Family Portrait
Song By Pink
From M!ssundaztoodStarfire sat in the corner, tears pouring silently down her face as she heard Bass and Cossack yelling again. Scrunching her eyes closed, she put her hands over her hearing receptors.
Bass stopped mid-yell when he noted his sister's tears. Softening, the black Navi swept over, kneeling by his only friend, putting his arms around his shoulders.
Mama please stop cryin'I can't stand the sound
Your pain is painful and it's tearing me down
"Shh…. it's okay Starry…I'm sorry for yelling…"
Cossack seemed enraged by this simple act of kindness. "You see! This is what I'm talking about! All you care about is that stupid little girl! If you keep spending that much time with her your revolutionary power is wasted!"
At this, the blonde Navi's tears poured down anew and Bass turned to his father.
"Useless? You're the one who made her! Who is to take care of her if I do not?"
Starfire looked back up as her brother began to shout again. She hated this…the fighting, the shouting, the long standoffs…
I hear glasses breaking
As I sit up in my bed
It told god you didn't mean those nasty things you said
You fight about money
About me and my brother
And this I come home to This is my shelter"STOP IT!"
All eyes turned to Starfire, who was on her knees, face tearstained. "You fight all the time now! Why can't you two get along?" Her voice lowered. "I love you both…do you know what this does to me…?"
It ain't easy growin' up in WW3
Never knowin' what love could be
You'll see, I don't' want love to destroy me
Like it has done to my family
The black Navi realized what he had been doing to his dear sister this whole time. How could I have been so selfish? He wondered, seeing the tears glistening in the blue eyes gazing up at him.
Can we work it out?
Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better
Mommy I'll do anything
Can we work it out?
Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better
Daddy please don't leave
Cossack was quiet as well, but he did not soften like Bass did. With a small huff, he disconnected the link.
Kneeling by his sister's side, Bass wiped away a tear. "I'm so sorry…"
Daddy please stop yellingI can't stand the sound
Make mama stop cryin'
'Cause I need you around
Sniffling, Star's lip trembled as Bass lifted her onto his back piggyback style. Wrapping her arms around, Star hurriedly moved them as she brushed Bass's chest. "Sorry…" She whispered.
Breathing heavily, Bass smiled. "It's not your fault…you didn't give me this injury." He said, referring to the cut he had gotten across his chest a few weeks ago. It was still tender and was wrapped in white bandages.
My mama she loves you
No matter what she says is true
I know that she hurts you
But remember I love you too!
"Brother…are you going away again?"
Bass sighed; having known this would come up. It had after every argument since his accident. "I don't know…"
Pressing her face against the back of Bass's neck, Starfire closed her eyes tightly. "Please don't…. I love you too…
I ran away today, ran from the noise
Ran awayDon't wanna go back to that place
But don't have a choice, no way
The duo reached the room they shared, complete with bunk beds. Lowering his sister onto his bottom bunk, Bass sat beside her. "I just…I don't think you should grow up with this Starry. If I go away, things will be normal again."
Starfire was quiet, looking at a picture on the wall. It had been taken just a few weeks before Bass's accident and everyone looked very happy.
It ain't easy growin' up win WW3
Never knowin' what love could be
You'll see, I don't' want love to destroy me
Like it has done to my family
Bass followed her gaze and chuckled. "That's how things should be, huh?"
Starfire nodded. "Why can't we just pretend that this is how it's always been and going to be?"
In our family portrait
We look pretty happy
Let's play pretend; let's act like it comes naturally
Sighing, Bass shook his head. "Nobody would believe it. They know what our family is like."
Wiping her eyes, Starfire looked up at her sibling. "I don't want you to leave! I don't want another sibling but you!"
I don't wanna have to split the holidays
I don't want two addresses
I don't want a stepbrother anyway
And I don't want my mom to have to change her last name!
As dusk morphed into night, Bass stayed by his sister's side, staring a picture of them, taken just a few weeks before the accident, around the same time as the family portrait. Glancing at Star, who was asleep beside him, Bass stood, reaching under the bed to pull out a large box. Opening the lid, he found a small square of white paper with Star's neat handwriting on it. Cautiously, he picked it up and began to read.
'Bass, I found this the other day while you were off showering. I guess this means you're leaving soon. Well, it had to happen sooner or later. My promises to Cossack would never satisfy him anyways.'
Mama I'll be nicer
I'll be so much better
I'll tell my brother
I won't the spill the milk at dinner
I'll be so much better
'Just remember while you roam out there…I love you. As your little sister, I always care no matter how annoying you are.'
Looking at his sister, Bass smiled sadly. Poor girl…I swear, one day I'll come back for you. I promise you. Unwrapping the bandages around his chest, Bass stared down at the scar that extended diagonally from the right side to the left side of his chest, Throwing the brown traveling cloak about his shoulders, Bass put the box on his bunk and perched on the windowsill, looking back for a moment.
I'll do everything right
I'll be your little girl forever
I'll go to sleep at night
Daddy don't leave…. daddy don't leave
With a confident smile, the black shadow leapt down into the adventurous night.
