A/N: Hey people. I know its been a long time, but a lot of shit's been hitting the fan in my life recently, and its been hard lately. A friend told me he was going to kill himself, and i caught a vicous cold sprinting to his house in the pouring rain at ten o clock at night, only for him to tell me he was "joking" when he opened the door to me crying my eyes out. And I want to start this off with a personal apology to Camelote, as this chapter is absolute shit, but i needed to get back into the swing of things. Anyway, if you have an idea for a one-shot, drop a pairing in the reviews or a PM along with a prompt for the oneshot, and I'll get it done sharpish. Enjoy the chapter if you can, I promise it'll get better when I'm back together.
Story 13: Radio me.
She was drawing again. She always loved drawing. It helped her to pull all of the vibrant little thoughts out of her mind, and put them to use. She did love her art.
"Hey! Callie!"
But her brother certainly didn't. She gave a quiet sigh, and shut her artbook, looking up as Caliborn came barrelling into their room. Well, she said it was their room, they shared it with a couple of the other foster children that resided at their orphanage. But they were the oldest, and so considered to be in charge. Sometimes she wondered whether that was the best idea.
"Yes, Caliborn?" He sneered down at her. Sometimes she couldn't believe they were related.
"What are you doing?" She frowned back at him.
"Just drawing" He snorted, and strode over to his chest of drawers, dragging off his dirty clothes and digging through his draws to find something clean to wear. She didn't ask here he was going. Probably to hang out with his street tough friends. It wasn't just the attitude that made her question their siblingship. They even looked very different. Where Caliborn's skin was fairly tanned, hers was an almost translucent white. His hair dark and tousled, where hers hung long, straight, and strikingly blond. Their faces where the only thing that would place them together, high cheekbones, pointed chins, an almost regal look.
But he never ignored an opportunity to wear it better.
"You actually leaving the house today? Or are you gonna shut yourself indoors all day again. Don't even answer that. I know you're too sad for friends"
She felt herself bristle at his comment, but tried to ignore it. He was always needling her about her friends, or lack thereof. But...
"Well, actually, I did plan on it..." She didn't, she was just trying to invalidate his insults.
"Oh, praise the fucking lord. The paranoid shut in actually drags her ugly mug out the door"
"I'm not ugly!"
Caliborn looked up from dragging on his jeans, and grinned at her. He'd hit a nerve.
"Pfft. Sure. Can I get that in writing? From someone who's not biased, i.e not fucking you?" She just tapped her fingers against her thighs, looking down.
"Didn't think so" He slipped his shirt on, and dragged his boots from under the bed, lacing them up. He straightened, and smiled at her.
"Well? Aren't you gonna get ready?"
"What?"
There it was again. That grin.
"You've got places to be, right?" That was it. He was calling her buff. And if she backed down now, he wouldn't let her live it down. But...
"Yes, yes I have. Thank you for the reminder" She stood, and tottered over to her drawers, raking through to try and find something at least half presentable. She settled with some leggings, a subdued white skirt, a simple white tee shirt, and a green pullover cardigan. She tugged on her dolly shoes, and stood, picking up her sketchpad and pencils and holding them to her chest. Caliborn seemed somewhat surprised she was going ahead with it, but shrugged. She walked slightly behind him as they headed out the door, and stopped on the sidewalk out the front. Calliope sighed, and slipped her phone out of her pocket. It was an ancient thing, barely operating. Caliborn of course had the newest model available. He hadn't bought it, certainly, it was probably stolen. She opened up pesterchum, and her conversation with Roxy. Beside her, Caliborn lit a hand rolled cigarette.
UU: hey roxy, do yoU mind if I come over?
TG: course not callie.
TG: something wrong?
UU: no, nothing wrong at all. jUst wondered if yoU were free.
TG: well, im free as a bird, so
TG: wait, what kind of bird is it
TG: the kind thats free
TG: goshdarnit dont leave me hanging UU i cant have an inaccurate metaphor
She smiled down at her phone.
UU: i believe it is a jaybird, yoU are thinking of.
TG: well hot damn
TG: free as a jaybird is what i am then
UU: erm, do yoU mind picking me Up? it is qUite the trek to yoUr apartment.
TG: pffffft, im already on my way :)
The smile evolved into a full blown grin, but was very quickly squashed as a dirty, scratched mini van pulled up. At the wheel was Crowbar, second in command of Caliborn's little band of thugs. Crammed into the van were several others. Caliborn grinned, flicked his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it. She felt a warmth in her chest, as he seemed to be leaving with no comment. But at the last second, he turned to her, leaning on the van to add to his snarky demenour.
"What? Ride not shown up after all?"
"Well. No. I'm just waiting..."
Caliborn laughed, a spiteful laugh. Crowbar joined in, before piping up himself.
"With 'er ugly mug, I'm surprised anybody's comin'!" The entire car erupted, and Calliope looked down at her shoes, face turning red as her heart fluttered. A short boy stood up near the back, fiddling with an egg timer as his shakey gaze settled on her.
"She might be good for a roll in the hay though, ah ah?" At that at least, Caliborn looked a little uncomfortable. An incredibly short boy somehow managed to push his way from behind another, and laughed upon seeing her.
"Hah! Nah man! She's lookin' like an ironing board!"
More laughter. Caliborn turned to the van.
"Hey! Shut the fuck up for a second!" His outburst had the opposite effect, as the noise redoubled.
"Awwww! Is Caliborn mad we're talkin' 'bout banging his sister?"
"No! It's fucking disgusting is all. So quit it!"
"Awwww hahaha!" Caliborn dragged open the side door and snatched the egg timer out of his hand, cracking it over his head and clambering into the car. It peeled away, ugly laughter echoing after it.
She stood there shaking for God knows how long, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She was just pushing it down when the smart car pulled up to the curb, Roxy grinning behind the wheel. Calliope pulled open the passenger door.
"Hey Callie, you doin' ok?"
"Yeah" Her voice hitched, and Roxy gave her a concerned look. She didnt pursue it though, instead letting her buckle herself up and close the door before she started talking. Saying little things, jokes, telling a story about Dirk and his autoresponders shenanigans with Jake. Callie just sat back and let her talk, every so often laughing and smiling, letting the inane rambling wash over her.
It felt good to have her own little radio. No songs or beats, just words that reminded her that someone wanted to talk to her, and listen, and make sure:
She always had something to listen to.
