Chapter Text
Once, a long time ago, Kevin had a friend he had known for years . His childhood had been bad, and long, and was usually forced from his mind. He didn’t dwell on his past, but instead focused on his future. The only part of his childhood he allowed to crop up now and then was his old best friend: Eric. Eric Halran.
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Kevin does not think of the past or future - he only thinks of the present, which, of course, is the most productive thing to do. His childhood was great, and far too short, and though it isn’t productive to dwell on the past, he certainly enjoys remembering holidays spent with his supportive and gentle father and sister, or maybe recalling spending evenings with his grandmother, while she sewed things like “Productivity is the only way” onto pillows. However, there is one rather pesky and ugly part of his childhood he refuses to dredge up from the depths of his memory: His childhood best friend, Earl. Or maybe Eric? Possibly Everette. He can’t remember his name.
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Eric was good. He brought a smile to Kevin’s cracked and sometimes bloody lips after “arguments” with his father. Eric could distract Kevin from the hidden bruises under his shirt after fights with his brother. Eric could take Kevin’s burned and painful hands in his, and make Kevin’s panic and fear subside. And they were only kids at the time.
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Eric was bad. A bad influence. He tried to turn Kevin away from his family. He would take a look at Kevin’s cracked and bloodied lips (caused by the cold, of course) and blame his supportive and kind father. He glanced at the fun, roughhousing bruises made by Kevin’s brother and insist there was something wrong. He looked at the burns on Kevin’s hands (caused by boiling hot caramel) and insist that what Kevin’s father did was bad. Eric was bad. And they were only kids at the time!
Eric fought. Eric fought against Strex just as much as Kevin did. Refused to let them sponsor the boy scouts. Kevin refused to let them sponsor the radio show.
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Eric fought. Earl(?) fought just like Kevin had done, when he was foolish. Kevin is embarrassed for both of their actions. He knows Eric got what he deserved. He knows that Ethan(?) deserved what he got. That his actions warrented the ethically brutal actions taken by Strex. He knows it… but it still feels wrong. And he hates that it feels wrong. So he doesn’t like to think of his childhood best friend, whatever his name was.