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Waking up was the last thing that was meant to happen. (The image of his family – happy, whole, alive – had been burned into his eyelids, always there whenever he closes his eyes.) It’s a bad day where Ronin just wanted to hide away in his room, despite April and Casey Marie’s pestering for him to join them. They don’t want him to be alone – and he gets that – but he needs to be left alone…however that went right out the door when Casey Marie had ushered the children – small, turtle tots that makes his heart hurt at the sight – into the room; ordering him to watch them while she does something or other.
So, he decided to share a story from his childhood with them. A lighthearted version of the first time they had went to surface. It’s funny how the kids hang onto every word he says.
“That’s so cool, Papa!” Yi suddenly says; leaning forwards and knocking into Odyn. “What happens next? Did Uncle Raph find you or was its Uncle Tello?”
Ronin had to think about the words he was speaking – not realizing that he was talking without processing what was coming out, and really hope that he didn’t say anything that could get Casey Marie on his tail. His eyes land on Uno, who’s the most similar to Leo.
“Actually, it was Leo.” That got the kids to excitedly whisper to one another. “He came crashing through the skylight and took out the Mousers!” A laugh slips through; broken and hollow but mask enough not to worry the kids. It wouldn’t fool April but she’s not here. “He given me a lecture so badly that I can still remember the words.” Sometimes those words will pop into his head whenever he does something that puts him at risk.
“Can you tell us another story?” Moja asks.
His heart breaks at the tiny question; wanting a story connection them to the only other of their kind. He has dozens of stories with substories attached to those. He can talk well into the night – despite the fact that his voice hurts from lack of use – about the adventures his brothers and him had when they were younger.
The children have been sitting at the end of the bed – keeping their distance like April and Casey Marie have told them to do. He gestures for the kids to find a place up by him; wincing a tiny bit when they move a bit to quickly, each of the kids easily found their place while Ronin starts speaking about the time they had met Casey – Casey Marie’s dad. It’s a good place to start.
…
“Thanks, Sensei.” Casey Marie had taken a seat on a chair while the kids had run off for dinner; April’s voice can be heard talking with the kids. “I know that you wanted to be alone today but I had something important to do.”
“It’s alright, Case.”
Casey Marie looks at him with that same look April always gives; one that knows he’s not telling the truth but won’t say anything unless he starts. She nods towards the open door; “you want to join us for dinner this time? It’s alright if you don’t want to but it’s important that you leave this room once and in a while.”
“Maybe next time…”
Ronin force himself to his eyes on his hands – not wanting to close his eyes but not wanting to look at his niece. There’s a soft squeeze of his shoulder before Casey Marie left him alone. The door remains open but he’s to tired to get up and close it, also knowing its Casey Marie’s way of making him join them. Instead, he laid back down and pulls the blanket over his head.
Which lasted all of two seconds before Ronin force himself to get open and join everyone downstairs.