A Fallen HomeKin

PART XX

Tim walked in, an extra bright smile curving his lips, plumping his cheeks, and crinkling his eyes. "Brave Bud!" He cried, shutting the door and hurrying to his side. "I have wonderful news!"

Fralith perked, shoving aside his book and MetalQuill and scrambling to the edge of the bed. "Tim!"

Chuckling, Tim ruffled his hair. "Brave Bud, I am so happy for you. We've been working behind the scenes for a while, getting everything sorted out with the CPA, the hospital, and all that— and it's official now. You're going home!" He leaned over and wrapped him in a tight squeeze.

Fralith squirmed around until he could get his arms out and around Tim, humming a delighted chirp. He didn't know why Tim was so happy, but it made him happy, too. A happy Tim meant smiles and laughter and fun. A happy Tim was good. Any Tim was good.

Pulling back, Tim put his hands on his shoulders. "I can't believe it," he was chattering, eyes sparkling. "It's happening already. I thought finding someone to foster you with all your specialness would take longer, but Matthew's a perfect fit. He'll take care of you wonderfully, Brave Bud." He patted his shoulders. "I know it. We've got everything arranged. Today, we'll do some final check ups and tomorrow Matthew will be here to pick you up and take you home."

Grinning, Fralith nodded at Tim despite not knowing what he was nodding to. It just felt right. Tim was just so happy. He looked at Tim's shining face, whistling the three short notes of a PraiseBird — who often was mimicked when someone was happy — and ended it with a beep.

Tim laughed and ruffled his hair again. "Ah, you Silly Buddy. I'm going to miss you and your beeps."

He tilted his head, grin fading a bit. A shadow lay behind Tim's words. A shadow of... he glanced him over. While his outward BodyTalk was happy, there were some parts that were sad — the kind of sad one is when another is going away — like the look behind Tim's eyes, the way he angled his body towards him, and how he just seemed...heavy.

Tim was...happy-sad. Why? Why would he be happy-sad? Nothing was going to happen, right? No one wasn't going away. He wasn't going away, right? Fralith's brows drew together and he beeped again, putting a hand on Tim's arm.

"Ah," Tim's smile turned sad, the shadow behind the happiness coming farther into the front. He put one of his hands on his face, using the other one to pat his shoulder. "I knew you would pick up on it. I'll miss you very much, but this is a very good thing. As much as I would love being with you every day, you need to have a proper home with a proper family. Matthew's is perfect. You've got a nice home to go to and Matthew to keep you snug and fed."

Matthew. BlueShirt. What does this happy-sad have to do with BlueShirt? Fralith frowned more, leaning into Tim's hands. Was BlueShirt leaving him? Was Tim leaving him? Shadows stabbed his heart. Not again! What had he done wrong? How could he fix it? He didn't want them to leave!

Rubbing his face and shoulder, Tim made a 'shh' sound. "Hey, hey, it's okay. It's okay. I'll come visit as often as I can, I promise Brave Bud. This won't be goodbye forever. I could never say goodbye to you forever, my special, inquisitive, brave, brave Brave Bud."

Fralith clutched Tim's arm, shadows seething under his skin and clogging his throat. Please don't leave me! I'm sorry for what I did wrong. I'm sorry! Heat prickled at the backs of his eyes and he squeezed them shut, shoving himself forward and fisting his fingers into Tim's shirt. I'll never do it again, just— please don't leave!

"Shh, shh. It's okay. It's okay." Tim put his arms around him and rubbed soothing circles into his back.

He leaned into Tim, fighting the shadows inside of him. He couldn't have someone leave again. It would— it would— be so bad. So scary. So... A swell of blue darkness pressed against his ribs and, with great effort, he swallowed it down. No. No, no, no, no. Tim would never leave me, he told himself firmly. Never, ever, ever. He cares for me.

But hadn't Davith cared, too? Hadn't he cared more than Tim? Loved him? And he left. Davith left him all alone. Worse than that— he'd hated him. He'd—

"HOW COULD YOU?" Davith roars.

Fralith whimpered, shying away from the sound and shoving the memory back. No. He didn't want to remember. he didn't— other memories rushed forwards, crashing into his mind like an overflowing river.

Davith, playing hide and find with him. Davith, throwing him in the air and catching him so he could fly. Davith, teaching him how to shoot a bow. Davith, showing him a bird's nest. Davith, reviewing the drills beside him. Davith, always being there. Then... sitting alone in his room, drawing. Looking out the window for Davith but never seeing him. Curled on the floor, trying not to listen to the angry sounds of Davith and Father's voices leaking through the door.

And waiting. Always waiting. Waiting for Davith to come back. Waiting for Davith to laugh and smile. Waiting for things to go back to normal. Waiting to see Davith at all. Then, the Argument. The packing. Davith leaving. Leaving home. Leaving their parents. Leaving their siblings.

Leaving him.

No! Tim wouldn't do that. Things are different. Tim would never leave me. But the tears still came. The pressure on his ribs bloomed into his lungs, his heart, his soul. Davith had left him. Tim was...was...

"Brave Bud, shh, shh. I'm here. I'll be here. I'll be there. You'll get to see me all the time. I'm not leaving you forever. Oh, Brave Bud, it's okay." Tim stroked the back of his head, whispering words into his ears.

Fralith hiccuped, clutching onto Tim's shirt as tightly as he could. His knuckles ached, but he wouldn't let go. He would never let go if that meant Tim would stay. Stay, stay, please. Please!

"Brave Bud." Gently, Tim took his face in his hands and tilted it up so they could look at each other. "Brave Bud, it's okay. I'm here."

He blinked hard, the world watery and blurry from tears. Swallowing a painful hiccup, he whispered in a small, wavering voice, "Tim, no beep." Don't leave me.

Tim nodded, kissing his forehead. "Yes, no beep. It's okay. You're here with me, and I'll see you all the time."

"No beep." He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, holding in the blueness inside of him. "No beep." Tim was safe. Good. Friend. And he wouldn't — couldn't — leave.