A spectacular backfire

'Did Mum tell you about the house in the end?'

'No, Zeus, she didn't. Never got the chance...'

'Oh, right. Well, she got one. Bedrooms for all of us so we won't have to share. It'll probably be pretty expensive, come to think of it-'

'Eh. I don't care. I can afford it.'

'Good.'

'Did she say anything about when we're going...?'

'She just said soon, but...'

'Right. And I've put a stop to that...'

'Hey, it's not like we're gonna hold it against you, is it?'

'Guess not.'

'We'll go when you're ready.'

'I don't know when I'll be ready. I know I can't hold us up, but... the thought of going out, and everyone staring. No.'

'Don't worry about it. We'll talk about it properly later, okay?'

'Yeah.'

'...What I will say is that you should at least reply to Charon. He's really worried.'

'I know, I know. I just... don't know what to say.'

'Pff, like you two ever struggle to find what to say to each other. Just write out a simple message saying what you said to me and Carmella, and let it go from there! Ask him how he is.'

'You're right, Zeus. Thanks.'

'Don't mention it.'

'Hey.'

'Uh...'

'Julius, you can't just barge in-'

'But Zeus, I'm bored of waiting! I know Mummy said I shouldn't bother him, but...'

'Whoa. What happened to you?'

'See, this is what I fucking meant.'

'Oh, God...'

'I need the bathroom.'

'...Did I upset him? Oh man, I didn't mean to upset him.'

'It's okay, Julius. He'll be fine. He just needs time.'

'What did happen? Nobody's telling me anything. Mummy's upset, Daddy's gone somewhere in the car and now Tristan's all bandaged up and mad at me.'

'He's not mad at you. He's just... scared. What happened is, he got into an accident. He lost his eye and now things are going to be different. You'd be upset too.'

'Oh man... Can't the doctors give him a new one?'

'Not a real one. I think he'll get an eyepatch. Look, between you and me, he's worried that people will judge the way he looks now. That people are gonna point and laugh, or think differently of him.'

'...Well I won't do that.'

'Good. Be nice, okay?'

'Of course I will!'

'Do you know where Dad's gone, anyway?'

'No. Mummy said he won't be back today though.'

'Right... Hey, do you wanna play a game or something?'

'Is this to get me out of the way?'

'...Heh. You're not stupid, are you? Well, it's not getting you out of the way, more like getting us both out of the way so Tristan can have some peace and quiet.'

'Ohh, okay. Gotcha.'

'Tate...!'

'What the...!'

'Oh no you don't.'