Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

A House Is Not A Home

The next morning Basil doesn't want to leave Gram's bed except to use the bathroom. Gram looks worried more and more by the minute. Eventually his temper gets the best of him. He tucks Basil in, kisses him and steps out heading to Basil's house. When he shows up his anger is already simmering under his skin like fire ready to ignite. Petril answers the door.

"Oh Gram, if you are looking for Basil he still hasn't shown up." Petril sighs looking like he didn't sleep a wink all night. Gram shakes his head.

"That isn't why I'm here. I need to speak to you, Kelkian, and Mattias." Gram pushes past Petril inside as Kelkian comes down the stairs wrapped in Basil's sweater. "MATTIAS?!" Gram calls up the stairs and he pops his head out before coming down the stairs Gram turns on the three of them, even more angered by their looks of confusion. "I honestly can't believe you three. I don't even know the details of what is going on, but I have never seen Basil this broken in all the years I've known him. He told me he regrets yesterday happened. I don't know what news he got, and I frankly don't give a damn, but he doesn't even want to see the three of you. All he wanted was a normal birthday party. He just wants to be normal Basil, but you put so much fucking pressure on him he cracked. I don't even know how to begin to fix any of this, but I'll be damned if I'm just going to sit by and let you guys break him even more. Yes Basil is perfectly safe and healthy but very broken up. He spent all of last night tossing and turning with nightmares that made him cry." Gram growls clenching his fists in an attempt to control his anger.

All three-look surprised by this information and then guilty. No one looks more regretful than Petril. He never intended to put so much pressure on Basil that he would snap. "Can we at least talk to him? We never intended to do this to him Gram. I can promise you that much. We weren't trying to push him, we just expected him to be excited about this. He used to want to be special when he was little." Petril sighs.

"Whether you can talk to him is up to him. He barely has spoke since last night and he has spent all day in bed. He didn't want to come home or see you three last night so I can't promise he will want to talk and I'm not going to make him. Regardless of how regretful you three are you still fucked up and Basil isn't unbreakable. He is a lot more fragile than you seem to think he is. He isn't indestructible and last night proves it." Gram snaps before calming himself. "You can come to my house but if he says no I'm kicking you out. He has every right to be upset.

"Alright..." Petril agrees and the four of them head back to Gram's house. Gram wakes Basil.

"Hey baby... Petril, Kelkian, and Mattias are here... do you want to talk to them. They look pretty sleep deprived and upset about last night too. I gave them a chewing out earlier for you but feel free to let into them on your own." Gram sighs. Basil curls up nodding his head reluctantly.

"Let them in." Gram nods at Basil's request and lets them into Grams room. Basil looks so small and fragile all the sudden, like breathing to hard might make him shatter. Kelkian looks on the verge of his own tears, Mattias sniffles and Petril comes over and sits next to Basil.

"We are so sorry about last night Basil. We never meant to overwhelm you. We just thought you would be happy to be something different, something special. I can see now how utterly stupid it was. You're only just now eighteen and everything has been lumped on you in one day. That's my mistake. I should never have pushed you. We can always take you education slow-" Petril gets cut off by Basil's weak voice.

"No... I'm not learning. I'm not going to that college. I'm going to normal college. I'm not learning about THAT either. I refuse. I'm just Basil. I won't do this. I'm not special and my destiny can go to hell right now. I just want to be normal and if you don't like that I don't care. I'm eighteen god damn it and I won't be pushed around. So either accept that I'm not playing your games or get the fuck out. I'd rather be homeless than live with those expectations." Basil's voice is so bitter, cold, and hurt it makes Petril breathless. Kelkian looks horrified by what Basil just said and Mattias looks disappointed.

"...Alright Basil... If that gets you to come home, you don't have any obligation to fulfill the destiny set out for you. This is your life and I won't stop you from living it in the way that makes you happy. Will you at least come home now?" Petril's voice is tight and Basil reluctantly agrees.

"Only if Gram comes with me." Basil says with a challenge in his voice that speaks volumes. He wants Gram there so they can't talk to him about him being unbound or magic, or anything of that sort. Petril nods and they all head back to Basil's. His parents are home from work waiting for them. They greet everyone but Basil ignores them charging upstairs to his room silently. His parents looks taken back by this and Gram, Kelkian, and Mattias head up after Basil. His father goes to go after Basil but Petril stops him.

"Get out of my way Petril, he is a Vipera and I have entertained this temper tantrum long enough. He has things to learn and things to do as a Vipera not to mention now that he is the one." His father growls but Petril puts his feet down firmly.

"No. That boy is on the god damned verge of completely shattering and I won't let you force him to be something he refuses to be. We can't make him accept his destiny. This is his life and as an adult he has every right to live the way he wants to." Petril argues for Basil and they continue to argue for what feels like hours before Petril comes upstairs looking exhausted. "Boys... Start packing Basil's things. He is coming to live with me and Joe." Kelkian goes wide eyed.

"What? You can't be serious." Gram argues and Basil just looks vacant again.

"I'm dead serious. His father wont respect Basil's wishes so long as he lives under his house. We are lucky I talked him out of disowning Basil entirely." Petril grimaces and Basil looks like his soul has left its body. Kelkian shakes his head.

"I'll get us all an apartment together; I'm loaded and that isn't changing. He can stay with you Petril til we have an appropriate place set up." Gram, Kelkian, and Mattias set about packing with boxes Petril provides as well as putting him clothes in suitcases Basil has, throwing out anything Basil doesn't need. By the end of the day all of Basil's things are moved to Petril's house in boxes and bags. Basil is standing in his empty bedroom and cries for a while before Petril takes him home for the night.