Chapter Four: I Hope That Someday I'll See Without These Frames

- - - - About Three Years Later - - - -

"Hey, Dave! Can I see that sword now?" Bro points up to one of the swords on the wall. You though the first time he asked, he'd ironically choose one of the hilariously shitty ones, but he's only five. He'll learn.

You take the top one off first and carefully hand it to him. It remains sheathed right now, but he's so excited he's practically bouncing. Taking the other one off, you hold it in your hand. You get on your knees and hold it out in front of you.

"Alright, little dude. You watchin'?" And his response is his small head going up and down with a small trying to break free on his face. Shit, he's just a little kid. This once will be fine. You give him a big grin and he sees it's ok to smile. His face practically shines with how big his smile is. He holds his own sword out in front of him, just like you did.

"Now, watch what I do, but don't do it until I say so, okay?" "Yeah, yeah! Okay, Dave!"

You watch him as you slowly remove it fromt he sheath and he follows your movements.

Moving your wrist around you adjust your grip until it's just right. It already was, but you've got to demonstrate to the kid. "Wait, Dave, what'dja do there?" He tries mimicking you, but you stop him. You set your sword down and show him just what to do. It takes a while for him to get it just right, but that's fine. You show him just how to hold it properly and the easiest way to move it around. He swings it down slowly, trying to get it just right like you did. It doesn't take long before plenty of time has passed and it's now lunchtime.

"Alright, Bro. We're gonna stop for today. Tomorrow morning we'll practice again. That okay with you, little man?" He beams up at you again. "Yeah, Dave! This is awesome!"

He'd been waiting all morning to start his training. He thinks that since that's all he wants, it's all he's getting for his birthday. He's still too young to get you won't just leave it at that. He deserves the best and you'll personally make sure he gets it. Like right now, you're about to take him out to get lunch, but he doesn't know you're taking him out to the funzone thing. He'll be so surprised when he sees the building, let alone all his preschool friends waiting with their parents and two of your friends. He'll be overwhelmed to be there, and even more shocked when he walks in and everyone surprises him. Plus, you got his very own set of turntables. They'll be on the big side right now, but it's just to teach him with, really. He'll start mixing stuff for real once he's older.

You try making everything a little bit special for him, especially birthdays and holidays. It's worth it to see him happy and enjoying his life. You know the day's going to come when you lose him to whatever took you and your memory. Until then, you decide you're going to make this great for him. You'll keep him safe and happy, but train him so he'll be more prepared than you ever were. Right now, you're okay with just living in the moment. You don't want to think about the big picture, and especially not the fact he's growing up pretty quickly. You don't want to lose him again, but you know it's not your decision. So, instead, you just enjoy your life right now and give him everything he needs.

- - - -Six Years After That - - - -

"Hello, Mr. Strider. How may I assist you today?" a young secretarty asks, a soft smile gracing her face.

"I'm just here to see Dave. Gotta get him to sign some papers for school."

Her smile widens a little at you before she looks down at one of the schedules on her desk. She flips some of the pages open while scanning through the booklet in front of her. You already know he's in a meeting for a while longer; Dave makes sure you know where he is at all times. It's some sort of protective thing he does in case you need him. It doesn't bother you that much because you know that for whatever reason he is almost scarily protective of you sometimes.

"Ah, he's in a meeting for another ten minutes. I can let you wait in his office, unless you'd want to wait out here?" She's young, probably early in college, and obviously hasn't gotten the memo that Dave doesn't like any of his employees messing with you. There's a lady who's been working here for about five years now watching you two, so you figure you'll leave it up to her to tell this chick.

"I'll just wait in his office. Thanks anyways."

It may have shocked her a little to see you just walk off. What, didn't she realize you have your own access pass to everywhere in this building? She calls out a "Have a nice day, Mr. Strider!" a little too loudly, but you just wave your right hand up in the air as a response.

Dave's office is at the end of a long hallway. Most people would think the rooms down this hall are offices, but all that's here is a large breakroom and some storage areas. You let the pass drop out of your sylladex and into your hand. It takes a second to register before the light flashes green and the door unlocks.

Now, just where to sit that would be the most ironic. You could always open the window and sit on the edge with your feet hanging out. Nah, Dave would probably have a heart attack and flip his shit at you. The two waiting chairs are out of the question and you really don't feel like sitting in a potted plant or on the pumpkin in the corner. All that leaves is Dave's chair. Fuck, yes. You've always wanted to sit in this thing. The only time you can say you have other than now is when Dave first got this office while you were younger. He still had to bring you to work sometimes and you usually just sat in his lap, watching whatever he did. You were small enough for it to still be acceptable and you loved it. Dave would sometimes point stuff out on his computer screen and explain it to you. He's just the best like that.

Of course, it's been a pretty long while since then. You're not little you and Dave isn't the same Dave, either. He busied himself with discovering every damn thing about John Crocker he could and work once he figured you were old enough to handle your own. You don't want to admit it, but a part of you still resents him for that. The trips you went on with him (what, Dave wasn't about to leave you alone like that) were pretty amazing, you wish things could have stayed the way they were. Him focusing on you mostly and work second. Any other bullshit had to be worked in because Dave wasn't about to ignore you.

You close your eyes and rest your head against the back of the chair. It's nice and peaceful in here, and today wasn't the greatest of days. Maybe that's why you're thinking of all this shit that just makes you upset.

A hand pets your whitish blond hair. "Hey, little Bro. When'd you become the big man?"

Oh. Shit. Your face remains calm but your pulse is racing; you didn't even hear the door click open. No wonder Dave won't let you stay alone and is constantly watching over you. If you can't even tell when he's coming, how could you ever hold your own?

"'Sup, Dave." He smirks a little at you and ruffles your hair. Instead of making you move, he just plants his ass on the desk.

"So I have some school papers to sign? What for this time?"

This may be why you're off your game today. You weren't really nervous until now, because you thought you'd present this a hell of a lot better.

"Just one of those report cards from Mrs. Durbin and a trip."

His joking attitude changes right away. His eyes scan your face and you know he knows. He knows you're nervous and is assesing everything going on here. Shit.

"I know, I know, but Dave this trip is gonna be the shit. Everyone is going; I'll be fine."

"Really now? Because I think not even five minutes ago you weren't alert enough to know I even entered to room. How the hell am I supposed to trust some teacher if you get hurt or if anything goes down? Where the hell are y'all even going?"

Aw shit. "It's just outta town, Dave. We're going to that museum and will have spend the rest of the day at the mall nearby. We'll be back by the time school ends, too."

His eyes seem to stare at the ground, and you wish you knew what he was thinking. No one can get into Dave's head; he's long since mastered how to keep a straight face at all times. If anyone else had been in the room earlier, they probably wouldn't have even been able to notice his change in attitude. Dave's just that great.

"I could take you some other time. Hell, I'll even let you bring one of those best friends of yours."

You sigh because it's hopeless. "Dave, Jake lives on a fucking island, Jane is an heiress to a company and lives in freaking Washington, and-"

"And the drunk girl doesn't even live in the US. I didn't forget. I'm saying I might just swing by a few extra stops on our next trips and there are some parts you just may want waiting at the house."

Dammit. He always pulls shit like this. I'll take you and hell, bring someone along or he'll get you more robot parts or uranium or whatever you could need and want. He does it because it works, too. Weren' you just complaining that he doesn't focus on you enough anymore? Wasting time on business trips just for you sure as hell doesn't sound like that.

"Dude, what the fuck?" What does that mean, they're wainting at the house? Unless...

"Don't be stupid. I already sent for those parts you've been wanting since I found out about the trip. The school sent the emails about it out to me last week, Bro. They're already here."

You don't look at him. Dave really is the best. Sometimes you doubt him, sure, but it's not like he can't work. And besides, you're old enough to not cry every time he has to work and can't spoil you like some little stuck up rich kid. Dave has his reasons for everything and now you're feeling guilty for thinking badly of him. Lalonde's called you out on this a few times, but you always deny it. Shit, you're terrible; you don't deserve him as a brother.

The hand is back again, ruffling and messing up your hair. Your eyes are immediately up and on him again. "Don't worry about it, Bro. You're the better brother." That surprises you. A lot. Not only is that the biggest fucking lie ever, but he's completely sincere and there's almost a nostalgic hint in the undertone of his voice when he says it.

It's happened before. Something will happend and Dave will just freak out until he knows you're perfectly alright. Once, it was at about two in the morning and Dave just burst into your room. His eyes were wild and he was frantic. He was just panicing and freaking out for no reason and, quite frankly, it scared you. He just checked you and kept asking if you were okay. The weirdest part was when he pressed him palm against your chest a couple of times. He apparently didn't find what he was looking for and it made him cry. Dave Strider, the best brother and coolest fucking dude ever cried right in front of you. It was more like he was just sobbing and weeping and you had no idea what to do.

You don't know what to do here, either. Dave could freak out and panic again right now. It doesn't seem like he will, but it makes you nervous. You've wanted to ask about then and all the things he says like that, what he said just now being a prime example, but you don't. For whatever reason there could possibly be, you know he wouldn't lie to you. You're terrified of what his answer may be and keep your mouth shut about it.

"So, uh, are we leaving now or something?" Dave just kind of stares at you for a minute. He just closes his eyes and breathes and you're left at a loss of what to do.

"Get your report card out first. I still have to sign it. We can go after that."

You just listen to Dave and do as he says. You're not even a teenage yet, hell you've still got a little while before you're twelve. Yet even you know that sometimes you've just got to shut up and take what you're given.

Hey guys! I didn't have much to do today and I was in a writing mood so here you go! The song title is from Daylight by Matt & Kim.

I'm guessing unless I stay in this writing mood, chapter five should be out after Christmas, although I will be pretty excited over my gifts, especially the tablet i'm getting. Hopefully I won't go too crazy over everything, and i'll try my best to stay on a good update time!

Also, I knew I wanted to go on with the years thing, but when I started writing i just kind of spewed out the second part, so I added in the first part to make up for it. The next chapter he'll be only a year older, so i'll have to slow my roll with these age skips i guess! anyways, if you notice anything, don't be afraid to tell me! I only sort-of scanned through this so i'm just hoping i didn't miss any major problems and can check over it later!

PLUS

thanks so much to aicornduong for your review! that was really sweet and so nice of you! i appreciated that a lot and it just made my day!

thanks for reading everybody and please review! i hope you guys are all having a great time on break and i guess i'll see you after christmas! bye!