The Room

Umbra hit the floor with a crash, rolling onto his side. He wrapped his hands around his stomach, still reeling from the blow. He couldn't believe Apastron punched him.

Trembling, he rose to face his father, blood from his split lip dripping down his maw. “What…” he gasped, breath rattling in his chest, “What did I do to you?”

Apastron flared his nostrils, dark navy eyes flickering with malice. Umbra instinctively shrunk back, hugging his bruised stomach. “Don't you realize it?!” he barked, voice cracking against Umbra's ears.

Wordlessly, Umbra shook his head, his body quivering uncontrollably.

Apastron hit his fist into the wall, cracking the fragile bamboo panels. “It should have been you! Luna didn't deserve to die! She was all I had, and you took her away from me!” he screamed, tears filling his eyes. He covered his mouth, squeezing his eyes closed. “Just looking at you makes me sick.”

Umbra gaped, his ungroomed hair falling across his face. “Father, I didn't-”

“Shut up!” Apastron sobbed, slapping his hand across Umbra's face.

This time, Umbra kept his belly on the ground, whimpering at Apastron’s feet. His body ached, fear driving nausea up his throat.  

“I'm sending you to the familiar guild,” Apastron growled, kicking Umbra away. “I'm tired of seeing you in my house.”

----

“Do you like my room, Umbra?” Tails asked, shaking Umbra's arm.

Tails’s room was an odd clash of ancient royal structure and modern elements. Light colored brick built up the walls and floors, and a fluffy pink rug covered the majority of the floor. Several stuffed toys and books sat on shelves.

Of course, Umbra couldn't ignore the most prevalent part of his room: it was covered in pictures of him. Photos of Umbra printed from social media dotted the walls and even the mirror of Tails’s dresser. Umbra wanted to be flattered, but the situation was far too weird for him to be happy about it.

“Well,” Tails urged, “Do you like it?”

He's desperate for my approval, Umbra thought. “Ah, yes,” he murmured, averting his eyes from a shirtless photo of himself, “Your...bed is very nice. I like it.” He waved his hand at the bed in the very center of the room, draped in a silken canopy.

“Really?” Tails cried, delighted, “Awesome!” He paused, smiling bashfully. “Hold on, I gotta change.”

Umbra turned away as Tails shamelessly threw off his jacket and shirt. Groaning, his rubbed his forehead. “Are you almost done?” he asked.

“Yeah, lemme just…” he trailed off, jewelry clinging together. “There we go. I'm done.”

Tails was now dressed in an elegant wrap skirt, golden patterns tracing the floor-length fabric. A beaded neckpiece fell across his bare chest, bronze coins and glimmering jewels forming a complex design. His pink curls wrapped around a feathered headdress.

“Fancy, huh?” Tails asked meekly, pressing the fabric of his skirt between his fingers. He laughed mirthlessly. “I hate this getup. I prefer Earth clothes...but it's inappropriate to wear clothing from other cultures all the time here. That's why I like traveling to other dimensions so much. No one’s breathing down my neck.”

Umbra let Tails’s words pass without comment. He had his mind on other things. Straightening his tie, Umbra glowered down at Tails. “Alright, I brought you home. The mission's over. I want my payment.”

“Uh-” A bead of sweat dripped down Tails’s brow, “Umm...You see, uh, the qualifications of the mission have changed. Y-You're not through yet.”

Umbra clenched his fist. “It doesn't work like that!”

Tails rubbed his forehead, face contorting in strain. “Please, please, Umbra, you've just gotta be with me a little longer. I'm begging you.”

Umbra bared his pointed teeth. “I will be expecting a higher pay.”

“I...I can do that…” Tails whispered, his cheeks flushed. He propped himself against his dresser, staring into the mirror.

They fell into silence, Umbra bitterly waiting for Tails to start another nonsensical conversation. Strangely, he didn't.

Umbra took a step forward, twisting his head to get a proper look at Tails’s face. The energetic teenager was completely still, and he didn't seem to be aware that Umbra was hovering over his shoulder. His face was blank.

Too blank.

Umbra caught the sight out of the corner of his eye: his finger twitched. The movement was subtle at first, but it traveled up his arm and onto his torso, violent convulsions shaking the boy’s skinny body.

The warning signs clicked in Umbra's mind, and his stomach did a somersault. He had seen this before.

“He's having a seizure!”

Author's Notes- hey hey guys wassup

do you guys got any ideas for any aus? i kinda wanna write some one shots and i think cool and creative aus would be a cool place to start