(Untitled)

[growing_roots]

Characters: Fletcher Tringham, Russell Tringham, open to anyone else who really wants to find him
When: After the Animus have made their post
Where: The Chateau
Rating: Eeeer, no more than PG-13
Summary: Between Hiiro dying, people lying to him about Hiiro dying then finding out the truth, and the Animus post, Fletcher is one upset little kid. He's

Comments

[brig_gen_maes]

Maes had been wandering around, gently saying goodbye to everyone he'd met. It was hard. At least this time, though, he had that chance. The Chateau was up ahead, and he wasn't sure if anyone was there yet. But it was worth looking around the place. These were possibly his last days alive; he would take what opportunities he could find.

There was a small shape up ahead. Concerned, Maes sped up, and stopped when he saw who it was. Fletcher.

Gently, carefully, Maes sat down beside the small boy and snuck an arm around him, the way he did when Elysia was tired and upset. He could stay here a while and wait for Fletcher to wake up. He had time, time enough for this.

[growing_roots]

Dart perked up a bit when Maes entered but relaxed when the dragonhawk saw who it was. He'd been around Maes enough to trust him with Fletcher. When Maes wrapped an arm around him, Dart curled up in Fletcher's lap, crooning softly.

Fletcher eventually stirred, blinking and rubbing at his eyes. "Brother...?" he murmured, then looked up to see who it was. "Mr. Hughes..."

Then he remembered why he'd come here in the first place and his eyes started welling up with tears again. "I don't... I don't want to go..."

[brig_gen_maes]

Maes smiled at the little dragonhawk, reaching over to pet his head while Fletcher rested.

When Fletcher woke up, Maes hugged him. "I know, Fletcher. I don't want to go home either." Gently he ruffled the boy's hair. "It's a hard world sometimes. In the end, we can only hope that things come out all right. We do our parts, and then..."

Fletcher got a squeeze. "It'll work out, Fletcher. One way or another. I'm certain of it. And at least we got to have the times here that we did, right?"

[growing_roots]

Fletcher nodded in agreement, snuggling up close. He didn't care if he was acting like a baby right then. "Yeah... I just want to remember it... A lot of people don't remember when they come back... I'm worried about Dart too... He won't understand what's going on when I'm just... not there anymore..."

[he_bangs]

Russell understood his little brother better than anyone. So when the little boy did not return home and disappeared without a word, Russell knew that he had himself partially to blame. He had wanted to protect Fletcher just as any older brother wanted to protect his younger siblings but in doing so, he had sent Fletcher flying into unknown danger. If he wandered somewhere unsafe in his highly-emotional state then

[growing_roots]

Fletcher was on his way home after talking with Mr. Hughes, holding Dart in a tight hug, walking slowly and solemnly.

He heard someone call his name though and glanced up ahead, the voice familiar. When he saw his brother, he paused. Yes, he was still a little upset... but the Animus message was more important now. Fletcher bite down hard on his lip, trying to keep himself together as he let go of Dart and ran towards Russell, his dragonhawk flying after him.

[he_bangs]

Russell heard the sound of fast footsteps from far ahead and knew without seeing Fletcher clearly that it was his little brother. He ran towards him and scooped the younger boy up, holding him close to his chest. He was aware of Dart fluttering close by but all his attention was on Fletcher as he held him tightly and fought the urge to tremble.

"Fletcher, I was so worried..." was all that he could manage in a normal voice.

[growing_roots]

"I'm sorry," Fletcher mumbled, voice muffled because it was pressed against Russell's shirt. "I'm so sorry, Brother... I was just... really upset and... I'm sorry... I'm not mad about the filter, really I'm not, I don't... don't want to see that kind of stuff but I don't want you to not tell me about it either..." Fletcher's voice was trembling as he spoke, fighting the urge to cry again as he clung to his brother.

"B-but looks like... that won't matter anymore... Brother, I don't want to go... but I d-don't want them to send you away and have me stay behind... I want to stay with you the most..."