Chapter Text
"Party!! Teach me how to use a raygun!! Pleasseeee!!!" Kobra Kid begged, holding out his older brother's yellow raygun. His eyes glimmered with hope. Party Poison just sighed and ruffled his brown hair.
"Alright, fine. I'll teach ya," he reluctantly said. He took the raygun from his little brother's hands. "Let's do this outside. It'll be disastrous if we do it indoors."
Kobra Kid jumped in excitement, running towards the door faster than lightning. Party Poison followed, chuckling at the other's enthusiasm. Kobra Kid had been asking to be taught for 3 years and was practically glowing with happiness.
Party Poison took a step outside and giggled at his little brother, who was already ready and waiting. He held the raygun, showing it to Kobra Kid.
"Firing a raygun is easy," he started to explain. "It's just the aiming that's kinda hard. It needs a lot of practice to master."
The younger nodded and asked, "How do we fire it?"
"Alright, first," Party Poison took Kobra Kid's hand and placed it on the raygun handle, adjusting his fingers to the correct places. "Hold it with your dominant hand. If it's too heavy, use your other hand to support it."
Kobra Kid put another hand on it and adjusted them slightly, holding it comfortably. "Like this?"
Party Poison smiled. "Yes! Exactly like that! Good job," he said with pride. "To fire, you just have to put your index finger on the trigger and pull it," he explained as he held and moved his brother's arms, trying to aim it. He settled on aiming at a tree.
"Now, shoot."
Kobra Kid put his finger on the trigger. He hesitated, his finger staying still until he eventually got the courage to pull it. He took a moment to process what had happened. His eyes widened and a big smile appeared on his face as he saw the smoking hole on the tree. Party Poison had a similar expression.
"I DID IT!!!" he shouted, opening his arms to hug his older brother. "I shot something with a raygun, Party!!"
Party Poison returned the hug, rubbing his little brother's back. "You sure did, Kobes. I'm so damn proud of you!" He pulled back slightly to ruffle his hair yet again.
"I can't wait to tell mom and dad about this!!" Kobra Kid exclaimed. "They're coming home soon, right?"
"Yes, they are, don't worry. In fact, I'll go call mom right now!" he laughed, heading back inside. Kobra Kid followed, still smiling widely. He stood beside Party Poison as he went to the phone and dialed their mother's number.
The two waited. The only sounds were the faint hum of the fridge and the cars passing by.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Party Poison's smile faltered. He pulled the telephone away from his ear, staring at it as if that would change the answer.
"Huh…" His voice was quieter than before. "Why aren't they picking up…?"
An unsettling silence filled the room, and the two could faintly hear a car speeding down the road, going faster than it should be. Party Poison gripped the phone tighter. Kobra Kid didn't fully understand what was going on but knew something was wrong. His smile started to fade.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating…
…until it was shattered by a deafening explosion in the distance. The ground trembled beneath their feet, followed by the sharp crack of gunfire echoing through the night.
Party Poison didn't think twice. He took his little brother's hand and ran out the door.
The air was filled with smoke. Party Poison pulled Kobra Kid closer, his own lungs burning from the intoxicating smoke. Without hesitation, he tore off his jacket and pressed it gently over his younger brother's nose and mouth.
"Hold it, okay? Keep it on. Don't breathe the smoke," he ordered, keeping his grip tight on Kobra Kid's arm. When the younger boy used his free hand to hold the jacket in place, Party Poison started to run again. He didn't know where he was going, he only knew one thing: get the fuck out. Kobra Kid's wide eyes glistened with tears.
"What's happening, Party…?" he asked, his voice shaky.
"I don't know, Kobes," Party Poison answered, his chest tightening. He had a feeling—one he wished he was wrong about.
Another explosion rang, and it was a lot louder than the one before. More smoke filled the air and covered the sky above them. Party Poison stopped running and coughed uncontrollably, his throat burning with each cough. Kobra Kid's stomach twisted. What if his older brother collapsed? What if he was left alone?
Party Poison eventually pulled himself together as the gunshots grew louder. He looked at Kobra Kid for any signs of approval before starting the run again. The heat from all the fire was too hot, and it drove them insane. If they don't get out any faster, they could either be killed by the fire or the smoke. Or both.
The older boy picked up his pace, pulling the younger with him. Their legs protested and ached, but they kept going. If they stopped any sooner, they would die.
Then, through the haze—an opening. A vast stretch of desert, endless and untouched. Hope sparked in Party’s chest, and he pulled Kobra forward with everything he had left. He prayed the desert meant freedom, and not just another kind of death.
They both fell towards the soft sand, panting heavily. Party Poison sat up and saw the state of his city. It was all red, orange, and gray. All buildings had collapsed. At first, Party Poison felt relieved that he and his brother had survived. But then, a realization dawned over him.
Their parents.
Their parents.
His hands shook as tears streamed down his face. Everything seemed to stop at the moment. All he could hear was a dull ringing and his parent's voices in the back of his mind. He sobbed, covering his face with his hands.
Kobra Kid sat up and looked over to his older brother. His eyes widened as he saw Party Poison's state—shaking and sobbing. He started to cry too, burying his face in the other's shoulder.
"Party… are they…?" Kobra Kid asked, wishing the answer wasn't what he thought. Party Poison just nodded.
The younger boy wrapped his arms around his older brother, sobbing hysterically. Party Poison wiped his own tears and hugged his younger brother back, burying his face in his hair. He knew he had to be strong for the both of them, but he just couldn't right now. Everything had just fallen apart right in front of him.
Through blurred tears, Party Poison thought he saw a shape in the distance—a lone building, its dimming lights flickering. He didn’t know if it meant hope or another kind of danger. He decided to check on the building tomorrow. Right now, he just needed to be there for his little brother.