Just the Surface (One-Shot)
Moira sat in the passenger seat of Junior’s car, feeling the weight of the quiet between them. They didn’t often drive together—conflicting schedules, BSAA training, and various obligations always seemed to get in the way.
Today, though, Moira asked Junior for a drive to the TerraSave building for a party since he happened to be nearby. As best friends, how could he turn her down? But the heavy silence hung in the air.
“Normally, you’d fill me in on what’s going on,” Junior finally said, letting out a resigned sigh. “I mean, you don’t have to, but it sounds like you screwed up.”
Moira rolled her eyes and leaned her head against the window.
“I didn’t ‘screw up,’” she replied sharply. “It’s over, and talking about it isn’t going to change anything.”
Junior kept his hands on the steering wheel, giving her an assessing glance. “Right. I know you and your dad had a fight, but was that all?”
Moira leaned back in her seat, visibly frustrated with his persistence.
“I just said something that annoyed him,” she muttered under her breath.
“What? Did you tell him you wished he wasn’t your dad or something?” Junior quipped, making a turn that caused Moira’s leg to jolt.
“Then what did you say?” He asked again.
“It’s not a big deal. I just told my dad I wished he hadn’t brought Dylan home because he’s turned our place into a nightmare—” Before she could finish, Junior suddenly hit the brakes at a red light.
“Wait… did you say that while Dylan was in the room?” He kept his eyes focused straight ahead, but a shadow flickered across his face, and Moira couldn’t quite read it.
“Yeah. I said our family would be better off without him,” she admitted nonchalantly.
Junior fell silent, processing her words.
“Why would you say that to him?” he asked. “Is that why you always make those jokes?”
Moira turned, her expression puzzled. “I thought you didn’t like him either?”
“I poke fun at him sometimes, sure, but I’d never say ‘everyone would be better off without you!’” Junior replied, his tone dripping with incredulity.
“What’s the big deal? He’s fine! Barry always defends him and bends over backward for him, even when he’s being a brat,” she retorted, frustration bubbling to the surface.
Junior let out a deep sigh, resisting the urge to bang his head against the steering wheel.
“The big deal is that he’s never said something like that to you,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “Yeah, he gets annoyed with our teasing, but you crossed a line. You should know better—coming from me, that says a lot.”
Moira turned back to the window, seemingly indifferent. Junior stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye, struggling to find any sign of remorse. But she had a knack for burying her feelings.
"I know I should know better, but it's not my fault he came into my family's lives and ruined them." Moira scoffed, her eyes stared out the window. "And don't pretend you're now good friends with Dylan."
Junior got quiet, he kept driving.
"I wasn't saying that Moira, quit fucking putting words in my mouth." Junior told her. "He's in the BSAA with me, he's a good guy, I may not know him like you do, but I know he wouldn't say the shit you said to him. He's more understanding like that; he doesn't have a mean bone in his body."
Moira tapped her fingers against the handlebar of the car; she was trying to ignore Junior's words. Clearly, his words were getting to her, and she didn't like losing an argument.
"Stop guilt tripping me damn it." Moira sighed in frustration, her hand still tapping.
When they reached her destination, the car door unlocked with a click.
“Maybe think before you speak, especially in there,” Junior suggested, trying to keep a level tone.
Moira unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’m aware of that. Thanks for the ride.”
“Yeah, sure,” Junior responded with a shrug. He watched her walk into the building, his mind not predicting what would unfold next.
Two hours later, the ringing of his phone jolted him from thought—his mother calling about the incident at the party. He hadn’t foreseen it happening and immediately felt a wave of guilt for not going in with her, even if it was a party. Who could have guessed they would seize Moira in the midst of it all? He felt responsible.
The next few weeks were difficult. He had watched Dylan becoming closed off more than usual. Not even trying to socialize with anyone. Which was understandable. But it left Junior confused as why he didn't go home.
From what he's overheard from his mom's calls with Barry or Kathy. Dylan had stopped contacting them, Junior knew it was bad for the family but he didn't think it was this bad.
One day after training, he finally managed to find Dylan alone and actually out and about.
"Hey." Junior greeted Dylan who paused and looked at him. He seemed conflicted on saying hello back. He remembered when Dylan and him were kids and Dylan didn't ever come out of his room when he first met.
"Uh...hey." Dylan greeted robotically. His eyes lowered down to the ground.
"You doing good, man?" Junior asked the platinum blonde haired man.
Dylan kept staring at the ground. His right hand fidgeted with his right side pocket.
"...Mind answering something for me?"
"What?" Dylan stared at Junior.
"Why the hell aren't you talking to your family?" Junior finally asked. He shot straight to the point, here wasnt a point avoiding the elephant in the room.
"Why does it matter?" Dylan muttered. His eyes on the ground.
"Cut the bullshit." He said. "Do you know how hurt they are?"
"They lost Moira but that's because she got abducted by some asshole." Junior started. "Why did you just stop talking to them when they need you?'
Dylan again remained quiet. Not looking at Junior.
This was pissing Junior off. He was trying to not fuck up this conversation...if he can even call this a conversation.
"You're not talking to your dad, I get that he didn't want you to join, but what about your mom?" Junior stepped closer.
"For fucks sake, what about Polly?" Junior growled. He recalled how closer Dylan was with Polly than Moira.
Basically all the stuff Moira didn't do with Polly, Polly did with Dylan. All from listening and singing to Taylor Swift, Junior and Moira would poke fun at them for listening, especially Dylan.
He remembered Dylan playing tea party with Polly and being forced to partake to dress up to avoid polly crying.
"Are you going to just pretend they don't matter?" Junior glared. Grabbing Dylan by the collar and pushing him against the wall.
Dylan frowned. He was holding back tears.
"I can't go back....I....I....would only make things worse." He looked away.
"Says who!?" Junior asked. "Do you think you caused Moira to disappear?"
"I...only make things worse for them....I made them lose one of their own flesh and blood." Dylan mumbled.
Junior stopped holding him by the collar.
"Are you stupid or something? Moira got kidnapped. It wasnt anything you did. Hell, I feel responsible for taking her to that party." Junior stated.
"...how do you do it? Just...how?" He frowned.
"Do what?" Junior repeated.
"....I know its not my fucking fault and I also know that Moira is able to take care of herself when she needs to. I can't save everyone sure....but I can certainly fucking try for my next mission." Junior stepped back.
"Just move on?" Dylan said.
"Not exactly, but cut this shit out of cutting away contact with your family. Especially to Polly who feels like she lost both her siblings." Junior told Dylan.
Dylan froze. He hadn't thought about it that way before.
"So quit mopping around and call them, leave for a little while....do what you gotta do." Junior finished.
Junior walked away leaving Dylan with his thoughts. He knew it would take a while for the guy to absorb all that.
This was laying around my drafts so I finished it up because I wanted to finally finish this story. Especially since I really wanted to write a Dylan interacting with Junior after my RE6 doodles. This story takes place before RE6 and during resident evil revelations 2.
Junior belongs to my dear friend @feng-shui71 I really hope i did well writing an older Junior. T.T I'm a little rusty after a long time of not finishing a short story.
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