WC: 1,240
Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse
Leaf and Brandon are currently locked in a game of Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Leaf is playing as Snake and Brandon is playing as Meta Knight.
They’re neck and neck, Leaf trying to use explosives to catch Brandon off guard and Brandon using his Cheater Button again and again to try and get closer to Leaf.
“You’re gonna have to come into my Tornado of Doom at some point,” Brandon laughs. “You’ve got no choice!”
“Oh yeah?” Leaf smirks. They’ve been carefully setting down bomb after bomb, waiting for Brandon to get cocky.
Like now, for example.
“Yeah!” Brandon grins.
“Put your money where your mouth is, then.”
“Yeah?” Brandon laughs, hitting Snake again. “What do you want, Mr. Kept You Waiting?”
“No more Meta Knight if I beat you,” Leaf says calmly. “Like, ever.”
“Ever?” Brandon pouts, settling on a floating platform. “That’s a bit much.”
“Oh?” Leaf grins. “What happened to Mr. Tornado of Doom?”
Brandon scoffs. “Fine,” he says, confidence evident in his voice. “But it’s not like I plan on losing!”
“Yeah, you didn’t plan it,” Leaf smiles sweetly. “But I did.”
“There!” Snake goes, popping off an explosive right next to where Meta Knight is standing, tossing him effortlessly into the air and off screen.
“GAME!” the TV announces, leaving a completely shocked Brandon in its wake.
“But—” he blinks. “I—I was—I had you!” he groans. “You distracted me!”
“All’s fair in games and war,” Leaf snickers. “Looks like you won’t be seeing your Tornado anytime soon, hm?”
“Oh, shut up!” Brandon pouts, crossing his arms. “Let’s play a different game.”
“You’re a sore loser,” Leaf says, sticking out his tongue. “But sure, whatever. What did you have in mind?”
“I dunno,” Brandon shrugs. “Wanna play more Just Dance?”
The game was new to them, Quinn having picked it up for them yesterday as their big surprise. The three (four, really) of them played together for nearly the whole day, Paige and Leaf swapping out when one of them got too tired to play. Or in Leaf’s case, when they got bored.
“Nah,” Leaf waves off. “How about Mario Kart? I like that one.”
“Sure,” Brandon says, smirking. “But know you’re about to go up against the Karting King!”
“I’m sure I am,” Leaf replies in a flat but playful tone.
The two of them go through Paige’s collection of games until they get tired of playing, turning on a random episode of Spongebob for background noise’s sake. It’s the one about Valentine’s day.
The two are talking amicably until Leaf notices the episode that’s on. “Oh,” they say, breaking their train of thought, “That reminds me. I wanted to ask something since Paige is asleep.”
“Oh?” Brandon asks, leaning back onto the armrest turned towards the other, crossing his arms with a smile and raised eyebrow. “What is it, Leafster?”
“...I’m going to pretend you didn’t call me that,” they say deadpanned. Brandon bursts out in a quick laugh, but that doesn’t stop them from continuing. “Anyways. You’re the note carrier for Paige and his admirer, right?”
“That I am,” Brandon nods.
“Then you know who it is.”
“Yeppers.”
“Tell me who it is,” Leaf insists. “It’s killing me not knowing.”
“No way,” Brandon says, growing serious. “I’m not jeopardizing this operation just ‘cause you’re curious.” He shrugs. “Sorry, buddy.”
“Oh, c’mon,” Leaf says, rolling their eyes. “It can’t be that deep.”
Brandon frowns outright now, scrutinizing gaze trying to pierce through Leaf. “You clearly don’t know how much this means to Paige.”
“Eh,” Leaf shrugs. “I’m sure even if he was awake right now, he wouldn’t care if I knew.”
“I’m not telling you,” Brandon says firmly. “I don’t care if you say he’s asleep.” He sits up a bit, pulling away from Leaf. “Y’know, this is one of the best things to happen to Paige in like… god, I don’t even know. This is really important to him.”
“It’s just some kid who likes him sending him letters, isn’t it?” Leaf asks, confused. “I don’t really see how that constitutes as important.”
“Paige is in love with that kid, Leaf,” Brandon bites. “You know what that’s like, don’t you?”
“No,” Leaf replies blandly. “I’ve never been in love before.” He smirks humorlessly, thinking of the perfect comeback. “I was a little too busy trying not to get killed by my dad.”
It’s a low blow, and Leaf knows it.
But they also know Brandon. He was a lot of things, and short tempered was one of them. With something hard prodding at him, he’d absolutely crack and just give up the information.
But, instead of doing that, Brandon shoots up off the couch. “What the hell is wrong with you!?” he shouts. “I tell you, no, I won’t ruin the best thing that’s happened to my brother in years, and you—what—try to use what happened to you against me so I will!?” He’s breathing heavily. “Did you really think that would work!?”
“Um,” Leaf blinks, completely speechless. “Um.”
Brandon’s face melts angrily. “...You… you did, didn’t you?”
Leaf is silent.
“Oh my god,” Brandon laughs. “You still think I’m Bad Brandon.”
“Brandon, no.” Leaf stands now too, carefully keeping themself a good amount away from the other as not to make him even angrier. “I don’t think that. Really.”
“You do!” Brandon laughs again, but it’s not a happy one. “You think I’m still that little asshole from middle school!”
“I—you’re not—” Beside themself, Leaf pushes out a hand desperately. This isn’t what they wanted. They thought Brandon would just slip it out and be like aw damn! and get over it. Not this.
Brandon steps back sharply. “I can’t believe this,” he says, a bit watery. “Out of everyone in the world, I would’ve thought a piece of my favorite person wouldn't see me as something he knows I would never want to be seen as again.”
“Brandon—” Leaf tries. They were just having so much fun… Leaf finally, finally was getting to be with their best friend again. And here they were, messing it all up!
“I’m going home,” Brandon huffs. “Don’t come with.”
Leaf watches helplessly as Brandom grabs his jacket and leaves immediately, slamming the door and locking it behind him.
That’s… that’s absolutely not what he wanted to happen.
He had just thought… Brandon was the same old Brandon, wasn’t he? He was still scrappy and quick to anger, right?
…Right?
Leaf falls onto the couch in a ball, breathing heavily.
God, they had fucked up. They had fucked up real bad.
“Mmm?” Paige murmurs. “Leaf…? Are you ok’y…? You feel ang’y.”
“Fine,” Leaf snaps, only to shake their head and clear their throat. “I’m fine,” they repeat, a lot calmer.
“You sure…?”
“Yeah,” Leaf nods. “Brandon went home, so I’m just chilling.”
“Did s’mthin’ happen…?”
Leaf pushes the memory of what just happened into the furthest recesses of their mind. “Carmen called,” they lied. “I’m sure he’ll call you later.”
“Oh…ok’y…” Paige yawns. “C’n I go b’ck t’ sleep?”
“Yeah. Night.”
“Night…”
Paige is back asleep within a minute.
Leaf takes a deep breath and sighs, pushing their emotions away. They stand, walk upstairs to their room, flop down on the bed, and follow suit.
Brandon doesn’t call them that night.
The next day, Leaf doesn’t tell Paige about the day prior.
Paige goes to school, happy as can be.