Augustus hung his school bag over his shoulders and turned around.
"I'm leaving Sis."
A dark skinned girl with a striking resemblance to Augustus smiled giddily at him, rushing forward to pull him into her embrace.
"Oh, how you've grown... my little brother. I still remember how you used to hold my hand all the time."
Augustus just sighed, tearing his gaze away and patting her on the back. "Yeah, yeah."
"I don't know if I should be happy about leaving or not."
His sister finally pulled away, giving him head pats like some little kid.
"Stop that Sis. It's kinda embarrassing." Augustus said, his brows twitching but his cheeks a little red.
"Oh, come on Augustus. It'll be a while before I get spoil you like this again. You better enjoy it while you still can."
Augustus groaned, lips twitching in irritation. "It would actually be nice if I was away from you."
"By the way..." He paused, swiping his sister's hand from his head. "I haven't told mom and dad yet. Can you do that for me?"
The girl chuckled, putting one hand on her hip and giving a thumbs up with the other.
"Just leave it to big sis." As she said that, some sort of proud vibe was emanating from her and it was bright...
A bit too bright.
Augustus turned away, bringing one hand to block the bright light from his face. "Y-Yeah. Thanks."
— —
Rexford crouched in the middle of their living room, hugging two little kids—one a little taller than the other with the tallest one being a girl and the other one, a boy.
The girl had yellow, shoulder length hair.
The boy on the other hand—unlike Rexford and the girl—had raven, spiky dark hair.
Well, in a situation like this where the younger ones would have appeared sobbing and all clingy at the departure of their elder brother while the elder brother comforted them.
But this scene was different.
The kids' shoulders were wet from Rexford's uncontrollable tears as he clinged desperately on to them while the two patted him on the back in a comforting manner.
The girl had a little indifferent look on her face while the boy wore a smug grin.
"Hey, Rexford. Don't keep the master waiting." A stern voice came from behind the kids as a woman—with yellow, back length hair—walked in, hands on her hips.
Rexford looked up—still sobbing.
"But... *sniff sniff* ... But."
"Come on hunny. Let them be." A man with raven, spiky dark hair stepped beside the woman, wearing a proud grin. "Our son is finally leaving for one of the greatest warrior academies in the world. We won't be seeing him for a while."
The woman turned to him with a scowl. "You're being too soft on him. He's a man now, you know?"
"Oh come on." The man glanced at his wife, grinning from ear to ear. "Just a little won't hurt."
The woman face palmed, sighing as she shook her head.
Rexford pulled away from his siblings, wiping his tears with one hand before smiling and resting his hands on their shoulders.
"You two be good kids, okay?"
The girl looked up at him, her expression remaining indifferent. "You don't need to tell us that."
The boy nodded in agreement, resting his hands on his hips.
Rexford turned to the boy. "I'm leaving everything in your hands Kingsford. You're the man around here, now. Protect your sister and mom and dad, okay?"
Kingsford's grin widened as he held a thumb to his chest. "Don't worry big bro. Just leave everything to me."
A proud smirk drew on Rexford's lips as he held a thumbs up, murmuring something like "my little brother is not a little kid anymore".
Then he turned to his sister. "Alright Priscilla. You take care of everyone. And make sure your little brother doesn't overdo things."
The girl gave a frown, looking up at him. "I can't believe you're telling me this when you were the one always going overboard."
A sigh escaped her lips as she gave a small smile. "But alright. I'll make sure to scold Kingsford really well..."
She paused, turning to face their father. "You too dad."
"Huh?" The man flinched as a shiver ran down his spine. "Y-Yeah. I'll... be careful."
Rexford nodded with a hand on his chin. "I see I have nothing to worry about now. Okay."
He slowly got up, turning around as a waved at his parents. "Okay mom, dad. I'm off now."
"Wait." Rexford stopped at the voice of his mother, turning again to see her walking to him.
She moved her hands, locking in a button which he might have forgotten.
She then fixed his collar properly. "Geez. What am I ever gonna do with you?" She said, resting her hands on his shoulders.
Before anything could happen, Rexford found himself in the warm embrace of his mother, her stern motherly expression cracking to bring out that warm motherly smile.
"I'm proud of you, Rexford. So proud."
Rexford was dumbfounded. It was unusual for him to see this soft part of his mother.
She pulled back to look at him, wiping a tear from one eye. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Rexford exhaled sharply, a soft grin spreading across his lips as he nodded. "I will mom. Don't worry."
He took a step back. Then another... Before turning around and walking out through the door.
The father chuckled slightly from where he stood. "It's so rare of you to show your soft side. What happened?"
She snapped, immediately returning to her stern self. "Oh, shut up."
The kids—unable to hold themselves back—burst into giggles.
"Alright everyone. Back to bed." She said, her voice rising slightly.
The kids froze before turning around to leave.
The father just stood, rubbing his chin while studying her.
'She's embarrassed.' He thought with a smirk.
— —
A certain red haired figure stood in a room, clutching a little red haired girl tightly to his chest.
Behind them, a red haired man stood, one arm draped around the waist of a woman who leaned into him as they both looked on with down expressions.
The girl pulled back, looking up at him with teary eyes. "Do you really have to go big brother?"
Emmanuel grinned, leaning his forehead against hers. "Sorry Emily. Big bro has been called out for duty."
Emily pouted, staring down at the ground. "I don't want you to go..."
Emmanuel's grin dropped as he saw the look in the girl's eyes.
"But..." Emily paused, looking up at him with a small smile. "If it's something really important... then I guess... that's okay."
Emmanuel stared down at his little sister for a while as if seeing her in a completely new light.
The couple behind them brightened up, turning to look at each other.
A slight smirk crawled up Emmanuel's lips.
'I guess I never realized how much she'd grown.'
He leaned back back, patting the little girl on the head.
"Don't worry Emily. I'll make sure to buy you a gift when we meet next time, okay?"
"Really?" Emily beamed, her eyes lighting up as she looked up at her big bro. "Thanks, big brother."
Emmanuel's eyes widened, his sister's cuteness almost blowing him away.
He immediately rushed forward, capturing her in a tight hug as he rose up, swinging around while saying stuff like;
"Oh, Emily. You're so cute."
"Now, I don't want to go."
"On a second thought, you won't have anyone to protect you when I'm gone."
"Maybe I really should stay back."
Emily giggled as she was being swayed around in her big brother's arms.
"Come on Emmanuel. Don't say that." Their mother said, stepping forward with her hands on her waist but still wearing the smile.
Emmanuel stopped swaying to glance at his mother with teary eyes. "But—"
"It's okay, big brother." Emily spoke up, pulling back to watch him. "I still have mom and dad with me. I'm not alone."
Emmanuel looked down at the girl with nothing but wonder.
'She really has grown.'
A sharp chuckle escaped him as he lowered the girl down and got up.
The girl hurried back, standing between her parents as she waved at Emmanuel.
"Goodbye big brother."
Emmanuel nodded, lifted a hand to wave back. "Yeah. Goodbye."
He exchanged gazes with his parents. "Well then, I'll be on my way now." He said, before turning around to leave.
"Take care of yourself for me, okay?" His mother told him as her last words before he could reach the door.
Emmanuel lifted a hand, turning to her with a warm smile. "Don't worry mom. I will." He responded before reaching for the door knob.
"Oh, yeah." Emily yelled. "Say hi to Desmond for me."
Emmanuel suddenly froze, his sister complex side kicking in slightly as his hand landed on the knob.
His brows twitched slightly.
To the world, Emily's 'hi' might have been something simple but to Emmanuel, it had more meaning to it... especially since Emily was his sweet, innocent, little sister.
His grip tightened on the knob. 'That Desmond. Did he use some kind of charm on Emily? It that's so...'
His grin returned, widening further into a devilish one. 'I'll have a little talk with him later.'
Emily tilted her head, watching her brother in confusion as he stood frozen at the door.
"Big brother?"
Her words snapped him out of his trance before any menacing vibe could leak out of him.
He opened the door, turning to her one last time. "See you later, Emily."
Emily brightened up, seeing as nothing was wrong and gave an enthusiastic nod.
And with that, Emmanuel exited the room.