Hurt Comfort Alphabet
B: Backfire
Fandom: Mario

Explosions from the basement were common occurrences in Castle Von Geist. After all, when your adopted son is a mad scientist, exploding lab experiments are everyday happenings. But this one was different. It was bigger. And there was something about it that didn't feel right. Cackletta Von Geist was up and halfway down to the ground floor before she even realized her maternal instinct had kicked in. She yanked open the blastproof door to the basement and dashed down the stairs.

In the center of the lab was a pillar of eldritch green fire, obviously the aftermath of the explosion. But more importantly, there was a small figure in a red cloak slumped against the wall, thrown there by the force of the blast. Cackletta wasn't even aware she could run as fast as she did to her downed villain-in-training.

"Fawful!"

The boy's head turned to face her, the left lens of his glasses shattered, his eyes somewhat focused on her.

"Great Cackletta…"

Fawful tried to get up, but a hand on his shoulder and the worried look on Cackletta's face stopped him. By the light of the dying green flames, Cackletta could see the determination in Fawful's eyes. It broke her heart to see him like this.

"You okay?" asked Cackletta, but as soon as she said it she knew what his response would be.

"Fawful is saying yes to you. I have fine," he said, trying to get up again.
Cackletta sighed.

"C'mon. Let's get you in bed, kid."

She gathered up the young villain-in-training and started up to his room. He was protesting half of the way there, but by the time they were at his room, he was already asleep. Even villains had their rough days.

…

When Fawful woke up, there was Cackletta, right there at his bedside.

"Morning, Fawful," she said.

"Morning? It has being morningness?"

Cackletta nodded.

"You slept through yesterday afternoon, yesterday evening, and last night. Now it's morning."

"What was the happening to Fawful?" he said, eyeing his bandaged hand.

"You blew yourself up in the lab yesterday. What were you doing?"

Fawful thought for a bit.

"I had the using of xetancium for the sourcing of power. I have failure."

Cackletta patted his head.

"We'll find a way to get the Beanstar. You and me. Just… no more xetancium. Okay, kiddo?"

"Okaying…"

"And in the meantime… who's gonna help me eat all these murder pancakes I made? There's extra strawberry sauce for the blood…"

Fawful's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

FIN