martelsnotmypeach | 2 | dream [1920s AU event]

Entry tags:

2 | dream [1920s AU event]

Warnings: Mithos' sister complex, fluffiness.
Effects: A feeling of peacefulness and contentment.

"Martel!" Mithos called out to a gentle-looking woman with green hair as he walked into their home. "I got my test results back!"

"Did you, Mithos?" the woman, Martel, smiled. "May I see?"

With a cheerful laugh, the boy handed Martel the paper. "Here. I'm sure you'll be happy."

If the smile on her face widening was any indication, she was very happy. "Oh, Mithos," she said, patting him on the head. "You've done such a good job! You're so smart."

"But Martel," Mithos looked up at her with wide eyes. "You're much wiser than I am! You'd do so much better than I do!"

"Perhaps," the woman sighed, "but I couldn't go as far as you, Mithos. Sadly, most people don't think a woman are capable are doing the things a man can. You know that."

This irritated the boy. He looked away from her, to the floor. "But that's not fair! You're just as capable as they are!"

Martel chuckled. "Then it's our job to prove them wrong. You will help me, right, Mithos?"

Mithos nodded furiously, looking back to her. "Of course, Martel! Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you're below me! I promise, I'm going to change this world right alongside you! We're going to create equality for everyone, regardless of gender or anything else!"

"It makes me very happy to hear that..." the smile on Martel's face was kind and gentle, but also somewhat weary.

The blond hugged her tightly, with no intent of letting go quickly. "I love you, Martel..."

Martel hugged him back, so happy that he was there. "I love you too, Mithos... my dear, dear brother."

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He chuckled.

"I have my ways."

Lloyd frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

"So you're okay, then? I mean, if you're hungry, I could get you some food."

"Why would you want to help me?" Mithos' tone was suspicious.

"Why wouldn't I?" In contrast, Lloyd's voice was open and curious. "If someone needs help and there's something I can do, I want to do something to help. Besides, everyone has the right to live, and you need food to do that, right?"

There was a very long bit of silence after that.

"...all right."

Lloyd grinned, even though Mithos couldn't see it. "Great! Where can I-" Wait. No, that wouldn't work. "Damn it, I can't leave the house. I'm not supposed to walk if I can help it, even with my crutches."

He paused, thinking hard. There had to be a way around this. "Hey, can you make it to Espoir?"

Another long bit of silence.

"Yes, I think so."

The grin came back. "Okay, I'll meet you out front!" He gave Mithos the address to his cottage in Espoir, never once thinking that maybe he shouldn't be so open with a stranger. "Dad's out getting some things, so it'll be just you and me."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

He really wasn't sure about this, but the other boy had been so... kind.

No one had been kind to him like that since Martel's death...

"All right. Bye, Mithos! See you soon!" Lloyd waited just a moment, then hung the phone up. He had things to do if he wanted to be ready when Mithos showed up.

When Mithos did show up, he'd be waiting outside as promised, sitting on a bench on the porch. His crutches were propped up against the wall of the house, and he was dressed simply in a white shirt and brown pants held up with suspenders. He hadn't bothered with shoes since he wasn't expecting to go anywhere, and they were kind of a pain to get on right now.

He could barely keep his excitement down as he scanned the street in front of his house. What did Mithos look like?

What did Mithos look like, indeed...

Lloyd was soon met with a dirty boy in torn-up clothes. His hair was short, but it seemed to have been done by his own hand, causing the result to be uneven and messy.

And at first, he wasn't looking directly at Lloyd.

"Mithos?" Lloyd called hesitantly. There weren't many boys who would be passing by at this time of day, but the other boy wasn't looking at him. Was it him?

"...you must be Lloyd," Mithos stated, eyes downcast.

It was. Lloyd's face lit up with another grin. "Yeah! Hang on." He had to grab his crutches and work his way upright, something he was still trying to get the hang of without jostling his leg too much. He managed it with only a couple winces this time. "There. Okay."

He looked at Mithos again, really taking the boy in. He was a few years younger than Lloyd, and he looked pretty ragged, but Lloyd honestly didn't care. Age wasn't important, and Mithos couldn't control the dirt if he didn't have a home. That wasn't his fault, so it didn't matter.

Besides, he was excited simply to have someone else come to his house who wasn't just his dad.

"Come on," he said happily, jerking his head towards his front door. "You can come inside."

Mithos smiled, but only very slightly. "All right... thank you."

Lloyd led the way, heading for the door he'd left ajar to make it easier to get back inside without having to juggle his crutches or balance awkwardly on one leg. Pushing it open, he waited for Mithos to step inside.

"The kitchen's on the right, and there's a bag of food on the table for you. And... I made sandwiches." He watched the younger boy's face, trying to gauge his response. "Do you want to have lunch?"

He smiled. While Mithos was still unused to people being so kind to him, it almost felt... nice.

"Y... Yes. Thank you."

Lloyd gave the boy another genuine grin, not even bothering to hide the fact that he was pleased that Mithos had said yes. It made it feel more like he had a friend coming to visit.

No, he wouldn't at all mind claiming Mithos for a friend.

"I already washed my hands. You can use the kitchen sink while I get cups and juice." Because who wouldn't want to wash their hands if they had that much dirt?

"All right..." Mithos moved over to the sink, washing his hands.

Getting cups out of the cupboard required leaning one of his crutches against the counter and using only one while he reached up with his other hand. He set these on the table next to the plate of sandwiches, still using only one crutch, then went to retrieve the juice. At least he didn't have to reach for that.

Finally, he lowered himself gingerly into a chair. Man, he was glad to be sitting down. Those crutches could be a pain after a while.

"Ready when you are."

He walked over to the table, sitting down in another chair with a hint of nervousness. Despite that, he was smiling.

"I'm ready."

"Then let's eat!" Never one for much in the way of formality, Lloyd reached out and picked up one of the sandwiches from the plate, happily taking a few bites.

"So... What kinds of things do you do? What school do you go to, Mithos?"

He couldn't breathe for a moment, feeling a bit of anxiousness flood him. When he found his breath again, he gave a small, quiet response.

"...I don't."

Surprise flickered across Lloyd's face. "You don't? But... aren't you supposed to?"

"Perhaps, but I don't see how I can now," Mithos said with a soft sigh.

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