A week had passed since Lon's unfortunate passing and things inside the house were…off-kilter for sure.

Wakko was wandering aimlessly around the house when he spotted Dot sneaking out via the back door in the living room. He noticed how her shoulders were hunched, how she wasn't wearing her flower tie, and that she was in the same pair of pajamas that she'd been wearing for the past five days now.

It was really odd. He was getting ready to follow her when those stupid thoughts started forming.

Go talk to her, you pathetic sack of sadness.

I am.

Actually, don't talk to her, you'll probably just ruin her love for you. Just like you ruined Yakko's love.

Go away.

Do you remember? Do you remember what happened between you and Yakko? You broke his necklace and he called you an idiot. It's upsetting but it's true. You are an idiot.

Go away!

You know he's right. You really are an idiot.

Please, go away!

What're you gonna do to Dot? How are you gonna ruin it with her, huh?

SHUT UP!

Wakko slapped himself, hard. It burned so badly — he had no idea how strong he really was — but it was enough to clear his mind. Then he sucked in a deep calming breath and slowly let it out. He needed to focus on Dot, not himself.

So he followed Dot's trail, trying his best not to let those stupid thoughts come back. He eventually found her outside trying to climb the big old oak tree in the backyard. Dot kept digging her claws into the bark, trying to fling herself upwards only to end up sliding back down. He briefly wondered if her mild fear of heights was stopping her.

Dot tried once again, to the same result. She slid back down and shook her head in visible frustration. Then she swatted her hand against the tree and tore off some bark.

Wakko slowly walked up to her, ready to ask her if she needed any help. Right when he was about to place his hand on Dot's shoulder she suddenly leapt back up again and finally managed to claw her way up the tree trunk.

He couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride as he watched her climb. Had she finally gotten over her fear of heights?

The pride snuffed out, however, when the thoughts came back with a vengeance.

Go ahead, follow her. Ruin things with her. Just like you did with Yakko.

SHUT UP!

Wakko lifted up a hand, ready to slap himself if those thoughts refused to go away. He waited a moment or two before dropping his hand back down to his side. A bit of relief swept through him. It seemed like he was okay, for now.

But then…when had he ever been okay?

Wakko shook his head, he needed to focus on Dot. Not him. He quickly leapt and clawed his way up the tree to find her. Eventually he made it to the top-most branch. She was sitting with her back to him. Her shoulders were hunched over and she had her head in her hands.

He scooted over to Dot and gently tapped her on the shoulder, hoping that he wouldn't startle her. She immediately tensed up.

"Go away, Yakko." she snarled as the fur along her back rose and her tail lashed.

You're gonna ruin everything.

"Hiya, Dot." he whispered.

Dot lifted up her head as she turned around to face him. Her eyes were glassy and red-rimmed. He figured she must've been crying earlier and his heart clenched in his chest as he realized that.

"W-What do you want?" she asked, in a much kinder tone than earlier.

"Are you okay?"

Dot looked away and half-heartedly shrugged. "I-I don't know…" she reached up, wiping at her eyes for a bit.

While that was going on, Wakko did a one-over trying to fully take in his sister's appearance. It was pretty obvious that she was not okay. If it wasn't her glossy, red-rimmed eyes that gave it away then it was the fact that she was wearing the same pair of flower pajamas for — what? — five days now. Not to mention her disheveled fur.

No. His baby sister was, in fact, not okay.

"It's okay-" Wakko whispered, gently pulling Dot into a loose hug. "-if you're not." A flicker of warmth spread in his chest as he felt her wrap her arms around him.

"It's just that…" she trailed off, sniffling and trembling in his arms. He gave her a quick squeeze, hoping it would help.

"Ugh. It's just that there's this," Dot started again. "stupid voice in my head?"

Wakko tensed up, shock worming its way into his mind. It couldn't be, could it? There was no way that Dot could have the same thing as him — right?

"Like, there's this tiny voice in the back of my head telling me 'Oh, you'll never be feminine enough.' or 'You suck. You're an awful actress. Memlo was right, you'll never be good enough.' y'know?"

"I know what you mean…" Wakko whispered. It made his heart clench hearing that she was going through near exactly the same thing as him. He didn't want her to end up like him. He didn't want anyone to end up like him.

"That voice...it goes away, right?" Dot asked. "Like it's just a dumb grieving thing but then it goes away?" She let out a shuddering breath before glancing up at him, a small glimmer of hope shining in her eyes.

Wakko looked away, suddenly unable to respond. How could he tell her that no, no it doesn't go away? That no matter how much you will it to, it'll never leave you alone? That she'll lie awake all night with her inner most darkest thoughts crashing like storm-driven waves in her brain until she won't be able to take it anymore and then she'll be forced to do something to shut them up and that's why she'll end up cut-

-Pathetic sack of sadness. Can't even comfort your own sister.

Wakko swallowed hard, knowing what he had to do. He wasn't going to like it, not one bit. But what choice did he really have?

He'd have to lie to her.

"It does." he replied and then to really sell it, he flashed Dot a (fake) lopsided smile.

The result was almost instant. She stared at him for a bit before cracking a smile of her own.

"How do you do it?" she asked, "you're always so…happy and hopeful."

I'm not okay, Dot. Look at me…Do I look happy? Am I happy? I feel awful. I'm so tired…Please tell me I'm not okay.

Pfft you really want to rely on your younger sister? You really want to burden her with your own issues? Pathetic sack of sadness.

Wakko closed his eyes and dug his claws into the palms of his hands, trying to ground himself back down to reality. Then he sucked in a deep calming breath and slowly let it out. Once that was done he opened his eyes back up.

"I jus' tell m'self 'just cheer up and never ever give up hope.'."

Dot nodded lightly. "Sounds like you." then she let out a ferocious yawn before burying her face in his shirt.

Yep. Just like me.

END.