A nice change

40

TW:mentions of torture and discussion of past suicide

And so the plan was set. Remington and Brendon headed off to the hospital Liseil was using as a base. Well after they had said their goodbyes and everything.

"Are you sure about this?" Shadow had asked, even though it was their idea, they were starting to get a bad feeling.

"Of course, we need to get Jason's and Viola's dads back. No kid deserves to lose their dad," Remington had responded.

"The Killjoys killed your's. He tortured you."

"Just 'cause he's my father biologically, doesn't mean he my dad. If anyone, that's Sebastian."

"That's true I guess, are you gonna tell him and Emerson?"

"Nah, they shouldn't have to deal with this stuff. Besides I'll be back before ya know it and the biggest problem in our lives will be trying to not scream at Sebastian so much."

"Hey, you're getting better."

Remington smiled "I'm trying. Hey, I'm proud of you kiddo, I can't believe you came up with a better plan then Gee. I mean, he is literally the leader of the Killjoys."

"He just has a soft spot cuz I'm his biological sprog."

"Shadow, please don't brush him off so quick. I know if could he would have been there for you."

"It's not like I hate him or anything! It's just been the two of us forever so... I don't know."

"Hey, it's gonna be the two of us til forever, but that doesn't mean you can't make Gerard a part of your family."

"Okay, okay just get going, I think Brendon's getting annoyed at waiting around." They said, and Remington left. Just like that. He chuckled and left and Gerard gave everyone who needed it a ride. Viola went home and Jason came too, having heard King Wentz had been closest to Mikey and wanting to hear more about him. Autumn also went home but Violette had Remington text Sebastian to say she was staying with his' and Shadow's when really she just wanted to spend more time with the Toros. With the family she never knew she had. And Shadow spent the night with Gerard, just talking like they did the night they ran away. Meanwhile Alva didn't know why all their friends had been ignoring them all day, but they of course assumed it was their fault.

"...then Larissa called us and was like 'You idiots need to go break your even more of an idiot brother out of prison' and Remington was determined to drag it on as long as possible before finally your mom had to go pay the bail," Emerson was saying. The two of them were sitting in Emerson's study/office where they had found him that morning writing his comic book, and they decided hearing more about their 'father's' story was more interesting then sitting in their room wondering what they did to cause their friends to hate them. Thus led them to many antidotes about their Mom, 'Dad', and 'Uncles'. "So that's why we don't trust any Danzig with hot objects unless they're cooking."

"That's probably a smart decision," Alva said lightly. As the weeks had pasted, it had started to feel natural to just joke around with Emerson.

"You know, I think it's very telling of you guys."

"Huh?"

"Well Autumn takes after Sebastian in how impulsive she is, and Shadow has that exact same reaction to things Autumn does as Remington does to Sebastian, and I feel like you take after your mom when it comes to just being nice despite what people do," Emerson said, not knowing about how Alva's cousins appeared to be ignoring them.

"You think so?"

"Yeah," Emerson said sheepishly "I mean your super kind to everyone you meet, and you tolerate even me even though I didn't get to see you that much before..."

"Yeah... I guess I just live to break expectations."

"Yeah,"

Alva gulped, know this was a good time to said it.

"... Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything."

"Why didn't you come see more often? I mean you and Mom were never married so there was no custody rights or anything."

"Well... Your Mom just didn't want me to see you that much. Thought I'd be a bad influence I guess. But I don't blame her, I mean I was just a dumb sixteen-year-old when you were born."

"And she was seventeen and about to leave high school but couldn't go to college anymore because she had to deal with me."

"The sacrifices your mother made were worth it, for you."

"Apparently not, since she killed herself."

"Alva, it's not that simple. We don't know why she did was she did but you can't blame yourself!"

"Then who am I supposed to blame?! Her?! The world?!"

"I don't know..."

"You're supposed to be the one with the answers!"

"Well I don't know either! I don't know anything but how to draw and get lost in my own head! I don't know how to follow expectations either, Alva. I'm sorry."

"I-!... It's okay. I mean it isn't but..."

"...But there isn't anything that can be said to make this any better,"

"You're right," Alva said, quietly whispering.

"I wish I could make it better. If I could I'd do it for you, Alva."

"I know, Dad."