A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS! It's the start of a new decade! To start you off, here's some more fluff. I hope it's not cringe or anything. Idk why, but I find it really hard to extend out fluff chapters? I usually can't get them past 1000 words... short and sweet, I guess. XD
It was one of those nights.
Zenko could tell by all the yelling down the hall. It seemed her brother was arguing with her grandparents about something. She adjusted her doona. She didn't know what they were arguing about, but her brother didn't seem too happy about it.
He had been in a rather… bad mood all day. Of course, he didn't show it around her, but she could tell - she was his sister, after all. He had that angered look on his face when he looked out into the distance, away. But when he turned to her, he was smiling. But now that she was in bed... he was finally letting it out.
After more muffled yelling, her brother stomped down the hall and entered his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Zenko waited a few moments, before climbing out of bed. She crept out of her room, headed to her brother's. She slowly opened the door, seeing her brother lying face-down on his bed.
"Big bro," she climbed onto his bed. "What's wrong?"
"Nuffin'," he replied, voice muffled by a pillow. "Go back to bed."
"I'm not gonna go back to bed when you're upset and fighting with our grandparents!" she argued. She tugged at his shirt. "Tell me what's wrong!"
He rolled over. "Just go back to bed, Zenko."
"I wanna help," Zenko said, still holding his shirt. "You always make me feel better when I'm upset! I wanna do the same for you!"
Badd sighed. "I can't explain it. Ya won't understand."
"Try me!" Zenko replied.
Badd went silent.
"Brooooo," Zenko insisted, trying to roll him over to face her.
"It has to do with Mom and Dad," he finally grunted. "And some other crap. That's all I'm sayin'."
"Bro!" Zenko scowled.
"Ya don't need to worry 'bout it," he told her, staring at her from over his shoulder. "Yer too young."
Zenko crossed her arms. "You always say that! I'm not a baby anymore, Badd!"
Her brother mumbled something into the pillow.
"I don't want 'cha to grow up too fast," he said, solemnly.
"Tell me," she insisted. "I can handle it. I promise."
Badd sighed, rolling back to face her. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were slightly red. He'd definitely been crying.
"It's a long story," he said. "But basically, Gramps and Grandma were all freaked out after hearing 'bout that night, way back then. They think I'm dangerous or somethin', so they don't really, eh, trust me. Don't like goin' out, either, which is kinda why they don't go to yer recitals. They think I'm a 'bad influence' on you, something dumb like that. That's what we were arguin' 'bout, they think we spend too much time together or some bull crap. They think yer gonna be 'just like me'."
He had a vexed look in his eyes, and he'd curled up the doona in his fists.
There was a silence.
Zenko blinked, heavily. "They're not gonna… split us up, are they, big bro?"
"No way," Badd told her, scowling. "I'd never let 'em."
"Me neither," Zenko said, clinging onto his arm. "They're so... dumb! Why are they upset about something that happened ages ago? And it's not your fault!"
"I dunno," her brother growled. "Ask 'em!"
Zenko stood up.
"I was jokin'!" Badd told her. "It's stupid, but I can't change their minds. But I'm not gonna let anythin' happen to us, okay? So don't worry 'bout it."
"No," Zenko said. "I'm not gonna make you worry! I'm gonna talk to Grandpa and Grandma!"
"Don't, sis," her brother advised. "You'll get in trouble."
"No I won't," Zenko argued. She smiled. "I'm a little angel, remember?"
Badd sighed, pulling a hand through his hair. "Yeah. 'Course. Maybe they will listen to ya."
Zenko nodded, proudly. She began walking out of the room.
"Not now, Zenko," Badd grunted. "It's the middle of the night."
"But I don't wanna wait until tomorrow," Zenko whined.
"Ya don't have a choice," her brother replied. He held out his arms. "C'mere. Let's just go to bed."
"Fine," Zenko pouted. She climbed into the bed. She suddenly gave her brother a tight hug.
"Don't be sad, big bro," she told him. "It's gonna be okay."
He smiled. "I know, sis. I know."