“Whoa! Why is the moon on fire?” One of the party-goers pointed at the sky. “That’s the sun, you idiot,” someone else said. “It can’t be. It’s 1 am,” someone else noted, then shivered, “Why is it snowing? It’s still the middle of fall.” “What’s with this earthquake?” The people at the party were confused and almost on the border of panic as the world seemed to distort. Charlie, Tetsuya, and Tenseiga looked at each other before Charlie bolted into the house. “Uncle Mal! Why are you outside?” Charlie ran into the foyer to see Mal pacing and carrying Benimaru. “I don’t know, Charles! This mortal was in the void crying— something about an Aaron? And Chad’s essence is all over him, and he called me pops, and then fell asleep,” Mal blurted out, “This room is small. Why is this room so small?” “Here, give him to me, uncle Mal,” Charlie took Benimaru and passed him to Tetsuya, “Let’s get you back upstairs to the void before—“ “Pops? What are you doing here?” Aaron came down the stairs, “Oh, good. You found Beni. He was acting strange, and he wasn’t in his room where he said he was going to be—“ “Who is pops?” Mal shouted, causing everything to rumble. Mal held his head in frustration. “Mal? What are you doing out?” Sam burst through the door. “Sam?” Mal’s eyes widened, then he burst into tears, “Sam.” “I’ve got you,” Sam rushed to him and took Mal in his arms, squeezing him, “It’s okay, Mal. I’ve got you.” “Pops—“ Aaron looked confused, “Why are there two of you?” “Charlie, what’s going on?” Sam asked as the Chaos started to wane some. “I’m not sure, pops,” Charlie shook her head, bewildered at the mess currently unfolding. “Sam, I can’t breathe,” Mal wheezed, squeezing Sam’s sleeve. Sam stroked his hair, trying to keep his brother calm. “Okay, okay. Charlie, get Beni and Aaron out of here,” Sam ordered, “Let me take care of my brother.” “Brother?” Aaron was confused, but as instructed, Charlie picked Aaron up, and they all marched out of the house. When Sam sensed they were gone, he helped his brother up the stairwell and into the void. Sam massaged Mal’s back, trying to calm him down. “Mal, you know you aren’t supposed to go outside,” Sam said in a soothing voice. “I’m— sorry— brother,” Mal hiccuped. “SSH,” Sam held him again, brushing his fingers through Mal’s hair, “We’re in the void again— take deep breaths— that’s it. Now start from the beginning.” “Well, I materialized here because I thought Charles came in to work, and I was joking about how she’s a workaholic, and then I saw that mortal here. He was crying, so I was trying to figure out how he got here, and he kept babbling and calling me ‘pops.’ It was apparent he was drunk. I sensed someone’s essence on him— I don’t remember. Sam, why can’t I remember?” “Easy, easy. Don’t worry about that. What happened next?” “Then he fell asleep,” Mal explained quickly, “I didn’t know when Charles was coming back, and I didn’t know what would happen if he stayed here brother, I didn’t know what to do. I was so lost—“ Mal started hyperventilating again. Sam rubbed his back, “It’s okay. It’s okay. That was my son, Mal. I’m not sure how or why he was up here, but that’s why he kept calling you pops.” “Your son?” Mal sniffed, “He’s so— tiny.” “Hey now, we may look the same, but you’re a good three inches shorter than me,” Sam warned. “That doesn’t change the fact that you’re three seconds younger than me,” Mal glared, then cracked a half-smile as Sam laughed. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the twins breaking the Me damn rules again,” a group of people entered the void. “I was bringing Mal back here, Borealis. That’s all,” Sam protectively stood in front of Mal. “And he’s clinging to you like a crybaby as usual,” Borealis crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “Watch your damn mouth,” Sam demanded through gritted teeth. “Sammie, you know you’re not supposed to be near our brother,” a female teased. “He needed me, Zoria,” Sam muttered, “Of course, I came.” “He shouldn’t have been out,” a regal man pursed his lips. “I’m sorry, Alpharam. It won’t happen again,” Mal pleaded, “It's all a misunderstanding. I swear I won't do it again.” “It’s sick how the most powerful of us is so weak-willed,” Borealis scoffed, “My Chad has more balls than you do, Malum, and he’s not even an upper god.” “You shut your mouth, Borealis,” Sam shouted. “It’s okay, Sam,” Mal looked down, “You don’t have to defend me. I’m sorry I made you all come here. I won’t— I won’t do it again.” “Should we really leave Samuel’s halfling daughter to such a monumental task?” Another woman said, her face hidden behind a fan. “My Charlie is more than capable of being the reaper, Machina,” Sam yelled. “Samuel,” Alpharam boomed, “She has done excellent so far, but this is not a mistake that can be made again, or there will be consequences.” “Are you making a threat,” Sam’s eyes flashed obsidian, “I left paradise of my own volition so I could live with my wife and my daughter and now my new wife, daughter, and sons, but make no mistake… this fact has not made me go soft.” “Oh no, Sammie is challenging Alphie again,” Zoria said in a singsong voice. “Is a halfling child really worth going to war over, Samuel?” Alpharam stepped to Sam, eyes flashing gold. “I’d burn all of you before I let any of you lay a hand on her,” Sam stood firm, “I follow the rules, so your bastard children keep putting hands on my daughter, but if any of you break them, so help me Us, I will burn the heavens and earth to ash. I would get Mal out of here so he can live the life none of you deserve with me in the new world I would create for my family using your remains as fertilizer.” “S-Sam,” Mal trembled, tugging Sam’s sleeve, “You’ve made your point.” “Tall words,” Borealis’s eyes flashed crimson, “I’d like to see you try.” “When have you ever known me to lie,” Sam gave a calm smile, eyes black as the void they were standing in. “I haven’t raged in eons. We could go right now,” Borealis cracked his knuckles. “Enough!” Alpharam boomed, “Just make sure your halfling reaper keeps your mortal children out of the void unless their limited lives have expired and keep our brother in the void unless he is helping her guide expired mortals to wherever it is we put them now.” “Pretty shitty WE created them, and none of you give a shit about what happens to them,” Sam muttered. “We tried to keep them just under our level, but you decided to give them free will, and they only had ONE rule to follow in the beginning, Sammie,” Zoria chortled, “So, in a way, the fact that they became frail and boring is your fault.” “That was the stupidest ass rule, and you all know it,” Sam spit. “That’s enough, Sam,” Mal held his arm, “It’s okay. So just let it go.” “So crass,” Machina rolled her eyes. “You have five minutes to say goodbye to Malum. If you stay here any longer, it then becomes a declaration of war, Samuel,” Alpharam turned to leave with the others. Sam blew a raspberry at them as they left. He turned to Mal, Sam’s expression softening as he gazed at his brother. “I’m sorry, brother,” Mal apologized, “if I had just stayed here, none of this would have happened.” “You shouldn’t be in here in the first place,” Sam held Mal, “I’m sorry. I have failed creation and you.” “Don’t say that!” Mal shook his head, “You saved them. You gave them Charlotte.” “Yeah, I don’t think that decision was fair to Charlotte either,” Sam sighed. “Even though we are the authors of this existence, we have limits too, Sam,” Mal squeezed, “Anyway, you should go before I get you in any more trouble.” “Okay,” Sam held onto Mal. “Brother?” Mal didn't want Sam to let go, but creation couldn't handle a war. “I’m sorry. I’m going,” Sam left feeling emptier than the void. — “Charlotte, you’re going to need to move the portal,” Sam lectured, drinking some of the leftover Jell-O shots. “I know, pops,” Charlie sighed, shoving food into her mouth. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” Sam asked. “No, pops. I’ve already gotten you and uncle Mal into enough trouble,” Charlie shook her head, binge eating, “At least it gives me an excuse to overeat to build up the energy necessary.” “Okay… I need to go now,” Sam got up to leave, “Keep an eye out. Something is troubling about this turn of events.” “I know, pops. Tensei has been on edge for a while, but we can’t seem to figure out what’s going on, and— Uncle Mal has been losing time,” Charlie admitted. “I see,” Sam looked downcast. There is nothing he can technically do about any of this. He smiled at Charlie encouragingly, “I know you can handle it.” “You can count on me, pops!” Charlie smiled and gave a peace sign as he left. “What in the hell was Chad doing in the vicinity of Beni?” Charlie thought, “Well, I can't question uncle Mal right now. He is probably traumatized enough, but— gah! What is going on? Not only do I have to move the portal, but I have another job in a month.” She took a deep breath and kept eating, “I can make it work. I can always make it work. Everything will turn out fine.” — “Okay… let me open the new portal before I close the old one. There’s no tech support for this like there is when I upgrade my phone,” Charlie grimaced, remembering the hours she spent on the phone with tech support. Charlie decided to build an addition in the basement that has a massive iron door that has a retinal scanner. She was standing inside the door in an empty room that looked like a closet. Charlie’s eyes flashed black as she spoke in a language that was long forgotten. A small line appeared across the fabric of reality like a small horizon, and then it expanded until the space became enveloped in the void. Charlie collapsed when it was done. “I didn’t eat nearly enough,” she twitched. “Charles! I could have helped!” Mal held her up. “No, it’s okay. I got it,” Charlie gave him a thumbs up before exiting and reentering from the side that opened in the room above the left stairwell. It turned back into a massive master bedroom as the void recessed from the space until it was gone. Charlie collapsed again, “Damn, that was rough.” “You’re doing too much,” Mal passed her a churro she told him to hold onto for her. “Uncle Mal, I got it. Easy-peasy,” Charlie gave him a peace sign. “I don’t know if it was that easy if you’re on the floor twitching like that,” Mal grimaced, passing her another churro. Charlie hopped up after a couple of minutes, “See! Good as new!” “Right… how is my nephew— err— Benimaru doing?” Mal asked. “That I don’t know. Beni doesn’t say much anymore,” Charlie looked down, “he won’t even talk to Aaron or Kat anymore either. Are you sure you don’t remember seeing Chad?” “I’m telling you, I literally can’t remember. It was clear as day until I came back here,” Mal held his head. “It’s okay. Don’t push yourself, uncle,” Charlie pat his shoulder, “I’ll figure it all out, so don’t worry.” “Okay…” Mal nodded, unsure, watching her as she left, “We put way too much responsibility on her, and yet— she still smiles. I hope the mortals appreciate what they have with her.” — Benimaru had his head down on his desk in the room. He replayed that night over and over in his mind. Something didn't add up, and what's worse is he can't shake this sick feeling. Something started poking Benimaru, but he wasn’t sure what. Turning his head, he saw Tenseiga poking his cheek with some book. When it became clear, Benimaru jumped up and grabbed it. “This one hasn’t even left the printer for the public yet,” Benimaru’s eyes lit up and he stared at the webtoon turned comic in awe, “Tensei where did you—“ he began but continued in his gloomy voice, “— where did you get this?” “Well, two seconds of light is better than no seconds,” Tenseiga shrugged, sitting on Benimaru’s desk, “so are you ready to talk?” “About what? I was so drunk I probably dreamed it all,” Benimaru set his head down again. Tenseiga went to feel Benimaru’s forehead, but Benimaru flinched, pushing Tenseiga’s hand away. Benimaru seemed to be an off-color, and it's well past time for it to be a hangover. “I don’t know. Aaron’s reactions to the situation say otherwise,” Tenseiga crossed his arms, “Speaking of which, when are you going to talk to him again?” Benimaru was quiet. “Beni, no one is doubting that someone put their hands on you,” Tenseiga raised his eyebrows, “but it wasn’t Aaron.” “I know that,” Benimaru grumbled, “Aaron generally prefers his partners to remember every second of what they do, so drunk sex is out of the question for him… oh my god…” Benimaru felt sick. Someone almost coerced him into meaningless sex while he was under the influence. Something else made him feel ill, and being that he’s never been drunk before, he assumed it was the alcohol though it had been a couple of days. “Then there was that wild dream,” Benimaru held his head, “I’ve never imagined anywhere could be so— empty.” “That part is definitely a dream, and I imagine a pretty terrifying one,” Tenseiga pat him on the shoulder. He had been on high alert since Sam filled him in on what happened in the void. “It wasn’t terrible. It was just— Pops was there, but he seemed painfully lonely,” Benimaru looked pensive, “but— I don’t think that was pops…” “Nope! Nope! It was definitely your pops!” Tenseiga was anxious, “Aaron was also exceedingly drunk at the time, and Sam was playing a mean joke by saying the double Aaron saw was his brother.” “I guess,” Benimaru sighed, “How is everything such a mess?” Tenseiga pat Benimaru on the shoulder, “I wish I knew, but shutting everyone out isn't helping anything.” Tenseiga thought, “I could say the same for Charlotte. She’s all smiles, but she's straining herself again.” — Meanwhile, on-campus, Kat was trotting to catch up with Aaron. “Hey! How is Ben-Bun? He's been avoiding my calls and texts,” Kat was concerned. “He’s- fine,” Aaron shoved his hands on his pockets, irritated, “maybe he's not as into you as you think.” Kat had to fight the urge to nut-shot Aaron. He has been even more of a dick than usual to her lately. “Listen, Aaron, I've been pretending to be interested in Ben-Bun because I was trying to prove the point that you do like him,” Kat was too concerned about Benimaru to keep up her act. “He doesn't need to know that,” Aaron muttered, “and what do you mean pretend?” Kat looked at Aaron deadpan, “Really? Ben-Bun is a catch, but not my cup of tea. However, you need to get your shit together, or Linda is going to snatch him up.” “Good. Beni would be better off with Linda than with me,” Aaron looked away. Kat gaped at him, “I don't understand what it is with you two.” “You don't really need to understand anything,” Aaron snapped. “You know he idolizes you, so I thought you'd be cool, but you're kind of a dick,” Kat scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “And stupid apparently. You're lucky Linda didn't fuck you up the way you put a hand on her. We kind of grin and bear your moody-ass attitude because, honestly, I was rooting for you,” Kat went to go in a different direction, then turned back to look at Aaron, “But maybe you're right. Ben-Bun deserves better than whatever it is you think you're doing.” “You don't know me, Kat,” Aaron simmered. “You’re right. I don't know you, and by the same token, you don't know me either,” Kat squinted her eyes at him, “I may have just stepped into Ben-Bun’s life, but he's a good friend and a good person, albeit an odd duck. And by that note, I'll protect him, even from you if you don't get your shit together.” Kat stormed off. Aaron kicked a can and growled. He did feel stupid for how long it took him to realize that he does have those feelings for Benimaru. However, he does not want their friendship to change. “Kat may be right about me changing, but if anyone is going to protect Beni, it'll be me,” Aaron ran his fingers through his hair, gripping his head, “but that's damn hard to do when I can't even catch who is messing with him or know how he is even getting into the house.” — After he was sure everyone had gone to bed, Benimaru tiptoed down to the lounge area to grab a snack. On his way into the lounge area, he bumped into the last person he wanted to see or talk to at this point. “Hey,” Benimaru said awkwardly, looking down. “Hey,” Aaron replied just as awkwardly. They stood in silence for a long moment. “Beni, you know I wouldn’t hurt you like that, right?” Aaron began uncomfortably. “Yeah,” Benimaru nodded. “I don’t know who did, but— you aren’t someone to play with when I’m bored,” Aaron shuffled his feet. “What?” Benimaru looked up at him, confused. “You don’t remember? Oh yeah, drunk. Just forget I said anything about it,” Aaron sighed as he left the space. Benimaru was left to wonder what exactly it was that he said. Whatever it was, he could tell it hurt Aaron’s feelings. He probably did a lot of things to hurt Aaron’s feelings that day. “What happened to me?” He held his head, turning to go back to bed. He lost his appetite.