Chapter Text
At nine years old, fWhip knew everything and was ready to take on the world (unless that meant taking on Gem, because she could still kick his butt in a fight - older sisters are so annoying).
Unfortunately, his own awesomeness didn’t prevent stupid things from happening, like meeting his half-brother.
fWhip wasn’t excited to meet his new sibling, far from it in fact. He hadn’t wanted his mom and dad to split up and he definitely did not like his mom’s new husband, the ex-prince of Mythland.
His mom hadn’t spoken much about his stepdad’s past, but fWhip heard plenty of rumors. His stepdad used to be married to the Mythland queen, and then he had cheated on her with fWhip’s mom. Gem had already told him that it was irrational to blame their stepdad for everything that had happened because their mom had taken part with complete consent and her marriage to their father had been rocky at best as before the affair, but fWhip didn’t really care.
He hated his stepdad, and he already knew he hated his new brother.
Since the divorce, fWhip hadn’t seen his mother as much. His dad had gotten full custody. fWhip’s mom had explained that this was because he and Gem were still royal heirs and were expected to be at the castle learning their duties, and she had thought it best to give up custody and only maintain rights to visit or take them out, occasionally. fWhip missed his mom, and the last thing he wanted to do was waste valuable time with her meeting her new family.
Unfortunately, his mother did not budge on their meeting, and so fWhip found himself sitting at the dining table waiting to meet the kid who’d stolen his mother away.
Gem was seated next to him, as cool as collected as ever. She’d become way less fun since turning twelve.
“Now, fWhip,” His mother said, tone stern, “You’d better be on your best behavior.”
“I’m always on my best behavior.” fWhip replied.
His mom sighed and turned to Gem. “Geminitay, this goes for you as well.”
Gem nodded, and they both knew their mother only mentioned Gem to make it seem like she wasn’t targeting fWhip, specifically. Gem was an angel to most everyone’s eyes - not fWhip’s, she was his big sister after all.
The door opened and fWhip tensed.
“Honey?“ His stepfather took a few steps into the house and smiled when he caught sight of them all at the table.
fWhip’s mom stood to greet his stepdad. “Hello, dear.”
“Gem, fWhip, I’d like you to meet my son. This is Myth-”
“Just Sausage!” A boy interrupted, appearing at fWhip’s step father’s side. He looked around, a defiant expression on his face. “I’m Sausage!”
Sausage was a small boy - he was only six - but his tiny body somehow held a loud and boisterous voice. He had brown hair that seemed to stick up every-which-way. He also had a streak of dirt on his face. Dirt .
fWhip’s mom smiled at the kid. “Hello, Sausage. These are my children, Gem and fWhip.”
“Nice to meet you.” Gem said pleasantly. She stood and moved to shake Sausage’s hand. Sausage eyed Gem, which made fWhip prickle. Then a large, bright smile crossed the boy’s lips.
“Nice to meet you, too!” Sausage said, shaking Gem’s hand with force.
Gem smiled back, always so polite, and sat down.
“fWhip, is there something you’d like to say to Sausage?”
fWhip could barely refrain from making a mean face as he sullenly said, “Hello.”
“Uh.” Sausage tilted his head, smile fading. “Hello.”
“I’m so glad the three of you could meet!” fWhip’s mother exclaimed. fWhip was certain her enthusiasm was forced, but he stayed quiet.
Sausage’s dad went to sit next to fWhip’s mom and he instructed Sausage to sit next to fWhip. fWhip did not like this one bit.
Their parents kept up the conversation throughout the meal. Gem played along like a good daughter, but fWhip only glared down at his plate as he ate.
He hated this.
He hated his parents for getting a divorce. He hated his step-dad for marrying his mom. He hated Sausage for being a new, unwanted brother and for becoming his mother’s new son. He even hated Gem, just a little, for acting like all of this was okay.
“fWhip,” fWhip’s stepfather said, “Your mother was telling me that Gem has gotten into architecture. Sausage enjoys architecture, too!”
“Good for him.” fWhip muttered as he glared down at his plate.
“What kind of architecture do you like, Sausage?” Gem asked.
“All types, but mostly Medieval.”
“That’s a popular style in Mythland, right?”
“Yep!” Sausage cheerfully answered. “I’ll show you sometime!”
Gem grinned at Sausage, and fWhip could not explain the pang of betrayal he felt when he saw her expression was genuine.
It was the kind of smile that she usually directed at fWhip to cheer him up, and he did not like seeing her direct it at Sausage.
Something inside him snapped.
“I’m going outside.” He said and he stood abruptly, shaking the table.
“fWhip-”
fWhip ignored his mom and left the house. He slammed the door behind him and stomped out towards the front of the property.
His mother’s new home in Mythland was more secluded than fWhip was used to, and he didn’t want to risk getting lost in the Mythland forest that surrounded the home so he stayed near the path.
“fWhip!”
fWhip paused at his sister’s voice. He was still fuming, but he waited for her to catch up with him.
“Are you okay?” Gem asked, voice quiet.
“How can you be alright with this?” fWhip demanded. “Mom has a whole new family now. What, are we supposed to like them?”
“Mom is really trying,” Gem replied, “I know she doesn't want to upset us, but our step-dad is part of our family, whether we like it or not.”
“Sausage, too.” fWhip added, bitterly.
Gem frowned at him. “What’s wrong with Sausage?”
“He’s annoying.” fWhip answered. “He’s too energetic and loud. I don’t understand. Was Mom really that unhappy with us that she had to get a new kid?”
fWhip made the mistake of glancing up at Gem. He caught the way her expression softened with sympathy and it made him all the angrier. She put a hand on his shoulder.
“Mom’s not replacing us.” She said gently. “She’s not replacing you . She might love Sausage now, too, but you’re always going to be her son. Whatever happened between her and Dad - that wasn’t because of us.”
To his absolute mortification, tears began to well up in fWhip’s eyes. He turned away, blinking furiously.
“I hate that you’re so okay about everything.” fWhip admitted.
Gem was quiet for a few moments before she replied. “I’m not.”
“You’re not?”
“No,” Gem murmured, shaking her head. “I’m not. I’m trying not to be upset, though, because I know that you’re upset and I don’t think that being upset is going to help at all. I want to try to be happy, for Mom’s sake at least.”
“But how can you just ignore it all?” fWhip asked. “I just get so angry.”
Gem shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, fWhip. It was hard at first, but I just keep reminding myself that it will get better soon.”
fWhip couldn’t help but feel disappointed by Gem’s response. It was so unhelpful.
He did feel a little bit better to know that Gem wasn’t as adjusted as she was pretending, but he still didn’t know how to deal with his emotions and resentment towards his mother’s new family.
Neither fWhip nor Gem said anything for a while. fWhip thought that Gem was probably thinking over everything just as he was. It was nice for them to have a moment of quiet.
Pounding footsteps broke their silence and fWhip barely had enough time to prepare himself before Sausage came into view.
“Gem!” Sausage called, waving, “fWhip! Mom and Dad say it’s time to come in for dessert!”
Gem started walking back towards the house, but fWhip froze.
Sausage had said ‘mom.’
fWhip was infuriated .
He couldn’t find the words to express how angry he was, so all he could do was watch Sausage chat happily away with Gem.
Maybe Gem could pretend this was all fine, and maybe fWhip could even learn to do the same, but he would never be okay with this.
No matter what, Sausage would never be his family.