Chapter Text
“Son, your heart doesn’t seem to be in this.”
He looked up at the old man from the plot of soil they both hovered by.
“I can do it.”
He pressed the seed into the dirt and didn’t lift his finger away, as if the seed would sprout and run off into the night on its own. His vacant eyes trained on it like a hawk. His farming mentor was not convinced.
“I’m not leavin’ this plot of land to someone who ain’t gonna work it. Your brother does us all well enough, sure, but that’s no reason to throw this land away on someone who won’t use it.” His eyes narrowed, still fixated on the ground.
“I’ll work it.”
“Fine, prove me wrong.” Taro pulled himself up off the ground and looked down on his makeshift protege. “Make somethin’ of yourself.”
He hung for a bit, to see if CJ would respond. And when he didn’t, he slowly strode off towards town.
—--
Spring.
—--
Summer.
—--
Fall came with a loud thud at his door. A thud that went ignored. He boiled water and ladeled it over a dusty instant noodle cup he found at the general store. His small, ancient TV filled the room with a news channel from the nearest mainland. Stupid reports about stupid things. Noise. He needed noise.
“CJ! Open up!”
A voice he did not want to hear. At all. And yet, it still fell on his doorstep. Bangs drowning out his noise.
He abandoned his noodle cup with a full-body sigh and opened the door slightly ajar. Before Mark could even open his mouth, CJ cut him off.
“Go away.”
“I have a gift for you.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, I do, so too bad.” Mark pushed hard on the open door, causing CJ to stumble back. Before he had time to gather himself, a rotund chicken was placed in his hands.
“The hell?”
“A chicken! To start your coop.”
“What coop?”
“The coop I had Gannon build for you. He’s installing it now.”
“Who?”
“The local carpenter?”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“Well, maybe if you left this dump for a day or two and tried to interact with people, you would.” Mark shoved past CJ into the small farmhouse and marveled at the state it was in.
“What do you care?” CJ snapped. The chicken nestled into his hands.
“I care because you’re my sibling.”
Sibling. CJ snarled at him.
“Can’t call me your brother, eh?” Mark rolled his eyes.
“You know it’s not like that. Get over yourself. I’m tryin’ to help you.”
“Don’t smell like help.”
“Well, I - is she calm?” Mark pointed to the chicken, who was happy as a clam. “She hates people. Always peckin’ and causin’ trouble.”
“Ah. Not help. Responsibility you wanted to get rid of. Makes sense.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
“Offload the chicken you hate on the brother you ain’t give a shit about.”
“I told you, it’s not like that! You’re awful. No wonder no one wants to be around you.”
CJ didn’t answer.
“Speakin’ of which, let’s change that.”
“Let’s not.”
“You’re comin’ to the Harvest Festival with me at the end of the month.”
“Like fuck I am.”
“You’d get some actual food in you, too.” Mark grabbed the noodle cup and threw it into the trash. “None of this crap.” CJ stared blankly at him. Mark squirmed a little when he realized what he’d done, but stood his ground. “You gotta take better care of yourself.”
“You gotta leave me alone.”
“Buy your own fuckin’ feed then, you asshole.” Mark ripped the door back open and looked over his shoulder. “By the way, her name’s Adele.” He left with a slam.
—-
CJ pushed open the thick front door to the animal shop. In the several months he’d been on Sunshine Archipelago, he’d never stepped a foot inside. He had no reason to. Until now.
“Welcome to Compton Supplies!” A cheerful, portly blonde woman behind the counter called to him, making him jump. “I’ve seen you around town, but I’m afraid I never caught your name.”
CJ’s eyes darted away wordlessly. He walked further into the store, peering over shelves and browsing product. His eye caught bags on the last aisle’s end, and sure enough, it was chicken feed. He bent down and dug his fingers into the burlap.
“Well, howdy there! Nice to meet you!”
Another seemingly disembodied voice came out of nowhere and he dropped the bag on his foot out of surprise. He muttered a curse under his breath as his eye caught another woman coming towards him. They could have been twins, given this new approacher was somewhat less portly and had longer hair almost down to her daisy dukes. He grabbed the bag again and turned away from her towards the checkout counter.
The first woman beamed at him as he sat his purchase down for her to ring up.
“Not much of a talker, eh? That’s fine. My son’s the same way.”
CJ remained silent. As awkward as he felt standing there, the lady seemed to take it in stride. At least the general store owner didn’t constantly pry for a conversation. “10G, please.”
He fished around in his emptying wallet and handed it over. The second the coins hit the counter he felt a hand on his shoulder and he lept a foot into the air.
“Don’t touch me!” CJ yelled as he threw himself back away from the other woman. He panted heavily and held his hands out to shield himself. She seemed hurt, but took a step back.
“Leave her be, Julia.”
Her.
“I’m sorry. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance.”
Her.
“Please forgive her, miss. Julia’s a friendly girl.”
Her. Miss.
“Oh, and if you ever need any questions about carin’ for chickens, you just come ask us!”
Her. Miss.
“Mama, she gets it. Let her go.”
Her. Miss. She. Her. Miss. She. Her. Miss. She.
“He.” His voice was dry and weak.
“What’s that?”
CJ grabbed his bag, turned on his heel, and left.
—-
Sunset drenched the ranch as CJ lugged the sack through the yard. He pushed himself into the small coop where Adele was resting comfortably. He opened the sack and spread some in a feeder box, and watched the fowl toddle over to it and begin eating. He leaned against a wall and slid down it into a sit to watch her feast. Gentle warmth of the coop wrapped around him and slid against the stream of cool autumn air leaking from the door.
The nerve he had to name her Adele. Like he had cared.