times on me.” Vance enjoyed the look of dawning horror on her face as she realized something. She had been sowing for oh so long, and it was about time to reap. And reaping sucks.

“Oh god.”

“Ah, you figured it out.” He gave her a slap on the back, before heading back to go get his cup of coffee. "Good luck!"

Linebreak.

He was not getting to leave after lunch. The other part-timer had called in sick and left him holding the bag. He would have told Candice to can-deeze-nuts and dip, if not for the good reason she had for not being able to hold down the fort. That lady needed the dentist's appointment. So with no promise of nothing, just some begrudging respect for the crazy candy woman, he accepted.

Why did he do that?! It had been awful all day! People were stripping the shelves and loitering around all day. It had been a blazing day, and when word had gotten out about their new, homemade push pops, there had been a run on them. So now there were plastic tubes with stick residue all over the store, melted bits of ice and sticky sweet blue raspberry littering the aisles.

Hell, the rush would still be happening if he hadn’t closed super early today. It wasn’t that he was just trying to shirk his duty, but they had sold out of most of their stock, and the place was a wreck. What he was doing, was delaying the inevitable restock and clean-up that would take. He was doing that with lunch. By the dumpster behind the store

He was currently enjoying his deli-made sub and diet soda (he didn’t assume it was healthy, it just tasted better. Sue him.), and trying to ignore the slow-building dread in the back of his skull. Each bite of his cold-cut combo pushed him closer to the sticky wasteland of that pastel hellhole, so you could be sure he was taking his damn time. 

Nobody was having a worst day than him.

This fact was immediately proven wrong, as Bowen kicked the bakery back door down like the god damned kool-aid man. From the stormy expression on his face, this was going to be either sad or really, really funny.

“Why in the hell would anyone ever do this?!” Bowen slammed the large copper pot against the cinderblock wall. It didn’t ring out, it just let out a loud thud sound. Looking over, Vance squinted, then winced in sympathy. If there was something he knew way too much about, it was what happened if you let something sugary on the stovetop for too long. The blacked hell maw that had opened up in that pot was spilling out of the pot like the world's worst muffin. Vance also knew that stuff was harder than diamond. He shuddered at the thought of the one time the caramel vat was left unattended. It took hours!

“Oh I get my nice relaxing morning off, cause it’s Daphne's turn to open the shop, and what do I come back to? Oh, this dumb bitch broke into Vance’s candy stash and decided to use that giant weird gummy bear for some kind of CRIME AGAINST BREAD. And then what happens? My ho of a sister got distracted and left me with the dishes at the end of the day. As is our deal, BUT I HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AT” He smashed the pot against the wall, not even putting a dent in the blacked abyss currently squatting in the copper pot. “Cause she hid it, know that I wouldn't wanna do this shit! Or my mom’s gonna kill me.”

Vance then watched Bowen just scream and smash the pot repeatedly against the wall, burned mass of sugar chipping the wall, not the other way around. Yea he wasn’t going to get very far doing that. Although it was fun to watch, he was worried about the poor guy's blood pressure. 

“Buddy, I can help you if you’d like.” The catlike screech and eyes of pure fury would kill a weaker man. Vance was much too smug to die to such an attack, and Bowen was so shy a boy, the awareness that someone was watching him freak the fuck out, struck him directly into the heart. The roar of the lion soon turned into the squeak of a kitten. “Having a rough day bud?”

Linebreak

“God it smells awful.” Bowen gripped for the 7th time as Vance went to work. Considering they delt in caramel, he had dealt with the hell that was burned sugar. Heat, baking soda, and vinegar did the trick, over time, but it worked. He was right, it did smell like hot trash. 

Vance just shot him a look, pointed, but in jest. “Says the one who hid in a trash can for an hour.” Bowen sputtered and lit up, trying to hide behind the caramel apple he was currently snacking on.

“S-shut up. It was embarrassing.” Vance just laughed, still scrubbing.

“It’s okay. I get it, Kim used to be like that back in the day.” Bowen perked up after Vance had pointed her out, he remembered her coming to the bakery over the years. That meek little girl turned into a spitfire over the years. The kind that he and his sister enjoyed subtly nudging her to get a reaction. Watching her flip the displays in rage was the best.

“How does she do it?”

“I got no idea.” 

And Bowen, being the coward he was, when the conversation held out its arm to not plummed into the abyss of awkward silence, he just let it die. But it didn’t feel like it was unnatural. No, it felt rather comfortable, like they were both just simply enjoying the other's company.

Bowen did notice, however, that the shop was absolutely trashed. He wanted to hang out with Vance after, but it looks like he wasn’t going to be done anytime soon. He could go back home after Vance helps with the pot and hang out with his sister. He was averse to hard work, however…

Vance at least had the grace not to look too surprised as Bowen wheeled out the mop from the back.  Lending a helping hand would free him up to hang out sooner. And maybe the time it would take would help him build up the courage to ask if he wanted to see a movie.

“Hey, Bowen?”

Looking up, he had no idea why he felt so nervous looking at Vance. Well, he did know he was just stuffing that deep, deep down inside himself. Vance just smiled. “Thanks. I thought I was gonna get stuck here a few hours.”

Bowen did his best to return it without turning red. “No problem, it’s what friends do.”

Chapter Text

Basicillicia grinned as he made his way down to the depths of his castle. At least, he would have his pound of leaves. The basil nymph Barron had been having a slight problem in his pretty plant Provence. That being a thief. A very good one at that.

It wasn’t that things were being stolen, that was already bad, and send his head guard Aubrey into many loud tirades. No, it was that he chose the nobles with the highest security, the most lavish estates, and the loudest mouths. Which they used to sing their own praises to absurd degrees and the lesser of others. Thus he had only ever stolen one thing from each manor.

It was always some kind of heirloom, or small trinket, then sell it to a lowlife pawnbroker for a pence. This seemed foolish at first until its effects began to become evident. The only way that the pawnbroker would give up the heirloom, was to the one that it belonged to. So some of his most prissy nobles were being forced to go through the most dangerous part of town. Mingling with commoners who jeered at them and mocked, all to get it back from some excitable, overly friendly cactus man that didn’t have a mean bone in his body. (If you didn’t count the spines, but he didn’t have much a choice in that.)

His interrogation had been, strange, to say the least. Even seeing his duke standing before him didn’t intimidate him. No, Kel just seemed enthused to be experiencing something so exciting! Being interrogated in a dungeon for his deeds was number 387 on his bucket list, apparently. But even if he was unflappable, he was also not secretive.

He was all too eager to tell the duke that every once and a while, he would wake up to find his shop unlocked, and a note saying who owned it. There would be a little money that disappeared from his safe, but nothing so substantial that he would call the guard over it. He would never attempt to catch the person doing it because it was all in good fun, and all the exposure meant he was doing amazing business! However, he did have a clue.

A petal of a bone-white flower. That was the only single thing to go on for an entire month. Basilica, being the plant professional that he sometimes bragged about being, had identified it with ease. A bone-white tulip was the plant of the thief, and you would think they would have made it easy.

It did not. It turned out, white tulips were plain, and thus absurdly common. Such a plain and common flower they were, that they were not cherished in the slightest. Thus they never rose above their obvious station. That just made things all the harder. And that’s when Aubrey began to drink and get a little, unhinged.

But, her perseverance paid off, and a two-week steak out under Kel’s counter finally produced a perp. One that Basicillia was oh so excited to see. 

“At ease Aubrey.”

The gladiolus relaxed as she stood at ease, spear always in hand. She looked a little worse for wear, her mohawk of the sword flowers drooping to the side a bit, and the bags marred her pink skin and hazel eyes. “Easy for you to say, Sir, you didn't have to spend two weeks with the loudest cactus in all the kingdoms. I swear, he talked my ear off about paint for three hours yesterday. THREE. HOURS.”

He, however, knew her a bit better than that and took his opportunity to tease her. “An ordeal I’m sure. However, it is a bit strange.” He tapped his chin in mock thought. “Even in your off hours you frequented the shop, and perhaps even shared a meal or to with him? At, I don’t know, a bub right across the street from his residence?”

Her cheeks darkened, but like the professional she was, she didn’t crack under the duke's teasing. “I have no idea what you're on about.” She responded, cleaning a smudge off her spear

“Sure you don’t. Well, you’re dismissed. Go get some much-needed shuteye.” 

“Sir, I should interrogate-”

“Aubrey, not as your Baron but as your friend, get some sleep.

“I can sleep when you're dead.”

“That's not how that saying goes”

“I know what I said”

“Cap- No, Aubrey. It’s an order, go back to your quarters. I can deal with this thief.”

There was a moment of hesitation, but she shot off a quick salute, and then stormed off, either to go get some sleep or to go see that cactus again. Most likely the latter. Basil allowed himself a giggle at her expense. His matchmaker status continued to go unmatched. So far he had a 70% success rate.

He had promised her when they were children he would help her find someone, someday. He couldn't simply let this opportunity slide now could he. So perhaps he left a dinner reservation in her quarters, one he also gave to a certain pawnbroker.  It was oh so fun playing matchmaker for his subjects. Even better for someone to maybe ease some of her wildflower tendencies.

Before he went in, he took out a pocket mirror and preened a little bit. He looked regal, his crown, made after his namesake, wasn't askew. Why was he so nervous? He didn't need to impress some criminal, some common flower.

Oh, who was he kidding? He was absolutely fascinated with this criminal. Even Bascillicia had to admit that his nobles tended to be snobbish pricks. But love didn't make a kingdom go round, money did. So he had to put up with a decent portion of it to keep things running smoothly. Better to tax some fop than some of the more downtrodden in his province.

That's what fascinated him so much, however, despite being a common flower, and in need of money most likely, he had no interest in it! No, he used his absurd skill, ones that would put his spymaster to shame and tinge him green with envy, seemingly just out of spite. His motives were unknown, and he was eager to explore exactly what they were.

Stepping into the dim room, he saw him. His shirt had been removed, to prevent him from hiding anything, according to Aubrey. But the bruises tended more to the theory she had roughed him up a bit. The tall slender man was currently slumped against the wall, asleep. But if the shackles keeping his head brought him any discomfort, it did not show a bit. What did show was his slender, well-toned frame? Perfect pale skin interrupted with a nick or scar that showed proof of hard-living, along with the slowly darkening purple splotches.

When he looked up, he could feel his own heart almost stopping. One eye had a flower in its place, a tulip in bloom, the other was a smoldering brown ember that saw right through him. Good lord, he was handsome. But just when he was about to stuff that thought down, and begin asking questions, another voice rang out in the small cell.

“What in the nine hells did I just walk into?” And when he saw that shadowy reflection of himself, it broke. Not just the thin pane of immersion that all dream states relied on, no, he was suddenly self-aware and knew all too well this was just a dream. A fantasy his brain created.

“You have some strange dreams, Basil.”

“IT’S NOT STRANGE.” He stomped his foot, turning on his heels to glare daggers at his shade. “It’s a dream, it’s not like I wrote out this”

“I don’t know about that. You have an entire world planned out and everything. Also, having a literal built-in slave race is a bit suss.”

“I do not!” He huffed, turning his nose as Stranger raised a single brow.

“Okay. Wonder what Hero is doing in this place.”

“Oh that's easy, the Nobel rose, he did spurn his parent’s high expectations and ran away. Currently, he has been taken in by the lovely Aloe Vera, who is slowly weening him back to health after he left himself out in the rain.” Basil babbled, not realizing that he was just proving Stranger's point. Stranger, who knew that this was blackmail gold, prodded him to continue.

“Oh he just left himself exposed to the elements? Why would a nobleman such as himself leave himself to rot for no reason?”

“Oh that's simple, besides his parents being oh so controlling, His brother was disowned and cast out of high society for not being enough like him. Stricken by grief as he was by the loss of his lily of the valley, he didn't do much to help his cactus brother. But with hindsight, he convinced himself he was an awful person and-” Basil stopped, realizing how much he had let his mouth run.

“Basil.” Basil just stared into the middle distance. Oh god, what did he do? He could hear the smug coming off of the shadow. “Baaaasill.” Do not look, don’t give him the satisfaction! “Basil have you been writing trashy slashfic novels about your original setting, using your friends.”

“No?”

“Quick what is Kim in this universe.”

“A fern because they were around when the dinos DAMN IT-”

“HA! Oh my god, you are! This is the dorkiest shit I’ve ever seen!” He paused. “Also a touch creepy.”

“It’s not creepy!” Basil protested, gesturing around him. “I just use the people I know to help create a story! They're like a helpful little stand-in for archetypes.”

“Then why is Sunny shirtless, wearing blush and body glitter. Also Sunny does not have a 6 pack.” Stranger squinted, then shot him a flat look. “And leather pants? As a thief.”

“Leather is dark. It’ll blend in.”

“Considering how much of his midriff he would be showing even with a shirt, I doubt that.”

“Completely practical!”

“If he was a striper maybe.”

“This isn’t porn! This is a dungeon, he was half-striped to be interrogated and tortured. Not by me of course, but by Aubrey” He added at the last second, face flush. “Perhaps I’d make sure he would talk, but not in a way like that.”

“Okay. First off, most of the “Torture” stuff in here is stuff I bet I could find in your search history. Second, the weird Sunny stand-in is sparkling almost to the level of a Twilight vampire. Thirdly, can you look at me dead in the eyes, and tell me you weren't shipping your friends?”

Basil did his best to meet the hollow sockets of his reflection but found it rather hard. “To be fair this started as a writing assignment about a book series I liked, and then it got out of hand…a touch.”

“Wait did you write Kel and Aubrey before they got together or after?”

“I’m not answering that.” Stranger huffed. Aw, this was so much fun! But he was just going to clam up if he didn't knock him off-kilter. All this did feel familiar though. WAIT.

“Wait, is this FANFICTION for that fantasy flowers book you like so much?” Basil meekly nodded. “Oh my god, you wrote self insert fanfiction featuring all of your little friends.”

“What kind of nerd write’s fan-” he was interrupted, by a rather swift slap to the back of the head. “What the?” He looked around, the fake sunny was still just hanging on the wall, and Basil was in front of him. He rubbed the back of his head. Weird, he must have pissed someone off. Now his entire train of thought was off. As if put there by some awful deity, Stranger was assaulted with a thought.

“Wait did you-”

“No, I don’t write about my friends having sex.” He shuddered at the mere thought.”To be honest I didn’t think I had a lustful bone in my body till I met Sunny again.”

“So you’re Sunnysexual?”

“If you ever say that again I will get it’s a small world stuck in my head again.” Basil did his best attempt at a glower that Stranger had seen yet. All that practice glaring in the mirror was finally paying off.

“Okay okay yeesh.” Stranger held up his ethereal palms. “Was just making a joke. A goof, if you will”

“Why are you even here anyway?

“I…don’t know? I’ve never been in your dreamscape before.” Basil just shot him a confused look. Stranger just sighed. Seems like he didn't have any idea what was going on. Drat.

“Look, somehow, your brain, has a few connections to Sunny’s. At least in the mental sense. In the physical, they're different.” He paused. “As far as I could tell”

“Excuse me?!”

“That's beside the point. The point you should focus on, is waking up. I got some stuff to figure out!” With that, Stranger pulled a lever Basil was positive wasn't there before, and he was falling and falling. “Bye! You won’t remember this anyway!”

“AH!” Basil shot up, cold sweat drenching his body. After managing to force his heart rate down, he groaned, covering his face. For once, he remembered everything that happened in his dream. Oh god, he wanted to crawl into a hole and die. But the only hold they currently had was the start of the sidewalk, and his corpse would be barely six inches below the soil. At least the cats would eat well.

Once he had gotten over his little bout of self-pity and embarrassment, he wondered what Stranger meant by their minds being linked. He thought maybe it was because they were so close, but the way his inflection sounded, maybe that wasn’t the best thing. Why would it be a bad thing?

These thoughts were interrupted by the smell of something amazing. If he strained his ears he could hear the sound of something sizzling and pop in his kitchen. Despite the clock reading three-thirty, he could feel his own stomach grumble. A midnight snack didn’t sound like the worst thing.

He could have guessed it was Sunny from the lack of a warm body in his bed, but he didn’t expect for it to be Sunny when he got out there. Maybe Polly could have been making late-night tapas again. But no, there was his gremlin, in a cat onesie, frying away with chopsticks. Liar, he said he didn’t like it

Basil sat at the kitchen table as he watched his boyfriend at work. His biddy was swaying to some unheard tune as he hummed. He would pluck a piece of cauliflower from the collider in the sink, dunk it in a bowl of the batter once or twice, then gently put it into the frying oil. Every once and a while he toyed with something still frying, or pulled out a piece of golden brown veggie goodness and placed it on a paper towel-lined plate. From the growing pile, he had managed to get this down to a science. God how could he get more attractive.

“Woke up hungry?” Basil made his presence known, slowly putting his hands on Sunny’s narrow waist as he put his head on top of Sunny’s. He could feel him tense, but he slowly relaxed when he realized who it was.

“Mhmm.”

“You should have eaten dinner.”

“Shush.” Basil just chuckled and watched his boyfriend go to work. Knowing Sunny, he was making more than he could eat at a time for easy leftovers. If there was one thing Sunny was good at, it was preparing to be lazy later. 

“Why not chicken?”

“Want you to have some.”

“Awww…your sweet.” He nuzzled his neck, loving the feeling of Sunny shuddering. “How can I help?”

“Buffalo sauce.”

“Sunny, buffalo sauce is just red hot and butter. All you need to do to make it good is add less butter.”

“Slander, there is never enough butter. You just make it better.”

“suuuuure.”

They would return to bed happy and full soon enough, with another day of work ahead of them. But neither of them knew or cared about the looming specter of construction. For this small little moment, they were seeing a glimpse at the future domestic life they both hoped for. And they weren't in the mood to spoil the moment

Chapter Text

Kel was exhausted. No, he was more than that, he was… Damn, he wishes Kim was around like now. She was like that tyrannosaurus book, that had all the same words but different in it. Thyesaurous? Thyserus? Thesaurus? Thesaurus! Yea that thing. Either way, he was pooped.

Basketball camp was always a blast! Until it wasn’t. The day when it wasn’t was Wednesday. That was cardio day. It wasn’t that he minded playing basketball, no he could do that all day. But he didn't like playing after being made to run for three hours. No, that wasn’t correct, everyone on his team was made to run until they dropped into gasping heaps. It just so happened that Kel lasted the longest.

This also meant that he had to play with the least amount of energy left in him, on legs that burned. He was pretty sure, even in his admittedly limited purview of sports medicine, that this was going to get someone hurt. But he wasn’t going to say anything. No way in hell he would risk his spot on varsity because he raised a stink about it. He’d just grin and take it, and make sure his teammates didn’t get too hurt.

They had created a sort of a racket to get some needed rest between drills and practice games. Kel would run for as long as he could, dragging it out and giving the boys more time to rest and rehydrate before off they went again. Sure that made him have a rougher time, but he could handle everything with lunch and the quick 10 he was given. Literally taking one for the team.

“Heh. That's a good one.” He said to himself, kicking a can as he made his way back homewards with basketball in hand and gear on his back. The can was his, and he’d pick it up later, it just helped him spend the hour walking back. His parents used to pick him up, but he told them not to after Hero came home.

He still had no idea what was going on really. Apparently his brother and his parents were fighting about something. If you told him before this Summer that Hero, of all people, would get in a spat with the folks, he would have asked when you got that concussion.

Whatever had gone down, it was major, and Kel was in the middle of it. Hero was acting like a total sap whenever they called or he visited. (Kel had to tell him more than once to go on a date with miss Polly instead of watching cartoons with him and Sally.) And his folks were on a whole different level.

For one, his father was talking with him a lot more. His dad had always sorta been a bit like Sunny. Lost in his own little world, just wandering about. He had taken more of an interest and even asked where his games were going to be. Kel loved it, but something was off about it. His father had this hue of wistfulness he couldn't recognize. Like he had missed something important and was looking back.

His mother? Oof that was a whole other bag of worms. Wait, bag? Container? Can of worms. That's how it goes! Why was it a can of worms? Imagine trying to have a cold one with the boys and you pop it open only to find a bunch of living spaget.

God, he was stalling on even thinking about it. She hadn't been giving him a hard time anymore, but she seemed, overly intense? The normal car ride home became sweltering, oppressive even... He would try to talk to her, but she just gave quiet, curt responses back.

Thus why he was walking now. He didn't need all that after working out all day! All he wanted was to spend some time with his best little sis before going to see Aubs and Kim. He had wanted to tell them about what was going on at home but maybe that wasn't the best idea. Considering his girlfriends, they would storm his house and demand answers. With how conservative his mother could be, he doubted that finding out he's poly would do him any favors right now.

“Wow, I get tall!” Kel blink, being broken out of his own, rather light version of angst by an excited voice. Looking down, he saw, well, himself. He was wearing that one set of PJs he always wore to sleepovers at Sunny’s. The ones that he always wore because he refused any others. The ones that went “missing” when they began to get a little threadbare. Mini-Kel looked like he was fit to vibrate through the ground. “I must be taller than Hero now!” He grinned smugly. “I shall become the strongest brother!”

“Sorry mini-me, we are the strongest brother-”

“I knew it!”

“But me and Hero are the same height. At least for right now. And even then, it's not harder to be stronger than Hero, he's a nerd!” He paused, thinking. "Maybe next year"

“Awwwww damn it.”

“Life isn’t fair to us Kel’s.”

They lapsed into a pause, Kel kicking his can down the empty road, thanking the ADHD gods for some extra stimulation, even if this was a bit weird. Or a whole lot of weird, Small Kel was the first one to speak.

“You are freaking out a lot less than I was told.” Small Kel said, attempting to kick the can himself. Only to huff as his foot went clear through the thing. A few more tries and he just huffed angrily. Kel could swear he was glowing red. He gave it a good punt down the street as a kid he cheered.

“Why would I freak out. I mean, I daydream all the time.”

“I’m not a daydream!” He looked up, smugly ”I’m a normal dream person! But Omori said most likely you’d be freaking out”

“Who’s Omori?” Mini Kel’s expression froze, before slowly facepalming.

“I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody he's still around!” Mini-Kel groaned, flopping to the ground dramatically. “I will be decimated, for sure.” He said, putting his arm over his eyes.

“Huh? Why are you upset? I didn’t hear any name at all.” Kel said slowly and clearly, giving his best wink to his younger self. His younger self, pulling down his arm and giving him a flat look.

“You just heard me.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes, you di- OHHHH!” He hopped up. Was he always this slow as a kid? To be fair, he was pretty slow now. “I get you. Smart, old me.”

“Hey!” Kel’s face scrunched, displeasure apparent “I’m not old! I’m only 17. I got my whole life ahead of me!” He kicked the can harder, suddenly feeling every ache in his body more acutely. God damn it, now he felt old.”

“Nuh-uh!” He stuck out his tongue at his older self. “ You’re older than Hero! Soon you’ll be retiring grandpa!”

That got a much-needed laugh out of Kel. “If I’m about to retire, then Hero must have turned to dust! He turned 21 not too long ago. He can drink the grain juice now!” He added, remembering it's what his dad used to call the hard stuff.

“Oh my god, he’s so old! I guess I can’t ask you how the gain juice tastes huh? The stuff always looked good.” He laughed as his younger self huffed.

“Trust me, it isn’t good.” Kel just waved off the curious look he got in response. Let’s not encourage himself, he guessed, to start underage drinking.

After that they kept walking, the quiet was only broken up by the hum of the bugs in the late afternoon and the clang each time he punted his Orange Joe can down the road. Stimulation helped the walk seem less long.

“Hey.” He looked over to his smaller half, who looked bashful. That wasn’t a look he was ready for. “What's going on with Mom and Dad these days?” He was fidgeting with his fingers, looking down. Kel felt his easy-going grin slowly downturn at this. “They must be proud of you now that you hit varsity!” Kel didn’t answer. “Right?”

“You’d think that.” Kel decided he needed to sit for a moment. “You really would.”

Kel sat on the curb, groaning a bit as his legs protested this action. He dug his water bottle out of his haphazardly stuffed bag and drained it. He sat for a moment, collecting his jumbled thoughts. He didn't want to do this today, but if he knew himself, he wouldn't let it go until he got an answer. “Our parents love us. Just not as much.”

“Sure Dad is starting to come around, but who knows how long that will last? Could be a phase with him.”

“Like that weird model trainset, he had once?” His young ghost asked. This got a more bitter laugh out of his older self.

“No that’s because we wrecked it. That's what our parents think of us, at the very heart of things. They think we’re a happy, but empty-headed dunce. A dud.”

“Why?”

“Honestly. When I was your age, I thought it was that I was a failure. That I just screwed up everything, even mourning Mari’s death! That no matter my intention, I was a screw-up. I mean, why couldn't I be like my brother?!” He added a parody of his mother's tone to his voice at the end.

“Oh.”

“Hey, Mini-me. Let me finish.” He drained the last of his bottle and stuffed it back into his bag. “I thought that. But it isn’t true.”

“It’s not?”

“Hell no, it isn’t. Nothing we did was wrong. Nobody can mourn incorrectly, that's the dumbest thing anyone’s ever said!” He didn't like feeling angry. It felt like poison seeping through his veins to even think about it. But Aubrey was right in telling him feigning happiness was just letting it fester inside of him. He was allowed not to be okay with things, and he was allowed not to just be a complaint less middle child.

“What they didn’t like is that I wasn't like Hero. But you can’t be just like another person, hell, even they aren't like him! They just think anxiety to fail at everything and charm makes perfection. No, it just makes a brother who needs therapy as much as I do.”

“But can’t we try to?” The ghost kicked his feet sullenly. “Maybe then they’ll care…”

Kel attempted to hug his younger self but just found himself falling through him and into the dirt. ‘Oh…for a second I forgot you were a hallucination.”

“I’m not a hallicuatwhatsit! I’m a dream.” He looked at Kel like he was a moron. "It's different!"

“Whatever you are…” He sat back up, putting his hand on top of the youngers. “They care less about you than Hero. That's not okay for them to do. But what Is okay, is being yourself! No matter what they think..”

“It is?” Dream Kel asked with a sniff, trying to snuff out anything that wasn’t his goofy smile.

“Of course it is! You shouldn't have to be someone else for the benefit of anyone! You shouldn't care if someone doesn't like you for you!”

“Who even likes us? Aubrey calls us loud and annoying…” he sulked, but that sulk didn’t last for very long. He grew a big angry as his older half laughed, falling over, rolling in the patchy grass by the road. “What's so funny?! It’s true! She may be right.”

“Oh god, I needed that today. Sorry.” Kel said, wiping away his hysterical tears. He was an oblivious kid, for sure. “Well, Aubrey says that because she likes you.”

“WAIT WHAT?! Ewwwww she's a girl though!”

Kel had to hold himself together as he watched his younger self scrunch up his face and shudder. Disgust clear in his features. Kel knew that it was mostly performative. Looking back, there was a reason he liked to pull on Aubrey’s hair. “Mhmm. In fact kiddo, you have two girlfriends. Aubrey and Kim?”

“The dino girl?” Kel nodded, assuming he was referring to an obsession with them, but the next words proved him rather literal. “Well, she's cooler than Aubrey! She has scales and sharp teeth and stuff?”

“Was I a scalie?”

“What's that?”

“Don’t worry about it” he was not going to give his younger self that kind of forbidden fruit. Who knows what kind of timeline shenanigans that would cause. “What I was trying to say is that a lot of people care about you, for you! Basil, Sunny, even Hero like you for you! Sure our folk aren’t exactly nice about it, but if they don’t care…so what?!”

“Yea, who cares if they don’t like what I'm doing, they don’t care about half the things I do!” It was like something clicked, and this weight he was carrying around was eased. It would never be lifted, scars like that ran deep, but he could begin to work on it.

“But I got a whole bunch of people that chose to love me, unconditionally. I have a fantastic brother that goes to bat for me, good friends, a lovely set of girlfriends! Why should I care that some jerks decided I'm not enough like someone else?”

"I love him, but I'm not Hero. I'm not that charming, and I'm not as smart, but I don't wanna be him. He has all these expectations and stresses he put on himself that I would rather DIE than deal with! Why can't I just be happy being myself? I'm Kel and Hero is Hero. Nothing wrong with it."

He looked to his side, but nothing was there. No little version of him glowing with excitement. It was almost disappointing. Then again, should he be worried about seeing things? Nah, Hero would blow a gasket. He got back up, dusting himself off. His grin felt more genuine than it had in a while.

“Kiki!” As soon as he stepped in the door, a toddler projectile latched to his legs. “Ewww you smelly!”

Kel just laughed as he shoved his equipment in the mud closet. He could get stuff washed later. Sally was more important than some dirty clothes. “I knew letting you watch that movie was a bad idea.” He said jokingly, hefting her up as she giggled. “Do I look like a witch to you?”

“No, witches are pretty.” Ough! Roasted by a three-year-old. He put on a face of mock hurt as she giggled even harder. “Aub is one! And Kimmey!”

“Mhmm, they cast a spell on me alright. How about a snack kiddo?” He was starving and giving a growing girl a small snack was the least a brother could do.

“Cookie!” She already put her best-begging face on. To be fair, they currently had a cookie jar stuffed to the brim with Hero’s amazing cookies. He would beg too if his mother didn’t rule over them with an iron fist to make them last longer. She wouldn't miss just one.

“Will you eat some fruit if I get you one?”

“Ye”

“Well then.” He held up his hand to her as he held her on his hip. “Gimmie five to seal the deal SalSal.”

“You silly.” She said, giggling away as she gave his palm a meager slap. A little time in the kitchen and they were both sat down, Kel eating a sandwich and Sally nibbling on her apple slices. Fruit before cookie after all.

He was just spacing out when he realized she was staring. Not at the cookie that was waiting for her after she finished her fruit and milk, but at his can. “Heh, you want some?”

“Ye!” That was a surprise! He would have thought that Hero would have indoctrinated her against the best soft drink in existence already!

He slid it over, watching amused as she struggled to lift the can a bit before taking a sip. He laughed again at the way her face screwed up, her lips pursing. “Don’t like it?” And he went to take it back, but sally shook her head, taking another sip.

“Different. But good! Like….hmm” the toddler went deep into thought as Kel let her ponder. Honestly, he was on cloud nine as he cleaned up the plates, dumping them into the sink as he gave her the cookie on a napkin. “Like Kiki!”

Sally was a little confused when suddenly she was swept up into her brother's strong arms. But who cares? Hugs were more important, so she returned it, trying to wrap her stubby arms around her big brother.

“I love you, Sally.” God what a day, he was almost crying from that. Maybe Aubrey was right. He was affection starved, like a dog eager for pats. From just that he felt like he could take on the world.

“I love Kiki." She pulled away, grinning widely at him. "After my cookie, can we play?”

“I ‘d love to.”

Chapter Text

Polly huffed as she cracked the door open. Othermart was a madhouse, for some reason today! She swore a fight nearly broke out in the seafood section just because of the sale alone. The store was famous for rarely having any deals, being the only game in town, but when it did, this always happened. It was like all the stay-at-home wives decided the grocery store was going to be the place to let out their pent-up aggression. A grocery store Thunderdome, if you would.

She was thankful Basil rarely ate meat, and in this town, that was a rarity. So a lot of the specialty foods that he liked so much were untouched, and for a steal as well! However, they were also feeding the rotating group of teens that were aiding with the park restoration. So meat was on the menu, and she nearly got a black eye-getting it. Kel’s mother had some kind of killer instinct, considering how fast she moved. Then again, if Polly had to feed Kel every day, she’d want a good price too.

What she didn't expect was someone to be in the house. But there was Sunny, peeling carrots. He was looking a little worse for wear, in that he looked like a drowned rat. His hair was matted down with sweat, and his shirt was nearly see-through. She didn't like the way he was swaying in his chair at the kitchen table. Or that he was peeling carrots with the sharpest knife in the house in rapid fashion.

“Sunny? What are you doing back already?” She checked the clock, it was a little before 11. Normally he rolled in at half passed to start cooking lunch. But he didn’t look this bad normally. 

“Passed out” he mumbled, cutting the carrot into rounds before picking up the next washed one. “Digging is hard. Digging in rectangles is harder.”

“Wait, so let me get this straight.” She sat her bags on the counter, turning back to him. “You passed out while doing hard work. So they sent you back to the house, on your own. And you think the first thing that you should do is wield a knife?” She put her hands on her hips, trying to level her most motherly glare at him. She would have to have words with whoever sent him off.

“Mhmm.” He continued chopping, unphased. “Was too hot. Aubrey said to head back and try and cool off.”

“Basil of all people let you come back unsupervised?” This was surprising, she had thought of him as a bit more protective of the thing teen.

“No. He didn’t know.” He answered back, eyes bleary and his head drooping.

“Excuse me?”

“Aubrey told me to go without telling him. Something about him fussing over me and not getting any work done.” He was always a little blunt, but this was almost comical. He just threw his friend right under the bus without a second thought. He must be out of it.

“Oh, I see how it is.” This wouldn't stand. The boy was clearly suffering from heat exhaustion. A mild case, if his skinny ass was still moving around. “What are you making for lunch?”

‘Veggie stir fry. Need to cut the onions after this and peel the garlic.” He kept going, finishing off the last of the carrots. Sweeping the scraps into the paper bag that used to put stuff that would be composted later.

“The hell you are.” she placed something cold on the back of his neck. She enjoyed the way he yelped, shooting up in his chair. It also served as an easy way to make it so she could snatch away the knife. 

“What are you are going to do-” She handed him a sports drink and an apple. “Is eat and drink that, then take a quick, cold shower.”

“But-”

“Do I look like I’m a pushover?”

“Huh? No!” He shook his head violently, not wanting to offend Basil's mother. Well, adoptive mother. He had hardly been able to interact with her so far. The last thing he wanted to do was make a bad impression.

“Then get stepping kiddo!” she said, gesturing at him with the knife. “I’ll get everything ready. Your gonna do fried soba with it, right?” He nodded dumbly. “Well, what are you standing around looking dumb for?” And he was off. She waited until she heard the shower running before she started to laugh, chopping away at the onions. “Oh my god, those two are made for each other.”

Linebreak.

“This is an affront against God,” Sunny said, staring at the device that was before him. He was meant to use this?!

“You said you wanted stir fry, this is what we have. We don't even have a gas range.” Polly didn’t understand why he looked so disgusted by the electric wok. “This is what we got.”

Sunny, looking a lot better, in a change of fresh clothes, groaned. This was not fine, he couldn't even properly flip the thing! But oh well, it's the best he had, might as well do it in batches. “This is some white people stuff…” he muttered, tossing in the veggies first as he took the spatula from Polly.

“I’m not white Sunny…”

“Your cooking could have fooled me.”

This would have been more offensive to her if it wasn't just obvious snark coming out of the teen. Even Polly would admit, even with her Latino heritage, she was slightly vanilla. She couldn't handle the heat like the rest of her family could. Besides, she cooked for Basil, and that boy thought Texas Pete was hot as the surface of the sun.

“Oh ha. Ha. Ha. I didn't see you complaining about my cooking when we had steak kabobs a few nights ago.” She said, giving him a poke as she whisked together the sauce.

“Due to my weakness for steak.” He tasted the sauce when she offered it on a small spoon. He thought for a moment. “Little more MSG, then it's perfect. Maybe some red pepper.” He watched as she added it in, then he gave it another sampling. “Perfect.”

Polly, trusting his judgment, went in to give it a try as well. “Mmm! God, I swear MSG is a miracle flavoring. It just makes stuff.” Sunny nodded with a grin. “Too bad that the flavoring got demonized because a doctor submitted a joke paper that people latched onto in a fit of racist hysteria.”

Sunny just stared at her. She shrugged in response. “It's the entire reason why people are worried about it. I did a paper on it. A lot of people are spooked over what amounts to Kelp salt.”

“Figures.” Sunny muttered as he did his best to keep the veggies moving, adding in the noodles and sauce. The heat should thicken it properly. ‘Could you get the frozen peas, please? Kel wanted one without.”

“He’s helping out today?” She asked, rummaging around in the freezer to find the little green demon orbs. She knew she was a grown-ass adult, but she hated them with a passion. It wasn’t the taste that she hated. It was the awful texture of push and bean that just made her gorge rise. But she would pick around them.

“Yea, he has the day off. Although he whines, he's happy to hang around with Aubrey and the gang. Even Vance is helping out.” With deft skill, he put the Wok’s contents on the plate with a wet slap. Handing it off to Polly to put in the oven to keep warm. It would stay hot until they arrived.

“Huh.” She handed off the peas and watched Sunny go to work. The silence was oddly comfortable. Polly never liked the quiet that much, growing up in a crowded house would do that to you. But Sunny had some kind of ability to make it almost pleasant. 

But a thought popped into her head, a devious one at that. She was a mother after all, and she had access to Basil’s significant other. Unrestricted access. Oh, this could be fun.

“So Sunny.” He looked up, quirking a brow. “I’ve noticed that the cot I set up in Basil’s room is looking a bit unused.” Sunny froze a bit, before looking back to the Wok. “Where have you been sleeping exactly?”

She watched the red creep up his neck and slowly cover his ears. Oh god is this what her father felt mad dogging her previous boyfriends? No wonder he did it, this was as close to crack as she could get in her life!

“In his bed.” He blurted out, putting the next portion on a plate, handing it off. “We haven’t done anything though.” He added quickly, almost as an afterthought.

She gave him some rather heavy side-eye as he put the veggies back on to fry, along with some more oil. “Suuure. I trust the word of a teenage boy. A hormonal being of nearly pure Id that he doesn't get around to any hanky panky in a dark room, by themselves, with the door shut.”

“It sounds worse than it is?” He ended that statement with a question, and the blush only seemed to grow in intensity.

“Oh really, you’re doing a pretty good tomato impression for someone who says nothing happened.”

“First of all, I’m pale. I blush easy and hard.” He said with a roll of his eyes and the boyish sass that Basil had told her he was known for but had never been at the business end of it. It was refreshing honestly. “Second, his mother is teasing me about what things I do with her son. What kind of sociopath would I be if I just didn’t react at all.”

“One dating my son.”

“You are not funny.”

“Ouch. Bit rude Sunny.”

“Anyway!” He stated, shooting her a look as he gestured with his spatula. “No, we haven’t done anything past kissing. And even then that's-” he blushed, murmuring something under his breath before continuing. ‘A new thing.”

“A new thing. You’re telling me, that he spent nearly three weeks at your home, unsupervised, and you two haven't done more than kiss up until recently.”

“Yes.”

Polly propped herself on her elbows, leaning down to get on eye level with the “Cheese goblin” as Basil called him on occasion. “Why not try and tell me a more convincing lie. Like the moon is made of cheese or the earth is flat. Feels like you would have a better chance of convincing me.”

Sunny just glared at her cat-like expression. “It doesn't matter if you believe me or not.” He went back to his cooking. “Besides, neither of us are ready for that yet.”

“Oh?”

“Oh shut up. I’m taking my cues from Basil. When he’s ready to take a step up, I’m willing when he's ready? Besides, what could you even do about it.”

Polly’s grin froze, looking a bit more fake as Sunny smirked at her. Oh, she thought it was fun to embarrass him eh? Well, two could play at that game. “Excuse me?” Polly managed to respond, something in her eyes warning Sunny he shouldn't continue, but it was too funny not to.

“You heard me.” He started up the last batch as he put the plate down for Polly to put away, ‘Even if I was blowing Basil’s back out every night in the most deprived way YOU could imagine, you couldn't do a damn thing about it. To you? I’m untouchable.“ Man, he was going to have a frankly massive anxiety attack about this stuff later. But he had endless dedication when it came to fucking with people.

“How do you figure that, Sunny?” She was grinning wider now, but it was a fragile thing. The kind your mother would give you before dragging your ass back to the house and beating your ass with a sandal for embarrassing her at Sunday brunch. Well, he had already dug his grave, might as well try to make it to hell while he was at it.

“Well first off. If you did kick me out, you would piss off my mother.” He shrugged as he plated the last of the stir fry, placed it in the oven, and shut it. They would be back any time now. “You would think that she would chew me out, but no. She was beaming when we had a bit of a fun underage drinking time at the lake because I was doing something teenagerish.”

“Excuse me what?!” Oh shit, she didn’t know about that?

“The baker twins were there. It was fine. Anyway, what you should be worried about with her is that if you harm a hair on my head, most likely she would murder you.”

Polly was about to interject, but after a bit of thought, no, Ms. Suzuki would do that to her in a heartbeat. She was fiercely protective, and also, a little bit crazy. Maybe it ran in the family. Sunny just continued nonetheless.

“Second, it would upset Basil, and you and I both know that if he looked at us with a trembling lip and watery eyes, we would cave instantly.” He moved the wok to the sink now, making sure to unplug the thing before removing the cord and turning on the cold tap. “Seriously, if Basil walked up with a wobbling voice and asked you to commit eco-terrorism, we would both do it in a heartbeat.”

He didn't even bother to give Polly time to pretend to protest that last point. All knew she was toothless when it came to getting Basil to do anything he didn't want to do. Thankfully, Basil was very agreeable, but he could go full-on Bambi on you if he needed to.

“And thirdly, I could sabotage your relationship with Hero with a few sentences.” Sunny shot her a look while she remained in her previous pose, smugness turned to jaw-dropping silence. He decided to finish his masterstroke. He didn't take the implied threat very kindly. He loved Basil after all. “Polly, Mari was my sister and Hero’s first love. Do you have any idea how easy it would be to just walk up to Hero, Imply that you’re being less than kind, and you’d be cut off in an instant?” He snapped. “I could do it like that.”

He turned around, scrubbing bits of burned sauce and veg from the pot. “I don’t like to pull that kind of stuff, but I love Basil more than I love myself or most things. I want him to be happy, and loved, so if he wants to move to the next stage, we will. We’re very nearly adults!” He huffed. “Not like you have to worry, once he brushed his hands on my thigh and blubbered about molesting me for half an hour.”

He didn't bother to look back as he heard her get up. Maybe he went a bit too far? It started as a way to get back at her but it got a touch intense. She wasn’t that mad right? She slowly put her hands on his shoulders as he felt dread worm it's way down his back. 

“Sunny?”

“Yes?” God damn it why did his voice crack now of all times? Well, besides the fact that he was fucking terrified. All that bravado went out the window with a physical aspect. Polly was Yoked after all.

“I’m so PROUD OF YOU!” She said as she grabbed him into a tight hug and swung him around. Sunny would have been relieved if he could breathe. And if the room stopped spinning as she sat him back down.

“I’m so confused…”

“Oh sweetie, I don’t really care what you two get up to. I was a teenager once as well. “ She grinned saucily, causing that blush to break out yet again. “But my sweet boy tends to be a bit of a pushover. He needs someone that can help him gain a little confidence…or…well..” She trailed off, looking at the smaller teen.

“Someone who won’t hesitate to tell people off in his stead?”

“Correct! I put a little pressure on you and you hit back like a ton of bricks!” She grinned, pinching him on the cheek. “I bet you'd hide a body for him.”

“Only fair, he did it for me once.” Sunny froze, eyes widening as he realized what just slipped out of his mouth. Did Polly know? What if she did and hated him for it? However, his what-ifs were cut off by her laughing hard, bending over.

“Oh my! That’s a bit darker than I’d expect coming out of you!” But before he could ask what she meant, the front door was kicked in.

“Rev up those fryers, cause I’m hungry!” Yelled Kel, whose girlfriend trailed right behind looking like she wanted to die.

“Kel, Quoting Spongebob isn’t funny.”

“That sounds like a whole lot ho-” He was silenced with a firm smack to the back of his head, and what members of the hooligang howled at his expense. He couldn't ask her now. Damn,

Polly just shot him a wink as she started to set the table, and Sunny grabbed the food out of the oven as everyone began to pile in. He didn’t even see Basil sneak in, he just felt the kiss on his cheek.

“Hey, sunflower. Where did you go?” He whispered, hugging him from behind as he set the last plate down. He tried to ignore the wolf whistles coming from Kim and Vance, grinning like sharks. “Aubrey said you went back early to get started.”

Welp. He didn’t feel like having the attention on him for much longer. So he decided to appoint a new center of attention. “Oh, I went back because Aubrey didn’t want you to know she pushed me too hard and I passed out because of the heat.”

“SHE DID WHAT?!” Mission accomplished. Hopefully, Aubrey would survive.

Chapter Text

Hero was doing what he did best, avoiding thinking about the problem at hand. He had been practicing this his entire life! If he could ignore his own feelings about what he wanted to do in life, he could ignore his gnawing anxieties! Simple, not a problem at all. Okay, perhaps it would be a bit of a problem if he didn't know how to cope with it already.

It’s not like he procrastinated. No, his most likely undiagnosed OCD and golden child syndrome made sure that it was an impossibility. He always studied, he always got his homework done on time, and he always was on time for anything he could think of. But anxiety couldn't be abated for things that took time.

And time was all Hero had right now. He had already picked out his outfit, he had already decided where they were going, so his fourth date was well prepared in advance. But his anxiety screamed at him that something was horribly, inescapably wrong. But that was just nonsense. He was just nervous, and sitting there, thinking about it would make it so much worse.

So here he was, baking cookies at 10 PM, after working for nearly 12 hours. His fellow students wondered where he got all that energy from, but he just played it off as him sleeping every moment of his off time. That wasn't true really, it's just that he was always tired, all the time! He had just gotten so used to it, that it didn’t bother him as much. Not much difference between five hours of sleep and three after all!

Then again, he did have a worrying habit of just lapsing into almost coma-like sleep when he had days off. Maybe sleeping 30 hours was not the sign of a normal healthy person. Huh. Well, he didn't have time to think about that, he had baking to do! Sure he already had seven dozen peanut butter cookies finished, but he was working on another big batch of snickerdoodles. Who the hell was going to eat all these?

Well, they were still working on the park project, and he was going to spend the weekend in Faraway. Maybe the old gang and new gang enjoy them? At worst he could use his dumpster-stomached brother to get rid of most of them. Ugh, now he was thinking about another issue he would have to deal with soon.

Not his brother, no Kel was a good-natured, hard-working kid. In fact, he was more proud of him than any parent could be. And he was definitely more proud than his parents. They couldn't understand what Kel had was pure, unbridled potential.

Sure his grades were a bit rough, but he had seen Kel thrive with just an extra hour of tutoring a week! All he needed was a little extra time and he would be a decent student! And maybe some therapy and extra medication would help, but he would wait for Kel to get out of his parent's house first before suggesting that. Kel was also a natural-born leader and an amazing athlete! He could run laps around Hero with no effort, and Hero did not doubt that soon, Kel would be the head of his team, and then into the school of his choice with ease.

But because He didn't take the same path Hero took, he was seen as less than, or not as important. And that didn't even start to touch the almost hostility his mother had, and the indifference his dad fostered. Then again at least dad was trying to make an effort, his mother? Lost cause.

He swore that she thought she could beat Kel into the mold she wanted still. What she didn’t realize all she was managing to accomplish was alienating her sons with her own boneheaded ways. He didn't even have the time and will to think about if he was happy with the direction of his life, or he was just doing what mom wanted him to do. How much of his own life had been his?

Ugh, he was going to have to talk sooner rather than later about all this to Kel. He would pick up on the weirdness at home, and have questions. At least that's what he implied from the texts. He was also making sure that Sally didn’t notice. The swell of pride that Hero felt when he saw Kel and sally play was something that helped him get through his worst days. He knew Kel would be the best big brother that kid could ask for.

Another sheet of cookies in the oven, he looked to the other three. He was one of the few still around the student dorms for the summer, and he was also the only one up at this time to use the huge dorm kitchen. So all four of the ovens he coveted were his and his alone. He really should just go to bed, but one thought of Polly in that dress made sleep seem impossible. Maybe he would do something easy, like brownies. Or he could try to perfect Mari’s….oh…oh right.

He leaned over the counter, sighing. It always came back to her, didn't it? In a way, he suspected it always would. Well, if the stress baking didn’t make it disappear from his head, nothing would. He would have to think about it, but hell if he was doing this without assistance. Plating a few of the hot cookies, he plopped them down on the counter before rooting around in the fridge. There he found what he was looking for, that being cheap, off-brand soda and the Vodka his RA hid in the frozen pea bag in the deep freezer. After giving it a generous pour, he went to put the bottle back but thought against it. He may need more.

“You know, drinking is bad for you.” Hero nearly spat up his drink as he whipped his head in the direction of the voice. And he saw himself. A younger, less stressed-looking version of him. Hero just sighed as he downed what was left in his cup in one go. He even managed to not screw up his face as it burned on the way down. Maybe he put a bit too much in there.

“And whoever told you those Pajamas were good looking lied to your face.” Hero murmured as he covered the bottom of his glass yet again. He decided to just skip the soda and tilted his head back, shooting it down his throat. That made him gag! “Oh god, that was a mistake.” He dry heaved, gulping down the soda to force his gorge back down.

“You know exactly why I wear these. Mari picked them out.”

“Could we not do this?” Hero interjected, trying to give his trademark smile, but it came off slightly stilted. “I already have enough on my plate at the current moment, and I don’t need to hear the opinions of my stress hallucinations!”

“Do you have those often?” Hero blinked at the empathy his counterpart could show. The few times he had deprived himself of sleep enough to see things, it had never been this pleasant. It was either confusing, horrifying, or a worrying mix of both. ‘That doesn't seem healthy.”

“You realize you are a hallucination, right?” Hero asked, biting into a cookie. They were great but not as good as they could have been. Maybe a little more salt next time. “You can’t imply that you aren’t one.”

“What are you talking about, I’m the real Hero!” Hero just gave a blank stare at the pastel copy as it posed, foot on the chair and pointing at him. Why did that seem so familiar? The copy began to falter, finger trembling a bit as the silence weighed him down like a sandbag. Ah, he was more of a talker when he was younger.

“Wait, that's the pose Kel said I should do if I had an evil twin thing happen to me!” Hero pointed, watching the teen across the table blush. “Although if that was your attempt to convince me that you aren’t a figment of my stress-addled mind, you're doing a very poor job of it.”

“Sorry, I promised Kel I would try it at least once!.” He gave a grin, rubbing the back of his head as he sat down. “But I’m not a figment of your imagination. Not to say that I’m not based on somebody else's imagination, just not yours.” He nervously tapped his fingers against the table. It made no sound, but Hero pondered over the implication.

“Okay, well, first of all, what do I call you?” The boy across from him blinked, confused. Hero heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to go back and forth calling each other Hero. Look, I’ll be Henry.”

“But I’m Hen-”

“And you’ll be Hero, just for clarity of conversation.” From there Hero picked up on it quickly.

“Ah. Okay.” He nodded.

“What did you mean by that exactly? Who’s imagination would you be sprung from exactly? It’s not like you can enforce your visions on someone else.”

Hero fidgeted a bit, trying to find the right words. “Before I talk about that, understand that I’m here to help. But I can’t say too much. Otherwise…well, you don’t need to know that.”

Henry quirked a brow, sipping his soda. “Okay. Well, how do I know this isn't just all me, and my brain decided the flavor of the night was meta-narrative?”

“Because you only hallucinate Mari, Henry.” He winced, feeling like he had been struck as Hero continued. “You never see anything but here. Either as the teasing girl, we once knew or as that broken, stretched-out monstrosity that almost made you commit yourself the first time.”

“Ah.” Henry was more than a little freaked out now. Not because he had to think of that awful perversion of Mari his brain had made to torment him because the figment was dead on the money. “This is, a bit more existential than I expected.”

“How do you think I feel, I only exist in people’s heads!” Hero just shrugged a bit, seemingly okay with the fact that he wasn't a physical being. That was worrying. If it was a reflection of him, then maybe he really should consider therapy. “But I made peace with that. Or, well, I made peace with it until I tell you what you need to know.”

“Like what?”

“I was sent here to make you feel better, to talk you through how letting goes of Mari isn’t letting go of her memory.” He explained, softly. “Mari would want you to move on. We both know that.”

Henry paused. He knew his doppelganger was right, and he heaved a heavy sigh in response. “I’ve been overthinking it, haven’t I?”

“When are we not overthinking things?” Hero laughed, relieved that he didn’t have to have to argue with his real counterpart. Seemed like they were more alike than he implied when they sent him to visit a different mind. “Besides, with how violently bisexual that girl was, I doubt she’d have a problem with Polly.”

Now Henry was grinning, reminiscing on old times. However, the emotional weight that seemed to come with any nostalgia lessened. Sure, there would always be a painful pang in his heart, but the possibility that it could dull was real. “Mhmm. She’d point out any cute butt she would see.”

“Or chest.”

“Then get all smug and quiet, pointing it out, and waiting for us to blush.”

“Then teasing us violently about it and if she really wanted to mess with us, then the fake tears would startup.”

They both sighed, looking into the middle distance. Hero was the first to realize he still had something to say. Something important. Who knew if he was listening, but it wasn’t something worth risking.

“Hey, has Sunny talked to you about what he did for those four years in the house?”

“No, why?” Hero didn't answer right away. Instead, he just bit his lip and thought. As soon as he said that, he was on a clock, but he needed to at least warn Henry of what was to come.

“You should ask him about it. Also maybe talk to Kel and Aubrey.”

“Wait do you know what Sunny was up to? “ Henry got up, coming across to the figment. They were growing more transparent the more they spoke.

“Look, I don’t have much time. He’s planning something! I know my friends are being helpful, but they shouldn't be showing up to your friends!” Hero grew wilder-eyed, looking at something unseen, before snapping his attention back to Henery. “He's doing something he shouldn't be doing”

“What are you talking about? Who are your friends? Showing up? What are you even talking about?”

“I’ll see if I can tell you more later.” Hero grinned at the panicking older reflection, trying to reassure him. “Most likely? It’s not a big deal. But it's good to be prepared. Also, its almond extract.”

Before Heo could ask a follow-up question, he was gone. Not a trace being left behind. Questions swirled around his head in a maelstrom, but the only person who could have answered him had gone up in a puff of smoke. But a ring interrupted him

“Oh, I almost forgot.” He was interrupted by the buzzer of his egg timer. No sense in wasting perfectly good cookies. Wait. What was that last thing he said? Almond extract? What did that have to do with anything? ‘It almost seemed like an afterthought.”

Then it struck him.

Hero was gone, leaving nothing behind that he needed in his dorm. He had intended to stay the entire summer, just to avoid things at home. However, not he was speeding his way back to the sleepy little town. Thank god his internship was over.

All that remained some books and the clothes he couldn't stuff in his bags was a rather large mess in the kitchen. Mixing bowls are still filthy, all the baking trays are untouched and uncleaned. Ingredients were haphazardly left out for whoever found them. It was a wreck

But if someone looked over this common dorm room scene in the morning, they would notice some strange things. All the Tupperware was gone, all the baked goods that must have been made packed away. A glass of milk sat half empty, but next to it, was a cookie.

An unassuming chocolate chip confection that looked positively ordinary. You could find it at any grocery store or bakery, and more likely, it would look twice as good. If you were strange enough to take a bite, however, you would understand. After all, it was rare to get a taste of the past.

One little fact drove him from the dorm. Well, two. The first that he had discovered Mari's secret ingredient. The second, was that the figment had known something he did not.

Chapter Text

Kel stumbled his way down the stairs, rubbing his bleary eyes and cursing whatever roused him. He had been awoken by an amazing smell that had all but dragged him out of bed. The last time this had happened, his mother had lit a vanilla cookie candle to get him out of bed on a proper time frame for once.

“I swear if it’s that candle again, I’m going to eat it. I should be allowed to sleep in on a Saturday.” He grumbled, making his way into the kitchen. Thankfully, his olfactory senses did not lie to him and force him into the waking world too soon, there was in fact, food being prepared. And a surprise on top of that.

His brother was just in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. Kel just stared, mighty confused as to why he was here. Didn’t he plan on staying in his dorm because of the weirdness here? The folks were still acting cagey about what they had discussed.

“Good morning Kel! Could you lend me a hand and beat this?” A bowl was thrust into his hands, and he just nodded dumbly, mixing whatever was in it. The electric griddle was covered in bacon, sausage, and quickly frying eggs, the plate next to them growing with prepared food. Hero poked at them and took what was just about done off and onto its proper plater. From there he was stirring the bubbling pot of refried beans and watched the fresh salsa warm.

“Um…Okay.” He beat the white mix, the fog of sleep still clinging to him. However, if anything could dispel the sandman's grip over his soul, it was food. “Weren’t you at your dorms this summer?” He looked down at the mixing bowl he was currently working on, the white stuff was slowly going from gritty, to smooth. Mystery liquids aside, he was still massively confused.

“I decided to come home for the summer. A summer job can wait, I worked enough at that internship.” Hero laughed, darting between everything going on in the kitchen as Kel stirred dumbly. However, seeing his older brother return for some summer fun, as well as indulging in his last love slowly brought a grin to his face.

“Awwwww now I’m gonna have to make my bed every day, otherwise you’ll give me the look.” He fake pouted, trying not to show how excited he was to spend some time with his brother again. He failed to do so.

“And to clean. In exchange, I’ll cook more for you, little bro.” Hero popped open the oven, taking out the fresh cinnamon rolls and putting them on a wire reck rapidly with a tea towel in hand. “Besides, I heard from mama that you’re trying to get on more of a sports diet. I’d be glad to help.”

Kel was staring at those sweet sweet rolls, before Hero taking the bowl distracted him from his food lust. “Huh? Oh, yea! Please teach me.” Kel whimpered” If I burn any more chicken breast I think mom is going to murder me.”

“How were you trying to cook them?” Hero didn't even look up as he asked, taking the whisk out of the thoroughly beaten icing, he flicked the dripping sugar onto the steaming hot rolls. Each one giveing little linzes of oozeing iceing on the pipeing hot rolls. Kel did his best not to drool. He would consume them soon enough.

“I just try to fry them in the pan on high heat with some oil. But I always end up burning the outside, but the inside stays raw!” Kel groaned, remembering all those juicy chicken breasts going to waste “then I end up eating all the lunch meat straight from the deli package, then mom gets all worked up while dad laughs, calling me a salami gremlin.” You get caught one time, devouring processed meat at three am crouched in your socks, and suddenly you’re a goblin!

“Most likely you put the heat on too high.” Hero paused, lowering the oven temp. “Could you get the tortillas warming please?”

“No problem!” Shooting off a mock salute, he grabbed the fresh pack and ripped it open, checking that the oven was on low, he messily wrapped the entire stack in tin foil before gently placing it in. “Jay says it's easier to bake them. He like, rubs them in olive oil then slaps some spices on them and sticks it in the oven.”

That's how you end up with the kind of chicken dryer than Sunny’s sense of humor.” Hero murmured, icing complete, he nodded and moved back to his griddle station, taking note. “You wanna sear the outsides, then bake it. I can show you.”

“Thanks, bro, how can I help?” Hero looked at him as if he grew three heads. Kel just sighed. “Look, This will be Sally’s first Hero surprise breakfast! At least one that her little bean of a brain will remember.” Kel pouted. “I wanna make sure it's special.

“Awwww. Looks like someone is growing up.”

“Hero the bacon is burning.”

“Ha! Nice try, I- Oh shoot!” Hero grimaced, binning two pieces, and just eating the few pieces that were still salvageable. “Damn it.” He mumbled with a mouthful of greasy meat.”

“I guess, I got to be the best big brother I can be now. I got big shoes to fill.” Kel sat at the table, slouching back, being unusually patient. It was something to see. All for Sally huh?

“You’ll fill them just fine. Sally’s lucky to have a brother like you Kel, almost as lucky as I am to have you.”

“Hero, we have maple syrup on the table already, no need to be a sap.” Kel just smiled at him, elbows propped up on the table. It felt like old times when Kel was running around underfoot, trying to snag any bite he could manage to sneak. But what he knew still gnawed at him. Was now a good time?

“Hey, Kel. I can’t believe I never asked this, but what are your college plans?” He looked back, bringing over the plates heaped with bacon, eggs, and sausage to the table. “Don’t want to hassle you about it, but you need to apply soon after all.”

“I have been just waiting for this year dude.” Kel, cracking just a bit under the weight of the food presented to him and snagging a bit of bacon. “My ride sorta depends on scouts. So this year I gotta play my heart out! Then hopefully I’ll get a full ride.”

“Mom and dad have a college fund for you,” Hero added, deciding to take pity on his brother. He grabbed a tortilla and slowly spread the refried beans on it, he could already feel the hungry eyes on the back of his head. With a nice fresh fried egg on top, and some salsa. “I don’t have beef, but sausage should be fine right?”

“Dude, if you think I’m going to turn down any huevos rancheros you make, your crazy.” He took the plate eagerly, digging in violently.

Hero sat down, watching him as he sipped his coffee. “But still, you don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to go, just because you get a free ride.”

“Well, I wanna play basketball!” Kel said, a mouthful of food. Hero raised a brow and he sheepishly swallowed before talking more. “It’s what I want to do! I just wanna play basketball and get paid to do it.” Kel scarfed down the last, and in a move that shocked Hero, got up to put his plate in the sink. “Besides, It’s better than student loans.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Mom and dad took all of the money for mine and put it in your fund.” Hero froze a pit in his stomach slowly opening up. All the appetizing smells of the kitchen and the joy he felt indulging in his hobby disappeared, replaced with dread and hot shame.

“What?”

“You didn’t know?” Kel looked back, quicking a brow before smiling. “That makes sense! I didn’t think my big brow would be that heartless! Imagining you asking for my college fund is like trying to envision Sunny kicking a cat. It’s just impossible. He shook his head and laughed.

He shouldn't be laughing! He had intended to break this to Kel as gently as possible. Both were aware of how their parents were, but to find this out on his own, and just shrug it off like that. Well, Hero began to assume the worst.

“I heard them talking one day while I was watching Sally outside.” Kel turned on the tap, grabbing a dishrag. “About how I’d be fine. It’s either I’d get a ride with my “silly sport”.” He used air quotes, his smile growing a bit more fragile. “Or I would just have to take out loans, with their help of course. But Your more sensitive to stress, I can handle the ax of debt hanging over my head.”

“Yea I can handle it. I can also handle every little jab mom says to remind me that she disapproves of every choice I’ve ever made in my life. Or the thought that somehow, that makes me less worthy of their support!” He just kept washing the dishes, his grip tightening. “I’m resilient! I don’t get upset, so even if he found out he wouldn't care. He’d just keep grinning dumbly and-”

His tirade was interrupted as arms wrapped around him, whipping him around and pulling him close to Hero. “Kel. It’s okay to be upset.”

“I’m fine! I’m not mad or anything, it’s no big deal!” Kel didn't find his own voice very convincing. He didn't like the way it cracked and croaked. He should be fine. If they didn’t care, he could deal with it.

“Kel, It’s okay to be mad at them.” Hero just said it quietly yet again, slowly rubbing Kel’s back.

“I told you I’m fine! Now let go.” Kel struggled to break Hero’s grip. It shouldn't have been that hard, but he just couldn't break the vice grip Hero had on him. As if he would disappear if he let go.

“I’m mad at them too. It’s not fair the way they treat you differently... It’s okay to be upset about that.” Kel wanted to argue that nothing was wrong and that he could take anything his parents could throw at him. If they didn't care, then he wouldn't care about them! But all his walls and willing self-delusion fell apart with three little words. Spoken softly, by his brother who had been everything he tried to be for his entire life.

“You deserve better.”

And he started sobbing, he leaned into his now slightly shorter brother, mashing his face against his shoulder and slumping. Hero did his best to keep him steady as he rubbed his brothers' back. “Shhhhh….It’s okay. Let it out”. 

Kel, contrary to what people thought, didn’t fake his happiness. In fact, it was the most sincere thing about him. He desperately tried, every day he could, to find some reason to smile. He wasn’t a fake mask, it was his attempt to deal with everything in the world. Positives will keep you going and all. But this felt good. Natural even, to just let it pout out of him.

It took a bit of time before Kel managed to run out of steam, but when he did, Hero already had tea with honey ready for his scratch throat. What would he even do without him? “God…I know I shouldn't care about people that don’t care about me the same but…It hurts a lot.”

“Kel, they care. Just…Can I be frank?”

“I thought you were Hero?” Kel did his best to change the subject, but snorted at his dumb joke, bringing more attention to his attempt.

“Quiet you, or that’s all you’re having for breakfast.” When Kel went to reach for a roll, he was met with a firm smack to the back of the hand with Hero’s spatula. Where did that even come from? The last time he saw it, it was in the kitchen sink! A power Hero inherited from their mother, for sure. “Ah ah ah! They are not cool yet.”

“But I want one.”

“Too bad. Anyway. It’s okay to feel bad about it and still love them. They are our parents after all. But that dosn;t make them perfect people. They're just as likely to fuck up as the rest of us.” Kel gasped, staring.

“You swore! Who are you and what have you done to Hero?”

“Kel, please.” Hero couldn't keep his grin off his face. Kel was just too infectious. “But that doesn't make what they did any better. Don't let them tell you you don't have the right to be upset…and besides that, don’t let anyone tell you how to handle it. You can proceed how you want, just know that I’m behind you every step of the way.”

Hero’s eyes widened as Kel pulled him into a bone-creaking hug. But that surprise faded to a soft little expression as he rubbed Kel’s back.

“Thank you, bro.” This was the quietest he ever heard Kel speak. Honestly, it was a touch disturbing, but this was a lot to go through at eight AM.

“Don’t mention it. I haven’t touched the money anyway. You should have fun money when you go to college.”

Kel pulled back, wiping the last of the tears from the corner of his red eyes. “So should you.”

“Oh don’t you start with me.”

“Kiki!” And suddenly, a toddler appeared, still in her frog onesie, running her little legs as fast as they could. Kel had a quick moment before the green little mistle launched at him, nearly knocking his chair over.

“Sally! Aw, I’m sorry did we wake you up?” Kel ruffled her hair through her hood, causing her to giggle.

“Nah. Oh! HEHE!” Hero winced at that nickname. Kel knew he hated it and somehow taught sally that it was his name. But he wasn’t a big enough monster to break her heart. “You made breakfast?”

“Mhmm! I did. But theirs something important I need you to do. A secret mission!” That got her attention. She was staring at him in wonder from the confines of Kel’s lap. “Kiki is sad.”

“Like a prince?!”

“Mhmm. And he needs frog kisses to make him feel better! Many of them.” Kel paled a bit as his brother worked his sister up. There was no escape, and he was soon assaulted with messy toddler kisses.

“No! Stop! Ewwwwww Sally!” But he was laughing the entire time. Hero sighed and flicked on the coffee maker. That would rouse his parents and bring them down. Most likely they would ask many questions about how he got here, why he drove five hours in the middle of the night, and why he changed his mind. He was used to that though, and for right now, he was more than happy to watch his little brother be a better big brother than he ever was.

Chapter Text

“Huh, they seemed nervous.” Kel was currently looking at the door that had just been shut in his face. When he had asked if they would wanna do a sleepover thing today, he had been refused. Apparently, Sunny’s mother was visiting for a day, before going a few towns over to go back to her training. And they were currently trying to make dinner. From the flour in Basil’s hair, it was going poorly.

“Next week will work, but right now, I’m busy, and so is Sunny”  Basil held a finger up, narrowing his eyes. “ Look, I don’t have the time or crayons to explain this to you. I love you Kel, but noooot now.” He paused. “Have a nice day!” Then the door slammed.

That had been three minutes ago.  He was still standing there, just trying to figure out what the hell just happened to him. That was very un-Basil. Oh well, they said next weekend, so that’ll work. Odd that Hero was the one to ask for it, but maybe he's just nostalgic. Although he seemed a bit worried for some reason.

“Huh. Well, might as well ask Aubs and see what’s up” He walked away, wondering what the heck Basil’s last statement meant. It took him a full hour before he realized he had been insulted, and it took until that night's shower before he would come up with a good response.

“How is the dough coming?” Sunny looked up from his own work. He would admit he was in some strange territory right now, but he was trying to do his best to muddle through it. It was odd to put beef in a steamed bun, but it was something his mother used to make all the time, and also something she loved more than anything. Sunny was pretty sure she’d happily push him down the stairs for a half dozen. And he would do likewise, after making sure no instruments were lying at the bottom, of course.

He was currently stir-frying the beef. Thin strips of steak fizzled and popped in the blazing hot oil, as the green onions and garlic released their aroma, and also made Sunny cough. The overhead was trying its best, but when faced with the brunt of a frankly large amount of spice, it was struggling just as much as Sunny was. He made sure to carefully rub his one eye with a hand that hadn't touched the meat, or tear-jerking veggies. The last thing he needed was to look like a crack fiend. His mother would make so many weed jokes, and if he heard her say 420 one more time, he was gonna get addicted to heroin just to spite her.

“How’s the dough coming Basil?”

Basil had insisted that he could handle the dough, no problem. He had baked a bit at Sunny’s house and had been dabbling in cookies and other sweet treats. He was not prepared for how hard it was to make Bao dough. All Sunny got was a nervous laugh that bordered on a sob.

“It would be fine if it would just work with me! It’s currently deciding to be difficult!” Basil kneaded, and kneaded, and kneaded, but the stuff would not get smooth. It was still tacky, and sticking to his fingers, the table, his clothes… He was even sure the stuff was in his hair, but if he thought about that, he was positive he was going to scream.

Sunny didn't respond. He just crept behind him and gave him a little hug, wrapping his arms around his flour-covered middle with no hesitation. He just kept hugging, humming softly until he could feel Basil’s heartbeat begin to ease.  Basil sighed, letting the dough hit the counter with a wet thud before putting his cheek on Sunny’s head. “Thank you.”

Sunny just gave a little hum and nodded before letting go. He was having a bit of a bad throat today, so even his earlier words came out as a near croak. “I just don’t know what went wrong with this stuff. We don’t have time for another batch, we need to proof this soon.”

“Sunny eyed it for a moment, before just grabbing a large handful of flour and smacking it onto the dough, with an artful flourish, he bowed and went back to his cooking. Smug little bastard

“Oh wow Sunny, I didn't think to add more flour to it. How absurdly smart you are to have educated me with your wise ways of food. Shall I ever be able to climb to your heights?  Your mastery over all things food-related?” Sunny just rolled his eyes and made a kneading motion, before going back to his pan.

“Oh now your not using your words. Hmm!” Ignoring his beau’s sarcasm and testy attitude, Sunny started picking pieces of meat out before putting more raw in to replace it. He wanted to have a little extra filling, It was better than having less.

“Oh, are you kidding me?!” The ball that was putting such a violent fight up before. Now it was coming together no problem. This did nothing to cool his frazzled nerves, in fact, it just inflamed them. All of that effort was wasted, because he apparently, just didn't know how to eyeball how much flour this demon ball needed. He wasn’t mad, not at all.

After a few pumps with the malms of his hands, it was ready to let rest. It almost made it worth the effort as he popped it onto his plate, setting it off to the side to let the gluten relax. Or at least that’s what Sunny said. He was very insistent on that. However, his work wasn't done. The counters were covered in several blobs of failed dough that he had refused to ask for help on. 

He let his own bubbling emotions stew for a bit before releasing a sigh. He was fine. He was a tranquil river, that no amount of thrown stones could disturb. He was peace incarnate, and he was not going to let mold given tasty form beat him like this. And also, though not his main motivating factor, he was not going to let Sunny be smug in any capacity.

“Okay, what can I do while that is resting?” Basil turned around and found his beloved, violating something oh so important to him. His blender, his very nice, and very expensive blender, was currently out. That wouldn't be cause for alarm. Normally, it’d be more of a call to make a smoothie. However, it was what Sunny was doing with his blender that made his heartbreak

All the cooked meat was being put into his blender. The steak that, although amazing in aroma, made his stomach turn due to the thought that it used to be alive. He tried to get Sunny to see his side of it, but he simply shrugged and said that if he died, he’d be disappointed if his friends didn't eat his corpse. Due to how he said that, although most likely it was a joke, perhaps he should check Sunny’s will, just in case. But that was beside the point.

His good, vegan smoothie blender was currently being filled with cooked steak, and then a bit of beef broth on top of that. “EXCUSE ME?!” Sunny froze, slowly craning his head over, as if a cat caught trying to eat the goldfish. “Just what do you think you’re doing Mr?”

“Making filling.”

“I can see that. But you said you would smash it down yourself. You also promised that you, explicitly, would not use my blender.”

“I’ll wash it.” Sunny crept closer to the button, and Basil cut him off.

“No. I told you if you wanted to do that, buy a cheap blender from Fix It. But noooo, you wanted to spend 20 bucks on a cat headband instead.” Basil huffed. “What are you even going to do with that?”

“Cosplay for just you.” This froze Basil for the moment. The clean, and not so clean implications of what was just uttered played in his head in a discordant symphony like a crashing train. He could feel his face heat, as his mind wander to places it normally wouldn't go. Or at least no places he would admit to going.

“Oh. Oh, we need to get you a tail then. Maybe some globes that look like kitty paws or something…I have an old makeup kit so whiskers could be a thing, and contacts could make it an entire thing.” Basil muttered these things, staring off into space.

Sunny watched him. Yup, he’s completely thirst trapped. Sunny would admit, that having this power over anyone was perhaps not something he should be allowed to have. He would abuse this, he knew this, and he was oh so excited. Also, seeing Basil all frustrated and worked up was doing something for him. Huh, hopefully, this didn’t awaken anything inside of him.

As Basil was distracted by his feline fascination, Sunny crept closer to the blender, stuffing the last of the beef into it. It was at this time that he heaped a few teaspoons of gochujang into it. The smell of the fermented chilies stung his nose in the best and worst ways. Normally, he would go easy on the stuff, but His mother liked it absurdly hot, and he wanted her to not only like it but to love it.

He realized, that he was putting Korean ingredients into an American Japanese-style beef paste, and that was going into a Chinese bun. This was a melting pot of food, that he was unsure where his mother had pulled from. It was honestly impressive. He was just about to push the button when Basil interjected.

Broken out of his stupor, Basil knew he had to stop Sunny from desecrating his blender. He decided to be assertive like Aubrey said he should. He was going to threaten him. However, in his mixed mind, and frustration. A mistake was made. 

Two phrases mixed. The first was that he was going to “eat shit and deal with it.”, being more assertive in his no. The second phrase, was “I’m going to beat your ass.”, a more direct approach.

This is not what Basil said.

What came out of Basil, shaking with rage and frustration, screamed out. “If you push that button I’m going to EAT YOUR ASS” 

There was a healthy pause as the words echoed through the empty kitchen. Basil was panting, not realizing at first what he said. Sunny was very aware and was trying to fight back the giggles already building in his chest.

Then it hit Basil. His jaw slowly dropped as the weight of sexual innuendo crashed upon him. Oh god, that was not what he meant, that was not what he meant at all.

If Sunny was one thing, however, he was willing to push when he shouldn't. “You promise?” And pressed the blend button.

The harsh noise filled the space as Basil’s face rapidly shifted through many emotions. Embarrassment, flushed coyness, a little bit of interest, and pure rage. Which emotion he would land on was a toss-up, until Stranger appeared right behind Sunny, leaning on the wall. “Huh, Kinky.”

Rage it was then! Basil screamed, the weight of every petty issue that happened today had broken him, and he was done being a nice little flower boy. He was going to fuck shit up. With a growl, he picked up a glop of failed dough and flung it violently at the shadowy teaser.

Sunny had whipped around to see where that voice had come from but was much more distracted by the glob of dough that impacted the wall with the force of a thousand suns than the echoing laughter and the fading shade. He could worry about that later, survival was the concern now. He dare not turn around.

“You know. I was going to tag-team with this little guy here, but I think you signed your death warrant there bud.” Void snarked from a nearby counter, grinning like a satisfied cat. Soni at least looked like he pitied him. “Good luck kid. You’re gonna need it.” 

“At least the anxiety is warranted this time!” Soni exclaimed, only to look sheepish under the weight of Sunny’s one-eye’d stare. “Sorry, We’ll leave you to your domestic issues.”

Sunny didn't have time to get annoyed at that, He was more worried about survival as he heard the blender click off. And slow footsteps that came over to him. 

“Sunny. Turn around, now.” The growl in the voice left no room for debate. Sunny did what he was told, feeling like the smallest thing in the world.

Basil stood in front of him, a scowl etched on his face, hands shaking as he slowly stepped closer. Making Sunny back into the wall. “I ask you not to do it. But you do it. You tease me, you let me twist in the wind with this dough, and then, and THEN you make fun of my slip of the tongue?”

Closer still he god, his breathing picking up pace as Sunny whimpered, nodding. “So you do know what you were doing was driving me up the wall? But you kept doing it.” Closer still, Basil hooked a handful of his collar and yanked him closer. “I know exactly what I’m going to do to you.”

Sunny panted, his heart was going crazy. Not out of fear, but something else entirely. The way Basil looked so furious, how rough he was being with Sunny. He should not be enjoying this, but he very much so was. Aw damn it, he just said he hoped nothing would awaken in him! Now he was very aware of how hot all this was.

And it seemed mutual, as Basil pulled him into a rough kiss, and both slowly slid down the wall, forgetting about their task.

Mary slowly pulled apart the bun. It took a little bit of force, as it split with ease but the strands of soft, fluffy innards stretch for a bit before snapping. The inside was a juicy, angry red that release a mouth waterer aroma. Polly stared as she watched Sunny’s mother test the first bun, shoving the entirety of both halves in her mouth before chewing.

She finished it in no time. “Oh my god, how do you make these better than me sunny?” She nearly moaned as she tucked into another one, slicing it in half and stuffing the thing into her mouth eagerly, leaving her rice untouched. 

“Oh my god, I need to know how to make this. Hero would flip his lid. Mary, I need to get your recipe.” Polly was equally eager, devouring her portion at a slower pace, taking water breaks. It was bordering on too hot, but any pain was worth the fluffy buns and the amazing flavor.

"I'll think about it." Polly's eyes widened as she claimed a few more bao before Mary heaped most of them onto her plate.

Basil grinned as Sunny glowed at the praise. He had told them, while Sunny was finishing up the steaming, that it had been all him, and he had been a hopeless mess in the kitchen. A half-truth, but watching the way Sunny absorbed all that praise made it worth it. Besides, he got his price paid earlier and was currently riding that high.

“Told you he’s an amazing cook.” Basil bit into his salad, savoring the homemade dressing Sunny had made for him. It was something with sesame seed and rice wine vinegar, but it was very tasty. He had even baked some of the dough to make little croutons for him. He had to thank him later. And he grinned at the thought of how he would thank him. This was the best day ever, even with the rocky middle

“I’m surprised you got this done in time! Considering all the fooling around you two did while we were gone.” Mary just chewed as she watched the color drain from the boy's face. Polly looked a touch smug as she leaned in, watching carefully.

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Polly pounced. “Wow son, you didn’t even stutter! I gotta give you points for that.” She pointed her fork at them. “But, your lips are both swollen as hell.”

“And there's a flour handprint right next to where one of your heads would be, then a mark like you slit down the wall while doing something else,” Mary added.

Polly then went in for the kill. “And it’s not like you hid any of Sunny’s hickeys. Or bite marks.”

Mary grinned. If Mari could grin smugly, Mary could grin like a Disney villain. Self-satisfaction radiated with malicious glee as she watched the two boys blush and shrink. “Oh yea, Mari bruised easily too. You may wanna learn how to use a little concealer honey.” She picked a bao out of the steam basket, saying one more thing before she took a bite. “It’ll be a good skill when the two of you are alone and Basil can go at it.”

Never mind, this was the worst day of Basil’s life. Somehow, he knew it was Sunny's fault

Chapter Text

Sunday ended, but time would not wait for them to get back to work on the park. However, it turned out today was a day of rest anyway. The town had sent out the contractors to pour the cement, as Faraway didn’t have the insurance to cover the kids using anything more powerful than a chain saw. Besides, Kim and Aubrey mixing cement could only go poorly. Even worse if Kim got involved somehow. So it was mostly older guys with the township pouring.

Sure, someone had to be there to watch them get it done, and make sure to discuss the playground equipment, along with soil samples and stump removal. Basil had been the one to volunteer to do this.

This entire project was his baby after all, and he needed to be there if issues arose. However, considering most of the people that would be pouring that day were some of the same ones who made Aubrey uncomfortable at church… Basil felt like she deserved to have some power over them. They would survive, most likely. Not that it mattered, they were under budget anyway.

But an entire day of Sunny snuggling was not in the cards. After all, A threat loomed in the background, threatening to consume them. Mary, Sunny’s lovely, if energetic and snarky mother, was there. And Basil had made an error.

“Oh my god, he looks adorable!!” She was looking at the image on Basil’s phone, that being a candid shot. Sunny was curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow, just after going to the ER. Cat hoodie mixed with a cat mask, cat PJ pants, and even cat slippers. The cloth tail that hung off his jacket just added to the entire picture. “How the hell did you manage to convince him to dress like that?!”

“Oh he was so sick, he didn't even fight me. He just told me to throw clothes on him because he wasn't getting up. So I decided to make him look how he was acting.” Basil’s smug grin needed a little work, but he was on the right track. Mary’s eyes twinkled with mirth as she laughed again.

“You cheeky little bugger!”

“You know it…although it's a shame, he doesn't have much besides cat stuff and formal wear. I’d kill just to see him in some other clothes!” Basil pouted, remembering how he was rebuked. "But noooo, he has his style.”

Mary nodded, patting him on the back, Sunny was stubborn like that. But then, she had an idea, a devious, malicious idea. “Say, Basil, you know if the mall is still open? The one we used to take you kids to see movies.”

“Um, yea it is! I think they even renovated recently. Why do you ask?” Basil tilted his head. Oh, he was young, and although he knew her son like nobody else, he still didn’t know him as his mother did.

“Well, I have an idea.”

“This is not a steakhouse.” Sunny should have been suspicious of his mother and Basil suddenly saying they had lunch plans for today. However, as soon as the words steak were mentioned, his brain activity always ceased, replaced with the animalistic instinct to consume as much of the succulent cow flesh as possible.

However, what he saw when he broke out of his food daydream, was not a steakhouse. It was very far from it. A gleaming building stood tall in front of them, glass, steel, and consumerism nearly blinding him in the noon sun. It was the mall. Sunny could feel dread beginning to build, suspecting something was going on here.

“Welllll.” She started, dragging her words as she looked over to a grinning, excited-looking Basil. “Some plans have changed. You can still get your steak, but later.”

“But lunch.”

“Sweetie. I understand, but our reservation was moved!” She tried to seem apologetic as she put her hand over her phone, covering up the email confirming her change. “But it’ll be worth the wait! It’s a nice Brazilian steakhouse, and what's better, it's all you can eat.”

Her son perked up at that but still looked suspicious. She just had to sell it harder. “So I figured that we could get something to eat at the mall, and maybe check out the game store! I remember you were talking about the joyboy advanced models you had been keeping an eye on. Maybe we can check them out eh?” She pulled into her parking space, making sure to get as close to the door as possible.

But by that time, Sunny had noticed that they hadn't stopped near the main entrance. No, it was his most despised place on earth. A department store. Suddenly it had all made sense. This wasn't some treat out of the goodness of their heart, it had been a trap!

“Oh no.” Sunny tried to open his door but found it locked. Even popping it open didn’t free him. Did this lady really put child locks on his door?! He looked around, trying to find a way out before he was taken into that strong-smelling, fashion hell. He shot a pleading look at Basil, but his grin mirrored his mother. This was it, this was the end.

“Betrayed.”

“Sunny, the longer you say that the longer this is going to take." They were currently picking through the aisles of stylish, but affordable clothing. But dragging sunny around was like trying to drag a rock uphill. He was not a willing participant. “Besides, it wouldn't kill you to add some color to your wardrobe.”

“What if I’m allergic.” Sunny huffed, shaking his head as Basil tugged out a blue, short-sleeved thing to look at. The small pile of things to try was mostly things his mother had insisted on trying. A mix of formalwear and strange pieces of clothing that she thought Sunny would like. Basil had hardly contributed, as Sunny had vetoed nearly everything right out the gate.

“I doubt wearing something besides black or white would cause you to go into anaphylactic shock sweetie.” Basil rolled his eyes before tugging out a turtleneck in a nice shade of royal purple. “If it did you wouldn't try on my clothes so often.”

“But they smell nice…” he mumbled, begrudgingly taking the shirt and placing it in the pile. He glared at the cloth. He didn't care if Aubrey said he dressed like someone possessed by a victorian coal mining child, it was the way he liked to dress damn it!

“Why do you even dislike clothes shopping so much anyway?” Basil looked over to the boy who currently was trying to cut his own wrist with a plastic coat hanger. It didn't do a thing, of course. But he acted like he was wounded so grievously, he pantomimed his violent pain as he sunk to the floor, sputtering and gagging before he laid down, limp in a pool of (imaginary) blood. Basil, less than amused, nudged him with his foot, he didn't respond, instead of extending his tongue and going still. “Oh my god you drama queen, just answer the question. I’m trying to make this painless.”

“It's boring, I always just get the same stuff in different colors, and then people get on my case for not liking it,” Sunny mumbled, still keeping his eyes mostly closed. Although he was trying to fold an abandoned gum wrapper into a flower so he could play propper possum.

“Well, what do you want to try on besides different colors.” Basil housed him up, ignoring the indigent squawk from being manhandled by the stronger Gardner. He didn't stop grumbling as Basil brushed the carpet lint and size stickers off of him. “Well?”

Sunny thought for a moment, before a look of recognition, dawned on him, but he attempted to stuff it deep down. He flushed a bit and shook his head. Nope, he was not going to tell him about THAT yet. Maybe when they had 6 kids and had just retired to some beach house in Florida. Or maybe on his deathbed.

“You know. I wouldn't judge anything you want to try on. I want you to be having a fun time with me and your mom! So if you have some style you want to try, we can go to whatever store caters to it the most!” Basil could, however, read him like a book. Sunny had some idea of what he wanted, he was just too embarrassed to tell him. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to judge. Besides, it couldn't be that out there.

This was way more out there. Being in the store made him feel like he was sticking out like a sore thumb. A colorful flower shirt in a sea of black and neon colors. They had wandered the vast mall a bit before Sunny had landed his curious eye on the shop they were currently standing in. A store named “Red Affair.”

It only took one shirt of Sweetheart in the window to draw his eye, and Spaceboy merch to hook him into the place. It smelled like fake leather and aggressive perfume that made Basil’s nose itch. It was all bold looks, and Basil had felt very out of place. Tight pants, anime, memes, and band tee shirts that he had never heard of with gore-splattered logos. Currently, he was sitting, his legs crossed tightly as he waited for Sunny outside a tiny dressing room in the back.

Sure he was uncomfortable, but it made Sunny happy, so he didn’t care. Okay, he did care, but the few people in the shop didn’t even seem to shoot him a second glance. Maybe Aubrey wasn’t lying when she said that punks were the most accepting people you could meet. Or were these goths? Honestly, he hadn’t a clue. They all had such strongly contrasting styles he hesitated to peg whatever movement they were representing.

It struck him as odd that even Sunny’s mother was more comfortable here than him. As soon as she had seen all the Sweetheart merch she was like a kid in a candy store. He had no idea that Sweetheart was such an old series, or that Mari’s obsession with it came from his mother. She was currently a few feet away, chatting up a store clerk folding things. The black lipstick and dyed blue hair somehow made the gleam of excitement at meeting an old Sweetheart fan oddly endearing. It sure cut the intimidation factor of the people where when she revealed an entire sleeve dedicated to that selfish doughnut lady.

“You uh, okay in there Sunny?”

“Mhmm. Almost done. Laces are hard.” He didn’t have much time to ruminate on what that meant, as Sunny stepped out. Basil had to pick his jaw off the floor as he stared at his partner. He had landed on some stark white skinny jeans, that fit his slender form perfectly, complimenting his long slender legs. The top was a black long-sleeved shirt that extended just a bit past his hands. It was baggy, but not too much, just the perfect amount to make him look even more adorable than he normally did. The little bloody cat on the breast pocket made it.

His eyes, of course, were drawn to the choker. A leather belt with floral embroidery. Basil attempted to swallow the lump forming in his throat. The implication that Sunny was making was not lost on him. And even if he second-guessed, the smug little smile and eyebrow waggle made it obvious. He was not used to this confidence radiating from this new Sunny, but he loved it all the same.

“Wow. You look fantastic!” Sunny glowed at his compliment, blushing and kicking the purple canvas shoes he tried on against the ground. But that grin quickly grew a bit.

“Thank you. But you haven’t seen the best part yet.” Sunny’s expression grew a bit more bashful. He looked around, making sure nobody was in this secluded corner of the shop. After he made sure that they were mostly alone.

“Whats tha-” Sunny pulled up his shirt, just for a moment. He didn't get a clear picture in that short time, it was impossible. But what he did see made his face warm and his heart hammer in his chest, laced with excitement. He had seen the corset that hugged his curves perfectly underneath the baggy shirt, but there had been something else too. A flash of lace just above that. He wanted to see more of that, and it hurt him when Sunny pulled the shirt back down with a wink.

“A preview.” He shot him a wink with one eye. But before Basil could say anything, Mary was upon her son, showering him with compliments as she hauled the pile of Sweetheart-themed clothes she wanted to try on. No more privacy here, and he realized, that he had been teased. Sunny knew exactly how to push his buttons in public. What kind of monster did he create?

He groaned, trying to fight back the red on his cheeks. “Your so mean Sunny.”

Basil watched in awe as Sunny destroyed his sixth steak with no signs of stopping. Seems like four years of microwaved steaks just made the real meat all the sweeter. Mary laughed as she watched, slowly eating her own. “Slow down, nobody is going to take it from you.” Sunny huffed and kept stuffing cow into his mouth, undeterred.

Basil poked at his salad. It was a shame because the steakhouse had a rather fantastic salad bar. But his appetites were far from hunger at the current moment. The car was stuffed with bags of clothes that he couldn't wait to see Sunny in, and maybe, on the floor of Basil’s bedroom, soon enough. They hadn't gone that far, but they had gotten damn close. Basil hadn't been one to think of the more carnal pleasures in life, but he was beginning to see the appeal.

Sunny, while eating, winced and whined. “Ow.” He sunk deeper into the booth, apatite forgot about as he waited for the dull ache to go away. He had accidentally his them leaning over too much.

“You okay Sunny?” His mother asked, a bit concerned.

“Yea, the piercings hurt.”

“Oh, that's okay then- Excuse me.” Suddenly, the table was very quiet and Basil was snapped back to reality. Sunny gave his best sheepish smile. Oops, he had let that slip.

“Sunny, I know you asked about them in the front, but you needed my signature to do it right?” Mary suddenly looked a bit more stern. She folded her arms as she awaited his answer. He mumbled rather quietly the first time. “Speak up.”

“I forged your signature.”

“Sunny!”

“Um. I don’t think earrings are that big of a deal?” Basil interjected, hoping to relive some of the tension that had suddenly appeared. However, when he looked at Sunny’s ears, he realized they were still the same.

“Wait where did you get pierced?” Sunny just flushed in response. There were only a few guesses where that could be. Until a memory of an old conversation came to the surface. “Oh….OH.” And Basil was blushing again, matching Sunny. “You didn't have to do that for me sunshine.”

“I wanted to. Besides, it makes me feel pretty. He mumbled, stuffing a bit of steak into his mouth to allow himself not to talk. This would have been an adorable moment, if not for the fact his mother was sitting there.

Mary sighed. “Sunny, could you not talk about your boyfriend's preference for pierced nipples at the table? It's rude.” Sunny made a strangled noise as the comment struck him directly in the heart. Embarrassment was just magnified by that knowing look on his face. He would be more embarrassed if he wasn't choking on his steak.

She just watched with unrestrained malicious glee as Basil slapped Sunny’s back until he could manage to get down, and they both returned to their meals, unable to make eye contact with her. God, it felt good to be able to tease Sunny like this again. Ah, young love. Such a wonderful thing

Chapter Text

Mikhail was having a hell of a day. It could be safe to say he was in a godawful mood. He woke up today and was voluntold that he was working a shift he previously had off. Mother and Father were currently excited about something, and that meant he was being put on the spot to do all the work today.

He found out, only after he had managed to get dressed and in the shop that his sister had managed to score another date with Throne. Normally, he would have no problem with this, until he found out she was taking her, and her brother Angel with them. So now, he was without a boyfriend, a boyfriend who ditched him to go on some roller coasters. 

“Ugh, why must my cherub be so weak to bribery.” His efforts to clam jam his sister at every opportunity had been coming up fruitless. Seems his sister and Throne had gotten wise and had decided to target the weakest link in the chain.

 His very cute boy was given a booster box and a trip to Sweetheart-land in exchange for easing the sibling bullshit. To be fair, he couldn't blame Angel, he was just a touch salty that he kept all the goods for himself, and didn’t get to see a dime of it. No way Angle would risk those cards now. Oh well, he could be a pain in the ass in different ways.

Bowen was somewhere with their mother today. Apparently, he needed some new clothes and wanted her input on them. Honestly, that was very unusual, but he didn't care enough to pry into it too much. Maybe he was trying to get the attention of a certain candy shop worker. He wanted to tell his brother he was barking up the wrong tree, but he didn’t have the heart. He would find out on his own, and he would do his best to console him.

He went to work, begrudgingly accepting his siblings were busy. Hell, maybe this was a good thing, otherwise, Aubrey would have him out there working in the Summer heat all day. All those good feelings faded when he saw the trap the twins had laid for him. Maybe Daphene was a little angrier than she let on about all the disruption he and Angel had been doing to her love life.

Because on the dough bench was a monster blob of dough that had been allowed to rise overnight. So the little bit that may have been there before, was not halfway to the ceiling and still growing. Well, looks like this would be an all-day project. He would get his revenge for this, even if it killed him.

But breaking down that bit of runaway yeast was no easy feat. The wash sink was filled with boiling hot water to kill off the yeast and destroy the glutton holding the stuff together. However, this would just lead to a fat blob of waterlogged dough that was starting to dissolve. So he had to ditch it in the dumpster, and then start the entire time over again. By the time He had managed to open the bakery, it was nearly lunchtime, and he was splattered in the gross, milky wheat water.

“This day could not get any worse.” He muttered, finishing ringing up the last of the line that had gathered, wanting only the freshest product. You would think that with a religious family like his, he would know that if you spoke of the devil, he would appear. As soon as he had a moment to take a single bite out of his doughnut, Vance came peeling out of the candy shop and made a beeline towards the bakery.

He had a face like thunder, and his heavy steps thundered through the grocery store. People were subconsciously getting out of the way of this elephant of a man stomping his way towards Mikhael. Well, he was dead meat. The number three in command amongst their gang was pissed off royally and was looking directly at him. But what did he do to earn this?

Well, let us see… He called Kim the most boring bisexual in the world. He had been avoiding the park project like the plague because he was sure being put to work under Aubrey would murder his skinny ass. But besides those two slights, he had no idea why Vance looked as angry as he did. And that terrified him. What did he do?! What did ANGEL do?

“Maverick. Come outside with me for a bit.” Vance walked up with a grin that looked more like rictus than joy. We need to talk.” Oh, he was going to die.

“Normally, I’d love to! However, a prank by the twins has left me behind a bit today.” He tried to grin back, as he turned around. “But I have some cookies in the oven I need to get out! Perhaps later!” He turned around, ready to make an escape, when he felt a meaty hand land on his shoulder, locking him where he stood.

“No. We're going to talk now, Mav.” He yelped as he was easily picked up and dragged over the counter. He shot anyone he could see a plea for mercy, but everybody pretended to see not a thing when he was dragged out on his heels. Traitors. No more free samples for this lot if he got out of this alive.

He found himself tossed onto a milk crate, right outside the backdoor in the makeshift smoking spot. Vance sat next to him, stone-faced. He waited for him to say something. He remained silent, and the anticipation of whatever punishment Aubrey had decided to dole out was too much. “Okay wha-”

“Mav I need your help, I have no idea what I'm doing! Oh, god I'm gonna fuck it up.” Big tough Vance was rambling in front of him now as his train of thought struggled to not derail. That wasn't anger on his bigger friend's face, it was anxiety. He was panicking, and he had never seen him this worked up before. Not even when Kim buster her head trying to do a backflip off the cat.

“Hey big guy, easy! I, The Maverick, can assist you in whatever issue you have! However, I need to know the nature of it first. Mind reading is not one of my many talents. Yet.”

“Mav I swear to god if you don’t cut the act I’m gonna shove your wig into a jar of Ragu and make you eat it. Capeashe?” Even in his panic, Vance could glare with the best of them.

“Okay fine!” Maverick, in the one bit of smart he would perform on this day, took off the wig and held it in his lap. Huffing as Vance grinned a bit at him. “Hush. Now if it’s gotten you all worked up big guy, it must be something huge! So talk with me.”

“Well. You know how I’m only really attracted to cake and candy.” Vance mumbled. It was odd seeing the big man look almost sheepish when he was about to start breaking shit just a moment ago.

“You mean the only way you would kiss anyone is if they were made out of taffy?”

This at least got a snort out of Vance. “Yea. Well. The thing is, I’ve been starting to get…feelings for someone.”

“Okay?” Mikhail was rather confused now. I thought you were asexual aromantic?”

“Whats Aromantic?” Vance asked, looking over. He didn't see the facepalm, but he sure heard it as the twink slowly dragged his hand down his face. “What? I’ve never heard of it!”

“Oh my god, how can you flaunt your asexuality, but be so unaware of your own orientation.” Mikhail was beginning to remember an old conversation he once had, and how much it hurt his very soul to explain all this to someone who should know better.

“I know I’m asexual! I don’t catch like, lust for people. Ain't nobody attractive to me in that way, and I ain’t a bunch of horny morons like the rest of you!” Vance was indignant. For a long time, he thought something was wrong with him. When he found out that, no, that was perfectly normal, he embarrassed his identity with gusto. This made him just a mite protective of it, and on occasion, a bit smug when hormones didn't dog him like the others.

“But do you still have romantic feelings for people? I’m not talking about the kissing and the physical aspect of it. Do you want to spend time with someone, you know, get to know them better. Maybe date without the physical aspect?”

The indignation that Vance was building, deflated. Making the looming figure look absolutely flabbergasted. “Like, you'd wanna marry someone, but just to spend time with them forever, instead of anything of the…gross bits. Is that something you’ve felt?”

“How did you….That's a thing?” Vance asked in a small if embarrassed voice.

“Yes. Arn;t you the smart one around here? It isn't like you to have a…hmm gay panic dosn;t exactly fit the situation. Asexual anxiety attack perhaps?”

“So wait. Even if I don’t get any physical feelings, I can still have romantic ones. Like yea, fucking is gross, but to like fluffy shit? Like dates, and cuddling. Maybe even a cheek smooch.” Vance whispered as if he was referring to the vilest of sexual acts. It would be adorable if Maverick didn't think he was going to die just a few moments prior.

“Yes, you can you ape! You're asexual,  but not aromantic as well. Just like my brother.”

“That's why he said yes to the date…” Now it was Vance’s turn to get mad dogged. He could feel Maverick's eyes bore into the side of his head. Maybe he should have kept that to himself.

“So it’s your fault mother and Bowen went out clothes shopping!! Do you realize how much damn work I gotta do by myself around here?!? It’s a madhouse!” This was not the reaction he was expecting. He had always played the big brother to Kim, so he had to as of recently, threaten two people to make sure she was happy.

“Wait you’re not weirded out by me dating your brother,” Vance asked, a bit shocked. 

“Nah, I’m happy for him that he can find another asexual to raise goats with.” This made Vance even more confused. “Don’t ask. But it's still your fault that he isn't here to help!”

“Aren't you going to like, threaten me or something?”

“Nothing I could conceive of in my darkest moments, during the coldest nights, could beat what my sister could have in store for you if you hurt my brother in any way.” Maverick rolled his wrist as Vance grew more perturbed. “Just know that a pizza oven can be converted into a crematorium if you know what you're doing.”

“....Message received, loud and clear.” Properly threatened, Vance processed the rest of that sentence, picking out a strange bit. “Wait, what do you mean it’s my fault? How did I cause your brother to ditch you to go shopping.”

“He took that one comment you made about you betting he would look good in a Hawaiian shirt way too seriously. So after you asked him out, he had his own little bit of asexual anxiety and went shopping today.”

“Huh. Is it weird that I feel less dumb for freaking out now?”

“No.” Maverick grinned like a dope, remembering when he asked Angel out not too long ago. “Love makes you a moron. What do you got planned anyway.”

“You're going to laugh at me.”

“Most likely, but tell me anyway.” Vance sighed, looking off to the side. He was seeing a wide array of emotions from the big guy today. Kim was going to flip her shit when he told her. Vance deserved a little embarrassment of his own after scaring him so bad.

“Petting zoo. It's the next town over. Borrowed my mom's van and everything.” The de-wigged teen blinked, looking surprised.

“Huh. That’s a half-decent idea. Just make sure to get something to eat on the way back. He gets grumpy when he's hungry.”

After that they paused. The silence wasn’t a bad one, but it made Vance uncomfortable nonetheless. In an unusual event, he said the first dumb thing that came to his head. Maybe hanging out with Kel was beginning to rub off on him

“Hey, isn't your family all about legacy? I know they’re cool with the not straights, but are they upset about that? I mean two gay kids and asexual means adoption, surrogate, or nothing.”

“Eh. It’s still a possibility. From the way Angel talks, I don't think he wants to ever get bottom surgery.”

Vance nodded, staring off into the woods that was just behind the megastore. Same with Mikhail, who just enjoyed this small bit of time off his feet. It took both an embarrassingly long time to realize what the baker had said. 

“Excuse me WHAT?”

“Vance. I don’t want to leave.” Bowen pouted. Something Vance was becoming more and more acquainted with as the night progressed. The petting zoo was closing for the day soon, but he was being rather stubborn.

“I know you do. But we need to get you home you know. Your father, your brother, and your sister were rather clear about that. Or they would shove me in the bread oven.” Vance loomed over him. Not because he was taller, because Bowen was currently sprawled out on the ground, covered in baby goats. Half were asleep, and half were just leaning in for more attention. One was chewing the collar of his floral shirt.

“You won’t fit in the pizza oven,” Bowen stated as fact. “Your much too strong. Besides. They have chosen me as their king. I can't deny the will of my subjects.”

“Your subjects are currently chewing on your shirt.”

“A worthy sacrifice for goats. Remember me as I was Vance. Absurdly talented, and a better baker than my sister.” Bowen swooned, well, as much as he could with both his arms pinned down by kids.

“Okay. I guess then we can’t get spanakopita at this cute little greek place I found. And then, after that, we could enjoy some Netflix, and perhaps a substance or two, if you would ask nicely.” Vance pretended to be coy, and also try and fight down the blush from that compliment.

“Did you assume because I’m of Greek heritage, that I would like greek food?”

“Yes. Also, you told me you did.”

“Well, your right.” Bowen extended a hand, and Vance hoisted him up, scattering goats. “Mother may be a bit mad about the shirt being nibbled.”

“Eh. It’s fine. It looks great on you.” 

Chapter Text

Basil hated bureaucrats. They either just said exactly what you wanted to hear just to retrieve your vote, or did whatever they could do to line their own pockets. His meeting at the town hall had not improved his view on them in any way.

“Fucking assholes…” Aubrey's colorful language was beginning to rub off on him. However, when situations required strong language to describe events, nothing could beat the magical power of fuck.

In the infinite wisdom of city hall, the budget had been cut. Again. They had dug the long, shallow trenches of sidewalk to save money to hire someone else to dig the harder projects. It took forever to level it too, but it would save time on the bigger things that would break their back. 

But when the cement guys, perhaps a bit peeved about the whole “Were making a teenage girl who you kicked out the church your boss for a day” thing, they took their minor revenge. They sang the praises of the digging and leveling, and about how great a job they had managed to perform.

Now it might seem a bit off that they would get back at them by complimenting a group of teenagers for having a good work ethic. But that was the problem, if they did such a good job the first time, why can't they just do ALL the digging.

So Basil had to go back, after missing nearly half a day to a meeting with some stuffed suit and tell everyone the bad news. No, they weren’t getting a bobcat to assist in the rest of the digging. Like the multiple, large flowerbeds, or the two-foot-deep 100 by 100 grid needed for the playground. If they did rent the bobcat, then they would have to dig up all the stumps for the trees they had chopped down in an attempt to widen the path to the lake. And he was not digging up five dozen tree stumps by hand. He'd rather play jump rope with his neck

At least the bus arrived on time. No way he was going to walk back the entire way to his house. “Hello!” He greeted the elderly bus driver with the best smile he could muster and opened his wallet. Only to freeze when he realized that he had used the last of his money to get here in the first place.

“Um. I can pay you next time?” Time to turn on that charming smile and talk his way into an IOU! Kel does it all the time, how hard could it be?

“Only three miles to go…” Basil was regretting his choice of clothes more and more as he walked along the side of the road. How Kel managed to do this nearly every day was a mystery. Then again, he wasn’t in a full suit and tie.

He had already ditched the tie and stuffed it into his pocket, and was carrying his suit jacket over his shoulder. No reason to ruin it with sweat like his shirt. His uncomfortable, polished faux leather shoes were getting more scuffed with each step as well.

“Well, this day can’t get any worst at least!” He said with a voice of mock cheer to no one. Or at least, that's what he thought. That would be proven incorrect instantly

“I mean, you could get hit by a car.”

“Or you could show up,” Basil mumbled with a glare. Stranger was walking backward in front of him, grinning eat to ear, as he was want to do. “You disappear for days, then return to tease me about dough, then you show up NOW like it's nothing?!”

“I was busy.” Stranger shrugged as if an imaginary friend having things to do was normal. “Besides. You should be thanking me!”

“For what exactly?” Basil just raised a brow. “Taunting me to the point I tried to assault you with failed bread? Making me question my sanity? Looking like a version of me from that game Sunny likes?” He listed with as much sarcasm as he could manage

“I am a shadow! A reflection of the true self!” He announced, in an over-the-top Sweetheart voice. “No, I'm not going to give you a weird knockoff Jojo based on a religious figure, or random criminal. But, I did help you get to third base.”

“Y-you did not.” Basil managed to sputter out, cheeks burning with bashful embarrassment as Stranger joined him at his side.

“Your kidding. I set you up for a perfect home run so you can cash your V card, and you didn't even get to third? Why do I even bother.”  Stranger whined, kicking at the street as Basil rolled his eyes.

“Me and Sunny are both going at a pace we’re comfortable with. Besides, with the way you interrupted my dreams…” He trailed off, apparently deciding to bite his tongue at the last moment. Stranger squinted, trying to put together whatever strange implication there was there.

“Wait. Are you saying that you aren’t doing more because you think I may pop up?! That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I'm not some kind of pervert, I don't even have genitals!”

“You interrupted my erotic dream to mock my choices in sunny clothes, then dipped after saying some cryptic things about dreams. Forgive me if I don’t assume you have the best intentions at heart. You seem to solely exist to be a mocking voice in my head. But instead of asking me to kill myself, you just laugh at me.” Basil finished bitterly. Well shit, perhaps Stranger went a bit too far the last few times.

“Point taken. Look, as much as I enjoy busting your balls, it wasn’t my intention to wedge myself between you and Sunny. My entire purpose in life is the opposite!” Stranger thought for a moment. “Hey, how about I give you a heads up before I appear so I don’t catch you in a compromising position.”

Basil eyed him with a suspicion he deserved. “.....Okay. I’m guessing that's as close to a sorry I’m going to get.”

“Yup! I was sort of made to be brutely honest. Issues with being social and polite are the result of that.” Stranger shrugged. He really should say sorry but eh, he wasn't THAT torn up by his actions.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. You constantly refer to yourself as busy.” Basil gestured meaninglessly. “What exactly can a figment of my imagination be busy with?”

“Well first off I’m not a figment of your imagination. I’m A figment of someone else's-”

“Excuse me what?!”

Before that whole thing could start, a quiet voice caught both of their attention. “Is this a bad time?”

Both whipped their heads around violently, more out of surprise that someone interrupted their banter. That and Basil being rather concerned that he looked like he was out of his gourd. What they saw was a small boy with mint green hair and a flower crown, nervous-looking blue eyes, and dirt-stained overalls. “I was meant to talk to uh, me. But if it’s a bad time I can come back later. Maybe?” He looked down at his own bare feet, his body language screaming bashful.

There was a pause, but non-pastel Basil broke the silence first. “Okay, Stranger, is this some kind of weird prank, or am I starting to lose my mind.” He looked at the flabbergasted shadow, for once, confusion was painted on its features in equal measures.

The pitch-black Basil just stood there, staring. It was beginning to make the pastel, small Basil rather uncomfortable. “No this isn’t me. Also, he shouldn't exist anymore!” Stranger had spent days trying to find the old ruins of Headspace. The door out of the white room only led to tunnels that grew like branches. Spindly paths branch out in different directions, shifting by the day, spreading their rotting roots wider and wider. One had grown right into Basil. Dream Basil should have collapsed with the rest of Headspace. Yet here he was in the lack of flesh, surviving his entire world being dissolved.

“Well, I do! Well. I guess I do. It’s sorta hard to tell to be honest?” His older, almost adult counterpart knew where this was going. In his younger years, he had always had a bit of a weakness for the existential nature of existence. To the point where he would be depressed for days on end, thinking the entire universe was a simulation. Grandma banning conspiracy theory tv helped a lot with that.

“Well, you can perceive things, be perceived,  and communicate, so you exist in all the meaningful ways.” Basil did his best to comfort his (new?) hallucination, trying to smooth back its messy blonde locks.

“Theirs no point trying-” The words died in Stranger's mouth as Basil touched his younger counterpart, smoothing back his locks. The pastel clone seemed to relax as he was comforted, eating this attention up. He was always desperate for any kind of attention he could manage, physical or otherwise. Okay, that should not be possible. For multiple reasons! 

“Trying to do what?” Both Basils were looking at him now. He shot them a fragile grin and waved it off with a scoff. “No use trying to tame that mane of yours. How many brushes have you broken trying to do it?”

“Too many…” He grumbled, thinking of how many attempts he had made to style his hair before. The wild curls that stood up in random cowlicks and starchy, course hair led to a mane that could fight back at any attempt to tame it. He had long since given up.

“So uh…about why I’m here..” The small Basil interjected shyly. “Is there anything I can help you with? I uh…I’ve been watching for a bit but you seem to have everything..together?”

“I have everything together?! Are you kidding me?” Basil laughed. Him having a hold of his life was a novel, almost comedic concept if it wasn’t so sad. “First of all I..”

He tried to list off his many faults and tribulations, but as he went through the list, he found himself lacking in misfortune. His friends had been reunited, so he was no longer alone. Sure it wasn't the same, but nothing remains the way it always was. Besides, even if they were all rough around the edges, he had grown to love these new facets of his dear friends, and enjoy his former bullies turn confidants.

The next thing on the list was, of course, his massive endless pit of guilt! But he had found that pool he used to slip into when he wanted to suffer was growing shallower by the day.  With the truth out there and Sunny by his side, he didn’t want to wallow in his misery anymore. Besides, he couldn't trigger his depressive issues like he used to.

Now that he thought about it, with therapy, and that slow release from the secret of his horrendous crime had done wonders for his mental health. But that wasn't the only reason. With the help of Polly and a fantastic therapist, he had slowly been making his way towards recovery. Would he ever be “cured” of all his issues? Well, no. That's not how the world worked. But anxiety didn’t have the stranglehold it used to. And he felt like progress was being made at least.

And just made him think of the biggest new thing in his life, Sunny. That stonefaced, sassy, lazy, silly man that he was falling in love with. Basil, for the longest time, thought that what he felt before was love. He was wrong. It was infatuation at best, a decent crush at worse? But now?

Now Basil wanted to spend every moment possible with Sunny. He didn’t enjoy just the romantic things they did, he enjoyed the small moments even more. A silly conversation about a cereal box. A fierce debate on what the best vegetable was. Ridiculous crack pairings were speculated upon as they washed dishes. These mundane domestic things just deepened the feelings he had for Sunny. He wanted to be there as Sunny grew into an even better person, and Basil wanted to grow with him. He wanted to be part of that process, and to be with him, helping and being helped, every step of the way. This was something more than puppy love.

Basil was no psychic, and the future was not set in stone. But if things kept going the way they were going, he felt like they would last. And even if they didn’t, he would still have someone near and dear to his heart that cared just as much.

“You know what? At the moment? Not really.” Basil couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. But they were true. “Sure the park thing is stressful, and cooking is way harder than taking care of plants... But those are things that’ll pass with some time and effort. A lot has changed and I'm…happy?”

Stranger finally said something “Why did that come out as a question?”

“Because I’m just as surprised as you are.” And he laughed. It felt easier and easier these days to find something to laugh about. Even the current situation he was in. He either looked crazy, or he had run from a wedding.

“You uh…sure? I was meant to help you with something. It’s the only reason he brought me back!” Pastel Basil was looking worried again. No that wasn’t right. He looked fearful. “I don’t want to disappoint him. Not again.”

“Who are you talking about exactly?” But before the smaller one could respond, Stranger slapped a hand over his mouth. 

“Oh, that doesn't matter! But if your afraid of not being helpful, I could always use a hand!” The silhouette's smile was a bit strained and was met with suspicion.

“You weren’t so nice last time we interacted…” He wasn’t wrong. He didn't exactly stop Omori from murdering him over and over like some mid-2000s flash game. But it had been all a means to an end. An attempt to wake the dreamer. Now he held no such malice, and no reason to let the poor thing suffer.

“That's fair. But circumstances have changed, but I could use your help.” And that was the truth. Besides, he wanted to separate the Basil’s as far as he could manage. Things were not as they were meant to be were in motion, and contact should be limited. At least until Stranger learned more

“....Okay. Only because Basil trusts you.” And before The older Basil could get a word out, the other two vanished. He stood there, flabbergasted, but shrugged and continued on his way.

At least all this would be a fun thing to talk about to his therapist about. Hopefully, he wouldn't bump up his medication again.

Chapter Text

“God damn it. We were here already!” Stranger grumbled, tossing his attempt at a map in frustration. They had been at this for hours, or what felt like hours to two beings who time meant nothing. “I swear the paths seem to be changing each time we follow down a path!”

Dream Basil just sighed and picked up the map, inspecting it. When Stranger told him he could be useful, this was the last thing he expected to be doing. Trying to find their way back to the Neighbor's room has proved to be a surprisingly large challenge. Even if his sheers could carve symbols into the dark rock that made up these crawlways, it did little to help them in their quest.

“We circled around I think.” Taking out a pack of crayons from his large overall pocket, he marked the path they had taken to the best of his memory. Ah, they had looked around. It wasn’t that they got turned around, it’s that it turned in on itself. “It’s a new branch.”

“Oh, that’s just fantastic.” Stranger sighed. This was getting no easier. He was made to never forget, sure, but remembering all this, while keeping it straight was another matter entirely. He would be endlessly thankful for the mint-haired fake. He had the same pockets Omori did, and had them filled with things that made his life a bit easier. The sheers, some crayons, a notebook, and a camera. 

“Why are you trying to map these tunnels anyway? Headspace is gone.” Basil said, sounding a bit sad, but not that torn up about it. He remembered his role, after all. He may like Omori, but he was still a bit peeved about the constant death thing. But on the other hand, he had brought them back! All of them. They could be happy again, right? Real basil was! But Hero seemed, unsure for some reason…

“Headspace is never gone. Fractured, sure.” Stranger gestured around. “But the dreamer still has an imagination! So it remains, even in this state. Of course, this awful invention could never fade away as it should. This is Omori’s handiwork, after all. And I have no idea what that little bastard is up to…”

“Hey!” Basil huffed, pointing at the silhouette. “Omori may have made a few mistakes before-”

“He has murdered you over seven dozen times.” But that factually correct statement went ignored as the kid continued. As if he didn't hear a thing

“BUT. He changed! He isn’t locking me away in Black Space anymore! He’s trying his best.” Of course, this younger reflection would be so forgiving of Omori. Then again he couldn't blame the kid, he was made that way! However, with the way the real Basil could touch him, something was different

“What exactly is he planning anyway?”

“HEY let’s try this way! According to the map, it’s unexplored!” Basil forced a giddy look as he walked off ahead, bare feet slapping against the oddly lukewarm rock. That’s what he expected. Stranger had asked a few times, however, he never got an answer.

Stranger got the feeling he should let it drop, for now. It’s not that he didn’t think that monochromatic piano goblin was up to something. There was no doubt in his mind that he was. Omori was not one to give up easily, and his stubbornness knew no bounds. He had merged with Sunny, yet somehow, managed to drag himself out to do all this. This had to be him! Stranger had seen some of Sunny in the white room, and he used his time to paint and dream pleasant dreams. This system of midnight blue tunnels was carved by other hands. But what were they for? They were clearly of Omori’s design, the hardened rock was as close to the liquid black of Black space as you could get. Yet it was hard. What was the point of all this, what was its utility? What purpose did these suspicious actions have? Rather blatant for something Omori did.

However, he didn’t want to push away his new ally. Dream Basil avoided any questions about where the others were staying. Hell, when he had accidentally let it drop that the other dream copies had been revived, just for the shortest of moments, he looked more terrified than he should have been. But after a few moments passed he relaxed. Maybe it was more that he couldn't say anything rather than he didn’t want to. 

Omori tended to have a very long reach when it came to the people of Headspace. In fact, he could feel some of that influence attempting to draw this Basil back somewhere. However, he had the ability to deny such influence, all without revealing himself to Omori. He can’t do that yet. He had influence, but he didn't know how much influence he had compared to that damn prepubescent pensive prick. And forewarned was forearmed

He followed after Basil, heaving a sigh. He could deal with that later. He needed a map of this damn place first. He knew there was more to this than it seemed, after all, it was connected to Basil’s mental space as well. That meant, that Sunny and Basil were currently connected via their subconscious and semi-conscious minds. How that was even possible was beyond Stranger. It shouldn't be possible, at all! Yet it was.

“Okay. Want to take a break after-” But as soon as he turned a corner, he saw why he no longer heard the slapping of Basil’s feet. Two doors stood, separated by just a few feet. One pink, and the other orange. It didn’t take a genius to puzzle out who was behind those doors. “Well damn! Good job, you found them. Not a good thing that they’re here, mind you, but still?”

“Found them?” Basil asked, confused as Stranger took the map from him, and put “A and K” at the end of this path. “Do you mean Aubrey and Kel? They are with Omori…”

“Your Aubrey and Kel are. These are the real ones. Their dream spaces to be exact.” Stranger pointed. “It’s like White Space. Every human has one. It’s where they dream.”

“Like Headspace?” 

“Hell no!” Stranger shuddered at the thought. “Headspace is its own thing. A sweet poison pill.”

“What do you mean? It was nice!” Basil protested, gesturing as Stranger checked the map again. “It had friendly people and so many places to go! How could that be a bad thing? Besides making Omori mad at me.”

“First of all, Omori is the one who did you dirty. Not the other way around.” Basil was about to protest, but Stranger put a finger over their mouth. “Shush. Look, I'll let you in on a little secret. But no interruptions. And no defending your crush. Got it?”

He pulled the finger away, satisfied with the pastel boy's nod and his deep purple blush. “Okay. Here’s the thing. Every human has a Dreamspace. A little room that has no limits to its walls and ceilings. They end up in this place when they sleep, their mind creating dreams to keep them stimulated while they rest.”

Stranger sat down, reviewing the map for any errors as they continued their explanation. “But. Headspace was outside of Sunny’s own Dreamspace, Omori’s room.”

“White space is a dream space?” Basil asked timidly. This was all so confusing, but despite that he was excited. He was getting to hear about the creation of his own world! A little freaky, but worse things could happen to you. He knew from experience.

“It was. Omori, the little prick, hijacked it.” Stranger mumbled, rubbing out some of the wax on the notepad and making a correction. “Sunny repressed the truth but was beginning to remember when he decided to act on his own.”

“He saw the festering pit to Black Space opening right outside the door, so he decided to meddle with things he shouldn't.”

“But isn’t-”

“Sunny isn’t Omori. Omori is a skin suit Sunny made in a dream, one that doesn't feel emotional pain so he didn’t have to. However, Omori got a mind of their own. They drained the properties of Sunny’s Dreamspace. Not for some selfless reason, for personal gain.” Stranger muttered. “And he built that damn Candyland right on top of my house.”

“...What are you, Stranger?” Basil had picked up on the implication of what Stranger had said. It was plainly obvious Stranger was different than any Dreamborn creature. But he knew so much and seemed to see a lot more than he could.

“That doesn't matter.” He handed the notepad back to Basil. “Omori wanted to keep the power he stole, as well as his existence intact. To do that, he needed to keep Sunny asleep, happy, and complicit. So he builds Headspace outside of the White Space, and over Black Space. But that was absurdly stupid.”

“Why is that stupid. Black space is scary.” Basil shook. For just a moment, he could feel the spiders crawling on him. His head split open and exploded into gooey pieces. The squeeze of an elevator. But he was brought back as Stranger drew him in. He blinked. The older, darker version of him had never been that touchy but was now giving him a side hug.

“I know. It can be. But It needs to exist.” Stranger sighed. “Sealing away Black Space like that was a mistake because what was repressed would just fester and rot away. Growing worse and worse, bigger and bigger, until it consumes the dreamer. That’s not what it was made for at all.” Stranger paused. "Besides, anything built out of dream stuff outside of the dream space is bound to fail. It's a foundation built on sand, except the sand is every bad memory you ever head."

“What is it made for then?”

“A safe space to face your demons.” He noticed the look he was getting. “Well, safer than the real world. It’s part of the subconscious, where your repressions and trauma’s resided so you can face them. It’s where humans work out their many, many issues. Sunny had an absurd amount, and before Omori came along, he was going to face them sooner than later.” Stranger frowned. “But Omori put him at ease, gave him what he wanted, not what he needed. And thus he rotted away in his room, his body turning to ruin.” 

“...did…did Omori know what he was doing was hurting Sunny?” Basil asked, timidly. He wanted to deny that what Omori did was wrong, after all, he wouldn't exist without him. However, if Basil's other Sunny died….Oh gosh, he couldn't live with himself.

“I don’t know Basil. I know many things, but knowing someone's true intentions is a different beast entirely. For all I know he thought he was doing well. Or maybe he didn’t care and just wanted to cut his own strings and be the one truly in charge. But he was doing his job either way. To emotionally stunt the Dreamer. Kep him safe and snug.” Stranger got up, offering a hand to Basil. “But looks like Sunny has grown beyond dreaming of a better future. He seems intent on building a real one. But I need to figure out what Omori is doing, lest Sunny almost die…For a third time.

“You know…You’re nicer than you seem.” Stranger seemed to be shocked by the notion. 

“Excuse me?” Strange scoffed. "You could not be more wrong."

“You act all abrasive, but I think you’re a softy!” Basil giggled as Stranger fumed. “Protecting Sunny, and Basil too! You act all smug and annoying but you really care huh?”

“Oh shut it. I’m trying to save my own skin. Nothing else.” Stranger stalked over to the doors, deciding on Kel’s. “And I basically kidnapped you!” He sounded harsh, but the dusting of white on his cheeks said something else. 

“Sure Mr.Stranger~” Basil replied, sing-songy and smug. Stranger to ignore this little prick and open the door.

He did not expect the two doors to lead to the same large dreamscape. He also didn’t expect its contents. The two were too busy violently making out to notice the accidental voyeurs. Dressed up as Sweetheart and Cpt. Spaceboy, no less. Stranger couldn't lie, Kel could pull off a dress better than he would expect. He had the hips for it.

“Huh?” Basil sputtered as Stranger clapped a hand over his eyes. “Hey! Get off of me!”

“Nope, you’re too young for this! We’ll come back later.” Stranger dragged the protesting pastel boy out the door. He made sure to shut it softly as Basil protested.

“I wanna see!”

“Not old enough.”

“I’m 17!”

“No your 12.”

“I’ve been 12 for four years!”

The voices got quieter and quieter as he dragged the curious boy away, leaving the two to enjoy themselves. After a bit, as both broke away panting, they noticed a newcomer. A dinosaurish woman in a blue hoodie. “Um…got room for another?”

Chapter Text

Kel had seen his brother nervous when he was younger, but this was an entirely different beast. Maybe it was because as of late, he confidently strode into every situation no matter how dire. Maybe it was because of how easy he could crank up that Hero brand charm and skirt past life’s tougher bits. Yet here he was, stress cooking away! He wasn’t going to tell him to stop though, because he was gonna have an amazing Hero Italian dinner.

“Here, taste this.” Kel flinched a bit as a ladle was suddenly pushed into his face, but he did as required. He smacked his lips and stroked his chin comically. “Needs a little more red pepper and oregano. Maybe a little basil to go with it.” He said, watching Hero taste the pasta sauce himself. 

“I…hm. Right as always. How do you manage to do that every time?” Hero scurried off, leaving Kel with the job of adding what was needed to perfect this sauce before it plastered plentiful pasta. Heh, Sunny was right. Alliteration always amazes! Anybody at all would agree! Huh, where could he go from there?

“Could you stir that please?” Oops, he was getting lost in his sauce (heh) there for a moment.

“Sorry!” Kel slowly stirred the simmering pot, he knew it would need babying for a while until it thickens up properly. Oh well, Hero was more useful in the kitchen than he was anyway, so he didn't mind being on stir duty. “I may not be able to cook all that good yet, but I had you and mom as cooks my whole life!” He scoffed, buffing his nails on his chest with preformative arrogance. “If I didn’t know what made things taste good, I would have had to be sleepwalking through every meal.”

Hero paused for a moment, looking at him like he had grown several new heads, but then just grinned. “To be fair, I always had a perfect taste tester my entire life. Have you been training Sally in the ways of the licked spoon?” He asked, grabbing the pork and beef mince from the fridge.

“I’m trying, but I’m tired of a toddler telling me my food is terrible.” That got another laugh out of his brother as he added the spices to the pasta sauce himself, tasting as he went. Anything to keep his brother from being overwhelmed. “She's more a fan of Sunny’s cooking. Anyway, what's left to do out here?”

Hero dumped the meat in a mixing bowl, rapidly adding spices to it in a near blur. “I have to form the meatballs, then pan fry them a bit before letting them bubble in the pasta sauce for a while. After that I need to check on the lasagna, make sure the cannoli are properly cooled and set, add the whipped cream to the key lime pie, and get the garlic bread ready to go after the lasagna is done..” He trailed off, adding the breadcrumbs and egg yolks as he began to violently mix it.

“Don’t you think you’re going a bit overboard here bro?” Kel grew a little concerned after hearing about the spread. That could only mean one thing, and that Hero was cooking instead of having a panic attack. “I mean, I know introducing Polly to them is a little bit stressful, but they’ll love her! If anything I’m the one who’s going to be under the microscope.” 

Hero, his loveable, perfect brother, had fucked up earlier today. While Kel was at camp and the rest were helping with the project, he bit the bullet and spent some time with their mother. The relationship had become strained, to say the least, and his parents had no idea how to handle this snappier Hero. He was trying to remain calm but it was like his eyes had been truly opened for the first time to how many digs his mother shot at his little brother. And this was the source of their new downfall.

Hero, that loveable, overstressed man had made a mistake in snapping back at their mother. When she had told him “Kel would be lucky to find someone to put up with him as a roommate, let alone a husband.” He may have run his mouth a little bit and said “Kel started dating before I got back on the horse again.”. This was a rather successful way to shut down her Kel nagging, but now, made her focus on the one thing she desired more than three children that were clones of Hero. Grandchildren. So yes, Polly, Kim, and Aubrey were coming over tonight to meet their parents. But there was one, small, really tiny problem

They didn’t know that Kel was polyamorous.

“I’m so sorry about that. It just slipped out.” Hero muttered, rapidly forming balls onto the wire rack next to Kel. He went to season the sauce himself but Kel interrupted him with a ladle. Confused, he tasted it. “...Well darn Kel that is perfect. Good job!”

“Hehehe, thanks” Kel grinned like a moron as he basked in the first culinary praise he had gotten in months that wasn’t based on pity. He kept stirring as Hero kept pumping out meatballs with gusto. “It’s not your fault dude. They were gonna find out one way or another. At least Aubrey and Kim will get a good meal out of it.”

Hero murmured agreeably as he stood next to his brother. Into the hot frying pan, the meatballs went, steaming and sizzling in the olive oil and garlic that had been awaiting them. Once they had browned, into the saucepot they went, replaced with fresh, uncooked meatballs. They had plenty of the suckers to get through, and they sat in silence for a while, brother to brother.

“So what's really been bothering you?” Kel asked out of nowhere. Hero was utterly taken off guard by the suddenness and the fact that he was utterly, totally correct.

“Am I that easy to read?” Hero asked, trying to laugh it off as he put the rest of the seared meatballs into the bubbling pot. They could stay there until dinner and they would be cooked perfectly. So he peeked into the oven, checking the Lasagna.

“I mean you came home suddenly in the middle of the night, with Mari’s cookies. Then you ask for a sleepover suddenly, and spend the rest of the time either talking to Polly, messing around with Sally, trying to keep mom off my back, or going to Fix-It, for some reason. And you got this whole panicked parent thing going on…” Hero didn’t comment as he added a bit more cheese to the top of the baking pasta dish, then just dumped a few handfuls onto it. This wasn't meant to be a healthy meal anyway, and it wasn’t on his dime! “I thought we agreed to no more hiding what we feel after last time”

Oh god, concern coming out of his happy-go-lucky brother stuck him harder than any blow could. Hero sighed, looking back. “Okay. Okay, we can talk about it. The Fix-It visits are for a surprise tomorrow” Kel quirked a brow, but allowed Hero to continue “But the rest is related, and it’s going to sound strange.”

“...Strange is sort of the norm these days ain't it?” Kel just grinned. “Aubrey is doing community service, Basil is getting more assertive by the day, Sunny got nipple piercings-”

“Excuse me what?” Hero asked, wondering if he was hearing things. But if Kel heard him, he pretended not to notice.

“and I got two lovely girlfriends. I’m not going to judge you for getting a little weird. Besides, it's good for you to not be “The Hero” and just be Hero for a while, you know?” Kel gestured with the ladle, splattering the countertop with red. “Oops.”

Hero rolled his eyes as he wiped the sauce up. “I’ve always been Hero, Kel. I don’t get what you mean.”

“I mean yourself. Not the version people and mom expect you to be. Not this picture-perfect, infallible, charismatic guy that everyone builds you up to be. What you are is my annoyingly smart brother, who despite his charisma and looks is still as goofy as the rest of us. Who will still get into arguments with me over Spaceboy lore, who will piss himself if he sees a spider.” Kel gestured with the non-ladle-wielding hand. “Besides, you are only human.”

“That was one time! But…” Hero sighed, shooting his brother a look. “Your right. It’s nice not trying to keep up appearances for mom.”

“I bet Polly likes “just Hero” eh?” Kel nudged his blushing brothers as he took out the lasagna to cool on the counter. Kel held out the breadknife as Hero took it, sawing the loaf they had purchased open in preparation for gods greatest gift to man. 

“Mhmm.” Hero grinned as he spread the butter to both halves, making sure it was nice and thick. Thank god he made this garlic herb butter ahead of time, they had to save all the time they could. “Quick question Kel, have you experienced anything weird lately? Like….hmm…supernatural.” He asked as he popped it into the oven.

As stilted as that sentence was, it was the best he could manage to get out. He waited for an answer as he berated himself for not being able to just ask it straight out. Then again how the hell could he ask if Kel was hallucinating? Yea, just go “Hey Kel, have you been hallucinating a younger version of me that somehow knew a recipe that had been lost to the ages, and spouted off some ominous stuff and then disappeared!” Yea, that would be perfect. At least he would get enough sleep in the padded cell to get rid of the new bags under his eyes.

“No not….hmm.” Kel stopped stirring, thinking hard. “Oh! There was Mini-Me!”

“Mini-Me?” Hero just looked at him strangely as Kel kept stirring the bubbling sauce.

“Yea, so I was coming home from practice, walking home because that morning mom was all like “when are you going to do something productive with your life? Hero already knew- blah blah blah. You get me?” Hero decided to ignore the mocking hand puppet and nodded.

“She got on you. Fair enough.”

“Aw someone isn’t being a momma’s boy today” Hero held up a finger, but slowly shut his mouth and put his hand down. He didn’t have to sound like it was so obvious. “Anyway, I was hungry and dehydrated so I started seeing some stuff. Not like, normal low blood sugar stuff like colors and sounds, and then you go down like a heap of bricks.

“Kel…” That sounded more than a little dangerous. Kel just waived it off.

“I know I know, I forgot my after-camp snack. But it was like, a little me! I was wearing that shirt I liked too!” Hero froze, hand still holding the oven door as he shut it. “You know, that color block one? I was dressed for our sleepovers! I had no idea I was so cute as a kid!. “ Kel laughed.

However, Hero just grew paler. He had met himself dressed for a sleepover, and so had Kel. Okay, that was strange but it didn’t mean anything! But even he wasn't going to deny the evidence piling up in front of him. “What did you two talk about? Orange Joe?” He tried to keep his tone light, but if he failed, Kel didn’t seem to notice.

“Nah. We just talked about the situation with mom and dad. How I’m not desperately seeking approval from our parents anymore, and how that dosn;t make me a failure.” Kel stared into the depths of the sauce as if it heald the answers. “It was cathartic. Talking to someone that understands you to the core. But just different enough from you that you can still talk it out, know what I mean?”

“....oh.” Hero sat down for a moment. His copy wasn’t lying then. Kel had seen a younger version of himself, who had talked him through his current problems. But that ominous warning kept ringing in the back of his head, the warning, being watched. Hero felt like there was something at play here, and there was no way he was going to break his promise to Mari again.

“Hey bro are you okay? You look like you saw a ghost.” He snorted a bit, Kel was half right. But his standard reassuring smile didn’t seem to put his brother at ease. He should just be straightforward and get this over with

“I’m worried. I had a reason for coming home so early this year.” Hero looked at Kel, inspecting him for something, before sighing. “Not a word of it out of the kitchen okay?”

“I sw-”

“Swear on Orange Joe.” Hero slowly placed a can onto the counter as Kel stared. Oh, this was serious. Stepping away from the saucepot, Kel placed one hand over his heart, and one hand over the can.

“I, Kel Perz, do solemnly swear on this holiest of drinks, that I will not reveal the things divulged to me by future doctor Henry “Hero guy” Perez inside this kitchen. If I break this sacred trust, may all my blood be replaced with bees, and may all Orange Joe turn to ash in my mouth.” Kel incanted, serious as a funeral.

“Okay. Good.” Kel stared at him, unwavering and unflinching. Seriously? He was going to make him say it. Fine. “ Consume the Joe and seal the pact” Hero repeated in a weary voice. And he did, violently and with a gusto that reminded Hero of Hector when it was dinner time. 

“Anyway. I saw a copy of myself too. Wearing those dumb striped pj’s that Mari liked so much. Hero sighed. “He talked to me about my own hangups, just like you, but he also warned me.”

“Warn you? About what?” Kel quirked his head in confusion. It was just a hallucination brought upon by too much running (or school-related stress in Hero’s case).

“That something was going on, and that you all could be in trouble.” Hero tried to be vague, for now. No need to worry them if this was all some silly little misunderstanding with himself and whatever he talked to. There was no denying it was its own being, but the rest was still hard to swallow. “I thought it was just my anxiety and me being a bit of a mother hen.”

“Hero you promised us that if any of our parents die you would adopt us.”

“A lot of a mother hen then.” Hero picked at the countertop, his anxiety being allowed to bubble to the surface. “But he told me two things that make me think it wasn't just some weird dream.”

“Okay Hero, I think the heat from the kitchen is beginning to get to your head a little” Kel gingerly placed his hands on Hero’s shoulder and tried to give him a gentle if pitying look. This wasn't the first time Hero cracked under stress, and it wouldn't be the last. But Kel, always the best middle brother, was prepared. “Let's get you laying down with a nice cup of cold water, then we can talk about your dream clone and its ominous warnings of the future.

“Kel, It knew Mari’s cookie recipe.” That reassuring face was replaced with surprise, then disbelief. “I spent years trying to figure it out and it knew. I think something is going on here.”

“...Okay. This is getting a little too weird and complicated for me. But if, IF, this all isn’t bullshit, and it was some weird time-traveling Hero clone.”

“Dream. It said it was a dream that was aware.”

“That is weirder than what I said! But either way, what can we do about these vague bad events upcoming? Did they tell you anything useful?”

“Don’t be upset but that’s half the reason I asked to have a sleepover.” Hero sheepishly admitted, trying not to look at Kel too much. “Dream Hero asked me if I knew what Sunny was up to during those four years. And that you and Aubrey have been visited. I figured it would be better to discuss this as a group. Just in case.”

Kel nodded but looked a little hurt by this. Why wouldn't he be? He had thought that it was to spend time with them again. “The other half is because I missed you brats. I promised Mari if anything happened to her, I would take care of you all. And maybe I’ve been slacking a touch on that.”

Kel's expression softened, and he was about to respond when the doorbell rang. They heard their mother’s heels rapidly heading towards the door. “Coming!” It begun.

They both heard the door open as they held their breath. “Oh, Aubrey! You look so amazing in that dress! Oh hello Kim, you look lovely as well.” The confusion was apparent in her voice, “Did Kel say you could have a plus one?”

“No. He said that his parents wanted to meet his girlfriend. So we came.” Both heard the snap of gum that punctuated Kim’s statement. The pause after was something magical, they could only imagine the look on their mother's face.

“So which of you is dating my blockhead of a son?” Her annoyance with this unexpected guest was obvious, but she attempted to veil it. Most likely it would be targeted at Kel later, like always.

“Yes.”

Another long pause rang out as Aubrey answered. Then they heard the crash of his mother dropping the plate she was carrying in shock. This was quickly replaced by scrambling noises, apologies, and the brother's father laughing his ass off. Oh, their mom was going to be sore about this later.

They would worry about talking this out later, maybe at the sleepover tommorow. But first, they would have to survive the night first.

Chapter Text

Sunny was a bit nervous as they walked up the block. This was his first sleepover in years after all. But if he was being honest, that was not what he was nervous about. No, that would be the location.

They were apparently spending the night over at Kel and Haro’s. Now, he had nothing but pleasant memories of that house, and their mother. It wasn’t a problem at all. No, it was what stood next to it that he wasn’t in a hurry to see. A home that was once familiar to him, one stuffed from the basement to roof with endless memories.

What he was afraid of wasn't clear. Was it trauma from all the time he spent indoors, tormented by the creation of repression with a taste in knives? Or was it that everywhere he looked it reminded him of his sister? Or maybe, just maybe, it was that he could never return there. It still stood, but to him, it was already beyond his reach.

“It’s all three,” Soni replied, appearing on his shoulder. “Honestly, it's a normal thing to be nervous about. Nostalgia does funny things to people.”

Sunny glanced at the blue hedgehog. He was currently resting on his shoulder, jittering like he always did. He would have told him off, to argue or reassure him depending on his mood, however, he couldn't talk to him at the current moment. Basil worried about him enough as is, and if he started talking to something that wasn’t there right now, he was going to be even more so.

“You okay Sunny? Your squeezing hard.” Basil asked, looking down at the death grip his hand was currently trapped in.

He nodded rapidly. He just had to convince Basil that he was, in fact, okay. That would be easy! He had been faking that he was okay for years! What was an hour or two on top of that?

“An anxiety disorder, maybe an aneurysm if you're lucky!” Soni replied, before turning to look at Basil. “He’s not doing good!”

Sunny rolled his eye and gripped his bag tighter. He wasn’t. He wasn’t spiraling or anything. Yet at least. But what could he do besides try and quell this as quietly as he could?

“Talk to your boyfriend? He's just as anxious as you are.” Soni looked at him, raising a fuzzy brow. “You said you would work through things with him, and he promised to tell you when he was feeling poor as well. It’s a little silly to not talk to your partner when you’re having issues.”

That was….a fantastic idea. Why didn’t he think about that?

“Because anxiety doesn't exactly lead to clear thinking. It leads to you imagining wildly stupid scenarios that will never happen to prevent you from doing anything about your current anxieties.” Soni replied to that thought, although he quirked a brow. “But isn’t this all your thoughts? I’m your creation, but I’m my own being, or at least I think I am. Are all my thoughts an extension of yours? Is independence a lie?! WOULD I EXIST IF NOT FOR SEGA?!”

There it was. The thing was now curled into a spikey ball of panic, sitting like a fat lump on his shoulder. He swore he was smaller.

“I’m not. Anxious.”

Basil blinked. This was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Well, Sunny being open and honest about his feelings was pleasant, not that he had negative feelings. He would never-  okay time to cut that train of thought off before it crashed off the rails.

“Well, what about?” Sunny looked stoic, but that didn't mean anything. He was always stoic, however, there was the faintest hint of heightened breathing rate and the tight grip on his hand. “Is it staying over with Kel and Hero? You haven’t talked to Kel in a while but you two seemed on good terms. Or is it Aubrey?”

“House.” Ah. There it was. Basil sighed and ran his thumb along Sunny’s thin knuckles.

“Is that why we haven’t gone over to Kel’s house yet?” Sunny nodded, and Basil pulled him a bit closer. “Okay, hun. How about this. You close your eyes, and I lead you there. Then you can open your eyes when we get you inside. You won’t have to see it.

“No.”

“No?”

“I need to see it.”

So there they now stood, before his old house. It was the same, but also, oh so different. “This is the worst possible thing I could have imagined.”

“Sunny!”

“Hideous.” And it was. The plain paint had now been replaced with the most garish pink you could imagine. Sunny was surprised that the sun reflecting off that melted barbie color didn’t burn the lawn to cinders. And it had GLITTER in it. Who in their right goddamned mind would put glitter paint all over a house? It was an affront to color theory and everything Sunny held dear. And the less that could be said about the Sweetheart lawn ornaments the better.

Basil laughed while trying to scold him. “Sunny. You shouldn't be so rude!” Sunny joined him. Some part of him ached when he saw it. It was part of him after all, a past he could never return to. It ached in the same way it did when he thought of the old piano or his violin. The sound of that unfinished duet or is sister. He would carry it, but it was bearable for now. Things change.

“SUNNY!” Sunny didn’t even bother to run. What was the point? No matter how hard he tried to, what would happen would be inevitable. He let go of Basil's hand and spread his arms wide.

“Remember me as I was.” Basil just rolled his eyes and let out a snigger as Kel sprinted from inside the house and enveloped sunny in a bone-crunching hug.”

“SUNNY! Man I missed you so much, I mean I know you’ve been in town and stuff but I’ve been so busy! But now we get to hang out again and do cool stuff like basketball or manicures or just throwing rocks! And now we get a sleepover! This is the best!” Sunny answered as best he could, that being wheezing out the last of the air in his lungs as it was violently wrung from his body.

“Um…Kel I think you're killing him.” Basil was concerned by the faraway look in Sunny’s eye as he slowly began to turn blue. Kel slowly looked down, his face a perfect picture of shock. As if manhandling his weakest friend could only end well.

“Oh! Oops!” Kel then dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Sunny barely managed to land on his face as he gulped in huge breaths of air. Basil relaxed a bit as Sunny glared Kel down as the tan boy poured apologies onto him. 

“Grudge.” Sunny turned up his nose, attempting to look down on the teen with a good foot on him.

“NOO! Sunny, don't do that to your boy!” Kel attempted to give his best puppy dog eyes to the noriette. However, Basil noted that he was failing as Sunny refused to even look at him as Kel jittered around, trying to catch Sunny’s reduced line of sight.

“Basil is my boy.”

Kel raised a finger to protest that he was, indeed, Sunny’s boy. But then he realized that Basil was more of a "the" boy to Sunny than he was. A shame. The tides had changed and this was the worst universe.

But the possibility of recovery was still there!

“Can I be your best bro then?...” Kel asked, desperation barely hidden. Basil did his best not to laugh as Sunny considered this, stroking his chin. Kel could run all day without the need for a break, but Basil had never seen him sweat more than right now. It was as if Kel’s existence depended upon this approval.

“...if you make me taller.”

“DONE”

Basil blinked as they shook hands, both wearing a familiar grin. That only meant one thing. Someone was about to get hurt doing something stupid. “Sunny no.”

“Sunny yes.”

did one more scan of the treehouse to make sure everything was perfect. Although he swore to relax a bit more when he came home, he had failed that almost instantly.

Hero was not built to be idle. As soon as he just sat and did nothing, it was like his skeleton began to vibrate. No matter how tired he was, or how much he disliked the task at hand, doing something was better than doing nothing. He took a sip of his now warm water and sighed. “I really need to get to a therapist one off these days…” He pitied whoever had to unpack all his compressed baggage. They were in for a rough time

However, the selected task of the day(s) was for a good cause, of course. The treehouse, although barely used, was a little bit of the past he wished to preserve. In fact, he wanted to hand it down perhaps. After all, what kind of big brother could he be if he didn’t spoil the hell out of his little sister, and maybe provide a hangout spot for their last year in high school. The summer was slowly beginning to fade as the days dragged on but better late than never!

The goal had been to just spiffy the place up a little bit. But as he usually did, he got a mite too invested and put far too much work into the place. He came out here to just replace some wood, maybe add a lick of paint and run some extension cords out there. But it was so damn chaotic to work with tools and he… Well, he spent far too much money and time on the place.

“And done!” Hero wiped his brow as he checked the last hammered plank. Flush, perfect, and oh so satisfying. He stood back near the entrance and admired his work. All of the worse planks had been pried up and replaced with fresh ones. They looked so clean, so perfect, and they violently contrasted with the old wood.

The color of the time-worn wood compared to the new planks wasn’t a big deal. It was a treehouse for gosh sake! It was okay for it to look shaggy. Safety was the most important thing. But as he felt the breeze on his back, and the different colors irritated him more, he decided a bit more work was in order.

.

That looked so much better. With a little bit of white paint on the walls and some sanding and staining of the floor, this place was looking so much better. He stood on the small balcony he had built, the new door propped open to let the paint fumes out as it finished drying, the new rope ladder swaying in the breeze. Perfect.

Except it looked strange to have fixed it up so much, yet it had no windows. But why would it need windows? It was a treehouse. It’d be silly to buy something as expensive as that to install in what amounted to an outside hangout spot. Dumb even.

.

Hero cleaned the last of the caulking off the window, making sure it was smooth. He grinned as he inspected his work. A few hours to dry and the windows will be installed. He leaned against the pully and winch he installed to get them up here with a grin. His work was impeccable! But it was time to pack it in.

But it was so dark inside already. It was barely 5! That was so dangerous, he couldn't let anyone get hurt because of that!

Okay. This was it. Hero climbed down the latter as he awaited the moment of truth. Flipping the newly installed light switch, the ceiling fan sprang to life. The lights illuminated the small space and the fan began to turn. A quick check of the second switch confirmed that it did, indeed, turn off the fan.

Okay seriously, that was all he was going to do to this place. He had been leading extension cords from his house to the treehouse, hanging them up in trees so they wouldn't get broken easily. He had run some wiring in the small space and had jury-rigged the ceiling fan. A little girl or group of teenagers could ask for nothing more!

…but it looked so barren…

“.....I overdid it.” He said, sipping the last of his water before tossing the bottle into the trash can. He got up from the couch he managed to winch up there and stretched. The small table they had made still sat in the middle, but with a rug under it and cushions to sit on it was much more comfortable. The mini-fridge hummed, full of Tasty soda and his brother's favorite. What didn’t fit in there was stuffed into a cooler full of ice. Most of what was not here was taken from a nearby second-hand store, however. The overstuffed beanbag chair was slightly stained, the tv and VCR were relics, but worked good enough and the space heater may be a little bit of a fire hazard, but the summer nights could get cold.

“I spent more money on this than I do myself…” He sighed. “Why do I do this to myself. I need to cut this out.” He said, trying to convince himself that it was the truth. That he would never overdo anything this badly ever again. He could almost hear Mari laughing at him for thinking that.

“I wonder how Mari would have decorated the place…” However, he had no time to ruminate, as he hear someone stomping up the path towards the treehouse. Walking out onto the new balcony, he observed chaos.

Aubrey and Kel were screaming at each other, neck and neck as they sprinted down the overgrown path. This was not strange, it was more of the fact that they were both carrying terrified boys on their shoulders. Sunny was clinging to Kel’s head, eyes wide with fear as he hunched over not unlike a cat. Basil was fairing no better, his scream cut off by a branch whacking him in the face. From the tangle of leaves and twigs in his hair, this was not the first time this had happened. 

Maybe it was Karma when they both tripped. Kel and Aubrey both went down like sacks of cement, launching both effeminate boys violently off their shoulders. They didn’t even seem to notice as they began to argue.

“Hah! I beat you here!’ Kel bellowed, grinning smugly as Aubrey spit out some dust and leveled a glare of her own.

“YOU won? What did you crack your skull? I got here first!’ 

“I think my everything is cracked.” Basil's whimpering voice rang through the now quiet clearing. Aubrey and Kel froze, Kel had a hand tugging Aubrey’s hair and her palm was planted firmly in his cheek, trying to push him away. That's when the sniffling started.

“NO SUNNY DON’T CRY!” And Kel was up again and running, only to trip again. Aubrey chose this moment to start laughing.

Hero just watched wistfully. “Mari these kids haven’t changed a bit.”