Work Text:
The soft summer breeze made the familiar windmills spin softly in Faraway town. It’d been years since Mari’s passing. Almost a distant memory.
That fateful day Sunny told them all the truth replayed in Hero’s mind.
At the familiar sights of home, Hero couldn’t help but feel comforted. But…that grief he had for losing Mari, the girl he was so close to in his youth…it felt like it would resurface.
Pulling up into the familiar driveway of his childhood home in his unassuming white Chevrolet, there only for a little while before he had to go back home to the big city, back to continuing on with his medical studies, Hero paused. It was good to be back, sure, he had loads of interesting stories to tell his parents, and…
Kel.
Kel would be leaving for college soon. They barely spoke with one another after Sunny’s confession. Hero sighed as he got out of the car, and knocked on the familiar, bright orange door. On the one hand, it’d be nice to see his little brother again. On the other hand, would Kel like to see him?
The bright orange door of the house opened. Behind it was none other than Kel. He was wearing joggers and a graphic T-shirt with Orange Joe emblazoned on it.
“Hey, Kel.” Hero smiled. “You’ve grown even taller.”
A small compliment. Sure to brighten the mood.
“Hey, Hero. Nice to see you again.” Kel replied. His cheerful smile seemed to be more subdued. Was…was he still not over the confession?
“Are Mom and Dad at home?” Hero asked, still smiling. He took off his shoes, and put them on the shoe rack.
“They went out to buy some food, since y’know, you’ve come to stay with us for spring break.” Kel laughed.
Everything seemed normal, but Hero knew something was off.
A pause.
“How have you been?” Hero asks, gently, sitting on their large, cozy couch.
“Same old, same old.” Kel replied. He never was the type to just give this kind of response.
Hero sighed.
“Kel, listen, if there's anything wrong…just tell me.”
“What is there to say? Basketball’s going well, my friends are all happy, and I am too. Plus, now my big bro’s back in town, so I'm totally fine.” Kel laughed warmly. A singular twitch of his eye.
“Kel. Please. What’s wrong? You know I’m always here for you.” Hero pushed slightly further. He was a medical student now, just like his parents wanted him to be. He’d already sorted out worse issues.
Kel sighed.
“Fine. You got me. I’m not doing well.” He said, quietly, not wanting to face his brother.
Hero said nothing, shifting closer so Kel knew he was listening.
“I’ve just been…thinking. About everything that happened to us. How…” Kel’s hand turned to a fist.
“...how we lost Mari.” He said, quietly.
Hero felt ill. Everything they did before Sunny moved out. The truth. It all came surging back. Hero thought Kel, his bright, cheerful brother, would have dealt with it best.
“The past is in the past, Kel. There’s nothing we can do now, is there?” Hero smiled. Forced himself to be strong.
“Yeah, I know, I know…it’s just…I keep thinking about how…how Mari could’ve still…” Kel cut himself off.
Hero could feel grief surging through him. But he stayed strong.
‘Just think of Kel as a patient’ He thought to himself.
How could he, though? This was his brother.
“How she could’ve still been here.” Hero finished the sentence for him.
“...Yeah.” Kel mumbled quietly.
“And…even though I don't know what to think of Sunny anymore…I miss him, Hero.” Kel turned to face him, teary eyed.
Hero’s brotherly instincts kicked in, and he hugged Kel tight. Let his little brother cry. It felt like repaying an old debt. His memory of snapping at Kel still felt so recent, even though it was many years ago.
“Am I a bad person? For missing him? For missing someone who killed his own sister out of rage?” Kel whispered, through laboured sobs.
Hero paused for a long time. His brother definitely wasn't a bad person. But Sunny…he had ripped their group apart. He deserved sympathy, sure, but…Hero couldn't help but feel a twinge of disgust at thinking about him.
“...No. You aren’t.” Hero said afterwards, gently.
“Sunny meant a lot to you.” He continued, giving Kel a tissue.
“All my feelings about him are a mess, Hero. I…I just want some proper advice.” Kel said, calming himself down.
“So tell me. Tell me what you think, and I can help.” Hero said, letting go of Kel and sitting beside him.
Hero paused. He had been away from Kel for so long, barely talking to him because he was so swamped with work, that he didn’t even have any time to call him.
“I’m sorry, Kel. For not being there for you.” Hero said, genuine and guilty.
Kel mustered a sad smile.
“I’ve been so lonely recently. So lonely. First Sunny moved out, then you did, and Basil and Aubrey don’t talk to me anyway. Sure, I have my friends from high school, but even they’re leaving soon anyway, moving out to be closer to college, and then…and then I'll be on my own.” Kel sighed.
“I get that. When I was moving out, it felt weird. I really wanted to get a new start, but then I realised…Faraway Town has made a lot of memories for me. Good and bad. And I slowly came to terms with that. Besides, Mom, Dad and me are always a call away, Kel. Don’t forget about us.” Hero smiled. Though his time in Faraway turned extremely dark very quickly, he knew he had his parents to rely on through it. Kel should have them too
“Thanks, man. I can make new friends in college though.” Kel smiled.
“As for the memories I’ve made here…I think I'm going to try my best to filter out the bad ones and move on.” He said, going to the kitchen to get a glass of Orange Joe
“That’s the spirit. And, hey, if you miss Sunny…even though I’d rather you didn’t talk to him, he’s also a call away too.” Hero sighed, and smiled. The last thing he wanted Kel to be was sad.
“Now, mind helping me set up the table before Mom and Dad get here?”
Kel smiled.
“Last one to finish their side is a loser!”
And for the rest of the day, Hero was happy. He was home.