Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House, the brand, as well as all of its characters and settings belong to Chris Savino and Nickelodeon, all rights reserved.
Chapter 21: Brotherly.
He felt like an idiot, no, he was an idiot, the biggest jerk to ever walk on earth, he stood there, looking at the white plank wood of the door right in front of him, but he didn't move a muscle, he doesn't know how to approach this.
She was crying, and it was his fault.
- I promised her, she gave me the space, I gave her nothing, she changed her ways again, because I wanted that, but what about what she wanted, she only asked me one thing –
- To continue the flipping story! – he remembered while continuing his internal monologue.
He made up his mind, it was Lola's turn, her part of the deal, but also.
He would do anything to make his little princess happy again.
He quietly opened the room, lucky as he was, she didn't lock the door.
- Lola? – His soft voice penetrated the room, making the little girl, who was sobbing under the blankets of her fancy bed alongside her teddy bear, stop any attempts at motion.
She wasn't about to show weakness to anybody, not even to him.
- What do you want? – Lola snapped at a very defensive tone, warning the perpetrator that she was not going to give in to cutesy words alone.
Lincoln knew that stance, it wasn't unbreakable by any means, but he was going to have to pour some real effort to break it.
He quietly approached the bed that belonged to the princess, identifying the bulge belonging to her small body, then sat alongside her, trying his hardest to not establish any sort of physical contact yet, he knew that he was still a viable target for a sudden physical assault from the unpredictable sister.
- Lola I… - Lincoln tried to come with something, anything, to alleviate the situation, to melt the giant wall of ice that was standing between them, but nothing was coming.
Then she spoke first.
- Lincoln, go have fun, you invited your friend for your "Movie Saturday", that's ok, we can do that any other day when Lana isn't around, which is probably going to be quite often – She finished, not even leaving the blankets that covered her face.
And Lincoln couldn't believe it, her tone was bitter, hurt, somewhat dishonest, but still…
She was putting his happiness over hers, that only made him feel worse.
- Lola… Clyde is gone, I asked him to leave – Lincoln only replied with seriousness in his voice, his conviction unbreakable this time around, he did the right thing.
The little girl, now dressed in her pink pajamas, removed the blanket at lightning speed, her intent to face Lincoln, with bloodshot eyes and an uncharacteristically unmade hair.
- You did what? – The only thing stopping her from allowing her voice to resonate through the entire town being the fact that she probably knew that the family was not supposed to know that he was there.
- Look Lols, I know that you've been making an effort at giving me space, so I think it's only fair that I do my part of the deal – Lincoln says with an apologetic voice as he pulls his sister closer to him with his arm, making her face away as a strong blush rises on her cheeks.
- But Linky, that's not right, you shouldn't just cancel plans like that, this was your plan with your best friend, that's the kind of think that I promised to respect – She tried unconvincingly to show disapproval to Lincoln's admittedly reckless decision, looking at him through the corner of her eye as for to not show her blushing face.
But a certain rush of happiness from her heart made it hard to fake.
- Lola, sometimes, it's good if you also think about what's best for you, I mean, I didn't think I would ever be telling you that! – The albino replied while shocking even himself at the thought of telling the ex-arrogant princess to think more about herself, that was way too much selflessness, even for him.
- Look Linky, you don't get it – She said while holding her arms and looking down – You may think that I'm still too young to understand sacrifice, but the thing is, it would be just as If I sacrificed my chance at an all-free 24h Spa just to grant a promise to you that we could do literally any other day, I don't like it Lincoln, because I know just how much would you rather see your movie with Clyde than to write that story with me! – Lola finished while looking back at her brother with a decisive expression.
And Lincoln stood there, eyes wide open, his mind wandering to another place…
"…Perhaps you are right commander, maybe this isn't worth it, you yourself said that it would only bring happiness to me, but truth be told, your happiness also matters, in fact, I'll be happy, for as long as you're happy…"
And he snapped.
- You know Lols – He said while exchanging a confident smile to his sister, throwing her out of a loop.
- Maybe I feel like writing with you today more than watching some dumb special! – He said, surprising himself at the fact that…
He was being entirely honest.
- …Whatever, I really don't – Lola still tried to fight back, with a pouty face, crossing her arms again and avoiding eye contact, she was definitely on her last resort.
- Ohhh, that's too bad ~ - At last, Lincoln pulled his triumphant card of ironic defeat – And here I had this amazing idea for a new chapter, well, too bad I might forget about it ~- He continued the teasing game.
He went there, he really went there.
- You know, one of these days, I will not fall for that cheap trick, what will you do then? – Lola tried to keep her posture by warning Lincoln of her natural growth process, where one day, curiosity will not take over her decision making process.
- Improvise – Lincoln simply gave her a quick blow, completely demolishing his sister's Ice wall for the reminder of the week, allowing her to finally produce a smile back at him, as well as eliciting an adorable giggle.
- Well, I hope you actually have something good to show, or I'll know you were lying – Lola gave him a final warning, he sounded very sincere about actually wanting to do this with her today, so for his sake.
That chapter better be good.