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Hello Uncle Time. This is Twilight, from Ordon. Your nephew. I was wondering if you maybe had a moment to chat?
Time is just the smallest bit ashamed at how long it takes for him to remember Twilight. When he tries to put a face to the text all he can come up with is big blue eyes and a mop of dirty blonde hair, tiny face looking up at him from all the height of Time’s thigh. The memory is faded, as most of them from back then are, and Time struggles to relate that little boy to the man who must be on the other side of the text. It’s been over a decade - nearly two, actually.
Goddess, has it really been that long?
Time stares down at his phone, a small frown on his face. A heavy weight settles in his stomach as he considers the implication of hearing from his nephew out of the blue.
Someone must have died. That’s the only logical explanation. His sister, probably. She’s his only real connection to that side of the family. And to call her a ‘connection’ is already stretching. But she’s as close as any, and the only one who’s passing would warrant informing Time.
As he calls the number and takes a seat in his living room, he wonders what his last words to her had been. Something meaningless and empty, no doubt. Even when they’d been on speaking terms their conversations had never been anything substantial. Time had never had much in common with her, and she never cared to ask about him in return.
And after his divorce and his sister’s ensuing “helpful” advice at that last family gathering-
Well. Time supposes it doesn’t matter now.
The phone rings several times, enough for Time to think he’d get sent to voicemail. But on the sixth ring there is a click.
“Hello? Uncle Time?”
Through the usual static of a phone call there is the voice of a young man, deep and strong. For a moment, Time is thrown by the difference. Knowing his nephew was in his twenties was one thing but hearing him as an adult is another.
“...Hello?”
“Yes,” Time puts his wonder to the side for now, “It’s me. Is this really you, Twilight? You sound all grown up.”
Twilight chuckles nervously over the phone, voice deep and steady, “Heh, yeah. I guess it has been a really long time, huh? So, how are you?"
Pleasantries first, Time supposes. His least favorite type of conversation. Although he won’t deny he is a small bit curious about what his nephew has been up to. Time’s issues were never with him. “I’m fine. Getting older, I suppose. But isn’t everyone?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Twilight still sounds nervous. Which is weird, since he was the one who reached out to Time. In the background Time can hear some voices, although it’s too low to hear the exact words. Although one of them sounds very familiar.
Before Time can ask about it, Twilight murmurs, “Hold on a minute.”
There’s a sound of a door opening and the background noise gets louder; more voices, some pots and pans banging, the sounds of a sports broadcast. Time hears his nephew talk to someone.
“-just a friend. Yeah. Yeah, okay. I’ll get on it in a minute. No, don't- yeah. I got it. I’ll be right back.”
There is the sound of old hinges and the smack of a doorframe before the noise is reduced and then there’s the chirping of crickets and leaves rustling.
“Sorry about that,” Twilight says into the phone, “I just went outside. Less noisy, you know. Sorry, I wasn’t expecting you to call. I mean, I guess I should have expected it since I texted you and all-”
“I understand,” Time says, cutting off Twilight’s rambling, “I apologize. Perhaps I should have just texted you back. You must be busy, after all.”
“Nono, it’s fine. And uh, not too much. It’s just harvest season right now so there’s lots to do.”
“You’re working on the farm?”
“Yeah. Not as a real job or anything. Just helping out. You know, family business type thing.”
Time hums. There’s a small lull in the conversation. Time gives it a few seconds before he just cuts to the chase.
“Twilight, can I ask why you called?”
Because as interesting as this small catch-up is, Time is getting impatient. He’s fairly sure Twilight isn’t about to deliver any bad news, since Time heard his sister’s voice just a moment ago. And if his sister isn't dead then he really has no idea what this is about. Money is Time's next best guess but he gives his nephew the benefit of the doubt.
“Yeah, of course,” Twilight answers with just the slightest bit of awkwardness, “I called - or I guess I texted, actually - because I wanted to ask you something.”
Time hums again. “And that something would be?”
Time could feel Twilight’s hesitation. He leaned back in his armchair, impatiently tapping his fingers on his armrest. After a few moments Time opens his mouth to speak-
“Do you still live in Termina? In that townhouse?”
Time frowns at the question. “Yes, I’m still here. Why?”
He hears shuffling across the line, a steadying breath. “Well, I was wondering if there was any chance that I could go out there and stay with you?”
Time’s eyebrows raise. That’s an unexpected request.
“Just for a little while?” Twilight continues, starting to ramble nervously again, “I won’t take up a lot of room. And I’m willing to pay rent and everything, too. Well, I’d have to find a job first, but I’d start job hunting immediately. And I could pay for my own food, if that's an issue-”
“Hold on,” Time interrupts him, “You want to come out here?”
There’s the sound of pacing footsteps over the line. “Well, yeah. If that’s okay with you, that is. If you say no that’s totally fine, too! I don’t want to impose.”
“I don’t mind hosting you,” Time tells him, “I’m just wondering why.”
Because this is very out of the blue. Time wouldn’t mind having his nephew over, goddess knows he has the space, but he can’t imagine why Twilight would be reaching out to him. Time hasn’t been involved in any family functions for years. They don’t even exchange holiday cards or the occasional text. It’s been so long Time isn’t even sure how much Twilight remembers of him; surely not enough to be anything but a stranger with a blood connection.
He can’t imagine Twilight is reaching out on a whim. Something about this wasn’t right.
“Why?” Twilight sounds even more hesitant, which did nothing to ease Time’s suspicions, “Uh, I guess I just want to get out of here. The county, that is. I mean, I’m just looking to get out there, you know?”
That answer sounds more like a question but Time doesn’t feel up to questioning Twilight. Interrogating his nephew seems like a poor choice. Especially since it’s clear Time’s caught him off guard by calling instead of texting.
So Time simply replies, “I understand.”
“You do?”
“Of course. I was raised in the country myself, you know. I understand the urge to get out and see more of the world.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Twilight murmurs, “That you were raised out here, I mean. Ma doesn't talk about you much. But anyway - that’s why I was hoping I could stay with you for a while. Not forever, of course! Just for like, a month or two, maybe? I just need a job and I’ll be able to get my own place. Or a roommate or something.”
“It’s alright. You can come down and stay with me for however long you need.”
“Really?” Twilight sounds genuinely surprised.
“Of course.”
“Oh,” Twilight breathes a small sigh of relief, “T-that's great! Thank you!”
“When do you think you’ll be coming down?”
“Soon. I’m thinking maybe in a month or so? I think I need to stay for the rest of the harvest season. But as soon as the farm’s been taken care of I can come down whenever.”
“Sounds good,” Time says, “I’ll prepare a room for you.”
“Thank you,” Twilight says again, sounding so genuinely grateful that it raises alarms in the back of Time's mind. “So, should I let you know when I’m ready and we can set up a date?”
“You can just let me know the day you’ll arrive,” Time responds wryly, “I’ll be here whenever you’re ready. No need to set up an appointment. I do live here, after all.”
Twilight chuckled, “Yeah. Right, that makes sense. Sorry. I’ll let you know.”
“Good,” Time resists the urge to tell Twilight to stop apologizing so much. He stands, back cracking, “Is that all?”
“Yeah? I mean, yeah. That's it.”
“Excellent.” Time climbs his stairs, planning out which room he’d give to Twilight. Probably the one he’s been sleeping in. It was the cleanest and he should move up to the third floor again if he’s going to have another person living here, anyway. “I’ll see you then.”
“You too. And thank you again!”
“No need to thank me,” Time finds himself smiling for the first time in quite some time, “You’re family, after all.”