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Chapter 17 - Brotherly Fluff

- Chapter 17 - Lost in his Head -
Warnings: Abuse, angst
Canon Era
Third Person POV

Race felt empty.

He stopped speaking, eating, and sleeping.

The boys tried to get him to play Poker, and to eat, and speak to them, and sing, and dance like they loved to do, but he wouldn't.

"Hey Race!" Finch had a grin on his face. "Wanna play Poker with us?"

Race shook his head, starting to walk away.

Finch's grin faltered a bit. "What's wrong?"

Race made a motion as to let it go.

Race was lost in his own mind.

He lost the sparkle in his eyes.

He didn't talk to Weasel, he just put down the money and left after they handed him his fifty papers.

Race stepped forward, keeping his eyes on the ground as he placed a quarter down.

Weasel exchanged a look with Morris. "What's up with you, kid? No insults? No 'Weasel'?"

Race just shrugs.

After getting soaked by a group of boys, he didn't seem to care about the pain.

He just stayed silent.

He didn't even let his brothers bandage and help him.

Time skip

Jack grabbed his papers from Weasel, but before he could walk away, Weasel pulled him to the side.

Jack looks at him, confused. "Do you need something, Weasel?" He questions.

Weasel almost looked worried. "What's up with the Racer?" He lowers his voice.

Jack raises an eyebrow. "Not sure, why? Do you care?"

"Look, I may be mean, but I do have some respect for you all." Weasel responds. "I may hate his insults and his guts, but he looks broken and something in me feels bad for this kid who I've watched grow up."

Jack sighs, stealing a look at Race.

He was reading his paper as Albert and Mush tried to get him to talk.

Jack turns back to Weasel. "Listen, Mr. Wiesel," There was a look of pride in Weasel's eye when Jack called him that. "I don't know what's up with him, but we're trying to find out. He's just been-"

"Broken." Weasel finishes.

Jack's frown deepens, but he nods.

"Update me?" Weasel questions. "Will you kid?"

Jack nods. "Yeah, I'll let you know if anything changes, but if he gets better, you'll probably notice."

Weasel nods.

Jack turns to walk away, but Weasel's voice stops him. "Ey! Kelly!"