Underground

Valid

I don't know how to feel. I just killed someone. I took the life of a man, not an innocent one, but still a human man. Will I be arrested? Could this be deemed as self defense? I could frame this in any way I'd like, I am the only person awake. Allton values sleep and Cookie-

Cookie is right behind meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

"eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-"

"Jesus Christ, calm down Rubber Ducky. What, um, what happened."

"I- I killed him and I don't know what's gonna happen I don'twanttodieplease-"

I feel close to tears, the small fire making its way up my throat, shutting down every system it passes. I collapsed on the couch, struggling to fight the waterworks. Cookie cat down next to me, fidgeting with his tail for a bit before he began talking.

"He, wasn't dead before?"

"No, he acted like he was dead for some reason but I shot him before he could explain anythi-hi-hinggg!!"

There it goes, I knew I'd never be able to hold it in... no sense in trying to stop it now, crying is good every once in a while. Cookie drops his tail and pulling away from me. His tail brushed against my leg, coiling around it tightly. The warmth was welcome, the fur felt nice... the only hug I'll probably ever get. 

It was a while before Cookie said anything, I don't blame him. It felt nice to just cry, and I'd gotten most of it out of my system.

"So, was this troubl- oh, who am I kidding. You are distressed by this occurrence, yes?"

"Yes, very, but also no? I've hated him for a while, and thinking he died last night provided me happiness and comfort I've never otherwise felt, and fear I never will again. But now that he's really dead, and by my hand, I don't know how to feel."

"All of those feelings are valid."

"... and?"

"And... um... I don't actually know. I've never been great with comfort or... like, therapist stuff?"

"I think you did well. Normally I'd be told I'm paranoid. So, thank you, I guess."

"There's no reason your feelings wouldn't be valid. You're reacting in a perfectly normal way."

"I... never thought of it like that. I've grown so used to ignoring my own feelings, I never stopped to actually look at what I was doing."

"Hold on... mmmm... there. Now it looks like a suicide."

Cookie took the gun from the floor, and positioned the body and gun to make it seem like Mr. Rook shot himself.

"But-"

"You already are distressed, I'm a great actor. Fooling Blondie will be easy."

"But what if-"

"Act like everything is normal. If that fails I can make you distressed again."

"I'll pray for the first."

"So will I."

I'm being fully genuine when I say this, but those few things he said were helpful. Everyone else I've been around has told me that I'm being irrational and should stop being a baby. 

Allton wakes up after a few minutes, and he's reasonably shocked seeing his father dead, but he instantly goes after Cookie. He handles it in a weird way, but even though I've only known him for a day it seems like the most Cookie way to handle anything.

"Small one, did you do this?"

"Hmm. I dunno."

"What. do. you. mean?"

"I mean, I don't know."

"Who else could it have been? Cass doesn't have the balls, and-"

"How do we know you didn't do it?"

"Because I was sleeping!"

"Don't you sleepwalk?"

"No!"

"I saw you. I watched you do it, so did Shaggy. You even told me yourself. You did a sleepy-kill."

"I don't SLEEPWALK!"

"You don't know that. You also haven't asked why he's here instead of where we buried... him. Wait..."

Cookie's pupils shrink to near pinpoints as he slowly turns to face me. I know he knows I don't know what he's about to say, but he still goes full speed ahead.

"Who did we bury last night?"

I know he's acting, but I go along and we both dash to our room. He jumps out the window and I stay back. I can't jump out windows, I will manage to break my neck. Again. 

That was a day, one I did forget, until now. Yowch.

Allton runs over and shoves me out of the way. I see him lean over the ledge, followed by a click and gunshot. He stumbles back, of course, he just got shot, but I feel like I took the bullet for him.

"WHAT THE FUCK, DUDE?!"

I lean out the window, staring daggers at the cackling Cookie below me. He's barely standing up, struggling to breathe through his hysteria. 

"HAHA!! Don't blow you lid, Shags. It's a blank, he's just a pussy."

That one got a snicker. And a slap from Allton. It's not a day if I don't get slapped at least once by someone.

"What the hell, Small child?"

"How old are you?"

"....."

"How. Old. Are. You?"

"He's 20."

"Thank you, Shaggy. So I am older than you. You are the youngest one here. Always have, always will be. I technically hold triumph over you. 'Nyah, I his son blahblah' Do I give a fuck? No. If you run this business, sell me. What's your first move?"

"My move? I want you out of my house!"

"I am. I jumped out the window. Do you want me to climb back up and jump out again?"

"No. I'd rather you go into town and jump out of a taller building."

"Ooh, that sounds fun!"

"Wait, I didn't mean-"

"I know, blondie. I wouldn't actually do that. I'm not that far gone."

Small climbs back up through the window, and walks Allton back over to the body. I hang back, and I think that was the right choice. I hear another gunshot, followed by laughter and a ships worth of 'what the fucks' from Allton. 

Maybe today won't be so bad anyway. 

My phone starts ringing, but before I pick it up I hear one more quip from Small.

"You are too easy!! Who's gonna move the body, I wonder.... Trick question, it's you."

"I will end you."

"Not if I beat you to it!"

I love those two, with my whole heart.