Chapter Text
Soft, slow, and gentle, like a cloud flowing through the bright blue sky, the pastel-colored cream stretched across the iced layer on baked batter. Gliding up, down, and around, the white bag continued to squeeze out the contents in order to shape the artisan's delicate design. Each movement was deliberately precise. As elegant and graceful as a ballet performer's movements upon the stage, so too was the dainty diligent hands that formed intricate designs out of mere powdered cream, sugar, and butter. A few touches here, and a few more there, and the masterpiece was gradually coming into fruition. Another swirl exited the tip of the icing bag before it was lifted away from the sweet creation. Then, with careful hands, the artist twisted the platter, which held their creation, around; bright watchful hazel eyes observing every inch of the creation. No nicks. No smears. No accidental fingerprints. No sign of any of their work being rushed was present. This piece had to be perfect. It was going to be made for someone special, so nothing had to be out of place or disfigured. Once the artist deemed their creation as suitable, they released the plate that held their creation and stood up straight.
"Perfect." They mused aloud; wiping the icing from their hands with a rag.
Setting their sweet concoction on a glass stand, the artist carefully and slowly carried it through the kitchen and to the decorated dining area. Luckily with a open floor plan in such a small living area, it didn't take too long to travel from one room to the next. That, and it risked any chance of causing harm to their detailed hard work. This cake was this artist's greatest creation yet! And they would treat it like the most prized possession in the world. Even if it would become a devoured mess overtime, they would still cherish the present moment in all it's glorious display.
As soon as the glass dome was placed over the top, the jingle of keys fitting into the lock echoed from the foyer, followed by cah-chunk of the door handle being twisted. "I'm home!" A masculine voice called out. The sound of footsteps reverberated through the apartment complex as they rounded a corner. "Sorry I'm home late... the dinner rush was super busy. Plus, you know how weekends are, and--"
At that moment, the man of the hour stood still in the doorway. Copper brown eyes widened in surprise and awe as they flitted around each decoration within the room. A few colored balloons floated in the corner of the dining area while a milk while cloth was draped over the small table. Plates, silverware, and cups had been set out for three people while, the artist's crafted dessert set as the centerpiece. And then, there was the artist themselves: The young petite teen girl, who's face had a few dots of icing and powdered sugar on her cheeks, stood proudly, albeit slightly anxiously, by the decorated table. She cleared her throat before tossing a strand of long wavy brunette hair over her shoulder; eyes still fixed on the man of the hour. A wide smile stretched across their face as deep blue-green eyes sparkled with joy as they focused on the young man before them. Then, they stepped forward; wrapping their arms around the him in a gentle embrace.
"Happy Birthday, bro," they greeted.
"Thanks," he answered with a smile; ruffling the shorter one's hair with his hand. "But... Katherine, you didn't have to do all this."
"I know," the artist, Katherine, spoke, releasing her brother. Then, she grinned. "I wanted to though. You work so hard... you needed a break! Can't let you miss out on your special day, can I?"
"Aww, aren't you a sweet one. Not as sweet as this cake though." With that, the young man strode over to the table and crouched down to peer into the glass dome at the dessert. "It's so gorgeous! I don't think I even want to eat it."
The girl chuckled. "Guess the flies will have it all to themselves then." The two siblings shared a laugh at the joke before the young girl continued. "Anyway, I invited Kenzie over too. She should be here in a little while, and then the three of us can chow down and tear this cake apart!"
Silence filled the air for a brief moment as dismay started to fill the atmosphere; completely overshadowing the original gleeful celebratory feeling around the two siblings. A frown had begun to curl on the lips of the young man while his gaze softened; glancing around at the table set for three. It didn't take but a few seconds for Katherine to catch on to her brother's expression, and her smile fell also. Confusion began to settle in her being as she watched her older brother straighten up and glance aside. Was there something she didn't know? She had planned this day for almost a month now, and had even used her own savings to buy the ingredients and decorations! While she wouldn't admit it aloud, she forwent her homework just to spend the entire day preparing the apartment for her brother's arrival. His expression upon entering was worth the wait and hours of preparation; only to be soiled by this sudden air of disheartenment.
"We... we are going to have all three of us tonight." Katherine began, breaking the silence. "Right, Joe?"
The young man inhaled deeply before releasing a heavy sigh and turning to his younger sister. "You don't remember?"
Blue-green eyes blinked, perplexed by the question. "No...? Should I?"
"This is Dad's weekend. Not mine."
All hope and joy that had been growing in the young girl's being had immediately ceased before it was able to blossom. Eyes widened in disbelief as her thin arms dropped loosely down at her sides. The one day--the single day this past month--she had been preparing for was ruined by that realization. Had it not been for the legal agreement between their parents, she would have been enjoying the evening with her older brother and older-sister-figure. Nope. All that hard work and hours she put in was worthless at this point! Sure, there were some conveniences when it came to the legal agreement, but it was certainly inconvenient at the most important times. Especially for days like this one!
Frustration beginning to boil, the young girl growled and furrowed her brow. "Can't I just go tomorrow?? One day. Just one day. I just-- urrgh! It's not fair!"
Joe sighed. "K.C.--"
"All because of some stupid document signed by a court!"
"K.C.."
"I mean, it's not like you're some fugitive or on the lam or anything! And, I don't blame you for not wanting to be part of the family--It is a lot to handle over there--, but... why can't Dad make an exception for tonight?!"
Joe sighed and ran a hand through his thick chocolate-brown bangs. He was silent for a moment; mostly to format his words carefully, before beginning in a calm controlled voice: "K.C., listen, I know you're upset, and I can see that you put a lot of effort into all of this." He extended his arm; sweeping it through the air as he gestured to the decorated dining area. "But, you know the situation. Rules are rules. Remember the last time we disobeyed the mandate."
Katherine's expression softened as her shoulders drooped. It wasn't long ago--about a few years. She, her brother, and Kenzie had gone on a camping trip for a week, and had planned to return home by the weekend. However, they arrived home late that Friday, and an exhausted Joe decided to drop his sister off at their parent's mansion the following day. Little did the siblings know that they would be met with a court order to pay fines for violating visitation laws. It was stingy actions like this that gave Katherine justified reason to dislike her parents, namely her father. He wasn't neglectful or abusive. Just petty. She had a hunch that her father just wanted to find ways to give her a brother a hard time. As if disowning him wasn't enough. Joe had planned to go to college, and had worked his tail end off saving up through high school just to avoid paying too much for student loans. However, all that money eventually went towards obtaining a lawyer and fighting for shared custody of his sister when his mother was absent. Now, he was working at a rather high-end restaurant downtown just to be able to keep the roof over his head and a stable living area in order to prove that he was able to take care of his sister. Luckily, despite the malicious feelings between father and son, permission for visitation was granted to the twenty-year-old. Despite the corners that were cut, Katherine still didn't find the treatment to be fair. But, that was life, she supposed.
With a defeated sigh, she uncrossed her arms from her chest and looked away. "I know, I know..." Her cheeks puffed into a light pout. "It's still stupid."
A light half-hearted chuckle came from her brother, Joe, though it did very little to clear the tense air within the room. "Well, how about you go pack your things. I'll give Jarvus a call to meet us at the usual spot."
A disappointed groan rumbled from the girl's throat as she begrudgingly turned to cross the room to the hallway. She knew the routine well enough--she always had her suitcases set up near her bedroom door for the inevitable moment she would have to pack them every week.
Just before she could disappear around the doorway, however, her brother's voice called out to stop her: "K.C.?"
Turning halfway, she glanced over her shoulder, and blinked; waiting for Joe to continue his statement. The young man merely gave his sister a warm smile and strode over to her. Without another word, he leaned forward and embraced the shorter girl and a loving hug. A copper-skinned hand reached up to brush back the mess of curly locks on the back of the girl's head. The latter, in turn, returned the embrace; wrapping her arms around Joe's lean torso and resting her head against the front of his shoulder. The two held each other in silence; young Katherine never wanting the moment to come to an end. Of course, her realistic, albeit slightly pessimistic, mindset reminded her that things wouldn't be that way for long. All she had were the "if only"s to accompany her in that time.
"I'll save a slice for you," Joe spoke up softly, breaking the silence.
A light unlady-like snort was the first response, but the young girl couldn't help but smile. "Just don't swipe the icing off with your finger."
"Not making any promises~"
"You suck!"
With that, Katherine straightened up and playfully shoved her older brother way. The two shared a laugh, Joe briefly catching his younger sister in a headlock to ruffle her hair with his knuckles, before releasing her and nudging her through the doorway. A few steps down the hall, passing about two doors on the way, she entered her bedroom. Technically, in the complex floorplan, it was the "guest room". Well, she was certainly a guest in the apartment from time to time, so, regardless of what fancy name given to the room, Katherine had dubbed it her own. It had been decorated to her liking with everything that would fit a casual teenage girl. Nothing snobby or or uppity socialite-like to taint the walls in here! Though, by tomorrow, she would have to slink back into that sort of room. Grimacing at the thought, Katherine picked up her suitcases from beside the door and tossed them onto the bed. As much as she wanted to take her sweet time packing her necessities away, she knew the rules and didn't want her brother getting in trouble with another fine. Once her clothes and toiletries were neatly tucked inside the confines of the luggage bag, she leafed through the pages of her notebooks, smiling at the cropped and trimmed photos she had organized onto the pages. All were of the trips and memories she shared with her brother, mostly. Even if they were short and brief, it was like looking forward to the next big adventure she'd have upon visiting.
"K.C.?" Joe's voice echoed from down the hall.
Startled out of her reverie, the young brunette girl topped off the last of her belongings in the suitcase before sealing it shut. Responding with a quick "I'm coming!" she hurriedly raced out of the room to meet up with her brother. All that was on her mind was the slow trudging journey to what might as well have been Alcatraz. Okay. Maybe that was an exaggeration. Of course, that didn't mean that the hoity toity society felt that way sometimes. Sucking in a deep breath and releasing it, Katherine mentally prepared herself for the trip back to the mansion. One would think after getting used to the routine, she would be desensitized to the feeling. With each passing year though, it only seemed to feel worse. She only prayed that some day--somehow--she could find the place to surface from the dark abyss and break through, if only to swallow a deep breath of fresh air.