Chapter Text
Terzo had been hiding in the library, throwing out the books and hiding inside the big shelves, he was short and it wouldn't be so hard to fit. Who was he hiding from? Normally people would think "You're hiding from Secondo, or Sister Imperator, right?" But no, this time he was hiding from the newer addition in the clergy. The Sister's little brat, Copia.
The thing had been following him around, he saw Terzo and his brothers as his own brothers, now if that wasn't a joke!
Terzo hated the idea of Copia, the jerk was only a month or so younger than him, he didn't deserve to be worshipped by Imperator, he was supposed to be coddled! He was blood bound to Papa after all, he was more important than that sniveling little toddler.
Copia ran into the library then, disturbing Terzo's thoughts, they were both around 5 at this time, so the library was GIGANTIC to him. Every footsteps echoed around like Copia was in a concert. "Fratello!!" Copia yelled out, every time he'd tried to talk to Terzo to ask him to play he had ran off or hidden.
It was making Copia angry now, he just wanted to play! Maybe Terzo was playing with him already? Hide and seek.. "Do you want me to count down and find you? Or just go ahead and not count?"
When no answer was heard he'd smiled "Just seek it is then!" Copia chuckled, as he ran across the halls of books. Accidentally running into a ghoul, towering over the small Copia, he bowed in excuse and walked till the ghoul disappeared from his sight.
"Terzo! I know you're here fifone!" When Terzo heard that he snarled angrily "Fifone?!" shoving himself out of the bookshelves to see Copia standing in surprise "Prova a chiamarmi di nuovo codardo, marmocchio!" He pointed at the taller, but (technically) younger brother
"Your own fault! You kept hiding from me!" Copia smiled as Terzo pouted "Well you keep stalking me, piccino!" He finally walked over to the rat loving kid, his brow furrowed fully "Why do you keep doing that, huh? What is so important?" Terzo gestured with his arms spread wide.
"I just wanted to ask if you wanted to play or something, we're the same age fratello! Primo's always too busy with his studies or plants, and Secondo..well you know Secondo…" Copia answered, kicking the carpet flooring, as he looked down "Well don't think I'll play with you! I'm also busy!" Terzo raised his head and folded his arms
"Oh sure, as if you weren't playing with your trike a second ago!" Copia scoffed and pouted "What could you possibly be busy with? Sei così noioso.."
"I was..triking over to-...Papa! Yes! He was to give me..a singing lesson today. And 'cause of you I'm late!" He pointed at his 'brother' and stared him down with his green eyes
Brown eyes looked down as Copia fiddled with his fingers "I'm sorry..we uh- we could go to Papa together! I'll tell him I made you late! That way you won't be in trouble, fratello!" He smiled again, as he looked back up to the scowling brother, who somehow got even angrier.
"UGH! I don't want your companyyy!" He grumbled and stomped the floor with his feet, Copia's smile left entirely "Why? Do you have any other friends?" The clergy didn't have any other kids their age, so Copia was confused, why didn't he just want to play? Why did he constantly push him away?
"I don't, but ragazzo I just..you're not my brother!" He started walking off, Copia trailing behind him again "Well I mean, you see Sister as your mother aswell! Doesn't that make us brothers in some way?" As Terzo shook his head "Nuh-uh! We aren't bonded by blood, so you just aren't my brother. Besides I see Sister as a mother figure she isn't actually mia madre, we all know that."
"Well I don't see what the issue is, Terzo…all I want to do is have some fun with you! You're always alone or with Papa, why not give me a chance? I'm sure I can be fun!" Copia scoffed as Terzo stopped walking and let the younger one catch up to him, as they looked at eachother "Pff, giochi con brutti roditori...I don't wanna catch the plague, thank you very much."
A dramatic gasp came from the younger one, "They aren't nasty, my rats don't live in the sewers, Terzo!" Copia huffed out, as he said "Look can I..atleast play with you? I could ask Papa for another tricycle, then we can trike together!" Oh unholy lord no! Terzo was not gonna deal with that! "No! Look I have an idea.." he kept walking and eventually a ghoul walked up to Terzo, carrying the trike
"Young excellency? I saw your tricycle in the halls, thought you'd want it back." As Terzo smiled when the ghoul put it down "grazie, signor Ghoul!" As the ghoul bowed slightly, before walking off.
"Look I got a proposition, this trike will be yours from now on, as long as you just…leave. Me. Alone." To which Copia frowned
"I mean..I love the offer but, why don't you want me around at all?" Copia asked softly, was he that unlikeable?
Terzo slightly snapped "Because, you are not my fratello, you are not my amico, and I will never want to hang out with you! Go find your rats to play with, or someone else! Please!!" And finally Copia was quiet, simply nodding and slowly hopping onto the tricycle. "Ciao fratello- I mean! Terzo.." waving as Terzo nodded.
Copia then tricycled away, feeling sorrow, he was alone again. He was always alone. He tricycled up to a family portrait, showing off his family. Except they weren't his family.
Except for Sister.
He just had to accept, he'd never be a part of them, no matter how much he wanted to be a part of their family. He was simply, a kid.
That's all he'd ever be.
A kid.