How We Subsist

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/31680617.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: F/M
Fandom: OMORI (Video Game)
Relationship: Aubrey/Sunny (OMORI)
Characters: Sunny (OMORI), Aubrey (OMORI), Polly (OMORI), Mari and Sunny's
Mother (OMORI), Aubrey's Mother (OMORI), Basil (OMORI), Hero
and Kel's Mother (OMORI), Kel (OMORI), Kim (OMORI), Vance
(OMORI)
Additional Tags: Bittersweet, Sadburn, Codependency, Grief/Mourning, Alternate
Universe - Canon Divergence, Fluff and Angst, Anxiety, Hallucinations,
Hallucinations everywhere, Cuddling & Snuggling, Slow Burn
Language: English
Collections: The Best of OMORI
Stats: Published: 2021-06-02 Updated: 2022-04-21 Words: 103,700 Chapters:
22/37
 How We Subsist
by Schrift

Summary

Roughly two years after Mari's death, Sunny breaks his repressive cycle and embraces the
truth. But life has deserted him long ago, and only the desire to atone spurs him forward.

Aubrey had suffered much since that tragic day, and the Photo Album was the last straw. The
sparks of delinquency are growing, but they are weak, and she is alone and torn.

These two pained souls reunite on a frigid autumn day, struggling to find an answer to their
grim lives. Together, they find one; an answer most unhealthy, but an answer all the same.
 A Solemn Reunion
Chapter Notes

beware, for this is the dreaded 'first fanfic'.

based off of something i did not too long ago.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The vast emptiness of White Space was supposed to be a blessing. A place to feel no
emotions, much less any expectations. The only darkness meant here was the black lightbulb
that once hanged, an ever-present seal of the dark truths that haunted the Dreamer.

OMORI got a good look at its shattered remains as he fell to his knees in defeat.

It all started with Mari, as everything in this dreamland did. No, not the sweet little Mari that
was confined to a picnic basket, but a different one altogether. Ghastly white and more grown
than the vessel remembered, she somehow managed to sneak into Headspace and tried to
comfort the Dreamer, if only for a brief few moments. It was concerning, but OMORI
thought nothing of it. The oversight was minor, and the Dreamer would simply blot it out, as
he usually did.

It wasn't until they approached Black Space, only for the vassal to suddenly get detached and
ejected back to White Space, that OMORI realized something was wrong.

OMORI tried his best to intervene, but he was too slow. By the time he got his hands on
Basil, they already divulged everything to the Dreamer. That regretful look on his face more
than confirmed it.

OMORI sought to intercept the Dreamer, but he was too desperate. His creator meant to leave
Headspace and unveil the Truth to Them. The vessel already failed one task, and in its fervor
to not fail another, Omori nearly exhausted himself to confront the Dreamer, and just before
the final door at that.

OMORI fought with all he could, but he was too weak. Given time, he could have grown
strong enough to overcome the Dreamer. But even they, made strong to shut out the darkness,
could not stand against the Dreamer at that point.

OMORI was completely outmatched, in every way. With no option that ended in his favor, he
could do no more to the Dreamer, and slumped in defeat.

The Dreamer, confirming his victory, stepped up. He extended his hand towards OMORI.

"....This will only bring suffering." OMORI warned, looking up into the Dreamer's eyes. "The
damage was already done. You may believe yourself just, but here is no light at the end of
this tunnel."

"I know." The Dreamer whispered. "But they need to know too. I can't lie to them anymore."
He paused, closing his eyes. "And.... I don't want to suffer anymore. I want a chance to be
happy again."

And Headspace, colorful and magical as it was, couldn't offer that. If it could, the darkness
would've never crept in. The Dreamer would've never had a reason to break free. OMORI
cannot refute this.

With his solemn realization, the vessel accepted the Dreamer's hand, and faded back into his
creator.

Sunny slowly opens his eyes, his sunlit room coming into focus.

It took every fiber of his being to not immediately break into sobs.

After two years of isolation, Sunny finally broke through the darkness haunting his dreams
and re-discovered his sealed memories. He can recall it now, in vivid detail: The recital, the
final practice that ended in Mari's frustration, the way he threw his violin down the stairs and
the argument that had followed.

....And the tragic fate that followed it; the push that sent Mari on a fatal fall, the delirious aid
he gave to Basil, and when they looked back on what the flower boy had enacted....

Sunny shook his head, forcing himself to get out of his bed. He can't fixate upon the Truth
right now. What he needs is to set things straight. His friends will need to know. Basil will
need to hear that Sunny was coming clean. But most importantly, he needs to answer to his
sister, Mari. Even if she was dead, she needed to hear it from him-- the apology she so
desperately deserved.

And Sunny knew exactly where he could find her.

He didn't even bother brushing his teeth when he made his way to the front door.

Faraway felt frigid, and leaves crunched on the concrete.

Sunny didn't care much, clenching his teeth against the cold as he walked along the town's
sidewalk.
The neighborhood didn't seem to change much, if at all these last two years. Sunny should've
been grateful for Faraway's unchanging landscape, but he only feels a sense of mockery. The
town itself taunting him by how it didn't yield to any force, where Sunny had buckled to his
own guilt.

It only reminds him of something that he felt when waking up, but ignored when he planned
to visit Mari, then tried to bury when he darted out of the house. It was.... Well, he wasn't
expecting his revelation to bring any sense of happiness or relief, or even peace. It was a grim
truth, and he was prepared to suffer for it. What he wasn't expecting is....

....How empty he felt. How empty he still feels.

His life is in shambles. He murdered his own sister in a fit of rage, allowed Basil to ruin her
legacy with a handmade noose, blotted out all the photos in the album, then proceeded to shut
himself away into a massive dream world to forget everything for two years. He is the
monster that couldn't even face what he's done, and life clearly wants nothing to do with him,
since nothing, much less anyone, was there when he finally snapped out of it.

These all contributed to a pervasive hollow within. It dogs his steps, reminding him that he, a
touch-starved kid who flew off the handle and ended his sister's life over his own
imperfections, has no assurance or warmth in his present life.

For now, he is to apologize, and then confess. He had little hope it would go well: Kel would
be horrified at what he did. Hero would despise him for taking Mari away. Aubrey....

Sunny winced, a heartfelt pain surfacing at the thought of Aubrey's reaction. She was the girl
he held a crush on since they were twelve, and the mere thought of how she would hate him
for his actions.... No words could describe the sheer agony that would bring.

But it will happen, and he will be rejected and villainized, he is certain. But when that came
to pass, when he would be left in a town that would surely know of his actions, as a dropout
with a majorly absent mother.... What then? What goal could he possibly have, after he
confers the truth? What can keep him going?

That is the question brought forth by the internal void, and Sunny cannot answer it. That fact
scares him, and he dreads what will happen when he must face it.

Sunny shook his thoughts aside as he nears the Church, his sight grazing over the daffodils
that lined the path.

Sunny cracks open the great doors, and takes a peek within.

A red carpet splits a large hall of wooden floors and olive-covered walls. Pillars supported
naught from the corners, pews took sides and three colorful windows observed everything
from the far side.

Church was something that Sunny loosely understood, even if his family never went. He
knew it was a place of worship, and that people sometimes congregated there on Sundays for
sermons.

Today is a Sunday, and he witnesses the tame crowd within, heads bowed as they take in the
Preacher's quiet words.

Manners tell Sunny to wait, to let the sermon finish before going in. But Sunny needed to
give Mari some semblance of justice. No sermon can be more important than that.

Carefully, Sunny opens the doors a little bit further before slipping through the cracks. He
winces when the door whines at his sudden movements, clearly unused to such quick and
decisive action. No one seems to notice, though, and Sunny lets out a sigh of relief.

He sticks to the left-hand walls as he creeps around the ongoing sermon. He can hear the
Preacher and his words, the robed man reciting a passage off of the book before them. He
recites and interprets passages of sin, how mankind was natural to err, and the redemption
one could find in faith.

Sunny tries to pay attention, to find some meaning in the speech. He wants to atone, and he
wants to move on from the misery he trapped himself in. But the words feel like static to him.
He cannot bring himself to believe that prayer would wash away the blood on his hands, nor
that faith in a mythical figure could fill the emptiness he now bears. If such a power existed,
why didn't they intervene on the day of the recital, to stop the catastrophic damage? When
Sunny ponders the thought, it felt like he was tapping into Headspace again, now rejecting
the idea that anything was his fault, and that some fable was responsible or too lazy to step in
for something he did.

In the end, he can only recognize it as wishful thinking. He was the only one to blame, and he
is the only one who could set things right.

He reaches the other side before long. He quickly slips through to the door to the cemetery,
oblivious to the pair of eyes that followed his departure.

He felt the seasonal chill again when he greeted the graveyard proper.

The Church's backyard cemetery was always a solemn place. But the autumn, with its biting
temperature and the trees shedding their foliage, frames the small landscape with a sense of
melancholy. Orderly rows of graves met Sunny, testaments to the souls that once lived in
Faraway, deeming it worthy as the site of their eternal sleep. But he ignores the lot of them,
shuffling past the bench and towards the back end of the enclosure.
There, farthest from the entrance, he spots a simple gravestone, adorn with a pillar of gentle
light. This, he remembers, is Mari's final resting place.

Sunny steps forth, stopping just short of the mound that contains his sister's coffin.

This is it. The first step of his penance. He takes a deep breath.

"....H-Hi, Mari...." Sunny started. Only silence greets him. "It's.... been a while, hasn't it?"

Sunny gulps. He can feel misery crawling up his spine again, threatening to break him down
once more. He is just barely able to contain himself again, for Mari needs a response, not his
useless babbling.

"....I know I haven't been.... the best little brother. I didn't realize how much that violin
meant...." He trailed off, clamping down. He was being long-winded. He can't stall this out.

"I had a feeling you were having it rough, but I...." No, now he was making excuses. He
doesn't want to lie anymore.

"T-That day was...." The words are harder to find now. Why is he like this? Why can't he tell
her?

"I.... I...." He stuttered, shaking. He keeps drawing blanks, unable to speak anything coherent.

The wind gently breezed through his hair. Just like how Mari rubbed his head, when he
needed comfort from his nightmares.

Sunny drops to his knees with a low whine. The tears begin to surface, and he cracks.

"I-I'm so sorry, Mari!" He sobbed, leaning forward and clutching at the dirt. "I didn't mean to
push you down the stairs! I'm sorry!" He was barely able to make out her grave from the tears
blotting out his vision. "I was a coward and a liar! I'm sorry, Mari....!" He pushes his face into
the ground, watering the grass with his sorrows.

Sunny lost all track of time, shuddering and sobbing for all of the guilt that had bubbled
within him. His mouth is a broken record, only able to repeat Mari's name and the endless
apologies he musters. "I'm sorry," over and over and over, is fed into the dirt in a vain attempt
to reach her spirit and inform her of his regret. He doesn't even notice the nature going on
around him, much less the opening and closing of the cemetery's lone entrance, as he bawls
and sobs and cries without end.

Eventually, Sunny drains himself enough to slowly regain control. His sobs start to die down,
and he could finally bring himself to take deep breaths. In, then out. In, then out. In.... and
out.

Sunny slowly leans back up and onto to his knees, eyes puffy from his exertion. He wipes
away the remnant tears (and his nose) with his arm, as he stares again at Mari's grave. The
guilt was still there, the emptiness continues to be unfulfilled, but he feels a little calmer, and
he finally feels ready to put everything to words.
He opens his mouth to finish his confession, but the sound of soft footsteps give him pause.

"....Sunny...." A familiar, feminine voice said.

He blinks, turning his head towards the newcomer. He meets them with wide eyes and a
silent gasp.

Aubrey had changed a bit since he last saw her.

Her style of skirts and dresses were gone, replaced by plaid pants, dark blue shirt and a dark,
bulky jacket. Mr. Eggplant was no longer in her possession, and the pink bow turned yellow,
just like her hair. She always tried to smile despite her circumstances, but her lips were now
set in a neutral line, with a sad tinge to them. And her eyes....

Her eyes, once bright and lively, held no light.

Sunny felt a sense of deja vu, looking into them.

Aubrey felt like she had no control over the shambles of her life.

Ever since Mari passed away, everything went downhill. Her friends left her; half of them
were shut away, while the others moved on like she wasn't even there. Then her parents drove
the final nail in their relationship, her dad leaving her with a mom that quickly became dead
to her world. She, who had trouble fitting in before, could not hope to find a new friend in the
wake of tragedy.

She was alone and forgotten, by friends, family and the world around her.

So she was left to find her own way through life, and it was nothing short of silent misery.
Everything she had, she needed to guard jealously. Everything she wanted, had to be a
necessity. At times, even the things she needed couldn't be obtained fairly. Her successes felt
hollow when no one supported her, and her failures were harsh with no shoulder to cry on.

It was only through Mari that she found the strength to forge on. She always visited her
grave, brought and maintained flowers for her grave. She often ranted to her, taking whatever
signs she could pick up as her dead friend's responses. She even started attending the Church
proper, to try and ease the burdens she no doubt had in the afterlife.

But life kept going on, and it didn't get any better.

It all came to a head when she finally managed to reconnect with Basil, or so she thought. He
couldn't even stand the sight of her, and when she found out what he did to the Photo Album,
she lost it.
She cursed his name, fled, and broke down for hours in her shambled attic of a room. Even
the hole she punched into the wall, or the sleep she only gained from crying herself out,
wasn't enough to subdue the pain. Neither did the hair dye she bought-- an attempt to fulfill
her promise to Mari, only to find out she had wasted what little money she had on a ripoff
artist's bleach.

Her temper, which was never her strong point, was starting to erode. In Mr. Eggplant's
absence, she had acquired a bat. She always had to fight for something every now and then,
but never did she think about fighting for anything less than necessity, until now.

Only the thought of Mari anchored her, the idea that she would be appalled at what Aubrey
would do, the damage she could cause. But even that was starting to slip, as she constantly
doubted and questioned. Was talking to a dead girl really helping? Why should she try and
hold back, when everyone else moved on without a care in the world? As it stood, she was
going to turn into a monster. All she wanted was just one friend, one person by her side, and
instead she was on the path to unrestrained violence.

She was afraid, and she didn't know what to do. When she wasn't trying to fix the Photo
Album, she was continuing to grasp at the straws of Mari's fading influence. Asking her,
repeatedly, what she could possibly do. Seeking some last-ditch effort to retain herself.

And then she spotted Sunny sneaking around during a sermon.

The sight surprised and confounded her. Out of everyone in her old friend group, she never
saw anything of the boy she once crushed on. The rest ignored her, or in Basil's case, ruined
the memories they once made. But not Sunny, who was entirely absent for the last two years.
It left her wondering why he was here, now of all times.

So she quietly followed him outside, only to find him openly weeping before his sister's
grave.

Aubrey stood there, barely able to register the stream of apologies he sputtered. She was so
sure that everyone else had blocked out Mari after her passing, that she was the only one who
even tried to visit Mari. Yet, Sunny was here now. Why?

Did he come back?

Did he.... never move on to begin with?

She didn't want to answer it, but part of her hoped that he didn't. That he was still grieving,
and that, maybe, Aubrey wasn't as forgotten as she thought she was.

But she couldn't bring herself to accept that thought. After two years of being alone, the idea
that someone among the friend group was still stuck in the past, when she was left to herself,
was too alien to believe in. But what could she assume, then? He was still there, losing it over
Mari, and she couldn't reject that fact.

When his sobs started to die down, she took her chance and approached him. She needed
answers. "....Sunny....?"
He looked back towards her, eyes wide as he took her in, as she did in turn. He wasn't too
different from how he was back then, even if he looked a little thinner than she remembered.
His eyes lacked the luster that his younger self carried, too.

"....You...." She started, trying to figure out what she wanted to say. She doesn't want to scare
him off. "....You came to see Mari....?"

He hesitates, then nods. "....Yeah...."

"Oh." She pauses. "That's good...."

Her mind goes blank. After two years, Sunny now sits before her, and she is at a loss for
words. She can only take a seat on the ground next to him, eyes trained on Mari's grave.

What can she say?

Hesitation was something shared between the two, as they stared at the grave.

While Aubrey struggled to figure out what to say, Sunny thinks of confessing, and it clams
him up.

He knows what he did, he knows he was guilty, and he knows he deserves whatever vitriol
she would surely throw at him. Why is he getting cold feet now?

But before he could find an answer, much less the willpower he needed, Aubrey speaks up.

"Mari was.... Uhm.... She was getting lonely, you know?" She said. "It's.... been a long two
years, for her."

Sunny glances over at Aubrey, who only stares at the grave as she continues. "Ever since the
funeral.... I was the only one that visited her. I-I brought her flowers. Kept her company. Told
her how everyone else was doing...."

Sunny's eyes turn downwards, the implications throttling his composure. She's talking about
him and how he abandoned his sister. She has to be.

"Mari never liked to leave anyone behind, after all. She wanted everyone to get along, and....
I wanted to give that back to her."

"Y-Yeah." Sunny finally responded, folding his hands together. "She was always so kind and
open, even to complete strangers. She was always there, and I...."

He pauses, trying to find the right words to say. But only his failures come to mind, and he
sighs. "....I guess I haven't been a good brother, right....?"
Aubrey whips her head towards him in shock. "N-No, not at all!" She blurts out. Sunny can
tell she's hiding something, but she's quickly covering her tracks. "I mean, it's.... it's good that
you're here now! You came back for your sister!"

Sunny pauses, with a curious look. "....Came back....?"

"Y-Yeah. You.... you moved on, and now you're visiting her." She paused. "Right?"

"...."

The void within grows. Moving on.... He failed at that too, didn't he? Not that he ever
deserved to move on.

"....Sunny?"

"....I didn't...."

Aubrey froze. 'What?'

Sunny shifts, hugging his knees as he stares forward. "I.... I never moved on. I don't think I
wanted to move on. I-I just now...." He trailed off, ashamed.

Aubrey can't believe her ears. 'He.... didn't move on....?'

She struggled to believe it before. it wasn't even that long since she discarded that hope, but
here he is now, confirming that no, her hope wasn't misguided. Part of Aubrey threatens to
leap for joy, that despite how utterly sad it was, there is an old friend that didn't push forward
without her.

But.... he didn't make any sense. "How....?" She whispered.

"I...." Sunny hugs himself tighter. "I closed myself off. I kept to my own little world, where
Mari was still alive. Where we didn't age and just kept going on adventures and having fun
together. I just kept imagining everything until I realized it wasn't going anywhere." He
shudders, and he cannot shake off how awful his former state sounds. "It feels so.... pathetic,
and when I--"

He cuts off when Aubrey places a hand on his shoulder. He meets her gaze, though he can't
decipher the look in her eyes.

"It's.... It's not. You were grieving, just like-- just like me." She tried to assure, her hand
falling back to her side. "B-But you could've reached out. We-- I could've helped you.... I--
we wouldn't have gone through this alone."

Sunny looked away again. "I.... I don't know. I don't think I could ever deserve that help."

"--What?" Why was he acting like this? "Sunny, that's-- how could you not deserve it?!"

Sunny can feel the tears welling up again. But this time, they came with a sense of
momentum, battering the hesitation he once felt. "....I'm a monster, Aubrey." He croaked.
"Mari.... She died because of me."

"Sunny, don't say that!" Aubrey snapped. Her self-control was starting to slip, but she didn't
care. Her old friend is acting like Mari killed herself because of him. "That's not your fault!"

But Sunny dipped too far into his guilt. He couldn't stop now. "It was! If it weren't for me--"

"Y-You couldn't have done anything about it! It was out of your control!"

"But I could've done something! I was right there!"

"Sunny, please, stop. You're not--"

"I didn't even try to help her! She was right there, and I-I let her die!"

"Stop!"

"I-I'm horrible! I killed her, and I ran from it! I-It should've been me who--"

"STOP IT!!"

Aubrey lunges forward, grappling Sunny's shoulders as she nearly bowls him over, knocking
him out of his knee-hugging curl and forcing him to look at her. Her eyes are wild, her mouth
in a snarl.

"Stop acting like that!" She snapped, her aggression stunning the boy. "Y-You aren't the only
one who misses her! I want her back more than anything, I want everything to go back to
when she was around! But.... But she's g-gone, and I have to live with that--" And wow, how
hypocritical did that sound to her? "-and now you're here blaming yourself! How could
you?!"

She briefly shook him. "Mari would want you to move on, she wouldn't want you to take her
place! Why can't you see that?! Why do you even want to do that, don't you know how that
would feel, I'd lose two friends and I can't even imagine what I'd do about that! I don't even
know how to feel about what's going on now!"

Her breathing is ragged. Her point was flying all over the place, but she didn't look fit to care.
Sunny tries to steady himself. "A-Aubrey--"

"I've been all alone, none of our friends want anything to do with me, Basil's a freak that
ruined the only thing we had to look back on and you locked yourself up for two years and
now you're crying at Mari's grave and telling me you want to--" She quaked violently.
"Why.... Why are you like this? Why did you come out now!? Why didn't you tell me, WHY!
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?!" She roared.

Tense silence followed. Aubrey's chest heaved from exertion. Sunny stared at her, unsure.

Yet, Sunny's heart directs him to slowly, carefully place his hand upon her arm. The contact
reminded Aubrey of a memory, placed within a playground and accompanied with an instinct
of catharsis.
Something glistens from the corner of her eye. It escapes, rolling down her cheek and
splatting upon Sunny's leg. Her fury melts with it.

"Why did everyone leave me behind....?" She croaked, her mouth hanging in gloom. "Why
do I lose everything I care about....?"

Sunny recalls the memory, too, from that swing set. He leans forward and wraps his arms
around Aubrey, even as his own sorrows begin to break through his will.

"Sunny...." She whispered, as she embraces him in turn. "I-I...." She started, her words cut off
by a choked sob.

They can't hold it in anymore. They lean into each other and begin to cry.

To say they wept was an understatement.

Sunny once again broke into uncontrollable sobs, as Aubrey finally let everything out with a
tearful wail. They pushed themselves as hard as they could into their embrace, their hands
desperately grasping into the other as they drowned ground and clothing alike in tears.

In their sorrowful embrace, Sunny held nothing back, and confessed every sin he committed
on the day of the recital. The violin, Mari's fall, his involvement in Basil's plan (no matter
how delirious he was), the Photo Album, everything. He wasn't sure if she heard it, despite
her own babbled responses, but he couldn't hold it in anymore.

Aubrey couldn't stop bemoaning all of her circumstances to him. How everyone treated her,
the complete breakdown of her family, the world's indifference (and sometimes scorn) to her
life, and her desperate attempts to seek the guidance of a girl who died at least two years ago.
All her misery was laid bare for Sunny to recognize and mindlessly croak comforts over,
while she continued to ask what she did to deserve it all, and why she couldn't have even one
thing that didn't leave her behind.

There was no telling how much time passed over their melancholic release. The world meant
nothing to them; only their presence held any relevance, anchoring them to reality.

But, eventually, their ranting died down, and it was only so much longer before their tears
had to dry up.

But they continued their embrace, unable to bring themselves to pull away. They could only
hear their steady breaths, and the autumn air was overcome by shared warmth.

"....I'm sorry, Aubrey." Sunny finally said, whispering into her ear. "For causing all of this.
For.... For being too selfish to support you when you needed it."
Aubrey sniffed. "I'm sorry too, Sunny." She whispered back. "I-I just assumed you moved on
and acted like I was the only one suffering. I should've tried to check on you...."

In this brief time, the most peaceful moments of their union, the two feel as if something
missing was found again. The emptiness in Sunny was finally given its fill, and he can feel
whole. Aubrey felt the misery of life disappear, and with the feeling of someone by her side,
she feels like everything will be alright.

When they eventually pulled away from each other, these hopes dissipated with them, and
they both felt their losses keenly.

They had fallen back into silence.

Aubrey grasps her hands together in her lap, staring at a Sunny whose gaze was back upon
Mari's grave.

She was wrong about him. He didn't leave her; he is still the same cute, caring boy she was
enamored with. Her arrogance had cost her his company, she feels, and their suffering was
magnified for it. She wanted to make that right, to give him the shoulder he needs before he
could move on.

But even the barest thought of him leaving makes her feel ill and vulnerable.

Her heart starts to ache; this is the one person she truly reconnected with, and she can already
see how they might be separated again. The idea makes her dread and yearn for the comfort
she had only seconds ago. If he left, she didn't know what would happen, much less if she
could keep herself on the straight and narrow. If something happened to him....

Aubrey almost keels from the cold, dark void that threatens to replace what little kept her
warm inside. She.... She couldn't lose him. She can't.

Something in the back of her mind prods at her, triggering faint memories of the school's
bathroom. Of schoolgirls hiding in stalls, from the fantasies that shattered before them. Once
a dark, guilty comfort, the recollection now feels like a warning.

But if she heeds it, then what else was there? Nothing less than blotched pictures and a tomb
of an abode.

She can't be reasonable. She doesn't want to be, and her heart agrees.

Her hand slowly reaches out, as she focuses on the boy before her.

"Sunny...." She whispered, her hand lightly touching his.

Sunny looks back at her, curious, but he doesn't reject her. "....Yeah?"
"You.... You aren't going to leave, right....?"

He blinked. Aubrey's eyes were fixated on him, scouring his own.

"You.... want me to stay around....?" He whispered back.

"W-Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I want you around?"

"....Because...." Sunny averted his gaze. "Because it's all my fault." He could feel Aubrey
flinch. "Because I killed M--"

A hand clamps upon his mouth. "D-Don't say that, Sunny!"

Sunny freezes, looking back at Aubrey. The corners of her eyes glimmered, ready but waiting
to spill again.

"I...." She gulped. "I-I don't care what you did. Even if...." She trails off, faltering for only a
moment before shaking her head. "I-It doesn't matter. It's in the past and.... we're here, now."

She shudders, as emotions she couldn't fully recognize threaten to overwhelm her. "I just...."

She looked into his eyes, and the dam broke. "I don't want you to go away again!" She yelled,
to Sunny's shock.

"I went through t-two years alone, and it hurt so much. I hate being alone, it's making me
want to do awful things and I.... I'm scared, Sunny. I want to move on, and now you're here,
and.... and...."

Her heart reaches a fever pitch. She winces her eyes shut, and the purest thoughts burst out.

"I-I don't want to be alone anymore! I want a chance to be happy again! I just want you!!"

Aubrey pauses, trying and failing to recover herself. But this was the moment, and nothing
could stop her frantic heartbeat, much less the nerves rattling her veins.

Her hand slowly lifts off of Sunny's, as she spreads her arms out wide for him, shuddering.

Her eyes fly open. They bear into his, desperate and needy.

"....Please, Sunny...." She pleads.

Sunny stared at her, with the lightest quiver.

He.... He had an idea of what was going on. He was clingy back then; he could connect the
dots now. She was asking for much, and if it was Hero, there would be a compromise.

....But when he saw Aubrey, her face-- no, her entire form pleading for him, he couldn't
harden his heart enough to say no. The void within him clamored at the promise of another's
touch; he couldn't resist its call either.

And.... if he was being honest....

 He didn't want to be alone, either. He couldn't imagine moving on without her.

Slowly, Sunny leaned into the embrace that Aubrey offered. Quickly, she closed the distance
left between them.

Aubrey latched onto him with all she had. Sunny clutched her just as tightly. The pair took
solace in each other's presence, seeking some semblance of normality.

"Sunny...." Aubrey whispered, taking in his scent with a faint smile. "Sunny, Sunny,
Sunny...."

He buried his face into her shoulder. "I'm here, Aubrey. I.... I won't leave you alone again. I
promise."

In that moment, their bond was reformed, but tightened beyond measure. Past their sight, a
ghost in a white dress could only look sadly upon them before dissipating.

There is no light at the end of this tunnel. But.... Maybe, that was okay.

As long as they had each other.

Chapter End Notes

welcome to sadburn, a variation of sunburn where these two cuties meet only a few
years after mari's death (before aubrey becomes a full-on delinquent) and treat each
other as their only coping mechanism. this particular version assumes that sunny
recovers the truth just before aubrey would meet the hooligans. or becomes a
neighborhood terror, whichever comes first.

for the record, i didn't make up this pairing myself. i just wrote for it.

this is a one-shot for the time being. it has potential for more, and i have a few ideas, but
we'll see how that works out.

EDIT: turns out it's got potential. check next chapter for details.
 The Next Step
Chapter Summary

They reunited, and made their decisions. But what comes afterwards?
If they are to move forward together, then they must prepare for their next step.

Chapter Notes

whelp, i managed to squeeze out a plan for this one-shot, so it's now a full-blown story.
tags will be updated to reflect this.

i'll be honest; this was not something i expected to expand upon. but i have the ideas on
paper and they sound good, so i'll try to make this fic as good as i can.

and with that out of the way, let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

A gentle breeze idly brushed against Sunny, and his eyes slowly peeled open.

Groggy, he blinked once before taking in waves of blonde hair.

He freezes, then sighs as his mind catches up with reality. This.... He was entangled with
Aubrey, laid sideways upon a couch-- his couch.

After spending two years isolating himself in this house, he was able to confirm the lightly-
colored living room without even looking. The arrangement of furniture, the many portraits
scattered about, plants framing the floor and the ceiling, the TV ahead with an opened
window and a fireplace flanking its right. His mind could assemble it all to flawlessly match
reality.

But now he ponders for his circumstances, and memories flash before his mind in an instant:
The pair's reunion in the graveyard, clutching each other's hand as they left. Aubrey's brief
stop at her house; the half-filled plastic bag on the coffee table before the pair, and the
memory of an insidious odor that told Sunny why she always visited him. Their blushing
walk to his own home, made hasty when Aubrey felt his hand shudder in her grasp.

Sunny broke into a yawn as he looked up and over at a far-off clock, hanging over an open
doorway. The hands pointed towards the dead center of the afternoon. Yet Sunny felt lost,
trying and failing to discern how long he spent in his partner's grasp.
It was a needless thought, however. He was still here, cuddling the girl he promised to stand
by. He felt whole, touched by the warmth of contentment. His hand idly brushed against
Aubrey's hair, and she shifted in response, groaning.

Her eyes fluttered open. "G'morning, Sunny." She said.

He focused on her, confused. "It's the afternoon." He said.

She buried her face into the crook of his neck. "Don't care."

Sunny stared at her, a small smile forming as he pulled her closer. "If you say so...."

The clock ticked on, and the invading breeze lightly combed the inhabitants.

Sunny's mind wandered, glancing towards the future. But all he perceived was darkness, and
a pit threatened to open in his stomach. "....Hey, Aubrey?"

"Mm?"

"Now that we're.... together, what should we do?"

He felt her shift, and she soon met his gaze. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I--"

A growl interrupted him.

Sunny felt his ears heat up as Aubrey glanced down with a giggle. "Oh, I get it now."

"....What? No, I meant--"

Aubrey shook her head. "It's okay, Sunny. Come on, let's get something to eat."

Sunny nearly groaned as Aubrey started to untangle herself from him, sliding herself off the
couch. Irritation bubbled within as he contemplated letting himself go without food, in an
effort to 'punish' his stomach. It was a tempting idea, but Aubrey wasn't even three feet away
from him. How could he explain it to her without getting smacked upside the head?

He could only lay silent curses on his hunger as he sat up.

Aubrey squinted into the opened fridge.

She could only spot so much; a few coffee creamers and some milk. Two packets of steaks
sat on one shelf, raw and brown.
Aubrey pinched the bridge of her nose. The rest of the house looked so good when she came
in earlier, after two years of her absence. She had thought Sunny well-off, that he at least had
plentiful access to food but struggled to eat in his misery. The fridge before her doomed that
thought to the garbage.

She closed the door with a sigh and cracked open the overhead freezer. Nothing more than a
blast of bone-chilling air greeted her.

"Oh my god." Aubrey groaned, snapping the freezer shut. She turned to Sunny with an
exasperated look. "Please tell me there's something in the cabinets."

The boy blinked. "Oh, err. There should be some cereal...." He said.

"Just cereal?"

"Yeah."

"....Okay. What about the other stuff? Like bread?"

The kitchen clock ticked onwards.

"....Sunny?"

He winced. "....Just cereal."

"That's.... Sunny, how?" Aubrey threw her arms out. "My mom is a statue, but she never got
this bad!"

She knew she wasn't one to talk about living conditions, but even the mother that ignored
everything around her still kept something in the kitchen. Mostly frozen meals and bread, but
that was a league ahead of cereal.

Sunny looked down at his folded hands. ashamed. "Mom's.... she's the only one paying for
the house."

Aubrey stared at him. She wasn't the brightest lightbulb, but she could put two and two
together. She remembered how thin she found him, and dug into his recent divulgence. If his
mother was the only one paying the bills, then where did that leave his....

She suddenly stepped forward and latched onto Sunny. "Aubrey....?"

She squeezed. "I'm so sorry, Sunny. I didn't know you had it that bad...."

She can feel him shuffle. "It's.... you couldn't have known. It was my--"

"No it's not!" Aubrey cries out, and Sunny freezes. "Sunny, that's not your fault. It should
never be your fault!"

Aubrey tried to steady herself. "You.... You were having such a hard time, and they shouldn't
have left you alone like that. Now you're...." She quickly gripped one of his sides, meeting a
sensation of bone. "....And that's not right!"

A weight slowly settled onto her shoulder. "I'm sorry." He said, sniffling.

"I-I just said it wasn't your fault!" She tried to argue, only to feel a growing wetness on her
shirt.

"I-I'm sorry for making you worry....." Sunny croaked. "I'm.... I'm such a mess.... "

Aubrey pulled him in closer, rubbing his back as she tried (and failed) to keep herself from
tearing up too. "I-it's okay, Sunny. It's.... It's alright...."

She feels Sunny wrapping his arms around her as he begins to sob. It's all she needs to nestle
into his shoulder and let her own tears flow. 'Why did this have to happen to him? He doesn't
deserve it....' She thought, as their whines echoed throughout the well-kept abode.

Part of her, deep down, knows the answer to this question. Sunny all but shouted it out before
Mari's grave, in fact. But Aubrey refused to call that the reason. Sunny held no trace of the
monster he painted himself as; no one who wanted Mari dead would be as repentant as he
was about it, much less give company to a lonely girl on the verge of snapping.

....And at the end of the day, did the details really matter? Mari was dead. Sunny felt so guilty
for it. Aubrey wanted to recover. Blaming him gave her no catharsis, and made her feel even
worse. She didn't want that. She just wanted to be happy again.

Her thoughts veered off as her tears started to slow down, and Sunny began to catch his
breath. Silence soon reigned. "....Are you feeling better now?" She said, whispering to
Sunny.

"I.... I think so. Thank you..." He said, clasping her just a little tighter. She returned the favor.

"Sunny..." Aubrey breathed, before she took a deep breath. "I.... We'll change this. You need
to eat better."

"How...?" Aubrey winced at his question. She only had spare change, and if his mother was
strapped for groceries....

"We'll find a way. As long as we're together...." Aubrey gulped. "As long as we have each
other, we can do anything, right?"

"....Anything...."

"Sunny?"

His face shifted, and his chin came to rest against her shoulder. "....Yeah." He said, slightly
distant. "As long as we're together...."

But Aubrey still smiled into him. She knew Sunny couldn't see it, but she felt one of his ears
warm up regardless.
Another rumble escaped from Sunny's stomach, and the two reluctantly detached themselves
from each other. "Cereal it is, then." Aubrey said, nudging him towards the cabinets.

Flakes and milk wasn't her idea of a filling meal, but Sunny needed somewhere to start, and
she would make sure he started with a full bowl.

A few hours later, and Aubrey found herself alone.

The two chatted quite a bit, with Aubrey offering the vast majority of conversation, as one
would expect. In the midst of it all, Sunny eventually admitted that he ran out the door as
soon as woke up today. Aubrey since pushed him to clean up.

She wasn't the best girl to talk about that, of course. Her conditions left much to be desired,
and that sometimes meant the occasional day without. But that didn't mean she wanted Sunny
to follow those footsteps.

The girl cut off her pondering, allowing the sound of running water to grace her senses. She
tried to tune it out, instead gingerly opening the door to Sunny's room, a loaded plastic bag in
hand.

His room didn't change much, like the rest of the house. But what did change with the room
felt drastic. Like the one and only bed that sat near the corner.

Aubrey took a deep breath. 'Don't get worked up about it.' She tried to tell herself. It's just a
bed. Just a corkboard. Just a lamp. Sunny had to live with this, and she can too.

But she still felt the dull pain in her heart, and Aubrey had to tear her eyes away from the
suspiciously empty space.

She approachs the desk with a lift of her bag, allowing the contents to nearly spill on the half-
empty surface. A small, but haphazard pile of clothes threatened to tip over, while a glowing
green binder peeked out from behind the garments.

Aubrey had little to her name, and she held no pride in that fact. Clothes, perhaps, but only
enough to get by without endless laundry runs. She only brought over enough for today and
the next, despite the part of her that begged to bring everything else along.

The real prize was the photo album, something she soon pulled out from the bottom of the
bag. It was a simple collection of photographs, but Aubrey considered it a sacred relic; it is,
after all, the only physical reminder of her happier days.

And Sunny said he was the one to blacken the photos within, shortly after Mari's passing.

Aubrey couldn't lie; that hurt. It pains her to think that Sunny ruined the photos. But at the
same time, Basil took them and left them blotched for two years. She once thought Basil still
cared, and while she was wrong about him doing the misdeed, he still didn't care enough to
even bother with cleaning the pictures.

Aubrey clenches a fist, her knuckles turning white as she begins to shake.

She then shakes her head, letting out an explosive sigh. At the end of the day, she took the
photo album back, and she was fixing it. She will fix it, and Basil will never leave it to rot
again.

Aubrey eventually sat upon a nearby chair, leaving the photo album to sit by itself and
pushing the troublesome thoughts out of mind. It was starting to give her a headache, and she
wanted to drown it out with Sunny.

....Speaking of which, he still wasn't back. Aubrey leaned up against the nearby wall, ear first.
She couldn't hear anything from the other side, and she eventually shifted and sat with her
back to the wall. What was going on, she wondered. How much time passed? There wasn't
even a clock in the bedroom. Was he done already....?

'Or he already left.'

Aubrey froze.

She looked around, trying to find the source of the silent noise.

Her eyes scanned the bedroom, but nothing jumped at her. Nothing felt wrong, and even the
phantom pain of a bed didn't register.

It was odd, but she tried to take a deep breath. She.... Aubrey wasn't sure what to say. That
thought, a sudden, dark whisper in her mind, couldn't have been hers. It was too alien, too
pessimistic. It threatened a sense of nausea.

She prepared to take another deep breath. She would be fine. Sunny didn't want to leave her,
he said as much.

'But it wouldn't be a surprise if he did.'

Her breath seized in her throat.

It felt cold in her lungs. Aubrey tried to let it out, but it didn't budge.

What was going on? Aubrey was losing control of her nerves. Why did that awful thought
come back, she wanted nothing to do with it. It was going to give her a headache.

Aubrey kept trying to piece things together, but the puzzle parts keep slipping from her
fingers. Her palms felt clammy. She rubbed them together without direction, trying to dry
them.

'....After all, why would he want to stay with a burden like me?'

Her head begins to throb and rattle. The sheen on her hands become a cold shine.
A block of ice places itself at the bottom of her spine. Phantom hands grasped at vertebrae,
crawling the ice up her backside oh so slowly.

She shivers. Hands clasp opposing arms. She hugs herself. She was so cold. Her head hurts.

Why is she so cold? It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. But she's cold.

Why can't she warm up? Why does her head keep hurting? Where was Sunny? Why is this
happening? He came back, he promised to stay with her. This shouldn't be happening.

'All I'd do is drag him down. He'd be better off without me.'

Her lungs turn to ice. She couldn't breathe. She tries to croak. Nothing came out.

A hand weakly clutches her chest. Her eyes shut on her.

She can't breathe. She can't get the ice out. She can't even cry for help.

'I should just....'

"--Aubrey!?"

Her eyes snapped open.

Sunny was kneeling before her. His damp hair framed the worry in his eyes, as he grasped
her upper arms. "Are you okay? What's going on?" He asked.

His grip feels warm. The ice starts to melt.

Aubrey slammed herself into him. Sunny fell right on his butt, and Aubrey wasted no time in
wrapping her arms around him. The warmth spread within her, and she took in greedy gulps
of his air with a shudder.

"Aubrey....?"

"I-I'm fine." She said, barely able to keep herself together. She didn't want him to worry too
much; she didn't want him to think of her as a burden. "I.... I was just cold."

She could feel Sunny's gentle breath grazing her blonde hair. Aubrey tried to focus on his
presence, and ignore the growing unease from his silence.

"W-Well...." He said, and she dared to hope. "A hot bath can help, if you want...."

She shivered, and deepened her embrace. "N-Not now." She stuttered out. "I can get one
later."

She didn't like how weak she sounded, but he seemed to be merciful enough, slowly putting
his arms around her. "....Alright." He finally responded.

She didn't bother with responding, instead squeezing in an effort to push down the horror she
just experienced.
But Aubrey couldn't put her hygiene off forever, and she eventually left for the bathroom.

Though Sunny wasn't exactly sure how long he took, the sounds of water coming and going
let him guess that Aubrey wasn't going to waste her time.

True to his guess, he didn't need to occupy himself at the desk for long, as he soon heard the
bedroom door crinking.

"Alright, I'm done." Aubrey said, as the door clicked shut. "....Hm? What're you reading,
Sunny?"

Sunny felt Aubrey's approach, but didn't respond as she caught sight of the photo album he
was gazing at.

Basil's photo collection was opened up, yielding a haphazard spread of scribbled-out pictures.

Sunny clenched a hand on his thigh. He could hear Aubrey's sharp intake of air, and the
silence that still followed.

"I'm just.... looking at what I did." Sunny finally said, guilt beginning to weigh on him.

Aubrey gently laid her hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to, you know."

He shook his head. "It's like this because of me. I.... I have to face it."

"Sunny, it's fine." She stressed. "I keep telling you that it's in the past! Why are you keep
reminding yourself?"

He took a deep breath, before turning to look at her. "Because I spent two years running from
what I did."

The wind howled from beyond the walls.

His gaze fell to his lap, where both of his hands now resided. "I.... I know you don't want me
to dwell on it. But I can't just.... act like it's behind me. I lost so much time in this house,
doing nothing but repressing my mistakes."

He gripped at his shorts. "It was horrible; I couldn't go a day without feeling like a liar, or
thinking that I was...." He winced, gritting his teeth. "I don't want to go back to that. I don't
want to ignore my problems anymore. I just want to make things right again."

"Oh, Sunny...." Aubrey leaned down, throwing her arms over his shoulders.

"I'm s--" He began, only for Aubrey to interrupt him with a nudge.
 "Sunny, I know it's difficult for you...." She whispered. "I can't even imagine what it's like to
live with those mistakes. But.... You don't need to do this alone."

She shifted around to face him. "Mari's...." She gulped. "Mari's gone. We can't change that. I
miss her a lot, but she won't come back, and now.... now, it's just us."

"Sunny, you might have.... you know..... but that was an accident. You.... You didn't want her
to go, and you're not a bad person." Aubrey paused. Her arms shifted, and her hands clasped
his shoulders. "And.... you were alone before, but now we're in this together." His eyes gazed
into hers, finding the uncertain, yet bountiful strength within. "I'm here for you, Sunny. You
don't need to suffer for what happened. I won't let you keep beating yourself up over this. So
please, just let me help you, okay?"

Sunny felt his jaw hanging, and closed it, nodding. "O-Okay. If.... If it happens again, I'll
come to you first." He said. Aubrey responded with a small smile, and he felt the butterflies
stir in his stomach. He could only lean his head forward, forehead gently meeting hers.

"....Thank you, Aubrey." He soon whispered. "I'm.... not the best talker, but I want you to
know..... I appreciate you being here, for me. It.... means a lot."

She starts to giggle. "Oh come on, Sunny. You know I want to be here."

Sunny gave her a small smile of his own, and he felt her face heat up a bit. "Yeah.... But with
you here, I feel like I can do anything. Like I can tell them everything."

She paused. "....Tell them everything?" She asked.

"Oh, uh." Sunny winced. "Sorry, I was talking about our friends. I.... still need to tell them
what really happened to Mari."

Aubrey's smile began to falter, and her eyes started to focus past him.

"....Aubrey?"

She suddenly snapped back to him. "Oh, it's.... it's nothing." She said, briefly focusing on the
list of chores near his door. "A-Anyways, don't worry about the photos! I actually started
cleaning them...."

She pulled away from Sunny, digging into the stack of photos as she started explaining and
pointing out her efforts in getting rid of the scribbles. True to her word, several photos were
partially freed from their stains, while a scant few were completely unblemished.

It was a sudden change, and Sunny had no idea why, but he pushed that concern aside and
paid rapt attention to Aubrey and her gestures.

The talk of her efforts, and the recollections her hard work yielded, lasted well into the night.

Chapter End Notes

a very sudden change indeed. i wonder why.

since this is the first proper 'chapter' after the one-shot, a lot of groundwork needed to be
laid down. hopefully this covers everything i intended.

i can't promise a specific update schedule, but i'm shooting for a new chapter every one,
maybe two weeks.

if there's anything you think i can do better on, please let me know in the comments
below.

EDIT: fixed a few POV errors.

 A New Day
Chapter Summary

The sun greets them on their first morning together, promising respite.
They collect themselves and start to rebuild.

Chapter Notes

holy crap i might be able to keep to a schedule here.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The sunshine creeps through the window. A fleet of chirping birds herald the day as light
slowly filters into the bedroom.

Aubrey groaned as she tried to bury her head into her pillow. But something prevents her
from finding shelter, and she is soon forced to open her eyes, cracking a glare into the
distance.

She was told, years ago, that she slept like a gentle princess. That she made no sound until
her eyes fluttered open. But if she was being honest, she always felt like an angry pauper
when she woke up. Rarely was there a morning in her house where she wasn't swearing up
and down, headbutting the floor in a haze.

But today held a small sign of progress; she was still in the bed, despite something latching
onto her. As she slowly began to acclimate to her surroundings, she realized that she didn't
fall off because something was latching onto her. She grumbled as she shifted focus,
preparing to get rid of whatever leech dared to intrude on her morning ritual.

Sunny's peaceful face filled her vision, and she did a double-take.

Then the bed didn't feel so lumpy, and she realized with wide eyes that she was in Sunny's
room, laying within his embrace.

Her anger evaporated in moments. With an almost instinctive drive, she leaned into him,
gently bumping their foreheads together. Her act earns a warmth in her chest, and Sunny stirs
in response.
His eyelids open, slowly and gracefully. His eyes affix upon her, and he makes a small smile.
"Good morning." He whispers.

Aubrey stares at his face, slack-jawed and completely entranced, as her brain scrambles to
catch up. But when it does, she goes red-faced in an instant. "G-GoodmorningSunny!" She
squeaks, before realizing her fluster and covering her face. She couldn't even imagine how he
was reacting right now. "W-Why don't we get out of bed....?" She asks, desperate to save
face.

She heard a rustle of cloth. "....Okay...." Sunny said, and she felt him pull away from their
embrace. She immediately missed the feeling, but the sound of his feet touching the floor
allowed her to collect herself, and she soon recovered enough to leave the bed herself.

She immediately looked towards the nightstand, only to find a completely empty surface.
'....Right, he doesn't have any clocks in here....' She recalled, a bit annoyed. A glance at the
window left her stumped; she had no idea what time they woke up. 'Note to self: Get Sunny a
clock.'

Speaking of Sunny.... Aubrey looked over and found him staring off into the wall. She takes a
few steps towards him and taps his shoulder. "--Huh?" He said, turning to face Aubrey.
"Something on your mind, Sunny?" She asks.

He pauses, before giving her a curt nod. "Yeah, I'm.... thinking about what to do today." He
looks down, scratching at the back of his neck. "I don't think I got very far, though...."

"It's okay. We, uhm...." Aubrey looked over at the door. "We should get ready to head out
first."

"Head out...." His eyes widened. "....Wait, what about school? Don't you....?"

Aubrey blinked, before she shook her head. He hadn't shown up at school for two years;
there's no way he would've known. "There's no school today." She said, and Sunny exhaled.

"Oh, right.... Sorry." He sighed, and she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. It seemed to
kick him back into gear. "Yeah, we should get ready. I'll, uh, go take a bath--"

Aubrey went still as a memory flashed before her eyes. "Aubrey?" Sunny called out. She
became aware of her tightened grip, and shook her head.

"Oh, I'm fine." She tried to smile. "You.... You should go take a bath, yeah."

She quickly spun him around, cutting off his gaze and pointing him towards the closet. He'd
get the memo, she knew.

When he soon entered the bathroom, a change of clothes in hand, Aubrey sat near the closed
door.

The echoes of active faucets served as her only connection to time.

'Why do I feel like this....?' Aubrey hugged her knees, staring forward as she got absorbed in
her thoughts.

She heard the water cut off only some while ago. He was still bathing, and there was no way
he could somehow slip out without her knowing. It was a grounding fact, but it only added
fuel to her question.

Her mind's eye guided her back to last afternoon, when she tried to wait for Sunny to finish
cleaning himself. She recalled her inability to track time, and the dark thoughts that
threatened her and....

She hugs her knees tighter, marshalling herself to push the memory away.

She didn't want him to leave. She knew that, and she genuinely wanted to stay with him for
as long as possible. But at the same time, she knew that he had his own privacy; even if he
took a while, what reason did she have to think he was leaving her behind? He swore he
would stay with her, and he's kept to his word so far.

But Aubrey's mind-- no, her entire body-- still tried to turn against her, and she was wholly
unprepared for it. Even now, she cannot understand it. She's.... She's better than this. She
went two years on her own and came out in one piece. She can live without him attached to
her hip, right?

Then, why is she starting to struggle when he's away? She fears him leaving her entirely, but
why did she feel terrified at a lesser absence? Why did she feel so tense when Sunny wanted
to confess to their former friends?

Aubrey bites her lip, and her fingers fiddle and tighten on her arms. Nothing makes sense,
she realizes, and her questions earn no conclusions. There is only the looming breath of frigid
loneliness, and the warm lifeline within lunging distance.

"What's happening to me?" Aubrey whispers. She leaned into her shirt, and detected a
familiar scent. She felt a fragment of certainty return to her. "Sunny...."

"Yeah?"

Aubrey jumps, whirling around to find a curious Sunny standing outside of the bathroom. "D-
Don't scare me like that!" She cried, with an irritated expression.

"Sorry...." He pauses. "Uhm, why are you sitting out here....?"

"N-No reason!" Aubrey rocketed to her feet. "Just.... Just let me go get my clothes...."

She slinks into his bedroom, desperate to avoid his gaze.

Sunny could only watch as Aubrey blurred straight into the bathroom.

"....Okay....?" Sunny whispered, his gaze lingering before he turned away.

He tried to occupy the time by finishing his attire for the day (and grabbing while little
money he had), but it all went by too quickly, and he ended up plopping down near the top of
the stairway. It was a bit inefficient, perhaps, but he wanted Aubrey there when he went for
breakfast. After all, she was....

Sunny paused. What were they, exactly?

He recalled their union near Mari's grave; they swore up and down to stick by each other's
side, but they never put a name to what they've become. Were they still friends? Have they
gone into some other form of co-existence? Did they sneak a confession into their talk
somewhere? Sunny wasn't sure; as introspective as the Truth made him, he still lacked the
social confidence that Kel had, or the experience that Mari and Hero shared.

But he was able to confirm the remnants of his crush. Headspace did wonders for making
him realize that. And Aubrey's absolutely flustered reaction earlier was cute. So cute, that he
almost completely shut down on the spot. The thought of it made him feel far too warm, even
now.

But what did that mean? Did Aubrey also share his feelings, or was she simply clinging to
him as the only friend she had left? They were very close right now. But she could've just
pitied him. But they held hands on the sidewalk. But Mari held his hand before. But they
cuddled. But they didn't kiss. But, but, but....

His thoughts went nowhere, and Sunny could feel a headache coming on. He massaged his
forehead with a groan.

'I'll think about it later....' He decided, as he left his hands on his knees and looked down.

The stairway greeted him, flanked by the yawning distance to the first floor.

Ah, right. He was formerly terrified of these stairs, wasn't he?

Sunny hummed as he glanced at the stairs. A part of him still shuddered at the thought of
great heights, but the last several days held a few pleasant surprises. The moments of terror
he lived through, though perilous, allowed him to find the courage he needed to face his
phobias. He could traverse the stairs without fearing the drop, and the sight of a spider didn't
send him into a complete rout.

And water.... He wasn't sure about that one. He was always able to take baths. But falling
asleep in one and not immediately avoiding them afterwards had to count for something,
right? He almost wondered what Aubrey would say on the matter.

He felt a pinch as darkness invaded the room, and his focus shifted behind him.

Dark tendrils swarmed into the filled bathtub, and latched onto a vulnerable leg. The
blonde-haired girl yelped as she was pulled under, and liquid quickly filled her lungs.
Her chest burns with cold flame, anchoring her with immense weight.

She struggled for the surface, but the water pulls her too many ways. The abyss tugged
its prize towards a black hole.

She tried to gasp his name. She pleaded for his aid. But the light filtered out. No one can
hear her scream.

Sunny could only stare, petrified, as--

Stop. Focus. He tried to remind himself. He couldn't even shiver.

Breathe. Breathe! Deep breaths. It's not as scary as you think!

He opened his lungs. In.... Out.

Again. In.... Out.

He closed his eyes. In....

....And out.

He opened his eyes, and the vision was nowhere to be seen.

He fell back on the hardwood floor, eyes wide and a hand over his heart. 'What was that....?'

He tried to focus on the door behind him. He could hear the bathtub draining. It was loud
when it was almost done, wasn't it?

Sunny exhaled with relief. He was still shocked, a bit confused, but focused on pulling
himself together. He went through re-discovering the Truth before; he could get over this. He
even faced worse hallucinations before, or so he believed.

He slowly sat up, letting everything out with one last sigh. Now that he's upright, Sunny
elected to stare at the distant wall. "Why did I...." He started to whisper, only for Aubrey to
emerge from the bathroom.

'....I'll figure this out later too, I guess....' He decided with a silent sigh, and he stood up.

One milk-laden meal later, and Sunny and Aubrey were out the door.

The pair took to a lazy pace on the sidewalk, their connected hands lightly swinging in the
breeze. Leaves as cool as the weather decorated the lawns they passed by, and the clouds roll
in to obscure the sun, providing a tame light to frame the neighborhood.
Sunny idly tugs at his grey sweatshirt-- Aubrey's suggestion-- as the blonde-haired girl
briefly ponders upon the nunchaku shoes lording over the power lines. The day is
comfortable enough, and their heads are quite clear.

But Sunny soon clears his throat. "So, uh...." He said. "We're out."

Aubrey looks at him with a tilt of her head. "....Yes....?" She said.

"And, well..." He rubs the back of his neck, a little sheepish under her gaze. "....What's next?"

"Oh." Aubrey realizes. "Well...." She averts her gaze and bites on her lower lip for a few
moments, before snapping her fingers. "Ah, Food! We need to get you some groceries."

"Oh, right." Sunny responds.

The pair soon comes to the crossroads. With their goal set, the pair takes a sharp left towards
the shopping plaza.

Silence reigned upon them, and Sunny doesn't like it. "So... Groceries." He tries again. "We're
only getting a few things, right?"

Aubrey comes to a stop, turning to look at him with sheer disbelief. "....Sunny, you need
more than just 'a few things'." She said. "You can't just live off of a few things."

Sunny felt his mouth threaten to bungie jump. "Really?"

"Yes, really!" She cried. "I told you before that you needed to eat better, and that means more
than just cereal and steak!" She almost made to cross her arms, but one of her hands was too
busy clutching his. She settled for placing her free hand on her hip.

"But...." Sunny started, only for Aubrey to glare at him. "No buts." She chided. "You're eating
right, and I swear I'll be right on your butt to make sure you do it!"

Something about that sentence, or maybe it was the image of her piggybacking him during
meals, made a chuckle force its way past Sunny's lips. He quickly fell victim to the growing
mirth, and laughter spilled from his mouth.

But Aubrey grew red with indignation, and stomped her foot. "I'm serious, Sunny!" She
pouted.

"S-Sorryyyyhehe--" Sunny said, a hand to his stomach. "I-It's just, it sounds funny....!"

"Oh my god...." Aubrey growled, even as Sunny started to get a hold of himself. "I'm trying
to help you, and you're laughing at me."

"I'm-- I'm sorry, Aubrey!" Sunny wheezed. His mirth was finally dying. "I wasn't making fun
of you, I swear!"

She kept glaring at him. She wanted to stay mad, to impress the weight of his actions upon
him. But they were still connected by hand, and though Sunny didn't know it, his grip on
Aubrey's hand grew firmer. His thumb started to squirm, and the erratic motion ate away at
her anger.

But her mood lasted long enough for Sunny to feel a pang of guilt, and he tried to wrap his
unbound arm around her. "Please, Aubrey...."

His half-embrace cut through her growing indecision. It drained the hate further, and his
pleading tone finished the job soon after. She was left only with a hollow echo to replace the
once-boiling irritation, and it impressed a chill in her heart.

"....I'm sorry, Sunny." Aubrey said, returning his affection. "I don't know what came over
me...."

"N-No, it was my fault." Sunny said, but she shook her head.

"....No, I was the one who blew up. It's my fault."

"But I was the one who laughed!"

"No, I blew up over it!"

"And I'm the reason you blew up!"

"Oh come on, Sunny!" Aubrey giggled. "Just let me mope already!"

"No, I don't want you to!" Sunny tried to press, despite his growing smile.

They tried to keep their 'argument' going, but it soon fell to shared snorting and giggling.
They briefly unlinked, only to share a proper embrace.

Birds chirped, the grass swayed, and a passing stranger cooed at the sight of them. But life is
ever moving, and they had to start moving again at some point.

This time, their connected hands felt a little warmer; a feeling that lasted past the northbound
crosswalk.

But as the pair began to skirt past the park, Aubrey gasped. She started patting at her pockets
with a single palm.

"Aubrey?" Sunny asked, as shame began to well inside the girl.

"Uhm...." She started, paling. "I.... don't have any money on me."

Her head would've dipped, if not for Sunny speaking up in a panic. "I-It's okay! I grabbed
some before we left....!" His free hand dug into the cloth of his shorts, and Aubrey watched as
he retrieved a small wad of crumpled bills.

"Look, I've got...." Sunny quickly fiddled with the money, trying (and failing) to tidy the
micro-mess up. "....Thirty dollars?"

Aubrey blinks. "Thirty dollars...." She mumbles. She stares ahead, and her eyes glaze over.

Aubrey's reality became a singular focus. Instead of the grey concrete in the background, the
connection flowing through her fingers or even Sunny's distant voice, she perceived
imaginary price tags and the rustic scent of copper coins.

'What can we do with thirty dollars?' She thought, and with a zeal that she never brought to
Algebra, the units bowed to her will and shifted rapidly, as replicants of stock came into view.

The essentials came first. Milk was good, bread is always necessary. Fruits help. Eggs had to
balance out the corn flakes.

She perused meat, but the tags held one number too many. She winced, but it was
unavoidable. Not with thirty dollars.

There was only so much left. Frozen meals? For a spell, but what about the portions? They
needed food, but Sunny needed it more. Soup? Depends on the can. Some were big enough,
but did they match two smaller cans? What about ramen or rice? Chips might pad a few
meals. Desserts were out, pizzas still had their costs....

She tried to fathom the best collection she could, but even that rang a little over thirty, not
counting the voodoo known as sales tax. She took a deep breath. It wasn't a lot; if she wanted
to make it last, Sunny wouldn't get much. But even then, they'd get a few days at best.

Then, the slits hidden within her bulky jacket. They seem to brush against her torso. She is
given a smidgen of reprieve, and she adds a few more items to the list, just enough to work. It
wouldn't hurt anything in the long term, and....

Her tally shuddered as something shakes her shoulder incessantly.

The world bursts back into view, and Aubrey blinks as she recognizes Sunny's face. "Aubrey?
Are you there?" He asks.

"....Oh." Aubrey says. A blush slips onto her face. "Sorry, I was thinking about what to get.
What were you saying?"

Sunny-- the reigning king of lala land, as she recalls-- hums in understanding. "Look over
there." He says, pointing ahead.

Aubrey glances over; from their corner, she can see the diagonal view of the entire shopping
plaza. A jaw-dropping four stores stand proudly before one of Faraway's very few parking
lots, while a fountain stirs and dances in its peaceful little pocket.

"Oh, we're here already?" She asks, only to see Sunny shake his head.
 "No, look at the signs." He points again, and she squints to follow.

On the window of every shop was at least one red poster, blaring a single yellow phrase:
'HELP WANTED!!'. Gino's was a little more insistent, including a pop-up sign on their part
of the sidewalk.

"....Wow, that's a lot of help needed." Aubrey comments, before looking over to Sunny.
"What about them?"

"Well...." He scratched the back of his neck. "I was thinking we could check them out....?
Maybe get some money while we're shopping?"

Aubrey looked back at the signs, then glanced to Sunny. She does it again, and Sunny looks a
little more nervous for it. "Really?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Are you sure? We don't have to...."

"I'm sure."

"Positive?"

Sunny pauses, and raises an eyebrow. "....Is something wrong?"

'Yeah; when did you become so mature?' Aubrey shook her head. "....It's nothing. Let's go
check them out." She tugs him along, but Sunny's look lingers for a few more steps.

She has to maintain her cool. Sunny can be sharp, she remembers, and a thumbnail of her
contradictions tries to poke against her brain. 'I'll tell him later. I.... want to figure it out first.
No, I will figure it out first,' She tells herself.

Now if only she could actually feel confident about it.

Chapter End Notes

'i got this chapter lined up right', i said. 'it won't be super big', i said.

so yeah, you're seeing... a little under half of the original chapter plan here? the actual
halfway point was too awkward to end on, i'm afraid. but hey, at least i'll be able to get
the next one done faster.

that being said, what do you think about this chapter's pace? lemme know down below,
along with any mishaps you spot.

also, i'd like to give a huge belated thanks to everyone who's offered their comments and
criticism so far. i know i haven't offered any responses (and i should really start doing
that), but i really appreciate it. (special thanks to cubostar for pointing out some POV
errors. i'm also looking forward to seeing what kind of story you cook up!)
 Tag Team Effort
Chapter Summary

Sunny and Aubrey earn their keep, but turmoil follows.

Chapter Notes

well, so much for getting this done sooner than last chapter. oh well.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The door jingled once, and two teens entered.

Gino's, much like Faraway, changed little. Red and white still framed the pizzeria tables, and
the brick-and-mortar walls kept the old style in shape. Sunny squinted over to the far-right
corner; he could still spot that 'Good Job!' sticker poking out from behind the arcade cabinet.

Aubrey pulled ahead for the both of them, and they soon met a bespectacled man at the
counter.

He flashes the pair a warm smile. "Welcome to Gino's, home of the best pizza you'll ever
taste! Can I take your order?" He said.

Sunny stared at the cashier in awe. 'The best pizza I'll ever taste....' He pondered. It sounded
so.... powerful. Majestic. He could almost imagine Pluto standing before him, uttering the
same lines with gusto and conviction. It threatened to bring a tear to his eye.

Aubrey, on the other hand, merely cleared her throat. "Actually, we're here for the 'HELP
WANTED' posters....?" She said.

The cashier's smile fell victim to astonishment. "....You did....?" He whispers.

Aubrey blinks. "....Yes....?"

Faint whistling could be heard from the back room, snapping the cashier out of his stupor.
"Oh, sorry! It's been so long since anyone's asked about it!"

"....Really?"
The cashier nods. "Yep. We've been trying to improve our delivery hours, but our delivery
boy doesn't want to work before the dinner rush...."

Aubrey looked perplexed. "Why?" She asked.

The cashier shrugged. "He says it's 'not safe', but between you and me? I think he's just lazy."
He gestures. "Same with the other kids; we aren't even asking for a set schedule. They can
come in whenever we have orders to deliver. But they don't even bother asking about it!"

"Uh...." Aubrey tried to interject.

"Hell, we ask them sometimes and they just shake their heads and run off!" The cashier
throws his arms into the air. "It's ridiculous! What do we have to do to get a little help around
here!?"

Sunny loudly clears his throat, and the cashier blinks. He lowers his arms with a sheepish
smile. "....Sorry about that. It's been a real pain in our backsides, you can tell."

"No kidding." Aubrey said. "But, uh, we can help, if you want..."

"Right!" The cashier grins, his good mood back. "Tell you what, we've got a few orders
ready. Come around back and I'll show you where to go...."

......

"....No wonder they can't find help." Aubrey grumbles, as she removes a shovel from the rack
of saws. "A baby can write better than him!"

Sunny gingerly pulled the hanging saws up front. "But we got them right anyways, yeah?" He
offered, only to receive a hard look from Aubrey. He nervously chuckles. "W-well, we still
got paid well....?"

Aubrey sighed. Her complaints about the cashier's handwriting aside, they did handle the
deliveries well-- enough for several good reviews and a few green bills for each of them.
When they finished, Sunny pulled them over to Fix-It for another round of labor.

At least this one only required them to re-arrange and front all of the messy displays.
Something that become a lot less tedious when Sunny decided to use a cart instead of hauling
a few things between shelves.

"Yeah, you're right." Aubrey conceded, as she pushed the cart along. "But if we ever deliver
pizza again, we need addresses that don't look like scribbles. My eyes still hurt from that,
Sunny."

"Yeah. If we do it again, I'll ask him to write better." Sunny agreed. That seemed to satisfy
Aubrey, who stopped the cart to front a shelf full of alarm clocks. He turns to help, only to
find a boxed light bulb amongst the product.

"Hey, Aubrey?" She glances at his direction. "Yeah?" She asks, and Sunny presents his
discovery. "Someone left this over here. I'm going to put it back really quick."
She paused for a second, but quickly nodded. "Alright, just don't take too long, okay?"

Sunny nods, stepping around the corner. The lightbulbs, thankfully, aren't too far away, and
he soon steps up and places the product amongst its brethern.

He steps back, eyes briefly staring into the distance.

Chipped eyes stare back, a metallic grin digging through his courage.

"Where is she?" It echoes, mocking. "You left her. Where is she now?"

Sunny blinked, and the face fled.

Sunny takes a sharp breath, and he doubles back with a little more haste than he wants to
admit.

Fortunately, he finds Aubrey amongst the alarm clocks still. He sighs in relief, nearly missing
the way she shuffles her jacket. "I'm back." He called out, and she nearly jumps.

"Oh, welcome back, Sunny!" She said. before returning straight to the cart. "Let's keep going.
We've only got a few more shelves...."

Sunny blinked, but Aubrey just pressed forward, and he followed.

......

It wasn't too long before they were finally getting groceries from Othermart.

Aubrey felt a sense of accomplishment. With the money they earned, she could put more into
the cart, and a few days of food became a week's worth.

Sunny, on the other hand, seemed unsatisfied. Or rather, that's what she thought when he
talked to the seafood lady about a job.

"How do you even understand her?" Aubrey asked, as Sunny received a flyswatter from the
seafood lady. She didn't know why, courtesy of the indecipherable tongue the woman spoke.

"Mari's old textbooks." Sunny said, stuffing a few folded-up papers into his pocket. Tutoring
requests, Aubrey recalls, as he continues. "Mom wanted me to learn from them as part of the
chores.... A few of them were for other languages."

"Oh. Well, that's...." Lucky. He got homeschooled. "Nice...." Aubrey shook her head.
"Anyways, what did that woman want you to do?"

"Smack all the flies I can find." Sunny looks down the aisle. "....Like that one down there.
Hold on."

"Hey, wait! Don't go too far...!" Aubrey calls out, as Sunny rushes ahead to deal with the
pesky fly.
Aubrey started to grumble as she briefly watched him square off with the tiny insect. It wasn't
ideal, but as long as she could keep an eye on him, it was free money-- which meant more
groceries.

It also kept his eyes off of her for just long enough, she soon realized.

The breeze gently combed through the pair when they finally left the store.

Aubrey led the cart past the fountain, earning her a perplexed look from Sunny. "Shouldn't
we leave the cart back there....?" He asked.

Aubrey shook her head. "Faraway's too small for them to really care, Sunny. If it's just one
cart you like to use, they won't do anything about it."

Sunny blinked. "Really?"

"Mhm. It's not like anyone has to drive to Othermart, yeah?"

Sunny seems to ponder for a moment. "....Yeah, you're right...." He says, before his eyes
suddenly widen.

Aubrey can almost see the lightbulb glowing through his eyes, and she slows down to nudge
him. "Is there something you want to share?"

"Well, I just thought of something...."

"Yeah?"

He looks at her with a small grin. "If we can take the cart...." He spreads his arms wide.
"Then that means we can push each other around Faraway!"

Aubrey stares at him for a few moments, a mental image forming in her head, before a set of
giggles break out. "Sunny, we're not kids anymore!"

But his grin becomes wider. "I didn't hear a no...." He sings.

Aubrey feels the mirth coming on, and she can't stop giggling. "Oh my god, why would we
even do that!?"

"Just imagine it, Aubrey: I'm racing the cart through the park, while you're standing in the
basket, shouting that you're the Queen of--"

She stops the cart entirely, lightly punching Sunny's shoulder as she starts laughing. "Stop--
please, stop, I caaaahahaha--"
She rests her forehead against the cart's handle, the mirth making her double over and tremble
in unrestrained joy. She could feel Sunny patting her back, but could only imagine what kind
of smug look he could've had. He was Mari's brother, after all; pranks and jokes were part of
the Suzuki genes, or so Hero once said.

Fortunately, Aubrey was allowed to recover from her ordeal, though coherency took a
mountainous effort to retrieve. "L-Let's get this home, before everything gets warm...." She
eventually said.

"Right, right...." Sunny grinned, and she had to turn away to keep herself from laughing
again. 'You're going to be the death of me, Sunny....'

But they soon picked their paces back up, and they rounded the corner out of the shopping
plaza.

But it's only when Aubrey fully recovers that conversation continues. She lightly pokes at
Sunny with her elbow. "Hey, Sunny?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He said.

"The jobs we did.... They gave us a lot of money, huh?"

Sunny tilts his head. "Yeah....?" A pause. "W-Well, I don't know if it's a lot of money...."

Aubrey shook her head. "It's fine, Sunny. I'm just saying...." She briefly glances at his pocket-
- the one that held the tutor posters. "Maybe we should keep doing them."

"....Oh." Sunny scratches the back of his head. "Yeah, it was.... nice. We need the money too,
right?"

She nods. "Yeah. Our parents aren't around.... Er, too much." She winces, but Sunny doesn't
seem to take offense. "If we keep going at it, we can even save something up. Y'know, buy
things other than food."

"Like comics?"

'I was going to say 'clothes', but....' "....Yeah, things like that."

Sunny nodded. "Yeah.... What about school, though?"

Aubrey slows down, with a sharp inhale. "I.... don't know." She admits. "We can do work on
the weekends, but...."

She feels Sunny's hand on her shoulder. "I.... I can work by myself..... When you're gone, I
mean." He said.

Aubrey turned to look at him. "You don't have to.... And aren't you homeschooled?"

But Sunny shakes his head. "I-I don't mind. I can learn whenever I want."
Aubrey purses her lips with uncertainty. A recent memory flashes through her mind and
threatens to make her shudder. "It's still a lot to ask.... I-If you want, I can just st--"

"Aubrey."

In an instant, she is drawn again to his gaze. The steeled resolve she finds stuns her, and the
reassuring smile he tries to make stirs her heart.

"You don't have to worry about me. I can do it."

She gulps, trying and failing to form a retort. "O....Okay." She relents. "But if you need help,
please let me know."

Sunny nods, that small smile growing. "Of course."

'T-That's not fair.' She mentally grumbles, turning away to hide the heat in her face.

They soon fall into a comfortable silence. Sunny's right hand comes to rest on the cart's
frame, and the pair skirts the park once more. This time, however, Aubrey quickly scans the
park in their silent motion. With a school-less day as pleasant as the autumn can allow, there
are plenty of people loitering and playing in Faraway's only recreational site. Some are
standing around in conversation, a few try to enjoy a picnic, and others sit and bask in the
sights. Aubrey looks a little more, though, finding children swinging and yelling across the
playground, and Kel is throwing around an orange ball with some jock types.

Her gaze resets, and it takes a few seconds for reality to click in.

Her eyes whip back to Kel's blurring figure.

The sight of her old friend wasn't an unusual one, but it was always when he got carried away
into whatever he was doing. Conversation, drinks, exercise.... He was the perfect picture of
obliviousness, rushing to meet the future.

Her blood threatened to boil at the sight, and she averted her gaze in response.

Sunny seemed to be staring up at the clouds, and Aubrey nearly sighed in relief. He held
none of the animosity she harbored towards the rest of the group, she figured, and the thought
of explaining herself was something she didn't want to humor.

Neither did she want for Kel to come back into her life, if she was being honest. He seemed
to have no issue treating her like she didn't exist, but Sunny wasn't even around for him to
ignore. If anything, Kel would jump at the chance to have his 'buddy' back, and Aubrey
would have to deal with him again-- both his annoying energy and the giant shadow he left
her in.

But that didn't compare to what Sunny would do-- what he wanted to do. He wanted to
confess. He was a good and gentle soul, and Aubrey loved that about him. But what would
Kel do when he learned what really happened? Would he shrug it off? Snap at him? Ignore
him?
....Hurt him....?

Aubrey took a deep breath. No, she couldn't let that happen. She didn't need to let that
happen. Her old friends cut their ties years ago; they didn't need to hear the 'truth' when they
clearly moved on. She didn't, she learned what happened, and that's.... that's all that mattered.
Sunny didn't need the pain they would cause.

But as she looked at him, Sunny's gaze started to shift.

He was slowly looking towards the park.

Aubrey's breath hitched. She felt her palms glisten. In the corner of her eye, white lines
appeared on the road.

If she waited any longer, Sunny would notice Kel.

Aubrey felt a phantom breeze pierce her coat. She gripped the cart tight.

She suddenly swerved the cart onto the crosswalk. Sunny gasped and quickly shifted to
match it.

Her walk became a stride. Both Sunny and the cart had to match her pace, and the Park
quickly fell behind their gazes.

"--Aubrey!?" Sunny blurted out, and Aubrey's focus failed her.

She turns to him with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I, uh.... nearly missed the crosswalk."

"You didn't even say anything, though!"

"I-I was surprised!"

Sunny didn't look convinced, but Aubrey doubled down. To crack now was to invite his gaze
back to the park.

"C-Can we just keep going? Please?" She begged.

A cloud passed by before he sighed. "....Okay."

Aubrey could barely contain her relief. But even as they continued down the sidewalk, her lie
still bit at her.

She was becoming a little too suspicious, and she knew it.

'I need to ask her what's going on,' Sunny decided.

He wanted to believe that the signs weren't there; that Aubrey's unexplained behaviors were
just red herrings. Yet, for all of Sunny's two years of social exclusion, he was still able to pick
up on the small things, and they just kept happening. She was doing things he couldn't begin
to fathom the reasons for, and she wouldn't give him even a hint as to what's bothering her.

He was grateful for Aubrey and everything she's done, but there were too many things she
was leaving him in the dark about. It was getting ridiculous. They needed to talk, and soon.

But his thoughts were shelved as Aubrey finally led their grocery-loaded cart to a stop, right
before his front door.

"....Okay, we can't just bring the cart inside...." Aubrey started. "So we need to carry the bags
inside. Here, let me get the door while you grab the bags...."

Aubrey moved away from the cart. Sunny took a few plastic bags from the cart, grimacing as
he felt his arms begin to struggle against their weight. It was quite a few loaded bags, but was
he really having trouble with them already?

Still, he was determined not to make himself look that bad in front of Aubrey, so he put his
best effort into carrying the groceries into the open doorway. Once he was wout of her sight,
however, he rushed towards the kitchen and hefted the bags onto a counter top, any counter
top, with what strength he could muster.

Sunny leaned against the kitchen top, catching his breath and wiping sweat off his brow. He
wasn't the strongest kid growing up, but simple groceries shouldn't give him that much
trouble. Even if it was several bags at once....

Sunny shook his head. He pushed himself off the counter and started back towards the front
door. Though now that he thought about it, was Aubrey still at the front door?

No sooner than he thought of it, did he see her walk into the living room with plenty of bags
hanging off her arms. She gave him a small smile as she passed by, but something else took
his focus.

Namely, the absolute ease she had with carrying those loaded bags-- and the same amount he
carried, at that.

A font of shame welled within him when he stepped back out, only to find a scant few
groceries left. By the time he got them in and closed the door with a dejected sigh, Aubrey
was already starting to put their purchases up.

A desire to not 'fall behind' led Sunny to quickly join her. Aubrey hummed a tune as they
flitted between bags, cabinets and fridge. With each pass, the kitchen looked a little more tidy
and felt fuller. This time, the workload was shared, and Sunny could feel his earlier
inadequacy wash away as he opened up the next grocery bag.

He glanced at the six cans of beans before reaching in to grab a few--

Only to pause, as a memory suddenly slammed into his head. The crystal-clear image of the
checkout, and the definitive sight of three cans of beans.

He slowly reaches back to tilt the plastic off of the labels. Six cans of beans met his gaze.

But they only got three. They paid for three. There were six here, but he knew how effective
his memory was.

"....Aubrey?" Sunny asks, more uncertain than he wanted to be.

"Yeah?" She said. She was by the fridge, if he had to guess.

"Why...." He gulped. "Why do we have extra beans?"

A pause. "What do you mean....?" He could hear her approach. Soon, she was in the corner of
his sight, looking at the bag. "....Extra beans?"

"W-We bought three cans." He heard Aubrey gasp, but he continues. "This.... This is six."

The kitchen clock loudly ticked onwards. Aubrey shuffled her feet. "I'm.... I'm pretty sure we
got six...."

"I-I was watching the whole time." He stressed. "It was three. It really was three."

"Sunny--"

"This.... This is too much." His hands tighten. He tries to breathe, but the air feels thin. "H-
How did we get this much? This isn't right, did we t--"

"Sunny!" Aubrey blurts out, grabbing his upper arms and turning him towards her. "C-Calm
down, please! It's fine, it's okay!"

His eyes start to avert downwards. "I-It's not okay, we took more than we bought--"

"It's okay, Sunny!"

He pauses, eyes suddenly wide and fixed on her torso. Or rather, something on her torso.

"E-Even if it's one too many, no one's going to--"

"Aubrey...." Sunny interjects.

His bold tone seems to earn her silent attention.

"W-What is that....?"

She bends her neck to see what he does: from the right side of her jacket, near her breast, is a
small bulge in the bulky fabric.

He sees her eyes widen. Her two steps backwards, and her hands leaving him to instinctively
cover the spot.
"It's...." She starts, but then freezes. Her hands quickly pull away from the spot, hovering
with uncertainty. Her gaze is fixed on his, yet it wavers. "....Uhm...."

Sunny felt the doubts of before creep in from the back of his mind. His trust is contested by
cold logic. "Aubrey...."

Her composure is starting to falter. Her lips twist the wrong way, and a light shiver is
beginning to show. "I-it's not what you think...." She contests, meekly.

But Sunny's making the connections. Her behavior was suspicious before, and it started to
highlight what's happening now. He knew there were three cans of beans that they didn't buy.
He didn't even notice them until now. But here Aubrey was, claiming she counted six. And
with the abnormality in that bulky jacket of hers....

"....Did... Did you take them....?"

Her gaze averts to the ground, and she grips her left arm. She's trembling now.

But it was a good of an answer as any. "Aubrey...." He says, stern.

The silence is almost unbearable before she responds. "Y-You were so thin.... I just...."

"Aubrey, this.... why? We could've--"

"I-I know!" She suddenly cries out. "It's.... It just came to me, okay!? I-I want to help you,
but it's--"

She shuts her eyes. "Dad.... He sends money, but it's never enough. Mom doesn't even bother.
I-I had to do something, no one helped me, and I never got caught!"

"A-And I know it's different now, but you're so thin and it's...." She tries to look back at him.
"I couldn't help it, Sunny. I just wanted to help. I...."

She trails off, leaving the pair in silence.

Sunny takes a deep breath, steadying himself as he closed the distance between them. "....
And what's in your jacket....?"

"....An alarm clock...." She mumbles, one hand reaching into her jacket. Sure enough, she
produces one; the same kind he saw her front at Fix-It, Sunny recalls.

"It's.... It's the first time I took something I didn't need, too." Aubrey continues. "It was
supposed to be a gift...."

Sunny glances down at the boxed clock, before looking back to Aubrey.

He wasn't exactly the spitting image of prim and proper; Sunny can recall multiple nights
where he and Kel snuck out to Hobbeez, or placed whoopie cushions on chairs. But he
doesn't recall stealing; at least, he never really had the chance, with how close he was to....
But he takes one look at Aubrey, and sees the shame in her downward gaze. Not at stealing,
he guesses, but being found out. Sunny realized how he might have looked; shocked, perhaps
disappointed in her.

But was he, really? An image of her snatching goods and making off like a pursued bandit
flashed through his mind. The sight of her theft did not shake him, but her pursuers? The
justice she might face....?

Sunny took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Aubrey. She gasped. "S-Sunny?"

"....I....I don't want you to get in trouble." Sunny said. "We.... We can earn everything now,
and...."

He gulped. "I don't care that you took things.... But what happens if you take something and
someone notices?"

"....No one's caught me...."

"And when someone does....?" He interjects. She doesn't retort. "I'm just worried about you,
Aubrey." He leans his head against her shoulder. "I don't want to lose you."

He heard a box hit the floor between their feet, and Aubrey finally wrapped her arms around
his back, leaning in.

"....I'm sorry, Sunny. I didn't even think about...." She shakes her head, lightly. "I'll.... I'll
stop."

Sunny hugged her just a bit tighter. "Thank you." He whispers, and Aubrey reciprocates.

Sunny drew a deep breath, trying to blanket his doubts with Aubrey's scent. She was acting
weird, but she cared about him. He could've never imagined someone shoplifting for his sake.

But something about them still lingered, poking at the layer of warmth he tried to nail down.
Not everything matched up with what Aubrey told him. Why was she so clingy yesterday,
after the bathroom? Why did she act so strangely about the Truth, and what compelled her to
make that sudden turn across the road?

Sunny winced, and push the thoughts to the side. He.... He needs to ask, but not this very
moment. Aubrey needs some breathing room first.

He slowly departs her embrace. "....Well, uhm." He clears his throat. "Let's finish putting
these groceries up." He looked down at the floor. "....And set up the alarm clock
afterwards...."

Aubrey met him with a smile. "That sounds good."

They got back to work. But even amidst the relaxed air that followed the tension, it was only
a matter of time until.....
"....Hey, Aubrey."

Aubrey looked over at Sunny, her couch partner. "Yes?"

"Can I...." He briefly looked over at the screen. "Can I ask you something?"

The television ahead seemed to dim into the background as she focused on Sunny. It's been a
few hours since he discovered her thefts, she recalls, and she felt lighter for it. A bit guilty,
too, but Sunny forgave her, and she decided not to dwell too much on it.

She gave him an encouraging smile. "Of course!"

Sunny nodded, as he twisted his lips in thought.

Aubrey felt a tinge of curiosity; what he could he possibly need to ask, that required such
concentration? But she didn't need to wait long, because....

"Can.... Can you tell me what's going on....?"

Aubrey pauses, tilting her head. "....Huh?"

Sunny averted his gaze. "Yesterday, after I took...." He starts.

But for Aubrey, his voice grew vague and her eyes grew wide.

He.... He was talking about when she clung to him....

And when he mentioned confessing to the others.... and maybe even what happened near the
park....

A weight starts to settle in her chest. This was happening too soon. She still didn't know why
she got so scared. In fact, she didn't even get a chance to try and figure things out! What
could she possibly tell him? What would he think?

'He'll think you're a burden.' That dark, merciless voice whispered. 'Nothing more than trash,
a parasite....'

Her lungs were starting to freeze up.

She suddenly leans forward and latches onto Sunny, earning his startled gasp. "Eh!?" Sunny
cries out.

Oh no, she interrupted him, didn't she? He was going to assume the worst. She had to say
something. Anything!

"P-Please stop!" Aubrey croaks. "I-I..... I'm not ready yet!"

 "E-Er....?" He said, confused.

She pulls away from him and tries to take a deep breath. "I'm.... There's something I have to
tell you, but...." She tries not to grip her arm. "I-I'm not ready. Not yet. I...."

She glances over at a window. The sun is starting to set for the day.... "....Tomorrow." Aubrey
decides. "I'll.... I'll tell you tomorrow."

"After school?"

A small pit formed in her stomach, but she forced herself to nod. "....Yeah.... After school...."

It felt like an eternity before Sunny nodded. "....Alright." He paused. "....I'm.... I'm a little
worried, but I'll wait."

But even as they snuggled up and turned their attention back to the television-- a commercial
just ended, and a movie about some guy with chainsaw hands came back on-- the gulf in her
stomach remained.

'....That's right, I have to go to school tomorrow....'

She had to go to school almost every weekday. She was fine before. But now that she
reminded herself of it, that feeling of emptiness manifested. She glimpses at Sunny out of the
corner of her eyes. Was it because she was going alone, without him?

The void hummed, threatening to infect her further, and Aubrey could only dig her cheek
against Sunny's in an effort to stave it off. She put all of her attention towards the show.

Anything to ignore the looming dread.

Chapter End Notes

i'll be honest: i'm not sure if i hit the mark on this chapter. i put down everything i
needed to, the fluff is there, yet i can't help but feel that i could've done more.

or maybe that's just my inner mari talking. i'll let you guys be the judge.

as always, thank you for reading. if you find any problems or think i'm losing my way,
please share your concerns in the comments below.

and for those waiting to see the misery, don't worry. it's coming.
 The Price of Dependence
Chapter Summary

On the third day, they tried to regain normality.

But they paid a price for their bond, and their reminder will be cruel.

Chapter Notes

this chapter, like the very first (aka the original oneshot), is based on a greentext i made
over a month ago, but with a key difference.

strap yourselves in; this is going to be a little longer than usual.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Try as she might, Aubrey could not stop the inevitable.

Time marches on, uncaring of the wishes, triumphs and sorrows of any life. Though she tried
to occupy the hours and savor every second, the clock did not falter. Before she knew it,
today became yesterday, and the blonde had to face the horrific truth:

She had to go to school.

"H-Hey, it's okay, Aubrey...." Sunny said, gently rubbing her back as she leaned on him. They
were seated on the living room couch, ignoring the seven AM cartoon that just went into full
swing. "It's just school...."

Aubrey knew what Sunny was trying to get at, but she found little comfort in the gesture. She
had to go to school, and because Sunny was essentially homeschooled, she had to go alone.

All that would await her is crowds of blurring, uncaring teenagers, lingering just out of reach
from a girl too poor and burdened to get along with. Her only audience would be cold desks,
uncomfortable chairs and books just damaged enough to be offered for free. Maybe if she
was lucky, a teacher would pay attention to her for a little bit, just enough for her to catch up
on something and then turn away again.

She hated it then, and now that she had someone, she completely despised the thought of
going back.
Aubrey shakes her head. "Yeah, and I have to be lonely again." She said. "It sucks, Sunny. I
really, really don't want to go."

"Well, uhm...." He trails off, at loss for words. Sunny looked ahead in thought.

"I just...." Aubrey glanced at the floor. "I know I need it...." Faraway was a sleepy, idyllic
town, and that meant opportunities were sparse at best. For Faraway teens like them, only
education promised a future.

Not that her grades offered much, but she had to cling to some hope.

But that 'hope' seemed absent now, as Aubrey gripped at her pants. "....But I don't like going
back and feeling like no one cares about me again. Heck, I'd rather just drop out and--"

Hands clasped her shoulder, and she faltered in the face of Sunny's gaze.

"I know." He said. "....Or well, I-I can imagine. But dropping out isn't good. I.... I like having
you around too, but it's just a day of school, Aubrey."

Something about his look, perhaps his gaze, quivered. But he steeled himself quickly, and
continued. "I... I can take care of everything while you're at school. I'll be there when you get
back."

Aubrey blinked. ".... You will....?"

Sunny nods. "Yeah. We.... We can do homework together, and.... You know, just hang out for
the rest of the day...."

"....The rest of the day, huh...."

Aubrey took a deep breath. School had to end at some point, of course. After that.... Sunny
would still be here, right....?

When she took another deep breath-- from Sunny's shirt, this time-- she came to a realization:
Yes, he would still be here. He'd have to be. He already spent so much time with her, and
even forgave her for the things she stole. Why would he suddenly turn his back on her....?

She looked away as embarrassment threatened to make her blush. Those doubts felt silly,
now that she thought of them. They were.... Well, she needed to trust him a little more than
this, Aubrey believed. If she didn't want to feel like a burden, she needed to show some
independence.

With her newfound strength, she looked back to Sunny. "....Okay. I'll go to school." She said,
before poking his stomach with a finger. "But you better be the first thing I see when I get
back, okay?"

"I will, I will." Sunny said.

"You promise?"
Sunny gives her a look. "O-Of course I promise!"

A smile starts to worm onto her face. "You sure?"

A groan. "Come on Aubrey, I'm not that bad...."

"I don't know, you hid inside for a few years...." She teased.

Embarrassment flashes across Sunny's face. "Aubrey!"

Aubrey giggled, taking a deep breath as she kept herself from losing it. "Alright, I hear
you...."

Sunny didn't quite look convinced, face falling into his hands with a groan.

As much as Aubrey wanted to savor it, however, time waited for no one; she knew as much
when she glanced at the clock. The hand had moved some ways ahead-- and wasn't that a
running theme as of late?-- leaving her with only so much time to retrieve her belongings and
head to school.

"....Well, this is it." Aubrey said, as she slowly pulled away from the recovering Sunny.

"You're heading out?" Sunny said, his face finally leaving his hands to see her walking
towards the front door.

Aubrey looked back, nodding. "Mhm. I have to grab my stuff and head for school."

She grasped the doorknob, then hesitated. "Sunny, I...." A pause. "....I'll see you later,
alright?"

"Yeah. I'll, uh, I'll see you later, too...."

With one last nod, Aubrey finally opened the door and stepped out into the Tuesday morning.
When the door softly closed shut behind her, she could only sigh.

'I just stepped out and I already miss him....' She thought. Nearly two full days of Sunny's
presence did a number on her, she felt. Yet, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. 'No, I
don' t need to miss him. He'll be here when I get back. I can do this. I can do this....'

She repeated those four words, over and over, as she started towards her house.

And she never stop repeating that phrase, even as doubt started to creep back in.

On the other side of the door, Sunny was left with only one question: 'Now what?'
It wasn't too long since Aubrey left for school-- the clock hadn't even reached eight yet-- yet
it already felt like an hour. The last two days felt like a blur in comparison to now, where the
hands of time took a sudden delight in watching him squirm.

Sunny tried to focus on the TV, but the spot that Aubrey vacated was thumping in his mind.
He couldn't help but constantly think back to the presence that was no longer beside him, and
the animations slipped through the cracks of his mind a little too easily.

With a groan, he finally grabbed the remote and commanded the TV to flicker off. Silence
filled the living room, punctuated only by Sunny supporting his chin with a hand.

"What should I do now....?" He said, staring at the blank screen.

As much as Sunny hated to admit it, he hadn't even thought about what he could do on his
own. Ever since he last awoke from Headspace, his waking thoughts went into a procession
of 'must confess everything', followed by spending a lot of time with his childhood friend. He
couldn't fathom a point in that time where he wasn't either thinking about what they could do,
or asking Aubrey what they should do. With the past two years destroying almost every
hobby he had, Sunny struggled to think of something to occupy him.

Sunny looked down at the coffee table, and the stray magazine on top. Now that he saw the
rather abstract cover, he recalls drawing during his hermitage..... But he shakes his head. It
was an idea, but he didn't feel like making art just yet.

He could always go out and take care of some part-time work, like they agreed on.... But he
shook his head again. Sunny was going to do it-- he promised, after all-- but it felt too early
to leave the house.

….Maybe he can crack open those textbooks....? Sunny sighed. He really didn't want to busy
himself with studies right now. He wanted to be ready to help Aubrey with her own, not
exhaust himself on something he could do whenever.

When all else failed, the list of chores was always present.... But he firmly recalls crossing off
the entire list, in the few days before he escaped his dreams. Mom hasn't been home either,
and it's not like he and Aubrey really left anything to be washed--

….Wait, did they wash their dishes?

A brief look in the distance, and a few images blur through Sunny's mind. He doesn't recall
ever putting any dishes back up, nor does he remember Aubrey doing any more than placing
dishes in the sink, aside from the one plate she almost threw into the trash can. So no, they
didn't do the dishes, and as Sunny realized with a small smile and a sense of ingenuity, there
was a chore he could pass the time with.

He pushes himself off the couch, and marches straight into the kitchen.

......

'Why did I think this was a good idea, again....?'

Sunny could only grouse as he set the last of the dishes on a drying rack. What was meant to
be a time-wasting opportunity was instead a small stack of bowls and a few plates in the sink.
He made sure to go through them slowly and thoroughly as he could. Yet, for all of a chore as
it felt....

He glanced up at the kitchen clock. Only a little after eight. He groaned, then swiped a
kitchen towel to dry his hands off.

"Not even half an hour and the chores are done.... What now?" Sunny said, wracking his
brain. "Is there anything I can do that isn't drawing or work....?"

"There is."

Sunny whirled and jumped back with a shriek, nearly bumping his head against the overhead
cabinet.

He quickly found the source of the voice-- a familiar silhouette, cloaked in darkness for all
but its pitiless eyes. This.... Stranger, as Sunny used to call them, was not a prominent part of
his dreams. Theirs was a presence that lurked in the deepest parts of his subconscious, and
that was once for good reason, given their source.

"....You are confused, I can tell." The Stranger said, interrupting his thoughts.

That seemed to snap the boy out of his stupor. "What.... Basil-- ....What are you doing here!?"

"Me? I am still a part of you, as you may recall."

Sunny shook his head. "No, that can't be right. I led you back to...."

"To my other half, yes. I also thought that was the end, yet here I am, a shadow in plain
sight."

Sunny closed his eyes with a sigh. Great, he was hallucinating again-- and he was talking
with it. "I think I need help...."

"Perhaps, but worry not; I'm not here to frighten you." The Stranger said, ignoring
Sunny's deadpan look. "Rather, I must ask: What of the Truth, Sunny?"

Sunny paused. "What about it?"

"You were determined to realize it, were you not? But you have strayed. Our friends are
still in the dark, and yet you continue on."

"No, I didn't 'continue on'. I still want to tell them!" Sunny twitched. "I haven't seen the
others yet, but when I do--"

"And how will you 'see them' when their memory escapes you?" The Stranger didn't even
flinch. "Have you sought them, or even pondered them yesterday?"
"I...." A pause. But Sunny could not fathom a single response. The clock filled the silence for
him.

The Stranger shook its head. "....You did not. You had every chance to find them and
break the silence, yet you let them slip away. Instead, you focused on Her. This....
newfound obsession of yours."

"She's not an 'obsession'." Sunny slapped a palm on the countertop. "Aubrey's my friend!"

"Yet you hold her far too closely. Do you not notice that?"

"She's been alone since--" Sunny stopped with a sharp inhale. It still stung, but he needed to
keep going. "Since Mari died. I left her alone, and.... and I don't want to leave her behind
again. What's wrong about that!?"

"Your actions contradict you, Sunny." Sunny grit his teeth. "We both know you want to
be with her, for both of your sakes. But when do you have a moment for yourself? When
can you step away for the souls you've neglected?"

The Stranger glances to the kitchen window. "We.... We both have our sins to pay. But
you've begun a new trial, and it's already weighing you down. These burdens cannot--"

"She's not a burden!" Sunny snapped, and his handcloth blurred through the Stranger. "I
know what I did, and I know they deserve to hear it from me! But Aubrey's my friend and she
has problems too!" He threw his arms out with a snarl. "How many times do I have to say it?
I'm trying to help her! I am not forgetting about my other friends!"

"But you are forgetting yourself. The cycle was meant to be broken, yet it lingers. I
linger. To see me is an omen, Sunny, and you cannot afford to ignore it."

"I DON'T CARE!"

For once, the shadow stood in silence.

Sunny glared, his blood boiling. Now that he thought about it, the morning is the perfect time
to earn some money.

"You're running again, Sunny." The Stranger calls out, as Sunny started to march out of
the kitchen. "You know how that went before."

"And I was alone before." Sunny spat. "Things change. Maybe you should stop running from
that."

By the time Sunny threw his hoodie on, that shadow wasn't even there to see him off.
"Stupid hallucination...." Sunny said, grumbling as he opened another box of comics.

An Autumn Tuesday, as Sunny quickly found out, left little meaningful work in Faraway's
shopping plaza. The kids were in class and the adults were drinking the day away, or so the
Fix-It cashier told him.

Organizing the shelves there and some more flyswatting in Othermart didn't take long, and he
was almost done filling shelves for Hobbeez. It was all to fuel the manager's laziness, but it
was a paying offer and Noon was still a stretch away, so Sunny didn't think much about it.

His thoughts, even as he started shifting through the contents of that box, were far more
occupied by the Stranger's overly-cryptic warnings anyhow. For all the mechanations Sunny
enacted in his dreams, he had little say in the darkness that festered in Black Space. The
Stranger was born from it; a fragment of the Basil he remembered, who always found the
truth he once desperately repressed. Where his friend was clear and bright, the Stranger was
unsettling and elusive, speaking as an imitation mixed with advice disguised as purple prose.

Sunny knew why, but his irritation silenced his logic. All he could do was seethe over the
shadow's claims.

'I'm not 'forgetting' my friends.' He made room on the shelf. 'They're still here. I can talk to
them whenever I want to.' He pulled a chunk of comics out, and placed them on the shelf.
'Aubrey doesn't want to be left alone. I don't want to be alone. What's so obsessive about
that?' The process repeats itself, but he takes to it with greater force. 'She already did so
much. Who does he think he is?' He grips the next set of comics a little too hard, and they slip
out of the box.

Sunny snarled, and snapped down to gather them up. Damn that Stranger, and damn his
stupid claims. What did they know about him and Aubrey? If anyone's a burden--

"It would be you." Aubrey said.

Sunny stopped. 'Aubrey...?'

A quick glance around revealed no one. A look past the shelves, and he could only see the
manager flipping through a magazine at the front desk, without a customer in sight.

What was that, then? Sunny went back to the pile of comics, but the curiosity lingered. That
was clearly her voice, but she wasn't here. How in the world did he hear her?

"You gave up on me already?" Her voice returned just as Sunny put the fallen stack on the
shelf, and he flinched. "You let me carry you around, and now you ignore me?" Sunny
clutched his ears. "You're selfish, and now you left me behind." No.... No, this can't be real. "I
should've never given you the time of day." Focus. In, and out.

Sunny could faintly smell the fresh, untampered collectibles. Then, he exhaled until his lungs
were empty.
He scanned the store again, and still found nothing. A small, wiggling sense of unease
formed within Sunny, and he quickly went back to finishing his load.

Things were thankfully quiet when he emptied the final box. He pocketed the box cutter--
provided by the manager, as long as he returned it-- and gripped the empty cardboard as he
slid into the backroom.

It wasn't much; most of the space was dedicated to shipments and back-stock, with a small
break room and space set aside for a cluttered desk in the corner. Sunny didn't think much of
it as he broke his cardboard box down and set it amongst a pile of its brethren, near the door.
He recalls something about an agreement with Othermart for the boxes, but quickly waves it
off as he turns to collect his due.

Only to find Aubrey lying before him, atop a shattered violin.

Sunny yelped as he fell back, only to slam the back of his head against the back door. He
almost bounces onto the ground. "Ow...." He groaned, clutching his head before cracking an
eye open.

But there was nothing before him.

Sunny could only stare, unable to process anything until the manager busted into view and
kneeled before him. "Hey, are you okay!?" The man asked.

"....Y-Yeah." Sunny said. "I just, er.... Tripped."

"Yowch." The manager gave him a quick look over. "Here, lemme help you up...."

But even as Sunny was helped to his feet, his thoughts were preoccupied with what he saw.
Brushing himself off, confirming the end of his work, walking out with a crisp twenty in
tow.... Life blurred between Sunny's fall and his uneasy steps away from Hobbeez. Yet, he
was still trapped in his head.

'How did I see that....?' He pondered. It was an unusual sight. No, it was one more unusual
vision amongst a few, when Sunny really dug into it. The cruel bath and the unsettling grin
came to mind far too easily. 'Why did I see that....?'

Now that was the better question, and he took a seat at the plaza's fountain to ponder it. He
had no end of visions plunged in darkness and monstrous silhouettes invading his life when
he was still a repressed shut-in. Sunny knew this, but he found reprieve in Aubrey's company,
and wasn't that supposed to be the beginning of the end?

But no, they were still happening-- and they all focused on her. Did he truly get over the
accident, and now worried for Aubrey? Should he go and check-- Sunny shook his head. No,
he promised he would be there when she got back. If he went now, when he was the one who
encouraged her to attend school, then what would that tell Aubrey?

But what other answer could he find? Sunny rubbed at his forehead. There had to be
something he didn't consider, but what? He had nothing from his days of isolation to go off
of, and what other details could he have picked up?

....Well, except for one....

'The cycle was meant to be broken.' The Stranger's words echoed in Sunny's mind. 'Yet, it
lingers.'

Sunny grimaced. Still, his blood heated at the thought of that lecture. Yet.... Now, he could
see it-- just that little bit-- from a different angle.

"I'm meant to tell the Truth, aren't I....?" He whispered. "So if this is happening because I
didn't confess to everyone...."

The wind howled and shook his unworn hood.

Sunny gulped. His old friends would be at school now; he had nothing to suggest otherwise.
But that didn't leave him without options.

"....Well, I don't have anything better to do...." He admits, as he slowly stands up.

Sunny took a deep breath, and rapped his knuckles thrice upon Basil's front door.

By virtue of being the longest walk, regardless of Sunny's newfound want for a watch, the
boy's first stop was for his former accomplice. Basil always had a green thumb, only a bit
dimmer than their sunborne hair, and the rows of flowers strewn about the lot stood as
decisive proof.

Sunny was disturbed from his eloquent thoughts as the front door opened up, revealing a fair
and tidy brunette.

"Hello." The lady said, smiling.

Sunny stared. This wasn't Basil's grandma. A part of him didn't complain, though; she looked
fit to give some very comfortable hugs.

The unfamiliar woman blinked. "....Can I help you....?"

"O-Oh! Uh...." Sunny said, as he struggled to contain his embarrassment. "I'm Sunny. I....
used to hang out with Basil."

"Sunny.... Oh!" The woman snapped her fingers. "You went to the beach with Basil, right?"

"Yeah." Sunny nodded. "Did Basil tell you about that?"

"He did! It took some greasing, but he was smiling so brightly when he mentioned you...."
She seemed to stare into the distance for a moment, before snapping back to him with a gasp.
"Oh, but where are my manners? I'm Polly."

Sunny stared at Polly's hand for a moment, before raising his own for a brief handshake. "N-
Nice to meet you." Wow, one handshake and he was already stuttering. "I, uh...." He trailed
off, unsure of how to word his question.

"Didn't expect to see me?" Polly chuckled. "It's alright. I actually just started working here as
a caretaker for Basil's grandmother."

"Oh. Did something happen to her....?"

Polly shook her head. "Oh, nothing in particular. She just needs help with a few things,
and...." She trailed off with a sigh. "Well, it's nothing to worry about. Would you like to come
inside, Sunny?" She asked, ready to step aside.

But Sunny shook his head. "Oh, no. I was just here to leave a, uh, message for Basil."

"Aaah. Well, I'd be more than happy to let him know for you!"

"That... That would be nice, thank you." Sunny gave her a small smile, before he donned a
serious expression.

"Could you tell Basil.... To come visit me sometime? We...."

A gulp. "We need to talk about the truth."

.......

One down, one to go.

Polly, despite her visible confusion, was courteous enough. Sunny could only thank her for
her altruism, before he ultimately split off from the flowerful household.

Now, he was taking strides northward, towards the Rodriguez house, where Kel and Hero
lived. At last, he was making progress; once they came around, Sunny was on the fast track
to telling the Truth.

But why was he now feeling goosebumps?

There was no telling how they would react. Would Basil be willing to let the truth out? What
would Kel do afterwards? Heck, how is Hero going to feel about what actually happened to
Mari?

For the second time today, he wished that Aubrey was around, to comfort the anxiety welling
up in his stomach. Yet, he shook his head on the thought once more. Why was he so eager to
lean on her for these thoughts? Didn't he want to move on, wasn't he prepared to face the
consequences of his actions?
'Yet you hold her far too closely. Do you not notice that?'

Sunny stopped before the crossroad, shutting his eyes as he banished the thought. No, that
couldn't be right. Aubrey acted strangely, but they still had their own lives. It wasn't like that.

....Right?

Sunny immediately cups his head, groaning as he feels a sudden, sharp twist in his mind. His
focus flickers, before he opens his eyes.

He's greeted by Faraway; the skies are pitch black, and the trees reach the clouds.

'What....?'

Sunny pinches himself, but his surroundings remain. No, this was too obvious of an
illusion. All he had to do was--

"Sunny....?" A feminine voice cried out.

Sunny's eyes widened. 'Aubrey....?'

"Sunny, where are you!?" Her voice rings out again, from the direction of the park.

Sunny gulped, and made a brisk pace to the north.

The trees shake and quiver, worms dancing out of cracked bark as malicious chuckling
forms an ambience. But Sunny pays them no mind; he was far too concentrated on the
sound of Aubrey's voice.

And sure enough, when the park finally came into view....

"Sunny!?" Aubrey cried out, seemingly lost amongst barebone trees and rotting
swings.

"Aubrey....!" Sunny stepped forward.

"Sunny....?" Aubrey turns towards him, and her eyes brighten. "Sunny! There you
are....!" She breaks into a jog towards him.

Sunny quickly meets her pace, and it's not long before they're approaching each other
at the park's gate.

Until cartoonish hands, linked with the lightless sky in every sense, dart out and grab
onto Aubrey.

She immediately struggles against them. "No! Get off....!" She wails, but the hands
refuse to give ground.

"Aubrey--!" Sunny shrieks, as he tries to chase after her. But the hands dart in from the
edge of his vision, pushing against his charge.
Aubrey pushes against the squiggly limbs, but she can't get free. "Sunny, help!"

She reaches out for him. Sunny roars as he surges his arm out-- to grasp her hand, no
matter how much the hands try to deny him.

But a metallic grin rips into existence overhead. "Too late." It sings.

Aubrey screams as a black door slams shut between her and Sunny.

"AUBREY, NO!" He surges past the hands and nearly crashes into the door. He tries to
force it open, but it refuses to budge.

"She's gone." That horrible face mocks him as he pounds against the dark wood.
"Gone, gone, gone. Like everyone else."

"No, she couldn't be! I can't--"

"Her soul fell into the well, buried into the depths. She is beyond you now, and you are
alone."

No, no, this can't be happening. This can't be real, this isn't real, just calm down-- But the
air is stolen before him. The lungs constrict. The mind writhes, agonized.

Those chipped eyes.... they laugh at him. "This is no dream. You are no Dreamer." The
grin grows, threatening to swallow the trembling Sunny whole. "Welcome to your--"

The world suddenly shakes, and Sunny's head turns. The darkness blinks out of existence. He
finds himself facing a concerned man.

Their voice seems to zone in from the distance. "--You okay, kid!?"

Reality starts to bleed in. He's in the park. He was once facing a tree, he finds. His palms are
clammy. Sweat is rolling down his brow. Pedestrians stare at him in the distance. He cannot
determine their expressions.

Sunny can't quite control his breathing, and he looks back at the man grasping his shoulders.
He sees the concern in their face, and the uncertainty in their eyes. But it's nothing compared
to the uneasy turbulence in his chest.

"I...." Sunny tried to speak, to say something. "....I...." A pit starts to open in his stomach.
"....I, uh.... E-Excuse me...."

Sunny tries to slip out of the man's grasp, and escapes all too easily. He can't bring himself to
look at anyone as he hastily shuffles out of the park.
Sunny couldn't even feel himself walking.

He knew for a fact that he was walking. Even now, he was vaguely aware of the constantly
shifting scenery, but not his own legs. He only looked forward, while one word repeated in
his mind: 'Why?'

Why did he keep running into all these horrors? Why did the Stranger's warnings keep
coming back? Why does he feel empty again?

Why is he heading towards the school?

'Towards Aubrey,' Sunny knew. He had every rationale to not go there. It was weak and
hypocritical, and made him look so clingy that he couldn't even wait seven hours for Aubrey.

But he kept walking in spite of it all. Aubrey wanted him to be open about his issues, didn't
she? A quick visit to see her, maybe tell her what happened; that would be okay, right?

But even as he rounded a corner, the pit in Sunny's stomach grew, seeping out contradictions.
He could practically see her looking upon him in disgust. He tried to resist the thought, but
the doubt still burned into his sight, and threatened to upend his world.

A sob, ugly and pitiful, forced itself past his lips. The landscape looked ready to blur before
him. 'Come on, hold it in....' Sunny tried to rally himself. There was.... there couldn't be a
reason for him to lose it now, right? Even if he kept thinking that Aubrey would just
disappear, like....

Like Mari....

….And just like that, it all made too much sense. The warnings, the visions.... He was scared
of losing Aubrey, wasn't he? When he was with her, the horrors never came. When she was
around, he felt whole and capable. And now, when she was away....?

The price of dependence was made manifest, and Sunny could not bear it.

Sunny sniffed, as he tried to wipe his eyes dry. But the tears broke through, and felt his
cheeks become damp. The second sob came crashing through, and he could barely hold back
the third. 'I.... I need to see her.' He realized. The hallucinations drained his faith, and
'miserable' could not begin to describe the weight upon his heart. He needed Aubrey. He
needed to see her with his own eyes; he needed her presence to find sense in the world.

Maybe.... No, it was definitely pathetic. He wouldn't be surprised if she cursed his name and
wanted nothing to do with him, a helpless parasite, afterwards. But he needed to see her, to
remind himself that she was still around. He can't keep going without.... without her.

He stopped, pawing at his eyes when they grew too cloudy from tears. "S-Stop, please...." He
whined. He needed them, he couldn't even see her like this.... But they kept coming. It felt
like an eternity before he could open them again.

That's when he saw a shaking yellow dot in the distance.

....No, that wasn't just a dot. Sunny tried to squint. It was blonde hair, with a yellow bow, and
dark-- Wait....

"Aubrey....?" Sunny whispered.

As the figure got closer, their features started to show. That.... That's definitely Aubrey.
Running away from where the school was.

Even this far, she managed to meet his gaze. Even with this much distance, he could make
out the details: Her face, pallid in every sense. Her tears, flying in the wind.

Her eyes, trapped in such heart-wrenching pain.

Sunny didn't even realize that he started to walk towards her. "Aubrey....!" He shouted, as he
quickly ramped up into a full sprint.

"Sunny!" Aubrey cried out.

'She sounds so miserable.' Sunny realized, as the gap between them was closing at an
alarming rate. 'W-What happened to her?'

He didn't even get the chance to think any further: Within a moment, the pair crashed into
each other and fell off the sidewalk. It was a rough landing, even with the grass, but they
didn't care. He didn't even recognize the pain. All that Sunny knew was that Aubrey was
here. She was here, and.... and....

They clung to each other so deeply, and what little restraint they had was lost.

"Oh god, you're here.... You're here, Sunny...." Aubrey whimpered, as she shamelessly
stained his hoodie with her tears.

"I-I'm sorry, Aubrey--" Sunny croaked, only to be interrupted by his own sob. "I'm so
sorry...."

"I-I thought you were gone.... I thought I'd never see you again...."

"I.... I was so w-worried.... I thought something happened to you....!"

"I'm sorry, Sunny... I-I couldn't stay there. I-It hurt so much...."

"N-No, it's my fault.... I should've never told you to go!"

"No, I-I'm the one who went! I'm such an idiot....!"

"Don't..... P-Please, Aubrey.... I just want you...."

"I'm so sorry.... Please don't leave me again....!"

Time held no meaning as they continued to sob and apologize to one another. A few cars
might have passed by, vultures descended on an unfortunate possum, and someone scurried
by with their attention desperately buried into the horizon. But Sunny didn't even begin to
recognize the life going on around the pair, and it seemed Aubrey's perception was no better.
Such was the depths of catharsis they were in, that the world escaped them entirely.

He had no idea when they managed to pull themselves back to barebone function. He could
only recognize that, after what felt like years on the ground, they both managed to pull
themselves up and slowly walk back to his house.

They returned home hours ago, and Sunny still had no idea when or how the moon got so
high in the sky.

All he knew was that it was the only source of light for his bedroom, casting its pale gaze
upon him and Aubrey as they embraced so closely in his bed. In fact, he would've never
known how long they lied in bed if it weren't for the alarm clock that Aubrey stole for him.

A distant part of him recognized the tragedy in their situation: The pair arrived home shortly
after noon, he recalled, but their only path was his bedroom, so they could make up for the
disaster with endless cuddling. His-- no, both of their stomachs growled, and Sunny wasn't
sure if all the effort he did today made him smell, but he didn't care.

He doesn't want to leave her side again, and she.... she had to be the same way.

Sunny met Aubrey's gaze once more, and a feeling of guilt rose again. This was his fault, he
knew. "....I'm sorry, Aubrey...." He said, for the gazillionth time.

But Aubrey shook her head. "....No, Sunny, it's not your fault...."

"It is." He stressed. "I caused you so much pain, and.... I-I couldn't even--"

He stopped as she pressed her forehead against his. "Sunny, I'm the one who..... You told me,
but I went to school, not you. You were just trying to help me, and I'm...." She tried to smile.
"I'm just happy that you came back for me.... and that you're here for me now...."

Sunny took a deep breath, even as his ears burned. "Still, you shouldn't have to...." He trails
off, as a detail suddenly surfaces in his mind. "....Er, Aubrey? Where's your.... Your school
stuff....?"

Her eyes widened, before she averted them in shame. It was another spike of guilt to his
heart. He tries to ignore a growing discomfort as he takes initiative, hugging her just a little
closer. "It's.... It's okay, Aubrey. Y-You can tell me...." He tries to coo.

"....S'at school...." Aubrey finally looked back at him. "I.... I was...." She trails off. Her eyes
avert again, but Sunny catches the indecision within her irises.
"I-It's okay." He tries to assure her. "You don't have to worry about it. I'll... I'll ask mom to get
me back into school." Aubrey froze. "We can--"

"NO!!"

Her grip tightened. Sunny yelped as his bones started to pinch together. 'Ow, Ow, Ow....!'

Thankfully, her grip quickly softened. "Oh god, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to--!"

"I-It's fine." Sunny winced. "I'm more worried about you. What's wrong, Aubrey....?"

Aubrey bit her lip. "I.... I...." She seemed to struggle for a moment, before she finally gave up
the ghost with a sniffle. "I'm scared, Sunny." She whispered. "I'm.... I'm scared when you're
not around."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Sunny didn't break her silence; he knew,
from experience, what she was about to do.

"....Back then, when.... While you took that bath." She started. "I was waiting for you, and I
felt...." She shivered. "Cold. I felt alone, and I thought I was..... Just being a burden to you...."

"Aubrey...."

She cut him off with a shake of her head. "It.... I felt it a few times afterwards, but it wasn't as
bad." She gulped. ".... N-Not until today."

"I.... I couldn't even pay attention to class. I couldn't think about anything but you. Then it
just got worse, and...." Another sniffle. "I-I felt so alone, in the middle of that hallway--"

She lets out a choked sob. "I-I don't want to feel that cold again. I just-- I know I'm a burden,
I don't care if I drop out, I don't want to go back, please Sunny--" Another sob cuts her off,
and he can see the tears start to leak out of her eyes. "P-Please...."

He tries to shake her. "Hey, Aubrey, it's okay...." He tries to comfort her, but it doesn't stop
her from crying. 'Think, Sunny. How do I calm her down?' But what did he know? Aubrey
was losing it and he started to feel sad too. This is going to end up in mutual tears. 'What
would Hero do? What would Mari do....?'

He winced his eyes shut as he tried to recall....

"It's okay, little brother." Mari cooed, as she laid a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I'm here for
you...."

That.... That calmed him then, didn't it? He wasn't sure if it would work on her, but.... 'Here
goes nothing....'

Sunny took a deep breath, briefly shifting away from Aubrey before leaning in. "Aubrey...."

His lips touched her forehead for a moment. When he pulls back, Aubrey is staring at him.
Her eyes still carry that sad shine, but she looks stunned by the burning pink that colors her
 cheeks.

"You.... You don't have to go back." Sunny forced out. His eyes briefly wander, looking for
something to help-- wait, the bookcase! "W-We can study together!" He rushed out. "We can
be homeschooled, I can help you with everything. Y-You won't have to go to school, just...."

He trails off as Aubrey buries her face into his shoulder. "--Thank you, Sunny." She cries into
his shirt, and feels her dampening the cloth. "Thank you, thank you, thank you...."

He leans against her own shoulder. "It's...." He started to sniffle. Oh no.... "I-I just want you
to be happy, Aubrey...."

He.... he couldn't bear to see her cry. But she cried, and his willpower finally gave way. His
own tears break out, and he sobs into Aubrey too.

This was going to be the rest of their night: Soaking each other with tears in an unending
embrace. What would become of them now, with a normal life now seemingly beyond their
reach? Sunny wasn't sure. But he knew one thing:

Whatever happened next.... He needs to face it with her.

He couldn't survive otherwise.

Chapter End Notes

ouch.

how sunny receives his anxieties is fun to write. according to the game, his life is loaded
with hallucinations of all kinds. so rather than an internal voice that announces their
doubts and fears, he gets to 'experience' them. good for thrilling writing and to show the
difference between the protagonists and their perceptions.... but good lord, sunny needs
some good hugs afterwards.

it's also a good point of debate: is this part of a condition that sunny has (likely
schizophrenia), or is this simply a result of his unhealthy coping mechanisms?

but more importantly, what do you think? let me know in the comments below-- along
with your thoughts on the chapter, too!

as a brief aside: the next chapter won't be this much of a gut punch (and probably not
this long), but it might be delayed. sunny's birthday is coming up, and i've got a crack fic
in the works for it.

EDIT: Fixed a few formatting errors.

 Morning Burn
Chapter Summary

The pair winds down after a horrible yesterday.

With a new, straightforward approach, they have time to wander.

Chapter Notes

hoo boy, this is late.

i apologize to everyone waiting for the update. i wouldn't call it much, but here it is.

also, fair warning: improperly cooked food is consumed here. it's not too graphic, but it's
there.

if you're okay with that, then let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Sunny felt something tickle at his nose. A groan spills from his lips, as he struggled to crack
an eye open, to discern the source of his discomfort.

A few strands of blonde hair greeted him. Though it was still dark out, and the silver light
had since fled the bedroom, he beheld Aubrey's peaceful, unconscious expression.

The sight glanced a gentle caress to his heart, and a smile crept onto his face. 'It's just
Aubrey,' he thought.

After yesterday's horrendous series of events, waking up to her face so close was a relief to
Sunny. Nevermind that the pair fell asleep amidst their tears; he was just too focused on how
she was still here, in spite of the myriad visions that nearly bit into him.

Perhaps that inability to overcome his fears, a lack of inner strength, was his bane? It made
sense; his own freedom wasn't even sparked by himself, but brought forth by a vision of Mari
in his dreams. He had purpose in his step when he left his home after two years, but did that
matter when he was so hesitant to actually speak the truth?

He pulls Aubrey in just a bit closer, letting their noses ghost a gentle nudge against each
other. Her presence was something he cherished; a font of stability, of hope and strength.
Without her, he couldn't have found a path to a 'normal' life-- much less put up with the
horrors that seem keen on haunting him when she wasn't around.
He had much to thank her for.

That was the thought Sunny had when he closed his eyes and drifted off.

......

"Mmn...." Aubrey slurred, the world blurring through shuddering eyelids.

It took a few seconds before she could see the slumbering Sunny clearly.

'He looks so peaceful....' She noted, as a finger gently grazed the boy's cheek. She tried to
lean closer, immediately bumping against his nose.

She froze when he shifted.... And felt her cheeks heat up when his face dug into the crook of
her neck.

But she couldn't quite help the quivering smile that took over her face.

"How are you such an angel, Sunny?" She whispered. For all of her insistence towards
stability, she laid no shortage of problems on him these past few days. All her woes were but
the foundation; her slick fingers and guarded anxiety gave Sunny plenty to worry over.

Yet, he didn't once judge her for closing off her problems. Even when he caught her thievery,
his first concern was for her own safety. He always seemed intent on easing her burdens and
comforting her when she needed it, like all those years ago....

Aubrey reaffirms her embrace on Sunny and pulls him just a bit closer, letting his short, dark
hair brush against her nose. She didn't know what she'd do without his presence; he was so
kind and considerate to even her worst.... What would she have become, if he never stepped
out of his house? The thought of the fuming demon within, and what it would do if she
allowed it control, still scared her-- but with him, she had no need to succumb.

She had a lot of thank him for.

Aubrey closed her eyes and took a deep breath of Sunny's hair. His scent, serene to her
senses, lulled her consciousness away.

......

Sunlight finally snuck into the bedroom, making the pair shift and mutter from its warming
buzz. Birds began to chirp, and Sunny detached from his warm pillow with a groan.

'Stupid sun....' His eyes struggled to open. But when they did, he found Aubrey's own
sluggish awakening.

The bright rays of the morning clasped her with a gentle glow. Her skin illuminated under the
curtain of light, highlighting the warm recognition in her eyes as she found him.

For that sight alone, Sunny forgave nature for its trespass.
"Good morning, Aubrey." Sunny whispered, with an undercurrent of joy.

"Good morning, Sunny." Aubrey smiled, her hum freed of yesterday's sorrow.

Their gazes locked, Sunny felt a soft trance. A warmth tickled his heart, and butterflies poked
around his stomach. His mouth took on a mind of its own, slowly breaking into a smile.

Aubrey seemed content to let her cheeks redden, and her smile grew in tandem with his own.
Her eyes glowed, framed by soft yellow bangs.

'Cute....' Sunny thought. Truth be told, he always thought Aubrey was cute. Yet, in this
instance, it evolved behind his back and became something he couldn't put a word to. His
heartbeat started to intensify as he struggled to find the lost term.

The alarm clock interrupted him with a roaring beep, and the pair achieved a nanosecond of
flight.

"Wha-- Stupid alarm!" Aubrey growled, as she broke their embrace to slam a fist upon the
intruding clock, silencing its wail.

'Not sure how it didn't break on the spot, though.' Sunny mused, glancing at Aubrey's
frustrated expression.

"Ugh.... Guess it's time to get up." Aubrey groaned, as she grabbed at Sunny's hand and
shifted off the edge of the bed.

"Aubrey, nooo...." Sunny whined, as the girl dragged him with her.

"Aubrey, yeees...." She grumbled, and his feet soon met the floor.

Broken from his confused reverie AND robbed from his paradise by an alarm clock? 'Two out
of three, jerk.' Sunny glared at the alarm clock. 'Two out of three....'

"So, I guess...." Aubrey interrupted his thoughts, only to trail off.

Sunny glanced at her, only to find her face being slowly drained of its color. "Aubrey....?" He
said.

"....We need to take a bath, right....?"

Sunny winced, and the bedroom door seemed to loom over the pair. Baths were the first thing
they did in the morning, and that meant being in separate rooms. Before, he didn't see any
problems with it. But now, after he was made painfully aware of what their bond entailed?

Sunny gulped. "....Do we have to take one?"

Aubrey stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean...." Sunny glanced around the room. "Do we even smell?"
Aubrey blinked, before she raised her free arm and sniffed.

'Can't say I was expecting that....' Sunny mused, as Aubrey finished her inspection without a
single wince in her expression.

"....No, we don't." She gave him a hopeful look. "Are you saying....?"

Sunny nodded. "....If we don't smell, we can just go straight to breakfast, right?"

"Oh thank god." Aubrey blurted out with an exhale, then froze. "I-I mean--"

"I-It's fine!" Sunny rushed. "Let's just.... go to the kitchen, okay?"

"Y-Yeah." Aubrey nodded. "Let's head downstairs."

They clasped their hands together a little more tightly, and made their way out of the
bedroom.

But that bathroom door still lingered on Sunny's mind, even as he approached the stairwell.
As the pair descended, there was still an uncertainty in Aubrey's eyes, and the occasional
glance towards the second floor.

It wasn't until they cleared the stairwell, their feet touching the ground floor, that Sunny and
Aubrey could breathe easy.

Four eggs and a package of bacon.

Aubrey looked down at the ingredients, joined by Sunny's adjacent stare. She planned to have
a 'proper' breakfast-- one that wasn't cereal and milk, with some actual protein. With all the
groceries they got before, she had every means to fulfill her wish, and she had a drive to
make it happen.

There was only one tiny problem.

'How do I cook eggs, again....?'

She recalled a bit of experience-- not under Hero, but through necessity. Yet, it was a 'bit', a
fragment of what she really needed. Her thumb rubs against her knuckle. Maybe it was the
alluring convenience of frozen meals that she repeatedly fell victim to. Or perhaps it was the
cans of soup and beans that she'd rather throw in, stir and forget about until the stove went
'ding'. Whatever the reason was, her egg expertise was lacking, and straight recollection was
impossible.

Aubrey glanced over at Sunny. She was supposed to be the practical half, wasn't she? It felt
good before, to be the guide Sunny needed as he readjusted to a life outside of his room, but
now the fact loomed over her with an ominous air. 'Oh god, what would he think if I couldn't
even cook the things I picked out....!?'

The thought threatened to make her curl into a ball. Sure, she was starting to open up a little
better, but that didn't mean she wanted a gigantic heap of embarrassment!

"So...." Sunny said, and Aubrey froze. "Eggs and bacon, huh?"

"Y-Yeah...." Aubrey said, trying not to gulp.

"Well, uh. This shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Aubrey blinked. "That's.... I guess?"

Sunny turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "You guess?"

Aubrey tensed up. She could easily fib, she knew. But when she looked into his eyes, she
remembered the things she kept from Sunny, and the near-disasters that resulted from her
secrecy.

Did she really want to fake this? After everything that happened, and especially to Sunny....?

"Aubrey?" Sunny asked, concerned.

She finally slumped, resigning herself to fate. "....I don't remember how to cook eggs."
Aubrey mumbled, eyes downcast.

"....Oh." Sunny blinked. "Well, it's not that hard to cook, right?"

Aubrey looked back at Sunny, eyes wide. "What?" She scoured his eyes. "You aren't mad at
me....?"

Sunny raised an eyebrow. "....No? Why would I be?"

"Oh, Er...." Aubrey cleared her throat, and started to twirl a lock of her hair. "I just thought,
after I pushed for all those groceries...."

Sunny shook his head. "I don't think I can be mad at you, Aubrey." He said, prompting her to
gasp. "....And I mean, we can just figure it out together, right?"

Well, when he put it that way....

Aubrey chuckled, untangling her hair. "....Yeah, we can. It's just eggs and bacon, after all."

'God, I feel silly. Why did I make such a big deal of it, again....?' Aubrey wondered, her eyes
briefly flickering to the loaded countertop.

"Are you sure?" Sunny suddenly teased. "You weren't very confident before...."

"Sunny!" Aubrey giggled, lightly jabbing his side with her elbow. "I can cook better than
you, mister recluse!"
Sunny took as good as he got, though, and leaned in. "You wanna bet?"

Aubrey grinned. "I bet I can cook some killer eggs. How about you?"

Sunny smirked. "I bet I can make you praise my bacon."

"Ooh, look at all this confidence you found." Aubrey tittered. "Just you watch; I'll make you
eat your words!"

......

In hindsight, they should've been more cautious.

The pair went about cooking their choices at the same time. They tried to help each other,
give suggestions or point out a potential mistake. But their competitive spirit carried their
worries away a little too easily.

Maybe, Aubrey thought, they could've done without getting too carried away in conversation.
Or they could've not gawked at the turkey poking out of the backyard's treeline.

But the damage was done, and the pair now faced the fruits of their labor: Two plates,
adorned with two green-tinted eggs and three strips of charcoal bacon each, lie before them.
A whiff of char complimented the dishes, and Aubrey recalled waking up to a campfire both
silent and devastated.

Aubrey couldn't find a mirror, but Sunny's chagrined expression was close enough.

She cleared her throat. "Well, time to, uh...." Aubrey said, glancing over to Sunny.

"....Dig in?" Sunny said, meeting her gaze.

Oh god no, said her right mind.

The rest of her head had her seated with Sunny a minute later.

"A-Alright." She tried her hardest to stare directly at the ominous breakfast. She wanted
nothing more than to throw their concoctions away, but that would be admitting defeat. Not
to mention the kind of insult it would make to Sunny....

She gulped, mustering all her courage before continuing. "We should, uhm.... put our money
where our mouths are....?"

She almost immediately cringed at her word choice. In fact, that line made her think thrice
about what she was suggesting.

But Sunny kept a careful poker face as he nodded along. "S-Something like that." He said,
before he picked up a fork.

Aubrey's eyes widened. 'Sunny, what are you doing.' She thought, as she saw him take a deep
breath.
The fork approached his plate. 'Don't be a Hero, Sunny. It's not worth it.'

One of the hard-fried eggs was picked off the plate, and Sunny opened his mouth. 'Sunny, I
love you, please don't do this.'

He snapped forward, and Aubrey winced her eyes shut as he bit off a piece of the tainted egg.
'Please don't die please don't die please don't die....'

A few seconds later, she dared to open an eye.

Sunny held a hand over his mouth as he stared far, far off into the distance. Only a loud gulp
told her that yes, he actually ate her concoction and he didn't spit it out when she wasn't
looking.

"Sunny....?" Aubrey whispered, as the boy in question took a deep breath and set down his
fork.

"....It's good." Sunny forced a smile. "You really can make some killer eggs."

Aubrey blinked. He.... sounded earnest? Maybe? She looked down at one of her own eggs,
and tentatively cut a piece off.

She tasted glorified chalk a few moments later.

"W-Well, you know...." Aubrey squeaked, head turned away as she struggled to down the
powdery yolk. "It's an Aubrey specialty....!" She tried to giggle. "H-Here, let me try yours!"

As if possessed to escape her own creature, Aubrey quickly broke off a piece of the
blackened bacon on her plate and oh god it actually tasted like charcoal.

Aubrey fanned herself with her fork-less hand in an effort to obscure her wincing. She
drummed up the loudest 'Mmm' she could muster without sounding obnoxious. She bobbed
her head from side to side. She did anything to keep Sunny from seeing that his bacon was
threatening to break her teeth!

It was through sheer willpower that Aubrey managed to swallow the pork-turned-rock, and
she can only imagine the sound it would make once it slammed upon the bottom of her
stomach. "Your.... Your bacon is great!" She tried to cheer. "I can't wait to have more....!"

Sunny stared at her for a few moments, before shrugging and grabbing a piece of his own
making.

Even with the fraction he snapped off, Aubrey swore she heard something other than
crunching from his mouth.

Sunny's fingers curled into his palm. "Y-Yeah, I'm--" He gulped his piece down. "--Mari's
little brother, after all...."

Aubrey leaned back in her chair, just as Sunny nestled upon his backrest. 'I think I need a
breather....' Aubrey thought, as she lightly rubbed her stomach. "So, they're that filling,
huh....?" She said, failing at a playful tone.

Sunny's lips twisted, and his curled fingers wiggled. "You could say that...." He said, taking
deep breaths.

"Yeah, it was--"

Aubrey paused as a small rumble popped up in her abdomen, followed by a wave of

queasiness. "I...."

Sunny looked every bit as uneasy, and gulped. "....Oh no...." He muttered.

Before she could even ask, his eyes widened. Just as his face started to turn green, something
began to crawl up her stomach.

They both covered their mouths and jumped out of their seats, scrambling towards the
kitchen.

.....

It was a few minutes later when Aubrey realized something.

'Huh, so two people can use the trash can at the same time....'

It was a weird thought to have after emptying their 'breakfast' into the garbage, but it helped
to distract her from taking the lurid results and foraging a food metaphor. 'And I should really
stop looking at it before I make a recipe for Mom's favorite soup.'

Aubrey pulled her head up and away from the trash can, taking in greedy gulps of air as she
checked her blonde locks for any residue. Sunny, on the other hand, merely kept his eyes shut
as he fought to steady to breathing. The smell was already beginning to settle in, but neither
seemed in a hurry to step away, for reasons they had no energy to humor.

Sunny finally pulled his head away from the bagged rim, standing up with a gigantic inhale.
"I.... I think I've had enough eggs and bacon for today." He breathed, glancing over at
Aubrey.

"Yeah, I think so too...." Aubrey muttered, meeting him through the corner of her eye.

The clock ran a minute forward, and dark green leaves flew past the kitchen window.

A wave of relief crashed through her, and forced giggles to spill from her lips. Sunny joined
her almost immediately, no less resilient in the wake of an emptied stomach.

Soon, they fell into mutual laughter, and bumped into each other for a side-hug.

"Oh my god, that was terrible!" Aubrey sniggered.

"I never thought eggs and bacon could be ruined like that!" Sunny snorted.
"We really don't know how to cook, do we?" She nudged.

"We don't even know how to say no!" He grinned.

"We're just one big, awkward mess!"

"Hey, if we're the mess, I'm not complaining."

"Dork." Aubrey shifted, lightly jabbing his shoulder with a bright smile. "Why don't we just
get some more cereal?"

Sunny couldn't quite kill his chuckles. "Sure, but I think we need to brush first."

"Oh, right. Let's do that first."

"You forgot about your breath, didn't you?" Sunny briefly wiggled his eyebrows.

"I did not!" She giggled.

Their playful jabs started to fil the air as they shuffled out of the kitchen together, and even
the dreaded bathroom door couldn't kill their smiles.

The rest of their breakfast went by fast. Too fast, if Sunny counted all the mirth involved.

Now that their mouths weren't chemical hazards, the plates were cleansed of their granite and
the bowls were in the sink, the duo was left to their own devices.

"So, what should we do now?" Aubrey asked, as she turned off the kitchen faucet.

Sunny briefly glanced at the bowls, now filled with water and floating flake crumbs. "Well,
there's the jobs...." He said.

Aubrey shook her head. "I don't really want to do those today. I just.... Want to relax today,
you know?"

"Yeah, I get what you mean...." He nodded. He didn't even want to think about the textbooks
today, either.

But what else did the house have to offer? Sunny tapped a two-finger beat on the countertop.
The only thing in his room, aside from a bed and books, were the boxed-up toys. It was an
idea, but it felt surprisingly.... childish. Even with all of his dream adventures, part of him
curled at the thought of sitting around and bumping action figures together.

'I'm turning into a boring adult, aren't I?' Sunny mused. His childhood was still fond in his
mind, but the weight of work, combined with the feeling of crisp, hard-earned money told
him to grow up. He couldn't help but chuckle. 'What, am I going to throw out the board
games next?' The slope was certainly there....

....Wait....

"Don't we have board games here?" Sunny piped up, as he glanced at Aubrey.

Aubrey stared back at him. "....You're asking me?" She asked.

Sunny blinked. "Oh, right. My house."

Aubrey shook her head with a chuckle. "Well, we definitely played them here. So maybe
they're in your room?"

Sunny shook his head. "Dad moved them out when he caught Mari and I playing with them
one night. So they can't be there, and I know they're not in Mom's room...."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so where else could they have gone?"

Sunny shrugged. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. Did they get stashed in the living
room? The dining room? The storage...." He trailed off.

"Storage room?" Sunny nodded. "We should check there first, then!" She immediately
declared, grabbing Sunny's hand without hesitation.

The door to the storage room was as plain and listless as the several seconds it took to walk
up to it. But for Sunny, it held a deep meaning, and uncovered a solemn realization: This was
the first time in two years that he actually saw the door.

....Or was it?

"Dreamer...." The Stranger shook his head. "No.... Sunny."

They stood before a grey wall. The shadow of the doorway behind them had cast a
rectangular shadow upon the wall, and a doorknob protruded from the darkness.

"I was beginning to think you were lost. That you only wanted to become lost, no matter the
costs laid on your soul. Yet, you found the strength to push forward."

The Stranger's face seemed impassive, and yet....

"I.... I'm happy you came back, Sunny. I've been waiting for so long...."

They took a deep breath.

"You buried the truth in this closet. Now, we can face it together."

The shadowy hand grasped his own. It felt warm.

"Come. Let's break this cycle.... And see our friends again."
"Sunny?"

Sunny nearly jolted, whirling his head towards Aubrey's concerned gaze. "Are you alright?"
She asked.

He felt the warmth of her hands, cradling his shoulder and squeezing one of his own. He
looked back towards the door with a sigh. "It's.... Well, it's the first time I've seen this door,
since Mari fell...." He said.

"Oh, Sunny...." He felt Aubrey's hands shift, and he was soon enveloped in a warm embrace.

"Sorry." Sunny leaned into it, trying to return the sideways hug as best as he could. "It was
something I tried to forget. I.... I just pretended it didn't exist."

"We don't have to go in." Aubrey offered, cradling him slightly. "We.... We can find
something else to do."

Sunny shook his head. "No, I want to go in. I-I can't keep ignoring it, I want to get better.
Just...."

He looked back to Aubrey. "....I don't think I can do it alone." He admits.

Aubrey flashed him a small smile. "You don't have to." One of her arms fell, and her hand
grasped his again. "I won't leave your side, Sunny. I promise."

"Thank you." He whispered. Their embrace retracted shortly after, and they faced the door
once more. "Let's take a look."

Aubrey nodded, and they both took a step forward.

......

"....You know, I thought it would look a little more fancy...." Aubrey said, glancing around at
the floor.

The storage room was anything but, with its plain walls and the single light bulb boxes were
strewn about the floor, leaving only small pathways to traverse through. A drawer stood here,
a wardrobe there, the laundry machines to the left....

Sunny's attention was quickly fixed to the far corner, however. Upon a small, dusty toy box.

He felt a nudge to his side. "Do you see something?" Aubrey asked.

Sunny nods. "The toy box." He said.

Aubrey hummed. "It looks nice. Dusty, though. Is there something special about it....?"

Sunny continued to stare at the box. He took a deep breath. "....Basil hid the violin in there."
He admits.
Aubrey let out a muffled gasp. Her eyes narrowed. "Did he....?" She whispered. She stepped
towards the toy box, dragging Sunny along for the ride.

His eyes widened as Aubrey's free hand reached for the lid. "Wait, it's--"

She tugged at the lid, but it barely budged.

"....Locked...." Sunny muttered.

"Seriously?" Aubrey groaned. "Don't tell me he took the key, too." She looked over to Sunny,
and sighed when he looked away. "Of course he does...."

"Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. I'm just...." Aubrey glanced at him, before looking off to the
side. "Ugh, he made this such a pain...."

Sunny tilted his head. "Aubrey?"

"--Sorry. Let's just.... Why don't we forget about the toy box and look around?" She let go of
the lid. "Thinking about it makes my head hurt."

"....Yeah." Sunny nodded, as they stepped away from the locked reservoir. "I'm going to look
into the drawers first...."

......

After what felt like an eternity, Sunny closed the large box with a sigh. "Not here, either...."
He said.

"Nothing here, too." Aubrey said, closing her own box.

Sunny groaned. "I guess it's not here. Sorry, Aubrey."

Aubrey patted his shoulder. "It's okay, Sunny." She cooed, taking another glance around. "We
can always--"

She cut off with a gasp. "Aubrey?" Sunny called out, as he turned to see her gawk at a
corner.

She slowly raised her arm, a shaky finger directed at the clothes rack nestled within. "A-Are
those Mari's....?"

"Of course I have to hang them, Sunny!" Mari chided softly. "If I didn't, they would get all
wrinkled."

"....Yeah...." Sunny mumbled, staring at his former sister's assortment. She was always a
sucker for the classical lady motif, and her wardrobe was made entirely of dresses and skirts,
with the occasional shorts thrown in.
 In fact, Sunny didn't recall seeing a single pair of long pants in her arsenal. 'And she used to
complain about the softball uniform, too....'

He almost didn't notice Aubrey walk toward the rack and thumbs through the attires.

"They've got so much dust on them...." Aubrey whispered as he approached her side. "Oh,
Mari...."

True to her words, a layer of dust coated each and every article of clothing. They would have
to be washed for sure, but they were still usable. In fact, they looked like they might fit....

"Go on, Sunny." Mari pushed him forward. "Aubrey would love to have it."

He gently placed his hand on Aubrey's shoulder. "Do.... Do you want them....?" He asked.

Aubrey whipped around to face him, bewildered. "H-Huh!?" She said.

"Do you want Mari's dresses?"

Aubrey blinked. Her confusion gave away to averted eyes, and her hands fiddled about. Her
occasional glances at the clothing were full of reluctant want, but when she looked back at
him.... "Sunny, those are Mari's...."

Sunny winced. But he pooled his strength into his heart, and closed his eyes. "Mari's.... Mari's
gone. She can't use them anymore. But we're still here, and you always loved when she gave
you her old dresses."

He opened his eyes again. "And.... I'd think she would want you to have them, too. She
always did."

"Sunny...." Aubrey whispered, before grasping his hand with both of her own. Her glistened
eyes met his with a giant, watery smile. "Thank you...."

Sunny felt a bold surge of butterflies battering his confidence, and his attention averted itself
as quickly as his ears blew steam. 'Oh, look, there's a box near the rack, let's pay attention to
that.' Sunny noted.

....Wait.... "....Aubrey, do you see that?"

"Huh?" She paused, twisting her head around to meet the goal of his sights.

Halfway hidden amongst the clothes was a box labelled 'BOARD GAMES'.

"....Huh." Aubrey said. "I guess she really did want you to give those dresses away...."

Chapter End Notes

fun fact, i actually overcooked an egg and bacon (for the taste, i didn't need to consume
it thank god) for the sake of writing that one scene, because google didn't give me all the
answers i needed. never before have i wasted such potential breakfast for a fanfiction.

as you can see, a few liberties were taken from canon. namely, mari's wardrobe choices
and the storage room assortment. but this is sadburn, where canon is typically broken in
half. that, and where else would you run the laundry in that house? every other room is
booked.

that aside, i'd also like to apologize again for the delay in what is essentially a filler
chapter. the nine-ten days spent on the (failed) birthday fic turned a week's wait into
over two weeks. i won't say it was a waste, though; i did get a better look at some of my
flaws, and i've taken a few notes from the venture.

no creative endeavor begins or ends in vain, or so the saying goes.

as always, thank you for reading, and i encourage you to leave a comment below for any
thoughts or criticisms you may have on this chapter. and if you, uh.... have any similar
experiences in eating burnt food, i guess....?
 A Cold House
Chapter Summary

With one step forward, comes two steps back.

But Aubrey must do it, for how else can she abandon her old life?

Chapter Notes

not much to say this time.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Reality itself was falling apart.

The Miasma That Stole The Sky regarded the duo with indifference. But for them, it was the
cold stare of countless eyes.

"T-This is impossible...." The detective whimpered, cradling the wound upon her stomach.
Her firearm was in shambles, along with the city around them.

"But we're not dead yet!" The priest boomed. His clothing was in tatters and marked with
red, but his gaze and stance were tall and defiant.

"Oh come on, take a look at what's happening!" She gestured to the wreckage. "It's over!
We're doomed! We're better off doing something e--"

"Not yet." He reached into his robes. "Remember, we still have...."

The detective's eyes widened. "The book!"

He nods, a queasy-looking tome in hand. "We only have one chance, but if it works...."

"....Then we can still fight." She gasped. She looked back at the horror above and took a deep
breath. "....Do it."

With a surging roar, the Priest ripped the foul codex open....

....And the dice bounced across the coffee table, landing on a 1.

Sunny sighed. "And we lost again." He said.

Aubrey's face fell into her hands. "This game is stupid." She said.

"Come on, World of Terror isn't that bad...." He tried to argue. He received a hard look from
his adjacent partner.

"Sunny, there's like a million rules and the dice screw you over at every turn." She gestured at
both the large board and the mess on top. "Whoever made this game is a butthead."

'I wonder if he has a certificate for that....' Sunny wondered.

Aubrey dropped her arms with a sigh. "Is there any other board games we can play?
Something simple?"

Sunny eyeballed the box labeled 'BOARD GAMES' near the TV. "Well, there's always
Candyland...."

Aubrey looked downright sour. "Uuugh. Why can't they make board games for two people?"
She complained at the coffee table. World of Terror had no comment, only basking in its own
victory.

Aubrey sighed. Two seconds later, she hopped up and launched herself at Sunny.

"Wha-- Oof!" Sunny wheezed, as Aubrey plopped onto him. "Aubrey!?"

Aubrey wrapped her arms around him and stared into his eyes. "Cuddle with me." She
demanded.

"Y-You could have asked...." Sunny groaned. He still embraced Aubrey, who rewarded him
by resting her cheek upon his.

Aubrey sighed in relief. "That's better. I swear, you're like an anger vacuum."

The red-eared Sunny raised an eyebrow. "Anger vacuum?"

"Yeah. You know, like a vacuum that sucks up anger?" Sunny's eyebrow raised higher. "....I
mean, I can't be mad when we're like this. I like it."

"O-Oh." Great, now his face was getting hot, too. "Uh...." He droned, struggling to come up
with a coherent thought.

Aubrey blinked. "Mmm?"

Think, Sunny, think! There was the cardboard box from the Storage Room. There was
something about the Storage Room....
Wait, he got it! "The laundry!" Sunny declared. "We can do laundry now!"

Aubrey stared at Sunny. "....Yeah....?" She said.

Sunny felt the rising need to duck his head. "I mean, Er...." He started to make wild gestures.
"We can wash Mari's clothes, right? And your clothes, since you only a have a few....
Outfits....?"

Recognition flashed through Aubrey's eyes. "Oh! Yeah, the clothes. About that...." She
glanced towards the front door. "Most of them are still at my house...."

Sunny blinked. "Really?"

"Well, I thought I was going to just hang out with you for a day or two, and then...." She
trailed off, and her grip on him tightened by a smidgen. "....Y-You get what I'm saying,
right?"

Sunny didn't need to think much before nodding along. It didn't take much to recall what
happened yesterday.

"Yeah, I just...." Aubrey continued. "I guess I need to go get them, huh?" She chuckled.

The idea entered his mind without ceremony: An image of Aubrey closing the front door
behind her. Sunny sitting all alone, and the darkness closing in.

Something queasy materialized in his lungs and sent a nasty shiver through his heart. He
pulled Aubrey in with a tighter hold. "Y-You don't have to." He urged. "There are clothes
here, you--"

"Sunny," Aubrey said, cutting through his plea. "It's not just my clothing. I-- We have to go
back and get them."

"Can't we just get more, though? Buy replacements?"

"We can't just waste our money like that, Sunny...."

"That's--" He faltered. Reason said she was right; his heart told him otherwise. "B-But...."

Aubrey's hand gripped his shoulder, and she silenced him with a firm, yet soft look in her
eyes. "It's okay, Sunny. It won't take us long. We...." She glanced to her right. "We did it
before, and everything was fine, right?"

Sunny bit his lip. "....We did...."

"Yeah, we did. So it'll be okay if we do this, right?" Aubrey gave him a small smile. "It won't
take long. We only need to do it once, and then we'll never go back there again."

Sunny averted his gaze as he thought it over. It made sense; Aubrey's house was such a foul
place. He could still remember that awful smell from a few days ago, when she opened her
front door. Why would Aubrey want to stay there? There was no reason. She would grab her
things and leave. That's all it was.

Yet, the miasma within lingered. The situation fostered doubts. What if she can't leave for
some reason? What if she has an accident? What if, what if, what if....

Yet, Aubrey's presence and touch oppressed these fears. Aubrey was a strong girl. She could
handle even the horrors within her own home, couldn't she....?

Sunny finished his thoughts with a sigh. "....Okay...." He said.

Aubrey's smile blossomed, and Sunny forgot how to breathe. "Thank you, Sunny." She said,
unaware of his newfound plight. "Come on, let's go grab some of the grocery bags...."

'....And here we are again.' Aubrey thought, staring down her front door. 'God, I hate this
place.'

Even while holding Sunny's hand, the mere thought of entering her house was nauseating.
She never liked the horrendous smell, or the lifeless shell of a mother, or her ratty attic
bedroom. But her meager possessions lied within, and she had to get them back.

Not for the first time, she pondered if she needed them. Sunny's earlier proposition was all
too tempting. She never had to step back into that trash heap again, and she didn't lose much
anyway.

'But I can't afford to lose anything.' She reminded herself. Her household was poor at best.
The thought of replacing things with money was foreign to her. Sure, part-time work was a
blessing to her mind, but it was too fresh. Too early to kick a survival tactic to the curb over.

"....Well, this is it," Aubrey said. "It'll only take a few minutes."

Sunny's thumb rubbed against her knuckle, and she swerved her attention to him. "....Are you
sure you don't want me to come in?" He asked. "I don't mind helping you...."

She thought about that, too. 'Sunny would make things a lot easier,' her logic once argued.
'And consider what happened yesterday....'

But Aubrey tried to keep her gaze straight. "Sunny, I really don't want you to walk in that
mess...."

She spoke of the miniature mountains of trash that littered the floor inside. Aubrey tripped
and even cut herself on them one time too many. It hurt, sure, but the idea of Sunny hurting
himself on one was heart-wrenching.

"....And I don't want you to deal with my mom, either." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I'll be quick, alright? Just sit by the wall over there, and I'll be out before you know it."

He glanced over at the lone window in question. "....Alright...." He muttered. "But if

something happens, I'm coming in."

That filled her with a little too much relief. "That's fair." Aubrey nodded.

Her attention turned back to the door. With everything settled away, her next course of action
was straightforward.

If only she didn't have to let go of his hand to do it.....

"....A-Alright. Take a seat, Sunny." Aubrey forced out. "I'll be right back."

Sunny nodded. He looked at their interlocked hands for a moment, before pulling his away.

The moment he did, Aubrey dashed at the front door and shoulder-checked her way inside.

The smell of a thousand litters invaded her nostrils. She almost lost her breakfast for the
second time that day.

'Oh my god, its gotten worse....!' Aubrey almost wailed, pulling her shirt up to cover the
nose.

The door bounced off one end of its hinges to the other and slammed itself shut. That was all
it took to shock Aubrey back into action.

Her mother's absence was almost unnoticed as she rounded the corner. She kicked a stray can
away before she grasped at a ladder and scrambled up the rungs.

Her 'bedroom', bare and brown, laid before her. Only wooden furniture, a cheap bed, and a
Captain Spaceboy poster dwelled here. Aubrey did too, some days ago. Once, she wished for
a bunny to banish her loneliness.

But now, the attic had little time to greet Aubrey. She pulled out a series of balled grocery
bags.

'Gotta make this quick....' Aubrey slid over to the nightstand and threw its compartment door
open. She ripped piles of rolled-up clothing from their sanctuary. 'Three bags, my bat and the
poster. I can do this.'

One grocery bag became full in seconds. She forced another bag open.

"Come on, come on...." Aubrey whispered. This was taking too long. Sunny was waiting for
her. She didn't want to be in this house. He's going to be lonely....
The demanding thoughts swirled. A phantom gale whistled at Aubrey, and nearly fumbled a
bundle of socks. Her palms were starting to glisten. "No, not now!" She hissed. She scorched
her hands with friction and dark pants.

She soon filled the second bag. 'Just one more.' The third bundle of plastic expanded. Blonde
locks swayed into her vision. Aubrey blew and battered them away. She dug into the
nightstand once more. Only some unmentionables and pajamas left.

"I can do this, I can do this, I can do this...." She repeats.

Five bundles left. Two.....

Aubrey slots the last rolled-up article into the bag. She pumps a fist. 'Finally!' She cheers.
Only the bat and the poster remained, and those were easy. She grabs at six plastic handles,
gripping them and swinging the lot to the side.

Something rips, and forces Aubrey to halt.

She turns her head towards the bags. A shirt rolled onto the floor, its head unraveled.

"No...." Aubrey whispered, horrified. She drops the other bags. A few more shirts drop as she
spots a hole beneath the second. The bag slips from her clammy fingers, and more cloth spills
before her eyes. "No, no, no! Not like this....!"

The invisible wind howls. Aubrey starts to shiver.

'No, deal with it later, get the other stuff!' Her mind rebounds. Aubrey leaps around and dives
towards the bed.

A hand surges underneath the bed. The cold starts to sprout from her chest. Her hand smacks
the floor here and there. "Come on, where did I put it....!?" Specks of frost tingle in her lungs.

Her palm feels a protrusion of wood, and her fingers close upon it. "There you are!" Aubrey
grunts. She rips out a softball bat and tosses it towards the ladder's head. She jumps onto the
bed and reaches for the tacked-up poster.

'Is Sunny still by the window?' Her mind doubts. Aubrey narrows her eyes. She grabs at the
poster's edges and yanks it off the wall. The tacks lunge onto the floor, and Aubrey groans.
"Come on, not again!" She complains and shivers.

Her feet hit the floor. Her knees slide towards the first thumbtack. 'I'm taking too long. Sunny
can get impatient.' She nabs the second tack. 'I'm not fast enough. What if something happens
to him!?' Aubrey grits her teeth. She scrambles on the third--

She yelps. A sharp pain blossoms on her thumb. She drops the tack, and finds a drop of red.

"C-Come on...." Aubrey whines at her bleeding thumb. 'I can't even pick up thumbtacks right.
I'm so useless....' Her mind continues to barrage her. An arctic emptiness courses through her
veins.

This was a mistake. She should've brought Sunny. Aubrey trembled under the cold. She
learned nothing from yesterday. Why was she so stupid? Aubrey's eyes winced themselves
shut. She can't do anything right. She needs him. Aubrey starts to grip her arms. She should
throw herself right out the window, then beg Sunny for--

'--Wait, the window!' Aubrey realizes. She kicks the thumbtacks aside-- 'I don't need them, I
need Sunny--' and she throws the window open. Aubrey scrambles back and scoops up the
clothes.

Seconds later, plastic bags and a litany of shirts flew out of the attic. The Spaceboy poster
soon follows.

'That's it, I'm done, I need to get out.' She bolts to the ladder. The bat goes first, bouncing off
the floor and out of sight. Aubrey's heart hammers against her chest. "I'm coming, Sunny!
Please be there....!" She plants her feet on the rungs.

But her descent is wild. She's skipping one rung too many. Her hands clasp the sides with
false mettle.

She scrambles halfway down before a foot slips.

Her hands can't grip the ladder now. One foot is not enough. Aubrey shrieks as she falls off
the ladder. The ceiling retreats from her world.

A second later, she slams against the hard floor.

"O-Ow...." Aubrey whimpers. Her back throbs in pain, and liquid pricks at the corners of her
eye. 'It hurts....' It's her third error, and the phantom wind rails against her soul. 'Why do I
keep messing everything up....?'

The front door slams open, and Aubrey freezes.

"Aubrey!?" A boy yells out. She can hear their footsteps.

'....Sunny....?' Was he still there? Did he come back for her? Aubrey tries to pull herself up,
propping up by the sides of her arms.

Sunny soon walks around the corner and freezes at the sight of her weak form.

'He's still here!' Aubrey realized. 'He came back for me....!' Warmth surges in her chest,
blasting her doubts into oblivion. A sheepish smile dawns on her face. She tries to greet
Sunny with a chuckle. "H-Hey, Sunny--" She said.

Sunny blinks, before scrambling towards her with a distraught expression. "Aubrey, I heard
you screaming-- What happened!?" He said, his eyes roving with worry.
"I-I just slipped--"

Sunny cuts her off with a gasp. "Why did you fall--" He starts, only to find and seize her
hand. "Why is your thumb bleeding!?"

"S-Sunny, it's alright--" She tries to explain. But his expression falls further, and guilt sprouts
in her stomach.

"It's not alright! You got hurt!"

He scoops her into an embrace, and it feels as warm as ever. But the contrite gleam in his eye
unsettles her. "Sunny, I--"

"This is all my fault!" She can hear him sniffle, and her heart crumbles. "I let you get hurt!
I'm sorry, I should've come in and helped you!"

"N-No, it's my fault!" Aubrey croaks. The tears start to leak out, and she clings to him. "I'm
the one who told you to wait. I should've let you help me!"

At that, the pair wept in earnest. The floor wouldn't handle the water damage well. If
Aubrey's mother was lurking around, they were in danger. But none of this came across
Aubrey's mind. All she could think about was how much she messed up, to Sunny and
herself.

The only mercy they had was a nearby pile falling over, startling the two. Now cognizant of
the trash hole they were in, Aubrey and Sunny shuffled off the floor.

......

Aubrey stared at concrete as they shuffled past the corner.

Their retreat from her house was quick. It would be the last time she ever stepped foot in that
waste. That alone should be cause for celebration.

Sunny, who held her hand as they traversed the sidewalk, carried the majority of their goods.
The shirts were no issue; he only tucked his sweatshirt in, creating makeshift storage. It was
something she always liked about him. That drive to fix a problem, and the witty solutions he
could concoct. Because of his genius, all she needed to carry was the bat.

But her fumbles still burned in her mind. 'It could've been simple, but I made it so much
worse.' Aubrey thought, biting her lip.

She felt Sunny squeeze her hand. "--Huh!?" She said with a jolt. She turned to look at
Sunny's neutral expression. 'Well, he looks better than my feelings, at least...."

"Are you okay, Aubrey?" Sunny asked.

"I...." The guilt flares up again. She averted her eyes. "I don't know." She admits.

Sunny took another step before coming to a halt. Aubrey soon joined his stop, confused.
"Sunny?" She asked.

"....My room is empty," Sunny said. "After we start the laundry, maybe we could do
something about that....?"

Aubrey blinked. "You mean, like....?"

Sunny nodded. "Mom didn't throw much away. We can move them back into the bedroom,
and there's an empty dresser in the Storage Room." He paused. "....I-If you want to, that is."

Aubrey's mind flashed back to the Storage Room. Now that Sunny mentioned it, most of
Mari's old effects were still there. The bed was gone, and that still tickled her the wrong way.
But the rest are waiting for their return. The bedroom itself was waiting for them to come
back.

'And I could make up for how I messed up back there....' She realized. She would have Sunny
this time. She wouldn't have to rush or worry about him....

The thought banished the lingering guilt, and she turned to Sunny with an emerging smile.
"....You know what, Sunny? I'd love to."

Sunny stepped back and surveyed the bedroom.

The walls, once bland, were now adorned with a corkboard and a Spaceboy poster. His gaze
became level, and he gazed over a few more additions: The dusty lamp, standing on top of
the nightstand. The reassembled dresser over his shoulder, and the softball bat propped
against it.

Sunny looked over at the bed and paused. A few seconds later, he looked to his left. "Aubrey,
why are there plushies laying on the bed....?"

Aubrey averted her eyes with a blush. "Well, I found your old plushies. I.... I liked your
collection, and I thought we could cuddle with them...." She said, pushing her index fingers
together." I-Is that a problem....?"

Sunny had meant to re-furnish his room for Aubrey's sake. She looked so down when they
were walking home, and it was the only solution he could think of. But as he lost his breath
for the second time today, Sunny realized something.

He did more than succeed, judging by how relaxed she was. In fact, he also learned that
Aubrey was perfect and could do no wrong.
"N-Not at all!" He squeaked, then covered his face. It was embarrassment on top of awe on
top of more embarrassment. "WecancuddlewiththemrightnowifyoureallywantAubrey!!"

He was soon met with giggles. Sunny dared to crack open an eye and saw her hand clamped
over her mouth.

"D-Did I say something wrong....?" He dared to ask.

"N-No, I just--" She almost bent over, trying to restrain her laughter. "G-Give me a
second...."

A second turned into a minute before she stopped shaking. But that gave Sunny time to level
out his own fluster. He was able to meet the recovering girl without covering his face.

"Alright...." Aubrey dared to say, taking a deep breath. "Sorry about that, I didn't know what
came over me."

"It's fine...." Sunny trailed off. He looked around for something to carry the conversation.

"A-Anyways!" Aubrey said, to his relief. "I don't wanna jump into the plushies now. There's,
uhm, something I wanna talk to you about...."

He looked back at her. If her trailing tone wasn't enough, she was playing with a lock of
blonde hair again. "....Yeah?"

"Well, uhm...." She hesitated. Her free hand stroked at the entangled lock. "You know how
we were carrying things up the stairs, right?"

"Right."

"And you were..... you stayed in your room for two years, right?"

Sunny tilted his head. What was she getting at? "....Yeah....?"

"Well.... How do I put this....?" She bit her lip. "Sunny, I'm.... I'm worried about your
strength."

....Oh. 'Oh no....'

"You were having a lot of trouble when we were carrying things up.... and I had to handle the
dresser's weight...."

His face fell. "I'm sorry-"

"No, it's okay! I-It's fine if you aren't strong!" Aubrey stressed, hands outstretched. "I-I just
think we need to do some exercise. Like, you know, catch up for the last two years....?"
Sunny looked at her. "....Can I, though?"

"Of course you can! You don't even need to lift weights to do it!" She said. But oh, did he
wish he could. Aubrey looked over at her bat. "You could swing the bat, or do some pushups.
Maybe we can run around in the backyard, or even use the stairs a lot!"

Sunny grasped his chin, and his focus went elsewhere. 'That doesn't sound too bad....'

"A-And you can get better from work, too!" Aubrey continued, as she grew stressed. She
grabbed his forearms. "Come on, Sunny, please....!"

His attention snapped back to her. "--Oh. Sorry, I was thinking...." Sunny said. "I mean, work
sounds good....?"

"Thank you." Aubrey sighed in relief, despite Sunny's confusion.

'I was trying to think, right?' He mused.

"We can start with work, yeah. I think we should do more later, though...."

Sunny blinked. "....Why?" He asked. "Can't I just get strong off of work?"

Aubrey gave him a look. "Sunny, that's not how it works. You can't just do the same thing
over and over and expect the same results. I mean, if it did work that way, I'd have tree trunks
for arms by now, right?"

Sunny stared at her arm. Usually, there was a jacket in the way, but Aubrey had recently
taken it off whenever she stepped inside. 'It looks.... kinda thin?' He guessed. He wasn't the
expert on muscles. "....I guess? I'm sorry, it's just new to me...."

"Don't be." Aubrey put a hand on his shoulder. "I want to help you, Sunny. I know you don't
like being in charge, either. So just let me help you along, alright?"

That.... that felt easy. Familiar. Sunny nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

But as Aubrey gave him a small smile, a lightbulb went off in his head. Again, easy and
familiar. 'Couldn't hurt to try....'

He looked Aubrey straight in the eye, and mustered his finest poker face. "Please take
responsibility, Aubrey." Sunny said.

But Aubrey tilted her head. "....Huh?" She asked.

'....Oh.' Wow, that backfired. "....Don't worry about it." Sunny shook his head. "What do I
need to do, then? For getting strong?"

A few seconds later, Aubrey shook off her confusion "Well...." Aubrey gave him a small grin.
"Why don't we head out and start with some--"
Thunder cracked in the distance, and they jumped.

"....Work...." She finished. Water started to fall outside the window, and she sighed. "Guess
not."

The drizzle soon became a raging downpour. "....So...." Sunny began. "....I guess there's the
textbooks....?"

Aubrey looked a bit sour at that, but she took a deep breath. "....That works too.... Ugh, stupid
weather...."

Some minutes later, and an assortment of textbooks laid upon the dining room table. Aubrey
had a pensive look on her face, and it gave Sunny an underflow of discomfort. 'Does she hate
doing schoolwork....?' He wondered.

"Alright, so the books are out...." Aubrey said. She bit her lip. "....Do you remember where
you left off, Sunny?"

"Huh? Oh, uh...." He reached out for the nearest textbook. Something about Language Arts,
judging by the cover. 'And Mari always went for the toughest courses, too....' He realized, as
Aubrey's eyes bulged at the page he turned to.

"S-Sunny, what kind of alien language is this!?" She sputtered. Her eyes flickered through the
text, completely lost.

"It's where I.... Last left off....?" He winced as her irises began to glaze over. "Uhm, do you
want to start from the beginning....?"

"Please." She begged, hands massaging her forehead. "I'm sorry, Sunny, I just don't know this
stuff...."

"It's okay!" He started flipping pages. "I'm more than happy to help you catch up....!"

Aubrey didn't look too relieved, though. "Yeah, and you get nowhere while I struggle...." she
groaned.

"Aubrey, please, it's fine! I want you to catch up first!" Sunny stressed. But his attention was
starting to shift over to the pages. 'The first chapter should be soon....'

"....sorry, it's just.... How do you manage this stuff?" Aubrey gestured at the flipping pages.
"How does this make any sense to you!?"

What, right now? "Because you're here with me," Sunny said, distracted. He soon stopped
flipping the pages, landing right on chapter one. 'Unless she meant....' Sunny blinked, before
growing red. "W-Wait, I mean....!"

He turned to Aubrey, only to find her overheated and ready to melt. "That's-- Uhm...." She
fiddled her fingers into a mess. She locked her gaze onto the far wall. "I.... I'm...."

Her eyes winced shut, and her mouth squiggled. A brief squeal spilled from her lips, and
steam gushed from her ears. Sunny slumped into his seat, redder than tomatoes. He let the
embarrassment run rampant on the inside, too.

It would take a few hours before they made any real progress.

Pale light illuminated the gravel and set the stage for a chorus of clicking heels.

She wasted no time crossing the parking lot, taking strides full of power and purpose. Few
cars could dare to obstruct her, and she knew the stray hoodlum on the sidewalk was looking
away. Even in business attire, she always made an unforgettable impression.

She soon approached her van. She didn't care about the color, instead digging a set of keys
out of her purse. One of them, engraved with 'WANDA', was thrust and turned, and the door
yielded to her entry.

The door clicked shut and she brushed a few strands of straight, brown locks from her face.
She missed the curls, but she lost the time for them long ago.

She stared out into the distance and took a deep breath.

"FINALLY!" Wanda shouted in triumph, pumping a fist. Five days of work hell, gone and
done with! "Screw you and your weasel ways, Jerry, I've got a vacation with my name on it!"

The car roared to life, and Wanda indulged herself with a laugh. She had a lot more to say
about her boss and his generosity with work. Oh yes, he was so eager to 'help her paycheck'
when she was a single mother, after all. But why should she dwell on it? He couldn't dare
mess with her hours for the next two weeks, and she had a home to go back to. 'Once I get
groceries, of course. That ass better hope that my boy didn't get ravenous....'

Wanda leaned back into the driver's seat, closing her eyes and imagining what she could do--

A few minutes later, she lurched forward with a gasp. Reality came crashing in soon after.

"Nevermind...." She sighed. Taking action was all well and good, but she couldn't afford to
nod off at the wheel.

She turned the car off, sheathing the keys and slithering into the back seat. It wasn't a
luxurious way to rest. She knew that, even as she pulled a blanket and pillow from
underneath the back seats. But it was the cheapest way, and that's what she needed right now.
 She took a deep breath as she laid down, and the blanket cloaked her. Her eyes closed, and
the fatigue settled in. "Don't worry, Sunny." She muttered. "Mommy's coming home."

Chapter End Notes

oh look, the plot's coming back! (and the romantic development is nice too)

you may have noticed a new number up on the chapter count. now that i've refined my
outline/chapter plan enough, i have a good idea on how many chapters this story will
last. i may lower this number in the future, but i can at least guarantee that this story will
be concluded within 40 chapters.

(now lets see if i can reach that point within a year :v)

as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Behind Every Son
Chapter Summary

....A mother stands.

Though a bit peculiar, she means well.
But will that show for the clingy pair....?

Chapter Notes

and here we have the record holder for "chapter that's given me the most trouble to
write." a merciless case of bronchitis didn't help matters either.

either way, the chapter's finally here.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Two days without a bath took its toll upon them. As much as they hoped otherwise, the
human body could not go without cleaning. With all the exertions they made, their morning
odors were inevitable.

In the end, they had little choice but to take care of their hygiene.

Aubrey still wished they hadn't, even as she fought to scrub herself as fast as possible. She
didn't even care about how much water spilled onto the floor from her rush. She only saw
how much effort she needed to get every spot.

"I swear to god, I could wash off faster with a hose." She growled, almost slamming the
sponge onto its nest. Ever since she reunited with Sunny, her bathing was prompt at best. But
her recent episodes eroded what little patience she had in the bathroom. It didn't help that the
fearsome cold seemed to lurk below the tub. No matter how hot the water was, it always
lingered out of sight, and in the back of her mind.
A knock on the door made the girl jolt. "....Aubrey?" Sunny's voice echoed. "Are you okay in
there....?"

Aubrey felt a blossom of warmth. "Yeah, I'm okay!" She said. "I won't take too much
longer!"

"....You don't have to rush. Just do it safely, please...."

She drew a sharp breath. 'Even when I'm taking too long, he still cares more about my
safety....' She thought with a blush. Yesterday's disaster should've drilled it in. Sunny's
concern was right in her face back then, after all. Yet, there was something more.... touching,
about this gentle worry. Something that made Aubrey consider his words with care.

But that didn't mean she was going to slow down. In fact, she only felt a stronger resolve to
wrap up her bath.

She picked up the sponge again. She only had a few more spots to go....

......

"Alright, I'm done!" Aubrey said with a small smile, as she stepped out of the bathroom.

A lack of response made her falter, and she scanned the second floor.

She soon found Sunny sitting against the adjacent wall, straining his eyes on some kind of
book. She wasn't sure what to make of it: On one hand, she felt giddy at the thought of Sunny
waiting for her by the bathroom door.

But what was so entrancing about that book? Curious, she leaned down and tapped his
shoulder. "Hey, Sunny." She said.
Sunny jumped a foot, and the book triple-flipped into a faceplant. "A-Aubrey!" Sunny
shrieked, before trying (and failing) to glare her down. "Don't scare me like that!"

Aubrey couldn't help her snickers. "Sorry! You were so entranced in that book...." She looked
over at the facedown tome. "What's it about, anyway?"

"O-Oh. That?" Sunny grabbed the book and placed it in his lap. "It's just my sketchbook. I
was looking through my old work...."

Aubrey glanced at the pages and gasped. Colorful pictures greeted her, a vivid forest yielding
a path that split a sea of flowers. A giant shoe with a door oversaw the Gladioli, the White
Tulips, and the other flowers. The garden expanse swayed to an invisible breeze.

"Wow...." She breathed. "Sunny, this is amazing!"

She looked up at Sunny, just in time to catch his eyes widen and focus on the far wall. "I-It's
not that great...." He mumbled, straightening his collar.

"It really is! I mean, I bet you filled the whole book with great stuff!"

Sunny's ears went red in an instant, and his face was on track to become one big blush. "Well,
I.... If you like it...."

"I do, I do!" She cheered. "In fact, could you let look through it!?"

The boy looked flushed and lost at Aubrey's enthusiasm. But it wasn't long before he inched
the book towards the girl. "A-Alright.... But--"
Aubrey grasped the book and brought it before her, cutting him off with a "Thank you!" She
pinched the page to her right and flipped to the next set. Her eyes sparkled at the fleet of
bunnies she saw. "Sunny, that's so cute!!" She said.

"Y-Yeah, uhm...."

She flipped the page again and snickered. "That's what you deserve, Kel." Flip. "Woah, that's
so cool!" Flip. "Ohmigosh, the poor bunny....!"

Flip. Sunny's work kept getting better and better. Flip. She really liked what he did. Flip.
Really, really liked it. Flip. Maybe someday, he could draw her....

A grand portrait hanged upon the living room wall, depicting an urban princess. The greatest
minds flew in to see its majesty. Some of them even questioned the artist, asking for their own
depictions.

But the dark-haired artist shook his head. "Sorry, but there's only one person I could ever
sketch...."

Aubrey's eyes sparkled as a manic smile overtook her. Before she knew it, her blonde bangs
were fluttering. Her rapid page-flipping, a result of her wild fantasy, was the culprit.

"A-Aubrey, wait!" Sunny cried, and his hand fell upon her wrist.

Right as the pages revealed a dark phantom and its cyclopic glare.

Aubrey shrieked. The sketchbook fell upon the ground, but SOMETHING did not yield.
Even as a drawing, that bulging eye stared into her soul.

"....Oh no...." Sunny muttered.

"S-Sunny, what is that!?" Aubrey said, pointing at the demonic depiction.

"It's what I was trying to stop you from seeing...." He leaned down and flipped the
sketchbook shut.

Aubrey sighed in relief, despite her wishes. "That doesn't answer my question, Sunny.
What.... Why would you even draw that!?"

Sunny avoided her gaze as he stood up, his fingers tapping upon the sketchbook's cover.

"Sunny...."

"....It's Mari."

Aubrey froze. "....What?"

The boy seemed to marvel the pattern of the wooden flooring. "Do you remember what I
said, back at Mari's grave? About what happened after Mari didn't wake up....?"

Aubrey felt a twist in her gut. "....Something like that, yeah...."

Sunny gulped. "When.... When Basil hung Mari, I didn't see it until after we were in the
living room." He started to tremble. "B-But when I looked back...." The sketchbook slipped
from his shaky hands. "I saw her, and.... And her eye. Her eye--"

Aubrey stepped forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, Sunny, you don't
have to say it. I can get what you're--"
He cut her off with a choked whine. His eyes were wide as saucers, focused elsewhere. His
breathing went wild. "That eye was glaring back. I kept seeing it no matter what I did, and
that, that monster just followed me everywhere--"

"SUNNY, STOP!" Aubrey yelled, violently shaking him.

Sunny jolted, and she took the opportunity to draw him into an embrace. "Stop, please. I-I get
it, you don't have to keep scaring yourself!"

She felt his head fall into her shoulder. "M'sorry...." He said, muffled by her blue shirt.

"It's okay, Sunny...." Aubrey whispered. She started to rub gentle circles into his back. "W-
We're past all of that. You don't need to worry anymore...."

She tried her best to reassurance the shaking Sunny. But even as her efforts began to pay off,
his revelation still echoed in her mind.

'Why did he have to suffer like this?' She thought. 'That accident was bad enough, but then
he's haunted by that?'

She ran his words through her head. It all began after the accident when Basil hung Mari....

....When Basil.....

'....It's because of Basil.' She realized. 'If he didn't hang her, he would've never suffered like
this.'

Something boiled in her gut. Her veins coursed with a growing fire. 'Basil....' She narrowed
her eyes. Her teeth started to gnash. 'Basil, this is all your fault!' Her grip tightened, and
steam threatened to pour out of her teeth--
A pained whine from Sunny pierced through the red veil, and Aubrey's eyes widened.

"Too tight...." Sunny whimpered.

She detached from him in an instant. "Oh god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to....!"

"I-It's fine...." He claimed. "Was something bothering you?"

"Just how I left you to that.... that monster." 'Both of them.'

"It's not your fault. I...." Sunny sighed. "We gotta earn some money, right?"

She didn't need to see his pleading look twice. "Yeah. Let's get some breakfast first, though."
She reached out and clasped his hand with great care.

The way he squeezed her hand back set off a surge of relief through her veins. She let herself
get caught up in it for a moment, then started to lead the both of them down the stairs. This,
at least, was peaceful.

'At least we won't have any other problems today, right?'

"In other news, the Tree Bandit was recently spotted in Faraway." The radio blared,
prompting a snort from the driver. "Authorities caution locals to keep a safe distance from
large trees, and to report any--"

Click.
"Tree Bandit. Really?" Wanda said. The radio had no response. "Didn't realize that comedy
hour started so soon...."

The mother shook her head, before spinning the steering wheel to the left. The fleet of
backseat grocery bags rattled with the car's turn

The Faraway neighborhoods came into sight. "Home sweet home." Wanda muttered. Two
more turns and she'd be inside her garage and ready to greet her son with another long-shot
yell.

But the thought made the woman bite her lip through the last stretch of her drive. 'It's alright.
He's still recovering, I just need to take it slowly....'

She soon parked into her garage and turned the ignition off. The car went inert, and Wanda's
face fell upon the steering wheel. "If I don't ruin it again, that is...." She sighed.

She wasn't the cutesy sort, nor the submissive. For all of her (former) family core, she was
the one on top. The one who wouldn't back down when challenged. But for all she loved her
children, Sunny didn't mesh well with her personality. That led to the boy seeing Mari as a
surrogate guardian. At the time, she thought that was fair. The mother would only last so long
on this earth after all. Not to mention that the firstborn was more than willing to
accommodate for Sunny.

Then Mari died, and the mother was Sunny's only remaining family. His absolute withdrawal
from the world weighed heavy on Wanda's mind. Sunny was stagnating, and the work hours
she took on ate at her ability to aid him. Left with no other good option, she once tried
something desperate. She tried to force her son out of the house, and to friends that could
help him recover in the mother's absence.

The image of Sunny curled in a corner, weeping at the terror he perceived her as, came to
Wanda's mind. Even now, guilt slammed her at the memory's mention.
Wanda pulled herself off the steering wheel, only to smack her forehead back down. "What I
wouldn't give to take that back...." She muttered.

She got 'better', of course-- took on an overly sweet facade towards the boy. It felt fake, but it
seemed to work. Even if it only convinced Sunny to take care of himself and do chores.

Oh, but it got him to study, too....'Thank god we didn't throw away Mari's textbooks. I
would've went broke trying to get a tutor.'

But it wasn't enough. He still shut himself away. The world was crawling ahead. For all of his
hidden wit, Sunny was falling behind and wasting his teenage years. At this rate, he'd be a
shut-in until the day she died. And after that....?

Wanda shuddered.

That's why she took this vacation. Despite all the money she could make cashing those hours
in, she had to take another shot at getting him out. She planned on it for weeks, brainstorming
a few ways to convince Sunny to step outside.

"It's going to work." She told herself, putting her keys into her purse. "Something's gonna get
through to him. He'll get better." She started grabbing at the grocery bags.

She didn't want to think about what would happen if she failed again. She didn't have the
heart to imagine it.

......

Wanda closed the front door behind her. As part of her entry ritual, she looked over at the far
wall. Her eyes fell upon the family portrait, and she flipped a choice finger at a certain absent
member. "Up yours as always, dear." Wanda drawled.
'That coward of an ex-husband better be lying in a ditch.' She groused. 'Who cares if its been
two years, he should've never ran from this household.'

Wanda shook her head and made strides towards the kitchen. The grocery bags weighed
heavy on her arms, after all. It was only a few moments later when she crossed over from the
living room. A few more, and she laid the fleet of goods upon the countertop.

'Cold goods first.' She sidestepped over and threw the fridge door open.

She glanced inside and paused.

"Milk, eggs, ham, bacon, cheese...." The mother recited, confused. "The fridge is halfway
filled." She slowly closed the door. "How is it halfway filled....?"

A wild guess came to the fore, and she opened the freezer door. A few frozen meals greeted
her. She slammed the freezer shut and dashed for the cabinets.

She shouldn't find bread in her cabinets. Or soup cans, or bean cans, or a box of Space
Crunchies for that matter. 'How the hell are there so many goods in here!? I don't remember
bringing this much home last time!'

The mother closed the last cabinet door and look towards the living room. No one had the
key to the house but her, and Sunny never opened the door while she was--

Wanda paused, then cupped her hands around her mouth. "Sunny?" She called out, but the
house did not respond. She kicked off her heels, and stepped out of the kitchen.

"Sunny!" Wanda yelled again, from the foot of the stairs. Again, nothing but silence. 'I know
he's a quiet boy, but Sunny would respond by now....' She thought, jogging up the staircase.
"Sunny!?" No response. A confusing sensation flickers within. Was this a sign of hope, or did
something happen to her son? She closes the distance between her and the door. Her first
instinct is to kick the door open. 'No, I made that mistake once already.' If Sunny was asleep
in there, she needed to act 'natural'.

She lightly knocked on the door. "....Sunny?" She cooed, trying not to cringe too hard at her
sugar-dunked tone.

But there was no response.

Wanda gulped, steeled herself and slowly opened the door. "Sunny, sweety? Mommy's--"

She froze, the door only halfway retracted.

Ever since that terrible day, the children's room became Sunny's room, and it decayed. Not in
the literal sense; even at her worst, Wanda would never let the house start to fall apart. But
she had to take some furniture out, and her son's plushies soon joined them in the storage
room.

But then she opened the door, and they were back in place. Sure, the bed wasn't there-- she
had to sell it long ago-- and the desk's phone was now absent. But the corkboard, the lamp,
the plushies.... It was all there, right where they used to be.

'But why is my old dresser here?' She rose an eyebrow. 'Why is there a bat next to it? And I
don't remember Sunny owning that poster....?'

There's no way Sunny could've brought her old dresser up the stairs. Not after he shut himself
in. He would've needed help, which meant....

"....He went outside." Wanda whispered.

She stepped back, mystified. It sounded too good to be true. After two years, how did he get
up and break his depression?

But it was the only answer that made sense. It was the only way to explain the dresser in his
room. It would also explain the new groceries. The new bat. The new poster....

....Wait.

'....Sunny went outside....' A lightbulb went off in her head. 'Sunny's not wasting away inside.'
Excitement bubbled up as Wanda shook, her lips curving into a big smile. "Sunny's out of his
room. He's out of his funk!"

She threw her fists to the ceiling. "HE GOT BETTER!!!" Wanda roared, her triumphant
chords shaking the house to its foundation.

She paused, looking around before lowering her arms with a sheepish chuckle. "W-Wow, I
got carried away there...." The happiness continued to surge through her, and prompted a
shrug. "But who cares!?"

Wanda whooped as she whipped around. She made record pace on her descent down the
stairs. She soared into the living room and landed into a smooth knee-slide before a corner
table. 'Oh hey, I never used that strawberry-scented candle!' She realized for a single second,
before forgetting all about it.

Who could blame her, anyway? The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, she felt fit to
beat up the town and then steamroll the nearby city too. Today was a wonderful day, and she
had to get her heels back on so she can find her son and celebrate it!

The front door creaked open as Wanda got to her feet. She didn't need to see much to
recognize that tuft of raven-haired bedhead. "Sunny!" Wanda cried, dashing towards the
unsuspecting teen.
The poor boy never had the chance to react. His mother swept him off the floor and into her
twirling embrace before he could blink.

"Sunny, you got out of the house!" She wasn't even thinking about her sugary facade, nor her
current lack thereof. "You got better! Oh, I'm so proud and happy for you!!"

"M-Mom, please...." Sunny whimpered.

"It's alright, I--" Wanda started, her twirling coming to an end.

Dark eyes stared at her, framed by blonde locks and holding a pizza box.

Wanda stared back.

Sunny struggled in her tight grip.

"....Sunny, who is this?" Wanda asked. 'She looks like a troublemaker....'

"T-That's Aubrey...." The boy wheezed, and the girl blinked to life.

"H-Hi, Sunny's Mom...." Aubrey said, trying (and failing) to keep her composure.

Wanda blinked. "Aubrey?" She sounded like the girl that Wanda remembered. Puberty hadn't
gotten that far, it seems. "Wow, you've grown some." She said, before letting go of her son
and stepping to the side. "Here, why don't you come on in? I'm just about to put away the
groceries...."
As it turned out, the kids were all too eager to help.

"You didn't have to." Wanda insisted, closing the cabinet door. Her son's recent development
put a pep in her step and powered her to complete her 'side' of groceries already. It was a step
up from before, where she packed groceries in a rush to get to bed.

But Aubrey and Sunny were no slouches either, and the girl closed the fridge soon after. "It's
no trouble!" Aubrey said. "We're more than happy to help, ma'am....!"

"Please, call me Wanda." The mother waved her down with a knowing smile. "Ma'am makes
me feel old."

"O-Oh. Uhm, thank you, Wanda!" Aubrey giggled. Wanda raised an eyebrow, and sweat
began to run down the girl's forehead.

But Sunny stepped up to Aubrey's side and tapped her shoulder. Blonde hair twisted as she
jumped, only for the boy to clasp at her hand.

'....Oh?' Wanda thought, a small smile brewing. Aubrey wasn't shying away from his touch.
In fact, she clutched back and placed herself at his side. 'Did they pick up on more than just
their friendship....?' The thought tickled the mother's mind and gave her a few ideas. Oh, she
had to see where this went.

"Well, why don't we take a seat and catch up?" Wanda offered. "It's been years since I've last
seen you, after all."

Aubrey's eyes went wide, before she found something interesting on the west wall. "Well, I
don't want to, uhm, intrude...." She said.

Wanda wasn't sure what the girl was referring to, but she took no time to cross the distance. "I
insist." She nudged the jumpy blonde towards the dining room.
A few minutes later, and the mother sat across from a nervous Aubrey. The poor girl's posture
was ramrod straight and her eyes bore holes into the table. Wanda wasn't quite sure why,
though. She knew the score; what kind of teenager wanted to meet their partner's parents?
Still, she couldn't recall being a complete stranger to the girl, and she wasn't a poor host
either.

At least Sunny sat next to her with his hand rubbing gentle circles into her back. 'Now that I
think about it, they've stuck to each other like glue ever since they came in.' Wanda thought.
She knows how clingy Sunny could get; the boy lived off of physical contact with Mari. But
this felt different; Sunny seemed more balanced. He sought Aubrey's touch but also provided
an anchor for the girl.

It was all so curious, but the mother had to temper her thoughts. 'I'd be surprised if they
weren't dating, though....'

The collective silence was, to Wanda's surprise, broken by Sunny clearing his throat.
"....Mom, there's something I need to tell you." He said.

Aubrey looked over at Sunny in surprise, and the mother found herself intrigued. "Yes,
sweetie?" Wanda said. The duo winced at the mother's sugary tone. '....Yeesh, I need to stop
doing that.'

"It's about Mari...." Sunny began, before Aubrey gasped and yanked at the boy's sleeve.

'....Oh.' Wanda realized. She knew what he was talking about. It was something she needed to
discuss with Sunny anyways. His isolation put the matter on the backburner, but now that he
seemed to recover from that....

Wanda took a deep breath, even as Aubrey whispered something to her son.

"But she needs to know!" Sunny whispered back, and the mother heard it this time.
"Sunny, it's a really bad idea!" Aubrey stressed. "You have no idea how she's going to react.
She's gonna kick you to the curb!"

"But Mari was her daughter! She still deserves to know that--"

"That my daughter didn't kill herself?" Wanda interjected. The teenagers jumped in their
seats, and the mother shook her head with a chuckle. "I can hear both of you, believe it or
not...." She sighed. "But yes. I know."

Aubrey drew a sharp breath, glancing between Sunny and the living room doorway. She
looked ready to grab her son and bolt, while Sunny was trying to keep still. Wanda could still
see the twitching of his index finger, though.

"It wasn't that hard to figure out." People who hung themselves don't have bruises suggesting
a tumble, after all. "Not that he ever did, though...." Wanda muttered. That coward of a man
chopped the tree down and ran for the hills. Meanwhile, the police saw their evidence trail go
stone cold. There was only so much they could do with a catatonic 'suspect', and the cops had
no reason to implicate them.

Aubrey blinked. "....Wait, do you mean Sunny's--"

Wanda slapped her hand on the table. "This is a deadbeat-free zone." The mother said,
forcing a smile. "So let's not bring him up, okay dear?"

"L-Loud and clear!" Aubrey yelped.

"Just.... tell me one thing, Sunny." She turned her attention from Aubrey, and looked straight
into Sunny's eyes. "Did you hang your sister?"

Sunny shook his head. "N-No, Mom." He said, as fast as he could.

"Oh thank god." Wanda sighed in relief.

Sunny tilted his head, confused. "....You aren't mad at me....?"

"Sweet--" Wanda shook her head. "Sunny, I've had two years to think things over. I don't
know who hung Mari from her favorite tree--"

"Basil did." Aubrey piped up.

Sunny whirled towards her. "Aubrey!" He said.

"What? He did."

Wanda shook and made her hands into fists, before sighing. "....Their identity aside," She
said, cutting off the debate. "You're still my son, Sunny. I'm not going to hate nor abandon
you. If nothing else, you can count on that."

Sunny looked at a loss for words. Aubrey grew a small smile upon her features.

"But more importantly," Wanda looked towards Aubrey. Her attention made the girl freeze.
"How did you come back around? How did you get him out of the house....?"

"W-Well...." Aubrey shuffled in her seat, before glancing over at Sunny.

"I, uh, came to terms with everything myself," Sunny said. "I woke up and went to visit
Mari's grave...."
"....And I saw him during the sermon, and joined him...." Aubrey followed. "A-And we
talked, and...."

"....We stuck together ever since." Sunny finished.

"....Huh." Wanda mused. "So, Sunny got on his own, and then you two had a reunion at the
graveyard?"

The pair looked at each other, before nodding. "....Is that a problem....?" Sunny asked.

'No, but it's a letdown.' Wanda thought. She hoped that Aubrey did something drastic.
Something like sneaking into Sunny's bedroom or breaking down the front door. Or that
Sunny saw her from the window and got her attention. 'Or maybe I need to stop watching
those movies during my lunch breaks....'

Wanda shook her head. No matter what she thought, the kids were sticking together. She
hoped it was romantic; her son needed a girl in his life. "Not at all." Wanda said. "Aubrey, I
know Sunny can be a handful sometimes--"

"Mooom." Sunny whined.

"....But thank you for looking after him."

"Uhm...." Aubrey began to marvel at a potted plant. "I-I think he looks after me more...."

Sunny's arm shifted towards hers. Aubrey looked at him with a start, before giving him a
small smile. 'Oh, they have to be dating.' Wanda thought with a grin.

"Either way," Wanda spoke up. "You're always welcome here, Aubrey. I'm not sure what your
family is up to, but...."
She trailed off as she noticed the teenagers glancing at each other. "....Er, about that...." Sunny
said.

'Oh boy, what now?' Wanda raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Sunny?"

"Well...." Sunny cleared his throat. "I, uh, already let her stay with me....?"

Wanda went still, staring at the pair. '....I was afraid this was going to happen.' In hindsight,
the unfamiliar effects in Sunny's room were a dead giveaway. She should've realized he was
having company over. But the mother was a little too excited over her son's 'recovery'.

Aubrey started to look uncomfortable. Sunny's confidence seemed to waver. "Mom....?"

She finally leaned back with a sigh. "....Sunny, you know we can't do that."

His jaw dropped. "What!? But--"

"You know how tight money is right now, Sunny." Wanda held her hands out in a 'what can i
do' gesture. "I can't keep everything above-board and feed two teenagers!"

"B-But we're making money ourselves!" Aubrey cried out, with desperation in her expression
and tone. "We can keep the fridge full, you already saw the food in there!"

"And what about clothes, or school?" Wanda pointed out. "Textbooks are expensive, Sunny."

"But I don't even go--"

Wanda's eyes went wide. "Oh my god, you dropped out!?"

Aubrey winced. "No, I...."

"She's learning with me!" Sunny cried out. "We can both use Mari's textbooks, the school
wasn't helping her anyways....!"

Wanda had no idea how Aubrey reacted since her face fell into her hands. "Sunny, it's still not
that simple. Aubrey has her own family!" Wanda said.

She looked up and saw Aubrey's face start to pale. "T-They won't mind!" Sunny argued.

"You don't know that, Sunny." Wanda snapped. "There are laws about this sort of thing!"

"B-But....." Aubrey stuttered and trembled.

Sunny started to rattle.

"Look, it's not the end of the world. Aubrey can come over whenever she wants, but we can't
just say she's moving in with us."

"I can't!" Aubrey shook her head. She looked fit to cry. "I don't want to go back there....!"

Sunny bowed his head, his teeth gritted.

"And why not?" Wanda pressed.

But the girl seemed reluctant to share, even if it was upsetting her.

"Aubrey, if you can't tell me what it is--"

Sunny shot up out of his seat. "Because her mother's a deadbeat!" He roared.

The mother immediately turned to face the boy. His eyes were bulging, with irritated shocks
of air slipping through his feral snarl. Aubrey looked shocked at Sunny's outburst, if not
horrified.

"....She's what?" Wanda asked.

"Aubrey's parents don't care about her." Sunny growled. "Her dad left years ago, and her
mother doesn't even acknowledge her." His hands curled into fists. "Her house is a gigantic
garbage dump, and just opening the door makes you want to vomit. She's stuck in an attic
with an unstable ladder." He raised his fists and slammed them upon the table. "She's
completely neglected, Mom! That's why she needs to live with us, because her mother will
leave her to ROT!!"

Wanda looks over at the girl in question. "Is this true, Aubrey?"

"It's...." Aubrey started. Her eyes darted around, trying and failing to find an explanation
before she slumped in her seat. "....Yes...."

Wanda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Sunny sounds honest, and I know Aubrey's
never had the best life.... but I know my boy can put Mari's pranks to shame, and she could be
in a rebellious phase....' Wanda contemplated.

Still, there was no faking the kind of distress that the girl showed her....
The mother exhaled. "You two stay here." She decided, standing up. "I'll pay her mother a
visit."

"Mom--" Sunny began, only for Wanda to hold her hand up.

"I will have a look for myself." She stressed. "We'll talk when I get back."

"Aubrey, I'm so sorry--" Sunny said.

"It's okay." Aubrey said. "I just.... I wish you could've let me say it...."

Ever since his mom left for Aubrey's house, Sunny had relocated to the living room with
Aubrey. The TV laid inert. He was more concerned about Aubrey's anxious wait than any
notion of entertainment.

"I know, I'm sorry...." Sunny took a seat on the couch, next to Aubrey. "....But I didn't want
her to push you out, and she was going so fast...."

"Mmm...." Aubrey hummed, as she started to lean towards him. She stared at the coffee table,
eyes lost and burdened.

"....Well, Mom won't kick you out now." Sunny tried to assure her. "She's..... I know she can
be scary, but she's not unreasonable."

But Aubrey shook her head. "I know, but it's not her I'm worried about...."

"Then who....?" Sunny asked.

Aubrey closed her eyes. "Your mom's okay, but what about mine....?"

"But she doesn't care, right? You said before that she doesn't even acknowledge you
sometimes...."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean she won't try to keep me around...." Aubrey looked over at
Sunny. "That's the reason why dad left without me, after all."

For Sunny, the thought of Aubrey's father taking her out of Faraway was not a comforting
one. It took considerable effort to shake the fear off. "She can't take you away. I won't let her-
-"

"And if she calls the cops?" Aubrey tightened her fists with a sniffle. "I don't want to go back,
but I don't want to get you and your mom in trouble either!" She winced her eyes shut. "I
don't know what to do, Sunny. I-I can't think of a way out, and I'm scared my mom won't
leave me be!"

That sent Sunny into the start of a panicked rush. "T-Then you can hide from her!" He
offered. "She doesn't know about the lake, right? Or the treehouse!?"

"B-But then I'll be alone!"

"I won't leave you alone! I'll visit you, we can still do work....!"

Aubrey stopped, and stared at Sunny. "Really....?"

"Y-Yeah!" He nodded at such a frantic pace. "I'll sneak out whenever I get the chance! I'll
bring over stuff for sleepovers! I-I'll even run away with you!"
Aubrey looked at her lap with a light scorch on her cheeks. "Y-You don't have to go that
far...."

"But I want to!" Sunny grabbed her hand. "We just got this far. I don't want to let your mom
ruin that!"

"M-Me neither...." Aubrey gripped his hand back. "Thank you, Sunny. But can we, uhm, talk
about something else....?"

He nodded. "A-Anything you want...."

It wasn't ideal, even as Aubrey started to talk about how she wanted to get a pet bunny. But if
Sunny was being honest, he didn't like dwelling on the what-ifs either.

He would have to hope that his mom pulled through.

......

One knock on the door was all it took to give Wanda a glimpse of a house-sized dumpster.

The smell hit her nostrils a second later, and Sunny's mother doubled over to the side.

'Holy shit, he wasn't kidding!' Wanda realized, barely able to keep her breakfast from hitting
the cracking pavement. For all the faith she had in her son, Wanda expected his words to be
an exaggeration. She expected to find something tame. An overfilled trash can, or Aubrey's
mother had to make do with makeshift repairs. She didn't expect a broken door, or to see (and
smell) a big dump that reality shows would beg to film!

Still, she gathered her strength and took a deep breath. Affirmed, she crossed the threshold
and took a look at the inside. What were two or three piles of garbage became many. The
kitchen was halfway covered with refuse, and cracks were starting to form in the walls.
Wanda swore that she found patches of mold here and there. Fleas orbited the trash heaps and
composed the most irritating backdrop of hums known to man.

In the middle of it all, a brunette woman sat on the living room couch. Sunny's mother didn't
need to stare to see the grease coloring the occupant's hair, or the small stains on her gown.
Their focus was on the television, tuned to some soap opera or whatever. Wanda was too
flabbergasted to care for the content (and she had enough drama in her life already, thank
you).

What she did care about was Aubrey's mother sitting in a house full of trash. Was she
completely unaware of her surroundings? How could she, in this inhuman dump?

"....Clementine?" Wanda asked.

Aubrey's mother was silent. The TV popped off a cheesy line. If Wanda was desperate
enough, she could interpret it as a half-assed greeting.

"Clementine, it's me. Wanda!" She said.

There was no response.

"Girl, I just walked into your home without an invitation. Did you not notice that?"

No response.

"Clementine!" Wanda raised her voice.

Clementine grabbed a near-empty beer bottle off the coffee table.

"Oh my god....." Wanda sighed. "Sorry, girl, but I didn't come here to get ignored."

Sunny's mother stepped around, carefully lifting her feet over an obstructing trash pile. Soon,
she stepped between the occupant and the wailing TV. "Clementine, I'm trying to talk to you
here!" Wanda stressed.

Aubrey's mother finally focused her gaze on Wanda, but quickly narrowed their eyes. "--The
fuck're you?" Clementine asked, their voice raspy.

Wanda almost reeled back. "Are you serious!?" She asked. She put up this much effort to get
a conversation going, and she already takes a verbal gut punch? "It's me, Wanda! Your
friend? We used to hang out a few years ago!?"

Some girl on the TV cut in with a dramatic gasp, and Clementine tried to look past her with a
frown. "Move." She demanded, and Sunny's mother took a sharp breath.

"--Clementine, what the hell is going on!?" Wanda threw her arms out. "I'm trying to talk to
you, and you're just blowing me off!"

"I'm tryna watch my show." Aubrey's mother growled.

"I'm trying to figure out what happened to this house!" Wanda fired back. "You're living in a
junkyard, girl! You have a daughter, for pete's sake!"

Clementine paused. For a moment, Wanda dared to hope that she was getting somewhere.

Then the couch-dweller cupped their hands and yelled, "AUBREY, GET DOWN HERE
AND GET ME ANOTHER BEER!!"

Wanda's jaw dropped. "Wha-- she's not even here!" She cried out.
"She better be--"

"In this mess!?"

"If she don't like it, she can clean it up herself."

Wanda thought she heard a record scratch. Her eyes narrowed, even as a shriek echoed from
the TV. "--Clementine, what the actual fuck is wrong with you? How did you get this bad!?
You were never like this!"

"I don't give a damn, now stop blocking the TV!"

A thought occurred to Wanda. A juvenile thought, but she felt a little desperate for solutions.
"--You know what?" She said, before backing up and turning to the TV. "Sorry, girl, but you
need an intervention."

Click.

The TV fell silent, and Wanda sighed. "Now, let me just sit down, and we can--" She started,
as she turned back to Aubrey's mother.

A glass bottle grazed her hair as it flew straight into the wall behind her.

Wanda stood there, stunned and wide-eyed as she heard glass shatter and fall to the floor.

"Turn it back on!" Clementine snapped, scowling.

Wanda felt something boil in her stomach. The piss-poor surroundings faded out, and her
focus fell squarely on Aubrey's mother. Her right hand began to ball up and tighten. Her eyes
sharpened, and she bared her teeth in a snarl.

"....Oh hell no." Wanda growled.

......

Sunny (and Aubrey, by extension) jumped in their seats when the front door slammed open.

By the time he turned around to check, his mom already slammed the door shut.

'She doesn't look very happy....' Sunny thought. In truth, her steel glare and a scowl of gritted
teeth said a little more than that. His only saving grace was how her focus was elsewhere. It
was on something that wasn't the couch, and Sunny wasn't sure if he should feel relieved at
that.

Wanda stomped over to a nearby table, snatched up the scented candle on top, and dug her
nose into the ornament. Now that her hand was on display, Sunny noticed the angry red sting
across his mother's knuckles.

"S-Sunny...." Aubrey whispered, tugging on his sleeve. Her face was only halfway over the
backrest. "Your mom's angry...."

"Y-Yeah." Sunny whispered back. "But she's not mad at us, I think...."

"Y-You think....?" Aubrey eyeballed the sliding doors behind them, contemplating an escape
route.

Wanda slammed the candle back onto the tabletop, cutting off their discussion. The mother's
attention snapped towards them, and Aubrey paled. "Sunny." Wanda said, striding towards
 them.

'I'm not going to run and lie, I'm not going to run and lie, I'm not going to run and lie....'
Sunny tried his best to look straight at his mother. "Yes, mom....?"

"If anyone asks, the dishwasher gave me problems and I punched the countertop."

Sunny blinked. "....Okay....?"

"Good." Wanda turned her attention to Aubrey. "And Aubrey?"

Aubrey shook under the mother's attention. "Y-Yeah....?" Aubrey squeaked.

Wanda gently grasped her shoulders and gave a bright smile. "Welcome to the family, dear."

Chapter End Notes

the one time where 'my mom can beat up your mom' is universally accepted, folks.

boy, the list of things i'm not confident about in this chapter.... but i've already spent
more than two weeks on it, and i need to push forward.

either way, the story is now due to get a fluff chapter. so look forward to that next time.

also, shoutouts to Sunny (as they're named in the comments) for their continued work on
a How We Subsist-inspired animation. we've got a animation for walking sprites AND a
cuddling scene, as shown here:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/826665116249751603/881017028633325589/S
adburn-WIP2.png

and as always, thank you for taking the time to read this work! let me know what you
think in the comments below.
 Family Semblance
Chapter Summary

Now that Aubrey's residency is confirmed, the mother settles into her vacation.
Good times are ahead, surely.

Chapter Notes

tfw you spend more time writing notes than you do importing the chapter.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Wanda's surroundings returned to her in waves. The crusty, polluted living room pieced its
presence together in the corner of her eye. Its owner, Clementine, hung limp with
unconscious breaths.

Wanda let go of the trashy woman's collar. Clementine and her bruised face fell upon the
couch. Sunny's mother flexed her knuckles, feeling the sting from her impacts.

"You want to be alone? Fine." Wanda spat. "But I'm taking your daughter."

Wanda shook her thoughts off and silenced her blow drier with a click.

Once again, Sunny's mother had mulled over her confrontation with Clementine. Aubrey's
mother, once a dour yet determined woman, became less than a fraction of her former self.
The days where Clementine plotted ways to get into a large salary? The charismatic speeches
of how she'd never let Aubrey get as bad as she once was? They felt like fever dreams in the
face of that....
Wanda sighed and set her tool aside. 'That's not Clementine.' She assured herself for the
dozenth time. 'That.... That thing stole her skin and wore her face.' Still, she refused to
believe that was what Aubrey's mother really became. There was no way she could become
so cold and uncaring on her only child like that. And there was no way that Clementine
would try to attack someone over some damned--

"Deep breaths, girl. Deep breaths...." She had to keep calm. Whatever it was, she had a duty
to make sure it wouldn't trample on the real Clementine's wish.

"If something happens to me, then would ya give Aubrey a bed n' a roof? I know yer kids
won't mind much, but...."

"....I will." Wanda whispered, straightening her hair and turning towards the bathroom door.
"I'll keep her safe, no matter what."

Then she entered the hall, and she realized that she woke up early on her second day of
vacation. "Damnit." She swore, facepalming. "Old habits die hard, I guess...."

Her gaze turned to Sunny's (and Aubrey's, as of yesterday) bedroom. "Might as well check on
the kids. Make sure they haven't done anything...."

Not that she thought they would get funky. She doesn't even remember if Sunny had the talk.
Or if that creature from the rot ever bothered to let Aubrey know about the birds and the bees.
'But they are teenagers....'

With a restrained stride, Wanda crossed over to the kid's side of the hall. She stopped before
the doorknob and applied a gentle grasp. "Easy, now...." She whispered, before slowly turning
the knob and nudging the door far enough to peek inside.

A second later, she glimpsed at the pair and froze.

Sunny and Aubrey clung to one another in silent slumber. Despite the tossed bedsheets, the
pair kept warm in their unchanged outfits. Their embrace helped, along with the sea of old
plushies surrounding them. Wanda barely noticed the teenagers' faces, their foreheads flush
against each other. Stuffed bunnies flanked their heads and almost covered up their necks.

The mother reeled back into the hallway, hand clutching her heart as she fought to breathe. 'T-
That's too adorable.!' Wanda took a greedy gulp of air. 'Come on girl, get a grip, don't think
about it!'

Still, she had to place herself against the nearby wall for a few minutes. The sight was too
much to shrug off in an instant. Teenagers, as she now realized, were still able to cause
cuteness-induced conditions.

"I'll let them sleep in...." Wanda concluded, as she pushed off the wall.

......

Wanda paused, letting the eggs sizzle and bubble in the pan. She glanced to her right. Sunny
and Aubrey were hovering over the kitchen. Their eyes were affixed on the frying pan, and....

'Wait, is Sunny taking notes?' Wanda thought, looking at the sticky pad and pencil that the
boy held.

"Yes?" Wanda soon asked, and the pair snapped their attention to her.

"O-Oh, we're just looking...." Aubrey said.

"And taking notes, I see." A spatula dipped into the frying pan. The eggs flipped onto their
backs. "Did you want to learn how, dear?"

"Oh, no! We, uh...." Aubrey glanced over at Sunny.

"We burned our eggs last time," Sunny said.

The mother raised an eyebrow. "....How did you burn eggs?" She asked.

The pair averted their eyes. "W-We got distracted...." Aubrey muttered, her finger poking
through her blonde hair.

"Did you, now?" Wanda turned her attention over to the pan. With a satisfied hum, she lifted
the hard-fried eggs out and onto a paper towel laden plate. "Well, I suppose you learned your
lesson, then." She took up a nearby spoon, dipping it into a pot. She pulled out a wet, grits-
like glob a moment later. "Just pay attention and-- Mmm?"

Wanda paused as Aubrey eyeballed the spoon. "What is that?" Aubrey asked.

"Bacon grease, dear." Wanda dumped the substance into the empty frying pan. She jerked the
utensil around, letting the grease spread and melt into the pan. "It works wonders with eggs.
You just drop some in before you add the eggs." She said, cracking two eggs into the pan and
busting their yolks open.

"--Wait, bacon grease? Like grease from actual bacon!?"

Wanda chuckled. "Oh yes, dear. It's grease from freshly-cooked bacon." She motioned to
another toweled plate nearby, containing a small fleet of bacon.

Aubrey's eyes sparkled as she gasped in awe. Sunny jotted down something, then detached a
sticky note. He slapped it onto his left sleeve before writing on the next sheet.

But Wanda soon found Sunny's attention diverted, and followed his gaze. Aubrey belted out
some wild gushing over the bacon grease. It was endearing, but Sunny became enthralled
with the girl's wonder. His eyes widened to soak the scene in, his mouth ajar with ears that
gave a soft red glow.

Wanda smiled but dared not make a sound, lest the pair realize their situation and back off.

But Aubrey's mirth died down as Wanda extracted the cooked eggs onto a plate. "So." The
mother said, turning a dial to OFF. "What distracted you from cooking, exactly....?"

"Oh, uh...." Aubrey began. "We saw some turkeys in the backyard...."

"Really?" Wanda said as she moved the pan into the sink. She glanced up at the window.

Sure enough, there was a small flock of turkeys pecking around the far treeline.

"Woah, they're back!" Aubrey gasped, grabbing Sunny's hand and pulling him to her side at
the window. "Aren't they adorable?"

But Wanda grinned. "They look like free meals." She breathed, before opening up the
compartment below.

"Wha--" Aubrey turned to Wanda, only to go pale as the mother pulled out a hunting rifle.
"W-What are you doing with that!?"

"Getting tonight's dinner." She cocked the rifle, making the pair jump. "Stay here kids,
mommy's bringing Thanksgiving home early."

"NO!" Aubrey cried, once again dragging Sunny along as she pursued Wanda's strides.
"Don't hurt the poor turkeys!"
"If they wanted to live, they should've never stepped in my backyard!"

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Aubrey dashed ahead. Sunny narrowly missed the fireplace as
the girl tore the sliding door open. "RUN, TURKEYS, RUN!!"

"Are you kidding me!?" Wanda yelled, forcing her way into the backyard. "Damnit, Aubrey!"

Sunny observed his mother, desperate to chase after the startled wildlife. He glanced over at
the victorious grin Aubrey held. With a final glance at the fleeing turkeys, he turned away. "I
don't get it at all...." He muttered.

......

Faraway Felines set to take on the Rivercity Riders!

The mysterious Faraway Park Groundskeeper!

A Heartfelt Reunion, made possible by Technology!

Faraway Cinema set to open by late Fall, amidst early snow!

Local student set to graduate in early December!

Tree Bandit lurking in Faraway's woods!

Wanda stared at the newspaper with a sigh. "The Tree Bandit again?" She groaned. "The only
thing that goofball's stealing is perfectly good space on this paper."
She folded up the newspaper and set it on the coffee table, before stretching her arms. It was
a lazy morning for the mother. Much to her surprise, the teens were on the ball with the
chores she listed off last night. They already dusted the floors and ran the dishes. In fact, she
last saw them heading into the bathroom with cleaning supplies.

"Boy, the energy of youth...." She said. With all that purpose in their steps, even Mari
would've fell behind in comparison. 'And they said they wanted to earn some money
afterwards, too....' She realized with a frown. Just how much work were they doing each day?
Not that she wanted to complain, but that's a lot of responsibility for two teens to jump into
headfirst.

The mother got off the couch and walked into the back hall. Rustling sounds echoed from the
opened storage room. 'Wait, why is the storage room open?'

She stepped over and peeked into the spacious closet. She quickly found Sunny holding his
breath as he brushed a pile of dust into a pan. "Sunny?" Wanda said.

Sunny paused and looked at his mother. "Yeah, mom?" He asked.

"You're already done with the bathroom?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "We're gonna do the music room next--"

"Actually, I'll take care of that," Wanda interjected. "Why don't you two head out after this?"

Sunny blinked. He was cliff-faced as usual, or so Wanda believed, but his eyes betrayed
confusion. "....Are you sure?" He glanced back at Aubrey, who just finished her side of the
room. "We're almost done here...."

Wanda threw on a smile. "I'm sure, dear. It won't be an issue for Mommy, and you two
shouldn't be cooped up in this house all morning."
Still, it took a few moments before Sunny nodded, and relief coursed through the mother.

"Wonderful! Just be sure to get your jackets before you...." Wanda trailed off, noticing
movement behind her son.

A moment later, Aubrey wrapped her arms around Sunny's shoulders from behind.

"Eh!?" Sunny cried out, almost jolting out of the girl's grasp. But Aubrey held tight and
whispered assurances into the boy's ear, allowing Sunny to relax.

"Sorry, Sunny," Aubrey said, trying to bury her nose into his hair. "I just wanted to surprise
you...."

"Mmn...." He twisted and turned in her grasp. "At least lemme hug you back...."

'Jeez, these two are way too affectionate.' Wanda thought, watching her son turn in Aubrey's
arms and bury her in his embrace. The mother couldn't help but grin as the two shuffled in
place for a moment, as if trying to push themselves further into their hug. 'They just can't get
enough of each other....'

With a stifled chuckle, Wanda stepped away from the storage room. There were spare
cleaning supplies under the sink, after all.

......

"You can do it, Sunny!" Aubrey cheered, shaking her fists back and forth.

Sunny grunted his disapproval, and started to lift himself off the ground.
Wanda snickered as she flipped the steaks once more.

It was a nice, cloudless afternoon outside, if you discounted the shivering cold. But all three
of them were packing warm clothing (and Sunny wore pants, to Wanda's surprise). So the
mother thought it was a nice idea to fire up the grill to cook a nice steak dinner.

Aubrey had a similar idea, bringing out Sunny to put him through some exercise. Right now,
her son was struggling to finish off a small set of push-ups.

A glance showed the boy sweating bullets as he trembled, halfway off the ground. Aubrey
continued to encourage Sunny, mixing between 'you can do it', 'i believe in you', and 'show
that ground who's boss'.

Wanda wasn't sure what the grass did to deserve such abuse. But it was cute, so she allowed
it.

Sunny huffed and puffed as he finally reached the top of his push-up. He held the position for
a few seconds before dropping onto his stomach.

Aubrey leaped for joy. "That's ten! You did it, Sunny!!" She cheered.

"Yay...." Sunny huffed, turning onto his back.

Aubrey wasted no time in pulling him up and throwing her arms around the boy. "I'm so
proud of you!" She continued to gush, making Sunny start to blush and stutter. Wanda tried
her hardest not to loudly coo at the sight, instead focusing on flipping the steaks again.

When she looked back up, she saw Sunny freeze as Aubrey pecked his cheek with her lips.
'Oh, now this is gonna be good....' Wanda thought, as she glimpsed the fire igniting in her
son's eyes.

Aubrey started to say something, but soon fell silent as Sunny gained a red-faced grin.
"....Sunny?" She said, uncertain.

"Kiss...." Sunny said, his breaths becoming rapid and visible in the crisp air. "Aubrey
kiss....!!" He shook in the girl's grasp, eyelids open as his irises shrunk.

"S-Sunny....?"

Mania overtook Sunny as he suddenly whooped. He leapt straight out of Aubrey's embrace.
Empowered by the intimate touch of the unaware Aubrey, he shot up to his feet. Then he did
a double backflip to the east, landing on his hands and toes. Not even a second later, the
grinning Sunny started going through push-ups like a champ.

Aubrey sat still, with a face so bewildered that Wanda almost broke into raucous laughter. "--
Huh!?" Aubrey sputtered, staring wide-eyed at the revitalized boy.

Wanda thought she was good at holding herself back. The urge to tease was strong in the
bloodline, yet the mother tried so hard to hold it back. But in this case, the urge was too much
for even the grown woman to withstand.

Before she knew it, the mother was leaning down by Aubrey's side. "That's some
encouragement you gave him, huh....?" Wanda whispered.

Aubrey yelped and whirled towards Wanda. "W-Whaddayamean!?" She squeaked. "I-I just
wanted to congratulate him!"

"Oh yes, you did congratulate him. Right on his cheek, too." Wanda grinned. "A boy can run
a marathon off of that, you know?"
Aubrey's head blurred as she looked over at Sunny, still pumping out reps. A blush began to
invade her cheeks.

Wanda leaned in closer. "If you keep 'congratulating' him like that, he'll get buff in no
time...."

The mother could almost see the steam starting to pour out of Aubrey's ears. "T-That's, I,
uhm--" She gasped and fumbled, before suddenly hiding her face into her jacket. A high-
pitched whine escaped the bulky fabric.

Wanda had to break off with a pat to Aubrey's shoulder, barely able to contain herself. By the
time she reached the grill, the mother started laughing like a hyena. 'Not even a week in, and
this vacation is already the best idea I ever had.' She mused, handling the steaks amidst her
hearty cackles.

....Scratch that, Wanda realized. This vacation was better than anything she could imagine.

It was only a few hours after dinner. Wanda could still recall Sunny's pleased expression after
every bite of steak he took. It was a struggle to not reach over and pet her smiling son at the
time. And that said nothing of Aubrey's expression as she watched his reactions. It wasn't
envy, but a wistful look that overcame the teenage girl at the time.

The mother could guess the question on her tongue. 'Can you teach me how to grill steak like
that?', Aubrey wanted to ask. Not that the girl went through with it, but Wanda was sure that
it'll come out before long. Likely when Sunny wasn't in earshot.

'If they ever take two steps away from each other, that is.' Wanda thought, turning her eyes
from the TV and looking at the huddled-up couch potatoes.
The mother had the good fortune to catch Blazing Saddles on the lineup, so she made a movie
night out of it. A half-eaten bowl of popcorn sat on the coffee table, surrounded by near-
empty cups. Sunny and Aubrey had balled themselves up on the couch and stared at the
movie, entranced. They pressed against each other by their cheeks, with the occasional rub.
The gags would rumble their bellies and send their heads into the crooks of each others'
necks. If they were really tickled, the pair would cling to each other as if their booming
laughter threatened to send them flying away from their partner.

Wanda shook her head, a sign of burgeoning immunity to the overly-affectionate duo. They
went everywhere together, with so many hugs and cuddles and handholdings to boot. Yet, the
mother recalls, there was always some kind of barrier to their intimacy. They never seemed to
kiss, or feed each other, or use pet names....

A few days ago, Wanda was sure that the two were dating. But now she had to question the
thought. If they were together, then surely they would've done something obvious by now,
right? They were so greedy for each others' touch, but what could stop them from claiming
each other's lips?

It was a maddening paradox, and one that Wanda wanted to curb as soon as possible.

Her gaze returned to the TV, to find the movie fading into a commercial break. 'Perfect.'
Wanda smirked. It was just the opportunity she was about to ask for.

"Well." Wanda said, catching the kids' attention. "I'm surprised you two haven't started
cuddling yet."

"Eh?" Sunny said, blinking. "What do you mean....?"

"Well, you're a rather touchy-feely couple...." Wanda trailed off with a knowing look and a
small smirk. It was Mari's signature expression, but the daughter had to get it from
somewhere.

A few moments later, blushes surged onto the pair's faces. "C-C-Couple!?" Aubrey stuttered.
"W-We're not like that!" Sunny blurted out. Aubrey wasted no time nodding at his words.

'That was a little too fast. They might be in denial....' Wanda chuckled. "Then what are you
two?"

"We're, uh...." Aubrey trailed off. "Uhm...." Her eyes flailed about the living room, desperate
for an answer.

"We're just good friends!" Sunny said, as he gripped his knees a little too tight.

"Y-Yeah!" Aubrey rushed to confirm.

Wanda's smirk grew into a grin. "'Good friends' don't get touchy with each other so much,
though."

The crimson on their faces started to spread. "R-Really good friends!!" Sunny squeaked.
Aubrey looked ready to dive into the couch cushions and never resurface.

"Really good friends that hold hands, and sleep snuggled up together in bed, and hug each
other every five minutes, and...."

"But, but that's not....!" Aubrey wailed. Sunny buried his head into his knees.

Wanda chuckled. "Come on, you don't need to be shy about it. I'm happy for the two of you,
really!"

"B-But we aren't!" Aubrey flailed. Sunny peeked out from his embarrassed curl.
"It's absolutely cute, too!"

Aubrey's blush was starting to creep down her neck. "Noooo, it's--"

"H-Hey, the movie's back on!" Sunny piped up.

Wanda turned her head, and sure enough, the commercials gave way to the movie's next
scene. 'Damnit.' She mentally swore, as the teens took the chance to take a breath and wiggle
away from each other.

But their eyes soon widened in simultaneous realization. Not a moment later, they almost
slammed themselves back to each other's side.

As adorable as the sight was, it did little to curb Wanda's disappointment. For all the teasing
she did (and maybe she teased a bit too much), the two responded with a confusing mess.
They kept saying they weren't, insisted it to the moon, but they lit up like Christmas lights.
The feelings were there, they couldn't keep away from each other. But they still stuck to their
friendship, even under pressure.

Wanda turned back to the movie with a sigh. '....They're just in denial.' She concluded. It
wasn't something she hadn't seen before, after all. Not to mention the pair was touch-starved
enough to make things easy. All they needed was time to sit down and figure out their
feelings, and they'd be a couple before she knew it.

'....Oh, who am I kidding?' Wanda chuckled to herself. 'They're teenagers, and Mari wasn't
much better with Henry. It'll take a miracle or an accident to get their feelings out. Or both.'

Not like she should worry too much about it, anyways. It's not like it was some kind of
obsession or dependency, right?
"Hey, isn't that the kid who....?"

"Yeah, that looks like him."

"You think he's okay?"

"I don't know, didn't he--"

Wanda leveled a glare at the parkgoers. The gossipers froze, gained a surge of wisdom and
turned away in silence. "Rude-ass little...." The mother grumbled, passing the park with
colorful breaths.

When Wanda thought to take the kids down to Hobbeez, she didn't expect to run across
gossip pointed at her son. She wasn't sure what the reason behind their behavior was, but no
one talked shit about Sunny when she was around. It was the rule of the mother, and Wanda
always enforced it.

....Speaking of her son, Wanda glanced at the kids after they turned the corner. Sunny's gaze
fixed upon the sidewalk ahead with an uncertain wave on his mouth. Aubrey was at his side
as always, rubbing a hand into his back and whispering comfort into his ear. His hand found
hers with a squeeze, one that she wasted no time in returning.

Wanda turned back with a small smile. For all their overt affection, the pair supported each
other well. Sometimes, it was Sunny helping Aubrey through Mari's textbooks, Other times,
it was Aubrey helping Sunny lift something when he struggled. She's only seen them in
action for a few days, but they worked with a synergy that her boss would kill to hire. It
begged belief, yet they were so close that Wanda couldn't begin to doubt their connection.

The mother didn't want to think of the worst. But if something did happen to her, she at least
knew that Sunny had someone he could rely on. Despite the premise of the thought, it gave
her some comfort.
The chime of Hobbeez' bell soon interrupted her thoughts. Wanda stepped in and aside,
allowing the clingy duo to shuffle off to the comic stands.

"Welcome to Hobbeez!" The manager called out as the mother closed the door. He glanced at
her, only to give the mother a double-take. "Wanda! It's been forever since I've seen you! My
god, you've aged like fine wine!"

Wanda smiled. "Good to see you too, Greg. Still haven't gotten rid of that forked tongue,
huh?" She said, striding over to the counter.

"It's a silver tongue, Wanda. Big difference!"

"Sure, I'll believe that once you find a girl that sticks around."

Greg gasped, grasping his heart with an exaggerated flair. "Egads, you've wounded me!!" He
cries out. "I've found the lady of my life while you were gone, I'll have you know....!"

Wanda met him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Oh really? You wouldn't mind if I invite
you two over for lunch, then?"

Greg wasted no time, leaning over the counter with a grin. "Name a time and place."

Wanda blinked. "....Wow, you didn't even twitch. You actually found someone. Color me
impressed."

"What did I tell you!? It took years, but I finally made a change for the better!"

Well, at least someone else's life was on the up-and-up. But as much as she liked to
congratulate him, their talk was reminding her of a certain coward. Wanda's mind briefly
wandered. "....Speaking of years, did you happen to get that thing in?"
"Thing?-- Ah, the limited-edition Humphrey Aquarium!" Greg snapped his fingers. "Sorry,
but the well's still dry on that one."

Wanda sighed. "Still?"

"Trust me, Wanda, I haven't found a single person willing to part with one. I mean, you've
seen how fancy that figurine looks, and all the detail in that display....!"

"Yeah, I know." She couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. It wasn't really practical, but
Wanda loved that whale as a little girl. "Guess I'll have to keep waiting, huh?"

"I'm afraid so. But don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for-- Hm?"

Greg looked by her left as a pair of awed gasps sounded out. Wanda looked over to see Sunny
and Aubrey staring at a TV and the fancy 'box' before it.

"Is that the new console!?" Sunny asked Greg, pointing at the display.

"Why yes, that is the brand-new Gamebox! Capable of the most beautiful 3D graphics you've
ever seen, with crisp music and blazing-fast gameplay!" Greg boasted, motioning at the
console. "Not to mention the amazing titles available! We're talking a brand-new Maximus
Legend, Virus Hunter and Super Spacebros 2!"

The teens ooh'd and ahh'd at the manager and his experienced sales pitching. Wanda had to
hold back a chuckle for her friend's sake. 'Kids really do like their video games.'

"In fact, we have a special bundle available with those very games packaged in! It also comes
with a set of four controllers, so you two can play together!"
"Really!?" Aubrey's eyes sparkled. "H-How much is it?"

"Well...." Greg glanced off to the side. "The sales price is about four hundred."

The kids froze.

"But, you two came in and worked hard for us before, so I can give you a special employees
discount! Which will bring the total down to only three hundred!" He flashed the pair a
gleaming smile. "It's an absolute steal, and it's available only to you. Interested?"

Oh yes, they were. By the smiles that threatened to break onto their faces, and the shine in
their eyes. They wanted the console, and it was a deal they couldn't pass up.

But instead of leaping for the offer, they looked at each other. "Can we afford it?" Aubrey
asked.

"We definitely have the money...." Sunny said.

"But what about the groceries?"

Sunny hummed. "Well, we're full now, and we can still earn more for...."

Aubrey brought a hand to her chin. "But we can't expect to find work all the time, right....?"

The two went back and forth on their finances. They could pace this out, but they had to be
wary of emergencies and droughts of work. There was also this and that....

They were simply trying to be smart about spending their money, Wanda knew. There was
nothing wrong with being cautious or careful with their wallets. There shouldn't be anything
 wrong with it at all.

But Wanda still heard their talk of affording groceries echo in her eardrums. They slinked
through and filled her mind with horrors.

She slammed her purse on the counter. "--Don't worry, I'll cover the cost." Wanda said.

The pair whirled around to face her, wide-eyed. "Mom?" Sunny asked.

Greg looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "You know the kids aren't broke, right? I've seen
how much they work." He said.

Wanda raised an eyebrow back. "And you think I am? Trust me, Greg, I can front this without
breaking a sweat."

....Is what she said. But inside, she was already dropping bullets. 'It's going to be one hell of a
tight squeeze.' She knew. The kids might handle the groceries, but she might have to skip a
few lunches to make sure she's above board.

But if she could go without hearing Sunny and Aubrey talking like struggling adults....?

Then the cost was more than worth it.

The trio left Hobbeez a little later, a heavy bag in Wanda's hands and a thankful hug bestowed
upon her by the kids. Despite the cry of her wallet, the mother couldn't help but smile.

Chapter End Notes

not much to say here. a third perspective gives some interesting angles to work with for
these fluff scenes. though i can't help but wonder how these would play out from the
protagonists' perspective. at least we'll get back to them next chapter.

you may also notice that the chapter limit has updated once more. after some further
fine-tuning of the plans, i have adjusted the chapter count accordingly. it's a bit smaller,
but it should cover all the bases.

on a separate note, i am currently writing up chapters for a second story. it's not going to
come out anytime soon; i want to get a few chapters completed before i start it up, so
that'll be a few weeks of work minimum. but it is coming. i'll also say that this new story
is NOT a follow-up to any of the sunburn week pieces i wrote.

i know that people want follow-ups to those, and i very much intend to do them at some
point. but i am still in the planning stages for those ideas, and i cannot bring myself to
start a story that i don't have a clear plan for. i've seen plenty of stories get abandoned
because of that, and it's something i want to avoid in my own work.

anyways.... as always, thank you for taking the time to read this work! let me know what
you think in the comments below.
 A Moment of Past
Chapter Summary

Nothing can stay the same forever, and time marches on, for better or worse.
The pair dabbles into a bit of nostalgia, while another finds a way forward.

Chapter Notes

before this chapter kicks off, i would like to thank everyone for bringing this fic to over
10k hits. i'm still not sure if this fic (see: my writing) is worthy of such attention. but it
happened anyways, and i'm grateful that so many people found this entertaining. i can
only hope that my future chapters (and works) will be just as exciting, if not better, to
you.

and with that being said.... let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

In a space unknown to mortal eyes, frustration and disappointment warred within a single
spirit.

It was a simple wish. Free her cherished Sunny from his miserable cycle, and allow him to
regain his life. At the pivotal moment where all the dominoes were set to fall, that gentle soul
would surely help keep them upright.

But reality took a cruel turn, and Sunny lost his independence.

Where did it go wrong? She acted as early as she could. Was it not meant to be? Did she act
too soon? Was it how scattered her friends became?

It didn't matter at this point. She needed to act again. Sunny and Aubrey leaned too much on
each other. It was suffocating the light in their eyes and hearts, rotting their futures behind
their backs. No one could find the blight, and they had no reason to reveal it. Only her
intervention could solve this dilemma.

But the cycle was overwhelming, and the tide was too high, too hopeful. Sunny left no
Headspace behind, and circumstance shrouded his mind with false fulfillment. She had no
way to pierce the veil, and like so many times before, Sunny was out of her reach.

All she could do was wait. Wait, and pray that the door didn't arrive too late.

......

Sunny stared past the railing, fingers tapping an old rhythm on his knees. It wasn't the first
time he waited on Aubrey, but it was the first time he waited before his own bedroom.

The pair woke up early, giving them a bit of time after they washed and ate. Now that Mari's
old clothes were cleaned and hung up, Aubrey was determined to wear them. But that
required a change of clothes, and the pair had to split for it amidst heated faces and chopped-
up words.

That was a few minutes ago. Or was it longer than that....? '....Huh, no wonder Aubrey got
that alarm clock....' Sunny realized. And here, he thought watches were just a fashion
statement.

A rattling noise from his right caught the boy's attention, and he whirled his head toward an
empty hall.

Sunny gulped and reeled his knees in. "Not again. Please, not again...." He whispered. The
door's shadow loomed and stretched over him, resembling more of an iron wall. Faint
chittering rose from the first floor, and he dared not look.

Thump, thump, thump.

Reality shifted and reset itself, unable to withstand the knocking from the bedroom door.
"Sunny?" Aubrey called out, muffled by wood. "Are you there?"

The boy didn't even realize the mighty exhale he just made. "Yeah." He called back,
loosening his grip. "Is everything okay?"

"Y-Yeah! It's just co-- clothes, so many clothes that are too big...." Even her grumbles could
be heard. "Anyways, I'll be out in just a minute! Just.... Stay put, okay?"

"....Okay."

"Great, uh, thanks!" She said, then fell silent.

Sunny shifted, pressing his ear against the door. For a moment, he could hear the rustles of
clothes and the.... colorful words that Aubrey muttered against the attires. But a sense of
propriety made him lean away. He didn't want to look desperate.

....Or well, not as desperate as he actually felt.

His mom got along well with Aubrey, but her latest teasing jogged a question he hasn't asked
himself in a while. 'What are we?' He once thought before the stairwell. Their newfound time
together confused him, but they've stuck together for a while now. A week or so, though it
felt like so much longer.

Sunny still wasn't sure about the answer. The way he looked at Aubrey wasn't.... completely
platonic, or so he thought. She wasn't too different from who she was two years ago, but there
will still changes he could find. She was a little more fit, a little more willing to commit
daring acts. She still talked for the both of them, but encouraged him to talk more as well.
Not to mention how much more touchy she became. He always craved touch, but her
newfound need was a surprise. The more he thought about it, the hotter his face became.
Sunny made a slow rise to his feet. Aubrey.... Was his mother's words more than just teasing?
Did Aubrey think about him in the same way? They stuck together a lot, but was it more than
a bond against the world that neglected her and haunted him?

The bedroom door opened up, tearing Sunny from his thoughts. "Sorry for the wait," Aubrey
said, stepping out. "B-But I'm ready now."

She stopped before Sunny. "Uhm...." She made an effort to keep eye contact. "So.... What do
you think....?"

Sunny barely heard it, his brain almost shutting down at the sight.

Aubrey's arms were linked behind her back, giving him an unobstructed view of the lavender
polo she wore. A good portion of the cloth was tucked into a flowing white longskirt. Aubrey
shuffled her feet, dark slip-ons sliding to and fro before Sunny caught the rare sight of white
socks.

The clothes did more than fit her well, giving the girl a ladylike aura. The signs of hardship,
once sprinkled about her dark and baggy clothing, were gone. For Sunny, it was the sight of a
newer, softer Aubrey. His eyes were wider than saucers, and his cheeks hit boiling point. His
heart responded in turn, threatening to punch its way out of his chest and sing for the sight
before them.

"....Sunny....?" Aubrey said, her hands starting to fiddle with her cool blonde hair. "I-Is it
bad....?"

"N-No!" Sunny said with a jolt. "It's-- It's perfect! You look, uhm, really...."

Steam gushed out of his ears. His mind told him to stop, save himself the embarrassment. But
his traitorous tongue had other plans. "....Really cute...."

Aubrey gained a blush of her own, staring at him with wide eyes. "Really....?"
Sunny nodded, fighting desperately to not avert his eyes.

Aubrey let out a relieved sigh. "That's.... Uhm...." Now that he wasn't in the hot seat, Sunny
could see her own glowing cheeks. "T-Thanks, er...." She reached her hand out in a flash,
grasping Sunny's own. "We should head out to work, right?"

'Cute girl holding my hand....' Sunny thought, almost doing a double-take. New clothes really
changed a lot. "Y-Yeah."

Aubrey soon turned and lead Sunny down the stairs, her ears betraying the blush she still had.
Not that he was much better, focusing so much on their hands....

Wanda lowered her newspaper, glancing back as the teens walked into the living room. "Are
you--" She said, then paused. "Aubrey, are those Mari's clothes?"

The pair stopped. "Y-Yes?" Aubrey said, only to start shrinking under the mother's critical
gaze. "Sunny, uhm, didn't mind!"

A hasty elbow to Sunny's side made the boy jolt. "Er, yeah. I gave them to Aubrey since
Mari.... She used to give her old clothes away, and she's not around anymore...."

Wanda kept her stare for a bit. As much as she tried to open up to Aubrey (and it wasn't
much, she couldn't get a good minute alone with the girl), the thought of the girl 'replacing'
her daughter was a sting to her sides. There weren't enough similarities to remind the mother,
but the sight of Mari's clothes on Aubrey's body was enough to flip the wrong switches.

Aubrey started to shuffle her way behind Sunny's back. Her son was starting to tense up.
Wanda blinked back to reality.
"....If that's what Mari did...." Wanda relented with a sigh. The pair exhaled and relaxed, and
she turned her attention back to Aubrey. "You look very good, by the way." 'Much more
classy,' Her mind kept from her mouth.

"Thank you." Aubrey said, before squeezing Sunny's hand. "Well, we're going out for
work...."

"Again?" Wanda raised an eyebrow.

"We don't want to take any chances...."

"You-- well, alright then." She would have to ground these two to make them relax, she
swears. "Just be careful. They keep talking about a Tree Bandit out there."

Aubrey blinked. Sunny rolled his eyes. "Oh no, someone's stealing trees." He snarked in a
monotone. "Poor Faraway and its gazillion overgrown plants...."

Aubrey broke into hand-over-mouth snickering in no time flat. Wanda couldn't even help her
own smile. "Just stay safe, okay?"

""We will!"" The pair responded, before finally making their way towards the front door.

Wanda paused. "Oh, and if you see Greg--" She called out, despite the kids slipping out. "Tell
him I want to meet his partner!"

The only response was the front door clicking shut.

"They didn't hear me." Wanda chuckled, turning her attention back to the morning newspaper.
"Oh well, I can always swing back and arrange something later...."
It wasn't long before she flicked her way to the last page. The morning dailies were rather
short, and nothing mind-boggling caught her eye. Her mind soon wandered with a sigh, the
mother dropping the newspaper and sinking into the couch.

Thump thump, thump thump.

Wanda blinked, before glancing at the front door. "....Did they lock the door and then forget
something?" She pondered, pushing herself off the couch.

When she opened the door less than a minute later, however, she found someone entirely
different.

"Good morning, ma'am." A man in a dark blue uniform said. "I'm Officer Jones with the
Faraway Police. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Confusion flared within for a brief moment. Why would a cop want to....

'Clementine.' Wanda thought. 'She must've reported what happened.' Contempt bubbled
within. Not only did that creature have no morals, but now they had no spine?

'Oh, it's on, bitch. Two can play at that game....'

Wanda opened the door fully with a smile. "Of course I don't mind! Come on in, feel free to
take a seat on the couch...."

"Ugh...." Aubrey groaned, brushing off her longskirt as she joined Sunny at the fountain.
"Not even halfway through the day, and this skirt's already dirty." True to her words, a few
dark stains blemished the white cloth.

Just to add insult to injury, a crisp gale whistled past the pair. Aubrey felt a chill run through
her, and a light shiver took hold. "G-Guess I'm gonna have to wear my usual clothes. Sorry,
Sunny...."

Sunny shook his head. 'It's fine...." He said, reaching out to grasp her hand. "I guess it's just
not the season." A subsequent squeeze sent his warmth through her veins.

Aubrey gave him a small smile as the autumn cold slipped off of her. "Thank you, Sunny."

Sunny drew a sharp breath, eyes averting with a blush. "I-It's not a problem...."

'That's cute.' Aubrey thought, affixed to that shy expression in his bulky hoodie. 'How do you
get away with being that cute, Sunny?' How did he get to look so innocent and huggable all
the time? She wanted to pull on his cheeks until he squealed his secrets with a face redder
than tomatoes.

It was a mystery for the ages, that's for sure. Not that Aubrey minded; she got to see all of it
on demand.

"So...." She piped up, drawing Sunny's attention. "We're done with our work, right?"

Sunny nodded, patting his left pocket. He was the official money handler of the two, and
Mari's clothes had a complete lack of pockets anyways. "Only fifty, though...."

"That's okay." More than okay, in fact. "We still have those tutoring requests, right?"

"Yeah, but...." Sunny glanced into the distance, to his left. "They only need it after five...."
"....Oh. Well, we don't have anything to do, then. Should we just head back home....?"

Sunny shook his head. "Maybe we could head to the park? Visit the swings like we used
to....?"

Aubrey blinked. "Are you sure?" Her free hand clasped gently over their handhold. "I know
you don't like those people whispering about you...."

Sunny had told her about that last night. How he had a full-blown panic attack and acted out
when she was at school. The thought of it caused another pang of guilt in her stomach. That
day was pure torture for her and a constant in her latest nightmares already. But Sunny had it
far worse, living out his own fears because she was too selfish to--

"--I'm sure." Sunny whispered, and Aubrey snapped out of her thoughts. "I can...." He
gulped. "I can handle it."

"Sunny...." Aubrey breathed. "....Alright. But let me know if it gets bad, alright? I don't want
you to suffer."

Sunny nodded. "That's fair...."

They stood up from the fountain. "....Well." Aubrey nestled herself closer to Sunny's side.
"Let's go, then...."

......

Faraway Park was almost empty when they arrived. Aubrey could only hear the racuous
laughter of children from afar, distant from their destination.

"....Huh...." Sunny said. "I dont see anyone around."

"Yeah. School's happening, but...." Aubrey said, looking here and there. She knew there was
always activity in the park. Locals and visitors alike made sure the park always had a few
faces in sight until the sun vanished from sight. 'Now, it's like a ghost town.' She thought.
'Why would it be like this....?'

Sunny shrugged, oblivious to Aubrey's confusion. "Well, the swings are free, so...."

Aubrey glanced over at Sunny, then towards the playground. The swing set, fit only for two,
stood tall and proud. "....Yeah." She whispered. "Let's go ahead and sit down."

The swing was cold on her bottom, but that couldn't stop the comfort Aubrey felt when she
took the left swing. She felt a smile creeping on; how long was it since they last sat here? Not
worrying about anything more than each other's presence, where Sunny would hear her
troubles and Aubrey encouraged his endeavors.

But on this crisp afternoon, a silence lingered between the two. They sat at the swing set, they
remembered better times, but it's been minutes since they said a word. 'Well, I'd usually start
venting right now, but....' Her mind trailed off. What could she even vent about now? What
could she say that hasn't already been said?

"....Huh." Aubrey said, catching Sunny's attention. "You know, we'd usually talk by now...."
She glanced over at Sunny.

"....Yeah." He said.

"But now that I think about it, we do that all the time now, right? All the complaining, the
support...." She looked up to the sky with a chuckle. "The swings don't feel the same way
anymore, huh?"

She looked back at Sunny, only to find him staring at the ground. "....Yeah...." He mumbled.
"....Sunny?" She leaned forward, concerned.

"....We don't even need the swings anymore...."

The glum look on his face threatened to draw a pit in her stomach. "W-Well, things change,
right? I mean, we're better off now, aren't we?"

"Yeah, but...." Sunny sighed, his swing idly wobbling about. "It feels like we're losing
everything else, and...." He trailed off. "...Sorry, I'm just being silly...."

"N-Not at all!" Aubrey rushed out, hopping off her swing. She was by the boy's side a second
later. "Go on, Sunny. You can say it. I don't mind!"

Hesitance remained in his eyes. It took a gentle hand and a comforting smile before he finally
exhaled. "....It feels like yesterday, everyone was together and having fun. Now it's just us,
and we-- we lost everything else." His hands tightened upon the swing's chains. "Our friends,
our fun...."

"....Our fun?" Aubrey blinked. "We still have fun, right....?"

"After we do a bunch of jobs, and do chores, and do schoolwork, and plan our spending...."
He listed off.

Aubrey winced. "Well, when you put it that way...." She glanced at the treeline, rubbing a
thread of her hair. "....I mean, we're being responsible, right? Like adults....?"

"....Are we....?" Aubrey met his gaze. Only murky darkness looked back. "I don't feel like
it...."

Aubrey started rubbing her hands together, as her mind struggled to find an answer. What
were they? Kids or adults? She felt like the latter; she already spent so much time trying to
fend for herself. Even when Sunny came back, she still had to put more than her fair share in.
Not that she minded; he wasn't afraid to pitch in either, and he occasionally made her look
lazy in comparison.

But was she really an adult? The responsibility was there, but the power, the rights? She
couldn't leave her home behind without an adult allowing her to. She couldn't handle paying
for a house like an adult could. They could pay for groceries, but she didn't have a big job, or
anything she could drive, or even drink like an adult could.

Really, if it wasn't for Sunny's mother....

Aubrey gulped. "I.... I don't know." She admits. "Maybe we're not."

"And we still act like it...." Sunny stared ahead. "All because I--"

Aubrey stepped in front of him and gripped his forearms. "I'm not letting you go there again,
Sunny." She said, tone firm. "I don't know what would happen otherwise. I mean.... My
parents wouldn't stay together if Mari was still here, right?"

Sunny tilted his head at Aubrey. "Yeah, but...."

Aubrey shook her head. "Things happen, Sunny. We...." Aubrey bit her lip, and melancholy
began to boil. "W-We were supposed to be there for each other.... All of us, and w-we didn't.
Everything just fell apart, but that's not your fault! I mean, you-- you were the one who came
and reached out to begin with, and they didn't!"

"Aubrey...."

"M-Mari died, and it was terrible--" Aubrey winced her eyes shut. The swing creaked, and
she felt Sunny wrapping his arms around her. "--But we didn't lose everything because of
you! They walked away and left us! Our friends, our dads...." She leaned into the embrace,
wrapping her own arms around his shoulders. "It's their faults! Don't blame yourself what
they did, Sunny!"

Aubrey drew greedy breaths, trying her hardest not to cry. Sunny already felt bad about the
swings. She didn't want to see him break down because she can't handle a few bad memories.
It didn't stop the passing, silent seconds from feeding her doubts, though....

It was only after a distant caw that Sunny shuffled in her grasp. "....You're right." He said. "I
shouldn't keep thinking like that.... Sorry for making you worry, Aubrey."

"Y-You don't have to apologize, Sunny." Aubrey said for the gazillionth time. "I just want you
to be happy!"

She felt his ear heat up against the back of her noggin. "But you should be happy, too.... A lot
more than me...."

"Sunny...." Aubrey sighed. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she appreciated the
sentiment regardless. In fact, her cheeks were heating up at the thought.

Then again, she heated up whenever he did much of anything.

Wanda's words came back to mind-- calling them a couple. They weren't, Aubrey was sure,
but it wasn't like she agreed with her denial.

Her and Sunny, as a pair, was something Aubrey kept thinking about. In the moments
between their interactions and before slumber, Aubrey pondered their connection. Much like
Sunny's mother, their constant interactions did not escape the girl's notice, and fuelled the
embers of her old crush. If she was being honest, she did like Sunny.

She liked him like.... like Mari liked Hero. She wanted what they had, and she wanted it with
Sunny.
But for every thought of romance, followed a plague of introspection. Compared to Sunny,
she felt weak and parasitic. It was his house she lived in, his work and smarts she lived off of,
and his outreach that allowed her to avoid her demon. All she had to offer was some muscle
and her inability to learn without his presence or aid. To speak nothing of the times she clung
to him like he was a liferaft in the middle of a storm at sea.

What reason did she have to be liked back? What reason did she have to even confess?

What would happen if he rejected her....?

Ice encased her spine in an instant. The chill overwhelmed her, teeth nearly chattering as her
embrace tightened.

"--Aubrey!?" Sunny gasped.

"C-Cold...." He's right there, but the ideas remain. What if he hates me, what if he leaves me?
They wouldn't go away. She can't, she can't--

"H-Hold on!" She felt Sunny shuffle around, before she suddenly lost her hold on him.
Aubrey's eyes widened as she looked over, only to find Sunny thrusting his red hoodie
towards her. "Here, wear this!"

'S-Sunny, no, you don't have to--"

"I want to!" He cried out, forcing the clothing into her arms with pleading eyes. "Just wear it,
please!"

Another gale howled through, and Aubrey's shiver left her no choice but to tunnel her torso
into Sunny's offering. Moments later, her head popped out of the top, followed by her arms
filling the sleeves. "O-Okay, I have it.... on...." She trailed off.
'....I'm wearing Sunny's hoodie....' She realized. The cold snapped out in an instant, as her
circumstances caught up with her. She was wearing his hoodie, she was being warmed by his
clothing, she could smell him all over. He was looking at her with a small yet proud smile on
his face, like he just solved world hunger. Everything crashed over at once, and a scorching
red flush exploded onto her face.

"T-This.... I.... Uhm...." Aubrey squeaked. Her mutterings went nowhere, and her pawing and
finger-pressing only reminded her of what she was wearing. She felt like steam was gushing
out of her noses and ears by the gallons. "W....Why?"

"....Why not?" Sunny asked, tilting his head. "I don't want you to be cold."

'S-Stop being so selfless, Sunny! I can't take it!' "B-But you're gonna get cold now...."

"As long as you're warm--"

Aubrey stepped forward and clutched his hands. "L-Let's just head home, alright....?" She
begged. Her heart felt like it was about to explode. She couldn't keep letting him charm her
like this!

Sunny blinked, taken off-guard by her assertive counter. "I-If you want to--"

"Yes, please." She pulled him away from the swings. "Before I have a heart attack...." She
whispered.

"--Huh? Aubrey, did you say something?"

"Nothing, nothing....!" She shook her head.

It was going to take the trip back and then some before Aubrey could calm herself down.
God, if only she had the courage to take that step and get her feelings out....

"Basil?" Polly called out, knocking on the wooden door. "Are you there....?"

It was an unfortunate necessity, Polly thought. Her patient's grandson, Basil, was a sweet boy.
Very polite, but he was so guarded. His grandmother struggled to be there for him, and the
nurse tried to make up for it.

But dinner time and his occasional gardening only gave Polly so much time to get through to
him. In every other circumstance, Basil either departed for the park or went straight to his
room and locked the door. He never showed any signs of harm when he came out, but Polly
couldn't help but worry for him regardless. 'It just doesn't add up.' She thought. 'Basil, what
are you hiding....?'

No response. Yet again, there was no response.

Polly sighed. "....Alright." She relented. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to cook
dinner soon...."

She glanced at a nearby wall, sporting a framed picture of Basil and--

"Oh!" She snapped her fingers. "One of your old friends came by not too long ago. He said
his name was Sunny--"

A loud clash of wood startled the words out of her. Before she could even regain her
bearings, footsteps rolled and rattled towards her from the bedroom. The door clicked, then
flew open and halfway inwards.
Blue eyes stared at her through a disheveled mop of blonde hair. "....Sunny came by....?"
Basil said.

"....Hooooo...." Polly breathed, hand on her heart. "Don't scare me like that, Basil!"

"S-Sorry...." Basil muttered, before snapping back to attention. "But Sunny came by? When,
why, how--"

"Basil." Polly frowned. One mention of that dark-haired boy and her patient's grandson
already went wild? This was suspicious, but it was also as good of an opportunity as any to
get through the little gardener's shell. 'It's a little manipulative, but....' "Slow down, please.
Your friend isn't going anywhere."

But he could, his expression said. Polly kept her look up, however, and Basil soon
capitulated. "....I'm sorry. It's just been so long since I...." He sighed. "I understand. Do you
remember what happened....?"

"Like I said, he came by not too long ago, while you were at school. He just left a message
for you."

"He did!?" He paused. "Er, I mean.... He did? Huh. Could you tell me what it was....?"

"I would, but...." Polly placed her hand on the door and pushed it out of Basil's grasp.

The boy squeaked in surprise as his bedroom, the floor covered in cloth and paper and dirt,
presented itself to the caretaker. A few pots were carelessly tended to near the window, with a
crammed backpack off to the side.

"....First of all, Mister Basil, you've got a room to clean." She said, motioning to the bedroom.
"Not to mention yourself...." She looked down at the boy, with his nest-like hair and clothes
that made him look too comfortable. "....And what about your homework?"
 "Wha-- That...." Basil stuttered. "That's not fair! You're not my--!"

'Ah yes, teenage rebellion. We're making progress.' Polly thought, letting Basil's complaints
blow right past her. She wanted to smile at the breakthrough, but kept her stern, frowning
mask. "Oh? Would you prefer that I get your grandmother involved, then?"

Basil paused. "Eh?"

"You're right. I'm not your legal guardian. But if you want, I'd be more than happy to see
what she thinks about your circumstances." She made a show of intense thinking. "Yes, I'm
sure she'll be receptive to hearing her grandson being sloppy and irresponsible, then
complaining when's he told to--"

"Okay, okay!!" Basil pleaded, hands raised in surrender. "I.... I'll take care of everything first.
But please tell me what Sunny said after!"

Polly finally let the smile show through. "Of course. Just let me know when you're done,
alright?"

Chapter End Notes

oh shit, it's the plot. run for the hills, everyone! (ft. polly rolling up into the girlboss
squad)

oh, and aubrey finally gets around to wearing those clothes, too.

not much else to say here, i'm afraid. a lot of buildup is getting ready to fire off, but it's
not time to pull the trigger just yet. but we're getting there.

as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Knocking on Wood
Chapter Summary

Life moves on, as does its struggles.

But for Sunny, it's one step closer to his confession. Or is it?

Chapter Notes

not much today, just another fluff chapter for y'all.

shoutout to The Absolute Best and yo momma 2021 real (yes, you read that right) for
the beta reads on this chapter.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Aubrey shrieked, diving behind the nearby crate.

The convenient obstacle went as promptly as it came, as a bat slammed down the middle.
Splinters exploded from the impact and covered the void around her in shards of wood.
Aubrey kept her arms up and before her as she scooted back.

"I'm getting real fucking tired of chasing you, girl." A low voice growled, bringing the bat
up and over her shoulders to rest.

Aubrey glanced over her arms. The visage acted like it was an enshrouded reflection of
herself, but its glowing blue eyes were nothing like hers. They were too piercing, full of hate
and assumption. Aubrey couldn't even see 'her' mouth, but it had to be snarling and full of
gritted teeth. It felt too much like it.

"How many times do I have to say it?" The demon stalked forward, her neon-pink mane
flowing and mocking all at once. "You can't run from me. You can't hide from me. You're
stuck with me, and you're gonna like it."

"No, I'm not!" Aubrey crowed, struggling to stand. "I've got Sunny! All you want is to
destroy everything and leave me alone in that dump of a house! I don't even need you!"

The shadow cackled, a malevolent distortion of her own mirth. It continued to step forward.
"You sure as hell weren't saying that two weeks ago, kid. Now that you've got a boytoy,
you think you've got the stones to handle everything?"

"O-Of course I do!" Aubrey kept backing up, only to hit a wall. Aubrey gulped, but kept up a
defiant mask. She had to stay strong, she couldn't show any weakness--

The demon slammed their hand on the wall near their head, and Aubrey yelped. "Funny.
Where the fuck were your 'stones' at the swings? You could've had him melting in the
palm of your hands, but you froze up." 'She' tutted. "And what about folding on the spot
when he caught that alarm clock? Or how you broke down in school like a little bitch?
Where's the 'stones' there, hm....?"

The phantom gale howled. "T-That doesn't matter!" Aubrey said, wincing against the chill
that started to invade her.

"Look at you now, shivering on the goddamn spot. Absolutely pathetic. And you think
you can 'protect' Sunny like this?"

"I...."

"Well? Don't stutter on me. Say it, tell me you can fucking do it."

Aubrey tried to move her mouth, but nothing came out. She felt cold. Her hand brushed
against her jaw, only to feel the frost covering her lips.
"....No? Of course not. Without me, you're complete garbage. Weaker than shit. He's
gonna leave you, doesn't matter how it happens. He'll be gone, you'll be alone and it'll
be all your fault."

She wanted to say otherwise, to deny the shadow's accusations. But she couldn't move. The
ice crept throughout. It was cold. Too cold. She was freezing, cocooned in Cocytus' ice.

"You need me, Aubrey. You want to make life better? You want to claim what's yours?
You want to protect Sunny? Then stop simpering around and call upon me." The demon
revealed its mouth, meeting her with a sharp, red grin. "Hell, why don't you do it right--"

"--Aubrey!?" A distant voice interrupted. The void shook.

The demon stopped with a snarl. "Goddamnit, not this bulls--"

The void shook again, greater this time, and the dark flushed out of Aubrey's sight.

"Aubrey, wake up!" Sunny cried out, and her eyes snapped open.

Aubrey couldn't see much in the darkness, but she caught a hint of Sunny's worried
expression. She felt his hands on her shoulders, and there was something wet on her cheeks.
"....Sunny....?" She croaked.

"Are you alright, Aubrey?" He pressed, drawing her in and embracing her. "You were tossing
and crying...."

"I-I had a nightmare...." She tried to take a deep breath. Something was coming out of her
eyes. "It was-- I felt like I couldn't do anything...."

"It's okay, Aubrey." Sunny's hands rubbed at her back. Aubrey dug her face into his shoulder.
"It's.... It's gone now."
'Is it....?' She thought. The demon's words came back to her too easily. "I.... Sunny, what do
you think of me?"

"What do I think of you....?"

"Like...." Aubrey gulped. "Do you.... do you think I'm weak, or useless?"

Sunny's eyes widened. "N-No, of course not! Why would I ever think that!?"

"I just...." The more she thought about what to say, the more embarrassed Aubrey felt. She
felt the blush of shame settling in. "I feel like I can't be strong. Every time I try to be strong,
something goes wrong and I-I just start freezing up...."

Sunny took a deep breath. "Aubrey, I.... I'm like that, too."

She stopped, eyes wide as saucers. "--Huh!?"

"I said everything would be fine a week ago, and then everything went wrong for me.
Remember when I was running towards school....?"

When she couldn't handle being so far away from Sunny, and they ran into each other on the
sidewalk. "....Yeah." Aubrey nodded.

"I feel like the world just twists and turns on me when you're not around." Sunny continued,
eyes averted towards the wall. "I want to be strong, too, but I can't. Not without you." A
pause. "I can't-- I won't ever think of you as weak. I won't ever think you're useless. I never
will."
"Sunny...." She smiled into his shoulder. Warmth filled her, doubts blown away by empathy.
"Th--" She started, before a snort came over her. "....Heh, we say 'thank you' to each other a
lot, don't we?"

Sunny chuckled. "I think we do. I don't mind, though...."

"Well, thank you a lot, Sunny." Aubrey shifted, pressing her cheek against his. "....Hey, you
said you had some adventures in your dreams before, right?"

"Yeah? They're, uhm, kinda wild though...."

"I don't mind. Could you tell me about them? I don't want to go back to sleep...."

An imitation of a soft rustle came over the room. "....Alright, well." Sunny hummed. "I used
to wake up in a White Space...."

He launched into his tale of his Dream World soon after. Aubrey stayed there with an open
ear and plenty of thoughts to share.

"It's not that amazing, really...." Sunny insisted. "I did it to escape everything."

"Sunny, you lived out a fantasy in your dreams! That's seriously cool!" Aubrey gushed. She
was already back to her dark, bulky clothing. But it didn't stop her from vibrating like a kid in
a candy store. "I wish I could've been there!"

Sunny shook his head with a chuckle. Ever since he told her about Headspace, she's spent all
day gushing about it. Even after they took care of their tutoring and part-time work and were
walking home, Aubrey just couldn't help herself.
'....Well, it's not like I disagree with her....' He thought. For all of its ties to the accident, the
dream world was far from unpleasant. It was always the 'darkness' they kept him away, and
forced him to create the Vessel. But the colorful landscapes he and his dream friends battled
and ventured through were all so comfortable. He could easily remember the picnics they had
in the wildest places, the card games they'd play and the challenges they had to outwit. They
felt like part of his life, memories he could relive with in every one of the five senses.

"I wish I could've brought you along, too...." Sunny said. "But maybe it's for the best that
those dreams went away."

"--Huh?" Aubrey said, giving him a flat look. "What's so good about not having them!?"

"Well...." Sunny looked up at the sky. The clouds obscured much of the sky. "If it was so
good, then it could distract us from all the work we need to do, right?"

"....I guess?"

"Then we wouldn't have the money we need for groceries. Or the time to study. And then...."
He trailed off.

Aubrey got the hint, wincing. "W-When you put it like that...." She looked off to the side,
grabbing at her left arm. "I guess..."

"....I mean, it doesn't have to be like that forever...." That drew Aubrey's attention back.
"Maybe, when we don't have to worry about money, I can try again. And find a way to let
you join in."

"Really? I mean, they're your dreams. I don't know how I could join in...."
Sunny gulped. "I.... don't know either. But we can find a way, right? Like a flower....?" Now
that he mentioned it, Sunny recalled a bunch of White Egret Orchids in his dreams. What was
it that Basil said about them.... 'My thoughts will follow you into your dreams'? Could that be
a clue....?

"....Yeah." Aubrey's voice pulled Sunny from his thoughts. "I guess you're right. There's no
harm in tryi--" Her gaze turned ahead and her jaw dropped.

Sunny furrowed his eyes in concern. "Aubrey?"

"Sunny, is that your mom lounging in the front lawn?"

Sunny glanced ahead. There, settled on his front lawn, was a laid-back lounge chair with a
Wanda on top. She nursed a glass of tea on the rocks, complete with sunglasses and a sun hat.
'That's.... What?' Sunny thought. The trees were losing their leaves for the winter. Why is she
hanging out on the front lawn like it's the middle of summer?

"I think that's your mom lounging in the front lawn." Aubrey confirmed.

Sunny felt his brain start to dribble out of his mouth. "....What is she doing?" He muttered.

"Catching a cold?" Aubrey shrugged. "I have no idea."

Sunny sighed. He had a bad feeling about this, but... "Let's check it out...."

Wanda didn't take long to notice him and Aubrey approach, tipping her sunglasses up with a
smile. "Hey, kids! Done with work already?" His mother said.

"....Mom, what are you doing?" Sunny said, drier than the Orange Oasis. Aubrey bit back a
snicker.
"Oh, you know. Just enjoying this nice, relaxing day...."

"We're in the fall, mom. No one uses lounge chairs in the fall."

"Taking in the warm sun and its golden rays, making the majestic forests glow with a brilliant
gold...."

"We always had those trees--" Sunny paused, squinting. He could catch the faint flashes of
red and blue through the southern treeline. "Wait, are there cops down there?"

"Wait, really?" Aubrey asked, sidling up to his side for a look. "Did they get the Tree
Bandit?"

"Oh, no!" Wanda said in a snap, waving it off. "It's just a mid-day rave party."

Sunny blinked. "What's a rave party?" He asked.

"I'll tell you when you're older."

"But we are older." Aubrey said.

"I mean when you're old enough to pin Sunny down on the bed and--"

"MOM!" Sunny yelped, as his cheeks felt scorched. By his side, Aubrey squeaked and hid
her face within her hands.
Wanda chuckled. "Anyways, why don't you two head inside? There's some freshly-baked
cookies waiting for you on the coffee table. And I think there's a new Captain Spaceboy show
coming on in a few minutes?"

"Cookies?" Aubrey said, raising her head.

"Mhm. Chocolate chip."

Aubrey gasped, eyes sparkling. "Come on, Sunny! We gotta get inside!"

Sunny felt Aubrey grabbing at his hand. Though he was still perplexed as to his mother's
antics, the temptation of Spaceboy (and the prospect of cuddling on the couch with Aubrey
again) was a little too much. He offered no resistance as Aubrey pulled him past Wanda and
into the house.

......

Wanda waited until the front door clicked shut before she sighed. "That was close." She said,
staring at the southern treeline.

Sunny hit the mark on the police in the neighborhood. When the police came to question
Wanda, she made sure to put the spotlight back on Clementine. 'It's a bit unfair, actually. I
talked my way out of an assault charge, but she can't do anything about the mountains of
trash in her home.' Wanda thought. Sad as it was, Aubrey's mother was doomed the moment
she decided to get the police involved.

The barest hint of flashing lights shifted, drawing back before shifting off towards the
intersection. "....And they arrested her." Wanda muttered. "Sorry, girl, but it's for the best."

....On second thought, Wanda shook her head. It was an act of spite, she shouldn't lie about
that. But Clementine needed an intervention, and the county jail was the cheapest thing she
could get.
Wanda finished off her tea, then set the glass down to stretch her arms. By all accounts, that
should be it. Wanda was an officially designated guardian for Aubrey-- a precaution the pair
of mothers took back then-- and she would look after Clementine's daughter until she became
of age and decided to leave. 'But if Clementine's petty enough to involve the police, she'll
likely try to take me down with her.' Or, failing that, challenge her guardianship.

Wanda groaned. "I'll worry about that later. Not like it'll come up within the week...." She
lowered her arms onto the rests, and leaned back into the lounge chair.

A gale blew past, accompanied by red butterflies, but Wanda paid it no mind. She was made
of sterner stuff.

Sunny closed the science textbook with a sigh. "We're finally done with that." He said.

The cookies were incredible (and after seeing Aubrey's reaction, he swore that he'd learn how
to bake them himself), and the new cartoon was amazing. But they only lasted for half an
hour, and the pair was left to pick back up on their homeschooling in the dining room.

They made good progress, Sunny thought, but Aubrey didn't look like she agreed. The girl
slumped in her seat. "Tell me we don't have to do math next." She said.

"Well, it's the last one we need to do...." Sunny said.

"Oh my god." Aubrey groaned. "Can we just.... stop studying? I feel like my brain is going to
explode."

"Mom won't let us hear the end of it, though...."

Aubrey let out a giant sigh. "Sunny, I don't want to be mean, but Mari's textbooks are
insane." She motioned at the pile of books on the table. "Have you even heard about half the
stuff in here before!?"

"Mari mentioned them a few times...." Sunny recalled. She took a lot of classes, thanks to her
college cram schedule. He could remember a lot of muttering and groaning when Mari dealt
with her daily mountains of homework. And he had to, since Mari had the peculiar gift of
multi-tasking between 'doing a lot of homework' and 'making sure that Sunny gets his done'.

"Lucky you." Aubrey muttered. "I had a hard enough time with the 'normal' stuff...."

Sunny paused, before scooching an inch closer and wrapping an arm around her. "....Well, I
know it can get tough, but it's going to help us later...."

"....How, though?" Aubrey looked over at Sunny. "We haven't used any of this stuff when we
started getting money."

"Except math."

Aubrey winced. "W-Why did you have to mention math....?"

"It's not that bad...."

"It's an evil virus of Satan!"

"I-I mean, it's better than writing essays!"

Aubrey opened her mouth, then closed it when no flies appeared. "--Okay, you have a point
there.... But still! Why can't school just teach us more important things?"
"Like....?"

"Like making money. Or fixing things. Or how to live off of little money...."

Sunny bit his lip, glancing to the west. "I.... I think I asked Mari about that, back when she
was doing cram classes."

"Really?"

He nodded. "She said it was for college, since it's a lot more difficult than what school
does...."

"At college, they make you take a difficult test to get in." Mari said . "Then they want you to
study a lot and no one will be there to remind you to do it. It sounds hard, but its the best way
to get a really good career!"

Aubrey's eyes glazed over. "....It gets worse....?" She whispered, leaning limply upon Sunny's
side.

"I-I mean, we're doing it together, right?" Sunny rushed out. "Maybe it won't be as hard as
she said!"

"But what if it is? What if we can't get in? I-I'm not cut out for this stuff like you and Mari...."
Aubrey drooped in his grasp. "What if we're stuck like this, or I can't go with you....?"

Sunny could taste the defeat radiating off of her, and panic invaded his thoughts. 'Q-Quick, I
gotta cheer her up!' He thought, dipping in to apply a kiss upon her forehead.

The effect was immediate, with Aubrey snapping to attention with wide eyes and pink
cheeks.
"Aubrey, it'll be alright! W-We already did so much, we can handle college! And we still
have years before we deal with it! I won't let you fall behind, I swear!"

"O-Okay, but...." Aubrey's hand reached for a lock of her blonde hair. "Did you just.... kiss
me on the forehead?"

"....Uhm.... Yeah." Sunny mumbled, feeling himself heat up. In his defense, it worked before.

"Well, could you...." Red started to consume her face as she twisted and rubbed at the strands.
"Uhm, it feels weird on the forehead, so.... Maybe next time...." She winced her eyes shut,
bright as a tomato, before vaguely pointing towards her cheek. "....D-Do it here?"

Something about that image made Sunny's heart soar. The little Snuys in his mind went into a
frenzy, clamoring for the boy to hug Aubrey like a teddy bear and pepper her with affection.
'Auby cute, Auby cute!!' they cheered.

Sunny, on the other hand, dumbly nodded. "A-Alright." He said. "Should I do it...."

He trailed off, as Aubrey looked close to passing out from a self-inflicted heat stroke.
"Nonotyetweshoulddomathfirst!!" She squeaked, lunging for a textbook layered with
numbers and signs.

The Snuys deflated and cried in despair.

......

Thump thump.
Sunny looked up from Aubrey's halfway-finished homework. "Someone's at the front door."
He said.

Aubrey paused, pencil held mid-air. "Is that your mom?"

Sunny shook his head. "No, mom doesn't knock." She's more the type to bust into your room
and--

'No, don't go there. She was just worried about you.' He reminded himself. Not that he could
shake the incident out of his head....

Thump thump.

Now that he thought about it, wasn't that kind of knocking familiar....? Something about
blonde-- 'Wait....'

Aubrey put her pencil down. "Well, we should go answer it--"

Sunny grasped at Aubrey's shoulder. "D-Don't worry, I'll get it." He rushed.

"Wha-- Sunny, I can go with you!"

'Yeah, but if it's who I think it is....' He thought. His memory was sharp, and he still
remembered when Aubrey up and revealed the culprit of Mari's 'hanging'. She wasn't wrong,
but he didn't want to take chances. This could mean getting the truth out. "I mean, it won't
take me long. I'll only be a room over. Just.... the sooner you get those problems done, the the
better, right....?"

He tried to put on his best reassuring smile, but Sunny felt the word 'bad idea' invade his
vertebrae for every word he spoke. He was only 'a room over' from Aubrey before and they
both suffered for it on multiple occasions. He was only 'outside' when Aubrey fell off that
ladder and hurt herself. It felt like anything might happen at the front door. What fresh hell
would he inflict on the two of them by leaving her side?

Anxiety wormed into his gut. Why was he risking everything like this? What right did he
have to ask her to stay? He felt like a fool, small and ignorant. His place was beside Aubrey,
and here he tried to separate himself for no good reason. If anything, he should take it back
and apologize right--

"....I guess...." Aubrey muttered, breaking his thoughts. Her eyes were fixed on the paper
before her. "But don't take long, okay?"

Wait, did she just agree to....?

Sunny shook his head. He shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. "I'll be back in a minute."
He said, pulling himself up and away from Aubrey. He could still feel her warmth on his arm.

Thump thump.

"I'm coming!" Sunny called out. The shadow of the door shifted slightly, compounded by his
own reflection. He reached out and grasped the doorknob.

Blue eyes and an anxious smile soon filled Sunny's vision.

"Sunny!" The visiting boy said, surging forward for an embrace.

An 'oof' escaped Sunny as he steadied himself. He took a deep breath, the visitor's blonde
hair tickling the side of his nose. "B-Basil." Sunny said, wrapping his arms around his friend.
"It's been a while...."

"No kidding!" Basil squeezed Sunny with a giggle, before stepping back. His smile
blossomed threefold. "It's been years, but you came back! It's so good to see you again!"
"Yeah, I...." Sunny rubbed at the back of his head. "I had some growing up to do...."

Basil nodded. "I can imagine! You definitely look...." The boy pauses and tuts once. "--
healthier than last time!" He glances to the sides. "And are those muscles I see on those
arms!?"

Sunny blinked, before glancing down at his left arm. '....Oh, right, I wore short sleeves today.'
He remembered. It was hard to tell when he wore that hoodie so much. "I.... don't see any."

"Come on, Sunny, there's no need to be modest. You're getting in shape and that's a good
thing!" Basil said, before his eyes suddenly lit up and his smile turned smug. "Or are you
trying to impress someone....?"

"B-Basil!" Sunny squeaked, a blush burning his ears.

Basil snickered, and Sunny stared to glare at his friend. 'You're just as bad as Mari, I swear....'

"Sorry, it's been so long that I just can't help it!" Basil said, covering his mouth in an effort to
kill the chuckles. It was still a few seconds before the boy fell silent. "Well! Do you mind if I
come in?"

Sunny's eyes widened. "Uhm--" He said, looking back. Aubrey was still there, and who
knows where his mother was? "It's.... not a good idea right now."

"Really?" Basil raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Mom's.... She's in a bad mood right now. I don't want to make you sit through that...."

Sunny tried not to gulp as Basil locked gaze with him. 'Please, Basil, take the hint....'
"....Well, if you say so!" Basil gleamed, and Sunny had to quash the wave of relief coming
through. "So, you wanted to talk about something, right?'

Sunny nodded. "Yeah, about...." He took a deep breath, before dropping his voice to a
whisper. "About the truth."

Basil blinked. "....Truth?" He whispered back, wary.

"About what happened two years ago. About Mari...."

The wind howled past, but Basil didn't even react, frozen in place. The world dimmed to
grayscale around the pair, the idle noises of nature becoming muted. The trees in the distance
began to loom, and though Sunny tried, he felt a growing absence--

"Do not falter now." The Stranger whispered, beyond his sight. The background retracted,
and faded colors returned. "Not when we're so close."

Basil finally breathed, his smile slipping into a small frown. "Sunny, you.... You shouldn't
worry about that." He said, placing a shaky hand on Sunny's shoulder. "It's all in the past. Just
leave it--"

"I can't." Sunny interjected, brushing Basil's hand off. "Basil, I spent so long acting like it
didn't happen. It's my fault, and--"

"It's not your fault, Sunny!" Basil tried to smile again. It looked more like a quivering mess.
"I-It was something that did it, you--"

"I did it, Basil. I pushed Mari, and she died." Sunny bit his lip. No, don't get all sad now....
"It's the truth. We.... We shouldn't lie about it anymore."
"Sunny, this isn't funny!" The blonde boy started to sweat, paranoia creeping upon his
features. He clasped Sunny's arms. "D-Do you not realize what you're saying!? You're going
to get in trouble!"

"It doesn't matter!" Sunny hissed. "I've already told them--"

Basil's eyes widened. "Y-You did!? Oh god--"

"They forgave me, Basil!" Sunny shook his way out of Basil's grasp, and gripped his friend's
shoulders. "I-I told my mom and Aubrey, and they forgave me!"

"They did....?"

"I did, Basil! It's not the end of the world, we can make things right!"

"A-Are you sure....?"

"I'm sure!"

"But what if they're--"

"Basil." Sunny stressed. "I.... I know it's hard to believe. But they deserve to know, and....
And it might not be as bad as we thought." He retracted his hands. "We just need to take a
chance, and we can move on."

Basil glanced to the side, pensive. His mouth opened, then closed. "Mmm...." He clasped his
hands before his waist, rubbing and shifting the palms together.
 Sunny felt a sweatdrop roll down his forehead. 'Come on, Basil. I know you don't want to
keep lying either....'

Basil sighed, retracting his hands. "....I--"

"Sunny....?" Aubrey called out.

Sunny saw Basil's hair bloom in color, and froze. 'Oh no. How long did I leave her alone....?'
He thought, as footsteps echoed from the dining room. He craned his head to the right.

"Sunny, is something wrong?" Aubrey poked out of the dining room's doorframe, glancing
over at the front door. "You're taking a long--" Her eyes fell upon Basil, and she froze with a
gasp.

"Aubrey--" Sunny started, only for the girl to bolt forward and snag him in a sideways hug.

The boy could only watch as Aubrey stepped back from the doorway, angling herself towards
Basil with a snarl. "What are you doing here?" She hissed.

Chapter End Notes

i'm sorry, did i say 'fluffy chapter'? i actually meant 'cliffhanger'. the plot had to come
back eventually, after all.

....i swore i had something else to say here.... oh, right.

you may have noticed the 'slow burn' tag that was recently added. it's something i added
on after some internal debate, seeing how we're at novel length and these codependent
dorks are still doing their little dance. it's not a sign of kith getting pushed back, but a
more accurate reflection of how long it'll take to acquire kith. and don't worry, we WILL
get to the kith, come hell or high water.

as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Dampened Herb
Chapter Summary

For the first time in a while, Aubrey encounters Basil.

This will not end well.

Chapter Notes

apologies for the slight delay. had to run through an additional draft or two for this one,
and the end result is a smaller chapter. hopefully, the content is still just as meaty.

shoutouts to The Absolute Best for beta reads on this chapter.

with that out of the way, lets get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

How the hell did it get like this, Aubrey would've pondered.

Sunny said he'd be gone a minute, then it felt more than a minute. That's all it took for the
cold to creep up the chair, and Aubrey had to shoot out of it.

And then she saw him.

Basil looked marginally better than the last time she saw him, but that didn't matter. She still
had the Photo Album-- the one he never bothered to clean up. The Truth echoed in her head,
reminding her of how the 'harmless' flower boy went and desecrated Mari's corpse, and all
the aftereffects it caused.

Adrenaline pumped through Aubrey's veins, as she grabbed Sunny and put him out of harm's
way. She didn't know why he let Basil occupy him, but she wasn't going to lose her only
friend left. Not before she went first.
"What are you doing here?" Aubrey hissed.

Basil was shocked, and then he scrambled to cover himself. "H-Hi, Aubrey...." He said. He
tried far too hard to keep eye contact. "It's been a--"

"Don't try to act chummy with me." Aubrey snapped. "You've got a lot of nerve, coming here
like nothing happened."

"L-Look, I'm sorry!" Basil's hands flew up in a show of defeat. "I just, Sunny wanted me to
come over--"

"Don't lie to me!" Aubrey growled. The blonde boy 'eeped', and she felt Sunny shift in her
grasp. Her grip tightened. "You don't have any business here, especially after what you did!"

"Aubrey--" Sunny struggled to say.

"I'm sorry about the Photo Album too!" Basil rushed out, wilting under her glare. "I didn't
know what I was thinking--"

"STOP LYING!" Aubrey roared, making the visitor jump back with a fearful expression.
"You didn't scribble over the photos, but you damn well didn't bother cleaning them!"

"Wha--" Basil's jaw hit the ground, and he scrambled to pick it back up. "I...."

"S-She knows...." Sunny forced out, unable to break Aubrey's protective hold.

"You-- You told her!? Sunny--"

"He told me everything!" Aubrey spat. "Even what you did to Mari, you monster!"

"I, that--" Basil stuttered. "I was trying to help him!"

"Help him? HELP HIM!?" Aubrey shook, steam peeking out of her gritted teeth. "You didn't
help him at all!"

"He was going to get in trouble! I did it to protect him!"

"YOU SCARRED HIM!!"

Basil froze. Behind her, Sunny went still. "....What....?" Basil said.

"You hung Mari and it scarred him! He had to deal with that.... that thing haunting him for
the last two years, and it's all because you wanted to lie about how Mari died!"

Basil's wide eyes darted from her to Sunny. His mouth opened, then closed.

"Well?" Aubrey pressed. "What do you have to say about that!?"

"T-That's not true." Basil muttered, but not at her. "That.... that didn't happen, right....?"

Aubrey glanced back at Sunny. For all of his former struggle, her partner couldn't meet
Basil's eyes.

"N-No...." Her attention snapped back to Basil and his horrified expression. He took a step
back.
"See? That's how much you hurt him." Aubrey said. "And you never even thought about it
until now, didn't you?"

Basil's face fell. "I wasn't.... I didn't mean to...."

"Didn't mean to make his life a living nightmare? Didn't mean to fake a suicide?" Aubrey
scoffed. "No, Basil, you did. And you thought you could just waltz back in and make
everything worse."

The flower boy sniffled. Once upon a time, Aubrey was sympathetic to the fragile gardener's
sorrow, how he struggled just as much as she did. Now, she knew better: He was nothing
more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. His tears wouldn't move her now, or ever.

"Get lost." Aubrey scowled, reaching out for the door. "And don't you dare come anywhere
near us again."

She didn't bother to see his reaction before slamming the door shut.

Sunny could only watch as Basil was cut off by the front door.

It was everything he feared and then some. He guessed that Aubrey wasn't too happy about
Basil, but not that she would just verbally run the boy over and then threaten him to stay
away. 'He's not innocent, but he still tried!' Sunny thought. If it wasn't for his own error, Basil
would've never had to hang Mari's body in the first place.

But how could he relay that to Aubrey? He tried to get out of her hold, to get across to her.
But the moment she saw Basil, it was like watching Jekyll turn to Hyde. She didn't give him
the chance to get between them, and his confidence took his words off the bat. All it took was
Aubrey driving the nail in deep to make his efforts go to waste. How could he turn around
and tell them everything was fine when she brought up Something?
Speaking of Aubrey, she stared at the door for a few moments. She took deep breaths, as if
trying to calm herself down. But he felt her continue to shake, and he knew it wouldn't be
enough. "....Let's just forget this ever happened." She finally said, releasing her embrace.
"Come on, let's finish this homework."

Aubrey's hand found his own and dragged him back into the dining room. It was a comfort,
but there was also a feeling Sunny couldn't put to words. A sense of friction, something
within that opposed where Aubrey was leading him. Basil didn't deserve the treatment that
Aubrey gave him. Yet here she was, blocking him out and taking Sunny away from it all.

Sunny felt divided. He wanted nothing more than to go back and fix things with his friend, no
matter what sins he committed. But if he allowed Aubrey to pull him back to the table, then
when would he ever have the chance? Wouldn't that be as good as telling Basil to go away
himself?

'But I don't want to push Aubrey away, either....' He thought. He cared about her a lot, to say
the least, and she did so much for him. Speaking up felt like a betrayal. What if it hurt her
feelings, or she started to hate him for not agreeing with her? His palms started to clam up at
the thought. He just wanted to make things better-- he didn't want to lose her!

But the thought of Basil remained. Even in the worst thoughts of Aubrey's reaction, Sunny
couldn't let go of taking that next step. It was what he needed to do, wasn't it? The
hallucinations would always be waiting to strike until he set things straight. Aubrey would
always be around, but the terrors only needed one good opportunity....

With a heavy heart, and a deep breath, Sunny gently tugged his hand away from Aubrey. His
palm left her grasp all too easily, and it bit at his composure.

She froze, turning around to look at him. "Sunny?" She asked.

"That...." Sunny said, gulping. "That wasn't right."

"What wasn't...." She blinked. "Wait, you mean Basil?"

He nodded.

"....Sunny, he deserved it." She stepped towards him. "After what he did, and then he just lied
about--"

"I asked him to come." Sunny interrupted.

"What."

"I.... I left a message at his house. I wanted to talk to him about--"

"Why would you do that!?" Aubrey interjected, grasping his arms. "Didn't you remember
what he did?"

"W-Well, yeah, but--"

"He hung Mari, Sunny! He lied to everyone, and you were left with that horrible thing for
years!"

"He-- he was just trying to help!"

"So what, you wanted him to hang your sister!?"

"Wha-- No!"
"Then why would you still want him around!?"

"He's still my friend! I just want to make things right!"

"He's not right, Sunny! He's a monster!"

"What about me, then? I'm the one who pushed Mari!"

"That was an accident! He ruined everything on purpose!"

Sunny felt nauseous. The world seemed ready to twist and tumble. Aubrey looked
bewildered, but he could see the growing irritation in her eyes. Why was he doing this? Why
couldn't he just drop it? But his mouth seemed to move on its own. "I-If I can be forgiven,
then why can't he?"

"Because he doesn't care!" Aubrey stressed, shaking Sunny. "He never bothered to clean his
photos. He never wanted to reach out like you did! He didn't even think about how badly off
you were!"

"But he was just grieving--"

"Look, it doesn't matter, can't we--"

"I don't want to just leave him behind!"

"Sunny, please--"

"Come on, Aubrey, please listen to me--"

"Just stop already!" Aubrey hissed, before pushing him back.

Sunny froze, and his vision shattered.

He was only pushed by a foot, but her shove felt like a propulsion into the horizon. He.... he
just made her push him away. He got her angry, and she wanted him to stop.

'I.... I messed up....' Sunny thought. He just wanted to help Basil. Sunny was the cause of
everything, he didn't want someone else to take the fall like he did. But instead, he went and
set Aubrey off.

This was it. Aubrey would hate him now, no doubt. She tried to help him in her own way,
protect him from someone she thought would hurt him. Instead, he spat in her face on it and
made her feel like a burden.

Would she leave him now? It would make sense. He clearly didn't appreciate her enough, and
he leaned on her too much to begin with. She was better off without him weighing her down.

A sob escaped his throat. It made him shudder and brought the world back together.

Aubrey stared at him, pallid and guilt-ridden. "Sunny, I-- I didn't mean to...." She said, hands
outstretched.

"I-I'm sorry...." Sunny sniffled. Something pricked at the corners of his eyes. "I shouldn't
have...."

"No, that-- I shouldn't have pushed you, that's my fault!" She nearly lunged forward, catching
Sunny in an embrace. "I didn't mean to get upset!"
"I'm so sorry--" Another sob break through, stronger than the last. Sunny fell to his knees,
and Aubrey went down with him. He clung to her, desperate, as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Don't hate me, please don't hate me....!"

"No, I'm sorry, I don't hate you--" She croaked, interrupted by her own sob. "I didn't mean to-
- I'm sorry Sunny, I'm so sorry, I--"

The rest of her sentence never came out. The pair leaned into each other, as far as they could,
before they began to bawl.

Time and space lost all meaning for Sunny, absorbed in their sorrow. The pair's shirts were
quickly soaked with each other's tears, the two sputtering half-formed pleas and apologies
between gasps and sobs. The boy's mind ricocheted between misery and hope: I screwed
everything up; she's still here with me; I wish I never brought this up; she said she was
sorry....

Trapped in that maelstrom, Sunny could only cling desperately and let the agony flow. He
had no idea how long he spent on his knees before Aurbey shifted, dragging the boy up to his
feet.

"C-Come on, let's get to our room...." She whispered, half-choked, as she led him away.

.......

Even after Aubrey managed to bring Sunny onto the bed, it took another eternity for him to
gather himself.

His tears stopped flowing, leaving only emptiness in their wake. Aubrey's embrace gave him
comfort, and his own hold kept him afloat, but it was the only solace he had. Sunny looked at
her, and found that her own tears dried up well before his. But her haunted concern was still
there, present in her eyes and cast upon him.
"I'm sorry, Sunny." Aubrey said, once again. "I-- there's no excuse for what I did."

"I-It's alright." Sunny murmured. But Aubrey shook her head.

"No, I'm the one that got upset. You were just...." She looked aside for a moment. "....I was
just trying to help you. Basil.... He did something horrible to you."

Something protective flared within at the mention of Basil. Sunny winced. 'No no no, I'm not
going to push it again.' He thought. Aubrey was just trying to help, and he nearly ruined
everything by being pushy.

She seemed encouraged by his reaction. "I-I know he's your friend, but I just want you to be
safe. Just.... Let's leave him alone. Please?"

Yet, Sunny's mind said no. Even he couldn't fathom why. Was it the Stranger's doing? Was he
that dogged to see this through to the end? It was a confusing mess, even when he knew his
thoughts weren't under his full control. Headspace was a shining example of how things
happened without his consent.

The heart screamed to agree, and so did Sunny. But it was not an easy admission. It took a
herculean effort to open his lips and speak. "O-Okay...." Sunny said. The mind grew restless,
and rumbled its displeasure.

Aubrey sighed in relief. "Thank you." She scooched towards him, burying herself deeper into
his embrace. "Just.... don't worry. I'm here, I won't-- I won't leave you, I promise."

"Mmn..." Sunny nestled his face into her hair. It smelled like Aubrey-- unscented, but pure.
Never burdened by a great lie, not like he and Basil were. He breathed deeply, and clung to
the warm comfort as he tried to ignore the unease within.

He could only hope that Basil wasn't too stricken from earlier.
Amidst an argument he had no knowledge of, Basil ran into his house and went straight for
his room.

He flopped straight onto his bed without ceremony, grabbing the pillow before screaming
into it. 'Why!?' Basil kept asking himself. Why did everything have to go wrong? Why didn't
Aubrey give him a chance to speak up for himself? Why-- No, how did he traumatize his own
friend?

The gardener boy was no stranger to regret. There wasn't a day that went by where he didn't
ask himself why he hung Mari's corpse. She had a bad knee that kept her out of softball. All
he needed to do was say that she fell on her own while carrying the violin and everything
would be okay. But he didn't, instead going the whole nine yards and faking how she passed
on entirely.

Even worse was that he couldn't grasp why he did it. There wasn't a single thread of logic
behind his actions. The only glimmer of reason was a voice of doubt, whispering only in
darkened corners and total isolation. But no matter how he tried to address it, he only
received condemnations and even bleaker suggestions: Ranging from 'Remove your
burdensome self' to 'Force Sunny to recognize how much you've done for him'.

Basil threw the pillow to the side, before rolling over and covering his face with his arms. He
felt the tears coming on, but drew them back in by sheer force of will. He shouldn't cry; a
freak like him didn't deserve to cry, not for the mess he intentionally made. Not for the friend
he left to....

"See, that's how much you hurt him. And you never even thought about it until now, didn't
you?"

He didn't even realize the consequences of his actions. Mari was already dead, after all, so
what would hanging her corpse really do to Sunny? It only took two years and Sunny's silent
affirmation to tell Basil otherwise.
He traumatized Sunny. He hung Mari before her little brother, and the boy had to live with
that image for years. No wonder Sunny shut himself in and left him in the cold. He scorched
his friend's mind under the pretense of help, and where Basil could keep up appearances,
Sunny had to claw his way out of his misery.

What good was he, a flowery boy with such dark thoughts and a blind eye to his own
wrongdoings? What other horrors did his actions cause to Kel, or Hero? What about the car
that Basil never saw in Sunny's driveway since then?

"--Basil!?" Polly cried out from afar, interrupting the boy's thoughts. Oh god, he didn't even
close the door. He had to--

The brunette lady crossed into his room before he could even get off the bed. "Basil, what
happened?"

Basil kept his back to the door. "N-Nothing happened!" He said. But his voice came out
fractured, burdened by his merciless thoughts.

"Basil, this isn't 'nothing'. You were so happy to go visit your friend before!" The mattress
deflated a bit at the side. The caretaker must've taken a seat on the edge. "Did they do
something to you?"

"No, they didn't!" Basil raised his voice. He tried to muster his polite persona, but all of his
efforts fell short. Only a defensive veneer remained. "Just-- I don't want to talk about it!"

"Basil, I can't keep letting you hide away like this." A gentle hand touched his shoulder. He
tensed up. "I know I'm not your grandmother, but I still worry for you."

"Please don't. I don't deserve it, just let me--"

Another hand grasped his side, and before Basil knew it, he was pulled off of his comforter.
A second later, his cheek laid upon Polly's shoulder. Her arms wrapped around his side,
locking him in a gentle and soft embrace. "It's okay, Basil." Polly whispered.

"No-- No, it's not okay!" Basil insisted. He couldn't crack, he held this secret for two years
already. No matter how warm the hug was, or the overwhelming safety that her hug
impressed on him, he wasn't going to crack.

"It's okay." She repeated, as she slowly rocked back and forth. "You can let it out. I'm here for
you."

He couldn't let it out. There was no way he could break now. He had to hold back the
bubbling urge to cry. If he can tough it out--

"Close your eyes...." Polly began to sing. "You'll be here soon...."

The foreign lyrics slipped into Basil's mind, and he could only bite his lip. He had to hold on,
he had to hold on, he had to hold on. But the mantra started to slip, and the embrace began to
slip into his heart.

"....Close your eyes...."

A sniffle escaped him.

"....And you'll leave this dream...."

Something broke. He.... It felt like so much. He can't hold it anymore.

"I know that it's hard to do...."

 Basil leaned into Polly and sobbed. The tears broke through shortly after.

Chapter End Notes

ouch. ouch everywhere.

for all of basil's dedication, i don't recall canon ever showing him being too concerned
about sunny's degraded state. and to be fair, only aubrey points it out amongst everyone
in the friend group. (food for thought/sunburn fuel right there) but when you're against
an aubrey that relies on and thinks far too much of sunny, on top of realizing what's
haunted his dreams? sorry basil, but you never stood a chance.

but hey, at least polly's made some progress with him. and we've got a ways to go, so
he's not out just yet.

as for the codependent pair... well, we'll get to that real soon.

as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Amongst the Trees
Chapter Summary

Following the clash, the teenagers want to relax.

Maybe a picnic amongst the trees will help.

Chapter Notes

now for a slightly earlier update!

(thanks to the last one being slightly later)

shoutouts to The Absolute Best for beta reading this chapter.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"So," Wanda said. "Why did I walk into a mess in the dining room yesterday?"

Sunny gulped. He glanced over to Aubrey, only to see his shaky glance mirrored. Sure, the
dining room table only carried plates of half-eaten breakfast now. But Sunny knew that the
work fell to the wayside after the argument. So did Aubrey, by the looks of it.

More curious, however, was his mother asking about it. Weren't they already trying hard
enough?

"I'm not angry." His mother dabbed at her lips with a paper towel. "But I am curious. Unless
you both wanted some privacy?"

"N-No, that's not it...." Aubrey said, cheeks flaring.

Sunny took a deep breath. Mom wasn't going to leave this alone, and he didn't dare tell her
that Basil visited. He felt lucky enough that she didn't bring him up yet, but he needed an
excuse. But what kind of excuse could he make....?

"It's because...." Aubrey started. Her mouth opened, then her gaze met Sunny's. Her mouth
fell closed, and she averted her eyes towards the tablecloth.

"Because....?" Wanda raised an eyebrow.

"W-Well--"

"....We got bored." Sunny said. The ladies' attention diverted to him. "We went to take a
break, and we got a little too comfortable...."

"....And then you fell asleep." His mother finished. "Right?"

Sunny recalled the hole in his memory, where the cuddling became a bleary acknowledgment
of his mother's dinner call. "Yes." He nodded.

"Well, I can't fault that." Wanda nodded, and Aubrey sighed in relief. Mom took a sip of her
water. "But that took a while to get out, didn't it?"

Sunny blinked. "....Did we do something wrong?"

Wanda shook her head. "No, no. As I said, I was curious. But when you hesitate so long for a
simple explanation, people will get ideas."

....Oh.... Sunny felt his ears heat up. Aubrey looked ready to sizzle. Oh.
"Unless--"

""We didn't!!"" The kids cried out.

His mother drew a small smirk. "Alright, you've made your point." She dug her fork into a
half-eaten, hard-fried egg.

"S-So, uh...." Aubrey said, staring at the table. "Miss--"

"Just 'Mom' is fine."

"S-Sunny's Mom," Aubrey tried to pick her own fork back up. "What are you doing today?"

"Mm...." The mother took a quick bite of her egg. It didn't last five chews before the lady
gulped. "I had my fun yesterday, thanks to Carmen." Kel's mother, Sunny recalled. "So
today's going to be paperwork and phone calls, I'm afraid."

"Oh.... From work?"

Wanda shook her head. "Guardianship. Your mother and I set it up a few years ago-- In case
something happened," She added. "Now that you're actually under my care, a bunch of old
men with powdered wigs will want to look at everything and make sure I'm 'fit' for it."

"Fit....?"

"As in, I have money, a good home, food to spare, yadda yadda." She waved her hand
dismissively. "They want to make sure I can house you, since your mother isn't qualified to
raise you anymore."
Sunny blinked. '....Wait, how does she know that....?' He wondered.

Aubrey, on the other hand, seemed concerned. "She can't, but what if--"

"I'm not losing that guardianship." Wanda said, with a stone tongue. "Even if there's a
problem, the courts are up to their eyeballs with cases. I'll have plenty of time...."

"....Courts are what?"

"They're busy for a few months. Either way, Aubrey, you aren't going back to your mother.
You can trust me on that."

That seemed to satisfy Aubrey, who released her fear with a sigh. Sunny had to agree with
her there, releasing a breath he didn't realize he held. He knew about as much as she did
about this.... business. But his mother knew, and she wasn't one to give up in the face of
adversity.

Wanda, on the other hand, finished her egg. "Anyways, what are your plans for the day?" She
asked, wiping a smidgen of yolk off her cheek. "Part-time work again?"

"Actually...." Aubrey started, glancing over at Sunny. He nodded, and she continued. "We're
planning to have a picnic later...."

Wanda paused. "Oh?"

"Yeah. We, uh...." She trailed off, her glance begging Sunny to continue.

"....Wanted to do something different." Sunny said, idly poking at his eggs.

Wanda's gaze fell upon the pair. No chuckle, no teasing, not even a 'Good job on taking a day
off for yourselves!'. Just the cold, piercing stare of a mother. Sunny tried his best to shake it
off, ignore it, and finish his breakfast. But the plate, close as it was, felt distant and
impenetrable. How was he supposed to eat under this pressure?

Even Aubrey had a hard time with her own plate. He couldn't recall her turning down food,
but the last time she struggled like this, the eggs were overcooked.

His mother cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "....Sunny, Aubrey, is everything okay?"
Wanda asked.

"--Uh!" Aubrey almost leaped from her seat. "No! No, we're fine....!"

"You're jittery and evasive." Wanda pointed out. "That's not 'fine'."

"....We're just nervous...." Sunny said. "It's.... been a while since we went to the lake...."

Wanda set her fork down. "Sunny, I'm not going to be mad at you. Whatever problem it is,
you can tell me. I won't bite."

'Sorry, Mom, but I can't tell you about Basil. Not after yesterday....' He shook his head.
"There's no problem...."

Wanda tensed for a moment, and Sunny almost lost his breath. But something flashed across
the mother's eyes, and she paused, before sighing. "....If you say so." She concedes, picking
her fork back up. "But I'll always be here if you ever need it."

Sunny could only nod, before trying to focus squarely on his food. The rest of breakfast was
going to be full of awkward silence, he could tell.
Yet, it stayed even longer than that.

Aubrey knew something was wrong when they woke up earlier. The smiles were there, wide
crescents as ever, but they felt tamer than before. The greetings were informal too, and the
distance between door and shower was greater than usual. Breakfast provided a brief
camaraderie, but it was only a distraction.

Ever since yesterday's argument, Aubrey felt a small rift between her and Sunny. It put a
glum feeling in her chest, and his presence felt more distant than her eyes suggested. She
hated it, and she wanted it gone.

But even as they walked out of the house together, if only to collect a few things before the
picnic, her tongue caught in her throat. She had an idea of what caused the problem, but how
can she fix it? She wanted nothing more than to put their argument behind them, but she
couldn't let Basil hurt Sunny again either. She apologized, but it wasn't enough.... Was it
worse than she thought? Maybe she should do better?

'Well, if it can help....' Aubrey cleared her throat, catching Sunny's attention. "....Hey,
Sunny?" She said. "I'm sor--"

The wind roared, and the molting trees shuddered. Aubrey stopped, cutting off with an 'eep'
as she clamped down on her coat, and her long blonde hair whipped towards the west. 'Since
when did the wind get this bad!?' She thought, waiting for the gust to die down.

"....Are you alright?" Sunny asked, hands in his hoodie as she straightened herself up.

"Y-Yeah...." She said. "I need to zip my jacket up, though...." Her hands went straight towards
her zipper.

"....If it's this bad, then maybe we should wait on the picnic....?"
Aubrey wasted no time shaking her head. "No, I-- we can still do it!" She started walking
again, and Sunny followed. The park soon left their view. "We just have to be careful with the
food."

"Are you sure?" They approached a corner. The shopping plaza was in sight. "I don't mind
waiting."

"I'm sure! I just.... it might rain tomorrow, you know? I don't want to waste today while we
have it...."

Sunny hummed for a moment, before nodding. "Alright."

The silence descended upon the pair again, even as they walked into Othermart. '....That
didn't work.' Aubrey winced, grabbing a basket. Stupid wind, interrupting her and making the
apology awkward. How dare nature steps on her toes like this.

....Then again, would it have mattered? She was going to apologize.... but for what? The same
thing she apologized for yesterday?

Aubrey bit her lip as they entered one of the aisles. What was it that drove the divide? She
scrambled her brain over, but nothing seemed to pop out. It wasn't like she was completely
horrible yesterday. She did her best to protect Sunny, and it's not like she didn't try to stop the
argument before it got that bad. What did she do wrong, then? Where did she run afoul?

Still, no answers presented themselves in her mind. As long as nothing occurred, the rift
would remain. But if an apology wasn't the answer, then what else could be done? A
distraction, perhaps? Something to get their minds off the bump in the road and let them
relax? That's what the Picnic was meant to be for, after all.

With a deep breath, Aubrey glanced around. What could she use to get his mind off of....

She stopped, eyes widening at a rack of hats a few yards away. "--Hey, Sunny!" Aubrey said.
"Huh?" Sunny said, turning his attention upon her.

"Look!" She gestured at the rack, before setting her basket down. "We don't have any hats,
right?"

"....Do we need them?" Sunny raised an eyebrow. "Do we even have the money to spare?"

"Oh, relax! They're only seven dollars!" Aubrey retorted as she flipped through the
selections. "Besides, we're still good on money, right?"

Sunny was silent for a few moments. "....I think so." He admitted.

"See! It'll be fine--" Aubrey stopped as her eyes fell upon one cap in particular. "Ooh!"

She reached in and pulled out a black baseball cap. An eyeballing suggested it was the right
size for her noggin. The front was emblazoned with a stark white bunny brandishing a
baseball bat, drawing a little coo from the girl.

Aubrey felt a smile coming on as she adjusted her bow, then donned the cap. It was a little
crowded up top, but Aubrey felt like a slugger already. If she had her bat, Othermart would've
become her stadium, with oranges set to fly straight out the roof.

The surge of excitement was enough for her to twirl around and face Sunny. She put on a
wide grin, one hand gripping the cap's visor while the other clutched her hip. "What do you
think, Sunny?" She asked.

The boy, on the other hand, looked ready to ripen and blow steam at the same time. His wide
eyes flickered up and down. "C-Cute!" Sunny squeaked.
The compliment pierced Aubrey's thunder, and she became very aware of the show she was
putting on. Her cheeks started to heat up, but her hands felt locked in place. "Y-You think
so....?"

Sunny nodded so fast, she feared for whiplash. "Yeah! You-- You should get it!!"

Without missing a beat, Aubrey tugged the hat off her head and tossed it into the basket. It
landed straight on some bread-- 'Wait, when did we pick up the bread?'-- and settled in a
flash. "Alright! So, uh--" Aubrey started, before pausing. Wait.... What was she going to do
next....?

"....We need bottled water, right?" Sunny offered.

Aubrey jolted to action. "O-Oh, right!" She swooped over and picked the basket back up.
"Yeah, to the water....!"

It was only a few seconds later when Aubrey blinked. '--Wait, no, I wanted him to get a hat!'
She realized.

But the hat rack was already out of sight.... She had to contain a groan. It was too late now,
and the silence had descended upon them once more. It was supposed to be a distraction, not
a bump!

....Still, he called her cute....

......

The rest of the grocery trip went by fast. They only needed a few items, after all, and their
purchases were just as swift.
It was a straight trip to the house afterward, if only to prepare the picnic basket. They already
knew where they were going to go, and they already dressed well enough for the strong gales.

Aubrey donned her cap before they departed, straight into a set of harsh winds. They ducked
their heads and protected the picnic basket, dashing forward as a unit. The way to the park
was ingrained on the back of their hands, and even turbulence couldn't lead them astray.

But it left them blind to the trees. Shadows shifted and leaped, shuddering amongst rustles as
the pair approached the park's treeline.

Sunny never got used to pushing through the mass of trees. The branches stretched into every
corner and angle possible, and there were always a few nicks between here and there. It even
got him itchy once or twice, which took forever to subside.

Still, Aubrey was here with him, so he grits his teeth and pushed through the best he could.
The hoodie protected him once or twice, and he was thankful that he wasn't carrying the
loaded basket. (though Aubrey still got held up by a rather persistent branch)

After a minute, the trees finally gave way to a set to.... A set of roadblocks with 'ROAD
CLOSED' signs.

'Wait, no, that's not it.' Sunny thought, moving ahead.

After that, Sunny glimpsed upon a snapshot of the past.

Trees dotted the enclosed landscape, parted only by a sandy clearing and the lake beyond it.
Though the grass was vibrant as ever, the trees were halfway shed, coating the ground with
warm colored leaves. Playground toys remained in-between the plants; a small shovel here, a
large puzzle there, plastic cars on their heads....
'....Huh, so this is what the Forest Playground came from....' Sunny mused, as his eyes
glanced over to the pier and the monument beyond.

"....Wow, it's really been a while, huh?" Aubrey said, interrupting Sunny's thoughts.

"Y-Yeah." Sunny said. "It looks the same, too."

"Wait, it does?" Aubrey gave him a surprised look. Sunny pointed at the old toys, and she
gasped. "Oh, that's the jump rope I used to play with!"

He nodded. "In the same spot, too."

"Wow." Her eyes widened a bit, with a shine of amazement. "It's like we're the only people
who came here in years--"

The wind picked up once more, and Aubrey had to cut herself off and clamp down on her
newfound hat. 'I prefer the bow, but Aubrey with a hat is cute too....' Sunny thought,
distracted by the sight.

The gale died down a few seconds later, allowing Sunny's hood to rest upon his back. (much
to his surprise)

"....Maybe we should see if the old blanket is still here too," Aubrey said. "Before the wind
blows us into next week."

"....Huh?" Sunny blinked. "Oh! Y-Yeah, it should be over here...."

......
True to his memory, Sunny found the old picnic blanket not too far off from the lake. He
didn't expect to see an old picnic basket there too, though.

An empty picnic basket, as Aubrey soon found out, but a basket nonetheless.

The pair wasted no time setting up. With the blue-checkered blanket in play, they instead
used their red-checkered blanket to bundle up and protect themselves against the wind. The
offerings were meager-- bottled water and some ham and cheese sandwiches served as the
menu for today.

But pressing themselves shoulder to shoulder, staring out at the lake they used to play in
amidst idle chatter? Sunny could care less, feeling far more warm and content than any of
Hero's dishes could make him.

"....You know, I kinda wish we spent more time here." Aubrey said, almost leaning on him as
she nibbled at the corner of her sandwich. "Back when we did all those picnics...."

"Yeah." Sunny said, nodding. "Mari was strict about it, wasn't she?"

"Well, she had to be, after...." She trailed off, glancing to the side. "You know...."

"When I almost drowned?"

"Mhm...." Her gaze shifted to the blanket below. "I still remember that day, too. She looked
so devastated...."

"Yeah...." His mind's eye flickered. Images of a drenched white cloth came to the fore,
accompanied by sounds of gross, desperate sobbing. "She wouldn't let me out of her sight for
the rest of the day. Not to mention how she acted with Hero...."

"--Wait, what?" Aubrey turned towards him, confused. "What did she do with Hero?"
"Wait, you don't--" Sunny blinked. "Oh, right. You didn't see her for a few days afterward....
Do you remember how Kel and Hero got me to climb that statue?" He pointed out towards
the lake.

"Yeah?"

"Well, Mari remembered that too. She got mad at Kel and Hero for it."

"Really!?"

Sunny nodded. "She was a bit cold with Kel, but Hero.... She was really mad with him. I
think...." He scrunched his eyes. His memory was sharp, but Mari's dark side was....
unpleasant, to say the last. "I think she yelled at him. Maybe even threw something at him."

Aubrey's jaw almost hit the ground. "No way."

It felt unbelievable, Sunny would admit. But he recalled Kel there with him, hiding behind a
couch when that one-sided debate reached the living room. "It's true."

"Then how come I didn't hear about it!?" Aubrey asked. "I mean, they were fine when I saw
them afterward!"

Sunny tapped his chin. "The first time, Hero.... I think Hero apologized, about not jumping in
when I fell, but Mari didn't like it."

Aubrey drew a sharp gasp, but Sunny didn't question it.

"She told him to leave, and then got really grumpy about him. Then he came back two days
later...." Mari nearly shut the door on him, too. Then they went into the dining room to talk.
"....He apologized again. About encouraging me to dive. About going back to the lake, too."
Sunny glanced back over at the lake. "Then Mari started apologizing. They hugged for a
while, and...." He trailed off, looking back at Aubrey.

Her head was leaned downwards, her knees hugged and bundled against her chest underneath
the cloth. "....That's why, huh...." She muttered.

Sunny blinked. "....Aubrey? Is something wrong?"

"--Sunny, did I push you around yesterday?"

Sunny froze. "....Huh?"

"When I saw Basil." She clarified, still looking at her obscured knees. "Did I push you
around then?"

"W-Well, you were just trying to--"

But Aubrey shook her head. "Was it what you wanted?" She pressed.

Sunny bit his lip. He glanced around for an excuse, but the clearing offered no recourse.
"....No." He admitted.

"...." Aubrey dipped her head. "I'm horrible...."

Sunny felt his heart take a tumble. He rose an arm to embrace her. "Aubrey--"

"I'm sorry, Sunny." She pulled her head up and looked at him. 'Guilty' did not begin to
describe her expression. "I didn't even think about what you wanted, and I just shoved you
aside to throw Basil out."

"Aubrey, I...." His arm encircled her back, but it did nothing for her mood. "It wasn't that bad-
-"

"It was!" She stressed. "I didn't even think about what you wanted and assumed everything
for myself! I shouldn't have pushed you aside! It's all my fault, and I'm really sorry!"

"I...." Sunny tried to start, but words failed him. What could he say? It.... It felt like he was
betraying something, leaving Basil like that, but he didn't blame Aubrey for it. He let her
push Basil away, and then he fumbled and argued with her afterward. He didn't ask her about
Basil before, and he never let her know what he was trying to do. "It's.... It's my fault, too."
He whispered. "I should've said something. You didn't know...."

"T-Then I should've talked to you first." Aubrey shook her head. "We-- I'm supposed to be
responsible now. I can't just act like...." She paused. "I'm sorry, I really am. I-I won't do this
again."

Sunny felt a pang of inadequacy. She still couldn't stop blaming herself.... How did he
deserve a friend this selfless, even when he caused that entire situation? "I.... I forgive you,
Aubrey. And I'm sorry, too. I won't hide anything from you again, I swear."

The girl took a deep breath, before returning his half-embrace at last. "Thank you." She
whispered. "And, uhm...."

"Mm?"

"I...." She sighed. "I won't stop you if you want to talk to Basil again." She closed her eyes.
"But.... I don't think I can handle seeing him again. Not right now."

Sunny gazed at her, confused. She seemed to read his eyes and continued.
"He.... He never tried to reach out to me, after the funeral. Then the one time I tried, he let me
in his house and then hid from me until I found the photo album.... And then he just comes
back around for you like it's nothing!"

"Aubrey...."

"Then I found out what he really did, and...." Aubrey shook. "I don't think I can forgive him.
He's been a terrible friend, and--"

Sunny squeezed his arm around her, and she gradually stilled.

"....I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever get past what he's done." She admits. "Maybe
someday, but...."

"....I understand." Sunny said. "Uhm...."

Aubrey sighed again. "Sorry for being such a downer. We were supposed to have a picnic,
right?"

"Y-Yeah." Sunny reached into the basket again. They already got this far, and he didn't want
to end the trip on a sour note. "We still can, right....?"

"Yeah." Aubrey leaned on him, just a bit. "Yeah, we can."

......

To Sunny's relief, it didn't take long for the mire of yesterday to dissipate.
Stumbled apologies and regrets branched off into idle chatter before long, filling the air with
Spaceboy theories and a few chuckles here and there. The sun was overtaken by light grey
clouds, but that couldn't put a damper on his improved mood.

Neither did it hamper Aubrey's. She lightened up considerably as their picnic went on, her
troubled lips becoming a small smile along the way. She released her legs and even stretched
them a bit before settling just a bit closer to Sunny. She even started to lean her head on his
shoulder, unleashing a torrent of butterflies in his stomach.

But it was now, when she nibbled on a sandwich he held (at her request), that the mood
settled past his steaming ears and into his mind. His crush on Aubrey, a constant even
throughout Headspace, felt like a raging inferno. There they were, comfortable and intimate,
huddled under one blanket on a cool day, relaxing as one.

The thought of a confession had struck his mind a few times-- mainly from Mari's teasing.
She always took to his 'Aubrey time', as she called it, with smug glee. If it wasn't her pushing
to put the swings closer, it was to tell her how he felt. At the time, the thought of putting his
feelings out was an utter terror. Too many ways it could go wrong, and what reason did she
have to accept him?

But the past few weeks tied them together in ways he never thought possible. Their issues
seemed fleeting, and even his mother noticed how often they held and touched each other. He
tried not to think so big, but in a moment like this, he couldn't help it.

....And after all, he said he wouldn't hide anything from Aubrey anymore, right?

'Maybe.... Maybe I should tell her.' He thought, watching her enjoy her bite of the sandwich.

"....Hey, Aubrey....?" He muttered.

"Mm?" She hummed, before downing her grub. "Yeah?"

"I...." Something caught his tongue. "W-Well...." He tried to force out, eyes darting left and
right. "Do you remember...." He trailed off, as sweat began to drip down his face.

"....Uhm....?" Aubrey asked, tilting her head.

'Aubrey please don't make this harder for me.' Sunny thought. He had to gather all of his
courage for this one. With a deep, haggard breath, he surged out and clasped Aubrey's hands
with his own.

"--Eh!?" She squeaked. "Sunny....?"

A light pink started to form on her cheeks, even as his face boiled. For a moment, a golden
ray shined from above, illuminating the blanket and cloaking Aubrey in a glow. Her cool
blonde mane mixed with the warm aura and elevated her beauty. Not a single woodland
creature made a sound, leaving the pair in perfect harmony.

Sunny gulped. It was time. He stared straight into her chestnut orbs and unwound his tongue.
"I...." He started. "Aubrey, I--"

The wind howled, scaring off the light above as its shock trooper struck the teenagers.

"--Ah!" Aubrey squeaked, as her hair whipped north for a second and-- "My hat!"

Sunny's eyes widened. "I-I'll get it!" He cried, pulling himself out of the blanket.

"Sunny, wait! It's--" Aubrey reached out, only to pause. "....Not that far, actually...." She
mumbled, retracting her hand.

True to her word, Aubrey's newfound hat didn't go far at all. The momentary gale sent it
flying a few paces to the northeast, right within the eastern treeline. It took little time for
 Sunny to run over and scoop it up. '....It's fine, too.' He mused, dusting it off a bit as he stood
up.

The trees rustled, the wind cried, and something hit the ground behind him.

Sunny yelped as he jumped and turned around. Something, or rather, someone rose to tower
above him and blot Aubrey out of his sight.

Sunny backed up into a tree as the figure, clad from head to toe in hooded camouflage, crept
two steps towards him. Dark eyes, alight with malintent, bore into his and snatched his
mettle. Sunny could only whimper as the intruder slapped a crowbar against their palm.

"And where d'you think you're going?" The Tree Bandit growled.

Chapter End Notes

uh oh....
 Adrenaline
Chapter Summary

The Tree Bandit wasn't a joke, as the pair soon finds out.

Chapter Notes

i'm surprised that i got this chapter out 'on time', to be honest.

shoutouts to The Absolute Best for beta reading once more. especially with the
tremendously helpful advice they gave.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Aubrey's blood turned ice cold in her veins.

How did this happen? It was supposed to be a normal day, with a picnic and yesterday's woes
put behind them. Everything was going so well, and the hat only flew just some feet away!
And the Tree Bandit-- she thought he was a joke! A ridiculous concept that kept coming up!
Not... Not an actual person, let alone a threat!

How did someone hide in the trees while they weren't looking? How did they never notice
him? Why did her hat get blown right where they were lying in wait!? A thousand questions
passed through her mind, but she couldn't answer a single one. All she knew was that Sunny
was now in danger, and the Tree Bandit stood between Aubrey and her beloved friend.

Yet, her limbs felt like lead. A formless gale howled without end, and she felt trapped in a
vortex. 'Sunny needs my help, this guy's gonna hurt him!' She thought, as the criminal stalked
Sunny into a corner.
But she couldn't move a muscle. She shook and shivered, but not a finger would lift at her
command. Why was this happening now? Everything was going to go to the dogs if she
couldn't move! Her legs were pinned by nails unseen and the arms hung limp. Panic had a
field day in Aubrey's head. Why can't she move!?

A smack of a crowbar against a palm hit her eardrums, followed by Sunny's whimper.

"And where d'you think you're going?" The Tree Bandit growled.

Get up get up get up GET UP!!!!

Her limbs snapped to action, and Aubrey scrambled to her feet. "Sunny--!" She cried out.

But the moment she stood at full height, the Tree Bandit's arm shot up. His crowbar was held
high, poised to come down on Sunny's head.

A strangled noise came out of Aubrey's throat.

"Move a muscle and he gets it, girl." The Tree Bandit barked, not even bothering to look
back.

A phantom gale started to howl, and Aubrey's legs were clamped in ice. 'H-He'll hit Sunny....'
She can't let that happen. But she has to help Sunny! Yet that help would damn him....

She shook even harder, but clamped down on her tongue. Not a movement, not a sound....

"Good." The criminal said, lowering their weapon. "Let's make this nice and easy-- You,
boy."
"M-Me....?" Sunny squeaked. Aubrey felt her heart seize up. How small and afraid he
sounded....

"Yeah, you. Y'see any other 'boys' here?" The Tree Bandit drawled. "I know you carry the
money. Hand it over."

"The.... Money....?"

Crowbar meets palm. The gale howls once more. "Yes, the money. Pull it outta your hoodie."

Aubrey's eyes widened. 'He knows about that....?'

As the more dedicated worker, Sunny was the one to handle the money, either gained or for
use. It always went straight into a little pile when they got home, and he would pinch out
enough when they had to use it.

How did the Tree Bandit learn about that? How long was he stalking around in Faraway?
'Was this what Gino meant about no one wanting to work....?'

"U-Uh," Sunny said, interrupting her thoughts. "I.... I don't have any on--"

The Tree Bandit stepped forward in the blink of an eye. Something slammed against the tree.
Sunny yelped. Aubrey's heart seized up on the spot.

"Bullshit!" The criminal roared. "I know damn well you have money!"

"I-I DON'T!!"

"He doesn't!" Aubrey cried out. "We didn't get any when we--"
The crowbar points to the sky.

"I'M NOT MOVING!" Aubrey screams, palms raised in surrender. "I'm not moving, I'm not
moving!!"

"Then you better shut up and he better get that damn money out." The criminal hissed.

Aubrey could only watch the Tree Bandit's back, still as can be. She heard the sound of
ruffled pockets.

"Not gonna repeat this again, boy." Another slap against the palm. "Don't make me do the
hard way."

Ruffled pockets. Patting against cloth. Nothing changed.

'Just give him the hoodie Sunny.' Aubrey could only think. 'Throw it at him and run. Or the
pants or anything just don't get hurt!!'

Seconds passed, and the sounds kept going. '--Why aren't you throwing stuff at him, Sunny
pLEASE--'

A muffled sigh breaks her train of thought. "Fuck's sake." The Tree Bandit spat. The
criminal's crowbar and his hand looped around his back.

"You want the hard way, you get the hard way!"

Time slowed to a crawl.

Terror surged through Aubrey as she saw the arm unwind. The arc unfurled at such a sluggish
pace, but her hand was just as slow. Doubt assaulted her mind far quicker. There was no way
she could stop this.

Sunny was going to get hurt.

Her jaw could only drop. A desperate cry echoed forth.

"NO!!!" Aubrey screamed.

The scream reverberated through the clearing. The trees shivered, and the lake rippled. The
Tree Bandit seized mid-swing. The crowbar leans to the side.

A second later, she sees Sunny diving to his left. Something smacks the ground ahead.

'He didn't get hurt, we can get out of here, he needs to run--' Aubrey draws in air.

The Tree Bandit turns his head towards Sunny with a growl. "Oh, you little--"

"SUNNY, RUN!!!"

The Tree Bandit seizes up as Sunny scrambles to his feet. The boy fumbles for the treeline,
ducking a shuddering branch.

"Fuckin'--!" The criminal can only watch the boy run. He glared back at Aubrey, before
leaping into the forest ahead. "Get back here, you little shit!"

Aubrey tries to breathe. Sunny's out, but so is the threat. They can sneak around the forest.
Sunny needs help, she has to get him out.
Her legs remind her of their weight. Her heart can't stop racing, why is she hesitating, Sunny
needs help!

The first step is short and strenuous. The second starts to pick up the pace. It takes three more
before she can break into a sprint.

The winds of the arctic howl as she breaks into the forest. 'Please be safe Sunny, please be
safe....!'

Sunlight died as Sunny bolted as fast and far as he could.

His surroundings grew dark and blackened, as if the darkness was swallowing him
whole. The chalky outlines of trees and bushes were his only company-- He knew this
place. This.... This was straight out of his nightmares-- How did he get here!?

The landscape twisted and tilted before him, strangling his screaming nerves. Every
single muscle begged him to keep going and never look back, else he would surely
perish. But the branches he had to duck through, the roots he nearly tripped on. They
ate not at his confidenc e, which was long since digested . No, it ate at his hope, his belief
in seeing Aubrey wake with him tomorrow.

As his hope declined, the forest grew alive. Giggles echoed and raised goosebumps from
his toes to his fingertips. Lone, bulging eyes began to populate the foliage and violate
every sense of mettle. Every turn Sunny made passed by that awful, dreadful face. That
face with icicle eyes and a grin made to shred mind and body alike.

"Run, run, run~" The woods cheered and taunted. "Run until you drop, boy. There is
no door here."
'It's not real, it's not real, it's not real!' Sunny tried to remind himself. But a dark claw
from the pit of his stomach reached out and pinched the clarity he oh so needed.

"You killed her, and the hour of judgment is now. Run until you drop, then he will end
you. It's what you deserve."

No, he can't, he shouldn't. Aubrey didn't want him to go, he made a promise, he can't
just leave her like this. But how could he get out? What could possibly stop a criminal
who stalked the woods?

Hands darker than coal waved and squiggled through the trees. Sunny had to do
something-- Get out, hide, this forest was too dangerous to keep running in!

But the moment he saw a big bush, a flock of arachnids crawled from the deep
branches. One-eyed and bigger than his hand, they multiplied and flourished over the
bush. A dozen, two dozen-- The bush was overwhelmed in seconds. Sunny skipped to a
stop and turned for a new path.

Nature, cruel to him and his partner, sent another baleful gale upon Sunny. He yelped
as he dove forward, barely avoiding the arachnids that flew with the wind. Yet, the trees
rustled forth. Even when the wind died, the trees wouldn't stop moving .

The Tree Bandit, he was here, he had to run! Sunny scrambled up to his feet, breath
growing ragged. Tears started to pick at the corners of his eyes. He keeps going, but for
how long? To where? Was there an end, much less a beginning?

And the trees still rustled, the criminal was on his trail. He can't escape him. He can't
hide from him. Mom was so distant, and Aubrey was nowhere to be found. His heart
started to seize, he was going to--

"SUNNY!?"
Aubrey's shout echoes through the trees.

"Aubrey?" Sunny said, head whipping about.

The forest giggles. "Where is she? Where is your precious Aubrey? Nowhere to be seen,
nowhere to be found...."

Sunny wishes he could silence it oh so much. But his heart is weighed by doubt, and he
must scream. "AUBREY!?"

"SUNNY!"

The west, it was coming from the west. "Aubrey!" Sunny cries, as he surges towards the
sound of her voice.

"Run, run, run." The forest continued to taunt, even as he dashes for salvation. "Your
punishment will be at hand...."

......

Elsewhere, the wind blows through the trees, shivering not a single branch of leaf.

But Aubrey paid no mind, too focused on breaking through the bushes ahead. She leapt over
roots, tackled through branches and swerved around the trunks.

She hadn't given herself a workout like this in some time. She can't remember the last time
she panted so hard. But it was impossible for to care. Sunny was in danger, pursued by a
bandit. Even on his best day, Sunny's strength was found wanting. His work ethic outpaced
his own body, and though he was catching up, there was no time to mend it. If she couldn't
find Sunny first....
A branch swiped at her cheek, and she felt a white line form. But she only bit on her gum.
She can't scream, she can't cry. She needed to find Sunny.

Still, the gale howled. A familiar chill had long settled into Aubrey, and it only continued to
infest. Specks of frost felt to cover her skin. Her bones rattled against the ice that threatened
to form. Her breath came out in fog.

'I'll find Sunny,' She tried to assure herself. 'We'll get out of here, I'm just grabbing him first.'
But her next breath still threatened to cloud her vision. Then the next breath, and one after
that....

The real gale blew through, whipping her hair straight into a branch. Aubrey yelped the tree
tugged at her, landing on her feet as she struggled to free herself.

“Oh, look at you now.” A familiar voice said, just as Aubrey pulled her blonde locks loose.

Aubrey whipped her head around. “Who-- Who's there!?”

“Don't play dumb with me.” The voice growled. “You know damn well who I am. You loved
to run like a bitch, remember?”

Aubrey's eyes widened. The pink demon....?

….No, no. She didn't have time to deal with this. She cupped her hands before her mouth.
"SUNNY!?" She cries out, her voice echoing into the foliage.

"Oh, real smart of you." The demon's voice sneered. "Yeah, just call out to him and let the
Tree Bandit ambush him. That's really gonna help him."
No, it will! Aubrey swatted off the ice on her arm. She'll find Sunny. They'll get out of here,
run home and then Wanda can--

"Do what, cover your ass for a few days? Everyone lives next to the woods here, dumbass.
You ain't gonna stop that guy from finishing the job."

The trees shook. "AUBREY!?" A voice cries out.

Aubrey perked up. 'Sunny's voice!' She realized. It came from over there! "SUNNY!" She
screamed back, bursting into a dash.

"Great, now he's going to get wrecked. All because of you." The demon said.

'No, he won't!' Aubrey thought, ignoring yet another branch's attack on her face. 'I'll protect
him!'

A bush leapt over here. Another tree's limb to duck under. Aubrey soon bursts into a small
clearing. It was but a fragment of the lake's site, yet wide enough for a small party to gather
their bearings.

"Aubrey!" A voice called out ahead. Aubrey squinted north. The trees were thick, but gave
her just enough room to spot something.

Distant movement.... "Sunny!" Aubrey cried out. That was him, he was okay, they're gonna
make it!! Her heart leapt high in her cage, and she waved her arms like mad. "Over here! I--"

The treeline to her west shook, breaking her cry and stealing her attention.

The slither of camouflage within the leaves sent her heart crashing into the frigid depths.
......

"Sunny, Sunny, Sunny--" Aubrey's voice echoed, twisted and shrill, before she laughed.
"How pathetic can you get!?" She jeered.

'I have to ignore it, it's not real, keep running!' Sunny continued to think. But the woods
started to dance with their own cackling. Hands darted out to block his view and barely
missed his shoulders. Webs of sticky thread started to weave themselves between the
trees, and Sunny could just barely outpace them.

But his lungs grieved. His legs burned and cried for salvation. How long was he in this
forest? How long could he keep going?

"Aubrey?" Sunny called out. There was something dry invading his tone. "Aubrey!"

"Sunny!"

It came from up ahead. He looked forward. The branches were difficult, but the hint of
yellow in the middle....!

"Over here!" Though her visage was faint, Sunny could see Aubrey trying to wave. It was
her! She was there, he found her!! "I--"

Her voice dropped, but hope already sparked in his heart. "AUBREY!" Sunny cried, relieved
and joyous. He just needed to keep going forward. Air warped into his lungs. He can leap this
bush, the branches can't stop him. The nightmare was over!

"Sunny, WAIT!"

"AUBREY!!" He burst through the final patch. One foot slammed into the small clearing,
where Aubrey stood with open arms. "Aubrey, I--"
A leaf slapped against Sunny's cheek. When the other foot left the foliage, steel thumped
against his side.

Agony shot into Sunny's rib and pulsed outward. The world shifted to the side. His cheek
slammed against a nearby tree. His teeth clamped on his tongue, and specks of blood hit the
grass.

Sunny let out a strangled cry as he fell back to earth. His eyes watered from the double
feature of pain. It hurt on all sides, his scream couldn't do it justice. Why did it hurt on all
sides!?

"You're a real pain in the ass, boy." The Tree Bandit growled, stalking into his view. "Made
this so damn harder than it needed t'be."

The criminal leaned down and grabbed at his collar with a hand. Sunny could only watch as
he was pulled halfway up. The Tree Bandit met him with a metallic grin on his mask. "So
here's what's gonna happen--" He snarled, raising his crowbar up high.

......

The second that crowbar connected with Sunny, Aubrey froze.

Time held back its pace once more. She saw it all in excruciating detail. Sunny hit the tree.
He spat blood. He fell back with a cry that seized her beating heart. She was forced to watch
and recognize the truth before her:

She failed. Sunny got hurt, and she couldn't stop it. Not even a warning cry could stop the
ambush. The demon was right. Sunny got hurt, and she watched it happen. She let it happen.
The Tree Bandit landed and make its slow approach on the downed boy. They weren't going
to stop. She needed to step up, intervene, do something!

But her fingers struggled to twitch. Ice bound her legs from within, and her feet were dead
weight. Frost gripped her jaw and pulled down. 'I can't move... Why can't I move!?' She
thought in a panic. The Tree Bandit was leaning over Sunny. He's going to get hurt, or worse!
She has to save him! Why can't she move!?

"You're afraid." The demon's voice echoes, devoid of malice. "You talk big, but you can't pull
the trigger. Not like this." Thump, thump, thump. Something was behind her. "But you know
how. Don't you?"

Aubrey gulped. 'I.... I do.'

She didn't need to see the demon's grin. It clamped its hands upon her shoulders. "Then do
it." It commanded, then faded into her skin.

The world fell silent, the cold fleeting. Aubrey twitched as the Tree Bandit leaned down.
He.... He ruined everything. Ruined her hat, ruined the picnic, ruined the day. Her fingers
curled into fists. He cornered Sunny, scared him, hurt him.

The criminal yanked Sunny up. Aubrey gritted her teeth. He's going to do it again. Her blood
roared into a boil. He's going to attack Sunny, he's going to take her away from him. She can't
let him do that, she won't let him do that!

Because if she didn't, he was going to kill Sunny.

Her world snapped into pure white. Then, she only saw red.
The moment Sunny winced his eyes shut, there was the roar of a wounded animal.

The Tree Bandit heard it too. He froze, and Sunny thought he found a hint of shock in those
dark eyes. But he had too little time to confirm it, because he suddenly dropped to the
ground.

Sunny gasped, his breath escaping him as the ground met him with a thump. He heard
something land on the ground beside him. He opened his eyes. The Tree Bandit wasn't there,
and the pain soon turned into confusion. Where did the criminal go? What were the footsteps
he heard? What made that terrible scream, and why did it persist?

He propped his hands onto the grass, and slowly pushed his back off the ground. The sounds
came from his left. He turned his head; a crowbar laid upon the dirt. Above that--

"....Aubrey....?"

The girl, if he could call her that now, put banshees to shame. Yelling with wild abandon, she
struggled with the Tree Bandit in her wide grip. The criminal thrashed in her torso hold, yet
she forced him a step back. A second step was made, then a third. Aubrey's scream hit a
crescendo, and she hefted the Tree Bandit off the ground.

The criminal almost bent in half as he hit the ground with a pained cry. Sunny's eyes
widened. 'Did she just.... pick him up and throw him down!?'

But Aubrey fell upon her target before Sunny could even blink. Her hands already balled into
fists, and one went square into the criminal's face. The Tree Bandit flinched, and her left
followed right up.

Right. Left. Right. Left. Her fists glowed enough to make Sunny worry, but Aubrey looked so
unfit to care. She could only growl and snarl as blows rained down. One after the other, never
giving her foe any room for pause.
The Tree Bandit wiggled and squirmed under Aubrey's pin. He tried to raise his own fists, to
knock her off. But even to Sunny, the criminal's jabs looked weak and desperate. Half of
them were open palms clapping against her arms and face. The rest, though they resembled
actual punches, only made Aubrey roar and retaliate with continued pummeling.

But even that started to draw an irritated growl from her target. "Get off!" The Tree Bandit
roared. Their hands surged towards her wrists. His fingers clasped around their targets, and
he straightened his arms out at the sides.

Aubrey leaned her head back, then swung forwards with a defiant cry.

The criminal yelped as her forehead crashed against his face. Then she leaned up, head
cocked back again. The second impact made his grip falter, if only for a moment.

Her head came down a third time. Sunny heard something like styrofoam getting punched,
and the Tree Bandit roared in agony.

The criminal suddenly thrashed on the ground, arms flinging and shoving like mad. Aubrey's
fourth headbutt was met with a fist to the forehead. Her punches started to miss their marks,
diverted by camouflaged flailing. It was only seconds later that he put his hands on her torso
and shoved.

Aubrey fell off and onto the nearby grass. The Tree Bandit rolled on his side, clutching as his
nose.

The nose. She broke his nose, Sunny realized. The Tree Bandit was down, and Aubrey was
getting back up. This.... This was good, right? She beat the bad guy up. They were safe now,
they could get out of here!

Something warm re-ignited within. They were going to put this godawful day behind him,
and the criminal couldn't stop them now. Sunny pushed himself onto his knees, ready to meet
Aubrey halfway.
His thoughts took a tumble when she grabbed at the crowbar instead. They froze entirely
when she saw the hate in her eyes.

Aubrey rose to full height, teeth gritted as she turned back to the Tree Bandit. The criminal,
trying to push himself off the ground, couldn't see the raised weapon. He was on his hands
and knees when she brought the crowbar down, grounding him with a resounding wham.

"How dare you." Aubrey hissed, bringing the crowbar up again. The Tree Bandit was on his
back when she struck again. "How dare you ruin our picnic." Steel rose and fell, and the
target howled in pain. "How dare you attack Sunny!" Wham. "You should've never come
here!" Wham. "You should just die!" Wham.

"Die." Wham. "Die!" Wham. "DIE!" Wham.

She kept going, in every sense of the word. Wham. The Tree Bandit lost all pretense of pride,
and started to scream and plead. Wham. Sunny stared, rooted with an icy grip on his lungs.
Wham. She wasn't stopping. Her mantra wouldn't stop. Wham. This wasn't stopping the Tree
Bandit anymore. Wham-- Crack! She was trying to kill him.

She was going to kill him. Wham. The victim was begging for mercy and she was going to
kill him. Wham. She was going to become a murderer, like him. Wham. He.... He can't let that
happen, he doesn't want her to suffer like he did!

Something shattered. Sunny couldn't place it, but the next thing he knew, he dashed straight
for Aubrey's back.

"D-- What the fuck!?" Aubrey barked, crowbar above her head, as Sunny wrapped his arms
around her torso. He tugged once, pulling the stunned girl back a foot before she started
thrashing. "Let go of me, or I'll--!"

"Aubrey, STOP!" Sunny yelled, fighting to keep his grip. "It's okay, it's over, just stop!"
"He hurt you!" She snapped back. Sunny spotted movement in the corner of his eye. "He
needs to pay!"

"You don't need to kill him!" Sunny glanced aside. The movement-- it was the Tree Bandit.
The criminal scrambled to his feet, almost tripping as he lunged for the foliage.

"Then he'll do it again-- Let me go!" Her struggle intensified, and Sunny could just barely
hold on. His feet scrapped as she dragged him two feet forward.

"DON'T!" Sunny pleased. "Please, I don't want you go through what I did!!"

"I--" She stopped with a growl. The Tree Bandit was out of sight, and so was her chance at
chasing him. The crowbar thudded upon the ground ahead.

With combat at its end, Sunny loosened his hold and released Aubrey. But she turned around
to face him, cheeks marked by slaps and teeth gritted. Before he knew it, she grabbed his
shoulders.

"Never do that again." Aubrey said. She reeled him in. "Never chase after a stupid hat ever
again!"

Sunny froze. "W-What--"

"I don't care what the fucking wind does." She snapped, shaking him twice. "We stick
together and we don't separate ever again! Got it!?"

Sunny couldn't place what he felt. He didn't have the chance; Aubrey kept glaring and
barking at him like he did something wrong. But what did he do wrong? The confusion
conquered his mind, even as he shook from the raging embers in her eyes. He had to figure
this out, try to slow things down. "A-Aubrey, it's okay--"
"IT'S NOT!" Sunny flinched, her voice shaking the trees. "He scared you, he made you run,
he clobbered you into a tree because you went for a runaway hat! That's not fucking okay,
Sunny! Do you know how bad he could've hurt you!? You could've been injured!" Aubrey
shook, and for a moment, the world trembled. "You could've DIED!!"

Sunny couldn't move a muscle. His jaw hung without recourse, eyes wider than saucers. The
fire in Aubrey's eyes faded way, and the mettle fell off her face in moments.

"You.... You were in so much danger...." Aubrey gulped. The volume was gone, her voice
halfway to a whisper. "I, I didn't know what to do. H-He came out of nowhere, and...." She
sniffled. Something glistened in her eyes. "I was so scared, Sunny. I-I thought I was going to
lose you. Y-You got hurt, and I thought h-he was gonna take you away from--" She stopped
with a croak. A sob forced itself out soon after, joined by rogue tears. "I-I didn't-- You're
too.... I.... I--"

She broke with a miserable cry. She slumped against Sunny, arms latching around his back as
she stained and wailed against his hoodie.

Sunny could only look at the sobbing girl as the situation caught up to him. It was a hat flying
some feet away, entirely innocent and unable to threaten the pair. But what followed, now
that the energy was dwindling, made Sunny tremble. So many things could've gone wrong.
How close was he to a trip to the hospital? How close was he to visiting Mari? He didn't even
need to look at Aubrey to see how badly it affected her.

"A-Aubrey...." Sunny said. Her wailing railed against his resolve already. He wrapped his
arms around her. "I-It's okay...." No, it wasn't. It was terrible, and she was the only reason he
didn't suffer worse. "He's g-gone." He croaked. "We're, it's over, we're okay now...." For now,
but the Tree Bandit still lived. Faraway had trees everywhere. The town wasn't safe.

"D-Don't cry...." Sunny leaned in. Aubrey dug her face into the crook of his neck, and
brought his heart low. "We're okay...." He sniffled. No, no they weren't. She certainly wasn't,
and how could he be okay? "We...." Something ran down his cheeks. His words caught in his
throat, and he leaned onto her shoulder.

The world blurred only halfway as Sunny lost his composure, and joined Aubrey in open
weeping. Nothing felt right, and control eluded him entirely. He could only acknowledge the
 world around him, and hold tight onto his bruised friend.

But even as time passed, they never stopped crying. Nothing felt right, nothing felt safe, and
they could not compose themselves. Not even when a search party, decked in blue and
badges, caught up with them.

Chapter End Notes

o u c h.

so, yeah. the tree bandit. to be honest, i'm glad the surprise carried over well. he was
vaguely foreshadowed as early as.... chapter 4, iirc, with a bunch of jokes to cover his
appearance with red herrings. someone did catch on to what i was cooking, though.
(shoutouts to seiji for catching the signs)

either way, we're now at the apex of what is basically act one. next chapter's going to
feature the fallout of this situation, but after that, the ballgame's gonna change up a little
bit. we'll see how that goes when we get there, but i hope you guys/gals will enjoy it
when it shows up.

as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Subsistence
Chapter Summary

Even in defeat, the Tree Bandit left his mark.

Nothing is okay.

Chapter Notes

boy, did this take longer than i thought it would, but here we are. the fallout chapter
before we hit the next gear.

shoutouts to The Absolute Best(tm) for the beta reads.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Murky red blotted the sky and trapped the woods in fog. The trees would never end, and vines
bit into her as she sprinted through.

"SUNNY!?" Aubrey shouted, before spitting out the blood that crept onto her lips. "SUNNY,
WHERE ARE YOU!?"

Where did he go? She already beat the Tree Bandit, she was clinging to Sunny just moments
before! How did the clearing become so dreadful, where did Faraway go, where did the
woods take her sun!?

"SUNNY!!" She kept crying out. The tailwind whipped at her back, and a branch carved into
her ribs. It stung and seared, but her paranoia drowned them out with a vice grip. "SAY
SOMETHING, SUNNY....!"

A distant laughter echoed from up ahead. Was that Sunny....?

She darted ahead, but the sound became harsher, with a darker design on its tongue. What
happened to Sunny? Did this fog do something to him? But as she broke into yet another
clearing, the cackling source became all too clear, their camouflage shrouding all but their
eyes.

"T-The Tree Bandit....?" Aubrey whispered.

"G-Got it in one...." The criminal cackled, before he hacked out a tooth. He slumped back
against their tree, hand over their stomach as they made stifled giggles.

"You...." Her confusion gave way to anger, and she stomped towards him. "Where's Sunny?"

"Ehehee-- T-Take a look over yonder...." His eyes shifted to the side, and Aubrey followed it to
a field of wilted tulips.

The sight of a dark-haired tuff, motionless and stained like the sky, stole her breath and hope.

The cackles escaped the Tree Bandit, and Aubrey whipped back towards him. With a face full
of fury and her blood ignited, she grabbed the criminal by his jacket and hoisted him up.
"You did this!" She roared. "You took him and--"

"I-I didn't...." The Tree Bandit giggled. "How can I, after what you did--"

She cut him off with a headbutt. "DON'T LIE TO ME!!"

"Y'think I'm lying....?" He gave her a crimson grin. "Look at your hands."

She scowled but blew away a strand of pink and glanced down at her fists. Aubrey gasped,
dropping the bandit as she took in her blood-soaked palms.
"You already fucked me up...." The criminal's voice echoed, but when she looked, he was
gone. "....So who else could get violent with him....?"

Aubrey shook, heart sown to an anchor, as she looked back at her hands and how much of
Sunny's--

Aubrey's eyes snapped open with a gasp.

She couldn't see a thing, where was she!? But the sounds of nature were distant, she felt
something soft over her-- a blanket, it was a bed, in a bedroom. She was in a house, not a
forest.

Aubrey sniffled, wiping her eyes with an arm. She glanced at the nightstand, and the clock
was so far off from sunrise. What time did she go to sleep, anyways? Everything after the
Tree Bandit's flight was a blur in her mind-- Her eyes widened. 'Sunny!' She realized. Where
was he--

Her eyes found him beside her, whimpering into his pillow. Aubrey felt guilt crawl down her
spine. He.... He got hurt yesterday. She failed him, and now neither of them could sleep easy.
Why did this have to happen? Why didn't she just wait for the picnic like Sunny asked?
Because of her, the shadows in the window were abominable, and every passing breeze could
carry fear. The tree line wasn't far, after all.

Aubrey scooted closer to her partner with a sad sigh. "Sunny...." She whispered. His scent
was soothing, but now it carried the taint of pine and blood. How long would it take to wash
out? Or was this part of her punishment?

Her thoughts cut off when she heard him whine. Her eyes widened when he started to thrash.

"S-Sunny!?" She said, almost taking a backhand as he fought to grasp and shake him.
"Sunny, wake up!!"
Sunny awoke with a start, eyes bulging and glimmering.

"I-It's okay--" Aubrey gulped. "It's okay, it's just a dream...." She trailed off, as his eyes
settled and tears broke through with a sniffle.

"A-Aubrey...." Sunny croaked. He wasted no time latching onto her, and soon soaked the
crook of her neck. "I'm sorry.... I'm sorry....!"

"Sunny....?" Her mettle teetered as she embraced him. "Sunny, what's wrong!?"

"I didn't mean to--" A ragged breath interrupted him, followed by a sob. "I'm sorry, I won't
leave again....!"

What did he mean? Aubrey could not begin to grasp what nightmare he was saddled with.
But it shouldn't take long to soothe him. All she has to do is tell him it's okay. To tell him that
it's just a dream, he's here now, they're both safe.

But all she could manage was a sob of her own. With Sunny's breakdown, her own failures
broke through once more. Add in the boy curling against her in misery, and she had nothing
to stop sorrow from leaking over. All she could do was lean in and break down with him.

Who was she going to kid, anyways? Nothing was okay. Their dreams were too close to
home, they were still trapped in a forest of their own. And no matter how many walls they
had, they couldn't feel safe.

Nothing was okay.

......
Sunny's eyes creaked open much later, courtesy of the invading sunlight.

He felt dull and hapless. They turned in early last night, he knew, but the energy wasn't there.
Even when he realized how he was clasped around Aubrey, her own arms clutching him for
dear life, he couldn't muster a smile.

How could he even try to smile, much less pretend that nothing had happened? Even in his
dreams, the Tree Bandit was persistent. Aubrey's grasp couldn't solve it, even after they wore
themselves out with tears. For the first time in weeks, Sunny wished that his Headspace didn't
escape him entirely.

....No, that was a dangerous thought. But what could he do? Last night's terror still lingered,
and he could smell it....

"....Sunny?" Aubrey whispered.

Sunny blinked, meeting Aubrey's gaze. She was no more pleased, mouth trapped in a straight
line. "....Good morning, Aubrey...." He said.

"Mm...." She shuffled in place, while her grip held tight. "Are you okay?"

Sunny glanced towards the ceiling but fell short and saw the wall instead. Sideways vision
was a pain. "....I don't know."

Aubrey leaned her head upon his shoulder, tickling his cheek with a strand of hair. "Me
neither." She admitted. "I.... Can we just stay here....?"

The scent of the woods lingered. Sunny had to bury his head into her hair.

Aubrey fell silent, pushing herself just a smidgen closer in their embrace. For a strong girl,
Sunny found her arms so smooth. Didn't Mari gush about that once? How she had such 'great
skin' or whatever. Maybe she had a point, even if it took him so much cuddling to figure it
out. It felt nice, standing out against the sounds of nature--

Sunny leaned into her hair and inhaled deeply. The smell of cinnamon was all too familiar for
him; Mari wore it like it was her religion. He still wasn't sure why Aubrey chose that smell
for her hair, though. Was it for her sake, or his?

Still, it was.... relaxing. Sunny inhaled again. It reminded him of then, where he and Aubrey
would spend hours on the swings in conversation, when Hero's cooking awaited the group
and Basil encouraged Mari with her flower crown. It tickled his mind, more than the hint of
long-spilled--

Sunny went still and listened. Aubrey's breath was gentle and constant; two seconds in, two
seconds out. It amazed him, how Aubrey could be so active in her life while she was so
peaceful when still. It was always a nice and cute occurrence when he got to see her sleep,
how she would barely move and stay so quiet. Rarer still were moments like these, when she
just laid there amidst red--

Sunny sighed, and the remnants of yesterday invaded his nose. There was no avoiding it, was
there? "....Aubrey?" He said.

"Hm?" Aubrey said, unmoving.

"I.... I think we should wash off."

She shuffled, pulling her head back to look him in the eyes. "--What? Why?"

"I can still smell the forest." He tried to keep his gaze straight. "It won't go away, and I-- I
can't take my mind off it...."

"W-Well...." Aubrey's eyes shifted around. "We could just sleep in, and...." She trailed off.
".... Maybe we won't.... dream about it...."
Sunny winced. 'If only we could....' He thought, with a shake of his head. "Look, we'll just--"
He tried to offer, as he started to scoot away.

But Aubrey didn't give him the chance, tightening her hold in a futile attempt to fuse with
him. "No, wait, we can't go!"

"A-Aubrey--"

"There's going to be a door between us! What if something happens!? You could drown, or
someone can break in!"

Paranoia at its finest, but how could Sunny argue that? He had to focus on the wall behind
Aubrey, just to untie his tongue. "B-But.... I mean, it could happen in here, too...."

"We're together here! But not when someone's in the bathroom....!"

"I-I mean, it's not like we can't go in toge--" Sunny's eyes widened, and he clamped his
mouth shut. His ears wasted no time in heating up; what kind of suggestion was he about to
make? Aubrey would....

....Twist her lips and look off in thought?

"W-Well...." She said, slow and uncertain. Her cheeks-- no, her whole face was lighting up.
"Uhm.... Y-You have stuff for a bubble bath, right....?"

Sunny did, in fact, have the concoction to create a bubble bath. Not that it saved him from
sitting on the edge of the bathtub with a head far hotter than the soapy bathwater.
He still wasn't sure how Aubrey agreed to his dumb and spontaneous idea, and his mouth felt
sealed from all the heat. He could only crawl his gaze to her, as she sat in the other side of the
bathtub. Despite the life saver that was the bubble bath obscuring anything below the neck,
she looked no better than he felt. Her gaze was fixed to the bubbles, her hair hanging outside
of the tub's rim.

Sunny took a deep breath. Okay, they were in the bath together. This was nice.
Embarrassment was having a field day on every single part of him, but they were still
together. Now he needed to clean, but how would that work?

Sunny glanced over to the wall. There was a little outcrop that held a sponge. He should
scrub with it, but can he do it under the water? Would that disturb the bubbles-- oh no, he
already felt more exposed at the thought of it. But wait, there was only one sponge. They
both needed to use it, but would that be indirect skin contact? They always took a bath close
to the same time, it was nothing they didn't do before. But they were bathing at the same time
now, what if--

Sunny almost leapt out of the water when he felt something nudge his toe. He whipped his
gaze forwards, catching Aubrey's worried look. "Uhm, Sunny? Are you okay....?" She said,
her voice just above a whisper.

"Y-Yeah, I, uhm--" Sunny said, eyes darting about. He had to look at something other than
her, he doesn't want to be a pervert! "I-I wanted to, uh, get the sponge, b-but--"

Aubrey's big toe cut him off, rubbing against his own. "Okay, uhm...." She glanced over at
the wall. "Do you want me to close my eyes? Until you're done?"

"I-If you could...."

"Alright...." She took a deep breath, and winced her eyes shut. "G-Go ahead."
Sunny wasted no time grabbing the sponge. Water splashed as his arm dove in, and sponge
scrubbed against skin with hearty vigor. 'Okay, I just need to do this quick.' He thought. 'Get
all the necessities, and then....'

His train of thought stopped when he felt Aubrey's feet brush on top of his own. Something
tingled in his feet and shot straight into his head. Aubrey's feet were touching his. Her naked
feet were on top of his naked feet, and--

He shook his head like mad. No no no, don't think about it. This is his friend and crush and
he's in the same bathtub with her. What would she think about that? Especially when he'll
have to close his eyes so she can take the sponge and clean her....

....This was going to be a long, long bath....

......

Their breakfast was colder than ever.

Aubrey wasn't one to complain about a good morning meal, but the warmth had long left the
eggs and the hash browns tasted plain and gray. It was still edible, she still got something out
of it, but it was just.... there.

Then again, it was breakfast in bed. She wouldn't be eating breakfast if Sunny's mother didn't
bring it upstairs in the first place....

Aubrey sighed, before cleaning the puffy egg off her fork. When did she get so spoiled? She
knows she's lucky to have this much, a house where trash stays in garbage cans, and she's not
required to fight for her own meals. Now she wants to complain about the woman of the
house, despite the bags under her eyes, not presenting them with piping hot plates? When she
already fretted over them so much....?

Her fork rattled as it dropped onto the plate.

"Aubrey?" Sunny said. Her attention turned to her side as he nudged her arm. "Are you
okay?"

Aubrey looked at her breakfast and sighed. "....I don't think I'm hungry."

Sunny cast his gaze at the floor. "....I'm sorry...."

"It's not your fault." Her plate went to the nightstand. "I just don't feel like eating. That's
all...."

Sunny tapped his fork against his plate twice. His own breakfast was still there too, though
Aubrey counted less scraps than she left. With a sigh, he offered his plate to her.

Aubrey stared at the plate. "....Sunny, you don't have to stop too...."

But Sunny shook his head. "I can't. Sorry, but...."

"....Alright." She conceded. His breakfast would join hers, then. "So...."

The room fell silent, Aubrey's tongue curling itself into a knot. Sunny rubbed his fingers
together, glancing between the floor and her hands. Aubrey wondered where all the color
went. The textbooks weren't here, and the computer was so far from the bed. Every idea of
mirth fell behind, and only lifelessness was left to raise her hairs.

With a deep sigh, Aubrey wrapped her arms around Sunny and fell back.

She wasn't sure what to feel when Sunny just embraced her without a single peep. She
wanted to say something so badly, but nothing came to mind. Then again, that was for the
best; the world was getting a bit blurry with her, and his soft cheek grazing hers was
distracting.

She'll get back up, though.... She just needs to.... take it easy, and....

....

Thump, thump, thump.

Aubrey's eyes cracked open.

"Sunny? Aubrey?" Wanda called out. Thump, thump, thump. Behind that door.

Aubrey groaned, shaking her head and blinking the sand out of her eyes. There was Sunny,
cuddled up with her as he slept a little more peacefully than before.

....Wait, slept?

Aubrey looked up and down. The pillows weren't below their heads before, and the blanket
had claimed them from the shoulders down, and she couldn't see....

Her eyes widened. The food! She whirled around, only to find a lamp and an alarm clock.
And the time....

Thump, thump, thump. "There's steak ready....!"

Aubrey heard those words, but they translated to verbal static. She stared at the far wall. They
just.... the room was lit only by faltering rays from the window. What happened to their day?
Thump....

Aubrey blinked, looking over at the door.

"I guess they're still sleeping...." Wanda claimed, before her words became cryptic and
muffled. Footsteps sounded off, fading into the distance.

Aubrey buried herself into Sunny's side and whimpered.

Sunny's eyes creaked open, courtesy of the invading sunlight.

"Nnn...." He groaned, hiding his face in Aubrey's hair. The rays of light, hot orange as they
were, lied on the spot. There was no bright new morning to greet, only a remnant of
yesterday.

Sunny thought he left this behind. This.... prison, to give it a name. It was not the room itself,
but the feeling of glass barriers upon the walls. What was the world, when he lived here?
Sunny could not see through the painted wood, and the windows better resembled prison
bars, now obscured by a lamp. The only thing he lacked, and the only problem he didn't want
to solve, was a world to escape to.

"Mmm...." Aubrey muttered, shifting. "Sunny, is that you? Good morning...."

"Y-Yeah." Sunny said. "I'm here." He pulled himself off of her hair. "Are you alright,
Aubrey?"

Not even a second later, Aubrey planted her face into his shoulder. "No...."
"I.... I guess that makes two of us...." He sighed. This felt too familiar. "We.... We didn't do
much yesterday, did we....?"

Aubrey's embrace tightened. "....We didn't...."

The sheer amount of guilt in her voice brought Sunny's face low. How bad did she have it,
throwing a day out like it was nothing? "....Well...." He trailed off. Think of something,
anything. "....Should we try studying....?"

Aubrey's head rose off of his shoulder. "Yeah.... are we taking a bath first?"

"Yeah."

"Together?"

His body seized on him. Heat filled his ears. "U-Uh, what....?" He stammered, looking over at
Aubrey.

Her cheeks were glowing, but she held her gaze. "We...." She gulped. "We should bathe like
yesterday. T-Together."

Something sat in his windpipe. She.... what? "B-But we're--" He wheezed. He wasn't a kid
anymore, but something about the words made them freeze on his tongue. "There's no-- it's,
it's...."

"I-It's nice." Aubrey whispered; eyes fixed upon the mattress. "A-And we don't have to
worry...."
Sunny gulped. Did she really think that well about it? Mari would've thrown a fit, this
wouldn't be proper. But Aubrey didn't mind, she wanted it....

His mind couldn't make itself up. His heart, on the other hand....

......

One crowded bubble bath later, and Aubrey felt a small weight lift off her shoulders.

She couldn't explain it out loud. It was embarrassing at first, a moment where curiosity and
something else overrode common sense and she was left to curl up in a corner. But at the
same time, it was with Sunny. He was just as vulnerable, just as flustered over it all, if not
more so. It felt familiar, putting a warmth in her chest that she could only get from her
wildest dreams.

Aubrey's cheeks continued to glow as they sat at the dining room table. She.... She liked it,
she realized. Bath time was such a fear before, a time where a door had to come between the
teenagers. Now it wasn't, and she could hear his voice so clearly and confirm his presence
with her feet. It was a sign of trust, a safety and intimacy that their best cuddle sessions
couldn't quite match.

She didn't mind continuing this newfound ritual. Over time, they could even become closer
there. The embarrassment would evaporate, they could creep closer until they could reach out
and--

"....Aubrey?"

Aubrey got three inches off the seat cushion before landing back down. "W-Wha!?" She
stammered, staring at Sunny with wide eyes. "Sunny!?"

Sunny blinked, with his chair so close to hers that their forearms flushed against each other.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"N-No!" She couldn't explain it out loud. She could only be so brave. "Everything's fine, it's
all okay....!"

Sunny looked more than a little confused, but nudged his head towards the table. "....Well, the
textbooks are ready, then...."

"O-Oh." Right. They ate a warm breakfast, Wanda left some note, they got the textbooks.
They were going to study. "Then, uh, let's start!...."

With a nod, Sunny flipped the math book open.

An hour later, they were only three pages in.

Aubrey couldn't help it. The numbers kept slipping from her fingers, and she swore the letters
blurred together as they zoomed right past her eyes. What did the signs mean? She was doing
fine days ago, for crying out loud! Her hand found more fruitful equations in Sunny's palm
than she could gleam from this wall of text.

She glanced over at her partner, who looked fit to drop into lala land at any given moment.
"Hey, Sunny?" She asked, as she put a gentle squeeze on his hand.

Sunny blinked. "Hm?"

Her free hand pointed.... somewhere on the page. It was the thing that stumped her, right?
"Can you tell me what this is for?"

Sunny glanced at the text. "Well, that's...." He trailed off. "I mean it's...."
He squinted. "That's.... for...." His brow twitched, lips tightening down as he zeroed in on the
passage. Aubrey felt something glisten her palms as the seconds ticked by without an answer.

But Sunny only let out a sigh and dropped his head straight into his hand.

Aubrey fell back with a groan. She started to shake. "This-- This isn't working."

"Sorry...." Sunny muttered.

"No, no, it's not your fault! It's just...." The letters fumbled right off her lips, until she finally
threw a hand up and snarled. "Why can't we just do something!? I mean, we were doing just
fine before! And now we can't even do this stupid work!?"

She pointed at the window ahead, where the street seemed to glow. "And for that matter, why
are we staying in here!? It's supposed to be nice outside!"

"B-Because of the trees...." Sunny said. He sounded so much more distant than his grip, that
Aubrey had to look at him. His free hand was halfway curled, while his lips tried to hide in
his mouth. "He's still out there...."

"But he can't be everywhere!" She argued. "I beat him up, too! He shouldn't even think about
attacking us again!" Now that she thought about, why would they even have to fear that
idiot? She stood right out of her chair. "In fact, I bet we can go outside right now!"

"A-Aubrey, wait!" Sunny cried as Aubrey pulled him out of his own seat. It would be okay,
she'll prove that they're okay. She kept a tight grip on him as she maneuvered to the living
room. The sliding doors were before her in seconds, and the grass looked so green and still
outside.

"Now watch, I'll open this door...." Her hand slipped into the handhold. "And...."
A clock ticked by, somewhere in the room. The door stood before her, waiting.

"A-And...." Aubrey repeated. And what? The door was supposed to be open, why was it still
closed, was it locked?

She looked down at her hand. It.... It wasn't moving. She tried to pull her shoulder, but it
wouldn't listen.

"Aubrey, we don't have to...." Sunny said, giving her other hand a gentle squeeze.

"It's fine, I just...." Budge the forearm, nothing happened. Turn the hand, nothing happened
again. Her fingers twitched, but they wouldn't curl. It was starting to feel cold. The rest of her
was warm, how could she feel cold now!?

"A-Aubrey, let's just stop--"

"N-No, it's fine! Really, just give a moment!" Something chattered.

"Aubrey, you're shivering! I-It's okay, we don't have to go outside!"

"I-I have to!" Aubrey pleaded, gritting her teeth. Why wouldn't her arm do anything!? "We
can't just--"

Something rustled, forcing Aubrey's gaze upwards. She froze when she saw the shifting
foliage in the treelines.

She heard Sunny's gasp. There was something in the treelines. That meant--
She threw herself to the side, whirling and clamping onto Sunny before putting her back to
the wall. No, no no no.... She dared not breathe, lest it hear. What just happened, how did this
happen, why did it have to happen now!?

"W-Was that...." Sunny said, his arms clamped around her torso.

"I-I don't know...." She whispered. "M-Maybe it didn't see us...."

Her words didn't seem to give Sunny any comfort. She saw him inhale, then shift to the side.
Oh god no, they were going to see him!

"Sunny, wait--" She hissed, only to stop when his fearful expression turned into a deadpan
stare. "....Sunny?"

"It's a turkey."

Aubrey blinked. "....What?"

"It's a turkey." He repeated. "It just walked out of the trees."

Aubrey poked her head out and glanced through the glass pane. There, pecking about the
treeline, was a lone turkey. There was no mistaking the brown feathers or fan-like tail it had.

Her mouth hung in shock. A few seconds later, she fell to her knees.

The world blurred. Sunny kneeled next to her, but she couldn't tell what he said. "Why?" She
croaked. "I-I made him stop. I...."
 Yet, the phantom remained. All the bravado she had was there then, but was it really hers to
begin with?

Aubrey trembled and sobbed. "Why? Why us....?"

She leaned into Sunny and clung. It wouldn't be long before he, too, lost his mettle. It made
her feel guilty, but all she could do was let the tears squeeze out of her eyes.

Yet again, they cried without end.

Because nothing was okay.

Chapter End Notes

phew.

this isn't the most backed-up chapter, but it was certainly a slog to get through. writing
pure depression is not my forte, and i can only hope it got through here. nonetheless, this
is the end of 'act one'; the teens had their run and hit the wall. the result wasn't very
good, but hey, look at the bright side: once you hit rock bottom, there's only one way to
go....

and i'm sure some of the readers are wondering about a certain mother. don't worry, she
hasn't been forgotten. in fact, we'll be taking a look at her side in the next chapter.

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Dawning Orange
Chapter Summary

On the flip side, Wanda struggles to find a solution.

Perhaps an outside perspective would help.

Chapter Notes

me: oh boy, time to write the next chapter--

life: how about your writing app going down, keyboard problems, dumb shifts and
ghostbin kicking the bucket?
me: fuck's sake
tbh i'm a bit surprised i still got this chapter out on a friday. (your time zone may vary)

shoutouts to The Absolute Best for the beta reads, as always.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"With all due respect, ma'am, we can catch the Tree Bandit faster with their testimony."

'Stay calm and collected,' Wanda reminded herself, standing outside her front door. 'The cop
is just trying to get past me. He is not criminally stupid.' She took a deep breath and shook
her head. "With all due respect, officer, the kids are still recovering from the incident." She
said.

The man in blue, even if Wanda would sooner call him a 'boy in blue', raised his eyebrow.
"It's been a few days since the incident, ma'am. Surely, they've gotten back on their feet?"

Wanda glanced past him, to a rounder officer. Despite the relaxed figure, the lines on his face
were deeper, and the neutral expression looked natural compared to the boy in front.
Still, she saw the pensive look he sent his junior. Her gaze went back to the boy. "They have
no energy whatsoever. They've stuck to their room, sleep the days away and freeze up
whenever a bird chirps. They are not 'back on the feet', they are traumatized. I can't let you
question them like that."

The officer sighed. "You do realize that the girl--"

"I am her guardian." Wanda interjected. "You may check the records if you don't believe me,
and you know her mother is in a cell. She is under my care and will not be made to talk while
she's distraught."

"Then, we can provide a therapist if--"

"Once the kids aren't scared out of their wits, I'll be happy to let you talk with them.
Providing a therapist would help them recover faster...."

The older officer stepped forward with a sigh, while the younger bristled. "Well, if you were-
-"

"That's enough, rookie." The elder snapped, clapping the junior's shoulder. The boy fell
silent, before stepping back. "We're sorry for the trouble, ma'am."

"It's fine." It really wasn't. "You're just doing your job, right?"

"We're doing our best to put that thief behind bars. In fact, there will be an overnight patrol
starting today. I'm sure that'll help you sleep a little better, right?"

Wanda couldn't help but blink. 'Are the bags that obvious....?' She pondered. Still, she gave
the elder officer a small smile. "It would, thank you."
"Just doing our duty, ma'am." Wanda stifled the urge to roll her eyes as the officer continued.
"Well, just let us know if they're ready to share. Stay safe and have a good day."

"Of course." Wanda opened the door behind her. "Good luck with your patrols, officer."

She barely caught his nod before the door clicked shut.

Only seconds later, she plopped down on the couch. Her face fell into her hands. "Stupid,
stupid, stupid." She muttered. No, not the officers, they weren't the ones responsible. "I
should've pried, I should've given them the spare rifle, I should've--" She pinched the skin of
her forehead with a growl. No amount of 'should've' was going to fix this.

She wanted nothing more than to spit fire at the officers-- if it weren't for them, she wouldn't
have walked up to a locked door. But they had no such intentions, and she needed to know
what shook and hurt her son and his friend so badly. They never intended to impede her, and
their advice still rung in her head. Watch the trees, they don't know if the crook will go for a
revenge play, they're going to sweep the forests in a week.

Wanda's fingers left her eyes, and her gaze fell upon the coffee table and the hunting rifle on
top. It felt like an eternity since she held it for so long, even if was loaded with bronze darts
that dwarfed her usual loadout. She lifted up the firearm, still feeling the warmth underneath
the barrel. Sometimes, she wondered if a revenge play was a bad thing. She knew how to
protect her young, and she'd love nothing more than to shove the business end of this barrel
right up that Tree Bandit's--

"No, no, don't think about it." Wanda muttered. She placed the gun down with a sigh. "You've
got work again tomorrow, and the cops finally got their tails in gear. Just...." Sunny. Aubrey.
Focus on Sunny and Aubrey.

Wanda rose from the couch. The teens.... Oh, how she wished her explanation was just bogus.
It was just a bit exaggerated, but the pair were more than distraught. She only got a few hours
with them over the past few days, to hug and console them, but they had confirmed
themselves to the house, if not just their room.
Still, they were just.... recovering, right? They were chased through the forest (or so the
police suspected) and forced to defend themselves. They're still kids, and it was a harrowing
experience. One or two days wasn't enough for them to recover. They needed all the time
they could get.

But before Wanda knew it, she stood before the stairway. This felt like paranoia, there was no
reason to press. But even when she told herself that, bits and pieces of the last two years
resurfaced to challenge her words.

She gave Sunny all the time to recover then, and it still took that long. But now, there was
Aubrey to consider. And she came with a clock of her own.

"Sunny? Aubrey?" Wanda called out, scaling the stairs. She could hear her loafers clacking
against wood, but nothing else. Were they sleeping again? They didn't leave their room yet,
she would've heard them otherwise.

The second floor was no less silent, and she went still. "Sunny, Aubrey!" Not so much as a
peep responded.

'Okay, they might be sleeping. I should just open the door.' It was simple enough. Go in and
talk to them. 'Kids, I know it's scary, but Mommy has to go back to work tomorrow, and we
need to make sure there's groceries coming in. Don't worry, the officers outside will keep you
safe.' Something like that. It wouldn't be easy, but when was anything good in life easy?

It should be simple. It should be easy.

Yet, Wanda found herself hesitating before the door.

'Oh, come on, this is nothing. Just open the door.' She thought. Her hand hovered halfway to
the doorknob. It's just a few inches, what was the holdup? She should be better than this.

....Shouldn't she?
Maybe this wasn't a good idea. No, it was necessary. She couldn't wait for them to come out
weeks later.

They're still hurt, they shouldn't push themselves until they break. But time waited for no
one, and neither did the remnant of Clementine.

She was working, though, she could cover for them-- Who was she kidding, their part-time
work was a lifesaver, and without it....

Wanda bit down on a growl. She had every reason to open the door, so why couldn't she do
it? What could possibly be more important than making sure everything stays together!?

It was there, in her mind's eye, that she saw it: Her looming over a bed, its inhabitants
covered by a quivering blanket. The two occupants only known by their whimpers.

It was just imagination, but bile threatened to fill her stomach. This.... She wouldn't, but....

Balling her hand into a fist, Wanda stepped back from the door.

Minutes later, she knocked on another.

Wanda gave her next-door neighbor an apologetic smile. "Do you mind if I come inside....?"

The household next door wasn't too far off from Wanda's own, but it held a warmth she
couldn't place. Maybe it was their family, who remained functional in the face of their
fortunes, which even now she would call 'middling'. Then again, it could be the marks of
activity and change here and there across the living room and kitchen. Her home was a time
capsule at its best, living off of old pictures whereas the neighbor's walls were adorned with
snapshots she'd never seen before.

It was the kind of warmth Wanda needed when she made her way into the kitchen. When
time passed as her situation spilled onto the countertop, she bathed herself in that warmth.
Not even a mug of fresh tea could scald her hands in comparison. Then again, her story didn't
warm her either, leaving her catharsis half-way.

Chelsy, the next-door mother with what Wanda would call a better life, had no shortage of
condolences either. She wasn't considered a confidant-- that was Clementine's honor back
then-- but desperate times called for any good ear that was willing to listen.

"....I just don't know what to do." Wanda confessed, sipping at her leaf juice. "Once I go back
to work, they're on their own. I can't just leave them there, but--" Her head fell right into her
hand. "How can I make sure they're okay....?"

"Oh, dear...." Chelsy said, rubbing a circle into the back of Wanda's hand. "If you need
someone to look after them, we're more than happy to open our doors for them."

"That would be wonderful." Wanda shook her head. "If it weren't for that damn gauntlet that
Clementine threw down. The judge won't like it if someone else is taking care of them when
I'm gone."

"Couldn't they be talked to....?"

"Not this one. They set him on the case yesterday. Real hard when it comes to guardianship
cases."

Chelsy took a deep breath. "Well, we have some money saved up--"

"Don't." Wanda raised her head up and looked directly at the mother. "I appreciate the offer,
but don't drain yourselves dry on my account."
"Wanda, this is more important than whatever we had planned! It won't hurt us that much
anyways."

"And I would feel like the world's biggest witch if I just took your money to cover my
problems!"

"Wanda, please, I just want to help!"

"And I appreciate it! I just don't want to drag you down with me!"

"Look Wanda, I--"

A fleet of descending thuds drowned and silenced their argument. Wanda looked over in its
direction, as an orange blur stopped before the kitchen doorway.

For someone who almost crashed into the frame, their son was a spritely weed. He was a
bona-fide teenager with all grins and, to Wanda's surprise, minor acne. The overgrown brown
bowl on his head made it clear this wasn't Mari's paramour, as if the constant twitching of
their cheeks wasn't enough.

"Whoops!" The teenager said, brushing his way into the kitchen. "Hi, Sunny's Mom!"

"Kel!" Chelsy said, as the boy slung an arm around Wanda's shoulders. "Don't just jump at
people like that! Give them a warning, for crying out loud!"

"It's fine." Wanda chuckled, putting down her mug and snaking her hand around to pat Kel on
the back. "Thank you for the welcome, Kel. You've certainly grown, haven't you?"
Kel laughed as he stepped back. "Not enough! Hero got taller too, and I won't rest until I
catch up with him!"

"He did? Wow, and I thought he couldn't get any taller...."

"More importantly," Chelsy interjected. "Aren't you supposed to be doing homework right
now, young man?"

"Oh, right!" Kel rubbed at the back of his head. "I got thirsty, but I just saw Sunny's Mom
here and wanted to say hey!" He stepped over to the fridge, popping the door open. "How's
Sunny, by the way?"

"He's...." Wanda sighed. "Well, he's better than he was two weeks ago...."

Kel turned back, raising an eyebrow. "....Huh?"

"I mean, he stopped sleeping in and got out of the house--"

"Wait, he-- woah!" Kel's eyes bulged as a bottle of Orange Joe flipped into the air. His hand
shot out, catching the soda upside-down. "Phew. Sunny got out of the house!?"

"Careful!" Kel's mother piped up. "Open it over the sink. I just finished cleaning the floor."

"Yes, mom...."

Wanda snorted into her sleeve. "Well, he was doing fine, and then the Tree Bandit went and
ambushed him...."
"W-Wait, they did!?" Kel blurted out. The sound of plastic hitting metal almost drowned the
squeak of sneakers as the boy surged into Wanda's face. "Oh god, I'm so sorry to hear that! Is
Sunny fine!? He isn't hurt, is he!?"

"KELSEY!!" Chelsy roared, yanking Kel back. "Wanda, I am so sorry, he's just--"

"It's fine, it's fine!" Wanda waved her hand. "Give me a little credit here, Chelsy. Sunny didn't
get too hurt, but he's back inside again." A sigh. "Like the last few weeks just rolled right
back...."

"Oh no, that's terrible!" Kel cried. "If there's anything you need help with--"

"Ah-ah-ah." Chelsy snapped. "You have homework, Kel."

"But mooooom, it's Sunny!"

"You are not skipping out on schoolwork for yet another friend."

Something cold and metallic sputtered to life in Wanda's mind. 'For a friend....' She
wondered. Maybe....?

"Come on, we have this Friday off!" Kel begged. "We don't go back until Monday!"

"And who decided to forget all their homework?" Kel's mother countered. "That was due
today?"

"That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair--"

"Wait!" Wanda called out. The mother and son pair turned to face her. "Now that Kel
mentioned it, there is something he could help with...."

"Wanda, no." Chelsy groaned, as Kel began to vibrate. "He has homework."

"I know, I know. Not today. But what if he could keep Sunny and Aubrey company during
the weekend?"

"--Wait, Aubrey's with him?" Kel asked.

"She's been with him ever since he got better."

"...Huh...." Kel stared at the far wall. "Maybe that's why I haven't seen her...."

Chelsy tap-tapped her fingers on the table. "I don't know, he's got a lot of homework to go
through...."

"There's still the rest of today, right?" Wanda pointed out. "If he got it all done today, he
would have all the time to visit, right?"

"Yeah!" Kel said. "I can get all it done today, mom!"

Kel's mother twisted her lips, glancing between Kel and an overhead clock. "Well...."

"Pleeease, mom!"
Chelsy sighed. "If you get your homework done today, then yes, you can spend the weekend
with your friends."

The mother wasn't even halfway finished before Kel was whooping and just about bouncing
off the walls. "Yesyesyesthankyoumomi'llgetitalldoneiswear!!"

"Now go get your work done!" She commanded. Kel wasted no time reaching into the sink
before he dashed for the doorway. "And remember, no clean room means no allowance!"

Chelsy sighed. "He didn't hear me.... That boy's a road runner, I swear."

"I wish I had half of his energy in my house." Wanda chuckled. "Thank you so much, Chelsy.
I owe you for this."

"Are you sure you don't want the money? It'd be less trouble."

"You remember how my kids are earning money, right?"

"....Fair enough. Maybe they'll teach Kel a thing or two while he's over there...."

Thump, thump, thump. Sunny glanced over at the door.

"Sunny, Aubrey?" His mother called out. "Are you awake?"

Sunny glanced to his side, where Aubrey stirred. The last few hours were a blur, but his
memory remained sharp: Her gentle napping, while he took pencil to sketch paper. It was an
uncomfortable angle to catch her peaceful sleep from, and the drawing that laid on his lap
could've benefitted from a farther view. But he wouldn't dare leave her side, when being
alone made him feel naked and queasy.

"Mmm...." Aubrey purred, pulling her head off the pillow as her eyes cracked open.
"Whossat....?"

"Mom." Sunny said.

Thump, thump, thump.

"We're awake!" He called out, only to freeze as Aubrey winced. "S-Sorry...."

"Can I come in?" Wanda yelled back. "It's important!"

"S'fine...." Aubrey grumbled, rubbing at her eyes with a hand. "Let her in...."

Seconds later, the door creaked open.

"Sunny, Aubrey--" Wanda began with a gasp. "Oh, were you asleep? I'm sorry!"

"It's okay." Aubrey said, eyes open. Sunny felt her hand close around his own. "What's going
on....?"

"Well, I wanted to check on you two first." Wanda went from the door to bedside in just a few
strides. "Is everything alright? Do you two need anything....?"

"Well, uhm...." Aubrey glanced aside. "We're getting there...."

Sunny winced again as Wanda took a deep breath. Before he could even get a word in, a tan
blazer filled his vision and his mother's arm wrapped around his shoulders. A small warmth
filled his belly, offering what meager solace it could.

"I know you're trying your best." Wanda whispered. "But please, let me know if you need any
help." Sunny felt a gentle squeeze around his shoulders. "With anything."

"O-Okay...." Aubrey murmured, as Sunny nodded.

It was a minute more before Wanda released her hold, and his shoulders felt colder for it. Not
that it compared to the unreadable expression in Aubrey's eyes, or how her free hand almost
reached out.

"Now...." Wanda clasped her hands together. "You know how Mommy has to head back to
work tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah....?" Sunny said.

"Well, I didn't want to leave you both by yourself this weekend, so I convinced someone to
come over while I'm gone."

Sunny blinked. "....We needed someone to babysit us....?"

"To keep you company, sweetie."

"I-I think we can handle ourselves...." Aubrey pointed out.

"Oh?" Wanda raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that you don't want to hang out with Kel?"
Sunny's eyes widened. "Wait, Kel's coming over!?"

Aubrey gasped. "Kel's coming....?" She whispered. Her grip on Sunny's hand tightened, but
he didn't even register it.

"Yes, Kel's going to come over." Wanda smiled. "He won't be here today, but you'll get all of
this weekend with him. Does that sound good?"

Does it sound good, Sunny wondered? No, it sounded perfect! It's been years since he last
saw Kel! He always wanted to do basketball, did he get the chance to play? Did he ever get
better at the Spaceboy Adventure game? Has he gotten any taller!?

"Well--" Aubrey began.

"That sounds good!" Sunny interjected. "I-I'd love to see him again."

"Sunny, that's--"

"Wonderful!" Wanda nodded, unaware of how Aubrey clenched a fist. "I just wanted to make
sure you knew. I'll go get dinner started. Do you want eat up here again....?"

"W-We'll eat at the table." Aubrey forced out. Sunny gulped.

"Are you sure? I don't want to--"

"Please." Sunny insisted.

"Alright, I'll call for you when its ready." Wanda stepped back with a wink. "Just keep it tame
up here, okay?"
Sunny glanced at the staring alarm clock as she left, heat tickling at his ears. Mom was
embarrassing as usual, but....

He blinked as he felt Aubrey's palm shake. He looked over to find her trembling, and not for
a lack of mettle. The warmth in his fingertips evaporated as her face scrunched up, and a dark
sensation clutched at his chest. "Aubrey....?"

"....Why him?" Aubrey growled through her teeth. "Why is Kel coming here!?"

"Wha.... Kel? He's--"

"A traitor!" Aubrey snapped. "He didn't care after Mari died, and now he thinks he can just
walk in here!?"

"A-Aubrey!" Sunny pleaded. His voice felt so fragile, now that her brows were dipping
against her eyelids. "I-It's okay--"

"IT--" Aubrey's eyes widened, staring at him as she deflated and took a deep breath. "....It's
not okay, Sunny. He-- He didn't care about us. He didn't even bother to look in my-- in our
direction for two years."

Her relaxation gave him room to think. Kel? No, that couldn't be it. He was never the type to
forget about his friends, even at his worst! "But-- But he was our friend!"

"Was, Sunny. He was our friend, and now he's too good for us."

No, no no no. That can't be it, Sunny refused to believe that was it. It wasn't denial, he knew
Kel well enough! These thoughts took his focus, enough to leave a lit fuse in the dark. "He's
not that kind of person, Aubrey!"
"And now he is!" She insisted. "I don't know why he wants to come over, but we shouldn't let
him!"

Something sizzles. "That's not fair to Kel!"

"Then he should've cared more!"

The distant ringing of metal on chalkboard. "Mari was his friend too!"

"So were we, but where was he then!?"

He couldn't stop shaking. "S-So we should just block him off!?"

"Why not? I don't want to see him!"

A wire split in two. The world blinked, his palm slamming against the nightstand. "I want
to!!" Sunny growled.

Just moments later, reality came to and Sunny locked up. What did-- did he snap at....?

His eyes bulged as he looked upon Aubrey, leaned back with such a shocked expression. Her
face soon fell, his heart plummeting with her drooping head.

"N-No, I didn't--" Sunny choked out, leaning forward to embrace her. "I'm sorry, I didn't
mean to get mad, I'm sorry!"

"H-He left me behind, Sunny." Aubrey croaked, leaning on his shoulder. "He didn't even look
at me for two years, made friends with everyone else, and--" She sniffled. "Why, Sunny?
Why did he notice just now?"
"I...." Sunny winced his eyes shut. Oh Mari, why did he have to cause all this misery? "I-I
don't know, but Kel.... He's forgetful, but he doesn't just...." He gulped. No, don't break down
now, please. "W-We can hear him out. He can tell us why when he comes over."

Sunny could only hear her breath, steady as a heartbeat. What was he thinking? He just
snapped at her, and now he still wants her to let Kel in. Why couldn't he let it go, he was
pressuring her at this point!

"B-But if you don't want to, t-that's fine." He forced out. "I'm sorry--"

"W-Well." Aubrey spoke up. "I-I guess we can.... hear him out...."

Sunny froze. Was she....?

But her head rose, and she stared into his eyes. "But promise me...." She gulped. "Promise me
if he comes over.... That you won't tell him about Mari."

He swore he heard a vase fall to the floor. "What....?" About Mari? "You mean...."

Aubrey nodded. "About what really happened to Mari."

Sunny felt the stare of the Stranger scorch his back. He wanted to see Kell again, but this....?
"That's-- I mean, it was a lie.... Don't they deserve to know?"

"Sunny...." Aubrey glanced at the wardrobe, then at the bookcase. "They.... Kel moved on
already."

His jaw fell. "What?"

"He has new friends. He's doing new things, and he looks as happy as he did two years ago."
Her gaze returned to the wardrobe, then back to him. "Mari's gone, but he moved past it--
past her. He's fine, he doesn't need to know."

Sunny averted his eyes. Sure, Kel might have gotten over Mari's death, but that wasn't it. The
Stranger was clear enough, and Sunny couldn't forget how those words came back to bite him
in the same day. But how could he tell her that? 'I have to tell them or my dream demons are
going to keep chasing me until I die'? It sounded beyond crazy in his mind to begin with, but
how would she take it?

"I-It's not--" No, too close to that. "H-He's...." The words piled up and jammed his throat. "I--
"

A pair of arms wrapped around him. "Sunny."

His gaze whipped forward, just as Aubrey pressed her forehead against his. "--Eh?" He
mumbled, trapped by the pleading light in her eyes.

"I-I just want to help you." She whispered. "I know you didn't mean it, but Kel-- he might not
think that way. He could get angry, and he could hurt you."

'No, he wouldn't.' ....Was what Sunny wanted to think. But he expected the worst when he
went outside for the first time in years, didn't he? A glimmer of the Tree Bandit came to
mind. The attack, sudden and horrific, tried to merge with the lingering doubts.

Was he sure that Kel wouldn't be like that....?

"I just want you to be safe." Aubrey continued. "The Tree Bandit could've done so much
worse, and I don't want you go through that kind of pain again." Desperation consumed her
gaze, and she tightened her embrace. "Please, Sunny...."
 Sunny felt trapped. The feeling of judging eyes, from a facsimile of his friend, intensified
from one side. Aubrey's begging expression held him in the other. He wanted to clear the air.
He wanted Aubrey. He wanted to end the lie, but she pleaded to let it live. What was right,
and what was wrong? The truth would set him free; a little pain was nothing compared to
being able to breathe easy.

....But he wanted Aubrey to be happy. That.... That wouldn't make her happy.

Sunny gulped. "....Okay." He said, wincing as scorn and disappointment raked upon his back.
"I-I won't tell Kel."

Aubrey breathed in relief, forming a small smile. "Thank you, Sunny." She said, leaning her
chin on his shoulder. "I-It's for the best, I promise. I won't let you get hurt again."

But no matter how much Sunny leaned into the hug, it did nothing to stop the Stranger's
judgment.

Chapter End Notes

kel is coming, so this story will now be canon.

be afraid. be very afraid.

following the duo alone was fun, but it's time to trickle the friend group back in, starting
with everyone's favorite basketball player/caffeine junkie/road runner. and oh boy, we
aren't done with the stranger yet, either. or the demon, for that matter.

but for now, place your bets: what kind of fate awaits the boy in orange? will he get to
roll with his friends again, or will he go home defeated and decaffeinated?

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Enter the Kel
Chapter Summary

At a crack of dawn, comes a lone teenager with a smile.

Kel faces the prospect of old friends, but can he keep them this time?

Chapter Notes

woah, early chapter? that didn't come after a late chapter?? madness. pure madness.
especially when it's a bigger chapter than usual....

before we get into this chapter, though, i'd like to highlight a recent fan animation. yes,
you read that correctly. a few days ago, Sunny Squid (known in this story's comments as
Sunny) uploaded a full-length animation of the first chapter, and it's amazing. like
something you would see in the game itself. i risk sounding like a broken record here,
but i can't thank Sunny enough for it. it's far more than i ever thought this story would
earn in a lifetime, to say the least.

you can find the fan animation by clicking here.

and as always, shoutouts to The Absolute Best for the beta reads.

with all of that out of the way, let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

'Today's amazing already!' Kel thought, as he slipped out of the front door.

He greeted the sunrise with a stretch and a yawn, not quite ready for the hour. In any other
case, he would've flipped the cheek on his pillow and closed his eyes, but not today.

Homework made him fill his tongue with teeth marks and stole some hair off his head
yesterday, but it was nothing compared to the premise of rekindled friendship. By the skin of
his teeth, Kel came out ahead on all of his homework, and his mother gave him the green
light to Sunny's house!
Kel found his cheeks turning up while the rest of him jittered. But he couldn't help it; hanging
out with Sunny was something he missed for so long! Where people saw the 'quiet kid' back
then, Kel found a brother in arms; a wise cracking, yet dedicated friend, willing to go through
any mischief in the name of comradery!

Oh, and Aubrey was there, too. She was fun to tease.

Kel released his arms with a content sigh and looked forward. He wasn't one to linger, but the
trees sure looked pretty in the sun's waking glow, even if the police car kinda clashed--

'....Wait, police car?' Kel blinked. 'They finally stopped eating donuts all day long?'

The car's occupant, with their window down, glanced over in Kel's direction.

"Good morning, officer!" Kel said, with a booming voice and a wild wave.

The cop gave him a two-finger salute, before looking away.

"....Huh, they really are doing their jobs...." Kel whispered. "Well, I guess the Tree Bandit
won't be a problem anymore!"

His train of thought shifted, as he hit the sidewalk and turned towards Sunny's house. His
limbs were vibrating as he strolled along, and whistling a jaunty tune did nothing to lower his
excitement. If it were up to him, he'd be running straight through their front door and tackling
Sunny into a good old bear hug! 'But he's shook up, so I gotta be patient!'

But even with his well-meaning restraint, Kel reached the neighbor's driveway before he
knew it, just in time to see the front door open. The smile came on before he knew it.

"Good morning, Sunny's Mom!" Kel said, waving at the emerging lady.
"--Huh? Oh, good morning Kel." Wanda said, her eyebrows raised. "You're here rather early."

Kel couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, I couldn't wait to see Sunny again." --Wait, wasn't there
another? "Oh, and Aubrey too!"

Wanda's lips curved up. "I'm sure they'll appreciate it. Sunny's been eager to see you again."
Then the smile fell, as she glanced back at the door. "But I only made two plates for
breakfast, I'm afraid...."

"Don't worry about it, ma'am! I already ate before I left the house!" ....So to speak. He wasn't
sure if a few pieces of toast would count.

"Really? Well, there's cereal in the shelves if you need it. And thank you again for coming
over. If you ever need any help, just let me know."

"It's not a problem! I'll make sure they're safe and happy, just have a good day at work!"

Wanda chuckled. "I'll try." She said, stepping towards her car and then coming to a halt.
"....Oh, and...."

Kel blinked. "Huh?"

"Ever since Sunny and Aubrey were attacked, they've been on edge." Wanda held his gaze.
"They might be a little thorny or distant, but try to be gentle with them, alright?"

Kel raised an eyebrow for a moment. He knew they had a rough time, but weren't they
friends, once upon a time? "....That sounds weird, but I'll keep it in mind!"

"Thank you, Kel." Wanda nodded. "Just head on in and have fun."
"I will!" Far more than he could ever say, Kel was certain.

Wanda gave him one last smile before turning back to her vehicle. Kel heard the engine rev
up as he stepped up and opened the front door.

Two steps later, and Kel swore he was twelve again.

"Woah, this place hasn't changed at all...." He whispered, looking around the living room. Not
a speck of dust to be seen, and....

Kel whistled at the carpet. "The stain's still here, too!" It was his worst mistake-- spilling a
blot of Orange Joe onto the rug. But then, Sunny forgave him before the day was over with,
didn't he? Kel took a deep breath and let a smile consume him.

"....Kel?"

That voice-- Kel perked his head up and looked over at the northern doorway. Dark hair and
wide eyes met his gaze.

His wide smile became a full-blown grin. "SUNNY!!" Kel whooped. The next thing he knew,
he soared right over the couch and scooped his old friend up in his arms.

Sunny's wince said much about Kel's grip, but the energetic kid could feel his friend's smile
upon his shoulder. "H-Hi, Kel." Sunny said, and Kel felt a hand pat at his back.

"Oh gosh, you have NO idea how much I missed you!" Kel squeezed once, then let his friend
breathe.

"Ahem?" Someone-- sounded like a girl-- cleared her throat nearby.

Kel blinked, looking past Sunny's shoulder. "Oh, heeeee--" Kel's tongue derailed itself, right
alongside his hanging jaw. "Aubrey? Is that you?"

A girl with long, damp blonde hair gave him the meanest dark-eyed look. "Of course it's me!"
Aubrey snapped.

"But your hair--"

"It's blonde, I know. Long time no see, huh?"

Sunny winced again, while Kel raised an eyebrow. "....Wait, were you living with Sunny all
this time....?"

Aubrey threw a hand into the air. "Of course not, you idiot! I only started.... what, a few
weeks ago!?"

Kel tilted his head to the side and scratched his cheek. "A few weeks ago?" He echoed. Kel
recalled hearing something that happened at school, around that same time. Something about
a meltdown in the middle of the halls, and then they just vanished from school....

A rusty lightbulb went off in his head. "Wait, were you the one that ran out of...." He started,
only to falter in the face of Aubrey's glare. Go on, finish that sentence. See where it gets you,
her eyes told him.

Kel forced a chuckle instead. "Well, uh, blonde suits you?" Aubrey's hand formed a fist. "I
mean, I didn't even recognize you!"

"Kel, I haven't had this hair color for even a month. Don't even try that excuse."
"Wait, what?" Kel's hands flared to his sides. "What are you talking about!?"

"We haven't talked for two years, Kel! Two years!" She pointed a finger at him, with a snarl
and an accusing look. "You didn't even try to check on me, and now you want to act like that
never happened!?"

What was she talking about!? Kel knew she was around, but she never tried to approach him!
He had his reasons, and his parents kept getting on his butt about friends to boot! He started
to frown and open his mouth--

"Ever since Sunny and Aubrey were attacked, they've been on edge."

"They might be a little thorny or distant, but try to be gentle with them, alright?"

--And then closed it. It was weird then, but was this what Sunny's Mom meant? Kel blinked,
before settling on a nervous grin. "H-Heh, sorry. I was really busy." He said, rubbing at the
back of his neck.

Aubrey's eye twitched. "Oh yeah, like that's--"

Her barking fell short when Sunny tugged her hand. '--Wait, they're holding hands!?' Kel
thought, as his friend stole Aubrey's attention. "Aubrey, please." Sunny said.

"Sunny--" She began, only to see his face and halt. Huh.... Kel couldn't see Sunny's face, but
his hair was wet. Did they just finish taking baths?

Aubrey sighed, her features softening. "....Alright." She relented, before turning to Kel with a
restrained frown. "We'll talk about it later."

Kel blinked. "Wha?"

"Later. Now, if you could let us get some breakfast...." Aubrey motioned at the doorway he
stood in.

"You-- oh, right, sorry!" Kel stepped back.

"Do you want some....?" Sunny asked, as Aubrey led the pair into the kitchen.

"Naaah, I ate before I left!" Kel said, strolling in behind them. "Thanks for the offer, though!"

Sunny gave him a small smile, but Aubrey responded with a huff.

'What's gotten into her?' Kel wondered. Sure, Sunny's Mom warned about this, but Aubrey
looked ready to snap him in half! They were friends before, weren't they? What did he do to
make her that angry?

Even when Kel sat down with the duo, she was just as unwilling to humor him, whereas
Sunny tried to talk with him. It was confusing to the core, and Kel wasn't sure what to do
about it.

Then again, the day just started. There was plenty of time for her to cool off.

"Hey, Sunny?"

Sunny glanced over at Kel. The trio had left the dining room for the couch not too long ago.
Kel was sitting upright and ready for action, but Sunny and Aubrey took to slumping upon
the backrest. "Hm?" Sunny said.

"Your mom said you, uh...." Kel glanced at the ceiling. "Got better, right?"
"....Yeah."

"How did that go?"

Sunny tilted his head. "Huh?"

"I mean, you got out, right? What happened after that?"

"Well, I went to see Mari...."

"....And I ran into him." Aubrey said.

Kel winced. "Ouch."

"Not literally!" She hissed. "I saw him at Mari's grave."

"A-And we talked." Sunny interjected. "And, uhm...."

Sunny turned to share a look with Aubrey. Kel raised an eyebrow. "And....?"

"And we started hanging out again." Aubrey said. "That's it, end of story--"

"Wait, wait!" Kel held his hands out. Sunny reached towards the coffee table. "There's gotta
be more to that!"
Aubrey shook her head. "Nope. Story time's over, let's move on."

"But what about--"

A newspaper folded out between the two, blocking Aubrey out of Kel's view. "Hmmm...."
Sunny said. He held the paper up with one hand and stared into it.

"Uh, Sunny? Why are you humming so loudly?" Kel raised an eyebrow. "And why did you
just open a newspaper like that."

Sunny kept staring for a spell, until he headbutted near a corner of the paper. ".... Cartoons
are on."

Kel's eyes widened. "--Wait, really!?"

Sunny nodded. "It's Saturday."

"It's-- Ooooh...." Kel snapped his fingers. He swore that he heard Aubrey snort. "Right! Is
there anything good on?"

"Captain Spaceboy's on." Sunny looked him in the eye. "Right now."

A dramatic gasp came forth. "Oh shoot, we gonna turn this TV on right now!!" His eyes
darted in front. The remote, there had to be a remote-- His eyes locked onto the far end of the
coffee table. There was the remote!

"I got it!" Kel claimed as he leapt out of the couch. He turned his momentum into a dive,
swiping the remote before converting into a forward roll. He came to a crouching stop,
smacking the TV on and pushing the remote in front.
'What was that channel, again!?' Kel's tongue poked out in thought. Mari always had to
change the channel on Saturday mornings.... It was just one digit, and she did it all the time--

His eyes widened. 'Six!' It had to be six! His thumb went to work. Zero, six, OK.

When the TV completed its waking routine, Kel's eyes (and ears) were blasted with all the
glory and volume of a Captain Spaceboy Adventures intro.

"I did it!!" Kel cheered, whirling around with a huge grin. "Just in time for Captain
Spaceboy!"

...And then Kel saw the duo. Sunny started to golf clap with the back of his occupied hand,
and Aubrey was holding back a flood of laughter while her snickers jumped the dam.

"....What?" Kel dropped the remote on the table as he plopped onto the couch. "It's
Spaceboy."

"And you did a fine job, cadet." Sunny said, placing a hand on Kel's shoulder. "Keep it up,
and you'll earn your stripes in no time."

Aubrey's hand slipped, and her howling laughter filled the room.

"Oh, come on, bro!" Kel whined. "You know I'm Lieutenant Lightspeed, not Cadet Marti!"

Sunny glanced at Kel's shirt. "Marti wears orange, though."

Kel opened his mouth. Then he looked down and closed it with a sigh. "I gotta find a new
color...." He mumbled, before turning his attention to the TV.
It was hard to hear at first, thanks to Aubrey getting weaker than Sunny's weightlifting, but
his friend calmed her down soon enough. After that, everyone was focused on the show, and
it was standard fare for Spaceboy. Dramatic space fights, spaceships, space lasers, space
armies, space speeches, space capes and did they mention that Spaceboy takes place in Outer
Space?

But once the credits started to roll, everyone looked at each other. Kel couldn't place what
caused it. Maybe it was the random Sweetheart appearance, or Spaceboy's quickdraw
answers to the mystery, or Lt. Lightspeed was now a villain. But every pair of eyes held a
pent-up fire, and a spark traveled down their fuses.

Seconds later, their hands surged into the air.

"""THAT SUCKED!!""" Everyone roared.

"What the hell was that!?" Aubrey pointed a finger at the TV. "That wasn't Spaceboy, that
didn't even sound like Spaceboy!"

"The plot was terrible!" Sunny crowed. "Spaceboy has deep stories and characters, not this
monster of the week setup!"

"They made my favorite character a bad guy!" Kel slammed a fist upon a couch cushion. "He
dedicated himself to the good fight! Why did he turn evil!?"

Sunny slumped in defeat. "I-I can't watch that show again. They.... They made Spaceboy look
bad."

"Me too...." Aubrey slid herself into Sunny's side. "Where did the good cartoons go....?"

"Well, at least we still have the comics...."

"Yeah...."

Kel cleared his throat. "....Uh...." He said, glancing at the far wall.

He could feel the duo staring into his side. "....Kel, don't mess with us...." Aubrey said-- no,
pleaded.

Kel gulped. "The new Spaceboy comics...." His eyes fell upon Sunny and Aubrey. "....The
Hobbeez guy took one look at the new series-- just flipped through the first issue-- and then
threw it out."

Kel swore he heard something break as the duo slumped in their seats.

"No...." Sunny whispered. "Why....?"

"T-They ruined the comics...." Aubrey sniffled. "They ruined our boy....!"

"W-Well!" Kel piped up, trying to smile. "He still has the old issues!"

"It's not the same!" Aubrey wailed. "No new issues to look forward too.... No Spaceboy
cliffhangers....!"

Sunny looked at the doorway up ahead. "M-Maybe it's not too late to go back...."

Kel wasn't sure what Sunny was talking about, but it set off the alarm bells in his head.
"Guys, guys!" He said, jumping off the couch and waving his arms. "It's okay! It's just a show
and some comics! T-There's the games, and there's a new movie coming out before the
month's over! Spaceboy's doing just fine! We don't need to rely on some stupid show or
comics, right!?"
Sunny and Aubrey looked at each other. Kel felt a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead.
'Come on, believe me here....!'

"I-I guess he's got a point...." Sunny said.

"Maybe we should wait for the movie...." Aubrey said.

Kel let out a huge sigh of relief. Disaster averted, even if it was just a hunch. "That's the
spirit!" He glanced back at the TV, finding some ponies talking while standing on the moon.
'Bleh.' "Let's forget that show and, uh, do something else!"

Sunny hummed. "Board games?"

"Well, there's the Gamebox we didn't open--" Aubrey started.

Kel found himself right in the pair's faces, unaware of the stars in his eyes. "YOU HAVE A
GAMEBOX!?"

......

One face shove to the floor later, it turns out that Sunny and Aubrey did, in fact, have a
Gamebox.

After some unpackaging and assembly (and Kel horsing around with the box, to Sunny's
amusement), the trio were well into Super Spacebros 2. Sunny, the Spaceboy kin and
amazing gamer he was, led the titular character to victory after victory. Kel knew he stood no
chance and stopped going after him a match ago.

Instead, he focused on the only other player in the room.

"That's cheating!" Aubrey spat, as an explosion sent her character flying off the map. "You
used a bomb!"

"Well, duh! It's an item!" Kel said, making his character, Lt. Lightspeed, crouch over and
over. "Why shouldn't I use it?"

"Because you suck at fighting me properly!" A platform lowered into view, carrying Aubrey's
half-visible Sweetheart.

"You could just ask Sunny for help, you know...."

"Or you can just fight like a man, damnit!"

Kel glanced over at Sunny. His character stood on a distant part of the map, cape blowing,
while the player held a small smile. He'd taken to watching Kel and Aubrey fight it out, with
the occasional reflector spam to compliment the background music. After the two finished
their bout, it was only a matter of time before Sunny picked off the victor. But he didn't seem
bothered, his arm brushing against Aubrey's while sparks of joy danced in his eyes.

A cracking roar forced Kel's attention back to the screen. Sweetheart's mace sent Lightspeed
out of sight, and Kel's jaw hit the floor. "Hey, I wasn't paying attention!"

"That's not my problem." Aubrey drawled. Kel could hear the smirk in her voice.

"First you complain about items, and now you take advantage of me!?" Kel looked over at
Sunny. "Tell her, man!"

Sunny blinked. "....Everything's fair, though."

"See?" Aubrey grinned. "You just suck, Kel."

Kel tensed, and his gaze flickered back to the screen. 'Two lives left.' He noted, as he sent
Lightspeed back into the fray. "Oh, it's on now...."

The chatter fell as Lightspeed and Sweetheart started trading blows. Metallic clangs rang out
a few times as their attacks clashed, but they wasted no time resuming the brawl right after.

The first set of stocks went by fast; Kel was a little too relentless, chasing Aubrey's character
off the platforms to make sure he kneed her out, but failing to reach the nearest ledge in
return.

Their last lives saw the pair play a more cautious game. Where their attacks were furious
before, they now prioritized their own survival. Kel flickered around with Lightspeed when
the items were thrown, while Aubrey had Sweetheart pull out various minions whenever he
went for a big attack. 'Really wish you wouldn't have told her that, Sunny....' Kel thought.

Before long, though, they were at a stalemate. They were both primed to fly off, and Kel was
glued to the space between his character and Aubrey's. Their careful fighting went to the
upper platforms, and if Kel was any less determined to win this, he might've noticed the
camera start to shift closer.

He grunted, and he heard Aubrey yell as Lightspeed and Sweetheart jumped into the air,
ready to end this match.

Only for Spaceboy to catch both of them with an upward leg sweep.

Their characters flew off into the horizon, becoming stars in the sky.

""Sunny!!"" Kel and Aubrey cried out, as they whirled around to look at the perpetrator.
Sunny, for his part, was chuckling through a chipmunk's grin.
He glanced at Kel, then at Aubrey, and then started laughing in earnest.

Kel stared as his friend fell back and covered his face with an arm. For all of the two years
that passed, Sunny laughed just like he did back then, when Mari was still around.

Kel blinked as he heard another set of chuckles. In an instant, Aubrey leaned on Sunny's
shoulder and joined him in his mirth.

And then Kel smiled all of a sudden, and laughter started spilling out of his lips, too.

He wasn't sure what caused it, but as he got weak, Kel felt something he couldn't place a
name to. When was the last time he could have fun with Sunny or Aubrey like this? It was
years, but it felt like forever. It felt so....

....Nostalgic. That was the word. It felt so nostalgic, being able to reunite and have fun with
his old friends like this. Part of him felt like he should've done this sooner.

But as the laughter died down, Kel's throat told him that he should get something to drink
instead.

......

"WOOOO!" Kel cheered, jumping to his feet. "I won!!"

Sunny stared down at the game board, filled with pieces and dice and cards and framed with
empty water bottles. "That was the fastest win I've ever seen." He said, motioning at the dice.
"Five twelves in a row...."

"Because I'm that good!!" Kel pumped a fist. The move to board games was a good one for
Kel. Sunny's gaming skills didn't transfer well to the dice, and while he just squeezed a
victory in the first round, the rest of the trio were able to catch up. With his newfound victory,
the score was one win per player.

It was a little more fun than getting beat up in Spacebros, but Kel didn't want to be a downer
about that.

"How about that, Aubrey!?" Kel sent a cheeky grin her way. "Who's...."

His boast trailed off as he found her squirming on the couch, biting down on her lip.

Kel blinked. "Uh, Aubrey? Are you okay?"

She shot straight off the couch, startling Sunny. "S-Sorry--!" Aubrey yelled, as she darted
past the coffee table and towards the stairwell. 'Huh, I guess she's really gotta go...."

"W-Wait!" Sunny called out, rising off the couch and starting for the doorway.

But Kel wasted no time in grasping his friend's shoulder. "Hold up, Sunny. She's just going to
the bathroom." He heard a distant door slam shut. "See?"

That didn't stop Sunny from trying to move past him, though. "But I--"

"Bro, why do you need to follow her?" Kel said, stepping back in front of his friend. "She'll
be back in a minute. Just let her do her business."

"But..." Sunny's eyes widened and darted around. Kel felt him shudder under his palms. "S-
She.... I...."
Kel pursed his lips into a thin line. He knew Sunny could be.... clingy wasn't the right word,
but he never followed Mari anywhere near a bathroom. Why would he even....

....Wait, the Tree Bandit. Kel recalled what Sunny's Mom told him, about how they might act.
He didn't really know the details, but it sounded pretty bad. Could this be a part of that....?

Kel took a deep breath. "Look, it's okay. I don't know what happened with the Tree Bandit,
but you're safe here."

"No, no." Sunny shook his head. "That's not--"

"It's okay, Sunny. The cops are actually doing their jobs, so that guy won't bother you. Heck,
I'd jump him if he pops out of a tree!" Kel made a chuckle.

But Sunny still shivered. "No, it's Aubrey, I can't...."

Kel sucked air through his teeth. 'Jeez, that attack must've been really bad.' He thought.
"She's safe, too. Look, my mom has some pepper spray. I can ask her for some bottles. Would
that--"

"Sunny?" Aubrey's voice echoed into the living room, and Kel swore that he didn't almost
jump.

"S-See, she's out now--"

Sunny cut him off with a gasp. "Aubrey!" He called out, darting towards the side and out of
Kel's grasp.

"Woah, wait a second!" Sunny wasted no time going for the stairs, and Kel almost slipped on
the carpet as he chased after him. When he got to the doorway, his friend was clearing the
stairs.
"Aubrey!" Sunny cried, lunging forward.

"Sunny!" Aubrey cried, throwing her arms around the boy.

Kel stood still, staring at the scene. His friends wasted no time hugging each other, muttering
something about 'missed you' and 'you weren't here'. For a moment, nothing made sense.
They were either connected by the hands or right up against each other from the start. They
both refused to tell Kel what happened after they met at the Cemetary. They worked in
tandem, in a way that Kel could only explain as telepathy, and the moment that Aubrey runs
to the bathroom, Sunny gets all nervous and then she gets out and they cling to each other....

....And with a blink of Kel's eyes, something clicked in his mind.

'Did.... did they get together....?'

Kel felt a goofy smile blossom.

"D'awww!" He cooed, as he started skipping up the steps. They were adorable! He wasn't
sure why he didn't notice before, but Kel was more than happy for them! And there was only
one proper way to celebrate! "Group huuug!"

Aubrey's head shot up. "Woah, wa--" She said, but Kel's arms were faster. She let out a yelp
as Kel piled onto the pair, sending the trio to the floor. "W-What the hell, Kel!?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it!"

"Then you can help by getting off!"

"No way! I'm not missing this for anything! I'm happy for the both of you!"
"Yes you can! Now get off, I can't even move!"

Kel just chuckled and squeezed a bit, sending Aubrey into another fit.

....Okay, maybe he should get off soon. Right after Sunny stops with that little smile that's
peeking out from his cheeks.

'I missed this.' Sunny thought.

With the group hug long ended, the trio had cleaned off the table and settled back on the
couch. Kel turned the TV back on, and set the channel to a show about school kids that were
also professional musicians, somehow. Sunny didn't care too much; the exaggerated 'strict'
teachers and over-the-top acting was something he neither took to, nor expected Kel to enjoy.

His gaze flickered to his sides. Kel was hooting over a laughtrack, while Aubrey, who had a
grip on his hand, was watching the show behind a stone-faced demeanor. It was always
interesting to Sunny how she and Kel interacted. Whenever they met, there was always
shouting, some prank or trick from Kel and the occasional punch or shove from Aubrey. Yet,
they never went too far, and the two went back to being friendly and sharing before the day
was over.

A small smile formed on Sunny's face, just as the show's credits rolled. Years passed by, yet
some things never changed. It was nice.... No, it was more than that, a glimmer of hope
wrapped in pleasant feelings. If Kel could come back like this, then Hero was just a step
away. What was once the Headspace gang would come back in reality, and then they could
convince Aubrey to give Basil another chance. Everything would be.... not what things once
were, but back to 'normal'.

A pleasant sigh from Kel snapped Sunny out of his thoughts. "Man, I missed this." Kel said.
"Like...." He motioned at the couch. "Just us, hanging out together."
"....Yeah." Sunny nodded. "I missed this too."

"Then why did you wait until now?"

The two boys paused, turning to Aubrey as she held the remote. The TV fell silent. "--Huh?"
Kel said.

"You heard me."

Oh no.... "Aubrey...." Sunny said.

"Sorry, Sunny, but I can't keep ignoring this." Her gaze fell upon Kel, and her eyes narrowed.
"You had two years to reach out, Kel. Why did you wait until now to show up again?"

"But I was--" Kel started.

"Don't tell me you were 'busy', either. You weren't surrounded by people at every given
moment!"

"A-Aubrey!" Sunny whispered, grabbing her arm. "It's not--"

"Not what, a big deal!?" She hissed. Aubrey returned the favor, grabbing his arm and
squeezing. "Sunny, he ran off with new friends and acted like I-- we weren't even there! He
replaced us!"

"B-But he came back!"

"So?" She gave him a gentle shake. "That doesn't mean everything's fine and dandy! I can't
just brush it off like you can!"

This was becoming another argument. Sunny felt a rock form in his noggin. Why did this
keep happening? "He has his reasons, Aubrey!"

"Then I want to hear them! What was so important that he couldn't even bother looking back,
huh!?"

Sunny gulped. "I-I don't know, but they have to be--"

"Good? Then why isn't he saying anything!?"

Sunny glanced back. Kel was slumped forward, silent and staring at his knees.

"See? He doesn't have a 'good reason' and he knows it!"

"A-Aubrey, that's not fair." His gaze went back to her. "He didn't even say anything yet!"

"Because he can't make an excuse." Aubrey scoffed. "Hell, I bet--"

"I thought I'd make things worse."

Sunny blinked. Aubrey fell silent. Judging by how the fury in her eyes scattered like dust,
that wasn't her guess. He turned to look at Kel, who started to twiddle his thumbs.

"When...." He gulped. "When Mari died, Hero closed himself off. He stopped going to
school, stopped going out.... He just stayed in bed, and cried, and barely ate anything."
Sunny's eyes widened.

"I tried to help him. I brought stuff home for him, tried to talk and joke with him.... But
nothing worked. He didn't say anything, he didn't even look at me once."

Sunny's head drooped, right along with his heart. He felt Aubrey's arms encircle him from
behind.

"It was like that for a year. Then I got desperate. I begged him to come back and told him that
Mari wouldn't want him to suffer like that." His thumbs stopped, and he tensed up. "Then he
got really angry. I don't remember most of what he said, but it hurt a lot." He took a deep
breath. "Then he shoved me away, straight into the wall."

Aubrey gasped, her arms squeezing around Sunny.

"Then he hugged me, apologized and stopped moping around. He just got better on his own,
after I messed up for a year straight." Kel forced out a chuckle. "All I could do was make him
mad...." His 'chuckle' turned into a sigh. "I didn't think I could help anyone else. If I couldn't
even help my own brother, I'd just make things worse for a friend. I thought everyone else
would be better off if I didn't bother them...."

His head rose, and he looked over at the duo. That sad expression on his face.... It didn't suit
Kel, Sunny thought. It really didn't suit him. "Then I heard about what happened to you guys.
I thought I could maybe help with that, and cheer you guys up.... And now you're arguing
over me. I guess I just made things worse, huh?"

Sunny gulped. "Kel...."

Kel shook his head. "It's fine. Aubrey's right, I just came out of nowhere and thought
everything would be fine. I'm sorry. I should've done something sooner." He sniffled, placing
his hands on the couch. "I'm sorry. I.... I'll just go...."
Sunny tensed, and he felt Aubrey freeze with him. He looked back to meet Aubrey's gaze.
Shouldn't we forgive him? His gaze tried to say, as his right hand reached for her left.

She wrapped her fingers around his, gave a light squeeze, and nodded.

Kel was on his feet when Aubrey moved out from behind Sunny. The moment her feet hit the
floor, Sunny lunged forward.

"Wha--!?" Kel yelped, as Sunny buried his face into an orange shoulder, and his arm met
Aubrey's upon Kel's back.

"You idiot," Aubrey whispered, without an ounce of malice. "You could've told us."

"We wouldn't hate you for trying." Sunny whispered.

"B-But I didn't even try." Kel croaked. "I just left you guys alone."

Even when nestled into an orange jersey, Sunny shook his head. "W-We weren't any better.
We could've reached out, too."

"He's right." Aubrey said. "Friends.... We're friends. We should be there for each other,
right?"

Kel let out something between a chuckle and a sob, and Sunny felt half of Kel's face on his
shoulder. Then came the laughter; a painful, yet joyous sound. Kel laughed out loud, and
Sunny felt his friend hug him with an arm. Even when his shoulder started to feel damp,
Sunny couldn't help but smile. If anyone happened to ask, Sunny would just say he spilled
some water.
 "I-I missed you guys." Kel wheezed. "I missed you guys so much."

"I missed you too." Sunny said.

Aubrey was silent for a moment, and then sighed. "Me too. I guess...."

"That took a lot out of you, huh, Aubrey...." Kel chuckled.

Aubrey's arm slipped off of Sunny's, and a clap echoed from Kel's back. "Don't push your
luck."

Kel laughed again, with all of the joy and none of the pain from before, as he pulled himself
off the pair. "Well!" He said with a sniffle and a hand rubbing circles into his stomach. "I
don't know about you guys, but that made me hungry!"

"Mmm, me too." Aubrey turned to look at Sunny, a small smile on her face. "There's
something we can cook in there, right?"

Sunny felt the corners of his lips lift just a bit higher. Everything felt just a bit lighter, and
after all of what just happened, Sunny felt like he wouldn't miss any of this. Not anymore.
"Yeah.... Yeah, we do...."

Chapter End Notes

kle.... u have returned....

at long last, a friend that doesn't get booted to the side. now, this won't be the end of the
duo's own little adventures-- they have a few things they still need to go through and/or
put to rest-- but now i can finally start expanding the scope of characters in this fic. (and
yes, wanda will still be around. not-little miss kickass ain't going anywhere, she just
needs to get some benjamins)
and, of course, we get more shenanigans. plenty more shenanigans where kel comes
from, none of which involve the bathtub.

as always, thank you for taking the time to read this work! lemme know what you think
(and if something looks dumb) down in the comments!

and have a happy new year's, everyone. here's to hoping that 2022 does us all better.
 Out Again
Chapter Summary

Kel's hungry, but the fridge doesn't agree.

It's time to go outside, whether they want it or not.

Chapter Notes

>last chapter came out early

>this one came out half a week late
ahahahaha damnit. life be that way sometimes, i guess.

shoutouts to Absolute Best for beta reading this chapter.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Sunny gulped as he stared into the fridge.

It was like he took a portal to the first day he reunited with Aubrey, if he exchanged standing
around and twiddling his thumbs with staring at all the empty space in the fridge. A half-
empty set of eggs, some milk, a bunch of lettuce, a few slices of cheese....

Beside him, Aubrey cleared her throat. "Well...." She said, her eyes darting back and forth.
"L-Let's check the freezer."

She leaned up, and Sunny could hear the unfiltered cold surging out from above.

"God, that's-- Where's the lasagna!?"

"Didn't we have that yesterday....?" Sunny asked.

Aubrey grew still. "....We did, didn't we....?" She murmured, as she closed the freezer door.
"When did we last get groceries?"

"A while." Sunny closed the fridge door. "At least a week...."

"Hey, guys?" Kel called out, as he leaned through the kitchen doorway. "Something wrong?"

"Uhm...." Aubrey curled her fingers into her palm. "We.... don't actually have a lot to eat right
now...."

Kel blinked. "Oh.... You mean like, there's nothing we can throw in the oven?"

"Nothing we can cook at all." Sunny said, then paused. "....Except eggs."

"So we have nothing to cook." Aubrey frowned. "We have to get groceries first...."

"Then how about some Gino's?" Kel offered. "They've got half-off deals on Saturdays."

Sunny whirled around to face Kel. "What?"

"No joke! You can get a big pepperoni pizza for like six bucks on Saturdays!"

"Really?" Aubrey glanced over at Sunny. "Why did we never see that....?"
Sunny shrugged. "Maybe we weren't there long enough to see it? We can just call and see if--
"

"Wait, call?" Kel said. "Why do you want to call them?"

"To place an order?" Aubrey drawled. "We can't get the pizza if we don't call it in."

"Ooooh, that!" Kel said, before he started rubbing the back of his head. "Well, uh, I hate to
say it, but they won't do delivery for that deal."

Sunny swore he heard glass shatter. "....What....?"

"Yeah, Gino stopped doing it months ago. He said no one was tipping for it, or something
like that...." Kel gave the pair a light shrug. "So if we want pizza, we have to get it from
Gino's."

The lights dared to flicker before Sunny's eyes, and his hand sought Aubrey's in an instant.
"We have to go outside....?" Sunny whispered. Her crushing grip met his own bone-pinching
grasp, but he couldn't feel it. Not when it wasn't a crowbar.

"W-We can't go outside." Aubrey said, her pitch a bit too high. Sunny felt her hand shudder.
"It's too dangerous out there!"

"Guys, it's okay!" Kel held his hands out, as the distance between him and the pair was
halved. "The cops are out there! They're working for once, you'll be fine!"

"B-But they can't be everywhere." Sunny said. They weren't in the trees, after all. The Tree
Bandit could prowl as he pleased, but cop cars couldn't dream of fitting past the bushes.

"Yeah, but I'm going with you!" Kel stepped up and put a hand on both of their shoulders. "If
that guy shows up, I'll give him what for! He won't even know what hit him!!"
Sunny turned his head and met Aubrey's gaze. Someone between them and an emergent Tree
Bandit would help, he knew. But there was a twinkle of doubt that reflected in Aubrey's eyes.
The Tree Bandit could leap out and fly past Kel, and Sunny knew the criminal was that
capable.

Kel must have picked on their hesitation, according to his sigh. "If that's not enough, I'm sure
my mom has some pepper spray lying around...."

Oh, right. Kel mentioned that before, didn't he? ....

Sunny's eyes widened. "A weapon...." He whispered, and Aubrey stared at him. "W-What if
we had weapons?"

"Like, if I brought my bat....?" Aubrey said.

Sunny nodded. "Or if I brought a knife...."

"Wait, what?" Kel said. "S-Sunny, you don't need to bring a knife!"

"That...." Aubrey started, as a spark of hope entered her eyes. "That can work!"

Sunny opened his mouth to respond, only to be yanked back as Aubrey dashed towards the
doorway.

"Come on, I'll get my bat first!"

"Uh, guys? GUYS!?" Kel called out, only to see the pair ran out of sight. "Oh, sure, leave
your friendly neighborhood Kel behind." He sighed. "Well, if it gets them out of the house...."
......

"You should've taken the bat to his head." The pink-haired demon hissed into Aubrey's mind.

'Just shut up, please!' Aubrey thought, trying not to put a deathgrip on her bat. She looked
over at the orange-clad boy in question.

Kel was busy trying to compare heights with Sunny, even when the three were moving down
the sidewalk. Now that he mentioned it, the overactive friend wasn't the small bean that
Aubrey knew. Moving down the sidewalk made it hard to pinpoint, but it looked like Kel got
a few inches on Sunny, and she was sure that Sunny was around her height.

"'Please'? Really?" The demon scoffed, interrupting Aubrey's observation. "No wonder
you're stuck with Kel again."

Aubrey felt her eye twitch. 'But Kel had a reason! I never hated him that much, anyways!'

"Great, he has a little alibi. So what? He sat around and felt too sorry for himself to even
look at you?"

'Yeah, and I forgave Sunny for what he did!'

"That's different and you know it. We actually want Sunny around."

A distant part of her acknowledged turning a corner. 'So!? Kel was our friend too!'

"Yeah, until he got bored of us!" The demon snapped back. "Do you really think he'd bother if
Sunny wasn't around?"
'What are you talking about?'

"...." Aubrey swore she heard something smack a wall. "Are you dense? Did you not notice
how focused Kel was on Sunny? Or how little he's spoke to you so far?"

Aubrey glanced over at the boys. Kel broke off his comparisons in favor of some hyperactive
tale. Something about a game against River City, or whatever. Sunny, even with his hand
firmly gripping her's, was paying attention to his friend's chatter. 'Does it really matter?' She
thought. 'Sunny enjoys it, and he wanted to see Kel so badly.'

"And there's the catch: Sunny." The demon drawled. "The boy's doing this for Sunny, not
you."

'And? If it makes Sunny happy--'

"Oh my god, you're doing it again."

'Doing wh--'

"Aubrey?"

Aubrey went ramrod straight and leapt off the ground with a yelp. "Huhwhat!?" She said,
whipping her head towards the disturbance.

Sunny (and Kel) looked at her in open concern. Kel's hands were jammed into his pockets,
while Sunny's free hand hung by his side. "Is something wrong?" Sunny asked.

It took Aubrey a second to digest the scene. "--Oh! I'm, uh, I'm okay!" Aubrey said. "I was
just...." ....Crap, what was a good excuse here? "Keeping an eye out! Y-You know....?"
Kel formed an 'o' with his mouth, before nodding. Sunny, on the other hand, pursed his lips
with a tint of worry. "Are you sure....?"

"I-I'm sure." She gulped. "I'm sure...."

Sunny held her gaze for what felt like an eternity. 'Come on, Sunny, believe me here. Please.'
Aubrey thought, as she felt the sweat coming on.

But at last, Sunny broke his stare. "....Okay." He said. He gave her a small smile, and his
thumb rubbed a gentle circle into the back of her hand. "Just.... let me know if something's
wrong, alright....?"

"T-This worrywort idiot...." The demon squeaked. What was once an arrogant and often
sarcastic voice turned into a pile of embarrassment, struggling to act aloof. Aubrey almost
wondered how all that pink hair would frame a strong blush. "Doesn't he know how strong
that is....?"

Still, it wasn't enough to keep Aubrey's own cheeks from heating up. "U-Uhm." She cleared
her throat. "I will! L-Let's keep going, though...."

"Yeah." Kel spoke up. She wasn't sure why he had that goofy grin on his face, though. "You
two can act all mushy when we get to Gino's. Your friendly neighborhood Kel's gotta eat!"

Aubrey nodded, only to pause.

'....What does he mean, 'mushy'....?'

......
One chime later, three teens entered Faraway's pizzeria.

Sunny glanced around, taking in the plethora of customers that filled up the tables. 'Was
Gino's really this busy on Saturdays?' He wondered. It made sense, but he didn't recall seeing
them over the past few weeks. 'Then again, we were always back before dinner....'

With a shake of his head, Sunny looked over at the counter. Gino, as present as the name on
the building, was talking with a few acne-ridden guys in front of him.

"Wow, it sure is packed today!" Kel said, clapping a hand upon Sunny's shoulder. "And the
line isn't too bad, either. This is perfect!"

"For you, maybe...." Aubrey said, squeezing her palm a little further into Sunny's. "Let's get
in line before someone else does."

Aubrey stepped forward, and Sunny was pulled along right after. Before he knew it, the trio
were parked right behind the boys ahead. Kel was snickering-- Sunny didn't know why-- and
Aubrey looked like she was debating whether to stare their friend down or interrogate him.

Sunny didn't have to wait long before Gino motioned the duo off to the side, mentioning
something about 'when they're done'. A few seconds later, the way was cleared, and the
cashier glanced up and gasped.

"Sunny! Aubrey!" Gino said. "It's been days since I've seen you!"

"U-Uh, yeah...." Sunny said, struggling to not avert his eyes.

"I heard about what happened! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. That thug didn't hurt
you too badly, did he?"

Aubrey shook her head. "No, we scared him off...."

The cashier glanced at Aubrey's bat, then back to their faces with a nod. "Well, I'm glad to
hear that! Still, don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

"We'll keep that in mind." Aubrey glanced over at the tables. "Things got busy today,
huh....?"

"Oh yes, they did!" Gino placed his hands on the counter. "Now that the cops started
patrolling the town, everyone came out of the waterworks today. Heck, the kids are starting to
ask about delivering again!"

Sunny froze. "Really....?"

"Yes, but don't worry!" Gino flashed a smile. "There's always something you can do here, if
you ever want it."

"Wait, what!?" A voice called out. Sunny looked over at the tables, his gaze falling upon the
pair of teens from earlier. One of them, a guy with hair resembling combed sand, stared
daggers at the cashier. "We asked first!"

Gino raised an eyebrow. "Did you ask when no one bothered? Like, say, over the past few
weeks?"

"What? Of course not!" The teen put his hands on his hips. "The Tree Bandit was on the
prowl! Who would've went out with him around?"

"They did." The cashier nodded in Sunny and Aubrey's direction. "So they get to call shotgun
whenever they want."

"But we just asked!"

"Woah, woah!" Kel called out, stepping up and waving his hands. "We're just here to make an
order!!"

"Huh?" Gino glanced back. "....Oh." Sunny saw a polite smile, one with more wood than
teeth, take over the cashier. "Hello, Kel. Sandwiches again?"

"Naaaah!" Kel smiled. "We're hungry, so we want three of the big pepperonis tonight!"

Sunny blinked and turned to meet Aubrey's gaze. 'Three?' He mouthed.

Gino's laugh interrupted the pair. "About time you ordered some pizza!" He said, one hand
jotting on a notepad. "I guess the parents aren't home tonight, huh?"

"Nope! Just the three of us this weekend."

"Kel!" Aubrey hissed into Kel's ear. "Don't just tell people that!"

"What?" Kel asked, a stupefied look on his face. "It's not like he's going to break into your
house or anything."

"I'm not talking about him!"

"It's not like anyone else is eavesdropping, either!" Kel motioned towards the tables.
Everyone paid attention to their own groups and pizzas-- wait, no, there were the teens. But
when Sunny looked closer, it was the complainer focusing on the cashier, while his friend
was struggling to snap the boy out of it.

"That's not--" Aubrey gritted her teeth. "Oh my god, do you not know what 'privacy'
means!?"
Gino cleared his throat. "Alright, that'll be nineteen-fifty for the pizzas!"

"Oh!" Kel said, reaching into his pockets. A few ruffling sounds passed, and Kel's cheeks
started to heat up. "Uh...."

Sunny felt his lips flatten out. "....You didn't bring any money, didn't you?"

"Yeaaaah.... Guess I got a little too excited this morning...." Kel scratched the back of his
head. "Could you spot me here, bro?"

"Seriously?" Aubrey sighed. "We didn't bring any either!"

"Oh, that's alright!" Gino exclaimed, as he fiddled with the register. "Let's see, a twenty
would give...."

Sunny stared as the cashier muttered some numbers and opened up the till. 'What is he
doing....?'

"....Fifty cents is your change!" Gino closed the little drawer and held out a hand, yielding
two quarters and....

Aubrey blinked. "....That's four twenties." She said.

Gino nodded. 'Faraway looks after itself.' He mouthed, pressing the money into Sunny's
hands. 'Tell Wanda I said hi.'

"Oh, come on!" The complainer moaned.

"Hazard pay!" The cashier swatted at him. "Anyways, the tables are stuffed, but I think
Hobbeez is empty right now. Just head back in about an hour, and your pizzas will be ready."

With one last nod, Gino stepped back and retreated into the backrooms.

"....So." Kel piped up. "Free pizza, huh?"

"....Yeah." Sunny said. He stared at the register for a few seconds before pocketing the
change. "Free pizza."

Aubrey, on the other hand, seemed indecisive on what kind of face to make. "....Did he just
hand us a bunch of money?" She asked, looking over at Sunny.

Sunny looked back. "Should we question it?"

He could hear the two teens bickering in the background. "....I guess not." Aubrey sighed.
"Well, let's go over to Hobbeez, and...." She trailed off, a lightbulb turning on in her eyes.
"Well, we haven't done any work for a while, right?"

Sunny nodded. Now that she mentioned it, they needed to get more groceries. 'We still have
money back home, but we haven't done any work for a while.'

"Really?" Kel raised an eyebrow. "I mean, it's Saturday and we're out for pizza."

"Yeah, and?" Aubrey crossed her arms. "It's not like you can't go read some comics if you
want."

"Oh come on, I'm not going to leave you to do all the work!" Kel grimaced. "I'm just saying,
do you really want to work up a sweat while waiting?"
""Yes."" Sunny and Aubrey said.

Kel sighed, letting his shoulders droop. "Alright, alright." He relented. "Let's go waste time
productively, I guess...."

Aubrey stepped back from the shelf. "And that's the last one." She said, dusting off her hands.

"This didn't take very long...." Sunny said, eyes focused elsewhere.

She followed his gaze to a clock. "....Wait, it's only been fifteen minutes?"

"Seventeen, I think." Sunny pursed his lips in thought. "The manager did say it was only
several boxes...."

"You mean after he kept asking about what happened?" Aubrey cringed. Gino's concern was
one thing, but 'Greg' looked ready for details when they approached. What was he even going
to do about it, anyways? The damage was done, and he wasn't there for it. Nobody was. 'At
least Kel knows not to pry about it....' She thought.

"Mm...." Sunny opened the other end of his box and flattened the cardboard. "Let's check if
Kel's ready."

"Yeah." Her hand met his halfway, and their squeezes brought the girl a pleasant warmth. "I
hope he didn't have any problems."

Sunny nodded, but there wasn't much distance between their shelf and Kel's. It only took
Aubrey stepping around the wider display to see Kel's nose buried in comic pages and
covered by a 'Gohn Steele' cover.
Aubrey's concern, small as it was, turned to irritation. "What the hell, Kel?"

"Huh?" Kel said, looking back. "Oh, hey guys!"

"'Hey' yourself!" Aubrey stepped forward, and Sunny followed suit. "Why are you standing
around and reading comics!? You said you were going to help!"

Kel blinked. "....I already did, though." He pointed at the shelves. "See?"

"He's right." Sunny piped up, eyes affixed on the shelves. "The display is full."

"....Oh." Aubrey said. She felt at a loss for words. Was this what happened to the boy that
would spill Orange Joe on a carpet and then ran? "You, uh, got everything done already....?"

"Yep!" Kel spouted a wide smile.

"Uh...." Sunny cleared his throat. "Kel, the shelves...."

"What? They're full, right?"

Aubrey glanced over at the stand, and its every shelf headlined with Gohn Steele. "....Wait,
how did you fill up these shelves?"

"Oh, that?" Kel closed his comic and placed it back on the stand. "I just took the comics and
spread them around."

"So you just stacked comics on top of each other?"

Kel nodded. "Yeah."

Aubrey stared at the orange-clad boy. "....Kel, the manager wants comics in their own stacks.
Not mixed up together!"

Kel blinked. "Wait, he did?"

The girl lowered her forehead into her free hand and rubbed. What a time and place to get a
headache.... "Kel, cn you go take Sunny's cardboard to the back? We'll sort these comics out."

"....That sounds weird, but alright!" Kel beamed.

Sunny was silent for the exchange, but the moment that Kel went for the back, he turned to
Aubrey. "Are you okay?" He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"....I'm okay." Aubrey said, cracking a small smile. "For a second, I thought Kel was actually
responsible."

Sunny looked like he was suppressing a chortle. "H-He's not that bad....!"

"Oh come on, he's not here." She gave his side a gentle nudge. "You can say it!"

As Sunny started to crack his own smile, he turned his head the other way. "H-He's--" Sunny
faltered, his words overtaken by stifled giggles.

Aubrey couldn't help but smile a little wider. "....In that case, let's fix Mister Responsible's
mess." She said, nudging Sunny towards the stand. "Then we'll get, uh, reasonable pay for
our work."
......

Even when Sunny fronted the last set of studs, Aubrey still had that distant stare to her.
"....Why did he pay us so much....?" She said.

"That's the fifth time you said that...." Sunny said, concerned. She was cognizant enough to
pull her weight in correcting Fix-It's shelves, yet he felt like his partner was going through
motions.

"Can you blame me?" Aubrey turned to look at him. The light was still there, but her eyes
were so clouded. Sunny had to suppress a shiver. "They just.... gave us so much money, for
no reason."

Sunny twisted his lip. "Maybe it has to do with my mom?" He shrugged. "They were really
serious about doing it."

"But what if it's not?"

Sunny gulped. His hands found Aubrey's arms and squeezed. "Aubrey, please tell me what's
wrong...."

Aubrey looked over at the shelf, letting the distant clicks and chatter fill the silence for a
spell. "....Do you remember when I said what happened after the funeral?"

"How everything went downhill?" Sunny asked.

Aubrey nodded. "We.... didn't have a lot of money, and when dad left, it got worse. Everyone
said I was too young for jobs, and mom started drinking herself into the couch...." She bit her
lip, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "And.... And no one would help when I asked. T-
They said I was greedy, or I was an embarrassment to my mother...."
Sunny felt a web of cracks form in his heart. "Aubrey...."

"T-That's when I started stealing." Aubrey glanced at the shelf. "Just a few cans or some beef
jerky when mom spent too much on drinks. The workers never caught me, and if anyone tried
to frisk me...." She shuddered. "P-Point is, no one wanted to help me. No one ever tried or
cared. A-And now we just go out for the first time in days and people just start throwing
money at us!?"

Sunny shivered. "That's...." He started. He never thought about out until she mentioned it.
How did everyone just up and ignore Aubrey like that?

His thoughts were interrupted by a sniffle. "Why?" She muttered, eyes glistening. "W-Why
are they helping me now? They weren't t-there back then, when I needed all this money the
most. Why now?"

"I...." Sunny gulped. "I don't know. I don't know why no one else tried to help you. But we
have it now. We can still use it now, and...." He put on as much of a smile as he could muster.
"E-Even if no one else will, I'll still help you. You know that, right?"

Aubrey sniffled again, and then lunged for him.

Sunny could only squawk as she wrapped him into a tight embrace.

"A-And I can't thank you enough for that." Aubrey croaked. "Y-You came back, you let me
stay with you and we made money together and, and--" She dug her face into his shoulder. "I-
I don't know what would've happened if you didn't show up. Thank you so much, Sunny. I
know it's a long time coming but thank you thank you--"

"I-It's okay!" Sunny squeaked, hugging Aubrey in turn. He blinked, trying not to tear up
himself. "Y-You're my friend, it's--"
"HEY, GUYS!!" Kel's voice echoed throughout the building, and Sunny could hear his
friend's sneakers smacking against the floor. "WHERE ARE YOU AT!? WE GOTTA--"

......

"Come on, I said I was sorry!" Kel whined.

"Yeah, and you still could've found us without shouting!" Aubrey huffed, handing a
flyswatter to Sunny. All of that deep-seated worry that she entrusted to Sunny, interrupted in
a flash.... As far as Aubrey was concerned, Kel was lucky that Sunny didn't stop hugging her.

"Yeah, but it was easier! Back me up here, Sunny!"

Aubrey glanced over to Sunny. Her partner was zoned out, his eyes tracing the store for
flying pests. "Not today, Kel."

Kel sighed, dragging out his breath. "Man, you two are serious about work, huh...."

"Like we have a choice?" Aubrey motioned her swatter at Kel. "We don't go talking the time
away, either."

"Look, he was really into our game against Rivercity! I can't just turn down an opportunity
like that." Kel retorted, before putting his hands behind his head. "Besides, I've had my fill of
work anyways. Aren't we supposed to be having fun on a weekend?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "We don't have that luxury, Kel. Our families aren't like yours."

"Yeah, I know about Sunny's dad." Kel frowned. "What about your folks, though? You never
said anything about--"
Sunny cleared his throat. Aubrey felt a nudge at her shoulder. "Over there." Sunny said,
pointing at a fruit stand. Sure enough, when she squinted her eyes, there was a pair of flies
buzzing around the cantaloupes.

"Alright." Aubrey nodded, grabbing Sunny's hand. "Let's get this done. The pizza should be
ready when we get back."

"--Wait, you're holding hands while you're doing this?" Kel asked, jogging behind the pair.

"....Yes....?" Aubrey drawled. She held her swatter in a light wave, bringing it to hover near
one of the flies.

"You know that's going to make it harder, right?"

Aubrey snorted. "Watch." She said. She kept vibrating the swatter, bringing her buzzing little
target closer to its kin-- and opposite of Sunny's own tool.

Sunny clicked his tongue, and Aubrey thrusted her weapon straight at the flies.

CLAP!

Her swatter smacked against Sunny's and jumped back in unison. As they parted, two bit-
sized corpses dropped to Othermart's tiled floor.

"Woah...." Kel whispered. Aubrey glanced back and found stars in her friend's eyes. "That
was cool! You just high-fived them out of the air!"

Aubrey blinked. "I.... guess you could call it that....?"

"Man, that was like-- you couldn't find that in movies!" He continued to gush, even as Sunny
scanned the store for more targets. "I wish I could pull that off!"

Pride surged through Aubrey. A wobbling grin sprouted, and she placed her swatting hand on
her hip. "W-Well, it's just natural for us. No one can beat our--" Aubrey felt a squeeze from
her other hand and cut off. "Eh? Sunny?"

Sunny nodded. "Near the coffee."

"Oh! Right." Aubrey cleared her throat. "Next batch, then...."

Some steps later, and the pair found another set of flies. They were no match for their
synchronized clap. Then Sunny found more by the magazines. Again, they all fell to the clap.
Then another, and another....

The grocery store around Aubrey blurred out as she found the next batch. The details around
them weren't important; they weren't shopping, and they needed to see the dark blurs that
tried to blend amongst the stock.

'Why are there so many flies around, anyways?' Aubrey thought, as they shifted from one
spot to the next. It was the autumn season, and Othermart didn't keep their doors propped
open like they did during summer break. What could've caused so many flies to pop up in a
grocery store?

"....Last one." Sunny said, interrupting Aubrey's thoughts. She looked over to see two-- no,
three flies in the middle of an aisle.

"About time!" Kel sighed. "I mean, you guys are amazing and all, but I am starving!"

"This won't take long." Sunny matched her steps, and the pair approached the flies.
"And the deadly duo approach!" Kel commented, hands cupped around his mouth. "They're
quick and in sync, but the fierce flies can fly even faster! Will the duo high-five them, or is
the pizza going to--"

"Please stop." Aubrey sighed, feinting the flies into position. "I'm trying to concentrate."

"And Aubrey is trying to concentrate!" Kel echoes, and it's all Aubrey can do to not groan.
"They're winding up for the-- oh crap that's a wasp!"

'Wait, what?' Aubrey glanced at the flies. One of them had a longer 'tail' than the others.

She heard Sunny gasp, and their swatters met in the middle. But when they parted, there were
only two dark dots on the ground.

Aubrey looked up. Her heart plummeted as she saw the hovering wasp.

The wind howled when she saw it cock its stinger.

A scream lodged itself in her throat. Her hands went numb. All she could do was watch,
wide-eyed, as the wasp dove for Sunny.

"Sunny, watch out!" Kel yelled, and she heard his sneakers for a moment.

Sunny's eyes bulged and he tried to move to his right. The wasp was quick, and Aubrey's
world blinked out as the insect came within striking range.

When it came to, Kel was pulling Sunny to the side. The stinger almost grazed its target.
"Woah!" Kel yelped, as the wasp came close to clipping his shoulder on the way.
"That wasp tried to hurt Sunny." The demon growled. Aubrey gritted her teeth, and a fire
sparked within her. The howl died, and her fingers curled around a handle. "It needs to pay!"

SMACK!

Her swatter sent the wasp barreling into the ground.

The wings twitched, and Aubrey slammed her foot upon her victim.

"The insects don't stop. You shouldn't either."

Yes.... She lived in filth once. The flies were endless, as persistent and cruel as nature. Wasps
were worse, adding pain with their squalor. She stomped again.

"Keep going! It's just like that bandit; it wants to take everything away! It won't stop until it's
dead! Stomp it until it stops!"

And again. Sunny meant so much to her, did so much for her, and then this insect tried to
harm him? Again. How dare it? Again. Aubrey snarled. Again. HOW DARE IT!? Again--

"--AUBREY!"

Aubrey whirled around, almost glaring at Sunny and his worried expression.

"I-It's dead!" He squeaked, gripping her arms. "Y-You can stop....!"

Aubrey stared at him, then glanced away. There, under her boot, was a tiny puddle that once
resembled a wasp.
 There, whispering in the distance, was a small group of customers. They turned away when
she looked, and her anger simmered.

There, behind Sunny, Kel stood with an awkward expression. His stance was tense, with a
brief glance towards the entrance.

Aubrey felt her mettle and demon go quiet at once, and shame lit her face aflame. "R-Right....
Uhm...." She looked at the floor again. It had no intention of swallowing her whole. "....L-
Let's get our pay...."

There was only silence between them as they left the scene. At least the seafood lady was still
cheerful....

Chapter End Notes

fuck wasps, all my homies hate wasps.

to be honest, this chapter brings up something i've had to work with since the start of the
fic: no matter how one cuts it, aubrey has more to lose if she was separated from sunny.
they both have reasons to stick with each other, both willingly and by necessity, but
sunny's reappearance gave aubrey a way out of her crappy life. thanks to him, she now
has a proper bedroom, a house that isn't filled with trash, a mother figure that (still)
cares, doesn't have to steal for survival and various other things that she once lacked.

now imagine what could happen if she lost sunny.

that's not to say that she doesn't care about sunny first and foremost, or that sunny hasn't
made steps himself to ensure that he doesn't lose aubrey. but at the end of the day, she
has so much more reason to be overprotective of her partner.

also, pink demon lore.

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Skirmish in the Park
Chapter Summary

Even with the Tree Bandit gone, the park isn't as peaceful as the pair might've hoped.
And as Sunny finds out, home isn't that peaceful either.

Chapter Notes

hoo boy, the amount of shenanigans and bogus that happened within the past three-ish
weeks....

to make a long story short, things happened. most of it is ridiculous and personal. the
one exception is something i'll explain at the end. but for now, enjoy this roughly 5k
word chapter.

no beta reads this time. absolute best moved onto other things, so this chapter has not
graced anyone else's eyes yet. be wary, i guess.

let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"Mmm-MMM!" Kel burped. "Man, that hit the spot!"

"....Seriously, Kel?" Aubrey said, grimacing.

The orange-clad teen responded with a hum and a rub of his stomach, and Aubrey sighed. For
someone with a better lot than she had, Kel had a harder time grasping table manners.

A rubber ball bounced somewhere nearby, and a few kids giggled as they chased after it.

'How did Kel convince us to eat at the park, again?' Aubrey wondered. The park was alive
today, the benches and playground filled with inhabitants that were absent a week or so ago.
The boy mentioned how there were too many people at the park for the criminal to try
anything, didn't he?

Now that she looked, though, today didn't look too bad. The clouds kept the golden rays off
the land, and Aubrey was sure that it wouldn't take long before the sun would start to recede,
but there wasn't a hint of darkness in the sky, and there wasn't a single puff of wind all day.
Was this how it was all week, though, or was it just today? Aubrey bit her lip at the thought.

"Kel, you already ate a whole pizza." Sunny said, cutting into Aubrey's thoughts. She glanced
over at Kel, and the pizza box his hand snuck into.

"What the heck, Kel?" Aubrey said, staring at the boy in question. "You're eating again?"

"Hey, I'm a growing boy!" Kel fired back, pulling out his ninth slice. "I can't practice all the
time without some grub in the tub!"

"Yeah, and you don't see us gulping down a ton of pizza!" Aubrey gestured at the half-empty
pizza before her.

"Well, you should!" Aubrey felt her eyebrow rise up. "We're all fourteen, we got to eat!"

"Yeah, I think I'll do it at my own pace." Aubrey shook her head. Her attention turned to a
slice of pizza, and she leaned down to bite into it.

Just seconds later, Kel started to snicker. Aubrey turned to him mid-chew. "What now," she
wanted to say.

Her friend couldn't stop cracking up, instead covering his mouth as he stared at the pale hand
holding her slice. Aubrey traced from the limb, her gaze travelling past the arm before
meeting Sunny's eyes.
Sunny blinked at her, with his ears tinted red. She blinked back.

She then grabbed a slice and offered it to Sunny.

It wasn't even ten seconds before Sunny took a bite, and Aubrey felt a surge of pride and
warmth overcome her.

"Y-You guys--" Kel choked. He looked like he was trapped somewhere between holding in
raucous laughter and experiencing the onset of a heart attack. "You guys are too much!"

Aubrey opted to finish her bite before giving him a flat look. "We're just eating pizza." She
drawled.

"B-But you're feeding each other!" Kel wheezed. He took a deep, yet booming breath. "And
you act like you do this every day!"

Aubrey glanced over at Sunny, finding the same sense of confusion she felt. "But we
don't....?"

Kel whistled, then formed a wide smile. "Well, I shouldn't be surprised. You two are, like, the
perfect couple."

Aubrey sputtered, eyes bulging. Sunny dropped her slice, opting to hammer a fist upon his
chest.

Kel tilted his head to the side. "Guys? Something wrong?"

Aubrey wanted to brain him. She wanted to smack that clueless look off his face so bad. "W-
We aren't a couple!" She blurted out.
Kel blinked. "Wait, what?"

"We're just---" Sunny coughed. "We're just friends."

"Seriously?" Kel gave them a look of disbelief. "You were holding hands!"

"We didn't want to get split up!" Aubrey argued.

"You're hugging each other every other time I look!"

"W-We just appreciate having a good friend." Sunny murmured, his ears glowing and
promising an infection upon his cheeks.

"You live in the same house!" Kel threw his hands in the air. "And work together like.... like
some kind of machine!"

Aubrey fought to keep her lips from squiggling. Why did her face feel so warm all of a
sudden? "L-Look, just because we use the same bedroom--"

Kel's eyes widened, and a squeak tore out from between his lips. "You sleep in the same
bed!?" He whispered.

"T-There's only one bed...." Sunny piped up. "A-And the couch.... Uhm...."

Silence hung in the air as Sunny twiddled his thumbs. Kel's expression fell into disbelief,
right before his face fell into his hands. "....Is this what Hero feels like....?" He muttered.
"Now I know what it's like to be Hero. I am so sorry for driving you up a wall, big bro...."
Aubrey's cheeks reached volcanic levels of heat, and she felt cramped on the middle of the
bench. She scooched over towards the edge, enough to feel a small sense of freedom.

Then Aubrey looked towards the middle, saw the small distance between her and Sunny, and
felt a series of flips in her stomach. Before she knew it, she scooched back in and clung to
Sunny's hand.

"See, that's what I mean!" Kel crowed, pointing at the deadlocked pushing between her and
Sunny's shoulders. "You can't get enough of each other!"

"Because we're...." Aubrey started, before she encountered a lump of words in her throat.

"...R-Really good best friends." Sunny followed up. Aubrey flashed a small smile at him, and
her stomach tickled as his gaze became lost in awe.

Kel smacked his face against the table. "I give up," He moaned.

"Then talk about something else!" Aubrey tried to demand, and her voice came out as a plea.

"Ugh...." Kel peeled himself off the pizza-stained paper plate. Greasy orange dotted and
framed his face. "So, you guys looking forward to the new Spaceboy movie?"

Aubrey blinked. "Wha-- Oh, right, a new Spaceboy movie...."

Sunny glanced off into the distance. "What's it about?" He asked.

"You remember the guy who directed the first movie?" Kel said. "Something Starmann?"

Sunny nodded. "Jeffrey Starmann?"

"Yeah, him!" Kel beamed. He leaned over the table, concentrated yet shaking. "They finally
brought him back to direct this movie! And he's basing it on the Asteroid Dragon series!!"

Sunny gasped, awestruck.

Aubrey's face fell. "Oh, come on. Asteroid Dragon was a buzzkill."

"No, he's not!" Kel looked over at her. "He's like, one of Spaceboy's strongest opponents
ever!"

"Yeah, he's too strong." Aubrey shook her head. "The comics had almost no good fights in
them! It was just 'hide here', 'talk to this guy', 'uncover that'...."

"That's the point!" Kel gestured. "He's so strong that when he finds Spaceboy, it's all over! It's
super tense and different! And everyone was really smart, too!"

"He has a point...." Sunny said. "Remember how the series sold out so fast, we could only
read those comics once....?"

Aubrey sighed, right as Sunny glanced away again. "Yeah, and I still want my over-the-top
fights." She said. "Talk is good and all, but I want action and-- Hm?" She blinked as Sunny
tugged at her jacket. "Is something wrong....?"

Sunny pointed off towards her other side. Her gaze followed his arm, all the way to--

"HEY, NERDS!!"

Aubrey winced. This newcomer, some girl with red-rimmed glasses, was loud. With her hair
shoved onto one side and a smirk that threatened to curve off her face, the approaching girl
looked just as demanding as her voice. 'She's gonna be a pain, I can tell already....' Aubrey
thought.

"Hey there!" Kel popped out of his seat with a smile, ready to take the fall for the pair. "I'm
Kel--"

"Not you, nerd." The girl waved off. Aubrey was sure that Kel had some dumbfounded
expression right now, but the newcomer was looking straight at her. "I'm looking for you."

Aubrey blinked, then pointed at herself. "Me?"

"Yeah, you." The girl tilted her head to the side. "You the one that beat up the Tree Bandit
with his own crowbar?"

'....Wait, what?' Aubrey's eyes widened. "How do you know that?"

"Who cares?" The girl's lips parted, revealing a glint of teeth. "I'm Kim, and the big guy
behind me is Vance." She jerked her thumb back at her partner, whose hair curled up like
horns while he glanced towards the street. "But you already know me, right?"

"Uh...." Aubrey scratched her head. "Maybe....?"

She felt a nudge from her other side. "Remember that game of dodgeball we played here?"
Sunny said. "The girl that threw the ball at me....?"

"Ooh...." Aubrey's fist fell into her palm. "You're that girl that made us get the ball that flew
into the woods!"

"And then she ran off to bounce it off her brother...." Sunny nodded.
Kim rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyways...." She fixed her gaze on Aubrey
again. "You beat up the Tree Bandit. That's metal."

That's what now? "....I guess....?"

"You bet it is." Kim tossed a jar up and down. "You sound cool. We should--"

Aubrey cut her off with a gasp. "Wait, what's in that jar?" She asked, pointing at the girl's
juggling act. "Are those flies in there!?"

"Oh, this?" Kim brings the jar to a halt. "Yeah, it's a buncha flies. What about 'em?"

"That's--" Aubrey stopped. "Wait...." Her mind flickered back to Othermart. "Were you
behind all the flies in Othermart?"

"--Huh?" Kim narrowed her eyes. "How'd you know about-- Oh come on, you swatted them
all down?"

"Yeah, and you let a wasp out in there!" Aubrey snapped. "It almost stung Sunny!"

"Eh, didn't realize it." Kim shrugged, and Aubrey felt her eye twitch. "Anyways, you sound
cool. We should hang out sometime, yeah?"

After what this girl caused? Aubrey frowned. "....Thanks, but no thanks."

"What?" Kim raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because I don't like you."

"Oh come on, we barely know each other!"

'Yeah, and you got on my bad side anyways.' Aubrey thought, giving the girl a hard stare.

"Kim...." Vance spoke up, nudging the girl in question.

"Not now, bro, I'm trying to talk to her." Kim grumbled.

"And I'm trying not to." Aubrey pointed out.

Kim sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for the wasp, okay?" She held her hands out. "It snuck in, and I
never saw it. Wouldn't have let it out in the store if I did."

"Right...." Aubrey narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, you totally didn't mean to get Sunny stung...."

Kim looked ready to throw her hands up. "I'm being serious here!"

Aubrey just rolled her eyes in response. "Why are you so insistent on talking to me,
anyways?"

"Because I want to?" Kim started to frown. "Why do you keep bringing the wimp up,
anyways?"

'What did she just call him?' Aubrey's cold indifference shattered in a moment, replaced by a
snarl. "He's not a wimp!"
"What--" Kim paused, blinking. Her downturned lips perked up into a predatory grin. "Oh,
what, that shrimpy nerd next to you?"

"His name is Sunny." Aubrey gritted her teeth. "And you're nothing compared to him!"

She felt a tug at her coat again. "Aubrey...." Sunny whispered.

"Don't let him." The Pink Demon hisses. "This tramp's got a lesson to learn."

Kim snorted. "Oh yeah, he's something alright." She said. Her eyes made the slowest roll
known to man. "I bet he was running so bravely from a guy that jumps out of trees."

"Like you would've done any better!"

"At least I wouldn't have to hold your hand all the time."

Aubrey leapt off the bench, right as a spark ignited her lungs. "Take that back!" She barked,
gritting her teeth.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Kel jumped out of his seat, hands outstretched. "Come on, everyone!
We can settle this peacefully!"

He stepped towards the two, only for Vance to park himself right in the way. "Sure hope you
know what you're doing here, Kim...." Vance muttered as Kel balked.

"Aubrey, stop....!" Sunny pleaded, crouched over but still clinging onto her hand.

"Yeah, Aubrey." Kim fanned her hands out. "Stop before you get your wimpy nerd hurt."
"Oh, she's getting it now." The Demon snarled, and Aubrey's vision grew red. "Grab that
bat."

Aubrey swiped down near the bench, and a wooden bat came up on the uptake.

"Uh-oh!" Kim bounced back a step, still grinning. "Looks like I pissed someone off!"

"You're going to eat your damn words by the time I'm done with you." Aubrey snarled,
brandishing her weapon.

She didn't even know what the other boys were doing anymore. She didn't care. All she could
feel was the roaring flame from head to toe. One hand clutching Sunny's, the other gripping
her streetwise sword.

And Kim, the absolute troll she was, bounced again with her fists held up. "Oooh, scary.
Come on, let's see what you got, girl!" She taunted. There was a glint in those malevolent,
demanding eyes.

"Aubrey!" Sunny cried out; his voice was distant compared to the war drums beating in
Aubrey's head. "Aubrey, no! Don't do it....!"

"And what, let her attack and disgrace him!?" She could feel the Demon's smile, glinting and
thirsting for carnage. "This bitch stuck her nose where it doesn't belong. Beat it until it's
swollen and mummified. Then she'll never bother you or Sunny ever again!"

Aubrey smacked her bat against the ground. The ground hummed once, then wailed twice.
One good swing at the head; that's all it would take to send this nuisance to the ground and
make her eat the words she dared to spit out.
Kim tilted her head forward and tightened her fists. Aubrey brought back her bat and shifted
her stance. One good charge would do it....

But something grabbed at her shoulder, from behind. Aubrey felt a new surge of irritation.
What tried to get in the way of her vengeance now? She jerked her head around to level a
glare towards the entrant.

She found Sunny's lips planted against her cheek instead.

Aubrey froze.

The tiny Aubys of her mind leapt from their seats with a united cry of joy. Some of them cooed
and hugged themselves, unable to stand still before such affection. They glanced around at
their like-minded peers, before reaching out and grabbing each other's hands. "Snuy cute!!"
The fawning circle squealed, as they bounced and filled the air with giggles.

Others, flustered and yearning, wandered towards her mind's eye. These Aubys squeaked and
reached their stubby little arms out to grasp their beloved Sunny. "Snuy!" They cheered.
"Cuddle Snuy! Kiss Snuy! Snuyyyy!!"

A great warmth consumed her cheeks, replacing the fire that once stoked her. She looked
over at Kim. The girl was still primed to throw a punch, yet Aubrey felt her bat weighing
upon her hand. She glanced over at Sunny and found his pleading look. '....Why did I want to
hit her so badly, again....?' Aubrey thought.

The Pink Demon was silent. The rage that once stirred within was now cold and barren.
There was only the rustle of foliage and the slamming of a car door somewhere behind her.

Aubrey looked back at Kim. She shook her head and lowered her bat. "....Never mind." She
said.

Kim blinked. "....What?"

Aubrey let go with one hand, and her weapon hit the ground. "You're not worth it."

Kim's grin flipped into a frown. "Uh, excuse you?"

"You heard me." Aubrey turned away. Sunny nodded and joined her in sitting back down on
the bench. "You're not worth the trouble."

"Not worth the trouble....?" Aubrey didn't even have to look to notice Kim's snarl. "Oh, I'll
show you troub--" A ruffling of grass and the rustling of clothes interrupted the girl. "Vance,
what the fuck!?"

"Cop's out and about." The older brother hissed. "We gotta go!"

"Are you serious!?"

Aubrey looked over towards the road. A blue-suited man, with a round belly and a gleaming
badge, walked right past the park's entrance and caught the table in his gaze.

"Of all the stupid.... Fine." Aubrey glanced back and found the siblings a foot farther than
before. Kim gave her a sour look. "Later, nerd." She spat, before she and her brother turned
for the tree line.

"Hey, you there!" The cop shouted, as his boots started slamming against the ground. "Stop!"

It wasn't until Kim and Vance disappeared into the foliage, however, that the cop appeared in
Aubrey's view. "Son of a gun...." The cop hissed, before turning towards the table. "Are you
kids alright?"
"Yeah!" Kel said, stepping forward. "Those two just came up and harassed us for no good
reason!"

"Did they?" The cop turned his gaze towards Aubrey. "Have you ever seen or talked to them
before?"

Aubrey shook her head. "No...." She said. "They just.... acted like they knew what happened
to us...."

"Is that so....?"

Aubrey nodded.

The cop sighed. "How the hell did they learn about that...." He muttered. "Anyways, don't
worry about them. Just make sure you get home safe, alright?"

"We will!" Kel beamed. "And good luck with your patrol!"

The cop flashed him a smile before walking back towards the road. He reached for a radio on
his belt. "Park patrol here, got a few kids that ran into the forest, over...." He intoned, voice
fading from the group.

Sunny let out a breath, and Kel sighed. "Jeez, what was their problem?" He said. "And why
was she so interested in you, Aubrey?"

"Heck if I know." Aubrey shrugged. "I don't understand her either...."

"Maybe we should head home...." Sunny said, pointing towards the sky. An orange glow
began to invade the clouds, and some of the park's denizens looked ready to head home.
"....Yeah, good idea." Aubrey nodded, closing their pizza box.

"Same here." Kel agreed, as he grabbed an empty box and aimed towards the distant
trashcan. "Oh hey, once we get back, there's this really cool show--"

"It involves Orange Joe, doesn't it?"

"No, no, it's--" The crumpled-up pizza box soared through the air, and went right into-- no, it
hit the rim of the trash can and flopped onto the ground. "Whoops. Oh well, I...." Kel started,
only to freeze up. "I-I'll go get that...."

Aubrey blinked, turning from the sight of a running Kel to a glaring Sunny. "....Sunny?"

Sunny's eye twitched. "I hate litter...." He growled.

"Uhm--" Aubrey gulped, before scooting in to embrace him. "I-It's okay, he'll take care of
it...."

'How does Kel keep making these forts?' Sunny wondered, as Kel stood back from the
blanket-made cave.

Kel took his time looking at the creation. He kept his tongue poked out while looking
between angled digits under the glow of a nightstand lamp. Aubrey, on the other hand, looked
amazed at the structure formed next to their desk.

"Yeah, it's not going anywhere." Kel cheered. "Right, Sunny?"

Sunny glanced at the blanket fort again. It looked solid, didn't waver or droop.... "It's not
going anywhere." He nodded.

"....Am I missing something?" Aubrey asked, glancing between the two.

"Nah." Kel waved her off. "Are you sure you two don't wanna join me, though?"

Aubrey eyeballed the tent. "That looks a little too small for the three of us...."

"Wait, really?" Kel looked back at his creation.

Sunny nodded. "It is kinda small...."

"Darn." Kel sighed. "Well, it's big enough for me and Sunny--"

"Nope." Aubrey chirped. Sunny was pulled into Aubrey's side before he could blink.
"Denied."

"....Oh, right." Kel smirked. "You two like to sleep together--"

A pillow collided with his face. "Shut up."

Several inches of fluffy pillow couldn't silence Kel's snickering, even as he pulled it off his
face and down to his pajama shirt. 'Kel hasn't changed when it comes to pajamas, either....'
Sunny thought. 'I wonder if it grew with him.'

"Alright, I'm gonna go get my teeth brushed!" Kel announced, tossing the pillow back.
Aubrey caught it. "Wait, you didn't do it earlier?" She asked.

"I couldn't! You two were too busy hogging the sink."

"Kel, you took a bath earlier. Couldn't you have done it then?"

"Eww, no!" Kel scrunched up his face. "Who wants that nasty bath getting into their
mouth!?"

"That's...." Aubrey sighed, and she slapped a palm against her forehead. "Just go and brush."

"Okay, okay!" He stepped back and through the doorway. "Oh, and be sure to keep it down."
Kel grinned. "Don't wanna hear you two kissing too loudly!"

Sunny watched as Kel shut the door just in time to block the incoming pillow. Boisterous
laughter pierced the bedroom walls and echoed across the room.

"Who is that guy and what did he do to Kel?" Aubrey grumbled, face glowing. "That's way
too much teasing for him."

"Didn't he use to tease you all the time?" Sunny pointed out.

Aubrey groaned. "Don't even remind me. He was just terrible back then."

"I mean, he was harmless...."

Aubrey gave him a look. "Sunny, he took Mr. Eggplant away like, every single day. Not to
mention how he kept losing things, and he had the worst tastes."
Sunny sighed. "Aubrey--"

"What, are you telling me that Orange Joe wasn't the worst thing to ever exist?"

Sunny paused, a finger hovering in the air. He opened his mouth, then closed it. "....Okay, I
see what you mean."

Aubrey nodded. "He has his good side, and he's fun to talk to, but...." She sighed. "He just
can't sit still! I can't deal with that kind of energy, you know? Like, how do you put up with
him when he gets hyper!?"

"Well...." Sunny scratched the back of his head. "I mean, I just kinda.... go with it?" He
winced at Aubrey's blank look. "It doesn't really bother me....?"

Aubrey sighed. "I wish I could. Maybe I wouldn't have to argue with him so much...."

"But you always go back to being friends, right?"

Aubrey blinked. "Well...." She glanced towards the window. Now that Sunny looked at it, he
could see the hint of a full moon in the sky. "That's...." Aubrey cleared his throat and looked
down at her hands. "....Now that you mention it, we do. What the heck?"

Sunny gave her a small smile. "Yeah, it's.... It's like everything just keeps coming back
together...."

Aubrey snorted. "Well, I can't argue with that. I still wish he came around sooner, though."

"Mm...." Sunny glanced over towards the door. "Should we get the pillow....?"
"Huh? --Oh, yeah, that." Aubrey nodded, slipping off the bed.

'Sorry Aubrey, but....' Sunny exhaled as he trailed along, hand in hand. It was all too easy to
recall how angry Aubrey got about Kel's absence. With how much she was ticked off over the
course of today, the last thing they needed was another round of rage. Still, when Aubrey
picked up the pillow, Sunny found another dilemma. What should they talk about instead....?

When the pillow was placed back upon the head of the bed, however, Aubrey took a deep
breath. "....Hey, Sunny?" She asked.

Sunny blinked, shaken out of his thoughts. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry. For, you know...." She averted her gaze. "What happened at the park...."

Kim and Vance.... Sunny shook his head. "It's alright.... They were--"

"It's not." Aubrey intercepted. "I almost dragged you into a fight."

"But you stopped...."

"Because of you. If you hadn't...." Aubrey's cheeks caught on fire again. "You know, did that
thing...." Sunny felt his ears light up, too. "....I don't know what I would've done."

"W-Well...." Sunny said. Why were there butterflies in his stomach all of a sudden? "I-I'm
glad I could help...."

"Yeah...." Aubrey trailed off. Her face kept growing red, though. "And, uhm...."
Sunny fought to keep his gaze on her. "....Yeah....?"

"I-If you want to...." Aubrey bit her lip. "Y-You can do that thing again.... Like...." Her finger
rose, shaking, as she directed it to her cheek. "L-Like this...."

Sunny stared, his heart threatening to leap straight out of his chest. "R-Really....?" He
mumbled. The cacophony of eager Snuys in his head threatened to drown his ears.

Aubrey's face resembled too much of a tomato, and Sunny swore he saw a bit of steam
coming off of her forehead. "Y....Y-Yeah." She said. Her face shifted, and her cheek angled
towards him. "I-If you.... only if you want to....!"

The room around Sunny blurred into blobs and splashes of darkened colors. His face
threatened to set his pajamas, which reached from head to toe, alight. Aubrey, sharing Kel's
sentiment in unchanging sleepwear, tried to stand still amidst her winced eyes and light
shivering.

Sunny inched forward, fighting the flips in his gut and a seed of anxiety that threatened to
bloom and send him in the opposite direction. He knew, somewhere deep inside, this would
cause something he couldn't feel total confidence about. But the greater part of him, desiring
more than just a binding of hands, yearned and spurred him on.

She was about as tall as him. There were no tiptoes, no props needed to level them out.
Sunny only had to lean forward, trying to steady his breathing, as his lips reached out and--

"Eeeeew."

Sunny pulled back with a loud gasp, and Aubrey rocketed off the floor and halfway to the
ceiling. He whirled around to face the doorway and found Kel and his complacent grin. "Get
a room, you two!" He said in a tone so cheeky, Mari would take notes.
"You-- guh--" Aubrey gaped, before her brows took a harsh dive. "HAVE YOU EVER
HEARD OF KNOCKING!?"

Kel tilted his head. "I did, though...." He said, a twinkle in his eye.

Sunny watched as Aubrey grabbed and flung the bed's comforter at the smug boy. "Knock
harder next time!" She growled.

Kel's chuckle did the pair no favors, and Sunny winced as Aubrey caught the blanket with a
series of grumbles.

"Come on, Sunny, let's.... go to bed, I guess." Aubrey said. She folded the comforter on the
outside, threw the sheet on top and pulled Sunny into the bed.

"Uh-- O-Okay...." Sunny muttered. Aubrey didn't waste any time piling the blankets back on,
and before the boy knew it, Aubrey buried her head into the crook of his neck. "Good night,
K--"

"Wait." Kel called out, setting his own blanket aside. "There's something I want to say first."

Aubrey pulled her head up and fixed him with a glare. "What?" She said.

"Well, uh...." Kel rubbed at the back of his head. "Thanks for letting me in, guys. You know,
giving me a chance...."

Aubrey deadpanned. "....Kel, you let yourself in."

"I'm talking about reconnecting." Kel sat down on his sleeping bag. "Just.... hanging out,
having a sleepover, and being friends again."
"You don't have to...." Sunny said. "You're always my friend, Kel."

"....Yeah...." Aubrey added. "Even if it took all that time...."

"Does that really matter, though?" Kel asked.

Aubrey blinked. "....What?"

"I mean, we all know what happened to Mari--" Sunny winced at that. Kel didn't bat an eye,
however, focused on Aubrey. "--And I know we all miss her. But that's in the past, isn't it?
Shouldn't we try to focus on the future?"

Kel pulled his blanket halfway upon his makeshift bed. "Like, we're all still here. Us, Hero,
Basil.... We can still stick together and hang out and have fun and find something new to look
forward to. I did my best to move on, but I still missed hanging out with my old friends. Do
we have to let two years get the better of us?"

Kel glanced aside. "I mean.... Maybe I'm not making any sense. I'm not Hero and I don't have
his perfect speeches. But.... I think that, if Mari was looking over us, she'd be sad to see us
broken apart. I'd think she would want us to stick together and get better...." He took a deep
breath. "Or something like that...."

The wind whistled against the window, and Sunny felt the fluttering of distant orchids. "I.... It
makes sense to me." He said.

Aubrey nodded. "Yeah.... I guess we got too caught up in the past." She glanced over at the
window. "Maybe.... Maybe we should start sticking together more. And, uh...." She looked up
at the ceiling, letting seconds pass by before she took a deep breath. "Kel.... I know I don't
show it a lot, but I'm glad that you're my friend."

"D'aww, really?" Kel turned around, giving her a wide grin.

"Don't read into it!" Aubrey huffed, burying herself in Sunny's neck again. "It's too late for
this mess...."

Kel chuckled again, his lips curving against his own cheerful will. "Yeah, we got tomorrow to
look forward to!"

"....And groceries to get...." Sunny nodded, before settling himself into Aubrey's side.

"Oh, yeah!" Sunny heard him shuffle into the bed, and the rustle of a pulled blanket. "Man,
we can get some snacks tomorrow, and Orange--"

"We are not getting Orange Joe." Aubrey cut him off with a growl. Sunny felt her head poke
out of their embrace. "That stuff is disgusting with a capital D."

"No, it's not!" Kel fired back, shuffling around. "It's the best thing ever made, right up there
with sliced bread!"

"Oh my god, did you forget to grow up over the past two years?"

"Are you calling Orange Joe a kids drink!? Because I'll have you know, it's got over 40
milligrams of caffeine!"

"Even kids wouldn't drink that mess!"

"You're just jealous that you can't understand the fine taste of Orange Joe! Tell her, Sunny!"

Sunny tried to keep his eyes shut, but he felt Aubrey nudge against him. "You heard him,
Sunny. Tell him how disgusting it is!"
 "I just want to sleep...." Sunny muttered.

"Not until Aubrey knows how wrong she is!" Kel crowed.

"Tell Kel he's full of it first!" Aubrey demanded.

Sunny snorted and sighed. 'Yeah, they're friends, alright....' He thought. 'Where's Hero when
you need him?'

Chapter End Notes

not within saving distance, sunny. not within saving distance.

OMORI has some funky worldbuilding going on with its comparisons and contrasts
between the dream world and reality, and kim's one of the more interesting characters
that get fleshed out between the two. she comes off as a good friend but a terrible
influence, and someone who's a little too impulsive. the kind of the person that, imo,
would end up in the holding cell with you and then bond over it.

unfortunately, that kind of tactic didn't work here. aubrey got riled up, but sunny kisses
are too powerful for even kim to compete with. even with the pink demon in play, this
aubrey won't be rolling with the hooligans when she's got a sunny to cheer her up.... and
do other (tame) things with, when the world decides to stop interrupting the two.

and with this, how we subsist reaches the halfway point. it feels a bit weird, looking
back and seeing all the chapters that i've written so far. i won't lie, you can tell how
much of a 'first story' this was and there's quite a few things that i'd change if i were to
write it now. but on the other hand, that's the name of the game. you start somewhere at
the bottom and work your way up with every piece you write. sure, i could spend time
on the past, but why not spend that time on the future instead? there's plenty of ideas out
there to put to paper, after all.

....anyways, i should wrap this up with a certain part of what's delayed this chapter.

you might or might not have heard about Sunburn Society, which was (afaik) the largest
community based on OMORI's sunburn pairing. to keep it brief, a big mod walkout
happened, chaos ensued, and now the server is a ghost town.
'but wait, doesn't that mean there's no more sunburn discord?' you might be thinking. the
answer to that is 'no', because a new server called Sunburn Central popped up in the
aftermath. that took a few days of work to build up and help get running, but the result is
(imo) a solid successor and a comfortable place to pop in and talk/gush/create stuff for
sunburn, amongst a few other things.

if you want to roll in and check the place out, you can do so via the link here:
discord.gg/sunburn-central
we've got quite a bit of content (including sunburn works/greentexts not found on AO3),
alongside events like karaoke, quiplash and even a writing contest with cash prizes, if
you're so inclined.

unrepentant shilling aside, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if
you'd like (especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 Three Bridges
Chapter Summary

One to burn, one to keep, and one to build.

In other words, it's business as usual.

Chapter Notes

and with this, how we subsist will be back to its friday schedule.

....weather permitting....

this one's a little shorter than usual. disappointing for how long it took, i know, but it's a
necessary step. you'll see what i mean.

shoutouts to Eyriskylt for beta reading this chapter.

and with that out of the way, let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"You are making a grave mistake." The Stranger hissed. "Did you already forget what
happened?"

"But nothing happened!" Sunny snapped back. "It's been a week, and--"

"A week since you regained the will to depart." The echo was faceless, yet Sunny could feel
the Stranger shaking its head. "You haven't left her side since then."

Sunny groaned. He could tell this pitch-dark void was his dreams, but the Stranger was
nowhere to be seen. The apparition spoke like an observer peering within a box. Did the
complete destruction of Headspace rob him of all sight? "....Yes, and for good reason! You
know what's out there!"
"Why yes, a thug that she nearly beat to death." The Stranger drawled. "And will avoiding the
forest truly keep it from happening again?"

Sunny bit his lip. "When we're together--"

"A weak reason, and you know it." The echo rumbled. "You sacrificed your sanctity, as she
did in kind. Her patience is frayed, while you claw at the few boundaries that remain. When
necessity creates a fleeting wedge, you both succumb. You know this."

"But Kel--"

"He is ignorant, for you left him in confusion. All according to her desire."

Sunny frowned. "She's just worried about me!"

"Your future is more important than her worry--"

"I don't care about my future!"

"It's more important than you think!" The Stranger roared. "You freed yourself for a reason,
Sunny! You had strength, bravery, a responsibility! Where did it all go!?"

"I still have it! Everything was fine before, and you know it!"

"And yet you still-- ....No. If you want to insist that you're capable, then prove it. End this
farce and release the truth!"

"You just want me to betray Aubrey!"

"She will thank you after you've found peace. Now prove yourself!"

Sunny narrowed his eyes. "....No."

"So you refute your claim, then?"

"I don't have to prove anything. Aubrey's here for me, and I'm there for her. That's all that
matters."

A sharp inhale stills the void. "....You are that obstinate, then. So be it." The Stranger spat. "If
you are so convinced of your stability, then you will learn the hard way. I can only pray that
when hope fails, you will make the right choice."

The echo faded, and Sunny scrunched up his face as he cracked one eye open.

A pleasant feeling grazed upon his scalp, and Aubrey mustered a small smile. "Good
morning, Sunny." She said.

"Good morning...." Sunny groaned, rubbing an arm against his eyes. A lingering concoction
of irritation continued to boil within.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Aubrey asked. Her hand glided through his hair once more, and
her fingers pushed through his bedhead and traced gentle lines on his head. Sunny felt a calm
from her motion, one that would've done better if the Stranger didn't annoy him.

"Mhm...." Sunny mumbled. The ceiling looked visible enough. It was morning, and he
refused to break Aubrey's tender care to know more.
"I'm sorry." Aubrey shuffled closer, her other arm pulling him in. Sunny embraced her
without hesitation, his forehead resting against hers. "I wish you had my dream instead.
Maybe you'll get it tonight...."

'See? She cares so much about me, even over a dream. Maybe you should actually see that
instead of treating her like a parasite.' Sunny thought. Not a single peep answered him, and
he sighed. "It's okay. I, uh, don't need good dreams...."

"But you should." Aubrey protested, mouth curving into a frown.

"I mean--" Great, his foot was in his mouth. Sunny wanted to choke on it until the
embarrassment stopped sprouting. "I-I want you to have good dreams more. I'll take bad
dreams if it means you, uh...." Sunny gulped. "If I can see you wake up.... with a smile....?"

Aubrey froze. "That's...." A blush overtook her cheeks, and her eyes flickered around. "S-
Sunny, you shouldn't!"

"B-But I want to....!"

A low whine passed through Aubrey's lips. Sunny could feel the heat radiating from her face,
and she couldn't meet his gaze. "C-Can we just take a bath inst--"

WHAM!!

The pair shrieked, the cuddle broken halfway as Sunny joined Aubrey in leaping onto their
butts. "W-What was that!?"

"It--" Sunny took a deep breath. He couldn't hear himself with how hard his heart was
beating. "I think it's the front door.... Do you think it's the--"
Aubrey shook her head a little too fast. "I don't think so. Wouldn't he, well, sneak through the
back....?"

Sunny gulped. Now that she mentioned it.... "Should we check it out....?"

"Y-Yeah...." Aubrey took Sunny's hand and gripped tightly. "Let's get the bat first, though...."

Sunny tried not to shiver when they approached the stairs. Their movements down were
almost instinctive, the pair weaving down a stairway made for one and a half. Aubrey kept
lead at the first floor, peeking into the living room with a bat held limp at her side. "There's
no one here...." She whispered.

"What about the other rooms....?" Sunny said, glancing over at the music room.

A groan floated out of the kitchen. Sunny felt a light tug as he followed Aubrey's steps,
putting himself against the wall as she glanced into the doorway.

Aubrey took one look within before shrinking back.

Sunny tensed, squeezing her hand for dear life.

"--Aubrey?" A woman-- no, his mother called out, from within the kitchen. "Is that you?"

Sunny exhaled in relief.

Aubrey took a deep breath. "Y-Yeah." She said, as she stepped into the doorway. "It's us."

The kitchen didn't look any different than usual, Sunny found out. His mother, in contrast,
was slumped over the kitchen counter, propping herself up with her elbows. Her hands were
joined and framed against her forehead, with one eye glancing sideways upon the pair. "Did I
wake you up?" Wanda asked, glancing at Aubrey's weapon. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine...." Sunny said, shaking his head. She startled them, but it was a rude awakening
nonetheless. "Are you okay?"

Wanda shook her head. "Don't worry about me. Mommy's just.... tired, that's all."

Sunny blinked. Didn't she have work? Unless.... "....Wait, is it late already....?"

"No, it's still--" Wanda froze, realization sparking in her eye.

Aubrey glanced between the two. "Er....?"

Wanda sighed. "Well, the office...." She trailed off, glancing around the countertops. "The
office is closed for a while." She said, as her hands began to form big gestures. "Something
was wrong with the pipes, and it'll take them a few days to fix things. Anyways, what are you
two planning for today?"

Sunny met Aubrey's gaze. '....What was that?' He wanted to say. Aubrey gave him a small
shrug, and cleared her throat. "We're, uh, planning on meeting up with Kel soon. He wants to
help Sunny work out."

"Is he? That's nice of him." Wanda pushed herself off the countertop. "Say, isn't that new
theater opening tonight? The one halfway to the school?"

Wait, there was a theater opening up? "....Maybe?" Sunny said. Aubrey looked just as
surprised as he felt.

"Well, why don't you take Aubrey to the opening? You two deserve to relax a bit, after all the
work you've been doing!"
A night spent watching a movie? In an actual theater? Sunny rubbed his chin. He tried to
recall the smell of freshly-buttered popcorn, the silent and comforting darkness of the theater
as exaggerated logos rolled across the silver screen. Sweetheart's labyrinth had a gaudy
substitute, but it felt miniscule in comparison to his distant memories.

Sunny tried not to lick his lips at the phantom of a sweet taste he conjured, and glanced over
at Aubrey. He gasped at the grin she failed to contain, and the dance of awe and anticipation
in her eyes. That was more than confirmation; they were going straight to the movies tonight.
But.... "What about you, mom?" Sunny asked, looking back at Wanda.

"Oh, don't worry about me." Wanda said, waving her hand. "Mommy's got her own plans for
tonight."

'And I really wish you would stop calling yourself that.' Sunny thought, his lips threatening to
curl inwards.

"Now, why don't you two go ahead and get ready for the day?" Wanda waved the pair off.
"I'll have some breakfast waiting when you're all done."

"....And then by the time we came back down, she was gone again." Aubrey said. Somewhere
behind her, a pidgeon landed upon the lake's statue.

"Yeah, that sounds weird." Kel said with a nod. "Kinda like how my mom just disappears
every thursday night." He looked around in an exaggerated fashion. "Do you think they're in
cahoots....?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "No, Kel, I'm sure they're not doing it at the same time." She
drawled. Sure, she appreciated Kel merging back into the 'group' over the past week, but his
antics had no end of sight. She didn't know why she hasn't done something about it yet.
Maybe it was Sunny.
....No, it was definitely Sunny.

"I'm just saying!" Kel pointed out, before looking down with an excited gasp. "That's nine!!"

Sunny, the recipient of Kel's latest enthusiasm, twitched as he laid down with his hands
behind his head. As it turned out, Kel was becoming a fitness nut, and belted out advice far
better than anything Aubrey could've concocted.

"Great, the idiot made us look bad." The pink demon grumbled an hour ago. Aubrey ignored
her, instead focusing on Sunny's progress and trying not to succumb to the chill in her
unoccupied hand.

Sunny grunted and whined as he began to pull his upper body off the ground. His raised
knees waited as he twisted and fought for elevation.

"Come on, Sunny!" Kel cheered. "Just one more. You can do it!"

"T-This hurts...." Sunny wheezed.

"That's how you know it's working! Don't give up now!"

"You can do it!" Aubrey cheered. Sunny looked right at her. "Go on! Just one more time....!"

Sunny paused. He took a sharp inhale, and shoved himself up. A guttural roar rang out as his
back became distant from the grass and his elbows inched towards the top. Kel started to
whoop, while Aubrey almost screamed for his success.

The sky howled. The birds circled overhead. Somewhere in a distant land, a sloth reached for
a branch.
Three inches, two inches....

Sunny's elbows grazed his kneecaps.

"LET'S GOOOO!!" Kel roared, hopping several feet into the air before he started running
around, waving his arms and hooting like he just landed a hail mary at a championship.

"YOU DID IT!!!" Aubrey cheered, diving down to fill her arms with the raven-haired boy.

"T-Ten...." Sunny grunted, collapsing into his partner's embrace. "Can I die now....?"

"THAT'S OUR SUNNY!" Kel looped back around, before spreading his arms wide and going
for the glomp. "LET'S HEAR IT FOR Ow!" Kel yelped, spitting out grass. "What the heck,
Aubrey!?"

"He doesn't need you dogpiling him!" She frowned. "Let him rest first."

"The sun's bearing down...." Sunny gasped, staring at the cloud-ridden sky. "Dry as a
desert...."

Kel snickered. Aubrey kept her mouth shut as she produced a water bottle. Good thing she
could take the cap off with one hand. "Here, have some-- woah!" Aubrey cried out, as Sunny
grabbed her hand and pulled it in.

Kel whistled. "Dang. He really wanted you to give him his water, huh....?"

"Shut up." Aubrey hissed, her cheeks burning as Sunny chugged the bottle she held.
Nevermind that he was holding her hand in place, the butterflies in her stomach were doing a
good job on covering that fact up.
But she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. All the work Sunny did-- within arm's length,
of course-- had worked up a sweat, and she couldn't help but notice his glistening appearance.
The way he drank from her water bottle spoke of complete surrender, yet he clutched her
hand with absolute control. The way she held him lingered in her mind, and how he didn't
even hesitate to lean in.... It felt so intimate, so warm and comfortable. An urge sparked and
grew within, to throw the bottle aside and--

"Yooo, earth to Aubrey!?" Kel whistled, snapping Aubrey out of her reverie. "You got some
real goggly eyes right.... there...." He trailed off, as Aubrey gave him the sharpest glare she
could muster. Kel scratched at the back of his neck. "S-So, how about that Spaceboy movie
coming out tonight?"

"--Mm?"

Aubrey blinked, glancing back as the bottle crinkled and collapsed inwards. She tossed it
aside, and Sunny took a great gout of air. "It's coming out tonight?" Sunny said, glancing
over at Kel.

"Uh, yeah?" Kel said. "It's been on, like, every other commercial lately...."

"Wait, it has?" Aubrey asked.

Kel tilted his head. "....Do you guys not watch TV or something?"

Aubrey looked over at Sunny.

......

"Why were you fighting bunnies in your dreams, anyways?" Aubrey asked, burying her face
into Sunny's hair. How did his locks have such an earthy smell in a house like this?
"I don't know...." Sunny said. She felt him shift back to her side, and her nose was greeted
with empty air. "Maybe it was one of those comics?"

"Whatever it is, I don't wanna see it...." Aubrey shifted, trying to meet Sunny's cheek with her
own. One of her feet dangled off the bed, and she sighed. "This one doesn't work either."

"Yeah.... Can't really cuddle like this...." Sunny pulled himself up. "What about that show Kel
was talking about?"

"It can wait." Aubrey waved it off. "I want to find a good cuddling position first."

"Alright...." Sunny glanced at the ceiling. "G-7, then?"

"Mm.... Worth a shot." The sheets rustled, then flew off the bed as the two kept poking and
maneuvering around. "....Oh, you know how my hair's dyed?"

Sunny paused. "Yeah?"

"I think it's starting to go away." Or at least, that's what her reflection looked like earlier.
"What should I do about it ?" Aubrey looped a thread of blonde hair around her finger. "I
don't know if I want to do something different...."

"Well...." Sunny gulped. "I-I really like your hair right now...."

Aubrey froze. "Really....?"

She felt him nod into her side. "I....It's beautiful...."

Aubrey had to catch her breath after that one and thank god the blankets were off, or she
would've caught a heat stroke. But she was sure that she saw some bleach laying around near
the washer and dryer....

......

Aubrey averted her eyes. "....Not every day...." She admitted.

"....How?" Kel asked. Aubrey didn't even need to see his jaw hanging three feet off the
ground.

"It's complicated." Sunny said, eyes fixed on the clouds. "What about the new theater?"

"The new what-- Ooooh...." Kel's eyes widened, and he snapped his fingers. "Oh, yeah.
They're opening a theater nearby."

Aubrey whipped around to face Kel. "Wait, you forgot?"

"Look, they don't advertise it like they do Spaceboy!" Kel whined. "I mean, they're playing
Spaceboy tonight, but still!"

"I don't know, Kel...." Aubrey tapped her chin. "That's a lot to forget about...."

"Maybe it's because my mom's dragging me off to see another movie...." Kel retorted,
grumbling. "My friends are gonna watch Spaceboy while I'm stuck with some chick flick...."

"Wait, you're going to another theater....?" Sunny asked.

"No, no." Kel shook his head. "This new theater they built is pretty big. I heard that they've
got this huge lobby and, get this, three screens!"

Aubrey gasped. "You're joking!"

"I'm not!" Kel grinned. "Rumor says there's even an arcade in there! You gotta check it out
sometime!"

Aubrey glanced over at Sunny, his eyes sparkling at the mention of 'arcade'. "W-Well, we're
going to the opening...." Sunny said.

"Really?" Kel said. "You're going for Spaceboy, right?" Sunny nodded, and Kel started
looking around. "Do you think you can sneak me in with you....?"

"Er...." Sunny glanced at Aubrey.

'Do I want Kel around?' Aubrey wondered. Sure, he was a friend, but he was also loud. The
thought of snuggling with Sunny in the dark and enjoying sweets on top of the best franchise-
thing since sliced bread? She couldn't imagine how that would work if Kel was there,
laughing and whooping at half the movie.

She shook her head. "Sorry." Not sorry, really.... "We, uh, kinda wanted to go together...."

"Awww...." Kel's head started to droop but paused halfway. "Wait...." He perked back up, and
Aubrey's eyes widened at the lightbulb in his eyes. "Does that mean you're going on a date?"

Aubrey froze. "....Eh? A...." She blinked. "A-A date.... A date!?" Her eyes snapped open, and
the onset of a harmless fever consumed her. "W-We're just.... That's....!"

Kel gave them a confused look, until realization dawned over his features. "Ooooh...." He
mumbled, his grin growing into something that Mari would be proud to see. "So it is a
date...."

"N-No, we're just seeing a movie....!" Sunny spoke up. Aubrey couldn't even look at him
before the boy hid his face into her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I got you." Kel winked, standing up. "Let's head over to your house. Sunny's
gonna need a bath after all that work he did."

Aubrey glanced back at Sunny. Now that Kel mentioned it, Sunny's shirt was kinda soaked....
"Right...." She said, helping Sunny stand with her. "A-And it's not a date!"

"Riiiight."

"I'm serious....!"

"If you say so!"

Aubrey growled. When did Kel, of all people, become a tease? Her fingers gripped Sunny's
hand tight, and the smooth drag of his fingers against the back of her hand grounded her.

But for all the 'i know something you don't' looks that Kel was baiting her with, her heartbeat
wouldn't stop echoing in her ears. Two teenagers going to the movies together.... Wasn't that a
date? Did she really want to say it wasn't....?

When Sunny asked if she was okay, she couldn't meet his eyes.

Yet, the doors remain closed.

The girl sighed, taking a breath through pure instinct. Necessities were lost here, but she had
plenty a reason to fall back on human habits. "They won't open," she said again. How many
times did they fail to open, again? She lost count for what felt like eons ago.

Sunny never faltered in his belief. It should give her comfort, that he wouldn't let go of what
was important to him, but now it stood for all the wrong reasons. He couldn't hear a single
soul, a single whimper to push him against his dilemma. Once again, the girl cursed her
former rush. He needed more time, more than just one desperate friend to lean on, as
hindsight made oh so clear.

The girl glanced in another direction. Was it east? South? Below? It didn't matter when the
expanse stretched without end nor flair. She beheld a set of doors, the knobs turned slightly as
they kept ajar by just a crack. They would open, she knew. They remained open, all this time,
and she could enter and leave as she pleased. But though they led to someone dear and
wanting, they did not lead to Sunny.

Her fingers snaked into her hair, settling with sparks of pressure as she groaned. What could
she do? Every road she took ended with a meaningless cliff. Not a single option allowed her
to become more than just an observant, fretting soul. What else could there be?

Something in the expanse shifted, and she paused.

'What was that....?' The girl pondered, floating towards the disturbance. It was quiet, a sign of
intuition more than anything. As she came closer, ripples began to form in the colorless
space, and she could not help but wonder. Could it be a sign of life? A beacon for a new path,
or a knock from a door beyond?

After she crossed an immeasurable distance, the ripples intensified, and the space around her
shuddered. She reached out to it, and felt something nameless, yet familiar. '....Could it
be....?' She put a finger to her chin and dug into her memories. When she looked over her
ailing brother, there was a missing piece from the house....

The void rumbled again, and the vibrations sharpened, resembling more of a purr.
 The girl paused, and then smiled. As the ripples started to fade, she gently laid a finger upon
the epicenter, and leaned in. "Not yet." She whispered.

The space bubbled and writhed beneath her touch.

"We'll meet soon enough." She cooed. "But not yet. We have something more important to
find, don't we?"

The pressure paused. Ripples formed again, and she felt another purr.

"You know where to look." Her finger traced a circle. "Don't let him make the same mistakes
I did."

She pulled back, and the space fell still and silent.

Something warm sparked in her chest and crowned her heart. Hope, she recognized. How
long did she go without it, if she felt it so keenly? Her smile grew, and she let herself drift
back and away.

When she righted herself again, however, she cast her sight out and sighed. She would have
to hold onto that hope, she knew, as her brother dug for a change of clothes.

Chapter End Notes

*notices ur ripples* owo wats dis

not much else to say here because let's be honest, we all know what's coming. i'm sure
i've blue-balled everyone for too long already, and anyone who's seen the greentexts can
tell where i'm heading with these cuties.
also rip kel. denied the opening night of a new spaceboy movie in favor of a romantic
comedy for the whole family.

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 A Night to Remember (Part 1)
Chapter Summary

A pair of clingy teenagers are off to the movies.

It's just an outing, or so they claim, but the truth always finds a way.

Chapter Notes

....well, shit. this was one long wait, huh?

something in this chapter took far longer than i hoped for to accomplish. but if you're at
this chapter, i'm sure you just want to see these kids get cuddly again, so just keep
reading on and you'll see what i mean.

this chapter was based off a greentext that's.... close to a year old by now, actually.
damn, time flies.

big shoutouts to Eyriskylt for beta reading and helping me fix the massive amount of
errors this chapter would've otherwise had.

at long last, let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Wanda had a lot of things on her plate. The finances were just the tip of the iceberg when
there was a pervasive loneliness that dogged her steps and a bundle of frustrations and
worries alike that tried to fill the void. She couldn't recall the first person who told her that
hell was other people, but there were fifty bucks worth of drinks with their name on it if she
ever found them again.

Her fists also had their name on them, but those were just minor details.

Today was worse, leaving Wanda with a dilemma that made her want to demolish a building
with her bare hands. She knew what she did, and she knew that it would put her in the worst
position possible. By all means, she should be tearing her hair out and crying into a tub of ice
cream, preferably Neapolitan with a side of butter pecan.
But she couldn't help but push that all aside when she saw the teenagers getting ready for a
trip to the movies.

"Well, aren't we dressing for the occasion?" Wanda asked, trying to keep her grin from
reaching her ears.

Sunny tried his hardest to keep up a stone-faced mask, but she could see his nerves tugging
his eyes away every other second. "I-It's just the weather.... It's gonna be cold tonight,
right....?" He said, fiddling with his stark-white collar and staring at the vacant fireplace.

He'd taken to wearing such plain clothing over the last two years, Wanda knew, and his re-
emergence gave a little bit of change to his daily wardrobe, but just a bit. What Wanda hadn't
seen before was the dark sweater that covered his button-up shirt. But that was nothing
compared to the tan pants below. Honest to goodness pants, and not the lazy mess that
Aubrey kept pushing him to wear! Wanda had to pinch herself, just to make sure she wouldn't
open her eyes to the ceiling.

Speaking of the girl, Wanda had to admit that Mari's old clothing fit Aubrey well. She stuck
to her former outfit-- the lavender and white getup-- which still tickled the mother's funny
bone after seeing so many dark colors from the girl. But Wanda paid more attention to where
Aubrey was looking; while Sunny tried to avoid staring at Aubrey, the girl couldn't help but
keep gazing at the boy.

Wanda had to remind herself that she was supposed to be the tough but fair mother, and that
she should wait until they left before she started squealing at how far her son had come. Or
when these kids are finally going to stop acting like they're 'just friends' for once.

"Mm...." Wanda hummed, glancing back at the girl. "Aubrey?"

Aubrey yelped and leapt into the air. "Y-Yes!?" She said, wide-eyed and red-faced.

"You are taking a coat with you, right?" Wanda pointed out. "They're calling for snow
tonight."
"Oh, uh, yeah!" Aubrey stepped over to the couch, pulling Sunny along as she reached past
the backrests. "We have it right here!"

'....Did my ex leave that behind?' Wanda wondered, staring as Aubrey pulled out a big, thick
coat. "You're taking a single coat?" She asked. "And an oversized one, at that."

"Well, it's...." She glanced over at Sunny and received a nod. "We can both wear it. Like
this...."

'Really?' Wanda thought, deadpan. 'You think one coat's going to....'

The mother bit her lip as the pair coordinated to toss the coat over the both of them and lock
the zipper in. Within seconds, they were bundled through her former husband's trench coat,
attached at the hip and sharing the sleeves. The jacket itself was closed to a point, giving the
teens just enough room to keep their heads out of the coat at the same time.

'....oh my gosh, that's so adorable!' Wanda clamped down, hoping she didn't draw blood.
How did these two find new ways to make her want to act like a little girl surrounded by
kitties? Nations would kill to possess the level of cuteness that her son and his 'friend' threw
around like they were just breathing.

Yet, it felt like there was something missing....

"Mom?" Sunny asked, tilting his head.

Wanda snapped her fingers. "I got it! Wait right here!" She said, dashing into the storage
closet.

Not even a minute later, she was back out in time to catch the kids' confused expressions.
"Here we go!" Wanda smiled, stepping right up to the pair. "Now stand still.... This goes
here-- Stay still, Sunny-- and wrap this once.... twice.... there!"

The mother took a step back and double checked her work. While the coat covered them up
to the necks, their heads were now secure with toboggan hats, with a scarf wrapped around
their necks for good measure.

In short, it was perfect.

"Warm...." Sunny said.

"It's really warm." Aubrey followed up. "Are you sure we need this much?"

"Absolutely." Wanda nodded. "If it's going to snow tonight, you need to be prepared." 'And
it's not because I wanted to increase my chances of getting a heart attack. Definitely not, no
sir.'

"Don't we wear gloves for snow, though?" Sunny pointed out.

'Urk.' "Not with that bulky coat, you're not." Wanda waved her hand, before glancing over at
the window. "Anyways, the sun's starting to set. You should go ahead and make your way to
the theater. Don't let it get dark before you get there, okay?"

""Okay."" The duo sounded off, and--- 'Wow, they can move like that together?' Wanda
pondered, as they approached the door.

When it cracked open, she shook the thought off. "And remember to come straight home
once the movie's finished! I don't want you two stuck out there if the snow hits!"

""Okay, mom.""
"And be sure to have fun!"

""Okay, mom.""

"And Aubrey, make sure he still has his clothes--"

WHAM.

Wanda chuckled. "Works every time." She stepped up to the window. The pair were well
along the sidewalk already. "I'm going to hate it when they get used to that kind of
language...." She sighed, before closing the curtains.

She turned around, losing her mirth and rubbing her hands. Sunny's computer should do the
trick. "Okay. Time to get to work...."

Aubrey could not get away from that house fast enough.

'Why does she keep doing that!?' She thought, face ablaze. Sunny's Mom was a figure to be
feared at first, but weeks of familiarity had revealed where Mari's teasing came from. It was
always about her and Sunny, and she was the prime target!

Sure, she had.... thoughts.... about Sunny. But they weren't kids anymore! They were fourteen
and did plenty of jobs and handled groceries for the house! Besides, she was more than tame
with Sunny in the first place! Why did Wanda have to keep jabbing her about that kind of
stuff anyways!? Did she know about the baths they took together? Was Mom just testing
them on--
Aubrey froze. '....Oh god, I just called her mom back there....' She realized. 'Please tell me
she didn't hear that....'

She felt a nudge to her side. "....Aubrey?" Sunny asked. "Is something wrong?"

Aubrey's eyes bugged out. "Oh, Sunny!" She squawked. "I, uh-- nothing's wrong!"

Sunny blinked.

"No, really! I'm perfectly fine....!"

Sunny pressed his cheek against hers while keeping eye contact.

"U-Uhm...." Aubrey felt a hint of sweat as she struggled to not look away. 'Come on, Sunny....
This isn't fair....'

"Aubrey...." Sunny whispered.

The girl couldn't help but wince. "....Okay, fine, something's wrong. But can we at least keep
walking first? Please?" She pleaded. She needed time, for crying out loud!

Sunny hummed. "....Alright." He nodded.

Aubrey caught a quick breath of relief as the duo resumed their march.

Faraway was constant, even in the face of a grand opening and impending weather. The sky,
on the other hand, struck a chord of awe in Aubrey. Streaks of foreboding gray tore across the
sky, blotting out the shards of blue that would soon join the embers left by the sun's curtain
call. The trees in the clouds' wake shuddered, left to endure the battering of chilling winds.
But with Sunny and the bundle they bore, Aubrey couldn't feel the cold at all. Neither did the
other denizens of Faraway, as they made brisk paces ahead and walks of leisure behind the
pair. They chattered and cheered along the sidewalk, firing off sounds of titles that meant
nothing to her, on account of not containing the words 'Spaceboy' or 'Sweetheart'. Some only
moved forward as they talked, while others glanced at the children running around them.

Others leaned into each other a bit more, their hands clasped together or a head leaning on a
shoulder along the way. Aubrey noticed one such pairing nearby, and bit her lip at the sweet
nothings they whispered to each other.

She felt it again. Sunny nudged her side, and she knew exactly what he was going to ask. But
even as she tore her head away, she couldn't stop replaying those words in her mind.

"Sunny, do you think...." Aubrey whispered, with a glance back at the couple. "....Do you
think this is a date....?"

Someone nearby roared in laughter, before a shushing chorus tamed him.

"I mean...." Aubrey gulped. "Everyone thinks it is. We dressed up for it, and there's other
people doing it too...." She averted her eyes and caught one of the couples sneaking in a kiss.
Imitation surged into her mind, and butterflies roared to life within her stomach. "Does it feel
that way to you, Sunny? Like we're really going on a date?"

She looked back to him. Sunny's ears were no less ripe than her cheeks, but she saw a clear
focus in his eyes, a train of thought he zeroed in upon. It was all she could do not to squirm at
such an entrancing sight. Sunny always looked serious when he was focusing on something,
and that blush didn't even take away from it. How did he get away with looking adorable and
cool at the same time?

"Well." Sunny said, taking a deep breath. "We're just going to the movies together, right?"

Aubrey blinked. "Yes?"

"Then do we have to call it a date?"

Aubrey almost stopped in her tracks. "Wait, what?"

"We wanted to go before they called it a date." Sunny continued, turning his face away and
towards the distant horizon. "J-Just because everyone else thinks it is, doesn't mean we have
to make it one, right?"

"That's...." Aubrey trailed off, twisting her lips in thought. "....Yeah, we're just going to see a
movie together, aren't we?"

Sunny nodded, but he didn't look back to her. "It doesn't have to be a date."

"Yeah...." Aubrey nodded, turning her gaze ahead. 'We're just hanging out together, and that's
it. It's really simple when Sunny puts it like that....' She thought. Why make things so much
more complicated? They didn't officially call it a date yet, so it wasn't. They're going to see
Spaceboy, and that was it. End of story.

Now if only she didn't keep feeling embarrassed, and the butterflies would just stop making
noise and let her calm down. She looked back to Sunny, catching the desperate look of a boy
trying to distract himself, and her heart started to hammer in her ears. 'It's not supposed to be
a date,' She tried to tell herself. 'But why can't I stop feeling this way....?'

Sunny's eyes widened, and he gasped.

"Huh?" Aubrey asked. "Sunny, what's...."

She followed his gaze, only for her jaw to hit the pavement.
Faraway's treelines were thick and vast, a natural blockade to any prying eyes, both within
and without. But the pair's last step cleared the unseen border, and their eyes fell upon their
not-so-distant destination. Othermart's size couldn't compare to the theater's majesty, nor
could its brick-and-pastel shell compete with the pure ivory encasing the new building.

Lines of flashing lights framed the multiplex all over, illuminating the area where the twilight
couldn't reach. Some lines blinked and shifted in simple patterns, while others constantly
wore their colors and eye burn with pride. All these lanes led to a tower of neon and glass
that loomed over the entrance, framed by a gigantic sign that presented the name:
'FARAWAY CINEMA'.

"Wow...." Aubrey breathed. "It looks so...."

"....Big...." Sunny said, picking his own jaw off the sidewalk.

"I was going to say 'colorful', but I guess that works too...."

"Too colorful." Sunny covered his eyes with an arm. "Reminds me of my dreams...."

Aubrey squeezed his hand. "Maybe it'll be even better than that....?" She offered, before
glancing over at the passerby. "Er, we should go ahead though. We might have to stand in
line...."

"I can't believe we got through the line that quickly...." Sunny said.

"Yeah." Aubrey said, shuffling the thick coat under her arm. "I can't believe that guy helped
us out, either...."
"Mm...." Sunny twisted his lips. A gigantic handlebar for facial hair, alongside a twenty-
gallon hat and an alliterative title. The owner of this cinema was a rich, southern stereotype if
Sunny could ever put a name and face to one. Heck, the man could've called himself 'Big
Texas' and Sunny wouldn't have batted an eyelid.

"I mean, he rambled a lot about 'the old days'...."

Sunny couldn't help his snickering. "O-Oh yes... Back when they had to sit at the local bar if
they wanted to watch something...."

"H-He really couldn't get over that." Aubrey nodded, struggling to keep herself from
snorting. "B-But he told us about the snacks, right?"

Sunny glanced at his arms. A single bucket of popcorn held snug in one arm, while he
gripped the large, capped-off soda with his other hand. "Yeah, and the...." He paused. "The,
uh--"

"The discount." Aubrey nodded quickly. Yes, the discount. Definitely not the certain thing
that people like Hero and Mari would get. Just the discount.

"And the arcade.... How does he know so much about games?" Sunny asked, glancing to the
sides.

"I don't know, but it sounded crazy." Aubrey hummed. "Maybe we should check it out some
time--"

"Room 7." Sunny piped up, staring at the overhead sign. "Aubrey, we're here."

"Huh?" Aubrey whirled around. "Oh, shoot!" She jumped forward, and Sunny stepped in
after her.
The red-curtained ambience of the hallway turned to streaks of violet as the pair entered their
auditorium, flanked by a huge Spaceboy sign.

Where the lobby was full of colors and scenes from films beyond Sunny's recollection, the
screen room was dominated by an endless sea of navy blue and dotted with lights that
resembled stars. The floor was edged and organized with neon strips of gentle paper white,
marking the way amongst carpet that fought to blend with the spatial ceiling.

'....And the chair cushions are red.' Sunny noted with a nod. 'As long as the cushions are red.'

"Okay, uh...." Aubrey said. Sunny glanced at her, following her gaze to the moviegoers
scattered throughout the front rows. "Where do we want to sit?"

"Mm...." Sunny glanced into the distance. What did Mari tell him about picking seats, that
one time.... "....In the back."

Aubrey looked over at him. "Really? Wouldn't the front be closer to the screen?"

Sunny shook his head. "You have to look up at the front. The back is comfortable." He
looked up towards the rear end of the auditorium. "....The back aisle seats are free, too."

"Ooooh." Aubrey nodded along. "Yeah, that makes sense. Then we'll get the very back
seats!"

Sunny nodded along, and they moved after that. A few seconds up the ramp-- 'Why couldn't
we have this at home?'-- and they were standing before the best seats they could find. Right
up at the top, next to the aisle and flanked by armrests.

Sunny paused.

There was an armrest between the two chairs.

He looked over at Aubrey and found her gazing back. 'Seriously?' Her eyes begged to ask.

They looked back at the armrest, then back at each other.

"....Nope." Sunny said, and Aubrey shook her head.

"Heck no." She agreed.

Sunny set down the popcorn and drink on a nearby chair, while Aubrey set the coat against
the aisle chair.

Seconds later, they collided at the sides, failing to jam themselves into a single seat.

"Ow, sorry." Sunny whispered. He took a step back from the armrest.

"No, no, it's okay." Aubrey cooed, before wincing. "Did this chair just pull my hair!?"

"Uhm, maybe you can...." His ears resembled tomatoes in moments. "S-Sit on my lap....?"

"Oh, uh--" Aubrey looked away. "You uh-- you won't be able to see the screen, though!"

"M-Maybe if you're not directly on top? Like I'm on one side and you're on the other?"

"Oh, that...." She gulped. "L-Let's try it...."

Two teens shuffled into the seat, one after the other.

"This feels off...." Aubrey muttered. "I can't see the screen straight."

"Oh." Sunny scrunched his brows. "What if I was--"

"No, no!" Aubrey shook her head as she got up. "Just.... Uh, try turning onto your side?"

Sunny pulled himself onto his hip. 'Mari help me.' He thought, wincing. "L-Like this?"

"Yeah, just hold that for a second...." Aubrey shuffled, and Sunny felt something press
against his rear. "Oh god, this won't work either." She squeaked.

"This is dumb...." Sunny grumbled as Aubrey popped back out of the seat. He let himself flop
back onto his rump, and his hand slipped-- "Wait!"

"I'm s-- huh?"

"There's space under the armrests!" Sunny pulled his hand out and started shuffling into the
space, hip first.

"Oh, uh, let me try." Aubrey lowered herself into the seat. "Oh come on.... a little more....
there!" She sighed in relief, before laying her head back against the headrest.

Sunny glanced down. Their hips were a bit jammed together, their shoulders had an awkward
arrangement, and they weren't completely straight on the seat, but he and Aubrey were both
in. 'This feels kinda comfortable.' Sunny thought. Even their jilted positions couldn't stop a
gentle sense of relaxation from rolling through his bones.
"Hey, Sunny?" Aubrey said, snatching his attention. "Can you put the popcorn in your lap? I
want to try something...."

He nodded, taking up the tub of salty, buttery goodness-- and placing the two-strawed drink
into the armrest for good measure-- and let it rest on his side.

The long coat swooshed over the pair, with Aubrey's hands guiding it down. The drink stood,
fortunate to avoid the garment as it covered the pair from the neck-down.

Scratch that thought, Sunny realized-- this was very comfortable.

"It feels nice and cozy, right?" Aubrey said, meeting the whip of his head with a small smile.
"It's not a bed, but--"

"D'aaaaww!"

Aubrey froze, and Sunny turned his head to see several glances from the front row.

"Look at 'em, Jim!" One of them cooed, a lady with curls that would make his mother green
with envy. "That's so adorable. We gotta try that!"

'Jim', by the looks of it, sighed. "We're bigger than them, honey. It ain't gonna work."

Just as Sunny began to blush from the embarrassment, the other moviegoers started to turn
their heads.

"Well, I'll be damned. That's a real cute sight."

"Man, I wish I brought my camera. Stupid rules...."

"Eww! Mom, make them stop!"

"Oh, hush it. Y'gonna be like that before y'know it, mark my words."

"Whelp, there goes my depression for the week."

"Boy and girl.... Sitting together...." A scoff. "Damn normies...."

The heat consumed Sunny's cheeks, and he pulled his head under the long coat. The chatter
became muffled as he winced from the sheer force of embarrassment. He took a deep breath,
smelling the savory, unhealthy goodness of buttered concession.

"W-Why was everyone looking at us?" Aubrey squeaked, joining him under the coat. Even in
the complete darkness, Sunny could see the bright color consuming her face. "We just wanted
to sit together!"

"I-I don't know...." Sunny muttered. "Maybe we got too much attention...."

"Way too much attention." Aubrey twisted her lips. "Anyone would want to hide with that
many people talking."

"Unless it was Mari...."

Aubrey went still. "Wait, what?"

"She snuck off to the movies once." Sunny took a breath. "With Hero."
"Really?" Sunny nodded. "What happened?"

"I don't know, but she came back with a fulfilled smile. And Hero...." Sunny glanced into the
coat's inner pockets. "He looked really tired. Like his world just got flipped upside down...."

"Huh.... Do you think they, you know....?"

"Maybe? I think Hero made that smile after that, though. You know the one." The 'fix it all',
'everything's alright and the world's sparkling around me' smile that made it hard for anyone
to hate his sister's boyfriend.

Aubrey nodded with a glint of wisdom beyond her years. "The smile he used when Kel got
too annoying, yeah."

"Wasn't that whenever you two started fighting?" Sunny pointed out.

"Only because he keeps starting it!" Aubrey huffed. "At least he grew up a bit. Seriously,
could you imagine if he still--"

A metallic, booming echo cut into the coat and right through Aubrey's words.

Sunny's eyes widened. "The movie's starting!" He said.

"Oh crap, pull the coat down!" Aubrey yelped, reeling back.

Their heads came to rest against the back of the chair, and Sunny wasn't sure when the
auditorium got this close to full. Even with the lights dimmed and the neon strips on low, he
could see plenty more heads among the seats. They couldn't have spent that long hiding
away, right?
'"The year is 57XX." The screen echoed, and Sunny snapped back to see the camera panning
over a collection of nebulas and space stations. "Amidst a power struggle in the Great
Republic, the notorious space pirate, Pinkbeard, rose to conquer the galaxy. Within months,
entire sectors had fallen to the pirate's fleet, and the republic was soon to follow, were it not
for the betrayal of his own son."

The lens cracked, and a pie of fragments reflected numerous faces. "Now, with Pinkbeard in
hiding, the fate of the galaxy is uncertain. The Great Republic flails to return order, while
Warlords make their bids for the cosmos. In these desperate times, one man-- one boy flies
for justice. To protect the innocent, and vanquish the malevolent. Once the great pirate's son,
the galaxy now knows him as...."

The screen fell silent, and then an explosion echoed. "CAPTAIN SPACEBOY!!"

"Woah...." Sunny whispered. That deep baritone, casting a spell over the theater.... Where
were they all this time, and why didn't he dream about it? "This is amazing already...."

"Eh...." Aubrey mumbled, as an orchestral theme played over the opening credits. "It made
Spaceboy look like he didn't care about Pinkbeard...."

"But that's what the comics opened with." Sunny pointed out.

Aubrey opened her mouth, then closed it. "....Fair...."

A soft jingle heralded the end of the conversation, as the camera panned onto a pink, yacht-
like spaceship. Without another peep, Sunny rested his cheek against Aubrey's, and let the
movie steal his attention.

"Captain's log." Spaceboy said. The terminal let out a beep, clearing its screen before the
caped pirate. "Thanks to the coordination of my crew, we sent a cluster of scavengers packing
from the Orion Sector. Trying to rummage through my father's former armada, of all things....
What were they hoping to find, after what the Asteroid Dragon did? They should feel lucky
that the dragon's in stasis, or they could've had it much worse."

Spaceboy glanced out the window, observing the shredded metal that floated in loose streams
across the stars. "None of their warp paths look suspicious, so we'll take a look around
before making a jump to the Paria Sector. See what these looters wanted to find, if there's
anything left to dig through...."

Sunny rubbed his fingers against his palms and reminded himself to not let his tongue hang.
The quick, yet intense burst of combat got Sunny by the tongue to start. But with Spaceboy
throwing out orders, the boy couldn't help but feel a bubbling sense of excitement. What
could Pinkbeard's fallen ships hold for the heroes? What could Spaceboy make of it? How
did the Asteroid Dragon play into this, and how would the next sector unfold? It was like
flipping through comic pages again!

Sunny glanced over at Aubrey, eager to whisper about his excitement. Aubrey would know
how it felt, right? She glued her eyes to Spaceboy pages just as hard as he did!

Before he could begin to whisper, though, his eyes locked onto hers.

'....Wait, is she....' Sunny blinked. Her eyelids were down.... '....Is she asleep....?' During
Spaceboy, of all things!?

Sunny made a light press of his cheek against hers. "Aubrey." He whispered.

Aubrey straightened her head in an instant. "Huhwhatwho--" She yelped, eyes wide.

"Did you fall asleep....?"

"I, uh--" Aubrey's cheeks heated up. "L-Look, I didn't mean to, it just feels so warm and
comfortable and--"
....Oh. "I-It's okay." Sunny glanced down at the jacket that covered the two since.... however
long since they both sat down. Now that she mentioned it, the makeshift blanket felt quite
warm. "I just didn't want you to miss the movie."

"T-Thanks, Sunny." She said, giving him a small smile before turning her eyes back to the
screen in the blink of an eye.

Sunny sighed in relief-- thank Mari it was just the long coat-- before looking back to see
Spaceboy fiddling with a fancy-looking cog.

......

"Geez, talk about a weird mission." Spaceboy's First Mate said. "Since when did the Venus
Sector cut off communications with the Paria Sector, anyways?"

"There could be any number of reasons, Kagu." Spaceboy shrugged, before standing up.
"Equipment malfunctions, magnetic storms, bad warp paths, massive downloads...."

"Not when they're the Heart Empire's ally." Kagu shook his head. "Gotta be honest here,
boss, but I think we're getting into something serious."

Spaceboy glanced out the window. Beams of pure light warped across space, blinding him
from the stars beyond. "Are we?" He whispered.

"Afraid so, boss." Kagu stepped up. "'Course, even if something happens, we can always
count on each other, right? Believe in the team, and--"

"Not always."
Kagu blinked. "Boss?" He asked.

Spaceboy's eyes, distant and dark, reflected their gaze upon the window. With the bright
streaks gone, only the vast depths of space remained.

"I thought I could count on my father." Spaceboy said. "Now he's gone. I thought I could
count on Sweetheart, too, until she treated me like a toy. And Lightspeed...." He sighed, hands
tightening upon his arms. "Betrayal or death, it doesn't matter. I'm left alone in the end."

"Captain...." Kagu whispered, stepping up to his boss' side.

"It's funny...." Spaceboy nodded at the window. "It's a vast universe, filled with life just as
bright as the stars, and yet I feel like I have no one." He sighed, the cold vacuum in space
matching his pupils. "Heck, I don't know why I still have a crew...."

Sunny sniffled. Spaceboy had his moments like this-- he did what was right, even at the cost
of his own happiness-- but never did Sunny feel so shaken about it. "T-That's so sad...." He
muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"How does he do it...." Aubrey croaked. She looked just as misty-eyed as Sunny felt. "I-It's
gotta get better, right? He's gonna get better...."

Sunny clenched at her hand with his own, and felt her return his grip. "H-He'll get better." He
tried to take a deep breath. "It's Spaceboy.... He'll get better...."

Kagu's hand fell upon Spaceboy's shoulder, cutting the Captain off.

"Boss, I know it's tough." The First Mate nodded. "But we're here because we believe in you.
All of us do. It doesn't matter what that candy-cane trotter calls you, or if you tell us we're
going into a black hole. We're going to march with you until the day we join the stars."
"Kagu...." Spaceboy paused, before breaking into chuckles. "Y-You can't be serious...."

"Dead serious. You won't see me going anywhere other than a coffin, or my name isn't--"

An adjacent door shuttered open, and a huffing crewmate almost tripped through the frame.
"Captain Spaceboy, sir! You might wanna see this....!"

Spaceboy snapped to attention, a veneer of professionalism washing over his features. "Take
a deep breath, my friend." He said, stepping forward. "What's the issue?"

"I-It's...." The pirate gulped, before beckoning Spaceboy down the hall. "I can't describe it.
Hell, the rest of the crew doesn't know where their jaws went!"

"Isn't that a funny image." Kagu muttered, trailing behind Spaceboy. "If it wasn't the biggest
red flag this side of the galaxy...."

"Now, now." Spaceboy shook his head. "I'm sure there's a...." He started, the bridge's door
opening as he spoke.

Spaceboy's eyes widened at the sight that befell him. "Good.... explanation...."

"Eh?" Kagu pressed forward. "You--"

The first mate froze as he beheld the bridge's outlook.

The Venus Sector was stygian. Candy-shaped neon was nowhere to be found, not even among
the clusters of scrap that orbited without purpose. Even the gnarly pink-and-white planet was
absent, and the distant sun shone upon broken reflections.
"....Isn't the Heart Empire supposed to be here....?" A crewmate said.

"Maybe they relocated?" Another responded.

"Hate to say it, but the Hearts were too proud for that."

"C-Come on, man, tell me you're joking!"

"It's not a joke...." The crewmate shook his head. "It's gone. The Heart Empire's gone."

Kagu cleared his throat, even as his expression looked like two magnets repelling each other.
"Can't even describe this." He started. "I have no idea what could've caused it, either. Not in
three solar days' time--"

"The Asteroid Dragon...." Spaceboy muttered.

"Huh?" Kagu looked over to the captain, whose brow furrowed.

"Just like my father's armada...." Spaceboy's fist tightened. "It had to be the Dragon."

"Are you saying he's active again?"

"Yes." Spaceboy turned to Kagu. "He's back. And I'm going to prove it."

......

Not a soul stirred in the lightless ship.

Spaceboy held his breath as he squinted through the bridge's window. 'In all my years of
sneaking around, I have never felt this tense.' He thought, as space rippled before them.

In seconds, a hulking grey vessel tore through space and crushed the stars underneath.

"Tape's getting it." A crewmate whispered. Spaceboy nodded, eyes fixed on the newcoming
ship.

Seconds ticked by. The captain went still, while his crew started to sweat. Even parked within
a rock, no one dared make a sound out of turn. The Asteroid Dragon's mothership was no
cruiser, armed to the teeth with looming turrets and wide cannons that only grew in number
as it hovered through. One errant sound could be all it takes to show up on their radar.

It felt like an eternity before they, and the recording lens, caught sight of the insignia: A
dragon's maw, consuming a planet.

"Mmn...." Sunny muttered, his eyelids feeling heavy. Aubrey wasn't kidding about how
comfortable this felt. Sure, his hips felt a little numb, but her presence more than made up for
it.

Sunny forced his lips together and suppressed a yawn. It was Spaceboy, he couldn't just wink
himself out. The movie had them by the throat, for crying out loud!

"We got the footage, sir." Kagu whispered. "What should we do now?"

Spaceboy glanced down at his armrest. A faded medallion sat under his hand, the only find
from his father's ships. The ships that the Dragon ruined, he reminded himself.

"--Captain." Mari said. grabbing his attention. "I know what you're thinking, but we can't
take them. They would shred us before we got within a space mile of their windows."
"I know." Spacemori shrugged. "But we'll come back. Once we get the notes fixed--"

"Sunny." Something whispered, and the movie shook.

Sunny's eyes widened and he snapped up with a gasp. Huh, what, who where how--

"You were dozing off there, Sunny...." Aubrey said, gazing at him with a neutral expression.

"O-Oh...." Sunny said, the frenetic energy dispersing in an instant. His ears went nuclear, and
he couldn't tell if it was from her or his failure to stay awake for Spaceboy. "I--"

"It's okay." She flashed a small smile. "It's too comfy, right? I just didn't want you to miss the
movie."

"Right, uhm--" His cheeks were heating up now. "T-Thank you...."

Aubrey's eyes lit up, and she rested her cheek against his as her attention went back to the
screen. Sunny tried his hardest to ignore how warm his cheek felt as he faced forward, right
as a crewmate checked the radar.

"Captain, there's another ship nearby." The crewmate sounded off. "It's...."

Kagu narrowed his eyes. "It's what? Don't leave us hanging."

"....Sweetheart." The crewmate forced out. "Signature matches with her personal ship."

Kagu paused, before turning to the captain. "Wait, you didn't take that out of the system?"
Spaceboy felt a drop of sweat roll right off his chin. "W-Well, we need signatures for
important--"

"We can tell who they are by their ships." Kagu hissed.

Spaceboy averted his eyes to the window. He froze. "Wait...."

"You got burned by her, what, three times already? I told you she was bad news!"

"Kagu, wait--"

"Don't 'Kagu' me, you need to--"

"She's flying towards the mothership!" Spaceboy growled, pointing at the bridge.

Off in the distance, the gaudiest little ship that Kagu ever laid eyes on charged ahead,
straight towards the looming vessel.

"....Seriously?" The first mate muttered. "She's going to get blown up before she can get
close."

"Maybe that's what she wants...." The crewmate muttered.

Spaceboy balled his fist.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kagu blinked. "Are you telling me she's on a suicide run?"
"With those thrusters on, yes." The crewmate nodded. "Unless someone intercepts her, she's
gonna hit the--"

"I'll do it." Spaceboy said, standing up.

The bridge fell silent.

"The emergency hatch has our fastest ship." He turned, cape swooshing as he strides towards
the door. "Open it. I'll be out before she can get into their firing range."

"Wait--" Kagu sputtered to his feet. "Spaceboy, wait!"

The door clicked shut behind the captain.

"Oh, you love-struck idiot...."

......

The moment the hatch shut, Sweetheart's ship sputtered out and died on the deck.

Spaceboy sighed in relief as he unfastened himself and leapt out of the cockpit. "Close call."
He told himself.

Only to turn around and see Sweetheart grabbing his collar, reeling him in without a shred of
mercy.
"What's the big idea, Spaceboy!?" Sweetheart said, snarling with furrowed brows. Her dress
was covered in scorch marks and scratches, while her oversized bow was nothing more than
tiny tatters. "I had it under control!"

"Control?" Spaceboy said, grabbing her wrists. "You were going to get yourself killed!"

"I was going for a crash landing!" She tried to shake off his grip, to no avail. "I knew what I
was doing--"

"You break through the hull, and then what?" Spaceboy interrupted. "Fight off the Asteroid
Legion? Get through his champions, only to face the dragon himself?" He pulled her hands
away, and her grip turned to empty, balled fists. "What were you hoping to accomplish?"

Sweetheart tugged back, freeing her arms. "Why do you care, anyways?"

"Because you would've died!" Spaceboy walked after her, her gritted teeth turned out of his
sight. "Do you know what you would've left behind--"

Sweetheart whirled around a hellacious glare. "NOTHING!" She roared.

Spaceboy stopped, mouth ajar.

"The Asteroid Dragon destroyed everything I cared about! My family, my servants, my

people, my everything!" She hiccupped, her voice cracking at the end. "They stuffed me in my
ship and sent me off while they got blasted into smithereens! Do you know what that feels
like, Spaceboy? DO YOU!?"

"Sweetheart, I...."

A sniffle broke through her fury. "I-I've got nothing left. Why should I care what happens to
me now?"
"That's not true!" Spaceboy stepped forward. "I still care!"

Sweetheart tried to chuckle. It came out hollow. "You care, huh....?" She trailed off, turning
away. "W-Why, Spaceboy? You--"

Spaceboy put a hand on her shoulder. "I can't explain it." He said softly, as he tried to turn
her around. "I just do."

The captain felt token resistance as he forced Sweetheart to face him. Her eyes were
brimming with tears, and a few drops rolled down her cheeks. "Why?" She croaked.

Spaceboy's eyes softened, and he stepped forward to embrace her.

"S-Sunny?" Aubrey whispered, as the donut princess' wails filled the auditorium. "Was
Spaceboy always this sad....?"

"I-I don't know." Sunny sniffled. Not even the bumbling of the crewmates could lighten the
blow. "It never got this bad...."

He felt Aubrey grip his hand again, and her thumb traced circles on the back of his hand. "I
thought Spaceboy had it bad," She wiped at her eyes, "But Sweetheart too? What did she do
to deserve this....?"

Sunny couldn't.... no, he remembered a lot of reasons why. Kel didn't ever give him a chance
to forget.

"Haaah...." Sweetheart took a deep breath. "That wasn't very becoming of me."

Oh crap, the movie was progressing!

"We're still in a pirate ship, princess." Spaceboy pointed out.

"Oh, stop it." Sweetheart chuckled. "I'm not even a princess anymore."

Spaceboy hummed, glancing at her dress. "And I bet those clothes are still worth a fortune."

Sweetheart burst into laughter and knocked her fist into his shoulder. "Oh my god, you're a
pain in my butt. You're lucky I care about you, Spaceboy."

"Well, I try my...." His eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat. "Wait, you do....?"

"What do you mean, 'I do?'" Sweetheart threw her arms out. "Of course I do!"

"But all those times you left me behind--"

"I did it to save you!" Sweetheart stressed. "You're a pirate and I'm-- well, I was a princess. If
the nobles found out, they would've thrown you out of the airlocks within a week!"

Spaceboy twitched. "Then why did you leave me like...." His tongue struggled into wordless
noises, as his hands fought to gesture his thoughts. "Like that?"

"I already tried that, but you didn't give me a choice!" Sweetheart pointed her hands at him.
"You think I wanted to act like that? It was either breaking your heart or seeing your corpse!"

"But you kept coming back!"

"I can't help it!"

Spaceboy's tongue dropped, as if grappled by an anchor.

Sweetheart's arms fell to her side. "....Well, I guess it doesn't matter now. I've already hurt
you so much." She sighed, and turned back towards the hangar doors. "I'll try to get my ship
fixed, and.... Figure something out, I suppose."

She stepped away, only for Spaceboy to grip her shoulder.

"I..." Spaceboy said, gulping. "I said I cared, didn't I?"

Sweetheart looked back at him, eyes wide. "After everything I did to you....?"

"....Yeah." Spaceboy stepped around, and stopped between her and the doors. "I still can't
explain it, but...." He trailed off, as Sweetheart's hands cupped his face. "Wait, I--"

She pulled him down and --

""D'aww...."" Sunny and Aubrey cooed, their hands digging further into each other's grasp.

The sight of such a passionate reunion set a fire in Sunny's heart. The words of love and hope
that his favorite characters whispered reverberated in his mind and threatened to make him
melt into a puddle of admiration. Forget the action-centered dynamics from the old comics,
Sunny thought, this was going to make him explode in happiness.

Without even thinking, he looked over at Aubrey. She wore the same kind of smile he felt
digging into his cheeks, and both curved just a bit higher as their gazes met. Her eyes
shimmered, and he felt like the luckiest boy alive.
Somewhere in the haze, a tiny voice whispered. Aubrey looked so beautiful with that fluff-
driven smile of hers, and even in the darkness of the theater, Sunny could see every glowing
detail of her face. 'Do what they did,' the voice urged. 'Be the Spaceboy to her Sweetheart.'
Sunny wanted to agree-- why would he ever want otherwise?

The shift of an instrumental changed the scene ahead, and a sharp chord made both of them
blink.

And then the glitter was gone, right as Sunny's confidence decided to take a coffee break.

"T-That was, uh...." Aubrey stammered, lips twisting as a sheepish look overtook her. "That
was a cute scene, right....?"

"R-Right...." Sunny nodded like a bobblehead. "I-I can't wait for more of it....!"

"Yeah, me-- me too!" Aubrey forced a small smile, before redirecting her gaze back to the
screen.

Sunny took the cue to glance back at the camera panning over the pirate crew (and
Sweetheart) planning some new excursion. He focused as hard as he could, to catch up. Yes,
to catch up. Definitely not to ignore how part of him yearned to turn back.

......

'This is it,' Sunny thought.

"This is it...." Aubrey whispered.

All the errands, all the dogfights and blaster fires, they all led up to this moment.
Sunny forgot all about the hand in his own, the coat on the top of the pair, and the half-empty
tub of popcorn as Spaceboy and Sweetheart were met with a plethora of primed blasters.

"At ease, men." A deep voice hummed. "I will see to our.... guests."

Light surged throughout the antechamber, and all its inhabitants, friend and foe, looked
towards the far end.

The massive space yielded a lounging throne of opulent rocks. Its occupant, a crag-skinned
behemoth, loomed over the guard on his hind alone. Scarlet slits stared down the intruders
without a hint of concern, while wings that gleamed like meteors fluffed themselves out before
retracting once more.

"Spaceboy." The Asteroid Dragon said. "You've grown. Step forward."

The guards gave each other uneasy looks before stepping aside and holstering their blasters.
Spaceboy started walking towards the Asteroid Dragon, with Sweetheart following his steps.
His blaster, on the other hand, remained in his hand. "The Asteroid Dragon...." Spaceboy
said, frowning.

"How long has it been? It feels like ages, yet it was just a space year ago since we crossed
paths." The Asteroid Dragon met his gaze for a moment, only to center it with a spark of
amusement. "Tell me, how has your father fared? I haven't heard a whiff of him since.... oh,
what was it.... I graced his entire fleet?"

"For no reason." Spaceboy gritted his teeth.

"Oh, please. I am the Asteroid Dragon. I don't need a reason to make someone famous." The
dragon flicked his tongue, uncaring of the pirate's building rage. "If anything, I helped
Pinkbeard reach the annals of history. The stars know he wouldn't reach them otherwise."

"You murdered my father in cold blood, you--!"

"Spaceboy, wait!" Sweetheart said, grabbing the captain's shoulders and stopping his charge.
"He's just trying to goad you. Don't give him the satisfaction."

"Yes, Spaceboy, listen to the donut." The Asteroid Dragon drawled. "Instead, why don't we
talk about what you want? Surely, you didn't come all this way just to bravado me to death?"

Something soft pressed against his cheek. "This guy's really arrogant...." Aubrey whispered.

"Uh.... Yeah....?" Sunny said, confused.

"I mean, why would you let Spaceboy walk up and point a blaster at you?"

"Maybe it won't hurt him....?"

"What, against his Burning Star B--" She started, only for Sunny to feel her jaw scrape
against his cheek. "....Wow, he just brushed it off...."

Spaceboy looked down at his blaster in disbelief. How, he wanted to ask the weapon.

The Asteroid Dragon rumbled with laughter. "What, did you really think you could harm me
with a pebble shooter? Far greater weapons have failed against me, boy. You couldn't
threaten me if you tried."

Spaceboy's fist tightened, but he said nothing. He could only glare at the overgrown lizard.

The dragon waved his claw. "Men, allow these 'guests' to depart. I trust they know how to
behave themselves on the way out."
"T-Thank you for your hospitality, oh great dragon." Sweetheart forced out with a bow. "We'll
be on our way now." She reached for Spaceboy's hand. "Come on, let's go...."

The captain had to be dragged out of the oversized chamber, while the dragon's low, amused
rumbling echoed behind him.

When the great doors shut behind them, Sweetheart's face fell into a snarl. "That over
arrogant ass." She hissed.

Spaceboy's teeth gnashed together. "It's like he was toying with me."

"And he can get away with it." Sweetheart sighed. "But we got what we needed. We just need
to get out of here and let the coalition know. Let him think he won in this scrap heap, we--"

"Scrap heap...." Spaceboy muttered, digging into his pocket.

"Come on, Spaceboy, we can't waste any...." Sweetheart's eyes widened at the medallion he
produced. "....Time? What is that?"

"Something my father left behind." Spaceboy stared at it, deep in thought. "Right where the
Asteroid Dragon attacked his fleet."

Sweetheart leaned in. "You think they're connected?"

"They have to be...." Spaceboy glanced over at a nearby hall. "I think the dragon has
something he's hiding."

"Spaceboy, we can't blast our way through this ship." She warned. "We need the coalition,
remember?"
"I know." Spaceboy grinned. "Which is why I'm going to sneak into the armory."

......

Once the doors closed, Sweetheart wasted no time in shaking Spaceboy by the collar. "What
were you thinking!?"

Sunny winced. Everything was going so well, too: The pair found a weapon that once
lingered in Pinkbeard's arsenal, and the medallion was made to fit. From there, it was a series
of revelations that opened up the mystery. The Asteroid Dragon wasn't invincible. He had a
weakness, and Spaceboy's father was the one who carried it.

Everything should've been up, with Sweetheart forming a plan that could see the dragon
felled by his own hubris and clever thinking. Nothing else had to be sacrificed, and the
galaxy would be at peace.

And then Spaceboy stole the weapon.

"I-I wanted to get the weapon--" Spaceboy started, only for the former princess to rattle him.

"We needed the help first!" She hissed. "But no, you just had to take the one thing that kept
the dragon from getting antsy!"

"We needed the weapon too!" Spaceboy struggled to free himself, to no avail. "We got out in
one piece, and we still have the proof!"

"And what about the dragon!? Do you think he's just going to sit there and let us run off? Just
let the entire galaxy gang up on him with the one weapon he can't handle?" She shook him
again, snarling. "You just gave him every reason to go wild!"

"But we can kill him now!"

"What about everyone else, Spaceboy!?"

"My crew--"

"I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THEM!!"

Spaceboy's eyes widened.

"Every other planet, every other ship, every other man and woman and child and their space
sinks are out there! They can't handle the Asteroid Dragon! What do you think's going to
happen when that monster goes on a rampage? Who's going to pay the price!?"

"B-But we're the threat...."

"When we just jumped to shake him off!?" Sweetheart's eyes dug into his, demanding an
answer.

Spaceboy grimaced, before averting his sight.

"....You don't care." Sweetheart muttered, letting go of his collar. "You.... You didn't even think
about what could happen to everyone else, did you? You just went straight for the weapon,
consequences be damned."

"Sweetheart, I--" He reached out to her.

She stepped back. "I-I can't believe you...."

"Wait--" She doubled back through the doors, and Spaceboy lunged for the doorway. By the
time he got there, she was running halfway down the hall. "Sweetheart, wait!"

Sunny twisted his lip as a sad chord started, and the captain was forced to watch Sweetheart
fly off. 'Ouch....' He thought with a sigh. They got so far, and Spaceboy got the short stick yet
again.

Still, Sweetheart's rage wasn't lost on Sunny. Spaceboy was a loveable rogue, but a rogue
nonetheless. How many times did he strike out on his own again, or focus on his own
sorrows? Not that he wasn't a good hero, but....

Sunny took a deep breath. He turned to Aubrey, curious on her take. She wasn't shy when it
came to how she saw the movie, after all.

When he caught sight of her, Sunny froze.

Aubrey's wide eyes were laser-focused on the screen. Her gritted teeth resembled a bestial
snarl, and her every breath robbed the air and blasted it in gouts. Her face twitched, growls
tore themselves from her throat, and Sunny felt her grip tighten until she threatened to
compact his fingers.

But the pain was drowned out by a surge of fear. Sunny recalled Aubrey's behavior, and how
her temper, once rare, started to flare up. But he knew that he wasn't the cause, and Aubrey
was far more patient with him in any case.

'But the movie....' Sunny thought. 'Oh no, what if she starts yelling? Or if she starts stomping
out, or even....?'

He glanced at the screen. Though the image of Kagu reaching out to Spaceboy wasn't close, it
wasn't too far, either.

Enough for someone to, say, charge in to headbutt it.

'I-I gotta calm her down.' Sunny gulped.

He turned back to Aubrey, puckered his lips, and leaned in.

Aubrey's growls cut off as she turned to Sunny, lips primed to unleash a storm of complaints.

By the time Sunny realized it, his lips ███████ ████ █████████

█████████ ███████ ███████ ███ ██ █████ █████ ███ █ ███████

██████ █████ ██ ████████ █████ ██ ██████████ ███ ███████
██ █████ ███████ █████ ████ ████ █ █████ ████ ██████ ██ ███
█████ ███ ██ ███ ████ ████████

████████ ██ █████ ██ ███ ███████ ███████

Sunny pulled himself back with a gasp, struggling to breathe from the overwhelming shock
and the exertion that gripped his lungs. His action-- what did he just do? Oh Mari, what did
he just give Aubrey!?

Where his cheeks were glowing, her entire face radiated heat like the sun. All pretenses of
anger were gone, replaced with wide-eyed shock. A hand rose to brush against her lips. "I...."
She muttered. "I-I...."

Sunny's lips felt numb. "The.... The movie...." He forced out.

"R-right, the movie...." Aubrey nodded quickly. "The movie...."

Her head craned towards the screen, and Sunny had to force himself to watch the tail-end of
the first mate's encouragement. The coat felt so stuffy, and he wondered when he would melt.
 But he didn't dare move, and by the feel of it, Aubrey didn't either.

Chapter End Notes

i went in-depth on a movie.

i took all that time to write out parts for a goddamned fictional movie.

every other part of the chapter was one thing, but that part alone took up half of the
word count and a few additional weeks of research, revision and frustration. probably
the worst part is starting it up, realizing how much work would have to be done, and
going 'screw it, let's write it out anyways.' no better way to realize how hard-headed i
am, i guess.

on the other hand, the following chapters will be far easier to handle. and no, this is not
lip service, i swear.

in other news, shoutouts to that censored kiss scene in OMORI. gave me a good laugh.

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
 A Night to Remember (Part 2)
Chapter Summary

A pair of teenagers are leaving the movies.

With the 'accident' lingering between them, will feelings finally show?

Chapter Notes

and now back to something resembling the schedule from long ago.

this chapter was barely based off the same greentext as last chapter.

shoutouts to Eyriskylt for beta reading once more.

and without further ado, let's get into it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"Captain Spaceboy." The Admiral announced, stepping before him. "Through your bravery
and determination, the Asteroid Dragon's reign of terror has come to a permanent end. For
your actions, we extend our highest gratitude, and a clean and glowing slate, to you and your
valiant crew."

'Yeees....' Sunny thought, nodding along like a bobblehead. 'He deserved it....'

A hallow, simplistic thought, but that was the magic of the movie. The entire republic had
come together for the most chaotic space fight that Sunny had ever seen. with Spaceboy's
mad chase to outmaneuver the Asteroid Dragon and prepare the villain's bane, alongside the
blinding shell that Sweetheart let loose when all seemed lost, the destructive titan of the
galaxy was no more.

The galaxy was safe, a peace without fear could be restored, and Sunny was still trying to
scrape his jaw off the floor from it all.
Now if only he could get the girl too....

"Sweetheart...." Spaceboy said. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry, I'm--"

"A brave man." Sweetheart interrupted, waving her hand. "Reckless and sometimes blind,
but...." She trailed off with a deep sigh. "....No, I should be the one apologizing. I was being
too harsh on you."

Spaceboy blinked. "But I put everyone in danger--"

"Everyone would've been in danger anyway. I just...." Sweetheart shook her head. "Oh, it
doesn't matter now. I'm sorry for yelling at you like that, Spaceboy. Can you forgive me?"

"I-- You--" Spaceboy gasped, scrambling for words. "C-Can't I get my apology out first!?"

"Nope." Sweetheart chuckled. "I'm apologizing first, and you're going to accept it."

The pirate groaned. "Fiiine, I forgive you, okay? And I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and
made a huge mistake and--"

"You are forgiven." Sweetheart smiled, cutting him off with a pat on the shoulder. "Now come
on, your crew's waiting for us."

"They can take ano--" He froze. "....Wait, 'us'?"

"Yes, 'us.'"

"You mean....?"
"Of course I do! Didn't I tell you I'm not a princess anymore?"

"Well, you still act like one...."

"Quiet, you." She gave him a playful jab to the arm. "But yes, I still want to be with you,
Spaceboy." She paused, cheeks glowing as she reached out to him. "I-I mean, if you would
have me...."

Spaceboy looked at her hand, before a smile almost split his face in two. "Always,
Sweetheart." He whispered, taking her hand into his own.

Sunny shook as the camera began to pan out. 'T-They actually did it....' He thought.
'Spaceboy's staying with Sweetheart....' His fingers unfurled and a few pieces of popcorn
dropped onto his lap. It was just a matter of seconds before the movie would end, but the boy
felt like his heart would burst out of his chest and start singing the Spaceboy theme on full
blast at any moment.

When the screen cut to black, accompanied by a final chord, Sunny whirled around to see a
hyped-up Aubrey beaming back at him.

""That was amazing!!"" They cheered.

"Oh my god, did you see that chase scene!?" Aubrey whispered, eyes shining.

"Yes!!" Sunny squealed. He had never felt this giddy before. "They flew through all those
explosions!"

"Kagu was just the coolest, too!"

"And the cadets doing all those tricks--"

"The story was out of this world!"

"Sweetheart, too!"

""This movie was--" They started, leaning in.

Then the situation caught up with them, and they both seized up.

Aubrey was close, Sunny realized. In fact, 'close' didn't do the miniscule distance justice. He
could feel her breath and count the twinkles and droughts in her eyes. Their noses almost met
each other at the tips, and if just one of them kept going....

A tingle overtook his lips and rocked a boat he was already struggling to stay on. But at the
same time, a wellspring of shame surged up inside. What was he doing? Didn't he spend the
walk to the cinema telling Aubrey how they didn't have to call this date? It was a pressing
thought, yet he had put it aside and let the rest of the evening flow through like a river
passing through a meadow.

And then he let a single set of circumstances blow his entire argument away. A fluke, an
accident, a complete joke of timing-- that's what brought upon that kiss. He wasn't ready for
it, and he doubted that Aubrey was ready for it either. Why couldn't he use his words first,
like before? When did Aubrey seem so unreasonable that he had to jump to drastic measures?
What possessed him to trample the invisible line they both set without ceremony?

He couldn't grasp any of the answers, and it all made him feel like a fraud and a cheat.

"Uhm." Aubrey said, face ripe as she stared at him.

Sunny snapped to attention, and her lips called out to him in silence. He had to avert his eyes.
"W-Well, the lights came back on...." He said, glancing at the exit.

"Oh...." Sunny looked back to find Aubrey looking away. Her lips twitched, unsure how to
shape itself. "Yeah, let's.... we should get going...." She whispered, pulling the coat off.

They didn't share a single word on the way out.

"They're calling for snow tonight." Wanda's words echoed in Sunny's ear as white flakes
descended around him and Aubrey.

The cold wasted no time biting the teenagers and their mobile cocoon of cloth when they
exited the cinema. But when they fastened themselves together, the night opened up with a
gentle shower of snow. The frozen flecks danced across the vivid dark and the stages of
kindled walkways. 'Join us', the snow seemed to hum as they piled upon concrete and nature
alike. 'Let yourselves be graceful and free', as the flakes themselves lived.

But that did not change how Aubrey forced her gaze forwards, and Sunny could only leave
the snow unanswered and bite his lip as they left the lot behind.

He tried to think about what he saw. The movie lived up to his unsaid expectations, and
Sunny had no problem nerding out with Aubrey about it. But whatever scene he conjured
only brought her reactions to mind. Her sniffles, her smiles, her surprise and awe, her
seething and--

He had to take a deep breath. He.... He put this aside before. It's two friends going to a movie,
he told himself. 'It was just an outing,' He tried to reassure himself, but the phantom
sensation on his lips burned again, and he felt his ears warm him up as he struggled to banish
the thought.
But it lingered, and he tried to look back at Aubrey. She was just as occupied with the snow
as before, and despite the lampposts and trees they passed by, her gaze did not falter. Sunny
wanted to bury his head into the snow and scream at himself. One simple attempt to calm
Aubrey down, and he just had to screw it up and bring this awkward atmosphere upon the
both of them. He could forget the snow; the darkened trees were standing out there with their
arms wide open, offering to drown his worries.

"Heeeeyyy!!" A boy's voice echoed out, and Sunny and Aubrey both leaped over a control
joint before whirling around. In the distance was a bundled-up Kel, closing the distance well
with a jog.

"Ah-- What the hell, Kel!?" Aubrey snapped.

"Huh?" Kel asked, slowing down to a walk as he reached the pair. "I just wanted to talk to
you two...."

"...." Aubrey looked away.

Kel scratched his cheek, staring at Aubrey before he shrugged and smiled. "Well, anyways!
How was Spaceboy!?"

"I-It was great...." Sunny said, struggling to keep eye contact. "There was a lot of action."

"And a lot of explosions!?"

"Yeah...." Sunny nodded.

Kel vibrated. "A-And the Asteroid Dragon....?"

"Big." Sunny paused. "....And over the top."

Kel exhaled, his lips stretched into an ecstatic grin. "Oooh man, that must've been so cool! I
wish I could've seen it!"

Sunny glanced over at Aubrey. Her blonde hair was turned to him, her gaze somewhere
between the path ahead and the snow falling in the distance. He gulped, and looked back at
Kel. "What did you see....?"

"Oh, it was some cheesy romance movie." Kel scrunched his face up with an audible 'bleh'.
"Mom wouldn't let me sleep through it, either. It was like, uh.... You know....?"

Sunny tilted his head. "Like....?"

"That movie we snuck in that one time?" Kel motioned. "Where the guy had to watch
movies?"

Sunny blinked. 'That movie.... The one Mari caught us watching and scolded us over....
Something about an orange....?' He scrunched his face up, before shaking his head.

"Well, you get what I mean!" Kel puffed his cheeks out, but glanced over at Aubrey. "It had
some girl getting everything thrown at her feet. I don't get why Mom liked it so much."

"Mmm...." Sunny glanced back. Aubrey's head didn't budge, her feet moving on what Sunny
could only guess as instinct.

Kel frowned. "Did something happen?" He whispered.

"N-Not really." Sunny forced out.

"Dude, she's been weird since the moment I came over." Kel pointed out. "Seriously, what
happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Sunny, you can--"

"Please don't." Sunny begged. "She's just, uh...." He glanced back. Crap, what should he say?
"Aubrey's just thinking about something and she doesn't like being interrupted. She'll come
back when she's ready."

Kel raised an eyebrow at him.

'Please believe me.' Sunny thought, struggling to not sweat at his friend's scrutiny. As
touching as the concern was, the issue was between him and Aubrey. Kel was already the
second coming of Mari when it came to intimacy, and Sunny did not want to see the potential
damage of Kel learning about an accidental kiss.

It felt like an eternity before Kel sighed. "Ooookay, then." He said, and Sunny wanted to flop
to the ground in relief. "But if you need any help...."

"I'll let you know." Sunny nodded.

"Alrighty--" Kel started, before pausing at a burst of commotion. "Wow, someone's having
fun up...."

Sunny tilted his head as Kel trailed off, staring ahead. "Up ahead?"

Kel blinked. "Hey Sunny, aren't those the guys from Gino's?" He said, pointing ahead.
Sunny followed his finger to-- "....Yeah, they are."

"Wow. Small town, huh?" Kel gave him a light nudge in the side. "Well, I'll talk to you
tomorrow. Have fun!"

"Huh? I--" Sunny looked over, but Kel was already a yard ahead, aimed straight for the
whiner. "....Okay...." He sighed. 'Kel sure has a lot of energy....'

A nudge to his side cut off his train of thought. "Thanks...." Aubrey whispered.

Sunny whipped his head to look at Aubrey, her gaze fixed ahead. "Huh?"

"For what you did with Kel." She said. "You didn't have to do that."

Sunny bit his lip. "Well, I couldn't let him just bother you...."

"Even if I could've just talked to him....?"

He shook his head. "Not if it makes you unhappy."

There was a instance of color on the corner of her cheek before her hair swished back to
cover her features. "I-I see...."

At any other time, that bright curtain would've been something to admire. Now, it just stoked
the doubts flickering within. Sunny gulped. "Aubrey, I...." He trailed off. He what? The
words fled from his tongue and his mind the moment he tried to speak. Was it supposed to be
an apology, or an invitation to talk in the open? He shook his head and looked away. "N-
Nevermind...."
He felt her gaze fall upon him, and he tried not to look too bothered as he took deep breaths.
But even when they approached their neighborhood, his heart refused to go quiet.

Retiring to bed early was, in hindsight, not his best idea.

It couldn't have been the worst, Sunny knew. He and Aubrey knew what weighed down the
other's thoughts, and neither objected to finding reprieve in their sleep. But there he was, eyes
wide open in a bed that should've claimed him hours ago.

His eyes glanced at the darkened features of the room; the desk was hard to tell apart from
the monitor it held, and the bookcase loomed over the carpet. He felt Aubrey's back pressed
to his own, her presence silent and still. Sunny doubted she was awake by now, but now that
he thought of her again, the theater ransacked his mind anew and what little exhaustion he
could find was swiftly conquered.

'This isn't working....' Sunny thought, shifting the covers off. He wasn't going to get a wink of
sleep at this rate-- his treacherous mind simply wouldn't let him.

Departing Aubrey was beyond his means, even if he wouldn't dare try to leave her behind.
But he had no trouble placing a gentle hand on her side as he propped himself off the bed
with another, firmer grip. He wouldn't leave her, he reminded himself. He wasn't that kind of
person, unlike her (former) parents. No, he just needed to focus on something. Something
that would let him distract himself. Something like the window, perhaps....?

He glanced out and over the lamp, and gasped.

A sheet of snow blanketed the ground and softened the backyard. Entire swathes of grass
disappeared under the white, while bushes and trees carried their flakes with pride, even as
their leaves were submerged. There was a grill and some toys back there somewhere, Sunny
could recall that much, but the lack of silver light buried those details and left the land in a
clean slate.
Sunny stared at the ground and let it touch his heart. There was just something about it.... A
sense of renewal. Not in the sense of the cause he carried, where trash left outside of trash
cans was worthy of scorn, but a feeling of change. Of the world he knew being washed away
in cold, so that the sun may shine on greener grass and greater harvests.

But the butterflies flapped to life in his stomach, and Sunny bit his lip. It was a sign of
change, but was it for the better, or for the worse? What did it mean for him? What did it
mean for Aubrey? He knew what change felt like, and what that change had done to him for
two years. He felt many changes in the past several weeks, good and bad, but this felt greater.
Like it could upheave everything.

Was he ready for such a thing? He closed his eyes. Could he ever feel ready?

A gentle grip clasped his hand. "Is it pretty?" Aubrey asked.

Sunny felt his heart stop for a brief spell, and then his lungs quenched themselves with a
desperate gasp. "A-Aubrey!?" He whispered, snapping his gaze to meet hers in the dark.

"The snow...." Aubrey said, pushing herself up and brushing a bang off her face. "Does it
look pretty?"

Sunny looked back to the window. "....It does." He breathed. "Sorry, I-- I couldn't sleep, and I
thought this might help--"

"It's okay." Her thumb glided across the back of his hand and sent a shiver up his arm. "I
couldn't sleep either."

Sunny paused, and slowly turned to face her. "Really....?"

"Mhm." She nodded. "I.... I think you can guess why...."

Sunny gulped. "....I do."

"Well...." She glanced down at the bed, then sighed. "I guess we shouldn't hold it off any
longer." Her free hand grazed over to his side, and she patted the mattress. "We.... we should
talk."

Sunny looked at the mattress like it was filled with crackling coals. Some part of his mind
urged him-- no, begged him not to take the invitation. To do so was to enter a world beyond
his own. What would happen when they confronted that, he couldn't help but worry. They
went well together already, and this would jeopardize everything.

When he glanced back at the window, the snow reached out to blanket these thoughts. The
world outside was undergoing metamorphosis before his very eyes, and here he was, trying to
deny his own. Then again, the world was always changing. Nothing in Faraway remained
constant as of late, and even though the town's sleepy nature had refused to yield, Sunny saw
more action in the past few weeks than he had ever faced before. Was this not, then, another
step in the hectic rhythm of life?

He took a deep breath, and looked back at Aubrey with a nod. "A-Alright...." He muttered,
slipping back into the covers.

The world fell into a dim lull around them. He wrapped his arms around Aubrey as she
embraced him in turn, pulling themselves within the boundaries of the twin-sized bed. He
could feel her breath on his cheeks and count the strands of blonde locks that dipped over her
forehead. He could make out the pink encroaching on her cheeks, and smell the dew mixing
in with faint pulses of watermelon. Her eyes were probing, exploring his own with a fervor
that could be mistaken for desperation, while her lips pinched on thoughts she couldn't yet
voice.

Aubrey averted her gaze for a moment, then took a deep breath. "So...." She said. "....What
happened at.... uhm...."

Sunny froze up. Aubrey wasn't wasting any time here, and his stomach clenched up. "W-We
don't have to--" He started.
Aubrey shook her head. "N-No, we should. We.... I can't hold it off anymore. You...." She
gulped. "You know what I'm talking about, right....?"

It took him a minute before he could begin to nod. "....The.... T-the k-kiss...."

He felt his ears burn, and her cheeks lit up the space between them. "Y-Yeah. It was....
uhm...." She looked down at the mattress. "Well, we...." She tried to breathe, then looked
back at him. "....Why?"

Sunny felt his toes curl and a lump of embarrassment drop on his shoulders. He couldn't
handle this, he should run, he felt. But Aubrey was there, gaze begging him to keep going,
hoping to find some solace. Not that he ever wanted to abandon her, but Sunny had to take
deep breaths. "I-I.... Y-You looked so angry at...." He quivered, as what little confidence he
had wavered. "I-I wanted to help.... And I didn't see you turn, and...."

His words got caught up in his throat. Aubrey looked at him as he struggled. "....And it was
an accident?"

"Y-Yes." He nodded. "I was going for your.... your cheek." Aubrey pursed her lips in thought,
and his heart threatened to plummet. "I-I didn't mean to, I didn't think you would look at me
then, or--"

"Sunny."

He snapped back to attention. "H-Huh?"

He could feel the heat radiating off her face, even with the intense effort she was putting into
her gaze. "You didn't...." She started, then trailed off. "I was--" She clamped down and looked
at the ceiling. "That.... Uhm...."

"Aubrey....?"
"G-Give me a moment." She whispered. "This isn't easy...." He felt her chest rise, then deflate
as she exhaled.

He watched as she took another deep breath. Then another, and another.... With a sigh, she let
her gaze fall back upon him.

"....Do you want to do it again?"

Sunny's eyes almost fell out of his skull. Was she.... No, she couldn't be.... "W-What?"

Her face was volcanic, and she was fighting to keep her eyes open. "D-Do you want to kiss
again? W-Without the accident...."

He could feel all the blood in his body pushing up against his face, while the distant sound of
wardrums echoed through his mind and mingled with the rodeo his heart went on. There was
also something about little duplicates preparing for takeoff-- he couldn't know for sure. He
couldn't keep track of anything but the girl in front of him, trying her hardest to not curl up
and wail in embarrassment. "T-That.... Well, I...." He whispered, his throat drying up on him.
"D-Do you....?"

Aubrey gave up the ghost and winced, but bit her lip. "Y-Yes...." She whined.

The world was long gone, and Sunny forgot his grip upon reality. What did he lie upon? Were
his arms really wrapped around Aubrey? What kept him breathing? How could reality exist
when he could only feel what his body allowed him to?

"S-Sunny, please...." Aubrey whispered, nudging her forehead against his, allowing him to
blink himself back into his own skin. "I-If you don't want to, you can tell me, but I.... I can't
just...."
"Sorry, I...." He started, before he looked into her eyes. There was warmth, but not from
comfort. It was the embers of an open soul, desperate and yearning. A White Room of her
own, even if it was not the same place he once called a sanctuary. What she didn't say before,
he could find in that wide open chasm, shivering and hoping for comfort.

Some treacherous part of his mind poked at him, suggesting that he could inflict irreversible
pain. All at once, he wanted to smack that part of himself across the face. No, he wanted to
stab it in the face.... Or better yet, he wanted to shove it straight to the first floor. What dared
to spark that horrendous idea? He wanted her to be happy, not hurt!

But as he focused back on her pleading gaze, he realized that the line was closer than he
thought. Something perilous was beyond this promise of affection, something that never
existed before. If he travelled down that path, he could hurt her, but he can say the same of
closing the gate on her. Pain seemed inevitable.

Yet, his heart pounded and struggled against its cage, yelling at him to let it go. His lips
agreed, tingling with anticipation. An echo of the mind brushed against him, reminding him
of everything he felt before-- and what he once had the strength to try.

He decided then, that he would not waste a second chance.

"....Okay." Sunny said. "I-I want to."

There was no smile, no sign of joy lighting up Aubrey's features. Her eyes started to glaze
over as she pulled him closer. Sunny saw the anticipation and desire building up in her and
coiled his arms to secure their embrace. There was a moment of stillness, where he could
only hear his pulse going thump thump in his ears, see nothing but the face of the girl he
admired and opened himself to, and feel Aubrey's presence all around him: Her hands
brushing and gripping his forearms, her nose brushing against his own, her heart hammering
so hard that it poked at him and excited his own.

Slowly, Sunny tilted his head up and grazed a speck of space towards her. He saw the want in
her eyes, and his own need reached out to combine with hers. Her eyelids started to close, as
her lips made the slightest parting and crawled for his. Their breaths brushed against each
other's skin, and Sunny felt his eyes flutter into a gentle close.
Darkness stepped in for but a moment.

Then he felt his lips touch hers, and he fell into a trance.

Sunny's nerves relaxed and sighed as a floating sensation enveloped him. The world around
him was far gone, his surroundings blending into a show of light, a humming of empty,
comfortable purity. His thoughts were fleeting, but he couldn't care one bit for them; this was
a sanctuary of instinct, and nothing could weigh him down.

But he was not alone. He felt her, he felt Aubrey enveloping and connecting with him.
Sweetness radiated from their lips, with the lingering taste of buttered confection melding
into the concoction. He felt their hearts bursting through their shirts and uniting, he felt
whispers of unconditional love pass through their stifled breaths. He felt like he was never
alone, that there was nothing holding him back, and not a single trouble haunted the pair.

It was not an explosive feeling. Not a single surge of lightning emerged from their gentle
motions, nor did the empyreal stream turn into an inferno of passion. Even when Sunny felt
Aubrey's hand graze through his hair, and his leg tangle into her own, there were only steady
waves of nirvana. Nothing could break them, and nothing could harm them.

He-- no, they felt complete.

Then his chest tightened, and he leaned back for air.

"Hah.... Hah...." Aubrey panted; her glowing face now reduced to a quiet blush. "A-
Amazing...."

"Yeah...." Sunny breathed, unable to look away from her. Not a single doubt or fear stood in
his mind, and he couldn't help the manic tune in his chest.
 She leaned her forehead back into his. The corners of her lips pulled apart, and a smile
blossomed. "I-I wanted to do that for so long...." She whispered, as her eyes glowed. "Mari
and Hero.... do you think they did this....?"

"I don't know...." Sunny felt himself grin, and he couldn't muster the force, nor the care
needed to stop it. "I never saw them do it, but.... I wouldn't be surprised...."

A light giggle passed through her lips and made his heart soar even higher. "Well, I guess we
know how they feel now, huh?"

'Mari and Hero....' Sunny thought. Their distant laughter echoed faintly in his mind, with
fragments of their combined effort and moments of chaste happiness flickered past his eyes.

When he came to, he found himself giggling with Aubrey. Mari and Hero.... They looked so
fulfilled in each other's presence back then. Was this how they felt at each other's sides? "I
guess we do...." He said, before pursing his lips. "Hey, Aubrey?"

"Yeah?" Her whisper passed right into his ear. They were so close, bound together by their
own hands, and Sunny felt not a single barrier between them.

"Back at the lake...." He started, before closing his eyes with a sigh. "I-I just wanted to say
that I... I love you."

He opened his eyes to Aubrey's own, wide as plates. Then they relaxed, and her smile
reached her ears and filled him with so much joy. "I love you too, Sunny."

Chapter End Notes

FINALLY

over a hundred thousand words and the idiots FINALLY smooch!!!

now if only they weren't helplessly reliant on each other.... or if there wasn't plenty of
angst still waiting in the wings....

and for the occasion, i've also supplied a bonus scene, which you can find down in the
comments below.

and as always, thank you for your time and support. plug in a comment if you'd like
(especially if i messed up somewhere), too!
Works inspired by this one

Tears in the Rain (And into your shoulder) by PotatoMato (InterstellarSpace42)

Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!