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- >It’s kind of funny, really
- “No, I get it, it’s just—”
- >She can hug whoever she wants, claiming that they’re like her brothers
- “No, I don’t—”
- >She can speak with whoever she pleases
- “Yes… Yes…”
- >But, hell, God forbid you go to cheer on CHS, your alma mater of years past, when the soccer team makes it to the state championship
- “Yeah… alright, I… yeah.”
- >The CHS soccer team has only made it to state how many times?
- “Sorry… I love you too, beautiful.”
- >Oh, right
- >Once
- >Sighing, you end the call and shove the phone back into its usual pocket
- >Lips being singed by the clearly-spent cigarette, you spit it out and reach for another one with a shaky hand
- >Flicking open your lighter, you take in a deep breath…
- >”H-hey, Anon?”
- >Blinking, you turn to meet a set of eyes
- >A set of nervous, hopeful, and purple eyes
- >A smile, however forced, comes to your face as you flick the cancer stick to the ground before stomping it out
- “Yeah, what’cha need, Looney?”
- >Her eyes flicker to the floor as your eyes meet, a small blush appearing soon after
- >”I, uh, I… help… need help.”
- >Without another word, she reaches up and grabs your hand
- >Or, rather, grabs a whole finger with her baby hands
- >Yeah, she’s still waiting out on that growth spurt
- >Wordlessly she leads you back into the house, your mind alight with ideas all the while
- >She see another spider?
- >Can she not reach the animal crackers?
- >Or does she need some help with some school project?
- >...Probably not the later
- >She always did her homework on the ride home
- >”Second grade is easy,” she would always say
- >Pfft
- >She must’ve gotten the good genes—
- >”Stuck.”
- >Blinking, you shake yourself from the reverie
- >You look up to the television
- >A smile slowly creeps its way onto your face
- >Subspace Emissary?
- >And the first boss no less?
- >A faint chuckle escapes your throat as she leads you to the couch
- >”Help.”
- >And so with a quiet shake of the head, you plop your ass down
- >A moment later, though, you notice something very, very wrong
- >She tries handing you a Wiimote
- >M-maybe she isn’t the prodigy after all…
- >Giviner her head a quick pat, you stand up, quickly making way for the little box besides the TV where all the game supplies are held
- “For your first problem, Looney…”
- >You pull out two gamecube controllers
- >A bit worn, yes
- >A bit nasty if you looked at the gunk between the gaps, sure
- >But, fuck, these things have to be the greatest battle implement ever devised
- >You hear a small gasp as you flip open the top of the Wii
- >”Y-you broke it!”
- >You shake your head, plugging the things in
- “Nah, these are the controller ports.”
- >”...Wait, what?”
- >She scampers her way to your side before peering over your shoulder, a scrutinizing look in her eyes
- >She stares at it for a few moments, tilting her head like a confused puppy
- >Her gaze soon melts into a neutral, if not happy, one
- >”Oh, I saw that and I wanted to open it, but I was afraid I would break it!”
- >You begin to make your way back to the couch, little sister in tow
- >”I mean, I tried finding the manual to figure out what it was, but I couldn't find it or anyone to help me find it... sis is always busy at college, mom’s always in bed, and dad’s always at work…!”
- >You nod, taking your usual seat at the couch
- >”And then I tried getting on the computer to look for a digital version of the manual, but then I remembered the computer has a password on it!”
- >She scrambles onto the couch before crawling into your lap
- >She takes the proffered controller, quite literally chucking the Wiimote to the side
- >...Thankfully it lands on something soft
- >”So, wait, if it can use gamecube controllers, does that mean it can play—”
- >The gleam in her eyes makes you fear for your heart
- “W-wait, so you didn’t know it's backwards compatible…?”
- >Ah
- >So that explains it
- >That's why she made such a big fuss about the GameCube breaking last week
- >Speaking of which, she’s already scrambling for the game binder
- >You laugh for the second time today
- >Maybe your Sunday isn’t ruined after all?
- >...
- >......
- >You swear, this is the happiest you’ve seen her in months
- >From the way she always talks about how she just loves certain townsfolk to how she commentates about always catching sea bass…
- >She just looks so eager
- >So happy in the fact that she has someone to play with
- >...
- >...Wait, when’s the last time you actually spent time with her?
- >I mean, sure, you always drive her home from school because nobody else can, but you’re usually doing that on your lunch break because nobody else can
- >No, like the last time you actually spent time with he—
- >”Oh, oh, look, a shark!”
- >Right
- >Back to Animal Crossing, Looney's undisputed favorite game
- >She bounces up and down in your lap, absolutely giddy at the prospect of finally paying getting a second room for her little house
- >”You, you catch it, I don’t trust myself!”
- >She all but shoves the controller in your face, her little hands shaking at the thought of finally being able to do it
- >”I’ve counted… fifty two times I’ve failed catching him!”
- >...Wow
- >Fucking casul
- >Chuckling, you warm up your hands before taking the proffered controller
- >Alright, time to show this little shit how it’s really done…
- >*Plonk!*
- >...
- >*Dibble dibble*
- >*Dibble dibble*
- >Silence reigns king for several moments
- >Little Moonie holds her breath in, physically leaning in and balling her fists in anticipation
- >*THUNK!*
- >The gasp you hear from Moonie would make one think that you just cured cancer
- >All you did was press and hold A
- >”Again, again!”
- >She’s…
- >She’s clapping, eyes wide and astounded
- >Raising a brow, you shrug
- “I mean, if you really want…”
- >”Again!”
- >Smile slowly growing, you give her a nod
- >Heh
- >At least you can make someone smile
- >With that in mind, you turn your attention back to the screen
- >Why...
- >Why is this the funnest you've had with vidya in so long?
- >...
- >......
- >”Awww, c’mon!”
- >Giving her hair a gentle tousle, you find chuckle away the small feeling of guilt as she gives you the eyes of a kicked puppy
- “Sorry, Looney, someone’s gotta cook dinner—”
- >”Pizza!”
- >You blink
- >That was fast….
- “Looney, we had pizza yesterday.”
- >”So?”
- >You scoff, beginning your walk to the kitchen
- “Pizza’s a once a week type’a food, if not once a month.”
- >”Lies!”
- >You can hear her above the gentle hum of the freezer as you parooze through the thing
- >”Lies and slander!”
- >Whistling a low tune, you gently pick out some peas… a bit of broccoli… and, last but not least, some chicken breast
- >She’s still hard at work fishing, which you recently just taught her was much more profitable than shaking trees, but finds time to glance your way
- >”Aw, awww!”
- >You chuckle aloud, digging around for just the right pot
- >”Pizza, pizza, pizza!”
- >She begins to chant
- >”Pizza!”
- “Nope.”
- >”Pizza!”
- “Nah.”
- >”Pizza!”
- “Nein.”
- >You’re more than a bit surprised to find out that she has an iron will when it comes to this sort of thing
- >And by that you mean she continues chanting it up until the moment you have her ass seated at the table
- >Like, holy shit, props for dedication and all, but god damn…
- >”Hey, Anon?”
- >You look up from the tray, laden with a plate and drink
- >”Is mom going to eat with us today?”
- >You glance down at the tray, already knowing the answer
- >A sad smile is sent her way, along with a shake of the head
- “Sorry, mom’s… not doing too well.”
- >Her eyes slowly fall to her plate, her voice dropping
- >”Oh… okay.”
- >With a sigh, you pick up the tray of food and make way the stairs
- >Hopefully mom will eat more than a quarter this time…
- >...
- >......
- >This…
- >This sucks
- >Sure, it’s good for you in every sense of the word, but you still hate it
- “Why can’t pizza be healthy?”
- >Anon looks up from his plate, raising a brow
- >What?
- >This is a serious question!
- “No, seriously, think about it!”
- >You tap your forehead just like he does whenever he says something smart
- “If we made healthy stuff taste good, imagine how much more we’d eat the stuff!”
- >He snorts before returning to his meal
- >”It’s called acquiring a taste, Looney.”
- “...”
- >”...”
- “Wait, so where do I get this taste?”
- >You tilt your head slightly as he goes to rub his forehead
- “Do you have it? Can I borrow it?!”
- >He laughs, though you don’t know why
- “Can I? Please? C’mon, I’ll actually eat all the green stuff if you—”
- >”I’m home!”
- >You both blink, looking to the direction of the front door
- >Oh
- >Dad’s home
- >Well, not Dad, but new Dad
- >That makes sense, right?
- >Right
- >The loud thuds of heavy boots give way to the familiar and husky musician that lazily makes his way around the corner
- >He eyes you two warily, barely returning Anon’s wave
- >”What’s for dinner?”
- >”Veggies and grilled chicken breast.”
- >He grumbles something you can’t quite catch before heading behind the counter
- >He joins you two at the table a few minutes later, plate filled to the absolute brim
- >”Hey, what’s up?”
- >Your eyes dart to the neglected vegetables on your plate
- >Anon, thankfully, speaks so you don’t have to
- >”Eh, not much, just hung around the house, keeping Looney company… small stuff like that.”
- >”Ah, cool, cool…”
- >You’re not so sure why you’re suddenly quiet
- >You’re also not so sure why Anon seems to have the same problem
- >Hmmm
- >Maybe you should eat these green things so you and Anon can go back to fishing?
- >...That’s actually a lot more inspirational than you thought
- >...
- >......
- >That…
- >”Aw, c’mon, I’m not even tired!”
- >That went better than expected
- >”It’s like, eight thirty!”
- >Probably had something to do with the lingering scent of weed, though
- “It’s nine forty, and you’ve still got to brush, floss, and settle down.”
- >She doesn’t offer much resistance as you carry her up the stairs
- >Little shit never did complain about a free ride…
- >Eventually, with the little one quieting down in your arms, you make your way up to her room
- >...Well, as much as it can be her room, what with it being shared between her and Morning Roast
- >Though, what with Roast now living in her dorm, it’s more or less hers
- >Reaching the entrance, you slowly open it and flicker on the light
- >You set her down and give her a gentle rub on the head
- “Alright, now get ready for bed, and I might just read you a good one.”
- >Her eyes widen slightly at the proposition, all notions of annoyance forgotten
- >”Ooo, ooo, how about The Giving Tree?”
- >You snigger, idly tousling her hair again
- “Sure, kid, now scram, I gotta’ get ready too.”
- >With a smile, she runs off to her bathroom, the faint sounds of running water hitting your ears as you head to your room
- >Hmmm
- >Maybe you can finally get a full night’s sleep?”
- >That thought is enough to make you slump and give a happy groan
- >What you wouldn’t give…
- >...
- >......
- >How…
- >”C’mon, tuck me in already, tuck me in, tuck me in, tuck me in…”
- >How did she get all the adorable genes while you and Roastie got shafted?
- >Sighing, you relent to her high-pitched demands
- >Soon only her head is poking out above the covers, content smile still showing
- >Tousling her hair one last time, yourself now sitting at the edge of her bed, you gently open the book in your lap
- “Once there was a tree.... and she loved a little boy.”
- >You take time to try and put out your best narrator voice, each page followed by a slow showing of the page
- “And everyday the boy would come and he would gather her leaves…”
- >There comes a noise…
- >A very faint noise, but one that you try desperately to ignore
- >An angered yell from just down the hallway
- “And make them into crowns and play king of the forest.”
- >You try and speak a bit louder to drown out the second voice that always comes shortly after
- >Mom’s voice
- >”He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples.”
- >Just as you go to flip the page, however, you hear it
- >The shattering of glass and a distant thump
- “And they would play hide-and-go-seek.”
- >More screaming
- >This…
- >This is worse than usual
- >Gently, slowly, you close the book and lay it on the floor
- >Placing a kiss on her forehead, you place a palm on her cheek, trying to calm her
- “Hey, I’ll be right back, okay?”
- >Her eyes dart about before finally settling on yours
- >She’s nervous
- >”O-okay…”
- >Nodding, you suck in a deep breath
- >Planting one last kiss on her forehead, you make to stand before heading for the door
- >Looking back, you give her the most reassuring smile you can
- >And then you shut off the lights and close the door
- >...
- >......
- >Anon…
- >Is Anon going to be okay?
- >You stare at the sliver of light coming from the crack underneath the door, eyes straining without your glasses…
- >The screaming continues, though there’s no more crashing sounds…
- >It reaches an apex before another shout reaches your ears
- >It’s Anon’s
- >Then, a moment after, there’s silence
- >Total, deafening silence
- >The ringing in your ears is more terrifying than anything that came before it
- >Wait, are you shivering?
- >That’s bad
- >You shouldn’t shiver, because Anon’s going to keep you safe
- >He said so—
- >There’s another crashing sound followed by the screaming nearly doubling in intensity
- >Another crash, another string of thunderous curses and other things Anon tells you to never say
- >You pull the covers under your head
- >It usually isn’t this ba—
- >You seize up at the sound
- >It’s loud
- >Almost deafeningly so
- >Kind of like someone smacked down a paper clip board right next to your ear as hard as they could
- >There’s another scream after this, though it sounds different from the others
- >More clear
- >Less angry
- >You seize up again as the another one of the terrible sounds goes off
- >You whimper as the third comes in
- >By the fifth you’re whimpering under the sheets, palms cupped to your ears
- >This…
- >This has to be thunder
- >There’s nothing else that it could be
- >Everything will be fine
- >You just have to wait for Anon
- >He’ll be back
- >He’ll be back any moment now
- >He’s never lied to you
- >He’ll come back
- >He’ll come back
- >He’ll come back
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