Overwhelming Emotions
cws: dead character mention, unwarranted blaming, yelling, implied neglect, implied depression
Spoilers for the first graveyard scene with Kel
•••
It had been… hard, recently. For everyone.
Mari was… gone. They were never gonna see her again…
It made Kel really sad. It made everyone sad. He hadn't seen Sunny in… since it happened.
But, um, it was fine! He had to try and stay optimistic, 'cuz everyone was sad and he wanted to be able to make them not sad, even if only for a little while. Especially Hero! He wanted to be able to make him happy, because he was really sad.
Hero deserved to be happy again. But since Mari's gone now, he isn't happy at all.
Kel didn't know how to help. It had gotten worse as time went on, and… he was worried. Was Hero gonna be okay? He never wanted to get out of bed to go to school, and Kel noticed he wasn't eating either… mom or dad usually had to come in there and convince him to eat something.
It was like he just didn't care anymore… he barely left their room, and he looked really sick all the time. Kel noticed that he wasn't cooking either… and Hero loved cooking! He didn't know what was going on…
He tried to help, too! He would talk to Hero sometimes, or bring him food so he didn't have to leave their room if he didn't want to. Him and mom and dad all tried to be supportive. But… nothing was helping.
Kel frowned, pulling his blankets closer around him and looking over at Hero. He was just sitting in his bed, huddled in his blankets like he had been for almost a year now…
He wanted to help. Hero was always helping people, helping him, and Kel wanted to help too! Maybe he could help Hero feel better.
His mind made up, Kel walked over to his brothers bed and sat on the edge, trying not to disturb Hero too much. He cautiously put his hand on Hero's back, and when nothing bad happened, he settled in more. He chewed on his lip, trying to think of what to say.
"Um…" Kel glanced over at Hero, then looked down at his lap. "I- I know you haven't been- been feeling well, but… we all miss you, Hero. We all, um- we all want you to get better… we're all worried too- um- I don't really know what's going on but- I'm worried, and, um, I just want you to get better."
Kel looked over at Hero, who hadn't said anything. He hadn't moved much, either. Kel took a deep breath before continuing.
"Um… I- I hope you feel better soon, Hero… no one likes seeing you like this, uh- um- Mari wouldn't want to see you like this either…"
Kel looked up when Hero started shaking, and he got off his brother's bed quickly, tripping and falling back. He- he thought he was helping, but… Hero- Hero looked so angry. Did- did he say something wrong?
"Just- just stop, Kel!" Hero's voice was scratchy, and Kel pulled his knees to his chest when Hero yelled at him, feeling tears building up in his eyes.
"I- I'm just trying to- to help-"
"Well you're not helping! You're not helping, and you just need to- need to stop! All you try to do is help, and- and it can get so annoying! Sometimes it seems like you weren't even affected by Mari's death!"
Hero was crying. Kel was scared, and confused. Why was Hero getting so mad at him? Of- of course he was affected, he just…
"You were happy again so quickly, and you just expected everyone else to bounce back too! You always act so happy and like nothing affects you or anyone else!"
"He- Hero, please- I- im sorry, c- calm down-"
"You're always sorry. Just stop trying to meddle! It isn't helping, it isn't doing any good."
Kel was shaking now, and crying, though he tried to hold them back. He- he needed to help Hero calm down…
"P-please! I-I'm sorry, Hero, I'm so-sorry-"
"Boys? What's going on we heard yelling- oh! Oh, Hero, honey, what happened?!"
Mom and dad ran into the room, running over to Hero and hugging him. Kel scrambled back, leaning up against his bed. He was still shaking. That was so scary… why did Hero get so mad…?
A few seconds passed as Hero calmed down before he broke away from mom and dad, running over to Kel. His eyes squeezed shut instinctively, but Hero just pulled him into a hug. He was still crying, but he wasn't yelling anymore…
"Kel I'm sorry I'm so sorry I shouldn't have yelled at you like that I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry-"
Kel returned the hug, letting the string of apologies wash over him and not really listening.
They stayed like that for a while before Hero pulled away, going back over to his bed. Kel climbed into his own bed, still shaken up.
He didn't get much sleep that night.
