Reviews :
Burgie : Uhg yeah seriously, I'm grateful that's not the case in real life.
ThoreLB : Many firsts for poor Gideon, for sure. He endures a world of 'em!
Song Listened To :
When the End Comes by Andrew Belle
*Chapter 45*
Inside the pop of a final release, Gideon felt the darkness about him relinquish its grip, the gentle twinkle of a nearby night light illuminated the bedroom he was seemingly trapped in, and with a sudden wretch to get his body into an upright sit, in his bed, his strong chest cavity urgently yelled out the dregs of energy he had been desperate to get out. Finally able to wrangle control back to his body, he could swear the final holler of full fear, emit to nothing but his silent bedroom, was one of many he had done everything in his power to get out of his lungs. Finally hearing his own cries bounce off the other end of his bedroom walls, he immediately erupted into full tears as a swathe of full terror and confusion plagued his wiggling circuits. With a tight inhale and a further press of a loud cry out to his bedroom and out into the stillness of the night, he balled into himself, hugged his knees and did whatever he could to get the image of the dark, scary figure out of his head, permanently out of his imagination, though now that it was even so much as a blip in his circuits, he feared the worst.
With a pop of his bedroom door that flew open, Ralph huffed a shaky, sleepy noise of full concern, soaked with adrenaline, he immediately flipped on the nearest light switch. The dim bedside lamp, on Gideon's nightstand, illuminated in the black, and with the sudden rush of scanning Gideon's bedroom for what he was certain would be an intruder, Ralph heaved a shaky breath and stabbed his eyes down to the point of impact Gideon's fists had made earlier in the night, on his wooden floor, when him and Vanellope were fighting. Now quickly coming to his senses, having been woken up out of a dead sleep to hear Gideon screaming, an event that had never happened before, Ralph sagged in shaking relief to find that Gideon had only had a nightmare. Ralph firmly pressed across Gideon's bedroom and approached his littler figure on his much bigger bed, he continued to weep in trembles of boyish sorrow as he hugged his knees, though Ralph tenderly rested his bigger hand to Gideon's upper back and croaked Gideon a wall of warmth.
"C'mon, buddy, it's okay, you're safe," Ralph's sleepy voice ushered as he lulled his eyes closed in the downswing of adrenaline that swiftly sagged out of his figure, though he popped his eyes open in soft dread as Gideon shakily unravelled his arms and reached up for Ralph like a lost boy in desperation to be held. The tight grimace on Gideon's sweet face, paired with the wetness of his cheeks, had Ralph's heart swelling. Ralph scoffed a sweet noise of rekindled delight and, without hesitation, he scooped his bigger hand underneath Gideon's rear and tucked him up into his big, broad chest with all the ease in the world. Ralph firmly held his whole hand over the broad of Gideon's back as he nestled his son into the safety and security of his arms, and with warmth, Ralph stood to correction and allowed Gideon to firmly burrow into the nook of his neck with continued sobbing. Ralph frowned and, with the embrace of one arm and hand, his other larger hand firmly stroked the back of Gideon's head, "Heyyy, hey... Shhh, everything's alright, bud, you're home, you're with me. You're safe."
"Th-there was a m-man in m-my room," Gideon's pleading voice croaked as he shut his wet eyes tight, now plagued with whole exhaustion, his littler wrecking hands grappled the collar of Ralph's sleep shirt, nearly to death; this proved to Ralph that Gideon was still panicking. Ralph furrowed his eyebrows in a sting of nervous confusion as he, once more, glossed Gideon's empty bedroom. Ralph cocked an eyebrow as Vanellope quickly made herself present, and with the security of both parents now patiently turning on lights and assessing the entirety of Gideon's bedroom and bathroom, Gideon sagged with whole defeat in Ralph's arms as he shakily continued on, "I-I couldn't move, th-there... There was a scary man in th-the reflection of... The lighthouse."
"It was just a nightmare, bub," Ralph's deep, sleepy voice ushered down into the top of Gideon's head, and as Ralph's eyes caught with Vanellope's, she visibly looked defeated with forgiveness that finally plagued the room.
"You're safe, Giddy," Vanellope patiently cooed as she approached Ralph and Gideon's figure, and with full care, she firmly began to rub her motherly touch up and down Gideon's whole arm. Thrilled to see his trembling calm, his urgent, gentle cries come to a close of whimpers and sniffles, Ralph grunted as he turned his back to Gideon's bed and made himself comfortable on the edge of it, in a lazy sit, with Gideon still securely nestled up into his big chest. Vanellope eagerly sat down next to Ralph and continued to lovingly rub Gideon's whole arm, though her eyes dragged to the wrecked floor just before them. Ralph sat with his eyes closed as he tiredly continued to stroke the back of Gideon's little head, messy auburn hair that was damp from sweat, Vanellope cautiously pressed Gideon a nervous notion, "Bud, I'm... I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to make you so angry over something we could've just... Talked through."
"I-I really didn't mean to spoil Oliver's present," Gideon firmly begged into Ralph's neck, his eyes clamped shut, his little body stiffened with reanimated sorrow, as if his body wanted to unleash it, but there was no outlet. Gideon hiccuped a hard few nasally cries into Ralph's neck and finally peaked open his teary eyes, dark eyelashes that eagerly clumped together through all the tears, "I was just... Excited, I wanted to prove to everyone that I could keep up with the surprise."
"We all have a 'foot in mouth' moment, from time to time," Ralph's deep, raspy voice grumbled towards Vanellope in tender defeat, to which Vanellope bobbed a nod of understanding and lulled her eyes closed. Both her and Ralph continued to physically love on Gideon's skin and head, a firm show of unending care it was clear he needed, "Don't worry, bud... Your big brother enjoyed his gift, nonetheless. Let's just... Remember for next time, when someone is opening a present, even if you know what it is, let them discover it first."
"I'm sorry," Gideon mumbled sorrowfully as he finally sagged his gaze past Ralph's neck and straight into Vanellope's sleepy eyes; he looked entirely exhausted, both mentally and physically, "I-I just want to fit in. Don't let the bad man come to get me."
"... Bad man?" Vanellope pressed nervously as Gideon near-pleadingly stared her down, though Ralph lulled his eyes closed and shook his head in mild dismissal.
"His nightmare," Ralph mumbled warmly, he continued to firmly rub up and down Gideon's upper back, as well as the back of his head, "Trust me... The only dude in this house that's gunna scoop you up is me. And it'll be in the form of a hug. You know full well NO ONE is brave enough to go toe-to-toe with your old man."
"No one," Vanellope firmly assured with a smile and a nod, "We love you, Gideon... I know you're getting antsy and excited to expand and make new friends, huh."
"Yeah," Gideon pleaded cutely as he sagged his eyes shut and finally wrapped his arms about Ralph's neck in normality; Vanellope continued to rub his arm, even though he shifted.
"Well, we were going to tell you when the time came, but... We're looking in to enrolling you into Pre-Academy early," Vanellope stated sweetly, to which Gideon lifted his head a little and peered his teary, becoming-hopeful gaze into his mother's, "We'll have to have Tessa have a chat with the higher ups, at Academy, but... We're trying, bud."
"I know it's hard when there's no one on the lot, that's your age, to hang out with, huh," Ralph mumbled with a nod, to which Gideon equally nodded.
"Hopefully they let me," Gideon pleaded, to which Vanellope shrugged and looked away.
"We'll see. If not, you have about two months, which will go by... But if so, then you'll be able to branch out a bit and begin making some solid friends, friends you'll be able to attend Academy with once you turn one," Vanellope assured with a nod and a smile, to which Gideon equally nodded.
"I want that," Gideon whimpered as tears remained in his eyes.
"It'll be yours," Vanellope tenderly assured, she shook her head and frowned as she lovingly stroked Gideon's sticky, wet cheeks, "Did you shower before you went to bed?"
"No," Gideon mumbled in whimpering defeat, to which Vanellope heaved a sigh, bobbed a nod and eyed Gideon's floor.
"No, he decided to test out those fancy wrecking skills I gave him," Ralph firmly grumbled, and though he seemed irritated as all get-out, it was clear he was being playful with the way Gideon's teary eyes lit up with the kiss of normalcy returning to his little family unit, "Gideon, what did your bedroom floor ever do to you?"
"I-I'm sorry, I was just..." Gideon staggered, he rubbed his eye and wondered if it was safe to smile, though Vanellope rubbed her face and groaned him a conclusory notion.
"Allowing your anger to get away from you," Vanellope grunted with annoyed giggle, she shook her head and gave Gideon a look of mild authority, though it was laced with bittersweet apology, "What has your father told you about that?"
"Methinks we need another dude-day of wrecking lessons, huh," Ralph grumbled cutely as he readjusted Gideon in his big, protective embrace; Gideon firmly leaned into his love and lulled his eyes closed.
"Yes please," Gideon whimpered.
"We'll go this Sunday, okay?" Ralph whispered, and just before he was due to unhanding Gideon, he placed a firm kiss into the top of Gideon's head and began to unravel his arm, so to set Gideon to his feet, "Okay... Go take a quick shower, clean your face, put on clean clothes, bud... We all gotta get back to bed."
"Please wait until I'm done," Gideon urgently pleaded, his scared eyes glossed about his bedroom in such a way that proved he was now terrified to be here, no matter what Ralph had just said about being the biggest, baddest dude to live. Gideon heaved a shaky breath and pleadingly peered between his mother's and father's tired gazes, "I-I don't... Want to be alone."
"I'll wait up, bub, go back to bed, I got this one," Vanellope mumbled gently to Ralph, she bobbed a nod and smiled as Ralph peered to her in stillness, as if to silently ask if she was certain, "I'll be fine, your job is more physically demanding than mine and you need the sleep more-so."
"... Thank you," Ralph ushered tenderly, and as he stood, he gave Gideon one last big side hug before escorting him to the bigger bathroom inside of his bedroom, "Alright, bud, don't linger. Just in and out, okay? Your mother is gunna be here when you're done."
"Thank you," Gideon meeped as he pressed into his bathroom and began to yank off his bigger t-shirt; Ralph heaved a soft sigh and turned to leave, kindly gave Vanellope one last notion of gratitude and vanished from Gideon's messy bedroom.
Although exhausted, Vanellope sagged her eyes to the wreckage in Gideon's flooring. Although easily fixable, both within Gideon's heart and the infrastructure of the flooring and the integrity of their home, Vanellope still felt her heart sink with further dread. Knowing full well that both beings could've acted differently and shaped their conversation in such a way of love and assurance, Vanellope still felt guilt sweep her, as if she had failed Gideon in this instance. Knowing he had been crying out for a touch of love, amidst knowing he was potentially in the wrong, she shut her eyes tight in a rise of dread as she sat with her hard thoughts. Although she was sure Gideon had to have felt important in the family, she wondered if there was more she could be doing to wrangle in the adults above him, to really do better at including him in such a way that celebrated his youth and didn't stomp it out.
Morning came quick, sunlight kissed the palace grounds with the lovely springtime that had set in, and though Gideon had had a traumatic evening and night prior, he was adamant about it not getting to him. Cast in the cold, morning shadow of the palace wall Tessa had kindly designated to Gideon, him and Novus sat on the cold cobbles before the stretch of it. Nearly dislocating their necks, they peered up the huge stretch of it, seemingly melting into the sky above, Gideon's twinkling eyes glossed the insanely massive canvas that was gifted to him. Having previously said his loving goodbyes to his mother and father, they both made sure Gideon was situated at the wall with all of his and Vanellope's painting supplies. With Tessa's decision to give Gideon a slice of wall that was nearest Ralph's, Vanellope's and Gideon's home, Gideon's wall could be seen from the big bay window of their kitchen and living room, which also overlooked a lovely grassy area Gideon and Novus often romped around in.
"You should paint me, first," Novus whispered cutely, even the bounce of his whisper had the wall collecting the decibels.
"Paint you taking a crap," Gideon barked quietly, to which both boys erupted with hard laughter. Novus flapped his wings in full irritation and shifted on his strudy feet and legs, to which Gideon flagged his hand towards him and rolled up the sleeves of his black hoodie. His hair was a wreck, his boyish features looked exhausted and strangely matured with grief, and though Novus softened and opened his mouth to take note of it, Gideon carried on, "I don't know what I'll paint first. I keep visiting this lighthouse, in my dreams... I kind of had a bad experience with it, last night, but I want to paint it all nice and sunny, maybe then it won't turn into a nightmare."
"What happened? You look exhausted, now that I get a good look'atcha," Novus mumbled softly, both boys caught eyes in a swing of tenderness they only really would show each other in their alone time, a loft of brotherly love that they clung to, "Everything okay?"
"No, I... I kind of messed up, at Oliver's birthday party last night, I don't want to talk about it," Gideon grumbled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head and looked up the blank wall that was all his, "I THEN had a horrible nightmare, last night... It was so weird. I was approaching the lighthouse I was just telling you about, and then suddenly... I was strapped to my bed and couldn't move, and there was this scary figure in my room."
"It was a nightmare?" Novus pressed nervously.
"I think so, it just... Felt so real," Gideon mumbled, though before he could continue, both him and Novus perked up as they could see a group approaching from the massive outdoor corridors that lined the inner walls of the palace.
"Uh-oh, look who it is," Novus mumbled quietly as he flattened his ears in stewing dismay.
Gideon swung his attention to the pathway that looped his way and continued on in a loop about the palace; being lazily tailed by Wren, Berri, Orph and Penny was Callum. Gideon held his breath and felt his face wash white with dread, though instant flashes of the evening prior rocketed across his vision. Images of Callum's sneaky, dark eyes, the snide remarks out of his mouth, and though Gideon played along with the goading, he inhaled a tight breath and felt bitterness coat his heart. Unsure just what Callum's intentions were here, Gideon muttered Novus a quick notion to just keep to themselves and he quickly busied himself with preparing to paint. Having grappled his palette and begun to squeeze paints onto said palette, he began to manifest water for his paint brushes in the dish provided for him.
"Hey, Gid," Callum's deep voice gently soaked into Gideon's and Novus's radius upon gaining a dozen feet to them; Gideon rudely shot Callum a dirty side-eye and began to kneel down so to make mixing his paint easier. Callum huffed a long, exhausted sigh, looked off to the sunny palace lot and sagged his hands into his pockets, "Gid, I just... Came over here to apologize for last night. I didn't mean to rub dirt in the wound, like that."
"What, your 'way-to-go' comment?" Gideon muttered tightly; him and Novus meanly snickered amongst each other as Callum bobbed a nod and gave Gideon a look of mild regret.
"Yeah, that one," Callum mumbled gently, "I just... Am doing my best in Pre-Academy, and am moving up the ranks. I guess I've grown out of kiddie things, but I shouldn't have let your feelings come in the cross fire of my own bad attitude. I'm sorry, Gideon."
Gideon gently dabbed some paint on the tips of his pointer and middle finger of his right hand; although due to using brushes eventually, he had quite enjoyed the finger painting method. He cocked an eyebrow and glanced in Callum's direction. Alongside the group of other adults slowly sauntering their way over to the three, Callum wore a comfortable pair of jeans ripped at the knees, a dark black beanie and a faded spring jacket lined with a forest green hoodie. His dark blue eyes held tenderness, a reveal of warmth that Gideon had hardly seen as of late. Gideon sagged his shoulders, bobbed a nod and peered up to the wall he was about to start gracing with his talent, though as he exhaled a long sigh through his nose, he sagged his hand carefully to his side and finally gave Callum honest eye contact.
"It's okay," Gideon eased in gentle, matured defeat, he bobbed a nod and forced a weak smile of full humility, "I can't wait to attend Pre-Academy. I guess Tessa is going to try to get me in early."
"That'd be awesome, you'll be able to walk with us to class every day," Callum nodded with a smile, "Granted, I'm in a different wing of Pre-Academy, with the other nine-months, but we'd still see each other for lunch and such."
"You'd sit with me?" Gideon asked hopefully, though his stomach sank at the raw fact that Callum inhaled a shaky breath, looked off in sheepish concern and didn't reply right away; mostly due to Berri's sweet voice popping their conversation.
"Hey, Uncle Gideon," Berri chimed warmly, everyone looked up to the massive slat of wall Gideon was offered, "Wow, you... You're gunna paint on this wall? That's crazy that mom gave you the entire thing, really generous of her."
"Yeah, it's awesome," Gideon's voice huffed with a gentle smile, he shifted on his feet and puffed his chest a little, he was thrilled to be included in on the big kid's conversations, once and for all, "Not sure what I'm going to start with, but... I'm excited."
"Me," Novus meeped cutely, the group cooed excited notions of assurance.
"Yeah, with the vast amount of cosmic color Novus has on his underside, I'd say that'd make for an awesome painting, huh," Orph agreed with a nod as he crossed his arms, though Callum rubbed his forehead in mild irritation and gently nudged Orph's arm.
"I'm ready to go, now," Callum stated with ease, though Gideon sagged his shoulders a little and now immediately pin-point Callum's concealed uneasiness; he only acted squirrelly whenever he was around other bigger kids, "I just wanted to have a quick chat with Gideon, but I'm good to go, now."
"Where are you guys going?" Gideon wondered with a twinge of excitement, "No Academy today?"
"No Academy on Saturdays and Sundays, my guy. We're going to Turbotime, Lash's cinnamon rolls are going quick," Berri whispered cutely.
"Can I come?" Gideon's eyes lit up, though Wren and Penny grit their teeth in apology as Berri gave Gideon an equally as apologetic look.
"Bud, I'm... I'm sorry, you'd have to ask mama Vanellope," Berri eased sorrowfully, she rested a warm hand to Gideon's shoulder as his excited, innocent look began to deflate into full dejectedness, "I don't think you're allowed outside the game without their permission, or while game day is happening. Maybe next time!"
"Yeah, we'll come scoop you up for next time, bud," Orph warmly assured with a nod, and though Gideon put on a brave face and eased a nod of understanding, the group gave Gideon their kind goodbyes and began walking away, in the direction from which they came.
Gideon exhaled a long, hard, tired sigh through his nose and looked down at the orange paint on his fingertips. Previously ready to paint the wall with riled excitement and zest for this new endeavor, he now peered to the gorgeous, light grey stone that was the palace's stronghold in mental exhaustion. Porous and ready to grab any and all flecks of paint sent his way, Gideon sagged his clean hand to Novus's snout and tossed his eyes to the vanishing group of adults, once more. The product of loneliness, the epitome of being left out, Gideon felt his heart begin to harden to the idea of even feeling trust over the fact that they'd eventually, one day, come back for him. They loudly chattered and laughed with each other, lofts of arms around shoulders, easy love that filled the palace walls, warmth Gideon's cold skin was desperate for, he felt trapped within a black bubble of despair. Although grateful to have Novus, he tenderly rubbed Novus's velvety snout and was glad Novus was his out, his point of safety, likely one of the only things keeping him permanently to the grid without blipping out of existence.
