Takes place a couple weeks after last chapter, Madison has become a permenant member of the Hebert household and things are about to get interesting. Also, kids getting to be kids, how often does that happen in Worm?
Madison was bobbing her head back and forth completely losing herself to the music flowing through her earbuds as she curled up in her seat as the bus hit yet another pothole, the only reason she noticed this was because it had coincided with her music's shift from heavy metal and or eighties rock towards something more contemporary, Mumford and Sons 'Little Lion Man' to be precise.
Madison mouthed along with the words spoken only to her, and she couldn't help feeling…something, as the words passed her lips.
"-was not your fault but mine, and it was your heart on the line, I really fucked it up this time, didn't I, my dear?"
The bus came to a stop and Madison let out a sigh as she muttered, "Didn't I, my..."
Taking in a deep breath, she exited the bus and walked past the dilapidated buildings, broken sidewalks, and overgrown lawns of what had once been a respectable community.
Fucking Endbringers.
Fucking Leviathan.
Fucking Powers.
Fucking Scion.
Fuck all of them.
Grimacing as she did her best to force her jaw to stop gritting down painfully she made her way to the address hastily scribbled on the slip of paper in her hand, all while gripping the lightsaber in her purse tightly, fully intent on using it on any mother fucker stupid enough to get in her way.
"Tremble, little lion man, you'll never settle any of your scores…"
Thankfully she reached her destination without any trouble, and after sweeping a hand through her bangs Madison took in a deep breath and relaxed as she hopped up the steps, stopped at the doormat, and ringed the bell.
Madison continued to mutter to herself, "Your boldness stands alone among the wreck, now learn from your mother or else spend your days biting your own neck"
She shifted about uncomfortably then froze as the door swung open, a tall man with a weak chin, large glasses, and an assessing gaze stared down at her before he nodded and took a step back while muttering, "Madison."
"Mister Hebert…" she stepped into the house and resisted the urge to shiver as he closed the door and only relaxed when he pointed towards a case of stairs, "Little Owl is on the right, second door."
"Thanks," she managed to shoot out, doing her best to remain civil despite the fact that she wasn't…feeling all that civil towards the older man.
She knew he was trying, really, truly. Taylor had made that very clear to her that her dad was doing his best to sue the school and had gone so far as to contact the mayor it was just…
Fuck.
"I really fucked it up this time, didn't I my dear…"
It was just too much of a mirror of the apathy her own dad had fallen into after the divorce, too solid of a reminder that she didn't matter to the woman that had birthed her and was so useless that she wasn't enough to make her only caring parent remember she existed and-
As she reached the top of the steps thin arms wrapped around her and then she was pulled close to a warm body as quiet words were whispered past her ear, "Shush…none of that…"
Madison let out a sigh of relief as she leaned into the unexpected embrace, "Taylor…I…"
"Don't," she said with a laugh, "I get it, I-"
Madison broke from her embrace then threw her arms around Taylor while letting out a quiet sob, "You always get it… I…I hate it. Why, why does it have to be you?"
Taylor wrapped her arms around her friend, and held her for a time before letting out a tired sigh as she responded with, "Because I can handle it."
Madison was quiet as she wept into Taylor's shoulder, eventually she managed to gather herself enough to break away and stare up at the taller girl while whispering out, "I-"
Taylor placed a finger on her lips and smiled, "You didn't fuck things up, seriously. So how about Duck Hunt?"
Wait, what?
"Wait, what?"
Taylor laughed as she took Madison's hand and led her into her room, "Dad broke out his old NES and I figured that some inane gaming mixed with the excuse of enhancing eye/hand coordination would be a great way to waste an afternoon."
The taller girl stopped talking as she entered her room, and suddenly all the confidence and vigor she had been expressing died as she began wringing her hands together while muttering, "I mean…if you're ok with that…sort of thing that is…I mean I don't want to make assumptions and-"
She was interrupted by a pillow hitting her head, Madison smirked while pulling her earbuds out and placing them in her pocket while pointing at the controller she had placed on Taylor's bed, "No Duck Hunt, Mario 3, you're player two."
Taylor let out an undignified huff as she snatched up the controller and plopped down next to Madison while drawling out, "You're making me be Luigi?"
Madison scoffed as she threw her hair over her shoulder with a jerk of her head, "Please, peasants are not meant to argue over their prearranged colour palette."
Taylor shot Madison an amused grin while raising a single brow, "You do realize what this means right?"
Madison smirked in turn, "No? What does this mean?"
Taylor hit start while her smile reached her eyes, "This means war."
The girls played Super Mario Brothers 3 well past when the sun had set, and it was the most fun Taylor had in nearly two years.
It was also the most fun Madison had…ever had, and when Taylor offered her the futon rather than going home, she accepted.
Though, there were some, complications.
"Seriously you've never watched Gojira before?"
Madison rolled her eyes as she rolled over to tap Taylor's shoulder, "No I have not watched Godzilla, I know it's a sin for any self-respecting monster movie lover but it just seemed tasteless with the whole…Endbringer thing."
"Go-ji-ra," Taylor over emphasized while pointing at the TV, "he is literally the king of monsters and if we had him on our side the Endbringers would be begging for a truce! Show some appreciation you plebian!"
Madison snorted at that, "Right, of course, I shall bow down to the might of Godzilla-"
"-Gojira!"
"-and show my proper appreciation towards his might." With that Madison threw a few chips on the floor while stating, "Oh mighty Godzilla, please do accept this pitiful offering and do spare myself and my family from your unending wrath, amen."
There was dead silence for a few moments, then Taylor broke out giggling.
Then there was a cough from the doorway, and both girls turned to see Danny standing their leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his visage, highly amused.
"You do know that is going to attract ants right?"
Blushing brightly Madison scrambled to clean up the chips she had thrown on the floor while Taylor laughed, and damn it all she couldn't help but smile.
She chose to ignore the wisps of shadows that grasped the discarded chips and placed them in her hands for the time being…
She would sleep better that way.
