OPPOSITION
Linus and Lucy had walked a few blocks, and it was after then Linus realised Lucy's wrist had left his hand.
Rather than going with him, she had sat herself down on a bench. Linus cycled back, figuring she mightn't be moving otherwise.
"Is it Emmon's day off?" Lucy jabbed at him, "had to settle for a backup damsel in distress".
"Please, don't talk about her like that", Linus asked, remembering how Janice and him had helped each other out. He approached his sister.
"I felt that you going there, it was a stupid thing to do, Lucy"
"I see. Remembered about your ever-persisting inferiors Linus" she paused, "Did you know this is…"
Linus nodded before she could finish. This was one of the few times he'd actually had any contact with her in ages. But all the same, he had another thing up his sleeve.
"Lucy, I want to make a proposition"
She perked up, "What?"
"I was wondering if, you know, you'd come with me to show you someplace", he said, "we can…go for a walk to there"
"A walk there"
"Or take some time off in the park, do some tennis, or kick a football"
Right on cue, a rouge football rolled up to the siblings, courtesy of some kids in a clearing across the street, one of which was coming to collect it.
Lucy stopped her brother from picking it up, before picking it up herself.
"Watch what'll happen, why don't you" she hissed. The kid saw her holding their football, and stood still for a second.
"Okay, for the sake of public health, and my spine, drop the football, and inch away slowly".
Linus watched Lucy drop the football, and the kid then pick it up and take off back to the clearing.
"For the "sake of public health" eh", something made him begin to laugh a bit at that.
Lucy did think the kid's exclamation was a bit amusing, but there was no way she was going to say that.
"Yeah" she muttered instead, "guess your honeymoon hasn't been shared, has it"
Linus had finished laughing, and now stood there, before crossing his arms firmly.
"I disagree. I mean, Charlie Brown, Rerun, others, they've also had…".
Lucy only grumbled, which Linus noticed, going back to uncrossing his arms again. He recognised changes hadn't been benefiting her, but all the same.
"…are you not going to think about someone other than yourself?".
She ignored that comment, as she was in her miserable state, she instead changed tone.
"Maybe it's time we put this change to rest", Lucy asked, "Say…Good people on both sides… etcetera"
"Good people don't nearly break my arm when I oppose them" Linus remarked.
"Then don't oppose me in the first place then" Lucy remarked back, which served to irk her brother.
"You and this clique of yours were going to hurt us all" he said, pointing out her aggression, "Now you want to go back to being a jerk and a bully"
"OH YEAH. Who do you think you are Linus?"
"And who do you think you are Lucy?"
The two siblings were sporting upset expressions towards each other.
"People have been supportive in my life", Linus exclaimed frustratedly, "All of them…except for you".
Lucy didn't want to talk about this a moment longer. Linus recognised her intentions, before she tried to shut him up with a swipe of her fist.
Her brother moved to dodge, but it wasn't necessary, she went wide and missed.
There was a bit of noise, a slight adrenaline from each sibling. Linus watched as Lucy, bent over from that movement, shifted herself back upright.
"You've lost your touch" he told his sister.
"No kidding" Lucy muttered, "And I guess you can talk"
He was unsure what to make of that comment, and he waited until she decided to elaborate.
"…I've seen you outside training. A bit excessively at that, like you're expecting to be challenged"
Linus nodded in acknowledgement. Even with their being limited use for it, he'd still been keeping in shape in case those circumstances changed.
"And that had also coincided with less common use of your blanket. Now not saying that's enough, but still"
Linus was frowning again at the complaint to his blanket, "Is this more of you being upset about me, or are you going somewhere"
"I offered this before, remember. You refused, but I'll repeat it again Linus" she said, "Join me, and we can gain back what's been lost"
Linus had got the answer that she was going somewhere with this. Lucy walked towards him, all while she was explaining that she had also had their lack of interaction in her mind.
"But now, if you become my "partner in crime" so to speak, then I can only imagine…"
Linus simply continued listening, as he internally persuading herself that he and Lucy both being bullies together wasn't happening, "So after plotting against so many people, us included, you now want to kickstart the…Van Pelt Crime Family, seriously"
"Linus, develop a more subtle title, could you"
"…after my friends have been supportive for how I've turned out" he told her.
"Those friends don't see the parts of you that I do" Lucy responded. He noticed she was now acting more affronting.
"I'm probably a bad kid, admittedly, but you ever consider you also" she prodded his shoulder, "You know you're not an angel, don't you Linus".
In his present state of mind, Linus was experiencing those feelings. But he for now stood firm.
"No Lucy, I'm not turning my back on them, period".
Lucy pushed herself slowly off of the bench, avoiding Linus as he put a hand on its side.
"Let me ask you this, little brother" she queried, "One day me and…say…Charlie Brown…are dangling off the edge of a cliff. And you, say you can only save one of us"
She thrust a firm hand on the bench, "…So who would it be?"
"Lucy!" Linus was affronted, "so now you're resorting to those mind games, playing people off each other, not on. And not fair either"
His sister was frowning at him. "Then it's clear which you have as your choice"
She turned away from him, and Linus walked away, but he was quietly affirming that he wasn't going to drop this issue.
"You'll be back" Lucy muttered to herself, "And I'll be waiting, we'll see"
By the time Linus got home, he was in a irritated mood. All he hoped to do now was go inside, and be undisturbed by anything else.
"Afternoon Linus" a voice called out.
He gritted his teeth, but hid it, and he looked over to see Schroeder standing at his front gate, waving over and attempting to talk with him.
"Do you want to come inside?"
"No thanks I…" Linus hesitated. Then, a sense of sudden calmness came and changed his mind.
"Actually, Sure thing. Thanks for offering Schroeder".
He walked through the neighbouring gate, after his own, and went with Schroeder to his house.
A/N: Thats Chapter 4 done. Next chapter sees what Linus and Schroeder talk about.