//------------------------------// // Arc XVIII Episode I: Anxiety Strikes // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// At Wallflower’s house… Keiji and Rumble were sitting idly in Wallflower’s bedroom. The latter had gone downstairs to discuss the situation at hand with her parents, leaving the boys alone for some…idle chitchat. “Auuuugh! This freakin’ sucks!” Rumble cried out, “Scootaloo is probably batshit crazy right about now and we’re sitting here on our asses!” “...” Keiji stared at him for a moment with a confused eyebrow raise. “...Well then…” “What?!” the gray boy yelled at his friend, “I bet my brother could figure this out. He knows how to do everything! But me? Oh no, I’m just--” Smack! All the sudden, Keiji smacked him upside the head--just hard enough to snap him out of it. “Relax. Panicking and throwing around obscenities isn’t gonna save your girlfriend. We need to be smart.” “...Ow,” Rumble rubbed the side of his head and exhaled a heavy breath. “Phew…yeah, you’re right. Scoots wouldn’t want me to start freaking out like this. I just…I get worried about her, ya know? She kinda lives on her own without much help from her family.” “Wait, for real?” Keiji tilted his head upon hearing that as it was something he could relate to. “What’s up with her family?” “Nothing’s wrong with them, they just aren’t around much because they’re explorers and her aunts don’t really pay much attention to her,” Rumble went on, “...My big brother and our family--we’re pretty close, so I’ve let her come over to my place pretty often ever since we were little.” “Ah…” Keiji folded his arms as he gave it some thought. “So her family isn’t composed of assholes. That’s good at least.” Then he spoke aloud, “...Childhood friend romance, eh? How sweet…take care of her--but don’t start flipping out on us right now? Wall’s currently trying to negotiate a sleepover with her parents. You have any idea how difficult that is--given that we’re boys and all?” Only now did he consider how inconsiderate he was being with his attitude. Rumble rubbed the back of his head and replied, “...Yeah, guess I was being a bit mental right then. Sorry.” “It’s fine,” Keiji replied with a relaxed sigh as he flopped on the beanbag chair, “I know this is stressful, but you gotta keep it together or else we’ll end up crashing and burning. Alright?” “Got it, got it…” Rumble took a moment to process what had just happened and commented, “...Wow. Just realized something.” “What?” Keiji asked. “...You helped me calm down just now,” he explained in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, “In fact, that’s what you’ve been doing for the last few hours. It’s like…you--” “I care about how you feel, yes,” Keiji huffed as he finished his friend’s statement for him, “Look, don’t rub it in. But I’d rather not lose someone who I deem a close friend…so don’t go dyin’ on me, alright?” Rumble smiled from ear to ear and threw his arms around Keiji. “Thanks, Keiji. I knew I could count on you to have my back.” “Ugh--yeah, yeah, alright--quit with the hugs--” he accepted the embrace for a moment before pushing Rumble off. Moments later, Wallflower entered the room and explained the situation. “Okay…after lots of…awkwardly-laced pleading, my parents have agreed to let you guys stay over for tonight in one of the guest rooms.” “Fine by me,” Keiji replied, “It’ll give us time to think things through. For one thing, we need to find a way to keep everyone’s moms from going near the school. Mrs. Rich is already scary enough as it is,” he said with a smug grin, earning a chuckle from Rumble in the process. “According to what Micro told me, he’s already taken care of that,” Wallflower explained with a vacant smile on her face, “He’s usually on top of things pretty well, so we can trust him when the chips are down….anyway, follow me to the guest room, guys.” She opened the door and beckoned them to follow. As they walked after her, Rumble nudged Keiji’s arm with his elbow. “Psst--look at her face.” “...And?” the vamp-boy raised a brow, “What’s the big deal?” Rumble had noted Wallflower’s expression when she mentioned Micro Chips, particularly the rosy tint on her cheeks. “She’s totally jonesing for the guy. It’s the same way my big brother looks at Flitter and Cloudchaser.” “Oh joy--has he decided at all?” Keiji sarcastically quipped. “Nope, but that’s a whole other problem,” Rumble replied, “Anyway, think she’s got a shot with him?” “I dunno--don’t know either of them well enough, honestly,” Keiji answered earnestly, “I am kinda interested in how things are going between you and Scootaloo though. How did you guys meet?” “...Long story. By the way, what was with that red smoke you used to save me back there?” "Powdered, dried blood that can poof up into smoke on contact," Keiji replied, "Something I cooked up in my spare time." Rumble's jaw nearly dropped. "Say whaaaaat? You're like a bloodmancer scientist!" "...I wouldn't go that far." Later that evening… Night had fallen upon the city, and a certain little canine was sniffing around one of the suburban blocks for any sign of people from CHS. “No…no one’s home there, not there, not there either,” he said in between sniffing at the air as he walked by several houses. “Darn it. Has nobody else survived the lovebug zombie-girl apocalypse at school? What am I gonna do if Twilight stays that way…?” Sprong! All the sudden, his body stopped on a dime as a familiar scent floated by his nostrils followed by his stomach letting out a loud gurgle. “...Steak. Lots of it. Maybe I can take a quick break and catch a meal…haven’t been fed all day…”