Down Come Seven (ReWrite 2018)

B R A T

It's true.

A one-sided conversation with a bear can only be entertaining for so long.

But I kept talking anyway.

It was either chatter senselessly or listen to the distressed voices coming from the surrounding bamboo. Calls for help I didn't dare follow...Not when the panda didn't so much as turn its head in acknowledgement...

...Maybe I'm investing way too much faith in the wild animal...pfft.

Nah.

Just when I thought I might go insane with boredom, a short figure stumbled out of the bamboo and onto the path in front of us.

I did the only logical thing that could be done.

The Brat cried out as I tackled him.

"What the-!"

"Aha!" I cheered triumphantly, straddling the struggling boy. "You have been thwarted!"

"Get off me!" The Brat yelled, trying to take a swing at me but unable to break my hold.

Needless to say, never knowing when an imposter might attack had made me even more unstable than usual.

"You thought you could deceive me!?" I accused, ignoring his attempts at self-defence. "Stumbling around all innocent like...I see through your ruse!"

"You're the one who attacked me!" He snapped, calming down enough scowl defiantly. "If anyone's a fake it's you!"

I froze, momentarily stumped.

He has a point.

"...Trying to play mind games eh?" I glared, pressing his wrists harshly into the sand below. "Don't try to turn this back on me. I know I'm real...unless...NO! I'm real."

Or am I...

The Brat thunked his head back against the sand, completely exasperated.

"You're the real thing all right..."

There's no way anyone else could be this stupid.

Was left unsaid

But heavily implied.

I stared down at him.

The last fake had given up pretty quickly when it thought it had been caught.

...had kinda jumped the gun really...

I sent a look towards the panda...who stared back at me.

Severely disappointed in my intelligence.

....Fine.

I hadn't really planned past this point anyway.

I stood up, quickly backing away to stand behind the Panda.

"Okay Brat. I'll believe you for now, but I'm not convinced!" I raised a warning finger. "One funny move and I kick your butt back into the bamboo."

The Brat sat up, looking between me and the Panda.

"...do I want to know?"

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Okay, Pop quiz, what is the Brat's favourite colour?!"

"Try asking a question you know the answer to, moron."

...This...was going about as well as can be expected...

The Brat and I walked together, the Panda in the middle. Keeping the peace.