Archive of Our Own

Sunny Suzuki was a selfish person.

He was quite aware of that fact.

Ever since he was little, he was reluctant to share. His toys, his food, his crayons ... You name it.

He didn't want to share.

Even Mari.

Mari was his big sister, and Sunny loved her. He loved when she sang lullabies to him and hugged him and spent time with him all day.

Right.

She was his big sister, so no one else could have her.

Not even Hero.

Hero was nice, but it was painfully obvious that he had a massive crush on Mari. Sunny would have let him do his thing, if only he wasn't so obsessed with taking Mari away from him. Walking to school together? Why did he have to come too? Study dates? Mari did well on tests without help. Sunny was sure whatever advice Hero had to offer was useless anyway. And the day when he started tentatively reaching for Mari's hand was the day Sunny didn't like him anymore. It was funny to watch as he made a fool of himself in front of Mari most of the time, but now Mari was smiling at him too, and laughing and looking away from Sunny, and he just couldn't have that.

Mari was Sunny's big sister. Hero needed to understand that he would always be less important.

But he was stubborn.

He didn't give up when Sunny put spiders in his shoes and clothes, even though he cried like a baby. 

See, Mari? He's not worthy of you.

He didn't give up when Sunny instigated a fight between them two, they only "talked it out".

Even when Sunny put two whole Naga Viper Chilis inside his sandwich and he was sick for days, he was back next week. Stupid. Why didn't he get the hint? He wasn't welcome here.

Sunny should have put even more.

Mari got mad at him, that one time, but Sunny managed to convince her that he only meant to pull a prank, just like Kel did, and it just got out of hand. He had looked up at her with that face he knew she was a sucker for–the expression of barely concealed confusion and tentative question. Sunny had never been very good at conveying his emotions and thoughts on his face, which made Mari think he was 'different,' but also made her believe he didn't understand boundaries and social cues.

Sunny understood. He just didn't show it. That way he could use the misunderstanding to get out of...unpleasant, situations.

She forgave him, because of course she did, along with a stray comment about not imitating everything Kel did, her frown mildly disapproving. Sunny wasn't worried. He knew Mari would ultimately forget about this incident, and he would be back to being on the spot of beloved little brother.

And it happened just like that, with Hero's added forgiveness, quick and stupid.

Sunny still wasn't happy about that...thing they had going on, but he decided he would leave it be, at least for now–no matter the feeling of frustration that came up whenever the two would act lovey-dovey in front of him. Mari teased him because of his frown, but Sunny knew she didn't really know what would happen as much as he did.

See, Sunny decided to leave them be because he knew their relationship was bound to fail.

Teenage romances were shown as eternal in movies and video games, but Sunny knew that was all a lie. Mushy stuff didn't last in real life, and especially not in school. He'd seen one too many breakups and crying girls and sulking boys to believe that childish notion.

The only near romance he could tolerate was Captain Spaceboy and Sweetheart. She got jealous really easily, and threw tantrums whenever he tried to leave, with the Captain ultimately bending to her wishes, which he thought was pretty cute. To have someone who would care about you, and no one else but you...it was the ideal relationship, even though Sunny had no interest in such things.

But–back to Mari and Hero. They just didn't work in his eyes.

Here's what would happen:

Mari and Hero would date, probably all through high-school, because none of the other guys cared about Mari, so they wouldn't try to date her or break her relationship with Hero.

Then Mari would go to college, away from Sunny, and she and Hero would probably get a room together. Sunny boiled with rage at the idea, but it would all be worth it in the end. See, Hero was nice and all, like he said, but Sunny was absolutely sure that in the face of the excitement of college, he would most certainly cheat on Mari, or commit another foolish thing that would be unforgivable and would ultimately end their relationship, because he was just that kind of person. Sunny saw through his golden boy act easily. Mari would then call Sunny, and she would cry and say that Hero and her were done, and Sunny would reassure her and say that he was there for her, and no one else. She most likely would have trust issues after that, so she would not be so fast to seek another partner, and would also look for comfort with her little brother, thus spending more time with him, and playing with him, and overall indulging in whatever he wanted. 

Then they could go back to before. Just Sunny and Mari. Just him and his big sister, together, alone. No Hero, and probably no Kel either. Happy ending.

Speaking of Kel.

Sunny wasn't as vigilant of him as he was with Hero. Mainly because he wasn't trying to get into Mari's pants, but also because, well, he wasn't really smart at all. He mostly copied Sunny's homework, and his only redeeming quality seemed to be that he was good at sports. Otherwise, he was loud and annoying, and Sunny only really kept him around because he was Hero's brother, and thus Mari was obliged to like him, so Sunny had to tolerate him too. That was fine. It was like... having a pet. You knew it was pretty stupid most of the time, but it was cute, so you let it be. Like Mewo.

Another member of their group, Aubrey, was a little trickier. She demanded time from Mari's schedule often–which Sunny was not happy about, but she also insisted on barging into his and Kel's life with as much frequency, so he guessed she wasn't trying to monopolize his big sister's attention only. That only made it a teensy, tiny bit better though. Sunny still tried to stop her from bothering Mari with her high pitched voice and constant interruptions most of the time, so his dear sister could actually study and get things done. Mari was responsible and smart, so Sunny wouldn't have Aubrey ruining her chances of getting into a good college just because she wanted them to have matching pigtails or something dumb like that.

So then, that was their little group. Hero, Kel, Aubrey and Mari. 

Soon to be just Mari and Sunny.

...

Until it wasn't.

Aubrey wasn't good at making friends, and her bad personality made it hard for her to talk to people, which was why she was leeching off their group, but one day, it seemed like she had actually managed to make a friend, because she suddenly walked into their picnic with a blonde boy's hand in hers.

Basil was his name.

Sunny didn't think much of him, at first. Meek and shy, with a nervous personality, he didn't seem at all a threat, so Sunny left him be.

"–And this is Sunny! He has a bit of trouble expressing his emotions, but he's a really nice boy!" Mari said, and Sunny wanted to grin at the praise.

"Uh, h-hi" Basil stuttered. "Thanks for i-inviting me"

...Huh. His voice wasn't annoying. Good to know. Soft and with a skittish edge, but not harsh to the ears. 

"Do you want to play with us?!" Kel shouted.

Aaand, there it was again. High pitch. Sunny resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Basil nodded, a little shocked, and was promptly dragged to a game of tag. Sunny stayed sitting next to his sister, relishing in the fact that she had a bad knee, so she couldn't run like the others. 

"Here, Mari, this book you lent me..."

...If only Hero had gotten up too, it would have been perfect.

.

.

.

Over time, though, Sunny had to admit that he was a bit...curious, about Basil.

Found himself wanting to know more, if you will.

Basil was almost the opposite of what Kel and Aubrey were, after all. Quiet, calm and shy, preferring to stay quiet and draw or make flower crowns than go and run around the park. He didn't demand attention from Mari either–which was a massive positive point for Sunny–instead mostly staying in a corner, like he was unsure about his place in the group, although it had been several weeks already.

Sunny felt pity for him, after some time.

It reminded him of a shaking bunny, the way he just stood there and stared with wide eyes, so he took it upon himself to be the bigger person and help him adjust–still not knowing exactly why.

But somehow, the more time he spent with him, the more Sunny began to like him. 

The blonde was a fountain of never ending plant facts, but his voice was nice to listen to, so Sunny got him to read to him whenever the chance arose, or pointed out some stupid topic of conversation just so he could hear him talk more. He seemed to like being next to Sunny too, so they sat together whenever they could. Sunny didn't need to uselessly explain himself, either, because Basil could tell what he wanted without words most of the time. He was easy to convince as well, going along with Sunny's ideas quickly and without complaining, so that was a plus too. It was nice spending time with him. It was nice having a proper friend.

It was nice having something that belonged to him for once.

Don't get him wrong, Mari was still important to him, but he ultimately knew she would drift away from him someday, either because of Hero or college or their parents–all obstacles that would take her away, and Sunny was nervous because it would mean she would have less and less time for him, and eventually she could forget about him.

But Basil was different.

He had no parents and no family, just a grandmother who Sunny was certain wouldn't last more than four years, and then he would have no one to rely on.

No one but Sunny, at least.

Sunny never had something that was his in the sense that Basil was. Something that had no ties to anyone else, and that preferred him over other people. 

It was perfect.

So as he got to know Basil more, his fears, his dreams, his doubts, it was like he got to peek inside his head, knew what made him tick, knew him like no one else did, inside and out, all of it.

He became Sunny's best friend. His. Sunny's.

...So it was horribly irritating when the others tried to get him to play with them, or talk to them, when Sunny knew Basil didn't want to.

He smiled at them, but Sunny knew he wanted to say no. It was just that Basil was too kind to say that he wanted to stay with him, so he went along with their games. It was part of what made him so nice to be around.

But it was only fun when it was Sunny who played with him. When it was his plans he went along with.

Sunny watched as he was dragged away with a frown, and started to draw in his sketchbook. He would rather stay here alone and wait for him to return than have their moment ruined by the other two.

Unconsciously, his hand began to outline a familiar figure. Sunny paused. 

He had plenty of pages of Mari already, but maybe it would be nice to have Basil as well. Just like his best friend had his pictures, Sunny had his drawings.

But...he couldn't draw him.

Well, he could, but–it just wasn't Basil. The smile was too wide, or too small, or too crooked. The eyes were not the right shade. The hands never looked quite right, either.

Sunny frowned.

No matter. He would keep at it until he found the right angle.

....

...Except one drawing turned into three, and then ten, and then fifteen, and then he had to stop because he had no more pages and his hands were smudged with graphite.

Sunny stared at his latest drawing–his latest failure. Why was Basil so hard to draw?

He wanted to keep trying.

The boy in question returned then, Kel and Aubrey in tow, all of them sweaty but giggling, and Sunny put his sketchbook away. Oh well. He had the model right here, so he could study his features better, pay attention to every little detail and commit them all to memory.

After all, he could always continue at home.

.

.

.

However, the day Kel and Aubrey made Basil cry was the day Sunny understood he'd been too lenient.

Mari had been delighted to see him getting along with 'someone other than her for a change', and Sunny was surprised to say he agreed. He hadn't really thought about Mari as often as he used to, when he had Basil to play with. He could say he'd gotten quite...

...Protective, of him.

...

As he should. One had to protect the things one had, right? Especially if they were like Basil.

So when one of Aubrey's stupid bets made Kel do a stupid skateboard trick and sent Basil's glass vase to the ground, shattering it in a million pieces, Sunny was understandably angry.

That vase, carved with sunflowers and other plants all over its transparent surface, had been an old gift from his parents, and Sunny knew just how much Basil valued it, even if his parents didn't give him the time of day. Maybe it reminded him of happier times, and while Sunny didn't get why it was such a big deal, it was important to Basil, so naturally it was important to Sunny too. 

But now it was broken, and Basil was crying, and Sunny was angry.

And the two idiots, just stood there, wide eyed and pale, and muttered some apologies Sunny didn't care about.

"Oh man–Basil, I'm so sorry, I didn't, we didn't mean to–!" Kel stammered, his hands hovering awkwardly like he wanted to pat the blonde but didn't dare to. Sunny glared. Let him try it. He would slap his hands away if he did.

"Basil! I'm sorry, I didn't think–!" Aubrey knelt beside him too, her own eyes growing misty.

He knew it. 

He knew this was a bad idea. He'd been too careless, too lenient. He'd allowed people like Kel and Aubrey to poison the group, thinking them unimportant, and now they hurt his best friend. Anyone could do it too, he realized. Like Hero.

Even–

Basil sniffled and blinked twice, a round tear splashing down to the floor. Even in this situation, he tried to smile, wobbly and unsure.

"It's...okay" he whispered, like he didn't quite trust his voice not to break. Sunny clenched his fists. 

"You didn't...mean to, right? So..."

Kel and Aubrey still looked guilty, but Sunny thought that wasn't enough. They weren't seeing what was right in front of them. Couldn't they notice Basil's kindness? He forgave them, even though he didn't need to. Sunny knew he was angry. He knew he probably wanted the two to get out and leave him alone, but Basil was soft and meek, so he wouldn't say it out loud. Which is why Sunny should help with that.

"Out." he said, pointing to the door. Kel startled.

"S-Sunny–I..." Aubrey began.

"Basil doesn't want you here. So get out" he emphasized the words, hoping Aubrey's tiny brain could understand. His best friend took a deep breath.

"Sunny...it's–it's fine...I..."

"No, it's not" he shut him down. "I know you're upset. You should have some space"

Basil blinked in surprise, but soon nodded. Sunny sniffed, irritated, and threw another scalding look at Aubrey and Kel. Flinching from his gaze, they retreated at last, crestfallen and teary. Sunny couldn't find it in himself to care. He was still angry. So angry.

"Uh...Sunny?"

But Basil's voice always seemed to calm him down.

"Why are you...st-still here?"

Sunny raised an eyebrow. Basil laughed nervously.

"It's not–! I mean–you said you'd give me space, so I thought..." he trailed off, nose still red. 

Sunny tilted his head. Why, of course he stayed. He should have space from the ones who caused the problem, not Sunny. Sunny would stay because he knew Basil hated to be alone, that deep down he wanted him to stay but wouldn't ask for it. He wouldn't leave his best friend crying alone.

He wouldn't ever leave.

"I'll help you clean up" he simply stated, and Basil's lower lip wobbled.

"...Thank you Sunny" he whispered. "You're...you're a good friend"

Sunny's chest burned with the praise, alongside the crushing weight of renewed ire. 

Aubrey and Kel could feel guilty all they wanted, but they didn't really know how they made Basil feel. They didn't know him as well as he did. No one did. So therefore, they couldn't really know the extent to which they hurt him.

...

...Sunny should have never allowed them to be around in the first place.

The boy sighed roughly and stood up, taking a broom and starting to sweep the shards out of the way while Basil tried to clean his teary face. All the while, Sunny tried to think of a solution to this. It was clear as day. Basil couldn't be trusted to anyone but Sunny–and maybe Mari. He was too innocent, too forgiving, too fragile.

Sunny could protect him better than their so-called 'friends' anyway.

And he would make sure nothing could hurt him anymore. He'd been too easy on them. 

He clenched the broom in his hands as he listened to Basil's shaky breathing.

....

....That was about to change.

.

.

.

The next week at school, Aubrey approached Sunny while he waited for Basil to come out of the bathroom. 

She had that stance, that look, that said she was ashamed of something but wanted to ask. Sunny was a bit impressed. The last days had been nothing but peaceful, without her or Kel to butt in his business, and Sunny always chased them away with a stormy look whenever they looked like they wanted to approach Basil. He wouldn't let them apologize. They didn't deserve Basil's quick forgiveness, so he blocked their interactions as much as he could, staying with his best friend at all times.

It was hardly a chore, after all. He liked being with him, and Basil liked it too.

But it seemed right now Aubrey gathered the courage to approach.

"Um...hi, Sunny" she greeted, hesitant. He only stared, not saying a word. He was done pretending to be friendly. She was, quite literally, dead to him.

She had been the moment she hurt Basil, how dare she–

"H-Hey, I know you're still angry with me and all, but...I wanted to apologize to Basil properly, so..." she took a breath. "Could you let me talk to him, please?"

Oh, that was an easy question.

"No"

Aubrey frowned. 

"Come on, please? It's been a week already, I know we messed up–though it was mostly Kel's fault–but I want to make things right!"

Too late, Sunny thought, crossing his arms.

"No" he repeated. Aubrey pressed her lips together, clenching her fists, but Sunny wasn't scared.

"Sunny, why are you being like this?! I want to say sorry! Basil is my friend!" she raised her voice. Sunny scoffed.

Friend? Please, don't make him laugh. The only true friend Basil had was Sunny. She should know that by now, but she seemed averse to backing down.

Hm. That wouldn't do. 

So then...

"Let me rephrase" he began, lowering his voice and taking a few steps towards her, almost standing nose to nose. "Basil doesn't want to talk to you"

She flinched. Ha.

"W-What?"

"He's angry at you. He's upset. He doesn't want to talk to you, so I'm not gonna let you talk to him. It's that simple"

"But...but that..." Aubrey shook her head, looking torn. "That's not like him...Basil isn't like that"

Sunny frowned, something ugly and bitter twisting in his chest.

"What would you know?" he spat. "He's not your best friend. He's mine. I know what he wants"

"Basil would want to talk, I'm sure...!"

"But he doesn't. So give it up already"

Aubrey turned red, from embarrassment or anger, he wasn't sure, but made an effort to breathe. Sunny appreciated it. If they started suddenly yelling in the middle of the hallway, it would be a bit difficult to cut her off.

"Fine–fine. Then–" she rummaged around in her pocket, and gave him a crumpled letter sealed with a sticker. "Then, can you at least give him this?"

Sunny fought the urge to wrinkle his nose at the piece of paper. Aubrey didn't back down, and he stayed silent too, for several moments.

...

"....Fine" he said, almost snatching the paper out of her hand. Aubrey looked at him like he'd grown two heads.

"...Look, I don't know what's gotten into you, but Basil is important to me, too" she stated flatly, and turned around. "So you can stop acting like that"

Then she left.

Hm. Had he made her mad? Sunny felt a prickle of irritation. Whatever. She didn't know him, and she didn't know Basil. 

He looked at the letter in his hand. How naive of her, to give him this.

Crumpling the note further, he ripped it to little pieces, and threw it in a trashcan. He'd decided not to leave Basil vulnerable anymore, to people who were bad for him, and quite frankly–

Admitting it to himself–

He just didn't want to share.

.

.

.

"Sunny?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think...m-maybe Aubrey is avoiding me?"

Sunny paused, crayon hovering above the paper. 

Currently, he and his best friend were drawing at his house, peaceful and silent. Basil seemed to be thinking about something since morning, but Sunny didn't pry. He knew Basil would come to him for his problems soon enough. He always did.

"...Why?" he asked, at last. Basil sighed, staring down at his drawing.

"I just...sometimes I see her, and she just glares at me without saying anything...l-last time she kind of pushed me a little, too...d-did I do something wrong?"

Sunny hummed.

"No. She's just always been like that" he said. "Aubrey's always had a bad temper. You shouldn't talk to her anymore–unless she wants to talk first"

"But...m-maybe I can fix it, right?" his best friend stammered. "We should talk, and..."

"Basil. She's not going to listen to you" Sunny propped himself up un his elbows, facing Basil properly. "You're probably going to stutter a lot too, and she'll get impatient"

Basil went red at the reminder of his stutter, a nervous tick which he wasn't proud about, but Sunny wasn't finished.

"Plus, your personality just isn't good next to hers. You're too quiet, and you're always on your own"

"A-Am I?" Basil whispered. Sunny nodded sagely. 

"Didn't they use to call you freak in your old school? It's probably because of that"

"I..."

"But that's just because they don't get it" Sunny's throat was hurting a bit, not used to talking this much, but if it was for Basil, he would keep going until he spit out blood.

"I understand you. They don't. That's why they called you those names"

Basil pressed his lips together, looking ashamed. Sunny put his hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Basil, Aubrey just isn't a good friend for you. This proves it well enough. She broke your glass vase, too, but she didn't even apologize. And now she's mad at you?"

The blonde boy blinked, confusion and hurt swimming together in his blue eyes. All because of those kids.

"I...really? Is that why...?"

"Mhm" Sunny plopped back down, resuming his artwork. "But I'm your friend, so you don't need to worry. I'll be here"

Basil nodded, still looking crestfallen, but Sunny wasn't worried. He knew Aubrey wouldn't want to talk first anyway, if she ever wanted to talk to Basil at all after Sunny's precautions.

After all, he'd left a letter with some...choice words in her locker, all in Basil's handwriting.

Sunny knew his best friend would never say such things, nor attack her insecurities and mock her home life like that, but it was easy to write off as Basil still being angry, and Aubrey never thought twice about the assumptions she made anyway. It was all necessary, if Sunny wanted to protect Basil.

It was all for this.

It was all for him.

So Sunny was okay with it, and he was sure Basil would be too.

.

.

.

Next though, was Kel.

Somehow, in some inexplicable way, while Sunny wasn't looking, he'd managed to worm his way back to Basil's good graces, and it just wasn't fair.

After Aubrey had stopped coming to their houses, and avoiding them in the park and school, the group had been very confused, but couldn't get them to talk about it. Mari and Hero had traded looks, worried, wondering if they had fought, if it was about the glass vase, but nobody had an answer. Aubrey wasn't known for talking things out anyway, and with Sunny's advice, Basil wouldn't speak of it either.

Now he just needed to get rid of Kel.

...Metaphorically, of course.

The problem with the smaller boy was that he had all the grace of a bull in a china shop, so while he was deflated for a while after their incident, he bounced right back up and talked with Basil until he was smiling and laughing and okay again.

Not to say that Sunny didn't want Basil to be okay, but he wanted to be the one to reassure him. He should be the one. Not Kel.

The ugly feeling in his chest grew again, that particular one that rose whenever other people got too close to his best friend, a bit similar to what he felt with Mari–but with her, it was happening less and less.

Jealousy.

It grew, and it crushed, and it twisted, and it was all Kel's fault.

Sunny stared at the two moodily, while petting Kel's dog. Basil and him were playing cards a few minutes ago, but then Kel had cut in and asked to play too. Sunny had left his cards on the table, maybe with a little too much force, and gone to sit besides the dog, ignoring Kel's confused look and Basil's hesitant expression. Lately, he'd been more...impatient, when it came to people ending his alone time with his best friend. He'd even snapped at Mari once, too, which was really weird. She was just...

Sunny sighed.

She was just excited that he wanted to play violin with her.

It had been a gift from all of them last Christmas, but the violin was extra special because it had been Basil's idea. Sunny treasured the instrument dearly, treating it with utmost care, sliding his fingers on the wood and imagining Basil going to buy it, worrying and twisting his hands like he always did, wondering which one would be perfect for Sunny. It made warmth bloom in his chest. Basil was always so thoughtful.

Then, Sunny had the idea of playing alongside Mari, in a recital, maybe. That way, they could spend more time together, since school and Hero hadn't let Mari be home all that much. Basil liked to hear them play, too, so it was a perfect plan. Mari and Basil and Sunny in the same room, alone for hours.

But...Mari had been a bit strict with his playing. She didn't admit mistakes, and made him play again and again, until his fingers were marked with the tense strings of the violin, left aching and stiff. 

Sunny didn't mind that, though. His aching, sometimes bleeding fingers were proof of his devotion for the time together he shared with Mari, and for the instrument Basil had gifted him.  

Sometimes, he liked to imagine his blood on the strings was his own personal mark, and it made him happy.

So no, Sunny didn't mind getting hurt, not if it was for his two favorite people, but the problem came when their parents appointed a tutor for them.

The tutor demanded concentration, so Mari couldn't talk to Sunny at all while playing. The tutor didn't admit distractions, so Basil wasn't allowed in the room.

Sunny couldn't see Basil.

Sunny couldn't see Basil.

It had made him act a bit prickly with the tutor, doing minor things just to see him frown, like getting notes wrong on purpose, skipping classes, or dropping hot coffee on his leg, and covering it up as an accident. Sunny was skilled at crying, so he just shed a few tears and he was instantly forgiven.

Mari had stared at him for a long time after, but that just meant she was worried for him. She was nice like that.

But then, his dear sister started acting like that too.

Asking about his notes, if he had practiced at all, nagging him about getting to class on time, telling him to leave Basil and come with her to play. Sunny felt betrayed. He thought she understood, he thought she was happy that Sunny was spending so much time with his best friend. Was he wrong? Did Mari hate it? Hate him?

Hate Basil?

The thought made something itch inside his arms, running through his hands and to his fingertips. Anger, betrayal, disappointment. 

Something else...what was it?

"What?! Oh man, how are you so good at this game?!" Kel's whine cut through his thoughts, and Sunny tightened his hands on the dog's fur, wanting to go over there and–

And–

Do....something.

"Ha ha...it j-just takes practice, Kel. I'm sure you'll get it eventually!" Basil laughed. Sunny's temper rose again. If he could just take Basil's attention away, somehow...

Sunny looked down. The dog was panting happily in his lap, watching cars go by through the window.

...

...If he could just...

...

There.

Sunny made a show of yelping loudly, so that Basil's head turned in his direction.

"S-Sunny! Oh no, what h-happened?!"

"Is that–blood?!" Kel shouted, abandoning the table and running to his side. Sunny pushed the dog off him and scooted back, cradling his arm close to his body. Kel grabbed the animal by the collar and gently dragged him away, looking between him and his pet with wide eyes.

Sunny's arm was bleeding profusely, claw marks across his forearm.

Basil turned white, but yelled at Kel to bring the first-aid kit, the other obeying without hesitation, almost tripping on his way up the stairs. Sunny blinked away his tears, sobbing pitifully. Basil put his hands on his shoulders.

"Oh, Sunny, d-don't cry! I'm here, okay? It's okay! W-Well get your arm f-fixed, I promise!"

Sunny sniffled, but nodded, relishing in the way Basil's undivided attention was now on him. The dog was very docile, so it was easy to take a paw and drag it across his skin without so much as a flinch from it. And now Basil was gingerly taking hold of his arm, swallowing in sympathy, patting his shoulder and telling him that everything would be okay. Sunny felt happy. He should have done this sooner. Basil was very kind and gentle, after all, caring for defenseless people or hurt animals. Sunny could do this later, too. If it got to be too much, and Basil wasn't paying attention, he could always pretend to tumble down and twist his ankle, or skin his knee, and his best friend would come running.

How nice, he thought, while Kel brought the kit and stood a few feet away. Basil disinfected his wound, and Sunny's flinch wasn't feigned this time. That burnt. But it was worth it. The pain was worth it so much.

"I know it hurts, Sunny, I'm almost d-done–"

"Hector! What's gotten into you?!" Kel chided, looking down at the dog with a troubled expression. "Sunny, I'm sorry, he's not normally like this–"

Sunny glared at Kel and turned his head away, pretending to whimper when the dog tried to walk closer, sniffing the air curiously. Basil sighed, and to Sunny's eternal delight, said,

"I-I think we should go"

Was Basil mad? On his behalf? Sunny felt like he was on cloud nine. This was the best.

"Basil...." Kel began. His best friend shook his head, smiling at Kel, but Sunny thought it looked strained. Clearly, he was trying to contain his anger.

"It's okay K-Kel, it's just easier for Sunny to stay away f-for now. He's scared"

"He didn't mean to...Hector isn't like that at all!"

"I know. It's okay" Basil placated patiently. "W-We'll do something later, okay? M-Maybe away from your dog...? S-Sorry"

"It's okay..." Kel looked so guilty, Sunny was loving it. "Uh...I could come to your house later? I'll bring you a present, Sunny!"

Sunny wrinkled his nose in distaste. He didn't want anything Kel had to offer. Instead, he looked up pleadingly, meeting his best friend's eyes in a silent request. Basil understood perfectly, and finished wrapping the bandages around his arm, nudging him gently so he could stand. Time to leave.

"T-That sounds nice" Basil smiled. Sunny twitched. "Um, we c-could keep playing, too, if you want..?"

Kel's smile became a bit more genuine. "Sure thing! See you tomorrow?"

"Yup! S-See you!"

"Sorry again"

"D-Don't be"

Sunny tugged on Basil's arm a bit faster, feeling his patience fading with each moment. The ugly feeling flared up again, somehow more intense than last time.

Look at me, it said.

I'm your best friend, right? So look at me.

Basil looked.

"Okay, Sunny" he sighed. "Let's leave"

Sunny nodded, satisfied, and let himself be guided by his best friend out the door. Kel waved, and Basil waved back with a smile. Sunny pressed his lips together. He'd gotten rid of one problem, but another was created in its place. 

He was sure now that Basil wouldn't go to Kel's house when Sunny was there. He understood Sunny was traumatized and wouldn't expose him to Kel's dog again. But what if Sunny wasn't there? What then? Or when Sunny was in his stupid violin practice?

Imagining all of the things Basil and Kel could do, all the games they'd play, the laughing, the dangerous things Kel would drag Basil into doing... 

It was too much.

He needed to do something. 

Kel was amusing while his presence lasted, but it was time he cut him off too.

Sunny turned his head back to the boy's house.

And he knew exactly how to do it.

.

.

.

"I wonder if Kel is okay..." Basil muttered.

Sunny pushed another spoonful of rice in his mouth and didn't respond. 

They were enjoying lunch just now, in front of the TV, watching some movie about teenagers and magic. Sunny wasn't interested in it, but it was fun to watch Basil's reactions. Mari was at Hero's house, probably wanting an explanation for Basil's same question. 

Sunny knew the answer, but of course he wasn't about to say it.

"He hasn't come to school in three days...I wonder if he's sick?" his best friend played with the hem of his shirt. "M-Maybe I should visit..."

Okay, that was enough.

Sunny started to pick at his scabs. The scratches had healed nicely–though Mari had told him to be more careful with a worried expression, and it was nice to be fussed over by his best friend and sister every time the pain flared up. It was a solid method of control, too. Whenever Basil would start to pursue harmful trains of thought, Sunny would squirm like this to snap him out of it. He didn't want Basil to worry himself sick–especially not for someone who didn't deserve his concern.

"Ah–Sunny, don't do that!" Basil chided softly, taking his hands away from his arm. 

"Itches" Sunny mumbled. Basil frowned.

"Still, it's not good to scratch them...oh, w-would you like me to apply some cream on it? It might help!"

Sunny nodded, trying not to seem too eager. Basil smiled and went to fetch the cream, returning promptly and applying it gently to him. Sunny could do it on his own, but where was the fun in that?

In that same moment, Mari arrived. 

"Hi, you two" she greeted, smiling. She seemed a bit tired, though. "How are you doing?"

"M-Mari!" Basil beamed up at her. "Um, we were just finished with lunch...d-do you want some?"

"I'm fine, thanks" she chuckled, and took a seat next to them, flopping on the couch with a sigh. "Oh dear..."

"What's wrong?" the blonde asked, watching with worried eyes as Mari massaged her forehead. "Is Kel okay? You went to his house, right?"

Mari took a deep breath and glanced at Basil with a strange expression. 

"Basil...I have a question...do you have any poisonous plants in your garden?"

His best friend blinked, taken by surprise. Sunny watched, waiting to see if the situation would unfold the way he wanted it to.

"U-Uh..." the boy's face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to remember. "I...I g-guess? Yeah, but why do you ask?"

Mari sighed through her nose.

"Basil, Hector is..." 

Ah, there it was. Sunny watched as Basil's eyes widened, and his hands went up to cover his mouth.

"H-Hector...?"

"He's...gone" Mari finished, her eyes looking suspiciously shiny. She liked the dog very much. Basil looked stricken.

"The vet said..." his sister swallowed. "The vet said he might have eaten something bad, and Hero remembered Hector was sniffing around in your garden before they started noticing the symptoms, so..."

Basil's eyes quickly filled with tears.

"B-But–I– I didn't–" he stammered, nervously twisting his hands. "I always made sure to keep Hector away from–I–I locked them in a room whenever he came, I don't...!"

Basil started crying. Sunny's chest ached at seeing his best friend in such obvious pain, but this was necessary if he wanted Kel to stop coming over too.

It had been a sago palm.

Sunny remembered Basil always made sure to lock that particular plant in their small shed, as it could be toxic to animals. That day when Hero and the dog came over was no exception. His best friend had locked it away.

But Sunny took it outside.

Just for a moment, while Mari, Basil and Hero were baking some cookies. The dog was easily drawn to the plant, and Sunny had watched as it stuffed its face with its leaves before taking the pot away and hiding it between some daisy bushes. Sunny had done his research, so he knew it would be toxic enough to make the dog really sick. He didn't think it would kill it so fast.

...

...What a nice surprise.

And it served Kel right, for daring to hurt Basil by breaking the glass ornament, for daring to try and take him away from Sunny. 

Now he knew what losing something precious truly felt like.

What wasn't so nice though, was seeing Basil fall apart in guilt. Sunny rubbed circles on his best friend's back, chest aching. Poor Basil, he was always so sensitive to other people's pain...Sunny should buy him some tofu later to cheer him up. 

Mari hugged his best friend right away, petting his hair. She looked choked up too.

"Oh, Basil, come here..."

"I didn't–I didn't mean to..." Basil sobbed. "I swear, I s-swear I locked them all up, I don't understand..."

"Maybe you forgot" Sunny said, wanting Basil to stop thinking about it. "It's okay. It was a mistake"

"N-No..." his best friend shook his head, tears slipping down his cheeks and staining Mari's shirt. "I always lock them, I know I did...–I–I always make s-sure..."

"You forgot" Sunny cut him off. It was alright. It was a mistake, but it wasn't Basil's responsibility. Dogs could eat their own vomit without a problem. If anything, the blame fell on Hero for not watching his pet properly.

Basil squeezed his eyes shut, as if he wanted to block the rest of the world. Sunny knew he was probably feeling confused. He knew he locked the plant away, he said. He was right. It was Sunny who had taken it out, but Basil was probably doubting his own memory now.

That was okay. As long as he knew Sunny was here for him.

"Sunny...little brother, let's just let him cry it out for now, okay?" Mari whispered, and when Sunny looked at her, her eyes were trained on him, her expression somehow strange. "Let's keep him company, okay?"

As if Sunny would do otherwise. He nodded, and shifted his attention to Basil again, feeling his own face turning somber. Oh, how he hated to see Basil upset.

...

This wouldn't have happened if Kel knew his boundaries. That he couldn't take what belonged to Sunny. He just had to push too far. Now he seemed to be suffering too, locking himself in his room and skipping school, his usual sunshine dimmed in the face of such 'tragedy'.

But whose fault was it, really?

.

.

.

Now Kel was angry at Basil too.

Sunny would have been indignant at the childish attitude, but it worked for him. Now Basil didn't have any distractions, any people that would tarnish his personality and harm him, or use him for their own gains.

Now he was free.

Plus, it had the nice added bonus of Basil clinging to him.

His best friend had become more withdrawn since Kel turned away from him in the hallway, and Aubrey almost knocked him over at lunch, walking slightly hunched over, eyes on the ground, like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Mari always said to wait, that Kel was only sad about his dog, that he would come around, but Sunny hoped he wouldn't–or at least, he hoped he came around a long, long time later, when Sunny could safely cut his approach.

But Basil always seemed hurt when Kel ignored him.

"I d-don't understand..." Basil admitted to him one afternoon, his eyes quickly watering. "We were so happy, and now...it just feels like s-somehow, all of my friends keep disappearing..."

Sunny didn't say anything.

"Is it my fault? D-Did I do this? I don't know why Aubrey hates me, b-but maybe I did s-something wrong? And Kel is still mad about Hector...I feel horrible, b-but I'm sure I didn't...I–I don't know anymore..."

Sunny stayed quiet. Basil choked on a sob, burying his face in his hands.

"I d-don't want to be alone...I d-don't want everyone to l-leave..."

Sunny hugged him.

"I'm here" he reassured. "It's okay. I'm here"

Basil returned the embrace, desperately holding on like Sunny was his last hope.

Depending on him.

What a nice feeling.

"Y-You won't leave me, right Sunny? P-please don't leave me..." Basil cried. "I'm sorry if I talk too much, o-or if I'm annoying, b-but please..."

"I won't leave you" Sunny promised, and it was the truth. "You're my best friend. I'm not going away like them. I'll stay. I promise"

I won't share you.

"They can't hurt you anymore" he whispered, so low he wasn't sure if Basil could hear it. "I'll protect you. I promise"

I won't let them take you away.

Even if Kel was bitter whenever he saw Basil, even if Aubrey actively messed with him, Sunny wouldn't do a thing. Because that behavior helped Basil see who was his real friend. Who really cared.

"I'm here"

And I will always be.

.

.

.

But as with everything, all good things must come to an end.

And Sunny was forced out of his comfort zone to make a beyond difficult choice.

The day went semi-normally, with Sunny dodging Mari's questions left and right, as had become a custom lately. She had been acting strange towards him, almost like she was pushing him to admit something, or maybe it was just Sunny's imagination–but it was a bit irritating. She didn't understand anything. She had no right to interfere with his life, since she chose to leave Sunny for Hero, chose to leave because of studies their parents wanted to shove her into. It was better before, when they were younger and, while she spent a lot of time doing school work, she still made time for Sunny. Now? That spot had been taken by stupid Hero, by stupid college, by stupid parents.

And by stupid recital practice.

At this point, the only reason Sunny kept on attending was because Basil wanted to see them play. Getting scolded, sporting burning fingertips and a sore back was not pleasant, and something dark and disgusting always burned deep inside his chest whenever Mari showed him that face of disappointment, but it was for Basil. Only for him.

Before, it was for Mari too, but Sunny found her presence to be heavy instead of calming most of the time nowadays. It was sad to feel it, and Sunny tried to make things go to the way they were before, but Mari was stressed, and he was stressed, and things just wouldn't work.

Basil always encouraged him when he needed it, but Sunny thought he needed the comfort more. After all, Aubrey had caught wind of the dog's death recently, and had apparently taken that as an excuse to yell at Basil in the park and sometimes push him down in the halls. Sunny helped Basil stand up whenever he was there, but left them be when he was not, and never talked to Aubrey to make her stop. Her bullying was a useful thing, pushing Basil away from them, killing his hopes of mending their relationship, and guiding him to Sunny's side again.

...Although, if she crossed the line, Sunny would make sure she regretted it.

But the atmosphere only seemed to become worse by the day–more clouded, darker, more tense. Even Basil picked up the change between him and his sister, and stopped trying to help, instead backing away at a safe distance to watch Sunny's steadily increasing annoyance and Mari's passive aggressive comments with a concerned expression.

...But it all came to a head the night of the recital.

After the sun set and his parents went away to make sure everything was perfect at the stage, Sunny went after his sister, both of them alone in their house. He'd just found out that Mari, against Sunny's wishes, had invited Aubrey and Kel to their performance, telling him that maybe, this was the chance for all of them to reconcile. But Sunny was having none of it.

The rage had boiled and boiled, until it was left scorching his cheeks, leaving them a bright red. Mari's face was no better, both of them raising their voice in a once-in-a-lifetime screaming match. None of them were used to yelling, yet here they were.

"I don't understand what the problem is, Sunny!" Mari ran a hand through her hair. "You guys just need to talk things out, it's that easy!"

"I don't want to talk to them! I don't like them!" Sunny countered. "You shouldn't have invited them at all!"

"Oh?! And why not?!"

"This recital is for Basil! They don't need to be here! Not them, and not Hero, but you insisted on bringing them along anyway!"

"What?! When was it ever just for Basil?! Our recital was for our family, and all of our friends!" Mari shook her head, strands of black hair sliding in front of her face. Perfect Mari, never caught in disarray. It was once a trait of hers that Sunny loved, but right now, it only made him want to–to–

Do something. Like an itch. A really annoying itch.

"Not anymore! They don't deserve to watch it!" Sunny stomped his foot on the floor. Mari made an aggravated sound.

"What–and why is Basil okay, then?!"

Why? Because he was kind and gentle and obedient and perfect. He was Sunny's, and that fact alone made him deserving of protection and safety.

"He's my best friend!"

"We are all friends, Sunny! Aubrey's his friend too! And Kel and Hero! Why can't you understand that?!"

Their cat, Mewo, dove under a table, spooked by all the noise. Sunny growled.

"But I'm the one who actually cares about him! Who understands him! The others all just abandoned him when they had the chance! Basil's mine, so he gets to watch our recital! What's so hard to get?!"

Something shifted in Mari's eyes, but Sunny was too incensed to figure out what it was.

"Wh–Basil's not an object, Sunny! He's not anybody's!" his sister straightened. "You've always been clingy, Sunny, but this is too much!"

"I'm protecting him!"

"You're possessive! That's another thing entirely!"

"And what if I am?!" Sunny stepped closer, suddenly blinded by rage. "He's better off with me anyway! He's my best friend, he doesn't need to talk to anybody else!"

"Sunny–!"

"Can't you see he doesn't want to play with Kel?! Can't you see Aubrey annoys him?! Basil is fragile, I need to take bad people away from him!"

"Basil is not a baby, Sunny, he can take care of himself–!"

"No he can't! That's why I do it for him!" Sunny pointed to himself aggressively. "I know what's best for him, so if I say he's better off without them, then I'm right, and you should have listened to me, too!"

Mari was watching him with wide eyes.

"What in the world has gotten into you?" she whispered, but Sunny wasn't done. All of this anger...it needed to go somewhere.

And it just so happened that Mari was right there to take it.

"Like Hero! I tried to show you Hero's bad for you, Mari! He's just dead weight! But no, you just had to go and plan your entire life with him!"

"I did not–!"

"And now that you abandoned me, you just come back and start trying to control me?!"

Mari grabbed his shoulders, shaking him firmly.

"Sunny, listen to yourself!" her eyes were concerned now, like Sunny had done something wrong. But all he did was tell the truth. It was all he did, so why was she–?!

"What are you talking about?! This isn't you!"

"You don't know me" Sunny said, and it broke his heart to realize it was true. Mari didn't know him. She hadn't for a long time.

Basil held that spot now. 

...Mari would vanish someday. She would leave him behind, but Sunny still had Basil. He couldn't lose him. He couldn't lose his best friend.

...

"...I'm not playing" he stated, flat and serious. Mari blinked.

"What?"

"I'm not playing. I won't go to the recital" feeling worn out and betrayed, Sunny shrugged off Mari's hands and made a beeline for the door, walking out into the hallway. Mari made a choked off noise and followed him quickly, blocking his path. Sunny clenched his fists.

"Wait a second–where do you think you're going?! We're not finished here!"

"I'm going to Basil's. And yes, we are" Sunny tried to step around her, but his sister always seemed to know which way he would go. His frustration rose again.

"Let me go, Mari!"

"No! Sunny, this–this isn't normal!" her voice shook now, with fear or worry, he wasn't sure. Her eyes were earnest, focusing on his own pupils, and he found his anger dying down slightly at the sight of them.

"This behavior...those thoughts...Sunny, you're–this isn't okay" she stressed. "Can't you see that?!"

"Can't you see I'm doing this for Basil's sake?!" Sunny shot back, his voice back to a normal volume. Something loomed in the horizon of his mind, a sort of blinding clarity that left him still and hollow, like he knew what he needed to do before he even processed it properly.

"He needed Kel and Aubrey gone, so I made them leave!"

Time seemed to stop with those words. 

Mari stood rock still in front of him and then backed away slowly, like she couldn't quite get his words. Her face had gone white. Sunny breathed through his nose. 

"....Sunny. Sunny" she began, her voice breaking. "No...that–no"

He knew what she wanted to say.

Sunny looked away, and that was all the answer she needed. She put her hands over her mouth, and the gesture was so similar to Basil's that his chest ached.

"...What did you do, Sunny?"

Sunny pressed his lips together. She made it sound like it was such a horrible thing. He didn't know if she had figured it all out, but he didn't see what the problem was.

Aubrey was overly sensitive and jumped to conclusions. That was why she didn't try to get an explanation before starting to bully Basil.

Kel would maybe come around eventually, but he was still bitter about the loss of his dog and Basil's apparent part in it, even if it was indirect. But if he was so sad, he could just get another pet.

He didn't feel guilty, but he did feel a small amount of regret when he saw Mari's expression, with her eyes quickly watering.

Mari didn't understand. She would never understand.

"Little brother..."

"I had to" he simply said, honest and short.

His sister made a strangled noise. Sunny sighed, and tried to leave one last time. He felt strangely calm. If he was in a better situation, he might have been more alert, might have associated this quiet in his mind with the calm before the storm, but as of right now, he felt like he was slipping. Silently, slowly, he was balancing on the edge of an abyss, looking down, straining to see the bottom. Or maybe it was like a thread which was falling apart, fraying and burning, until what was left was a tiny sliver of sanity that would break with just one word.

...How strange. Sunny didn't feel as bothered as he knew he should be, but then again, he never had normal responses to situations. And that was okay, because Basil liked him that way.

So why was Mari blocking his path again?

Sunny clenched his fists once more, this time feeling his nails digging deeply into his palms, burning and ripping apart the surface of his skin. He hated this. He hated this whole situation.

He hated–

He shouldn't have told her anything. He shouldn't have told Mari about his thought process. It was perfectly reasonable, but she didn't understand it. Now she would surely try to 'fix' him. She said this wasn't normal, after all. 

But what was 'normal', then?

If normal wasn't wanting to have Basil all to himself, to hear him talk, to play with him and take him and lock him up so no one could reach him–

If normal wasn't feeling crushing euphoria whenever Basil chatted with him or laughed alongside him or looked at him or breathed the same air–

If normal wasn't wanting to protect him from toxic people, to chase them all away, to pick them apart and erase them so they would never interfere again–

If that was what normal was like, then Sunny didn't see much point in being it.

He liked this.

He liked gazing at the countless sketches of him he had under his bed, and adding more to the pile, never quite catching the boy's true essence yet never wanting to stop trying.

He liked finding Basil's pencils when he forgot them at Sunny's house, and collecting them all in a drawer, staring at each nervous bite mark in the wood and then biting them himself so they would match.

He liked sleeping on the same bed as him when he stayed over, and just staring at Basil while he slept, so peaceful, so defenseless, needing to be protected, even if it meant Sunny ended up not sleeping at all.

He liked watering the tulips Basil associated with him, liked tearing the petals off, wanting to eat them in spite of their toxicity, so he could become the very person those plants represented.

He liked knowing Basil was under his wing, that he couldn't live or die without Sunny knowing about it.

He liked looking at Basil and knowing that Sunny was his only friend. His best friend.

My best friend...

Sunny wouldn't trade this manic feeling for anything.

Anything at all.

Even...

"–Sunny, please just–" Mari was saying something, her face gaunt and pale, but Sunny could hear none of it. His mind had been cleared.

He knew now.

Mari would tell.

She would tell their parents about Sunny's behavior, and they would probably try to make him talk to somebody to mold him to fit their image of a normal son. But most importantly...

They would take Basil away from him.

Sunny couldn't allow that, couldn't accept that, he saw clearly now, this whole town was a curse, too many people, too little time, they would surely take Basil away and fill his head with lies, and Sunny couldn't–

He wouldn't. Share.

Looking up again at his sister, he saw her eyes widening as she properly took him in. Her socked feet shuffled as she instinctively took a step back. Her hair was like a dark curtain, the stairs behind her a bottomless pit. An abyss. 

His abyss.

Her lips shook, and idly, Sunny wondered what it was that she saw.

...

Mari was his dear sister, once. He loved her more than he loved himself, and tried so hard to protect her, but she was always outside his reach. She always took care of him, and helped him with his troubles, and hugged him close and kissed his head, and Sunny treasured those moments deep inside his heart. But this whole town had changed her. She had been put against him by Hero, by her classmates, by their parents. She was never his, not really, not in the way Sunny wanted her to be. Not in the way Basil was now.

Mari, his big sister...

He did care about her, really.

It was just...

...It was just he cared about Basil more.

.

.

.

He'd made his choice.

"S-Sunny...?"

.

.

.

Everything happened so fast.

A cut off shriek and a thud later, Sunny was alone with a body to dispose of, his mind strangely calm.

Now that he had admitted the full extent of his desires, now that he wasn't trying to fit in, to pretend and muffle the insistent voice inside of him, it was like opening his eyes for the first time.

She rested on the wooden floor, her hair strewn about like dark tendrils. 

In a way, Sunny thought, it looked strangely artistic. He should remember this moment so he could draw it later.

"...Mari? M-Mari, oh G-God–" a voice was cut off, making a strangled sound. Sunny turned to find his best friend there, almost transparent in the pale moonlight, staring with wide eyes at the mess on the floor. Oh, had he been there the whole time? Did he hear everything? No, no, he couldn't have, Sunny decided. He probably only saw the last moments of their little...discussion.

His best friend's mouth opened and closed repeatedly, his blue eyes looking from him to his sister and back again, as if he couldn't process the situation. Sunny sighed through his nose, looking at the clock quickly.

Their parents would be here soon.

So he had less than an hour to put his plan in action.

"Basil? Basil, it's okay, it's me" he said, stepping down the stairs and around her hair to reach the blonde boy, grabbing his hands gently.

"W-W-Wh–" he stammered, his hands icy cold. Sunny shushed him.

"It's okay. You don't have to look if you don't want to"

"M-Mari...wh–is she–" Basil tried to go around Sunny to get to his sister, probably trying to see if she was alive, but Sunny really didn't think the crack he heard coming from her head could signal anything good, so he stopped him.

"She's gone. There's nothing we can do"

Basil paled even more at that, if that was even possible. A small sound slipped through his lips, his eyes haunted.

"Sunny–I–no, she's–we need to–" taking gulps of air like a drowning man, Basil tried to speak, to no avail. Sunny chuckled. That silly stutter. They could work on that later, since Basil disliked it so much.

But not now. Time was running out.

"Listen, Basil" suddenly serious, Sunny took hold of his best friend's shoulders. "We have to go"

"G-Go?" Basil was shaking, his knees almost giving out beneath Sunny's hands. Fragile, like clay. For Sunny to mold. "W-Where are we...?"

"Somewhere. It doesn't matter where" Sunny stated, his mind already forming plans upon plans. "Not here. Faraway town isn't safe for you anymore"

Basil stared, uncomprehending. Sunny smiled.

"It's going to be okay, Basil. Everything's going to be okay. It's just that here isn't a good place to be. But don't worry. I'll protect you, okay? You don't have to do anything. Just let me take care of it"

Basil's eyes were looking a little unfocused now, like when he started daydreaming in the middle of class. Sunny wondered if he was going into shock.

"I..."

"Just promise me something"

His best friend's pupils focused a little on him again, but not much. Sunny stretched out his pinky finger.

"Promise me that, whatever happens, we'll always be there for each other, okay?"

He waited patiently, while Basil's muddled mind tried to make sense of the words. Slowly, his best friend lifted his own hand and linked his finger with Sunny's own. Sunny smiled wider, satisfied.

"It's a promise then" he said, and Basil just stared at their joined fingers with a blank expression, tears slowly trickling down his cheeks. Sunny felt a little worried, but it was alright. Basil was just in shock. He was sure that, once they left and Sunny could reassure him more, he would go back to normal.

And if he didn't...

...Well, having Basil so compliant didn't sound so bad, either.

Now for the next part.

Sparing a glance at the floor where she laid, he sighed.

"Basil. Basil?" his best friend tried hard to look at him. "Go wait for me in the living room, okay? I have to go do something, and I'll be right there"

Basil nodded jerkily and let himself be guided to the couch, his knees giving out when he sat. Sunny went upstairs again, avoiding the slowly trickling stream of blood between the floorboards, and packed a bag. One of his sister's big backpacks should do the trick.

Sunny never planned on leaving so suddenly like this, but he had no choice. He wouldn't let people, friends, family or police separate him and Basil. He was sure he would manage. As long as he and Basil were together, everything was possible. They were best friends after all.

When he was certain he had everything, he stood inside his room one last time, surveying his bed, Mari's diplomas and their shared computer. How he loved her.

...

...Oh, Mari. If only she hadn't been so pushy.

Going down the stairs at last, he went to get Basil, only to find him rocking back and forth slightly on the couch, between feverish whispers, his hands lightly tugging at some strands of his hair. Sunny couldn't catch all of the words, but he thought he heard not his fault, something, and Mari mixed in there somewhere. Sunny shook his head. Oh dear. He had to get Basil away from here fast.

Basil seemed to relax when he saw Sunny entering his field of vision, his hand urgently looking for Sunny's own and squeezing it like a lifeline. Sunny smiled, feeling his chest warming at how much trust his best friend put in him. Sunny would protect him, he swore it.

"Let's go, Basil"

A new life with Basil by his side, huh? His best friend and him, alone, forever.

It was the loveliest dream come true.

.

.

.

In the quiet of the night, two boys suddenly disappeared from Faraway town, silently slipping away between the woods.

In the quiet of the night, a group of estranged friends reunited at a looming, dark house, only to find the cold body of a young girl at the bottom of a staircase.

In the quiet of the night, their reality broke, and their wailing cut through the chilly air.

The next day, a search was launched for the two missing boys. They failed to find them.

Three kids, two adults and an elderly woman waited with bated breath, waited for an explanation, for news, for answers.

The next day, the search was launched again. They failed to find them.

Three kids, two adults and an elderly woman tried to understand. One of the kids would have never left home without a warning. The other one had been acting strange. They had the clues, and they had the puzzle, they just didn't know where the pieces fell.

Only one of them had seen the truth, and had taken it with her to the grave.

The next month, the search was launched. No one expected to find anything, and they did not.

Three kids, two adults and an elderly woman felt their hopes wavering.

When had it all gone so wrong?

.

.

.

The next year, the people of Faraway stopped looking.

Three kids and two adults kept going. The elderly woman's strength could not get her to her feet any longer.

.

.

.

After two more years, the two adults stopped looking, standing, somber, in front of a lily of the valley grave.

.

.

.

After four years, the elderly woman passed away without answers.

.

.

.

After seven years, the three kids huddled together in their secret hangout spot, between regrets and pictures of a photo album, and cried.

"Basil?"

Basil looked up from his notebooks, a smile blooming on his face as he saw his best friend Sunny standing in the doorway. 

"Yeah?"

"Have you seen my sketchbook anywhere? I can't find it"

Basil hummed. 

"Number thirty-six?"

"Thirty-seven"

"Oh, the blue one?" he pointed to the hallway's general direction. "I think I saw it laying on the couch"

"Thanks, I have a deadline tonight and I have to hurry" running a hand through his hair, Sunny muttered some curses about demanding teachers and trotted downstairs. Basil's stomach gave a nervous flip once his best friend disappeared down the staircase, but he paid it no mind. He'd always been nervous around stairs, but he never quite knew why. Sunny always said he was way too paranoid. Maybe it was true. Basil always did feel a bit skittish in general, especially whenever Sunny wasn't around.

...

...He was his best friend, so it was only natural, but still. They only had each other, as far as he could remember. Basil hardly ever went anywhere without his best friend anyway.

Humming a distant, familiar sounding song, Basil resumed his studying, jotting down formulas and working on photograph editing on the side. College work was tough, but Sunny always made sure he wasn't working himself to death. He smiled fondly. Sunny was such a good friend. He reminded Basil to eat and sleep, and made him tea whenever he had a nightmare. They weren't frequent anymore–he had them much more often when he was younger–but the more stressed he was, the more darkness seemed to creep inside his mind.

It hadn't always been like this, had it?

Basil's head gave a sharp pang, and he flinched, massaging his forehead with a groan.

...

...Maybe he'd been in front of this screen too long. Some fresh air would be nice.

Sunny and him should go take a walk. Basil would be hesitant to bother his best friend with his own work, but Sunny never seemed to deny him anything–at least most of the time–and Basil didn't particularly want to go out alone anyway. Things were always better when Sunny was by his side, so they always made sure to arrange their schedules so they could see each other as frequently as possible.

Maybe they should stay away from the mall, though. Sunny had gotten into a fight with one of their classmates there, a girl Basil didn't remember the name of, and he was reluctant to make Sunny relieve that unpleasant memory. She'd offered to buy Basil ice cream after class one day, and he'd agreed with a small degree of uncertainty, but Sunny had walked in on their outing twenty minutes later and started telling the girl to back off. She called him possessive, controlling. 

Sunny wasn't that at all, he was just looking out for Basil, like he'd always done.

Sometimes he was a bit too protective, sometimes Basil felt suffocated, but that was just because they were best friends, because Basil was bad at taking care of himself, it was only natural, right? Right?

Sunny had then explained she had only wanted to use him to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, which Basil had flinched at.

...Sunny always made sure to protect him from bad people, ever since they were kids, and tell him which ones were safe for him to be around, but he thought that, just this once, that girl might be nice.

...

Basil had been so foolish. That's what he got for listening to his instincts instead of Sunny's. But Sunny had been there even then, sighing and treating him to lemon pie in apology. Basil had said sorry, because he knew Sunny didn't like him going to places without notifying him first, but Sunny, ever so patient, said it was okay. He still felt guilty though. Sunny had never been wrong in his judgement about people, and Basil knew he only did it out of concern for Basil's wellbeing, but, somehow, just that one time, he thought...

He thought...

The girl had long dark hair, she looked like her, what was her name, it started with an M–

Another stab of pain. Ouch.

Stop thinking about it.

Sunny's advice rang in his head, and Basil finally closed his laptop, stretching painfully, cringing at the cracking sounds his back gifted him with.

Someone also had those same back problems from studying, overachiever, made the most delicious food–

He went out of their shared room and down the hall, framed pictures of Sunny and him on the wall.

Someone liked to scribble around his photos, drawing bunnies and hearts and a pink bow–

Sunny's latest painting stood in its easel in the art room, covered by a blanket, splotches of orange paint over the fabric.

Someone liked to wear orange, someone bright and happy, what happened, what whatwhat–

"You okay?" Sunny asked, and oh, Basil hadn't noticed he walked to the living room so fast. The sight of his best friend instantly calmed his nerves, better than benzodiazepines ever did.

"Y-Yeah, I just have a bit of a headache, is all"

Sunny smiled. The sight of it made Basil relax further.

Except–no, no, it made him scared, that smile made him terrified, that time Sunny was smiling too, that time, with something behind him on the floor Sunny was smiling–

It made him relax. Sunny didn't smile often, and not for other people. Basil was special.

Why was he special what had he done why had he taken a liking to him so much he hated it he wished they'd never met–

"You've been cooped up in here for too long" his best friend said, and stood up too, leaving the previously lost sketchbook on the table. Basil caught a glimpse of an unfinished drawing before it closed, and he pretended he hadn't seen it.

Pretended it wasn't another sketch of him.

"Yeah, ha ha...I was thinking m-maybe we could go eat something outside?" he offered. Sunny nodded.

"Sounds good. Let me get my things"

Basil waited on the couch while Sunny went upstairs. He took a deep breath, and stared at their home, gained after such hard years of having no one else but each other to rely on.

What happened what happened what happened what whatwhatwhatWHAT–

...

Sunny was his best friend. 

So why did he feel so scared sometimes?

Basil always felt like he could be himself with him.

Who was he anyway, himself, or the person Sunny wanted him to be, the person he'd molded him into–

Sunny was his best friend.

Everything was okay. As long as they had each other, as long as Sunny was here with him, Basil would never be lost.

But his mind screamed, something is wrong, something is missing.

A child inside of him, only twelve years old and wearing a wilted flower crown, standing next to a torn up letter, next to a dead dog, next to a dead something, shrieked in pain, yelled run run run RUN RUN–

Sunny returned, ready to go. Basil smiled, shaking off the withered thoughts like leftover snow.

.....If he didn't remember, he decided, it probably wasn't that important anyway.