After fear comes guilt

by Yosef1

Summary:

Stitch is free from the glitch, but maybe that's not enough for him to have confidence in himself again.

Notes:

You know, I wanted to rest after spending almost a year producing a fanfic, take care of other things like translating a webtoon I'm in charge of, and relax to watch the new season of The Wonderfully Strange World of Gumball, things like that.
But one of the things I wanted to do was finally watch the entire Lilo & Stitch franchise, and I did. Then I came across something: I remembered how much I loved Lilo & Stitch 2.
I'm not talking about nostalgia or anything like that, but feeling the same love I felt before.
I don't know the general public's opinion of the second film, but I love its premise and how it was executed.
It's an episodic script, but very well done, which brings out the charisma of the franchise while showing another side of the characters. I love how the film shows some characters experiencing their weakest moments: the bold and eccentric girl being very serious because she doesn't want to fail, the monster of destruction struggling to be good, and a bit of Jumba being less genius and less evil because he fears Stitch's end.
Even though the film focuses on them without an epic journey, it carries most of the franchise's emotional baggage. Besides opening up and talking more about how Ohana isn't just about being happy with the ones you choose, but, as Nani and Lilo showed at the beginning of the first film, it's also about almost screaming at them because you love them so much and don't want to lose them.
These are some of the reasons I think the second film is an incredible work that speaks to the difficult aspects of being an Ohana and how we sometimes make mistakes and have moments of weakness.
So when I finished it, I went through every fanfic site I knew to explore the fandom and read its stories.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed because I couldn't find any stories that discussed the second film. There was only one that focused on Stitch's failure, but it didn't interest me because it focused on Jumba and Stitch and the format is from the point of view of a character in the story, which for some reason I don't like (I'm full of demands and that's not cool).
So here I am, writing this story that I don't think is necessary for the film, but that might be worth doing and that's been on my mind.
And I think it might not be very good, because Lilo & Stitch fans are used to quality material, and I understand if this isn't up to par.
Anyway, I hope you like it, because I did. (And sorry for 400 words of pure nothing).

The sky was dark, darker than when they started dancing.

Everyone walked slowly out of the performance area, still wearing their Hula costumes and with Lilo in Nani's arms.

Jumba and Pleakley were on Nani's right side, while Stitch and David were on her left, in that order.

Pleakley walked while still dancing Lilo's dance at a calmer pace and with a smile on his face.

Juba gave Pleakley a surprised look, "I don't know how you can still keep dancing." He balled his fingers into a ball, "If Jumba continued any longer, he'd fall apart on the floor."

Pleakley continued dancing, "This beautiful earthly ritual has many of the benefits of movement without the painful beginnings, unlike pilates."

He glanced at Jumba mockingly out of the corner of his eye, "Maybe if you kept going, you could lose that belly fat you sometimes complain about."

Jumba laughed, halfway between mockery and genial malice, "That won't be necessary. Jumba already has that at the top of his list of evil things to do."

Pleakley rolled his one eye.

The camera shifted to show Nani and Lilo stopping to look at each other.

Nani gave a gentle smile, "Pleakley's right, it was very beautiful. And using the story of the Goddess Hi'iaka? That was very creative."

Lilo smiled. "Thank you...".

She placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes, "But it's all thanks to the incredible Elvis journey we've been on."

"Ih, haga blah," Stitch nodded without looking at Nani.

Nani raised an eyebrow slightly with an unimpressed smile.

Then she gave a mischievous grin, "So your two chaotic little hands don't get any credit?"

She pinched Lilo's cheek and shook her head gently, making her laugh and raise her hands to try to stop her.

But she slowed down and looked at Lilo's cheek with a slightly worried look.

There were two white lines on her right cheek that were almost invisible, but now they were more prominent from her pinching that part.

Nani released Lilo's cheek, leaving her with a confused look, and spoke calmly, "What are those marks on your cheek?"

Stitch quickly turned his head and pricked his ears up at Nani with a surprised look.

Lilo continued to look confused and placed her hand on her cheek.

Then she gasped with a surprised look.

Stitch's ears drooped slightly.

Lilo's eyes rolled back and forth, "I, um…"

Then she widened her eyes at Nani, throwing her arms around her, "I FELL ON A STICK!"

She calmed down a bit, "I fell on a stick. While I was looking for Stitch."

Nani frowned a little, "Are you sure? These marks look very… precise."

Lilo crossed her arms, her nose in the air, "Yes, it was a stick."

Then she raised her arms high with a yawn.

Nani shook off her worry and returned with a gentle smile, "Well, one more reason to say I've had enough for today."

They all continued walking.

But soon Stitch was falling behind, walking much slower.

His ears were lowered, just below the level of his head, and he had a slightly sad look in his eyes.

He lowered his head to look at his hand.

He looked at his sharp claws.

The claws had left those marks.

A few days ago, she proved that he wasn't going back to being evil because he didn't let or cause anything to the ones he loved.

That was what he wanted, not to hurt the ones he loved.

The camera switched to the view through his eyes.

He was watching Lilo do her initial part of the presentation.

Then his vision began to flutter with the sound of his body writhing and failing.

His vision turned mucus green.

There was the sound of screams, things breaking and their growls.

The green mucus disappeared, now he was close to the ground and with all the girls hiding behind Moses.

He doesn't know what happened.

His vision changed to when Lilo was about to perform.

His vision jerked, he twitched, and everything turned green again.

The green soon disappeared and now Lilo was on the ground, looking scared.

For him or from him. He didn't find out.

He never remembers what happened.

He would never want to do any of that...

But that didn't stop it from happening.

Him wanting wasn't enough when he lost control.

His will means nothing when he has no control.

He raised his hands to his eyes, feeling his head around them.

Jumba looked to the side and then back, seeing Stitch further back.

He's not failing anymore and he won't fail anymore, that's what Jumba said.

But what if something else outside of your control happened?

An attack of anger, a panic attack, a moment of carelessness...

Or even a simple accident.

The camera returned to his view.

Lilo placed her hand on her cheek, her eyes widening when she touched the marks.

His arms dropped and his ears dropped completely, giving him a very sad look.

How can he guarantee this won't happen again when he has no control?

"Smitec," he said in a despondent tone.

Jumba turned a little more, "Are you coming or not?"

Stich raised his head and his ears a little.

He realized how far away he was and ran on four legs.

As soon as he reached them he returned to two legs, but kept his ears down and didn't look at anyone.

*Later*

The camera switched to Lilo and Stitch's room.

Lilo and Nani, now in their night clothes, arrived from the stairs, with Lilo almost running to the rope ladder in front of the bed while Nani made her way to the side of the top bed.

Stitch came out of the stairs soon after, walking more slowly on four legs and heading to the bottom bunk.

Nani stopped in front of the beds and placed her arms crossed on top of Lilo's bed with a calm smile as she followed Lilo with her eyes, "I'm surprised you weren't disappointed about losing to Mertle."

Stitch stopped between Nani and her bed and stood on two paws, looking with his ears down at her bed.

Lilo reached the top and fell back against the pillow, "It's okay."

She straightened up and sat with her legs crossed, "You said mom would be proud, that's enough," she gave a big goofy smile.

Then he had a mischievous smile, saying while punching his palm, "And next year I can destroy her!"

She raised her finger and closed her eyes, "And without needing to fight this time," and smiled her usual big, proud and innocent smile.

Nani laughed and ran his hand over her head, rubbing her hair up and down, "If you say so."

"And Stitch is going to help me this time too!", she leaned forward a little and looked down, "Isn't that right, Stitch?!".

Stitch's eyes widened and his ears perked up slightly, fidgeting nervously.

He looked up slightly, "Ih!" then calmed down and returned to his usual state.

Lilo looked away and placed her hand on her chin with a thoughtful look, "But I need to think of another topic, or she'll say I'm uncreative."

"I think that's a problem for next year", Nani leaned closer and kissed her forehead, "Now you two need to sleep."

She left, turned, and walked to the stairs, "Good night."

Lilo lay down flat on the bed and looked at Nani, while Stitch simply turned his head toward her.

*Excited* "Good night."

*Disheartened* "Jhua tehrqua."

Nani reached the stairs and quickly disappeared down them.

Stitch turned his head back to his bed.

He slowly reached for the blanket, but stopped halfway.

He looked up, and his ears drooped even more. He looked back at the bed and brought his hand back.

Lilo was lying with her hands clasped together on her chest, staring at the ceiling with a slight smile.

Then her smile widened, and she sat up and looked sideways and down, "Hey, Stitch, what do you think?"

She crawled onto the bed to the edge, "I already have ideas for us to try."

She leaned over and rested her head down, her hair falling completely like a static waterfall, "We're going to need a lot more paper and—"

She had a surprised expression as she looked at Stitch's untouched bed.

"Stitch?"

She looked up and saw Stitch walking toward the stairs.

She frowned, "Stitch…".

Stitch stopped mid-step, his ears flattening back.

She stood up and walked to the edge closest to him, "Where are you going?"

He placed his foot on the ground and turned to her, his hands clasped close to his body, his ears flattened again, and a sad look in his eyes, "Stitch...fooboo. Meega... aka-choota safiya."

She tilted her head slightly to the side, "But your bed is here", she tapped her hand down and pointed down.

She leaned forward slightly, her hair falling slightly to the side, "Do you want to put on your pajamas? Nani said she was doing the laundry."

"Naga," he looked down, "Stitch goes to the right bed. Near the kanjijibe."

Lilo's expression was a little worried, "But you hate the washing machine. It hurts your ears."

She crawled to the rope ladder and climbed down. She reached the ground and walked over to him.

He became slightly agitated and raised his hands in surprise, "Naga!"

Lilo stopped, her eyes wide.

She clasped her hands close to her chest, her expression even more worried, "Stitch, is something wrong?"

She parted her lips slightly, "Are you failing again?"

"Naga isa injibay."

Her expression grew even more worried, "Please tell me if something's wrong. I promise I'll never get mad about this again."

He pointed to the stairs, "Just Stitch higata," and then pointed to the bedroom floor, "And Lilo hagata."

Lilo's eyes widened with a hurt expression.

Then she assumed a serious, firm expression, her arms outstretched at her sides, "I'm not letting you go until you tell me!"

His eyes widened and his ears pricked up.

She quickly grabbed one of his arms by the wrist and tried to pull him onto the bed.

He broke free easily and ran on all fours toward the stairs.

She chased him, "STITCH!"

On the stairs, he ran in circles until he hit one of the walls.

Nani wore a robe over her nightgown, rubbing her eyes.

She stopped suddenly when the dome bedroom door opened almost in her face.

Stitch came out of the wall on the doorknob.

Lilo followed soon after, losing her balance slightly as she turned.

"STITCH!"

She ran after him into the living room.

Nani put her hand to her face and groaned wearily, "The day doesn't end until midnight."

Soon after, Jumba emerged from the room, wearing his pajamas, a gun in his hands, and a warning, "What was that?!". Pleakley poked her head out of Jumba's, also wearing his pajamas.

Nani threw her arm toward the living room, "Those two just ran past here like crazy," and she ran in the same direction.

Jumba's expression was startled, "Oh no, is he still failing?"

Pleakley looked at him in annoyance, "Didn't you say this had been resolved?"

Jumba turned and grabbed Pleakley's shoulder, shaking him, "Under impossible circumstances! There's no certainty!"

He threw the gun into a corner and ran into the living room, "COME HELP ME!"

Pleakley's one eye widened, "WHAT?!"

He looked around in alarm.

Then he got a look of understanding when he saw the two brooms in his room.

Stitch arrived in the kitchen, walking along the wall above the refrigerator.

Lilo arrived soon after, sliding and flailing her arms as she stopped, nearly falling forward.

She turned to him, "Stitch! Stop!" She followed him, her eyes hurt, "I can't help you if you don't talk to me!"

Nani arrived, stopping just as Lilo had, and turned to Stitch.

She leaned against the kitchen cabinets and tried to reach him, but he only got taller.

Jumba arrived in the kitchen and, without slowing down, grabbed Lilo by both hands and lifted her up.

Stitch emerged from the cabinets and onto the ceiling.

Lilo reached out and tried to catch him, but he just dodged him like a Formula 1 car.

Pleakley also arrived in the kitchen, running with two brooms, their heads up in a hug.

Nani pointed at him with a serious expression, "What are you going to do with that?"

Pleakley's expression was slightly offended, "You think I'm going to hold that little monster down with whatever it is now?"

He lowered them until he was right under the handles and lifted them up.

He went to Jumba's side as Nani fumed, "Don't even think about breaking that ceiling!"

He kept the broom heads sweeping the ceiling behind Stitch and Lilo, but he just kept dodging.

Jumba glared at Pleakley, "Watch out, green noodles! You're going to hit that little girl!".

Pleakley slammed one of the handles into Jumba's arm, "OUCH! Or you'll hit me!"

Pleakley looked a little disappointed, "Then I guess I'll never be able to use chopsticks properly, what a shame."

Nani walked back slowly, watching Stitch dodge them all.

Then her eyes widened and she turned to the sink.

There was a white spray bottle with a blue tip in it.

Stitch spun around and ran away from Lilo.

Then he nimbly dodged Pleakley's clumsy brooms.

Then a small jet of water hit him on the head, drenching him completely and freezing him in place.

Nani, who had the spray bottle raised, breathed a sigh of relief, "Phew."

The others just watched intently. Pleakley dropped the brooms, which plummeted to the floor.

Jumba lowered Lilo to the ground, and she remained, not looking away.

Lilo clasped her hands near her stomach with a distraught expression, "Stitch, please... what happened?"

Stitch lowered his ears.

Then he stood on two paws and soon fell from the ceiling, landing carefully on all fours.

He stood up again, hands behind his back, head down, and ears even lower.

"Stitch... it's kaphong."

Jumba rubbed his bald head in confusion, "I don't understand. Fortunately, you don't seem to have suffered any other problems."

He lowered his head even further and rubbed the floor with one foot.

"Stitch... it's not evil anymore... but it is dangerous."

Pleakley placed his hands where his waist should have been, "Well, you're a little monster. Isn't being dangerous normal?"

Nani and Lilo looked at him seriously, and he flinched a little.

"Stitch... he has no control..."

Everyone turned to look at him again.

"Being dangerous... there's no way."

He raised his head with a sad look.

"Sitch might hurt... by accident. Stitch doesn't want that."

He stared at Lilo for a few seconds and then turned his head to the side.

Lilo widened her eyes slightly and calmly touched the marks on her cheek.

"Stitch... needs to stay away for a while. Stitch isn't... trustworthy."

Stitch's face scrunched up like he was about to cry like a baby.

"Stitch can't be trusted."

Lilo's eyes widened.

Her hand dropped slightly from her cheek.

Then her expression hardened.

She walked steadily toward him, Jumba and Nani reaching out a little, and Pleakley opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Stitch lifted his ears to the height of his head and just watched.

She stopped right in front of him and stood there for a moment.

Then she took one of his hands and tugged gently.

His expression grew more and more desperate as she pulled, even trying to pull away a little.

Then she turned his wrist slightly and placed her hand right over the marks, hers right on top.

His expression softened into a calm smile.

"I trust you."

Stitch pricked up his ears and looked slightly impressed.

Lilo placed her other hand on his arm and gently lowered him.

"You're not a monster, nor a danger. You're me, my friend."

Now she was holding his hand with both of hers.

"And as my friend, I won't take your problems lightly again."

Nani arrived and crouched down to their level, "She's right, Stitch", she smiled sympathetically, "No need to run away. There's nothing wrong with being afraid, especially for others."

Her smile faded, "But there's nothing good about it affecting your confidence and happiness."

Jumba arrived with a proud smile, "Sadness destroys your sense of happiness and self-esteem. I've already proven that biologically."

Pleakley appeared behind Jumba, "What Jumba's ego wants is that dealing with your problems with melancholy doesn't work."

Lilo gave a gentle smile, "It's okay not to trust yourself right now, because we do. It's a start."

Stitch lowered his ears slightly with a wary expression.

Lilo's expression became empathetic, "Let's at least go back upstairs."

Stitch continued in the same way.

Then his expression became nervous, but with a slightly confident smile, "Accata."

His smile widened slightly.

Nani breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, does anyone else have anything to get off their chest before bed?"

Pleakley raised her hand, "I have to ask about social genders."

Nani's expression flustered, "Nobody?! Great!"

She led Lilo, who was holding Stitch's hand, outside. Jumba followed.

Pleakley spread his arms wide in frustration, "I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY I GET SO MANY EXTRA COMPLIMENTS WHEN I'M AUNT PLEAKLEY!"

*A little later*

The lamp glowed as Stitch climbed into bed and sat down, pulling the blankets closer.

He lay down and snuggled in.

He turned his head to the side of the lamp when Nani's voice came, "Now, definitely, good night," and she turned off the lamp.

He looked back at his bed, his expression calming.

Then he became alert at the noise coming from above.

Lilo appeared from the rope ladder and walked to his side of the bed.

She began to climb.

He became agitated and held out his arms, "Aggaba!"

She didn't stop and came right up to him, pulling the blankets over herself.

He looked at him intently, calming him down, "Daddy used to say that when you love a flower, you don't take it off the ground, you take care of it."

He tilted his head to the side.

"If it's too hot, you water it, if it's too cloudy, you give it light, and if it's dirty, you clean it."

She lay on her back, looking at the top bunk.

"Then Nani asked why he let Mommy take them off if he thought that way."

She turned her head to him.

"He said it's because Mommy likes it. That Ohana is an effort and that it does her good."

She smiled.

"If you don't trust yourself, then what you need is someone who trusts you and cares."

"And if you don't want me around because you're afraid, then I'll stay in your bed until you don't care anymore. Because you're my Ohana."

She stretched out her hand to him.

He lay on his side and slowly reached out to take her hand.

"I told you I wouldn't be mad. And I promise never to belittle or ignore your problems again."

He gave a weak smile.

Her smile widened a bit.

Then she closed her eyes.

His ears went limp and fell to the bed.

He was fine physically.

But mentally, he still didn't trust himself.

He closed his eyes too.

But the people he loves trust him; that's more than enough to start with.

"Thank you."

Notes:

This was more wordy than I thought it would be, but it still had everything I wanted to add, so it's okay.
And Jumba has most likely already had an experience that can promote sadness, so he knows.
And yes, it was a joke about sexism. I think it would be hilarious to see Pleakley learning about and being horrified by this topic, since he would theoretically experience it.
I hope you enjoyed it.