So here's the second one-shot. In this one, well, you know how some people with braces get called "Metal Mouth?" Well, we see one of our characters dealing with that struggle. I only own Orin's relatives, Taylor and Lance.
The first bit will be told in third person and then Orin's perspective. On with the story!
Metal Mouth
(Third person P.O.V.)
It was free time as the ASE program had let out. A boy with strawberry blond hair and gray eyes is racing to the slide. He is wearing tennis shoes, black shorts and a red T-shirt. As he's running, he sees his sister go to a different part of the playground.
He's not even paying attention as he nearly falls over. "Watch out," another boy said. This boy was wearing charcoal gray cargo shorts, a pair of sandals and a blue tank top. "Pay attention, Ronny," the other boy said. He had fair skin as well.
"Sorry, Lance," Ronny said with a sheepish smile. Lance has dirty blond hair and brown eyes.
The two boys are swinging until they hear a commotion. "That sounds like my sister," Ronny said.
"Dude, are you gonna see what's wrong?" Lance said as he stopped.
Ronny got off the swing and sprinted. Lance just sat there for a while before deciding to go on the slide.
"Railroad tracks!" a girl with black hair tied into a braided ponytail said. She was wearing an off white blouse with a green skirt and flip flops.
"Stop it," Clare interjected.
"Yeah. Foster's right. You need to call her 'metal mouth,'" a new voice sneered at the group of girls. He has light brown hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a denim jacket without sleeves over a light gray tank top. He's got on a pair of blue jeans with a hole in the leg and is wearing combat boots. That's what the other kids began to chant.
'Not him,' Krystal thought.
Krystal had just gotten braces and she hated them. They were uncomfortable and she couldn't eat her snacks.
"Oi, you," a smaller voice called.
"What do you want, shrimp?" Taylor sneered.
Without any further thought, the smaller boy's fist was aptly aimed in the older boy's gut. "Leave my sister alone!" he said.
"Ronny," Krystal scolded.
Taylor processed what had happened and pushed Ronny onto the ground. Hard. What surprised the other kids (save his sister and cousin) was that Ronny got up and seemed to have some fight left in him. Before anyone could say anything, the two boys were at it.
"Alright, alright. Break it up, boys," a teacher called, clearly frustrated. "Mr. Stevenson, to the nurse's office," she said sternly. Taylor got himself up and brushed off the dirt before glaring at Ronny who was still on the ground.
"As for you three, your ride is here," she said. Krystal and Clare breathed a sigh of relief as little Lance came onto the scene.
"Ronny!" Lance shrieked. Lance decided to help his friend up and make things easier on the girls.
"Thank you, Lance," Krystal said as they walked to the picnic tables where their bags were.
"Ronny's my best bud," Lance said as the smaller boy limped. "My mom is probably here, too."
Lance grabbed his bag and put it on his back before giving Ronny his bag, which thankfully went over one shoulder.
"Come on, Ronny," Clare gestured. Ronny walked to his cousin and the four made it to the car rider line.
(In the car)
Lance had helped Ronny in and Clare sat up front. Krystal loved her younger brother and thought it was sweet to defend him.
"Ronald Orin Scrivello," Iris scolded. "What did you do?"
Ronny sighed. "I fell, Aunt Iris," he said.
Iris glanced out of the rear view mirror and looked at her niece. "Krystal?" she questioned.
Krystal looked at her brother and patted his head. "Ronny got into a fight with Taylor, but Taylor kept calling me metal mouth," she explained honestly.
Ronny peered out the window before deciding to come clean. He wouldn't be six for another three months! His sister would be turning nine, soon.
"I punched him in the gut," he said stoically.
"Clare?" Krystal said.
"They're both right, mom. I just wish Taylor hadn't come over in the first place," Clare said as the car screeched to a stop.
"Tell your mother I'll call her later," Iris told her niece and nephew.
Ronny and Krystal stayed close as they crossed the street. Ronny also had on a watch that was telling him the time. "I think it's almost 4 o'clock," he said to Krystal.
"It's okay. Daddy sees patients late in the day and it's Father's Day weekend. Did you get to make him a card?" Krystal asked her younger brother.
Ronny nodded as the two went inside. The two were surprised to see an empty lobby and they heard the door opening from the other side.
(Orin's P.O.V.)
Something wasn't right with the kids, but I just couldn't figure out what.
"Krystal, come with me and Ronald, go see your father. He's in the third room on the right," Sarah said.
"Hi, daddy," Ronny said.
I saw my son was a bit dirty, his hair a mess and was that a black eye?
"Sit in the chair, sport," I instructed. Ronny nodded and did so.
"I got in a fight," he said evenly. "Taylor was picking on Krystal."
'He has since they were little,' I thought. "Who threw the first punch?" I asked.
"I did. I did it so he'd leave her alone," he explained.
I sighed and noticed him fidget a little. "Ronny, that was a nice gesture of you to try and defend Krystal, but she can speak for herself," I lightly scolded.
He sighed. "I know, daddy. I got pushed and hit the ground," he said.
"Does anything hurt?" I asked. He opened his mouth and pointed to a tooth. Unlike his sister, his was loosened. I laid him back and placed a napkin on him.
"I can take it, daddy. I was gonna try and lose it tonight, anyway," he said. I nodded and grabbed a piece of gauze. All it took was a mere flick of the wrist and his tooth was out. I had him bite down on some cotton as Sarah walked in.
"Krystal told me what happened," she said coolly. She had to whisper in my ear. "I'll take Ronny home so he can change his clothes. I think Krystal could use some comfort. She's across the hall in the second room."
I sat my son up and let Sarah do the work. I took off my gloves and went were Sarah said Krystal would be. She had her arms folded.
"Hi princess," I said to her.
"Taylor's such a bully," she said. "I didn't expect Ronny to come up and hit him, but I'm sick of being picked on," she huffed.
I washed my hands and remembered when I was little. I laughed at a memory. "You know, just last week, I met up with Jimmy Blanco," I said.
"Who's he?" she asked.
"Jimmy was the leader of a group of boys who would pick on me because I was smart," I said as I examined her mouth and compared her X-rays.
"Did you ever get to beat him up?" she asked.
"I didn't win, but I became a better man," I said.
"Tell me more," she said.
"Well, like I said it was last week. Thursday to be exact. Your mother had just told me she numbed up a patient with the shots that adults get," I began.
"Okay," Krystal said.
"So I grabbed the file and read the name. I had to walk into the room."
(Flashback begins)
"So. Jimmy Blanco," I said plainly. I was going to enjoy this.
He hadn't changed much over the years. Still a weightlifter, still a big guy. I was no pushover, though.
"Yeah. I got numbed up for a bad tooth," he said.
"So you don't remember me?" I had asked.
He looked at me from head to toe before shaking his head. "Nope," he said, popping the p.
I placed the suction in his mouth. "Too bad. I was looking forward to a real chat with ya," I said. "You sure you don't remember?" I asked again before grabbing the drill. I quickly set the chair up.
"Y-you," he stammered, shocked.
"Yeah. Little Orin Scrivello. Well, it looks like the tables are turned," I said to him as I began to fix his tooth.
(Flashback end)
"So you drilled his tooth hard and he got some pain?" Krystal asked.
I shook my head. "I got my revenge, but as I was filling his cavity, I calmed down and told him that the past was behind me. I think that that'll happen with you and Taylor someday," I told her honestly.
She rolled her eyes, still upset. "So what do you have to do?" she asked, pointing to her braces. I clicked my tongue.
"Well, it's time to get them tightened," I said.
She sighed and closed her mouth. I decided to get the laughing gas and move slowly. "You'll be okay," I said. I grabbed the mask and brought the tank over. I placed the mask over her nose and told her to take deep breaths. She slowly opened her mouth. "It'll be a quick nap," I said.
Fifteen minutes goes quicker when you're an adult. I knew Krystal would feel some discomfort when she woke up.
She moaned as she came to. "You did well, princess," I said as I kissed her forehead.
(Later that day)
We got home and Sarah was already making dinner. Krystal went to her room as I placed my hands around my wife and gave her a hug.
"How'd it go with you and Ronny?" I asked.
"He's grounded for three days. I think it was sweet of him to defend Krystal," Sarah said. I pecked her on the cheek.
"That's fair," I said.
"How is Krystal, anyway?" she asked.
I rifled a hand through my hair. "I had to tighten her braces, but I told her about meeting up with Jimmy Blanco again," I said.
"I guess it's a good thing I decided to make some mashed potatoes with green beans," Sarah said.
I went and changed out of my work clothes and took my place at the table.
"Happy Father's Day, daddy!" Ronny exclaimed as he handed me an envelope. That's what the card said, with a few of the letters turned backwards.
"I love it, sport," I said to him.
Krystal came next and hugged me. She wordlessly handed me the card. It also said the same message, but the card was written in beautiful cursive.
"Thank you, princess," I said to her as she sat down. I considered myself a lucky father.
Good ending place. ASE stands for After School Enrichment, btw.
A/N: So it looks like the answer to Krystal's question is yes. Krystal's birthday is July 14 and Ronny's is August 16. So they're 3 years, 1 month and 4 days apart. In the last one-shot is where the second genre changes. Also, just because the film takes place in 1986, that doesn't mean this story has to. So Krystal's birth year is 1982 and Ronny's is 1985.
As always, R and R, F and F, vote and ask!
``Eagle