Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.

Dark Beginnings

By Lola Presents

Chapter 3 - Retribution

Lincoln rose that Sunday morning feeling good about himself. Though still mildly sore, he could tell the effort he'd put forth the previous day had done something. His body metabolized last night's dinner better, and unexplained energy coursed through him.

Looking forward to his next training session, Lincoln dressed for the occasion and made his way downstairs for a hearty breakfast, and man, was he hungry. Looking at the clock, he realized that it was only seven-thirty in the morning, and it was unlikely that anyone was up.

There was a time when he used to make breakfast for his sisters and knew precisely how each liked their meals. However, he'd recently let his mother or father prepare the morning meal. After all, his father now owned the most popular restaurant in Royal Woods.

However, neither of his parents was awake, and without hesitation, Lincoln grabbed a loaf of bread, a carton of eggs, a bottle of cinnamon sugar, and a large whipping bowl. Letting the skillet warm up, he prepared the batter, and not long after he started cooking the French toast, his family stirred.

"Good morning, Lincoln," yawned Lori as she strolled into the kitchen, scratching her inner thigh through her silk boxers. "What's the occasion? You haven't cooked for us in a while."

"I happened to be up and quite hungry," he informed her, setting the tray on the table and heading back to pour a pitcher of orange juice. "So, I thought I'd make something for everyone."

"That's sweet, and it smells delicious!" Lori praised, taking her seat.

"Oh, I haven't finished yet," chirped Lincoln, laying out some bacon on the pan.

If the scent of the French toast hadn't been enough, the aroma and sound of sizzling bacon called forth Lincoln's remaining family, and as they slowly filed in, their eyes lit up.

"Goodness," murmured their sleepy mother as she walked into the kitchen in her old nightgown. "Why is everyone up so early on a summer day?"

"I don't know," exclaimed Lana, drooling over Lincoln's meal. "But Lincoln made breakfast, and it smelled so good I woke up!"

"Yeah, it does smell good, and I'm sure it'll taste great!" chirped Lynn in harmony with her sister. Then, turning toward her brother, she added something. "You could've used less sugar, though. It isn't good for the body. You'll pay for this during training, you know."

"Hey!" snapped Lincoln, chuckling to himself. "I'm not trying to be Arnold Schwarzenegger here. I'm still allowed my vices."

Soon, Lincoln finished cooking and placed the plate of bacon on the table before starting the morning coffee for his parents. Finally, he sat down at his place and filled his plate with delicious food while everyone chatted. It wasn't every day that he ate like a king, and he planned on enjoying it.

"Hey, Lucy?" mouthed Lola with a mouthful of bacon. "Is it just me, or is your hair lighter today?"

"Oh!" chirped Lucy, staring at her loose bangs, holding a strand between her fingers. "Yeah," she sighed. "It looks that way."

"Hm..." muttered Leni. "That's not like you. Did you need me to pick up some more dye from the drugstore?" the simple-minded girl asked, eager to exercise her recently realized ability to drive.

"Um, no thanks," Lucy replied with a slight smile. "I'm letting it go back to my natural color."

"What?" gasped Luan after swallowing some French toast. "Whatever for?"

"Do I have to have a reason for everything?" Lucy moaned. "Sheesh. Can't a girl do something different every once in a while?"

"Okay..." barked Luna, staring a hole through her sister, stunned at her change in attitude. "You've been acting weird the past few days. Did that spill knock you loopy or something?"

"Taking a hit to the mandible isn't likely to cause a concussion, much less severe head trauma," interjected Lisa. "Considering her age, a sudden influx of pubertal hormones seems more probable."

"So..." cooed Luna in response to the new information. "Who's the lucky young man?"

"Nobody!" spat Lucy indignantly. "Give it a rest. Will you?"

"Well, I think it's adorable," offered Rita, supporting her daughter. "I've always loved your natural look."

"Me too," added Lincoln casually, not even looking up. "Blonde always did suit your steel-blue eyes."

"Lucy pretty!" chirped Lily before picking up her French toast and taking a large bite out of the middle, leaving a small hole.

Flustered and turning a deep shade of red, Lucy grabbed her plate and glass, then headed to the living room to eat in solitude. Letting herself be more natural was one thing, but getting called pretty and chided for possibly liking a boy was too much for her.

"Now, why'd you go and do that?" scolded Lincoln, annoyed at his sisters. "She's only trying to fit in and not be such a visible target," he informed them. "That's got to be hard enough. And now you've gone and made her even more self-conscious."

Disgruntled, Lincoln picked his things up and joined his sister in the living room, leaving his family to contemplate what they'd done. However, he didn't stick around long enough to see if they did. His sister needed him, and as was his habit, he obliged.

"Hey," Lincoln softly called as he entered the living room and sat beside his sister at the coffee table. "Don't let them get to you," he said. "Seeing you change is an adjustment for them too, you know."

"Hi," Lucy chirped shyly, brushing her bangs back. "It's okay," she offered. "I'm not used to that much attention yet."

"You'll adjust," assured her brother, continuing to eat his meal. "Don't rush yourself. Otherwise, the effort will seem fake."

"I'm glad you said something," Lucy admitted as she munched on her bacon. "I was planning to ask Mom if she'd take me into town and get my hair bleached back to normal."

"Nah..." responded Lincoln with dismissal. "Let it fade naturally."

Lucy gazed at her brother as he ate and cocked her head to one side. His words and body language didn't speak of unrequited love. Instead, he seemed entirely normal. Maybe Lynn had been wrong. Either way, it didn't stop her heart from beating faster.

If Lucy were to ever know the truth, she would have to push a few buttons. However, that was risky. While not as knowledgeable as their sister, Lisa, he understood most things well and would surely pick up on any covert maneuvers. Still, there were subtle ways around that.

"Do you really like my natural hair color?" Lucy casually inquired, building on something Lincoln himself had said.

"Mmhm," hummed Lincoln with a full mouth.

"Why?" asked the confused girl. "Don't we have enough blonde's in the house?"

"Maybe," muttered her brother, having cleared his plate. "But I like it because it's the real you."

"Lincoln..." Lucy sighed. "People dye their hair all the time. It doesn't mean they aren't themselves. It's like changing one's clothes."

"Yup!" agreed Lincoln, only to confuse his sister further. "And I'll always respect that. However, in my opinion, it's like..." he offered before considering his words, "...it's like makeup. All these companies push their products, insinuating someone has something to make up for, hence the name."

"I don't understand," muttered Lincoln's sister.

"You don't have anything to make up for," he told her, looking into her eyes. "You're perfect the way you were born," he said as he stood to clear his things. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for my workout."

If Lucy's eyes could have opened any further, they would have. She desperately wanted to hold her hands to her chest and sigh, "Be still my heart." However, that would have been a disastrous move as it would have given away her feelings for her brother.

Instead, the love-stuck girl followed her brother as he left for the kitchen with her eyes. Only after her brother disappeared did she gently lay one hand on her chest and sigh deeply. Then focusing on her unfinished meal, she resigned herself to living the rest of her life, secretly longing for her brother's touch.

While Lynn wasn't the most intelligent tool in the shed, she was an athlete and thought strategically. She could see a play coming a mile away, and her sister, Lucy, had implemented such a play. The changes in her sister's appearance and attitude, along with last night's confession, told her so.

The game was capture-the-flag, the flag being their brother. And despite her disgust at the situation, Lincoln did seem to be aware of the game. Whether he harbored feelings for Lucy or not, Lynn couldn't discern. She had her suspicions, but as yet, nothing concrete had developed.

In the meantime, Lynn had a job to do, one in which she believed. Setting her insecurities aside, the young athlete began putting Lincoln through the paces. Having already gone through the routine, Lincoln eagerly donned the boxing gloves and took his stance in front of the bag, ready to train.

For the next two hours, Lynn pushed her brother to his limit and beyond. Surprised that he could keep up after what she'd put him through the previous day, Lynn eventually called the session to a close, offering him another congratulatory high-five.

"Hit the showers, Linc," cheered Lynn as she started to put away her weights. "I'll clean up here."

"Actually..." chirped her brother, swinging his arms freely around his mid-riff. "I think I'm going to go on a run before I do that. I'm feeling pretty good," he informed his surprised but pleased sister. "Besides, I have a few cobwebs to clear out."

"Alright," grinned his sister. "But don't overdo it."

Leaving the garage with his water bottle securely nestled in its strap, Lincoln hit the sidewalk, jogging at a comfortable pace. The weather was nice, not too hot yet, and he enjoyed feeling the breeze as it cooled his damp skin. Jogging was just what he needed to clear his head.

Ever since he found Lucy, after getting accosted by Chandler, he felt something was off. He and his sisters had discovered Lucy in a similar condition before, and it never bothered him as much as it did now. Then there were Lynn's words to consider.

His trainer had insinuated that he might have feelings for his sister. But that couldn't be true, could it? Not only was Lucy particularly vulnerable to bullying, but she was the bully's current focus. There was no reason to think there was anything more to it than a need to protect his sister.

Then again, he'd never felt this angered over the situation, despite Lucy having already gotten victimized. After considering things for a moment, Lincoln realized he hadn't been the only one affected by the recent assault. Lucy was going out of her way to normalize herself.

She had been funny the previous morning, coming to breakfast looking like a darker version of himself. Then, earlier that day, asking him about his preferences in her appearances. Sure, he'd been the one to give her the advice in the first place, but that didn't mean he had all the answers.

As Lincoln jogged around the corner, heading for the park, he wondered why his sister doted on him so much. Lucy had always been close to him. She was always nearby whether she was asking for vocabulary advice, going to spooky movies, or watching reruns of ARGGH with him.

While thinking about his sister, a broad smile slowly spread across Lincoln's face. However, it quickly faded at the sound of an unfortunately familiar voice.

"You! Shithead!" Chandler called from his perch on the retaining wall not far ahead. "I need to have a word with you!"

Coming to a stop, Lincoln considered changing direction and heading home. He had promised his father that he wouldn't start anything and intended to keep his word.

"What do you want?" Lincoln barked as the boy approached, sans accomplices. "I have better things to do than chat with you."

"Come now..." cooed Chandler menacingly. "Is that any way to thank the guy who improved your sister's face?"

"Shut the fuck up, asshole," Lincoln growled through clenched teeth.

"I think not," retorted the bully, squaring up against Lincoln. "It seems your parents had a little talk with mine last night, and guess what?"

"You're an idiot?" offered Lincoln, desperately trying to restrain himself.

Chandler closed his eyes and averted his eyes while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"That hurts, Lincoln..." the boy said. "But I can handle that. What I can't handle is a fucking snitch!" he said before breaking the façade and taking a swing at Lincoln.

Having prepared himself, Lincoln dodged the swing. Grabbing the boy by the arm, Lincoln pulled him over his extended leg, stepped back, and settled into the fighting stance.

"You son of a bitch..." complained the prone bully as he came to a stand, brushing the dirt off his shirt. "You're going to pay for that!" he declared, assuming a similar stance.

The fight was on, and those meandering around the park began to look on as the boys traded blows. Lincoln took a hit to the jaw from a quickly thrown right hook but responded with a jab to Chandler's left kidney, taking advantage of the opening left by the boy.

Unused to having somebody stand up to him, much less do so confidently, Chandler whistled loudly, calling his cronies to his side. Wiping some blood from his face, the bully leered at Lincoln. Lucy might have been his favorite target, but that was before her brother willingly took her place.

"Boys," Chandler chattered with frustration. "Get him!"

Defending oneself against a single opponent was one thing. Fending off multiple assailants was another, and Lincoln quickly found himself surrounded and overwhelmed. Chandler's goons pounced on Lincoln at their first opportunity, knocking him to the ground.

Unable to free himself from their weight and strength, Lincoln had little choice but to lay there as Chandler leaned in and punched him repeatedly in the face and gut. Finally satisfied that Lincoln had learned his lesson, the bully rose and ordered his friends to stand down.

"Well, what do you know?" spat Chandler, spitting some blood and saliva on the battered boy. "You look even better than your sister," he chided Lincoln as he curled up into the fetal position from the pain. "Enjoy your new look, loser..." Chandler finished before walking off, laughing wildly.

The fight had happened so quickly that when the resident parents made their way to Lincoln, the bullies had already left, leaving their victim lying in the middle of the sidewalk, bleeding profusely. As two fathers helped him stand, a distraught and angry mother began cleaning him up.

"What were you thinking?" asked one of the men. "Why would you take on three guys like that?"

"I..." stammered Lincoln through swollen lips. "I was standing up for my sister," he muttered. "Those boys are nothing but trouble."

"Never mind that!" exclaimed the woman as she dabbed at Lincoln's wounds. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Lincoln lied as he stumbled, trying to support himself. "I just need to go home."

"Not like that, you aren't!" barked the lady. "John, help him into the car and take him home, please."

Nodding, the woman's husband led Lincoln to their car and drove off down the road.

"Oh, my, God!" Lucy cried as she bolted from her seat on the sofa, throwing her arms around her brother, despite his cries of pain. "I was afraid something like this might happen!" she wept.

Then, seeing the man waiting patiently behind her brother, Lucy stepped away from Lincoln.

"MOM!" Lucy yelled. "Come quick!"

Lucy barely ever spoke with emotion, let alone cried out, and Rita came dashing in from the kitchen, the recently pulled trash bag still in her hand. And at the sight of her son, she dropped the untied bag, which released some of its contents.

"Lincoln!" Rita cried, wanting to touch him but unable to do so. Instead, her fingers hovered nervously over his cheeks. "What happened? Are you okay? Who did this?"

"Chandler, Mom," he whimpered, holding onto her wrists. "I told you not to get involved..." he added before releasing his mother's arms and heading upstairs.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," John said. "A few of us tried to stop them, but his attackers were gone before we got there. The least we could do was bring him home."

"T-Thank you," stammered Rita, shaking John's hand before excusing herself and closing the door. "My poor baby..." she cried, rushing to the restroom to fetch her medical kit, leaving Lucy and a few of her siblings in shock.

"This is all my fault!" Lucy screeched, clawing at herself. "Why do I have to be such a freak!" she wailed before running out the front door and disappearing.

"Lucy!" called Lori and Luan. "Wait!"

But it was too late. The distressed young girl was nowhere in sight.

"Sh. It's alright," Rita cooed, doing her best to calm her son while she applied ointments and bandages. "It'll only sting for a moment."

"I don't care about that," Lincoln mumbled. "As long as that bastard leaves Lucy alone, I don't mind being his punching bag."

With a stern and concerned look, Rita withdrew her hand and stared at her son, recalling Lucy's strange behavior the previous day. Then, she voiced her concern as motherly as possible.

"Lincoln," she asked softly. "Is there something going on between you and Lucy?"

Hotter than hell, both at herself and Chandler, Lucy hustled to wherever she knew the boy might be. And after cornering him in the little alley behind Gus' Games and Grub, she faced her enemy as he took a leak behind the dumpster.

"Hey, asshole," she called boldly.

"Hey!" spat Chandler, quickly zipping up his pants. "Can't you see I'm trying to take a whiz here?"

Chandler never saw the two by four in his struggle to correct himself.