A/N: We're all caught up now, and I've run out of pre-written chapters. I now have to complete these and then post them, and I don't have any kind of backlog anymore. I am in fear. I have also posted the edited versions of Chapters 1-6; the changes are as follows: Polly being more wary of Basil, grammar edits, Basil having some trouble denying Something at first, and Aubrey only bullying Basil for a few months instead of four years.
A/N 2: A Sunflower Discord server, if you will. Run by FireOfPies: https://discord.gg/3m3e3tHEPg
"Aubs. Aubs. Aubs. Aubs." Kim said into her best friend's ear; she'd developed a Kel-like streak recently, much to Aubrey's displeasure.
" What? " Aubrey swung her bat, knocking another can off the table and into the forest. The sun had just begun to rise in the distance, clearing away the night chill. Kim had brought out an old wooden nightstand and some empty cans for Aubrey to hit, thinking it would help a little now that the old punching bag turned out to actually be a good person.
"How are things between you and Basil?" Kim tried and failed to sound innocent, as though she couldn't tell how tense the boss was about the subject.
There was a moment of hesitation before Aubrey responded, "I think he's getting better. It's just that... I dunno, I'm so worried about him, even if I'm angry about what he did during... the Incident. " She still hadn't opened up to Kim about what exactly it was.
"Do you think your worries are justified?"
Instead of a moment of hesitation, Aubrey remained still for a whole ten seconds. Just before Kim spoke up again, she responded, "Yeah. Can I tell you something? Don't speak about this to the rest of the gang, ever. I don't want this weighing on them."
"You can tell me anything, Aubs." Kim leaned against one of the nearby trees, crossing her arms and trying to hide her growing anxiety about the whole situation. It was rare for her to see Aubrey this nervous about anything, though she seemed to be more open with her emotions recently.
"I just don't want to burden-"
"I'll be fine."
"...Alright. It was always pretty obvious, but a couple of days ago, Basil told us outright. Remember when he and Sunny were hospitalized a couple months back?"
"Yeah." Kim slowly nodded, feeling dread gnaw at her.
"Well, uh, there's no easy way to say this... but Sunny fought Basil to stop him from killing himself." Aubrey smashed her bat into the next tin can with such force that it split open as it flew into the forest.
"...Oh." Kim's knees felt weak. Jesus Christ, she thought to herself.
"You're not going to blame yourself, right?" Aubrey glanced at Kim, clearly worried about her friend. "I dragged you guys into thi-"
"No, we made our choices. It's not your fault we blindly followed you." The boss seemed to flinch a little at Kim's words, clearly disagreeing, but kept quiet. Kim hid her shaking hands in the pocket of her hoodie. We could've been responsible for some innocent(?) kid's death, over photographs. She pushed her anger at Aubrey down - she clearly understood her mistakes by now, considering how worried she was about Basil.
"F-fine. Anyway, I'm just trying to keep a closer eye on him, you know? To make up for the hell I put him through, and all that." Aubrey wiped a bit of sweat off her brow - can torture normally wasn't so strenuous for her.
"There's another reason I asked, besides simple concern." Kim tried to sound casual, hoping she wouldn't set Aubrey off. Everything about her posture at the moment screamed 'tense.'
YOU ARE READING
Fallout and Future
FanfictionBasil woke up, ready to finally confess the truth to his friends, but found that Sunny had beaten him to the punch. He hoped that they could finally be happy again, at which point Sunny dropped off the face of the earth and left Basil to handle the...
