#we're here... im here... uugh

3/9/2020

Do you remember that sketch of Hosea saying “My pa cut my hair?” Cuz I do. more sadtimes :tm:

It’s been three years since Bart’s lil revelation. Three and a half years since the Till family moved in. The boys are 13 now and hitting their growth spurts. Hosea is now as tall as Theresa, Bart’s mom, but still as frail looking as ever. His hair stays short now, to better please his dad. His eyesight has gotten worse, but they can’t afford a replacement for his glasses, so he keeps his complaints to himself. Bart helps him out in class as much as he can. 

Bartolomeu has also grown... but not much. He’s gotten a sturdier build though; helping his mother on her trips by taking all her supplies, carrying his little sister everywhere, along with Minnie’s constant training has made him gain muscle. It’s good, Minnie reminds him. He needs to be strong to be able to pull off stronger brews and summons. (i really need to flesh out their supernatural sessions lol, but the human side is my priority rnnn)

Bart has maintained his close friendship with Hosea, who has proven to also become clumsier with his age. It felt like there was a new sore spot on his arm every week, a shiny bumped knee that made him walk funny, or a small cut in his arm that never fully healed. Seeing these fills Bart with concern; he makes sure to be extra careful around his friend so he never hurts himself on his watch. Likewise, Hosea clings to him now more than before, insisting on staying later hours at his house, even on weekends.

Bart’s mother and step-father don’t mind; he’s a pleasure to have around, and always helps take care of Bart’s sister, or get chores done around the house. Theresa’s always commenting on how thin the tall boy is, however, and how unhealthy it is for his growing body. She feeds him till he’s full; he never complains. It’s only when he has to leave that his expression sours. It never felt right.

There comes a day that Hosea misses school. With how little schooling there is left, this being their last year, Bart is surprised he’d want to miss one of his precious last days. Even while sick, he always came. He tries to visit him at his house, but Hosea’s father blocks him from entering. Bart hates his dad. He doesn’t know much about the man, Hosea never talks about him, but he knows he cut Hosea’s precious long hair when he’d maintained it for so long. Bart resents him greatly for making him cry. The man tells him off, to scram. Hosea has a bad cold he needs to recover from. Bart leaves hesitantly, but continues to worry all day.

 Then, Bart is surprised by a knock in the window as he sleeps. 

He lets Hosea in immediately. He drapes him with his warm covers, and Hosea cries for a long time. He doesn’t want to talk; he can’t stop his tremors or his stammers. Bart tells him he’ll get his mom to tend his wounds, but Hosea stops him. He doesn’t want anyone else to know, he doesn’t want anyone to see him like this. He’s scared. Bart promises he won’t tell his mom, but he sneaks out to get their alcohol to disinfect the cuts at least. His heart breaks with every whimper and cry Hosea lets out from the sting, but he knows it’s for the best. He gets him a shirt that fits, thanks to Bart’s love of bigger shirts. Bart asks Hosea what he wants to do once he’s done, and Hosea responds. He just wants to sleep. He’s so tired. 

Bart offers him the bed, but Hosea doesn’t want to take it. They settle on sleeping together. They scuttle around each other until they’re comfortable, Hosea with his back to the wall and Bart near the edge. Hosea hits the pillow hard; snoring in mere seconds, but Bart stays up all night. He cries a bit, scared for his friend, angry at the person that did this. Revisiting his memories, he can deduce what the real problem in Hosea’s life has been all along. And Bart is beating himself up for not realizing sooner.

Morning comes, it’s Saturday. He hides Hosea for the rest of the day, sneaking food to him for breakfast and lunch, but come dinner, there’s a knock on the door. Jezebel’s voice is asking for Hosea. Theresa assures her she hasn’t seen him all day. Her words of concern over the Jezebel’s bruises are drowned out as Bart sneaks back to his room. Hosea panics, he doesn’t want to go back.

But he can’t hide here forever; he doesn’t want to bring Bart’s family into this.

It only takes Bart a second to know where to go.