I'm baaaaccckkkk!
For those of you who have read my super short tale, A Little Rain, I think you'll enjoy this one…
On another note, I've had one reader comment on something I have since deleted from my bio about whether or not I should wait for a certain number of reviews before updating, with the advice that it wasn't a particularly great idea. In my defence, I wrote that when I joined fanfiction a few months ago and didn't have a clue about anything.
I realised that some of you may have assumed that was what I was doing, and I want to assure that that has never been my intention. Perhaps I should have been upfront earlier. The only reason I haven't been as quick updating is because my laptop has been dodgy lately, (I'm saving for a new one. Fingers crossed.) which has made writing somewhat difficult.
For that, once again, I apologise. You'll have to be patient with me.
Disclaimer: I wish...
When a knock lands on his office door, the conditioned response is to expect bad news.
So when this twerp of a visitor, Parker, tenses and takes a deep breath after the uneasy small-talk draws to an end, he knows he's finally getting 'round to the point.
"Um, sir?" Messenger boy stares hard at the floor. "Do you, uh, regret taking on this position?"
Whatever he expected, this isn't it. His reply is slow and disbelieving, as if he wasn't quite sure if he'd heard correctly.
One brow quirked, he repeats, "Regret it?"
"Not to be disrespectful, but you are not exactly handling things very well. Our latest mission was not only disastrous, but we lost four men in the process. The others… they're becoming suspicious. Some question if perhaps the rumours are true. That he may have…"
The man hesitates, a pained look distorting his angular features.
"Oh, for heaven's sake spit it out, Parker. Whatever you have to say, just say it."
Shifting his weight from side to side, Parker's voice is small when he says, "They think that his loyalties may not lie with the resistance. That Chris may have been persuaded to… um… join… the other… side."
The commander blinks. "What?"
With a loud gulp, the small man is soon backtracking. "Well, after all they are brothers and, well, you can't blame them if-"
"Chris is no traitor and I can't believe anyone would even suggest it!"
"He hasn't been seen in months, sir. Many fear we have been compromised. That he has informed Lord Wyatt of our plans of attack. It would explain why we have failed so miserably time and time again-"
"I don't want to hear another word of this Goddamn drivel! The only reason we keep failing is because Chris isn't around to lead us! Of no fault of his own, might I add. He has made more sacrifices than any of you can ever imagine. So you return to those petty, gossiping old ladies and you tell them that any information concerning Chris and his whereabouts is classified. They have plenty of other things to occupy their time than worrying about this nonsense. There's a world-wide war raging on as we speak, isn't that enough? What does it take to keep people busy these days? 'Cause I don't know about you, but I think I have more than enough on my plate."
Parker rolls his eyes, but decides not to comment. "I'm afraid that mightn't please anyone. A few weeks ago, sure, that might've prevented an uproar. But now… We want answers."
The brow raises ever higher. "Oh," the commander replies neutrally, with only a subtle hint of menace underneath. "We do, do we?"
"Uh…" His eyes are wide and panicked, but nevertheless, he continues, "I'm sorry, but you've been silent on the matter for so long that naturally, the only conceivable conclusion is the worst one. Silence or hearsay isn't going to cut it this time."
The commander sighs, roughly rubbing his stubble in frustration. "Alright," he says heavily. "What do you suggest I do? Host a nice little presentation with some refreshments to soften the blow and a bar graph containing all the facts?"
"Well," Parker shrugs helplessly, treading carefully as he divulges, "From what I've heard, all people want is to speak to Chris himself."
Meanwhile…
"Weave me awone."
"Chris, I just want to talk."
"No," he says sulkily, and is thankful for the thick shield of darkness and the door between them as he wraps his lips around the tip of his thumb and sucks gently. "No, tawking. Tawking's how I got into 'dis mess."
"Uh, what got you into this mess was a cuddly toy, your overprotective brother, an Anno demon and a whole lot of shitty memories."
"Faiw point," he concedes. "Now go away."
The following sigh is low and deep, and sort of makes little Chris yearn for puberty and the times when his voice alone could hold so much meaning. No-one takes his high-pitched gibberish seriously. Including his other, matured self.
"Your mother's really worried, Chris," Leo says gently and little Chris can hear how his jacket rustles as he sinks to the ground with his back pressed against the door on the other side. "And so am I. You've been holed up that closet for over two hours now. Isn't the dust bothering you? Or all those dresses of Phoebe's? I'm surprised there's even enough space for you to fit in there considering how often she goes shopping."
Despite himself, little Chris lets out a childish giggle at the lame joke, mentally berating himself.
He has actually used Phoebe's clothes to build himself a nice, comfy nesting area which he plans to live in forever, and despite the thick smell of perfume that constantly makes him feel on the verge of sneezing, it's not so bad.
"If it were me that would be the least of my worries," his father continues, soft and serious. "I'd be too scared to even go into somewhere as dark as it must be in there."
"Cut it out, Weo," little Chris grumbles in response, easily seeing through the lazy tactic. "You can't twick me into coming out by trying to scawe the fwee yeaw owd in me. It's not gonna wowk."
The words are adamant, strong, but little Chris' actions are very different. Subconsciously, his thumb delves deeper into his mouth and his suckling becomes more frantic. He's right, you know, his mind anxiously whispers, It is pretty creepy in here… Can't see a single thing…
Rainbow Brain clearly agrees. He was so frightened earlier that little Chris had to place him under his arm and cuddle him for ages to reassure him.
He also sort of repeatedly vowed to protect his best friend, though that mainly originated from boredom and an overactive imagination that created this fantasy where he was a brave, honourable knight - the most courageous in the kingdom - and so it was his job to do so. His duty.
"Alright," Leo says calmly. "Just making sure you weren't one of those kids who freak out about monsters or ghouls or bogey men or anything."
Hearing this, little Chris gulps.
Monsters…?
Uh-oh.
"Wew, I'm not a kid, so of couwse I woudn't be so stupid as to fink dey wewe weal," he insists, although his heart is racing and his body instinctively hunches, recoiling from the dangling material by his ear that up until recently had been merely a harmless scarf, but is now more deadly than a shark.
"Will you just come out? Have dinner with us?"
Little Chris snorts. "Why? So that we can aw sit down wike a famiwy?" he says snidely. "I don't fink so."
"Please? Your mother would really appreciate it."
"Stop cawing her dat!" he retorts angrily. "Hew name is Pipew. My mom died yeaws ago."
Unbeknownst to his son, Leo flinches at the harsh words.
"And now you're getting a second chance," he attempts to reason, but little Chris only rolls his eyes. "Because, like it or not, we're your parents. You're stuck with us, kiddo."
"Oh, wucky me."
"Don't be like that, Chris. I know we haven't exactly made things easy for you since you came to the past, and if I've learnt anything, it's that I'm a really crappy father, but Piper… All she wants to do is mother you, which isn't the worst thing you could endure. And saying as she's carrying mini-you around and her instincts are in overdrive, I think it would be cruel to deny her the chance."
"Don't twy to guiwt me into anyfing. She's not the woman that waised me. Piper onwy vaguey wesembles the woman I knew."
"Maybe so. But when it boils down to it, she's the same person. Just with a lot of growing up to do." He pauses. "Though you probably shouldn't mention that I said that. Knowing Piper, she'd blow me up on the spot."
"Don't tempt me. I fink I've caused enough damage between you two."
It pains Leo to know that little Chris views his parents separation this way. Especially when it's his fault. When everything is his own fault.
"Chris, if anything, you only brought a few of our problems to the surface. But those problems already existed and we're the ones who created them. Not you." He blows out a breath of hot air, struggling with what to say next. "Look, I'm sorry I ever blamed you, Chris. It was really spineless thing to do."
"Oh, I am wew awawe of youw unwiwingness to accept wesponsibility for your mistakes, twust me."
Leo sighs for what must be the fourth or fifth time inside ten minutes.
"Can we please stop going round in circles?" he requests tiredly. "You're angry, Chris. I'm not entirely stupid. I know that. But would it kill you to be civilized? It would be nice if we could have a civil conversation without referencing all my parental shortcomings of the past and future. I'm sure that's not too much to ask for."
"Hmm… I don't know, Weo. You awe a legendawy asshowe. I don't fink I can even intewact with you any othew way. It'd be wike… talking to a unicown or somefing." Little Chris shrugs, before adding with a deceptively caring tone, "I'm sowwy, but I can't pictuwe somefing dat impwausible."
"Slight exaggeration, but okay. I guess I deserve that."
"If you don't wanna heaw it then go somepwace ewse." He smirks to himself in the darkness. "No-one's stopping you."
"Contrary to your liking, I'm not leaving until you show your face. If you don't want me around, then the choice is pretty straightforward, don't you think?" Leo counters. "And, to be perfectly honest, you should be grateful. If it weren't for me, you'd have been dragged outta there by one of your brothers ages ago. In fact, you're only digging a deeper hole for yourself here, Chris, because the minute you step out, Piper is going to force food down your throat and you'd be stupid to think you'd be anything other than coddled by everyone for the rest of the day."
Little Chris frowns, pushing out his lower lip in childish petulance as he thinks it over.
"Is dat supposed da make me wanna come out?" he says in disbelief. "Weawy? Dat's what you'we going for?"
"Uh-huh. I'd be surprised if Wyatt even let you go to the bathroom by yourself. And you can kiss goodbye to anyone returning your orbing power anytime soon. No-one trusted you at the best of times, but now you're only proving how childish and needy you've truly become. Do you think that a month ago, you would've ever dealt with your problems by sobbing in a closet?"
"I wasn't sobbing-" little Chris cuts in defensively.
Leo decides not to react to that, smiling because he has obviously forgotten that the walls are paper thin.
"No," he continues fiercely instead, "that Chris would never have let anyone suspect he was upset. He just snapped at everyone and rejoiced in the invention of sarcasm. And while that certainly wasn't helpful either, and ideally, we'd all love to believe that you're finally opening up and confronting your issues, we're simply not that delusional. All of this… it only indicates that you are not in control."
"Yeah, I am," he refutes, with his thumb, funnily enough, hanging from his mouth and drool trickling down his chin.
"No, you're not. And the longer you huff in there, the more your family is going to worry, which, as I'm sure you know, never ends well."
"This is stupid. I'm not a widdle kid!"
"You can deny it all you like, but that doesn't change the facts. Sometimes, Chris, the best thing you can do is let people in. And if that means extra cuddles and sloppy kisses, concerned lectures or endless fussing, well… so be it. Accept the support graciously when you need it, kiddo, because, - whether you want it or not - you're going to get it. You'll only make things a lot easier on yourself by not resisting. Save yourself tons of arguments, too."
"You suck at pewsuasion. It aw sounds as awfuw as evew!"
"Yes, but why lie? You didn't need me to tell you, you wouldn't enjoy it. What I'm saying is… How would you put it…?" He shrugs unsympathetically and even without seeing, little Chris knows simply by his tone. "Suck it up."
Like a psychopathic murderer, he creeps along the hallway, his feet expertly brushing over the floorboards with the kind of skill and precision that takes years to develop.
In a way, he feels almost like a ninja - silent but deadly. Though he is quick to squash the thought, knowing how easily he lets these things go to his pompous head. Arrogance in this business… that's one's greatest weakness. That's how you make mistakes.
Hearing voices, he is mindful of the fact that this could go so very, very wrong. Nevertheless, he heads in their direction, calm and self-possessed.
"I just feel so bad for him," he overhears. It's definitely female, however muted.
"Don't. He doesn't want your sympathy." That voice… cutting and candid sounds... almost… familiar?
Another female, more accusing. "Like you're one to talk. Let's not forget who's responsible for this."
"Hey, don't blame me. I'm not the one who killed his mother."
From the sounds of it, someone slaps the douche on the arm - hard. Or in the face. Hopefully the face.
"Don't be so insensitive, jackass! And you know what she means. If it weren't for the whole stunt with Rainbow Brian, he would never have reacted this way."
Hang on… Isn't that, like, the exact same voice, only spoken much smoother? What the hell?
"Aren't I also the one who brought him round, let him fall asleep on my shoulder before carrying the poor kid to bed? I tucked him in and everything! Isn't that sensitive enough for you?"
Unquestionably alike. It's kinda… weird, actually. Unless the two are twins. That would explain it.
"That was before he went into hiding as soon as you left and you threatened to tear the door down if it meant you'd get him out."
"Pfft." He has to be rolling his eyes. Just has to be. "Whatever."
"Will you two just shut-up already? Some of us are trying to relax for a minute or two over here. Or is that too much of an inconvenience?"
Chris! Oh, thank-god. He's in there.
Though, on a side note… Wow! Chris trying to relax? The past has really changed him.
Good for him, the man smiles.
The biting tone, on the other hand, that's more like it.
Slowly, carefully, - marvelling in his ability to go undetected so long - the intruder opens the door and peeks through.
But what he sees… It requires a double-take. Then another.
Unfortunately, he just can't keep his big, fat mouth shut.
"Holy crap!" he exclaims, blinking rapidly at the sight before him.
All heads snap around, but he doesn't really care. His fate has been sealed. He's doomed.
It's two Wyatt's. Two.
As if one isn't enough of a pain in the ass.
Three woman who are presumably the Charmed Ones, brace themselves for attack, expressions first emanating a fiery determination that quickly shifts to confusion when they see that the enemy isn't moving. Hardly breathing, in fact.
"Holy crap," he repeats, swallowing hard. "Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap…"
I'm dead, is all he can think. Dead. Dead. Dead.
So dead.
To his right, Chris is equally as surprised by the visitor's appearance.
But eventually, he forces himself to speak. "My God," he breathes, a wide smile breaking across his face, and the sisters frown in further bewilderment. "Oh, it's been so long!"
He shakes his head to clear it, and suddenly a more urgent thought penetrates his mind.
"Wait, what's happened?" he demands - his abrupt change in manner is head-spinning to his mother and aunts. "What the hell are you doing here?"
The man remains frozen with the exception of his eyelids.
Chris approaches him and literally shakes him out of his stupor as he glances back and forth between (E) Wyatt and (G) Wyatt who aren't nearly as affected or perturbed by his presence.
"Riley!" Chris snaps. "Who sent you? Why on earth are you in the past?"
Hooray! My one and only original character of the story! Okay… when you say it like that it doesn't sound all that brilliant. But still.
Thanks for reading :)