(no subject) @ 04:18 pm
![[info]](https://www.scribbld.com/img/userinfo.gif)
Characters: Sunny and NPC
Setting: NYC, Christmas Eve
Rating: SFW
Summary: Sibling bonding over the holidays
She sat on her fire escape, letting the cool December wind brush her hair over her shoulders. The holidays had always been a hectic time of the year but Sunny was usually right in the middle of it. She couldn't stand it though, not this year, not with everyone staring at her. They all knew. They knew what had happened to her and what Hector had done, they were looking at her like she was some fragile, easily broken thing; like they hadn't witnessed the damage she had done to her cousin. She couldn't stand it anymore, so she had snuck out to the fire escape with her secret- box in hand and sat by herself in the cold.
The window creaked open but she didn't bother to turn around and see who it was. "Sun," Abel's voice was deep, soft in the harsh winter air. He sat down beside her and shoulder bumped her gently. "What are you up to?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said numbly, fumbling with the puzzle box. "I just... needed some air."
"You sure? You're usually right in the mix of things."
"Positive."
"He aint coming you know."
"He better not," her jaw was clenched tightly as she said it. An uncharacteristic scowl on her face. "I'll kill him if he shows his face around here..."
"He aint coming," he repeated more forcefully. "I'll be taking care of him if he thinks he's gonna even show his face," Abel reached over and put his arm around his little sister's shoulders. "We take care of each other kid," he reassured her.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against Abel's shoulder. "I can't stand the way they look at me Abe. It's not been the same since Cinco de Mayo," she said quietly. "They all know and they're all thinking the same thing poor Sunny, poor girl. I hate it. I hate that they know. Before I could handle it because there were only two people who knew and I could deal with it. Now with everyone knowing..." a tear slipped down her cheek. "It makes me feel like I've been dragged through the mud and left out for the whole world to see."
"They care, no one is judging you. No one blames you for what happened."
"But they were my secrets," she shook the box at him. "They were mine so no one else had to feel the hurt and the shame that I felt. They were mine so Lupe and Adora would be safe," she wiped hurriedly at her eyes. "And now the whole world knows."
"You don't need to carry that burden alone anymore."
She handed him the box. "I used to write them down. Every single one of them. It was the only way I could deal with it."
Abel opened the box and found a million little pieces of scrap parchment, each with his sister's familiar loopy handwriting. "What are they?"
"Everything I've been keeping to myself over the years. All my secrets, all my lies," she trailed off. "Every bad feeling."
"Then let's get rid of them," he said standing up suddenly. "Get your car keys. We'll go for a drive and we'll get rid of them. You don't have to hold onto them anymore."
It didn't take much more convincing to get her off the fire escape and into her tiny car. She started driving, turning when Abel told her to turn and she didn't stop, didn't say a word until Abel asked her to pull the car over. They were near Central Park. They sat in the chilly car for a few moments before Abel opened the passenger side door and started walking. Sunny got out and followed him. "Where are we going?"
"A place I go when I'm having a hell of a time dealing with work," he said as he walked along the pedestrian walk way through the park. They walked for a while until Abel skipped off the path and through a group of bushes. "Here we are," he said as they walked into a small but open field. "Open the box and get our your wand," he said.
Sunny took out her wand and opened the top of her box. "Pick one, any one of them," he said. She plucked one of the slips of parchment out of the box, holding it between her thumb and index finger. "Let it go," he whispered. She let it fly up into the air and without further instruction she pointed her wand at it and whispered. "Incendio." The slip of parchment gently crumbled to flames and floated away.
"Good," Abel said. "Let them all go. One at a time," he gently urged her.
She held up another and did the same thing, over and over until there was only one slip of parchment left. She handed it over to Abel. "I want to keep this one," she whispered.
Abel took the slip of paper and looked down at it. It's not your fault. He nodded and handed it back to her as if it were some delicate, breakable thing. "This is one you should keep," he agreed. "You ready to go back to the house?" he asked.
"Yeah," she tucked the slip of paper back into the box and shut it firmly. "Yeah, I think I'm ready. Make me some Mexican hot cocoa when we get home?" she asked, just barely lifting her eyes from the ground.
"Mexican hot cocoa?" he asked grinning. "I'm going to pour you a shot of tequila when we get home," he put his arm around her and started to lead her back to the car and though she spent the rest of the holidays unusually quiet but better than spent alone sulking in her room.
|
|
Add to Memories
|
Tell a Friend
|
|
|