foolishwren | 62. [Text/Video]

[TEXT]-- locked to Otacon, Kaito, Rise, Snake, Phoenix, and Cybil-- (who Heather doesn't realize is gone yet oops)]

Hey, if you're there, answer ASAP

It's important.

[VIDEO]

_{[Dad's here.]

[Dad's here.]

[Dad is here and it's for real.]

[Heather knows because she went to sleep that night after talking what felt like forever-- almost positive that in the morning she'd wake up and that video message would be gone entirely, just a figment cooked up from her tired, bug-fried imagination and a whole lot of wishful thinking-- ... but nope. There it was.]

[Which of course meant that there was still a distinct possibility that she'd just gone CRAZY.]

[But hey. One good way to find out if THAT was true or not: Post stupid Pokemon videos to the network! If reality had indeed warped, maybe the responses she'd get would all be from Lovecraftian monstrosities and Picasso paintings instead of the fine people of Johto.]}

Haha, oh my god, you guys. Look at this.

_{[The feed shakily settles on an intense drama unfolding on the floor of Heather's room.]

[The little surprise-Eevee who hatched on April Fool's Day is lying on her back on the floor, just waving her tiny, stubby legs and occasionally rolling back and forth fruitlessly-- her enormous, completely-floppy ears puddled on the floor on either side of her, apparently heavy enough to prevent her from rolling over and getting to her feet entirely. She's not making any complaining sounds, or even looking particularly distressed. Just... quietly flailing and tipping back and forth.]

[When the camera turns on, it's with Godzilla the Totodile approaching. Maybe to help her up?]

[... Nope.]}

I think he's jealous because this thing's been getting way more attention than him-- ohp-- look at that. He's jeaaalous!

_{[The little crocodile Pokemon had turned to face the screen, reptilian lips pouched in an angry pout.]}

Sorry, 'Zilla. I call it like I see it. You-- no, don't you shake your head at me. You're practically turnin' green right now.

Keep this up and you'll look like a normal alliga-- hey, where're you going?

_{[The camera shifts to follow Zilla as he waddles angrily off to the other side of the room to sulk underneath the bed. Heather calls after him.]}

Y'know your face will stick like that if you leave it too long!

Hahah....

.....

... He's probably gonna eat all my pants.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And of course, shortly after there would be a knock on Heather's door.]

_{[There's a call of "It's open!" from the inside.]}

[Otacon opened it and walked in, followed closely by his Skarmory.]

Hey.

_{[Heather's sitting on the end of the bed-- she looks up at the scientist and smiles.]}

Hey...

...Are you...y'know, okay?

[He sat down a little hesitantly, Skarmory wandering over to Heather with the clear intention of getting headpats from this person.]

I-- ... yeah, I'm...

_{[She reaches out to run her hand across the smooth metal of the Skarmory's head, laughing a little. In a sort of 'I can't even believe this is happening' way.]}

I'm great.

I mean... this is...

... I feel like I'm dreaming.

[That small, tiny spark of jealousy flared up again, but Otacon ignored it. This was a really good thing, after all. He didn't have any right to be jealous and he knew it.]

That's good to hear.

_{[SOB SORRY OTACON. This is a really big thing for her.]}

I keep on thinking I'm gonna roll over and open my eyes and realize I just fell asleep with the TV on some cheesy family reunion soap opera.

Stuff this good ... doesn't happen to me.

_{[Good stuff HAPPENED, yes-- despite EVERYTHING, Heather knew she was a damn lucky individual to have made it this far, to have such good friends. But this? This was more than she could have asked for. More than she deserved. ... Well, okay, fuck deserving, she was gonna take it ANYWAY and not complain a bit, but STILL.]}

W-well...maybe it should.

Heh, well... there's a lot of stuff that should happen...

_{[But she'd rather not dwell on it. Especially not in front of Otacon.]}

Anyway, I'm just... sorta overwhelmed.

It's okay. Believe me, I understand.

Yeah...

_{[She nods, then goes silent for a little while, scuffing one bare heel on the carpet and absent-mindedly stroking the Skarmory's head.]}

... So... are you... are you okay? With this?

...Why wouldn't I be?

Because...

Your dad just...

... And I was a stupid, ungrateful little fuck the first time, and....

_{[TL;DR she didn't deserve a second chance especially when he'd just lost his.]}

...

[Sighing, he put an arm over her shoulders.]

Don't worry about mine, okay? You deserve a second chance.

_{[She looked up at him, brows furrowed.]}

I just don't want you to ... to read too much into this or something.
_{[SHE KNOWS YOUR SELF-BLAMEY WAYS BY NOW, OTACON.]}

... And... and I'd like him to be able to meet you.

I'm fine, Heather. Honestly.

And I'd really like to meet him.

If you're sure...

_{[She's not entirely certain he's telling the truth, but... well, there was nothing to do but take his word for it.]}

I mean... you're practically family. _{[There was no shame in admitting that, it was just the truth.]} ... And you always reminded me of him. Just a little. _{[Harry was less of a Woobie and more of a Badass Normal in disguise, but nerdiness came in many shapes and sizes.]}

[Otacon never lied about anything but himself. He was kind of stupid that way.]

...that's really sweet, Heather. And...you, Snake, and Liquid are probably the only family I have anywhere at this point.

I mean it.

... I never had a big brother before I came here.

You probably could have found a whole lot of people better suited for the whole older brother thing than me.

Shoulda coulda woulda.

_{[She gave him a nudge in the side with her elbow.]}

You're stuck with me.

Good to know.

'Sides, I think he'll like you.

62. [Text/Video]

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