Warning:

Ending on a sad note :c

But more chapter's are a'comin' today

So woot XD

031. Rage (299)

He suppressed it only because it wasn't the day for it. But it bubbled under the surface, the rage that prompted him to throw things or break them, to shout and rant at his family. To lash out at the entire world because this just wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. He wasn't supposed to be standing over a child's grave.

He had only recently turned three, though the results of his cloning had sapped months, if not an entire year, off of his life. He was really four, maybe a bit older even. And two was middle-aged. Brain's grip on his cane tightened, the rage he couldn't unleash on others internalizing.

He should've seen this coming. He'd only reached his own fifth birthday because he's started developing and drinking the serum that would extend their lives. He should've known that Roman wouldn't take it. His oldest son was far too lax to do something like take chemical enhancements to elongate his life. He should've made his son take them, seen him more to make sure he was. But Roman had never been happy settled in one place. He wouldn't be happy being buried, but the emperor couldn't bear to cremate him.

His rage turned on Roman next, grip tightening further as he mentally scolded his foolish, idiotic, stupid, too much like Pinky son. He should've taken the serum. What had he been thinking? His life had already been shortened by the rapid pace of his growth, so why wouldn't he extend it properly. Why? Why, Roman?

He heard a gasping, sobbing breath, didn't realize it was his own until his weepy husband's arms wrapped around him and held tight. Held until the rage ebbed and his grip on the cane lessened in order to return the embrace.

032. Empty (188)

He'd always assumed that he would be glad upon receiving the news. The dratted hamster had caused him nothing but trouble throughout most of his life. Perhaps, then, it was the "most" that kept the unholy glee at bay. Because they had been friends once, carefree and playful. The experiments hadn't mattered as long as they could be together.

Until an experiment had torn them apart, turned them against one another. They'd awakened Snowball's evil and, if Brain thought too deeply on it, he would admit that they'd also awakened his. But where he had located a moral compass, fallen in love, and built a family... The hamster had not. And he was alone, as evidenced by the state of his body. Decay had set in before he'd been found, but he was still recognizable. And DNA didn't lie.

Brain waved a hand, removing the mask from his mouth and nose only after he'd been escorted from the prison morgue. His former friend was now also his former enemy, and all the emperor felt was empty. "Take me home, Paul. And let's not speak of this to Pinky."

033. Anger (406)

It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair at all. Daddy had said he'd always come back; he'd promised again and again. The megalomaniac had promised that they'd always come back after the plans. And they were back, yes, but the smell was all wrong. And the look of them was all wrong.

Mommy was scared and wouldn't talk to her, but to smile distractedly and tell her to wait outside. So she was waiting because he'd finally picked her up with hands that were red and wrong and placed her outside the cage. And he wasn't letting her back in when she knew she could help. She was seven months, but that was old enough. She wasn't a baby and she knew that something had gone horribly wrong if mommy was bleeding and daddy wasn't speaking.

The longer she had to wait, the more worried she got, the more irrationally angry she grew. It was the teenage hormones daddy kept scowling at her for having, but she couldn't help them. She'd been shut out of her own home, the smell carrying and the bars of the cage not blocking her vision when she stubbornly made her way to the other side of the cage.

Her parents were on their bed, one so quiet and on his side with red and red and red staining the bandages the other wrapped tightly around his body. And he kept talking, though daddy wasn't responding. "Brain? Brain, don't close your eyes, Brain. They're so pretty, Brain. I love you. You'll be okay, Brain. Everything'll be okay. I promise, Brain. We're marrieds and we have to be okay."

The teenager fled, running for her hiding spot high on the shelves and turned the "No Boys Allowed" sign with a sharp flick of her wrist. Pinky wouldn't ignore it, but Brain wouldn't. But it didn't matter that Brain wouldn't. She held her hands over her ears, the anger boiling in her, the betrayal keen and sharp. They'd come back, but they hadn't come back safe. Daddy hadn't come back safe and she hated him-

"Cici? Cici, baby, shh. Cerebral Cortex, hush now."

She blinked rapidly, gazing up at the intense pink eyes of her father and was still able to feel the anger of her dream bubbling in her. But they were home and safe, so she latched on instead of pushing away and didn't let go until the phantom rage was gone.

034. Fury (447)

After the disaster the previous Thanksgiving had proven to be, The Brain had no intention of going to his parents' home in Florida to engage in another. He already had a plan in reserve involving the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York. Even if it failed, at least his little girl would be able to see all the floats... as would his companion. And now that the twins had been created, they would all go up to New York and enjoy the parade.

But then he'd taken over the world, rendering the plan unnecessary. And rendering it a bit on the unsafe side to go to New York for a parade. At least not this close to his global takeover. Next year, he promised himself. The twins and triplets would all be old enough to enjoy it properly.

Luckily, the world takeover also rendered it on the unsafe side to go to his parents' home. They were sent for and brought in a chartered flight (them and Pinky's parents and... Sis) for Thanksgiving at their freshly completed castle.

And it was a disaster from the first moment, at least in regards to The Brain's judgemental parents.

"This is your castle? Shouldn't you have a palace or something?"

"Your sister's going to be living here? She can't be mature enough to find her own place?"

"More clones? Why can't you have normal kids? At least your sister managed that."

"Do you really need this big of a table? Seems like a waste of wood."

"O-ho! A chef! Looks who's too good for berries and bits of wheat!"

"What are all these books? You need two rooms for them all? In my day, a mouse didn't need to read."

"Our room is too big."

"The walk is too far."

"That's what you're wearing to rule the world? Shouldn't you have a crown or something?"

When, at the dinner table for that family meal, they refused to sit beside Cici ("Shouldn't she go back to her real family now? You don't have to take care of her since you can find her real parents.") Brain's fury reached new levels. They were abruptly thrown out and banned from the premises. Cici was his real daughter. Romy and the twins were normal kids. His sister deserved to live with them, her and her family. And he could have his castle anyway he wanted it because he had taken over the world without their help, thank you for absolutely nothing, and Pinky loved their castle! And that was all that mattered!

And he was thankful, that year, for never having to subject his family to the rudeness of his horrible parents ever again.

035. Delight (217)

She was so small and soft, with big round eyes and grabby baby hands. He only winced a little when she latched onto his ear, waved away the father when he attempted to come to Brain's rescue. It wasn't her fault that he couldn't hold it up any longer, but he did lift a hand to remove the tiny fingers. She purred at him, squeaked something babbly at him, and his lips curved.

He'd missed this little treasure's arrival, trapped in bed with a deteriorating mind. He'd missed so much, but this wasn't the day to dwell on that. He lifted the baby, though it took some effort, and rubbed their noses together. The little giggle he received warmed his heart and he had to blink away the tears. He wanted to be there to see her grow, be a part of her life as he'd been part of his children and grandchildren's.

But this great-grandchild would have to know life without him. He knew his time was short. So short that he couldn't hold the little girl any longer. There was too much other family to see. Trembling slightly, he offered the baby to her father and nodded his approval. "She's beautiful, Jack," he murmured, and delighted in the prideful little squeaks that followed the compliment.

Next time:

Submission, Infatuation, Anticipation, Pessimistic, Jolly