Chapter Text
“Hey Sunny! There you are! I'm so glad to see you” Basil smiled at him, his smile was warm and happy and genuine. Sunny hadn't seen him smile like that in forever. It was nice.
“Cmon Sunny, Hero made sandwiches and doesnt wanna let anyone near them until everyones there, we can't keep them waiting” Basil grabbed him by the hand and dragged him over to a small spot within the trees, a familiar location yet he did not remember ever being there before, he didn't think much of it though.
Before him were 3 familiar faces chatting and bickering on top of a classic red and white picnic blanket. Next to them sat his sister's old picnic basket, filled to the top with triangular sandwiches. How did they get their hands on that? It didn't matter, he hadn't hung out with his friends like this in so long he didn't care enough to ask questions.
Kel was the first to spot him. “Sunny! What took you so long man! Hero’s been keeping the sandwiches off limits till you got here and i’m starvinnggggg!” He groaned, before letting out a yelp and hugging his shoulder. “What was that for!?” Aubrey scowled at him. “Ignore him Sunny, Kels being an ass, he will always put you above sandwiches. ” She gave Kel a dirty look as she said the last few words, before ushering the two to sit down. Hero had been doing his best to simply ignore the situation and just dish out the contents of the basket before welcoming Sunny and Basil.
Everyone happily ate their share of sandwiches and chatted about old times and when they should hangout next. Sunny wasn't one for conversation, but enjoyed listening. After a while though he had become a little bit tired. He leaned his head on Basil's shoulder, Basil didn't seem to mind. His friends wouldn't mind if he took a quick nap right? He reached to his face and rubbed his eyes,, eyes,, plural? That's not right, he shouldn't have two, Basil had.. Sunny didn't wanna think about that. Sunny abruptly sat back up, startling Basil a little bit.
When did he get out of the hospital? Did he end up getting a glass eye like his mother had suggested? Why were his friends here with him? They hated him, didn't they? They had not taken the news about Mari well… How did they get ahold of Maris picnic basket-
“I'm back! I found the river I was talking about- aww Hero, you started the picnic without me?”
It was Mari. But how that, that didn't make any sense she…she wasn't-
“Sunny, are you okay?” Basil shook his shoulder in an attempt to snap him out of his trance. Sunny just stared at him, tears welling in his eyes. He was scared and confused, none of this made any sense what was going on. “S-Sunny! What's going on, why are you crying!” Basil had started to panic, frantically trying to comfort his best friend. Mari looked down to him, noticing her little brother was there and crying she quickly knelt to his side. “Sunny, you're okay, what's going on? Is something bothering you?” His dead sister being so close to him now, a hand on his shoulder, speaking real words like a living person, was not making this any better. He started bawling, throwing his arms around her and clinging to her. For all he knew at any moment she could vanish and he didn't wanna miss this chance. “Shhh it's okay Sunny, I'm here, you're okay” She patted his back while he sobbed into her shoulder. He couldn't bring himself to speak, every attempt he made was choked out by his sobs. Kel, Aubrey, and Hero had stopped whatever they were doing to see what was going on, they remained silent, not knowing what to do or say, Mari had this under control anyway, she always did. Basil seemed a bit upset that there was nothing he could do, but glad the situation was being handled.
When Sunny had finally cried his eyes dry he looked up to his sister. She looked older than he remembered. Her raven hair hung in front of her eyes before she blew it out of her face and looked back to Sunny. “Do you wanna talk about it Sunny?” She finally spoke.
“I-I had a bad dream and you. You-” He started crying again. “I missed you so much.”
Mari smiled at him, a sad, empty smile.
“I miss you too Sunny.”
—
Click
He shot up from his bed, his thin blankets blindingly white, his pillow stained in his tears, his face all wet. He lifted his hands to his face and carefully ran his fingers over his eye bandaging.
Yep, just one.
It was just a dream, I guess after being rid of headspace I can have normal dreams now.
He clutched a chunk on his blanket in both of his hands. She was right there , holding him, patting his back, comforting him. He already missed it. He wished he could just go back to sleep and see her again, but he was far too awake to sleep now.
There was nothing to do in his hospital room, all he could do now was just sit there really.
This was boring, he was bored. Why don't they make these god awful bedrooms even the slightest bit entertaining? Actually there was the tv, as long as it was on low volume it shouldn't bother anybody right?
Sunny slipped out of bed and hobbled over to the tv. He wasn't really supposed to be walking yet, he should be bed bound and resting. He should be waiting for a nurse to turn it on for him, but he was impatient. The floor was cold on his bare feet, which was uncomfortable but bearable, he'd be back in bed soon enough. When he reached the tv he felt around for the buttons in the dark. The tv was warm. Had he turned it on earlier and forgotten about it? Maybe a nurse had come in and turned it on earlier and just turned it back off recently.
Either way he wasn't having a lot of luck turning it on himself. Whether it be he was clicking the wrong ones or it was unplugged or something, he couldn't be bothered to keep trying. Something else had to be able to keep him entertained for a bit. What was Basil up to? Would he be awake right now? Sunny knew he had trouble sleeping anyway, he could go check up on him. After all, Basil's room wasn't far from Sunny's, he could get there and back without any nurses noticing his absence.
Oh but would Basil even want to see him? It might be a bit awkward, he'd probably yell at him for being out of bed when we should be resting. Maybe he hated Sunny for telling the others about what they did. The last time he had checked up on Basil he was still unconscious, he had no idea how Basil would react to seeing him again after.. The incident.
Oh fuck it
Sunny crept out of his room and down the hall, careful not to be spotted by any night nurses worried they might lock his door or something so he couldn't get out again. The cold of his feet had gotten progressively worse as he wandered the dark cold halls but he paid it no mind.
He had finally reached Bails door, he hesitated a bit before slowly opening it.
The light was on.
Before him was a bandaged blonde, sitting up in bed, staring out his window.
“S-sorry, I hate the dark. I thought I didn't need to take my medication till morni.. ” He cut himself off when he noticed Sunny awkwardly standing in the doorway.
They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Basil spoke first.
“Sunny?” “Um.. Hi, Basil.” And silence once again. This was a mistake, he should have stayed in his room, Basil clearly didn't want to see him and he'd kick him out any moment now, he should just leave now while its still on his own terms-
“Sunny, your feet are going to freeze off, come inside and close the door. I- I don't want the nurses scolding you.” Sunny was quick to comply, slowly and carefully closing the door behind him. He picked up a chair, placed it next to Basil's bed and sat down.
“Sunny what are you doing in here? Y-you know the nurses will eat you alive if they catch you all the way out here.” He stuttered, He always stuttered when he was nervous, which was most of the time. It had never bothered Sunny. He honestly found it weirdly endearing.
“I wanted to see you, '' Sunny responded, barely louder than a whisper. “We haven't spoken since.. well, you know…” His voice trailed off. Every time he thought about it he could feel those stupid garden shears pierce into his skull. Basil winced at the mention of that night, he looked down and started fidgeting with his hands. “I.. I really thought I was helping you sunny, r-really I did..” Sunny hugged his legs to his body and rested his head on his knees, he didn't know how to respond. He didn't seem to need to though.
Basil looked up from his hands and met Sunny's eye before shifting his gaze over to the bandage on his right eye, well, lack there off. A look of shame and guilt spread across his face.
“Th-the um, the nurses told me what I did t-to you, but I didn't wanna believe it.” He reached a hand up and very gently traced a finger over the bandages on Sunny's face. Sunny didn't care, it was only Basil after all. Harmless old Basil, who had taken his right eye. Maybe he trusted him too much. Basil's eyes pricked with tears. “Sunny I am so sorry.” Sunny reached out a hand and gave Basil’s unbusy hand a comforting squeeze. “I know, I'm sorry too.” Basil tilted his head in confusion. “What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything wrong.” Sunny frowned. “Basil..” Sunny whispered in a tone that said “c'mon, you know exactly what I did.” just loud enough for Basil to hear. Basil didn't respond, only squeezed Sunny's hand back and looked away. His grip was a lot stronger than Sunny’s which had caught him a bit off guard. Neither of them were enjoying this conversation, maybe it could be had another time. Sunny just wanted to change the subject, for both of their sakes. He looked around the room for anything he could possibly use, that was when he spotted the book.
“Basil,” “hm?” “Could you um, read to me? Like you used to?”
Basil stared at Sunny for a moment, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He couldn't be serious? Now? Really?
“Sunny I- come on, maybe when we were kids it was fun b-but wouldn't that be a bit um, you know.. embarrassing now?” Sunny didn't appreciate that answer. “Please?” He pleaded. Basil sighed, picking up the book on his bedside table. “Fine, how could I say no. B-but you have to leave right when I'm done okay? I don't want you getting in trouble.” Sunny beamed and got comfortable in his seat, leaning his arms and head on Basil's bed. “I'm starting from where I left off though I'm not restarting just for you, I'll lose my place.” Sunny nodded, he didn't care, he was just happy his best friend was able to be in the same room as him. “So, where was I…Ah here we go..”
Basil's stutter seemed to vanish as he got more into reading, he even did all the voices, which always made Sunny laugh. After about an hour or so, Basil had gotten so engrossed in the book he barely noticed the tv in his room turn on. He placed his book down to get a better look, it was just playing static for what he could see, but the sounds it made sounded almost like words, words with familiar voices. “Sunny are you seeing th-” He looked at Sunny, he was fast asleep. Basil didn't have the heart to wake him, he just hoped the nurses wouldn't barge in and yell at them in the morning. He looked back at the tv. The static seemed to be clearing, and he could almost make out a face, no 2, no 3…4? Faces in the static. His heart sank as he realized who they were. Had someone been recording him and his friends on their picnics?
The more the static cleared the more questions he had. Aubrey's hair was pink, so it couldn't be an old recording, but they hadn't had a picnic like this in 4 whole years, what was this?? Some kind of messed up hallucination? Everyone was there, Himself, Aubrey, Kel, Hero,, Mari… But where was Sunny? He could hear his voice but he couldn't see him anywhere. That was until a hand reached forward to grab something from the picnic basket. Sunny's hand. Was he seeing this through Sunny's eyes?
He had to wake him. He couldn't be the only one seeing this. He had to make sure he wasn't just making this up.
He gave Sunny a light shake. “Sunny, psst, S-sunny wake up.” Sunny began to stir. But just as he did, the tv clicked off.
“Mhmm, Basil..?” Sunny tiredly mumbled. “What is it?” Basil looked at Sunny, then back at the tv, then back to Sunny. “Nevermind, it was nothing, go back to sleep” He responded, petting Sunny's head until he drifted off again.