Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

Monster

"Izumi, pack up. You're going home."

The moment the voice had even uttered a single breath Patch had already let go of Izumi, only to hurry back in the futon and curl up in its blanket like a ball, trying his best to not be spotted by this person. Then again, not as if Izumi would let that happen. Given how Mama reacted to the sight of Patch she would try to pull something maybe. He had a bad feeling about this and thus would not allow yet another separation to happen. It doesn't matter if she was the one who had put him on the streets or not, he had to avoid this outcome at all costs. At that time he was still in the belief that this woman could be reasoned with however. He didn't want to jump the gun, having at least a sliver of hope that this could solve everything. A simple talk, that should do the trick. He wasn't a kid anymore, she should know.

And thus he stood up, trying not to pause midway through his steps as he slowly walked over to his own mother, trying to ignore her expression. Devoid of everything, an ice cold stare, her voice monotone while speaking. He had to endure it, give it a shot. There was no other way around this.

"But I am home." He began, plain and simple, trying to sound calm during all of this. Yet not in a brash way as he usually would be but rather in the way where he seemed collected at the very least. He wouldn't be as believable if he flinched after all. He had to hold his ground here, for once. He had to gain her approval! Or that was what he had told himself for this short moment.

Mama didn't respond for a short moment, only staring at him for a little while. Was she thinking of a comeback or considering his side of the story? He hoped for the latter but by the end it turned out that she was not going to pick either option. Instead she talked over him. She may as well have been kicking him in the guts with her answer, that's how deep it had hit.

"You are going home." She repeated, as if having that line on auto repeat. She was sure it sounded like it, given it had been said like a machine would probably deliver it. Or one of those auto generated answers on a phone's mailbox.

Maybe she was just in disbelief or didn't understand what he meant. He should be more specific... Oh he wished that this would have been the problem. "There's no need Mama. I'm home, right here. You know, since I live with—"

"You are going home." No change, she repeated the exact same line, even interrupting him midway through.

"But I—"

"You are going home. You are going home. You are going home." She said it over and over, repeating it a few more times even. It echoed right in his ears, becoming unbearable by the second. She was not going to budge, was she? Though he didn't exactly understand her play here. Would one line really convince him to do as she would tell him to? It sounded repetitive and yet, it was a line she couldn't let go off for the time being.

Then again, maybe she was awaiting a direct response from Izumi all the same. Sometimes Mama had the habit of repeating lines should she await a clear response. And that was one response in particular, at all times. 'Yes' . No talking back, no explanations, just ' yes '. Otherwise she would never shut up, would she? That was how she worked. And when younger he obeyed, of course he did. But now... Ugh, he had to try searching for that conversation with her at the end of the day. He won't say ' yes ', not this time, not in this case. Sorry Mama...

"No, I won't." He responded, as directly as he could yet still trying to keep his own cool. Otherwise it might not end pretty. "I'm sure you and Papa will be—"

"When I say you go home you are going home! Is that clear!?" Despite the coldness in her voice she rose it by a significant amount, yelling right into his face. Her eyebrows furrowed a little yet that was as much change as her face would give away.

"Hah!? But I—"

"Don't talk back to your mother! I am the one taking care of you and when I say you come home, you are doing it! No buts!"

Izumi only stared at her in utter disbelief. He never really thought about it but was this reaction normal? Was Mama always this commanding towards him? Well... Yeah, actually, she was. She always told him what to do, all for his sake. Though he had always just listened, not talked back. And she was unwilling to. The opposite of... Well, anyone else he came across to be honest. Especially recently. Though she would not give him even a chance to explain himself as she just continued to yell while finally taking a few steps inside to enter, coming face to face with her own son.

"Maybe it was a mistake to let you move out. I don't remember raising a shitty brat like that."

"Wha— M... Mama!? What are you—" He was about to say yet she talked right over him, as she seemed to do over and over during this conversation.

"No, that can't be right. My little Izumi would never turn into a shitty brat. Don't worry dear, it's not your fault. You've just been poisoned, haven't you?"

"Poisoned!? Wha—"

"Tempted, seduced even. It's her, isn't it? She's done this to you. That was her goal all along, trying to steal you away. Don't you know? This barbaric girl has probably fed you one lie after the other~ And those lies made you say such mean things to Mommy~"

As if it should have made it any better, his own mother reached out one of her hands, caressing one of her son's cheeks ever so softly, as if she had cared all this time. And yet... It gave Izumi the creeps. He didn't like this, at all. He was so tempted to just smack her hand away but could he? His own mother... No, this wasn't happening, right? This isn't what's going on! Mama isn't like this! She has never been like this! She— That— No... Wrong. He should just stop lying to himself here. And yet, he was frozen stiff, unable to move.

"Don't worry Sweetie. Come with me and it will all become simple again. Mama knows what you want after all. No one knows you better than Mama. Mama has always known what's best for you. Would you doubt her judgment after all those years? If it wasn't for me, you would not be on the road to success, would you?"

He only gulped, not too sure how to respond. He had some things to thank her for but... That... This was just. "I... I... That..."

"You can trust me. Aren't you Mama's little darling? "

"I—"

"You are, aren't you?" The last part made her tilt her head in one swift motion, her eyes so blank that she may as well have been staring into his soul. Her smile was unnaturally wide, the widest he had ever seen from her, a possessive grin plastered right on her face. This one in front of him... That was not a woman. Nor was it a human. This creature has never been a human being!