Archive of Our Own

Brooklynn and Darius find themselves alone on a snow glider in the middle of the forest after saving Big Eatie from a falling tree. Yeah, what a way to start, right?

Anyway.

Yaz is, by this point, the designated meddler in their gaggle of friends. Despite all that’s going on around them, Brooklynn can’t believe the girl not-so-subtly made herself, Sammy, and Ben scarce so she and Darius can have a moment to talk.

And boy, do they need to talk. 

The last few days somehow felt like one big blur and the longest days of her life simultaneously.

Maybe we should start there?

Yeah, that sounds good.

---

The moment Mr Kon revealed himself, Brooklynn instantly didn’t trust the man. Of course, she doesn’t know him from squat, but regardless, she didn’t trust him. With Tiff, Mitch, and Hap, she had been right that they were up to something. With Mae, she may have been off, but she was right to suspect this island had something to hide ie. Kash and the dinofights.

So regardless of her lack of familiarity with the man, she doesn’t feel she’s wrong to suspect him of being duplicitous. He is in charge of Mantah Corp, after all.

But then, he’s Kenji’s dad. And, despite how he spoke of the man before, Kenji seemed so happy to see him. She can’t say she blames him- if she saw either of her dads again, she’d literally never let them go.

Still, that does nothing to make her trust him more. If anything, it raises her suspicions even more. Why would the man who has the resources to have his own dinosaur island not use it to look for his son? Why does he have someone like Kash working for him? How much did he know about what’s going on here?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

After a refreshing shower and much needed root touch-up, Brooklynn is feeling better than she has in months. You know, sans the low-level dread she feels thinking that Mr Kon is up to something. She voices as much to Sammy, and the pair do get their chance to have their own little investigation. See, Mr Kon told them they had to wait a few days before he could send them home and pretty much hid behind Kenji to persuade them not to make a big deal out of it. Like, maybe it’s not intentional, but that was certainly not a pleasant conversation.

Since Kash is safely locked up in the nursery, Brooklynn and Sammy go have a little chat with him. Sammy finally confronts the guy about what he did to her family, and after a little persuasion, tells her that Mr Kon is the one she should direct her anger to.

So, you really can’t blame Brooklynn for assuming the worst right? Right.

The two girls head to the man’s office, to see if what Kash said is true, and lo and behold, they find a file that confirms that he does indeed own their farm.

It’s a shame Mr Kon found them right at that moment.

He tells them that he bought Sammy’s family’s debt and made them the island’s meat supplier, which all sounds well and good. But his follow up, about how sad Kenji would be if he knew his friends were sneaking around just made Brooklynn even more convinced about who this man really is.

As an influencer, she’s had to encounter her fair share of shady business men. They talk all sweet, but what they’re really telling you is how they’re going to exploit you and how you’d be a fool not to do business with them. The conversation isn’t exactly the same, but the slimy feeling she has afterward certainly feels the same.

When they met up with Kenji later, she made sure he didn’t find out about it. Why worry the guy, when really, all Brooklynn has to go on right now are bad vibes?

Then Kenji dropped the bombshell that his dad is still going to do the dinosaur fights.

Turns out, though, the taller teen had a plan to convince him to reconsider, which thankfully, he did. The plan wasn’t straight forward by any means, but it turned out okay, so it’s all good.

That same evening, they all have a small ice-cream party to celebrate, Kenji beaming the whole time.

“My dad wants me to help him out with his investor meeting tomorrow!” He tells them enthusiastically. The words, which should make Brooklynn happy for her friend, really gives her pause. She chances a glance at Darius, the other notoriously suspicious person in their group, and he meets her gaze immediately, an unspoken understanding comes between them. They avert their gaze, lest one of the others- or worse, Kenji- sees and asks what’s up.

After a while, they all turn in, but before she goes into her room, a hand stops Brooklynn.

Darius.

Oh. Cool. Are they gonna talk about how absolutely off Kenji’s dad seems? She sure hopes so, otherwise, she might explode from not sharing her suspicions with anyone else.

“Hey, uh… Brooklynn?” He starts, his voice wavering for some reason. She puts a hand up stopping him, sure of what he's gonna say.

“I think I know what you’re gonna ask me, and the answer is yes.” She says confidently. 

“What- Really? You–”

“Absolutely. Maybe we should shower and stuff first before we talk, yeah? Meet me back here in ten?” The guy nods at her, a shy smile on his lips. It’s really endearing, if not confusing.

They part ways and ten minutes later, right on cue, someone knocks on her door.

Standing there is Darius, clearly freshened up… and holding a pillow and some blankets.

“What… what are those for?” She asks, definitely confused now.

“For the sleepover?” He says plainly, like it was obvious.

Oh. Wait… Is that what he wanted? And she went and said ‘yes’ without thinking…

Granted, she isn’t opposed to the idea. All of them have been sleeping in a group for a while now, so it would be pretty hard to adjust to the idea of staying in a room by yourself. Honestly, she was kind of dreading the idea of sleeping alone, despite how absolutely comfortable the bed is.

She wonders if Darius really does have suspicions of Kenji’s dad, or if that look they shared was him wanting to sleep over. 

Now she’s confronted with the idea that Darius thinks she also wanted to have a sleepover with him and, without hesitation, said yes.

Her face flushes until it’s the same color as her hair.

“Brooklynn? You don’t look so good.” Darius sounds concerned, the boy reaching for her forehead, probably to check her temperature. Without thinking she swats it away, earning a surprised look from the other.

“I’m good. My AC isn’t working right now. Maybe… Maybe we can use the lounge? The couches are pretty big.” She really hopes she sounds convincing, but judging from how hot her ears are burning right now, probably not. Darius doesn’t so much as flinch.

“Yeah, okay.”

Oh, thank goodness.

In the lounge, Brooklynn and Darius are greeted with the adorable sight of Kenji and Ben already sleeping on a couch, both of them upright and leaning on each other. If Brooklynn had a working camera phone (let’s not dig deeper into that again, thanks) she’d snap a few shots- Partially for how cute they look, but mostly so she can tease them later for it.

Darius moves first, going over to his bros, and putting one of the blankets he brought over them. Brooklynn smiles at the sight. The three of them are so close. If you told her months ago, back when they all first met, they’d be as close as they are, she’d have laughed at you. Now, it’s hard for her to think of them not getting on as well as they do.

The lingering thought about Kenji’s dad being shady rears its head and, for the first time today, she ignores it.

She was so ready to have a discussion with Darius about it- to figure out what the man’s angle is and how much they can really take what he says to heart. Still, after that adorable display, she decides against bringing it up.

Brooklynn quietly settled in, lying down on one of the couches. It really isn’t all that comfortable, but it’s more comfortable than if she tried sleeping in her room alone, not finding any rest. 

Before she drifted away that night, a blanket was draped over her as well, and even though she wanted to bury her face in her pillow from the embarrassment she felt, Brooklynn smiled at the gesture.

---

The next morning, despite the chipper attitudes and smiles from everyone else, her desire to discuss the Mr Kon situation becomes too strong to ignore any longer.

It’s a good thing then that Darius, finally, was on the same page as her.

Thing is, Darius brings up some good points that’ve been putting a damper on Brooklynn’s otherwise gungho attitude: 1- suspecting the man without proof won’t get them anywhere, and 2- telling Kenji before they get said proof would really put a strain on their relationships with him.

So, they do what any sane person would do: investigate on their own.

Ben, to Brooklynn’s surprise, joins them. The other boy is a suspicious person to begin with- he doesn’t trust anyone new, and after what he went through, none of them can blame him. Still, considering that Kenji is his boyfriend, it certainly was strange to her he was so willing to come along.

Especially since he and Kenji had a date planned for that evening. 

Brooklynn totally gets it- if she were in a similar situation, she would still sleuth around regardless- but even if it isn’t her date, she worries about their timeliness regardless.

One strange encounter with Mae, followed by the insane revelation that Kash has been freed, the three eventually do find themselves back at the compound with time to spare before the date. Then came the discovery of strange drone activity.

Ben still insists he comes.

“You sure you want to come?” Brooklynn asks.

“Yeah, it’s almost 8:30. What about your date?” Darius reminds him.

Ben, regardless, goes along, saying what they’re doing is too important to simply look the other way. Still, Brooklynn wonders if it’s the right call. Ben may be skilled in a myriad of things, but between Brooklynn and Darius, they could probably handle whatever is out there.

That, and, she’d like some alone time with Darius.

Sure, she was presented with the opportunity last night with their ‘sleepover’ misunderstanding, but considering how flustered she was, she wouldn’t have been much of a conversation partner. The walk to where the drones are would be the perfect opportunity for them to talk some.

And boy, does she have some stuff to say.

Brooklynn has decided that, at long last, she wants to confess to Darius.

She’s really not sure how that conversation would go, and honestly, she’s terrified to find out. But Ben and Kenji seem to be doing well, and so have Sammy and Yaz. If their friends can handle having relationships regardless of all the crazy going on, then certainly she and Darius can. Although, that also depends on whether or not Darius even has feelings for her. The guy seems interested in one thing and one thing only: Dinosaurs. And the entire time they’ve known each other, it’s not like they’ve been in want of the giant lizards. Brooklynn isn’t sure she’d be more interesting than a sinoceratops.

Still, she wants to confess. Their lives are in peril near constantly, and even though the last few days have been relatively quiet, if they’re right about Mr Kon, things could do a 180 at a moment's notice.

She just isn’t sure when to do it.

This little walk might have been perfect. It’s just that Ben is here instead of getting ready for his date. Great.

Once they get to where the map said the drones were, they are greeted with the heartbreaking scene of Big Eatie being controlled against her will, the one controlling her being Kash. Mae looks horrified and helpless, and frankly, so are they. Deciding that they’ve seen enough, they head back.

Then the drones seem to mess around, bringing velociraptors and a t-rex to block their path, for whatever reason. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who is behind it- Mr Kon. They almost died several times during this little outing, and if nothing else, it simply solidifies their position that the guy is no good.

Now, how are they gonna break this to Kenji?

---

Turns out breaking it to Kenji proves to be as difficult as they thought.

First of all, catching the guy proves to be a challenge. When the trio made it back to the compound, the taller teen was nowhere to be seen. They finally tracked him down to the investor party on the roof, so they didn’t bother him.

Note: Maybe kick Kenji in the shin for calling Darius ‘kid’ again and Ben ‘clingy’, even if it was in a conversation with strangers. She knows it would probably be explained really easily, but seeing Kenji revert back to how he was months ago, even briefly, put a bad taste in her mouth.

Especially since she considers the guy a kind of brotherly figure. That's a whole thing she won't get into, but all she's saying is she trusts the guy implicitly- she really thought he changed from the arrogant braggart he was before. She knows he is, but...

Anyway, what they found can’t be easily dismissed, so even if it hurts, it’s something Kenji needs to hear.

Thus bringing us to reason two as to why telling him would be difficult: Kenji won’t listen.

Well, honestly, why would he? Sure, he and the rest of them have spent nearly every day together for the last six months, but Mr Kon is his dad. She’s not sure she could easily believe a story about either of dads being evil. I mean, here they are, telling him the man is up to no good, with nothing but their recollection as proof. Granted, he could try to understand that they wouldn’t have brought it up if they weren’t sure, but still. It’s understandable.

It doesn’t make the disappointed look in his eyes hurt less, though.

So, to chase away the unpleasant feelings, they visit Mae, where she gives them some very valuable information about the control chips Kash is using.

Kenji… wasn’t too happy about that. Again, she gets it, but after being on the receiving end of his ire more than once, it seems really clear to her that no matter what they say, the guy will just see them as meddling and his dad the man who hung the moon.

Brooklynn had a moment where her faith in her dad was tested, too.

Her father was out of town for work, and she caught her dad talking to some other man in their house alone. Now, she had no reason to assume the worst, but really, it didn’t look all that innocent. They were sitting right next to each other while there was so much room on the couch, and they were smiling and laughing a lot.

But she remembered how much her parents loved each other. She remembered how much they loved her. She remembered how much they sacrificed to be able to raise her and to have the home they have now.

So she didn’t say a word. She didn’t stop worrying that this was the beginning of the end, but her faith- in her dad and his love for her father- would not waver.

Turns out the guy was his cousin, and she simply hadn’t met him before. She was introduced to him at their next family reunion, and the whole time, she couldn’t meet his eyes.

So yeah, sometimes faith is rewarded.

It sucks that Kenji’s faith in his dad, ultimately, won’t go rewarded, as far as Brooklynn can tell.

And she’s worried that her- and everyone else’s- faith in Kenji won’t be rewarded either.

---

It sucks being right sometimes.

She was right on both counts.

At first, she thought that when his dad basically went back on his word about doing the dino fights that Kenji would try to stop him. She hoped he’d join them in freeing the dinosaurs from the investor’s control, but instead, the taller teen tried stopping them instead.

The way he screamed when thought something happened to his dad was heartbreaking. And, so was the way he turned on them after- even though his dad was fine and all they were doing was finishing what they started.

Then… he threw them all in a cell.

He had the decency to look a little ashamed, but in the end, he walked away from them.

Brooklynn can easily defend this- he’s still trying to be his dad’s good boy, and she still can’t find it in her to blame him for it. It’s not like Kenji has done anything specifically evil himself, only doing what his father has asked.

Still, being locked up sucks.

Their captivity didn’t last long, mind you, because they have Darius with them and you can’t keep that guy down. Though honestly, the way he seems only focused on anything but the Kenji situation concerns her.

Everyone, even Ben, seems unsure how to feel about what went down with the taller teen, but Brooklynn is still convinced that the root of everything up with him is Mr Kon. It would be great if someone could back her up on this, and Darius would be the perfect candidate- they are practically brothers, those two.

Thing is, when they finally confront him about it, Darius straight up tells them that he doesn’t care. Angrily, she might add. He tells them that all he wants to focus on is the dinosaurs and nothing else.

But Brooklynn knows him better than that.

He’s probably hurting- maybe just as much as Ben. And seeing him pretend not to care- to throw himself into working out the dinosaurs’ problem and not his own- makes Brooklynn want to steal him away so they can talk all this out.

She almost does.

Then the ground started to shake.

---

After the unexpected earthquake- because they don’t have enough to worry about apparently- Brooklynn was, in so many words, told by Darius to leave him alone. The guy wasn’t mean about it or anything, but when she offered to keep him company while he worked out what was going on with the Eaties, he told her he’d rather work by himself and that she should go help the others.

Yeah, she’s probably the only one who can get into Kash’s computer, but that’s not why he said that.

She knows he’s focusing on the dinosaurs to block out the Kenji thing, but really, being told by the guy you like to shuffle on isn’t exactly the best of experiences.

So she went along with it and made quick work of the computer. They were able to stop the drones and, with some luck and Sammy enthusiasm, they were able to connect to a drone and figure out Mr Kon’s next move.

They also spotted Kenji- controller in hand and commanding Toro, smiling all the while.

Ben, understandably, was upset by what they saw. The girls found him dejected in Kenji’s room a few minutes later, seemingly willing himself to keep it together. They all piled in for a group hug, and that seemed to bring Ben back from the brink. His mood become more chipper and his determination to stop Kenji's dad returned with a vengeance.

See? That’s the power of friendship. That’s the power of family.

She doesn’t care how far gone Kenji may be. He can be brought back from his own brink, and when he does, they’ll be there to welcome him back. Well, at least she will.

Now, if only she can get another certain someone to finally admit he has some things to work out, she'd be golden.

---

So, we’re finally back where we started.

Brooklynn is alone with Darius on a snow glider, the others having made themselves scarce.

A second earthquake came after they found Ben, and after it was done, they got a message from Darius that he needs help getting Big Eatie out from under a tree. At first they weren’t sure how they were supposed to do that, but Yaz’s reminder of what they did a few days ago in the swamp got them running back there and retrieving the vehicle. There was a close call with Little Eatie, but once parent and child were reunited, the dinosaurs left them alone. Then, the others left Darius and Brooklynn all alone.

Yeah, it’s as awkward as you can imagine.

Darius sits by himself on the bed, looking at his tablet at the Eatie’s data, but she catches him glancing at her every few seconds, his brows knit and mouth pulled into a tight line. She imagines her own expression must reflect his.

So, she takes the initiative and takes a seat next to the guy.

She has no intention of confessing now, if that’s what you’re thinking. She may have got it into her mind to do that a few days ago, but after… everything, she feels Darius just doesn’t need that extra thing weighing on his mind. Besides, they have plenty to talk about even if she doesn’t.

Neither of them say anything for what feels like an eternity.

Deciding that she, once again, needs to take initiative, Brooklynn just starts talking.

“I saw him today.” She states simply. Her words don’t get a reaction from him, so she presses on. “We were able to get that drone Sammy was using to spy for Mantah Corp working. He was in the jungle, controlling Toro without a care in the world.”

The memory isn’t a pleasant one, for sure. Ben may have had the most visceral reaction, but they all didn’t like what they saw.

Darius still says nothing.

“I still stand by my stance that Mr Kon is the bad guy here but… Kenji has definitely lost his way. There’s no denying that.” She says ruefully, her voice choking up.

Brooklynn feels she’s been able to process this all pretty well considering. Dare she say, she took it the easiest- or at the very least, she was able to keep her cool the best.

That said, now alone with Darius, her partner in crime, the guy who’s always been there with her, the one she can’t imagine life without anymore- acting like nothing is bothering him? Well, her already broken heart breaks even more.

Her eyes start tearing up as she looks at Darius who’s looking anywhere but her.

“Please, Darius. I… I need you.” She pleads. Brooklynn finally looks away, focusing on nothing. “This whole situation… it sucks. I’m hurt and angry… I just don’t know what to do.”

She swipes at her eyes, willing them to stop, though to no avail.

So she doubles down, hoping that sharing everything will make the pain stop eventually.

“I didn’t tell anyone but him… but I think of Kenji as like a big brother.” She admits. From the corner of her eye, she can see Darius finally look at her. “He reminds me so much of my pop, and it just… being around him was like being with him, you know? Of course, Kenji is Kenji, and he’s just… so different from when we first met him. And when I told him, he thanked me and never made fun of me for it.”

She looks at him, and for the first time in a while, their eyes meet. Now that she can see him, she can finally see the sadness and anger swirling around in those big eyes of his

“Despite everything, I still think that guy I looked up to is still in there. But it's just… It’s been hard dealing with this alone, you know?”

Brooklynn doesn’t want to make it seem like Darius, her closest friend, hasn’t been there for her or anything like that. She just wants to convey to him how much she needs him right now- especially since her other closest friend isn’t here.

“I’m sorry.” She sniffles. “I know this isn’t the best time to have to worry about this of all things, but… I just… I’m so worried about you, too. I just got the feeling you’re in the same boat as me.”

At first he doesn’t say anything, like he has this whole time.

Then, he finally speaks.

“I am.”

Darius' eyes don’t waver, but his expression is so, so sad. Mournful almost.

“He’s my best friend. Was. I don’t know. I… I also thought of him like a brother, you know? He’s a lot like Brand. Sure, he’s lazy and careless at times, but he’s such a caring person. We may have had a few arguments here and there, but I never stopped caring about him…”

Darius goes silent again, and Brooklynn fears what progress she’s made in getting him to open up is lost. Then, he continues, though now he’s fiddling with the tablet again.

“I still haven't, even now. I just don’t know if I could ever trust him again.”

“Or forgive him?” She supplies.

“Yeah…” The guy admits.

“I get that.”

“That’s why I’m so focused on the dinosaurs.” He holds up the tablet, showing off the screen displaying the Eatie’s vitals. “At least with this, I can know what’s up with them. Nothing messy or complicated about any of it.”

Darius jumps off the snow glider’s bed, and Brooklynn does the same.

“Except for when they try to eat us.” She jokes, elbowing the other in the shoulder.

A laugh, a genuine laugh comes from Darius. It isn’t loud or exaggerated, but the guy laughs, and the sound is like music to Brooklynn’s ears. She returns it, the first one she’s had in days.

When they’re done, Darius looks at her, his brows knit again.

“Brooklynn… I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

“Well, you are now. And that’s what matters.”

She pulls him into a hug, which he immediately reciprocates. She isn’t sure how long they stay like that, but the warmth from the boy is welcome in the chilly night air. After some time, Brooklynn tries to pull away, but Darius doesn’t budge.

“Darius? You okay?”

He doesn’t answer.

“I know we just had a heart to heart but–”

“Please, let me just stay like this for a second longer.” He asks, his voice small.

How can she say no to that?

Her face starts to heat up, since this is the most intimate thing she’s done with Darius since… ever. They’ve slept next to each other, hugged a few times, and survived countless deadly situations together. But this is the one that might do Brooklynn in.

“This is probably the stupidest thing I’m ever going to do, but I think I need to do it.” He mumbles into her shoulder. She isn’t sure she even heard him correctly.

“What–”

Suddenly, she’s pulled apart from Darius, who looks at her with determination in his eyes. This is certainly a turn from the sadness she saw there moments ago. If her face weren’t already pink from embarrassment, that certainly would have done it.

“I have feelings for you.”

Oh.

Wait.

No way…

“ I know, I know. Things are crazy right now, and I was literally just apologizing for not being there for you, but I just figured you ought to know, and since we’re always gonna die every day, I figured–”

“Dude. Shut up.” She says, instinctively. The boy flinches at the response and his arms leave her shoulders. Realizing that probably sounded horrible from Darius’ point of view, she quickly grabs his arms and puts them back on her shoulders, his expression now one of surprise.

“Sorry. What I meant was… I also have feelings for you.”

He looks at her with wide eyes, a dusting of red on his cheeks. Again, she really wishes she had her phone to capture this moment. As it is, she's sure she looks as dopey and smiley as him.

“So…?” He starts.

“So…?” She parrots, unsure of what he’s getting at.

“So, are we.. you know? Dating?” She playfully rolls her eyes at that adorable question.

“I don’t know. Is that what two people who like each other do? Hmm.” She fake-ponders, earning her another laugh from the boy.

“Okay, I get it.” He smiles. “This is all just so new to me.”

“New to me too, dude.”

“Is that gonna be my pet name? Gotta say- not a fan.” Darius teases, now pulling a laugh from Brooklynn.

“We’ll workshop it, boyfriend.”

“Hmm, straightforward, if not a little on the nose.”

Oh my God. This guy…

Brooklynn leans forward and kisses Darius’ nose, earning her a surprised yelp. She gives him her best smug look before she speaks.

“I think that was more on the nose, personally.”

Before she knows what’s happening, Darius closes the distance between them and plants a soft kiss right on Brooklynn’s lips. The angle is awkward and their teeth clinked together a little from how sudden it was.

Brooklynn wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

When Darius backs away suddenly, surprise in his eyes, Brooklynn immediately reacts, not wanting him to spiral into ‘I’m sorry I didn’t ask first’ kind of deal. She chases his lips, returning the kiss. It’s just as awkward as his is, but from the way his eyes close and the sigh of contention he lets out, he must also think it’s as perfect as she does.

Things are not alright right now. Things might never be alright again. They may never see Kenji again, at least, not the way they remember him. They still have to stop Mr Kon from making all those chips for BioSyn. They still have to figure out what’s up with all the earthquakes. They still have to save Kenji, if they can.

So much is happening, and it’s like all of these burdens are on their shoulders.

But for right now, in their own little corner of the world, things are alright.