Chapter Text
1995
Trevor hopped up the ramp, his head buzzing from school, a strange anxiety gripping his chest as he pushed open the storm door, before letting himself in. It always happens when he hears that his cousin is staying over, he can’t concentrate on anything but what ifs that always is whispered when his parents think they’re not listening.
He exhales as he flung his things in the mudroom, pushing his shoes off, heading into the living room. Chrissy wouldn’t be home until late due to gymnastics, and mom would still be at work. There was dad who had his chair folded up against the loveseat, gesturing with his arms as always while talking to Julius – that unfairly pretty cousin (second cousin, but who cares) of his had his long russet hair tied back, as he was holding a….
“Fuck, your dad went and knocked up a girl?” Trevor exclaimed when he realized it was a baby.
“Trevor! Language!” His dad snapped. “And don’t say such things.” The blond added.
“Jesus, dad. I know there’s no way that’s Jay’s kid!’ He rolled his eyes as he gestured. God he can’t see why dad would tolerate Uncle Tristan like he does.
Julius hunches up his shoulders, before shooting them looks. “She’s asleep, please keep it down.” He sighed before letting the man take the infant.
“Let’s head to my room, Jay.” Trevor stuck his thumb upwards, heading upstairs, and past a door with at least five different ‘Keep Out’ signs taped to it. The prim and elegant Julius always looked so out of place in his messy room as he pulls out a couple of controllers, tossing one to the redhead.
“Wanna talk about it, dude?” He asked as he pulled out a new game, slotting it in before joining him on the bed.
“I’m not sure if I want to...” Julius leans back, controller in lap – he always wanted to watch him play before joining in the game. Then he changed his mind about talking, groaning into his hand. “You’re right, Father did get a girl pregnant. She was nineteen.”
“Gross. God, don’t tell me she’s your stepmom now.” He crinkled his nose at the thought, almost missing the intro cutscene of the game.
“No, he talked her into giving up Kokoro.”
“What the hell kind of name is that?” Trevor asked as he selects his character – Storm.
“Japanese, means “Heart”.” He leans back.
“So, he knocks up an Asian chick and takes her kid, that’s low even for him. How long do you think you’re here?”
“Who knows.” Frankly, he doubted even his dad would know – when the Belmont Patriarch goes on a bender, it could be days, weeks, he remembered Julius was with them for half a year when he was ten… yeah, that was when he started to dislike Uncle Tristan.
And if Julius stays longer, then that room will be cleaned up for training. Then there’s the lectures, the tests, and the warnings. Dad and Grandpa Jonathan could be real drill sergeants, and he knew his cousin would be lapping it all up in the name of duty. Then there’s school, the girls would flock to that cute little British accent… Devonshire? And the teachers would wonder why the transfer student has the top grades while he’s just barely doing Cs, and the coaches will try to cajole him into joining track and – then that damn training, the rituals, expectations, always told to keep it up and shape up -
Not fair, because his dad can’t walk, and Julius’ dad is a useless asshole that they’re stuck with all that -
“Uh… Trevor?”
“What?!” He snapped.
Julius flinched. “You just died.” He pointed to the screen.
“Oh.”
“You’re distracting, you know that Jay?”
“What did I do?” The redhead looked at him utterly baffled, which… was fair. It was fair. Not his fault.
“…Nothing, sorry. Look, are you okay?”
“I’m fine – but you’re not asking about my day, are you?”
“I mean, with everything – your dad, us, that goddamn prophecy.”
“It is my duty as a Belmont to fight against the-”
“No man, how do you feel about it?” He gestured as he paused the game.
His cousin gave him a blank look and a shrug. Figures - Trevor thought bitterly, wondering if Julius had any desires beyond pleasing others. About ten minutes later, he picks up the controller, picking Colossus.
Trevor couldn't help but smirk a little, while he was worse than Julius at a lot of things, this is one domain he could beat his cousin's ass at.