Fantasizing a war - A Sanders Sides Trilogy

Lies And Trust

"The only person who gets me is my father, Logan," Fletcher complained loudly. "But he's never around, he's always working for King Roman."

Skol smiled sympathetically. "Yes, I understand. So, I assume you're close to the royal family, son?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty close, I get along well with King Roman and Prince Virgil." Explained the boy lazily with a shrug. "I often see King Janus too, but he hasn't turned up for a few weeks, he's been staying in his palace. It's been killing Duke Remus." He chatted idly.

Since they had met outside Philip's' grave, Fletcher had found himself relying on the man too much. But he was there, he listened, he didn't interrupt. He was curious about what Fletcher had to say, he asked questions and he never defended stupid Patton. Stupid, dumb Patton. He didn't care if Fletcher lived or died!

In the week he had known Skol, Fletcher had discovered so much about him. He was a Dark Realm citizen and he didn't have a child of his own, Fletcher was as close to his son as possible, hence his nickname.

"What's making King Deceit act so weirdly?" Skol asked gently.

"For starters, he's being publically affectionate of Duke Remus," Fletcher grunted. "It's odd, he's being too jumpy whenever someone asks him a vague question and he didn't tear off King Roman's' head when he found out that Ro proposed to Virgil."

Skol hesitated with an intelligent nod. Skol was smart. "That's definitely curious. Would you like to walk with me for a bit? My old legs shouldn't be sitting down for so long, they'll hurt."

Fletcher laughed and jumped to his feet. "Yeah, you're old. Come on, we'll go for your stupid walk."

The man just smiled and nodded. "Yes, you can tell me about your family, son. Unless it's a sensitive topic. You don't have to say anything if you're scared to admit-"

"Scared?!" Fletcher snapped, taken aback. "I'm not scared, I just know you won't understand how I feel. I mean, have you ever been forgotten by your own dad because your sister's' robotic arm started to get heavy? No! And what about your father always insisting your dad is right even though your dad is stupid?! It doesn't help that Roman and Virgil who used to listen to me are now too busy making out whenever I come around, and Roman's getting insecure over their marriage, Logan keeps saying he's moping around! I mean, come on, you'd never understand how I feel!" 

The boy continued rambling crossly.

And Skol smiled as the child told him what he wanted to know.

.:*:.

"Fletch, you're late," Scolded Patton as Fletcher breezed through the front door, sitting down grouchily at his chair at the kitchen table. Patton lay a plate down beside him. "It was starting to get cold-"

"Where's Father?"

Patton glanced up at Fletcher's' cold, unforgiving glare. "H-He's at work... For dinner, we've got- Fletcher!"

But the boy had already left from his seat, walking away.

"Fletcher, come back here right now, you need to eat!"

Fletcher spun around on his heel, still walking away. "Give it to Amai, why don't you?"

Patton's' heart broke as he glanced back to his daughter, who kept her eyes firmly on her plate, pushing the food around gently with her fork. Amai didn't deserve this. Fletcher didn't. Logan didn't. Why was the family so ruined all of a sudden? Patton sighed, reverting to his strict parent mode, which he had one hoped never to use. "Fletcher Hart-Croft, get back here right now and eat your dinner! Apologise to your sister!"