“Knock knock,” Dash said as she strode into the room, with a little girl following her, oddly enough.
“Hello, Dash,” Octavius replied as he looked beyond the woman, taking note of the child. She had wild purple hair and bright purple eyes. She had a grin on her face as big as Dash’s, and was looking around the room, taking everything in excitedly. “Might I ask who the young lady is?”
“I’m Scootaloo!” The girl seemed very pleased to be at the hospital, though Octavius had a hunch it was more who she was with that made her happy.
“It’s a pleasure, Scootaloo,” Octavius kindly smiled. “I’d stand to shake your hand, but, as you can see, I’m in a bit of a bind.” He barely moved his right arm, the one in a sling, to emphasize his point.
“It’s all right, man,” Scootaloo grinned, waving her hand dismissively. “Dash told me all about you! You sound like a pretty cool dude, except for the part where you play cello.” She stuck her tongue out in mock disgust. “That’s kinda lame.”
“How’s it going, Tavi?” Dash spoke up for the first time since her arrival. “Hangin’ in there all right?”
“Yes, I am,” he answered her, shifting his gaze to her. “Ditzy seems to love sleeping; she’s almost always napping.”
Glancing over, he saw that she had a smile on her face while her eyes were closed. Octavius hoped she was having a good dream; after all she’d been through the past couple of days, she deserved every respite she could get.
“Had anymore, uh, ‘episodes’?” Dash struggled for the right phrase, hoping to not offend him.
“The doctors here were very helpful,” Octavius said. “They provide me with the things I need to be ok.”
“Good,” Dash sighed in relief. “Your bottle is empty, you better see if they’ll get you more.”
“Thanks,” Octavius smiled at her. “Now, why didn’t you tell me you have a sister?”
“I don’t,” Dash said, putting a hand on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Well, not technically. But, really, we’re so close we may as well be. Right, Squirt?” Dash beamed down at the girl, who smiled back.
“Totally,” the girl agreed. “Dash is the most awesome-azing person in the history of forever!”
Octavius smiled some. “Do you have any family, Scootaloo? Besides Dash, I mean.”
Dash immediately went rigid, making a cutting motion across her throat, trying to get him to stop. Scootaloo’s smile faltered slightly. “N-no, I don’t,” she said, a little quieter. “There was a fire… The firemen could only save me…”
Octavius felt like his heart was broken worse than his arm. “Hey, I-I’m sorry, Scootaloo-“
“Everyone’s sorry,” she muttered. “Everyone’s always sorry, aren’t they?” She looked up to Dash. “Why are we here?”
“I wanted you to meet Tavi,” Dash replied. “Then we were going to see the airshow at the stadium. Why don’t we go ahead and say bye?”
Scootaloo turned and left without a word.
“Dash, I-“ Octavius started, but was cut off by Dash.
“She struggles with that everyday of her life,” she said. “Remember Dia and Sil?” Octavius nodded. “They never let her forget. They always ask, ‘who got burned today?’ or, ‘why did you have to be the one who got out?’” Dash looked down at the ground. “I pick her up from the orphanage as often as I can and try to give her a good day. Usually we’ll go out for some ice cream, or a movie, or we’ll go to the mall or something. The Wonderbolt’s are performing an airshow today. They got some new planes to show off.” Dash smiled some. “Squirt always tells me she’ll be a Wonderbolt someday, and then no one will make fun of her. Everyone will love her.” She laughed some.
“I always tell her, ‘Well, if you become a Wonderbolt, can I come to your shows for free?’” Dash continued. “And she’ll laugh and say, ‘Of course, Dash! You’re the greatest sister ever, so you can always be there to cheer for me!’” Dash looked up at Octavius. “A few weeks ago, though, the director at the orphanage told me they’d found her in the bathroom throwing up a lot.” Dash hugged herself tight at the memory. “She’d O.D.’d on some painkillers. The strong prescription shit.
“They nearly threw her out, but I convinced them to let her stay for a couple more weeks. I’m getting one of the rooms in the diner ready, and I’m going to adopt her.” Dash smiled some. “Christmas is coming up soon, right? I figured I’d pick her up, and her present would be she gets to come stay with me.”
Dash looked up at Octavius. “I want that kid to succeed, Tavi,” she said. “She’s been through so damn much. She deserves a break. I wanna see her become the greatest Wonderbolt ever. I’ll go to all of her shows, and she’ll never have to feel alone again.” Dash smiled at him. “Because her big sis will always be there with her.”
Octavius brushed the tear that’d fallen away from his cheek. “Dash,” he said quietly. “If there’s ever anything I can do, don’t hesitate.”
“Thanks, man,” she said quietly. “Now, I gotta go. The future captain is waitin’ on me.” She smiled at him. “Later, Tav-Tav!”
“Bye, Dash,” he smiled back. “Come back anytime, and by all means, bring her with you.”
Dash nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Octavus stared up at the ceiling in silence. He’d never figured Dash to be the caregiving type, but then again, most of the people he’d met in the past week had been completely different from what he’d initially anticipated.
He looked over to his window and saw a few snow flurries falling. He did find it odd that it’d been storming not five days earlier, but the weather around here was a bit odd. He smiled as he stared out the window; he’d always loved watching the snow fall. It’d always lull him to sleep when he was younger.
“Hey Tavi?” A voice from across the room caused Octavius to jump, wincing as he moved his arm.
“Yes, Ditzy?” Octavius looked back to her.
“W-what are y-y-you doing for Ch-Christmas?”
Octavius pondered this a moment. Typically, he’d sit alone and sip some hot cocoa, watching bad Christmas movies. “Nothing really, why?” He looked at the blonde, intrigued.
“W-wanna g-go to a part-ty?” She smiled at him. “D-Dash always h-holds one, a-and I h-heard the doctors s-say we’ll be out i-in a couple o-of d-d-days.”
Octavius smiled back. “Ditzy,” he said. “I would love to go to that party.”
Ditzy grinned happily. “I-I can’t w-wait!”
Octavius looked back to the snow. “Me, either, Ditzy,” he said happily. “Me either.”