BETA SQUAD ONESHOTS!! (BXB)

Alone in a crowd {Sharky alone}

Angst
No paring (tiny bit of Kenny in it but its nothing romantic)
Sharky solo

Sharky was 12 when his dad up and left. He never really did understand why, but he also never had the time to question it. He had 5 kids to look after. His mum was alone in all this and all she had was him. Sharky couldn't be selfish enough to leave her on her own. Sharky couldn't be like his father.

With all the looking after his siblings, Sharky never had the time to be a kid. He was constantly surrounded by people, constantly bombarded with company. Obviously there were times where the little 13 year old just felt like he wanted the day to himself, but he had to keep reminding himself.

"You can't be like dad." Sharky mumbled as he was cleaning up his little sister's mess on the carpet. He wasn't actually sure if his dad was a bad person at heart. All he knew was that he abandoned his mum when he needed him most. He abandoned his kids when they needed him most. He abandoned Sharky when he needed him most.

Sure his siblings didn't really know their dad properly when he left, but Sharky really grew a relationship with him. He missed him insanely, wondering everyday why the man left him. What did be do wrong?? What the hell was a good enough reason to just ditch your kids?

"Shar?" Sharky looked up to see his little brother.

"Hey Shuceeb" Sharky smiled at the 9 year old.

"Can I ask a question?"

Sharky raises an eyebrow. "Did you ask mum first?" Sharky had made a funny little deal with all his siblings that whatever questions they ask have to be approved by their mum first. Just so Sharky doesn't get stuck with the awkward 'where do babies come from?' question, or something.

"No." The boy said firmly. "Only because I know mum wouldn't want me asking..." Shuceeb said guiltily.

"What's up?" Sharky looked up at his brother seriously. Their mum was usually an open person, and wouldn't mind answering any questions her kids had. So this question must only be about one thing.

"Why did dad leave?" The boy looked fearful.

"Oh, um..." Sharky almost knew the question was coming but it seriously did catch him off guard.

"I don't know Ceeb..." Sharky frowned. He wished he had the answer to the question himself but mum would never ever talk about it.

It was natural for the kids to start asking questions about it, but they would all have to go to him to ask. They all saw Sharky as their father figure which was flattering to him, but it also meant he had a lot to live up to. Sharky had to fill in for the man that was never around. He wasn't ready to be a father, nor should he be. He was just a kid. But Sharky knew he had no other choice.

His mother hated the fact that she was forced to have her kid help her with her own children, but she couldn't afford a babysitter. Although Sharky claimed he was more than happy helping out, his mum really did wish her son was able to live a normal and happy life.

As Sharky got older, he found it easier to answer the questions his siblings had about their dad.When he was 17 he was once asked by his 11 year old sister:

"Did dad not love us?"

Sharky paused. He sat his sister down on the sofa and breathed. He had to tread carefully with his words. Only he was able to remember his dad. So these answers really affected his siblings.

"Sometimes..." Sharky started. "A person realises that they aren't... in the mindset, to take care of a family." He started, sweetly. "And so..." Sharky thought. "The most loving thing to do for them is leave. Otherwise you'd just hurt them by being around." Sharky smiled sadly.