Of Carnivals and Big Sisters (Tag Fallon & Sidra)

[Raphael D'Aubert]

Raphael tried his best to keep a straight face, but succeeded in doing so for only a few seconds before erupting in sinister laughter. The sound of his booming laugh echoed throughout the halls, magnifying to a dark crescendo as the sound waves bounced back from the walls.

"Who the hell do I think I am?" mocked Raphael, his handsome face contorting into a demonic visage. "Little girl, you really don't know the half of it, do you?"

Sebastian whimpered pitifully in Fallon's arms, shaking violently as the older teen went on with his frightening tirade.

"I was... a friend... if you could call it, of dear Cornflower's a very long time ago.. Back in the Garden.."

The young man grinned devilishly, pushing a lock of brown hair from his eyes to reveal the beginnings of a wicked scar located just above his right temple.

"You just don't understand..." Raphael chuckled, "There's a reason why whatever cruel god exists allowed both of our two paths to cross again.."

"God wants me to taunt this pathetic comespot!"

Sebastian flinched at the insult, more anguished tears running down his cheeks. Flashbacks of the Garden began to explode deep within his mind, tearing away at the delicate workings of his soul as he re-experienced the painful memories Raphael forced upon him.

"God hates the both of us, and the world!" snarled Raphael, gesturing towards Sebastian and himself. "He allowed these things to happen to the both of us, and laughed all the while.."

"Monsters took away both our innocence years ago, and made us into the monsters we are now."

He paused for dramatic effect, savoring the moment with relish. It had been a while since he last had the pleasure of ripping another person's psyche to shreds, and wanted to burn every single aspect of Sebastian's torment into memory.

"Monsters do not deserve happiness, little girl.. Monsters exist only to live a miserable life of pain, hardship, and isolation.. I am the voice of a monster who wishes to remind Cornflower that at the end of the day, when he looks into a mirror, he's just as filthy and disgusting as the dirt below his feet."

As much as he wanted to complete his destruction of Sebastian Flambert here in the Hall of Mirrors, Raphael D'Aubert understood the precariousness of his situation. Sidra's sudden appearance would make it very difficult for him to exact physical harm on his object of hate, and would severely hamper his ability to torment the younger boy further.

He prudently chose to withdraw for the moment, and slowly began his exit from the Hall of Mirrors.

"You should consider yourself lucky, Cornflower.." he added, turning to Sebastian, "Your sweetheart has enough nutsack for the pair of you, and'll fight your battle for today."

Glancing at Sidra, Raphael didn't even bother to mask his disdain for the girl's pathetic vampire act, and spat at her feet as he passed.

"Remember, Cornflower.." he added, turning to stare Sebastian in the eye, "Monsters like us don't deserve peace, love, or redemption.. We're ruined, cursed, and dirty.. To think otherwise is just, pathetic.."

With that, the young man left the chamber, disappearing into the darkness of the dimly lit Hall of Mirrors without another word.

[Fallon Cotton]

She heard everything the gu said, but it did not make anything better. It made things worse on her end. Fallon was irritated and mad as the guy continued to talk, but when he called Sebastian a monster, that did not deserve love or whatever it is he said, is when Fallon got pissed off. A pissed off Fallon was not a good Fallon to be around. "Oh Shut up. You are nothing more then a guy who is stuck in the past. Do not blame Sebastian cause he has th courage to move on, and not let it hinder his life no more. He is stronger then you are, and he will get over what happened. He will learn to face it and deal with it, and it will make him a stronger guy....I believe in him, and I will remind Sebastian he is a GOOD guy...." She told Raphael not caring what he thought of her.

This guy pushed her buttons. "Sebastian is the sweetest guy I have ever met. He deserves to be loved and cared for. He is not a monster and I won't let you sit here and say that he is. You are lying. " Fallon told the man. "You won't touch him you hear me....stay away from him..." Fallon yelled at the guy.

She would not let him bring Sebastian down. Fallon eyed Sebastian and placed her hands on his cheeks so she could look in his eyes. "You ar enot what he says...please...listen to me...please believe me....you are the kindest, sweetest person I know. You are not a monster, or filthy or dirty or anything like that....I care about you...I am your friend...you are a good guy...a really good guy." Then Fallon hugged the boy giving Raphael a glare as he walked away.

She held Sebastian tight thankful her sister was there. Cause Fallon could have gotten worse. When she was mad she was not good at reeling back in her emotions. But one thing was for sure, she did not like this Raphael guy and she would make sure he never came near Sebastian...ever.

[Sidra Cotton]

Sidra fixed the boy's face into her memory, all pretense of vamprisim gone. It was worse now. Much worse. She was pure big sister. This didn't bode well for the boy's future, for if there was one thing she was certain she and Hunter could band together on, it was making sure her sister was ok.

Ignoring the spit, Si took the three steps it took to wrap her arms around Fallon, who's arms were wrapped around Sebastian. The boy's wet sobs were uncomfortable for the eldest of the Cotton children, but what could she do? She'd come to the carnival to give him a piece of her mind. To get into his face about sleeping with her sister. To... to scare him essentially.

That had been done for her.

By someone else.

Someone who had called himself, and Sebastian, a monster. That was something to think about. But not here. Not now.

"C'mon," her voice was far more gentle than she had anticipated. "Let's get to my car. Fal, help me with your friend."

The ire she'd felt was gone. Replaced by... sympathy? Pity? Regardless it had been replaced by something and Sidra wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation.

"Sebastian." She said his name, then again, louder her fingers pressing around his chin to get him to look at her. "Do you know where you are?" He looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack. Those she knew how to deal with. Fal had then. Mostly near water, and the most recent had been at the lighthouse. "Do you know who I am? Fallon? Can you take a deep breath for me?"

[Sebastian Flambert]

"H-He's right.." mumbled the boy, his voice quivering slightly.

Damp tears rolled down his cheeks, staining both Fallon and Sidra's hands as they poured from his eyes like an flood. Raphael's sudden appearance and verbal abuse had been a terrifying shock to the younger boy, who had never in his wildest dreams expected that the memory of The Rose Garden would manifest into physical form.

"I... I..."

Sebastian trembled uncontrollably, biting down hard on his lip. For all his cruelty and malice, Raphael D'Aubert was right in his assessment, striking a deep blow against his heart.

"I'm s-so sor-sorry.." he sobbed, waves of embarrassment and guilt washing over him. "I... I ruin everything.."

It wasn't so much the threats or insults that had hurt him, but rather the same familiar feelings of helplessness and vulnerability that caused him to once again break down to his regressive child-like state he often used as a defense mechanism. He hated himself so much for his weakness, and wished that for heartbeat that he could disappear from the face of the earth rather than show the full extent of his weakness to the two Fallon sisters.

Of course, that was impossible, and Sebastian loathed himself even more for not being able to keep the tumultous emotions within himself in check.

"Back then, I used to want to be brave like Raphael.." spoke Sebastian between sobs, sliding down to the black velvet floor of the mirror maze. "He never cried... never begged for mercy.. and would always fight back, no matter what."

Another thin trickle of blood dripped down from his lips, staining the ground with a few crimson droplets.

"Th-They'd b-beat him p-pretty bad.. But he'd j-just laugh, and continue to fight even when they d-did it t-to him.."

Sebastian paused in mid-sentence, completely and utterly ashamed at how easily he spurted out this confession.. The full extent of his pain could be seen deep within his light gray eyes, glistening with tears in the dimly lit fun house.

"Sometimes, th-they'd m-make us do s-stuff..."

He didn't go into detail, shuddering at the very thought of the unspeakable acts the priests' had forced he and Raphael to do back then, all of which still haunted his nightmares from time to time. Wrapping his arms tightly around his legs, the boy visibly withdrew into his shell, vainly trying his best to curl up into a ball and disappear.

"Bad things.."

"H-He hates m-me for th-th-that..." mumbled the boy, "and h-hates me f-for n-not f-fighting back.."

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon just shook her head. She could. Not listen to anymore. It was heart breaking, "No!" Fallon said, her voice raising a little. Not an angry voice, but an emotional voice. She did not want to hear Sebastian put himself down. "You don't ruin anything. You hear me....please....listen...I might have just met you two days ago but you do not ruin anything." She told him in a pleading voice.

"You are my friend and I don't like hearing you say that about yourself. What happened to you was horrible, no one should havve gone through that, but you do not ruin anything...you were just a child....it...it was their bad....not yours." She said referring to the people who did this to him.

"That Raphael dude can hate you all he wants, but you have friends....you have Si..." She said giving her sister a pleading look to go along with it, "You have Ezzie, and Thad despite what he said earlier.....that's just Thad being Thad....and Shayne...and....and.. you....you have me...we care about you" She said her voice getting softer.

She wrapped her arms around Sebastian and then looked at Si, "Please Sebastian......please don't say those things...you are a good guy...a really good guy...." Fallon was always an emotional person. Perhaps it was her bipolar, perhaps not. Crap.....you know what she forgot...her meds....she had not taken them in two days.

[Sebastian Flambert]

She cares about me?

Fallon's sudden outburst took Sebastian completely by surprise, temporarily bringing an immediate end to his anguished sobs for a brief moment of clarity. Shifting about slightly on the velvet floor, the boy placed his own hands atop his companion's waist, staring her in the eyes.

He sensed her bipolar disorder rearing its ugly head, and took immediate steps to try and calm the girl down. After all, he had broken down enough times for the both of them.

"Really?" he asked, eyes glistening with a thick coat of tears.

Foreheads and noses touching, it was a poignant sight to behold, both individuals clinging desperately to each other despite the closeness of their own breaking points. Sebastian could feel the girl's heart beating rapidly in perfect synch with his own, like two pieces of clockwork, and wrapped his own arms around the girl to match her powerful embrace.

Despite the tears, he managed to force a sheepish smile in attempt to calm the other girl down.

"Why are you so good to me, Fallon?" he asked, rubbing his nose affectionately against hers. "I'm nobody special.. Just another damaged little boy with a rich mother..."

He chuckled darkly, ignoring Sidra's wide-eyed look and planting a thankful kiss on Fallon's lips. Almost in an instant, their roles were reversed, with the boy now taking the initiative in caring for the other.

"Thanks.."

Wiping his tears away, he slowly stood himself up to face the elder sister with relatively calm (though visibly tear-stained and puffy) face. Though he still felt very ashamed for his pitiful breakdown in front of both Cottons, Sebastian felt much better, even managing a forced grin.

"I'm sorry.." the boy muttered, helping Fallon up from the ground. "You didn't get your funnel cake.."

"Sidra.. I'm sorry.... I didn't mean for any of that to happen, especially in front of you and Fallon.."

[Fallon Cotton]

Now missing two days of Bipolar medication was not enough to push Fallon into an episode in front of all these people at the carnival. But the stress and the emotions going through her body were enough to make her tired, weary and to make her mind start acting up. Her emotions were going into over drive since the cotton candy incident. Fallon was so worried and sad and upset and a mixture of more emotions. The stress of it all was going to her head.

She had simply forgotten, but now her head was getting involved and when that happened it would not be long before the lack of medication caught up to her and she had either an emotional outburst in a manic state or a crying fest in a depressed state...either way they ended the same...a lot of yelling, a fuzzy head and a messy room. Of course this could all be stopped if she took her meds, but her mind was too focused to even think straight.

Fallon felt her breathing quicken. She felt the nose kiss and then the kiss on the lips. She looked at him and listened. Her heart pounding and her breathing getting heavier. "Cause I am damaged too and I want to help you...and be your friend..." She told him. Sure people might warn her about Sebastian. He might be too damaged, but she did not think so.

"Funnel cake will always be there. I can get some anytime. actually I can get some now if I really wanted, but then again, I am not hungry, but maybe I can take it home." She was speaking fast. Something she did when she was getting hyper....manic...not a good thing.

The longer without her meds the more her mind slipped into the disorder. And she was slowly slipping. This was just two days, but the emotional stess was not helping, if anything it was making her mind slip faster. But right now all Fallon cared about was Sebastian. She stood up and held his hand tightly. "I am always here for you, you know that right, cause you can call, anytime...I mean that...and don't worry about what happened...you are a strong guy for even being able to admit what happened." She said still talking fast.

[Sebastian Flambert]

He nodded at Fallon's outburst, understanding full well every single word she meant. A surge of emotion washed over him like an overwhelming current, rinsing away all his initial feelings of loneliness, sadness, and anguish, replacing it with love's warm embrace.

It was quite amazing.. In merely three days a complete stranger had wormed through the intricate mass of complexities and insecurities that formed Sebastian Flambert's outer shell, burying herself deep within his heart in the process.

"Je t'aime, Fallon.." spoke Sebastian after a pregnant pause, his lip quivering in emotion.

Slowly, he allowed his hand to rest tenderly against the anxious girl's cheek, fingers touching the side of her neck in a reassuring manner. Smiling, he planted both his lips on top of the girl's forehead, wrapping both arms around her neck in a loving embrace.

"You're special to me, you know?"

=================================
Some Time Later

Funnel cake in one hand and the younger Cotton in the other, Sebastian Flambert moved through the crowd of people with an air of childlike grace, guiding Fallon past the many distractions of the carnival. Despite Sidra's presence and the dramatic confrontation in the Maze of Mirrors, the two teens managed to have a more or less enjoyable time, seeing much of the carnival's attractions in the short amount of time they had left.

A teddy bear affectionally named "Bo-Bo" was won by Sebastian at the dart stand, and promptly given to Fallon Cotton in an attempt to pull her out of her bipolar-driven anxiety. It worked fairly well, though the teenage girl did snap viciously at a pair of mischievious preteens repeatedly targeting both her and Sebastian's shared bumper car at the bumper car arena.

They both had a marvelous time, but now had to separate. The appointment at the psychiatrist's was scheduled within thirty minutes of the current time, forcing a very reluctant Sebastian to cut the "date" short with the girl.

"Thanks for earlier, Fallon..." spoke the boy, smiling sheepishly.

He glanced down towards the floor in a mixture of embarrassment and disappointment, drawing little circles with the toe of his sneaker on the dirt below.

"I'm.. I'm sorry all that happened.." he continued, squeezing the girl's hand gently.

"But.. I'm glad that I met you.."

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon gave a tiny smile as Sebastian said something in French she did not understand. She let out a much needed sigh, "You mean a lot to me too." She told him softly. Fallon had friends, but hearing Sebastian's story, and seeing that scene between him and Raphael was just pullling at the heart strings she had. How could she just turn her back and walk away. Yes, they shared a few kisses, and sure that could mean more, but right not she was his friend and she could not walk away despite all the warnings.

Fallon smiled even more when they got the funnel cake. She put some sugar powder on Sebastians cheeks and laughed as she watched how he reacted. She kissed his cheek where she put the powdered sugar and then licked the sugar off her lips. She blushed and smiled as they walked through the carnival and to the games.

"Bo-bo, I like the name." She told him. She hugged the bear tightly, it calmed her a little and took some stress off, but she was still going crazy with emotions. Sure Fallon had one tiny outburst, it should mean nothing. But it could mean something. Fallon said sorry for her tiny outburst and walked on.

Fallon kissed Sebastian softly and lightly as he apologized again, "Don't be....sorry....its not your fault.....I am glad I met you too...call me later, or text me...." She squeezed his hand once more before bidding him adieu and walking over to Si. She gave him one last look and then walked on.

Fallon looked at Si and scratched her heard, "I like him...he is nice...oh I need to finish something...costumes...dresses...stuff...my clothes...workk...I got a lot to do...did you know that...." Fallon soon went off on a long tangent about clothes, work, and Sebastian....her mind was going a thousand miles a minute....as it started to slowly slip...but yet the bear brought warm thoughts of Sebastian to her mind, which calmed her a little, but still the reminder to take her meds was forgotten once again.

Wrapped