"Yeah, I guess so. What was your childhood like? You didn't have to train or anything, right?"
"You DO like me!" "I don't think 'like' is the right word." "You tolerate me." "Maybe." one on one
“I don’t remember a lot of it. My dad was manipulative and abusive so that’s probably why.”
"Mm… I guess that makes sense. I don't remember a ton from when I was really little, but I think that's pretty normal."
"Probably. Like I don't remember anything from when I was three or four, but that's alright."
"Mm… yeah…" Lin sighed softly. "What's a 'normal' childhood?"
"Who knows?" Orion said philosophically.
Lin rolled his eyes a bit. "I mean like, generally. Obvious neither of us were normal."
"I don't know. Playing catch with your dad in the yard. Eating ice cream in front of the TV while watching dumb movies."
"Huh. Weird. Playing catch with what?" He asked, confused. "Like, what are they throwing?"
"A ball. Like a tennis ball. Or a baseball."
"I guess that makes sense. I was never really into sports."
"Me neither. I hate sports. My dad could have done something else with me, though."
"Yeah, I guess so. I hardly remember what my dad looks like, honestly. He wasn't often actually in the room with us when we were doing stuff."
"I hate my dad. He's a bitch," Orion said vehemently.
"Mm. Same, I guess. I'm glad I haven't had to see him in years." Lin yawned and looked away.
"Dads just suck," Orion said.
"Yeah. I guess most people's dads don't suck, though."
"Apparently not," she said ruefully.
Lin shrugged a bit. "I wouldn't really know. I haven't met anyone's dad other than my own. But considering the 'playing catch' thing, I assume that they're not all bad."
"I only saw that in movies. With a bunch of rich white people who had minivans, and soccer practice, and a playhouse in their backyard."
"Ah. Do real people have those things, though? Or just movie people?"
“I dunno. I’ve never seen real people doing those things, but that doesn’t mean they don’t do it.”
"Mm. I guess that makes sense." Lin looked back out the window, humming thoughtfully and fidgeting with his hands. "Maybe it's fun? Playing catch, I mean."
"I wish I knew. I feel like I would be better off if I played catch with my dad."
"Maybe so. I'm not sure what kind of psychological effect it has on people."
"A good one. Bonding is a good thing from what I've heard. Which might explain why I'm so emotionally damaged."
"Huh. I suppose that explains it for me, too. I never really had 'bonding'."
"Maybe." She fiddled with the charm on her necklace.
"Well… maybe we can try and live more normally now, yeah? Do stuff that makes us happy."
"Alright." Her lips tipped upward. "Sounds like a plan."