Felix and Dawson plopped onto his bed and let out a relaxed sigh.

“Sorry that I made it so awkward… but at least your sister is nice!” Felix said as he chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s fine. What do you want to do now?” Dawson asked.

“Um… if you're ok with it, I would like to know more about you?” Felix replied timidly.

“Yeah, sure. But only if I can ask you questions too.” Dawson said, lying down.

“Ok, well… what’s your favorite color?”

“Green, yours?” Dawson asked.

“Yellow!” Felix said happily.

“Such a bright color for such a dull kid...” Dawson mumbled to himself.

“What? Well… I also like purple?”

“Mh. What is your mom like?” Dawson asked bluntly, not wanting to beat around the bush.

“... She… uh… is fine? J-just like any other mom,” Felix said, stumbling through his sentence.

“Hm.”

“W-well! What about your mom!” Felix growled.

“I already told you. She died of heart disease.” Dawson said, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Oh. Your dad?” Felix asked quietly.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“...He’s in jail,” Dawson growled, glaring at nothing in particular.

“Why…?”

“He… he hurt my baby brother… dropped him down the stairs….” Dawson uttered, turning his head away from Felix’s view.

“What!? Why- how… I didn’t even know you had a brother…” Felix confessed.

“He’s our half-brother.” Dawson sounded.

“Ah.. well, is he ok?” Felix trembled.

“He.. he’s ok now; it was a while ago…” Dawson’s voice cracked.

“Oh… Dawson, I’m so sorry…” Felix muttered.

Felix then tapped Dawson's shoulder to get his attention. Once Dawson turned over, Felix quickly and awkwardly pulled Dawson into a hug. At first, Dawson thrashed about but then gave up and flopped his head on Felix’s shoulder.

“It was scary.” Dawson began quietly, “It was the middle of the night, and Wyatt started crying… Octavia normally took care of him, but this time dad got him.”

“Then..?” Felix asked, even though he didn’t want to know what happened next.

“All we heard was a thud and Wyatt… screaming.” Dawson shuddered at the memory, “I can’t get it out of my mind, his b-blood on the stairs… he wasn’t moving.”

Dawson stopped talking for a second, and then Felix felt his shoulder get damp.

“I don’t even know why I’m telling you this….” Dawson chuckled sadly.

“No, keep talking; it might make you feel better…” Felix replied, slightly rubbing Dawson’s back.

“I forgot what the doctor said, but he fell on the side of his head where he got those necessary skills, ya know? He’s almost two, can’t talk, and he still can only crawl...”

“I am so sorry that this has happened to you.” Felix comforted him.

“The worst part is… I had a dream that it would happen. I had stayed up all night the days before it happened… so I could stop it. And the one day, the one fucking day I decide to sleep...” Dawson fumed quietly.

“God, that is terrible, and I wish I knew what to do to make you feel better.” Felix frowned.

“It’s fine now. I’m done with the tears.” Dawson said, lifting his head from Felix’s shoulder, “Hey, I just realized something we have in common.”

“What?”

“Bad parents,” Dawson said with a snicker.