[9:33am, Hui-Chieh Residence, Zhang's Perspective]
Today is one of my mother's rare days off. As a result, she's still asleep and showing no signs of waking up soon.
I sigh. She must really exhaust herself. Then again, after what she said last night, it's probably the stress that wears her out. Tch, and it's my fault for making her worry so much.
Well, I'll sort something out later, time to get today started.
I promptly get dressed and sort out a cold preliminary breakfast, before setting myself down in the living room, switching the TV on for background noise.
Last week really did affect Mum quite severely, though I'd be lying if I said I came out of it unchanged. Just sitting here, alone, makes me feel uneasy, even with the television doing it's best to act as company.
Of course, it's just paranoia, my home is probably the second safest place for me, losing only to Mum's workplace. I'll be fi-
Rrrriiiinnngggg!
The sound of the doorbell almost made me drop my food.
We rarely ever get visitors let alone in the morning, so I'm struggling to think who it could be. Whatever, I'll just answer the door anyway.
I take a deep breath and briskly open the front door.
"Hello-"
I'm cut off by the gaze I'm shot by the person standing there.
It's a relatively tall woman with silver hair, grey eyes, horns and a tail vaguely resembling that of a Lung, but there's something...different about her.
"Hey..." She speaks in a commanding tone. "Are you Zhang Hui-Chiey?"
How does she know my name?
"Um...yes, that is me." I quietly reply.
"I see..." Her expression softens drastically and so does her tone of voice. "I-I'm happy to finally meet you!"
She bends slightly to grasp my hand.
"A-apologies... but, do I know you?" I feel incredibly awkward.
She looks at me.
"So she still hasn't told you, huh..." She mutters before standing up straight again. "Sorry about that! Let me introduce myself...I am Talulah, your half-aunt."
H-half-aunt?!
[Ch'en's Perspective]
My idiot sister! I was not prepared for this!
I rush downstairs and see Zhang looking very uncomfortable while Talulah looms over him with the most friendly expression I've seen on her in many years.
"What do you think you're doing?!" I yell before dragging Zhang back away from Talulah.
"Why are you so cold Ch'en?" Talulah's smile changes to a smug one. "Do you intend to keep me locked out of my nephew's life forever?"
"Mum, what is she talking about?" Zhang asks, clearly bewildered.
I sigh heavily.
"First of all, Talulah, you were never locked out of his life." I reply. "I said this to you before. As long as you gave me fair notice, you have been free to visit anytime."
Talulah looks away defiantly.
"And Zhang..." I force a smile at him. "What she says is true. Her name is Talulah, my older half-sister, your aunt."
He doesn't reply, only stares back in bemusement.
I turn back to Talulah. "And you, why did you take so long to visit? I told you about Zhang 8 years ago."
"I was building up courage." She folds her arms. "It's very hard to muster the bravety to talk to a family member who has existed for 14 years, yet doesn't even know of your existence. Nothing, of course, you'd understand having no emotion at all."
I grit my teeth.
"Do you two not get along?" Zhang suddenly blurts out.
"No, we-"
Talulah suddenly throws her arm around me.
"Wherever did you get that impression?" She asks. "This is just friendly banter between half-sisters!"
Her grip tightens.
"Right, Ch'en?"
What is she trying to do?
"Get off me!" I shove her away. "I still don't trust you around my son, Talulah, even if you are a Rhodes Island operator."
"I know that!" She retorts. "Which is why I arrived this early in the day."
"What?"
"I'm here to treat you to a meal out, both of you." She proclaims. "A breakfast, more specifically."
"We have food here!" I exclaim.
"Well, obviously." Talulah steps closer. "But it would do you some good to have some common food."
"I doubt that..." I resist.
"Mum..." Zhang speaks. "Let's take her up on her offer."
"Huh?" Don't tell me he's been bewitched... "B-but-"
"Please, Mum?" He's staring at me, expectantly. "My whole life, I thought you were my only family. Now I've met Talulah...ah, I mean, Aunt Talulah, I want to get to know her. Regardless of how you two feel about each other."
I-I'm defenseless.
[Zhang's Perspective-15 minutes later]
The formation we've maintained while heading wherever Aunt Talulah is taking us has been kind of awkward. I'm stuck between Mum and Aunt Talulah, both of which have been subtly fighting over me and not-so-subtly arguing with each other.
"Here we are!" Aunt Talulah gestures towards a restaurant that looks like a chain.
Mum's face drops, but she stays silent as we enter.
The waiter takes us to a table and I take a seat first with Aunt Talulah sliding in next to me almost immediately. This causes Mum to be visibly upset, but I guess she doesn't want to cause a scene so she quietly sits directly opposite me.
We are given menus and immediately Aunt Talulah starts giving me recommendations.
"All this stuff is so boring sounding..." I hear Mum whisper.
...With our order placed, Mum's and Aunt's focus returns to their bickering.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, after all...Guess I'll stare out the window.
..."Zhang, food's here."
Aunt Talulah snaps me out of my trance.
"Oh, uh...thanks." I sheepishly reply.
"Talulah, I can't believe you're making me and Zhang eat this stuff." Mum says sternly.
"I'm not forcing you." Aunt Talulah leans forward. "Besides, it's actually really good, so think of how satisfied you'll feel at the end."
Mum takes a mouthful, but her expression doesn't look impressed.
Aunt Talulah places a hand on my shoulder. "Look at her, I reckon she's looking better already."
"You're going to look a lot worse in a minute." Mum says, with venom.
"Oh, well colour me terrified." My aunt smiles provocatively at Mum.
They have been like this the entire time. Constantly verbally lashing each other, probably has something to do with an event that happened before I was born. Still, it's hard to watch my folk wanting to kill each other all the time. I don't know if there's much I can do, but I'll try and help them get along, or at least, tolerate each other.
"Aunt Talulah, is there any reason as to why I've never met you until now?" I ask, to distract her from Mum.
"Zhang..." Mum trails off.
"Well, my nephew..." Aunt Talulah faces me. "For the first few years of your life, I was locked up, a prisoner of the organization I now serve. I was planning to stay that way for the rest of my life."
"What changed?" Me and Mum ask at the same time.
Aunt Talulah looks between us, then continues. "A thought came to mind, 'do I really want to live out the rest of my days cooped up in a cell?' and that got me motivated, so I told the people there I would join them. Shortly after that, Ch'en turns up and tells me all about you, Zhang."
"8 years ago..." Mum mutters.
"When I heard that, I immediately became interested in meeting you." Aunt Talulah explains. "But, as I said back at the house, it wasn't easy to muster the courage to visit, so it took me a long time. In fact, I only decided to come over today because Rhodes Island's base has made a pit stop in Lungmen."
"I see..." I slowly return to my food.
What the hell happened before I was born? Something about Reunion, I think. That's not a lot to go on.
"Anyway, I'm here now." Aunt Talulah says. "And I have more plans for today, if you'll let me, Ch'en."
Mum sighs heavily.
"As long as it doesn't bring even the slightest threat to Zhang, do what you want, with supervision, of course." She relents.
"That was easier than expected." Aunt Talulah picks up a bit of her meal. "Let's finish up here so we can move on."