Chapter Text
Sebastian didn't like the sound of Gumshoe's car or the smoke it left behind. In any other situation, he would have told Apollo he wanted to walk home, but unfortunately, Dad had sent Gumshoe to pick them up.
He was too upset to argue with anyone other than Kay and said nothing. He regretted not speaking up now that the only thing between him and Kay singing was Trucy's baby seat.
He looked down from the window to the baton in his hands, with which he was fiddling again without realizing. He put it on his legs to avoid hitting his face again.
He wished to have his headphones at hand, but at least the sound was more bearable than his old Pop's motorcycle, he thought with a shiver. Sebastian glanced at Kay from the corner of his eye, playing with her seat belt while kicking her feet. It wasn't until he saw the tiara in her head that he remembered why he was so mad at her in the first place.
Before his first day of school, Dad sat down with him. He told Sebastian that his brain worked differently from others and that Dad's own brain worked like that. He said he had an old friend who he was going to introduce him to and who would help him.
He didn't exactly remember his words about why his brain was like that, but Miss Verena was always kind to him, and her office smelled nice. She let him play with a lot of toys, so Sebastian didn't mind her questions and the activities she asked him to do.
That day, he had finally read a book without stumbling over his words. Miss Verena had cut the last stickers he needed to complete his album's collection, and when he did, she had gifted him a lemon lollipop. It was one of his favorites since they had acid on the core.
He saved it for later but made the mistake of telling Kay about it. She convinced him she knew a trick to make more lollipops, so he gave it to her. When she came back a few minutes later, not with more lollipops but with a Tiara in her hands, Sebastian experienced at least three stages of grief.
Kay spent the whole day trying to explain herself, telling him the tiara was a better exchange than the lollipops. But there wasn't anything she could say to appease him. Especially when he later told Miss Verena what happened and she had already run out of lollipops.
He turned his face to the window with a 'hmph!' and Trucy looked up from the ponies in her hands to him. She turned around when Kay called her.
"Truce, Truce! Do you know this one? 'El pavo y la pava se van a casar, todos les deseamos mucha felicidad!'"
Sebastian's ahoge perked up when he recognized the song. It was from the songs of the CD Dad had given them to teach them Spanish. This one, in particular, was Kay's favorite. He turned to Trucy, who nodded frantically.
" El pavo y la pava se van a casar, todos les deseamos mucha felicidad! " They started singing that piece of the song non-stopping until Apollo poked his head out from the co-pilot's seat.
"That's enough! Cut it out already!"
"Why?" Trucy asked, raising her hands.
"Yeah, why?!" Kay hit the sides of her seat with her fists.
"You don't even know the rest of the song!"
Gumshoe suddenly grabbed the back of Apollo's shirt and sat him straight again.
"Hey, Pal, don't do that! If the police see you, they're gonna fine me!"
"But Gumshoe, you are a police officer!"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can't get fined..."
Kay crossed her arms, closing her eyes for a moment. She turned her head to Sebastian with a smile.
"Hey, Seb! What is your favorite song?"
He stared at her and didn't answer. It was a dumb question; Kay already knew his favorite song. She waited a minute, but there was no response.
"Ah, of course!" She cleared her throat. "Buenas noches, queridos conejos, aqui va mi beso, al verlos llegar a bailar..."
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Kay was crouching in front of the washing machine, with her face glued to the window, watching the laundry spin inside.
The wash only lasted fifteen minutes, but she had realized that if she looked at the timer, it would go slower, so she refused to look at it.
Suddenly, the laundry started to slow down. Kay jumped back and stood up, staring motionless as the machine slowly stopped spinning and finally beeped.
"GUMMY, IT FINISHED!!" She called, jumping around until he showed up at the door.
"Alright, alright!" He said, smiling. Kay stretched her arms towards him and Gumshoe lifted her.
He sat her on the washer, and she watched while he took the laundry out until the kitchen phone rang, and they turned their heads to the door.
"I'm gonna get that, pal." He quickly stood up and wiped his hands with his shirt "Can you take out what's left?" Kay nodded excitedly and jumped down.
A few minutes later, she carried the laundry basket to the kitchen, ready for Gummy to put it in the dryer so they could finally hang it outside, but stopped mid-way when she heard him talking on the phone.
"Yes, sir, I'll take care of it!" She let the basket fall to the floor and dashed to his side.
"It's Dad?" Kay started pulling the side of his shirt "I wanna to talk to him!" She tiptoed while she stretched out her hand to reach the phone.
"It's Kay, sir..." He nodded after a few seconds and gave it to her.
She put the phone to her ear, grabbing it with both hands.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hello, honey." Kay smiled and gave little jumps in place. "Did something happen?"
She shook her head, even if Dad couldn't see her.
"Nope! I just wanted to say hi!"
"I see. I'm glad to hear from you, but I must continue my talk with Gumshoe. Could you please give him his phone back?"
"Hmmm...okay!" She returned the phone and then stood next to the Detective again.
He continued nodding and giving short answers until he turned to her, covering the speaker with his hand.
"He wants to talk to you." He whispered. He handed her the phone, and she let Dad know she was listening,
"Kay, I know you are avoiding doing your homework by doing your other chores." Kay squealed and took a step back.
"How do you know?!" Dad scoffed on the other side of the line.
"I know you too well. Gumshoe already told me what you two were doing. Now, please..."
"But Dad!" She whined, stretching out the 'a'.
"A quarter, that's all I ask. Can you do it for me?" Kay pouted and stomped the floor with her feet.
"Fine!"
"There you go, good girl." Gumshoe caught the phone when Kay tossed it to him. He watched her stomp off to the living room, when the voice on the phone addressed him. "Gumshoe."
"Sir?"
"I have a message I need to deliver him. Call him right away, please."
Back to Kay, she took out her notebooks and put them on the coffee table. Trucy looked up from her Play-Doh to her and then went back to her business.
It was a monumental task for Kay to write more than two paragraphs because when she turned her eyes away from her book, she ended up playing with Pess under the table. She took a special interest in the Play-Doh and how it felt under her fingers and spent about fifteen minutes playing with it.
It wasn't until Gumshoe walked by and asked how she was going that Kay remembered what she was supposed to do. Another half-hour passed by until she managed to do half of her homework. Now, Dad would spare her from doing more homework that day.
Kay was putting her things away when she saw Sebastian walking out of the hallway towards the kitchen. She immediately lit up and rushed in front of him.
"Seb! Do you want to play with us?" She said as she joined her hands behind her back.
Sebastian looked down at his feet and shook his head. Kay stood up straight and let her arms fall to her sides.
"Oh, okay. We can play later..." Sebastian turned his away and walked past her.
Kay went back to the table and watched him enter the kitchen. A few minutes later, he walked out with a spoon in his mouth and a bowl of jelly in his hands.
He never made eye contact with her.
She looked down at the table and clasped her hands together as the gears started turning in her head.
"Seb is angry." Kay raised her head and found her sister staring at her.
Trucy was extremely curious about everything around her. She stared at everything and everyone in a way Daddy had called "The biggest blue eyes he had ever seen", and wanted to know the answers to questions that usually made adults uncomfortable.
Luckily for her, Kay wasn't an adult.
"I know...!" She grabbed the sides of her head. "I did everything to apologize! But he doesn't listen!"
Kay let her face fall to the table, and Trucy pushed a piece of Play-Doh towards her. She glanced at it for a second before she pushed it back.
"...I don't feel like playing anymore..." She mumbled.
Trucy grabbed it and started molding it into a ball.
"Maybe if you say sorry with all your heart, everything will be okay!"
Kay shook her head and then hid her face between her arms.
"I did! He doesn't wanna forgive me..."
Trucy frowned and stopped molding the Play-Doh.
"Oh, then, Daddy says sometimes Seb needs time alone." Kay groaned in response.
The younger sister tilted her head to the side. She looked around until her eyes landed on the Nightmare Moon she had on the table and stretched her hand to grab it. She made it gallop to Kay's head and then caressed her hair with its hooves.
Kay smiled at her, and Trucy returned a bigger smile. She left the Nightmare Moon next to her head and looked back at her Play-Doh figures. The older sister sat up and wiped her eyes with her hands.
She grabbed the pony and walked out to the hallway, dragging her feet. When she was near her room, she passed by her Dads's closed door and heard a voice.
"I'm not saying I don't trust you, but I watched a video that said people don't fit in vents like in the movies..." Kay raised an eyebrow and put her ear on the door. "...The video. Anyway, you said you wanted to show me something...Alright."
She tried to look through the keyhole, but all she could discern was the back of the chair. After the keyboard sound stopped, Apollo started talking again.
"Yeah...What is this?" Silence, and then a soft "...What? Where did you get this from?!"
Kay was getting impatient, so she decided to take a risk. She grabbed the handle and pushed the door as quietly as possible. However, the wood creaked against the floor, and Apollo immediately noticed her.
"Kay, what are you doing here?!" He said as he turned the chair around. She looked offended as she put her free hand on her chest.
"What's up with you?! I just opened the door!"
"Ugh-" He grabbed the microphone of his headphones and turned around again. "It's just Kay...Yeah, I'll try."
Kay walked to his side and grabbed the armrest. She noticed the Minecraft pause screen but then turned her head back to him.
"Who are you talking to?" He closed a document tab he had and then unpaused the game.
"Clay, who else? Can you leave now, please?" Kay pouted and started shaking the armrest.
"Oww, why? I'm bored!"
"Well, I'm busy!
They stayed in silence as Kay watched him play. Once Apollo started walking, another player named theultimatebuddie2014 landed in front of him with Elytras. He pointed at him and then shifted.
"She's still here." Clay's character dropped an item that went into Apollo's inventory. He opened it and dragged the mouse over a book and quill called 'buddies mission impossible: vs the president'
"What's that?"
"Nothing!" Kay started shaking the chair more.
"Tell meeeee-"
Suddenly, her brother took out his headphones, stood up, and lifted her on his shoulders. Despite the kicks and screams she started throwing, Apollo tossed her out of the room and closed the door in her face.
"HEY!!" Kay started hitting the door with her fists. It was useless to try opening it since he closed it with the key. "Can you at least give me back Princess Luna, please?"
No answer. Kay groaned in frustration. Daddy was going to know about this for sure!
But, besides that, what was that book? Why did Apollo hide it from her so badly? She had already seen that Minecraft world; he had shown it to her before! She sat in front of the door a bit longer but didn't hear anything more.
It was then that the insatiable curiosity to lift every rock in the way until the truth came to light started kicking in.
And who better to steal every rock on the way if not the one and only thief of the truth?
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Arguing was part of the Edgeworth-Wright family's nature. It wasn't just about if a step-ladder was just called a ladder; it was how they showed love for each other.
With an age difference of thirteen days, Kay self-proclaimed herself as Sebastian's twin. His older sister, that is, because she had met Miles before, even though between the two of them, she was born after.
That's why the moment Kay was in her room plotting how to get Apollo out of the computer, was when she thought of telling Sebastian about it. It was a mere second before she remembered he didn't want to talk to her anymore.
She closed her hands around the T-Rex plush she was holding and then shook her head. She stiffened her shoulders and took a deep breath.
It was fine, she didn't need Sebastian to be her partner in crime! She only needed to return to her old ways, making things alone! That was her motto, after all, and if he didn't dare to take flight with her, it was his loss!
(She absolutely didn't tell this to herself on the verge of tears. Who was going to say otherwise? Only her toys were witnesses, after all.)
Kay left her room with a plan taking shape in her head. She needed something to distract Apollo with, but what?
She walked by the living room again and noticed Trucy and Gumshoe sitting at the coffee table, surrounded by towers made of building blocks. It was when she saw her sister putting Play-Doh on one of Sebastian's cars that a light bulb went on in Kay's head.
It was a well-known fact that Trucy was the baby of the house. If she wanted something, she would get it no matter what. She had mastered the skill of Puppy eyes and fake tears that made it impossible for anyone to say no.
And it was very convenient for her siblings.
Kay grinned and put her hands behind her back, walking nonchalantly towards her sister.
"Hey, Truce," She called, stretching out the 'e' and standing behind her. "what are you doing?"
She looked up at her and lifted a Play-Doh Godzilla in front of her face. Gumshoe then talked, lifting his own Dragon made of Play-Doh.
"We're about to make them fight, pal! Wanna join us?" Kay had to resiste the urge to say yes.
"I'm sorry, Gummy, but I need Trucy right now!" She shook her head, and her sister looked up at her. "Truce, remember you said you wanted to be my partner in crime?"
"Yes, but you told me the spot was taken-"
"Wel, it's empty now! What do you say?" Trucy brightened and stood up.
"Okay!" Kay muttered a 'yes' as she closed her fist.
"Wait-! What about the fight!?" Gumshoe stood up as she took Trucy's hand and dragged her out of the room.
"Sorry!" Kay apologized, not feeling guilty at all. "We are going outside!"
"Wait-"
Kay didn't listen and took Trucy out of the apartment and sat her on the stairs.
"Alright, Trucy-Fruty, your first mission as my partner in crime is very, very important!" Kay felt very important saying that. She put a hand on her hip and pointed at her with the other. "You can't be a scaredy-cat like my last partner, capish?"
"Okie-Dokie!" Kay was about to speak again when Trucy raised her hand. "What happened to the last one?"
"He's dead." She gasped and covered her mouth. Kay crossed her arms and lifted her chin. "Anyways, you have to ask before making questions! As I was saying-" Trucy raised her hand again.
Kay sighed and gave her permission.
"When do I get a cool hat like yours?"
"What?"
"When you said I couldn't be your crime partner last time, you had a cowboy hat. When do I get one?"
"Um...I'll lend you mine. AS I WAS SAYING...!" She cleared her throat, and Trucy shut her mouth. "You have to make an oath!"
"An oath?"
One of their neighbors walked up the stairs at that moment. She stopped and greeted them.
"Good afternoon, young ladies."
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Heather." They greeted back.
"Say, shouldn't you kids be at home?" The old woman smiled softly at them. "Where are your fathers?"
"They are working, ma'am." Kay answered an the woman hummed .
"I see...Well, it's a bit late. You should go have dinner!" She started walking away and waved at them as she turned on the hallway.
They stayed in silence, looking at where the lady had left, then both of them turned to each at the same time.
"Kay-" Trucy looked at her worried.
"Anyway," Kay interrupted her. "Put your hand over your heart."
"But-"
"No more questions!" Trucy frowned, but copied Kay and placed her hand on her chest. "By my honor, I swear and swear again that I will follow my leader's commands, steal the truth, and never ever tell anything about our operations to anyone who has not done the oath."
She tried to follow what her sister said.
"By my honor...I swear again that I will follow your commands and never ever tell it to anyone!"
"Good enough. You can't break the oath unless you are forced to, but only in extreme cases! Got it?"
The younger sister tilted her head to the side.
"Like what?"
"Hmmm, well," Kay grabbed her chin and looked up. "You can disobey me if I break the oath. You can't tell Daddy, much less Dad! But if we are in danger, you have to tell them no matter what!"
"No matter what?"
"No matter what. Now, here's the plan..."
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Sebastian put down his headphones and disconnected them from his piano. He then dropped himself on his bed and sighed.
He glanced at the empty bowl over his desk and at the bin filled with crumpled papers under it, only to muffle another sigh in his mattress. He didn't have the energy to clean it up, it will have to wait.
One of the things Dad had taught him was to use his unwanted emotions on something, instead of blowing them up on someone.
Sebastian had found music soothing since he could remember, and when he realized he could make his own, he never stopped. It wasn't always easy if the scrapped lyrics and notebooks without pages in his bin were a sign, but what mattered was the process.
He had never been so mad at Kay before. He had convinced himself that it was all about the lollipop, but he had learned that the truth was always deeper than it seemed on the outside.
The time he spent alone in his music, was the time he spent alone with his thoughts. For the past days Kay had made it, without fail, her mission to ruin Sebastian's life.
First, she had lost one of his favorite long-sleeved shirts on the street when they went to the doctor with Papa. They had to run after the bus after almost missing it, and since he had asked her to carry it for him earlier because it was starting to be a bit hot, Kay had let it fall on the run without realizing it.
Saying Sebastian was devastated was a very big understatement. He was in absolute despair after his hopes they would get down evaporated after the Bus rode for many more blocks. Papa had probably let him cry on his chest for about half an hour, apologizing to him many, many times.
Kay had also apologized many times to him after he felt better, and Sebastian had forgiven her because he knew it had been an accident.
But oh, if it were only that.
The next day, Kay left his Shadow The Hedgehog plush on the floor before entering the bathtub. Pess had found a new toy in him because it was not too late when they found a path of plush filling that led directly to the her bed. They were lucky Shadow had only need a few stiches and new filling.
And he forgave her again, and again, and again. But this time was the last straw.
Sebastian opened his eyes and sat up on the bed. He looked towards his desk again, at the page where the most convincing draft of his song rested.
He took it in his hands and re-read it before flipping it over. He opened his drawer and slipped the paper inside.
He walked out of his room towards the bathroom. As he was on his way, he ran into Apollo, who had his shoes on and looked ready to leave the house. His brother turned his head to him and mumbled a Hey.
"Where are you going?" Sebastian asked, stopping next to him.
"Trucy has some coins for that gumball machine in the lobby, so she keeps nagging about me going with her." Sebastian hummed in understanding, but Apollo continued. "Gumshoe is also coming with us, so don't open the door to anyone, okay?"
"Got it." His brother smiled and nodded at him before leaving.
Sebastian was about to go on his way when a voice startled him.
"Do you feel better now?" He turned around as Kay walked out of one of the hallway's plants.
"How did you-" He looked at her bewildered. How was it possible he didn't see her when he just walked past her...? "Ugh, never mind! No! I'm still very angry with you!"
Kay was hurt by this but didn't show it. She closed her fists and puffed her cheeks as he looked away with a "hpmh". She had tried to be nice, but if Sebastian was going to play like that, she might as well.
"Fine, I don't care!" She stomped on the floor with her foot. "You know what? I don't need you anymore!"
Sebastian was also hurt by that. He took a step back and almost tripped on his words but tried to stay firm.
"G-Good for you! I didn't want to be grounded because of you anyway!" He shouted and she placed her hands on Dino mode, making him step back again.
"Cool, because I already found a replacement for you!"
Sebastian's world went dark in a second and he swore he could hear glass shattering. His eyes were not starting to tear up, and he wasn't going to cry.
"Wait...What?"
Kay realized what she had said too late, and immediately covered her mouth. She tried to keep her ground and continued.
"Y-Yes...Yes! I have a new partner, and she made the oath too!" She pressed her lips together and stared at him, knowing that what she was saying was not the correct thing to say. "And she is my new best friend so-"
His eyes lowered to the ground as his brain processed the information. Kay had a new friend, who she had shared their secret oath with, someone who she now was going to play all the time with and had sleepovers, and was going to slowly forget Sebastian-
He was not crying, he was a very strong child and wasn't crying. The water on his cheeks weren't tears and the hiccups on his chest were not sobs.
It wasn't more than a second later that Sebastian was bawling his eyes out and sobbing uncontrollably. Kay went to his aid and hugged him tightly, brushing the back of his hair.
"I'M SORRY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT!!!" She cried out and he hugged her back. "It's not true!! YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND!!"
Sebastian buried his face in her shoulder as he listened to her apologize.
"I know it's my fault Shadow is hurt, I'm sorry!!! I'm sorry for cutting your hair wrong, I didn't mean to make them make fun of you! I shouldn't have changed your lollipop!"
And this time, Sebastian knew all of those were real apologies.