Garlic #14, Strawberry Shortcake #4, Eggnog #14 + rainbow sprinkles + cherry
Story: Blaze Mafia Family
Title: Playing Favorites
Prompts: Garlic #14: evil eye, Strawberry Shortcake #4: pink elephants on parade, Eggnog #14: all wrapped up, rainbow sprinkles (Nina Corinthos) + cherry (sibling abuse)
Rating: R for sibling abuse, both physical and emotional
Words: 2617
Characters: Corinthos Family, Madoc Blaze, Firebird Blaze
Summary: ***Trigger for sibling abuse.*** Alexander Corinthos has two children with his wife Estelle; Joseph and Nina. Joseph is three years older and Nina is two months older than Madoc, Alexander's child with Firebird. A failed pocky chain about her childhood.
Age 6
"Do you love Mommy?"
Nina watched her daddy closely as he froze in the middle of her bedtime story. He shot her a panicked look but quickly hid it. "Of course I do, baby."
She wasn't a baby anymore. She was almost seven. "But you love Madoc's mom more."
Alexander sighed and set the book down. "The truth?"
She nodded, bracing herself for the worst.
Alexander kissed her forehead. "I love both of them, in different ways. But you'll always be my favorite girl."
Nina was almost seven so she knew when he was telling the truth. She cuddled into him, content. "You're my favorite too, Daddy."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
Nina knew who the little boy was. They'd visited Madoc, Daddy's other son, when they went to New Palermo. What Nina didn't understand was why he was here. He'd never visited their house before. And since her parents were arguing in the kitchen, Nina decided there was only one person to ask.
She stood in front of the couch where Madoc was sitting. "What are you doing here?"
It took a long time for him to answer, but he eventually whispered. "My brother died, and my mom doesn't want me no more."
"Are you going to live with us now?"
Madoc shrugged a little, still not looking up at her.
This was bad, Nina could tell. Her parents were angry, Joseph was hiding in his room, and Madoc looked like he was about to cry. Joseph and her parents would just get angry if she went to any of them, but she could do something about Madoc. She hopped up on the couch beside him and said, "You can sleep in my room, if you want."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
"Stop it, Joseph," Nina snapped.
Her older brother just grinned at her and continued kicking her chair under the table. "Why should I?"
"Because you're messing up my art!"
All of a sudden Joseph reached across the table and snatched up her sketchbook.
"Give it back!" she shrieked. Nina jumped up to try and take back her paper but Joseph held it up high above his head.
"What? This? Ok." Joseph reached up and ripped the drawing she'd spent all afternoon working on down the middle, letting the free piece fall to the ground.
"Stop it!" she shrieked. "Just stop and give me back my book!"
"You want more of your dumb pictures? Ok."
"No!" she screamed.
Madoc appeared in the doorway from the living room. He ran up behind Joseph and kicked him as hard as he could in the back of the knee. Joseph fell down to the ground, howling, and Madoc kicked him again, this time in the fleshy part of his lower back.
Madoc snatched Nina's sketchbook from Joseph then grabbed the bigger boy's collar and shook him. "Get away from me!" Joseph screamed.
"You're a bad brother," he hissed, shaking Joseph again. "You better start being a better brother to her or I'm going to make you sorry."
"Madoc! Get away from him!" Estelle shrieked, running into the room.
Madoc did as he was told but Estelle still grabbed him hard around his arm and dragged him away to their dad so she could yell at him again for bringing Madoc to her house.
Madoc turned to look at Nina. Nina hugged her sketchbook to her chest as she worried about what would happen to him. All of a sudden, he grinned at her and she couldn't help but grin back.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
Nina knew as soon as she came home from her piano lessons that something was happening. Madoc was sitting on the couch while her parents were arguing in the kitchen again. His suitcase was right beside the door.
"You're leaving?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm going home. Dad says Ma's not so sad anymore and she misses me."
She heard the excitement in his voice and her heart sank. Madoc had been at their house for two months. She'd thought that meant he'd be there for good. "But...school's about to start."
Madoc looked at her. "I guess I'll go to my old school."
But he was going to go to her school. They were going to be in the same class. She bit her lip to try to stop from crying.
Madoc stood up then and rushed over to her. "Hey, we'll still see each other. Dad can bring you to my house when he comes."
Nina threw her arms around him. "You're my favorite brother," she whispered.
Madoc hugged Nina back just as hard. "You're my favorite too."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 10
"No!"
Nina had never heard her mother shriek like that. She tiptoed to the upstairs banister to get a better look.
"No!" her mother screamed again. "You are not leaving me for that slut!"
"Keep your voice down," her daddy snapped.
Joseph appeared at her side. She looked up at her older brother, "What's happening?"
Joseph glared downstairs. "Dad's going to divorce Mom for that bitch he's screwing."
"Mrs. Blaze is not a bitch," Nina said instantly. She didn't really know Mrs. Blaze but it didn't seem right to talk bad about Madoc's mom.
Joseph transferred his glare over to her. There was so much hatred there that she leaned away, a little afraid.
"Shut up, Nina," he hissed. "You don't know anything."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 10
Daddy's wedding to Firebird was the first wedding Nina had ever been to. Joseph had flat out refused to even go to the wedding, but Nina had barely been able to sleep last night, she was so excited for the big day. The wedding was taking place at the Blaze Villa, and the back gardens had been transformed into the most beautiful place she'd ever seen.
"Nina!" Madoc whispered across the middle aisle. He was sitting on the left side with the rest of the Blazes and she was sitting on the right with her grandparents.
He pointed to the empty white chair beside him. "Sit beside me!"
Nina looked around. The wedding was getting ready to start; her daddy was talking quietly with the priest and no one was looking at her.
She giggled and rushed across the aisle to sit on the Blaze side with her brother.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 11
Joseph paused in Nina's open bedroom doorway and glared at her packing her things. "I'm not going to New Palermo," Joseph growled. "I don't want to see Dad if it means I have to see that bastard and his bitch mom."
"Stop it, Joseph," Nina snapped.
"What?" he said defensively. "It's true. Madoc's a bastard."
"You're just saying bad things because you're jealous."
Joseph took a menacing step forward. "Shut up. I'm not jealous."
"Yes you are! You're jealous because you know he's a better brother than you!"
Nina didn't quite understand what happened after that. One minute she'd been yelling at Joseph and the next she was on the floor. Her shoulder burned and she felt a little dizzy because she'd somehow hit the bookcase.
"You're so fucking stupid, Nina. Just do everyone a favor and shut up." Joseph seethed. He clenched his fists but didn't hit her, just turned and stomped out of the room.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 12
"God, Nina, just shut up already."
"Joseph," Estelle reprimanded her son mildly. "Manners."
"What? She goes to New Palermo and that's all she can talk about for the next month," Joseph grumbled.
"But I was just-"
"Nina, Joseph has a point," Estelle cut her off. "You need to recognize when a topic you're interested in doesn't interest anyone else."
Nina looked down at her dinner plate. "Yes ma'am."
Joseph snorted, "That's anything she says."
"Joseph, please," Estelle said, then attempted to divert his attention. "Why don't you tell me about your football practice?"
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 13
"Nina?"
Nina nearly jumped out of her skin. Her teacher, Ms. Johnson, put her hands up. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
Nina shook her head. "I'm sorry...I didn't..."
"No, it's okay, Nina. Really," Ms. Johnson soothed her and Nina relaxed a little. "I was just going to ask you about the bruise on your shoulder. Are you alright?"
Nina pulled at her sleeve, mortified that it had fallen down enough to show the dark blue mark. "No...I mean, yes. I'm fine."
Ms. Johnson cocked her head to the side. "How did you get it?"
"I just...fell," she said. It wasn't exactly a lie. She'd gotten that bruise from falling.
"Oh, okay," Ms. Johnson looked at her for a moment longer then smiled. "I'm sorry for scaring you, Nina."
The teacher moved on and Nina ducked her head down. That had been the perfect chance to tell someone about how Joseph would always push her. Nina just couldn't find the words.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 14
"Mom, Joseph...he...."
Estelle sighed, not even looking up from her writing desk. "Nina, you're fourteen years old. It's time to stop the tattletaling."
"No, that's not...he--."
"Nina!" Estelle snapped. "Enough! Go get ready for your piano lessons."
Nina did as she was told. She went to her room and pulled out a new change of clothes. She hesitated as she pulled off her white school shirt and bra. There weren't any marks on the front where he'd hit her but there were blood stains on the back from where that sharp rock she'd fallen on had broken the skin.
She stuffed them both into a plastic bag so she could get rid of them later without anyone seeing then put on a clean shirt.
- - - - - - - - - -Age 14
"Daddy...can I...maybe I could...live with you?"
Alexander paused. "If you want to, you know you can, but why? All your friends are here in the Metroplex, baby. And your art tutors and your piano teacher."
Nina nodded in agreement. Alexander's brow furrowed. "Then why?"
Nina looked down at her hands, trying to find the words. It was so hard for her to explain what she was going through at home. How did she explain about Joseph? She didn't want to hurt her father by telling him what his son was doing to her. "I..."
After a short moment of silence, he set his hand on her shoulder and Nina knew that she'd missed her chance again.
"Why don't we talk about it after the school year ends, hmm?" he suggested kindly. "If you still want to move then I'm sure we can work something out."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
She pulled her bedroom phone into her bathroom with her. She locked the door then moved the decorative stand so that it was lodged underneath the door handle. Even then she couldn't work up the courage to use the phone until long after she heard Joseph slam the front door and drive away. If he heard her, figured out who she was calling, then he would snap again.
Madoc picked up the phone after the third ring. "Hello?"
It took her a few seconds to work up the courage to say, "Madoc?"
"Hey Nini," Madoc greeted her warmly. "What's up?"
"Um..." she trailed off. She'd spent so much time focusing on calling him that she hadn't thought of what she would say when she finally did it. God, could she be any more stupid? "I just...Joseph, he...I..."
"Nina," Madoc said her real name. He never did that. "Do you want me to come get you?"
That little ball of fear that had been lodged in her throat for god knows how long finally shifted. She burst into tears, relieved that she'd finally found someone that heard her.
"Yes, please."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
"Ma!" Madoc called out as soon as they entered his enormous house.
"Where have you been, my love?" Firebird walked out of the back and stopped when she saw Madoc with Nina in tow. "You went to the Metroplex."
"I had to get Nina," he answered. "I want her to live with us."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"She's my sister," he said simply.
Nina barely contained a flinch as Firebird pinned her with a look. She could feel the older woman cataloguing every detail: Nina's bruised cheek, Madoc's tight grip on her hand, the bulging luggage bag. Nina got the feeling Firebird didn't need her to talk; she'd figured out the whole story without words.
"I suppose she is," Firebird finally said. "I trust you won't be bringing Joseph into my house anytime soon."
"Joseph won't be going anywhere for a long time," Madoc's dark tone said everything his words didn't.
"I assumed as much," Firebird said dryly. "Both of you need to shower before your father gets home. This will be easier to explain without the blood spatter."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
"What about you, Nina?" Alexander asked.
Nina froze. She hadn't decided between the two items on the menu she'd been debating ordering yet. Everyone else had ordered already. She was holding them up. Being a nuisance. "I...maybe I..."
"Perhaps I could recommend-" the waiter started to suggest after she stumbled over her words for a few seconds.
"Perhaps you could wait for her to decide for herself," Firebird cut the waiter off sharply. The waiter flinched backwards, chastened.
Alexander leaned over to help his daughter, "How about-"
"Leave her alone," Firebird cut him off too. She looked at Nina, who had her head bent over the menu, trying to make herself small. "Nina, what would you like to eat?"
Nina chanced a look at Firebird, who was watching her with those eyes that worried her because she knew Firebird saw everything.
Firebird's look softened a little. "Take your time. No one is going to rush you."
The implied 'or else' at the end of her statement was blatant enough to make the entire table wait in silence while Nina made her choice and took a deep breath to find the right words. "I...I'd like the veal picata, please."
"Soup or salad?" the waiter asked in his most professional voice.
"Salad." The waiter opened his mouth to ask what kind but she beat him to the punch. "The Italian salad."
"Very good," he wrote it down. "I'll get this right out."
The waiter left and Firebird and her dad bent their heads together to talk, no doubt about her, but Nina was too pleased with herself to be worried. She'd done it!
Madoc leaned over and whispered in Nina's ear, "That's Ma's way of saying she likes you."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 16
She hadn't seen Joseph since Madoc had taken her away from the Metroplex nine months ago. Joseph was there today, had come along to the custody hearing with their mother. He hadn't tried to talk to her, just glared at her with all the evil hatred that he could.
Or he had, until he happened to catch Madoc's equally murderous eye. Then he'd visibly flinched and spent the rest of the hearing staring at everything but her.
She was old enough that the judge had wanted to hear her opinion on which of her parents she would like to live with. Nina flattered herself in thinking she had expressed herself perfectly; not stuttering or hesitating once. It was a triumph to do that with Joseph in the room, and so satisfying to know he couldn’t tell her to shut up here.
"How you feeling, Nini?" Madoc asked when they were walking out of the courthouse. Alexander had had to go back to work right after the hearing but he'd promised to take her out to dinner that night just the two of them to celebrate. For now it was just her and her brother.
"Good," she answered honestly.
"Happy?"
"Yep."
Madoc set her hand in the crook of his arm. "You're still my favorite, you know."
Nina leaned into her brother and smiled. "You're my favorite too."
Title: Playing Favorites
Prompts: Garlic #14: evil eye, Strawberry Shortcake #4: pink elephants on parade, Eggnog #14: all wrapped up, rainbow sprinkles (Nina Corinthos) + cherry (sibling abuse)
Rating: R for sibling abuse, both physical and emotional
Words: 2617
Characters: Corinthos Family, Madoc Blaze, Firebird Blaze
Summary: ***Trigger for sibling abuse.*** Alexander Corinthos has two children with his wife Estelle; Joseph and Nina. Joseph is three years older and Nina is two months older than Madoc, Alexander's child with Firebird. A failed pocky chain about her childhood.
Age 6
"Do you love Mommy?"
Nina watched her daddy closely as he froze in the middle of her bedtime story. He shot her a panicked look but quickly hid it. "Of course I do, baby."
She wasn't a baby anymore. She was almost seven. "But you love Madoc's mom more."
Alexander sighed and set the book down. "The truth?"
She nodded, bracing herself for the worst.
Alexander kissed her forehead. "I love both of them, in different ways. But you'll always be my favorite girl."
Nina was almost seven so she knew when he was telling the truth. She cuddled into him, content. "You're my favorite too, Daddy."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
Nina knew who the little boy was. They'd visited Madoc, Daddy's other son, when they went to New Palermo. What Nina didn't understand was why he was here. He'd never visited their house before. And since her parents were arguing in the kitchen, Nina decided there was only one person to ask.
She stood in front of the couch where Madoc was sitting. "What are you doing here?"
It took a long time for him to answer, but he eventually whispered. "My brother died, and my mom doesn't want me no more."
"Are you going to live with us now?"
Madoc shrugged a little, still not looking up at her.
This was bad, Nina could tell. Her parents were angry, Joseph was hiding in his room, and Madoc looked like he was about to cry. Joseph and her parents would just get angry if she went to any of them, but she could do something about Madoc. She hopped up on the couch beside him and said, "You can sleep in my room, if you want."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
"Stop it, Joseph," Nina snapped.
Her older brother just grinned at her and continued kicking her chair under the table. "Why should I?"
"Because you're messing up my art!"
All of a sudden Joseph reached across the table and snatched up her sketchbook.
"Give it back!" she shrieked. Nina jumped up to try and take back her paper but Joseph held it up high above his head.
"What? This? Ok." Joseph reached up and ripped the drawing she'd spent all afternoon working on down the middle, letting the free piece fall to the ground.
"Stop it!" she shrieked. "Just stop and give me back my book!"
"You want more of your dumb pictures? Ok."
"No!" she screamed.
Madoc appeared in the doorway from the living room. He ran up behind Joseph and kicked him as hard as he could in the back of the knee. Joseph fell down to the ground, howling, and Madoc kicked him again, this time in the fleshy part of his lower back.
Madoc snatched Nina's sketchbook from Joseph then grabbed the bigger boy's collar and shook him. "Get away from me!" Joseph screamed.
"You're a bad brother," he hissed, shaking Joseph again. "You better start being a better brother to her or I'm going to make you sorry."
"Madoc! Get away from him!" Estelle shrieked, running into the room.
Madoc did as he was told but Estelle still grabbed him hard around his arm and dragged him away to their dad so she could yell at him again for bringing Madoc to her house.
Madoc turned to look at Nina. Nina hugged her sketchbook to her chest as she worried about what would happen to him. All of a sudden, he grinned at her and she couldn't help but grin back.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 8
Nina knew as soon as she came home from her piano lessons that something was happening. Madoc was sitting on the couch while her parents were arguing in the kitchen again. His suitcase was right beside the door.
"You're leaving?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm going home. Dad says Ma's not so sad anymore and she misses me."
She heard the excitement in his voice and her heart sank. Madoc had been at their house for two months. She'd thought that meant he'd be there for good. "But...school's about to start."
Madoc looked at her. "I guess I'll go to my old school."
But he was going to go to her school. They were going to be in the same class. She bit her lip to try to stop from crying.
Madoc stood up then and rushed over to her. "Hey, we'll still see each other. Dad can bring you to my house when he comes."
Nina threw her arms around him. "You're my favorite brother," she whispered.
Madoc hugged Nina back just as hard. "You're my favorite too."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 10
"No!"
Nina had never heard her mother shriek like that. She tiptoed to the upstairs banister to get a better look.
"No!" her mother screamed again. "You are not leaving me for that slut!"
"Keep your voice down," her daddy snapped.
Joseph appeared at her side. She looked up at her older brother, "What's happening?"
Joseph glared downstairs. "Dad's going to divorce Mom for that bitch he's screwing."
"Mrs. Blaze is not a bitch," Nina said instantly. She didn't really know Mrs. Blaze but it didn't seem right to talk bad about Madoc's mom.
Joseph transferred his glare over to her. There was so much hatred there that she leaned away, a little afraid.
"Shut up, Nina," he hissed. "You don't know anything."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 10
Daddy's wedding to Firebird was the first wedding Nina had ever been to. Joseph had flat out refused to even go to the wedding, but Nina had barely been able to sleep last night, she was so excited for the big day. The wedding was taking place at the Blaze Villa, and the back gardens had been transformed into the most beautiful place she'd ever seen.
"Nina!" Madoc whispered across the middle aisle. He was sitting on the left side with the rest of the Blazes and she was sitting on the right with her grandparents.
He pointed to the empty white chair beside him. "Sit beside me!"
Nina looked around. The wedding was getting ready to start; her daddy was talking quietly with the priest and no one was looking at her.
She giggled and rushed across the aisle to sit on the Blaze side with her brother.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 11
Joseph paused in Nina's open bedroom doorway and glared at her packing her things. "I'm not going to New Palermo," Joseph growled. "I don't want to see Dad if it means I have to see that bastard and his bitch mom."
"Stop it, Joseph," Nina snapped.
"What?" he said defensively. "It's true. Madoc's a bastard."
"You're just saying bad things because you're jealous."
Joseph took a menacing step forward. "Shut up. I'm not jealous."
"Yes you are! You're jealous because you know he's a better brother than you!"
Nina didn't quite understand what happened after that. One minute she'd been yelling at Joseph and the next she was on the floor. Her shoulder burned and she felt a little dizzy because she'd somehow hit the bookcase.
"You're so fucking stupid, Nina. Just do everyone a favor and shut up." Joseph seethed. He clenched his fists but didn't hit her, just turned and stomped out of the room.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 12
"God, Nina, just shut up already."
"Joseph," Estelle reprimanded her son mildly. "Manners."
"What? She goes to New Palermo and that's all she can talk about for the next month," Joseph grumbled.
"But I was just-"
"Nina, Joseph has a point," Estelle cut her off. "You need to recognize when a topic you're interested in doesn't interest anyone else."
Nina looked down at her dinner plate. "Yes ma'am."
Joseph snorted, "That's anything she says."
"Joseph, please," Estelle said, then attempted to divert his attention. "Why don't you tell me about your football practice?"
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 13
"Nina?"
Nina nearly jumped out of her skin. Her teacher, Ms. Johnson, put her hands up. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
Nina shook her head. "I'm sorry...I didn't..."
"No, it's okay, Nina. Really," Ms. Johnson soothed her and Nina relaxed a little. "I was just going to ask you about the bruise on your shoulder. Are you alright?"
Nina pulled at her sleeve, mortified that it had fallen down enough to show the dark blue mark. "No...I mean, yes. I'm fine."
Ms. Johnson cocked her head to the side. "How did you get it?"
"I just...fell," she said. It wasn't exactly a lie. She'd gotten that bruise from falling.
"Oh, okay," Ms. Johnson looked at her for a moment longer then smiled. "I'm sorry for scaring you, Nina."
The teacher moved on and Nina ducked her head down. That had been the perfect chance to tell someone about how Joseph would always push her. Nina just couldn't find the words.
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 14
"Mom, Joseph...he...."
Estelle sighed, not even looking up from her writing desk. "Nina, you're fourteen years old. It's time to stop the tattletaling."
"No, that's not...he--."
"Nina!" Estelle snapped. "Enough! Go get ready for your piano lessons."
Nina did as she was told. She went to her room and pulled out a new change of clothes. She hesitated as she pulled off her white school shirt and bra. There weren't any marks on the front where he'd hit her but there were blood stains on the back from where that sharp rock she'd fallen on had broken the skin.
She stuffed them both into a plastic bag so she could get rid of them later without anyone seeing then put on a clean shirt.
- - - - - - - - - -Age 14
"Daddy...can I...maybe I could...live with you?"
Alexander paused. "If you want to, you know you can, but why? All your friends are here in the Metroplex, baby. And your art tutors and your piano teacher."
Nina nodded in agreement. Alexander's brow furrowed. "Then why?"
Nina looked down at her hands, trying to find the words. It was so hard for her to explain what she was going through at home. How did she explain about Joseph? She didn't want to hurt her father by telling him what his son was doing to her. "I..."
After a short moment of silence, he set his hand on her shoulder and Nina knew that she'd missed her chance again.
"Why don't we talk about it after the school year ends, hmm?" he suggested kindly. "If you still want to move then I'm sure we can work something out."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
She pulled her bedroom phone into her bathroom with her. She locked the door then moved the decorative stand so that it was lodged underneath the door handle. Even then she couldn't work up the courage to use the phone until long after she heard Joseph slam the front door and drive away. If he heard her, figured out who she was calling, then he would snap again.
Madoc picked up the phone after the third ring. "Hello?"
It took her a few seconds to work up the courage to say, "Madoc?"
"Hey Nini," Madoc greeted her warmly. "What's up?"
"Um..." she trailed off. She'd spent so much time focusing on calling him that she hadn't thought of what she would say when she finally did it. God, could she be any more stupid? "I just...Joseph, he...I..."
"Nina," Madoc said her real name. He never did that. "Do you want me to come get you?"
That little ball of fear that had been lodged in her throat for god knows how long finally shifted. She burst into tears, relieved that she'd finally found someone that heard her.
"Yes, please."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
"Ma!" Madoc called out as soon as they entered his enormous house.
"Where have you been, my love?" Firebird walked out of the back and stopped when she saw Madoc with Nina in tow. "You went to the Metroplex."
"I had to get Nina," he answered. "I want her to live with us."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"She's my sister," he said simply.
Nina barely contained a flinch as Firebird pinned her with a look. She could feel the older woman cataloguing every detail: Nina's bruised cheek, Madoc's tight grip on her hand, the bulging luggage bag. Nina got the feeling Firebird didn't need her to talk; she'd figured out the whole story without words.
"I suppose she is," Firebird finally said. "I trust you won't be bringing Joseph into my house anytime soon."
"Joseph won't be going anywhere for a long time," Madoc's dark tone said everything his words didn't.
"I assumed as much," Firebird said dryly. "Both of you need to shower before your father gets home. This will be easier to explain without the blood spatter."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 15
"What about you, Nina?" Alexander asked.
Nina froze. She hadn't decided between the two items on the menu she'd been debating ordering yet. Everyone else had ordered already. She was holding them up. Being a nuisance. "I...maybe I..."
"Perhaps I could recommend-" the waiter started to suggest after she stumbled over her words for a few seconds.
"Perhaps you could wait for her to decide for herself," Firebird cut the waiter off sharply. The waiter flinched backwards, chastened.
Alexander leaned over to help his daughter, "How about-"
"Leave her alone," Firebird cut him off too. She looked at Nina, who had her head bent over the menu, trying to make herself small. "Nina, what would you like to eat?"
Nina chanced a look at Firebird, who was watching her with those eyes that worried her because she knew Firebird saw everything.
Firebird's look softened a little. "Take your time. No one is going to rush you."
The implied 'or else' at the end of her statement was blatant enough to make the entire table wait in silence while Nina made her choice and took a deep breath to find the right words. "I...I'd like the veal picata, please."
"Soup or salad?" the waiter asked in his most professional voice.
"Salad." The waiter opened his mouth to ask what kind but she beat him to the punch. "The Italian salad."
"Very good," he wrote it down. "I'll get this right out."
The waiter left and Firebird and her dad bent their heads together to talk, no doubt about her, but Nina was too pleased with herself to be worried. She'd done it!
Madoc leaned over and whispered in Nina's ear, "That's Ma's way of saying she likes you."
- - - - - - - - - -
Age 16
She hadn't seen Joseph since Madoc had taken her away from the Metroplex nine months ago. Joseph was there today, had come along to the custody hearing with their mother. He hadn't tried to talk to her, just glared at her with all the evil hatred that he could.
Or he had, until he happened to catch Madoc's equally murderous eye. Then he'd visibly flinched and spent the rest of the hearing staring at everything but her.
She was old enough that the judge had wanted to hear her opinion on which of her parents she would like to live with. Nina flattered herself in thinking she had expressed herself perfectly; not stuttering or hesitating once. It was a triumph to do that with Joseph in the room, and so satisfying to know he couldn’t tell her to shut up here.
"How you feeling, Nini?" Madoc asked when they were walking out of the courthouse. Alexander had had to go back to work right after the hearing but he'd promised to take her out to dinner that night just the two of them to celebrate. For now it was just her and her brother.
"Good," she answered honestly.
"Happy?"
"Yep."
Madoc set her hand in the crook of his arm. "You're still my favorite, you know."
Nina leaned into her brother and smiled. "You're my favorite too."