What A Sister Is Supposed To Do: Chapter 3

What a Sister is Supposed to do: Chapter 3

I finally finished my first multi-chapter fic and decided to post it here too.

After taking a deep breath Icy raised her fist to knock at the door. She shouldn’t feel so nervous. She was here to comfort her sister. Why did she feel so uneasy? 

Icy knocked gently. She wasn’t sure if Stormy had heard her, and was about to try again when she heard Stormy say “Go away.” It was obvious from her voice that she had been crying again. She sounded so weak and upset and… wet?

“Stormy, I’m sorry. Can I come in?” Icy responded gently. No response. I guess we really are doing this all over again. Icy hesitantly opened the door, half expecting Stormy to throw something at her out of frustration. Instead, Stormy was once again in her bundle of blankets on the bed. 

Her sister didn’t try to hide in the blankets like she had last time. In fact, she refused to acknowledge Icy’s presence at all. Stormy was laying on her side, her eyes focused on a random spot on the wall. Icy could see the tear stains on Stormy’s cheeks and her eyes were red and puffy. There was no way she could mess this up again.

Icy sat on the side of the bed again, the same spot she was in before. Icy set the food she brought next to her. 

“Stormy,” Icy whispered. Stormy closed her eyes again and squeezed them shut, in an effort to keep new tears forming. “Stormy I’m sorry.” Stormy’s eyes shot open, still not looking at Icy. “You needed help and I freaked out and left. I’m sorry. I should have been there for you.” Stormy didn’t react to Icy’s words but she knew that her sister heard them. 

Icy took the silence as a cue to keep talking. Words poured from her. “I know everything that we went through this past year has been hard on you. I’m your big sister. I’m supposed to protect you. I just keep doing it wrong. I shouldn’t have walked out on you. I just got overheated and… it was just too much. It’s not your fault. I should have paid attention more. Darcy and I… we care about you. I know we give you a hard time a lot, especially Darcy. But she really does care about you. You shouldn’t have to be scared around us or on guard around us. I’ll try to do better and I’ll make sure Darcy does too. You’re a really great sister Stormy. I know I don’t tell you that enough. You're sweet and funny and pretty…”

Icy turned her head to look at Stormy. Apparently, Icy had been so engrossed in her speech that she didn’t realize that Stormy was now sitting up. The two girls looked at each other in silence. Stormy’s eyes were filled with hope, but it was obvious she was still nervous that this was all some sort of trick. 

“I-I brought some food,” Icy said, grabbing something random and handing it to Stormy. A half smushed granola bar. Icy really should have brought something better. “I assumed you hadn’t eaten since yesterday,” Icy offered as an explanation. Stormy gingerly took the bar from her and started eating it. 

To fill the silence Icy started speaking again. “I know I’ve messed up in the past, but I want to try to make it up to you now. Just tell me how and I’ll do it.” Stormy looked down and started mumbling again. She was about to start crying again. This was Icy’s second chance. 

Before her sister could move she pulled her into a hug. Once safely in her older sister’s arms, Stormy allowed herself to cry. It was the same reckless sobbing as before with tears bleeding through her shirt, but this time Stormy had Icy rubbing her back and whispering reassurances in her ear. It didn’t take long for Icy to get overheated again, a common trait for magical beings whose powers were based on ice, but this time she refused to pull away. It was uncomfortable, but she would sacrifice comfort for her sister. 

After a little while Stormy calmed down and pulled away from Icy to sit up. Tears completely covered her cheeks. Icy awkwardly tried to use the back of her hand to wipe the tears away, but just ended up spreading them around more. Stormy chuckled slightly at this and wiped the rest of her tears away herself. 

“I’m sorry about all of this,” Stormy said quietly.

“Stormy, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” Icy responded truthfully.

“No, it's all my fault anyway. This wouldn’t have happened to you,” Stormy said, sounding dejected.

“You know, I don’t know what happened on this mission you went on” Icy saw Stormy wince. “Would you tell me what happened?”

Stormy looked hesitant, but started talking shakily. “I-I went to Red Fountain. There was this… concert there. Musa was singing,” Stormy buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry this is so stupid.” 

Stormy started to tear up again. I probably should say something. “Just keep talking,” Icy said, wincing at her words. It came out as an order. She probably should have tried to be gentler.

However, Stormy didn’t seem to notice and kept talking. “She ended up completely overpowering me, and the entire reason I was even there was for revenge because she overpowered me before.” Stormy looked down and closed her eyes, causing tears to drip down her cheeks. It hurt Icy to see her little sister like this.

“I’m sorry you’re upset. I can understand that—”

“No! You don’t know!” Stormy cut in, causing Icy to jump slightly. “You don’t know what it’s like to always be the weakest, always be the worst. I can’t defeat one fairy even with a stupid power up!” Stormy started crying again. “It’s just… I don’t want things to be like this anymore.”

This was…a lot. How was Icy supposed to comfort her sister without flat out lying to her? Stormy was the weakest. Losing one on one to a fairy with a power up was pathetic. The only time Icy lost one on one with a fairy was when she fought the fairy of the dragon flame. What was she supposed to say to make her feel better? I’m sorry you suck?

Stormy looked at Icy, expecting her to say something, but she was at a loss for words. The silence became uncomfortable. Icy sat stone faced, hoping that the right words would miraculously come to her. Why did she ever think she could do this?

“Icy?” Stormy hesitantly asked. “Just don’t leave again.”

Icy turned to meet Stormy’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say to make you feel better,” Icy responded truthfully. “I’m not really good at all this emotional stuff.”

“It’s fine,” Stormy said, wiping the remaining tears from her face. “Thanks for trying. I do feel better though.”

“I’m glad it worked a little.”

Stormy laughed softly. “...So, did you change your shirt because of me?”

“Oh, uh yeah,” Icy said looking down at the fresh wet patch on her new shirt. “Looks like I’ll have to change it again.” Stormy smiled slightly at this.

The two girls sat next to each other in amicable silence. “Things are different now,” Stormy said quietly. 

Icy turned to look at her sister. “Yeah, they are.” Icy paused. “I think that’s how it’s supposed to be though. Things are always changing.”

“I don’t think I like it.”

“I’ll always be there for you. That will never change.” 

Stormy shifted closer to her sister. “Thanks Icy.”

“It’s what a sister is supposed to do.”