Author's Notes: Well... Looks like Linc and Lola failed NNN, things don't look too good now.
GHOST0938: Sucks, I know, but please remember that this fic was meant to feature heavy amounts of angst and drama, incestuous relationships aren't easy after all.
Mzk: Once again, thanks a LOT for your kind review! Handling themes like co-dependency and hypersexuality through the perspective of a little girl was beyond challenging, I hope I was able to pull that off, and rest assured, I have a lot in store for this arc, get ready.
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 69: Van Ride.
- Here, Lily, please don't cry, I need you to be strong, your big brother will always watch over for you, I want you to take care of this - Lincoln spoke slowly to his recently awakened sister, taking a minute of his available time to enter her (and Lisa's) room.
- A-Are you sure bro? - Lily, still bathed in tears, looked at her "present" with a lost expression.
- Yeah, you're an amazing story teller Lil, sorry for hiding this secret for so long, but I owe you a lot and I want you to be the one to read our full story - Lincoln declared with a saddened expression.
He then turned to Lisa, who was watching with a distinct frown.
- This is the moment where you can say "I told you so" - Lincoln matched her frown.
- That would be a pointless endeavor, brother, I think it wouldn't be an outlandish assumption to infer that i'm not particularly thrilled for the order of events that occurred today either - Lisa stated with noticeable sorrow in her eyes, surprising the albino - Regardless, I'll make sure to reduce the traumatic effects and potential abstinence-like behavior of our sister from here on -
- Lisa… - Lincoln increased his frown, scaring Lily in the process - I thought I madeI myself clear before, if it gets to my ears that you used that "drug" on Lola - He approached her, grabbing her by the coat - I'll be back - The teenager announced with an intimidating tone, instilling fear on the scientist.
- A-as previously discussed, Y-you don't have a say from here on brother, if Lola wants it, I'll provide - Lisa, however, mustered her courage to make her point clear.
Lincoln simply let go of her coat, hurting children was still something out of his capabilities, he was not happy about Lisa's predisposition, but he trusted Lola on not falling for such a morally bankrupt invention.
He threw one last warm look at Lily, before exiting that room; on the hallway, his stare met Lana's, who was still standing in front of his room laying her back against the edge of the door while crossing her arms.
- I hope you eventually realize the magnitude of the damage that you just caused today, Lana - Lincoln looked at her with genuine spite, which was easily reciprocated by the tomboy.
- Oh, I didn't do anything, Lincoln - Lana threw a smirk, feeling victorious - Maybe you should have blocked your ex-girlfriend's number in your dad's phone as well, I can shut up, but I'm not a good liar - She concluded while shrugging.
- Figures… - Lincoln was not surprised at the notion - Maybe now could be a good time to "make things up" with your twin, now that she'll be "normal" - He replied sarcastically, before retiring eye contact and picking his luggage - All that hatred is not healthy sis… - He said in a somber tone, preparing his way downstairs.
But before he went down, he had one more interaction to make, with the sister standing in front of the stairs no less.
- Lucy, I need one last favor from you - Lincoln said seriously.
- … -
- My phone was taken away, I also erased all of my social media accounts to avoid further harassment, so as soon as I get a new number… I'll only give it to you and Lily - He continued, his tone quite monotone.
- … -
- I won't ask you for details of her personal life, but, If anything happens to her, please text me immediately - The white haired boy demanded.
- … yes, I will - Lucy answered quietly, lowering her head, this managed to elicit a warm smile from the otherwise devastated teenager.
- Thanks Luce, I'll trust you, and only you - Lincoln said, before going downstairs.
- Lincoln - Lucy managed to say before he was out of her sight, prompting him to stop his track to look at her one last time - … please, don't get lost -
The same words that Lori used, Lincoln failed to grasp their meaning, he simply looked at her with a raised eyebrow and proceeded to go downstairs.
The road was lonely and dark, other than the passing streetlights and a car appearing every minute or so, There wasn't much to look outside, most stores were closed at this hour, and the avenues were barren and plain through the horizon.
Regardless, Lincoln was sitting on the copilot spot of Vanzilla, trying his hardest to look for anything remotely interesting outside while his father continued to drive.
The man also refused to look at the… mangled boy to his side, eyes on the front like a responsible driver, but regardless, the silence couldn't be hold forever, some things needed to be said.
- Lincoln… - Lynn Sr. began his speech, his tone serious and morbid - Let me preface by saying that beating you wasn't the correct thing to do and that… I'm sorry for that - He allowed a certain degree of regret to show, but quickly returned to his authoritative voice - But I assume you understand perfectly well why it happened, and why we're doing this -
- … - Lincoln was not moving an inch, focusing his sight on the exterior only.
The father sighed to the void, keeping his eyes on the road.
- … I'll leave my personal opinion aside… As of today, you're now 16 years old, Lincoln, you're only a year away from being prosecuted by the law of this state as a legal adult - The balding man commented with a somber tone - To make things worse, you can actually receive charges for sexual misconduct, even as a minor - He continued, his voice invariable - Not to mention the risk of… pregnancy - He flinched slightly at the mere thought of the possibility.
Lincoln remained disinterested.
- Do you even realize the magnitude of the problem that you could have put yourself into? - Lynn Sr. asked, not expecting an answer - This was bad enough as a family problem, why did people like your "girlfriend" know about this? - He gripped the sides of the wheel, barely containing his rage.
- Fuck if I know, she was probably just being jealous or something - At last, the albino answered back, still avoiding eye contact.
- Being "jealous" has a reason behind, Lincoln, I guess I know why now… but… how could you be so careless to them? -
- … -
- … Did Clyde know about this too? -
- … Yeah - Lincoln crossed his arms, looking at the front, bus still refusing eye contact.
- And I wouldn't be wrong to assume… that this was the reason behind what you did to Lola's coach? - Lynn Sr. continued the questioning, his hands gripping the wheel even stronger now.
- Yes - Lincoln answered plainly.
- …Do you have anything to say in your defense? - He tried to turn his eyes a moment to see the figure of his son, still unwilling to engage.
- Stella doesn't have tangible proof, Clyde is unwilling to tell and the "hate" trend will fizzle away like an internet meme, nobody cares about the family anymore, Fernando never pressed any charges - Lincoln listed his reasonings.
- So you think you're good now? - The father asked a rhetoric question.
- Well, other than the fact that I lost everything I cared for, I guess I am? - Lincoln replied sarcastically.
- … - The sincere tone of hurt in his son actually resonated with the patriarch, making him look back at him for a split second - … When did it start? - He asked with a low voice.
- Depends, when did we start hanging out? When did I fall hopelessly in love with her? When did we start having sex? - Lincoln continued replying with excruciating sarcasm - Because I can answer one and three, but two is a blurry line, dad -
- D-do you even realize who you are referring to? - The aging man tried his hardest to avoid a gag reflex.
- Yes, Lola Loud, my sister - Lincoln rose his voice, then turned around to face his dad for the first time since the "trip" started - … and my real girlfriend - He finished in a mocking tone with a pretentious smirk.
For a moment, Vanzilla drifted and derailed from the main path, creating a deafening screeching sound, the man by the wheel almost lost his complete composure, forgetting for a moment how to drive.
Then he felt the unbearable need to smack the shit out of his smug face, but ultimately decided against it.
- … It's time to face reality, Lincoln, I though you were an adult by now, a brother and a sister cannot be together, incest is a crime punishable by law, and a sin punishable by god, I hope you eventually realize that I'm just trying to save you! - The sides of the wheel were starting to acquire dents due to the sheer pressure inflicted by the grasp of the hysterical man.
- Saving me? - Lincoln looked at his dad's face with mild hilarity - Listen, dad, I'll be honest with you; I'm beyond saving, I love your daughter, Lola, with all of my heart and I plan to make a family with her, eventually - He finished without a trace of shame, making the man besides him fume with uncontrollable rage.
Nevermind his previous apology, he truly deserved each and every single one of those punches.
- It seems I didn't make my point clear - The father exclaimed with shaking fists - Do you think this is funny? Because I don't, this isn't a fairytale, Lincoln, and I would like to believe, after all of your charades in the past, that you are smart enough to realize why you can't form a "family" with your sister - He said with destructive disappointment.
- Why not? I don't need to marry her, I don't even need to have biological kids with her, I can just live with her in a committed relationship, we are not hurting anyone, and if you actually think that Lola doesn't want this, then you failed to understand her, dad - Lincoln defended, raising his tone in the process.
- Let me tell you the difference, Lincoln - Lynn Sr. exhaled deeply - Lola is an 11-year old little child, and you are on the verge of becoming an adult - He continued while controlling his breath - Lola wasn't supposed to know better, you did, I trusted you to take care of your sisters… Instead, all I got was… the biggest betrayal in my life - The patriarch inhaled deeply, controlling his rising anger - But now I know, I failed to raise the both of you, I allowed my son to turn into a predator, and I allowed him to… rape my daughter, now, I just have to deal with the consequences -
- Well you're positively right you failed Lola, you never quite understood her, nobody did - Lincoln lowered his head, losing sight of the road.
- I'll fix the broken dishes however I can - The father replied, also missing the energy behind - But for now, I just have to deal with the fact that I have no son anymore -
And it was that one, resigned, line that managed to tear through the boy's defenses, leaving a hollow part in his heart, one that he didn't even realize was still there.
Something in him that died right there.
- …So this is how it ends - Lincoln raised his head, looking to the road - I'll have to be serious with you, "dad"… Y-you can do anything you want to me, send me to the detention center or to a mental asylum if that's what you want, but if I hear that my Lola is being hurt in anyway, you'll be hearing from me, and I have intel from within the house - Lincoln threatened with a broken voice, still somewhat affected by his father's latest words.
And hearing his daring, threatening tone, Lynn Sr. also felt it, a bond that was no longer there.
- Then I'll be serious with this too; You are no longer welcome in my house and you are to never approach my daughter again, from now on, I'll take care of your maintenance financially, Ruth will provide you a room to re-arrange your things, I'll support your studies until you are done with high-school, then, you are on your own - The broken patriarch sentenced, officially severing his ties with his only son.
They had finally arrived to the house of the unkempt lady, who had been alerted to at least keep the door open to her house, which she thankfully did.
The door on the co-pilot seat of Vanzilla was opened, allowing the boy to land on earth, with all of his luggage in hand, he turned around to see the dead expression of his father, with one last thing to say.
- Very well, Lynn, in that case, keep this in mind: I'll find a way to make my life better, with or without you, and as soon as I'm able to support myself financially… - Lincoln paused, making sure that the old man was looking at him directly.
- I'll come for your daughter -