FicWad

Aleena woke up as sunlight shone through the window and right in her face. She sat up, then turned the tv off. “I can’t believe I fell asleep in front of the tv.” She muttered. She laid down on the couch, staring at the ceiling as she tried to think of what to say to Manic.

She worried about him.

Manic was twenty-one and seemed to not have any motivation to do much of anything other than work at Hot Topic as far as she knew. He did play the drums in his and his siblings’ band, but gigs were apparently few and far between aside from the fact Sonic had a full time gig of fighting Dr. Eggman when he wasn’t traveling around Mobius and Sonia worked in a high-end salon.

Aleena spoke to Sonic and Sonia once a week (or twice a week in Sonia’s case) now while she barely spoke to Manic in spite of him living in the same house. He only came out of his room to shower and eat and it rarely coincided with her being at home. The few attempts to talk to him were interrupted by work or Manic rejecting her attempts to make amends.

Hopefully, that could change since she started her new job at a small clinic the day before.

She heard Manic shuffle into the kitchen, then got up to try to talk to him.

Aleena walked into the kitchen and saw Manic’s dyed black tipped spines and the bottom of his baggy black hoodie as he dug around in the fridge. “Morning, sweetie.”

A lime green tenrec girl looked up and shut the fridge. “Oh, hey, you must be Manic’s Ma.” She replied. “Nice to meet you. I’m-”

“Who are you?” Aleena asked.

The girl blinked in surprise. “Surge.” She replied. “I knew he said you were rarely home, but I thought he’d have a chance to mention me once during the past five years.”

“Five years?” Aleena asked. “Well, yeah, he has mentioned you. I haven’t met you and hadn’t realized it had been that long.”

Manic walked in. “Babe, I-” He froze. “Oh, Ma, this is my girl Surge. Sorry you had to meet like this.”

“Wait.” Aleena said. “Did she stay the whole night?”

Manic nodded. “She’s been living here for about six months.” He replied. “It isn’t like you’re home to know anything or care if your adult son breaks the rules, even though I’m-”

“This isn’t your house, Manic.” Aleena said, shaking her head. “You don’t even contribute at all. I do everything. So you shouldn’t complain about rules in a house you don’t own. You don’t even help with expenses aside from paying for your car, which I’m surprised you even do that.”

Manic sighed. “Ma, I-” He looked at Surge. “Babe, you can’t drink coffee, it’s not good for-”

Manic suddenly went silent as Surge eased away from the counter.

“No, finish it.” Aleena said, crossing her arms. “Why can’t she have coffee?”

Manic rubbed the back of his neck.

“Is she pregnant?” Aleena asked.

Manic looked away.

Aleena grabbed Manic’s face and made him look at her. “Manic, answer me.”

Manic gently pushed her hands away. “Yeah, Ma, she’s two weeks along.”

Aleena sighed. “What were you thinking?”

Manic huffed and rolled his eyes as he turned to walk away.

“Oh, real mature.” Aleena said, catching Manic’s arm. “You can barely run your life and you do this?”

Manic jerked his arm away. “I’m not a kid, Ma. I-”

“Well, you sure don’t act like an adult.” Aleena said, raising her voice. “How are you gonna take care of them? I don’t have the money to keep all of us up.”

Manic crossed his arms. “Like I need you.” He sneered. “You never-”

“Out.” Aleena said, pointing to the door.

Manic flinched. “What?”

“You heard me.” Aleena replied. “I’m sick of this, Manic. I’m tired of trying to make amends and you reject it. You go out of your way to sabotage yourself and you expect me to keep you and your entire family up while you do nothing to contribute.”

Manic motioned for Surge to follow him. “C’mon, Babe, we’ll get breakfast somewhere else.”

Surge followed Manic out of the room.

Aleena poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. She propped her elbows on the table and held her head in her hands. “I know I wasn’t home, but why did he turn out like this and Sonic and Sonia didn’t?” She muttered under her breath.

Manic and Surge finally came out of his room with their backpacks and Manic’s tablet.

“I hate to ask, Ma, but could you help me with our stuff?” Manic asked. “I don’t want to make her carry a bunch of heavy bags.”

Aleena got up. “Yeah, but you’re gonna help.” She replied.

Manic shrugged. “Fine.”

Aleena headed into Manic’s room while Manic and Surge were going to the car. Since Manic pretty much gave her permission to go into his room, she was going to take the opportunity to see what he had in there.

The room still looked pretty much the same as it did when Sonic lived there.

The room was still painted gray and black, though Sonic’s bed was gone.

Manic’s bed had plain black and gray sheets instead of the black and gray guitar and music note sheets he had as a kid. The wall signs they bought at the hobby store were still hanging up. Manic’s drums were in the corner.

The only difference was that Manic had an expensive computer and recording system set up on a new desk beside a Cricut. He also had some framed prints of a comic he had made and signed hanging up.

Aleena sighed. She knew Manic was creative, but had no idea he had made a comic.

“I guess this is what he spends his money on.” Aleena said, looking over the equipment. “Where is he getting the money?”

Manic walked in with a few trash bags. “I’ll pick up my computer, drums, and Cricut later.” He said. “Can’t fit that in my car.”

Manic pulled his and Surge’s clothes out of his closet and started cramming them into one of the bags.

Aleena looked over Manic’s shoulder as he packed, noticing they had expensive clothes as well. “You have been buying all of this, but you can’t help with expenses?”

Manic shoved his sheets into a bag. “I can do what I want with my money.”

“You know, if I lived with you in your house, I’d do my best to help with expenses.” Aleena said.

Manic grabbed a few books and his framed photos. “If the situation was reversed, I wouldn’t have worked long hours and let my kids fend for themselves.”

Aleena picked up the bags. “Manic, I’m sorry I couldn’t get a job with decent hours back then.”

Manic picked up the other two bags. “A little late for that now, huh?”

Aleena huffed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Aleena and Manic carried the bags to Manic’s car.

Surge, who had been sitting in the living room, got up and followed Manic and Aleena out.

Manic and Aleena stuffed the bags into the trunk of the car.

“See you.” Manic said, brushing past Aleena as he walked to the driver’s side of the car.

“I hope so, Manic.” Aleena replied.

Manic slammed the door and drove away.

Aleena headed back inside.

*

Manic drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited at the stop sign at the end of his street.

“She has a point.” Surge said. “I told you we should’ve paid for our food and half of the bills.”

Manic sighed. “I know, Babe.” He replied. He pulled away from the stop sign. “Maybe it’s for the best though. I need to get away from her.”

“Don’t you think that if you talked to your mom about it like an adult we wouldn’t have to live in Farrell’s guest house?" Surge asked. “I don’t hate him, but it’s probably not a good idea to get close to that gang again since you worked so hard to get out. I don’t really trust them.”

“Yeah, I know.” Manic replied. “I know I should’ve tried to talk to her, but something about her irritates me. I guess I’m still angry over how she left me, Sonic, and Sonia to fend for ourselves.”

“You guess?” Surge asked. “I overheard you. You brought it up at least once to her.”

“Okay, I am.” Manic replied. “We had to fend for ourselves every day. It wasn’t fair for Sonic and Sonia to be my parents while they were kids too and still trying to figure things out.”

“That was pretty awful.” Surge said.

“I haven’t even called Farrell yet.” Manic said, smacking his hand on the wheel. “Call Kit or Sonia and see if one of them will let us crash at their places instead. I’ll get us breakfast at the cafe.”

Surge pulled her phone out. “I’ll call Kit.” She replied. “Shadow probably has Maria’s room set up like a shrine even if he hadn’t said he didn’t want you hanging around because of the Guild.”

“Fair enough.” Manic said. “Oh, don’t say anything about Maria like that. She was his big sister and she looked after me and my siblings.”

“Hey, I liked Maria.” Surge replied. “I was just saying he took it pretty hard.”

*

Aleena laid down on her bed. “I guess I should feel relieved I didn’t see any drugs in his room.”

Aleena’s phone rang.

Aleena reached over and picked up her phone. She answered Sonic’s call.

“Hey, Mom.” Sonic said. “Are you- what did he do this time?”

“Did you know he had Surge living here for six months?” Aleena asked. “Or that she’s two weeks pregnant?”

“Not surprised.” Sonic muttered. “So is he there?”

“No, we got into a fight and I kicked him out.” Aleena said.

Sonic gave a low whistle.

“What?” Aleena asked.

“Well, Manic started working for some guy about four years ago, give or take, and we’ve all been a little wary of the whole thing.” Sonic replied. “Especially after he was so secretive about it and wouldn’t explain that one tattoo.”

Aleena sat up. “What do you mean?” She asked. “I thought he was working at Hot Topic.”

“He hasn’t worked there since he was seventeen.” Sonic replied. “Surge was still working there as far as I know.”

“Do you know what Manic’s doing?” Aleena asked.

“Not quite sure.” Sonic replied. “He doesn’t talk about it except to say the name of the gang. Farrell, the guy he works for, seems to be like… mentoring him. Sonia thinks he played on Manic’s subconscious search for a father figure or something. We literally know nothing about Farrell other than his name and that Manic has the insignia of a gang tattooed on his shoulder. We’ve all been worried about it.”

“Can you call him?” Aleena asked.

“Sure, Mom.” Sonic replied. “Oh, and I guess I should tell you that he and Surge got married about six months ago.”

“What?” Aleena shrieked.

Sonic groaned. “Ah, Mom, it’s not on speaker.”

Aleena exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry.”

“Anyway, it wasn’t a big wedding.” Sonic replied. “They got married at the courthouse. To be fair, they each had one guest since Kit was her only friend and she’s an orphan. Sonia, Shadow, and Sally weren't mad about it.”

“Oh.” Aleena said. “I just wish I had known. I have tried to make amends with him like I have with you and Sonia and he either shuts down or it’s a fight.”

“I know.” Sonic replied. “Oh, my chili dogs are done. I’ll call him later, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you too.” Aleena said. She hung up. “Sonic usually gets through to him.”



*

Manic had just moved his bags into the room Kit let him and Surge stay in and sat down on his and Surge’s bed when his phone rang. He laid down and answered the call. “Ma, I-”

“It’s your brother.” Sonic said.

“Oh, sorry.” Manic replied. “Hey, bro, what’s up?”

“I know Mom wasn’t mother of the year, but she’s been trying for the past few years to make peace with you.” Sonic said.

“I know, but I just snap whenever I’m around her.” Manic replied. “I can’t take her seriously when she tries to act like a mom.”

“She’s concerned, bro.” Sonic said. “I can’t blame her on this. You weren’t helping with expenses and you brought in at least two more mouths to feed. How was Mom supposed to feel when you’re freeloading?”

Manic drummed his fingers on the nightstand. “Is there a point to your call, Sonic?”

“You think she owes you all of that, don't you?” Sonic asked.

“Sorta.” Manic muttered. “Did Ma put you up to calling me?”

“I was gonna call anyway.” Sonic said. “Where are you working?”

“I just started working at the locksmith business across the street from the chili dog place you go to, bro.” Manic replied. “Why are you so weird about it?”

“Because you told me you worked for the Guild.” Sonic said. “That’s not a good… uh… career to have when you have a baby.”

“I quit the Guild.” Manic said. “I bought my way out of it months ago, before my honeymoon. I still talk with Farrell occasionally, but I don’t work for it anymore. You didn’t mention that to Ma, right?”

“Sorta.” Sonic replied.

Manic sighed as he ran his hand through his spines. “Well, I got that tattoo covered before I started the job, so I shouldn’t have problems.”

“Where are you staying?” Sonic asked.

“Kit’s place.” Manic replied. “It’s temporary. Hopefully, I can find our own place before the baby’s born.”

“Are you gonna call Mom?” Sonic asked.

“Meh.” Manic muttered. “Maybe, I don’t know.”

Surge walked in, her spines damp from the shower.

“I know, I had mixed feelings too.” Sonic said. “But Sis and I did gave Mom a chance and she’s really trying. We don’t regret it. I think it would be good for you.”

“Okay, Sonic, I’ll actually call her.” Manic replied.

“Great; I’ll see you later, bro.” Sonic said. “Love you. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, bro.” Manic replied. “Love you too. See you later.”

Manic hung up.

Surge laid down beside Manic, resting her head on his chest. “That was Sonic?”

“Yeah, I guess Ma called him to tell him what happened or he called her.” Manic said. “I’m not calling her right now. I gotta think about that.”

“Alright, I’m not getting involved with this unless you need me.” Surge replied.

“Eh, thanks, Babe.” Manic said, rubbing her side. “So what do you think I should do?”

“I think you need to give her at least one chance.” Surge replied.

Manic bit his lip. “Hmm.”

“I didn’t say you had to listen to me.” Surge said. “Just think it over.”

Manic nodded.