2019-06-14 23:46![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zoingeroni
zoingeroniIntro
Buck was sobbing and Tank watched in disbelief as Ripp drove away with their godparents, the Picasos. Buzz had refused to come out of the house to see him off, but Ripp couldn’t summon the energy to care. He may only be moving next door, but he was finally free of living at the Grunt house.
Chapter 1
No one could have predicted the scene that happened the morning after. Buzz walked out the door with a llama suit, acting like nothing was amiss.
“Get ready for jogging tonight!” In fact, Buzz seemed…chipper. “Goodbye.”
After school, Buck slumped into his bed, forgoing his homework, and the jog.
He had been sad all day, and his energy wasn’t going to coming back.
With no one to see him, Tank strummed Ripp’s bass guitar. “Fucking idiot forgot to bring this,” he muttered.
But as he rather unharmoniously plucked the strings, it almost felt like Ripp was there with him.
Buzz came home…unemployed!
He was sure he had merely been honest when critiquing the little league players’ moves, but he had been called “aggressive” and accused of “making kids cry”. Completely unlike him, the tears kept coming, as he wondered how he could ever raise kids himself.
Tank was unsure what was wrong, but he still tried to cheer his dad up.
And he was currently telling himself that it must be costume day at the base...
That night, Buzz ended up more tired than Buck was, and Tank carried on his exercises himself.
Chapter 2
The end of the week was better. The sons still had no idea where Buzz was going every day, but they didn’t dare ask him. Buck had cheered up after Ripp encouraged him to walk on ever and visit whenever he wanted. Ripp had previously been so defensive about his brothers being in his room, but he happily showed it off to Buck now. The only indication that Tank could have been thinking about Ripp was when he spent a whole evening on top of the watch tower, glued to the telescope pointing at the apartment.
By the weekend, the Grunts felt like things were almost normal!
That is, until the party. Life went on and they still were celebrating Tank’s high school graduation and Buck’s birthday. Buck wouldn’t come out of his room when it started, and so Tank started hosting alone. But he was happy to fool around with his godparents.
The smell of baked goods eventually drew Buck out, and they cheered on as he blew out his candles.
“Can you imagine not growing up in one dramatic growth spurt?”
Tank laughed at punched Buck’s shoulder, always humored by his strange ponderings.
“That would be so boring!”
That night, Tank waited until he was certain the rest of the house was asleep before going into Ripp’s room to cry.
Chapter 3
After lots of begging, the Picasos had agreed to let Ripp buy a cat. “You know we are going to have to take care of them without you for most of their life,” they pressed.
“In this economy?” Unlike with the Grunts, Ripp made the Picasos laugh easily. “You better be happy if I ever move out!”
But ultimately, Ripp would not be able to escape the Grunts for long. Tank invited the Picasos downtown to visit a club. Ripp didn’t want to back down and hide, so he went along.
And as he expected, he immediately got into a fight with Tank. But he was able to escape to impress his neighbor, Trisha Traveller. Unfortunately, he mispronounced about five city names.
Buzz looked the most peppy he had in a week, glad to catch up with his friend. Though he kept changing the topic whenever she mentioned Ripp.
Tank tried to goof around with Jessica, but she wasn’t feeling like it, disturbed that neither Grunt man had shown any interest in Ripp. Meanwhile, Ripp snuck behind the bar and stole drinks while the bartender wasn’t looking.
“You guys aren’t supposed to be back here,” said the bartender.
“Look, you know I don’t care about you,” huffed Tank.
Ripp rolled his eyes. “This conversation is starting off well.”
“But I think dad is having a mid-life crisis. He misses you.”
“Then maybe he should’ve been a better father.”
Tank grimaced.
“No really. You need to leave.” The bartender looked over at security, and the brothers went their separate ways.
Ripp bonded with the the Picasco’s roommate Amanda over their mutual love of heavy eyeliner.
Tank ended up the drunkest of them all, and Buzz had to carry him home.
But he went back to the Picaso’s apartment. With Matthew and Ripp in bed, Buzz finally delved into the one thing he had been trying not to think about. “So…how’s Ripp?”
Jessica's eyes widened with surprise. “He’s good! He’s good. He has a cat now. 'Emo Kid'.”
Buzz snorted. “A cat, huh? A cat…”
After playing mahjong, Buzz went to the roof to talk to Amanda.
“Please, sir. I just want to sleep.”
“…and if you ever hurt a hair on Ripp’s head, I will sue you. Understand? You will. Go. Down.”
“zzzzzzzzzzzz”
Buck was sobbing and Tank watched in disbelief as Ripp drove away with their godparents, the Picasos. Buzz had refused to come out of the house to see him off, but Ripp couldn’t summon the energy to care. He may only be moving next door, but he was finally free of living at the Grunt house.
Chapter 1
No one could have predicted the scene that happened the morning after. Buzz walked out the door with a llama suit, acting like nothing was amiss.
“Get ready for jogging tonight!” In fact, Buzz seemed…chipper. “Goodbye.”
After school, Buck slumped into his bed, forgoing his homework, and the jog.
He had been sad all day, and his energy wasn’t going to coming back.
With no one to see him, Tank strummed Ripp’s bass guitar. “Fucking idiot forgot to bring this,” he muttered.
But as he rather unharmoniously plucked the strings, it almost felt like Ripp was there with him.
Buzz came home…unemployed!
He was sure he had merely been honest when critiquing the little league players’ moves, but he had been called “aggressive” and accused of “making kids cry”. Completely unlike him, the tears kept coming, as he wondered how he could ever raise kids himself.
Tank was unsure what was wrong, but he still tried to cheer his dad up.
And he was currently telling himself that it must be costume day at the base...
That night, Buzz ended up more tired than Buck was, and Tank carried on his exercises himself.
Chapter 2
The end of the week was better. The sons still had no idea where Buzz was going every day, but they didn’t dare ask him. Buck had cheered up after Ripp encouraged him to walk on ever and visit whenever he wanted. Ripp had previously been so defensive about his brothers being in his room, but he happily showed it off to Buck now. The only indication that Tank could have been thinking about Ripp was when he spent a whole evening on top of the watch tower, glued to the telescope pointing at the apartment.
By the weekend, the Grunts felt like things were almost normal!
That is, until the party. Life went on and they still were celebrating Tank’s high school graduation and Buck’s birthday. Buck wouldn’t come out of his room when it started, and so Tank started hosting alone. But he was happy to fool around with his godparents.
The smell of baked goods eventually drew Buck out, and they cheered on as he blew out his candles.
“Can you imagine not growing up in one dramatic growth spurt?”
Tank laughed at punched Buck’s shoulder, always humored by his strange ponderings.
“That would be so boring!”
That night, Tank waited until he was certain the rest of the house was asleep before going into Ripp’s room to cry.
Chapter 3
After lots of begging, the Picasos had agreed to let Ripp buy a cat. “You know we are going to have to take care of them without you for most of their life,” they pressed.
“In this economy?” Unlike with the Grunts, Ripp made the Picasos laugh easily. “You better be happy if I ever move out!”
But ultimately, Ripp would not be able to escape the Grunts for long. Tank invited the Picasos downtown to visit a club. Ripp didn’t want to back down and hide, so he went along.
And as he expected, he immediately got into a fight with Tank. But he was able to escape to impress his neighbor, Trisha Traveller. Unfortunately, he mispronounced about five city names.
Buzz looked the most peppy he had in a week, glad to catch up with his friend. Though he kept changing the topic whenever she mentioned Ripp.
Tank tried to goof around with Jessica, but she wasn’t feeling like it, disturbed that neither Grunt man had shown any interest in Ripp. Meanwhile, Ripp snuck behind the bar and stole drinks while the bartender wasn’t looking.
“You guys aren’t supposed to be back here,” said the bartender.
“Look, you know I don’t care about you,” huffed Tank.
Ripp rolled his eyes. “This conversation is starting off well.”
“But I think dad is having a mid-life crisis. He misses you.”
“Then maybe he should’ve been a better father.”
Tank grimaced.
“No really. You need to leave.” The bartender looked over at security, and the brothers went their separate ways.
Ripp bonded with the the Picasco’s roommate Amanda over their mutual love of heavy eyeliner.
Tank ended up the drunkest of them all, and Buzz had to carry him home.
But he went back to the Picaso’s apartment. With Matthew and Ripp in bed, Buzz finally delved into the one thing he had been trying not to think about. “So…how’s Ripp?”
Jessica's eyes widened with surprise. “He’s good! He’s good. He has a cat now. 'Emo Kid'.”
Buzz snorted. “A cat, huh? A cat…”
After playing mahjong, Buzz went to the roof to talk to Amanda.
“Please, sir. I just want to sleep.”
“…and if you ever hurt a hair on Ripp’s head, I will sue you. Understand? You will. Go. Down.”
“zzzzzzzzzzzz”
