Hello dear readers, and welcome to another chapter in What Was Missing. This one is gonna be a little shorter than the others. Was kinda at a loss for part of it so apologies if it's not that great. We're almost 75% of the way through with this story, I hope you all have enjoyed it so far and I hope the you all like where it ends.
without further ado, hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
The Point Of It All
Bursting through the door as soon as he got it unlocked, Lincoln and his group ran inside the bunker. The sole male Loud hoped that his suspicions were wrong, that Richard was just shooting at targets. Seeing his friend still in a chair by the dining table gave Lincoln cause for worry. But there was no blood so maybe he was alright.
A few seconds later and Richard turned his upper body around, facing the group who just entered his home. "Oh Lincoln, I know I said you're welcome anytime but really? You couldn't knock?" The man said. Trying to steady his breath, Lincoln raised a hand to his chest, feeling his rapid heart beat in the process.
"I-We heard a...gunshot. What happened?" Lincoln asked.
"Oh that...well I was just cleaning my gun here when, because I was an idiot, there was a negligent discharge". Lincoln could tell the man had been drinking with his speech slurring and the dazed look in his eyes. "Let that be a lesson guys, never clean your gun drunk, or mess with it at all for that matter". Rich continued. "Hey w-why did you bring them here anyway? I asked you not to tell anyone where this place was". Rich said.
"We offered to come with him, I didn't feel good about my brother being out here on his own". Luna replied. "You mean you didn't feel good about him coming to see me? Who knows what could happen". Rich jokingly shot back.
"That's not it Rich, we came to make sure you hadn't done anything stupid yet, like what we thought you just did". Luna said. "Oh...well no I'm not at that point yet. Like I said it was just a misfire. Nothing more". Rich assured them before taking another drink from his glass.
"Maybe you should slow down Rich, especially if you just accidentally fired your gun". Lincoln cautioned his friend. "I'm doing fine Linc. Trust me". Rich said, pouring more whiskey into his glass. Beginning to calm down, the group shut the bunker door and started putting their bags down, making themselves at home. As Lincoln went to go speak with Richard, Clyde had noticed something on the kitchen counter.
Moving closer, Clyde could see that they were envelopes, five of them stacked on the counter. Picking them up, Clyde saw they were addressed to Lincoln, the Louds, Rich's mom, brother and then one to Richard's family as a whole. Clyde was wondering if the bang they heard earlier was really just a misfire.
"So why were you cleaning your gun Rich? You had to know that was a bad idea in your current state". Lincoln asked his friend as he sat down. All Rich gave as an answer was a shrug of his shoulders. "Still not too keen on the idea of more people knowing about this place dude. What if one of them decide to tell the town about it? They could just as easily come here to finish the job that-". Rich was going to finish that sentence with a comment about Lynn, but even in his inebriated state, Rich knew that would only cause more problems.
"Look Rich, we don't plan on doing that". Luna started. "We didn't only come to make sure Lincoln would be safe on his way here, we came to make sure you didn't kill yourself over this. You saved my brother, their friend, it was only fair we return the favor". Luna finished with a smile, while Richard chuckled lightly.
"If only all your sisters shared that sentiment Luna". Rich lamented.
Clyde walked over to the table and set the envelopes down in front of Lincoln, making sure the one with his name was on top. "What's this?" Lincoln asked as he picked it up. Richard noticed what he was referring to and reacted immediately, trying to grab the envelope from his hands. But being slightly drunk impaired his speed and Lincoln moved away before he could swipe it. "Where did you get that!? Put it back". Rich demanded.
"Only if you tell me these aren't what I think they are". Lincoln replied. "They're not, just normal letters I was gonna leave next time I dropped by". Richard lied, trying to stand up and take the letter away from Lincoln. "Then let me read it. It's addressed to me anyway. If it's really not anything bad then it should be no problem". Rich frowned in anger, becoming annoyed at the situation.
"So what if they are!?" He shouted. "I just wrote them to have them, not like I was ever going to use them". Rich continued to try and lie his way out of this. "It wasn't a misfire earlier, was it Richard?" Lincoln quietly asked. Rich's silence was all the answer he needed.
"Y-You fucking idiot!" Lincoln exclaimed as he punched Rich across the face. "Why!? B-Because some people hurt you over wrong impressions? Because you had to leave Haven? It's not the end of the fucking wor-".
"It's fucking more than that and you know it!" Rich shouted back. "Hell I figured you could relate and understand why I'm doing this..." Rich glumly said as he slumped back in his chair. "W-What's that supposed to mean?" Lincoln asked. "You tried to kill yourself because of the same reason. I felt like I was a monster and was being dragged into my own personal hell. Just like you when I found you trying to jump off that balcony".
"Wait what?" Luna asked. "Oh he never told you that was the only reason I found him? I would've left that town if I didn't see him trying to throw himself off that balcony". Rich replied. "Rich!" Lincoln cried out, not happy that his friend told not only his sister but two of his closest friends about that. "Oh shit, I'm sorry did you not want them to know? Well seems like your sisters have a way of drawing out secrets better left unsaid Lincoln". Rich nonchalantly said.
"Anyways, yeah I actually tried to kill myself just a moment ago, and if you guys wouldn't have shown up...I'd be gone. And the world would've been better for it". Rich said as he grabbed what was left of his bottle of Jack Daniels.
"How can you say that after all you've done!? After all the people you helped, that you saved. When the worst thing you've done is go a little too far with people who deserved it anyway?" Lincoln shot back. "It's easy Linc. I can say it would be better because everyone would be able to worry less, about me, about whether I'll do anything to their precious children. I can say it would be better because I wouldn't be stuck in this lonely hell anymore. There's more than a few good reasons why it would be better". Rich countered.
"But those are points that can be changed!" Lincoln started. "I don't have a doubt in my mind anymore that you won't offend. And you aren't alone, not anymore. And we're gonna make sure you can stay in Haven with the people who want to be there for you". Richard chuckled lightly too himself at that comment. "Oh yeah? Like who? I can count those people on one hand. No one else is going to consider me a friend or family member other than you, my mom, stepdad and sister. Everyone else will just see a freak".
The white-haired teen sighed in annoyance, he wasn't really getting anywhere with this. "But we can change their minds Rich. Show them who you really are, that you aren't the monster they think you are-"
"But I am!" Rich shouted back.
"You don't know what goes on in this head Lincoln, the thoughts I have. The feelings I get. They're never going away and people won't accept someone like me. I'm too broken. Hell you don't even know how close I've come to doing it Lincoln..." Rich said in anguish. "What do you mean by that Rich?" Luna asked. Richard looked to her, then back at Lincoln before hanging his head in shame.
"It was years ago...I was a couple years younger than you are now. I was watching one of my nephews, we were alone and I knew he was a heavy sleeper. 'It was just going to be a look' I said..." Rich hung his head in his hands, gently shaking it back and forth. "But I knew it wasn't just gonna stop there. As I stood over him, just before I reached my hand out...I stopped. Wondered what the hell I was doing and then just ran back to my room, shaking. Nothing happened...but it almost did, then I'd be just like everyone else". Richard was now crying into his hands as he finished his recounting of that day.
"Y-You never told me that..." Lincoln breathed out. "I-I never wanted you to know. Didn't want you to worry about me losing control like that around you. Not after everything you went through". Rich said. "But all it takes is the right situation, the right mindset and boom. I'm the monster they think I am".
"I think you're missing the important thing here..." Clyde spoke up. Everyone in the room turned to him waiting for the point. "You stopped yourself. You think you're a bad guy, that you'll lose control...but you were in control and you didn't do anything. You left and nothing happened".
"And whose to say I won't lose control the next time? And for that matter why are you here? didn't you steal your friend's girl? Man some best friend, am I right?" Rich said. "Hey don't be like that, he's just trying to help you". Lincoln scolded. "Oh like I've helped you so many times? And what do I have to show for it huh? A missing arm, one eye, and loads of wonderful nightmares". Rich joked.
"Look I get what you guys are trying to do but my mind is made up. I'm a broken mess of a person who is better off in the ground. So you're all welcome to stay here tonight but tomorrow I'd like you to leave". Rich tiredly said as he slumped his way to the couch. "We're not done here Rich. You don't get to just checkout that easy". Lincoln claimed.
"Oh we're done Lincoln. I don't really see a point to all of this anymore, I doubt anything you can say is going to change that". Rich sullenly stated.
Lincoln didn't know what to do at this point, it seemed like nothing he was saying was getting through to Richard. The white-haired teen didn't know what else he could do to help him. Seeing that his friend was about ready to pass out on the couch, Lincoln figured they weren't going to get anywhere else tonight. "Come on guys, let me show you where everything is at, looks like we're done...for now".
"Sleep tight everyone, and Lincoln don't let the Jim bugs bite". Richard jokingly called out before beginning to doze off.
Lincoln frowned at that comment, he didn't really appreciate his friend's little jab at his nightmares.
"I think it's just the booze talking bro, we can try again in the morning". Luna said as her brother led the group down the hall. "Yeah, maybe..." Lincoln replied.
With only two rooms to divide among the four of them, Lincoln and Clyde took the former's old room. While Jordan slept in Richard's room and Luna opted to sleep on one of the couches in the living room to keep an eye on Rich and make sure he didn't kill himself while they slept.
While the others ate dinner before heading off to bed, Richard was already deep in a drunken slumber.
The next morning Richard hazily rose from his sleep, his head pounding and wondering just what happened the night before. Before his eyes had adjusted to the dim lights of the bunker, the smell of food crossed his nostrils. Looking over the back of the couch, Rich saw Luna in the kitchen making breakfast, it looked like she was the only other one up.
Richard groaned as he held the side of his head, his mind was pounding and he knew it was because he went a little overboard with the drinking the night before. "I hope you don't mind, I decided to make something for everyone. Kinda used a bunch of your stuff, sorry". Richard lightly laughed. "It's alright. So...How bad was I last night?" Rich groaned out as he slowly got up from the couch to make his way to the table.
Luna grimaced at his question, wondering just how much he remembered from last night. "Um, not that great to be honest. You weren't too eager for our help last night". Rich awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry about anything I might have said against any of you. I uh...wasn't in the best of moods". Richard apologized.
"Well hopefully when the others get up, we can have the discussion again. This time with a reasonably sober person". Luna jested. As if on cue, both bed-room doors opened and the three kids stepped out into the hall.
Once Rich met eyes with Lincoln, the young teen turned his head as the three made their way to the table.
"Before anyone says anything, I just wanted to apologize for how I might've acted last night. I don't really like how I get when I drink. Which is why I don't do it often". Rich said. "So, you ready to resume our conversation from last night?" Lincoln said, deciding to get right to the point.
Sighing in defeat, Richard figured he knew what the conversation was. He remembered fragments of it from the previous night, but the man didn't know if he was really ready to have it again. "Sure, but I don't know if you'll get a different outcome Lincoln". Rich confessed. "Well I'd still like the chance to try".
As Luna set plates down in front of everyone, the group tried their best to convince Richard to come back to Haven and give them one more chance to change things. "Look, I really appreciate what you guys are trying to do here, honestly I do. But I just don't see the point in trying. It's not going to work". Richard said.
"You're only saying that because you think they can't change. And because you want it to all be over, to take the easy way out...but I'm not going to let you do that. We aren't". Lincoln said. "Lincoln's right, if you give the people the chance to know the real you then you'll have nothing to worry about". Luna added. "But they will...they'll always worry about what I might do". Rich countered. "Not forever, just continue to show them that they have nothing to fear. That you're just a normal guy with an...abnormal attraction. Hell you like adults too right? Maybe if you settled down with someone it might ease their minds". Jordan suggested.
"Guys...I'm just tired alright. tired of it all, tired of this constant battle with myself. Tired of feeling like an outcast, just...tired. I really don't see the point in moving forward when the future doesn't really hold much for me anyway". Rich said. But after looking at the defeated faces of those around the table, he decided to give them the chance.
"But I tell you guys what, I have a deal in mind". Rich said. "I'll go back with you guys..." Rich started, earning a smile from Lincoln. "But we'll put it to a vote and if they vote on not letting me stay, then I'm gone. And you let me do what I planned on doing last night". Rich added.
"But-" Lincoln tried to protest before being interrupted by Rich. "No buts. Either you take this deal or I don't go at all, and I off myself at the earliest chance I get". After a moment of silent contemplation, Lincoln slowly nodded his head. "Good, then we'll head out after breakfast, and we can take a car with some supplies so I can get some brownie points with Haven hehe". Rich said, with the table chuckling at his comment.
After breakfast the group gathered up a few rucksacks of supplies and loaded them into a truck Rich had parked a couple houses down. He had it in case he ever had to leave the bunker in an emergency. "Alright, let's give this place one more go. Whatever happens...happens. Before we head out I do want to say thank you, to all of you".
"No thanks necessary". Lincoln smiled in reply as Rich took the vehicle out of park and started making his way towards Haven.
Well there we go. Richard gets to live...for now. Will their gamble on the citizens of Haven work in their favor? Who knows. As I said, we're about 75% of the way through this story. Probably about 5-10 more chapters at best. The original way I planned this story out has changed since I've written it but the end goal is still the same.
And be on the lookout for a one-shot I got the idea for a couple days ago, should have that out within a few weeks and it'll appeal to those of you into Loudcest.
