Angst and Maybe Some Fluff

Háppỳ ̷Bir͜thday

Chase sat down in the living room, taking it all in. It was his birthday, and honestly it couldn't be better.

Marvin had made him breakfast in bed and Jackie helped.

Schneeplestein and JJ took the time to organize a party.

He had been woken up by an excited Marvin jumping up and down on his bed and Jackie off to the side with the food. When he finished his food, he came downstairs to everybody jumping up, yelling surprise with confetti and a banner. Behind them sat a stack of presents and JJ motioned towards them, indicating he should open them.

Chase slowly walked over and opened the first present he saw, from Marvin. It was a new snap back, grey and red like the old one, but slightly different and less worn. Chase looked over to see Marvin staring determinedly at the floor and Chase laughed, giving the magician a big hug. Marvin giggled and smiled and hugged back.

Chase went back to the presents, opening them now with more enthusiasm. Schneep had gotten him a new mp3 playwr, so he could download music and not have it take room on his phone.

Jackie got him a new Nerf gun. It was really cool and big, unlike any he'd seen before.

After he got done opening the presents, he felt overwhelmed and sat down on the couch, thanking all of them from the bottom of his heart. It was such a simple action, but it meant so much.

JJ came over to where he was sitting and passed him a note, saying, I have your gifts but you have to come into the hallway in about 10 minutes. Chase looked up, ready to ask some questions but JJ had already left the room. Chase jumped up and went into the hallway, wondering what was up.

JJ was there, with a phone in his hand, and it made him even more confused. JJ didn't use his phone often, being mute and all.

JJ just looked up and smiled at him, beckoning him closer. Chase obliged and JJ handed him the phone currently in a call.

Chase brought it up to his ear and said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Daddy? It's us!"

Chase fell to the floor, tears falling down his face. "Sam? Grayson?"

"Daddy, please help us." Sam was sobbing into the phone, and he was immediately concerned.

"What's wrong sweetie? What's happening?"

"Someone's here and mommy's gone I don't know what to do.

"Stay where you are and keep talking to me, okay?" Chase stood up, ready to dash into the living room and beg Jackie to help. He paused when JJ put his hand on his shoulder, keeping him where he was. Chase started to panic, hearing cries on the other wnd of the call.

He held the phone away from his head as he yelled at JJ, "What's your problem? They're in trouble!"

In didn't do a thing, just keeping Chase there.

Chase put the phone back on his face just in time to hear them scream.

"Sam? Grayson? Are you okay?"

"S̡o, Ch͏a͞se͠,̴ ̡h̵av͜in̢ģ a̴ nic̶e̸ ҉bi̧rţhd̛ay?͢"

"Anti! What are you doing to them?" Tears were streaming down his face, he just wanted his kids to be alright.

"I'ḿ jus̵t ̕hav̸i̛ng͞ som͞e҉ ̧f̡un! I̕ ̵t̨h͝o̢úght ̡you͝'͜ḑ ̷l̸i̸ke to̶ ta̷lk̛ t̶o t͝hem͞ ̀b͠ef͢ore͡ t̶h̡e̷y̶ die̡,̸ so.҉.͢.͏ Hap͏p̶y͏ b̛ìr͡t̀h͜d͏a͏y!"

"Anti, no! They didn't do anything. Just leave them alone."

"T

ch ̷t͘c͞h ͜tch̀. ̢C͞h͏ás҉e,̵ yo̧u̸ ͢jus͏t d̀on̶'̵t ̛g̴e̴t̢ ͢iţ,̧ do ͟yo͞u?҉ ̷T͜hiś was goi̴n̴g to̧ h̛ap̛p͟e͞n̛ ͢an͘yway҉s̶, I͘ ͢j͞us̀t͠ ͠tho̸ưg͞ht̨ ͏t͞his w͝ơul̢d ̢be̵ ̡a̷ ͞g͢o͏o̸d͟ ̡b͡ir̕thday͘ ͞p̀re͏se͢ńt҉. T̕h̴e̕y'͞r̶é g̸ói͡ng to̡ d͘ie.̧"͘

Chase was about to argue again, but he heard a particular scream.

"Grayson, no. Anti, please stop."

"Sa͟y g͘o̧odb̢y̶e,̀ ͞C͟hase͏.͏" The phone was brought over to whom he assumed was Grayson. Light breathing and turtles sounded through the phone.

"Grayson I'm so sorry. I couldn't keep you safe." Chase sobbed as the breathing became non-existent.

"No͡w̸, d́ǫ ͡y̨o̢u͏ ͟w͝an͝t̨ ̛t̢o̷ ̧h͡e̵a̡r ̛t̸he͞ ̕n̷e͏x͠t̶ ̸o̸ne ̢or͠ n͢o̢t?҉" Anti cackled.

Chase simply hung up the phone and sobbed harder than he ever had before.