Co-written by: GorgingGeorge

NSFW: No

Ship:[N/A]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was an average day in Lego City. The sky was slightly cloudy, and the sun shone bright. And the streets were filled with peace... That was until Tread Octane came zooming by in his custom, let street legal, racecar. He would have done it at the junk yard but Harl wasn't there, so it didn't matter. He wanted the attention. But he soon stopped when he saw a woman outside of his apartment. 

"Whoa, who are you lady and why are you outside the awesome Tread Octane's living space?" 

"Mr. Octane, I'm from social services-" 

"Hold on a second, I ain't got nobody pregnant. Tread Octane never loses, and that includes his virginity." He stated. "It isn't your offspring, this is your brother, Shred." 

The himbo looked at her blankly before looking at the child she was with. He did look kind of similar. "Huh... I didn't even know I had a brother. Wait why's he being brought to me? Did something to our parents?" 

"Unfortunately, yes, something did happen. During a race, your father, Ace Octane got into accident, causing a tire to come off of his car and hitting your mother, Rhoda Octane, in the face. They both died upon impact." The social worker explained. "And I've come with Shred to see if you were interested in having custody before he's put into foster care."

"Wait me? Like, you want me to look after a kid?" Tread was still processing the fact that his parents had passed away so suddenly, why wouldn't they tell him they had another child? "Uh, so like my little bro is the only living member of my fam left?" He asked. 

"I'm afraid so.  If this is too much for you to handle, I can see if Shred is taken in by a caring fa-" 

"No wait! I'll take him in, I've been babysitting for the McClouds a bunch of times, I'll take care of him." Tread immediately declared. 

"Very well, I'll be back in a week to see how things are working out." The social worker replied, leaving back to her own car. Tread just watched as she drove off, only for a little hand to tug at his jacket. 

"Um, can I have lunch?" Shred asked. 

"Huh? Oh yeah! Um, wanna go get some McDonald's or something? All I know how to cook is cup noodles and microwave meals." Tread asked. "Oh wait, I should probably ask if you're allergic to anything. I don't wanna end up feeding you something that sets something off." 

"Just milk products make me feel sick, Mom calls it lactose intolerance." Shred replied. "You're a racer like dad, right?" 

The mention of racing helped to cheer the mechanic up a bit. "Oh yeah! He and Mom shown me everything about cars and how to be a real star, um. I guess I should have visited more often." He mumbled. "Oh right, we should get some grub now." 

He would have done his usual speeding, but with a kid in the back Tread had to drive a lot slower than usual. "Sooo... Um. I dunno what to talk about."

"Well, uh... Why did you move away before I was born?" 

"I didn't even know our mom was pregnant with you, if I'm being honest. I just moved out when I turned 21 since, y'know, I had to be a star of my own. Wait how old even are you?" 

"12."

"Oh... Damn I missed out on a lot huh?" Tread sighed before seeing the McDonalds in sight. "Right, we're here." He said before parking the car. Once inside, Tread went to order them food, leaving Shred to get them a table.

Once their meals were acquired, the older of the two brothers brought them over. As Tread and Shred were about to much, they were interrupted by a voice. 

"Tread?" 

It was Harl, one of Tread's close friends. "Oh, uh hey Harl, this is Shred. He's my brother." 

"I didn't know you had a brother." Harl said. "Yeah, neither did I till today." The himbo stated.

The boy looked up from his chicken nuggets at him. "Are you some kind of mechanic?" 

"It's one of my pass times, I do everything I can to help people. I'm Harl Hubbs by the way, I live above a car wash next to the junkyard. It's near your big brother's mechanic's shop." 

"Oh, can I go see it?" 

"Uh, maybe later. It's got a lot of tools lying around." Tread butted in. Harl was surprised, usually the himbo would be all for people coming over so he could show off his car and how he's going to upgrade it to being faster. "Do you know how to cook, Harl?" 

"Me? Well, I know some simple recipes, but Tippy's been teaching me to cook. Why do you ask?" 

Tread didn't know how to say he's lived off of nothing but frozen meals and fast food most of his life, the last time he tried to cook something from scratch the fire department had to rush in and douse a grey bubbling blob coming out of a pot. "Uh, just asking." 

However, he couldn't stop thinking about what the social worker would think. "If she finds out Shred's had nothing but McDonald's for every meal, he's gonna be gone before I know it." He thought. "I already lost my parents; I should have visited them more often... I have to do better for Shred."

"Uh, Tread, you're spacing out." Harl said before poking him, causing the racer to return to reality. "Ah, well, um, sorry bout that, uh..." 

"I could ask Tippy to teach you how to cook if you'd like." The handyman stated, knowing the himbo was too prideful to ask him himself. "You would? Thanks Harl." Tread smiled. "So how long is your brother staying with you?" Harl asked, not aware of Tread's parents passing. "... For a while, I guess."  

"Ah, anyway I'm going to talk to Tippy and then if he agrees, I'll text you." Harl smiled as he walked out of the McDonalds. "Was that your boyfriend?" Shred asked.  

"No, I'm not really interested in all that love stuff, and like, he's already got a mans. Besides, I'm too preoccupied with racing." Tread responded.

"Not into love? I thought love was something everyone felt." 

"It is, well when it comes to stuff like loving your hobbies and your family it's something we all have. I'm just not interested in the romance stuff, that's what's called being asexual. You wouldn't believe everyone telling me I just haven't met the right person yet, heh." The mechanic explained. 

"Oh, I didn't know that. Mom and Dad said there was being gay and straight, but I didn't know about someone who was attracted to no one. How were they with you as a kid?" 

" Oh jeez... Uh, I'll tell ya back at the apartment." Tread scooped up his little brother, carrying him back to the car. "They were cool, I called then on Skype every time I won a cup or on their anniversary. They also sent me emails about stuff going on with them. I'd have visited, but I just kept putting it off." 

Although he tried to hide it, Shred could tell his older brother was upset about it. He didn't say a word however as Tread drove them back to his apartment. He had a guest bedroom, but it wasn't much because it didn't even have a bed. "Oh, uh. Here you can sleep in my room, I'll just sleep on the couch. I don't get people staying overnight." 

"The couch? You sure you'll be comfortable?" 

"Oh yeah! You're just a kid, you deserve the bed." Tread insisted. "I'll be alright, I'll set up that spare bed tomorrow. Uh, I'll ask Harl if he can build a bedframe."

"Okay then." Shred stated simply before going to look at Tread's room. Inside were several trophies and certificates of victory from winning races, all of which were for first place. The room itself was a little dirty, not a complete mess as one would expect, but there were a few dirty clothes on the floor. "Oh, shit sorry about the mess, uh-" 

Tread paused, realizing he cursed in front of a child. "Oh shoot, my bad. Don't say that okay?" He asked.  

"I mean, dad said worse things, I know all the curse words, and some words I don't think he should have been saying." Shred admitted as he watched his brother clean up the clothes off the floor. "He has? Geez, I know he was a racer and all, but he can't be cursing Infront of his kids like that." He sighed. "Anyway, so gotta do some stuff tomorrow so you're all set to live with me. Mainly buying things so you can actually live and sleep here." 

"Alright." Shred said looking at the trophies again. "Wow, When I grow up, I want to be a racer too!" The younger exclaimed. 

"Uh, a racer? Like Dad and I?" Tread asked.  "Yeah! It looks like tons of fun, going really, really fast and you get to get a bunch of trophies if you get ahead of everyone. There's a really big golden on Dad's cupboard, said he won it in a big race that only happens every ten years." Shred added. "Can you teach me?"

"Teach you? But you're still just a kid, I mean it's gonna take at least a few years for you to learn how to drive." Tread stuttered. "I mean, driving doesn't come naturally to everyone. I always win, but a lot of the time my car can't take it and I spin out right away." 

"But Tread-"

"Hey, I'm just looking out for ya. Uh, is there anything else you like doing?" 

The boy shrugged his shoulders, he thought his older brother would be supportive of him wanting to be a champion. "Well, I guess I like drawing." 

Tread slumped down on his bed. "Uh, I guess I'm still shook up at Dad's accident. I can't believe he's really gone, him and Mom."

Shred could sense his brother's upset and just laid down next to him. Tread just sighed softly and petted his brother's head gently, not really knowing what else to do in that moment. Soon enough the both of them were asleep. 

Then, after several hours Tread woke up to the sound of his door opening. Checking his phone, he saw that he had gotten texts from Harl saying that he got Tippy to agree to come over and teach him to cook, but that was at 10:00 PM and it was currently 9:00 AM.  

"Tread? Are you in?" The voice of the doorman called as he walked in with his partner and a few things that would help make an actual meal. "Yeah, yeah I'm in, sorry I guess I fell asleep, accidentally." 

"Tread it's fine, you never housed a child before so I can understand if it's taking a toll on you."  

"... I guess..." 

Harl, who was brought along just because, noticed a complete tone shift from the previous Tread he knew. He was a lot quieter and a lot less self-centered. But he just assumed it was because he was now a legal guardian to a child.  

"So, Tread, when are you going to enroll your brother into school? I mean he may only be here temporarily, but it would be best for him to be in school." Tippy asked, going off the information his partner has told him. 

"I, uh... I mean I haven't really thought about that yet..." Tread stated just trying to copy Tippy's cooking motions. For the first time ever, the racer felt nauseous, it wasn't enough to actually make him sick, but it was very noticeable to him.

"Is this what being a dad is like? I hate this! I feel like nothing's going right, like if I mess up even once it's all over and that woman will take everything away from me..." He thought as he placed two fried eggs, three strips of bacon and some toast on a plate. "Uh, is this good? I mean, is it really good? Eggs have that salmon thing, uh. What's it called?" 

"Salmonella? You cooked the eggs through fully, so they'll be safe to eat. The yolks can be runny too." Tippy assured him. "Should I call your brother down?" 

"Nah I'll do it." Tread headed back to his room, only to find Shred still awake and staring at his trophies. "Uh, I made bacon and eggs. You hungry little guy?" 

The boy nodded, taking his hand as they went into the kitchen. Harl had just poured a glass of milk for him, only for Shred to look awkwardly at it. "Oh, did you want something else to drink?" He asked. 

"Milk makes me feel sick. But if there's nothing else-" 

"Hey hey, we got oat milk, orange juice, Pepsi. You take your pick." Tread butted in, taking the glass for himself. "We'll do some clothes shopping after breakfast, did you bring along any with you?" 

"Um, just two shirts and my jacket. But don't you wear the same clothes every day?" 

"Well I mean I still clean them and stuff. You really got nothing else?"

"Not with me, most of my stuff is still at our parent's place." Shred explained. "Oh! Can we come along too?" Harl asked. "You want to come? I mean, I guess. Wait don't both of you have work?" 

"Ah, well, it's our scheduled day off so we're free for the entire day. Besides, we don't have anything planned anyway." Tippy explained. "Oh... Okay then. We'll get going after we eat." 

After the did eat they went to the clothes store. Looking all around the store for the boy section, they found it. "Okay so, pick out whatever you want." Tread stated, letting his younger brother loose to find at least seven outfits. Harl decided to stand with him as Tippy went looking for clothes also. "It's kind of odd that your parents didn't send him with more clothes. They didn't even bring him pants." 

"Hah, yeah I know it's so weird." Tread awkwardly laughed, the ball of anxiety and nausea growing as he continued to lie about it. His friends wouldn't understand what was going on with him. 

He was pulled from these thoughts when Shred was done selecting his outfits. "Done already? Alright lets see what you picked." The older brother smiled awkwardly as he looked at the clothes. And not to his surprise, they were racing themed, at least most of them. "Wow, do you want to be a racer like your big bro?" Harl asked the child. "Yeah-" 

"I don't even know if he could." Tread interrupted, thinking that was a logical thing to say. "What? I thought you'd want to share your passion with your brother." 

"Well, I mean, Y'know-" 

"You don't think I'd be good?" Shred asked. "What? Course not, I just don't think it would be a safe thing." 

Shred did not take this well, so he just stopped talking to him for the remainder of their shopping trip until the made it home. "Hey, you aren't upset at me, right?" Tread asked his brother, who just ignored him and went into his unfinished room. Tread just looked at the door, the feeling taking over completely before rushing to the bathroom, locking the door and falling to his knees as anxiety fueled vomit escaped his mouth and into the porcelain bowl.

The boy stood up when he heard his older brother vomiting into the toilet. He tried to ignore it, still angry at Tread not wanting him to be a racer, but something told him to go and see him. "Tread?" He mumbled. 

Harl and Tippy were shocked at the scene, it was unlike their friend to be this sick. "What's going on? Tread?" 

"Just go away!" Was all Harl got in response, the racer slumped onto the floor, eyes welling up with tears. All the emotions were too much for him to keep on hiding, but he couldn't let anyone see him this way. "J-just go!" 

Harl wasn't swayed however, especially as Shred stood in front of the door. "Big brother?" 

Tread sniffled, he didn't get up, but unlocked the door inside. He slowly approached the broken man; it was a heartbreaking sight for the other two adults. "I... I don't want them to take you away." The racer whimpered, his eyes were red and puffy from his crying. His usual pompadour had gotten a few hairs out of place, and his bright jacket looked stained from the puke the came out of his mouth, and the tears and snot that came from his face. 

"Tread?" Shred climbed into his older brother's arms, not letting go until he knew Tread was okay. "Mom and Dad are gone, they're just dead. They're dead and Shred is the only family I have left." The racer admitted. "If I can't take care of him, he'll be put in foster care..." 

The couple looked down; they should have guessed something serious happened to have Shred turn up. "We're sorry, Tread." 

"Don't be... I mean, I don't want to feel worse for not visiting them."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Harl asked, getting on his knees to get on Tread's level. "I'm 29, almost 30... I should be able to take care of this on my own, I don't need your pity..." The racer muttered before looking away, holding Shred close. 

"Age doesn't matter, both of your parents are dead, it's okay if you need help, especially since you never dealt with this before." Tippy stated. "I thought it was going to be easy... I watched Billy all the time... I should be able to raise a child..." 

"Billy is 9, and also you weren't watching him all the time. This is new for you and you don't have to be ashamed of yourself because you need help."  

After a good thirty minutes, Tread calmed down completely. "Heh... Sorry you had to see me like that."  

"Don't apologize for that, Tread. Now then. I have a proposal." Tippy started. "Basically, Harl and I stop by every now and then to help you with raising Shred, we could be his godparents or unofficial uncles." 

"Oh, that's a good idea! That way you won't be overwhelmed everything." Harl commented. "Really? Wouldn't that be bothering you?" Tread asked, looking at the two other adults as he stood up off the bathroom floor.

"Not at all, we're your friends. We stuck together through thick and thin, so now we want to be there for your little brother. With the three of us all pitching in he'll be able to live with you." The handyman insisted. "We can all live under one roof; it'll be like having a slumber party." 

Tread finally let out a small smile. "Man, you guys are the best." He admitted, pulling the two into a group hug. "The rest of Shred's things should come next week. Uh, you really think he'll be able to stay?" 

"I'm confident, especially as you're taking your duties as his legal guardian seriously. Your brother means a lot to you, and it's clear you mean the world to him too." Tippy assured him. "Now come on you big lug, let's clean up this place and get his room set up." 

Just knowing that his two best friends will be there for him was enough for Tread to regain his confidence, it would take a while for him to go back to his old self but for now he was still worried for Shred's wellbeing. All the scattered clothes were picked up and a bed his size was installed. "Whew, that made me work up an appetite." The racer remarked once his apartment was spotless. "You hungry too, little bro?" 

Shred was once again admiring Tread's trophies, placing his hand on the world cup he won. "Oh yeah, I won that on my 25th birthday. It was the best day of my life.. Mom and Dad told me how proud they were." He looked down as he remembered their faces. 

Harl approached from behind, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, they're still proud. Your parents aren't truly gone, not as long as you remember them." He whispered. "Tippy's going to make something called paella for lunch, we can eat and watch a movie." 

The brothers perked up at the sound of that. "Thanks, Harl."

A week passed, and as scheduled, the social worker returned. "Ah, Mr. Octane, how are things with Shred going?" She asked. "They are going great. He's currently at school right now, since education is important, but if you want you can see his room or whatever you do." 

And so she does, checking and reviewing the house just make sure it was safe for a child to live in. "Alright, no signs of infestations or mold, no tripping hazards, and easy access to escape routes. Have you experienced any outbursts from him?" 

"Not really, he got upset at me one time, but we talked it out." Tread responded. "Well, I can see that you are fit to be raising him."  

"Wait so he's actually going to be able to stay?" 

"Yes, unless he's caught in life endangering situations. Then there may be some issue." The Social worker explained before leaving. Tread was more than happy to know that Shred could stay with him. "Ah, I should text Harl and Tippy about this." He stated, doing so before going to get Shred from school, seeing how it was close to pick up time.

The boy was rushing back as soon as his saw his older brother's car. "Hey kiddo, had a good time?" 

"Yeah! Well, the math was boring, but I got to build my own toy car out of wood and race it down a track! Like me when I get big!" Shred exclaimed, plopping his backpack on the seat next to him. "Are we gonna visit uncle Harl and uncle Tippy?" 

Tread was all smiles. "Yeah, let's all eat out tonight. Because you're staying with me from now on." He exclaimed, ruffling his hair. "You pick the place?" 

"Hmmm, McDonald's?" 

"Why not?"