TW: Teen!Cast AU where Zoey and Sips are siblings

Sjin tried to be no longer surprised when Sips didn't turn up to school. But with Sjin being Sjin it always took him a while to accept the fact Sips wasn't going to school that day. The absence of him on the street corner in wait for his lift, morning registration and sometimes even first period Sjin expected Sips to stroll on in, excuse in hand. Yet he never did.
Sips sometimes had his reasons or not, from the exaggerated stories -"...then there was this guy with this gun..."- to a simple smirk and "Honest, Sjin? Couldn't be bothered." Sips claimed he didn't need school and Sjin can see it. Sips pretty much knew everything he needs to know, or cared to know, and when he did turn up he just showed up the teacher and makes wise cracks throughout the lesson. It's sometimes best that Sips didn't turn up at school. Sjin watched as the teachers and some classmates sighed in relief.

However Sjin was slightly curious to why his friend hadn't informed him about his day off but then again it was Sips, and Sips did things on impulses. No plan but just living in the moment. Sjin had his friend figured out as much as he possibly could, or attempted to figure out, but even that wasn't enough. There was so much more to Sips and so much more to keep up with, so instead of giving yourself a headache, Sjin had suffered many, it was best to let Sips just be. Let Sips be Sips.

So Sjin hung out with his other friends. Sips' company absent and missed but Sjin had other people to fill the time with. He viewed his choices between Xephos and Hannah's group. But Duncan was sat with Xephos today, instead of working in the science lab, head buried away in a book but half cocked to the animated story Honeydew was telling to Xephos, who in response did alot of sighing. A second nature response to Xephos who seemed tired of his friend's antics but the small smile gave away the truth. He, like Sjin, would never grow weary or tired of their certain friends. As Sjin chuckled quietly to himself Xephos caught his eye, flashed him a quick smile and nod of the head, so Sjin returned the gesture and felt Duncan's hostile glare, sharp blue eyes narrowing in distaste. Honeydew too oblivious to notice the reason when Xephos smacked Dunan over the head with the 'So You Want to Be a Pig Farmer' guidebook on the table.

Sjin however wasn't feeling in the mood to start conflict especially without his backup, instead he backed up and headed over to Hannah's group. Nilesy, arms gesturing wildly and accent thick, in mid speech about his recent job as a pool boy with a 'You guys should've seen how awful the pool was!' Sjin slipped between Minty, who blushed offering a shy smile, and Zoey, who grinned at him, silently putting a mushroom cupcake in his lap. Sjin felt no need to ask Zoey if she knew where her brother since the cupcake was done for reassurance. She like Sjin knew what Sips was like, unlike Sjin though, Zoey was cool about it and never let it bother her. Hence the cupcake, she knew what Sjin was like. He accepted it with a smile, gracious for her consideration.

Rythian gave him a wary stare but held his tongue from a warning stare from Zoey, Sjin was curious to know how that worked due to her goggles but figured Rythian was whipped enough to just know what Zoey would think, as he adjusted his scarf further up his face and turned his gaze to Teep taking shot at the canteen's wall with his bow and arrow set. Not real arrows mind, not since the last incident. Sjin let the comfort and wave of other friends fill that much needed ache of friendship yet without sparing a moment to not think of Sips and what he was up to.

The day slipped by but to Sjin it dragged by too long. He would get a terrible itch when Sips wasn't about, a tick, almost. Eyeing the clock, he drummed his fingers across the desk, which earned a slap on his hand by Hannah who did the same to Nilesy who had began rapping to the subconscious beat Sjin had created. Xephos simply raised his eyebrows smirking slightly at the two nursing their abused hands and handed Hannah his equations in a silent thank you. Hannah accepted the offering, grinning and humming happily to herself, and refused to let Nilesy see the book much to his despair.

The end of the day came and Sjin quickly moved his way out of school, trying and failing to get out of the way before the bustle and hustle came of the younger years taking their time to go home. Eventually with much backpack bashing and elbow nudging he broke free and jogged to his car with a silent prayer.

It wasn't till Sjin was on his way home he got the first phone call Glancing at the blue screen on his phone, his heart jumping in hope thinking it was Sips, but instead Sjin frowned at the unknown number flashing across the phone. He sighed and disregarded the thought to pick it up until the call ended to which he cursed and pulled over. The thought of 'What if it is Sips trying to reach me with another number' crossed his mind. His phone buzzed again and the unknown number flashed again. Sjin wasted no time quickly snatching it up and almost yelling urgently into the phone,"Yes?!"

"Oh hey buddy- oh woah how come you sound all outta breath and stuff?"

Sjin felt a sudden content feeling hit his stomach, it was Sips. Sjin swallowed trying to calm himself as he dismissed Sips question,"How come you're not phoning on your own mobile?" He had a great urge to ask where he had been all day but gad the feeling he was going to find out regardless.

Sips breathed down the phone, it was too long to be considered a natural pause, Sips was stalling.

"Sips...what have you done?"

"Hey! What would make you think I've done something? That's not cool Sjin, you're meant to have my back'n'stuff, wheres like um friend's honor and trust? Why you always gotta think the worst of me, eh chum? God Sjin you're such a mum at times, always worrying you big ol' hen"

Sjin chuckled yet pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief that Sips would be chiding him, he sighed,"Of course Sips I honor you or whatever you said but I also know what you're like..." Sips went to interrupt but Sjin quickly added,"Nooo! Tell me what have you done, or at least where are you?"

Sips had paused again and Sjin really thought that he might have hung up or something till a string of laughter came from the phone,"Hahaha oh it's been a mad day, Sjin. Wish you'd been with me buddy but not till the last part but still-"

"Wait? What about the last part"

"Didn't I tell you I was at the police station? Uh yeah...aw man...yeah I got in trouble" Sips concluded. Police Station. Sjin didn't even blink at that part, he knew in the back of his mind Sips' day out and reluctance to tell him what happened would result in that. It hadn't been the first time Sips had got in trouble and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Sips sounded relatively okay about the whole thing but Sjin had learnt not to accept the obvious with Sips.

Sjin rubbed the back of his neck feeling a headache creep its way into his skull as he asked simply,"Do you need me to bail you out?"

Sips hesitated,"I'll pay you back and everything...it's just...you know what the old man is like..." his voice trailed off at the end yet he didn't need to say it.

Sjin shivered. He knew exactly what Sips' father was like. Knew it from the fleeting encounters when he had met Sips and Zoey's father. The rough demeanor the talking down, the dark rings and darker empty eyes. Sjin knew it from the air of alcohol that trailed around his friend, despite Sips had silently sworn to never touch a drop. Sjin knew why. Why the bruises that lined Sips' cheekbones and arms weren't from 'a random guy' who Sips claimed to fight. But Sjin held his tongue for there was no point stating the obvious.

There would be no help from his father. Sips would be better off in the cells if his father found out what he had been up to. That scared Sjin more than he'd like to admit.

Sjin didn't think twice,"Don't worry about it..." the air was tense too tense and neither Sips and Sjin enjoyed it, Sjin quickly snapped out a poor attempt of a joke,"Well it's not like it's the first time is it?"

Sips' laugh gave him reassurance,"Oh yeah I suppose"

"What did you do?"

"Long story or short story?"

Sjin knew what the long story would include, a far fetched fantasy of how Sips was some sort of spy or agent who got double crossed or something like that. However as tempting as it was to hear it he looked to the time and knew his parents would be expecting him home soon. Of Sjin hurried to pick up Sips both of them could head to his just in time for dinner.

"The real story Sips"

Sjin heard Sips snort, "Nicked a Yorkie"

He said it so proudly like a child would showing their parent a painting they did. Like a child he hung his pride for doing such an action in great esteem. Doing such petty and trivial crimes gave him a sense of power and freedom. Sjin understood.

However the slight pause gave Sips a sign of uncertainty,he cleared his throat followed by a slight scuffle, Sjin could picture his friend kicking at the floor, head hung, waiting for the telling off. Yet Sjin repressed the urge to ask why because Sips was Sips and he did as he pleased for reasons Sjin knew that Sips didn't. Instead of offering a disappointed sigh or a speech on how he shouldn't do such things, Sjin chuckled. He could feel Sips grin on the other side of the phone as he lurched into continuing his cell worthy crime.

"You wouldn't believe it , would you? Eh, Sjin! Got jailed for a Yorkie, can't believe that son of a gun from the store ratted me out!"

"Can't believe you let yourself get caught" Sjin joked back, he'd certainly never let Sips live that one down since Sips bragged to anyone and everyone about how he could outrun anyone especially policemen.

"Hey!" Sips grumbled something inaudible before saying,"But yeah shouldn't you be like coming to get me or something? Because Sjin I don't wanna be sleeping here tonight"

Sjin rolled his eyes and reached for his car key's starting up his car again with a twist to kick start the engine into life,"Yeah I'm coming, I can't be on the phone to you and drive...just don't do anything stupid like annoy the other detainees or any of the guards while I am gone!"

"Do you think I could ask for my Yorkie?"

"What?"

"You know my Yorkie?!" Sips repeated, obviously putting alot of thought into the matter, "Since I took it, it's mine right? Eh I wonder if they'd let me have it, that would be cool if they could, I'm kinda hungry"

"No do not do that!" Sjin exclaimed, that would be the stupidest idea ever since it could actually make Sips end up with a few more days in the cells if he aggravated the guards much more, "Look I'll get you a Yorkie on the way over or something, okay?"

Sjin could literally feel Sips' smug smile through the phone,"You're the best Sjin"

"Yeah, yeah I know"

Credit to sponders on tumblr