A burden come to bear

Sedna allowed the words to wash over her, blinking once, head canting and then blinking again. She had her suspicions but was sure it would have come to light long before now if that were the case. She breathed in steadily, knowing her next words might cut to the bone, but there was no use pacing and panicking and putting thoughts and emotions in other people’s heads that may not even be there. “So what’re yer gonna do about it then?” There was no secret that she was fond of the boys, particularly Kuroo, who took every chance he could to bury himself in a pile of small bodies, his brothers and sisters. He had never bothered to treat them as anything less than blood. It was clear from the long bamboo pole that Fuji kept carting around to practice, and the scowl she kept practicing when she thought nobody was watching, that she thought Usagi was as close to the centre of the universe as her own parents were.

At least she wouldn’t have to mother them, they already had one of those. It didn’t change anything between her and the brothers, but she was lying to herself if she denied a new protective streak taking root in her heart. “They’re still young, yer can’t expect ‘em ter come ter yer an’ lay it all out. I’ll take th’ kids down ter th’ bay so yer can sort this out. Jus’ …don’t be an asshole about it. Don’ go makin’ excuses. Life is messy, shit happens. All yer can do is yer best from now on. An’ if that’s not enough, well…” It wasn’t his decision to make. “It’s unlikely ter be a quick fix anyway. How long ‘as it been?”

“Speech”