Chapter Text
Cattrick heard music from his sister’s room, the sound echoing down the cold and snowy hallway. So that meant it was one of those nights for Kitty. He couldn’t blame her. Today was… bad. Well, everyday was bad for them, especially her, but this night…
The way it all went was so vivid in Cattrick’s mind. Their father yelling— no. Screaming at her. Kitty trying to appeal to him and begging for his forgiveness as she tried not to start sobbing. Cattrick stood at the door because the screaming got so loud and he saw just how close their father was to Kitty, practically screeching in her ear. Cattrick genuinely worried for his sister in that moment. He always did. It happened for what felt like hours before Milton told her to get out of his damn study. When Kitty exited the room, her and Cattrick made eye contact but Kitty, eyes bloodshot and glistening with tears, just looked down and went back to whatever work their father yanked her away from.
Dinner was quiet as always but the part Cattrick felt particularly frustrated about was Milton coming up to Kitty, kissing her on the head, and apologizing for his outburst. Cattrick knew how empty those words were— but like clockwork Kitty smiled, held his hand in hers, and said a soft “It’s okay, Daddy. I’m sorry. I’ll just do better next time.”
Now here Cattrick was, late at night, staring at the cracked open door of his sister’s room as he heard her lazily humming along to a song. Her favorite song. Cattrick recalls her smiling when she heard it during a ball, saying she loved that song before she forced him to sing along with him. It made Cattrick smile because he knew she seriously didn’t want to be there but one thing, ONE song made her genuinely smile.
Cattrick finally made his way to her room. As unnecessary as it was, he knocked lightly on the already open door and slowly opened it.
“Kitty?”
“Mm?” She hummed back and he saw her on the couch that was at the corner of her large room. The lights were dim but bright enough that he didn’t need his night vision to see her.
She had a wine glass in her hand and the bottle on a small coffee table in front of her. She swirled the last bit of wine in her cup before downing it. She already appeared to be tipsy.
“What?”
“Heard some music and thought I’d check up on you.”
Kitty stared at him for a moment before sighing. “Thanks…”
“… Good song.”
“Yeah… it’s my favorite one.”
“You’ve told me.” Cattrick moved towards her and sat beside his sister. “Before you proceeded to harass me by singing the lyrics in my ear. Loudly.”
Kitty giggled drunkenly before sitting up to pour herself more wine. “You loved it.”
“… I did.” Cattrick said softly.
“Want any?”
“Only a little.”
“I didn’t get another cup, so you gotta use the bottle.”
“How generous of you.” Cattrick chuckled as Kitty handed over the bottle. He lifted it to his lips and took a few gulps before placing the bottle back on the table. It was damn good wine, he had to admit, but… “I don’t like you doing this.”
There was a beat of silence before Kitty scoffed. “Are you going to stop me?”
“I can’t, as much as I want to. You’re an adult. But it’s not healthy for you to… do this to yourself… drowning everything out all night until you pass out.”
His sister frowned, staring at the red liquid in her glass.
“… It’s the only thing keeping me from…”
Another beat of silence. Cattrick didn’t need for her to say it.
”… If I don’t forget my problems, they’re only going to take over and then we have another hospital visit on our hands.”
“That’s so… fucked up. That’s why I don’t want you doing this. You don’t need to black out every night to get through things.”
“Then what else is there, Cattrick? Tell me.”
“Me!” Cattrick answered desperately. Kitty stared at him. “… You have me because I’m your older brother and I love you and seeing you like this or just the idea of finding you actually dead one day— I c— it terrifies me.”
Kitty stared at him longer, unable to say anything for a moment before she rubbed her eyes. She didn’t realize how exhausted she felt until now. They stayed there like that in complete silence save for the new song playing now. Neither Lynxley said anything…
That’s when Cattrick began to hear a hiccup before Kitty sat back on the couch. She stared at the ceiling with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sick of this, Cattrick, I just can’t— I can’t do it anymore. I love dad but it’s like nothing I do is good enough! I’m not good enough! He’s— he—“
“I know, I know…” Cattrick took the glass from her hand and moved closer to wrap his arm around her. He guided her to rest her head on his shoulder and she did so, embracing him immediately, as if he’d disappear. “I’m here. I’m always here. You’re absolutely good enough…”
Kitty quietly cried into his shoulder and her brother held on to her tight. He didn’t want to let her go. And even though they were both adults, even though they were different now, he still sees that baby sister who’d cling onto him constantly when he was only a kid himself. He used to be so annoying being a six year old having a three year old cling to him but now, he’d trade the world for that again.
After a bit, Kitty’s crying died down and she pulled away. “Okay, get offa me.”
Cattrick chuckled. “Feel better?”
“Kinda. Thanks…”
“Of course.”
Kitty eyed his shoulder before chuckling. “I got my makeup on you.”
He looked down and, sure enough, his white button down had a stain of black mascara. He just chuckled again and waved his hand dismissively. “I got more shirts.”
“Right…” Kitty then sighed and picked up her phone. “What the hell is this song? Get back to my favorite.”
She tapped at her phone and was back to the song she’d been listening to for god knows how long. Kitty smiled when she got the song going again and she reclined herself across the couch, legs over her older brother’s lap. Cattrick sat there beside her, letting the music fill the room.
Kitty soon began to hum along to the song and Cattrick found himself humming along.
“I’ll never talk again… oh, boy, you’ve left me speechless…” Kitty sung softly, so soft he could just barely hear her over the music. “You’ve left me speechless, so speechless…”
Cattrick smiled at her singing. Not perfect by any means but it didn’t have to me.
“And I’ll never love again,” he joined in. “Oh, boy, you left me speechless—“
“How do you know the lyrics?”
“You forced me to sing it and also every time I find you drunk, you’re singing this!”
“Whatever— all my bubble dreams, bubble dreams! I can’t believe how you looked at me, with your Johnny Walker eyes…”
This went on for the entire song. Cattrick didn’t know every single word but the parts he did know, he was encouraged very much by his sister to sing along. Kitty was still very tipsy but at least the cup had been long forgotten.
“… Some men may follow me, but you choose death and company! Why you so speechless, oh-oh…” they both sung at the end and the moment the song was over, Kitty’s arms, that were lazily waving around with the song the entire time, had fallen limp. One over her torso and one hanging off the couch.
“Fuck, I’m a mess… so much for being the perfect daughter…”
“… You are perfect.”
Kitty didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say, really. Whether she believed him or not, Cattrick didn’t know…
“… Dad screamed at me cause I did something wrong— I don’t even remember what it was right now… so, I guess drinking worked.”
“Whatever it was, he shouldn’t have done that… huge overreaction from what I’ve heard..”
“I dunno… I probably did deserve it. I was being stupid…”
“Kitty—“
“I know dad wants the best for us. I just… I need to do better… I have to be better. I have to.”
Cattrick frowned, his hand moving to rest on his sister’s knee. “Kitty…”
“You need to, too… you’re the heir n all… you have to be everything he wants. Just like me. And I want you to succeed…”
“Thanks for that, I guess… but I’m the oldest. You don’t have to worry about me. I worry about you.”
“… Just forget everything I’ve said. I’m drunk.
“I can’t. It… it hurts me when you’re hurting…”
“… Can we move on…? I shouldn’t have brought any of this up, honestly…”
“…Okay… okay. Um… youuuu… got an outfit for the gala in two weeks yet?”
“Ugh— that’s one of the things I wanted to forget about. I’ve been helping with planning everything for days.”
“I’m not talking about party planning, though. I wanna know what you’re wearing.”
“Mmm… I was told it’d be nice to see me in a dress for once. I’m not opposed to wearing one but it’s not my— I just don’t want to.”
“Then don’t. What is everyone else gonna do? Force you into a sparkly tutu?”
“Ugh, the thought of that alone makes me wanna vomit.”
“Or it’s the wine.”
“Probably.”
Cattrick smiled. “Anyway, I wanted to ask cause I got us both suits tailored about two days ago but we were both too busy for me to show you.”
Kitty looked at him and sat up. “You did? How’d you do it without me?”
“They know your size at this point. I just told them what you liked and they did it.”
Kitty sat there in silence for a moment. “… Can I see it?”
~~~
“Oh my god, it’s perfect!” Kitty said as she looked at herself in her large mirror. It was a completely white suit with a glittering lapel and a turtleneck underneath. It was simple but classy. All it needed was jewelry, which she never ran short of. It was perfect. “Thank you, Cattrick.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m the best.”
Kitty rolled her eyes before she saw him pick up a hanger that held his own suit. Kitty looked at it before chuckling. “No way. You wanted us to match, didn’t you?”
“What? No. I don’t care about my sister nearly enough to match with her. You have completely misinterpreted my intentions.”
“Shut up.” She playfully pushed his shoulder. “But, seriously, thanks. It’s perfect. And I’m pretty sure I would’ve been absolutely wasted all night if you didn’t show up.”
“Don’t mention it. And… listen,” his voice lowered into a whisper, hand on his younger sister’s shoulder. “You can tell me when dad is being… dad. He’ll listen to me.”
“Cattrick—“
“He shouldn’t be screaming at you. Let me help.”
“… Not that me saying no will stop you anyway… so… fine… but I’m not calling you for everything. I’m not fragile.”
Cattrick hummed in disagreement, shrugging a little. “I meannn… emotionally, that’s up for debate.”
“Fuck off, Cattrick. I’m going to bed.” Kitty grabbed the hangar that her suit was hanging from and went back to her bathroom to change into her pajamas. Cattrick smiled when, as she walked, she kept feeling the fabric of her suit under her fingers— and it really was nice material. Only the best.
“Well, goodnight, Kitty.”
“Goodniiiight!” She replied from the other side of her bathroom door. Cattrick chuckled and left the room, his suit in hand.
That’s when he bumped into Pawbert.
“Oh, hey! Y-You’re up late—“
“You’re taking up the whole hallway, Pawbert! Maybe lose a few pounds and it won’t be so hard to pass you.” Cattrick rolled his eyes as he weaved past him.
“Okay, good talk.”