Minisode - Lincoln and Lucy

Lincoln and Lucy laid in Lincoln's bed. Lucy was unable to go to sleep as there was a question burning in her mind. She sat up and poked her older brother, "Lincoln, are you asleep?"

"No, are you?" Lincoln dryly asked as he kept his eyes shut.

"I was wondering...why did you refuse Dr. Lopez's offer? Are you not interested in being a vampire at all?"

Lincoln sat up and rubbed his eyes before answering, "Dr. Lopez had Clyde hostage and lured me to her where she put me and you in danger. Whatever she was offering, I didn't want any of it."

Lucy nodded, "I see. Would you have accepted it under better circumstances?"

Lincoln turned towards his sister, "Lucy?"

"Yes?"

Lincoln took a deep breath, "Dr. Lopez said some things to me, and for a moment they made me want to take her offer. It feels like everyone here just takes me for granted and only try to make up for it when they start feeling guilty and not because I feel hurt."

Lucy looked down, "I...I thought you'd be used to that by now."

Lincoln shook his head, "I shouldn't have to get used to something like that."

Lucy looked up at him, "I got used to being neglected all the time."

"Lucy, do I always neglect you?"

Lucy paused. She looked down again for a moment and shook her head, "...no, you don't."

"And the only times you've helped me were either because you wanted something from me, or you were trying to cover up something."

"...why do you do it Lincoln?"

"Do what?"

Lucy looked up at him, "Any of what you do, for any of us?"

Lincoln shrugged, "I want to say it's because I love you all but I think it's more that it's just easier for me to help you all and solve your problems so things can at least be a little bit more peaceful for me in this house."

"But you can't solve all our problems, like when Leni and Lori fought over a dress-"

Lincoln frowned and folded his arms, "And the 'solution' you all settled on was to take advantage of Leni's naivety, and make a super unfair 'compromise' where Lori got to wear that stupid dress whenever she wanted and Leni was just not allowed to wear it at all. Leni is naive, sure, but she isn't that dumb! She would've caught on and broke that agreement sooner or later, and their fight would just start all over again!"

Lucy cringed a bit, "...okay, bad solution but-"

Lincoln interrupted by pointing at her, "On top of that, I wouldn't have gotten involved in that brawl at all if you and the rest of our sisters didn't suddenly decide to make a sister fight protocol, not tell me about it, make the flimsy excuse of 'it's a sister thing, you wouldn't understand' for not telling me about it, then got mad at me for not going along with it!"

"Lincoln, that was over a year ago! I know I brought it up, but-"

"How was I in the wrong in that episode again? When you and Lynn fought in the same way before all that, I was the only one who bothered to help resolve your issues and it worked! Did you forget about that when you figured I'd be no help? Why did you out of all of our sisters push me away by saying it was a 'sister thing that I wouldn't understand'...yet you involved Bobby who isn't even related to us?"

A few tears fell from behind Lucy's bangs, "What do you want me to say Lincoln? That I'm sorry I was involved and went along with something so stupid? I barely had any part in all that, and you know our sisters wouldn't listen to me if I told them to involve you."

Lincoln sighed, "I dunno... just be thankful I pointed out the suspiciousness of two identical 'one-of-a-kind' dresses and that the two of them got scammed, and we never saw those stupid things again."

Lucy wiped the tears from her cheeks, "There's nothing that can be done now. Thankfully, with the sister fight protocol abolished, that'll never happen again."

Lincoln nodded, "I know. Sorry Lucy, that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I put you all before myself most of the time, and most I get in return is being made fun of, hit, or just disregarded. It makes me wonder now that we're safe if I should've taken Dr. Lopez's offer."

"Sigh...Lincoln, I know me and the rest of our sisters can be very selfish, but we do love and appreciate you. I'm sorry we don't show it much, especially me."

"I know, but it's hard to believe it when everyone is quick to blame me when something goes wrong or expects me to fix it. Or both."

Lucy paused for a moment, and something clicked in her mind, "Lincoln...is this why you're spending less time with us and more time with your friends?"

Lincoln nodded, "Yeah...my friends aren't exactly perfect - well, except Clyde - but they don't treat me like I'm a lightning rod."

"I didn't notice it was getting that bad..."

"I know, none of you did. Half of you are younger than me, I don't expect you to notice. I can't excuse our older sisters though, especially Lynn. Or our parents, especially dad."

"...Lincoln? If it makes you feel any better, I have a lot of respect for you. You might be the strongest and most mature member of our family."

Lincoln chuckled a bit, "That's kinda sad given we have five older sisters and two parents."

Lucy smiled, "I know, isn't it tragic?"

"Yeah...thanks for letting me vent Lucy, I hope I wasn't too harsh."

Lucy gave Lincoln a hug, surprising him, "Well...maybe a little. You might have needed to be though."

Lincoln was a bit stunned from the sudden hug by Lucy, but hugged her back, "I'll make it up to you. Is there anything you want to get off your chest? Be as harsh as you want."

Lucy let go and Lincoln gave her some space in the bed, "Actually...why do you think Dr. Lopez wanted you? She made it clear why she didn't want me to be part of her vampire cabal."

Lincoln rubbed his chin, "Didn't she change her mind really quick on you when she-"

"I rather not talk about that." Lucy told him in a solemn tone.

Lincoln nodded, "Got it. And well, I don't know? Maybe it's like you said, I'm the strongest and most mature person in a family of thirteen. Plus I get all A's, I fought a dragon and won, I scared a ghost just by telling it off, I...shoot I do a lot of impressive stuff."

"Do you ever get tired of it?"

Lincoln shrugged, "I mean, yeah? It's why I rather relax, read comics, play video games, and hang out with my friends."

Lucy smiled, "You know Lincoln, we couldn't be any more different."

"Hmm?"

"And I'm glad for that."

Lincoln smiled too, "You know, I don't think I'll be able to get any sleep tonight."

"Me neither."

"Want to watch Vampires of Melancholia?"

Lucy shook her head, "Uh...I think I need a break from vampires for a little bit."

Lincoln grabbed his laptop, "Okay, well, how about we try some games? There has to be one you might like..."

Lucy got a bit closer as Lincoln booted up the system.

The night was still young.

...

I really dislike Brawl in the Family and consider it the worst episode of The Loud House. It is worse than No Such Luck. The Taunting Hour is what made me stop watching the show, but BitF is probably the most cruel, and mean spirited the show got in regards of the family dynamic the Louds have where instead of resolving their issues, they just use Lincoln as a scapegoat and blame him for all their petty problems.

Hits a little too close to home.

Anyway, taking a small hiatus for health reasons. Hope you all enjoyed the Vampire Arc!