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It surprised usnavi to find his little cousin on the ground in the bathroom at one in the morning.
With blood trickling down his arms,and sobbing like a kid who woke up from a nightmare.
“Oh my god,Sonny” he raced to his side.
He immediately left to find some bandages,which he found in a small cabinet in the bathroom where Sonny was.
He wrapped the slowly and carefully around his little cousins arms.
“What happened,mijo” he asked in a soft voice.
“It was nothin” the younger responded even softer. Just below a whisper.
“No,it was not nothing. I just walked into my baby cousin crying,and cutting himself.
How long have you been doing this,Sonny?”
He asked softly,helping the other stand.
“A couple months” he muttered “and I’m not your baby cousin,I can take care of myself”
“Yeah,really provin it here” Usnavi deadpanned.
“Just get out of my way.” Sonny pushed aside the other,and started walking away.
Before he could open the door,usnavi was infront of him.
“No. Please just talk to me Sonny.
I’m trying here.”
“Trying huh? Were you trying,when you planned to leave? Were you trying,when you realized you were gonna leave your cousin,alone,while you went to the DR.”
Usnavi watched his little cousin with a confused expression. Mouth opened to a small ‘oh’ when he realized.
Damn.
That’s right.
He was his legal guardian.
“Oh my god,Sonny,I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.” He said in a small voice.
Sonny took it to sit in the floor,Usnavi following him.
“You were gonna leave” he heard the teen say in the smallest voice.
“Just like…”
He didn’t need to say anymore,for before he could, Usnavi had gently lifted him onto his lap,like he was still a kid.
That broke him. He started sobbing and shaking in his cousin’s hold. He grabbed the older’s shirt,the tears staining it.
“Hey,hey,mijo, it will be ok, I’m sorry. I won’t leave. I’ll never leave you again.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
They sat there a long while,Sonny crying into his cousin’s shirt and,eventually, falling asleep.
Usnavi felt the rise and fall of Sonny’s chest, which meant he was asleep.
He sat there for a second,making sure he wouldn’t wake up,before gently lifting him and carrying him to his bed.
He lifted the covers,and placed him underneath.
He placed a small kiss on his forehead.
“Goodnight,peque”
He said softly.
The younger made a small sound of approval.
“And I knew I'd come up short a million different ways
And I did
And I do
And I will
But like that day,
I will grab your hand and say,
Your cousin isn't going anywhere
I’m staying right here
No matter what
I'll be here”
-Heidi Hanson’s words in Usnavi de le Vegas setting.