Chapter Text
The woodmen helped with moving my things back into town.
“H3y uh..N33d h3lp?”
I awkwardly look to the side.
The woodmen look at eachother before one speaks up.
“No! Crowbar guy rest!”
One insists. Another one looks at the previous one with worry.
“Crowbar Guy plant…Water Crowbar Guy?”
I rub my forehead, one of my vines flick the woodmen on the forehead.
If ‘watering me’ meant dumping a bucket of freezing water on my head, I’d rather pass.
My eyes drift over to the cracked stone.
The same one that used to hold the Venomshank.
Static filled my thoughts.
I couldn’t make out words, but it felt familiar…
Something that made sense.
I push those thoughts away.
That was a while ago. I didn’t want to go crying back to the sword and become some monster again.
I shiver at the thought.
Recently I’ve been having weird dreams.
Dreams about my dad talking to me, explaining things. But I never seem to remember it when I wake up. It’s probably nothing too interesting.
I push those thoughts to the back of my mind.
“Bradley!”
I jump before turning around, half expecting to see the sword only to pause when it’s my dad.
He looked happier now ever since I was cured.
“Huh? 0h, h1 0ld m4n. Why’r3 y0u h3r3?”
Dad leans onto his cane, smiling softly.
“Well, the woodmen said I would be able to find you here.”
I sarcastically mumble.
“Wh3r3 3ls3 w0uld 1 b3? 1n th3 gr0und?”
The joke falls flat.
“Bradley, I’ve been thinking a bit recently.”
Dad rubs his forehead.
“Maybe we could hang out more. You know, ever since—“
“Y34h y34h 3v3r s1nc3 th3 V3n0msh4nk’s stup1d t4ntrum.”
I roll my eyes. Though my shoulders were tense.
“You’re doing okay, right?…”
Dad looks me up and down, eyes lingering too long on my plant additions. I’m okay.
At least I was supposed to be.
“M3? Y34h.”
My lips twitch into a smirk.
“S0m3 stup1d pl4nts n3v3r st0pp3d m3. 1’m st1ll 4s g00d 4s 3v3r.”
I nudge my dad who opens his mouth to talk before a burst of water attacks me, cold on my skin, I stumble back to look at my attacker.
It was a woodman from earlier with an expression of pride. Like it had just stopped the sword from being summoned.
“No Venomshank!”
I look down at my soaked clothes to the woodman’s water gun.
“Wh4t th3 h3ll?! F1n3 f1n3. N0 t4lk1ng 4b0ut 1t, j3rk…W41t..D4d? 1s th4t my w4t3r gun fr0m wh3n 1 w4s f1v3?!”
I glare at my dad who puts his hands up nervously.
“Well, Bradley—“
I facepalm. Of course he kept the stupid water guns.
I still catch him looking at old photo albums after all. The same ones he put away years ago.
I turn away. My vines betray me, perking up as if expecting more water.
I force them back down a second too late.
…
I guess the water wasn’t that bad. But not like I’d ever admit it.