The first thing you notice about the new kid is his eyes. They're blue, but a sad sort of blue, and you see someone else reflected in them- someone who isn't you, and for some reason, that really bugs you.
Then you notice his name, printed in the same loopy writing as everyone else's nametags.
Lucas Oakwood
Right beside that tag is another one, for a boy named Claus. But Claus, according to Lucas, was admitted to the hospital in a coma shortly after they arrived at Onett. You wish that Claus had made it to class, if only so you could give him a well deserved punch in the face. But you don't know if it's for making Lucas sad, or if it's because Lucas cares more about him than he could ever care about you.
But Claus isn't here, so the most you can do is take your frustration out on someone else- probably Picky.
You see Lucas again after school, on your way home. You had to stay after an hour for detention.
Lucas walking towards the hospital, a bouquet of sunflowers in his arms. You almost asked him where he's going, but then you remember what he was saying about his twin, and you figured he was off to visit him. You call out a greeting instead.
"Hey! Lucas!"
He turns his head and stops.
"H-Hello, Pokey…"
"Where ya goin'? Off to visit your brother?"
He nods his head, his ahoge bouncing a little.
"Yeah…"
"Cool! I'll go with you!"
You leave no room for argument, and, on an impulse, grab his wrist and start dragging him to the hospital. You figure he doesn't know his way around quite yet, and use that as an excuse. Naturally, Luca makes a sound of surprise- and protest- but you ignore it. He'll learn soon enough that he can'e fight you.
You enter the hospital and let him go to the receptionist's desk.
He asks for his brother, and the nurse obligingly gives him the room number. Lucas starts walking, and you trail after him, trying to think of something to say.
By the time you finally think of something, you and Lucas are already at the door to Claus's room. It opens with a loud and obnoxious creak, but Lucas doesn't seem to pay it any mind. He holds it open so you can go through before he lets it shut behind the two of you, and you take a moment to look at the figure in the bed.
He has red hair. Or maybe it's more of a copper color? It's darker than Lucas's hair, anyway. His skin is really pale, too- like he's dead, even though he's not.
Lucas sets the sunflowers on the bed and then climbs up to sit beside Claus, and the sad, wistful look on his face is something you don't want to see, ever again.
"Hey Claus…It's me, Lucas…"
The small blond before you sounds softer than normal. Sad, too, and you suppose you can't blame him. That's not to say you'd act the same way if you were in that kind of situation, though. But because you've never been in that situation, you don't even know if that's true.
"Hey…wake up soon, okay?"
Lucas is speaking again, and you give him your attention.
"Dad's been really busy with work, but we have enough as it is. Hurry and wake up so he doesn't have to waste it all, 'kay? School's started up again, too. When you wake up, you'll have to go with me. I can't wait for you to meet everyone…I bet you and Ness would get along great…"
Tears were falling, and you wondered, then, if he even noticed. He probably did, but chose to ignore them. You think so, because that's what you would do.
You take this chance to speak up.
"So…this is Claus, huh…looks a lot like you…"
Except not quite as cute, but that part was better left unsaid.
Lucas nodded, a sad smile on his features as he stroked Claus's hair with one of his hands.
"Yeah…everyone back home said that, too…but we're not all that similar, not really. The truth is…"
You take a seat on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs by the bed and lean forward, slouching a little, just to hear more of that soothingly soft voice.
"Claus has always been stronger than me. 'Lucas is the sweet one, and Claus is the strong one,' is what mom always told us. 'So it's Claus's job to keep Lucas safe, and it's Lucas's job to keep everyone happy.' Claus was faster than me, and he could carry more than I ever could. He was always at my side, keeping me safe from the other villagers' harsh words. When mom died- when she was killed- he went off to avenge her. I…I told him to stop, th-that the d-d-dra-drago would…b-but he…h-he yelled at me…a-and then…and then he left…"
Lucas trailed off there and began crying. It probably hurt to remember, just like it hurt you to remember your great great grandpa whom you were named after. You wished there was something you could do, even if just to stop the memories from hurting.
But the most you can do is offer Lucas a hug, and you do and he accepts it, sobbing brokenly into your shoulder. It takes a bit, but eventually, he stops crying. He rubs his eyes and looks back down at Claus.
"I..I need to get stronger…because now, from now until he wakes up, and from then until after his brain heals, it's my turn to protect him." His voice is determined.
"I'll even hurt someone if I have to…but I don't want it to come to that, so Claus, please wake up soon…"
He gives Claus a pat on the head and a kiss on the cheek. It looks a little weird, but a part of you wants that to be you Lucas is caring so much for. Regardless, you deny it and brush it off as some sort of strange village ritual.
Then, you go home and go straight to sleep.
Pokey: be the other guy.
You are now a young boy named Lucas Oakwood.
You're currently asleep, and you are consciously aware of that. You are also aware that you are in the middle of a dream.
You're in a cave of some sort, and there's someone across from you. Three of your friends are at your side, but you can't make out their faces. The helmeted figure across from you unleashes a fatal thunder attack, and your three friends take mortal damage. Then the figure is right up in your face- good lord is that uncomfortable. He takes your hand, and you can feel the metal of his own hand underneath the glove. He puts your hand on his chest and smiles, and it feels…sad, but also impatient and somehow glad.
"Lucas. Lucas. Feel how my heart beats? It beats just for you. Lucas…don't worry Lucas, I'll be there real soon, I promise."
His voice sounds similar to Claus's, but deeper- but not much deeper. He suddenly disappears, and you wake up to your faithful dog Boney licking your face.
You remember the dream clearly, even after you're completely awake, and as you walk to school, you mull it over.
That masked man seemed a lot like Claus, but it couldn't possibly be him. Your brother would never kill your friends. Right?
You enter the school building, and feel like someone's watching you. You try to ignore it and enter the classroom and take your assigned seat beside Ness. Ms. Tessie enters the classroom, a red-haired boy following behind her.
"Class, today we have a new student. Please give Claus Oakwood a warm welcome."
Everyone else claps loudly, but you don't.
That person isn't Claus. Claus is still in the hospital, asleep. You just saw him yesterday, and even if he did wake up after you left, the doctors would want to keep him for further testing, and physical and mental therapy. He wouldn't be at school today.
He sits beside you and smiles, then takes your hand from your lap and squeezes it.
"I've missed you, Lucas."
You say nothing in response.
After school, you don't even wait for him, but it doesn't seem to matter. He's at your side as soon as you exit the building, commenting about how fast and strong you've grown. It gives you a little bit of a prideful feeling, but you don't let it show. You enter the local florist's shop and buy a bunch of sunflowers before heading to the hospital. You ask for Claus Oakwood, and the doppelgänger beside you shoots a questioning look.
You ignore him for now and make your way to the room your brother is staying in. You have to see if your hunch is accurate.
The door slides open, and you almost let out a sigh of relief.
Your brother is laying down on the bed, sleeping peacefully. You allow the other Claus to enter before you shut the door, and then you look at him.
"….Who are you?" you ask him, trying to keep your voice neutral. "You're not my Claus- can't be, because he's right there. So- who are you?"
The other Clause looks at you, then at the real Claus.
"Lucas? What are you talking about? I'm Claus. Remember? Oh no, maybe King P screwed with your head worse than I thought…"
You have no idea what this guy's saying.
"Regardless though…this fake needs to go."
He pulls out a sword, and a feeling of dread settles in your stomach.
"It's for your own good Lucas- you'll thank me later."
A bolt of lightning strikes down and hits Claus- your Claus- and you cry out, confused and afraid. Your brother convulses on the bed before letting out a scream of pain. And then, it stops. You can hear your twin's heavy breathing, and now you know he's awake.
He sits up and looks at you, and you find yourself overrun by your emotions. You drop the sunflowers and make to embrace him, but the other Claus steps in front of you.
"I was hoping to kill him…oh well. Lucas, stay back. This phony will only hurt you."
And you see your twin's terrified face.
"Ruka? What's going on? Who's this weirdo? What's he talking about?"
Never have you heard your older brother sound so afraid. It makes you afraid, too.
But before anything can be said, a nurse barges in and escorts both you and the other Claus out, claiming that she needs to run some tests on Claus and that not even relatives are allowed to be present. You nod in understanding and attempt to ignore Claus begging them to let you be with him. You send him a reassuring smile and quickly exit the building. Beside you, the other Claus is fuming, but you ignore him. He tried to kill your brother, and you can't ever forgive that.
You enter your house, and this time, as it has been for the last couple months, your father is out. You see a note on the kitchen table, but you don't want to bother with it just now.
You sigh as a door slams shut upstairs. The other Claus hasn't calmed down yet. You have a feeling it's going to be a very long night….