Chapter Text
Scary groaned as she slammed her pen down on her desk. She was fed up with math homework. Fed up with school. Her mom and stepdad had been pretty lax about her grades these last few months, but there was only so much they were willing to let slide.
It was funny how, after saving the world, life carried on.
Scary hadn’t given much thought into things like life and the future before. Death was way more metal. But now that Dood was safe, and Willy was gone, she had a lot more time to think about what was next.
For so long, she wasn’t sure that there would be a next. She was always waiting for the next fight, but as weeks and then months passed, she realised the only thing she had to battle now was the mundane. And that freaked her the fuck out.
Terry Jr had sensed it. He’d also seen some pretty messed up shit growing up, but he didn’t pry or ask Scary too many questions like he would’ve done before. Just knowing that someone had been through something similar made it less lonely.
After a particularly miserable day at school, Scary surprised herself by asking Terry how he kept going after all that happened in his youth. His face softened. “By focusing on the smaller milestones, and less on the big picture. One day at a time, kiddo.”
“Milestones,” Scary echoed. “Like birthdays?”
“Sure, birthdays can be milestones,” Terry said. “They are a reminder of change, which can feel very big picture, but are also about enjoying the moment. Do one of your friends have a birthday coming up soon that you could make plans for?”
“Norm’s…” she paused. “I’m not sure he’s in a big party mood though.”
Terry nodded. “Remember, it doesn’t have to be big. Maybe have a think about what Normal likes, and if there’s something you and your friends could do that’d make him feel special.”
It had been a week since that conversation with Terry, and she had landed on an idea for Normal’s birthday gift. Scary sighed, officially giving up on getting any homework done that night, and pulled out her phone to text Linc and Taylor.
[Scary Marlow created a group chat | 3 members]
Scary: yoooo
Taylor: Sup Scary
Scary: norm’s birthday is coming up
Taylor: oh shit
Scary: what should we get him?
She didn’t want to say her idea outright, in case they thought it was stupid.
It took a few seconds for Linc to respond.
Linc: I was checking the school shop but there’s no new Teenie merch
Taylor: Not sure he’s feelin the school spirit lately
That was an understatement. Normal had never been the best student, but he was usually a super-keen class participant. Recently, however, he’d kept his head down, doodling absentmindedly through most of their lessons.
Scary: he seems kinda bummed lately
Scary: ever since we defeated willy n all
Linc: I think he’s still not talking to his dad
Taylor: yeah cus his dads a DICK
Scary reacted to Taylor’s message with a thumb’s up. After seeing how torn up Normal was about his father’s opinion of him, she was not Sparrow’s number one fan. Still, she thought Normal would’ve relented by now.
Linc: I think his dad is trying
Linc: All of them are
Linc: It took time for me to be chill with my dad again
Taylor: So you’re a Sparrow simp now, huh Linc??
Linc: What? No
Linc: ‘m just saying
Scary rolled her eyes.
Scary: guys, focus
Scary: norm. present.
Taylor: Right!
Taylor: Gotta get our hubby something that screams NORM
Scary fake-gagged, even though there was no audience to see her disdain.
Scary: please NEVER say ‘hubby’ again
Taylor sent a 4 second voice message. She tapped play.
“Okay wifeyyy!” he chirped with his smarmiest voice. God, they were insufferable sometimes.
Scary: taylor.
Scary: i s2g. i know where u live.
Linc: Scary, you started this chat – did you have something in mind?
Just like Linc, keeping them on task.
Scary: kinda
Scary: it might be super lame tho
Taylor: shoot
Scary: i think sometimes he needs reminding that we like him
Scary: like, obviously we do
Taylor: We’re already his buds
Taylor: And we’re married!
Linc: Yeah, but even platonically married teen spouses need reassurance sometimes
Taylor: [gif of Batman stroking his chin and saying ‘I see…’]
Scary envied how Linc’s words always cut straight to the heart of things. Even though the guys had always voted her as leader, it was Linc who was best at getting them all on the same page. Norm was the glue that kept the pages together. Taylor was… she wasn’t sure there was a metaphor to describe Taylor.
Scary: yeah
Scary: idk
Scary: i just want him to know he’s still special
Scary: even when he’s not being Teenie or casting magic shit. he’s special to us
You all are, she began to type, then deleted it.
Linc: What do you need from us Scary?
Ughhhh, say what you mean, Scary. She’d been trying to be more open, but her dark poet’s soul cursed her to always equivocate, never quite finding the words to say things head-on.
Scary: we’re gonna need photos
Scary: like
Scary: a lot of them