Chapter 13 - Family

FORK'S THEATER

THE FOLLOWING DAY

Charlie sighed as he entered the viewing area of the theatre, his eyes scanning through the rows until a silhouette was spotted sitting listlessly in one of the lower rows. The silhouette seemed to exude loneliness through his shadow – something usually impossible since a show was as lonely as it got.

When he got close enough, Charlie was able to confirm it was indeed who he was looking for. The Police Chief found himself vising the theatre a lot these past couple of weeks – drawn to the mystery of the fourteen-year-old without parents and one of Bella's old movies.

Ikaris felt the subtle vibrations from the moment Charlie entered the theatre, and he heard The Police Chief's beating heart a lot clearer than the other sounds around. It would seem, that the more he knew someone, the easier detecting their presence became.

Still, The Eternal didn't even twitch a muscle, he just stared at the blank screen with an equally blank expression on his face. Half of what he was feeling was true, but acting hopeless to this extent was, in part, acting.

Goose2, in all her royal fluffiness, was asleep around his shoulders, a belled collar tightly wrapped around her neck as if to choke the life out of her. At first, as he made his way closer, Charlie wasn't sure if the cat was breathing, but he managed to hear some gasping whimpers as he came closer.

'If it isn't dead, it will be soon.' The Chief of Police surmised but now was not the time to scold Ikaris about taking care of his pet better. "You good?" he questioned.

There was no reply.

Charlie slid into the seat next to Ikaris and The Eternal's head robotically turned in The Police Chief's direction. There was a bit of loss in Ikaris's eyes, and his hands trembled as if he was caught in a snowstorm.

Overselling it much?

Probably… but Ikaris was ready to go for broke.

"I take they already called you to relay the news?" Charlie inquired, and rather awkwardly at that. "They said I should come to check on you just in case."

Ikaris smiled bitterly.

"I am now about two million dollars richer than before." The Eternal mentioned, a slight bitterness to his tone that was genuine despite the façade of conflicting emotions.

Maybe, Ikaris was conflicted on a level he could not yet see.

"Money doesn't make it hurt less," Charlie muttered, rubbing his beard. "My parent's left a million dollars in life insurance when they departed this Earth, and up till now, I haven't even touched the money. I guess I'm gonna leave it to my daughter someday."

"You're rich?" Ikaris's trembling stopped as something else drew his attention – the mystery of the Chief of Police named Charlie. "I didn't take you for a wealthy man."

"My father was an investor," Charlie hummed as a small smile graced his face upon recalling the memories. "He always said everyone in the future gonna work on the computer from home like he did. My mom instructed him on what investments to actually make, so I was never sure who made the actual money to bring home. They were sick for a while and all the pills took most of the money, but the life insurance stayed behind."

"Then, why stay here?"

That was the million-dollar question – why stay in a place that made him so miserable?

"Because it's home… through and through," Charlie admitted, finally voicing the feelings in his heart. "A woman who cannot become your home is not worth the love you give. I learned that when my wife left me. It's funny actually, I finally got to sign the divorce papers a year ago."

"What a sad life to live," Ikaris muttered.

"In the end, most lives turn out this sad," Charlie's voice was a bit defensive. "I just got to find out the secret a bit earlier than everyone else."

Ikaris frowned and thought over that statement for a couple of seconds, eventually deciding that it did have some merit, even if it was a statement made by a bitter old man in crisis with himself.

"Everything tends to be okay in the end, and if it's not okay, then it's not the end."

"That's a nice one," Charlie admired. "Who said it?"

"For all intents and purposes," Ikaris rubbed his chin. "You can think about it as Ancient Greek Philosopher Ikaris said it."

"Ah," Charlie nodded. "You have a wise name then. Your parents were really thinking ahead on this one… speaking of your parents."

"Apparently, I am rich enough to live on my own now," Ikaris shrugged his shoulder, shooting Charlie a smug glance. "Those are the types of questions you get to ask my lawyer – who I also inherited from Julia."

Charlie sighed in defeat. "You going to the funeral next week?" The Police Chief inquired.

"I wasn't invited – as a matter of fact, I was specifically warned not to go," Ikaris fiddled with his hand unconsciously, showing childish worry befitting his age. "Julia basically left me all the things she didn't want her husband to get his hands on. Most of the money went to her kid for when she turns eighteen."

"That's still no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to the funeral."

'There is a deeper reason I don't want to go.' Ikaris whispered in his mind, but his mouth moved separately. "Trust me, I don't need the drama that would come with attending the funeral. I will just apologize in front of her grave at some other time."

"Hmmmmm…" Charlie hummed in agreement – not a man to entertain too much drama, himself.

With their daily quote of words breached, Charlie and Ikaris merely watched the blank screen together. They showed great surprise when the theatre's screen flicked on to show The Wizard of OZ in all its aged glory.

Ikaris wore a subtle smile, internally admiring Jessica's more observant traits. The girl had started to work at the theatre a week ago, and she almost immediately started to flirt with him, but The Eternal never even bothered to bid the girl the time of the day.

'It seems I need to acknowledge her presence a bit more.'

Hence, Charlie and Ikaris sat in perfect companionable silence, watching what had become their favourite movie because of Bella – Charlie's estranged daughter.

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ONE MONTH LATER

CARVER'S CAFÉ

Ikaris and Charlie sat at their usual table in the corner. Unlike the previous month, the duo had many things to talk about this time. The first week following Julia's passing was spent in companionable silence, but as Goose2 slept a lot, and Ikaris was in desperate need of company, The Eternal opened up a bit and learned he and Charlie had a lot in common.

They were both men of action – well, man and boy.

They could tell what people were thinking from the looks on their faces – more like a brief telepathic scan combined with millions of years of experience for Ikaris.

They both had an appreciation for simple meals, old music, and comfortable clothing.

In the end, their quick bonding could be summarized by the fact that they were both old souls. The first week was silence, the second week was bonding, and by the third week, they were sifting through old movies at the theatre and eating at the diner together.

"A Berry Cobbler, please," Charlie ordered.

"I know we're old souls and all, but –" The Eternal sighed. "I really think you should try something new. When your daughter comes to visit, I doubt she would still want to eat her old kid's meal."

"Trust me," Charlie wore a confident side smirk that didn't seem like a smirk at all. "Bella is always gonna love Berry Cobblers."

"I have to agree with the kid on this one, Charlie," Cora voiced her opinion, and Charlie seemed a bit shaken. "But you don't have to worry much. I have been trying some new ingredients, and I am sure Bella will fall in love with Berry Cobblers all over again whenever she visits. But before that, what will you be having, Iki?"

Ikaris lowered his head, almost hiding under the table when he heard the very nasty-sounding nickname he had earned two weeks ago.

"I thought there was a three-second rule," The Eternal mumbled, cheeks flaring with redness. "I didn't even eat it after it fell."

"Because we were watching you," Charlie laughed as he smacked Ikaris's shoulder, feeling the familiar burn in his hand. "Your body is still as strong as ever, I doubt that piece of apple that fell to the floor would have killed you."

"Germs is germs," Cora announced, then raised a brow at Ikaris and Charlie. "Ikaris, I have stuff to do so I kind of need your order."

"Oh, yeah…" Ikaris mumbled and sunk into thought for a couple of seconds before sighing as he announced. "Maybe… this one time, Berry Cobbler."

Charlie and Cora stifled their laughs since they already knew what Ikaris's favourite dish was, even if The Eternal was unwilling to announce it for himself. Ikaris could only sigh since he didn't like the Berry Cobblers at first, but Cora's new ingredients gave it the necessary kick to make it his favourite.

One had to know the taste buds of an Eternal weren't so easy to appease.

"And for the little lady," Cora gestured to the slightly large cat that hung loosely on Ikaris's shoulders.

"Cat food on the ground," Ikaris replied quickly.

HISS – SCRATCH – HISS

"OW!" Ikaris yelped, holding his cheek as Goose2 hopped onto the table while shooting a particularly vicious side-eye at The Eternal.

"Girl power!" Cora teased, opening her hand to Goose2 who was more than eager to reply with a high-five. "AAWWWWWW!" The waitress gushed as Goose2 found her usual position on the table's corner. "It always amazes me how smart she is – you're a wonderful trainer, Ikaris."

"But she never listens to me," The Eternal complained. "They say Hell spawns were born to deceive – that's exactly what she is doing."

"Look at her," Cora gushed some more, running her fingers through Goose2's increased fluffiness. "Isn't she the cutest thing in the world?"

PUR – PUR – PUR (Translation: You mean all the world, little human. Now, bring forth the royal feast for this Queen! Petting time is over.)

"Yeah, maybe don't pet her so much," Ikaris quickly intervened, less Goose2 scratched the woman, and she bleeds out from a wound that couldn't heal. "She is sensitive to petting and all."

MEOW – MEOW

"Every type of meat you got. She wants it diced into small cubes, but she wants the tuna separated to the side. The fishy smell gets to her. Uhm, she is saying she wants to try sprinkles over the red meat, and maybe a bit of chocolate around the entire thing – not on the meat, like a designer swirl in those famous restaurants."

MEOW – MEOW – MEOW

Goose2 gave more instructions, and Ikaris frowned, uncaring of the worried gaze Charlie and Cora were throwing in his direction. At first, they also thought it was a joke, but after being around Ikaris for a while, they began to realize that the relationship between The Eternal and his cat was really just that strange.

"She says she wants a milkshake, but this time, she wants you to dye it with the lemonade paste to give it that golden sheen. Apparently, her account has been going a bit viral lately and she wants to expand her fanbase into a bit more higher-class audience."

"Did I say that right?" Ikaris questioned and Goose2 nodded her head.

COUGH

COUGH

Off to the side, Charlie – who was sipping on a cup of water – couldn't help but choke. Cora's smile had gone stiff on her face mid-way through the order, but she quickly recovered and jotted everything down with enthusiasm.

It was no secret that Goose2 had several accounts with thousands of followers; though, Charlie and Cora were still somehow under the impression that Ikaris managed to account. In truth, Ikaris only benefitted because he was the only one Goose2 knew who had a bank account.

And given the way the cat was mastering technology so rapidly, Ikaris doubts the feline would be routing her profits through his accounts for much longer. Cora departed with the orders, Goose2 curled into her tail, and Charlie and Ikaris were again left in companionable silence.

"So, do we still have to get—"

"The kitty bubbles deluxe mini-bath and massager?" Ikaris questioned and stiffly nodded his head with a cramped smile on his face. "Yeah. I will be the one paying for it—"

"No! No! No!" Charlie quickly stopped The Eternal, a desperate expression on his face. "I mean… we are, uhm… family and all. It's no problem getting something for little Gusto."

Charlie seemed nervous while mentioning family, but Goose2 and Ikaris perked up, a bit of contentment flooding their hearts. They didn't know they needed it, and they definitely didn't want it, but a family was something they longed for.

And now they had it.

Ikaris smiled. "Yeah, that's what family does I guess."

It was now Charlie's turn to smile widely.