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Mane didn’t know what he expected when he entered his brother's home. He expected Flame to be there. Nothing would be able to prepare him for seeing Wemmbu lounging on the couch petting Ashen, Flames dog. Mane stood in the doorway, his tail limp behind him. He couldn’t- he didn’t know what to say.
“Flame you can stop hiding and come out. I already fed Ashen for us and we have to go to Minutes soon anyways.” Wemmbu said, scratching Ashen's ears not looking up.
“Minute..?” Mane mumbled confused, which caused Wemmbu to look up quickly.
“Mane?” Wemmbu spoke, his voice shaky and he looked surprised. “Flame said you weren’t coming back to the main server.”
“I’m.. wait Flame told you?” Mane asked
“Yeah.” Wemmbu said
“Uh- I’m not staying for long. I need Flames help with a bandit group” Mane explained
“So you’re coming here to use him.” Wemmbu said, looking at Mane annoyed.
“I- i’m coming to hang out with him?” Mane said
“In case you weren’t up to date, Flame isn't going around killing now” Wemmbu spoke, standing from the couch, nudging Ashen off.
“He’s not killing anymore? Why?” Mane asked, surprised
“He stopped. Quite frankly, why should I tell you?” Wemmbu asked, stretching and moving towards one side of the room where Gambit was and retrieved it.
“I- I‘m your mentor?” Mane joked weakly
“Are you?” Wemmbu raised an eyebrow, “I thought I was a lost cause.”
“That wasn’t meant for you.” Mane said, shifting his weight. “I wrote that for me”
Wemmbu sighed “I’ve done a lot to this server since you left. A lot of bad. Some good. Quite frankly, you leaving me behind was one of the shittiest feelings. I personally have no respect for you anymore.”
Mane wilted “Oh.”
“But- but we can try to.. To get on a better foot.” Wemmbu said. “I still don’t like you.”
Mane still looked disappointed but nodded. “Yeah- yeah thats only fair.”
“Mane, just- I did miss you.” Wemmbu said, looking away embarrassed
Mane stepped forward and hugged Wemmbu “I missed you too. I’m sorry for leaving and the Lost Cause Sign”
“Lost cause?”
Wemmbu pulled away from Mane and met the eyes of Flame. His blindfold off thinking it was only Wemmbu there, eyes shocked and hurt flashed through them.
“Oh hi Flame!” Mane grinned, rubbing his neck. “I was coming to see if you-”
“Lost cause?” Flame asked, clenching his fists
“It wasn’t meant for Wemmbu-” Mane started, but Flame still took a big step forward before pausing.
“Wow, Wemmbu wasn’t lying about the less violence” Mane mumbled
“Shut up.” Flame and Wemmbu said at the same time
“Why are you here bro? Thought you said you wouldn’t be coming back to the main server?” Flame asked, moving out of the doorway slowly inching to Ashen.
“I need your help with a Bandit group.” Mane said, stretching lazily
Flame hesitated.
“I can help him, Flame.” Wemmbu said, swinging Gambit in a circular motion.
“Why don’t all three of us go?” Mane said, wanting to bring Flame along
“No, I’m not gonna go.” Flame said, shifting petting Ashen as he stared at the floor.
“Why not?” Mane whined
“He’s not going to be fighting as much anymore dude leave him alone.” Wemmbu said
“Why won’t you-” Mane began
“I promised my friend..” Flame mumbled, still feeling an itch to go fight
“You can probably go find Lomedy or Egg. I actually think Lomedy is visiting Egg if you wanna go pay them a visit.” Wemmbu said, moving past Mane and resting a hand on Flames shoulder.
“I think I’m gonna go find them.” Flame said, standing and giving a grateful nod at Wemmbu.
Flame moved, tapping Ashen, signaling for the dog to follow and stopping in front of Mane.
“Uh, bye bro. Love you.” Flame said
“Love you too.” Mane said, hugging him quickly
It didn’t take long for Mane and Wemmbu to kill the bandit group, the combination of Mace and Spear made the bandit group's death quick and swift. The entire fight brought lots of yelling and laughing between Mane and Wemmbu. Mane hadn’t truly realized how much he missed Wemmbu till he was fighting beside him again. Neither of them got any injuries so the mission was overall a success. The two were walking to the closest end portal chatting.
“So you and Egg are still a duo then?” Mane asked
“Yeah, me, Egg, and Flame visit Minute in the end.” Wemmbu said, moving through the grass.
“So you and Flame are friends now?” Mane questioned, his tail flicking
“Yeah I think we just kind of gave up on the rivalry. Plus I basically live in Flames base anyways.” Wemmbu explained
“So you, Egg, and Flame are all living together. Sounds fun.” Mane said
“Yeah we have Boosfer who drops in to spend the night as well as Parrot and Spoke.” Wemmbu said, pushing his hair out of his face.
“Boosfer? How did that happen?” Mane asked
“Not sure. Parrot and Theo brought him over once and he comes with Parrot sometimes.” Wemmbu said
Mane hummed thinking “Is he alright after everything with the LAW?”
Wemmbu raised a brow, curious as to why Mane cared but didn’t mention it
“Yeah he’s ok. He’s been staying with Kier and Dev mostly.” Wemmbu said
They jumped into the portal continuing the conversation as they waited for Minute to let them in.
“How’s Mapicc?” Mane asked
“Good question, Spoke hasn’t brought him up. He vanished part way through the fight. From what Parrot told me, Mapicc was kidnapped by bat and Spoke saved him.” Wemmbu spoke
“Well hopefully he comes back soon then.” Mane said, watching as the door opened and a flour covered Minute stood in the doorway
“Pft.. Minute what did you do?!” Wemmbu laughed while Mane stared surprised
“Flame and Egg are too chaotic together..” Minute mumbled
Wemmbu pushed past Mane and Minute a happy glint in his eyes as he ran to the kitchen.
“W-what?” Mane mumbled, Minute led Mane out of the room and down to the propped door where yelling was happening.
“Egg! Give me the blindfold back!” Flame shrieked, chasing Egg in circles around the counter, throwing flour at him. Egg just laughing and running round and round Lomedy standing off to the side, holding a barley filled bag of flour he randomly threw at Egg and Flame.
“Get him Flame!” Wemmbu cheered
“I thought we were friends!” Egg yelled at Wemmbu
Flame jumped at Egg pinning Egg to the floor with a grin on his face.
“Blindfold now or the flour goes in your hair next” Flame said cheerfully, smiling when Egg handed over the blindfold.
Lomedy took the chance to dump the rest of the flour onto Flame’s head, his black hair turning into an almost tuxedo color with the white patches. Flames' eyes widened and he rounded on Lomedy while Egg and Wemmbu laughed.
“Children please.. My kitchen.” Minute said exasperated.
“Sorry Minute” Lomedy said, though the grin on his face proved he didn’t care all too much.
Mane watched his two students, one being his brother as they smiled and laughed with their friends. It made Mane feel warm. Lomedy helped a flour covered Flame stand and Wemmbu moved to help Egg stand.
“Flame go rinse off. You too Egg. Don’t sit on any of my surfaces or I swear you won’t get any of the cookies.” Minute said, brushing past Mane.
Flame and Egg exchanged a look before they both sprinted out of the room, yelling loudly about dibs on the shower.
“Stop fighting!” Minute called after them
“Does this me and Lomedy are on cleaning duty?” Wemmbu complained
“You guys were the ones who started it in the first place.” Minute said
“I just got here!” Wemmbu said
“Yeah and encouraged it.” Minute said, not noticing the glare Wemmbu said at the smiling Lomedy.
“Well.. if yall are gonna clean I’m gonna go find a place to nap-” Mane inched to the door when Lomedy stopped him
“If we are cleaning. You are too.” Lomedy said seriously
Mane blinked at the other. Ignoring Wemmbus snickers and Minutes grin.
Mane did end up helping with cleaning, after a while the two younger ones had moved off to find their friends leaving Minute and Mane in the kitchen.
“Are you planning on coming to the main server now?” Minute said, already knowing his answer.
“Yeah. Yeah I think so. It’s nice seeing my brother and Wemmbu. And I want to get closer with them.” Mane agreed
“The cookies have like five minutes left, would you mind going to find them?” Minute asked
“Not at all, I’ll go find them.” Mane said, dropping the broom he was using and exiting the room.
Mane roamed the halls for a bit before he made it to an open door and nudged it open a bit, his eyes falling on the black lump on the floor. Mane smiled. Flame was curled up against Egg, both sound asleep. Flame’s tail wrapped around Eggs leg and the Angels wings around Flame protectively. Behind Flame was Lomedy who was hugging and snuggling into Flames back, sound asleep letting out a small soft snore. The last troublemaker, Wemmbu, lay behind Egg blinking tiredly, at the edge of sleep. He looked over at Mane clearly worn out.
“You should rest for a bit Wemmbu.” Mane said softly, smiling.
“You sure?” Wemmbu mumbled
“Yeah.” Mane smiled, moving and sitting beside Wemmbu letting the hybrid lean on him too as he slipped under.
It didn’t take Minute long to come in too, looking at the group sleeping and the wide awake Mane running his hands through Wemmbu's hair, humming to himself.
“The cookies are out.” Minute said, walking over to where Lomedy rested and hesitated only a moment before sitting beside him, letting Lomedy slip his legs over Minute.
“Goodnight Manepear.” Minute said, speaking quietly into the room.
“Goodnight Minutetech, and just call me Mane.”
“Goodnight Mane, and if that's the case just call me Minute.”
It took a long while before anyone found the large sleeping group. Ace stood there staring at the new group he called his family, the right side of his face still covered in bandages from Sergeant Laws' sword. He moved silently, slipping a blanket over each sleeping figure and slipped out, nibbling on a cookie on the way.