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Mari turned onto her back in her bed and draped an arm over her eyes as she noticed the slight strips of sunlight drifting into the bedroom she let out a yawn as she sat up and her eyes landed on Sunny who was curled up beneath the covers in her bed beside her. She placed a hand on Sunny’s shoulders underneath the cover and gently nudged him until she saw his eyes flutter open.
Sunny raised his head slowly and he blinked blearily through the sleep. “H…u…h?” The small sound left the boy’s lips in a croaky-sounding voice way. It was the weekend so the confusion was evident on Sunny’s face because Mari was waking him up early. “I’m gonna go get ready,” said Mari with a small smile.
“Why don’t you go grab your brush and get ready? I’ll brush your hair.” Sunny nods at Mari’s words and he raises a hand to rub the sleep from his eyes as he stumbles out of bed. Sunny opens the closet door and pulls some clothes out he exits the room to head to the bathroom and Mari locks the door once he’s left so she can change. She does so and unlocks it as she begins to brush through waterfalls off long and thick, black hair. Sunny opens the door and he walks in with a brush in one of his hands he plops down onto the bed as Mari pushes her hair behind her shoulders and sets her brush aside to go to tend to Sunny.
Mari’s fingers wrap around the long end of the brush and she parts some of Sunny’s hair gently and runs the brush through her brother’s messy hair, strands of black hair standing and curling every which way. Each glide of the brush is gentle and so are her fingers running outside it. “I’m not pulling, am I?” Mari questions and Sunny shakes his head.
“S’okay,” Sunny mumbled and he reached his hand to place it on Mari’s knee and pulled it back and Mari smiled.
“Alright,” Mari announces keeping her voice low. “All done.” She stated dropping the brush in her lap as Sunny turned to her fiddling with his fingers.
He reached his hand out and tugged slightly at Mari’s skirt and he pointed to the door. Mari acknowledged the gesture she placed the brush on the nightstand and slipped off the bed Sunny crawled off and ran over to open the door she walked out behind him and closed it behind her.
Once, the pair head downstairs Mari takes notice that their parents are seemingly at work already and she takes notice of the disappointment plastered all over Sunny’s face and she begins to sift through the cupboard for something. Sunny leaned on his tippy-toes grabbed a plastic jar of Nutella and tugged on Mari’s skirt before she turned her attention to him he held it out and Mari nodded, taking it from him as Sunny went over to the pantry to get some bread from it.
Mari gently placed two slices of bread onto the saucer and she spread Nutella over both of them before sitting them on the table Sunny slipped into his seat and took a small bite from the first one. He looked up to Mari who was closing the jar and he waited for her to take a seat next to him to mutter a small “thank you,”
“Are we going somewhere?” Sunny asked, taking another bite and he licks his lips to get some of the smudged chocolate off of it.
“I have a few errands . . . To run,” Mari says as this seemingly caught Sunny’s attention. She doesn’t mention anything about how she had to do things related to her plans for his birthday.
“Can… I come?” Sunny’s small voice pipes up as he sits down on the crust of the slice he’d just finished.
“I thought Hero could watch you,” Mari immediately added, she smiled nervously. “I’ll be out for a while . . . And you usually get tired!”
Sunny frowned but he didn’t respond to that. Sunny did enjoy having Hero around but all the time Mari had been spending around him since they’d started dating — Sunny wasn’t too fond of that — he was used to having practically all of Mari’s attention on him. Their parents didn’t pay much attention but Mari did and now she’s spending so much time with Hero. “When?” He asks cautiously.
“Once you finish eating,” Mari answered, she stood up and the wooden chair she once occupied was pushed in Sunny visibly winced, and his shoulders had been sagging jolt up at the sound.
“Oh, was that too loud for you?” Mari’s expression softened as she took notice of the expression of discomfort that was painted on her little brother’s face.
“I’m sorry,” she quickly whispered careful that her voice wasn’t too loud as Mari’s hands landed on her brother’s shoulders and they sag back down, leaning into the gentle touch. Sunny finished the last of his breakfast and nodded at his sister as he grabbed his plate and slipped it into the sink and underneath the faucet.
“I’ll wash it later, leave it,” Mari said and she turned on her heels to exit the kitchen and through the dining room. Sunny followed her shortly after and she pulled off her dark purple coat from the wrack next to the door and slipped it on her arms and she smiled at him.
“Is there anything you wanna take before we leave?” Mari asks she folds up the sleeves up to the middle of her wrists carefully and it’s one of the things she always made sure to ask Sunny. If he needed to take something if he had done all he needed to.
Sunny nodded his head seemingly in thought and he went back into the kitchen and grabbed his sketchbook and his case of pencils and all. Mari’s fingers slip around the hook to retrieve Sunny’s coat and she hands it to Sunny, he frowns.
“Come on,” Mari urged softly as she stuck her keys into the pocket of her coat. “It’s chilly out!” She insists. “And I made sure it was comfortable for you!” Sunny’s cheeks puff out at this but he does as his sister requested after handing his sketchbook and case to Mari’s waiting hands. It slipped on over his shoulders and he tugged the zipper up - well, he attempted until Mari tucked the items underneath her arm and kneeled to Sunny’s level and zipped it up.
Once everything was handed back to Sunny and Mari turned and her hand latched onto the knob and her fingers wrapped around it, turning it. Mari’s hand reached out to grab Sunny’s hand and he accepted it his small hand settled in Mari’s as they walked out the door and she shut it behind her as they walked down the steps of the porch and made a left in the sidewalk to begin their walk towards Hero and Kel’s house.
“I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun!” Mari assured as she and Sunny finally walked up the driveway that was empty and took notice that their parents probably were away. Mari’s hand slipped from Sunny’s and she raised her fist to the door and knocked after a few minutes and loud barking the door opened halfway to reveal Hero who was hushing Hector and blocking the canine's way.
“Hey, Mari!” Hero greeted as he finally backed Hector away long enough to allow Mari and Sunny to enter. “Hey, Sunny!” He added shortly after with a smile and once the siblings entered Hector rushed forward bumping into Sunny who laughed softly as he raised his hand to pet the dog.
“Hector, get off him -“ Hero went to pull Hector back but Sunny’s head shot up and shook slightly.
“Thank you for watching him, Hero.” Mari flashed her signature smile and Hero smiled back, cheeks tinging a slight shade of red.
“It’s no problem!” Hero shot back, scratching at his neck nervously. “It’s always fun having Sunny around. Especially since it’s just me today.”
“Just you?” Mari questions, fingers fiddling with the buttons of her coat.
“Parents are out and Kel had something planned he already passed the idea with them and they let him go.” Hero answers.
“Oh, alright,” Mari’s eyes flickered to the clock and she cleared her throat. “Well, I ought to get going! I’ll be back by noon.” Her hand goes to ruffle Sunny’s hair and she knelt to give Sunny a hug he immediately wraps his arms around her in response.
“Be good for Hero, would you?” She smiles and Mari’s off, the door shutting behind her and cue Hero hushing Hector again.
Hero shifts to look at Sunny who still holds his stuff in his hands. “Did you eat before you came?” And Sunny nods.
“You wanna take your coat off?” Hero offered and he reached a hand out to hold Sunny’s stuff and he handed them and slipped his coat off. He reached for his stuff and Hero returned them.
“I see Mari managed to get you into that coat finally.” Hero says as he nudges Sunny to follow him into the living room. “So, what do you wanna do? Have anything particular in mind?” His voice trailed off and he sat on the floor with his back against the sofa Sunny joined him on the floor and he set his stuff down.
“I see you brought your sketchbook! Maybe you wanna draw or something?” Hero’s wracking his brain he hadn’t watched Sunny on his own yet like he had with the others and at least the others would verbalize things . . Most of the time. And if he screws this up he knew Mari wouldn’t be the happiest.
Sunny nods, flipping through the book for an open page.
“Can I draw with you?” Hero leaned a bit closer to take a look and Sunny nodded slowly, biting his tongue. He unzips the case takes out a pencil hands one to Hero and takes one out for himself.
Sunny’s hand begins moving across the paper in a few light motions that leave only a bit of color on the page and Hero doesn’t realize he’s staring until he feels the pencil in his hand once more and he begins to look around the room, observing Hector laying peacefully on a pillow he’d knocked off the couch and he settled on drawing him - until he moved and he hoped he wouldn’t. He couldn’t quite draw well from memory like Sunny seemed to be able to. The pencil descended in a straight line and it curled in a failed attempt at copying the fluff and thickness of the pillow.
Hero peeked over Sunny’s shoulder staring at the bare sketch. “Is that Captain Space Boy?” He asks and Sunny’s head tilts to the side to look at him and he nods.
“It looks really good!” Hero said and Sunny’s eyes lit up at this and his eyes landed on Hero’s page. His brows furrowed slightly until he raised his hand and pointed to the sleeping dog.
“Hector,” Sunny mumbled, his throat rumbling in a muffled tone.
“Yeah, that’s Hector,” Hero said placing his pencil down, and Sunny points to his page.
“It’s supposed to be Hector.” Hero said and he chuckled Sunny moved to an empty corner of the page and the pencil began moving again as he briefly sketched out the sleeping dog.
“You have me beat here, Sunny.” Hero watched as Sunny dropped the pencil and he giggled at this.
“Is it funny?” And Sunny nods at the question.
“I figured as much.” Hero sighs. “It’s quiet without Kel and everyone else here, isn’t it?”
Sunny nods.
“Maybe we can play a board game or something?” Hero said and he stood up and so did Sunny, scurrying after him as he opened the door to the storage closet and he lifts off the shelf a few board games. The pair walk back into the living room and sit back down and Hero places down the games.
“Here, you pick.” The older teen sets each of the games beside each other so they are all displayed.
Sunny points to the box in the middle and Hero pushes the others aside opening the box. “Connect four? Perfect.”
Sunny’s hands lay in his lap as he watched, intrigued as Hero set everything up. “Red or yellow?” He holds out a handful of chips and Sunny’s little hands scoop the red ones from his hands as Hero sets the bottom mechanism in place.
“Youngest goes first, Sunny.” Hero watched as Sunny stared at the game in front of him he fiddled with the chips in his lap and his fingers curled around them as he stared at each of the holes before slipping it into the top of the middle one and almost instantly after The yellow is slipped on top of it to block its movements. Another red beside the yellow and a yellow blocking the three reds lined up beside each other another red attempting to start and a yellow is dropped in to make four and Sunny’s cheeks puff out.
“I’ll... Win this time.” Sunny mumbled under his breath as he collected the chips that scattered when Hero undid the bottom mechanism.
“Winer goes first,” Hero slipped a yellow in flashing a teasing Smile and Sunny narrowed his eyes at Hero. Red on top of red and yellow messing up the pattern. Yellows stacked until Sunny’s tongue clicked and he slipped the red chip into it and it made four reds.
“You won, good job.” Sunny’s hand reaches out and pulls the mechanism and he giggles as Hero’s hands scatter to collect the chips and he collects his own.
“This time,” he quickly added and Sunny resisted the urge to stick his tongue out.
“You know,” Hero stated as he glanced at Sunny whilst he placed the first chip into the structure. “Mari was nervous about leaving you with anyone, even me.”
“I think I was kinda nervous about everything too since I think everything has felt weird since Mari and I started dating... At least between me and you.” Hero glances at Sunny and his fingers stop curling around the loose chips and stop stacking them on top of each other.
“I don’t want things to be weird between us, we’re still friends... Just dating your older sister.” Hero cleared his throat. “That sounds even worse.” He laughs nervously and Sunny doesn’t respond.
Sunny shifts and his eyes are glued to his lap, hands unmoving.
Hero sighed and extended a hand to place on Sunny’s shoulder. “I know it’s weird when something like that happens in a friend group especially when it doesn’t work out, but Mari and I will.” He assured weakly.
“I love Mari, you know? She’ll be treated well... if that means anything. What’s bothering you, Sunny?” Hero looked at Sunny’s fidgety movements.
Sunny faltered, his lips parting as if he would speak. They lapse into silence and it’s awkward.
“I don’t... Want you to take Mari away from me.” Sunny whispers, finally allowing the words to reverberate from his throat, his aching throat and he stares down at his hands and fingers that are laced together. He had admitted it and couldn’t go back.
Hero’s smile faltered and he squeezed the boy’s shoulder gently.
“Is that what you’re worried about it?” He questioned and Sunny nodded.
“She’s my… fav…favorite person.. ever.” Sunny barely managed to string together the sentence but he does so.
Hero can’t even claim to be surprised as he and Mari had been spending extra time together lately and Sunny had always been his sister’s little shadow through everything. They were rather close.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Sunny.” Hero assured. “Mari and I just spend more time together because we want to. That doesn’t mean she isn’t gonna spend time with you or me with you. It’s just a part of getting older, isn’t it?”
“I don’t want you to think that.” Hero added and Sunny finally tore his gaze from his fumbling hands to Hero’s which was accompanied by a reassuring smile.
“…really?” Sunny whispers.
Hero nods. “Promise?” He sticks his pinky out so Sunny can wrap them together and he does so. There’s a small pang in Hero’s chest as something suddenly struck him - of course, Sunny was worried about losing Mari’s attention as he’d taken notice of how it was only ever Mari’s or even his own that Sunny had received and the boy craved it. Hero had craved his parent's attention and praise and he received all the attention he wanted if there was still something left to be desired what would be desired when it just wasn’t given?
“Why don’t we watch a movie?” Hero asks as he and Sunny’s pinkie’s part. Sunny nodded and Hero collected the games with Sunny’s help he returned them to their spot and Sunny put his stuff onto the coffee table Hero and Sunny both curled into the couch as he surfed through all the channels until Hero came across something that caught both of their attention.
The movie run time is fairly long and Sunny’s head is starting to lull to the side, slipping onto Hero’s lap from where he’d been sitting. His eyes blinked in a desperate attempt to remain awake despite the dull ache beginning to form inside of his eyes. Hero’s head leaned back as he took notice of this a hand raised to comb through the strands of dark hair sticking out wildly and tucking them behind Sunny’s ear. It had gone pretty . . . Well. Hero’s expression softened as he reached behind him to grab the throw blanket on the couch and he draped it over Sunny’s small frame.