The Glitch That Hacked Christmas

Finding the Perfect Gift

He was a bastard.

That was very clear. No one was surprised.

All the time, it was about him.

ALL THE TIME.

He always got what he wanted whether it be the TV, what he wanted to eat, if he wanted a room to himself, whatever he wanted to play or mess around with.

He was a spoiled child and if he didn't get what he wanted . . . . . be prepared for the tantrum from hell.

All the electronics in the house would be fried, the walls would be crisped and whoever was nearby might get burnt. Luckily enough, the magician and the doctor were there in case that happened.

Yes, Anti always got what he wanted and he always found the means to do it himself if no one complied to help him.

Like the one time he wanted pizza instead of Salisbury steak so he turned up the temp on them and burnt them so Chase would order a pizza.

Or the time when he wanted to go to the mall but no one would let him go because the last time, he apparently got banned . . . . .somehow. But he went anyway under a shitty disguise pretending to be Sean. And of course Sean let him get away with it. It wasn't like he killed anyone while he was out.

This time.

And then there were the hospital bills the egos always had to pay for because of his stupid rampages and tantrums. Every once in a while, he got uncontrollable, though, unable to stop himself and the others couldn't put that against him. He couldn't help what Sean had weighted on him.

Jackie, Chase, Marvin and Henrik would always be there, though, to pay the bills, cover it up or simply get Anti OUT of the scene.

Marvin would always be there to fix damage to buildings or electronics. Chase was there to calm other people and distract and Jameson was around to either put on a show if he needed to or turn back time. He very seldom had to do the latter, thankfully.

And here HE'D be.

Lounging around like he owned the place. Free from responsibility or conscience.

Sometimes it was pretty aggravating.

Most of the time, that's just how he was and the others tried their best to accept it.

Most of the time, he didn't give a shit if they accepting him or not. As long as he got to live there rent and chore free.

He was a bastard.

But once every year, something tended to nag at his heart.

At the end of the year when everything was lit and colorful. Snowy and cheerful.

He'd watch the other egos decorate and smile and be merry and it . . . .  almost hurt.

While he would be watching TV in his room, they would be playing games or watching movies all together and eating sweets.

For some reason, he didn't feel right barging in on their happiness like he normally would.

And every Christmas, the other egos would get him a present, completely understanding when he wouldn't give THEM one. Why would they do it, though, if they NEVER got anything in return?

He felt it was all just . . . . weird. He felt . . . . unwelcome almost.

And now it was Christmas time again and he hadn't gotten them anything once AGAIN.

He was in the living room staring at the TV, not really watching it, when Chase walked in, "Hey Anti, you gonna blink anytime soon or are you gonna keep being weird all day, bro?"