Chapter Text
The fire crackled in the background, soothing his skin. It was nights like these that the eeriness of the home really settled into Michael's bones. Evan crying on the couch, Elizabeth hugging him tightly and rubbing her palm against his back. He was sure Elizabeth was crying too, she always cried when Evan cried. He'd place the cup of water on the coffee table in front of Evan's knees, sitting down adjacent to his two siblings, on the larger couch. A soft static could be heard from the old TV that sat on the console table in the living room, accompanied by the pitter-patter of the rain hitting the window.
Father had left 3 weeks ago. They were all in shambles, really, Michael had just kept his emotions to the confinements of his bedroom. Maybe in hopes that his siblings would find strength in his lack of reaction to the circumstances, maybe for his own sanity. He'd turn his head to the window.
Elizabeth had since stood up, squeezing Evan's shoulder and leaning down to tell him that she would be back in a minute. As she left the living room, Evan sniffled and wiped his tear-stained cheeks with his hands. "Do you think he'll be back..?" Evan had mumbled, pulling his knees to his chest and hugging them tightly in his arms.
Michael would stare at the empty driveway. No beat-up purple Ford Cortina sitting next to the garage, William had even taken the pink flamingo that was once planted in the front yard with him to god knows where. He'd shrug in response, rubbing his jaw with his fingers. He felt the stubble underneath his finger, damn, he needed a shave. "I wouldn't get my hopes up."
It had only taken a minute before Elizabeth returned, wiping her damp hands on her blue skirt "Don't say that... I'm sure he'll come back. He came back last time, right?"
Truth is, this isn't the first time their father had left unannounced. Years ago, when Michael was only 14, William decided to leave in the middle of the night with no warning. God, it scared the three of them to death. Scared poor Evan so bad he threw up from crying so hard. It was worse when William didn't return until a whole 2 weeks later and pretended like nothing happened. "It was merely a business trip. What? Don't look so shaken up." Was all he had said before he went to his room and locked the door.
He was an evil man, Michael had recognized it now. He enjoyed seeing them worried for him, he enjoyed hurting them. A part of him wishes he was really gone for good, never to be seen again.
Michael would stand from the torn up couch, walking to the TV and turning it off manually. "He took his stupid animatronics with him too, Elizabeth. He's not coming back."
"He's just working on his new restaurant!" Elizabeth reasoned. She was trying to convince herself more than she was trying to convince Michael.
"Why would he take his goddamn blueprints with him if he was going to come back?! His office is practically empty!" Michael retorted, motioning towards the office down the hallway that usually stored their father's animatronics, plus every other safekeeping their father owned. His whole life's savings were contained in that small room.
Elizabeth gasped, covering Evan's ears with his hands. "Don't curse in front of Evan!" She'd whisper-shout, pouting towards Michael.
Michael would let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head. "He's 8 years old, there's no way he doesn't curse when we aren't around." He'd mumble, leaning against the wall beside the fireplace. "Don't you, Evan?"
Elizabeth pointed her finger at Michael. "Don't tease him! Of course he doesn't curse!" She'd wrap her arms around Evan's shoulder's, holding him close to her side.
Michael would sigh, dragging his hands down his cheek before rubbing his eyes. "I wasn't teasing him." He'd peek over his hand, looking at Evan with a small grin. "You can be honest y'know, it's not like dad's here to beat your ass. You let a couple "fuck" 's slip from time to time? Or maybe you're more of a "bitch" 'typa guy?"
"Michael!" Elizabeth gasped, standing up abruptly with her hands clutched into fists. She stormed over to Michael, slapping her hand against his shoulder. Michael let out a mix of a laugh and a yelp, rubbing his shoulder. "Hey! Come on, let Evan speak for himself!"
They both turned their heads to Evan, who was staring back at them with wide eyes. "U-Um...I.."
"Oh, he totally does. Look at how red his face is!" Michael laughed, earning him another slap to his shoulder, which shut him up immediately.
"His face is red 'cause he was crying, you dummy!"
"Oh."
Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head. "I'm gonna go make dinner." She muttered, beginning to walk towards the kitchen.
"Hey hey hey, wait!" Michael grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "I'll make dinner. You guys can, uh, watch TV or somethin', yeah?" He gave an awkward grin, turning to the powered off TV. He turned it back on with a quick button press, watching it boot up for a second before color spilled across the screen.
'Another day, another dramatic entry in the lives of Vlad and his distressed mistress. Where will they go? What will they do? All of that and more happening now!'
Michael turned back to his siblings. "There you have it, you guys like this show, don't you? Sit here." He'd motion Elizabeth to the couch, sitting her down next to Evan. "I'll call you when dinner is ready." He stood there for a minute before walking to the kitchen, leaving Evan and Elizabeth in the living room.
Elizabeth crossed her arms. ".... Do you curse?" She asked quietly, turning to Evan with a suspicious look. Evan would slowly shake his head, hugging his knees to his chest. Elizabeth smiled, patting his arm. They both turned back to the TV.