"M-Me?" Burt stammered. "B-But I-I-I can't be a R-Right Hand Man!"
"You've been helping me ever since you first joined!" Sven protested. "I don't see why you can't!"
"I just joined! I'm sure that the Toppat clan wouldn't enjoy knowing that the leader's Right Hand Man is new and doesn't know anything!" Burt snapped.
"You do know things! A lot, actually!" Sven retorted.
"Not about the Toppat clan!" Burt contradicted. "I think, if anyone, it should be Carol."
Carol blinked. "Why me?"
Sven scanned them curiously.
"Because you're his best friend since kids. You've been in the Toppat clan for a long time. You're high in the ranks. You've always acted like a Right Hand L- Person, even though you're not," Burt pointed out. "You know what pushes his buttons, and what doesn't. You know Sven. More than I ever could."
"I'm sure you know some things about him that I don't."
"Accept the invitation or not!" Burt growled.
"Carol Cross, I'm counting on you to be my Right Hand Person," Sven declared.
Carol sighed. "If you trust me to do the job, I won't let you down, boss."
Sven looked at Burt with pleading blue eyes.
"You have to help me..." he whispered.
Burt blinked. "Why? You have Carol now."
Sven shook his head and stood up, walking over to him.
"Even if Carol's my Right Hand Person, I've never been calmed down or encouraged the way you do it. I don't know what it is, but just... The way you speak to me..."
"What's so different about the way I talk to you?"
Sven sighed. "The government's after us. Carol tells me it's okay, but I don't listen. But... You tell me it's okay, and I do... And it's not just the way you talk to me... It's the way you speak to me."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"N-No... I-I... I don't know how to explain it... It's like... Your eyes talk to me."
"My... Eyes..?"
Sven nodded quickly.
"I-I'm trying to be a good leader... B-But nothing is going right for me..." he stuttered. "B-But... If anything... I think that you're helping..."
"I'm glad to hear that. I only want to be the best Toppat I can be," Burt said stiffly.
Sven smiled.
Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Burt and gave him a tight squeeze.
OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGod-
He reeled back and shook his head. "I-I'm sorry," he stammered. "I-I don't know why I-I did that..."
Burt sniffed, amused, and ruffled Sven's blonde hair. "It's okay, Sven," he said softly. "I'm here whenever and however you need me. Remember that. I'm always here for you."
YOU ARE READING
The New Toppat (Curtisson)
FanfictionThe government is on their tail. Sven's so overworked and stressed, and nothing can help him. Everybody's assuring him but none are getting to him. He believes that it's all his fault because he failed to be the leader they thought he would be. He i...
