“He’s been missing? Ever since you fought??”

  Rem is shocked to find out that Nightfall has seemingly vanished. It’s only been a day since his disappearance but it’s still rather worrying. A fairy that can summon weapons while flying should be able to hold its own yet one cannot help but wonder whether or not they’re safe.

  “I don’t get why the two of you love to yell and bicker as much as you do,” Rem sighs. “You’re like a decade older than him mentally. What’s gotten into you with your yelling?”

  “What’s so wrong about me yelling at others every once in a while! It’s not like I said something wrong!” he counters believing himself to be just.

  “Maybe, so what? And what’s that supposed to accomplish?” She sighs again.

  “Just tell me a little bit about him… I’m sure there’s some sort of place you have in mind. Somewhwere he could be found.”

  “He’s kind of, like not in a bad way, pretentious, I guess? As you’ve seen, he loves to bicker and brag with-”

  “Not his personality. Anything he does while you’re away at school, working on an essay, or whatever else while you’re away or occupied?”

  Ellis is completely blank. So far, Nightfall has shown him nothing of note that could call back to his partner’s personality. With as little as he knows, Nightfall may as well be turned off only existing when they’re fighting nightmares or thinking of ways to approach them.

  “He likes to strategize about nightmares… How to approach them and stuff…”

  “That’s not-” she cuts herself off. “Dewy sleeps a lot and loves sugary fizzy drinks. It’s why I’m tring to rename him to Mountain Dew. If I had to look for him, I’d check the nearest convenience store.”

  “I’m sorry.” He’s incredibly down wondering just how he’s supposed to find Nightfall. His inability to connect with others and incapability of being emotionally present himself are a hindrance in moments like these.

  “I’m sure he’s safe but let’s at least look around for anything that may point to him. At least check any nearby spot that may be too dangerous for a tiny guy like him.” Rem ends their phone call as she heads out with Morning Dew.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Ellis too heads down the stairs asking himself all sorts of questions. By chance, he’d stumble upon his mother who quite often would be heading home from work rather than home. Even a Saturday is a workday for his parents with their absolutely abhorrent attitudes when it comes to work-life-balance.

  “Ah, Ellis! Thought you weren’t home,” she says as she’s preparing dinner.

  “Where else would I be?” he scoffs. He’s not entertaining any sort of conversation.

  She painfully snickers at her remark before confronting him. Guestering at their kitchen table, she sits down empty-handed praying that he’d let her initiate a conversation. Ellis hesitates before finally taking a seat. He nervously fiddles with his shirt unable to meet her eyes as he wonders just what she could be so eager to talk about.

  “You’ve been doing well at school, right? I know you’re a good kid so I honestly can’t see you not almost acing everything, haha,” she says, nervous. “Much better than I did back when I was in school! Haha… For someone that does a lot of accounting, I’m surprisingly bad with numbers. I used to collect all sorts of trinkets for every little thing I did from visiting a country to visiting a friend. Then I’d wonder where my money went, haha… I-”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Ellis asks. “You spent more than half my life acting like the only thing that matters is work and now we’re supposed to share funny anecdotes about our lives?”

  “I’m just trying to be a part of your life. I didn’t mean to-”

  “Yes! You didn’t mean to do that! You think now’s the right time to connect with your son? Does that look bad? Gotta keep track of optics and all that, right? Because of you two idiotic workaholics, I don’t even know how to talk to people without making fun of them or yelling at them! Like right now!” Lots of bottled up emotions that he can’t quite name are coming to light as he talks her down.

  “And don’t you dare talk to me when you bail whenever things get uncomfortable! I’ll never just run away from not-so-great times the way you do. That’s why I’m saying all that! Toss me out of the house for all I care!”

  She wipes away a tear yet refuses to back down this time.

  “I get it. I want to be better than that but I’m not going to force you to talk to someone who’s practically a stranger.”

  Of course she’d back off. No reprimands, no open display of hurt feelings other than a bodily response she herself cannot control.

  “So let me be more than that stranger. Please. I’m gonna try harder so please let me be a part of your life…”

  Elllis walks off but hesitates at the door.

  “If you mean it… If you really mean it, then just ask or something…” He twiddles with thumbs. “I don’t know just fucking do it, mom.”

  Though he’s incredibly upset and still unable to hold a conversation with her without erupting in anger, he’s open for more. Ellis can’t entirely hate his mother but, at least for now, a massive rift will complicate their relationship for a little longer.