Neon Tears

Epilogue

-Balance Castle Courtyard-

Bane leaned in a door frame drinking coffee, watching kids and bitties running around the courtyard playing tickle monster with Fresh 404. It had been a hard few years but he wouldn't trade this for anything. Fresh 404 had done a good job protecting them while they adjusted to the point the council had complained about not being able to work with them if they didn't have access to them.

Static slipped his arms around Bane. "yOu ArE hAppY." He nuzzles Bane's cheek smiling.

"Just thinking how lucky we are. The council pulled itself together and sorted out elected leaders so no one has too much power and the kid is free of that responsibility. You and Fresh 404 aren't so overworked anymore. Dream turned out to be a cream puff and good brother who is more than willing to work with me on the balance. The kids are healthy and happy." Bane nuzzles Static back.

Glitter shuffled out to the courtyard watching the other kids trying to catch little Azure, feeling at peace with his LV. If it meant keeping Azure and the other kids safe he could live with it.

Fresh 404 set on the edge of the fountain watching. Six years had blown by so fast. They were getting closer to a healthy balance every day. There were more days like this now, no more working every day just to keep things from tipping over. Things would never be simple but these were good times surrounded by family and friends.

Geno grumbled as he shuffled to the courtyard to settle in a lounge chair with a tired sigh. As much as he complained he was glad the kid insisted he stay at the castle after Fresh 404 found out he was carrying his first. It annoyed Reaper but the kid was right Reaper worked long hours and Geno was stuck at home alone. Life lived here and he didn't have to lift a finger. Glancing over at Fresh 404 he couldn't help but remember their first meeting.

Fresh 404 watches their little cousins run around and sighs thinking about Traveller out there somewhere exploring the omniverses. He was grateful for Arco-Iris, he hadn't known how much he needed a little bru or sis until he had held his little rainbow close and known they were his. Not like his uncles and cousins but his to take care of and protect.

Azure runs by giggling only to have Scare, Ash, and Roark drop at Fresh 404's feet in the shade of the fountain. Leaving only Blade to chase his brother.

Fresh 404 laughs, his mood lifted by his little cousins as always. "Tired?"

Roark rolls over and sticks his tongue out his little heart shaped target soul pounding from all the running.

Scare giggles and holds up his arms making grabby hands to be picked up being the most snuggly of the boys or maybe he wanted to fish in Fresh 404's pockets for snacks.

Ash blinks heterochromic eyelights at them and stands to try and crawl into the fountain.

Fresh 404 picks Scare up and keeps an eyelight on Ash but lets him play in the shallow water. It was a hot day after all. "You guys kept up with Azure and Blade longer this time."

Roark grinned, he didn't really remember a before but he knew this was better sometimes he looked around and just knew in his soul.

If Fresh 404 had known what Roark was thinking he would have agreed. A life full of family and love was the good life at least to him.

Arco-Iris hovered, keeping an eyelight on their cousins from above but not straying far from Fresh 404 enjoying the relaxed family atmosphere that filled the castle.

Bane walks over to fish Ash out of the fountain, "you indulge them too much."

"No more than you uncle, we watched you dump them all in the fountain last week." Fresh 404 grins scoops up Roark in his free arm holding them close knowing play time is about to end in the inevitable nap time.

Bane chuckles, "they were too dirty to bring in, letting them splash around is easier than scrubbing them."

"Sure it wasn't a hot day that had them all tired and grumpy at all." Fresh 404 grins teasingly.

Bane looks the other way but smiles grateful for this kid and the life he had now no more running and hiding, no more fighting every day, no more worrying about how he was going to feed his boys every day. No more seeing Static come home broken and bleeding everyday.

Static watched Bane and Fresh 404 laugh and tease his soul aching with happiness at seeing Bane's smile. This was the good life that he never thought he would get. A safe home, a happy family and the love of his very long life. He wondered every day what he did to get this lucky.

The quick flash of rainbow wings as Arco took a steep dive to divert Azure into running towards Static for easy capture reminded everyone that there was always room for more. More family, more friends, more love and laughter. The multiverse may have limits but the heart and soul never does.